Kinetics of NDV specific antibodies in chickens—V. Analysis of frequency distributions of antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus by investigation of random samples in chicken flocks

Chicks and chickens maintained under commercial conditions were vaccinated against Newcastle Disease via drinking water. Prior and after different times of vaccination blood samples were drawn from different numbers of birds and checked for HI antibodies. The modes of distribution of the antibody titers within the random sample were assayed. The following results were obtained:

1. 1. On the basis of the distribution of the serum titers can be concluded whether the antibody level within a flock is increasing or decreasing.

◦ —A right steep asymmetry can be observed up to 20 days post vaccination.

◦ —In the phase of maximal antibody levels an almost symmetric distribution of the titers is present.

◦ —In later times (more than three weeks p. vacc.) the distribution shows a left steep asymmetry (Poisson distribution).

2. 2. A poisson distribution is also observable during the elimination of maternal antibodies of chicks until complete elimination.

3. 3. The mode of distribution of the HI titers in sera of day-old chicks correlates with the mode of distribution of the dams. Therefore, conclusions are possible from the status of the chicks to the dams and reverse.

4. 4. Factors which interfere with the mode of distribution are:

◦ —Two or more peaks after vaccination of chickens. This indicates an uneven immune response within the flock.

◦ —Distributions with several peaks may also occur if flocks are composed of day-old chicks from parent flocks with different levels of antibody titers.

Trichoderma harzianum produces nonanoic acid, an inhibitor of spore germination and mycelial growth of two cacao pathogens

An isolate of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai from an infected cacao pod produces and secretes nonanoic (pelargonic) acid into a liquid culture medium. Nonanoic acid (NA) was very inhibitory to spore germination and mycelial growth of two cacao pathogens, Crinipellis perniciosa Stahel and Moniliophthora roreri Cif. H.C. Evans. It was highly active causing 75% inhibition of spore germination in an in vitro assay at a rate as low as 0.09 μM for M. roreri and 0.92 μM for C. perniciosa. Mycelial growth was comparatively less sensitive to inhibition, but still there was a 75% reduction in growth with 0.62 μM in M. roreri and 151 μM NA in C. perniciosa. In contrast, NA did not affect Trichoderma mycelial growth or spore germination at concentrations that were inhibitory to the pathogens. 6-pentyl-α-pyrone was also produced and secreted into the medium by T. harzianum, however; it was not antagonistic to the cacao pathogens. Although a number of metabolites produced by Trichoderma spp. have been identified in the past, this is the first report of NA production and secretion by any Trichoderma. The results suggest that NA may play a role in the successful use of some Trichoderma spp. isolates in the biocontrol of fungal diseases of plants.     

Phytotoxicity on cotton ex-plants of an 18.5 kDa protein from culture filtrates of Verticillium dahliae

A phytotoxic protein that evokes the typical symptoms of Verticillium wilt disease in seedlings of Gossypium hirsutum L. (Upland cotton) was isolated from culture filtrates of Verticillium dahliae. The protein was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex-G100 fractionation, and native PAGE. The 18.5 kDa protein, designated VD18.5, appears to be a single subunit protein with an isoelectric point between 3 and 5. VD18.5 induces symptoms of leaf dehydration, chlorosis, necrosis and stem discoloration in seedlings of the disease susceptible cotton cultivar Siokra 1–4. The LD₅₀ of VD18.5 on protoplasts of Siokra 1–4 was 18 μg mL⁻¹. VD18.5 had no noticeable effect on Pima S-7, which is a disease resistant cultivar. Phytotoxic activity was partially destroyed at high temperature and was abolished by digestion with proteinase K. Mass spectrometry fingerprinting and protein sequence data from VD18.5 yielded no significant matches when submitted to the Mascot search engine and NCBI non-redundant protein databases, respectively. These results suggest that VD18.5 is a novel protein that may be involved in the development of some of the symptoms associated with Verticillium wilt disease in the cotton plant.     

瓜类嫁接栽培技术探讨

从6个瓜类砧木品种中，选出了黄瓜适宜砧木为黑籽南瓜，苦瓜适宜砧木为黑籽南瓜和本地肉丝瓜，西瓜适宜砧木为超丰F1和欣京砧一号。瓜类嫁接方法以顶插接法和劈接法为宜，嫁接时期在3月初为宜。重病地黄瓜嫁接苗比自根苗枯萎病发病率降低95．8％，产量提高34．9％；嫁接苦瓜发病率降低83．7％，增产16．9％；嫁接西瓜发病率降低88．9％，增产13．7％。     

猪水泡病病毒结构蛋白基因的克隆及其蛋白二级结构和淋巴细胞表位的预测

以免疫信息学和反向疫苗学为理论根据，利用RT-PCR法获得了猪水泡病病毒（SVDV）HK／70株的基因组序列并测序，应用生物信息学相关软件和方法，对SVDV结构蛋白的二级结构的不同方面及其抗原特异性淋巴细胞表位进行了预测，综合评价了SVDV结构蛋白的抗原特异性细胞表位，并计算出一些潜在的抗原位点。结果表明，VP1蛋白含有的细胞优势抗原表位最多，但其他结构蛋白也含有抗原特异性淋巴细胞表位，有的甚至有可能成为优势抗原表位或对优势抗原表位有协同作用。     

鸡传染性腔上囊病病毒VP2基因在昆虫细胞中的表达

为了深入研究鸡传染性腔上囊病病毒（IBDV）VP2基因的结构和功能,利用Bac-to-Bac系统研制出含有VP2基因的重组杆状病毒rBac-VP2,将rBac-VP2感染Sf9细胞,并用抗IBDV VP2特异性单克隆抗体经间接免疫荧光试验检测,证实感染重组病毒Sf9细胞能高效表达IBDV VP2基因产物;Western-blotting分析结果表明,VP2基因表达产物的分子质量约为40 ku.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN SPINAL CORD INFARCTION IN THREE SMALL BREED DOGS

Fibrocartilaginous embolization (FCE) of the spinal cord is a common disease in large breed dogs. There are only a few reports about this entity in small breed dogs and it has never been reported in chondrodystrophic breed. For definitive diagnosis histopathologic examination is necessary. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a potential diagnostic tool for intravitam diagnosis of FCE has been mentioned before, but results have not been reported so far. This report describes the neurological findings and MRI results in three small breed dogs, including a Pekingese dog, with FCE of the spinal cord. The disease was suspected in two animals based upon clinical and MRI-appearance and confirmed in the third by histopathological examination. In all three cases, similar focal intramedullary lesions, consisting of hyperintensive signals on T2-weighted images, were detected. Based on these findings, high-field MRI may be used as an antemortem tool for the diagnosis of FCE. It is also shown that FCE can occur in chondrodystrophic dogs.     

鹅副粘病毒病的研究进展

鹅副粘病毒病是近年来引起各种年龄鹅发病并致死的一种烈性传染病。目前，本病在我国许多省市流行，具有很高的发病率和死亡率。本文从临床症状、病理变化、病毒的组织嗜性、生物学特性和分子生物学性状等方面对鹅副粘病毒病作一综述。     

类鼻疽的研究进展

本文就类鼻疽(melioidosis)的流行病学,诊断方法,免疫机理,发病机理及治疗方法 进行了综述。为重视该病的研究提出了建议。     

陕西线辣椒病毒病病原检测简报

在陕西省线辣椒主产区多点随机取样,采用酶联免疫吸附法对陕西线辣椒病毒病毒原进 行了鉴定。结果表明,陕西线辣椒病毒病毒原有BBWV、PMMV、CMV、ToMV、TMV、PVY和 CVMV。优势毒原是BBWV、PMMV和CMV。