Beneficial effects of dietary exogenous protease on the growth,intestinal health and immunity of GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus) fed plant‐based diets

This study investigated the effects of dietary exogenous protease on the growth performance, intestinal health, immune parameters and disease resistance of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus). Five test diets with commercial protease at the levels of 0, 1.38, 2.76, 5.52 and 11.04 U/g (named PE0, PE1, PE2, PE5 and PE11, respectively) were administered to triplicate tanks with 30 fish for 60 days, and then, the fish were challenged with Streptococcus agalactiae for 14 days. The results indicated that weight gain increased as exogenous protease increased from 0 to 5.52 U protease/g diet and then decreased significantly (p < .05) with a further increase in exogenous protease supplementation (p < .05). The height of the villi in the proximal intestine and distal intestine, the width of the villi in three segments of the intestine, and the thickness of the muscle layer in the proximal intestine and mid‐intestine (p < .05) were increased in the fish fed the PE5 diet. Immune and antioxidant indices (except malondialdehyde), and survival after challenged with S. agalactiae were higher in fish fed PE5 diets than in those fed other diets (p < .05). In conclusion, 5.52 U/g protease supplementation in a plant‐based diet could promote the growth performance, intestinal physical barrier function, innate immunity and S. agalactiae resistance of GIFT.     

凡纳滨对虾养殖体系中群体感应淬灭菌的筛选、安全性评估及发酵条件优化

从凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamai)养殖体系中筛选得到具有群体感应淬灭(Quorum quenching, QQ)活性的潜在功能菌，并对菌株进行16S rDNA鉴定、安全性评估及发酵条件优化。采用根癌农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens) A136液体X-gal法进行活性菌株筛选，发现2株细菌(BDZ5和W1B)的发酵液对信号分子己酰基高丝氨酸内酯(C6-HSL)具有显著的降解作用，但经沸水浴处理后均丧失降解活性。经16S rDNA基因序列分析，菌株BDZ5和W1B分别被鉴定为芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)和科贝特氏菌属(Cobetia)。安全性评估结果显示，菌株BDZ5和W1B均无溶血性，且对多数抗生素具有敏感性，注射2株活性菌未提高凡纳滨对虾死亡率，且对凡纳滨对虾血清免疫酶活性无显著影响。单因素条件优化结果显示，在起始pH为7.0、盐度为20、0.0005%的MnCl2条件下培养48 h后，菌株BDZ5达到最大生长量；在起始pH为6.0、盐度为40、0.05%的CaCl2条件下培养48 h，菌株W1B达到最大生长量。2株菌的最适信号分子C6-HSL降解条件与其生长条件有所不同，在起始pH为7.5、盐度为30、0.0005%的MnCl2条件下培养48 h，2株活性菌对信号分子C6-HSL的降解率达到最大值。研究表明，菌株BDZ5和W1B可作为益生菌应用于水产养殖，为基于QQ角度防治对虾细菌性病害提供优良菌种。     

Estimating the level of disease risk and biosecurity on commercial poultry farms in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Aims: To collect baseline data on the contact risk pathways and biosecurity practices of commercial poultry farms in New Zealand, investigate the relationship between the farm-level disease contact risks and biosecurity practices, and identify important poultry health concerns of producers.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of all registered New Zealand commercial poultry operations was conducted in 2016 collecting information on farm demographics, biosecurity practices, and contact risk pathways. Survey responses were used to generate an unweighted subjective disease risk score based on eight risk criteria and a subjective biosecurity score based on the frequency with which producers reported implementing seven biosecurity measures. Producer opinions towards poultry health issues were also determined.

Results: Responses to the survey response were obtained from 120/414 (29.0%) producers, including 57/157 (36.3%) broiler, 33/169 (19.5%) layer, 24/55 (44%) breeder, and 6/32 (19%) other poultry production types. Median disease risk scores differed between production types (p?<?0.001) and were lowest for breeder enterprises. The greatest risk for layer and broiler enterprises was from the potential movement of employees between sheds, and for breeder enterprises was the on- and off-farm movement of goods and services. Median biosecurity scores also differed between production types (p?<?0.001), and were highest for breeder and broiler enterprises. Across all sectors there was no statistical correlation between biosecurity scores and disease risk scores. Producers showed a high level of concern over effectively managing biosecurity measures.

Conclusions: The uptake of biosecurity measures in the commercial poultry farms surveyed was highly variable, with some having very low scores despite significant potential disease contact risks. This may be related to the low prevalence or absence of many important infectious poultry diseases in New Zealand leading farmers to believe there is a limited need to maintain good biosecurity as well as farmer uncertainty around the efficacy of different biosecurity measures. Further research is needed to understand barriers towards biosecurity adoption including evaluating the cost-effectiveness of biosecurity interventions.     

Isolation of Streptococcus cuniculi from corneal lesion in laboratory-raised mice

Corneal lesions appearing as white mass beneath intact epithelium, with ocular discharge in one mouse, was observed in a batch of laboratory-raised BALB/c mice (n=9 of 56). The affected mice remained active, well-groomed and had normal appetite. Isolates recovered from swab cultures of the external and internal contents of the eye had partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of 99.1% similarity to Streptococcus cuniculi. No previous report of S. cuniculi infection in laboratory rodents has been presented. The isolate was susceptible to all antibiotics tested. We suggest S. cuniculi is an opportunistic bacteria in laboratory mice but are uncertain of its source. Our findings revealed that S. cuniculi is able to colonize laboratory mice and should be considered when mice present with eye lesion or ocular discharge.     

Comparison of cholesterol levels among lipoprotein fractions separated by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography in periparturient Holstein–Friesian dairy cows

Changes in lipoprotein profiles occur in dairy cows during the periparturient period and in cows with transition cow disease. Here, the lipoprotein profiles of Holstein–Friesian dairy cows during the periparturient period were obtained by anion-exchange, high-performance liquid chromatography to evaluate the usefulness of lipoprotein profile evaluation during the periparturient period and in cows with fatty liver and milk fever. Lipoprotein levels (including total and high- (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) cholesterol) in 10 healthy cows were low 4 weeks prepartum, with the lowest values at calving or within 1 week of calving; the values increased at 8 weeks postpartum. The lipoprotein levels were measured in 16 cows diagnosed with fatty liver (n=10) or milk fever (n=6) and compared to 10 healthy dairy cows. A significant difference was observed in HDL-C between healthy cows (at calving and 1 week postpartum), and the fatty liver and milk fever cows. Cows with fatty liver and milk fever had a lower mean HDL-C than the 10 healthy dairy cows at calving and 1 week postpartum. HDL-C might be a good indicator of energy balance for differentiating healthy cows from those with transition cow disease.     

生长素调控因子OsGRF4协同调控水稻粒形和稻瘟病抗性

【目的】水稻粒形为多基因控制的复杂数量性状,同时影响稻谷产量和稻米外观及碾磨品质,挖掘粒形相关基因并解析其遗传机制,对于水稻高产和优质品种选育具有重要意义。【方法】以前期利用大粒籼稻品种特大籼(TDX)为供体亲本、小粒粳稻品种日本晴(Nipponbare,NPB)为轮回亲本获得的一个大粒近等基因系,在水稻第2染色体上初定位粒形调控基因GS2.2(grain size 2.2)的基础上,对GS2.2基因进行了精细定位和候选功能基因的克隆鉴定。【结果】利用BC₄F₂群体中2887份极小粒单株及该群体中70份基因型杂合的大粒单株自交获得的BC₄F₃群体,将GS2.2基因精细定位在2M-7-1与2M-9之间的160.6 kb的区间内。该区间编码18个基因开放阅读框(ORF1-18)。测序发现ORF18基因在大粒近等基因系与小粒日本晴等位基因间存在5个SNP差异,ORF18编码生长素调控因子蛋白OsGRF4。采用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术对大粒近等基因系中ORF18进行敲除,发现ORF18敲除株系粒长变短,证实ORF18是GS2.2的功能基因。进一步对ORF18大粒近等基因系和基因编辑敲除株系进行稻瘟菌室内离体和病圃接种鉴定,发现ORF18大粒近等基因系稻瘟病抗性增强,而基因编辑敲除株系稻瘟病抗性减弱,表明ORF18正调控水稻稻瘟病抗性。【结论】本研究发现的生长素调控因子OsGRF4协同调控水稻粒形和稻瘟病抗性,为协调水稻高产和抗性育种提供了重要的基因资源。     

Comparison of flagellin and an oil-emulsion adjuvant in inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine in stimulation of immunogenic parameters

The present study was designed to investigate the potential application of native (N) and recombinant (truncated modified [tmFliC] and full-length [flFliC]) flagellin proteins along with inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Fifty six SPF chickens were immunized twice with PBS (control), inactivated NDV (Ag), inactivated NDV/flFliC (AgF), inactivated NDV/tmFliC (AgT), inactivated NDV/N (AgN), commercial vaccine containing Montanide (Vac) and Vac/N (VacN), with a two-week interval. Blood was collected weekly and spleens were harvested after chickens were sacrificed. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by Real-Time PCR. Antibody response was assessed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Cellular activity was quantified by MTT assay. Results showed that the most IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression was observed in AgF group (P < 0.01). The lowest gene expression among vaccinated groups was observed in Ag group for IL-6 and Ag and Vac group for TNF-α. The highest HI titer was observed in Vac, VacN, AgF and AgT groups. The AgF group showed the highest cellular activity (P < 0.01). In conclusion, flagellin-adjuvanted groups showed a pro-inflammatory effect and acted similarly to or better than the Vac group. Hence, flagellin can be proposed as a potential adjuvant for ND vaccine.     

南方早熟砂梨缺镁黄叶症诊断与矫治

通过对福建省德化县早熟砂梨“黄叶病株”及“正常植株”叶片及土壤的营养诊断分析：黄叶病株叶片平均含镁量0.131%，极显著低于正常植株0.328%；黄叶症较重的果园土壤交换态镁含量低12.6～24.5㎎/㎏及土壤酸性强pH3.6～4.5，诊断结论砂梨叶片黄化现象为镁素缺乏所致。矫治试验效果，叶面喷施1%硝酸镁3次，可以叶色转绿；12月份土壤基施钙镁磷肥株1.3 kg，翌年5月份后有明显矫治效果。     

西瓜优良新品种"齐丰宝"的选育报告

西瓜优良品种"齐丰宝"是齐齐哈尔市园艺研究所用多年培育和最新引进的优良性状突出的亲本材料进行杂交,经过5年试验示范选育而成.并于2002年通过黑龙江省品种审定委员会审定,已进入推广应用阶段.     

生物刺激素协同对草莓炭疽病防治及其生长发育的影响

草莓炭疽病是草莓定植时期最易造成死苗的真菌病害。本文研究了生物刺激素（木霉菌、海藻酸、聚谷氨酸）协同灌根对草莓炭疽病的防治以及促生作用。结果表明,与对照相比,木霉菌、海藻酸、聚谷氨酸单剂灌根和木霉菌+海藻酸、木霉菌+聚谷氨酸的协同灌根处理均能显著降低炭疽病造成的死苗率,其中木霉菌+海藻酸的防效最高,可达78.26%。相比对照,所有处理均能显著提高净光合速率、1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶活性和加氧酶活性等光合指标,以及土壤脲酶活性。协同灌根处理显著提高草莓株高、根茎粗、叶柄长、叶面积等生长指标达15.62%～47.00%。其中木霉菌+海藻酸处理的净光合速率、土壤脲酶活性最高。综合而言,木霉菌与海藻酸协同灌根在促进生长、促进光合、提高土壤供氮水平以及防控草莓炭疽病方面均表现出显著的增效作用,可作为生物防治的一种有效手段