Racial diversity and complexity in regional populations of Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei in France over a 5-year period

The evolution of race patterns in three French regional populations of the barley powdery mildew pathogen Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei over a 5-year period showed rapid adaptation to newly introduced host resistance genes. In all three regions, the main change consisted of the replacement of initially abundant races by pathotypes differing markedly from them by their virulence gene combinations. This explained the increase in diversity during the first 3 years of the survey, when the second group of pathotypes became more common in the populations, and its subsequent decrease due to the decline of the first group of races. The mean number of virulence genes per isolate did not vary noticeably over time in the three populations, remaining at about four out of 12 genes tested. However, the distribution of the isolates into virulence complexity classes was greatly modified, fitting a binomial distribution by the end of the study, although significant deviations were apparent in the first 2 years (1986 and 1987). The data indicate that selection, migration and recombination are the most important factors shaping race structure and evolution in powdery mildew populations, and that mutation is of limited significance. No convincing evidence was obtained for the existence of stabilizing selection sensu Vanderplank as the mechanism limiting virulence complexity. Implications regarding spatial and temporal deployment of race-specific resistance genes to control powdery mildew are discussed.     

共轭亚油酸对脂肪细胞成熟调控机理研究

共轭亚油酸(CLA．Conjugated linoleic acid)是一类具有顺、反异构体的十八碳二烯酸的统称,当前,CLA的生物学功能已成为研究热点,尤其在脂肪代谢调控上,具有降低脂肪沉积和血液胆固醇水平的功效。通过对CLA的脂肪细胞成熟(包括对脂肪细胞的增殖、分化,脂肪的沉积、甘油三磷酸的沉积等过程)调控机理的综合论述,以便为CLA更深入的研究提供参考。     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC QUANTIFICATION OF CANINE ADRENAL GLAND VOLUME AND ATTENUATION

We conducted a retrospective study in presumed normal dogs to determine the adrenal gland attenuation and volume values. Multidetector computer tomography (MDCT 16) analysis of the gland was carried out in 48 adult dogs without evidence of adrenal gland disease that underwent CT examination for acute spinal injuries. The mean nonenhanced attenuation value +/- SD of the left adrenal gland was 36.0 +/- 5.3 HU (range: 22.0-42.0 HU). The mean nonenhanced attenuation value +/- SD of the right gland was 34.3 +/- 7.0 HU (range: 20.4-48.6HU). The mean enhanced attenuation value +/- SD were: left gland 101.5 +/- 10.6HU (range: 86.8-128.0 HU), and right gland 97.4 +/- 12.4 HU (range: 58.9-123.6 HU). The mean CT volume +/- SD were: left gland was 0.60 cm3 (range: 0.20-0.95; SD 0.17), and right gland (0.55cm3, range: 0.22-1.01; SD 0.19). Attenuation values and volume data were related to age, weight, and gender, using ANOVA. There was no statistically significant difference between the left and right side or in adrenal measurements, because of body weight class effects. The animal effect was the most important source of variation for all adrenal measurements. Based on our study, CT is an effective method for assessing adrenal characteristics in the dog. Normative CT data are provided to allow estimation of normal adrenal gland size and volume.     

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE VALUES IN WHIPPETS

The aim of the study was to establish reference echocardiographic values for whippets, to compare these values with previously published reference values for the general dog population, and to determine whether there is an influence of gender and breeding lines on echocardiographic measurements. Echocardiographic parameters from 105 apparently healthy whippets without cardiac symptoms were used to establish reference values for the breed and to compare these values with two previously reported reference ranges. The coefficients of the allometric equation Y= aM(b), useful to reconstruct normal M-mode and two-dimensional average values for whippets of varying weights, were calculated, as well as the lower and upper limits of the 95% prediction interval. First, we found that whippets have a significantly larger left ventricular diameter, increased left ventricular wall, and interventricular septum thickness than expected, in diastole as well as in systole. Fractional shortening was significantly lower than the reference value. Second, comparing males and females, taking body weight differences into account, females had a significantly larger left ventricular diameter in diastole and systole. Minor differences were found between racing and show pedigree dogs. In conclusion, the results of this study confirm that breed-specific reference values are needed in echocardiography. In whippets, the values found in this study can be used as references in order to avoid overinterpretation of cardiac dilation, hypertrophy, and/or decreased contractility in these dogs.     

DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ESTIMATION OF RENAL AND OCULAR RESISTIVE AND PULSATILITY INDICES IN NORMAL DOGS AND CATS

Resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) are indirect measurements of blood flow resistance that may be used to evaluate vascular changes in renal and ophthalmologic diseases. To our knowledge, no reports are available describing values for renal and ocular PI index in the unsedated dog and ocular RI and PI indices in the unsedated cat. The purpose of this study was to measure normal values for both intrarenal and ocular RI and PI within the same subject in unsedated clinically normal dogs and cats. Twenty-seven dogs and 10 cats were considered healthy by means of physical examination, CBC, biochemical profile, urinalysis, and ultrasonography. Systolic blood pressure was measured by Doppler ultrasonography. Intrarenal and ocular arteries were scanned by pulsed Doppler ultrasonography to calculate RI and PI. No significant differences were noted between the values obtained for the right vs. the left kidney and eye. The upper values of these indices were calculated as mean+2 standard deviations resulting in 0.72 and 1.52 for dog renal RI and PI; 0.7 and 1.29 for cat renal RI and PI; 0.76 and 1.68 for dog ocular RI and PI; and 0.72 and 1.02 for cat ocular RI and PI.     

Observations on the potential of microwaves for weed control

Field tests of a prototype microwave‐based weed killer machine were conducted on Abutilon theophrasti, Panicum miliaceum, lucerne and oilseed rape pure stands. The approach can be considered a thermal weed control method, the microwave radiation causing dielectric heating of plant tissue water that eventually kills the plant. The method could overcome the limitations of other thermal methods, such as fire risk with flaming or the heavy loads required for hot water treatments. Species were effectively controlled by microwave irradiation, but their sensitivity and the evolution of damage symptoms over time differed. Lucerne showed no sigmoidal response and was the least affected by the treatment, while a log‐logistic curve expressed the dose–response relationships of the other species quite well. The estimated microwave dose for a 90% dry weight reduction ranged from 1015 kJ m^?2 in A. theophrasti to 3433 kJ m^?2 in P. miliaceum. Energy cost evaluation indicated that increased efficiency is required for this technique to compete with other thermal methods. Microwave efficiency could be increased by a flux configuration that minimizes soil penetration and maximizes absorption by plants, which, in turn, depends on plant growth form.     

蜡样芽孢杆菌M22Fe-SOD基因克隆及其分析

 通过筛选蜡样芽孢杆菌M 22基因组文库, 得到约3.9 kb的基因组片段。BLAST结果显示:其中包含1条长度为915 bp、编码304个氨基酸的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)基因, 其与Bacillus thuringiensis和Bacillus anthracis中的sodF基因同源性高达95%。此sodF基因能互补恢复大肠杆菌SOD缺陷型菌株QC871在10 μmol/L paraquat中的生长能力。对重组表达蛋白的抑制实验表明, 此SOD基因为Fe-SOD。利用pET-30b (+)构建表达载体pET-sodF并转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中, 经IPTG诱导后, SOD融合蛋白表达量显著增加。构建自杀载体p299-8, 同源重组突变蜡样芽孢杆菌M22 sodF基因后, 突变体抗氧化能力未显著降低。     

尼帕病毒和亨得拉病毒核蛋白单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

尼帕病毒（Nipahvirus，NiV）和亨得拉病毒（Hendravirus，HeV）是近年来出现的2种新的高致病性副粘病毒，在我国尚未发现。为防范2种病毒在我国的出现，本研究开展了前瞻性工作，成功研制了针对2种病毒核蛋白（N）的单克隆抗体，可用于病毒监测与诊断。首先利用大肠杆菌表达的2种病毒N蛋白免疫BALB／c小鼠，细胞融合后应用间接免疫荧光的方法对杂交瘤细胞克隆进行筛选，获得了5株N蛋白特异单抗。单抗腹水的抗体效价均超过2×10^5，培养上清抗体效价1：64～1：256。Western—blot和间接免疫荧光试验证明，5株单抗均特异针对N蛋白，其中1株（H4D11）只与HeVN蛋白反应，而不与NiVN蛋白反应，表明它具有鉴别2种病毒的能力。所研制的单抗对建立2种病毒的检测技术，用于动物监测，以防范2种新发传染病在我国流行具有重要意义。     

弓形虫两种保种方法的试验

目的寻求一个简便、适宜的弓形虫保种方法。方法采用不同温度的冷冻保存法和细胞培养保存法对弓形虫保存进行了试验研究,为深入研究弓形虫提供保证。结果弓形虫在液氮(-196℃)、-70℃能长期保存,4℃能保存14 d。通过细胞培养能获得大量的弓形虫滋养体,对培养细胞的选择性不强。结论两种保种方法保存后弓形虫毒力不变。