Replication of neurovirulent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in CD172a+ monocytic cells

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses. Two pathotypes of EHV-1 strains are circulating in the field: neurovirulent (N) and non-neurovirulent (NN). For both strains, CD172a⁺ monocytic cells are one of the main carrier cells of EHV-1 during primary infection, allowing the virus to invade the horse’s body. Recently, we showed that EHV-1 NN strains showed a restricted and delayed replication in CD172a⁺ cells. Here we characterize the in vitro replication kinetics of two EHV-1 N strains in CD172a⁺ cells and investigate if the replication of these strains is similarly silenced as shown for EHV-1 NN strains. We found that EHV-1 N replication was restricted to 7–8% in CD172a⁺ cells compared to 100% in control RK-13 cells. EHV-1 N replication was not delayed in CD172a⁺ cells but virus production was significant lower (10^3.0 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells) than in RK-13 cells (10^8.5 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells). Approximately 0.04% of CD172a⁺ cells produced and transmitted infectious EHV-1 to neighbour cells compared to 65% of RK-13 cells. Unlike what we observed for the NN strain, pretreatment of CD172a⁺ cells with histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) did not influence the replication of EHV-1 N strains in these cells. Overall, these results show that the EHV-1 replication of N strains in CD172a⁺ cells differs from that observed for NN strains, which may contribute to their different pathogeneses in vivo.     

Mapping the spatial distribution of shade provision of street trees in Boston using Google Street View panoramas

Street trees provide shade and increase human thermal comfort during hot summer. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of shade provision of street trees in Boston, Massachusetts. The sky view factor (SVF), which influences the solar radiation to the ground and affects human thermal comfort, was used to indicate the contribution of street trees on shade provision. Google Street View (GSV) panoramas were used to calculate the photographic method based SVF (SVF_P), with the consideration of all kinds of obstructions within street canyons. A building height model was used to calculate the simulation based SVF (SVFs), with consideration of obstruction of building blocks only. Considering the fact that street trees and building blocks are the two major obstructions of radiation within street canyons, therefore, the difference between the two SVF estimation results can be considered as the shade provision of street trees. The results show that street trees help to decrease the SVF by 24.61% in Boston, Massachusetts. The shading level varies spatially in the study area. Generally, the southwestern area has much higher shading level than the north and the east. We further explored the shading variation among different socioeconomic groups in the study area. Result shows that Hispanics tend to live in neighborhoods with lower shading level. This study can help to provide a reference for future urban greening projects for global climate change adaption.     

Inhibitory effect of berberine on the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes

AIM: To investigate the effect of berberine (Ber) on the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes and its mechanism of action. METHODS: Whole peripheral blood from normal subjects was stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or phorbol ester (PDB) plus ionomycin (Ion) and the expression levels of CD69 and CD25 were evaluated with flow cytometry after the staining with appropriate fluorescent monoclonal antibody. The distribution of cell cycles was analyzed by propidium iodide staining and dead cells by 7-aminoactinomycin live staining. RESULTS: 100 μmol/L and 50 μmol/L of Ber had significant inhibition of the expression of CD69 on T cells stimulated with PDB plus Ion or PHA, while effect of 25 μmol/L Ber was not significant. And as time of action extended, the extent of inhibition decreased. For the expression of CD25, Ber at the concentrations as above all exerted significant inhibitory effect in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Ber could block lymphocytes cell cycle progression from G₀/G₁ phase to S and G₂/M phase without phase specificity. Besides, live staining analysis revealed that Ber did not have significant cytotoxicity on lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Ber significantly inhibits the expression of early and mid activation antigens of T cells and also blocks the progression of lymphocytes cell cycles. These results suggest that Ber exerts immunosuppression effect through inhibiting the activation and proliferation of T cells.     

山药新品种‘桂淮6 号’

 ‘桂淮6 号’是从广西山药资源中选育而得。该品种早熟, 高产, 铁、锌含量高, 分别达20.2 mg/ kg 和12.0 mg/ kg , 薯皮鲜红色。     

Effects of blocking the expression of PKARⅠβ gene with antisense nucleotide on Shuang long-Jie gu Pill (SLJGP) containing serum osteoblast proliferation

AIM: To further investigate the role of PKARⅠβ in the growth-promoting effects of shuang long Jiegu pill (SLJGP), a Chinese medicine, on cultured osteoblasts. METHODS: pcDNA- antiPKARⅠβ, a recombinant expressing the antisense sequence of PKARⅠβ, was constructed and transformed HFOB1.19 by lipofectin. MTT was undertaken to assess the cell growth with the treatment of high dosage of SLJGP containing serum. RESULTS: Antisense gene blocked the growth-promoting effects of SLJGP containing serum on HFOB1.19. CONCLUSION: The function of SLJGP is closely related to cAMP-dependent protein kinase A.     

鸡呼吸道传染病基因芯片诊断方法的建立

随着养禽业集约化程度的不断提高,鸡呼吸系统疾病的发生呈逐年上升趋势.而且大多数的呼吸道疾病不是单一病原感染,而是多种病原混合感染,从临床上难以及时鉴别诊断,延误防治时机,从而给养禽业造成巨大的经济损失.因此,禽呼吸道疾病已经成为生产和研究中的一类重要疾病.目前,禽呼吸系统疾病的诊断方法主要有病毒分离、血凝（HA）、血凝抑制（HI）、琼脂扩散、ELISA、PCR等,但是传统的检测方法灵敏度较低,而且当病原发生变异或感染禽处在潜伏期时会造成误诊.PCR方法每次只能检测一种病毒,费时费力.采用基因芯片的方法可以快速、准确地同步检测多种病原体,且需要样品量少、灵敏、特异、快速、费用低廉,将生物芯片技术用于禽呼吸道疾病诊断意义重大.     

蝴蝶兰切花花被不同开放阶段酶活性的变化

以蝴蝶兰鲜切花为试材,对切花花被不同生理阶段3种酶活性的变化进行测量分析,以期为蝴蝶兰切花寿命的延长提供参考依据。结果表明:萼片和花瓣中的过氧化物酶(POD)从花苞期到半开期酶活性变化不明显,从半开期到衰老期酶活性显著升高。花瓣中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)从花苞期到半开期酶活性升高,从半开期到衰老期酶活性显著降低;萼片中的超氧化物歧化酶活性变化不显著但也呈先上升后下降趋势。花瓣中的中性蛋白酶(NP)从花苞期到半开期酶活性呈上升趋势,半开期到盛开期呈下降趋势,盛开期到衰老期呈上升趋势;花萼中的中性蛋白酶从花苞期到盛开期酶活性呈下降趋势,从盛开期到衰老期呈上升趋势;总体来看中性蛋白酶的活性呈先下降后上升趋势。     

再生铝企业周边农田土壤与农作物重金属含量特征分析

为探究再生铝企业群周边农田土壤及作物的污染状况,通过现场采样及室内测试,对企业周边土壤及农作物中7种重金属元素的含量进行分析,应用空间插值法对土壤重金属的空间分布特征进行研究。结果表明,研究区域土壤中Cd含量相对较高,含量范围为0.11~1.86 mg·kg^-1,其平均值超过了我国土壤污染风险筛选值标准,Cu、Cr、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni和As 7种元素的平均值分别达到河北省背景值的1.9、1.1、1.4、1.5、4.1、0.91倍和0.39倍,Cd元素存在强生态风险。从空间分布特征来看,土壤中Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn 4种元素均表现出以企业为中心向四周逐渐递减的分布趋势,且高值分布范围相对其他金属较广。小麦籽粒中Cu、Zn、Cd、Cr和Pb 5种元素存在不同程度的超标现象,最严重的为元素Pb,其含量范围为0.02~1.06 mg·kg^-1,与食品安全国家标准相比,最大超标倍数达到5.3倍,其高值样品分布在研究区北部。玉米籽粒也发现Cr、Zn、Ni超标的现象,Cr超标较其他重金属严重,其含量范围为0.16~1.32 mg·kg^-1。研究表明,再生铝企业活动对周边农田土壤和农作物造成多种重金属污染威胁,需要引起重视。     

Decreasing of methanogenic activity in paddy fields via lowering ponding water temperature: A modeling investigation

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas and the huge CH₄ fluxes emitted from paddy fields can prejudice the eco-compatibility of rice cultivation. CH₄ production in submerged rice crops is known to be highly influenced by water temperature. Hence, lowering ponding water temperature (LPWT) could be an option to mitigate CH₄ emissions from paddy environments when it is possible either to irrigate with slightly colder water or to increase ponding water depth. However, paddy soil is a complex environment in which many processes are simultaneously influenced by temperature, leading to a difficult prediction of LPWT effects. For this reason, LPWT efficiency is here theoretically investigated with a one-dimensional process-based model that simulates the vertical and temporal dynamics of water temperature in soil and the fate of chemical compounds that influence CH₄ emissions. The model is validated with literature measured data of CH₄ emissions from a paddy field under time-variable temperature regime. Based on modeling results, LPWT appears promising since the simulated reduction of CH₄ emissions reaches about −12% and −49% for an LPWT equal to −5 °C during the ripening stage only (last 30 days of growing season, when rice is less sensitive to temperature variations) and −2 °C over the whole growing season, respectively. LPWT affects CH₄ emissions either directly (decreasing methanogenic activity), indirectly (decreasing activity of bacteria using alternative electron acceptors), or both. The encouraging results provide the theoretical ground for further laboratory and field studies aimed to investigate the LPWT feasibility in paddy environments.