Characteristic features of porcine endogenous retroviruses in Vietnamese native pigs

We aimed to clarify the genomic characteristics of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in Vietnamese native pig (VnP) breeds. First, we investigated genetic polymorphisms in β‐ and γ‐like PERVs, and we then measured the copy numbers of infectious γ‐like PERVs (PERV‐A, B, and C). We purified genomic DNA from 15 VnP breeds from 12 regions all over the country and three Western pig breeds as controls, and investigated genetic polymorphisms in all known PERVs, including the beta (β)1–4 and gamma (γ)1–5 groups. PERVs of β1, β2, β3, and γ4 were highly polymorphic with VnP‐specific haplotypes. We did not identify genetic polymorphisms in β4, γ1, or γ2 PERVs. We then applied a real‐time polymerase chain reaction–based method to estimate copy numbers of the gag, pol, and env genes of γ1 PERVs (defined as A, B, and C). VnP breeds showed significantly lower copy number of the PERV genes compared with the Western pig breeds (on average, 16.2 and 35.7 copies, respectively, p < .05). Two VnP breeds showed significantly higher copy number compared with the other VnPs (p < .05). Our results elucidated that VnPs have specific haplotypes and a low copy number of PERV genes.     

The potential negative impacts of the classical swine fever virus on wild boar population in Gifu prefecture,Japan

There is a possibility that classical swine fever (CSF) virus outbreak has negative impacts on wild boar. To adequately manage native wild boar populations, wildlife managers need to gather the field data on wild boar and implement population management practices. We aimed to report the relative abundance index of wild boar before and after this outbreak. Our results showed that relative abundance index declined from 2017 (8.88 wild boars/100 trap days) to 2019 (2.03 wild boars/100 trap days), because of the negative impact of this virus and continuous culling programs. Although the eradication risk from the synergistic effect is low, wildlife managers need to consider the relationship between the trade-off between the risk of CSF and the conservation ecology risk of native species eradication.     

Growth performance responses to increased tryptophan supplementation in growing barrows fed three different very low crude protein corn and soybean meal-based diets fortified with essential amino acids

Seventy-five individually fed barrows averaging 35 kg were used in a series of three experiments for 6-week growth assays (25 barrows each) to determine the effects of l -tryptophan (Trp) supplementation on growth performance and to establish the lower limits of dietary crude protein (CP) levels. Corn and soybean meal (SBM)-based diets containing 9% (Experiment 1), 10% (Experiment 2), and 11% CP (Experiment 3) fortified with deficient essential amino acids (AAs) except Trp were used as basal diets for each experiment. The experimental diets were supplemented with 0.00%, 0.02%, 0.04%, or 0.06% Trp. A 16% CP corn–SBM-based diet was set as a positive control in each experiment, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Average daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio improved quadratically (P < 0.05) as supplemented Trp increased in the 9% and 10% CP group, although these positive effects were not observed in the 11% CP group. Because the maximum performance parameters in 9%, 10%, and 11% CP groups were not different from that of the 16% CP positive control group, the marginally reduced level of dietary CP without growth performance being affected appears to be around 9% at most. A potential reduction of nitrogen intake was clearly indicated.     

Validation of a phenol-sulfuric acid method in a microplate format for the quantification of soluble sugars in ruminant feeds

Soluble sugars in feeds are important for ruminant production; however, performing numerous sugar analyses within a short period is a laborious task. Here, we developed a phenol-sulfuric acid (PSA) assay in a microplate format to quantify soluble sugars in ruminant feeds. This method is easy and quick and requires only a small quantity of harmful reagents. We found that assay measurements were not affected by the representative organic acids and sugar alcohol contained in feeds. The treatment of activated charcoal with ethanol extract prior to the PSA assay was effective in removing interfering compounds for a more accurate determination of soluble sugars in certain feeds. Furthermore, the inter-day and intra-day repeatability of the present method was acceptable. Hence, we conclude that the method developed in this study is suitable for routine analysis of soluble sugars content in ruminant feeds.     

Split luciferase complementation assay to detect regulated protein-protein interactions in rice protoplasts in a large-scale format

Background

The rice interactome, in which a network of protein-protein interactions has been elucidated in rice, is a useful resource to identify functional modules of rice signal transduction pathways. Protein-protein interactions occur in cells in two ways, constitutive and regulative. While a yeast-based high-throughput method has been widely used to identify the constitutive interactions, a method to detect the regulated interactions is rarely developed for a large-scale analysis.

Results

A split luciferase complementation assay was applied to detect the regulated interactions in rice. A transformation method of rice protoplasts in a 96-well plate was first established for a large-scale analysis. In addition, an antibody that specifically recognizes a carboxyl-terminal fragment of Renilla luciferase was newly developed. A pair of antibodies that recognize amino- and carboxyl- terminal fragments of Renilla luciferase, respectively, was then used to monitor quality and quantity of interacting recombinant-proteins accumulated in the cells. For a proof-of-concept, the method was applied to detect the gibberellin-dependent interaction between GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF1 and SLENDER RICE 1.

Conclusions

A method to detect regulated protein-protein interactions was developed towards establishment of the rice interactome.     

Virulence of the Populations of the Whitebacked Planthopper, Sogatella furcifera Reared on Different Resistant Rice Varieties

ARC and ND colony were obtained by rearing the whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera gene Wbph5) till 15 generations. Taichung Native 1 (TN1) and Rathu Heenati (RHT) served as susceptible and resistant check, respectively. The results of electronic recording revealed that duration of salivation and X-waveform of the two colonies on their corresponding hosts was short while the duration of phloem ingestion was long. The amount of honeydew excreted by ARC and ND colony did not differ on their corresponding host varieties from TN1 and was much higher than that of RHT. The number of eggs laid on their host varieties and TN1 were significantly higher than that on RHT. No distinct change was observed for these two colonies in term of percentage of developed eggs. The nymph survival rate of ND colony on its selection host was 45.0%, significantly different from that on TN1(71.4%) and RHT(21.0%), while that of ARC colony was 68. 3 %, not significantly different from that on TN1 (77.5 %), but much higher than that on RHT(22.6 %).The nymphal development duration of these two colonies on the corresponding hosts was not different from that on TN1, but significantly shorter than that on RHT. In brief, these two colonies had almost adapted to their corresponding host varieties based on feeding and oviposition, but the nymphal survival rate of ND colony was still low.     

Elevation of lipid peroxide level and production of hydroxy lipids in cultured Hepa-T1 cells by oxidative stressors

ABSTRACT:   In order to investigate the relationships between levels of lipid peroxides (LPO), hydroxy lipids (L-OH) and of antioxidative enzymes in live fish, cultured cells from tilapia liver (Hepa-T1) were treated with oxidative stressors, 2,2'-azobios(2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and H₂O₂. By treating with 5 mM AAPH, LPO and L-OH of the cells significantly increased time-dependently. In particular, L-OH increased from 7.6 ± 0.7 to 23.6 ± 1.8 nmol/mg protein after 2 h of treatment, and synchronously the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity of the cells increased from 259 ± 106 to 1970 ± 135 mU/mg protein. In the case of H₂O₂, however, no elevation of L-OH was observed. In this case, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities increased time-dependently. Especially, after 2 h exposure, the CAT activity increased remarkably from 217 ± 21 to 2510 ± 120 mU/mg protein, though the GPx activity did not change significantly. These results suggest that the elevation of the L-OH level is closely associated with the elevation of GPx activity, but not with that of CAT or SOD. However, when vitamin E-enriched Hepa-T1 cells were treated with AAPH and H₂O₂, the production of LPO and L-OH was suppressed significantly. The findings suggest that vitamin E also plays an important role in the levels of the oxidation products in vivo .     

Surgical and Localized Radiation Therapy for an Intranasal Adenocarcinoma in a Rabbit

An 8-year-old spayed female Netherland Dwarf rabbit presented with a two-month history of dyspnea and snoring. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the head revealed mass lesions in the right nasal cavity. Surgical exenteration of the lesions was performed, and the histopathological diagnosis was an intranasal adenocarcinoma. On the basis of this diagnosis, radiotherapy was planned and consisted of eight fractions of 6 Gy administered once a week. After the completion of radiation therapy, the soft tissue density in the right nasal cavity, as detected by CT, significantly decreased. The prognosis has remained good for over 3 years after treatment. This paper is the first to describe the clinical and pathological features of an intranasal tumor in a rabbit.     

Forest Villagers in Northeastern Hill Forests of Bangladesh: Examining Their Livelihoods,Livelihood Strategies and Forest Conservation Linkages

Even though many forest villagers have been living on forest department land and serving the department in the northeastern hill forests region of Bangladesh since the early 1950s, their livelihood has not yet been fully explored. This paper examines the livelihoods of forest villagers (Khasia ethnic people) and their contribution to forest conservation, using data from the Sylhet forest division. The forest villagers are well-endowed with all the elements of a sustainable livelihoods framework, though human capital in terms of education is not satisfactory. Strong social capital, stable natural capital and a productive market-oriented agroforestry system facilitate the generation of financial and physical capital that make the livelihoods of Khasia people sustainable. At the same time, their reciprocal contributions in terms of forest protection and plantation development support forest conservation. However, some institutional issues such as insecure land tenure with regular agreement renewal problems need to be resolved for the sake of their livelihoods and forest conservation. Lessons learned from the study can be utilized in formulating future participatory forest management schemes in the country.     

Photosynthetic traits and growth of Quercus mongolica var. crispula sprouts attacked by powdery mildew under free-air CO2 enrichment

To predict the performance of coppice forests with Japanese oak (Quercus mongolica var. crispula) in future changing environment, we studied the growth, photosynthesis, and powdery mildew (Erysiphe alphitoides) infection of sprouts of Japanese oak under free-air CO₂ enrichment. Elevated CO₂ reduced powdery mildew infection in both leaves of the shoot emerged in spring (1st flush) and the lammas and proleptic shoots (2nd flush) of sprouts. We observed significant increase in the net photosynthetic rate at growth CO₂ concentration (i.e., 370 and 500 μmol mol^?1 for ambient and elevated CO₂ treatments, respectively) in both 1st and 2nd flush leaves of sprouts grown under elevated CO₂. On the other hand, no significant increase in net photosynthetic rate under elevated CO₂ was found before cutting. The photosynthetic activity of 2nd flush leaves in the sprouts under ambient condition was greatly reduced by severe infection to powdery mildew. Growth of sprouts was enhanced in the elevated CO₂ condition. We conclude the growth enhancement in Japanese oak sprouts under elevated CO₂ in the present study was achieved not only by physiological response (i.e., photosynthetic stimulation) but also by disease interaction.