In vitro and in vivo efficacy of a live attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine at preventing intestinal colonization in chicks

Vaccination of chicks with Salmonella (S .) Typhimurium aroA deletion mutants has previously been shown to inhibit intestinal colonization of wild‐type S.  Typhimurium strains. In Australia, Bioproperties VaxSafe? STM1 strain is the only licensed and commercially available S . Typhimurium vaccine. This vaccine is a live attenuated aroA deletion mutant. Currently, it is recommended that the first dose of the STM1 vaccine is administered through coarse spray. It is unclear whether this mode of administration effectively permits intestinal colonization. Furthermore, it is not known whether the STM1 strain prevents or inhibits Salmonella colonization of chicks following this first dose. This study investigated both in vitro and in vivo colonization parameters. Invasiveness was assessed using an in vitro invasion assay into sections of ileum and caecum collected from day‐old chicks. The S.  Typhimurium definitive types (DT) 9 and 44 exhibited the greatest invasion into both intestinal segments. STM1 was invasive but was significantly less so than both isolates of S.  Typhimurium. In dual and triple infections, no competitive microbial interactions between STM1 and wild‐type Salmonella were observed. In vivo colonization inhibition was also tested. Vaccinated and nonvaccinated day‐old chicks were challenged with S.  Typhimurium DT9. Both STM1 and S.  Typhimurium DT9 were found in spleen, liver, ileum, caecum and caecal contents from day 2 postinfection. No significant exclusion effect was observed in vaccinated and challenged chicks.     

Use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of upper respiratory obstruction in a calf

In a calf with dyspnea, a mass located dorsal to the pharynx was visualized by ultrasonography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a severe enlargement of the left medial retropharyngeal lymph node, compatible with an abscess. This is the first reported case of MRI use in bovine upper respiratory disease.     

Socioecological Determinants of Drought Impacts and Coping Strategies for Ranching Operations in the Great Plains

In Great Plains rangelands, drought is a recurring disturbance. Ranchers in this region expect to encounter drought but may not be adequately prepared for it. Efforts to encourage drought preparedness would benefit from a better understanding of the conditions under which managers make decisions to minimize the impacts of drought. We tested the direct and moderating roles of the drought hazard and the social-ecological context on drought impacts and response. This study was conducted with ranchers in western and central South Dakota and Nebraska following the drought that began in 2012. We surveyed ranchers regarding the effects of the drought and their responses and used multimodel analysis to explore the relationships among measures of drought preparedness, drought response, and drought impacts. Drought severity was the primary predictor of all impacts, but specific types of impacts were varied depending on the operation’s enterprise mix, resources, and management. The socioecological characteristics of the ranch system predicted drought response actions taken, by either providing the necessary resources and capacity to take action or creating sensitivity in the system that required action to be taken. We conclude with recommendations for learning from current drought experiences in order to better adapt to future drought events.     

腐殖质生理活性及其与化学组成关系的研究进展

腐殖质（HS）是生物体外具备生物学活性的最稳定有机物形式之一。本文综述了HS的化学组成、结构特征和生理活性,依据HS化学组成、结构特征和生理活性的相互关系探讨了HS具有生理活性的内在机制。HS化学组成具有不确定性,超分子结构假设目前被普遍接受。HS通过促进根毛形成和侧根发育、激活质膜H⁺-ATP酶产生有利的电化学梯度以及自身酸性官能团的螯合作用等促进植物对矿质元素的吸收利用; HS具有类激素活性,植物根际促生细菌（PGPR）分泌物或HS自体组分吲哚-3-乙酸（IAA）能够激活细胞质膜H⁺-ATPase,HS还能够增加内源植物激素水平,促进植物生长发育; HS通过介导信使NO激活细胞质膜H⁺-ATPase,清除HS与细胞作用产生的活性氧（ROS）,HS通过NO和抗氧化酶调节细胞内ROS稳态,介导根系发育和形态结构。本文还着重探讨了HS生理活性与化学组成的相关性,其中官能团—COOH和—OH活性位点的作用、醌基的电子传递,以及HS亲水疏水平衡与HS生理活性密切相关。未来HS研究工作的重点在于深入研究HS分子结构、明确具备生理活性的“共性结构原件”、阐明HS诱导胞内信号传导通路之间的交叉反馈机制、揭示HS对细胞内物质和能量代谢相关基因表达的调节机制。