Comparison of the microbial communities of alpacas and sheep fed diets with three different ratios of corn stalk to concentrate

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of ruminal microbial communities of alpacas (Lama pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed three diets with varying ratios of roughage (corn stalk) to concentrate, 3:7 (LS), 5:5 (MS) and 7:3 (HS). Six alpacas (one-year-old and weighing 29.5 ± 7.1 kg) and six sheep (one-year-old and weighing 27.9 ± 2.7 kg) were used in this study, in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Total protozoa concentration was determined under the microscope; total fungi and methanogens were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as a percentage of total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies; bacterial communities were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) sequencing. The percentage of fungi was significantly higher in alpacas than in sheep under the LS diet, while the concentration of protozoa was significantly lower in alpacas under HS, MS and LS diets. The alpha diversity including Shannon, Chao l and ACE indices of bacterial communities was higher in alpacas than in sheep, under the LS diet. A total of 299 genera belonging to 22 phyla were observed in the forestomach of alpaca and sheep, with Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominating both animal species. Phyla Armatimonadetes and Fusobacteria, as well as 64 genera, were detected only in alpacas, whereas phyla Acidobacteria and Nitrospira, as well as 44 genera, were found only in sheep. The abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, including Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio, was higher in alpacas than in sheep under all three diets. These differences in the forestomach microbial communities partly explained why alpacas displayed a higher poor-quality roughage digestibility, and a lower methane production. Results also revealed that the adverse effects of high-concentrate diets (70%) were lesser in alpacas than in sheep.     

旱季橡胶树魏克汉种质资源胶乳生理参数分析

以131份达到开割标准的魏克汉种质资源为试验材料，于2018年4月下旬开始割胶，5月下旬（旱季）采取单株胶乳，测定胶乳中的无机磷、硫醇、蔗糖、干胶、总固形物含量等参数，结合单刀胶乳产量和胸径围进行分析。结果表明，旱季橡胶树种质资源胶乳产量与胶乳中硫醇含量、总固形物含量的关系最为紧密。胶乳产量较高或较低的种质资源胶乳中硫醇含量对应较高或较低，总固形物含量对应较低或较高，反之亦然。相关性分析显示，胶乳产量与硫醇含量呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01），与无机磷、蔗糖、干胶、总固形物含量呈负相关，胸径围与胶乳产量呈正相关。其他季节胶乳产量与胶乳生理参数的关系还待进一步研究。     

寄主植物中抑制十字花科黑腐病菌Ⅲ型分泌系统小分子化合物的鉴定

 寻找抑制植物病原菌III型分泌系统的植物源活性小分子化合物,是研发生物安全农药的重要途径之一。本研究采用水煮提取法从十字花科黑腐病菌寄主植物满身红萝卜中提取分离活性小分子化合物,利用高效液相-质谱联用解析出活性物质的单体结构。然后用荧光素酶基因luxAB构建融合报告系统以及定量PCR检测活性物质对十字花科黑腐病菌III型分泌系统的抑制效果,最后采用剪叶接种和压渗接种的方法研究活性小分子物质对十字花科黑腐病菌的生防作用。研究表明,植物鞘氨醇和二氢鞘氨醇对十字花科黑腐病菌III型分泌系统基因的转录表达有一定程度的抑制作用,但是对I、II、IV型分泌系统基因的表达没有明显的抑制作用。植物鞘氨醇在XCM1上影响菌的生长,而二氢鞘氨醇不影响菌的生长。同时,还发现这两种物质能显著降低Xcc在寄主植株满身红萝卜上的病害症状以及能够使Xcc在非寄主植物辣椒上引起过敏反应的能力丧失。该研究结果为深入研究小分子化合物对十字花科黑腐病菌III型分泌系统的作用机制及后续开发植物源抑制剂提供了一定的理论依据。     

钾肥和硅肥对油用亚麻茎秆抗倒伏特性的影响

为了优化油用亚麻抗倒伏的肥料运筹措施,以‘陇亚11号’和‘定亚23号’为试验材料,通过裂区设计,研究了钾肥（不施钾、52.5 kg K₂O/hm²和105 kg K₂O /hm² 3个水平）和硅肥（不施硅和90 kg SiO₂/hm² 2个水平）用量对油用亚麻茎秆形态学、力学抗倒伏特性及产量的影响。结果表明：‘陇亚11号’的株高、重心高度及茎粗、壁厚、抗折力均显著大于‘定亚23号’,茎秆形态学及力学抗倒伏特性的综合影响下,‘陇亚11号’较‘定亚23号’倒伏率提高21.24%而产量降低9.43%。钾肥显著改善了抗倒的茎秆表观形态学特性,施钾后茎粗、壁厚、茎秆抗折力、抗倒伏指数提高而株高和重心高度降低,千粒重和籽粒产量分别提高7.35%和9.34%。硅肥对茎秆形态学、力学特性及籽粒产量均无主效应,但硅肥与钾肥的互作使茎粗显著增加。抗倒伏指数与茎粗、壁厚呈显著正相关,与株高、重心高度呈显著负相关。品种间的茎秆抗倒伏特性差异较大,施用钾肥显著改善了抗倒的茎秆表观形态学特性,优化了茎秆机械性能,增强了油用亚麻的抗倒伏能力;供钾量较低时,硅肥与钾肥对茎粗的互作正效应明显。     

Soluble Klotho protein suppresses THP-1-derived foam cell formation

AIMTo investigate the role of soluble Klotho protein in THP-1-derived foam cell formation. METHODSTHP-1 monocytes were induced into macrophages by treatment with 160 nmol/L phorbol myristate acetate for 48 h, and then were divided into 6 groups: negative control group (THP-1-derived macrophages), positive control group [THP-1-derived foam cells induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 48 h], and 25, 50, 100 and 200 μg/L soluble Klotho protein groups (THP-1-derived macrophages pretreated with soluble Klotho protein at the indicat?ed concentraions for 2 h and then induced by ox-LDL for 48 h). Lipid droplets in cytoplasm were observed by oil red O staining. The cholesterol outflow rate was detected by scintillation counting technique. The content of intracellular total cholesterol, free cholesterol and cholesterol ester was detected by enzyme fluorescence analysis. The expression of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase 1 （ACAT1） and ATP-binding cassette transport?er A1 (ABCA1) at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTSOil red O staining and lipid mass quantification showed that THP-1-derived foam cell formation was dose-dependently suppressed by soluble Klotho protein. The cholesterol efflux rate of THP-1-derived foam cells was increased by soluble Klotho protein in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). In addition, soluble Klotho protein decreased the expression of ACAT1 and increased the expression of ABCA1 in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The soluble Klotho protein inhibits THP-1-derived foam cell formation in a dose-dependent manner by down-regulating the expression of ACAT1 and up-regulating the expression of ABCA1.     

Abnormal development of genital organs in offspring male mice exposed to finasteride during pregnancy

AIM: To investigate the effects of finasteride exposure during pregnancy on the development of reproductive organs in offspring male mice. METHODS: CD-1 mice were treated with finasteride from 0 to 17 d after conception. The development of reproductive organs in the offspring male mice were observed by macroscopy, anatomical analysis and histological staining. The spermatogenesis was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Macroscopic observation showed that fenasteride exposure during pregnancy resulted in external genital malformations in the offspring male mice, which were manifested as incomplete scrotal fusion and penile malformation. In addition, the anogenital distance was significantly shortened (P<0.01). Histological staining showed that the length of penis at each stage was significantly shortened (P<0.01), the density of seminiferous tubules in testis and mature spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the luminal space size of seminiferous tubules and interstitial space size of testises were significantly increased (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the densities of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and spermatogonium in testis were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the fluorescence intensity of caspase-3 in spermatogenic tubule cells was increased significantly (P<0.01). However, the fluorescence intensity of Ki67 and desert hedgehog (Dhh) was decreased significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Finasteride exposure during pregnancy results in abnormal development of reproductive organs in offspring male mice and affects spermatogenesis.     

Importance of mitochondrial calcium uniporter in high glucose-induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis

AIM: To investigate the role of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in high glucose(HG)-induced apoptosis of cardiac myocytes. METHODS: Cardiac myocytes were exposed to normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L glucose+ 19.5 mmol/L mannitol), HG (25 mmol/L glucose), or HG combined with 5 μmol/L spermine for 72 h. Mitochondrial free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_m), MCU at mRNA and protein levels, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m), the levels of ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis were determined. RESULTS: The [Ca²⁺]_m, the mRNA and protein levels of MCU, PDH activity, ATP levels, and Δψ_m were reduced (P<0.05), while ROS content and the protein levels of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were increased in HG group (P<0.05). Adding 5 μmol/L spermine returned these parameters toward control levels (P<0.05). Moreover, apoptosis was reduced by adding spermine and HG treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HG-induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis may be associated with the decreased MCU expression and activity, abnormal mitochondrial Ca²⁺ handling, deviant mitochon-drial respiratory chain, and mitochondrial dysfunction.     

大叶芥菜作为植物熏蒸材料与主栽作物番茄间作模式探索

以大叶芥菜为主要的植物熏蒸材料,通过改变其与主栽作物番茄间作的不同种植模式,分析大叶芥菜产量、大叶芥菜硫代葡萄糖苷含量、番茄根结指数、番茄产量等指标,探索生物熏蒸效果佳、作物产量高、可以大面积推广的间作模式。结果表明:间作模式1(栽培大叶芥菜前将番茄吊蔓的2架钢丝距离调整为50~60 cm,第1茬番茄拉秧后将棚内温度调高2~5 ℃)效果最好,大叶芥菜的产量、硫代葡萄糖苷含量最高,根结线虫抑制效果最好,同时每667 m^2番茄产量最高,达12 216.5 kg,可大面积推广。     

北方地区林业病虫害防治探究

我国的林业技术在几十年的探索与研究中取得了较大发展,但病虫害对林业的保持和发展危害巨大,北方地区作为林业发展的重要区域,应认识到病虫害的危害,并明确其发生特点,探究加强防治的有效措施,以减少病虫害对北方地区林业发展的影响。