Novel reassortant H5N6 highly pathogenic influenza A viruses in Vietnamese quail outbreaks

Avian influenza A H5N6 virus is a highly contagious infectious agent that affects domestic poultry and humans in South Asian countries. Vietnam may be an evolutionary hotspot for influenza viruses and therefore could serve as a source of pandemic strains. In 2015, two novel reassortant H5N6 influenza viruses designated as A/quail/Vietnam/CVVI01/2015 and A/quail/Vietnam/CVVI03/2015 were isolated from dead quails during avian influenza outbreaks in central Vietnam, and the whole genome sequences were analyzed. The genetic analysis indicated that hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and polymerase basic protein 2 genes of the two H5N6 viruses are most closely related to an H5N2 virus (A/chicken/Zhejiang/727079/2014) and H10N6 virus (A/chicken/Jiangxi/12782/2014) from China and an H6N6 virus (A/duck/Yamagata/061004/2014) from Japan. The HA gene of the isolates belongs to clade 2.3.4.4, which caused human fatalities in China during 2014–2016. The five other internal genes showed high identity to an H5N2 virus (A/chicken/Heilongjiang/S7/2014) from China. A whole-genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that these two outbreak strains are novel H6N6-like PB2 gene reassortants that are most closely related to influenza virus strain A/environment/Guangdong/ZS558/2015, which was detected in a live poultry market in China. This report describes the first detection of novel H5N6 reassortants in poultry during an outbreak as well as genetic characterization of these strains to better understand the antigenic evolution of influenza viruses.     

Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.     

β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate promotes leucine metabolism and improves muscle fibre composition in growing pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of excess leucine (Leu) vs. its metabolites α‐ketoisocaproate (KIC) and β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate (HMB) on Leu metabolism, muscle fibre composition and muscle growth in growing pigs. Thirty‐two pigs with a similar initial weight (9.55 ± 0.19 kg) were fed 1 of 4 diets for 45 days: basal diet, basal diet + 1.25% L‐Leu, basal diet + 1.25% KIC‐Ca, basal diet + 0.62% HMB‐Ca. Results indicated that relative to the basal diet and HMB groups, Leu and KIC groups exhibited increased Leu concentrations and decreased concentrations of isoleucine, valine and EAAs in selected muscle (p < 0.05) and had lower mRNA levels of MyHC I and higher expression of MyHC IIx/IIb (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the basal and HMB‐supplemented groups. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of AMPKα and UCP3 were higher but the myostatin mRNA levels were lower in the soleus muscle of the HMB group than those from other groups (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that doubling dietary Leu content exerted growth‐depressing effects in growing pigs; dietary KIC supplementation induced muscular branched‐chain amino acid imbalance and promoted muscle toward a more glycolytic phenotype; while dietary HMB supplementation promoted the generation of more oxidative muscle types and increased muscle growth specially in oxidative skeletal muscle, and these effects of HMB might be associated with the AMPKα‐Sirt1‐PGC‐1α axis and mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Melatonin reduces apoptotic cells,SOD2 and HSPB1 and improves the in vitro production and quality of bovine blastocysts

Effects of adding different concentrations of melatonin (10^?7, 10^?9 and 10^?11 M) to maturation (Experiment 1; Control, IVM  + 10^?7, IVM  + 10^?9, IVM  + 10^?11) and culture media (Experiment 2; Control, IVC  + 10^?7, IVC  + 10^?9, IVC  + 10^?11) were evaluated on in vitro bovine embryonic development. The optimal concentration of melatonin (10^?9 M) from Experiments 1–2 was tested in both maturation and/or culture media of Experiment 3 (Control, IVM  + 10^?9, IVC  + 10^?9, IVM /IVC  + 10^?9). In Experiment 1, maturated oocytes from Control and IVM  + 10^?9 treatments showed increased glutathione content, mitochondrial membrane potential and percentage of Grade I blastocysts (40.6% and 43%, respectively). In Experiment 2, an increase in the percentage of Grade I blastocysts was detected in IVC  + 10^?7 (43.5%; 56.7%) and IVC  + 10^?9 (47.4%; 57.4%). Moreover, a lower number and percentage of apoptotic cells in blastocysts were observed in the IVC  + 10^?9 group compared to Control (3.8 ± 0.6; 3.6% versus 6.1 ± 0.6; 5.3%). In Experiment 3, the IVC  + 10^?9 treatment increased percentage of Grade I blastocysts with a lower number of apoptotic cells compared to IVM /IVC  + 10^?9 group (52.6%; 3.0 ± 0.5 versus 46.0%; 5.4 ± 1.0). The IVC  + 10^?9 treatment also had a higher mRNA expression of antioxidant gene (SOD 2) compared to the Control, as well as the heat shock protein (HSPB 1) compared to the IVM  + 10^?9. Reactive oxygen species production was greater in the IVM /IVC  + 10^?9 treatment group. In conclusion, the 10^?9 M concentration of melatonin and the in vitro production phase in which it is used directly affected embryonic development and quality.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

不同温度下圆叶决明降解过程红壤可溶性氮及氮水解酶动态变化研究

为了探明圆叶决明（Chamaecrista rotundifolia）降解过程果园红壤供氮水平的变化规律，本研究采用模拟培养试验，研究15℃和25℃培养果园红壤硝态氮、铵态氮、可溶性总氮、可溶性有机氮含量的变化及脲酶、蛋白酶、天冬酰胺酶活性的变化。结果表明，圆叶决明降解过程果园红壤4种可溶性氮含量均显著提高，且在培养140 d达到最大值，25℃培养的效果更佳。其中，可溶性总氮、可溶性有机氮和硝态氮含量随时间的动态变化可用三次曲线方程来拟合。圆叶决明降解过程还能显著提高脲酶、蛋白酶和天冬酰胺酶的活性，其中蛋白酶活性和脲酶活性的变化可用指数方程和三次曲线方程来拟合。本研究认为圆叶决明降解过程可提高果园红壤可溶性氮含量，因此可通过翻压圆叶决明提高土壤的供氮水平。     

南果梨周年干物质与氮磷钾积累动态

【目的】明确南果梨干物质积累特征和氮磷钾养分周年动态积累规律,为南果梨优化施肥量和施肥时期提供依据。【方法】以12年生南果梨树为试材,采用田间采样和树体分解方法,分别于萌芽后10 d(萌芽期)、 30 d(花期)、 65 d(幼果膨大期)、 100 d(果实膨大或新稍停止生长期)、 130 d(果实着色前)、 155 d(果实采收期)、 185 d(采收后)、 210 d(落叶前)8个生育期,选干周和树高一致的3株树,将树体连根从土壤中挖出,分出果实、 叶片、 枝条、 主干、 主根、 侧根、 须根,各器官单独称重,并取200 g左右的鲜样按清水、 洗涤剂、 清水、 1%盐酸、 3次去离子水冲洗、 杀青、 烘干后,电磨粉碎过0.15 mm筛,测定样品中氮、 磷、 钾含量。【结果】1)南果梨周年生育期内,树体干物质当年净积累量为18.4 kg/plant,干物质累积速率出现两次累积高峰,分别是幼果膨大期(0.15 kg/d)和采收期(0.11 kg/d)。2)南果梨树体总氮周年积累量为154.0~301.0 g,新生器官为0~116.2 g,果实膨大期达到最高;多年生器官氮积累量为154.0~194.8 g,落叶前达到最高。3)南果梨树体总磷周年积累量为17.1~37.2 g,果实着色前最高。其中新生器官为13.7 g,果实采收期最高;多年生器官为17.1~24.9 g,果实转色期最高。4)南果梨树体总钾周年积累量为27.9~174 g。新生器官钾为97.3 g,采收期最高;多年生器官钾为27.6~76.6 g,落叶前最高。5)产量大约为17 t/hm2的12年生南果梨从萌芽到落叶前树体当年氮磷钾的单株净累积量分别为146.2、 20.1、 146.1 g,折合1000 kg果实经济产量需吸收氮(N)、 磷(P)、 钾(K)5.4、 0.7、 5.4 kg。【结论】南果梨周年干物质单株积累总量为41.4 kg,当年净积累量为19.7 kg。南果梨干物质积累主要集中在花期到果实膨大期和果实转色到落叶前,分别占47.3% 和47.5%。南果梨从萌芽到落叶前氮、 磷、 钾的单株净累积量分别为146.2、 20.1、 146.1 g,每1000 kg果实经济产量需吸收氮(N)、 磷(P)、 钾(K)5.4、 0.7、 5.4 kg。从开花到果实膨大期和从果实着色到采收后30天对氮吸收分别占总氮累积量的39.0%和49.0%,而磷、 钾的累积从萌芽到开花较快,到果实膨大期磷的累积达67.4%,钾的累积达65.1%,果实膨大期是干物质和氮磷钾积累的关键时期。     

新一代温室气体排放情景下安徽省未来气候变化预估分析

基于联合国政府间气候变化专门委员会(IPCC)发布的新一代排放情景,和中国气象局发布的"中国地区气候变化预估数据集V3.0",针对安徽省,笔者选择1971—2000年作为基准期,采用区域气候模式模拟的方法,对比分析安徽省未来气候变化特征,重点评估近期内即未来20年气候变化趋势。模拟结果显示,未来20年不同情景下安徽省平均气温均为上升,全省平均增温幅度约0.9~1.1℃;而降水量变化具有不同特征,较低排放情景下降水量以上升为主,高排放情景则以下降为主。到2050s全省平均气温相比于基准期将升高1.6~1.7℃,升温幅度呈现北高南低的特征;全省降水量相比于基准期将下降50~90 mm,各地降水量均呈下降趋势。另外,通过对降水和气温的模拟,预估未来该地区旱涝演替更加频繁,高温热浪等事件也将进一步频发。     

Bird flu (H7N9) outbreak and its implications on the supply chain of poultry meat in China

During the past two decades, food safety issues in China not only posed serious threats to Chinese consumers but also damaged the image of Chinese products internationally. In China, food safety is not only about scientific discoveries, advanced laboratories, and sanitation equipment; it is more about the role of different players in the food supply chain. The poultry meat supply chain is instrumental in the spread of the avian influenza A virus (H7N9), raising questions about how policymakers respond to such threats and whether industries need to be restructured to manage and control this epidemic so that it does not recur. As a short-term measure, to prevent the spread of this disease, government authorities enforced the closure of live bird markets (LBM) in disease-affected areas of China. However, in the long term, the poultry meat supply chain needs to be restructured. The aim of the current study was to analyze distribution channels for chicken meat in China and then describe arrangements in poultry meat sectors that incorporate small- and medium-scale producers into the supply chain while responding to shifts in LBMs. We also assessed the role of LBMs in spreading H7N9 and how these interventions affect the poultry meat supply chain in the Chinese market.     

Proton accumulation accelerated by heavy chemical nitrogen fertilization and its long-term impact on acidifying rate in a typical arable soil in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain

Cropland productivity has been signiifcantly impacted by soil acidiifcation resulted from nitrogen (N) fertilization, especialy as a result of excess ammoniacal N input. With decades’ intensive agricul...