Quantitative trait loci analysis for root traits in synthetic hexaploid wheat under drought stress conditions

Synthetic hexaploid wheat(SHW), possesses numerous genes for drought that can help breeding for drought-tolerant wheat varieties. We evaluated 10 root traits at seedling stage in 111 F9 recombinant inbred lines derived from a F2 population of a SHW line(SHW-L1) and a common wheat line, under normal(NC) and polyethylene glycol-simulated drought stress conditions(DC). We mapped quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for root traits using an enriched high-density genetic map containing 120 370 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs), 733 diversity arrays technology markers(DArT) and 119 simple sequence repeats(SSRs). With four replicates per treatment, we identified 19 QTLs for root traits under NC and DC, and 12 of them could be consistently detected with three or four replicates. Two novel QTLs for root fresh weight and root diameter under NC explained 9 and 15.7% of the phenotypic variation respectively, and six novel QTLs for root fresh weight, the ratio of root water loss, total root surface area, number of root tips, and number of root forks under DC explained 8.5–14% of the phenotypic variation. Here seven of eight novel QTLs could be consistently detected with more than three replicates. Results provide essential information for fine-mapping QTLs related to drought tolerance that will facilitate breeding drought-tolerant wheat cultivars.     

干制羊肉基因组DNA不同提取方法的比较

为了研究干制加工羊肉基因组DNA的最佳提取方法,本试验采用传统酚-氯仿法、磁珠法、改良CTAB法、离心柱法分别提取干制处理后的羊肉基因组DNA,并对4种方法提取的羊肉基因组DNA浓度、纯度、完整性以及提取所需时间、PCR扩增效果等进行比较。结果表明,采用磁珠法提取DNA的效果更好,DNA浓度为118.87 ng·μL^-1,A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀值为1.89,而且此方法具有提取时间短、效率高、污染小等特点。本研究结果为干制加工羊肉基因组DNA的大批量提取和检测提供了参考依据。     

盐胁迫下宁夏枸杞Na+吸收及Na+/H+转运蛋白与H+-ATPase基因表达的研究

为从分子水平揭示宁夏枸杞钠的吸收积累机理,本试验采用原子吸收分光光度法和实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)方法,对盐胁迫下宁夏枸杞根中Na⁺、K⁺含量以及质膜和液泡膜Na⁺/H⁺转运蛋白与H⁺-ATPase基因表达水平进行测定分析。结果表明,相同胁迫时间下,随着NaCl处理浓度的增加,枸杞根系中Na⁺浓度总体呈缓慢增加趋势,K⁺含量呈先增加后减少趋势,Na⁺/K⁺比值呈先减少后增加趋势;编码质膜和液泡膜的Na⁺/H⁺转运蛋白基因LbSOS1、LbNHX1以及液泡膜H⁺-ATPase基因LbVHA-C1表达量均呈升高趋势,质膜H⁺-ATPase基因LbHA1表达量呈先升高后降低趋势。相同NaCl处理浓度下,随着胁迫时间的延长,Na⁺含量总体呈增加趋势,K⁺含量呈先增加后减少趋势,Na⁺/K⁺比值呈增加趋势。LbSOS1、LbNHX1表达量总体呈先升高后降低趋势,LbVHA-C1、LbHA1表达量总体呈降低的趋势。相关性分析显示,不同胁迫时间下,枸杞根中LbSOS1、LbNHX1、LbVHA-C1和LbHA1表达量与Na⁺含量存在一定的正相关或负相关。上述结果表明,在低浓度NaCl胁迫时,维持枸杞体内较高的K⁺/Na⁺比值是宁夏枸杞耐盐的主要方式之一,同时也说明在胁迫初期,质膜和液泡膜的Na⁺/H⁺转运蛋白与H⁺-ATPase参与了枸杞细胞中Na⁺及时排出胞外和区隔于液泡,从而保持了根细胞内Na⁺的稳定性。此外,随着胁迫时间的延长和NaCl处理浓度的增加,LbSOS1、LbNHX1、LbVHA-C1和LbHA1的表达水平均降低,而 Na⁺积累量大幅增加,致使枸杞抗盐性降低。本研究揭示了宁夏枸杞的耐盐机理,为利用宁夏枸杞改良宁夏大面积盐碱地提供了理论依据。     

基于气象要素影响的柑橘定量滴灌模型研究

为了准确估算柑橘水肥一体化的滴灌量，实现手机APP远程操控滴灌起止时间。基于广西桂林1994—2015年柑橘物候期与同期气象条件的分析，构建了桂林柑橘不同生育期土壤需水量模型及降水量等气象要素与土壤重量含水率变化的转化算法模式，给出了柑橘滴灌量技术流程。应用模型估算广西农垦国有明阳农场（南宁）柑橘种植示范园区1997年3月干旱时的滴灌量。结果表明：应用模型估算滴灌量比传统模型节水40%以上。此结果对“气象监测预报信息+规模化生产管理设施+生产信息反馈与互动”创新服务模式有积极参考意义。     

茶多酚高通量检测技术研究进展

茶多酚是茶叶的主要活性成分,具有抗氧化、抗肿瘤、抗衰老、降血糖、防辐射等多种生物学活性。然而,茶多酚的不稳定性极大限制其进一步开发应用。茶多酚易受光线、温度、pH等因素影响而发生氧化、聚合和缩合,从而使其活性改变。因此,茶多酚组分的高通量快速检测在生物学及临床上具有重要意义。高效液相色谱法、毛细管电泳法、近红外光谱法、核磁共振等均是茶多酚组分高通量检测的主要方法,但这些方法各有优劣。对茶多酚高通量快速检测技术及其相关应用进行了归纳和总结,并对其优势及存在的问题进行分析,以期为茶多酚组分的高通量检测提供参考。     

Rapid screening of genetically modified ingredients in soybean and cotton processing by-product and waste using direct qPCR

To develop a simple and fast method for screening genetically modified ingredients from processing by-product and waste, direct quantitative PCR (qPCR) kit-Taqman which omitting multi genomic DNA preparing steps was developed in this study. A total of 18 oil crop processing by-products and wastes including 10 soybean and 8 cotton materials were collected from food processing factories. Compared with 2 commercial direct qPCR kits, conditions of DNA releasing procedure and PCR amplification were optimized. Element screening was performed at the initial step of genetically modified (GM) ingredient testing procedure via direct qPCR. GM event identification was carried out in positive samples by initial screening. Totally 5 screening elements (P–35S, T-NOS, Cp4-epsps, bar and pat) for soybean materials and 6 screening elements (P–35S, T-NOS, NPTII, Cry1Ac, bar and pat) for cotton samples were detected. In GM event identification, MON531 and MON1445 were found in cotton materials. Results were further confirmed by real-time PCR with DNA extraction and purification. The direct qPCR system proposed by this research was convenient for rapid screening and identification of GM ingredients in oil crop primary by-product and waste.     

Death of a neonatal lamb due to Clostridium perfringens type B in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Case history and clinical findings: A flock of 20 sheep was kept within three paddocks on a single property. None of the animals in the flock had been vaccinated against any disease for at least three years. Abdominal bloating and haemorrhagic diarrhoea were observed in Lamb 1 at 24 hours-of-age. The lamb subsequently died within an hour of the onset of clinical signs. Lamb 2 was 3-days-old when observed to be recumbent with opisthotonus. The lamb was treated with dextrose, vitamins B1 and B12, and penicillin G, but died 4 hours later.

Pathological findings: Examination of Lamb 1 revealed markedly increased gas within the peritoneum and within dilated loops of intestine. The intestines were dark red and contained large quantities of haemorrhagic fluid. Histology of the intestines revealed peracute mucosal necrosis with minimal accompanying inflammation. The intestinal lumen contained cell debris, haemorrhage, and myriad large Gram-positive bacilli. The intestines of Lamb 2 did not appear bloated or reddened. However, multiple fibrin clots were visible within the pericardial sac. Histopathological examination revealed small foci of necrosis within the mucosa of the distal intestine. The necrotic foci were often associated with large numbers of large Gram-positive bacilli.

Immunohistochemsitry and molecular biology: Intestinal samples from Lamb 1 were processed for Clostridium perfringens immunohistochemistry, which revealed large numbers of intralesional, positively immunostained rods. Fragments corresponding to the expected sizes for genes encoding alpha, beta, and epsilon C. perfringens typing toxins were amplified by PCR from DNA extracted from formalin-fixed sections of intestine.

Diagnosis: Lamb dysentery due to C. perfringens type B.

Clinical relevance: C. perfringens bacteria have a worldwide distribution, but disease due to C. perfringens type B has only been diagnosed in a small number of countries and has never been reported in New Zealand or Australia. C. perfringens type B produce both beta toxin and epsilon toxins, therefore both haemorrhagic enteritis and systemic vascular damage can develop. As many animals are exposed to C. perfringens without developing disease, there must be additional unknown factors that resulted in disease in these particular sheep. Vaccines that specifically protect against C. perfringens type B are available and may be recommended for use in smaller non-commercial flocks, as in the present case.     

A serological and molecular study on Francisella tularensis in rodents from Hamadan province,Western Iran

Introduction and purposeTularemia is a zoonotic disease, the most important hosts of which are rodents. Endemic regions and reservoirs of F. tularensis are not well-researched areas in Iran. The present study aimed to study F. tularensis infection in the rodent populations of western Iran.Materials and methodsSamples were collected in different areas of Kabudar Ahang County in Hamadan province (west of Iran) from 2014 to 2017. Tularemia serological and molecular tests were conducted using the tube agglutination test and Real-time PCR method tracking the ISFtu2 gene. Positive serum samples were evaluated for cross-reactivity with brucellosis.ResultsA total of 433 rodents, collected from 33 localities, were included in the study. The most abundant species belonged to the Persian jird (Meriones persicus; 75.5%), and Libyan jird (Meriones libycus; 10.1%). Among the studied samples, three (0.74 %) were seropositive and five (1.15%) were PCR positive. Seropositive samples were two M. persicus and one M. libycus, and PCR positive rodents were four M. persicus and one M. vinogradovi. Tularemia seropositive samples showed no cross-reactivity with brucellosis.ConclusionGiven the presence of infection in rodents with tularemia agent in the studied area, it is crucial to elucidate the risks of rodent exposure to tularemia for physicians, health personnel and the general population.     

Serological and molecular detection of infection with Mycobacterium leprae in Brazilian six banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus)

Leprosy was recognized as a zoonotic disease, associated with nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the Southern United States of America in 2011. In addition, there is growing evidence to support a role for armadillos in zoonotic leprosy in South America. The current study evaluated twenty specimens of the six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus), collected from rural locations in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil for evidence of infection with Mycobacterium leprae. Serum was examined using two "in-house" enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and via two commercially available (ML flow and NDO-LID®) immunochromatographic lateral flow (LF) tests, for detection of the PGL-I and/or LID-1 antigens of the bacterium. The presence of M. leprae DNA in liver tissue was examined using the multi-copy, M. leprae-specific repetitive element (RLEP), as target in conventional and nested PCR assays. Molecular and anti-PGL-I-ELISA data indicated that 20/20 (100 %) of the armadillos were infected with M. leprae. The corresponding detection levels recorded with the LF tests were 17/20 (85 %) and 16/20 (85 %), for the NDO-LID® and ML flow tests, respectively. Our results indicate that, in common with D. novemcinctus, six banded armadillos (a species hunted and reared as a food-source in some regions of Brazil, including RN), represent a potential reservoir of M. leprae and as such, their role in a possible zoonotic cycle of leprosy within Brazil warrants further investigation.     

Molecular survey of Dirofilaria species in stray dogs,red foxes and golden jackals from Vojvodina,Serbia

Cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and other carnivores is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, while Dirofilaria repens usually causes a subcutaneous infection. The importance of red foxes and golden jackals in the epidemiology of dirofilariosis remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional molecular survey of Dirofilaria species in stray dogs, red foxes and golden jackals from the endemic region of Vojvodina, Serbia, in order to determine and update data on their prevalence and provide insight into the epidemiological importance of wild canids.A total of 59 blood samples from stray dogs, 94 from red foxes and 32 from golden jackals were collected and screened by real-time PCR targeting a 115-bp fragment of the mitochondrial 12S gene of filarioids and by conventional PCR assay targeting a 484–524-bp fragment of 5.8S-ITS2-28S locus of filarioids.The cross-sectional molecular survey detected the filarioid mitochondrial 12S gene fragment in stray dogs (27.1 %), red foxes (8.5 %) and golden jackals (6.3 %) in the same endemic region of Vojvodina, Serbia. Only D. immitis was detected in stray dogs, while both D. immitis and D. repens were detected in populations of red foxes and golden jackals. These results outline a possible interaction of D. immitis infection between the dog population and the wild canid populations, while D. repens was found to circulate mostly in golden jackals and red foxes populations.