Seroepidemiological study on Coxiella burnetii and associated risk factors in ruminants at Kurdistan Province,west of Iran

Q fever is zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Ruminants are the main reservoir of this pathogen, which is often asymptomatic but lead to abortion. This study aims to survey the seroprevalence and risk factors of this zoonose among ruminants in Kurdistan province, the west of Iran. 480 blood samples were collected from ruminants including sheep, goats and cows, each 160 samples, in the age groups of <1, ≥1−3, >3−5 year with and without the history of abortion in two groups border and non-border cities in Kurdistan province. Serums were tested by use of indirect ELISA to determine specific antibodies against C. burnetii. The results indicate the seroprevalence of 46.6 % for Q fever. Seroprevalence in sheep, goats and cows were 28.58 % (n = 64), 45.53 % (n = 102) and 25.89 % (n = 58), respectively. Seroprevalence is significantly higher in animals with abortion than in those without such history (P < 0.05). The seroprevalence in the border cities has been significantly higher than other geographical areas (P < 0.05). Seroprevalence had no significant correlation with animal age (P> 0.05). This study is the first seroepidemiological study done on Q fever in ruminants of Kurdistan province, Iran. The results indicate the high seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in the area under the study. Therefore, doing an epidemiologically study aimed at isolating C. brunetii in the human population of Kurdistan province is recommended, so that the epidemiological aspect of this pathogen in the people of Kurdistan province be clarified and subsequently disease control and prevention programs be applied.     

Comparison of flagellin and an oil-emulsion adjuvant in inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine in stimulation of immunogenic parameters

The present study was designed to investigate the potential application of native (N) and recombinant (truncated modified [tmFliC] and full-length [flFliC]) flagellin proteins along with inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Fifty six SPF chickens were immunized twice with PBS (control), inactivated NDV (Ag), inactivated NDV/flFliC (AgF), inactivated NDV/tmFliC (AgT), inactivated NDV/N (AgN), commercial vaccine containing Montanide (Vac) and Vac/N (VacN), with a two-week interval. Blood was collected weekly and spleens were harvested after chickens were sacrificed. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by Real-Time PCR. Antibody response was assessed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Cellular activity was quantified by MTT assay. Results showed that the most IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression was observed in AgF group (P < 0.01). The lowest gene expression among vaccinated groups was observed in Ag group for IL-6 and Ag and Vac group for TNF-α. The highest HI titer was observed in Vac, VacN, AgF and AgT groups. The AgF group showed the highest cellular activity (P < 0.01). In conclusion, flagellin-adjuvanted groups showed a pro-inflammatory effect and acted similarly to or better than the Vac group. Hence, flagellin can be proposed as a potential adjuvant for ND vaccine.     

甜菜BvGSTU9基因的生物信息学及在镉胁迫下的表达分析

为了进一步研究甜菜谷胱甘肽转移酶BvGSTU9 (LOC104894060)在重金属胁迫过程中的功能。本研究以‘780016B/12优’为实验材料,对该基因序列特征、结构、功能进行预测分析,并利用qPCR检测该基因在不同浓度镉胁迫下的表达量变化。结果显示甜菜BvGSTU9基因全长925 bp,开放阅读框675 bp,编码了由224个氨基酸组成的不稳定膜外蛋白。BvGSTU9与菠菜、藜麦的氨基酸序列相似性较高,与系统发育进化树分析结果基本相符。二级和三级结构预测表明该基因主要由α-螺旋、β-折叠、延伸链及无规则卷曲组成。qPCR显示BvGSTU9基因在不同浓度的镉胁迫下均受到不同程度的诱导,因此可以推断甜菜BvGSTU9基因无论从结构还是功能上,与镉逆境胁迫存在着一定的应答关系。研究结果也为甜菜耐重金属镉机制研究提供参考依据。     

大豆PHD家族蛋白的全基因组鉴定及表达特征分析

PHD（Plant Homeodomain Finger）基因家族编码一类锌指转录因子,广泛参与植物的生长发育和逆境应答过程。通过全基因组鉴定获得了95个大豆PHD家族蛋白。通过共线性分析、进化树构建、基因结构和功能结构域鉴定、GO注释分析、不同组织间和非生物胁迫下表达分析等,获得了大豆PHD家族基因复制、家族进化、保守结构域及基因表达等信息。结果表明,大豆PHD基因在家族进化、基因结构和保守结构域上存在较大变异,可能参与Zn ²⁺结合、DNA结合及表观遗传调控等分子过程,参与调控植物生长发育和逆境应答。这些结果为进一步研究大豆PHD家族在生长发育和逆境应答中的生物学功能提供重要线索。     

Crude garlic extract significantly inhibits replication of grapevine viruses

Efforts to control viral diseases of grapevine include the production of certified material and development of virus-resistant transgenic grapevines. However, effective antiviral agents, once the viruses have infected the plants, are still lacking. This study shows that a crude garlic extract has significant antiviral activity against grapevine viruses. Replication of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2) was obviously inhibited in grapevine cv. Cabernet Sauvignon calli treated with diluted (1:100) garlic extract. The relative RNA levels of GLRaV-2 and grapevine fleck virus (GFkV) in cv. Summer Black grapevine in in vitro-grown plantlets 10 days after treatment with diluted (1:100) garlic extract were about 22% and 20%, respectively, of that in controls. The viral RNA accumulation of GLRaV-2, GFkV, grapevine virus A (GVA), grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) and grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV) in field-grown grapevine cv. Centennial Seedless plants sprayed with diluted (1:100) garlic extract were about 31–40%, 26–38%, 18–31%, 17–42% and 15–18%, respectively, of that in controls. Moreover, the garlic extract treatment led to a significant decrease in viral RNA accumulation of GLRaV-3, GLRaV-2, GVA, GFkV, GFLV, GRSPaV and grapevine Pinot Gris virus in pot-grown grapevine cv. Shine Muscat plants, and viral disease symptoms in these plants were obviously attenuated. In addition, this extract significantly induced expression of pathogenesis-related protein genes and stimulated activity of antioxidant enzymes in grapevines. Taken together, these results indicate that the crude garlic extract acts as a significant inhibitor against a broad range of grapevine viruses.     

Changes in blood biomarkers in Arabian horses with Clostridium difficile-induced enterocolitis

Clostridium difficile (CD) is considered a major health care problem both in developing and developed countries; frequently reported to be associated with enterocolitis and diarrhea in horses and other animals. In this study, we examined acute phase response (APR), cytokines response, neopterin (NP) procalcitonin (PCT) production and oxidative stress condition in horses and foals with C. difficile-induced enterocolitis (CDIE) and evaluated the effectiveness of these parameters as biomarkers for the disease. A total of 407 Arabian horses in 35 stables were examined between January 2017 to December 2018. Only 24 out of 407 horses showed two or more signs of CDIE. The blood level of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (HP), proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL1-β), serum malondialdehyde (MDA), PCT and NPT in horses with CDIE were higher than in healthy horses. Nevertheless, the levels of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant concentration (TAC) were considerably lower in diseased horses compared to those that were healthy. The ROC curves for eleven selected blood parameters, both in healthy horses and horses with CDIE demonstrated that all examined blood markers had significant levels of differentiation between CDIE cases and healthy controls (AUC > 87.5). The data in this study suggest that the evaluation of acute-phase proteins, cytokines, PCT, NPT, and oxidative stress biomarkers may well be used as a tool for diagnosis and assessment of CDIE and in disease pathogenesis in Arabian horses.     

Longitudinal identification of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in dairy calves on a farm in Southern Xinjiang,China

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common species responsible for human and animals microsporidiasis. A total of 250 samples were collected weekly from 25 newborn dairy calves of a farm in Southern Xinjiang, China at one to ten weeks of age. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was identified and genotyped by nested PCR amplification and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.The cumulative prevalence of E. bieneusi infection was 100% (25/25), and the average infection was 52.0% (130/250). The highest infection rate was recorded at six weeks of age (92.0%, 23/25), and no infection was observed at one and two weeks of age. Sequencing analysis showed nine E. bieneusi genotypes (J, EbpC, PigEBITS5, CHV4, CHC3, CS-9, KIN-1, CH5, and CAM5) were identified. The highest genetic polymorphism was observed at ten weeks of age. Genotype J was the predominant E. bieneusi genotype. Phylogenetic analysis clustered genotype J into Group 2 and other eight genotypes (EbpC, PigEBITS5, CHV4, CHC3, CS-9, KIN-1, CH5, and CAM5), detected in 22 (16.9%, 22/130) samples, into Group 1. Among the genotypes, EbpC, KIN-1, and J have been identified in humans. The highest E. bieneusi infection rate (57.9%, 124/214) was observed in fecal samples with formed feces with no diarrhea (p < 0.01), and high genetic polymorphism was observed in class I fecal samples. The presence of zoonotic E. bieneusi genotypes in dairy calves suggests the possibility of transmitting zoonotic infections to humans. It provides the basic data on dynamic change of E. bieneusi in calves.     

Genetic differentiation of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from cattle and human sources in,Egypt (Suez Canal area)

Bovine tuberculosis is a devastating illness in cattle and it has the ability to transmit causing severe troubles in human. Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in human indeed becomes increasingly critical especially in developing countries. Early diagnosis is very important to control and limit its spreading. The aim of this study is to examine the genetic differentiation and possibilities of transmission between cattle and human. Lymph node and sputum samples were collected from cattle and patients showing tuberculin test positive; respectively for phenotypic identification and for molecular examination by detection of IS6110 and oxyR genes which are specific for MTC and M. bovis; respectively. The phenotypic identification of sputum samples showed 80 % positive by both stain and culture, while, lymph nodes revealed 66 % and 84 % positive by stain and culture method; respectively. Alignment of oxyR gene sequences of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis was used as a feature for differentiation between the 2 genes in these two genetically closely similar microorganisms showed 99 % identities between the 2 genes. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis of Mpb70 gene sequences from animal and human origin showed very high relatedness (99.32 %) to each other confirming that the zoonotic transmission is most probably occurred.     

越冬栽培稻产量性状相关QTL定位

越冬栽培稻是一类能越过自然冷冬季节并在第2年春季萌芽、正常开花结实、收获稻谷的水稻品种。本文通过对越冬栽培稻产量性状QTL分析,明确产量相关性状的遗传规律,旨在进一步解析越冬栽培稻产量性状的遗传机制,为育种创新利用提供理论依据。以3份越冬栽培稻构建的3个半同胞F2群体为材料。各考察15个产量相关性状,利用Excel 2003、GraphPad Prism 5.0和QTL IciMapping 4.10软件分析数据、绘制遗传图谱、定位QTL和联合分析。结果表明,产量性状表型值在3群体中呈连续正态分布,表现为数量性状遗传。共检测到37个QTL和26对上位性QTL,贡献率分别介于2.32%～36.31%和1.04%～2.05%;检测到9个同时影响2个及以上产量性状(一因多效)QTL标记区间;以联合分析检测到13个产量性状相关QTL,其中4个QTL区间与单群体检测QTL区间重叠;越冬栽培稻产量相关性状QTL以加–显性效应遗传为主、上位性遗传效应为辅。本研究将为越冬栽培稻产量相关基因挖掘及育种创新利用奠定基础。