拷贝数变异在畜禽中的研究进展

拷贝数变异（copy number variation,CNV）具有多种形式的变异结构,在品种多样性、生物进化和疾病相关性等研究中起着重要作用,并具有片段长度大、覆盖范围广等特点。随着分子生物学的发展及DNA测序技术的日渐成熟,人们对遗传变异的研究不断向DNA分子水平深入,多态性标记在畜禽育种中已逐渐成为动物育种研究的趋势和主流。由于CNV对基因的调控和表达所造成的影响更为显著,因此,CNV在重要畜禽中的研究越来越多。目前,已检测出大量有关畜禽重要经济性状的基因序列变异,并有许多研究均表明CNV与动物的重要经济特征及疾病的发生有关。笔者主要通过参考国内外相关的研究报道,简述了CNV的相关研究背景、概念、突变机制,归纳总结了CNV对牛、羊、猪、鸡的经济性状、繁殖性状和疾病调控的影响,以期通过对这些重要畜禽的基因组学研究揭示其适应性遗传机理和表型性状差异的遗传基础,开发相应的分子遗传标记,为畜禽的标记辅助选育提供理论基础。     

Screening of Probiotics Inhibiting E. coli K88 in vitro

The probiotics tested in the experiment were isolated from the intestinal of weaning piglets.The isolated probiotics and E.coli K88 were inoculated into the culture of intestinal porcine epithelial cell-1 (IPEC-1).The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatant was measured after incubating for 2.5 h.At the same time, the probiotics and E.coli K88 were co-cultured in vitro, the number of E.coli K88 was counted and the probiotics which could be resistant to the E.coli K88 were selected 2.5 h later.The results showed that the Lactobacillus casei and Bacillus coagulans could significantly reduce LDH activity (P<0.05), decrease the damage of E.coli K88; Bacillus coagulans could inhibit the growth of E.coli K88.At the same time, Bacillus coagulans could resist high temperature, acid and bile salt.The results showed that Bacillus coagulans strains had great potential as the application of probiotics strains.The methods could be used as a model of screen probiotics which could inhibit the growth of E.coli K88 in vitro.     

Informing Community Engagement in Sea Turtle Conservation by Examining Non-Conservation-Related Participation in Northeast Brazil

Participation in conservation programs is often viewed as a necessity, but understanding of this participation is limited. This research takes a different approach by also examining participation in non-conservation-related activities. Questionnaires (N = 339) were administered in four Brazilian coastal communities where the national sea turtle conservation project conducts monitoring and outreach. Employing social capital as a conceptual framework, measurements included participation in civic, community, and social activities along with group participation and collective action. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for validating measures of social capital and conservation perceptions. Structural equation modeling indicated that social capital has a positive relationship with participation in sea turtle conservation, suggesting that general levels of participation and community norms of participation could be just as influential as conservation perceptions to engage communities in conservation. Information gained by deconstructing participation may be used to design and target conservation programs, improving overall participation.     

Canine fetal echocardiography: correlations for the analysis of cardiac dimensions

The aim of this study was to develop regression models for correlation of canine fetal heart development with body size to characterize normal development or suggest cardiac anomalies. Twenty clinically healthy pregnant bitches, either brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic, were examined ultrasonographically. Transabdominal fetal echocardiography was conducted every 4 days from the beginning of cardiac chambers differentiation until parturition. Ten cardiac parameters were measured: length, width and diameter of the heart; heart area; left and right ventricular dimensions; left and right atrial dimensions; and aortic and pulmonary artery diameter. Femoral length, biparietal diameter and abdominal cross-sectional area were also recorded. Regression equations were developed for each parameter of fetal body size, and linear and logarithmic models were compared. The model with the highest correlation coefficient was chosen to produce equations to calculate relative dimensions based on the correlations. Only the left-ventricular chamber differed between the two racial groups. Biparietal diameter was the independent parameter that produced the highest correlation coefficient for the most fetal cardiac dimensions, although good correlations were also observed using femoral length and abdominal cross-sectional area. Heart width and heart diameter were used as surrogates of cardiac development, as these measurements showed the best statistical correlation. Quantitative evaluation of fetal cardiac structures can be used to monitor normal and abnormal cardiac development.     

Tenogenic induction of equine mesenchymal stem cells by means of growth factors and low-level laser technology

Tendons regenerate poorly due to a dense extracellular matrix and low cellularity. Cellular therapies aim to improve tendon repair using mesenchymal stem cells and tenocytes; however, a current limitation is the low proliferative potential of tenocytes in cases of severe trauma. The purpose of this study was to develop a method useful in veterinary medicine to improve the differentiation of Peripheral Blood equine mesenchymal stem cells (PB-MSCs) into tenocytes. PB-MSCs were used to study the effects of the addition of some growth factors (GFs) as TGFβ3 (transforming growth factor), EGF2 (Epidermal growth factor), bFGF2 (Fibroblast growth factor) and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) in presence or without Low Level Laser Technology (LLLT) on the mRNA expression levels of genes important in the tenogenic induction as Early Growth Response Protein-1 (EGR1), Tenascin (TNC) and Decorin (DCN). The singular addition of GFs did not show any influence on the mRNA expression of tenogenic genes whereas the specific combinations that arrested cell proliferation in favour of differentiation were the following: bFGF2 + TGFβ3 and bFGF2 + TGFβ3 + LLLT. Indeed, the supplement of bFGF2 and TGFβ3 significantly upregulated the expression of Early Growth Response Protein-1 and Decorin, while the use of LLLT induced a significant increase of Tenascin C levels. In conclusion, the present study might furnish significant suggestions for developing an efficient approach for tenocyte induction since the external administration of bFGF2 and TGFβ3, along with LLLT, influences the differentiation of PB-MSCs towards the tenogenic fate.     

Immunological and pathological investigations in equine experimental uveitis

Background

The pathogenic mechanism of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is still poorly defined and many variations between experimental animal models and spontaneous disease exist.

Objectives

The aim of our study was to investigate if Th17 cell-mediated response plays role in the pathogenesis of the used experimental model in horses and to reveal its pathological findings.

Methods

Experimental uveitis was induced in 6 healthy horses. The concentrations of retinal autoantigen CRALBP and IL-17 were measured using ELISA in aqueous humor and vitreous body of the 12 inflamed eyes as well as in 12 control non-inflamed eyes taken from 6 horses in slaughter house. After centrifugation of the two eye media, smears were prepared and cytological investigation was performed. Tissue specimens were taken from all eye globes and were submitted to histopathological investigation.

Results

CRALBP and IL-17 concentrations were significantly elevated in eye media of horses with experimental uveitis in comparison with controls. Cytological and histopathological findings corresponded to the changes characteristic of chronic immune-mediated inflammation with mononuclear cell infiltration of uvea, choroid, retina, and eye media as well as severe retinal destruction.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated the involvement of the retinal autoantigen CRALBP as well as IL-17 in the pathogenesis of experimental uveitis in horses. These findings suggests that this experimental uveitis in horses may serve as a suitable animal model for investigation of IL-17- mediated immune response during spontaneous autoimmune uveitis in horses as well as in humans.

     

贮藏温度对采后“金艳”猕猴桃品质和后熟的影响

以"金艳"猕猴桃为试材,采用不同温度贮藏的方法,研究了温度对果实品质和呼吸强度的影响。结果表明:1℃贮藏可以很好的保持果实品质,呼吸强度峰值出现晚,保持了较高的果肉硬度;5℃和10℃贮藏能够促进果实的后熟,加速呼吸强度峰值的到来、果实硬度的下降和可溶性固形物含量的上升;但35℃贮藏的果实7d后会失去商品价值,发生腐败;16℃贮藏果实后熟品质不佳。在整个贮藏过程中,果实干物质含量在上述温度条件下贮藏变化都不明显,但在一定范围内,干物质含量会随着温度的上升而有所增加。     

缺素胁迫对软枣猕猴桃幼苗生长的影响

以软枣猕猴桃幼苗为试材,研究了缺铁(Fe)、镁(Mg)、磷(P)、钙(Ca)、钾(K)、氮(N)6种元素对其幼苗生长及生理指标的影响。结果表明:不同缺素处理对其幼苗的生长发育及生理指标均能产生不同程度的影响,其缺钙(-Ca)、钾(-K)、氮(-N)对软枣猕猴桃幼苗根长、株质量、株高影响显著;游离脯氨酸(Pro)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、过氧化物酶(POD)活性及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均明显增加。     

三种地被菊种子萌发及幼苗生长的化感效应比较

以天人菊、金鸡菊和蛇鞭菊为试材,比较两两混种与单种在种子萌发和幼苗生长阶段相互间的化感效应强度。结果表明:两两混种下,金鸡菊、蛇鞭菊对天人菊生长起促进作用,化感效应强度为金鸡菊蛇鞭菊;天人菊、蛇鞭菊对金鸡菊生长起抑制作用,化感效应强度为天人菊蛇鞭菊;金鸡菊、天人菊对蛇鞭菊生长起抑制作用,化感效应强度为金鸡菊天人菊。