Real-time PCR investigation of feline leukemia virus proviral and viral RNA loads in leukocyte subsets

Cats exposed to feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a naturally occurring gammaretrovirus develop either progressive or regressive infection. Recent studies using analyses with enhanced sensitivity have correlated loads throughout FeLV with the clinical outcome, though remarkably, during the acute phase of infection, proviral and viral RNA burdens in the peripheral blood do not differ between groups. We hypothesized that viral loads in specific leukocyte subsets influence the infection outcome. Using a method established to determine the proviral and cell-associated viral RNA loads in specific leukocyte subsets, we evaluated viral loads in eleven FeLV-exposed specific pathogen-free (SPF) cats 2.5 years post-infection. Six cats had undergone regressive infection whereas five were persistently viremic. Aviremic cats had lower total proviral blood loads than the persistently infected cats and FeLV proviral DNA was shown to be integrated into genomic DNA in four out of four animals. Lymphocytes were predominantly infected vs. moncytes and granulocytes in aviremic cats. In contrast, persistently viremic cats were provirus-positive in all leukocyte subsets. The acute phase kinetics of FeLV infection were analyzed in two additional cats; an early lymphoreticular phase with productive infection in lymphocytes in both cats and in monocytes in one cat was followed by infection of the granulocytes; both cats became persistently infected. These results indicate that FeLV persistent viremia is associated with secondary viremia of bone marrow origin, whereas regressive cats only sustain a non-productive infection in low numbers of lymphocytes.     

Development of real-time PCR assays for the detection and differentiation of Australian and European ranaviruses

Serious systemic disease in fish and amphibians is associated with the ranaviruses, epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) and Bohle iridovirus (BIV) in Australia, and European sheatfish virus (ESV) and European catfish virus (ECV) in Europe. EHNV, ESV and ECV are recognized causative agents of the OIE (Office International des Epizooties) notifiable systemic necrotizing iridovirus syndrome and are currently identified by protein-based assays, none of which are able to rapidly identify the specific agents. The aim of this study was to develop TaqMan real-time PCR assays that differentiated these viruses using nucleotide sequence variation in two ranavirus genes. A conserved probe representing 100% sequence homology was used as a reference for virus-specific probes. The virus-specific probes produced a similar signal level to the conserved probe while those probes binding to non-target viral DNA produced an altered fluorescent curve. The pattern of probe binding was characteristic for each virus. Sensitivity, specificity and dynamic range of the assay were assessed. The test is currently useful as a research and initial screening tool, with the potential to become a sensitive and specific method for detection and differentiation of ranaviruses with further development.     

沙门菌实时荧光定量PCR检测试剂盒的研制与应用

根据沙门菌保守的fimY基因序列设计合成了引物和TaqMan探针，建立了快速检测沙门菌的实时荧光定量方法，并对反应条件进行了优化，组装成快速检测试剂盒。通过对临床样品的检测，该试剂盒的检测灵敏度达4.5CFU（25μL反应体系），比常规PCR高100倍，而且稳定性良好，至少可以冷冻保存9个月。结果表明，所建立的沙门菌实时荧光定量PCR检测试剂盒具有操作简便、快速、特异性强、灵敏度高、重复性好、稳定性强等优点，适于大量样品的检测。     

PhoR/PhoP双组分系统对枯草芽胞杆菌NCD-2菌落形态和芽胞形成的影响

 双组分PhoR/PhoP是枯草芽胞杆菌中普遍存在的以低磷为信号的调控系统。前期研究发现,PhoR/PhoP双组分系统正调控枯草芽胞杆菌NCD-2菌株脂肽类抗生素fengycin的合成,本研究分析了PhoR/PhoP双组分系统对NCD-2菌株菌落形态和芽胞形成的影响。在有机磷培养基上,NCD-2野生型菌株可以降解有机磷并且形成表面褶皱、立体结构较强的菌落形态,而phoR或phoP基因突变子丧失了降解有机磷的能力,菌落表面光滑、平坦。phoR和phoP基因突变子的互补菌株恢复到了与野生型相似的解磷能力和菌落形态。在低磷和高磷培养基中比较了NCD-2野生型及其衍生菌株的生长及芽胞形成情况,结果表明,在高磷培养基中,NCD-2野生型及其衍生菌株的生长速率没有差异,但在低磷培养基中,phoR和phoP基因突变子的菌体生长速率显著降低。芽胞形成能力测定结果表明,在低磷培养基中,NCD-2野生型菌株的芽胞形成率较高,而phoR和phoP基因突变子的芽胞形成率显著降低;在高磷培养基中,NCD-2野生型及其衍生菌株芽胞形成率普遍较低并且无显著差异。RT-PCR分析显示, phoR和phoP的突变均显著降低了芽胞形成相关基因spo II GA的表达,相比感应激酶PhoR,调控因子PhoP对spo II GA基因的影响更显著。     

应用实时荧光定量RT-PCR高效检测葡萄病毒B

 本研究建立了葡萄病毒B的 SYBR GreenⅠ实时荧光定量RT-PCR(RT-qPCR)检测技术。该技术标准曲线扩增效率102.4%,相关系数0.999,最低检测限达10^-4倍稀释cDNA,灵敏度为常规RT-PCR的100倍。重复性试验组内和组间变异系数分别为0.00%~0.65%和0.02%~2.00%,表明检测稳定性好。该技术对田间葡萄样品检测适用范围广,对枝条和老叶柄检测效果最好,冬季枝条和春夏秋季所有老叶柄样品检出率均为100%,与常规RT-PCR检测结果一致。对于其他季节或部位样品,RT-qPCR检出率(43% ~74%)则普遍高于常规RT-PCR(5% ~71%),特别是春季样品和春夏秋季所有嫩叶样品,检出率比常规RT-PCR分别高31% 和38%。对来自我国13个省21个品种的52份田间葡萄样品检测结果表明, RT-qPCR共检测到6个样品为阳性,检出率11.5%,为常规RT-PCR(检出率5.8%)的2倍。     

松墨天牛肌钙蛋白T基因全长cDNA克隆及分析

采用c DNA末端快速扩增(RACE)方法获得了松墨天牛(Monochamus alternatus)肌钙蛋白T基因c DNA,全长1531bp,命名为Ma Tn T(Gen Bank:KJ756400).该基因开放阅读框(ORF)为1020 bp,编码339个氨基酸,等电点为9.26,推测的编码蛋白质分子质量为37.29 ku.同源比对结果表明:Ma Tn T与褐飞虱(Nilaparvata lugens)、黑腹果蝇(Drosophila melanogaster)等12种昆虫肌钙蛋白氨基酸同源性为87%-88%;构建的系统发育树显示Ma Tn T处于独立分支;Ma Tn T没有信号肽和跨膜螺旋,属于亲水性氨基酸,二级结构包含了螺旋和不规则卷曲两种形式,含有丝氨酸(Ser)、苏氨酸(Thr)、酪氨酸(Tyr)磷酸化位点数分别为8、9、3个.RT-q PCR检测表明,Ma Tn T基因在幼虫、蛹和成虫中均有表达;在成虫触角和足中表达量最高.     

Rapid identification of eels <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla japonica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla anguilla</Emphasis> by polymerase chain reaction with single nucleotide polymorphism-based specific probes

ABSTRACT:   Standard molecular techniques, such as sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification are relatively complicated, and species identification can take a long time when using such techniques. We established a quick method, using PCR with species-specific TaqMan Minor Groove Binder (MGB) probes based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) to distinguish the two eel species Anguilla japonica and Anguilla anguilla . This method can be used in processed products. Partial sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene were compared between A. japonica and A. anguilla to design a primer pair common to both A. japonica and A. anguilla and probes specific to A. japonica and A. anguilla . Different fluorescence intensities were produced in two PCR microtubes each containing A. japonica - and A. anguilla -specific probes for one target sample. We observed the fluorescence intensity of PCR products in microtubes under ultraviolet transillumination, with similar results to those obtained by real-time PCR. Therefore, SNP-based PCR is a powerful tool for identifying materials of processed foods from either A. japonica or A. anguilla .     

.基于TaqMan探针的牛布氏杆菌实时荧光定量PCR的特异性鉴定

根据牛布氏杆菌BM28保守序列设计引物和探针,建立了一种快速鉴定牛布氏杆菌的TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR方法。以梯度稀释的含有目的扩增片段的重组质粒作为标准品,进行定量PCR反应。结果显示:5.0×105~5.0×101拷贝范围内定量PCR均有"S"型扩增曲线,检测灵敏度为50拷贝每微升。本研究建立的实时荧光定量PCR方法具有灵敏度高、特异性和重复性好、方便经济的特性,在牛布氏杆菌的检测与鉴定中具有良好的应用前景。