Influence of swab material on the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae by real-time PCR

Recent reports have shown an increased recovery of cells from flocked nylon swabs which may improve the specimen quality and the real sensitivity of diagnostic tests in a clinical setting. In this study, the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS), using dry swabs of different materials (nylon flocked, cotton, and polyester), was investigated using real-time TaqMan PCR protocols. Different types of samples, including dilutions of pure broth cultures of MG and MS as well as swabs from tracheas of experimentally infected chickens and field cases of infection, were analyzed. There were no statistical differences in real-time PCR results among the different swab types (P < 0.05), indicating that this is not likely to be a significant factor in MG and MS detection by this method.     

Characterization of platelet and soluble-porcine P-selectin (CD62P)

P-selectin (CD62P), an adhesion molecule expressed on activated endothelial cells and platelets, mediates the initial attachment of leukocytes to the stimulated endothelium upon inflammation and the interaction between leukocytes and platelets. A soluble form of P-selectin is present in the serum of healthy individuals as a circulating protein and high levels have been described in various pathological situations. The aim of this study was to characterize P-selectin on porcine platelets and investigate the soluble form of this protein, which are uncharacterized in several animal species including pigs. A new monoclonal antibody (mAb) (SwPsel.1.9) against porcine P-selectin was produced using a mouse cell line transfected with pig P-selectin cDNA. This mAb together with a previously described mAb (P-sel.KO.2.5), produced in our laboratory, was used to develop an ELISA to quantify porcine P-selectin. No significant levels of soluble-porcine P-selectin were observed in healthy animals. However, the total amount of P-selectin measured in porcine platelets was similar to that found in humans. Increased levels of this circulating protein were detected in the plasma from pigs after allograft implantation. In vitro, P-selectin expression on platelet membrane was rapidly induced by PMA and thrombin, as assessed by flow cytometry. However, these activators did not stimulate the release of soluble P-selectin. Analysis of the proteolytic cleavage of this protein from COS-transfected cells revealed that PMA treatment failed to cause the shedding of membrane-bound P-selectin. These data suggest that porcine P-selectin is a suitable marker for inflammation and that the mechanism involved in the generation of circulating P-selectin is not proteolytic release.     

Genetic analysis of landscape connectivity in tree populations

Genetic connectivity in plant populations is determined by gene movement within and among populations. When populations become genetically isolated, they are at risk of loss of genetic diversity that is critical to the long-term survival of populations. Anthropogenic landscape change and habitat fragmentation have become so pervasive that they may threaten the genetic connectivity of many plant species. The theoretical consequences of such changes are generally understood, but it is not immediately apparent how concerned we should be for real organisms, distributed across real landscapes. Our goals here are to describe how one can study gene movement of both pollen and seeds in the context of changing landscapes and to explain what we have learned so far. In the first part, we will cover methods of describing pollen movement and then review evidence for the impact of fragmentation in terms of both the level of pollen flow into populations and the genetic diversity of the resulting progeny. In the second part, we will describe methods for contemporary seed movement, and describe findings about gene flow and genetic diversity resulting from seed movement. Evidence for pollen flow suggests high connectivity, but it appears that seed dispersal into fragments may create genetic bottlenecks due to limited seed sources. Future work should address the interaction of pollen and seed flow and attention needs to be paid to both gene flow and the diversity of the incoming gene pool. Moreover, if future work is to model the impact of changing landscapes on propagule movement, with all of its ensuing consequences for genetic connectivity and demographic processes, we will need an effective integration of population genetics and landscape ecology.     

Effects of a program of human interaction and alterations in diet composition on activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in dogs housed in a public animal shelter

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a program of human interaction or alterations in diet composition would alter activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in dogs housed in an animal shelter. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 40 dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were (n = 20) or were not (20) enrolled in a program of regular supplemental human interaction (20 min/d, 5 d/wk, for 8 weeks) involving stroking, massaging, and behavioral training. In addition, half the dogs in each group were fed a typical maintenance-type diet, and the other half were fed a premium diet. Plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations were measured during weeks 0, 2, 4, and 8 and before and after exposure to a battery of novel situations during weeks 0 and 8. RESULTS: Plasma cortisol concentration was significantly decreased by week 2, but plasma ACTH concentration was not significantly decreased until week 8 and then only in dogs fed the premium diet. Following exposure to novel situations, plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations were significantly increased. However, during week 8, dogs enrolled in the program of human interaction had significantly lower increases in cortisol concentration than did dogs not enrolled in the program. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that both a program of human interaction and alterations in diet composition have moderating effects on activity of the HPA axis in dogs housed in an animal shelter and that activity of the HPA axis may be increased for a longer period during shelter housing than measurement of plasma cortisol concentration alone would suggest.     

金色的生活

Elizabeth Anne是个充满活力、爱玩的美国女孩。今年是她在高中的最后一年。每天放学回家,她都盼望着跟她的金毛巡回猎犬——多克一起做作业。三年前,Elizabeth家养了多克,从那一天起多克就成为一家人生活中不可缺少的一份子。多克是他们养的第二只金毛巡回猎犬,因为自从养了金毛她家人就爱上了这个品种,所以决定再要一只。Elizabeth也说,她太爱金毛巡回猎犬了,这种狗不仅喜欢与人亲近而且十分顽皮有趣。家里有多克真是一件幸福的事!而对于多克——这个家庭的一员,同样享受着与Elizabeth以及她的家人在     

Genetic evidence for multi-event imports of avian influenza virus A (H5N1) into Bavaria, Germany.

The almost simultaneous initial detections of avian influenza A H5N1 viruses in central Europe in February 2006, at a time devoid of migratory bird activity, raised the question of the origin of these viruses. This report presents molecular data from Europe providing evidence for multiple and spatially overlapping H5N1 introductions into Bavaria, Germany.     

Phylogenetic analysis of cercospora and mycosphaerella based on the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA

ABSTRACT Most of the 3,000 named species in the genus Cercospora have no known sexual stage, although a Mycosphaerella teleomorph has been identified for a few. Mycosphaerella is an extremely large and important genus of plant pathogens, with more than 1,800 named species and at least 43 associated anamorph genera. The goal of this research was to perform a large-scale phylogenetic analysis to test hypotheses about the past evolutionary history of Cercospora and Mycosphaerella. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data (ITS1, 5.8S rRNA gene, ITS2), the genus Mycosphaerella is monophyletic. In contrast, many anamorph genera within Mycosphaerella were polyphyletic and were not useful for grouping species. One exception was Cercospora, which formed a highly supported monophyletic group. Most Cercospora species from cereal crops formed a subgroup within the main Cercospora cluster. Only species within the Cercospora cluster produced the toxin cercosporin, suggesting that the ability to produce this compound had a single evolutionary origin. Intraspecific variation for 25 taxa in the Mycosphaerella clade averaged 1.7 nucleotides (nts) in the ITS region. Thus, isolates with ITS sequences that differ by two or more nucleotides may be distinct species. ITS sequences of groups I and II of the gray leaf spot pathogen Cercospora zeae-maydis differed by 7 nts and clearly represent different species. There were 6.5 nt differences on average between the ITS sequences of the sorghum pathogen Cercospora sorghi and the maize pathogen Cercospora sorghi var. maydis, indicating that the latter is a separate species and not simply a variety of Cercospora sorghi. The large monophyletic Mycosphaerella cluster contained a number of anamorph genera with no known teleomorph associations. Therefore, the number of anamorph genera related to Mycosphaerella may be much larger than suspected previously.