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.     

Effects of Exogenous Nitric Oxide and 24-Epibrassinolide on the Physiological Characteristics of Peanut Seedlings Under Cadmium Stress

Cadmium(Cd) is highly toxic to plants, animals, and humans. Limited information is available on the role of nitric oxide(NO)and/or 24-epibrassinolide(EBR) in response of plants to Cd stress. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was performed to investigate the effects of NO and/or EBR on peanut plants subjected to Cd stress(200 μmol L~(-1)) with sodium nitroprusside(SNP, an exogenous NO donor)(250 μmol L~(-1)) and/or EBR(0.1 μmol L~(-1)) addition. The results showed that Cd exposure inhibited plant growth, and this stress was alleviated by exogenous NO or EBR, and especially the combination of the two. Treatment with Cd inhibited the growth of peanut seedlings, decreased chlorophyll content, and significantly increased the Cd concentration in plants. Furthermore, the concentration of reactive oxygen species(ROS) markedly increased in peanut seedlings under Cd stress, resulting in the accumulation of malondialdehyde(MDA) and proline in leaves and roots. Under Cd stress, applications of SNP, EBR, and especially the two in combination significantly reduced the translocation of Cd from roots to leaves, increased the chlorophyll content, decreased the concentrations of ROS, MDA, and proline, and significantly enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD), peroxidase(POD), and catalase(CAT) in peanut seedlings. Exogenous NO and/or EBR also stimulated the activities of nitrate reductase(NR)and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) and increased the contents of antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid(AsA) and reduced glutathione(GSH). Furthermore, exogenous NO and/or EBR enhanced Cd accumulation in the cell wall and thus decreased Cd distribution in the organelles in the roots. The concentrations of calcium(Ca), iron(Fe), magnesium(Mg), and zinc(Zn) were also regulated by exogenous NO or EBR, and especially by the two in combination. These results indicated that SNP and EBR, alone and particularly in combination, can mitigate the negative effects of Cd stress in peanut plants.     

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.     

NaCl溶液处理亚热带土壤水分特征曲线差异与模型优选

携带大量盐分的低质水长期灌溉导致土壤存在极大的物理化学特性退化风险,为了探究盐分对土壤水分特征曲线影响的差异性,采用压力膜法对亚热带地区粘性潮土、沙性潮土、红壤、紫色土、水稻土等5种土壤进行室内测定,对比分析了各土壤在0、5、10、15 g/L等4个钠盐浓度水平下土壤水分特征曲线的差异,并利用RETC软件结合数理统计方法确定了各土壤不同钠盐浓度水平下相应的最优拟合模型。结果表明:钠盐处理均可提高各土壤的持水能力,且粘粒含量较高的土壤影响显著;钠盐处理减少了粘性潮土、沙性潮土和红壤的有效含水率,分别最大减少了40.8%、30.5%、31.5%,却提高了紫色土、水稻土有效含水率,分别最大提高了45.7%、28.9%。粘粒含量少或低浓度盐溶液处理的土壤水分特征曲线以BC模型拟合最优,而粘粒含量多且高浓度盐溶液处理的以DP-M模型拟合最优。     

基于木质素部分脱除及其含量对生物质热解特性的影响

该研究采用固定床热解炉,研究不同木质素含量花生壳、核桃壳样品的裂解行为,利用元素分析、工业分析、气相色谱-质谱联用以及气相色谱法对原料和热解产物进行分析,探究木质素与综纤维素在原始交联结构下的交互作用及其对热解产物分布特性影响。研究结果发现,300℃热解条件下,随着木质素含量的增加,样品中固体产率增加,液体产率和气体产率下降。500、700℃热解条件下,固体产率相比300℃有大幅度的下降,且随样品中木质素含量的增加,固体产率无明显变化,液体产率稍微增加,气体产率下降。500℃时,H2产率很低,随样品中木质素含量的增加,CO2含量减少,CH4含量增加,CO含量有稍微的上升。而700℃时,综纤维素的脱氢、缩合、成环会生成大量的H2。同时,木质素能够促进综纤维素分解生成大量左旋葡聚糖,并抑制其分解;而综纤维素抑制木质素单体愈创木基的脱甲氧基反应,促进苯丙烷基的脱烷基反应,形成更多的酚类化合物。该研究对于生物质组分间交互和产物形成特性研究具有积极意义。     

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。     

Effects of different additives on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of Leymus chinensis silage

This study investigated the effects of different additives on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of Leymus chinensis silage. Treatments included (i) no additive, (ii) 3 mL kg^?1 formic acid (FA), (iii) 6 mL kg^?1 FA, (iv) 5 mL kg^?1 acetic acid (AA), (v) 10 mL kg^?1 AA, (vi) 2 mL kg^?1 propionic acid (PA), (vii) 4 mL kg^?1 PA, (viii) 5 mL kg^?1 butyric acid (BA), (ix) 10 mL kg^?1 BA, (x) 1.0 g kg^?1 potassium sorbate (PS), (xi) 1.0 g kg^?1 sodium benzoate (SB), (xii) 1 × 10⁸ colony‐forming units (cfu) kg^?1 Lactobacillus (Lb) plantarum LP (LP), (xiii) 1 × 10⁸ cfu kg^?1 Lb. brevis LB (LB) and (xiv) 1 × 10⁸ cfu kg^?1 Lb. buchneri NCIMB40788 (Fresh). Each additive treatment was based on fresh matter (FM). Results showed that all additives decreased pH values. All additives except Fresh decreased ammonia‐N content (p < .001). Both LP and LB increased lactic acid content (p < .001). Butyric acid content increased with FA (3 mL kg^?1) and BA, but decreased with PA, PS, SB, FA (6 mL kg^?1), AA, LP, LB (p < .001). FA (3 mL kg^?1), AA (10 mL kg^?1), PA, BA, PS, SB and Fresh improved aerobic stability (p < .001). After 8 days exposure to air, the pH value and yeast count were lower in FA (3 mL kg^?1), BA (10 mL kg^?1), SB treatments than in other treatments. Overall, AA outperformed all other additives in improving fermentation quality. Sodium benzoate and AA could be used as an effective additive to improve aerobic stability of L. chinensis silage.     

Effects of dietary selenium on growth performance and oxidative stress in juvenile grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary selenium (Se) on feed intake, weight gain and antioxidant activity in juvenile grass carp (11.2 ± 0.03 g). Six Se levels (0.13, 0.41, 0.56, 1.12, 2.18 and 4.31 mg/kg) of semi‐purified diets were assayed in triplicate. The maximum weight gain, specific growth rate and feed intake were obtained in fish fed with 1.12 mg Se/kg diet. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity was markedly increased when dietary Se ≤1.12 mg/kg diet and reached a plateau when dietary Se ≥1.12 mg/kg diet. Hepatic superoxide dismutase and serum catalase activities in juvenile grass carp fed with 0.56, 1.12 and 2.18 mg Se/kg diets were all significantly higher than those in the other groups. The malondialdehyde content in liver and serum was firstly decreased and then increased with increasing dietary Se content, and the lowest content was observed in fish fed with 1.12 mg Se/kg diet. With the increase in Se level, the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were reduced. In addition, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and albumin content were highest in fish fed with 1.12 mg Se/kg diet. This study indicated that both the Se deficiency and excess of Se caused negative effect on the oxidative stress in juvenile grass carp and suggested that the health‐giving concentration of dietary inorganic Se was 1.12 mg/kg diet. Moreover, based on the broken‐line regression analysis of weight gain, the optimal concentration of dietary inorganic Se was 0.83 mg/kg for juvenile grass carp.     

低硝中式香肠中复合抗氧化剂的配方优化

为减少亚硝酸盐在中式香肠中的用量,以茶多酚、壳聚糖、生育酚复配复合抗氧化剂,以中式香肠储藏期间的pH、TBA值、酸价和过氧化值为考察指标,采用正交试验优化低硝中式香肠中复合抗氧化剂的配方。结果表明,复合抗氧化剂可以部分取代亚硝酸盐,其最优配方为:茶多酚添加量0.10 g/kg,壳聚糖添加量1 g/kg,生育酚添加量0.03 g/kg,亚硝酸钠添加量0.04 g/kg;该配方下制得的低硝中式香肠的抗氧化效果明显优于单一使用亚硝酸钠的对照组。