Pathogenesis of Alfalfa mosaic virus in Soybean (Glycine max) and Expression of Chimeric Rabies Peptide in Virus-Infected Soybean Plants

ABSTRACT Infection of soybean (Glycine max) plants inoculated with particles of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV) isolate 425 at 12 days after germination was monitored throughout the life cycle of the plant (vegetative growth, flowering, seed formation, and seed maturation) by western blot analysis of tissue samples. At 8 to 10 days after inoculation, the upper uninoculated leaves showed symptoms of virus infection and accumulation of viral coat protein (CP). Virus CP was detectable in leaves, stem, roots, seedpods, and seed coat up to 45 days postinoculation (dpi), but only in the seedpod and seed coat at 65 dpi. No virus accumulation was detected in embryos and cotyledons at any time during infection, and no seed transmission of virus was observed. Soybean plants inoculated with recombinant AlMV passaged from upper uninoculated leaves of infected plants showed accumulation of full-length chimeric AlMV CP containing rabies antigen in systemically infected leaves and seed coat. These results suggest the potential usefulness of plants and plant viruses as vehicles for producing proteins of biomedical importance in a safe and inexpensive manner. Moreover, even the soybean seed coat, treated as waste tissue during conventional processing for oil and other products, may be utilized for the expression of value-added proteins.     

Efficacy of dog-appeasing pheromone in reducing stress associated with social isolation in newly adopted puppies

This study was designed to determine the potential value of dog-appeasing pheromone (dap) in reducing stress in puppies newly adopted from a pet shop. The trial was triple-blinded and placebo-controlled. After their arrival at the pet shop, 32 puppies were fitted with a dap collar and 34 were fitted with a control collar, according to a randomisation protocol. Adopting owners were contacted by telephone, three and 15 days after they had adopted a puppy, to obtain information about the puppy's integration into the family, and particularly about any signs of distress shown by the puppy when it was socially isolated. All the isolated puppies from the control group vocalised during the first night. Signs of distress, particularly vocalisation, were significantly lower in the dap group on day 3 and throughout the rest of the study, and vocalisation during the night ceased significantly sooner in this group. These differences were observed in puppies of small, medium and large breeds. The dap collars had no effect on the incidence of house soiling.     

介绍一种快速测定辣椒异交率的方法

Stevern报道了一种同工酶进行辣椒自然异交率(NCP)的测定方法,简单易行。现介绍如下: 辣椒的种子中含有一种2一磷酸葡萄糖酸变位酶(Pgm-2),它在一些辣椒系统如PI164502, PI 174810,PI 174112, PI 138567的纯合个体中表现出慢的同工酶谱带,而在另外一些系统如美国广泛栽培的品种     

家禽对紫外辐射的反应

家禽与人类不同,它的视网膜上有第四种视锥细胞,可以捕捉到紫外线(UVA)。家禽主要利用这种视觉功能改变各种行为,如采食、同类识别、择偶、交配和群体活动。视网膜对UVA的感知可以调控适应暗光的禽类松果腺中褪黑激素的释放。紫外辐射的波长比可见光短,因此不能透过下丘脑诱导产生光生殖反应(photosexual response);紫外线在最低限度上参与禽类的繁殖功能。UVA和UVB可催化脚和腿皮肤中7-羟基胆固醇合成维生素D3,因而具有抗佝偻病的作用,在雏鸡饲喂日粮缺乏维生素D3情况下,能够预防软骨病发生,最大程度地减小胫骨软骨发育不良的发病率;令人惊奇的是,在白色荧光灯中有足够的UVA来产生这些效果。来自于太阳中的UVC被大气中的臭氧层过滤掉,所以太阳光中不含有UVC,但人造UVC有杀菌特性,可保护家禽免受产气病毒感染。然而,现代养禽业接种的疫苗已使这种特性变得多余。近年来由于采用了发射可见光和紫外光的灯,使得为家禽提供UVA成为可能。本文综述了家禽对紫外辐射的反应,并对其与现代家禽生产的关系进行了评价。