Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield-related traits under low and high planting densities in maize (Zea mays)

Average maize yield per hectare has increased significantly because of the improvement in high-density tolerance, but little attention has been paid to the genetic mechanism of grain yield response to high planting density. Here, we used a population of 301 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross YE478 × 08–641 to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 16 yield-related traits under two planting densities (57,000 and 114,000 plants per ha) across four environments. These yield-related traits responded differently to high-density stress. A total of 110 QTLs were observed for these traits: 33 QTLs only under low planting density, 50 QTLs under high planting density and 27 QTLs across both densities. Only two major QTLs, qCD6 and qWKEL2-2, were identified across low- and high-density treatments. Seven environmentally stable QTLs were also observed containing qED6, qWKEL3, qRN3-3, qRN7-2, qRN9-2 and qRN10 across both densities, as well as qRN9-1 under low density. In addition, 16 and eight pairs of loci with epistasis interaction (EPI) were detected under low and high planting densities, respectively. Additionally, nine and 17 loci showed QTL × environment interaction (QEI) under low- and high-density conditions, respectively. These interactions are of lesser importance than the main QTL effects. We also observed 26 pleiotropic QTL clusters, and the hotspot region 3.08 concentrated nine QTLs, suggesting its great importance for maize yield. These findings suggested that multiple minor QTLs, loci with EPI and QEI, pleiotropy and the complex network of “crosstalk” among them for yield-related traits were greatly influenced by plant density, which increases our understanding of the genetic mechanism of yield-related traits for high-density tolerance.     

新城疫病毒疫苗株F蛋白裂解位点改造对诱导HepG2细胞发生自噬的影响

新城疫病毒(NDV)通过启动不依赖p53的内源性凋亡通路特异性诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡.最新研究表明NDV可以引起U251肿瘤细胞发生自噬,并在后期导致细胞凋亡,但其机理尚不清楚.本研究通过反向遗传操作技术对NDV Clone30疫苗株F蛋白的碱性裂解位点进行突变,将F蛋白的裂解位点由弱毒株的GGRQGR ↓ L突变为强毒株的GRRQRR ↓ F基序,并成功拯救出突变改造病毒rC30-FmF.分别将Clone30野生型病毒株rC30-wt与rC30-FmF感染HepG2肝癌细胞,通过透射电镜检测细胞超微结构显示,rC30-FmF感染4h后细胞内出现大量自噬小体及自噬溶酶体.通过westem blot检测自噬标志蛋白LC-3 Ⅱ表明,rC30-FmF感染4h后LC3Ⅱ表达量显著上调,与rC30-wt对照组相比差异极显著(p＜0.01).研究表明,rC30-FmF可以在感染早期增加HepG2细胞自噬程度.从而初步证明F蛋白的裂解位点在诱导HepG2细胞自噬过程中具有关键作用.     

Evaluation the effect of subchronic feeding of transgenic cotton line (CKC1) on the faecal microbiota of albino rabbits

Recent studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between the intestinal microbiota and the host health. As such, consumers are increasingly becoming more concerned about the potential effect of certain foods/feeds, particularly of transgenic origin on the gut microbiota. Although the European Food Safety Authority has recommended in their guidelines, to study the effect of transgenic food/feed on host-microbiota, yet, few studies have focused on the evaluation of such effects mainly due to culturing difficulties. Therefore, this study was intended to evaluate the potential adverse effects of transgenic diet consumption on some specific gut microflora (Lactobacillus group, Bifidobacterium genus, Escherichia coli subgroup and Enterococcus genus) of rabbits. A total of forty-eight rabbits were randomly assigned into four groups and fed a diet containing a variable proportion of transgenic cottonseeds at 0, 20, 30 and 40% inclusion level, respectively. Changes in the specific or total faecal bacterial population were monitored at five different experimental stages (i.e. 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 days) using both the traditional plate count method (TM) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). No significant differences (p > .05) were observed concerning numbers of specific bacteria or total bacteria between the control and experimental groups, though qPCR showed numerically higher values in terms of 16S rRNA gene copies as compared to the values obtained from TM. However, such numerical differences were biologically insignificant (p > .05). Similarly, no significant variations were noticed in the calculated B/E (log₁₀ copies of Bifidobacterium per g faces/log10 copies of E. coli genome per g faeces) ratios in all the groups. All the ratios were in the range of 1.24 to 1.30 throughout the experiment, indicating a good balance of intestinal microflora and greater resistance to intestinal disorders. It is therefore concluded that feeding transgenic cottonseeds could not adversely affect the gut microflora of rabbits during a long-term study.     

口蹄疫病毒VP1基因密码子偏好性分析

VP1蛋白是口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)的主要结构蛋白,可诱导机体产生中和抗体以及激发保护性免疫应答。为探究VP1基因密码子偏好性,筛选出其最佳体外表达系统,使用Visual Gene Developer、CodonW、GraphPad Prism等软件,对VP1基因进行密码子偏好性分析,同时将VP1基因密码子使用频率与大肠杆菌、毕赤酵母、昆虫杆状病毒和哺乳动物细胞表达系统作了比较。结果显示,VP1基因的CAI为0.21,ENC为55.43,GC3S为65.26%,表明该基因密码子使用偏好较弱并且密码子偏好以G/C碱基结尾。结合VP1基因与各表达系统密码子使用频率比值,发现其与昆虫杆状病毒表达系统频率比值差异最小且CAI最大,因此推断昆虫杆状病毒表达系统是FMDV VP1基因最适体外表达系统。本研究为FMDV亚单位疫苗研制等提供了技术基础。     

Molecular cloning,purification and immunogenicity of recombinant Brucella abortus 544 malate dehydrogenase protein

The Brucella mdh gene was successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli. The purified recombinant malate dehydrogenase protein (rMDH) was reactive to Brucella-positive bovine serum in the early stage, but not reactive in the middle or late stage, and was reactive to Brucella-positive mouse serum in the late stage, but not in the early or middle stage of infection. In addition, rMDH did not react with Brucella-negative bovine or mouse sera. These results suggest that rMDH has the potential for use as a specific antigen in serological diagnosis for early detection of bovine brucellosis.     

条件性敲除D1133L基因的重组非洲猪瘟病毒的构建及增殖特性

前期研究初步表明非洲猪瘟病毒(ASFV)编码的D1133L基因对ASFV复制至关重要,本研究拟进一步探究D1133L在ASFV复制中的作用。利用同源重组技术结合大肠杆菌lac阻遏操作系统实现条件性敲除D1133L基因,以pUC118为骨架重组转移载体ASFVΔi130,将重组转移载体转染骨髓源巨噬细胞(BMDMs),以ASFV CN/GS/2018为亲本毒株感染BMDM,在β-D-硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)存在的条件下,经绿色荧光和PCR鉴定,获得条件性敲除D1133L重组毒株vD1133Li。利用荧光显微镜观察该重组毒株与亲本毒株在猪肺泡巨噬细胞(PAMs)中的复制差异,利用qPCR技术比较重组病毒与亲本毒株的复制差异,分析vD1133Li在无IPTG情况下回补D1133L蛋白后与在IPTG诱导情况下的复制差异。结果显示：本研究成功构建了条件性敲除D1133L的ASFV重组病毒vD1133Li,重组毒株不表达D1133L,在IPTG诱导下复制能力显著低于亲本毒株;在稳定表达D1133L的MA-104细胞系中,vD1133Li复制能力恢复。综上所述,D1133L基因对于ASFV复制至关重...     

Mining Applicable Elite Alleles of Growth Duration,Plant Height and Panicle Number per Plant by Conditional QTL Mapping in Japonica Rice

Unconditional and conditional QTL mapping were conducted for growth duration (GD), plant height (PH) and effective panicle number per plant (PN) using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between two japonica rice varieties Xiushui 79 and C Bao. The RIL population consisted of 254 lines was planted in two environments, Nanjing and Sihong, Jiangsu Province, China. Results showed that additive effects were major in all of QTLs for GD, PH and PN detected by the two methods, and the e...     

表达猪链球菌溶血素基因的减毒沙门氏菌的构建及鉴定

将猪链球菌溶血素（suilysin，SLY）基因克隆入原核表达栽体pBV220，将重组质粒再导入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SV4089株，经PCR和酶切鉴定，构建成携带猪链球菌溶血素基因的重组减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌。结果表明：该减毒株具有相对安全性；用酶切和PCR鉴定法证实在无抗生素存在的条件下携带重组质粒的减毒株比较稳定；SDS-PAGE显示SLY能在宿主菌中进行表达。该结果为进一步研究制备猪链球菌口服活疫苗奠定了基础。     

Poxviruses as vaccine vectors

The discovery of Jenner in 1798 founded the science of immunology and eventually led to smallpox eradication from the earth in 1980 after a world-wide vaccination campaign with vaccinia virus (another poxvirus) and paradoxically, despite the eradication of smallpox, there has been an explosion of interest in vaccinia virus in the eighties. This interest has stemmed in part from the application of molecular genetics to clone and express foreign genes from recombinant vaccinia viruses. Vaccinia is also gaining renewed interest due to bioterrorism.

These recombinant viruses have multiple applications in research and vaccinology and led to the development of vectored vaccines, such as the recombinant vaccinia rabies vaccine used to eliminate rabies in Western Europe and, more recently, in the United States. Secondly, alternative poxvirus vectors, such as avipox viruses, were proved to be even safer and efficacious non-replicating vectors (suiciole vectors) when used in non-avian species.     

猪繁殖和呼吸综合症山东分离株ORF7基因的克隆、测序及鉴定

山东某些养殖场发生以母猪流产或产死胎、木乃伊等为特症的流行性繁殖障碍病,怀疑为猪繁殖与呼吸综合症病毒(PRRSV)所致.自行设计了一对针对PRRSV的N基因的特异性引物P1和P2,通过RT-PCR技术对分别从潍坊和济南收集到的可疑病料进行检测,结果为阳性,并得到1条366bp的DNA片段.纯化此扩增产物,然后与PMD-18T载体连接,转化大肠杆菌DH5α.结果得到了1个ORF7基因与PMD-18T载体的重组质粒PMD-18T-ORF7.通过EcoRⅠ/BamHⅠ双酶切及PCR证明此重组质粒即为ORF7基因与PMD-18T载体的重组质粒,从而为ORF7基因及其表达的核衣壳蛋白进一步研究奠定了基础.