How molecular methods change our views of FeLV infection and vaccination

FeLV was discovered 40 years ago and vaccines have been commercially available for almost two decades. So far, most FeLV pathogenesis and vaccine studies were conducted assaying parameters, such as virus isolation and antigen detection. Accordingly, regressive infection was characterized by transient or undetectable viremia, while persistent viremia is typically observed in cats with progressive infection. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, the spectrum of host response categories to FeLV infection was recently refined by investigating proviral and plasma viral RNA loads. Cats believed to be immune to FeLV infection were found to turn provirus-positive after virus exposure. Moreover, efficacious FeLV vaccines were found unable to prevent provirus-integration and minimal viral replication. Remarkably, no difference was found in initial proviral and plasma viral RNA loads between cats with different infection outcomes. Only subsequently, the infection outcome is associated with FeLV loads. FeLV provirus was found to persist for years; reoccurrence of viremia and disease development was observed in some cats. Thus, aviremic provirus-positive cats are FeLV carriers and, following reactivation, may act as an infection source. However, integrated viral DNA may also be essential for solid protection and long-lasting maintenance of protective immunity. In conclusion, real-time TaqMan PCR and RT-PCR assays are highly sensitive and specific. They yield a more sensitive measure for FeLV exposure than antigen detection, virus isolation or immunofluoresence assays. We recommend the use of real-time PCR assays to identify FeLV exposed cats, particularly in catteries, and investigate obscure clinical cases that may be FeLV-associated. The use of sensitive molecular methods will contribute to a more in-depth understanding of the FeLV pathogenesis.     

Real-time PCR investigation of feline leukemia virus proviral and viral RNA loads in leukocyte subsets

Cats exposed to feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a naturally occurring gammaretrovirus develop either progressive or regressive infection. Recent studies using analyses with enhanced sensitivity have correlated loads throughout FeLV with the clinical outcome, though remarkably, during the acute phase of infection, proviral and viral RNA burdens in the peripheral blood do not differ between groups. We hypothesized that viral loads in specific leukocyte subsets influence the infection outcome. Using a method established to determine the proviral and cell-associated viral RNA loads in specific leukocyte subsets, we evaluated viral loads in eleven FeLV-exposed specific pathogen-free (SPF) cats 2.5 years post-infection. Six cats had undergone regressive infection whereas five were persistently viremic. Aviremic cats had lower total proviral blood loads than the persistently infected cats and FeLV proviral DNA was shown to be integrated into genomic DNA in four out of four animals. Lymphocytes were predominantly infected vs. moncytes and granulocytes in aviremic cats. In contrast, persistently viremic cats were provirus-positive in all leukocyte subsets. The acute phase kinetics of FeLV infection were analyzed in two additional cats; an early lymphoreticular phase with productive infection in lymphocytes in both cats and in monocytes in one cat was followed by infection of the granulocytes; both cats became persistently infected. These results indicate that FeLV persistent viremia is associated with secondary viremia of bone marrow origin, whereas regressive cats only sustain a non-productive infection in low numbers of lymphocytes.     

应用DNA指纹图谱法对湘白猪群体遗传结构的研究

本文采用Ｊｅｆｆｒｅｙｓ小卫星探针３３．６和３３．１５检测了４个湘白猪品系（Ⅰ，Ⅱ，Ⅲ，Ⅳ）和５个亲本品种（大约克、长白、杜洛克、大围子、沙子岭）的ＤＮＡ指纹图谱。根据指纹带型计算了每个群体的相似系数、平均等位基因频率和最低杂合率。４个湘白猪品系的分析结果表明：湘白猪各品系内的相似系数为０．４５－０．４９，接近于欧美引进品种长白猪（０．４８－０．５０），具有较好的遗传纯合性。根据９个品种（系）的群     

16SrRNA寡核苷酸探针原位杂交法在粪便微生物研究中的应用

16SrRNA寡核苷酸探针（以下简称16SrRNA探针）原位杂交法，可简单、快速和准确地对粪便微生物进行定性和定量测定，本文对该方法及其应用作一综述。     

The Application of Flow Cytometry and Fluorescent Probe Technology for Detection and Assessment of Viability of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria

Conventional methods to detect and assess the viability of plant pathogenic bacteria are usually based on plating assays or serological techniques. Plating assays provide information about the number of viable cells, expressed as colony-forming units, but are time-consuming and laborious. Serological methods, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence microscopy (IF), can be performed in a shorter timespan than most plating assays, but they do not discriminate between live and dead cells. Flow cytometry (FCM) in combination with fluorescent probe technology is a rapid, sensitive, and quantitative technique to detect microorganisms and assess their viability. Quantitative information on the presence and viability of plant pathogenic microorganisms is valuable for risk assessment regarding disease transmission and disease development. FCM has been applied successfully in the fields of food microbiology, veterinary science, and medical research to detect and distinguish between viable and non-viable bacteria. The aim of this review is to show the potential of FCM and fluorescent probe technology for the field of plant pathology.     

沙门菌实时荧光定量PCR检测试剂盒的研制与应用

根据沙门菌保守的fimY基因序列设计合成了引物和TaqMan探针，建立了快速检测沙门菌的实时荧光定量方法，并对反应条件进行了优化，组装成快速检测试剂盒。通过对临床样品的检测，该试剂盒的检测灵敏度达4.5CFU（25μL反应体系），比常规PCR高100倍，而且稳定性良好，至少可以冷冻保存9个月。结果表明，所建立的沙门菌实时荧光定量PCR检测试剂盒具有操作简便、快速、特异性强、灵敏度高、重复性好、稳定性强等优点，适于大量样品的检测。     

Hemocyanin lipid uptake in Polybetes pythagoricus is altered by fenitrothion

The spider very high density lipoprotein (VHDL), which contains hemocyanin as the major apoprotein, transports most of the circulating lipids. In this work, the effect of the pesticide fenitrothion (FS) on the ability of VHDL-apoproteins to uptake different lipids was investigated. For this, VHDL was delipidated using Triton X-100 and recombined with different radiolabeled lipids in the presence or the absence of FS. The oligomeric structural integrity was maintained after delipidation as shown by non-denaturating PAGE. In the presence of the insecticide, palmitic acid uptake decreased by 28.2 and 62.4% after treating the apolipoprotein with 10 and 20 ppm FS, respectively. Decreases in the uptake of cholesterol, triolein, and phosphatidylcholine caused by FS were 29, 23, and 31% using 10 ppm, and 40, 44, and 29% using 20 ppm FS, respectively. Fluorescence measurements with the hydrophobic probes diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and diphenylhexatrienyl-propionic acid (DPH-PA) indicate that FS induces a red shift, decreases the intensity and increases the anisotropy of the emission of these probes in the VHDL. These results indicate that insecticide binding to the lipoprotein enhances the environment polarity and restricts the mobility of these probes at their binding site. These changes at the hydrophobic VHDL binding sites could lead to the decreased affinity for lipids and hydrophobic ligands. It is inferred that FS could alter the normal lipid exchange between this lipoprotein and tissues.     

.基于TaqMan探针的牛布氏杆菌实时荧光定量PCR的特异性鉴定

根据牛布氏杆菌BM28保守序列设计引物和探针,建立了一种快速鉴定牛布氏杆菌的TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR方法。以梯度稀释的含有目的扩增片段的重组质粒作为标准品,进行定量PCR反应。结果显示:5.0×105~5.0×101拷贝范围内定量PCR均有"S"型扩增曲线,检测灵敏度为50拷贝每微升。本研究建立的实时荧光定量PCR方法具有灵敏度高、特异性和重复性好、方便经济的特性,在牛布氏杆菌的检测与鉴定中具有良好的应用前景。