Molecular investigation on the presence of canine parvovirus in Egypt

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) causes a highly contagious gastroenteritis disease of dogs and wild canids. To investigate the CPV-2 prevalence in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, a total of 50 fecal swabs were collected from suspected diseased dogs during 2016–2017. Out of 50 collected samples, 35 samples (70 %) presented positive results for CPV-2 using immuno-chromatography (IC) as a rapid test. CPV-2DNA was detected in 42 samples (84 %) by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The frequencies of CPV-2 were significantly higher in German shepherd breed (46 %; 23/50) and in age groups less than 6 months (76%; 38/50). We evaluated the breed, age, sex, rapid test results and clinical signs as predictors for classification of animal status into infected and not infected. The best predictors for classification process were rapid test result and clinical signs. Both CPV-2b and CPV-2c subtypes were detected by CPV2-VP2 gene sequences analysis. Deduced amino acid sequences alignment showed substitutions at 3 sites (Arg453Pro, Ala574Glu and Gln457Leu). Further investigations are needed to reveal the genetic and antigenic relation between field and vaccinal strains of CPV-2 in Egypt.     

小麦Glu-3位点基因拷贝数的变异分析

【目的】基因拷贝数变异是一种常见又重要的基因结构变异,往往影响个体表型。低分子量麦谷蛋白（low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit,LMW-GS）是小麦贮藏蛋白的主要组成部分,位于Glu-3位点。小麦作为异源六倍体,其庞大且复杂的基因组结构导致难以利用传统方法检测目的基因的拷贝数,针对小麦基因组,筛选可靠稳定的内参基因和体系,探索适合复杂基因组的拷贝数变异测定技术,测定Glu-3位点LWM-GS基因拷贝数。【方法】以Acc1为内参基因,根据基因序列设计内参引物和探针,通过定性和定量PCR测定内参基因在12个普通小麦品种中的拷贝数,分析该基因拷贝数在不同品种间的稳定性;又以小麦品种篙优2018的5个稀释浓度的基因组DNA为模板,利用qRT-PCR验证Acc1内参系统的重复性和准确性;根据Glu-A3位点LMW-GS基因序列设计特异性引物及探针,利用qRT-PCR和ddPCR 2种方法检测8个小麦品种Glu-A3位点基因拷贝数,比较后选择更优的高通量基因拷贝数检测方法;再根据Glu-B3和Glu-D3位点LMW-GS基因序列设计相应的特异性引物及探针,并利用ddPCR技术检测和分析了231份小麦品种的Glu-A3、Glu-B3和Glu-D3位点上LMW-GS基因拷贝数。【结果】Acc1在12个普通小麦品种间、同一品种5个DNA稀释浓度间的拷贝数测定结果一致,技术重复间的变异系数仅为0.07%—0.77%,所构建的Acc1内参系统稳定;比较qRT-PCR和ddPCR 2种拷贝数检测方法,8个品种所测的Glu-A3位点拷贝数结果一致,分别为3、5、3、4、3、3、3和3;且ddPCR检测重复间的变异系数为0.30%—1.67%,远低于qRT-PCR的3.14%—12.72%,更加可靠;利用ddPCR对231份普通小麦品种的Glu-A3、Glu-B3和Glu-D3位点上LMW-GS基因拷贝检测后分析发现,大多数小麦品种在3个位点上的拷贝数为4,所占频率分别为51.95%、32.03%和28.57%,Glu-3位点总拷贝数变异范围为10—21,变异系数为16.12%。【结论】Acc1内参系统具有良好的稳定性和重复性,可以用作小麦Glu-3位点和其他目的基因拷贝数检测的内参;qRT-PCR和ddPCR均可用于小麦基因拷贝数的检测,但后者更稳定、可靠,且操作简单、检测通量高。     

Serologic and molecular survey of horses to Coxiella burnetii in East of Iran a highly endemic area

There are few reports about Q fever in horse populations worldwide. This study aimed to detect the C. burnetii infection by serologic and molecular confirmation using commercial ELISA kit and real-time PCR in the East of Iran a region highly endemic. A total of 177 blood samples and 115 vaginal swabs were randomly collected from horses in East of Iran. The sera samples were analyzed for anti C.burnetii Ig G antibodies by a commercial ELISA kit and nucleic acid extraxted from vaginal samples were used to determine the C. burnetii DNA by real-time PCR assay. Antibodies were detected in 5.64 % (10/177) of sera samples and C. burnetii DNA was detected in 7.82 % (9/115) of horse vaginal samples. There was no significant difference in seroprevalence in different sex, age and breed groups. Our study showed that horses could be considered as a mild potential reservoir of C. burnetii which may be effective on horse health status. However, additional studies are needed to assess whether the horse could be considered as a relevant transmission risk indicator for Q fever.     

牛星状病毒EvaGreen实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

牛星状病毒(BAstV)是我国新发的犊牛腹泻病原,本试验的目的是建立检测BAstV的Real-time PCR方法。根据BAstV流行株的ORF1a基因序列设计引物,通过优化反应条件和体系,成功建立基于EvaGreen检测BAstV的Real-time PCR方法。结果表明,该检测方法的Ct值与标准品模板在1.36×10¹~1.36×10⁸拷贝/μL线性关系良好,相关系数R²=0.999,扩增效率为93.79%;该方法可特异性检出BAstV,对犊牛腹泻其他相关病原呈阴性;最低检测下限为13.6拷贝/μL;批间和批内的变异系数均小于2%,重复性好。对2017年9月至2019年5月采自河南省的221份犊牛腹泻样本进行检测,BAstV的检出率为18.1%(40/221),采样场阳性率为100.0%(14/14)。本试验所建方法灵敏度高、特异性强、稳定性好,为BAstV的检测和流行病学调查提供了有力手段。     

山羊TNNT3基因可变剪切及其对骨骼肌细胞分化的作用

【目的】快速骨骼肌肌钙蛋白T（fast skeletal troponin T3,TNNT3）作为肌钙蛋白(troponin, Tn)家族成员,调节横纹肌收缩、参与骨骼肌的生长发育并影响家畜肉质性状。通过获得山羊TNNT3基因的可变剪切体,分析山羊TNNT3基因可变剪切的表达模式及其在肌细胞分化中的作用,深入解析TNNT3基因在山羊骨骼肌生长发育过程中的作用机制。【方法】基于NCBI已公布山羊TNNT3基因（NM_001314210.1）和牛TNNT3基因（XM_010821200）mRNA序列,使用软件Primer Premier 6.0设计引物,以简州大耳羊胚胎期和出生后7个阶段骨骼肌为试验材料,克隆测序获得山羊TNNT3基因的CDS区可变剪切体,利用软件ORF Finder、EditSeq、DNAMAN、ClustalW和MEGA_X_10.1.8等对序列进行生物信息学分析;进一步设计实时荧光定量（real-time PCR,RT-qPCR）及半定量引物,研究TNNT3基因剪切体在7个不同组织（背最长肌（longissimus dorsi muscle,LD）、半膜肌（semimembranosus muscle,SM）、心、肝、脾、肺、肾）和7个发育阶段（胚胎期E75、E90、E105和出生后B3、B45、B150、B300）肌肉组织（背最长肌和半膜肌）中表达模式;此外,对转录本TNNT3_3进行体外编码能力检测确定其具有编码蛋白的能力,并在山羊骨骼肌卫星细胞（skeletal muscle satellite cells,MuSCs）中过表达,观察细胞形态变化以及检测标志基因的表达变化,研究其对山羊MuSCs分化的作用。【结果】①TNNT3（NM_001314210.1）CDS区全序列主要含有18个外显子,其中外显子16/17相互排斥,转录后单一表达。克隆发现山羊TNNT3基因 5个新转录本（TNNT3_1—5）,其外显子数分别是15、15、20、16、14。②生物信息学分析结果显示山羊TNNT3基因核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列与绵羊、牛、猪等哺乳动物具有很高的一致性,而与鱼类和爬行类动物的一致性较低,说明TNNT3基因序列在哺乳动物高度保守。③TNNT3 mRNA在背最长肌、半膜肌、心、肝、脾、肺、肾7个组织中都有表达,其中在骨骼肌中高度富集(P < 0.01),心脏及肺次之,其余组织中较低;TNNT3 mRNA在背最长肌和半膜肌中的表达始终处于一个动态变化中,胚胎期TNNT3在半膜肌的表达量高于背最长肌（P<0.05）;出生后则背最长肌中高于半膜肌（P<0.05）。④山羊TNNT3基因转录本TNNT3_3重复出现保守的外显子9—11（138bp）,体外翻译实验显示其可编码蛋白且蛋白大小与预期基本相符（37 kD）;相较于对照组,在山羊MuSCs中过表达该转录本使肌分化标志基因Myomaker、MyoG和MyH4 mRNA极显著升高(P < 0.01)。【结论】获得了山羊TNNT3基因具有完整CDS区5个新可变剪切体,TNNT3主要在肌肉组织（背最长肌和半膜肌）中高表达,在哺乳动物中高度保守且促进成肌分化。初步表明TNNT3基因在动物肌肉生长发育中具有重要的生物学功能。     

金龟子绿僵菌在草原羊草和克氏针茅根际的种群动态和根内宿存鉴定

绿僵菌防治草原蝗虫效果显著,其在草原田间的存活能力影响其持续控害效果。除了侵染昆虫,绿僵菌还具有在植物根际宿存和根内生的生活方式,但相关宿存规律和内生性的研究报道很少。本文研究了绿僵菌在内蒙古草原两种优势种植物羊草和克氏针茅根际的种群数量变化并对其在这两种草的根内宿存进行了鉴定。结果表明,在干旱的内蒙古草原,绿僵菌施用后种群数量在30 d内快速下降,但能够以低密度在羊草、克氏针茅根际土壤中至少延续宿存75 d,羊草根际环境比较利于绿僵菌生存。对菌株egfp基因标记的特异PCR检测证明了绿僵菌在羊草和克氏针茅根内宿存。试验数据为指导植保生物防治中充分利用绿僵菌的昆虫病原性和植物内生特性提供理论基础,也将成为绿僵菌物种生活方式多样性、与植物互作及共进化研究的重要基础。     

Genetic bases of source-,sink-,and yield-related traits revealed by genome-wide association study in Xian rice

The source-sink relationship determines the ultimate grain yield.We investigated the genetic basis of the relationship between source and sink and yield potential in rice.In two environments,we identified quantitative trait loci(QTL)associated with sink capacity(total spikelet number per panicle and thousand-grain weight),source leaf(flag leaf length,flag leaf width and flag leaf area),source-sink relationship(total spikelet number to flag leaf area ratio)and yield-related traits(filled grain number per panicle,panicle number per plant,grain yield per plant,biomass per plant,and harvest index)by genome-wide association analysis using 272 Xian(indica)accessions.The panel showed substantial variation for all traits in the two environments and revealed complex phenotypic correlations.A total of 70 QTL influencing the 11 traits were identified using 469,377 high-quality SNP markers.Five QTL were detected consistently in four chromosomal regions in both environments.Five QTL clusters simultaneously affected source,sink,source–sink relationship,and grain yield traits,probably explaining the genetic basis of significant correlations of grain yield with source and sink traits.We selected 24 candidate genes in the four consistent QTL regions by identifying linkage disequilibrium(LD)blocks associated with significant SNPs and performing haplotype analysis.The genes included one cloned gene(NOG1)and three newly identified QTL(qHI6,qTGW7,and qFLA8).These results provide a theoretical basis for high-yield rice breeding by increasing and balancing source–sink relationships using marker-assisted selection.     

QTL Analysis for Grain Iron and Zinc Concentrations in Two O. nivara Derived Backcross Populations

Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for grain mineral elements can assist in faster and more precise development of micronutrient dense rice varieties through marker-assisted breeding. In the present study, QTLs were mapped for Fe and Zn concentrations in two BC₂F₃ mapping populations derived from the crosses of O. sativa cv Swarna with two different accessions of O. nivara. In all, 10 and 8 QTLs were identified for grain Fe and Zn concentrations in population 1, and 7 and 5 QTLs were identified in population 2, respectively. Eighty percent of the QTLs detected in both populations were derived from O. nivara. Five QTLs for Fe and three QTLs for Zn explained more than 15% phenotypic variance either in interval or composite interval mapping. The locations of O. nivara derived QTLs such as qFe2.1, qFe3.1, qFe8.2 and qZn12.1 were consistently identified in both the populations. Epistatic interaction was observed only between RM106 and RM6 on chromosome 2 and between RM22 and RM7 on chromosome 3 for Fe concentration in population 1. Sixteen candidate genes for metal homeostasis were found to co-locate with 10 QTLs for Fe and Zn concentrations in both the populations. Most of the Fe and Zn QTLs were found to co-locate with QTLs for grain yield and grain quality traits. Some of the major effect QTLs identified can be used to improve rice grain Fe and Zn concentrations.     

血浆miR-200c作为肺癌早期诊断的临床价值研究

目的 分析血浆miR-200c的表达与肺癌患者临床病理特征的相关性，并探讨miR-200c能否作为肺癌早期诊断的潜在肿瘤标志物的可能性。方法 收集55例肺癌患者和53例健康体检者，采用实时荧光定量PCR检测受检者血浆miR-200c的表达情况，对检测结果进行统计学分析。结果 miR-200c在肺癌患者组血浆中表达水平均高于正常对照组，差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）。受试者工作特征曲线显示miR-200c能够将肺癌与正常对照组区分出来（AUC=0.676）。结论 血浆miR-200c的表达可能与肺癌的发生有关，提示miR-200c可作为特异性生物标志物对肺癌患者进行早期诊断的可能性。