A comparison of the use of different swab materials for optimal diagnosis of amoebic gill disease (AGD) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Routine gill swabbing is a non-destructive sampling method used for the downstream qPCR detection and quantitation of the pathogen Neoparamoeba perurans, a causative agent of amoebic gill disease (AGD). Three commercially available swabs were compared aiming their application for timelier AGD diagnosis (Calgiswab^® (calcium alginate fibre-tipped), Isohelix^® DNA buccal and cotton wool-tipped). Calcium alginate is soluble in most sodium salts, which potentially allows the total recovery of biological material, hence a better extraction of target organisms’ DNA. Thus, this study consisted of (a) an in vitro assessment involving spiking of the swabs with known amounts of amoebae and additional assessment of retrieval efficiency of amoebae from agar plates; (b) in vivo testing by swabbing of gill arches (second, third and fourth) of AGD-infected fish. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments identified an enhanced amoeba retrieval with Calgiswab® and Isohelix® swabs in comparison with cotton swabs. Additionally, the third and fourth gill arches presented significantly higher amoebic loads compared to the second gill arch. Results suggest that limiting routine gill swabbing to one or two arches, instead of all, could likely lead to reduced stress-related effects incurred by handling and sampling and a timelier diagnosis of AGD.     

Control of insect pests using trunk injection in a newly established apple orchard

We evaluated the potential for using preplant trunk injections of emamectin benzoate in nonbearing apple trees. Trees were evaluated for pest injury and emamectin residues throughout the planting season and into the following year. Injections into the trunk best delivered emamectin benzoate to the canopy compared with injections into the taproot, and the higher rate reduced insect pests more than the lower rate. In the following year, differences in insect control between trunk and root injections were less pronounced, but the higher rate of emamectin benzoate persisted longer and better reduced pests relative to the other treatments.     

Protective effect of Huangqi injection combined with puerarin injection on myocardium of type 2 diabetes mice

AIM:To investigate the effect of Huangqi injection combined with puerarin injection on the myocardium of the mice with type 2 diabetes. METHODS:Diabetic KKAy mice were randomly divided into model group and treatment group (Huangqi injection combined with puerarin injection). The male KKAy mice of the same age were used as control group. All mice were sacrificed at 21, 24 and 28 weeks. Morphological changes of the myocardium were observed by HE staining. Apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes was measured by TUNEL staining. The mRNA levels of glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), C/EBP hoinologous protein (CHOP) and p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) were detected by real-time PCR, and the protein levels of GRP78, CHOP, PUMA, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and cleaved PARP were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, partly dissolved sarcoplasm and necrosis were observed in model group, and these lesion were alleviated in treatment group. Obvious increased apoptosis in model group and significantly decreased apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in treatment group was observed (P<0.05). At 21, 24 and 28 weeks, the mRNA and protein levels of GRP78, CHOP and PUMA and the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved PARP in model group were increased significantly as compared with control group (P<0.01), and these in treated group were decreased compared with model group. CONCLUSION:Huangqi injection combined with puerarin injection has cardioprotective effects on type 2 diabetes mice and its mechanism of the action was implemented via inhibiting the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and caspase pathway, thus resulting in suppressed apoptosis.     

Progress in relationship between epithelial sodium channel and related respiratory diseases

Epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is an ion channel widely distributed in various tissues and organs of human. It is composed of 3 homologous subunits and allows the flow of sodium ion across epithelial cells, maintain?ing water-salt balance in the cells. Recent studies show that abnormal expression or dysfunction of ENaC in the respiratory system affects water-salt balance, fluid transportation and cell mobility, and causes abnormal changes of the airway surface liquid level and impaired clearance. ENaC is closely related to the development of respiratory diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This article reviews the progress in ENaC structure, function and roles in related respiratory diseases in order to provide a reference for the treatment of the diseases.     

Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.     

桃蚜电压门控钠离子通道基因cDNA克隆及其生物信息学分析

克隆获得桃蚜电压门控钠离子通道基因cDNA序列，明确钠离子通道的典型特征，为研究桃蚜抗性分子机理奠定基础。采用实验技术主要有RT-PCR和PCR，克隆桃蚜钠离子通道基因cDNA序列，利用相关软件对其序列进行生物信息学分析。克隆得到两段cDNA序列MpNa_v-1（NCBI登录号：MN124170）和MpNa_v-2（NCBI登录号：MN176136）。MpNa_v-1长度为2945 bp，包括2877 bp的完整开放阅读框，共编码958个氨基酸；MpNa_v-2长度为3546 bp，包括3486 bp的完整开放阅读框，共编码1161个氨基酸。MpNa_v-1和MpNa_v-2共同组成桃蚜的钠离子通道α亚基，MpNa_v-1包含同源结构域Ⅰ和同源结构域Ⅱ，MpNa_v-2包含同源结构域Ⅲ和同源结构域Ⅳ。同源比对发现，桃蚜与豌豆蚜和高粱蚜钠离子通道基因相似度分别高达97.67%和97.65%，所克隆序列包含昆虫钠离子通道α亚基典型特征，具有MFM模块，并含有蚜虫类钠通道特有模块DENS。成功地克隆桃蚜钠离子通道基因，为阐明其对拟除虫菊酯类药剂产生靶标抗性的分子机制奠定基础。     

滴度及注射方式对2型腺相关病毒载体表达效果的影响

由于腺相关病毒载体(adeno-associated viral vector,AAV)本身的侵染不具有神经元特异性,其在神经系统相关研究中会存在侵染范围不符合试验要求的情况,因此本试验拟研究不同滴度和注射方式对病毒侵染范围的影响。结果显示,在注射较高滴度的AAV2-CMV-EGFP(1.3×10¹¹mg/L)3周后,其侵染范围可由延髓中缝苍白核(raphe pallidus nucleus,RPa)区域延伸至下丘脑室旁核(paraventricular nucleus,PVN)区域;较低滴度(1.3×10⁸mg/L)结合压力注射的方式可以在一定程度上限制AAV的侵染范围,并且载体携带的EGFP荧光基团在637 nm波段不具有明显的假阳性信号。     

抗菌药联用对海藻希瓦菌的体外抗菌效果

为评价硫酸庆大霉素和头孢噻肟钠对水产致病性海藻希瓦菌SFH3的体外联合抗菌效果,以6种渔用抗菌药作为对照,比较测定硫酸庆大霉素、头孢噻肟钠对海藻希瓦菌SFH3的体外抗菌作用,在此基础上进一步采用试管二倍稀释法测定分析硫酸庆大霉素和头孢噻肟钠在不同复配比例下对海藻希瓦菌SFH3的体外联合抑菌作用,并通过时间-杀菌曲线法测定其体外联合杀菌效果。试验结果显示,硫酸庆大霉素和头孢噻肟钠对海藻希瓦菌SFH3的最小抑菌质量浓度为80 mg/L和160 mg/L,抗菌活性明显优于甲砜霉素、多西环素、噁喹酸、磺胺间甲氧嘧啶钠、磺胺甲噁唑、盐酸恩诺沙星等渔用抗菌药。硫酸庆大霉素和头孢噻肟钠在复配比例8∶2和7∶3时,对海藻希瓦菌SFH3的体外联合抑菌效果表现为协同作用,对海藻希瓦菌SFH3的最小抑菌质量浓度达40 mg/L。此外,时间-杀菌曲线表明,40 mg/L硫酸庆大霉素和80 mg/L头孢噻肟钠对海藻希瓦菌SFH3的体外联合杀菌作用表现为协同效果。本研究结果证实,硫酸庆大霉素和头孢噻肟钠联用有利于提升对海藻希瓦菌SFH3的体外抗菌效果,可为研发水产致病性海藻希瓦菌的潜在控制药物提供理论参考。     

注射多巴胺对中华绒螯蟹打斗行为的影响

选同一家系规格相似、健康有活力的中华绒螯蟹新品种“光合1号”1龄雄蟹100只,分为4组,放入直径20 cm、高40 cm PE管(底部均匀钻12个直径为5 mm的孔洞)中,PE管置于120 L水槽中。用2个不透明烧杯将2只中华绒螯蟹分别倒扣于试验容器中,置于PE管两侧1 h。在中华绒螯蟹第三步足的动脉膜中分别注射20μL生理盐水(对照组),10^-8 mol、10-7 mol和10-6 mol的多巴胺液,利用闭路摄像头记录4 h内2只中华绒螯蟹打斗时长、次数、打斗分数及胜负关系等指标。打斗结束后,迅速取出中华绒螯蟹血淋巴,用ELISA酶联免疫法测定多巴胺含量。试验结果显示,对照组中华绒鳌蟹打斗时间最长,与各注射组差异显著(P<0.05);注射组中,随注射量的增加,打斗时长下降。对照组中华绒螯蟹打斗强度低于10^-8 mol组,高于其他注射组,与各注射组间差异显著(P<0.05)。注射组中,随注射多巴胺量升高,打斗强度下降,10^-8 mol组打斗强度最高,各组间差异显著(P<0.05)。对照组打斗次数与10-7 mol组差异不显著(P>0.05),与其余各组差异显著(P<0.05)。注射组中,随注射量的增加,打斗次数下降,10^-8 mol组与其余各组差异显著(P<0.05),10-7 mol组与10-6 mol组差异不显著(P>0.05)。打斗结束后,胜利方体内多巴胺含量与正常水平差异不显著(P>0.05),但显著高于失败方(P<0.05)。试验结果表明,注射多巴胺极显著影响中华绒螯蟹打斗行为(P<0.01),随多巴胺注射量的升高,中华绒螯蟹打斗行为整体下降。     

体外法研究硝酸钠调控水牛瘤胃甲烷生成对脂肪酸生物氢化途径的影响

本试验旨在研究硝酸钠调控水牛瘤胃甲烷生成对脂肪酸生物氢化途径的影响。选取3头体重约为（650±50）kg、安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的水牛作为瘤胃液供体动物，通过体外批次培养，设计发酵底物的精粗比为40：60，试验设4个组，每组5个重复，每组各添加0.25 mg/mL的α-亚麻酸，硝酸钠添加水平分别为0（对照）、1、2、3 mg/mL。分别培养3、6、9、12、24 h时测定产气量和甲烷产量，在培养24 h结束后测定体外发酵参数和脂肪酸含量。结果表明：①添加硝酸钠显著降低了瘤胃培养液24 h的总产气量、甲烷（CH₄）含量和甲烷/总产气量的比例（P<0.05），添加1、2和3 mg/mL硝酸钠后瘤胃液甲烷含量分别降低了89.62%、91.20%、91.75%。②添加硝酸钠组瘤胃培养液的pH和氨态氮（NH₃-N）含量显著高于对照组（P<0.05），添加1 mg/mL硝酸钠组微生物蛋白（MCP）含量也显著高于对照组（P<0.05），其他组别差异不显著（P>0.05）；添加硝酸钠组瘤胃液乙酸浓度差异不显著（P>0.05），但丙酸、丁酸、异丁酸、戊酸和异戊酸浓度显著低于对照组（P<0.05），乙酸/丙酸显著高于对照组（P<0.05），添加3 mg/mL硝酸钠组瘤胃液总挥发性脂肪酸（TVFA）含量显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。③添加1 mg/mL硝酸钠组瘤胃液C18：2 cis-9，trans-11、C18：2 trans-10，cis-12、C20：1、不饱和脂肪酸（UFA）含量及UFA/SFA显著高于其他组（P<0.05）；添加硝酸钠组瘤胃液C18：2n6c、C18：1n9t、C20：5n3（EPA）和C22：6n3（DHA）的含量均高于对照组，且1 mg/mL硝酸钠组含量最高，但差异不显著（P>0.05）；添加1 mg/mL硝酸钠组瘤胃液C18：3n3、C18：2n6c和C18：1n9c含量均高于对照组，差异不显著（P>0.05）。由此可见，体外添加硝酸钠显著降低了瘤胃液总产气量和甲烷含量，pH和NH₃-N含量显著升高，TVFA含量降低，通过显著减少丙酸含量而升高乙酸/丙酸；添加1 mg/mL硝酸钠可显著提高瘤胃液共轭亚油酸（CLA）和UFA含量，且在抑制甲烷产生的同时能够降低不饱和脂肪酸的生物氢化程度。