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.     

甘蔗热带种金属硫蛋白家族基因的克隆及响应重金属胁迫的表达分析

金属硫蛋白是一类富含巯基的低分子量蛋白,在植物的重金属解毒及细胞氧化还原调控等方面起重要的作用。本研究以甘蔗热带种Badila组培苗为材料,分别测定了其在CdCl2、ZnSO4和CuCl2水溶液培养条件下地上部和地下部的重金属含量,结果显示其对上述3种重金属有较强的耐受与富集能力。继而克隆了ScMT1(登录号为KJ504373)、ScMT2-1-5(登录号为MH191346)和ScMT3(登录号为KJ5043704)3个金属硫蛋白家族基因,它们分别属于植物MT亚家族中的MT1、MT2和MT3型基因。ScMT1含有1个内含子和2个外显子,开放阅读框(Open Reading Frame,ORF)长228 bp,编码75个氨基酸;ScMT2-1-5含有2个内含子和3个外显子,ORF长246 bp,编码81个氨基酸;ScMT3含有1个内含子和2个外显子,ORF长198 bp,编码65个氨基酸。RT-qPCR显示,Cd2+胁迫下,在甘蔗地上部和地下部,ScMT2-1-5均连续显著上调表达,而ScMT1的上调应答出现延迟。ScMT3在地上部的上调应答出现延迟,在地下部呈“扬-抑”趋势,提示甘蔗响应Cd^2+胁迫过程中ScMT2-1-5起更积极的作用,ScMT1参与胁迫后期的分子响应,而ScMT3不起主导作用。Cu^2+胁迫下,地上部ScMT1连续显著上调表达,ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3呈总体上调的表达趋势;地下部,ScMT1和ScMT2-1-5的上调表答均出现延迟,仅在胁迫后期显著上调表达,而ScMT3仅在胁迫前期显著上调表达。该结果提示了ScMT1、ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3在Cu2+胁迫响应过程中的协作关系,三者共同参与了地上部的胁迫响应,其中ScMT1起更积极的作用;此外三者还先后参与了地下部对Cu^2+胁迫的分子响应。Zn^2+胁迫下,ScMT1和ScMT3分别仅在地上部和地下部显著上调表达;ScMT2-1-5在地上部和地下部均呈“扬-抑”的应答趋势;提示了在甘蔗响应Cd^2+胁迫应答过程中ScMT1和ScMT3分别在地上部和地下部起主要作用,ScMT2-1-5参与了胁迫前期的分子响应。ScMT1、ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3在甘蔗不同组织中及在重金属(Cd^2+、Zn^2+或Cu^2+)不同累积水平下呈现出相似或互补的应答特性,提示上述甘蔗MT家族不同成员在重金属解毒及细胞氧化还原调控等方面产生了功能分化,且三者在应对过量Cd^2+、Zn^2+或Cu^2+对甘蔗组织造成伤害的过程中存在时空上的协同作用。该研究为深入理解多倍体植物甘蔗中MT家族各成员基因在重金属耐受过程中的协同作用机制奠定了基础。     

基于qPCR和LAMP技术的马铃薯晚疫病菌快速检测方法

马铃薯晚疫病菌（Phytophthora infestans）能侵染多种茄科植物,它引起的马铃薯晚疫病,是马铃薯生产中的第一大病害。为了开发能在田间快速检测马铃薯晚疫病病原的方法,利用P. infestans T30-4基因组测序数据的contig 1.18131,设计qPCR和LAMP引物,优化扩增条件后得到引物的特异性和灵敏度,最后通过检测田间收获薯块,比较形态学传统方法、qPCR及LAMP的差异。特异性检测结果发现,qPCR和LAMP仅在含有P. infestans DNA模板的体系有阳性扩增,在寄主和其他微生物DNA中均无扩增;在优化的条件下,qPCR和LAMP的检测下限可达1×10 ^-6ng/μL,在有寄主和其他微生物DNA存在的条件下,引物的灵敏度没有显著差异。利用两种快速方法对在大理、丽江及昆明3个地区田间收获薯块上检测发现,qPCR和LAMP方法得到的检出率差异极为不显著（P=0.420）,两种快速检测方法和形态学鉴定方法检出率差异极显著（P=0.009）。在大理、丽江及昆明3个地区的薯块中,两种分子检测方法检出率均比形态学方法高。其中,qPCR检测方法比形态学方法分别提高了12.00%、2.00%、8.70%;LAMP检测方法比形态学方法分别提高了11.30%、2.00%、8.70%。     

人溶菌酶密码子优化及其在牛乳腺细胞中高效表达

【目的】分析牛乳腺中7种主要乳蛋白基因密码子使用偏好性,筛选高频密码子和低频密码子,依据其对人溶菌酶基因进行密码子局部优化和全局优化,通过牛乳腺上皮细胞等多种细胞对优化效果进行分析评价,为提高重组人溶菌酶表达量,开发新型、高效、安全的重组人溶菌酶提供理论依据。【方法】利用CodonW和EMBOSS等软件对7种主要牛乳蛋白和人溶菌酶基因密码子偏好进行生物信息学分析,筛选牛乳蛋白基因高频、低频密码子并根据牛乳蛋白基因密码子使用偏好对人溶菌酶基因翻译起始区前22位密码子（LYZop22）和全局密码子(LYZop)分别进行优化。构建人溶菌酶-荧光素酶融合表达载体（pGL3-LYZcw/op22/op）和人溶菌酶过表达载体（pcDNA-LYZcw/op22/op）,将上述载体分别转染牛乳腺上皮细胞(BMEC)、牛成纤维细胞（BFFC）和C127小鼠乳腺上皮细胞等3种细胞,通过荧光素酶、实时荧光定量PCR及Western-blot等方法检测密码子优化对溶菌酶表达的影响。【结果】牛乳蛋白基因密码子偏好以GC结尾,GC3s平均含量为0.537±0.062,而人溶菌酶GC3s含量为0.407,偏好以AT结尾;聚类结果表明,牛乳中酪蛋白与乳清蛋白类基因在密码子使用偏好性上也存在一定差异。依据筛选获得的牛主要乳蛋白基因5个高频密码子（RSCU>1.5）和7个低频密码子（RSCU<0.5）对人溶菌酶基因密码子进行优化并转染多种细胞进行表达效果分析。荧光素酶分析发现,相比野生型溶菌酶密码子（LYZcw）,翻译起始区密码子优化类型LYZop22分别在BMEC、BFFC细胞中提高1.48倍（P<0.01）和1.30倍（P>0.05）;而全局密码子优化类型LYZop分别在BMEC、BFFC中提高2.2倍（P<0.01）和2.44倍（P<0.01）,说明密码子优化能明显提高人溶菌酶在多种细胞中表达量。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,LYZop22相比LYZcw在BMEC和BFFC细胞中分别提高了2.08倍（P<0.05）和1.5倍（P>0.05）,而LYZop则分别提高了22倍（P<0.01）和17.8倍（P<0.01）,mRNA表达水平与密码子优化后的mRNA二级结构稳定性呈正相关。Western-blot结果也进一步表明,密码子优化后的LYZop22和LYZop能明显提高重组人溶菌酶在牛乳腺上皮细胞中的表达量。上述结果表明,根据牛乳腺中主要乳蛋白基因密码子使用偏好进行密码子优化,能显著提高人溶菌酶在牛乳腺上皮细胞及成纤维细胞中的表达量,且溶菌酶基因全局密码子优化效果优于翻译起始区密码子优化效果。【结论】通过生物信息学分析获得了牛乳蛋白基因使密码子使用偏好及高低频密码子;依据牛乳蛋白密码子使用偏好性对人溶菌酶密码子优化能显著提高重组人溶菌酶mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达量,为今后利用生物反应器高效生产重组人溶菌酶奠定基础。     

Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA by real-time PCR in saliva of dogs

This study developed a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to detect L. infantum kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) in canine saliva. The qPCR showed an efficiency of 93.8%, a coefficient of correlation of 0.996 and a detection limit of 0.5 fg/reaction (0.005 parasites), although it detected until 0.25 fg/reaction (0.0025 parasites). When samples from 12 dogs experimentally infected with L. infantum were collected, L. infantum kDNA was detected at 16-weeks post-infection (wpi) in 41.7% and 91.7% of saliva and bone marrow samples, respectively, and at 47-wpi in 75% of both samples. L. infantum kDNA can be detected by qPCR in canine saliva, with lower sensitivity in the early stages of infection and a lower parasite load estimation compared to bone marrow. However, saliva had similar sensitivities to bone marrow in the later stages of the infection and could be used to detect L. infantum kDNA being aware of its limitations.     

EMS诱导水稻‘一目惚’表型变异和部分基因表达变异的比较

本研究利用甲基磺酸乙酯(Ethy methan sulfonate)试剂胁迫诱导粳稻品种‘一目惚’(Hitomebore),获得性状稳定遗传的水稻矮杆突变体(E58),对株高、分蘖、千粒重等表现与相同环境生长下的野生型‘一目惚’对照(E63)进行对比分析,结果表明,该突变体田间表现为植株矮化,分蘖增多,千粒重减少,且株高与对照相比呈极显著差异,分蘖呈显著差异,千粒重呈极显著差异。EMS诱导的序列变异可能对基因表达产生影响,进而引起水稻矮化的表型变异。根据前人试验结果,应用Real-time PCR对与胁迫及矮化相关的39对引物中筛选出24对引物进行Real-Time PCR扩增,结果表明:引物OsNR1、OsP5CS、OsGS1;1、OsGDH1、OsHKT1;5、OsNRT1;1、OsGDH3、OsAKT1、OsAMT2;3、OsGS1;2、OsSOS1、OsNHX2、OsNRT2;1、OHAK16、OsGS2、OsHAK1、OsGDH2、OsAMT3;3在E63、E58表达差异极显著;OsHAK10、OsNHX1、OsAMT1;1表达差异显著;OsNADHGOGAT、OsFd-GOGAT、OsGS1;3表达差异不显著。EMS诱导对部分水稻基因表达产生影响,从而影响水稻表现型,为进一步工作提供科学依据。     

东北黑土nirS型反硝化细菌群落和网络结构对长期施用化肥的响应

【目的】探明长期施用氮磷钾化肥对东北黑土农田土壤nirS型反硝化细菌群落和网络结构的影响,为更加合理的肥料配施提供理论依据。【方法】基于农业农村部黑龙江耕地保育与农业环境科学观测实验站平台,选取不施肥(NoF)、氮肥(N)、磷肥(P)、钾肥(K)、氮钾肥(NK)、氮磷肥(NP)、磷钾肥(PK)、氮磷钾肥(NPK)8个施肥处理,借助荧光定量PCR、Illumina MiSeq高通量测序和分子生态网络技术,分析东北黑土nirS型反硝化细菌丰度、群落及网络结构,及影响反硝化细菌群落变异的主要环境因子。【结果】1)长期施用氮肥均在显著增加nirS基因拷贝数的同时,降低了nirS型反硝化细菌的群落多样性,而磷、钾肥对其影响并不显著。2)Proteobacteria是所有处理中的优势反硝化细菌门,相对丰度为16.96%~27.34%,且氮肥的施用促进了隶属于该菌门中Bradyrhizobium的生长。3)PCoA分析结果显示,8个施肥处理nirS型反硝化细菌群落主要分成施氮肥和不施氮肥两组,说明长期氮肥的施用显著改变了东北黑土反硝化细菌的群落结构。结合Mantel test的结果可知,土壤pH是影响nirS型反硝化细菌群落改变的主要因素。4)分别构建施氮肥和不施氮肥的反硝化细菌分子生态网络,发现施氮肥和不施氮肥网络结构存在很大差异,长期施用氮肥明显简化了nirS型反硝化细菌的网络结构,同时使其网络结构稳定性降低,易受外界环境扰动。【结论】尽管施用化学氮肥有利于土壤养分的增加,但其土壤nirS型反硝化细菌群落及网络结构发生了较大改变,而磷、钾肥的施用对反硝化细菌群落无显著影响。本试验结果为进一步研究东北黑土区农田土壤反硝化微生物对不同施肥管理的响应机制提供了重要科学依据。     

Rapid screening of genetically modified ingredients in soybean and cotton processing by-product and waste using direct qPCR

To develop a simple and fast method for screening genetically modified ingredients from processing by-product and waste, direct quantitative PCR (qPCR) kit-Taqman which omitting multi genomic DNA preparing steps was developed in this study. A total of 18 oil crop processing by-products and wastes including 10 soybean and 8 cotton materials were collected from food processing factories. Compared with 2 commercial direct qPCR kits, conditions of DNA releasing procedure and PCR amplification were optimized. Element screening was performed at the initial step of genetically modified (GM) ingredient testing procedure via direct qPCR. GM event identification was carried out in positive samples by initial screening. Totally 5 screening elements (P–35S, T-NOS, Cp4-epsps, bar and pat) for soybean materials and 6 screening elements (P–35S, T-NOS, NPTII, Cry1Ac, bar and pat) for cotton samples were detected. In GM event identification, MON531 and MON1445 were found in cotton materials. Results were further confirmed by real-time PCR with DNA extraction and purification. The direct qPCR system proposed by this research was convenient for rapid screening and identification of GM ingredients in oil crop primary by-product and waste.