猪IL-2与IL-6的融合表达及活性研究

为获得具有猪白细胞介素-2(pIL-2)和猪白细胞介素-6(pIL-6)双重活性的融合蛋白,研究其作为高效免疫佐剂的可行性,本研究利用基因重组技术将克隆到的pIL-2和pIL-6的成熟肽基因利用一段柔性Linker序列串联后插入到原核表达载体pBV220中,转化大肠杆菌,42℃诱导表达得到融合蛋白pIL-6-2,对蛋白进行纯化复性后用MTT法检测其生物学活性。结果显示不同浓度pIL-6-2蛋白对小鼠脾淋巴细胞的增殖活性差异很大,0.1μg/mL浓度的pIL-6-2活性最好。本研究为利用该蛋白作为高效免疫制剂的应用奠定了良好基础。     

猪IL-2与IL-6的融合表达及其产物的促淋巴细胞增殖活性

为了获得具有猪白细胞介素-2(pIL-2)和猪白细胞介素-6(pIL-6)双重活性的融合蛋白,研究其作为高效免疫佐剂的可行性,作者利用基因重组技术将克隆到的pIL-2和pIL-6基因的成熟肽片段利用一段柔性Linker序列串联,然后插入到原核表达载体pBV220的适当位置,获得重组质粒pBVpIL-6-2,转化E.coli DH5α、E.coli BL21(DE3)和E.coli Rosetta(DE3)后,42℃诱导表达得到相对分子质量约为36.7ku的重组蛋白pIL-6-2,对蛋白进行纯化、复性后用MTT法检测其对小鼠脾淋巴细胞的促增殖活性,结果显示不同浓度的pIL-6-2蛋白对小鼠脾淋巴细胞的促增殖活性差异很大,其中以0.1μg·mL-1浓度的pIL-6-2活性最好。本研究为利用该蛋白作为高效免疫制剂的应用奠定了良好的基础。     

猪IL-18在酵母中表达及活性检测

以pGEMT/pIL-18为模板,应用PCR法扩增出猪IL-18基因,用EcoR Ⅰ和Xba Ⅰ双酶切后,插入酵母表达载体pPICZαA中,经酶切、PCR扩增及序列测定,成功构建了酵母重组表达载体pPICZ/pIL-18,电击转化毕赤酵母X-33,应用Zeocin筛选获得高拷贝重组转化菌株,甲醇诱导表达,经SDS-PAGE电泳分析重组pIL-18蛋白的表达,并用SephadexG200纯化表达的重组pIL-18蛋白.运用MTT法检测其生物学活性.试验结果表明,重组X-33酵母菌株能够表达分泌性pIL-18,诱导72 h表达量最高,其表达量占总蛋白表达量的38％.而且纯化的重组pIL-18蛋白具有明显促进淋巴细胞增殖的活性.     

猪带绦虫TS018基因真核表达载体的构建及其表达

采用PCR从重组克隆载体pGEM—TSO18中扩增出猪带绦虫六钩蚴TSO18基因，与毕赤酵母分泌性表达载体pPIC9k相连接，构建重组表达载体pPIC9k—TSO18，转化大肠埃希氏菌JM109，经测序证实，基因序列完全正确。制备重组质粒pPIC9k—TSO18，用SalⅠ线性化，并电转化毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)GS115，使重组表达载体与酵母染色体发生同源整合。采用G418抗性梯度法筛选得到高拷贝重组菌株，以甲醇进行诱导表达，SDS—PAGE和Western-blotting分析结果表明，诱导表达的培养上清中表达出具有反应活性的16ku重组蛋白，目的蛋白约占培养上清液中蛋白总量的80％以上，诱导72h目的蛋白表达量为0．5mg／mL。     

猪IL-2和IL-6的原核表达及多克隆抗体的制备

IL-2和IL-6是机体重要的免疫调节因子,在佐剂的应用方面具有很好的发展前景。论文以pTIL-2和pTIL-6为模板进行PCR扩增得到猪白细胞介素2(pIL-2)和猪白细胞介素6(pIL-6)的全基因序列,通过EcoRⅠ和HindⅢ双酶切及连接反应将目的基因亚克隆到原核表达载体pET30a中构建了融合表达质粒pETIL-2和pETIL-6。将重组质粒分别转化大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)和Rosetta(DE3),37℃在IPTG诱导下高效表达了pIL-2和pIL-6,分子质量分别约为26ku和30ku。将包涵体纯化并复性后免疫家兔,制备的兔抗pIL-2和pIL-6的多克隆抗体经ELISA检测效价在1∶12800以上。     

表达猪白细胞介素2(pIL-2)重组乳酸杆菌的构建

为了建立表达猪白细胞介素2(pIL-2)的重组乳酸杆菌,用PCR的方法从pMD-18T-pIL-2质粒中扩增pIL-2基因,并送至吉林省库美生物科技有限公司进行测序分析。将测序正确的PCR扩增产物与pSIP409表达载体链接,通过PCR和双酶切方法鉴定重组质粒。将重组载体电转至乳酸杆菌,通过SDS-PAGE电泳和Western Blot的方法鉴定pIL-2蛋白的表达,通过细胞粘附实验检测重组乳酸杆菌对猪肠上皮细胞IPEC-J2细胞的粘附性。结果显示,通过PCR和酶切的方法鉴定pMD-18T-pIL-2质粒中基因大小与pIL-2基因大小相似,吉林省库美生物科技有限公司测序结果与Gen Bank上pIL-2基因100%吻合。通过SDS-PAGE电泳和Western Blot的方法鉴定,重组乳酸杆菌表达蛋白为pIL-2蛋白。重组乳酸菌可使猪肠道上皮细胞IPEC-J2结构紧密,细胞间粘连蛋白表达量增多。表明重组乳酸杆菌表达的蛋白为猪白细胞介素2(pIL-2)蛋白。     

猪IL-2基因在毕赤酵母中的高效表达及生物活性分析

本研究根据密码子偏爱原则设计猪IL-2引物,克隆其基因后构建pPIC9k-IL-2重组表达载体,线性化后电转化毕赤酵母GS115,获得优化密码子的重组酵母转化子;再用G418抗性梯度法筛选得到多拷贝重组菌株,不同条件下进行甲醇诱导表达。结果表明:经PCR鉴定IL-2基因已整合到酵母基因组中。表达产物经SDS-PAGE电泳分析发现相对分子质量为16、20ku两条目的蛋白表达带,脱糖基化分析表明目的蛋白得到了适度的糖基化修饰,Western blotting分析显示表达的蛋白具有良好的免疫反应性,分子筛纯化可以获得纯度为95%的蛋白质,淋巴细胞增殖活性分析表明所得的蛋白质具有促淋巴细胞增殖的活性。毕赤酵母表达系统可以高效地表达具有生物活性的重组猪IL-2蛋白分子。     

猪白细胞介素18成熟蛋白基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中的表达

通过RT—PCR方法从用PHA和LPS刺激的猪脾脏细胞中扩增出猪白细胞介素18(pIL-18)成熟蛋白基因的cDNA，克隆到T载体pUCm-T后，序列测定表明，pIL-18成熟蛋白基因核苷酸长度为474bp，编码157个氨基酸。将该基因片段克隆到大肠杆菌表达载体pET-28a构建重组质粒pETIL18m，转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)，并用IPTG诱导。重组菌菌体裂解物SDS—PAGE可检测到相对分子质量为19000的重组蛋白，免疫印迹法证实该重组蛋白可以与人IL-18单抗发生特异性免疫反应。     

猪白细胞介素2基因的克隆及腺病毒表达载体的构建

根据GenBank中收录的猪白细胞介素2(pIL-2)基因序列,设计1对特异性引物.运用RT-PCR技术从刀豆素(Con A)诱导的猪外周血淋巴细胞总RNA中扩增得到pIL-2基因,并将其克隆至pGEM-T Easy栽体上.核苷酸测序结果显示,获得的基因序列全长493 bp,含465 bp的开放阅读框,编码154个氨基酸,与已知pIL-2核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列的同源性都高达100%.将克隆的pIL-2基因编码阅读框亚克隆至腺病毒穿梭栽体pShuttle-CMV,电转化含腺病毒基因组(pAdEasy-1)的大肠埃希茵细胞BJ5183-AD-1,成功获得了重组腺病毒DNA,将纯化后的重组腺病毒DNA转染AD-293细胞,经过病毒基因组的PCR鉴定和转录水平的RT-PCR鉴定,初步表明,获得了表达pIL-2的重组腺病毒.     

猪白细胞介素15基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中的表达

本研究通过RT-PCR方法从用ConA刺激的猪外周血淋巴细胞中扩增出猪IL-15(pIL-15)编码序列的cD-NA,将其克隆至T载体pMD18-T后,序列测定表明pIL-15基因长度为489 bp,编码162个氨基酸。进一步通过PCR方法获得缺失其N端48 aa的信号肽序列的成熟pIL-15蛋白基因,将其亚克隆到原核表达载体pET-28a的6×His下游,构建重组表达质粒pET-pIL15,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导,重组菌体裂解物经SDS-PAGE可检测到分子量约为15 ku的重组蛋白,其表达量占总菌体蛋白量的17.5%。Western blot试验也证实表达的重组融合蛋白6×His-pIL15能够很好地与抗6×His单抗发生反应。猪IL-15基因的克隆、表达为进一步研究其功能和应用奠定了基础。     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.     

Diversity of Ectoparasites in Sheep Flocks in Sa~o Paulo,Brazil

The occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sa~o Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the `Associaça~o Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sa~o Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.     

Evaluation of biohydrogenation rate of canola vs. soya bean seeds as unsaturated fatty acids sources for ruminants in situ

An experiment was conducted to study disappearance of C14 to C18 fatty acids, lag times and biohydrogenation (BH) rates of C18 fatty acids of ground soya bean and canola seeds in situ. Three ruminally fistulated Dallagh sheep were used to determine ruminal BH of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Differences in the disappearance of fatty acids through the bags and lag times were observed between the oilseeds. We saw that the longer the incubation time of the oilseeds in the rumen, the lower the content of C18:2 and C18:3. Significantly higher lag times for both C18:2 and C18:3 were observed in ground canola compared to ground soya bean. BH rates of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids in soya bean were three times higher than those of canola. These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of fat source can affect the BH of UFAs by rumen micro‐organisms. So that UFAs of canola had higher ability to escape from ruminal BH. It seems that fatty acid profile of ruminant products is more affected by canola seed compared to soya bean seed.     

Serum biochemical values and mineral element contents of tissues in yaks

Serum biochemical values and the wet weight to dry weight ratios of tissues were determined in yaks in Shandan county of Gansu province. The liver, kidney, heart and muscle contents of seven elements in yaks were also analysed. Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle, camels and sheep, but the calcium concentration was considerably above the normal range for other ruminants. The liver contained the highest concentrations of copper, manganese and cobalt and the kidney of selenium, iron and calcium.Abbreviations Alb albumin - ALT alanine aminotransferase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - BUN blood urea nitrogen - Chol cholesterol - Glob globulin - -GT -glutamyl transpeptidase - IP inorganic phosphorus - TP total protein     

Avian brood parasitism — a growing research area in behavioral ecology (part Ⅱ)

正We are pleased to publish the second special issue on avian brood parasitism and to be responsible guest editors for the two special issues of Chinese Birds (Vol. 3, No. 4, 2012 and Vol. 4, No. 1, 2013), entitled "Avian Brood Parasitism - A Growing Research Area in Behavioral Ecology". The first issue was published in December 2012. The goal of the two special issues is to publish accumulated knowledge and some of the recent developments in