Towards the first linkage map of the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Didymella rabiei</Emphasis> genome

A genetic map was developed for the ascomyceteDidymella rabiei (Kovachevski) v. Arx (anamorph:Ascochyta rabiei Pass. Labr.), the causal agent of Ascochyta blight in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The map was generated with 77 F₁ progeny derived from crossing an isolate from the U.S.A. and an isolate from Syria. A total of 232 DAF (DNA Amplification Fingerprinting) primers and 37 STMS (Sequence-Tagged Microsatellite Site) primer pairs were tested for polymorphism between the parental isolates; 50 markers were mapped, 36 DAFs and 14 STMSs. These markers cover 261.4cM in ten linkage groups. Nineteen markers remained unlinked. Significant deviation from the expected 1:1 segregation ratios was observed for only two markers (Prob. of χ²<0.05). The implications of our results on ploidy level of the asexual spores are discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 5, 2002.     

Genotyping of Mycobacterium bovis by geographic location within Mexico

The spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) method was used to differentiate 62 Mycobacterium bovis isolates obtained from tissues with macroscopic lesions typical of tuberculosis in dairy cattle from different regions of Mexico. Our purpose was to see if a strain from one region was genetically different from those of other regions (with the long-term aim of doing molecular trace back of isolates obtained in the laboratory). Results from the genetic analysis indicate that M. bovis isolates cannot be grouped by geographic location due to a wide range of genetic types involved in dairy cattle infections. Isolates even from the same herd showed different spoligotypes but some isolates from different region had similar genetic patterns. Genetic typing without epidemiologic information does not seem to be a plausible method to trace back animals to source of origin to detect and eliminate sources of infection.     

Development of novel pesticides based on phytoalexins: Part 2. Quantitative structure-activity relationships of 2-heteroaryl-4-chromanone derivatives

Phytoalexins are low-molecular-weight chemicals that immune systems of plants produce and accumulate in response to infections, especially those of fungal origin. Although their content is not high in plants, yet they have shown unique fungicidal activity and played an important role in the defence system of plants. In searching for novel environmentally benign fungicides with high activity, the structures of flavanone derivatives, one of the most important phytoalexins groups, have been modified via bioisosteric substitution and a series of 2-heteroaryl-4-chromanones were designed and synthesized. They showed good fungicidal activities against rice blast disease, Pyricularia grisea (Sacc). Their IC50 values were tested in vitro and the relationship between structure and fungicidal activity was analyzed quantitatively using a Hansch-Fujita approach. The results showed that hydrophobicity was very important for fungicidal activity and there is apparently an optimum hydrophobic property for the molecules at a log Pow value of about 2.7. In addition, the results indicated that electronic effects played an important role in binding with the receptor and that the C=O group was probably a electron-accepting site. The quantitative structure-retention correlative equation of the title compounds was also established.     

Epidemiology of Fusarium Infection and Deoxynivalenol Content in Winter Wheat in the Rhineland, Germany

Details of our long-term research programme concerning the epidemiology of Fusarium spp. and mycotoxin production are summarized. Evaluation of the occurrence of Fusarium spp., mainly on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), was carried out by investigating Fusarium infection and mycotoxin contamination. Two to 15% of grains were infested during 1995–1998 at three climatologically differing localities of the Rhineland, Germany. Disease progress was accelerated by rainfall during the flowering season. The species most frequently isolated were Fusarium avenaceum, F. poae, F. culmorum and F. graminearum. The mean deoxynivalenol (DON) content varied from 19gkg^–1 (1995) to 310gkg^–1 (1998) and was not always correlated with disease severity. Organic farming systems showed lower rates of infection with ear blight and lower mycotoxin contamination than conventional farming systems.     

Transmission of Theileriosis in the Traditional Farming Sector in the Southern Province of Zambia during 1995–1996

The incidence of first contact with the protozoan Theileria parva was determined in three traditional cattle herds in the Southern Province of Zambia in 1995 and 1996. The majority of first contacts occurred during the dry season in June, July and August, at a time of nymphal activity and in the absence of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus adults, indicating that larva to nymph transmission plays a more prominent role than nymph to adult transmission under the prevailing conditions.     

Anticoccidial Vaccination of Broiler Chickens in Various Management Programmes: Relationship between Oocyst Accumulation in Litter and the Development of Protective Immunity

Paracox anticoccidial vaccine was administered to a 7-day-old flock of commercial broiler breeder stock subsequently reared to point-of-lay in the same house. For comparison, three subgroups of another flock of broiler breeders were also vaccinated with Paracox at 7 days of age, reared to 42 days and then transferred to new litter on another farm until point-of-lay. The first subgroup received no further treatment, but the second and third each received a second vaccination with Paracox, either immediately after transfer to the new litter or 42 days after transfer. Using an Eimeria necatrix model, protective immunity was demonstrated by virulent challenge of samples of birds from all groups by the age of 37–40 days (30–33 days after the first vaccination), and was maintained to at least 122–125 days of age, whether the birds remained on the same litter or were transferred to another farm, and whether they received one or two anticoccidial vaccinations. Therefore, there is no disadvantage in transferring birds onto new litter 35 days after a single Paracox vaccination, nor is there any advantage in giving a second vaccination after such a transfer. Vaccinated birds seeded the new litter with oocysts, despite being clinically immune to coccidiosis. A supplementary laboratory experiment showed that birds vaccinated at 8 days of age passed almost no oocysts after a second vaccination at 43 days of age. This indicated that they were not only protected against clinical coccidiosis, but were almost solidly immune to a homologous infection 5 weeks after a single vaccination. Nevertheless, oocysts appeared in the litter of all four groups of commercial breeders throughout the trial, showing that wild-type heterologous infections occurred whether the birds were transferred to new litter or not, but these did not overwhelm the acquired protective immunity and cause clinical coccidiosis.     

Molecular Variability of the Capsid Protein of the Prune Dwarf Virus

Sequences of the capsid protein gene and the preceding intergenic region of eleven isolates of prune dwarf virus from central Europe were determined. The isolates were obtained from plum, cherry and peach trees. Comparison of all sequenced isolates (including two sequences published previously) revealed high (88%) conservation of the capsid protein gene. The highest degree of identity was observed in the C-terminal half, where only 13 amino acid substitutions could be observed in contrast to the N-terminal half with 22 substitutions. No reasonable correlation between amino acid substitutions and host species and/or geographic origin of the isolates was observed. Alignment with capsid protein genes of other ilarviruses revealed apple mosaic virus, elm mottle virus, lilac ring mottle virus and prunus necrotic ringspot virus as the most related to prune dwarf virus. Unlike the isolates of related prunus necrotic ringspot virus all the isolates of prune dwarf virus shared extensive conservation of the intergenic region. Portions of RNA3 were selected for design of universal primers for PCR detection.     

鹿流行性出血病毒分子生物学研究进展

鹿流行性出血病毒是一种在全世界野生及驯养的有蹄动物中广泛存在的重要病原体.该病毒属呼肠病毒科环状病毒属,有12个血清型,是一种有10个节段(L1-L3、M4-M6、S7-S10)的双链RNA病毒,编码10个蛋白(VP1-7和NS1、NS2、NS3/NS3A).VP7蛋白具有很强的抗原性且保守性最高.VP2与病毒型特异性有关,可诱导产生中和抗体.VP3为群特异性抗原,高度保守,具有亲水性保守区域.非结构蛋白NS1、NS2和NS3/NS3A及其编码序列均相当保守.该病毒的分子生物学诊断技术主要有PCR和核酸探针杂交技术.     

猪传染性胃肠炎病毒分子生物学研究进展

猪传染性胃肠炎病毒(TGEV)基因组为不分段的单股正链RNA,其编码4种结构蛋白和3种非结构蛋白。TGEV S蛋白是基因工程研究的重点,近年来,S蛋白在大肠埃希菌、沙门菌、腺病毒等中得到了高效表达。将传染性胃肠炎病毒的基因组人工改造成为感染性cDNA的表达载体,此载体可在ORF3处插入外源基因,异源基因绿荧光蛋白可稳定、高效地表达。TGEV基因1和其他冠状病毒相比保守性很强,所以对TGEV聚合酶的研究,特别是其中保守酶的研究,对于抗TGEV及其他冠状病毒药物的研究有着重要的意义。     

PEF辅助快速提取非特异性奶牛脾脏转移因子的实验研究

应用PEF成功从奶牛脾脏中提取非特异性转移因子，并与常规提取法和复合酶提取法进行了比较.经理化特性分析，奶牛脾脏转移因子是以低分子多肽（〈10kD）为主的混合物，含有少量核酸和氨基酸.实验表明，将物料溶解于6倍质量的磷酸盐（pH7．0）缓；中液中，在脉冲电场强度为25kV／cm，脉冲数为16μs，和流速为2mL／min的条件下，提取液中低分子多肽的含量有最大值9．85mg／mL.PEF提取率是常规方法的2倍，复合酶法的1．47倍.PEF法耗时短，操作简单，成本低，因此，PEF提取是一种很有希望的提取非特异性奶牛脾脏转移因子方法.