Effect of dietary supplementation of chitosan and galacto-mannan-oligosaccharide on serum parameters and the insulin-like growth factor-I mRNA expression in early-weaned piglets

The study was to determine effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan (COS) and galacto-mannan-oligosaccharids (GMOS) on some serum biochemical indices, serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels, and hepatic and long gissimus muscle IGF-I mRNA expression in early-weaned piglets. Twenty six Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire piglets at the age of 15 days were used. The piglets had access to creep feed during the suckling. Six piglets were sacrificed for sampling at the beginning of the study. The other 20 piglets were individually housed in metabolic cages and randomly allotted to four corn and soybean meal-based diets including the control group, the antibiotic group with 110 mg lincomycin/kg diet, the COS group containing 0.025% COS, and the GMOS group with 0.20% GMOS, respectively, in a 2-week feeding experiment. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level was reduced whereas serum total protein concentration was increased (P < 0.05) in responses to the COS and GMOS supplementation. Dietary supplementation of COS and GMOS also increased (P < 0.05) the serum GH and IGF-I levels along with enhanced hepatic and the muscle IGF-I mRNA abundance. Dietary supplementation of oligosaccharides such as COS and GMOS may improve growth and feed conversion efficiency by increasing plasma GH and IGF-I levels, in the early-weaned piglets.     

Effect of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins on serum biochemical profiles and intestinal bacterial populations in early‐weaned piglets

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with anti‐E. coli, chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY), may affect early weaned piglet (EWP) intestinal functions and enteric micro‐organisms. One hundred and forty‐eight ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) piglets, weaned at age day 21, were randomly assigned to receive one of three diets for 14 days. Treatment group one (control group) was fed the base diet. Treatment group two (antibiotics group) was fed the base diet which was supplemented with 100 ppm colistin sulphate and 15 ppm enramycin; treatment group three (IgY group) was fed the base diet which was supplemented with 500 mg/kg anti‐E. coli IgY. The study evaluated the effects on EWPs of IgY on growth, serum biochemical, inflammatory profiles and also digestion content intestinal bacterial populations. Results showed no significant difference in diarrhoea rates between IgY‐fed EWPs and antibiotic‐treated EWPs. Serum biochemical analysis showed that EWPs fed an IgY‐containing diet had both lower (p < 0.05) cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein compared to antibiotic‐treated EWPs. Escherichia coli populations measured in IgY‐fed EWP ileal contents, compared to the control group, were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Clostridium and Bifidobacterium populations were unaffected by the IgY treatment. Larger (p < 0.05) Enterococcus populations and lower (p < 0.05) expression levels of heat‐stable enterotoxin b (STb) were observed in IgY‐fed EWP caecal digesta compared to the control group. Enteric Lactobacillus significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in EWPs fed antibiotics while it was unaffected by IgY treatment. Dietary supplementation with anti‐E. coli IgY has the potential to suppress enteric E. coli growth, but not Lactobacillus, Clostridium and Bifidobacterium. This promotes and maintains a healthy EWP intestinal environment. These findings suggest that IgY may be used as an alternative to antibiotics in EWP diets.     

The production of short chain fatty acid and colonic development in weaning piglets

Weaning process widely affects the small intestinal structure and function in piglets, while the responses of large intestine to weaning stress are still obscure. The purpose of this study was to determine the developmental changes (i.e., short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations, growth parameters, crypt‐related indices and antioxidant capacity) in colon of piglet during weaning. Forty piglets were weaned at day 21 and euthanized to collect colonic tissues and digesta samples on day 0, 1, 3, 7 and 14 post‐weaning (n = 8). Piglet growth performance was improved (p < .001) on day 7 and 14 post‐weaning. The concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, isobutyrate, isovalerate and total SCFAs were higher (p < .001) during the late post‐weaning period. The mRNA abundances of SCFAs transporters were greater (p < .001) on day 7 and 14. The absolute and relative weights, absolute length and perimeter of colon were greater (p < .001) on day 7 and 14. Similarly, post‐weaning increases (p < .001) in colonic crypt depth and Ki67 positive cells numbers per crypt were observed during the same period. Colonic crypt fission indices decreased (p < .01), while total crypt numbers increased (p < .001) on day 14 after weaning. Moreover, total SCFAs concentration was significantly associated with colonic growth parameters and Ki67 cells/crypt (p < .001). In addition, catalase content was decreased on day 3, 7, and 14, whereas, the concentrations of total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD) and manganese‐containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) were higher (p < .05) on day 1 and 3 post‐weaning. These results showed that weaning process has a significant effect on colonic growth and development, which might be associated with the change of SCFAs concentrations in colon.     

Combined microRNAome and transcriptome analysis of follicular phase and luteal phase in porcine ovaries

The aim of this study was to explore the expression difference of miRNAs and mRNAs between the follicular phase (FP) and luteal phase (LP) in porcine ovaries and provide a theoretical basis for the research on mammalian reproductive regulation. RNA‐Seq and miRNA‐Seq were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs (DEMs) between the FP and LP in ovaries of six sows (3‐year‐old Yorkshire pigs with similar weights and same parities). Bioinformatic analysis was used to screen potential genes and miRNAs related to porcine ovarian function. Real‐time qualitative PCR was used to validate the sequencing results. RNA‐Seq results showed that 3,078 genes were up‐regulated, and 1,444 genes were down‐regulated in the LP compared with the FP, and DEGs were significantly enriched in 242 Gene Ontology (GO) terms and 33 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. miRNA‐Seq identified 112 DEMs, of which 25 were up‐regulated and 87 were down‐regulated in the LP compared with the FP. We obtained 186 intersection genes (IGs) between the 4,522 DEGs and 2,444 target genes predicted from the 112 DEMs. After constructing a miRNA‐gene‐pathway network, we identified key miRNAs and genes including miR‐17‐3p, miR‐214, miR‐221‐5p, miR‐125b, FGF1, YWHAG, YWHAZ, FDFT1 and DHCR24, which are enriched in Hippo and PI3K‐Akt signalling pathways, and various metabolic pathways. These results indicate that these key genes and miRNAs may play important roles in the developmental transition from FP to LP in porcine ovaries and represent candidate targets for further study.     

病毒性出血性败血症病毒液相芯片检测技术的建立

为建立检测病毒性出血性败血症病毒（VHSV）的液相芯片快速检测技术,用DNAStar软件对GenBank中VHSV的G基因进行序列分析,设计VHSV特异性引物并标记生物素。探针氨基化修饰并与荧光编码微球偶联后与VHSV RT-PCR产物杂交反应,用液相芯片仪器检测荧光信号。结果表明液相芯片检测体系能够正确检出VHSV。病毒核酸的最低检出量为10pg,检测特异性高,说明初步建立了检测VHSV的液相芯片技术,为VHSV的检测提供了新方法。     

Influence of starch sources and dietary protein levels on intestinal functionality and intestinal mucosal amino acids catabolism in broiler chickens

Background: There is growing interest in carbohydrate and protein nutrition to enhance the efficiency of animal production. Reduced-crude protein diets depress environmental pollution and feeding cost, but the challenge to their adoption is maintaining digestive function and growth performance of birds. The present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of different dietary starch sources and protein levels on intestinal functionality and mucosal amino acid catabolism.Methods: Six dietary treatments, based on maize and soybean meal, were offered to 360 AA+male chicks from 6 to 35 d post-hatch as a 3 × 2 factorial array. Either waxy rice or amylose was added to a conventional maize-soy diet to provide three sources of starch with different digestion rates and relatively high and low dietary protein levels. Growth performance, parameters of intestinal functionality and concentrations of free amino acid in the portal circulation were determined.Results: In the grower phase, starch source influenced(P 0.02) weight gain as diets containing amylose supported significantly higher weight gains than waxy rice. Significant increase of ileal ATP concentrations and Na+/K+-ATPase activity were found in amylose treatment. Also, amylose decreased BrdU positive cell numbers and down-regulated m RNA expression for CASP-3. GOT activity in the ileum was higher(P 0.01) in birds offered low protein diets and there was a trend(P = 0.057) for waxy rice as a starch source to increase ileal GOT activities. There was a significant influence on the concentration of seventeen amino acids in the portal circulation with tryptophan the one exception. Waxy rice as a starch source generated 13.6% and 22.4% numerically higher concentrations of non-essential amino acids than maize and amylose, respectively.Conclusions: Amino acid catabolism in the gut mucosa is subject to nutritional regulation. Given that amino acids can be spared from catabolism in the gut mucosa by supplementation of amylose, it follows their post-enteral availability would be improved and intestinal energy would be derived more efficiently from glucose.     

宁夏地区26个主栽苜蓿品种的抗蓟马能力评价

运用为害指数法,对宁夏地区主栽的26个苜蓿品种进行了室内蓟马抗性评价试验。田间蓟马种类以牛角花齿蓟马(Odontothrips loti)为主,占混合种群数量的75%,室内试虫群体结构与大田相仿。结果表明:供试26个苜蓿品种中,先行者、甘农9号、WL298HQ、耐盐之星、三得利5个品种的为害指数小于25.00%,对蓟马表现出较强的抗性;而皇后、盐宝、阿迪娜、WL354HQ 4个品种为害指数大于40.00%,对蓟马表现出较弱的抗性。同时从株高、分枝数及干草产量等方面对不同苜蓿品种抗性进行了初步研究。试验表明,蓟马为害后,抗性较强的苜蓿品种其株高绝对增长率、分枝相对增长率及干草产量损失率均高于抗性较弱的苜蓿品种。     

日粮添加阿拉伯木聚糖酶对仔猪血液生化指标和生长性能的影响

探索阿拉伯木聚糖酶对日粮中非淀粉多糖的作用效果。试验选取16头平均体重(7.74±1.03)kg的28日龄长×大断奶仔猪,分为基础日粮(对照日粮组)和基础日粮+1.0 g/kg阿拉伯木聚糖酶(试验日粮组),分别在试验第12 d、第24 d测定各组内脏器官重量、血液生化指标。试验结果表明,在试验第24 d试验日粮组日增重明显高于对照日粮组,且有显著性差异(P<0.05);在不同的试验时期,试验日粮组对内脏器官绝对重量的影响较大,对相对重量的影响较小,对脾脏的影响无显著性差异(P>0.05);在不同试验时间,两组的血清IgGI、gM、肌酐、血糖、血氨、甘油三酯、总蛋白的含量均无显著性差异(P>0.05),第24 d试验日粮组低密度脂蛋白含量均高于其他各组,且有显著性差异(P<0.05),对照日粮组低密度脂蛋白含量高于第12 d,且有显著性差异(P<0.05),试验日粮组血清尿素氮含量明显低于对照组,且在试验第12 d、第24 d时两组间均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。日粮添加阿拉伯木聚糖酶能提高断奶仔猪日增重,从而影响仔猪生长性能和相关血液生化指标。     

H3N2亚型猪流感病毒NS1基因的克隆表达及间接ELISA检测方法的建立

采用RT-PCR方法成功扩增了H3N2亚型猪流感病毒(Swine influenza virus,SIV)四川分离株(A/Swine/Sichuan/01/2006)的NS1基因,将其克隆于原核表达载体pET-32a(+)中,构建了重组质粒pET32-NS1.将该质粒转化进大肠杆菌RosettaTM,经终浓度为0.5 mmol/L的IPTG诱导表达后,通过SDS-PAGE电泳表明融合的NS1蛋白得到了大量的表达,该融合蛋白的相对分子质量约为43 500.Western-blotting结果显示该蛋白能与阳性血清发生特异性反应具有很好的免疫反应原性.结果表明,所建立的ELISA方法与几种常见猪群传染病病原无交叉反应,具有较好的特异性、敏感性和重复性,可进一步优化应用于临床SIV的检测.     

Immunoadjuvant activities of a recombinant chicken IL-12 in chickens vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus recombinant HN protein

Recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV/HN) expressing Newcastle disease virus (NDV) HN gene and rFPV/HN/chIL-12 co-expressing chicken IL-12 (chIL-12) and HN (rHN/chIL-12) genes have been characterized. rHN/chIL-12 or rchIL-12, expressed by our previous construct rFPV/chIL-12, co-administered with rHN was assessed for adjuvant activities of chIL-12. Chickens were vaccinated with various amounts of rHN/chIL-12 mixed with mineral oil (MO), intramuscularly. Levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody production depended on the concentration of the injected rHN or rHN/chIL-12. The lower HI antibody titers were obtained in chicken groups rHN/chIL-12/7-rHN/chIL-12/9, receiving 60ng rHN/8ng chIL-12 with MO, 30ng rHN/4ng chIL-12 with MO or 15ng rHN/2ng chIL-12 with MO, respectively, compared to those in chicken groups rHN/7-rHN/9, receiving rHN with MO alone. However, chickens in group rHN/chIL-12/7 or rHN/chIL-12/8 and rHN with MO alone showed the same effective protection. Chicken group rHN/chIL-12/9 was even more protective than that in group rHN/9. When rchIL-12 was co-injected with 15ng rHN plus MO, chickens produced low levels of HI antibody titers; while higher levels of IFN-γ production and an effective protection rate (83%) were obtained. On the other hand, low levels of IFN-γ production and low protection response (50%) were obtained in chickens injected with rHN with MO alone. Taken together, when the concentration of rHN decreased to certain levels, rchIL-12 reduced HI antibody production. The increase in the induction of IFN-γ production might suggest the enhancement of the cell-mediated immunity which conferred the protection from the NDV challenge.