Humoral recognition of lipopolysaccharide core antigens of gram-negative bacteria in neonatal swine

Serologic recognition of common lipopolysaccharide core antigens has been related to enhanced resistance to gram-negative bacterial disease in several species. Class-specific titers (IgG, IgM) were determined by direct ELISA, using intact Escherichia coli (J5) as a plate antigen. Serum samples were obtained from 224 neonatal swine between the ages of 36 and 60 hours. The mean (+/- SEM) log10 IgG titer against gram-negative core antigens was 1:1,713 +/- 0.4718 and the mean log10 IgM titer was 1:202 +/- 0.5644. The IgG titer was directly related with litter size, birth weight, and serum total IgG concentration; IgM titer was directly related with dam parity and serum total IgG concentration.     

Plasma Cell Myeloma in the Horse

Plasma cell myelomas in horses have been reported infrequently. Data from 10 cases, 9 from the literature and 1 new case, are used to characterize the disease in the horse. Hot-blooded horses (7/10), specifically Quarter Horses (4/10), were most often affected. Median age at diagnosis was 11 years (range, 3 mo-22 yr) and both male (5) and female horses (5) were represented equally. Clinical findings included weight loss (6/8), anorexia (4/8), fever (4/8), limb edema (4/8), pneumonia (3/8), rear leg paresis/ataxia (3/8), epistaxis (3/8), palpable lymphadenopathy (2/8), and bone pain (2/8). Anemia (8/8) was present routinely, and in three horses, RBCs were macrocytic. Leukopenia (2/8), thrombocy-topenia (2/8), and circulating plasma cells (3/8) were variable findings. Except for abnormal protein concentrations and hyponatremia (3), abnormal results from serum biochemical analysis including hypo-cholesterolemia (1), hypercalcemia (1), and azotemia (1) were reported infrequently. Hyperproteinemia (8/9), hypoalbuminemia (7/9), and hyperglobulinemia (8/9) were characteristic but not invariable findings. Monoclonal proteins (7/7) were detected in the α₂, β, or γ region by serum electrophoresis. The paraprotein's heavy chain, determined in four horses, was a subclass of IgG. Three horses had decreased concentrations of normal immunoglobulins. Variable proteinuria (trace to 4+) was detected by routine urinalysis in four of six horses. Bence Jones proteinuria was detected in one of five horses (heat precipitation) and monoclonal proteins were detected in two of three electrophoresed urine samples. Three of the horses had lytic bone lesions detected radiographically. Bone marrow aspirates were diagnostic in two of five horses. Atypical plasma cells or increased numbers of plasma cells or both were present in histologic sections of bone marrow in six of eight horses. Common extraosseous sites of plasma cell infiltration included lymph nodes (8/8), kidney (5/8), spleen (5/8), liver (3/8), lung (3/8), brain (2/8), and orbit (2/8). Two horses had intracellular and extracellular crystalline deposits.     

Amphibian oncology.

Spontaneous neoplasia is rare in all three orders of Amphibia.Tumors are documented in most major organ systems, and some have various underlying etiologies, including viral infection, environmental contaminants, and genetic predisposition. Currently,treatment options are limited to removal of the predisposing condition(s), palliative care, surgical excision, and, when necessary,humane euthanasia may be elected. Neoplasia must be distinguished from common infectious, nonneoplastic conditions that can negatively impact population health. This article is a review of the more common types of neoplasia in amphibians, and includes clinically relevant information, such as biologic behavior,anatomy, associated etiologies, major differential diagnoses, and clinical management.     

Effects of surgical implantation of temperature dataloggers on reproduction of captive striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis).

A total of 20 (14 females, six males) captive striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) with miniature temperature dataloggers implanted free in the abdominal cavity were examined for reproductive performance and pathology because of implants. Eleven of 12 female skunks reproduced successfully 45.9+/-3.7 days after surgery to remove implanted dataloggers. The pregnancy rate of 91.7% (11/12) was much higher than other captive studies and was comparable with that of wild skunks. Eight striped skunks (six males, two females) that were euthanatized and necropsied after having implants in the abdominal cavity for 5 mo showed no apparent pathology associated with the implant. Implantation of the intraperitoneal devices did not lead to complications in abdominal tissues. Neither implant nor surgery affected reproduction. We conclude that implanted dataloggers can safely be used in physiologic studies of striped skunks or possibly other small carnivores in captive or field studies.     

A perspective on the measurement of time in plant disease epidemiology

The growth and development of plant pathogens and their hosts generally respond strongly to the temperature of their environment. However, most studies of plant pathology record pathogen/host measurements against physical time (e.g. hours or days) rather than thermal time (e.g. degree-days or degree-hours). This confounds the comparison of epidemiological measurements across experiments and limits the value of the scientific literature.     

植物育种的物理学方法

介绍了草原生态恢复中选育优良牧草种子的一些物理学方法,包括电场、磁场、物理辐射、激光、离子束和交变应力等在植物的生物学效应、诱变育种和转基因技术中的应用.     

中国水牛瘤胃纤毛虫分布与挥发性脂肪酸的研究

对中国广西西林水牛和摩拉水牛瘤胃纤毛虫种类分布进行了鉴定检测,并测定了其瘤胃液挥发性脂肪酸浓度,同时进行了比较研究。全部检出17属63种25型瘤胃纤毛虫,比以前进行的8种反刍动物瘤胃纤毛虫分布研究中出现的总数和每个宿主个体中出现的平均纤毛虫种数多,种类构成最复杂,其纤毛虫构成特点类似于东南亚地区水牛瘤胃纤毛虫构成特点。其中广西西林水牛中检出了Entodinium biconcavumsp n,是至今从未鉴定记载过的认为是新种的特殊种类。广西西林水牛检出13属54种20型、摩拉水牛检出16属45种11型瘤胃纤毛虫。广西西林水牛瘤胃纤毛虫平均密度为2.13×105/mL,摩拉水牛瘤胃纤毛虫密度为3.43×105/mL。中国水牛瘤胃纤毛虫属别构成中Entodinium属出现率最高,但两个水牛品种间存在明显差别,其他属别构成也不尽一致。这与不同品种原来的地理环境分布与饲养管理条件有关。广西西林水牛瘤胃总VFA浓度为75.60 mmol/mL,摩拉水牛的为58.74 mmol/mL。瘤胃总VFA含量中均为乙酸含量最高,属于典型的粗饲料发酵类型。     

EIAV Rev蛋白拮抗eqTRIM5α介导的AP-1信号通路的机制研究

为探究马传染性贫血病毒(EIAV)附属蛋白Rev负调控Tripartite motif-containing protein 5α(TRIM5α)介导的AP-1信号通路的机制,本研究将pEIAV-Rev-HA和pcDNA3.1质粒分别与含TRIM5α基因的质粒及pGL3-AP-1-Luc(AP-1报告质粒)共转染HEK 293T细胞,采用荧光素酶试验检测Rev对TRIM5α激活的AP-1信号通路的影响;将pEIAV-Rev-HA和pcDNA3.1质粒分别与含TAK1、TAB2、P38和c-Jun基因的质粒及pGL3-AP-1-Luc共转染HEK 293T细胞,采用荧光素酶试验检测Rev对TRIM5α下游转导分子(TAK1、TAB2、P38、c-Jun)激活的AP-1信号通路的影响;将pEIAV-Rev-HA和pcDNA3.1质粒分别与含TAK1、TAB2、P38基因的质粒共转染HEK293T细胞,利用western blot试验分别检测TAK1、TAB2、P38的表达水平;将pEIAV-Rev-HA和pcDNA3.1质粒分别与含P38基因的质粒共转染HEK 293T细胞后加入蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132,利用western blot检测P38蛋白的表达情况。结果显示,共转染EIAV-Rev-HA实验组中TRIM5α对AP-1的激活倍数为0.4,而共转染pcDNA3.1对照组中相应的激活倍数为26.0;共转染pEIAV-Rev-HA实验组中,TAK1、TAB2、P38和c-Jun对AP-1信号通路的激活倍数分别为7.7、0.1、0.6、9.8,而共转染pcDNA3.1对照组中对AP-1信号通路的激活倍数分别为60.0、1.5、6.3、12.0;转染pEIAV-Rev-HA+pP38-Flag组与转染pcDNA3.1+pP38-Flag组相比,前者P38蛋白的表达量显著降低;加入蛋白酶体抑制剂组则恢复了P38蛋白的表达。上述结果表明,EIAV Rev显著下调eqTRIM5α及其下游转导分子TAK1、TAB2、P38激活的AP-1信号通路,但不显著下调c-Jun激活的AP-1信号通路;EIAV Rev通过蛋白酶体途径降解P38蛋白的表达而抑制eqTRIM5α激活的AP-1信号通路。本研究结果为理解EIAV与宿主蛋白相互作用提供参考依据。     

微细木质粉尘静电除尘器的设计

近年来,随着人们对环境质量的要求逐渐提高,木材工业除尘日益得到重视。众所周知,木材工业是产生粉尘的大户,如不采取有效的除尘措施,产生的粉尘不但会造成极大的环境污染,而且还会对工人的身体健康、产品质量、设备的精度和使用年限及生产的安全造成危害。目前,在木材工业中,广泛采用的多是离心力除