禽腺病毒血清4型感染鸡组织中NLRP3基因转录水平的实时荧光定量PCR分析

旨在分析禽腺病毒血清4型（FAdV-4）感染鸡组织中NLRP3基因的转录水平,本研究设计鸡NLRP3特异性引物,利用RT-PCR扩增NLRP3基因180 bp片段并克隆至pMD-18T载体,制备重组质粒pMD-18T-NLRP3。以pMD-18T-NLRP3质粒作为标准品进行荧光定量PCR并建立标准曲线。通过反应条件优化,成功建立了检测NLRP3基因的实时荧光定量PCR方法,并利用该方法对致病性FAdV-4感染鸡组织中NLRP3基因的转录水平进行了分析。结果显示,所设计的NLRP3引物可特异性扩增鸡NLRP3基因,建立的实时荧光定量PCR对鸡NLRP3标准质粒的扩增曲线良好,标准品的拷贝数与Cq值呈现良好的线性关系。与对照组相比,NLRP3分子在FAdV-4感染鸡肝和脾中的转录水平极显著高于对照组（P<0.001）,在盲肠扁桃体和法氏囊的表达显著高于对照组（P<0.01）。本研究所建立的鸡NLRP3基因SYBR Green Ⅰ实时荧光定量PCR可以检测FAdV-4感染鸡不同组织中NLRP3的转录水平;致病性FAdV-4感染所造成的组织炎症损伤与NLRP3分子密切相关。     

microRNA-146a通过靶向MAPK4和Myosin Va基因调控羊驼黑色素细胞增殖、迁移

旨在研究microRNA-146a(miR-146a)对羊驼黑色素细胞增殖和迁移的调控及其分子机制。本研究使用双荧光素酶试验验证MAPK4和Myosin Va是miR-146a的靶基因;利用荧光定量PCR和蛋白质免疫印迹试验检测在羊驼黑色素细胞中过表达miR-146a对相关下游基因表达的影响;利用CCK8和Transwell检测miR-146a过表达对羊驼黑色素细胞增殖和迁移的影响。结果显示,与对照组相比,将miR-146a和MAPK4或Myosin Va共转染293T细胞,双荧光素酶活性分别极显著下降36%和30%(P<0.001);MAPK4和Myosin Va基因转录水平分别极显著下调67%和47%(P<0.001,P<0.01);蛋白质水平的表达量分别显著或极显著下调38%和69%(P<0.05,P<0.01);增殖和迁移相关的基因CREB、MITF、MLPH和Rab27a在转录水平和蛋白水平的表达均极显著下调(P<0.01,P<0.001);CCK8和Transwell结果显示,过表达miR-146a使羊驼黑色素细胞的增殖和迁移能力极显著下调(P<0.01)。综上所述,miR-146a通过靶向调控MAPK4和Myosin Va,使增殖和迁移相关的基因MEK1、CREB、MITF、MLPH和Rab27a的表达下调,从而对羊驼黑色素细胞的增殖和迁移起抑制作用。     

AR regulates porcine immature Sertoli cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a

Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous epithelium which directly contact with germ cells. Sertoli cells exhibit polarized alignment at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules to maintain the microenvironment for growth and development of germ cells, and therefore play a crucial role in spermatogenesis. Androgens exert their action through androgen receptor (AR) and AR signalling in the testis is essential for maintenance of spermatogonial numbers, blood–testis barrier integrity, completion of meiosis, adhesion of spermatids and spermiation. In the present study, we demonstrated that AR gene could promote the proliferation of immature porcine Sertoli cells (ST cells) and the cell cycle procession, and accelerate the transition from G1 phase into S phase in ST cells. Meanwhile, miR-124a could affect the proliferation and cell cycle procession of ST cells by targeting 3′-UTR of AR gene. Furthermore, AR bound to the RNF4 via AR DNA-binding domain (DBD) and we verified that RNF4 was necessary for AR to regulate the growth of ST cells. Above all, this study suggests that AR regulates ST cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a, which may help us to further understand the function of AR in spermatogenesis.     

扎龙保护区圈养亚成体丹顶鹤越冬期行为的研究

为了解扎龙保护区圈养群体亚成体丹顶鹤越冬期越冬行为策略,于2014年11月至2015年3月采用目标取样法和瞬时记录法对圈养2013年和2014年亚成体丹顶鹤进行研究。结果表明,圈养亚成体丹顶鹤越冬期主要以取食行为为主(34.14%),其次为站立行为(15.77%);双因素方差分析显示,温度对越冬期各行为均有显著影响,年龄仅对玩耍行为有显著影响,Pearson相关性分析,温度与取食和游走行为显著正相关,与站立和静栖显著负相关,年龄与玩耍行为显著正相关。表明圈养亚成体丹顶鹤越冬期温度升高时取食和运动,温度降低时站立和静栖,2岁龄亚成体丹顶鹤相较于1岁龄更喜欢玩耍。     

Improvement of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for equine herpesvirus type 4 by using a synthetic-peptide 24-mer repeat sequence of glycoprotein G as an antigen

To increase the sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) that uses a 12-mer peptide of glycoprotein G (gG4-12-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSL) [4], we used a longer peptide consisting of a 24-mer repeat sequence (gG4-24-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSLMLNVQHDDSIHT) as an antigen. Sera of horses experimentally infected with EHV-4 reacted much more strongly to the gG4-24-mer peptide than to the gG4-12-mer peptide. We used peptide ELISAs to test paired sera from horses naturally infected with EHV-4 (n=40). gG4-24-mer ELISA detected 37 positive samples (92.5%), whereas gG4-12-mer ELISA detected only 28 (70.0%). gG4-24-mer ELISA was much more sensitive than gG4-12-mer ELISA.     

Effects of different dl‐selenomethionine and sodium selenite levels on growth performance,immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers

This trial was conducted in a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of different dl ‐selenomethionine (dl ‐Se‐Met) and sodium selenite (SS) levels on growth performance, immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers. A total of 840 Ross 308 broilers (7 days old) were allocated by body weight to seven treatments (three replicates of 40 birds each treatment) including (1) basal diet (containing 0.04 mg of selenium (Se)/kg; control) without supplementary Se; (2, 3 and 4) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as SS; (5, 6 and 7) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as dl ‐Se‐Met. The experiment lasted 42 days. The results revealed that dietary Se supplementation improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain, feed efficiency, immune organ index, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations and decreased (p < 0.01) thyroxine (T₄)/T₃ ratio in serum compared with the control. Broilers receiving the dl ‐Se‐Met‐supplemented diets had higher (p < 0.05) feed efficiency, thymus index, the amounts of IgA, IgG, IgM and T₃ as well as lower (p < 0.05) serum T₄ concentrations and T₄/T₃ ratio than those consuming the SS‐supplemented diets. Serum IgA and IgM levels of broilers fed 0.15 mg Se/kg were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of broilers fed 0.05 or 0.25 mg Se/kg. In summary, we concluded that dl ‐Se‐Met is more effective than SS in increasing immunity and promoting conversion of T₄ to T₃, thus providing an effective way to improve the growth performance of broilers. Besides, based on a consideration of all experiment indices, 0.15 mg Se/kg was suggested to be the optimal level of Se supplementation under the conditions of this study.     

Comparison of sampling sites and detection methods for Haemophilus parasuis

Objective To improve the isolation rate and identification procedures for Haemophilus parasuis from pig tissues. Design Thirteen sampling sites and up to three methods were used to confirm the presence of H. parasuis in pigs after experimental challenge. Procedure Colostrum‐deprived, naturally farrowed pigs were challenged intratracheally with H parasuis serovar 12 or 4. Samples taken during necropsy were either inoculated onto culture plates, processed directly for PCR or enriched prior to being processed for PCR. The recovery of H parasuis from different sampling sites and using different sampling methods was compared for each serovar. Results H parasuis was recovered from several sample sites for all serovar 12 challenged pigs, while the trachea was the only positive site for all pigs following serovar 4 challenge. The method of solid medium culture of swabs, and confirmation of the identity of cultured bacteria by PCR, resulted in 38% and 14% more positive results on a site basis for serovars 12 and 4, retrospectively, than direct PCR on the swabs. This difference was significant in the serovar 12 challenge. Conclusion Conventional culture proved to be more effective in detecting H parasuis than direct PCR or PCR on enrichment broths. For subacute (serovar 4) infections, the most successful sites for culture or direct PCR were pleural fluid, peritoneal fibrin and fluid, lung and pericardial fluid. For acute (serovar 12) infections, the best sites were lung, heart blood, affected joints and brain. The methodologies and key sampling sites identified in this study will enable improved isolation of H parasuis and aid the diagnosis of Glässer's disease.