The surface-localised α-enolase of Mycoplasma suis is an adhesion protein

Mycoplasma suis belongs to the haemotrophic mycoplasmas which colonise red blood cells of a wide range of vertebrates. Adhesion to red blood cells is the crucial step in the unique lifecycle of M. suis. Due to the lack of a cultivation system, identification of adhesion structures has been difficult. So far, only one adhesion protein, i.e. MSG1 was identified. In order to determine further adhesion molecules of M. suis, we screened genomic M. suis libraries and performed Southern blot hybridisation analyses of genomic M. suis DNA. The α-enolase of M. suis was identified and analysed genetically and functionally. The encoding gene has 1623 bp in size. The deduced amino acid sequence showed an overall identity of 59.6-65.1% to α-enolases of other pathogenic mycoplasmas. The 540 aa M. suis α-enolase displays a size extension of about 90 aa in comparison to α-enolases of other mycoplasmas. Recombinant α-enolase expressed in Escherichia coli demonstrated immunogenicity in experimentally infected pigs. Immunoblot, confocal laser scanning microscopy and immune electron microscopy analysis using antibodies against recombinant α-enolase, indicate the membrane and surface localisation of native α-enolase in M. suis, though no typical signal sequences exist. Furthermore, we showed that recombinant α-enolase binds to porcine erythrocyte lysate in a dose-dependent manner. E. coli transformants which express α-enolase on their surface acquire the ability to adhere to porcine red blood cells. In conclusion, our observations indicate that α-enolase could be involved in the adhesion of M. suis to porcine red blood cells.     

不同啃食强度对沙拐枣影响的初步研究

在飞播区根据牧畜对沙拐枣啃食程度的不同，采用人工模拟放牧方法对牲畜啃食的绿色部分设置了10％、30％、50％、70％、90％、对照6种不同啃食强度处理，以探讨啃食强度对沙拐枣生长的影响。试验结果表明，30％啃食强度的生物量化90％的高121．37％，比对照高34．85％。沙拐枣的啃食强度在30％－50％时生物量最高，完全不利用或过度利用都会影响其正常生长。     

三维模式下培养时间对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞酪蛋白基因表达的影响

本试验旨在研究三维模式下培养时间对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞(BMECs)酪蛋白基因表达的影响。采用3头健康的3～5岁泌乳黑白花奶牛的乳腺组织,将BMECs经1代纯化后进行三维培养,在三维模式下分别培养3、5、7、9 d,测定BMECs中αs1-酪蛋白、β-酪蛋白、κ-酪蛋白的基因表达量。结果表明,利用三维模式培养5 d的BMECsαs1-酪蛋白和κ-酪蛋白基因表达量极显著高于培养3、7、9 d(P<0.01);利用三维模式培养5 d的BMECsβ-酪蛋白的基因表达量极显著高于培养3、7 d(P<0.01),高于培养9 d,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。结果显示,三维模式下培养时间影响BMECs中αs1-酪蛋白、β-酪蛋白、κ-酪蛋白的基因表达量,本试验条件下最佳培养时间为5 d。     

The effect of ivermectin treatment of late pregnant dairy cows in south-west Victoria on subsequent milk production and reproductive performance

SUMMARY A total of 498 dairy cows in 5 predominantly pasture-fed herds were allocated to pairs. One cow in each pair was treated with a single dose of ivermectin during the dry period. Treated and untreated cows were managed as a single group throughout the trial. Most cows calved between 45 and 115 days after treatment. When data from all herds were pooled, treated cows produced an extra 74 L of milk over the first 100 days of the subsequent lactation (95% confidence interval 20 to 128). Means were greater among treated groups relative to untreated groups in all 5 herds. However, when analysed individually, differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in 1 herd only. Over the complete lactation, mean milk volume for treated cows was 86 L greater than for untreated cows (95% confidence interval of difference -57 to 229; P = 0.24). Untreated cows produced 2473 L and 5883 L for the first 100 days of lactation and for the complete lactation, respectively. Milk production responses to treatment did not vary significantly with parity, body condition score, previous production index, calving date category or with plasma pepsinogen concentration or faecal egg count at the time of treatment. Faecal egg counts and plasma pepsinogen concentrations were low at the start of the study. The interval from calving to conception was 4.8 days less in treated cows (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 8.2) relative to untreated cows when data from all 5 herds were pooled. Differences within individual herds were not statistically significant.     

Mycorrhizae, biocides, and biocontrol 3. Effects of three different fungicides on developmental stages of three AM fungi

The effects of biocide use on nontarget organisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, are of interest to agriculture, since inhibition of beneficial organisms may counteract benefits derived from pest and disease control. Benomyl, pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) and captan were tested for their effects on the germination and early hyphal growth of the AM fungiGlomus etunicatum (Becker & Gerd.),Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.). Gerd. and Trappe andGigaspora rosea (Nicol & Schenck) in a silty-clay loam soil placed in petri plates. Application of fungicides at 20 mg active ingredient (a.i) kg^–1 soil inhibited spore germination by all three AM-fungal isolates incubated on unsterilized soil for 2 weeks. However, fungicides applied at 10 mg a.i. kg^–1 soil had variable effects on AM-fungal isolates. Fungicide effects on germination and hyphal growth of G.etunicatum were modified by soil pasteurization and CO₂ concentration in petri plates and also by placing spores below the soil surface followed by fungicide drenches. Effects of fungicides on mycorrhiza formation and sporulation of AM fungi, and the resulting host-plant response, were evaluated in the same soil in associated pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants. Fungicides applied at 20 mg a.i. kg^–1 soil did not affect the root length colonized byG. etunicatum, but both benomyl and PCNB reduced sporulation by this fungus. Benomyl and PCNB reduced the root length colonized byG. rosea at 48 and 82 days after transplanting. PCNB also reducedG. mosseae-colonized root length at 48 and 82 days, but benomyl only affected root length colonized byG. mosseae at the earlier time point. Only PCNB reduced sporulation byG. mosseae, consistent with its effect on root length colonized by this fungus. captan reduced the root length colonized by G. rosea at 48 days, but not at 82 days, and reduced colonization byG. mosseae at 82 days, but not at 48 days. Captan did not affect sporulation by any of the fungi.G. rosea spore production was highly variable, but benomyl appeared to reduce sporulation by this fungus. Overall,G. etunicatum was the most tolerant to fungicides in association with pea plants in this soil, andG. rosea the most sensitive. Benomyl and PCNB were overall more toxic to these fungi than captan. Interactions of AM fungi and fungicides were highly variable and biological responses depended on fungus-fungicide combinations and on environmental conditions.     

蝗虫微孢子虫病在优势蝗虫种类中的持续传播

对施用蝗虫微孢子虫后1-10年的草场中5种主要蝗虫种群中微孢子虫病的流行状况进行了研究,结果表明,蝗虫微孢子虫病能在蝗群中长期传播,蝗虫种群的感病率和感染指数呈波动趋势,随着施用后年限的增加,波幅变动范围趋于稳定。感染率波幅范围为20％-80％,感染指数为10％-41％;鼓翅皱膝蝗、白边痂蝗和毛足棒角蝗种群对微孢子虫病的感染指数,不同年份波动较大,短期内难以形成一个稳定的流行群体;而在小车蝗和宽须蚁蝗种群中引入微孢子虫4年后,感染指数下降,但能够形成比较稳定的感染群体。     

辣椒新品种华美105的选育

华美105是以自交系HA015为母本,以抗CMV的株系LR002为父本杂交育成的螺丝形羊角椒。早熟,从定植到始收45 d(天)左右,首花节位在第9～10节。植株健壮,生长势强,叶片小,节间短,耐低温弱光。连续坐果能力强,单株结果 25～30个,单果质量80～120 g,产量稳定在8 500 kg·(667 m~2)~(-1)以上。青熟果深渌色,老熟果红色,辣味中等,肉质脆嫩,市场接受度高。田间对CMV和疫病的抗性强于对照陇椒3号。适合北方早春、秋延后、越冬设施及南方露地栽培。