Feeding Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products lessens the severity of a viral–bacterial coinfection in preweaned calves

We have previously reported that supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) ameliorates clinical signs and lung pathology following experimental bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infection in preweaned dairy calves. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of SCFP supplementation on the metabolic and endocrine responses, and disease outcome of a viral–bacterial coinfection in preweaned calves. Twenty-seven, 1- to 2-d-old Holstein-Angus cross calves were enrolled in the study; one SCFP calf was removed from the trial during the pre-challenge phase due to complications from nephritis. Calves were assigned to two treatment groups: control or SCFP-treated, base milk replacer with 1 g/d SCFP (Smartcare, soluble formula) and calf starter top dressed with 5 g/d SCFP (NutriTek, insoluble formula). Calves were infected with BRSV on day 21, followed 6 d later by intratracheal inoculation with Pasteurella multocida (PM). Calves were euthanized on day 10 post-viral infection. Calves receiving SCFP had reduced thoracic ultrasonography scores on day 7 post-viral infection (P = 0.03) and a tendency toward reduced scores on day 10 post-viral infection (P = 0.09). Calves receiving SCFP also had less severe lung pathology scores at necropsy (P = 0.06). No differences between treatments were observed in lung viral loads (P = 0.48) or bacterial lung recovery (P = 0.34); however, there was a distinction in the lung location for PM recovery, with PM isolated more frequently from the cranial lobes in SCFP-treated calves, but more frequently from the caudal lobes of control calves. Calves treated with SCFP tended (P = 0.07) to have higher serum IL-6 concentrations following the coinfection. Calves treated with SCFP had lower concentrations of serum nonesterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyric acid compared with controls following experimental challenge (P = 0.03 and P = 0.08, respectively), suggesting metabolic changes favoring growth and development. There were no differences between groups in gene expression of insulin receptor, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), growth hormone receptor, or haptoglobin in the liver. Results from this study suggest that supplementing with SCFP may moderate the impact of a respiratory viral–bacterial coinfection on preweaned calves through metabolic and immune modifications.     

Size selectivity of Korean flounder (Glyptocephalus stelleri) by gillnets and trammel nets using an extension of SELECT for experiments with differing mesh sizes

In 2008, Korean flounder (Glyptocephalus stelleri) was designated by the Korean Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as a species for restoration in the coastal waters of Korea. However, there are currently no regulations regarding the minimum landed size of flounder, or the minimum legal mesh size used by the coastal gillnet and trammel net fisheries. Selectivity experiments for gillnets and trammel nets were conducted using commercial vessels in several areas off the eastern coast of Korea between October 2006 and June 2009. The selectivity analysis required an adaption of the SELECT method because trammel net mesh sizes were altered part-way through the experiment. Gillnet and trammel net selectivity was best described using a bi-modal selection curve. The two gears were found to have different selection curves for a given mesh size. The length of maximum retention was similar for the two gears, but the selection curve of the trammel net was substantially wider than that of the gillnet. For the largest size of mesh used in the commercial fishery (8.5 cm stretched), 50% relative retention was estimated to occur at a length of 20.4 cm for the trammel net, and 22.5 cm for the gillnet. In comparison, the length of 50% maturity for this species is approximately 26 cm. As there are currently no size restrictions on landings of Korean flounder, these results suggest that use of these gears may pose a serious threat to local stocks of this species.     

Comparative stomach contents and growth of the juvenile black seabream, Acanthopagrus schlegeli, reared in illuminated and unilluminated cages

The present study was designed to determine the positive effects of artificial illumination on the juvenile black seabream, Acanthopagrus schlegeli , by comparing stomach contents and growth between juveniles exposed to light and those maintained in the absence of light. The major prey items for juvenile black seabream reared in illuminated cages were amphipods (IRI%=50.5), copepods (IRI%=44.7) and polychaetes (IRI%=3.0), whereas those for the juveniles maintained in unilluminated cages were copepods (IRI%=96.0), amphipods (IRI%=3.4) and polychaetes (IRI%=0.6). The specific growth rates (SGR) of the juveniles reared in illuminated cages (0.99%) were significantly higher than those of the juveniles maintained in unilluminated cages (0.78%).     

Nonrandom distribution of chum salmon stocks in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean estimated using mitochondrial DNA microarray

More than 1,000 age-identified chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta collected at 23 stations in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean in June to July 2003 were used to estimate their origin of stocks using a DNA microarray developed for analyzing the mitochondrial (mt)DNA haplotypes. The observed haplotype distribution was nearly the same as that reported previously for fish collected in September 2002 and 2003 in the present surveyed areas. A conditional maximum-likelihood method for estimation of stock compositions indicated that the Japanese stocks mainly distributed in north central Bering Sea, whereas the Russian stocks were mainly in western Bering Sea. The North American stocks were abundant in eastern Bering Sea and around the Aleutian Islands. Such an area-specific stock composition was not significantly different between mature and immature fish. Thus, the combined results of 2 years suggest that the distribution of chum salmon is nonrandom in the surveyed areas in summer and autumn, and that fish of the same origin migrate together to the same area irrespective of age.     

Molecular detection of insecticide resistant alleles

The summary discusses techniques used to investigate mechanisms of resistance in the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) to several classes of pesticides.     

Geographical comparison of genetic diversity in Asian landrace wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) germplasm based on high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits

Glutenin largely determines wheat bread baking quality. As high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS), related to Glu-1 loci, determines wheat flour elasticity, it correlates strongly with bread-making quality. This study was aimed at clarifying genetic variations in bread-making characteristics between East and West Asian wheat landrace germplasms, by investigating HMW-GS allelic composition of 1068 wheat accessions. Herein, the accession number having reported HMW-GS pattern in previous studies was 855. However, the accession number with newly detected HMW-GS patterns was 114. These new HMW-GS patterns were classified into 4 types based on similarity. Eight Korean accessions with these four types were identified. Concerning landrace germplasm nature, 99 accessions showed heterogeneous patterns caused by seed mixture. The Glu-1 loci allelic variation analysis, revealed that the percentages of Glu-A1c (73.6%), Glu-B1b (60.2%), and Glu-D1a (68.5%) were highest at Glu-A1, Glu-B1, and Glu-D1 loci, respectively. The incidence of preferable alleles for bread baking was high in Chinese accessions. In bread-making quality evaluation using Glu-1 score, 24 among 35 accessions with full score were from China. The polymorphic information content index of each origin based on HMW glutenin subunit combination showed that West Asian and neighboring-regional landraces, excluding Afghanistan ones, were more diverse than East Asian landraces excluding Chinese ones. Cluster analysis based on Glu-1 allelic combination showed that many Korean, Japanese, and Afghan accessions were in the same group. However, many Chinese and other West Asian accessions were in the other group despite geographical distance.     

Comparative evaluation of MCP gene in worldwide strains of Megalocytivirus (Iridoviridae family) for early diagnostic marker

Members of the Iridoviridae family have been considered as aetiological agents of iridovirus diseases, causing fish mortalities and economic losses all over the world. Virus identification based on candidate gene sequencing is faster, more accurate and more reliable than other traditional phenotype methodologies. Iridoviridae viruses are covered by a protein shell (capsid) encoded by the important candidate gene, major capsid protein (MCP). In this study, we investigated the potential of the MCP gene for use in the diagnosis and identification of infections caused Megalocytivirus of the Iridoviridae family. We selected data of 66 Iridoviridae family isolates (53 strains of Megalocytivirus, eight strains of iridoviruses and five strains of Ranavirus) infecting various species of fish distributed all over the world. A total of 53 strains of Megalocytivirus were used for designing the complete primer sets for identifying the most hypervariable region of the MCP gene. Further, our in silico analysis of 102 sequences of related and unrelated viruses reconfirms that primer sets could identify strains more specifically and offers a useful and fast alternative for routine clinical laboratory testing. Our findings suggest that phenotype observation along with diagnosis using universal primer sets can help detect infection or carriers at an early stage.     

Liquid handling properties of hollow viscose rayon/super absorbent fibers nonwovens for reusable incontinence products

To develop reusable incontinence products, blend nonwovens of hollow viscose rayon (HVR) and super absorbent fibers (SAFs) were prepared using a needle-punching process and their liquid handling properties, such as the fluid absorption capacity, fluid retention capacity, fluid absorption under load, moisture evaporation rate, and repeated water absorption were investigated. As the SAF content in the HVR/SAF blend nonwovens was increased, the fluid absorption capacity, fluid retention capacity, and fluid absorption under load increased, whereas the moisture evaporation rate decreased. SAF had a more significant effect on fluid retention than fluid absorption. In the case of HVR/SAF(8/2) and HVR/SAF(7/3), more than 100 % of the fluid absorption capacity was retained even after 5 cycles of repeated water absorption tests. Overall, the HVR/SAF blend nonwovens are good candidates for reusable incontinence products.     

QTL mapping for capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin content in a population of Capsicum annuum ‘NB1’ × Capsicum chinense ‘Bhut Jolokia’

Capsaicinoids are pungent compounds used for industrial and medical purposes including food, medicine and cosmetics. The Indian local variety ‘Bhut Jolokia’ (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is one of the world's hottest chilli peppers. It produces more than one million Scoville heat units (SHUs) in total capsaicinoids. In this study, our goal was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for the high content of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in ‘Bhut Jolokia’. Capsicum annuum ‘NB1’, a Korean pepper inbred line containing 14 000 SHUs, was used as a maternal line. An F₂ population derived by crossing between ‘NB1’ and ‘Bhut Jolokia’ was generated to map QTLs for capsaicinoids content. A total of 234 markers, including 201 HRM, 21 SSR, 2 CAPS and 10 gene‐based markers of the capsaicinoid synthesis pathway, were mapped. The final map covered a total distance of 1175.2 cM and contained 12 linkage groups corresponding to the basic chromosome number of chilli pepper. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin content were analysed in 175 F₂ pepper fruits using the HPLC method. The maximum total capsaicinoids content was 1389 mg per 100g DW (dry weight), and the minimum content was 11 mg per 100g DW. Two QTLs (qcap3.1 and qcap6.1) for capsaicin content were identified on LG3 and LG6, and two QTLs (qhdc2.1 and qdhc2.2) for dihydrocapsaicin content were located on LG2. We did not detect QTLs for total capsaicinoids content. The QTL positions for capsaicin content were different from those for dihydrocapsaicin content. These results indicate that the complexity of selecting for more pungent chilli peppers must be considered in a chilli pepper breeding programme. The QTL‐linked markers identified here will be helpful to develop more pungent pepper varieties from ‘Bhut Jolokia’, a very hot pepper.