中华蜜蜂酚氧化酶和丝氨酸蛋白酶相关基因 及其全长转录本发掘与分析

为深入开展中华蜜蜂相关研究提供参考信息和基础,利用已获得的纳米孔(Nanopore)测序数据对中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana的酚氧化酶(phenoloxidase, PO)和丝氨酸蛋白酶(serine protease, SP)相关基因和全长转录本进行发掘和分析。通过Blast工具将中华蜜蜂所有全长转录本比对KEGG和Nr数据库以筛选出PO和SP相关基因和全长转录本。采用gffcompare软件将PO和SP相关全长转录本与东方蜜蜂参考基因组(ACSNU-2. 0)已注释基因进行比较以优化结构。使用Astalavista软件鉴定PO和SP相关基因的可变剪接(alternative splicing, AS)事件,再利用IGV浏览器进行结构可视化。通过PCR验证AS事件的真实性。利用TAPIS pipeline预测和分析可变多聚腺苷酸化(alternative polyadenylation, APA)位点,并通过TBtool软件鉴定APA位点上游的基序(motif)。鉴定到中华蜜蜂PO和SP相关的42个基因与146条转录本。优化了16个参考基因组已注释PO和SP相关基因的结构,其中5′端延长和3′端延长的基因均有7个,5′端和3′端同时延长的基因有2个。鉴定到PO和SP相关的10个基因的389次AS事件,其中最丰富的AS类型是5′端可变剪接。PCR结果证实了2次AS事件的真实性。共鉴定到34个PO和SP相关基因含有1个及以上的APA位点,其中含有3个APA位点的基因数量最多;在APA位点上游鉴定到多个motif,一致性序列为：GGHKSYWSHHTRATWTCNBHDMRRYWYRTNYTVACNGCKGCDCAYTGYR。鉴定到中华蜜蜂PO和SP相关的42个基因和146条全长转录本,优化了东方蜜蜂参考基因组已注释的PO和SP相关基因结构,并发掘出PO和SP相关基因的389次AS事件和237个APA位点。     

Increased abundance of patatins,lipoxygenase and miraculins in a thaxtomin A-habituated potato Russet Burbank somaclone with enhanced resistance to common scab

Potato common scab caused by the actinobacterium Streptomyces scabiei is characterized by the formation of corky lesions on tubers that reduce their marketability. Management of common scab is very complex and often ineffective under various environmental conditions. Using potato varieties that are more resistant to common scab remains one of the most efficient strategies to control this disease. However, very little is known about the factors associated with resistance to common scab. Somaclone RB9 regenerated from thaxtomin A-habituated potato Russet Burbank calli produced tubers more resistant to common scab than the original variety. Comparison of the RB9 tuber proteome with that of Russet Burbank using label-free quantitative proteomic analysis revealed changes in the accumulation of defence-related proteins from the patatin and lipoxygenase (LOX) families, which are involved in the metabolism of lipids, and of two miraculins of the Kunitz-type protease inhibitors family. The implication of LOX during common scab infection was studied using synchronized minitubers developed from leaf-bud cuttings. S. scabiei infection stimulated the accumulation of LOX in both Russet Burbank and RB9 minitubers, but this accumulation was intensified in RB9 minitubers. Infection also increased LOX activity in Russet Burbank and RB9 minitubers. However, LOX activity measured in noninfected RB9 minitubers was similar to that of infected Russet Burbank minitubers, indicating endogenous activation of LOX activity in RB9 minitubers. We discuss how increased LOX abundance and activity in the somaclone RB9 may contribute to improving tuber defence against common scab.     

青海东部农区引进燕麦品种各器官C、N、P生态化学计量学特征变化研究

以4个引种燕麦(Avena sativa)为典型代表,对其不同生育时期根、茎、叶中的C、N、P含量及其化学计量学特征进行测定,探讨不同生育时期燕麦C、N、P元素含量及其化学计量比的变化规律,为燕麦饲草的科学收获提供理论依据。结果表明：燕麦全株C、N、P含量分别为322.30～333.97、17.42～75.62、2.74～5.42 mg·g^-1,燕麦根C、N、P含量分别为298.42～317.92、11.47～73.71、2.82～3.42 mg·g^-1,燕麦茎C、N、P含量分别为311.25～338.86、10.15～75.16、2.44～5.06 mg·g^-1,燕麦叶C、N、P含量分别为330.80～372.47、30.64～113.80、2.59～8.65 mg·g^-1;各器官间C、N、P含量表现为叶>茎>根。此外,燕麦各器官C、N、P含量的积累过程具有一定季节特征,C含量积累过程受生育时期影响较小,表现出较强的稳定性;而N和P含量的积累过程受生育时期影响较大,其在拔节期～抽穗期均...     

Immunization of BALB/c mice with Brucella abortus 2308ΔwbkA confers protection against wild-type infection

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that causes animal and human diseases. Vaccination is a major measure for prevention of brucellosis, but it is currently not possible to distinguish vaccinated animals from those that have been naturally infected. Therefore, in this study, we constructed the Brucella (B.) abortus 2380 wbkA mutant (2308ΔwbkA) and evaluated its virulence. The survival of 2308ΔwbkA was attenuated in murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) and BALB/c mice, and it induced high protective immunity in mice. The wbkA mutant elicited an anti-Brucella-specific immunoglobulin G response and induced the secretion of gamma interferon. Antibodies to 2308ΔwbkA could be detected in sera from mice, implying the potential for use of this protein as a diagnostic antigen. The WbkA antigen would allow serological differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. These results suggest that 2308ΔwbkA is a potential attenuated vaccine against 16M. This vaccine will be further evaluated in sheep.     

Evaluation of embryonic age and the effects of different proteases on the isolation and primary culture of chicken intestinal epithelial cells in vitro

The present study evaluates the effects of embryonic age and proteolytic enzymes on the isolation and primary culture of chicken enterocyte and to establish an effective technique for chicken intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) cultivation. Fourteen‐day‐old, 16‐day‐old and 18‐day‐old embryos (average weight: 52.23 ± 0.76 g, 50.86 ± 0.99 g, 48.98 ± 1.03 g) were the source for preparation of enterocyte culture, and trypsin‐ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, collagenase, thermolysin and combination of collagenase and thermolysin were used for digestion medium. Optimal culture protocols were determined by qualitative assays of proliferation. Cells isolated by using 14‐day‐old embryo and collagenase obtain the best attachment and growth in culture, and the production of continuously growing IEC cultures. Thus, we conclude that the use of collagenase as a dissociating enzyme and 14‐day‐old embryo as a source can be advantageously applied to the isolation of chicken IEC and this method may be useful for various applications and basic studies of the intestinal tract concerning such objects as physiology, immunology and toxicology.     

Variations in the morphology of Rhizomucor pusillus in granulomatous lesions of a Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)

This report presents a new case of mucormycosis encountered in penguin characterized by morphological variation of hyphae and presence of sporangia with numerous sporangiospores. A 4.5-year-old Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) died after exhibiting anorexia, poor nutritional condition and dyspnea. Multiple nodular lesions were observed in the thoracic and abdominal regions. Histopathologically, hyphae of various sizes were seen in the lungs, air sac and nodular lesions. Myriad sporangiospores and several sporangia were observed in/around the bronchi or parabronchi. The very narrow and short hyphae in the nodules were not consistent with the characteristics of Mucorales. However, for most hyphae, including those in the nodules, sporangiospores and sporangia, immunohistochemistry revealed Mucorales-positive reactions. In addition, these fungi were identified as Rhizomucor pusillus by gene analysis.     

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of canine pyoderma isolates of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius for biofilm formation

Biofilm-forming ability is increasingly being recognized as an important virulence factor in several Staphylococcus species. This study evaluated the biofilm-forming ability of sixty canine derived clinical isolates of S. pseudintermedius, using three phenotypic methods, microtiter plate test (MtP), Congo red agar method (CRA) and tube adherence test, and the presence and impact of biofilm-associated genes (icaA and icaD). The results showed that icaA and icaD genes were detected concomitantly in 55 (91.7%) of 60 isolates. A majority (88.3%) of the strains screened had matching results by the tube adherence test, MtP and PCR analysis. Better agreement (95%) was found between the PCR-based analysis and the CRA. Results of the icaA and icaD gene PCRs showed good agreement with CRA results, with a kappa of 0.7. Comparing the phenotypic methods, the statistical analysis showed that the agreement among the phenotypical tests using categorical data was generally good. Considering two classes (biofilm producer and biofilm non-producer), the percentage of matching results between the CRA method and the tube adherence test and between the CRA method and the MtP was 93.3%. A concordance of 100% was revealed between the MtP and the tube adherence test. The results indicate a high prevalence of the ica genes within S. pseudintermedius isolates, and their presence is associated with in vitro formation of a biofilm. A combination of phenotypic and genotypic tests is recommended for investigating biofilm formation in S. pseudintermedius.     

Isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility of Plesiomonas shigelloides from great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae) in Gifu and Shiga Prefectures,Japan

Plesiomonas shigelloides is a causal agent of gastroenteritis, sepsis and meningitis in humans. We examined the prevalence of P. shigelloides among great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae) in Japan and the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates. P. shigelloides was isolated from 33 (47.8%) of 69 fecal samples from great cormorants in 2014. All 33 isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using broth microdilution methods, which showed resistance to ampicillin (31 isolates, 93.9%), tetracycline (two isolates, 6.1%) and trimethoprim (one isolate, 3.0%). The high prevalence of P. shigelloides in the great cormorants implicates the possible microbiological risk to public health.