Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

Effects of three methionine sources in diets on temporal B0AT1 and ASCT2 mRNA expression in different intestinal segments of cobia,Rachycentron canadum

A 4‐week feeding trial was conducted using five groups of hybrid grouper (61.15 ± 0.15 g) to explore the potential effects of three methionine (Met) sources. Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated that included a fishmeal (FM) diet; nonsupplemented (NS) diet; or NS diets with the addition of the L‐methionine (L‐Met), DL‐methionine (DL‐Met), or coated Met (Co‐Met) to obtain the same Met level as the FM diet. Fish were randomly distributed into sea cages (30 fish per cage). Weight gain and specific growth rate in the DL‐Met group and FM group were significantly higher than those in all other groups (p < .05). In the proximal and distal intestines, of the 20 gene and time combinations (10 per gene), there were 14 combinations (70%) in which there were no significant differences in gene expression levels between the FM and DL‐Met groups (p > .05). The main reason for the same growth effect between the DL‐Met and FM groups may be attributed to the synchronized absorption at most time points after feeding, which had similar expression patterns of B⁰AT1 and ASCT2 of the proximal and distal intestines between two groups.     

绿色富硒生物猪饲料中AFB1达标生产工艺优化研究

饲料中黄曲霉毒素(AFB₁)容易超标,检出率达80%~100%,毒性大,具强致癌性,可抑制生猪免疫机能,降低动物生产性能,引起动物继发感染,还会在动物产品中残留而威胁人类健康,给生猪养殖带来经济损失,降低猪肉食品安全性。本文通过使用先进固体发酵系统设备和益生菌发酵技术,采用单因素试验和响应面中试优化,获得发酵降解猪饲料AFB₁的最佳工艺参数为硒浓度0.3 mg/kg,发酵时间12 h,量子波强度30 Hz,益生菌菌种组合CGMCC NO.17328混合CGMCC NO.15611。该工艺将猪饲料AFB₁量从63.41μg/kg降解到2.98μg/kg,降解率达到95.30%,AFB₁含量达到国家饲料安全标准。生产工艺适合养猪场低成本快速生产AFB₁达标猪饲料。     

超表达OsPR1A增强了Xa21介导的水稻对白叶枯病的抗性反应

【背景】前期研究发现,水稻病程相关蛋白质OsPR1A的表达受上游抗病基因Xa21调控,接菌后早期启动Xa21介导的OsPR1A较高水平表达对水稻抵抗白叶枯病菌至关重要。同时OsPR1A也受到水稻白叶枯病菌（Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae,Xoo）的诱导表达。对于OsPR1A的研究绝大部分是作为抗性反应发生的标志基因佐证其他基因或途径在抗性中的作用,缺乏直接的证据证实OsPR1A本身的生物学功能。【目的】通过获得OsPR1a-OX超表达转基因植株,调查其表型及农艺性状,并明确OsPR1A蛋白质表达与抗性的关系,为鉴定OsPR1A功能提供依据。【方法】通过农杆菌介导法,将构建的OsPR1a-OX转化载体转入到水稻受体4021中,利用PCR和免疫印迹（western blot,WB）技术分别在基因水平和蛋白质水平上筛选并鉴定OsPR1A超表达阳性纯合株系。在成熟期,调查OsPR1A超表达转基因植株的表型及农艺性状（株高、穗长、分蘖数、结实率和籽粒大小等）。在31℃条件下,将生长2周的水稻幼苗TP309、4021和OsPR1A超表达转基因植株接种水稻白叶枯病菌,并在接菌0、2、4、6、8、10和12 d时测量病斑长度。在接菌0、4和6 d时,收集TP309、4021和OsPR1A超表达转基因植株的水稻叶片,提取蛋白质,利用WB技术检测OsPR1A的表达特征。【结果】构建了OsPR1a-OX转化载体,并转入到受体4021中,筛选并鉴定到2个OsPR1A超表达转基因纯合株系（#704和#709）。调查了OsPR1A超表达转基因植株在成熟期的表型及农艺性状,与对照4021相比,#704和#709的株高较矮、穗长较短、分蘖数减少、结实率降低,但籽粒稍大,可能与结实率低有关。在31℃条件下,OsPR1A超表达转基因植株的病斑长度与对照4021相比明显缩短,结果具有显著性差异（P<0.05）。在接菌0、4和6 d的材料中,超表达转基因植株#704和#709中OsPR1A始终有较高水平的表达丰度,从而提高了对白叶枯病菌的抗性。【结论】采用农杆菌介导法,获得OsPR1A超表达转基因植株;超表达OsPR1A影响到水稻的正常发育过程;超表达OsPR1A后增强了Xa21介导的水稻对白叶枯病的抗性。     

稻瘟病菌CAAX蛋白酶MoRce1的功能研究

 蛋白质的翻译后异戊烯化修饰(CAAX修饰)能够介导真核生物中许多重要蛋白质的亚细胞定位以及蛋白与蛋白间的相互作用。稻瘟病菌(Magnaporthe oryzae)引致的稻瘟病是水稻最重要病害之一,造成全球水稻严重减产。为深入了解稻瘟病菌致病机理,更好地防控稻瘟病,我们研究了异戊烯修饰是否影响稻瘟病菌的生长发育和致病性。首先从稻瘟病菌基因组数据库中鉴定到一个稻瘟病菌的异戊烯蛋白酶MoRce1,同源比对发现MoRce1保守结构域在各物种之间变化较大,猜测在不同物种中该蛋白可能出现了功能分化。经同源重组方法敲除MoRCE1基因,发现MoRCE1缺失突变体在胁迫培养条件下细胞壁完整性明显缺陷,但是对营养生长、产孢、萌发以及致病性没有明显影响,说明MoRce1蛋白可能通过参与稻瘟病菌细胞壁合成相关蛋白的异戊烯化修饰进而影响该菌细胞壁的完整性,其具体机制还有待深入研究。     

过表达ZmIBH1-1提高玉米苗期抗旱性

【目的】干旱是严重影响玉米生长发育进程的一个重要因素。挖掘玉米抗旱相关基因,通过转基因功能验证和转录组分析,解析关键基因在响应干旱胁迫过程中的分子调控机制,为抗旱分子育种和遗传改良提供理论依据。【方法】以玉米自交系B104（WT）为背景材料,利用农杆菌介导方法构建过表达ZmIBH1-1转基因株系（ZmIBH1-1-OE）;通过对转基因植株进行草铵膦抗性筛选、标记基因和目的基因PCR检测,以及运用实时荧光定量PCR检测目的基因的表达情况,鉴定阳性植株和株系;以WT和ZmIBH1-1-OE转基因株系为材料,通过干旱处理（20% PEG6000）,进行表型鉴定和耐旱生理生化指标测定,验证ZmIBH1-1的抗旱功能;通过对干旱胁迫下玉米4叶期转录组的比较分析,鉴定出差异表达的基因（differentially expressed genes,DEGs）;结合DAP-seq（DNA affinity purification sequencing）分析,初步确定ZmIBH1-1蛋白直接调控与抗旱相关的下游靶基因,利用基因组可视化软件IGV（integrative genomics viewer）分析ZmIBH1-1蛋白结合候选靶基因的位置,然后通过Dual-Luciferase试验验证ZmIBH1-1蛋白与靶基因的调控关系。【结果】通过玉米遗传转化获得12个转化事件;T₃代中,能同时检测到标记基因Bar和目的基因ZmIBH1-1的植株有458个,实时荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,ZmIBH1-1-OE中ZmIBH1-1的表达量显著高于WT,株系3和株系8表达量最高,将其自交获得T₄代转基因株系用于后续试验。在干旱胁迫条件下,ZmIBH1-1-OE株系存活率、叶片相对含水量、叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量及其生理生化指标（超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶活性）均显著高于WT,说明玉米中过量表达ZmIBH1-1赋予玉米更高的耐旱性。转录组分析结果表明,WT与ZmIBH1-1-OE株系在干旱胁迫下有1 214个差异表达基因;Gene Ontology（GO）功能富集分析结果表明,差异表达基因主要涉及生物过程、细胞组分和分子功能,如在生物过程中主要涉及到光合作用、应激响应、脱水响应等;KEGG富集分析表明,差异表达基因主要参与植物激素信号传导、新陈代谢等过程。结合转录组显著差异表达基因和DAP-Seq分析所得到ZmIBH1-1蛋白的靶基因,初步确定ZmIBH1-1蛋白直接调控与抗旱相关的11个候选靶基因,包括2个钙信号相关基因、3个半胱氨酸代谢相关基因、1个bHLH转录因子、1个应激响应蛋白、1个谷胱甘肽转移酶、1个氧化还原过程蛋白和2个乙烯响应因子;基因组可视化结果显示ZmIBH1-1蛋白可以结合靶基因启动子区;随后通过Dual-Luciferase试验进一步表明,ZmIBH1-1蛋白可以直接作用于11个候选靶基因,其中,ZmIBH1-1蛋白可以促进ZmCa-M、ZmSYCO、ZmbHLH54、ZmGlu-r1、ZmCLPB3和ZmP450-99A2的表达,抑制ZmAGD12、ZmCYS、ZmCYSB、ZmERF-107和ZmEIN3的表达。此外,在干旱胁迫下NAC、WRKY、MYB等转录因子在ZmIBH1-1-OE和WT株系中也存在差异表达。【结论】ZmIBH1-1的过表达可以增强玉米苗期的耐旱性;ZmIBH1-1蛋白通过直接调控乙烯信号通路中的ZmERF-107和ZmEIN3的表达提高玉米的耐旱性;ZmIBH1-1蛋白通过直接调控钙信号相关基因ZmCa-M和ZmAGD12增强玉米的耐旱性;ZmIBH1-1蛋白可能通过间接调控NAC、WRKY、MYB等转录因子响应干旱胁迫。     

Effects of genes increasing the number of spikelets per panicle,TAW1 and APO1, on yield and yield-related traits in rice

The genes TAWAWA1 (TAW1) and ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION1 (APO1) increase the number of spikelets per panicle (SN). In the present study, we examined the effects of these genes on morphological traits, yield, and yield-related traits including yield components using the near-isogenic lines (NILs) in the genetic background of a japonica rice variety, Koshihikari – NIL-taw1, NIL-apo1-D3, and NIL-apo1-D4 – in a field experiment. The SN and total number of spikelets per area of the three NILs were larger than those of Koshihikari. However, the yield of the three NILs did not exceed that of Koshihikari due to their low filling ability. Interestingly, our field experiments indicated that TAW1 did not affect the diameter of internodes and the PN, whereas APO1 decreased the PN and increased the diameter of internodes. These results suggest that TAW1 and APO1 differently affect yield-related traits.     

Replication of neurovirulent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in CD172a+ monocytic cells

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses. Two pathotypes of EHV-1 strains are circulating in the field: neurovirulent (N) and non-neurovirulent (NN). For both strains, CD172a⁺ monocytic cells are one of the main carrier cells of EHV-1 during primary infection, allowing the virus to invade the horse’s body. Recently, we showed that EHV-1 NN strains showed a restricted and delayed replication in CD172a⁺ cells. Here we characterize the in vitro replication kinetics of two EHV-1 N strains in CD172a⁺ cells and investigate if the replication of these strains is similarly silenced as shown for EHV-1 NN strains. We found that EHV-1 N replication was restricted to 7–8% in CD172a⁺ cells compared to 100% in control RK-13 cells. EHV-1 N replication was not delayed in CD172a⁺ cells but virus production was significant lower (10^3.0 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells) than in RK-13 cells (10^8.5 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells). Approximately 0.04% of CD172a⁺ cells produced and transmitted infectious EHV-1 to neighbour cells compared to 65% of RK-13 cells. Unlike what we observed for the NN strain, pretreatment of CD172a⁺ cells with histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) did not influence the replication of EHV-1 N strains in these cells. Overall, these results show that the EHV-1 replication of N strains in CD172a⁺ cells differs from that observed for NN strains, which may contribute to their different pathogeneses in vivo.     

海南红肉与白肉火龙果营养成分含量分析

测定海南地区栽培的红肉火龙果和白肉火龙果中营养成分含量,比较两个品种间的差异。结果表明,红肉火龙果的糖酸比、碳水化合物、磷、钠、钙、锌、铜含量高于白肉火龙果,蛋白质、膳食纤维、灰分、脂肪、铁、镁、硒含量低于白肉火龙果;钙含量在两种火龙果中差异显著(P0.05),脂肪、镁含量在两种火龙果中差异极显著(P0.01)。