Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural exports

The COVID-19 outbreak has shocked the world's economies in the year of 2020. As this pandemic spreads around the globe, many experts feared that the global food supplies might start running short, especially if supply chains were disrupted. COVID-19 also added to the uncertainty of the business operation. Therefore, it is critical to understand how COVID-19 pandemic affected global food supply and market. In this study, we investigate the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural export companies in China using a unique firm-level survey data. We found that although on average agricultural businesses experienced declines in the exports, exports of some agricultural products especially grain and oil held strong and even increased, implying the essential demand for staple food during the pandemic. Not surprisingly, exports of medicinal herb also increased significantly during the pandemic. However, exports of goods such as edible fungus and horticultural products sharply decreased. Our results also showed that in general, impact of COVID-19 on smaller firms was more severe than that on larger firms. The results of this study can provide useful guidance and implications for agricultural businesses and policy makers on their COVID-19 mitigation efforts to navigate this global pandemic.     

EPS364, a Novel Deep-Sea Bacterial Exopolysaccharide,Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Growth and Adhesion

The prognosis of liver cancer was inferior among tumors. New medicine treatments are urgently needed. In this study, a novel exopolysaccharide EPS364 was purified from Vibrio alginolyticus 364, which was isolated from a deep-sea cold seep of the South China Sea. Further research showed that EPS364 consisted of mannose, glucosamine, gluconic acid, galactosamine and arabinose with a molar ratio of 5:9:3.4:0.5:0.8. The relative molecular weight of EPS364 was 14.8 kDa. Our results further revealed that EPS364 was a β-linked and phosphorylated polysaccharide. Notably, EPS364 exhibited a significant antitumor activity, with inducing apoptosis, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Huh7.5 liver cancer cells. Proteomic and quantitative real-time PCR analyses indicated that EPS364 inhibited cancer cell growth and adhesion via targeting the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that EPS364 is a promising antitumor agent for pharmacotherapy.     

疫情下“生物分离工程”课程教学模式思考

生物分离工程是生物工程、食品工程、酿酒工程等多个专业的必修课；为保质保量的完成教学任务和人才培养目标,从课程教学实施、存在问题、改革建议等方面思考了新冠肺炎疫情下,课程线上授课模式。     

Calreticulin expression is necessary for protective immune effect of T-cell vaccine in EAE mice

AIM:To study the role of cell membrane ectopic calreticulin (CALR) expression on the protective immunie effect of T-cell vaccine (TCV) on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). METHODS:EAE model was established by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG_35-55) immunization in C57BL/6 mice, and the mice were immunized with MOG_35-55-specific CALR⁺ and CALR^- T-lymphocytes. Symptomatic scores were compared at the maximum of the disease. On the 15th day after immunization, the proportion of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg) in the spleen, and the expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10 and IL-17A in the serum were measured. RESULTS:Increased expression of CALR in activated T cells after γ-irradiation was observed. Blockade of CALR on the vaccinating T-cell surface reduced the protective effect of TCV. Furthermore, blockade of CALR reduced the number of Treg in the spleen and up-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSION:CALR expression in the T cells is necessary for the protective immunity induced by TCV in EAE mice.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情对我国粮食产业的影响分析

新型冠状病毒肺炎（以下简称“新冠肺炎”）疫情对我国粮食生产和人民生活造成了不同程度的影响。为推动粮食生产有序开展，保障粮食安全，分析了新冠肺炎疫情对我国粮食产业发展的影响。分析发现，疫情之下农业用工难、农资供应紧张、传统的技术下乡服务停滞、跨区耕作受阻，加之今年病虫害呈重发态势，国际形势也更加复杂多变，稳定粮食生产的压力和挑战加大。建议将粮食安全当成“头等大事”来抓，支持春耕生产和双季稻面积恢复，保障重要物资运输通道畅通，开展多形式农业科技服务，健全国内、国外两个市场预警机制，构建新型粮食生产支持体系，进一步保障我国粮食安全生产。     

河套地区种植方式与密度对'张杂谷19号'产量的影响

为明确河套地区不同栽培模式对'张杂谷19号'产量的影响,以新抗旱谷子杂交种'张杂谷19号'为试验材料,研究3种种植方式（干旱无膜、干旱覆膜及灌溉无膜）和5种密度（4.5万、9万、13.5万、22.5万、45万株/hm²）对'张杂谷19号'稳产和丰产性的影响。结果表明,正常灌溉条件下,'张杂谷9号'的产量随着种植密度的增加而增加。当密度为45万株/hm²时产量最高,达到8724.36 kg/hm²。而干旱条件下,适宜种植密度可以同样获得较高产量,与正常灌溉条件下最高产量差异不显著。当种植密度为9万~ 45万株/hm²时,产量普遍提高到7700 kg/hm²以上,最高可达8654.33 kg/hm²。河套地区'张杂谷19号'播前灌溉1次足水、地膜覆盖及种植密度9万~45万株/hm²,可以实现水分高效利用和产量达到较高水平。     

High protection of mice against Brucella abortus by oral immunization with recombinant probiotic Lactobacillus casei vector vaccine,expressing the outer membrane protein OMP19 of Brucella species

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease threatening the public health and hindering the trade of animals and their products, which has a negative impact on the economic development of a country. Vaccination is the most effective way to control brucellosis. The recombinant vector vaccines are promising candidates for immunization in humans and animals. In this study, the gene encoding OMP19 antigen was primarily amplified and cloned into an expression vector called pT1NX, and then transformed to L. casei cell via electroporation technique. The expression was confirmed using specific antibody against the recombinant protein via immunological screening tests such as western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Finally, recombinant L. casei was orally fed to mice and the results were further recorded, indicating that the mice group which received OMP19 through L. casei based vaccine represented a very good general and mucosal immune responses protective against challenges with virulent B. abortus 544 strain compared with negative control recipient groups. Therefore, the vaccine produced in this research plan can be a very good candidate for protection against brucellosis.