Movement and survival of corn rootworm in seed mixtures of SmartStax® insect-protected corn

SmartStax^® insect-protected corn (Zea mays L.) contains genes for six Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins controlling both lepidopteran pests and the corn rootworm complex (Diabrotica spp.). The properties of SmartStax, particularly the multiple effective modes of action (i.e., each Bt protein provides a high level of control of the target pests with a low probability of cross-resistance among the proteins), have provided the opportunity to add to previously approved structured refuge options by combining the non-Bt refuge seed with SmartStax seed in a seed mix. Seed mixes ensure that a refuge is present in every Bt field, remove concerns about grower compliance with refuge requirements, and provide grower convenience. However, seed mixes could increase the likelihood that larval insects move between Bt and non-Bt plants and vice versa. Assessing the insect resistance management (IRM) value of a seed mix refuge requires an assessment of the amount of larval movement, and the consequences of that movement, for the key target pests. The studies here present such data for control of corn rootworm by SmartStax corn, which contains the rootworm-active protein Cry3Bb1 and the binary protein Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1. In a growth chamber experiment, SmartStax was most effective against first instars and significantly effective against second instars, but did not control third instars. In a field study of movement from a heavily infested non-Bt plant onto surrounding plants, a larger percentage of insects successfully dispersed from the infested plant when the surrounding plants were non-Bt plants than when they were SmartStax plants. A paired-plant study showed that few larvae migrated from infested SmartStax plants and survived on nearby non-Bt plants; larvae that migrated from infested non-Bt plants had low survival if the adjacent plants were SmartStax. Replicated field studies of plant-to-plant movement indicated that the non-Bt plants in a 5% or 10% seed mix consistently supported large populations of susceptible insects and represented a productive refuge, whereas the SmartStax plants had few or no survivors. The timing of emergence from seed mix plots containing 5% or 10% non-Bt plants was more similar to that of the non-Bt plots than that of the SmartStax plots. Thus, the available growth chamber and field data indicate that a seed mix of 5% or more will provide an effective refuge for corn rootworm in SmartStax corn.     

基于3G通信技术的现代图书馆工作新思路

3G移动通信技术所具有的高带宽、高数据传输率为现代图书馆的发展提供了新的历史机遇和挑战,传统的数字图书馆在基础设施、管理架构和服务模式等方面已经远远不能满足3G时代读者的个性化需求,因此对传统图书馆进行3G适应性的改造势在必行。结合3G移动通信的技术特征和传统图书馆的不足提出新环境下图书馆工作的新思路。     

Antioxidant,anti-amylase and anti-glycation potential of brans of some Sri Lankan traditional and improved rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties

Brans of 23 traditional and 12 improved (both red and white) rice varieties in Sri Lanka were screened for anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities in vitro. Varieties which showed the highest inhibitory activities at screening were further investigated for anti-glucosidase and glycation reversing as anti-diabetic properties. The same varieties were studied for selected antioxidant properties. Significantly high anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities were observed for bran extracts of red varieties compared to white varieties at screening. Traditional red rice varieties, Masuran, Sudu Heeneti, Dik Wee and Goda Heeneti, exhibited significant and dose dependent anti-amylase, anti-glycation and glycation reversing activities. These varieties also showed marked antioxidant properties. It is concluded that brans of Sri Lankan traditional red rice varieties Masuran, Sudu Heeneti, Dik Wee and Goda Heeneti may be potential food supplements for diabetes.     

PA-X基因的长度变化对H3N2犬流感病毒复制能力和致病性的影响

H3N2犬流感病毒(canine influenza virus, CIV)已在中国多地的犬群中流行,是禽流感跨宿主感染并形成新分支的近期案例。研究表明,PA-X基因与甲型流感病毒适应新宿主的能力相关,且其长度能够影响甲型流感病毒的复制及致病能力。为了解PA-X基因的长度变化对H3N2 CIV复制能力及致病力的影响,本研究利用H3N2 CIV的8质粒操作系统,拯救了三株重组H3N2 CIV毒株：PA-X基因表达大小为232个氨基酸多肽的亲本病毒CIV＿PA-X＿232;对PA编码区第191、192位氨基酸的密码子进行改造,PA-X基因不表达蛋白的重组病毒CIV＿PA-X＿Knock;对PA+1编码区第232位氨基酸进行突变,PA-X基因表达大小为252个氨基酸多肽的重组病毒CIV＿PA-X＿252。通过比较3株重组病毒的聚合酶活性,在MDCK细胞中的复制效率及对小鼠致病性的差异,来评价表达不同长度的PA-X基因对H3N2 CIV的影响。结果显示,CIV＿PA-X＿252和CIV＿PA-X＿Knock的聚合酶活性显著(P<0.05)高于CIV＿PA-X＿232,且CIV＿PA-X＿...     

Nutrient starvation affects expression of LC3 family at the feto-maternal interface during murine placentation

LC3 − the mammalian homolog of Atg8 − was found as autophagosome membrane binding protein in mammals and widely used as an autophagosomal marker. LC3A, B and C show different expression patterns in each tissue. The aim of this study was to reveal the differences of expression patterns among LC3 families in mouse placenta under normal condition and nutrient starving condition. LC3A and B were highly expressed in decidual cells. LC3A and B were increased in D14 compared with D12 and D16 in mouse placenta, while LC3C was decreased. Starvation induced increase in LC3B expression specifically. Immunohistochemistry showed different expression patterns among LC3A, B and C. LC3A expression in syncytiotrophoblast was vanished by starvation. The results of real time RT-PCR suggested differences between D12 and D16 in autophagic cascade induced by starvation. Taken together, this study suggests that autophagy could play a role in placental invasion system and that nutrient starvation affects LC3B expression.     

Cell-free extract from porcine induced pluripotent stem cells can affect porcine somatic cell nuclear reprogramming

Pretreatment of somatic cells with undifferentiated cell extracts, such as embryonic stem cells and mammalian oocytes, is an attractive alternative method for reprogramming control. The properties of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are similar to those of embryonic stem cells; however, no studies have reported somatic cell nuclear reprogramming using iPSC extracts. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of porcine iPSC extracts treatment on porcine ear fibroblasts and early development of porcine cloned embryos produced from porcine ear skin fibroblasts pretreated with the porcine iPSC extracts. The Chariot^TM reagent system was used to deliver the iPSC extracts into cultured porcine ear skin fibroblasts. The iPSC extracts-treated cells (iPSC-treated cells) were cultured for 3 days and used for analyzing histone modification and somatic cell nuclear transfer. Compared to the results for nontreated cells, the trimethylation status of histone H3 lysine residue 9 (H3K9) in the iPSC-treated cells significantly decreased. The expression of Jmjd2b, the H3K9 trimethylation-specific demethylase gene, significantly increased in the iPSC-treated cells; conversely, the expression of the proapoptotic genes, Bax and p53, significantly decreased. When the iPSC-treated cells were transferred into enucleated porcine oocytes, no differences were observed in blastocyst development and total cell number in blastocysts compared with the results for control cells. However, H3K9 trimethylation of pronuclear-stage-cloned embryos significantly decreased in the iPSC-treated cells. Additionally, Bax and p53 gene expression in the blastocysts was significantly lower in iPSC-treated cells than in control cells. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show that an extracts of porcine iPSCs can affect histone modification and gene expression in porcine ear skin fibroblasts and cloned embryos.     

The effect of different concentrations of linseed oil or fish oil in the maternal diet on the fatty acid composition and oxidative status of sows and piglets

N‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for foetal development. Hence, including n‐3 PUFA in the sow diet can be beneficial for reproduction. Both the amount and form (precursor fatty acids vs. long chain PUFA) of supplementation are important in this respect. Furthermore, including n‐3 PUFA in the diet can have negative effects, such as decreased arachidonic acid (ARA) concentration and increased oxidative stress. This study aimed to compare the efficacy to increase eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations in the piglet, when different concentrations of linseed oil (LO, source of precursor α‐linolenic acid) or fish oil (FO, source of EPA and DHA) were included in the maternal diet. Sows were fed a palm oil diet or a diet including 0.5% or 2% LO or FO from day 45 of gestation until weaning. Linoleic acid (LA) was kept constant in the diets to prevent a decrease in ARA, and all diets were supplemented with α‐tocopherol acetate (150 mg/kg) and organic selenium (0.4 mg/kg) to prevent oxidative stress. Feeding 0.5% LO or 0.5% FO to the sows resulted in comparable EPA concentrations in the 5‐day old piglet liver, but both diets resulted in lower EPA concentrations than when 2% LO was fed. The highest EPA concentration was obtained when 2% FO was fed. The DHA level in the piglet liver could only be increased when FO, but not LO, was fed to the sows. The 2% FO diet had no advantage over the 0.5% FO diet to increase DHA in the piglet. Despite the constant LA concentration in the sow diet, a decrease in ARA could not be avoided when LO or FO were included in the diet. Feeding 2% FO to the sows increased the malondialdehyde concentration (marker for lipid peroxidation) in sow plasma, but not in piglets.