Characterization of a Probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum Isolated from Snakehead,Channa striatus,Stomach

This study sought to isolate and characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from stomach of adult snakehead fish, Channa striatus, to be used as probiotics for freshwater fish. A total of 13 strains were isolated from the stomach of 10 fish, and 4 of these belonged to LAB. Strain LAB‐3 showing highest in vitro growth inhibition of Aeromonas hydrophila in a disk diffusion test was identified as Lactobacillus fermentum by conventional and molecular techniques and evaluated in vitro through various tests. The bacterium could grow at pH 3–8; but the optimum growth was observed at pH 6. Moreover, LAB‐3 grew at 0.15 and 0.3% bile salt concentrations, from 15 to 45 C, and at 4% NaCl. L. fermentum showed in vitro inhibitory activity against three fish pathogens, A. hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Shewanella putrefaciens, tested by disk diffusion and well diffusion methods. Antibiotic sensitivity tests indicated that L. fermentum was resistant to streptomycin, gentamycin, and kanamycin, intermediate to tetracycline, but sensitive to chloramphenicol, amoxicillin, and ampicillin. Challenge test by using A. hydrophila showed that survival of snakehead was significantly (P < 0.05) improved when 2 × 10⁶ LAB‐3/g was supplemented to the diet. Therefore, this study suggests that L. fermentum might be a promising probiotic in snakehead aquaculture .     

Seroprevalence and risk factors for influenza A viruses in pigs in Peninsular Malaysia

Following a series of H5N1 cases in chickens and birds in a few states in Malaysia, there was much interest in the influenza A viruses subtypes that circulate among the local pig populations. Pigs may act as a mixing vessel for avian and mammal influenza viruses, resulting in new reassorted viruses. This study investigated the presence of antibodies against influenza H1N1 and H3N2 viruses in pigs from Peninsular Malaysia using Herdcheck Swine Influenza H1N1 and H3N2 Antibody Test Kits. At the same time, the presence of influenza virus was examined from the nasal swabs of seropositive pigs by virus isolation and real time RT-PCR. The list of pig farms was obtained from the headquarters of the Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia, and pig herds were selected randomly from six of 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 727 serum and nasal swab samples were collected from 4- to 6-month-old pigs between May and August 2005. By ELISA, the seroprevalences of swine influenza H1N1 and H3N2 among pigs were 12.2% and 12.1% respectively. Seropositivity for either of the virus subtypes was detected in less than half of the 41 sampled farms (41.4%). Combination of both subtypes was detected in 4% of all pigs and in 22% of sampled farms. However, no virus or viral nucleic acid was detected from nasal samples. This study identified that the seropositivity of pigs to H1N1 and H3N2 based on ELISA was significantly associated with factors such as size of farm, importation or purchase of pigs, proximity of farm to other pig farms and the presence of mammalian pets within the farm.     

Genetic Dissection of Allelic Loci Associated with Economic Traits of Upland Cottons in Xinjiang

[Objective] We completed anassociation analysis of economic traits for upland cotton using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. We then explored the allelic variation sites to analyze the genetic basis of economically important traits, studied the genetic mechanism of Xinjiang upland cotton, and aimed to accelerate efficient breeding of upland cotton. [Method] We carried out polymorphic scanning on 156 upland cotton varieties in Xinjiang by screening 73 pairs of SSR markers encompassing the whole cotton genome. We constructed boxplot maps using R statistical computing software and graphics language and used TASSEL software to correlate yield or fiber quality traits with significant allelic variation loci. [Results] We obtained 10 allelic variation loci related to yield traits using the correlation analysis of Xinjiang upland cotton varieties from six different environments. The interpretation rate of phenotypic variation ranged from 6.69% to 9.88% with an average of 8.43%. Twenty-three allelic variation loci associated with fiber quality traits and phenotypic variation interpretation rates ranged from 3.73% to 13.22% with an average of 7.52%. The 22 detected quantitative trait loci were reported in previous studies and 10 showed the same associated traits as previously reported. [Conclusion] The population genetic structure of Xinjiang upland cotton varieties is simple, the linkage disequilibrium level is low, and the phenotypic traits show a stable trend under six environments. Using association analysis, we discovered unique allelic variation genes related to yield and fiber quality and diverse allele loci.     

地胆头化学成分及其生理活性的研究

研究地胆头提取液中总多酚和类黄酮含量及其生理活性。测定了不同地胆头提取液的总多酚含量、类黄酮含量及其清除DPPH自由基的能力,并比较了不同料液比的地胆头提取液对血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)的抑制率。结果表明:不同提取剂提取的地胆头总多酚和类黄酮含量不同,其中,丙酮提取液中总多酚和类黄酮含量分别为12.27 mg/g、7.50 mg/g,均高于乙醇、甲醇、水提取液中的总多酚和类黄酮含量;地胆头丙酮、甲醇、乙醇提取液对DPPH自由基的清除率分别为94.60%、93.41%、90.87%,均高于人工合成氧化剂BHT(89.15%)和地胆头水提取液(62.75%);地胆头提取液对ACE的抑制效果随着料液比的增加而越明显,其中,1∶10的料液比下,乙醇地胆头提取液对ACE抑制率达到96.67%。通过本研究得出,在地胆头乙醇、甲醇、水、丙酮4种提取液中,丙酮提取液的总多酚和类黄酮含量最高,且其抗氧化性效果最佳,乙醇地胆头提取液的抗高血压能力最强。地胆头提取液具有明显的抗氧化性和抗高血压等生理活性,在功能食品及中草药领域里具有良好的开发应用前景。     

Alteration in lymphocyte responses,cytokine and chemokine profiles in chickens infected with genotype VII and VIII velogenic Newcastle disease virus

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious avian disease and one of the major causes of economic losses in the poultry industry. The emergence of virulent NDV genotypes and repeated outbreaks of NDV in vaccinated chickens have raised the need for fundamental studies on the virus–host interactions. In this study, the profiles of B and T lymphocytes and macrophages and differential expression of 26 immune-related genes in the spleen of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, infected with either the velogenic genotype VII NDV strain IBS002 or the genotype VIII NDV strain AF2240, were evaluated. A significant reduction in T lymphocyte population and an increase in the infiltration of IgM⁺ B cells and KUL01⁺ macrophages were detected in the infected spleens at 1, 3 and 4 days post-infection (dpi) (P < 0.05). The gene expression profiles showed an up-regulation of CCLi3, CXCLi1, CXCLi2 (IL-8), IFN-γ, IL-12α, IL-18, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, TLR7, MHCI, IL-17F and TNFSF13B (P < 0.05). However, these two genotypes showed different cytokine expression patterns and viral load. IBS002 showed higher viral load than AF2240 in spleen at 3 and 4 dpi and caused a more rapid up-regulation of CXCLi2, IFN-γ, IL-12α, IL-18, IL-1β, iNOS and IL-10 at 3 dpi. Meanwhile, the expression levels of CCLI3, CXCLi1, IFN-γ, IL-12α, IL-1β and iNOS genes were significantly higher in AF2240 at 4 dpi. In addition, the expression levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the IBS002-infected chickens at 3 and 4 dpi. Hence, infection with velogenic genotype VII and VIII NDV induced different viral load and production of cytokines and chemokines associated with inflammatory reactions.     

Characterisation of genotype VII Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated from NDV vaccinated chickens,and the efficacy of LaSota and recombinant genotype VII vaccines against challenge with velogenic NDV

A Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolate designated IBS002 was isolated from a commercial broiler farm in Malaysia. The virus was characterised as a virulent strain based on the multiple basic amino acid motif of the fusion (F) cleavage site ¹¹²RRRKGF¹¹⁷ and length of the C-terminus extension of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene. Furthermore, IBS002 was classified as a velogenic NDV with mean death time (MDT) of 51.2 h and intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) of 1.76. A genetic distance analysis based on the full-length F and HN genes showed that both velogenic viruses used in this study, genotype VII NDV isolate IBS002 and genotype VIII NDV isolate AF2240-I, had high genetic variations with genotype II LaSota vaccine. In this study, the protection efficacy of the recombinant genotype VII NDV inactivated vaccine was also evaluated when added to an existing commercial vaccination program against challenge with velogenic NDV IBS002 and NDV AF2240-I in commercial broilers. The results indicated that both LaSota and recombinant genotype VII vaccines offered full protection against challenge with AF2240-I. However, the LaSota vaccine only conferred partial protection against IBS002. In addition, significantly reduced viral shedding was observed in the recombinant genotype VII-vaccinated chickens compared to LaSota-vaccinated chickens.     

Field trials of a food-based vaccine to protect village chickens against Newcastle disease

The food pellet vaccine has been shown to be effective in trials conducted under laboratory and simulated field conditions. The village chickens vaccinated with the food pellet vaccine during the field trial were protected against virulent Newcastle disease virus. The efficacy of the food pellet vaccine in the field was evaluated by challenge trial in which 60 per cent protection was obtained, or by monitoring the incidence of Newcastle disease in vaccinated and unvaccinated birds. There was no report of Newcastle disease outbreaks in the vaccinated birds during the two-year period of the field trial. The ease in administering the food pellet vaccine makes it readily accepted by the farmers.     

利益相关者对塔里木河下游人工输水工程效益和意义的认知分析

通过问卷调查方法,探讨了塔里木河下游农二师31、34和35团居民对人工输水工程效益的认知、态度以及对节约用水措施实施的支持率,总共300份问卷.结果表明:被调查者中有61.12％了解人工输水工程;88.18％支持该工程继续实施;75％认为人工输水后当地生态环境有了显著好转;84.79％认为节约农业用水是输水工程的重要部分,极力支持;75.68％对于目前的水灌溉系统表示满意.根据被调查者基本信息,使用SPSS软件Logistic二元回归模型进一步分析被调查者基本信息与支持人工输水意愿之间的关系.结果表明:被调查者支持人工输水工程的意愿主要受文化程度、职业和家庭月收入等因素的影响.本研究结果可以为人工输水今后的优化及可持续性提供咨询与建议.     

Effects of dietary mono‐ and multiprobiotic strains on growth performance,gut bacteria and body composition of Javanese carp (Puntius gonionotus,Bleeker 1850)

This study investigated the effects of dietary mono‐ and multiprobiotic strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus fermentum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides on growth performance, intestinal bacteria and body composition of Javanese carp (Puntius gonionotus). Moreover, the effect of storage temperature on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) viability in the feed was studied. Compared to the control group, significant (P < 0.05) effect on weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio of probiotic fed Javanese carp was observed. Inclusion of individual LAB strains in the diet resulted in significantly improved growth performances of Javanese carps compared to fish fed a diet supplemented LAB mixture. The inclusion level of E. faecalis at 10⁷ colony‐forming unit (cfu) g⁻¹ in the diet revealed higher growth performance compared to other treatments. The population levels of LAB in the fish intestine were significantly increased while the levels of Gram‐negative bacteria were significantly decreased compared to the control. No significant variations were observed in the chemical composition of the carcass by probiotics. The viability of LAB in feed was higher when stored at 4 °C compared to 25 °C. It is suggested that E. faecalis has a greater potential for use in improving Javanese carp culture outcomes.