Serial invasive signal amplification reaction for genotyping permethrin-resistant (kdr-like) human head lice, Pediculus capitis

Permethrin resistance in the human head louse, Pediculus capitis De Geer (Anopulura: Pediculidae), has been reported worldwide, is associated with the knockdown phenotype, and elicits cross-resistance to DDT and the pyrethrins. Two point mutations, T929I and L932F, in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel α-subunit gene are responsible for permethrin resistance as a resistant haplotype (kdr-like). We have optimized a serial invasive signal amplification reaction (SISAR) protocol for the detection of these mutations using PCR amplified DNA fragments. SISAR distinguished all genotypes with high accuracy in a head louse population from Texas that was heterogeneous in terms of permethrin sensitivity. Using SISAR, resistance-conferring mutations are detected in a high throughput format, facilitating the efficient monitoring of permethrin resistance allele frequency in field populations.     

Effects of restricted feeding, low-energy diet, and implantation of trenbolone acetate plus estradiol on growth, carcass traits, and circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein-3 in finishing barrows

Effects of restricted feeding (80% ad libitum), feeding a low-energy diet containing 84% DE (2.95 Mcal/kg) of the control diet, and implantation of Revalor H (140 mg trenbolone acetate plus 14 mg estradiol-17beta) on growth, carcass traits, and serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGFbinding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were studied in crossbred finishing barrows beginning from 59 +/- 0.9 kg of body weight. Blood samples were taken every 3 wk and the animals were slaughtered at approximately 105 kg body weight. Restricted feeding caused a decrease (P < 0.01) in ADG; feeding the low-energy diet was effective in reducing backfat thickness but decreased gain:feed; the implantation caused a decrease in ADG, feed intake, and backfat thickness and increased gain:feed. Overall pork quality based on pH, drip loss, and the lightness in color of longissimus muscle was not affected by any of the treatments. Serum IGF-I concentration increased following the implantation but did not change (P > 0.05) due to other treatments. Immunoreactive IGFBP-3 concentration was not changed by any of the treatments. Overall ADG was positively correlated with early-stage (d 21) IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations only in unimplanted barrows, whereas backfat thickness was negatively correlated with d-42 IGF-I concentration in all but unimplanted barrows with ad libitum intake. A strong positive correlation (P < 0.01) between IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations was apparent with increasing age of the animals. Results suggest that growth rate and backfat thickness are decreased by a moderate restriction of feed or energy intake with no accompanying changes in circulating IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations and that the beneficial effect of Revalor H implantation on feed efficiency may be mediated, in part, by IGF-I. Moreover, both IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations may be useful as growth indices in pigs.     

Morphological characteristics of C1 and C2 adrenergic neurone groups in marmoset monkey brainstem by using antibody against phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase

This work describes a mapping study of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) immunoreactive neurones and fibres in the medulla oblongata of the marmoset monkey, Callithrix jacchus. Two groups of PNMT-immunoreactive neurones were found in the marmoset monkey medulla oblongata: a ventrolateral (C1 group) and a dorsomedial PNMT-immunoreactive cells group (C2 group). The PNMT-immunoreactive cells in the ventrolateral group C1 were found to be located around the lateral reticular nucleus. The PNMT-immunoreactive somata within the ventrolateral medulla are round to oval, and mostly multipolar with branched processes. In the dorsomedial group C2, PNMT-immunoreactive cell bodies appeared near the obex. The majority of the dorsomedial PNMT-immunoreactive neurones were observed in the nucleus tractus solitarius; although some were present in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. The PNMT-immunoreactive somata in the dorsomedial medulla were small and round or ovoid. These results provide information upon the adrenergic system in the medulla oblongata of a species that presents a useful model of a small primate brain, the marmoset monkey.     

Molecular cloning and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia gibsoni heat shock protein 70

The Babesia gibsoni heat shock protein 70 gene (BGHsp70) was cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. The length of the gene was 1938 bp and the predicted polypeptide was 646 amino acids long with a calculated molecular weight of 70,627. The amino acid sequences of BGHsp70 from 17 isolates were identical, though there were six types of polymorphisms among the corresponding nucleotide sequences. There was no intron in the BGHsp70 gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequence of Hsp70 showed that B. gibsoni was most closely related to B. bovis and lies within a phylogenetic cluster with Theileria. These results suggest that Hsp70 was well conserved among intraerythrocytic protozoa.     

Induction of resistance against pine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using selected pine endophytic bacteria

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is the most destructive disease threatening pine worldwide. The disease is mainly caused by the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which is vectored by pine sawyer longhorn-beetles, Monochamus spp. This study aimed to select resistance-inducing pine endophytic bacteria for management of PWD. To set up a defence-related genes expression pattern for screening, four chemical inducers (salicylic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), β-aminobutyric acid and α-aminobutyric acid) were tested in vitro on pine calli and in vivo on pine seedlings. Treatment with GABA had the greatest reduction in PWD severity on pine seedlings. The pattern of defence-related gene expression in calli treated with GABA was used to select potential resistance-inducing bacterial strains. In addition, 92 bacterial strains were isolated from pine tree needles and stems and were tested for expression of defence-related genes in pine calli in vitro. Among the tested strains, 13 showed a similar pattern to GABA treatment in at least four tested defence-related genes and were selected for the seedling assay. From the seedling assay, three bacterial strains (16YSM-E48, 16YSM-P180 and 16YSM-P39) showed significant reduction in PWD severity compared to the untreated control. Moreover, among the selected strains, cell-free culture supernatant of strain 16YSM-P180 significantly reduced PWD severity in inoculated pine seedlings. The selected strains were identified based on the 16S rRNA sequence as Pseudomonas putida 16YSM-E48, Curtobacterium pusillum 16YSM-P180 and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila 16YSM-P39. These selected strains are suggested as potential alternatives for management of PWD by induction of systemic resistance.     

Quantitative trait locus analysis for soybean (Glycine max) seed protein and oil concentrations using selected breeding populations

Soybean seed protein and oil concentrations are important traits that directly affect the quality of soyfoods. Many studies and breeding programmes have been conducted to find major quantitative trait loci (QTL) that regulate protein and oil concentrations and to develop soybean cultivars with high protein and/or oil content. The purpose of this study was to identify these QTL using a selected breeding population. The population was tested in field conditions over a period of 3 years. Seed protein and oil concentrations were measured each year. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to construct genetic map using a 180K SoyaSNP array, which identified 1,570 SNPs. We identified 12 QTL for seed protein, 11 for seed oil concentration and four for both traits. Among these, 17 QTL were closely mapped to previously reported QTL, whereas ten sites were novel. Several QTL were detected across at least two experimental years. These loci are good candidate QTL for optimal seed protein and oil concentrations. Our results demonstrate that favourable target QTL can be successfully identified using selected breeding populations.     

Leaf Condition of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Response to Cold Stress during Ripening Stage

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Cold stress can decrease yield and quality of rice. Although many studies have investigated the impact of cold stress on rice, researches on...     

Complete genome sequence and pathogenic analysis of a new betanodavirus isolated from shellfish

We determined the complete genomic RNA sequence of a new type of betanodavirus Korea shellfish nervous necrosis virus (KSNNV) isolated from shellfish. Compared with other isolates representing four genotypes of betanodaviruses, the identity of the whole nucleotide sequence of the virus was in the range of 76%–83% with the presence of specific genetic motifs and formed a separate new branch in the phylogenetic analysis. In pathogenic analysis by immersion method, KSNNV‐KOR1 shows 100% cumulative mortality like SFRG10/2012BGGa1 (RGNNV) in newly hatched sevenband grouper and mandarin fish, which is clearly different from those found in negative control groups. There were no significant differences in increasing rates of mortality and viral intra‐tissue concentration of larval fishes infected with KSNNV‐KOR1 at both 20 and 25°C water temperature. Histopathological examination of each fish species in the moribund stage revealed the presence of clear vacuoles in both brain and retinal tissues similar to typical histopathology features of RGNNV. In the present study, we first report a new betanodavirus from shellfish as the aetiological agent of viral nervous necrosis disease in fish with complete genomic nucleotide sequence and pathogenic analysis.     

Evaluation of shrimp or tilapia protein hydrolysate at graded dosages in low fish meal diet for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

A study was carried out to examine and optimize the inclusion levels of shrimp hydrolysate (SH) or tilapia hydrolysate (TH) in low fishmeal diets for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). A fishmeal (FM)‐based diet was considered as a high FM (HFM) diet, and a diet containing soy protein concentrate (SPC) as a FM replacer at 50% substitution level was regarded as a low FM (LFM) diet. Six other experimental diets were prepared by dietary supplementation of SH or TH to LFM diet at different inclusion levels of 15 g/kg, 30 or 45 g/kg in the expense of FM (designated as SH‐1.5, SH‐3.0, SH‐4.5, TH‐1.5, TH‐3.0 and TH‐4.5, respectively). After 10 weeks of a feeding trial, growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of fish were significantly higher in fish fed HFM, SH‐3.0, SH‐4.5, TH‐1.5 and TH‐3.0 diets compared to those of fish fed LFM diet. Intestine diameter, villus height and goblet cell counts of fish were significantly increased by dietary inclusion of SH or TH into LFM diet. Dry matter and protein digestibility of diets were significantly improved by SH or TH incorporation. Innate immunity of fish was significantly enhanced by dietary SH or TH supplementation into LFM diet. Disease resistance of fish was significantly increased against Edwardsiella tarda by dietary inclusion of SH and TH at the highest inclusion level (45 g/kg). The optimum inclusion level of SH or TH in a SPC‐based LFM diet could be ~30 g/kg and 15–30 g/kg, for olive flounder.     

Attractiveness of various protein sources to juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli,Hilgendorf 1880)

ABSTRACT

The attractiveness of various protein sources of 16 feed ingredients was determined in juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) by using reinforced acrylic tank composed of three equally divided rectangular attracting chambers and an acclimatization chamber. Thirty fish were held in the acclimatization chamber at a time and tournament comparison of feed ingredients was applied to evaluate attractiveness. Jack mackerel (JM) (40.0%), sardine (SM) (33.3%), Pollack (PM) (40.0%), shrimp (SHM) (36.7%), mussel meal (40.0%) and oyster (43.3%) meals achieved the highest feeding attractiveness to rockfish in the 1^st through 6^th preliminary test, respectively. JM (40.0%), SHM (36.7%), squid meal (SQM) (33.3%), SM (40.3%), PM (40.0%) and PM (36.7%) achieved the highest feeding attractiveness to fish in the 7^th through 12^th preliminary test, respectively. Among the top five feed ingredients showing high attractiveness to rockfish, JM achieved higher attractiveness than PM and SHM in the 1^st trial. In the 2^nd trial, attractiveness of JM to rockfish was higher than SM and SQM. SM achieved higher attractiveness to rockfish than SQM, but not different from PM throughout the 30-min observation in the 3^rd trial. The strongest feeding attractant response of rockfish was observed in JM, followed by SM, SQM, PM, and SHM, in order among various feed ingredients.