Inhibition of porcine circovirus type 1 and type 2 production in PK-15 cells by small interfering RNAs targeting the Rep gene

Porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) and type 2 (PCV2) are two genotypes of porcine circovirus. Both of them are presumed to be widespread in the swine population. Currently, there is no specific treatment for their infections. RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific RNA degradation mechanism mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA), which represents a possible therapeutic application for the treatment of viral infections. In this study, three siRNA expression plasmids (pS-RepA, pS-RepB and pS-RepC) were generated to target three different coding regions of the Rep protein (Rep) of PCV. These siRNAs were used to inhibit PCV production in a porcine kidney cell line, PK-15 cells. Our results revealed that Rep gene expression was inhibited by pS-RepA, pS-RepB and pS-RepC to different degrees. Moreover, our study also showed that the production of PCV1 and PCV2 was reduced by these siRNAs. pS-RepC, which targets the middle region of Rep gene, proved to be the most efficient siRNA for inhibition of Rep expression and viral production. Taken together, our data suggest that RNAi could be investigated as a potential treatment for PCV infection.     

Prevalence of virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains recently isolated from young pigs with diarrhea in the US

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-associated post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) is economically one of the most important diseases for the swine industry. Porcine ETEC strains typically express K88 or F18 fimbria and heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (STa, STb) enterotoxins. However, recent studies indicate that EAST1 toxin, adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA-I) and porcine attaching and effacing-associated factor (paa) may also be expressed by ETEC strains associated with diarrhea. To better understand the virulence factors of E. coli strains that cause PWD, we applied PCR to screen for K88, F18, F41, 987P and K99 fimbrial genes; LT, STa, STb, Stx2e and EAST1 toxic genes; and AIDA-I, paa and EAE adhesin genes in E. coli strains recently isolated from young pigs with PWD in the US. Of 304 E. coli isolates from diarrheic pigs submitted for testing, 175 (57.6%) strains possessed fimbrial genes: K88 (64.6%), F18 (34.3%), F41 (0.57%), K99 (0.57%), 987P (0); toxin genes: LT (57.7%), STb (72.6%), STa (27.4%), STx2e (17.4%), EAST1 (35%); and adhesin genes: AIDA-I (26.9%), paa (60%), EAE (1.1%). All toxin genes except the EAST1 toxin gene, were almost exclusively associated with K88+ or F18+ isolates, and most of these isolates carried multiple toxin genes. The non-fimbrial adhesin paa was found present in over half of the K88+ isolates. A total of 129 (42%) isolates carried no fimbrial genes, including 66 (21.7%) isolates that did not have any of the above virulence genes. These results suggest a broad array of virulence genes associated with PWD in pigs.     

Tibial plateau symmetry and the effect of osteophytosis on tibial plateau angle measurements

A novel technique was developed to estimate the caudal medial tibial plateau landmark in the face of osteophytosis to improve accuracy in tibial plateau angle measurements. Using this technique, tibial plateau angles were evaluated in 31 normal dogs before and 8 months after right cranial cruciate ligament transection. There was no significant difference in mean tibial plateau angle before or after induction of osteophytosis. Additionally, it was determined that 90% of dogs had a difference of =2 degrees between right and left tibial plateau angles, which was considered symmetrical.     

除草剂莠去津降解菌SFAD3的分离鉴定及其土壤修复潜力

为获得能够修复除草剂莠去津污染土壤的高效降解菌,采用摇瓶富集法、平板分离法从莠去津过量使用的土壤中分离得到降解菌SFAD3,通过形态学、生理生化特征观察以及16S rDNA和ITS序列分析进行种类鉴定,测定获得菌株的最适降解条件,并通过土壤接种和盆栽试验验证菌株对莠去津污染土壤的修复作用。结果表明,菌株SFAD3最终被鉴定为门多萨假单胞菌Pseudomonas mendocina,该菌株培养30 d时对污染土壤中50 mg/kg莠去津的降解率可达72.6%;菌株SFAD3在MM液体培养基中最适降解条件为温度37℃、pH 7、莠去津初始浓度6.25 mg/L、接种量2%,对莠去津降的降解率为50.0%～72.2%;与仅有莠去津的处理相比,添加有SFAD3发酵液的处理20 d后芝麻的株高、根长、湿重和干重能够显著恢复,并且该菌对芝麻还具有一定的促生作用。表明降解菌SFAD3在修复莠去津污染土壤方面具有潜在的应用价值。     

两种沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对入侵植物的响应

为研究沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对不同种类入侵植物的响应,选取2种湿地入侵植物凤眼莲Eichhornia crassipes、水盾草Cabomba caroliniana和2种常见本地沉水植物黑藻Hydrillaverticillata、菹草Potamogeton crispus为研究对象,通过模拟试验探究在不同水深（0.2、0.4 m）和生长时期（生长初期和生长旺期）的本地沉水植物对2种入侵植物的响应。结果显示,当水深为0.4 m时更有利于黑藻的生长,并可削弱入侵植物对黑藻生长的消极作用,而水深对菹草的生长无显著影响;入侵植物种类对本地沉水植物的生长无显著影响,但影响方式却存在差异,其中水盾草倾向于直接抑制本地沉水植物的生长,而凤眼莲可以通过降低水体透明度以及总磷含量进而间接抑制本地沉水植物的生长。此外,外来植物在本地沉水植物生长初期入侵对本地沉水植物产生的消极影响较生长旺期入侵时更显著。表明凤眼莲及水盾草入侵对本地沉水植物生长的影响机制存在差异,本地沉水植物在适宜水深和生长旺期对2种入侵植物具有更强的抵抗能力。     

Application and mechanisms of metal-based nanoparticles in the control of bacterial and fungal crop diseases

Nanotechnology is a young branch of the discipline generated by nanomaterials. Its development has greatly contributed to technological progress and product innovation in the field of agriculture. The antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles (NPs) can be used to develop nanopesticides for plant protection. Plant diseases caused by bacterial and fungal infestations are the main types of crop diseases. Once infected, they will seriously threaten crop growth, reduce yield and quality, and affect food safety, posing a health risk to humans. We reviewed the application of metal-based nanoparticles in inhibiting plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and discuss the antibacterial mechanisms of metal-based nanoparticles from two aspects: the direct interaction between nanoparticles and pathogens, and the indirect effects of inducing plant resilience to disease. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.     

引起犊牛腹泻的病原及其检测方法

犊牛腹泻是牛养殖业中常见的一种世界性疾病,对牛养殖业危害较大。多种因素可导致犊牛腹泻,其中由细菌、病毒、寄生虫导致的腹泻具有较强传染性。犊牛传染性腹泻发病迅速,极易引起死亡,因此快速诊断对于及早确认病因,及时进行针对性治疗,降低死亡率至关重要。为全面了解及准确鉴定引起犊牛腹泻的病原,概述了引发犊牛腹泻的病原种类、病原特征、致病机理、引发症状及其检测方法,以期为临床防治犊牛传染性腹泻提供参考。