Detection and characterization of phytoplasmas in diseased stone fruits and pear by PCR-RFLP analysis in Turkey

During the late summer-early autumn of 2002, surveys were carried out in Turkey to determine the presence of phytoplasma diseases in fruit trees. Phytoplasmas were detected and characterized by PCR-RFLP analysis and TEM technique in stone fruit and pear trees in the eastern Mediterranean region of the country. Six out of 24 samples, including almond, apricot, peach, pear and plum, gave positive results in PCR assays. RFLP analysis usingSspI andBsaAI enzymes of PCR products obtained with primer pair f01/r01 enabled identification of the phytoplasmas involved in the diseases. Stone fruit trees, including a local apricot variety (‘Sakıt’) and a pear sample, were found to be infected with European stone fruit yellows (ESFY, 16SrX-B) and pear decline (PD, 16SrX-C) phytoplasmas, respectively. This is the first report in Turkey of PD phytoplasma infecting pear and of ESFY phytoplasma infecting almond, apricot, myrobalan plum and peach; ESFY phytoplasma infecting Japanese plum was previously reported. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 21, 2005.     

Association of polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter with the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Chinese

AIM:To detect the association between the polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).METHODS:The genotypes at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor γ chain gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 180 patients with SLE and 140 ethnically matched controls in southern China.RESULTS:The frequencies of TT genotype(33.3%) and T allele (54.4%) at position -29 in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in controls (17.2% and 42.9%, respectively), whereas, the frequencies of GG genotype (24.4%) and G allele (45.6%) in patients with SLE were remarkably lower than those in controls (31.4% and 57.1%, respectively) (P＜0.05). The TT genotype and T allele at position -29 were not associated with lupus nephritis in SLE patients (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that the T allele at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor gene probably contributes to the susceptibility to SLE, but does not play a role in the occurrence of lupus nephritis.     

Engineering of a Single Chain Variable Fragment Antibody Specific for the Citrus tristeza virus and its Expression in Escherichia coli and Nicotiana tabacum

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is one of the most destructive citrus virus diseases in the world. The construction of an engineered antibody, EMBL accession number AJ278109, able to specifically recognize its antigen, i.e. the coat protein of CTV, directly on infected plant material without any purification or manipulation of the entire woody plant. The potential uses of this engineered antibody are discussed.     

The genetic susceptibility of HLA-DRB1 alleles in esophageal neoplasm of Hubei Han Chinese

AIM: To probe into the genetic susceptibility of HLA-DRB1 alleles to esophageal neoplasm in Hubei Han Chinese. METHODS: HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphism in 42 patients with esophageal neoplasm and 136 normal control subjects was studied by PCR and sequence. RESULTS: Allele frequency of HLA-DRB1 *0901 allele was significantly higher in esophageal cancer patients than those in normal controls(0.2500 vs 0.1397, P =0.028; the odds ratiO².053; etiologic fraction 0.1282).There were no association between the rested HLA-DRB1 alleles with patients. CONCLUSION: Individuals carrying HLA-DRB1 *0901 may be susceptible to esophagealo carcinoma, its nucleotide sepuence approachs to the corresponded allele sequence(exoN²)published in GenBank.     

Seasonal distribution of phytoplasmas in Australian grapevines

The distribution and persistence of phytoplasmas were determined in Australian grapevines. Phytoplasmas could be detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from shoots, cordons, trunks and roots throughout the year, and phytoplasmas appear to persistently infect Australian grapevines from year to year. Phytoplasmas were not always detected in samples from the same sampling area from one sampling period to the next. Phytoplasma detection by PCR was improved by sampling from shoots, cordons and trunks, especially during October (early spring). The diseases expressed by the 20 grapevines used in the distribution and persistence studies were monitored. Australian grapevine yellows disease (AGY) was expressed by 17/20 grapevines at some time during the study, whilst only 4/20 and 15/20 grapevines expressed restricted growth disease (RG) and late season leaf curl disease (LSLC), respectively. All grapevines with RG and LSLC also had AGY. The three diseases were persistently expressed in some grapevines and remission of disease was observed in others. The results of PCR detection in the same grapevines indicated that phytoplasmas were more frequently detected in AGY-affected grapevines that also expressed RG and LSLC compared with grapevines expressing AGY alone. Phytoplasmas were detected in symptomless plant material but less frequently compared with AGY-affected material.     

Mariner转座子与小菜蛾抗性关系的研究

以抗溴氰菊酯、杀虫双、杀螟丹小菜蛾种群及其敏感品系为研究对象,借助聚合酶链式反应(PCR)、载体筛选、琼脂糖凝胶电泳等实验技术,检测了小菜蛾4个品系的Mariner转座子的存在及其与抗性的关系。结果表明,在抗溴氰菊酯、杀虫双、杀螟丹以及敏感品系的小菜蛾中都存在两种大约500 bp的Mariner转座子片断,初次证明在小菜蛾4个品系中均含有两种Mariner转座子,并发现一种新的转座子基因片断,但是没有发现Mariner转座子与抗性之间存在直接的联系。研究结果将为利用Mariner转座子标签法在小菜蛾中分离定位基因、转化外源基因、转基因昆虫防治害虫等研究提供理论基础。     

RT-PCR技术检测猪瘟病毒的应用研究

本试验应用反转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)对猪瘟进行诊断应用研究.应用RT-PCR对来自广西不同地区的135份疑似猪瘟病料进行检测,84份诊断为阳性,阳性率62.2%.从百色、柳州地区等采集的健康猪扁桃体和淋巴结共276份,经RT-PCR检测,37份为阳性,阳性率为13.4%.其中健康猪扁桃体带毒较高,246份扁桃体中有35份阳性,占14.2%.采自柳州健康猪的26份淋巴结材料全为阴性,只有邕宁县的1份健猪淋巴结阳性.结果表明,RT-PCR技术可应用于猪瘟的临床诊断.     

Trichoderma Biocontrol of Colletotrichum acutatum and Botrytis cinerea and Survival in Strawberry

Trichoderma isolates are known for their ability to control plant pathogens. It has been shown that various isolates of Trichoderma, including T. harzianum isolate T-39 from the commercial biological control product TRICHODEX, were effective in controlling anthracnose (Colletotrichum acutatum) and grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in strawberry, under controlled and greenhouse conditions. Three selected Trichoderma strains, namely T-39, T-161 and T-166, were evaluated in large-scale experiments using different timing application and dosage rates for reduction of strawberry anthracnose and grey mould. All possible combinations of single, double or triple mixtures of Trichoderma strains, applied at 0.4% and 0.8% concentrations, and at 7 or 10 day intervals, resulted in reduction of anthracnose severity; the higher concentration (0.8%) was superior in control whether used with single isolates or as a result of combined application of two isolates, each at 0.4%. Only a few treatments resulted in significant control of grey mould. Isolates T-39 applied at 0.4% at 2 day intervals, T-166 at 0.4%, or T-161 combined with T-39 at 0.4% were as effective as the chemical fungicide fenhexamide. The survival dynamics of populations of the Trichoderma isolates (T-39, T-105, T-161 and T-166) applied separately was determined by dilution plating and isolates in the mixtures calculated according to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using repeat motif primers. The biocontrol isolates were identified to the respective species T. harzianum (T-39), T. hamatum (T-105), T. atroviride (T-161) and T. longibrachiatum (T-166), according to internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis.     

西尼罗热病毒RT-PCR检测方法的建立

参考Genebank发表的西尼罗热病毒(West Nile virus，WNV)E糖蛋白基因序列，自行设计合成一对引物，对WNV进行RT—PCR扩增，产物经琼脂糖电泳分析，呈现一条约400bp的条带，将其克隆入pMD18-T—Vector载体中，并进行序列测定，与已发表的WNV基因比较发现，核苷酸的同源性为99．7％，证实为WNV的E基因，通过对样品多次检测，都能扩增出一条约400bp的条带，表明该方法比较稳定。     

Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.