出血性大肠杆菌O157eae-stx1/2B融合基因的构建和表达

构建表达eae和stx1／2B的融合基因，克隆eae基因的C端280个氨基酸残基(Int280)基因部分，以正确地阅读框定向插入到含有stx1／2B融合基因的质粒，构建重组质粒，将其转化于BL21(DE3)，用IPTG进行诱导表达，经SDS—PAGE电泳检测，该融合蛋白获得了高效表达。薄层扫描分析表明：目的蛋白表达量占菌体总蛋白含量的50．67％。由于该融合蛋白由eae、stx1B、stx2B等三部分抗原组成，可刺激机体产生针对紧密素和StxB的抗体，在EHEC O157亚单位疫苗设计或单克隆抗体抗制备中具有重要价值。     

混合比例和添加剂对菊苣与青贮玉米混合青贮品质的影响

探讨不同混合比例和添加剂对菊苣和青贮玉米混合青贮饲料品质的影响,为调制高质量的混合青贮饲料提供理论依据。以菊苣和青贮玉米为原料,按质量比0∶1、1∶3、1∶1、3∶1和1∶0 (分别用0C1M、1C3M、1C1M、3C1M、1C0M表示)进行混合青贮,并分别设置3个添加剂处理,即零添加、5 g·t^-1乳酸菌+5 g·t^-1纤维素酶(LX)和10 g·t^-1乳酸菌+5 g·t^-1纤维素酶(2LX),青贮60 d后测定混合青贮饲料的营养成分和发酵品质。结果显示,菊苣与青贮玉米混合比例为0∶1和1∶1时青贮饲料的感官评价优于其余3种混合比例的,而且添加剂处理感官评定优于零添加处理的。菊苣和青贮玉米混合青贮可以形成养分互补,有助于均衡青贮饲料整体营养,在青贮原料中添加添加剂则可以提高青贮饲料发酵品质。混合青贮饲料的营养价值随菊苣比例增加而显著提高,但是发酵品质在菊苣混合青贮比例高于1∶1时显著降低。综合判定菊苣和青贮玉米1∶1混合时其青贮饲料品质最佳,其中又以1C1M/2LX处理最好,纤维组分(NDF和ADF)和氨态氮/总氮含量较低而粗蛋白和乳酸含量较高。     

黄土丘陵区草本群落生物量空间分布格局及其影响因素

草地是干旱半干旱地区黄土高原植被组成的主体,而草本植物作为草地生态系统的优势群落,在黄土高原恢复植被和水土保持建设方面存在着不可替代的优势。因此本试验选取黄土丘陵区不同纬度下的草本群落为研究对象,分析草本群落地上、地下生物量的空间分布特征及其影响因素,同时并验证等速生长关系,以期为黄土丘陵区恢复植被、改善生态建设方面提供理论指导。结果表明:(1)在纬度梯度35.95°~38.36° N变化范围内,黄土丘陵区不同植被带草本群落地上生物量变化范围为54.60~204.32 g·m^-2,平均值156.968 g·m^-2,变异系数为27.83%;地下生物量变化范围为78.88~829.64 g·m^-2,平均值469.21 g·m^-2,变异系数为48.87%;草本群落地下/地上生物量变化范围为 0.93~4.49,平均值2.89,变异系数为39.18%。草本群落生物量(地下、地上)大小顺序均为:森林-草原带>草原带>森林带>草原-荒漠带,且地上、地下生物量随纬度梯度变化规律均呈现出“先增加后减少”的单峰型变化趋势。(2)草本群落地下与地上生物量呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),决定系数达到0.59,且符合等速生长关系。(3)草本群落地下生物量与年均降水、年均温、土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷含量之间均呈显著相关。气候因子和土壤理化性质对地下生物量都具有重要影响作用,其影响机理还需进一步结合植物生物学和生理生态方面的综合研究才能做出准确结论。     

施氮对狼尾草在南方贫瘠旱坡地生长、能源品质及氮肥利用率的影响

为探究狼尾草作为生物质能源原材料在南方贫瘠旱坡地生长对氮素的响应,研究4个施氮水平(0、112.5、225.0和337.5 kg N·hm^-2)对能源型狼尾草桂能草1号农艺性状、产量、SPAD值、生物质能源品质及氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明,施用氮肥可促进狼尾草横、纵向生长,随施氮量的增加狼尾草的株高、茎粗和单位面积有效茎数逐步提高,但叶片叶绿素含量和鲜、干草产量的提高程度在施氮量超过225.0 kg N·hm^-2后,有饱和趋势。施用氮肥还可明显提高狼尾草纤维素含量、半纤维素含量、热值和折合标准煤产量,显著降低干物质、木质素和灰分含量,总体改善了狼尾草的能源利用品质;但施氮量达337.5 kg N·hm^-2时,狼尾草热值下降,且对折合标准煤产量的增加作用不明显,降低了狼尾草的能源利用品质。此外,在一定施氮量范围内(112.5~225.0 kg N·hm^-2),狼尾草氮肥利用效率并未随施氮量的增加而显著降低,但施氮量达337.5 kg N·hm^-2时,氮肥利用率显著降低。因此,狼尾草在南方贫瘠旱坡地种植,为获得理想的生物质能源材料需及时补充氮素营养,但施氮量不宜超过225.0 kg N·hm^-2。     

不同施肥模式对玉米各器官碳氮累积和分配的影响

以长期定位试验为依托,选取:1)不施肥(CK);2)农民习惯施肥(FP);3)推荐施肥(OP);4)有机肥氮替代100%化肥氮(OM);5)有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮(MF)5个处理,研究不同施肥模式对玉米植株及各器官碳氮含量、碳氮分配比例及C/N的影响,为西南紫色土地区合理施肥、作物增产提供科学依据。结果表明,与FP处理相比,MF处理显著增加了玉米植株生物量,达26.2%。相比OM和OP处理,MF处理显著增加玉米苞叶和根茬中碳浓度,分别增加5.4、4.2 g·kg^-1和7.4、21.3 g·kg^-1,同时增加玉米苞叶、根茬、穗轴和籽粒中的碳储量,玉米茎秆和籽粒中的氮储量也有增加。此外,相比FP处理,MF处理能显著增加玉米整株的碳储量和氮储量,达29.1%和16.9%。等氮水平下,MF、OP处理均能增加玉米苞叶和籽粒中碳同化物的分配比例,MF处理玉米籽粒中氮素的分配比例较OP和OM处理分别增加1.7%和3.6%,同时MF处理能使玉米维持较高的C/N。综上,有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮能增加玉米植株的生物量,同时提高玉米对氮素的吸收和碳素的累积,增加玉米籽粒中碳同化物和氮素的分配比例,同时,有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮能使玉米植株维持较高的C/N,有利于产量的形成,该施肥方式不仅能够促进氮素的高效利用,减少化肥的投入,还能够减少化肥损失,降低氮素损失引发的环境风险。     

A review on breeding and genetic strategies in Iranian buffaloes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>)

The aim of current study was to review breeding progress and update information on genetic strategies in Iranian buffaloes. Iranian buffalo is one of the vital domestic animals throughout north, north-west, south and south-west of Iran with measurable characteristics both in milk and meat production. The species plays an important role in rural economy of the country due to its unique characteristics such as resistance to diseases and parasites, having long productive lifespan and showing higher capability of consuming low-quality forage. In Iran, total production of milk and meat devoted to buffaloes are 293,000 and 24,700 tons, respectively. Selection activities and milk yield recording are carrying out by the central government through the Animal Breeding Centre of Iran. The main breeding activities of Iranian buffaloes included the estimation of genetic parameters and genetic trends for performance traits using different models and methods, estimation of economic values and selection criteria and analysis of population structure. Incorporating different aspects of dairy buffalo management together with improved housing, nutrition, breeding and milking, is known to produce significant improvements in buffalo production. Therefore, identifying genetic potential of Iranian buffaloes, selection of superior breeds, improving nutritional management and reproduction and developing the education and increasing the skills of practical breeders can be useful in order to enhance the performance and profitability of Iranian buffaloes.     

Prevalence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haemonchus contortus</Emphasis> infection in sheep slaughtered at Jimma town municipal abattoir,Ethiopia

Haemonchus contortus is a parasite of major economic importance of most sheep-rearing areas of the world. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to March 2016 with objectives of determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep slaughtered at Jimma town municipal abattoir, Ethiopia. Of the total 7000 sheep slaughtered during the study time period, 384 sheep were randomly selected and examined for parasites. The overall prevalence of Haemonchus contortus infection was 264 (68.75%). Infection rate of poor body condition animals was significantly (P?=?0.000) higher than good body conditioned animals. The mean packed cell volume (PCV) values (%) of parasitemic and aparasitemic sheep were 23.73?±?3.7 SD and 37.66?±?4.736 SD, respectively. The prevalence in adult sheep (>?1 year) was insignificantly (P?=?0.653) higher than that of young sheep (≤?1 year). The highest prevalence was recorded in sheep that originated from Seka district (73.3%) and the lowest in Kersa district (63.4%) with non-significant variation (P?=?0.691). The highest monthly mean worm burdens and prevalence of Haemonchus contortus infection were recorded in November and lowest in March. The current study revealed that Haemonchus contortus infection is an important and common parasitic disease and requires special attention to its control.     

Can treatment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachiaria decumbens</Emphasis> (signal grass) improve its utilisation in the diet in small ruminants?—a review

Brachiaria decumbens is an extremely productive tropical grass due to its aggressive growth habit and its adaptation to a varied range of soil types and environments. As a result of the vast availability, treated B. decumbens demonstrates as a promising local material that could be utilised as an improved diet for sheep and goats. Despite the fact that the grass significantly increases weight gains in grazing farm animals, there were many reports of general ill-thrift and sporadic outbreaks of photosensitivity in livestock due to the toxic compound of steroidal saponin found in B. decumbens. Ensiling and haymaking were found to be effective in removing toxin and undesirable compounds in the grass. Biological treatments using urea, activated charcoal, polyethylene glycol, and effective microorganisms were found to be useful in anti-nutritional factor deactivation and improving the nutritive values of feedstuffs. Besides, oral administration of phenobarbitone showed some degree of protection in sheep that fed on B. decumbens pasture. In this review, we aim to determine the effect of B. decumbens toxicity and possible treatment methods on the grass to be used as an improved diet for small ruminant.     

Stem cell factor supports migration in canine mesenchymal stem cells

Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) are cells that can be defined as multipotent cells able to differentiate into diverse lineages, under appropriate conditions. These cells have been widely used in regenerative medicine, both in preclinical and clinical settings. Initially discovered in bone marrow, MSC can now be isolated from a wide spectrum of adult and foetal tissues. Studies to evaluate the therapeutic potential of these cells are based on their ability to arrive to damaged tissues. In this paper we have done a comparative study analyzing proliferation, surface markers and OCT4, SOX9, RUNX2, PPARG genes expression in MSC cells from Bone marrow (BMMSC) and Adipose tissue (ASC). We also analyzed the role of Stem Cell Factor (SCF) on MSC proliferation and on ASCs metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9 secretion. Healthy dogs were used as BMMSC donors, and ASC were collected from omentum during elective ovariohysterectomy surgery. Both cell types were cultured in IMDM medium with or without SCF, 10% Dog Serum (DS), and incubated at 38 °C with 5% CO2. Growth of BMMSCs and ASCs was exponential until 25–30 days. Flow citometry of MSCs revealed positive results for CD90 and negative for CD34, CD45 and MCH-II. Genes were evaluated by RT-PCR and metalloproteinases by zymografy. Our findings indicate morphological and immunological similarities as well as expression of genes from both origins on analyzed cells. Furthermore, SCF did not affect proliferation of MSCs, however it up-regulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion in ASCs. These results suggest that metalloproteinases are possibly essential molecules pivoting migration.     

Risk factors associated with feline urolithiasis

Urinary tract diseases are among the main reasons for consultation in veterinary clinics and hospitals. It affects animals of any age, breed and gender. Among the diseases that affect this system, urolithiasis is the second largest cause of clinical signs compatible with feline urinary tract disease. The term urolithiasis refers to the presence of uroliths in any region of the urinary tract, but it is more commonly seen in the bladder and urethra. Uroliths are classified based on the type of mineral present in their composition, therefore, quantitative and qualitative analyzes are important for a better therapeutic approach. The animals may suffer from the disease and be asymptomatic, or show nonspecific clinical signs, making the diagnosis difficult. The disease should not be seen as a single problem, but as a consequence of various disorders. As dietary, metabolic, genetic and infectious causes, as well as factors that potentiate the chance of development of uroliths such as breed, age, sex, age range, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, geographic region and climate. Thus, the knowledge of the factors that influence the formation of uroliths, as well as the understanding of the pathophysiology, are key elements for better alternatives of therapy and prevention. The recognition of these factors helps to identify susceptible populations, minimizing exposure and increasing the protection factors, which facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of patients with urolithiasis. The objective of this paper is to present the main risk factors involved in the formation of urinary lithiasis in felines.