The complete mitochondrial genome and molecular phylogeny of Lueyang black-bone chicken

ABSTRACT

1. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the mitochondrial genome and molecular phylogeny of Lueyang black-bone chicken, and provide molecule base to preserve and explore the specific chicken strain.

2. Based on sequencing and clustering, the complete mitochondrial DNA map and sequences of Lueyang black-bone chicken were revealed, and two phylogenetic trees of Lueyang black-bone chickens based on D-loop sequences and the mitochondrial genome were constructed.

3. The results showed that the complete mitochondrial genome of Lueyang black-bone chickens is 16,784bp in size, consisting of 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and one non-coding control region. The base composition of the complete mtDNA sequence is 30.28% for A, 23.78% for T, 32.42% for C, 13.52% for G. Additionally, 10 haplotypes of D-loop sequences in 32 Lueyang black-bone chickens were detected, which were distributed into 4 clades (A, B, C and E).

4. It was concluded that genetic diversity is wide in Lueyang black-bone chickens, and this strain has multiple maternal origins from different regions in China and neighbouring regions.     

Effects of p.o. administered xylitol in cats

Xylitol is commonly used as sugar substitute in households. While it has numerous beneficial effects on human health, it is highly toxic to dogs. The goal of this study was to examine whether xylitol has similar deleterious effects, such as hypoglycaemia and acute hepatic failure, on cats. Our research included six healthy middle‐aged cats. Xylitol was dissolved in deionized water and administered p.o. at three doses (100, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight). These dosages have been considered toxic and can cause liver failure or even death in dogs. After every xylitol administration, the basic health status and the blood glucose of cats were observed regularly. Additionally, prior to and 6, 24 and 72 hr after xylitol administration, blood samples were taken to check complete blood count, clinical biochemical parameters and enzymes such as ALT, ALKP, GGT, GLDH, bile acids, BUN, creatinine, phosphate, total protein, albumin, sodium and potassium. There were no significant changes (p > .05) in any of the haematological or biochemical parameters. Blood glucose concentrations did not show any significant alterations, except at 1,000 mg/kg dose, where a mild but significant increase was observed, but it was in physiological range. Based on our results, xylitol did not induce toxic effects on cats.     

Genomewide association study reveals novel quantitative trait loci associated with resistance towards Septoria tritici blotch in North European winter wheat

Fungal diseases are a major constraint for wheat production. Effective disease resistance is essential for ensuring a high production quality and yield. One of the most severe fungal diseases of wheat is Septoria tritici blotch (STB), which influences wheat production across the world. In this study, genomewide association mapping was used to identify new chromosomal regions on the wheat genome conferring effective resistance towards STB. A winter wheat population of 164 North European varieties and breeding lines was genotyped with 15K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) wheat array. The varieties were evaluated for STB in field trials at three locations in Denmark and across 3 years. The association analysis revealed four quantitative trait loci, on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 5D and 7A, highly associated with STB resistance. By comparing varieties containing several quantitative trait loci (QTL) with varieties containing none of the found QTL, a significant difference was found in the mean disease score. This indicates that an effective resistance can be obtained by pyramiding several QTL.     

Improvements of TKC Technology Accelerate Isolation of Transgene-Free CRISPR/Cas9-Edited Rice Plants

Elimination of the CRISPR/Cas9 constructs in edited plants is a prerequisite for assessing genetic stability, conducting phenotypic characterization, and applying for commercialization of the plants. However, removal of the CRISPR/Cas9 transgenes by genetic segregation and by backcross is laborious and time consuming. We previously reported the development of the transgene killer CRISPR (TKC) technology that uses a pair of suicide genes to trigger self-elimination of the transgenes without compromising gene editing efficiency. The TKC technology enables isolation of transgene-free CRISPR-edited plants within a single generation, greatly accelerating crop improvements. Here, we presented two new TKC vectors that show great efficiency in both editing the target gene and in undergoing self-elimination of the transgenes. The new vectors replaced the CaMV35S promoter used in our previous TKC vector with two rice promoters to drive one of the suicide genes, providing advantages over our previous TKC vector under certain conditions. The vectors reported here offered more options and flexibility to conduct gene editing experiments in rice.     

加州鲈弹状病毒三水株全基因组序列测定及分析

【目的】对加州鲈弹状病毒弱毒三水株(MSRV-SS-7)及其母源株(MSRV-SS)进行全基因组克隆和测序分析。【方法】采用分段扩增方法对MSRV-SS-7及MSRV-SS基因组核心序列进行PCR扩增,第1轮根据鳜鱼弹状病毒(SCRV)基因序列(NC_008514.1)设计10对引物进行扩增并测序;在第1轮扩增产物测序、拼接基础上,设计8对引物进行第2轮扩增,拼接后获得基因组核心序列。同时用cDNA末端快速扩增法(RACE)获得3′和5′末端序列。采用Vector NTI 8.0对基因组核心序列和末端序列进行拼接,获得基因组全序列,使用Clone Manager 8.0对MSRV-SS-7和MSRV-SS进行序列比对分析;同时使用DNAMAN将基因组G基因序列转换为氨基酸序列,并通过MEGA 5.0与其他鱼类弹状病毒的G蛋白氨基酸序列进行进化树分析。【结果】MSRV-SS-7及其母源株MSRV-SS基因组全长均为11 548 bp,包含N、P、M、G、L等5个结构基因,基因组结构为3′Leader-N-P-M-G-L-Trailer 5′;MSRV-SS-7与MSRV-SS全基因组中共有10处核苷酸不同。G蛋白进化分析表明,MSRV-SS-7及母源株MSRV-SS与SCRV亲缘关系最近,且与鲈鱼弹状病毒属(Perhabdovirus)聚为一支。【结论】克隆分析了MSRV-SS-7的全基因组序列,可以用于后续活疫苗的开发。     

林麝肺源ST1249型铜绿假单胞菌的分离鉴定及其全基因组序列分析

【目的】对分离自林麝化脓肺脏的1株疑似铜绿假单胞菌(PA)进行鉴定,并分析其致病和耐药机制,为林麝PA感染化脓性疾病的防控奠定基础。【方法】将病原菌分离纯化后,依次进行生化试验、16S rRNA序列分析、药敏试验和小鼠致病性试验,并通过全基因组测序,对分离菌株进行群体进化和物种分型分析以及基因功能注释。【结果】分离自林麝化脓肺脏的1株疑似铜绿假单胞菌经鉴定与PA相符,命名为FMDP001。药敏试验显示其对阿莫西林、头孢曲松、氨曲南、多粘菌素B和林可霉素耐药;对小鼠半数致死量为9.4×10~5 CFU/mL。全基因组序列分析显示该菌基因组大小为6 955 100 bp,序列类型为ST1249,与B136-33株同源性最高,且两菌株基因组平均核苷酸一致性(ANI)值达98.93%;全基因组中共有357个序列编码FMDP001与致病性相关的基因,根据功能分为黏附、铁摄取、胞外毒性蛋白和调控系统;84个序列编码耐药基因,其中多药耐药外排泵为主要成分。【结论】从林麝化脓肺脏中分离到1株致病性较强的PA,并获得ST1249型林麝源PA的全基因组序列,序列显示该菌携带大量药物外排泵及生物膜形成相关基因,决定其具有多重耐药特性,哌拉西林等可作为该类型PA感染的临床用药。     

基于全基因序列的中国北方3省(区)马铃薯Y病毒遗传多样性分析

本研究以马铃薯Y病毒(PVY)全基因组为基础,分析吉林、黑龙江和内蒙古3省(区)PVY群体遗传多样性和群体分化,并评估突变、重组、选择等遗传力所起的作用。根据已报道的PVY全基因序列保守区设计4对引物,采用片段重叠法对来自内蒙古和吉林的24个PVY分离物全基因序列进行测定,并联合NCBI中已登录的9个黑龙江分离物全基因组序列进行遗传多样性参数评估、群体分化检验和分子变异等分析。结果显示,我国北方3省(区)PVY群体遗传多样性高,其中内蒙古和黑龙江PVY群体遗传多样性高于吉林群体,并且3个群体之间呈现一定程度的遗传分化。分子变异分析发现在PVY基因组中存在1 786个变异位点,表明我国北方3省(区)PVY群体变异程度较高,并且这种高变异度有85.54%来自各个马铃薯种植区内PVY个体的遗传变异。重组分析和系统发育分析发现,我国北方3省(区)PVY群体中重组株系占比高达90.3%,并具有明显的株系多样性,表明PVY重组株系已成为我国北方3省(区)马铃薯种植区的流行株系。选择压力分析显示,使用FEL和IFEL法分别检测出501个和315个净化压力选择位点,这表明3省(区)PVY群体受净化选择压力为主。以上结果表明,中国北方3省(区)PVY群体遗传多样性高,突变、重组和自然选择都对遗传多样性和群体分化存在一定影响。     

橡胶树产胶生物学研究进展

天然橡胶（顺式-1,4-聚异戊二烯）是一种重要的工业原料,主要来自橡胶树。以天然橡胶的生物合成与产量形成为主要内容的产胶生物学研究为橡胶树高产遗传改良提供理论指导,近10年取得了重要进展。本文从橡胶树基因组测序、橡胶转移酶、转基因、以及转录组和蛋白质组等4个方面介绍产胶生物学研究主要进展,并讨论了相关领域研究存在的问题,对未来5~10年需重点关注的研究内容提出了建议。在介绍橡胶转移酶时,同时概述其他几种产胶植物的相关研究进展。