BackgroundA human betaretrovirus (HBRV) has been linked with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) following the detection of viral particles in biliary epithelium by electron microscopy and cloning of the betaretrovirus genome from biliary epithelium and peri-hepatic lymph nodes. Evidence for viral infection was found in the majority of PBC patients' peri-hepatic lymph node samples. However, less than a third of the liver samples had detectable HBRV, whereas others were unable to detect betaretrovirus infection or noted the presence of virus in the liver of patients with other diagnoses.AimsTo address the hypothesis that the betaretrovirus may be below the limits of detection in the liver, biliary epithelial cells (BEC) were investigated for the evidence of infection.MethodsLigation-mediated PCR and next generation sequencing were used to detect proviral integrations in liver, lymph nodes and BEC isolated from liver transplant recipients. Hybridisation-based assays were used to detect betaretroviral RNA in BEC.ResultsUnique HBRV integrations and betaretrovirus RNA were detected in the majority of biliary epithelia derived from patients with PBC, autoimmune hepatitis and cryptogenic liver disease but rarely in other liver transplant recipients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and other hepatic disorders. HBRV integrations were commonly found in PBC patients' lymph nodes but rarely in whole liver samples.ConclusionsHuman betaretrovirus infection is frequently observed at the site of disease in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and also in biliary epithelium of patients with autoimmune hepatitis and cryptogenic liver disease.

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Aims: This study aimed to determine whether host-adapted lactobacilli exhibit superior survival during intestinal transit relative to nomadic and free-living organisms, and to characterize the impact of probiotic lactobacilli on autochthonous lactobacilli. Methods and Results: Mixed cultures of Lactobacillus casei K9-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum K9-2, or reutericyclin producing Lactobacillus reuteri and its isogenic mutant were fed to piglets as freeze-dried culture, or as part of fermented feed. Lactobacilli in digesta and faecal samples were quantified by strain-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR), high-resolution-melting curve qPCR, and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene sequence tags. The abundance of the host adapted L. reuteri in digesta and faeces was higher (P < 0Á05) when compared to L. casei or L. fermentum. Feed fermentation or chemical acidification of feed reduced (P < 0Á05) cell counts of Lactobacillus salivarius in colonic digesta. The reutericyclin producing L. reuteri TMW1.656 transiently reduced (P < 0Á05) the faecal abundance of lactobacilli. However, the overall impact of probiotic intervention on autochthonous lactobacilli was minor. Conclusions: The vertebrate host-adapted L. reuteri survives better during intestinal transit of piglets compared to L. casei and L. fermentum. Significance and Impact of the Study: Ecology and lifestyle of Lactobacillus strains may be suitable criteria for selection of probiotic strains for use in swine production.

Water addition to natural-zeolite-catalyzed reactions significantly improves cracking of oilsands bitumen compared to analogous reactions in the absence of water. We report that the addition of 3% water to the catalyzed cracking reactions results in samples with lower viscosities and average molecular weights, less residue, olefin, and coke formation, and higher C 2 + gas production compared to analogous reactions in the absence of water. Our study suggests that untreated natural zeolites undergo self-acidification by hydrolysis reactions in the presence of water. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and solid-state NMR analyses detected the presence of acid −OH groups on the raw untreated chabazite and clinoptilolite surfaces that are capable of supplying protons to initiate carbocation reactions. Stable isotopic mass spectrophotometric analyses on bitumen on D 2 O-doped catalytic reactions confirm up to ∼56% hydrogen incorporation from added water to the liquid products. Aromaticity and proton and deuterium distribution of products by liquid NMR indicate the occurrence of a number of catalytic reactions, including aromatization, rearrangement and substitution in the aliphatic chains, β-scission, dehydrogenation, and increased hydrogen enrichment at βand γ-positions. On the basis of our findings, we postulate that water addition to natural zeolites generates catalytic reactions that involve carbocation on acid sites. Studies with model compounds such as cumene and hexadecane also demonstrated significant cracking activity with water addition.