Prevalence of Fasciola in cattle and of its intermediate host Lymnaea snails in central Vietnam

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of natural Fasciola infections in both the definitive hosts (cattle) and the intermediate hosts (Lymnaea snails) in central Vietnam. A total of 1,075 fecal samples, randomly collected from cattle in Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, and Phu Yen provinces, were examined for Fasciola eggs by a sedimentation method. The overall prevalence of Fasciola was 45.3?%. A subset of the animals (235) was also screened for antibodies against Fasciola by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall, 46.3?% of these animals were shedding Fasciola eggs while 87.2?% were Fasciola seropositive. A lower prevalence of Fasciola was observed in calves ??2?years of age (37.6?%) compared to that in cattle >2?years of age (53.7?%) (p?<?0.05). The prevalence in the rainy season (50.8?%) was significantly different to that in the dry season (38.1?%) (p?<?0.05). Of the 3.269 Lymnaea viridis and 1.128 Lymnaea swinhoei examined, 31 (0.95?%) and seven (0.62?%), respectively, were found to be infected with Fasciola. This appears to be the first epidemiological survey of the prevalence of Fasciola in cattle and snails in these three provinces in central Vietnam.     

Biochemical and molecular analyses to determine pyrethroid resistance in Aedes aegypti

Dengue fever is an important mosquito-borne viral disease in Taiwan. Insecticide resistance has been shown to significantly reduce the efficacy of vector control interventions. The detection of insecticide resistance is an important component in mosquito abatement programs. In this study, we used the insecticide-impregnated papers bioassay method to reveal high levels of resistance to permethrin in the LYPR and field strains of Aedes aegypti. We used the standard glass cylinder method to observe the knockdown effect of paralysis within 2 to 4 minutes after exposing mosquitoes to pyrethroid vapors. Biochemical assays showed elevated detoxification enzyme activities. Glutathione S-transferases, monooxygenases and β-esterases were the enzymes predominantly responsible for the permethrin resistance of Ae. aegypti in Taiwan. Molecular screening for common insecticide target-site mutations revealed the presence of V1023G and D1794Y mutations. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlations between the allelic frequency of kdr mutation associated increase with the LC50 values of permethrin and the KT50 values of pyrethroid vaporizers. These findings will be used to assess resistance levels, estimate resistance potential, and formulate monitoring and resistance management strategies.     

Study on bioactive compounds of in vitro cultured Calculus Suis and natural Calculus Bovis1

The purpose of the study was to investigate bioactive compounds of in vitro cultured Calculus Suis and natural Calculus Bovis obtained as valuable by‐products from animals used for meat production. The results showed that the components of natural Calculus Bovis were rich in bilirubin and biliverdin and had higher content of essential amino acids. The major amino acids of in vitro cultured Calculus Suis were identified as glycine, alanine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, and those for natural Calculus Bovis were found to be glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, and arginine. The methionine and cysteine contents of precursors for glutathione in natural Calculus Bovis were significantly higher than those of in vitro cultured Calculus Suis. The mineral contents of zinc, iron and manganese of natural Calculus Bovis were significantly higher than those of in vitro cultured Calculus Suis. The major bile acids in both products were cholic acid and dehydrocholic acid, respectively. The chenodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acid content of in vitro cultured Calculus Suis was significantly higher than that of natural Calculus Bovis.     

不同薏苡品种光合特性及其与氮素利用效率的关系

为明确薏苡品种的光合特性及与氮素利用效率间的关系。2015年早季和晚季,分别以从大田试验中筛选出来的氮素利用效率较高和较低品种各2个为材料进行盆栽试验,在分蘖期、抽穗期和成熟期测定功能叶片光合速率及叶绿素荧光参数,抽穗期测定顶部4片功能叶的光合速率,成熟期测定氮素积累量和氮素利用效率。结果表明,氮高效品种西林1号(XL)与黔饮1号(QL)早季和晚季成熟期单株氮素吸收量平均分别比氮低效品种隆林1号(LL)与品种10号(CU)高125.5%和96.0%,其氮素利用效率平均比品种LL与CU分别高出17.7%和18.0%,品种间差异显著。氮高效品种在分蘖期、抽穗期和成熟期功能叶片的光合速率和叶绿素含量均明显高于氮低效品种。同时,氮高效品种在分蘖期后的光合速率、叶绿素含量衰减速率比氮低效品种小。不同品种在分蘖期、抽穗期和成熟期功能叶片的叶绿素荧光参数及抽穗期顶部4片功能叶光合速率也存在一定的差异,但品种间的变化规律不明显。综上所述,氮高效薏苡品种各生育期功能叶片的光合速率和叶绿素含量较高,其中后期光合速率及叶绿素含量衰减较慢。薏苡品种氮素利用效率与功能叶片的叶绿素荧光参数及顶部4片功能叶光合速率的变化没有显著的相关关系。     

Quantification and ecological study of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ in citrus hosts,rootstocks and the Asian citrus psyllid

The use of proper management strategies for citrus huanglongbing (HLB), caused by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (Las) and transmitted by Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) (Diaphorina citri), is a priority issue. HLB control is based on healthy seedlings, tolerant rootstock cultivars and reduction of ACP populations. Here, dynamic populations of Las in different citrus hosts and each instar of ACP were studied, together with the seasonal growth and distribution of Las in different tissues, using conventional and TaqMan real‐time PCR. Different levels of susceptibility/tolerance to HLB were seen, resulting in different degrees of symptom severity and growth effects on hosts or rootstocks. Troyer citrange, Swingle citrumelo and wood apple were highly tolerant among 11 rootstock cultivars. Regarding distribution and seasonal analysis of Las, mature and old leaves contained high concentrations in cool temperatures in autumn and spring. Las was detected earlier through psyllid transmission than through graft inoculation, and the amounts of Las (AOL) varied in different hosts. Thus, different AOL (10⁴–10⁷ copy numbers μL^?1) and Las‐carrying percentages (LCP; 40–53.3%) were observed in each citrus cultivar and on psyllids, respectively. Furthermore, both AOL and LCP were lower in nymphs than in adult psyllids, whereas the LCP of psyllids were not affected by increasing the acquisition‐access time. The present study has significant implications for disease ecology. The combination of early detection, use of suitable rootstocks and constraint of psyllid populations could achieve better management of HLB disease.     

TMV-L运动蛋白基因植物表达载体的构建及其与番茄Tm-22基因的互作

对含有烟草花叶病毒番茄株系(TMV-L)部分基因组cDNA的克隆进行缺失改造,得到了含有TMV-L运动蛋白(MP)基因的克隆.MP片段分别与组成型启动子CaMV35S和病原特异诱导型启动子CHS、PiⅡ和BG体外重组,构建成植物表达载体p35S-30K,pCHS-30K,pPiⅡ-30K和pBG-30K.通过农杆菌LBA4404介导,分别转化含Tm-22抗性基因的番茄品种Geneva 80.转化p35S-30K的基因工程植株在苗期观察到了部分坏死和黄化现象,初步证明TMV-L MP与Tm-22存在基因对基因的互作关系.诱导型启动子控制下的MP转基因番茄已得到部分潮霉素抗性愈伤组织,为进一步获得广谱高效抗病植株奠定了基础.     

Effects of habitat disturbance on mixed species bird flocks in a tropical sub-montane rainforest

Despite their vulnerability to forest disturbances in the Neotropics, the consequences of forest perturbation on mixed species flocks are poorly understood in the threatened Southeast Asian rainforests. We examined the effects of local-scale habitat disturbance on mixed species flocks along an escalating gradient of anthropogenic modification (i.e., forest interior, forest edge, and urban) in a sub-montane tropical rainforest in Peninsular Malaysia that is presently experiencing low intensity development. Mixed species flocks in the forest interior and forest edge habitats (9.3 ± 2.3 and 8.4 ± 2.3, respectively) had significantly higher number of species than those observed in the urban habitat (5.1 ± 1.7). Flock participation was influenced by environmental characteristics (e.g., canopy cover). Flocking species sensitive to habitat disturbance were likely to be from the Families Corvidae, Nectariniidae, and Sylviidae; had narrow to restricted altitudinal ranges; and were exclusively dependent on primary forest and understory microhabitats. We conclude that sub-montane mixed species flocks are affected by even small scale urbanization and that they, particularly with species richness as a parameter, can be used as effective ecological indicators. With the looming development pressure on the sub-montane/montane habitats in Peninsular Malaysia and the Southeast Asian region, urgent conservation actions are needed for the preservation of their biotas.     

Morphological and genetic diversity of Momordica cochinchinenesis (Cucurbitaceae) in Vietnam and Thailand

Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) is native to South East Asia and is important for its nutritional and medicinal properties. There is little information available on morphological and genetic diversity, crop selection and strategic germplasm collection for M. cochinchinensis. In this study, 42 accessions of M. cochinchinensis collected from Vietnam, Thailand and Australia were analysed for diversity study both at a morphological and molecular level. Both morphological and molecular analyses were in agreement and clustered the accessions based on the country of origin. The markers investigated in this study could be used for future applications with samples from unknown origins or for gene tracking for important cultivars. The Momordica accessions were highly polymorphic based on the markers suggesting high genetic diversity. Therefore the results from this study will be important in future strategic germplasm collection, conservation, horticultural development and commercial propagation of M. cochinchinensis.     

Effects of Juice Processing on Oxalate Contents in Carambola Juice Products

Effects of processing methods including pressing, enzyme-assisted extraction, lactic acid fermentation by Lactobacillus acidophilus, and alcohol fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae on total and soluble oxalate contents of carambola juices were studied. In comparison with pressing, the use of enzyme increased juice yields (15.89–17.29%), but resulted in higher total oxalate (1.60–1.73 times) and soluble oxalate contents (1.16–1.49 times). In addition, extension of enzyme incubation periods led to an increase in soluble oxalate contents in the products (p < 0.05). On the other hand, alcohol fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae from 1 to 5 weeks reduced 37–58% of total oxalate and 39–59% of soluble oxalate contents. Prolonged fermentation also demonstrated better reduction of oxalate contents. Meanwhile, lactic acid fermentation using Lactobacillus acidophilus had no effects on total and soluble oxalate contents in carambola juices. These results suggested that carambola juice products should only be consumed moderately, and that alcohol fermentation could be a potential method to reduce oxalate contents in foods in order to prevent the risks of forming kidney stones.     

病原细菌无毒基因avrD介导的抗赤星病转基因烟草

 利用从病原细菌Pseudomonas syringae pv.tomato中获得的无毒基因avrD片段与病原菌诱导型的特异启动子PⅠⅡ、CHS和PAL构建成表达盒,通过土壤农杆菌分别转化烟草品种K326和Bottom Special。经烟草赤星病菌孢子定量接种转基因植株及其离体叶片,筛选到一批高抗植株。Southern分子杂交检测证明,启动子-avrD嵌合基因已整合到寄主染色体并获得表达。