Molecular identification and functional expression of porcine Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 and TLR7

To investigate porcine Toll-like receptors (TLR) responding to viral pathogen associated molecular patterns, the full-length cDNA of porcine TLR3 and TLR7 were identified and characterized. Porcine TLR3 and TLR7 cDNA encode 904- and 1050-amnio-acid polypeptides, respectively. Both porcine TLR3 and TLR7 contain typical functional TLR domains and share about 80% sequence identity to other mammalian orthologues. Tissue expression profiles showed that TLR3 was highly expressed in kidney, duodenum, spleen and liver, and moderately expressed in bone marrow, lung, and skin. Conversely, TLR7 was moderately and constitutively expressed in all tissues evaluated. Stimulation of mammalian cells transfected with porcine TLR3 and TLR7 constructs with TLR3 and TLR7 agonists [poly (I:C) and imiquimod (R837), respectively], and adenovirus elicited activation of interferon regulatory factors (IRFs). These data provide molecular and functional information for porcine TLR3 and TLR7, and implicate their role in mediating immune protection against porcine viral diseases.     

Association of hyperlactatemia with age,diagnosis, and survival in equine neonates

Objective – To investigate the association between blood lactate concentration, measured at admission and following 12–36 hours of treatment, and age, diagnosis, and survival in neonatal foals. Design – Retrospective, observational study. Setting – Two equine referral hospitals. Animals – One hundred and twelve foals ≤96 hours of age were included. Interventions – Arterial or venous blood samples were obtained from all foals at admission and surviving foals at 12–36 hours. Measurements – The lactate concentration (LAC) was recorded at 2 time points: admission (LAC‐Admission) and 12–36 hours following treatment (LAC‐24 hours). Main Results – LAC decreased by 0.05 mmol/L for each increased hour of age at presentation. Premature/dysmature foals demonstrated increased odds of nonsurvival of 55% for each 1 mmol/L increase in LAC‐Admission while foals with major diagnoses of neonatal encephalopathy (NE), enteritis and ‘Other’ had increased odds of nonsurvival of 52%, 113%, and 247%, respectively, for each 1.0 mmol/L increase in LAC. Blood‐culture positive foals had significantly lower LAC than blood culture negative foals. LAC‐Admission and LAC‐24 hours were significantly larger in nonsurviving foals. LAC‐Admission of >6.9 mmol/L and LAC‐24 hours >3.2 mmol/L, respectively, correctly classified 85.6% and 94.1% of cases as survivors or nonsurvivors. No differences were found when the 24‐hour change in LAC was investigated in terms of outcome, age at admission, or major diagnosis; however, LAC‐24 hours remained significantly associated with survival. Conclusions – Admission or persistent hyperlactatemia is associated with a nonsurvival. Younger foals, premature/dysmature foals, and foals with neonatal encephalopathy had the largest LAC.     

Quantifying subjective human dimensions of recreational fishing: does good health come to those who bait?

Recreational fishing is a popular sport and leisure activity in many countries worldwide. There has been growing interest by recreational fishing groups and researchers in the perceived physical and psychological health and social (or ‘biopsychosocial’) benefits of recreational fishing. However, quantifying the key subjective ‘human dimensions’ of fishing that satisfy both the needs of recreational fishing groups and fishery managers is a major obstacle. We propose the use of psychometrically valid health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) measures widely used in the medical and health sciences – namely the Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) – as rapid, reliable and cost‐effective instruments for quantifying HRQOL of recreational fishers. The widespread use of SF‐36 and availability of population normative data allows comparisons of the HRQOL of recreational fishers across multiple temporal and spatial scales, with participants of other activities, and the general population. The use of such measures in periodic surveys allows the biopsychosocial status of a recreational fishery's participants to be assessed using a modified Kobe plot, a graphical format that is easily interpretable and consistent with existing reporting formats used in fisheries stock assessment. Future biopsychosocial research in recreational fisheries can further benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration to develop a suite of standardized psychometrically valid and reliable instruments for assessing specific issues that commonly affect recreational fisheries from regional to international scales, such as drivers of fisher motivation, behaviour and satisfaction.     

Towards the development of a standardized method to monitor lakeshore hydromorphological restoration measures

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DNA‐analysis to monitor fisheries and aquaculture: Too costly?

Evidence from DNA‐analysis is commonplace in human criminal investigations, and while it is increasingly being used in wildlife crime, to date, its application to control and enforcement activities in fisheries and aquaculture has only been sporadic. Contemporary DNA‐analysis tools are capable of addressing a broad range of compliance issues, species identification, mislabelling of fish products, determining the origin of catches and the farm of origin of aquaculture escapees. Such applications have the potential to ensure traceability along the fish product supply chain and to combat consumer fraud and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. Nevertheless, DNA‐analysis is not yet used routinely in investigations into compliance with fisheries and aquaculture legislation. One potential reason for this is that DNA‐analysis techniques may have been regarded as too expensive. However, costs have plummeted over the past decade prompting us to objectively assess whether the costs associated with routine use of DNA‐analysis techniques for fisheries and aquaculture control and enforcement activities do constitute an impediment. Based on a number of recent fisheries and aquaculture compliance investigations that incorporated DNA‐analysis, our results indicate that the use of genetic analysis was justified and worthwhile in all cases examined. We therefore conclude that the costs associated with DNA‐analysis do not represent a barrier to the routine adoption of DNA‐analysis techniques in fisheries and aquaculture compliance investigations. Thus, control and enforcement agencies should be encouraged to use such techniques routinely.     

Enzyme activity levels associated with the production of glycerol as an antifreeze in liver of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax)

Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) tolerate temperatures close to the freezing point of sea water, in part, through the use of glycerol as an antifreeze. Potential mechanisms for glycerol production by liver were assessed by comparing activities of key enzym es of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism in rainbow smelt to those in Atlantic tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) and smooth flounder (Liopsetta putmani). The latter two species inhabit the same environment but do not maintain high levels of blood glycerol. The enzyme profile of liver from rainbow smelt is substantially different from those of the other species and is poised for glycerol production. With respect to carbohydrate metabolism, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in rainbow smelt liver was 156 µmoles min^-1 g^-1, a level which was 28 and 12-fold higher than activities in tomcod and flounder liver, respectively. Glycerol-3-phosphatase activity in smelt liver was 1.95 µmol min^-1 g^-1. This activity was 2.7 and 5.4-fold higher than those in tomcod and flounder liver, respectively. As such, the production of glycerol appears to be dependent upon the concerted action of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphatase. The enzyme profile also suggests that amino acids are a potential source of carbon for glycerol. Aspartate aminotransferase activity in rainbow smelt was 7 to 14-fold higher in comparison to tomcod and flounder liver, respectively. Activities of alanine aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase in liver were between 2 and 3-fold higher in rainbow smelt than in the other two species. Finally, it is shown that in vitro preparations of smelt liver sections produce glycerol at 0°C lending support to the concept that liver is a site of glycerol synthesis in vivo.     

Genetically engineering better fungal biopesticides

Microbial insect pathogens offer an alternative means of pest control with the potential to wean us off our heavy reliance on chemical pesticides. Insect pathogenic fungi play an important natural role in controlling disease vectors and agricultural pests. Most commercial products employ Ascomycetes in the genera Metarhizium and Beauveria. However, their utilization has been limited by inconsistent field results as a consequence of sensitivity to abiotic stresses and naturally low virulence. Other naturally occurring biocontrol agents also face these hurdles to successful application, but the availability of complete genomes and recombinant DNA technologies have facilitated design of multiple fungal pathogens with enhanced virulence and stress resistance. Many natural and synthetic genes have been inserted into entomopathogen genomes. Some of the biggest gains in virulence have been obtained using genes encoding neurotoxic peptides, peptides that manipulate host physiology and proteases and chitinases that degrade the insect cuticle. Prokaryotes, particularly extremophiles, are useful sources of genes for improving entomopathogen resistance to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These biological insecticides are environmentally friendly and cost‐effective insect pest control options. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry