Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of fusidic acid on Babesia and Theileria parasites

Fusidic acid known to has antibacterial, antifungal, and antimalarial activities. Fusidic acid blocks translation elongation factor G gene in Plasmodium falciparum. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of fusidic acid on the in vitro growth of bovine and equine Babesia parasites were evaluated. The inhibitory effect of fusidic acid on the in vivo growth of Babesia microti was also assessed. The in vitro growth of four Babesia species that were tested was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by micromolar concentrations of fusidic acid (IC₅₀ values = 144.8, 17.3, 33.3, and 56.25 μM for Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia caballi, and Theileria equi, respectively). Combinations of fusidic acid with diminazene aceturate synergistically potentiated its inhibitory effects in vitro on B. bovis and B. caballi. In B. microti-infected mice, fusidic acid caused significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of the growth of B. microti at the dose of 500 mg/kg BW relative to control group. These results indicate that fusidic acid might be incorporated in treatment of babesiosis.     

体外培养法研究三聚氰胺的降解规律及其对瘤胃发酵参数的影响

本试验采用体外培养法研究三聚氰胺(Melamine,MEL)对瘤胃发酵参数的影响。MEL的添加水平分别为0、2、10、50、250和1 250mg·L-1,培养时间分别为0、1、2、4、6、8、12、24和48h,测定了培养液中MEL的浓度变化,总挥发性脂肪酸(TVFA)、乙酸、丙酸、丁酸、戊酸、异丁酸、异戊酸含量和NH3-N浓度。结果表明:MEL在瘤胃液中培养48h没有被降解(P>0.05),添加MEL降低了干物质降解率(DMD)(P<0.05),提高了丁酸的摩尔比例(P<0.05),MEL为1 250mg·L-1时会降低丙酸摩尔比例(P<0.05),提高了乙∶丙酸比值(P<0.05)。MEL抑制瘤胃微生物生长,不能作为瘤胃微生物非蛋白氮来源。     

枯草芽孢杆菌C-D6抗菌蛋白对稻瘟病菌的抑菌作用

枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis菌株C-D6及其发酵滤液在平板上对稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe oryzae显示明显的抑制作用。通过20%饱和度硫酸铵沉淀和Sephadex G-75凝胶柱层析分离,获得1个影响病原菌附着胞形成的抗菌蛋白,SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测发现该蛋白的分子量为32kD。显微观察发现：用该蛋白处理的孢子虽能完全萌发,但形成串珠状膨大的芽管和色浅、膨大的附着胞,并抑制芽管的正常生长。该蛋白的活性表现具有较好的热稳定性（80℃,30min）和较广的pH适应范围（5.6～9.3）。     

淮阴苜蓿SSR指纹图谱的构建

采用不同的取样策略,利用SSR分子标记研究淮阴苜蓿（Medicago sativa Huaiyin）遗传多样性,确定最佳取样数,在此基础上利用筛选的SSR引物构建淮阴苜蓿的指纹图谱,并对淮阴苜蓿进行品种鉴定。本研究对320株淮阴苜蓿的单株基因组DNA设置6个处理（10、20、30、40、50、60单株DNA随机等量混合）,每处理8个重复,利用筛选的4对SSR引物进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明,40株单株随机DNA的混合样品的遗传多样性指数开始趋于稳定,由此取40株即可代表淮阴苜蓿群体。采用取样数为40株单株DNA混合样,利用筛选的3对SSR引物构建淮阴苜蓿指纹图谱,并对15份供试苜蓿材料进行检测,结果表明,该方法所构建淮阴苜蓿SSR指纹图谱可以用于对淮阴苜蓿品种的鉴定。     

Potentiality of Soil Mulch and Sorghum Extract to Reduce the Biotic Stress of Weeds with Enhancing Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Maize Crop

Two field trials were conducted in 2018 and 2019 to develop practical and economically efficient weed control programs in corn. The experiment included six treatments (cowpea, rice straw, sorghum extract, hoeing, foramsulfuron herbicide and weedy check). The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. Findings showed that reduction in total weed number was evident with application of hoeing, cowpea and rice straw in 2018 and 2019 seasons, in addition to foramsulfuron herbicide and sorghum extract in 2019. Cowpea, hoeing, foramsulfuron herbicide and rice straw recorded higher reduction in dry biomass of grassy weeds in both seasons. Reductions in N, P and K uptake by weeds because of rice straw and cowpea treatments were similar to hoeing treatment in both seasons. The increases in ear grain weight and grain yield ha^?1 due to cowpea and hoeing treatments were similar to rice straw one. In 2019 season, cowpea treatment was the superior practice for improving N, P and K uptake of maize, significantly leveling hoeing for K uptake. The values of gross returns and benefit/cost ratio of cowpea and sorghum extract, respectively, were higher than rice straw application. In conclusion, cowpea as a live mulch achieved acceptable weed control in maize by reducing weeds growth and lowering their ability to deplete the soil nutrients. Also, cowpea treatment improves growth and yield of maize with better utilization of nutrients. Thus, cowpea could be exploited as an eco-friendly method of weed management programs in maize cultivation.

     

Correction to: Impact of leaf infestation by herbivorous insects on the elemental uptake of citrus trees

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In the original publication, the article title was incorrectly published as ‘Impact of leave infestation by herbivorous insects on the elemental...     

诱导水稻抗瘟性及诱抗机理研究进展

稻瘟病是危害水稻三大病害之首,水稻稻瘟病诱导抗病性具有持久性、广谱性、安全性、系统性等而对未来水稻稻瘟病的防治发挥巨大的作用。综述近年来国内外水稻诱导抗瘟性的研究进展,对生物及非生物诱导因子和诱导机理的三个方面进行了介绍,并提出对现在一些研究不足以及未来的发展方向。     

Assessment of Bioactive Potential of Aqueous Protein Extracts from Diatoms Nitzschia laevis,Spirulina platensis,and Chlorella vulgaris

The bioactivities of protein extracts from Nitzschia laevis, Spirulina platensis, and Chlorella vulgaris were evaluated in vitro. Free radical scavenging potential, reducing power, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, superoxide anion radical, xanthine oxidase inhibition, and potential to inhibit angiotensin 1-converting enzyme (ACE) and acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) were studied. Nitzschia protein extracts showed the highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities, reducing power, and ACE inhibitory activity. Spirulina’s proteins showed the highest 2,2′-Azino-bis (3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity, xanthine oxidase, and AChE inhibition activities. Aqueous protein extracts from Nitzschia, Spirulina, and Chlorella showed in vitro antioxidant, anti-ACE, and anti-AChE activities, suggesting possible new sources of bioactive proteins of different phyla with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potentials.     

Essential amino acids supplementation to practical diets affects growth,feed utilization and glucose metabolism‐related signalling molecules of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

Six diets were formulated to investigate the success of fish meal (FM) replacement by plant proteins; diet 1 reflected a commercial feed (8% FM), diet 3 contained 4% FM, and diet 5 was devoid of FM. Whereas, diet 2, diet 4, and diet 6 reflected diet 1, diet 3, diet 5, respectively, and supplemented with essential amino acid (EAA). At the end of 8‐week trial, there was no significant difference in survival rate. Significantly higher final weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth rate were recorded in the group fed diet 2 compared with the other treatments (except diet 4) (p < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio of fish fed diet 2 was significantly lower than those fed diets 1, 3, and 5 (p < 0.05). The lowest feed intake and highest protein efficiency rate were found in fish fed diet 2 (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in whole body compositions between treatments. Plasma aspartate transaminases, alanine aminotransferase, and glucose were significantly affected by dietary treatments (p < 0.05), while plasma protein and albumin contents were not influenced by the treatments. The relative expression of target of rapamycin (TOR) and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, regulatory subunit 1 (alpha) (PIK3R1) in fish fed diet 3 (4% FM) were significantly down‐regulated compared with those fed diet 6 for TOR and diets 4 and 6 for PIK3R1 (p < 0.05). Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS‐1) and janus kinase 3 (JAK3) expressions were fluctuated, with the higher levels in fish fed diets 4 and 6. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that plant protein mixture supplemented with EAA could be used to substitute FM in practical diet for Megalobrama amblycephala.     

Prostanoids-induced dispersion in the melanophores of a carp Labeo rohita (Ham.)

Effects of three prostaglandins (i.e., prostanoids) and one of its precursors, arachidonic acid, were examined on the melanophores of the fish Labeo rohita (Ham.). PGE₁, PGE₂, PGF_2α and arachidonic acid elicit a concentration-related dispersion in the fish melanophores. In vitro analysis of melanophores was performed through incubation of the isolated fish scales in different agonists and antagonists solutions. Dispersal effect of prostanoids may be mediated directly through the typical receptors or indirectly through release of neurotransmitter substance(s) from the melanophore nerve endings. Denervation of fish melanophores rendered them insensitive to prostanoid (PGF_2α). Propranolol and verapamil completely inhibited the dispersal effects of PGF_2α; theophylline and indomethacine blocked the effects of higher concentrations of PGF_2α. During dispersing influence of PGF_2α, a free flux of Ca²⁺ ions was required and the indirectly released substance(s) from melanophore nerve endings would be the catecholamines of adrenergic and purinergic in nature.