The molecular biology and evolution of feline immunodeficiency viruses of cougars

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus that has been identified in many members of the family Felidae but domestic cats are the only FIV host in which infection results in disease. We studied FIVpco infection of cougars (Puma concolor) as a model for asymptomatic lentivirus infections to understand the mechanisms of host–virus coexistence. Several natural cougar populations were evaluated to determine if there are any consequences of FIVpco infection on cougar fecundity, survival, or susceptibility to other infections. We have sequenced full-length viral genomes and conducted a detailed analysis of viral molecular evolution on these sequences and on genome fragments of serially sampled animals to determine the evolutionary forces experienced by this virus in cougars. In addition, we have evaluated the molecular genetics of FIVpco in a new host, domestic cats, to determine the evolutionary consequences to a host-adapted virus associated with cross-species infection. Our results indicate that there are no significant differences in survival, fecundity or susceptibility to other infections between FIVpco-infected and uninfected cougars. The molecular evolution of FIVpco is characterized by a slower evolutionary rate and an absence of positive selection, but also by proviral and plasma viral loads comparable to those of epidemic lentiviruses such as HIV-1 or FIVfca. Evolutionary and recombination rates and selection profiles change significantly when FIVpco replicates in a new host.     

Approaches to refining pesticide risk assessments – the spatial estimation of potential leaching risk

A Geographic Information System (GIS) has been combined with a simple leaching model to characterize the factors that influence pesticide leaching, and to identify the spatial distribution of these factors. The results were compared with those of a conventional simulation modeling approach, and a strong correlation was found for 40 selected sites in central and eastern USA. ©1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nematodes and Plant Health: Legislation and Sampling Strategies in Decision Making for Nematode Management

UK plant health measures are based principally on the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993 and the similar Order covering forestry pests, both implementing EU Directive 77/93/EEC, as amended. Nematode species of quarantine status are Aphelenchoides besseyi, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Ditylenchus destructor, D. dipsaci, Globodera pallida, G. rostochiensis, Longidorus diadecturus, Nacobbus aberrans, Rhadopholus similis, Xiphinema americanum sensu lato (non-European populations), and X. californicum. Soils are tested for freedom from Globodera spp. and virus vector nematodes under certain certification schemes and where necessary, for export crops. EU Marketing schemes require visual freedom from quality-affecting nematodes. Soil samples normally comprise 500 g of soil from 100 cores per 4 ha (or less).     

基于多指标协同的草莓水肥耦合综合调控

为探寻草莓最优水肥组合,设置灌水和施肥二因素三水平共9个处理,分析不同水肥耦合对草莓产量、果实品质、水肥利用效率多个指标的影响。引入AHP层次分析法和熵权法对3类因素9个指标进行多层赋权,运用基于博弈论的组合赋权法获得各单一指标最终权重,基于TOPSIS法构建草莓综合生长评价体系,并以高产、高品质、高效为目标建立草莓水肥耦合响应数学模型。结果表明,水肥耦合作用对草莓的单果质量、产量、水分利用效率和肥料利用效率的影响极显著,对品质无显著影响。中水、高肥灌溉下草莓的单果质量最大,中水、中肥灌溉下草莓的产量和可溶性糖含量最优,中水、低肥灌溉下草莓的糖酸比和可溶性蛋白质含量表现最优,低水、中肥灌溉下草莓的可溶性固形物含量、水分利用效率和肥料利用效率最优,低水低肥灌溉下草莓的维生素C含量最大。综合协调各指标,赋权值最高为产量(0. 264 1),最低为可溶性蛋白质含量(0. 059 5);多指标综合评价最优水肥处理为中水中肥(T5)。解析草莓综合生长对水肥耦合的响应模型,灌水量及施肥量的单因素效应均为开口向下的抛物线;当灌水量编码值为-0. 23(2 375. 1 m~3/hm~2)、施肥量编码值为-0. 02(1 825. 88 kg/hm2~)时,草莓综合评分最高。以综合评分最大值的90%划分水肥耦合闭合区域,得到最佳灌水和施肥区间分别为灌水量2 268～2 520 m~3/hm~2、施肥量1 759. 88～1 869. 87 kg/hm~2。     

Mapping quantitative trait loci for infectious salmon anaemia resistance in a North American strain of Atlantic salmon

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is a highly virulent viral disease of Atlantic salmon that causes massive economic losses to infected aquaculture operations. Our goal was to detect and map quantitative trait loci (QTL) that confer resistance to ISA in an admixed commercial strain of Atlantic salmon that was largely founded from the Saint John River (SJR) in North America. Full‐sibling families were challenged with a virulent strain of ISA virus. Mortality was tracked during two annual trials with individual fish that survived to the end of the trial being classified as ‘resistant’, and those that died were classified as ‘susceptible’. Ten families with intermediate levels of mortality and an average size of 54.2 individuals were chosen for genotyping with a 50K SNP array designed for the SJR strain. Single nucleotide polymorphisms that were segregating within families were first used to make a composite 11K female linkage map that was then used to find the positions of QTL for ISA resistance using a half‐sib model. The dam‐based HS model detected a total of three QTL for ISA resistance including an experiment‐wide significant QTL on Ssa25 that accounted for 8.3% of the phenotypic variance and chromosome‐wide significant QTL on Ssa03 and on Ssa04 that accounted for 6.0% and 6.6% respectively. We conclude that classic linkage mapping within families continues to be an important method of detecting QTL for oligogenic traits in strains founded from multiple populations. Single nucleotide polymorphisms with moderate trait effects are being used to select within families for more ISA‐resistant strains of Atlantic salmon.     

Long-term alternative dairy manure management approaches enhance microbial biomass and activity in perennial forage grass

Removing solids from liquid dairy manure slurry reduces manure phosphorus (P) and increases the available (mineral) fraction of nitrogen (N) but also decreases the organic matter content of the manure. While this novel treatment reduces environmental concerns associated with excess N and P application to soils, it may also reduce microbial biomass and activity in soil. This study evaluated the long-term effects of this alternative manure treatment compared to more typical nutrient applications in a perennial grass sward (tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) on soil microbial biomass, community composition, hydrolytic enzyme activity, and forage yield. Nutrient treatments for this long-term field experiment in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada were started in 2003. The treatments included liquid dairy manure slurry, liquid dairy manure with solids removed, commercial fertilizer, a combination of fertilizer and dairy manure, and a control. All treatments were applied at 400–600 kg total N ha^?1 year^?1 in four equal doses. Soil microbial community composition (phospholipid fatty acid analysis) and activity (hydrolytic enzyme activity) were determined several times during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons to a depth of 15 cm. Time of sampling (date) had a strong influence on microbial biomass, community composition, and activity, while the response to soil properties and yield was more varied. All manure treatments (dairy manure slurry, liquid fraction, and the combination) increased microbial biomass (by 19–32%) and the potential activity of cellulose-degrading enzymes (by 31–47%) compared to commercial fertilizer and unamended plots. The commercial fertilizer and liquid fraction lowered fungal/bacterial ratios compared with both whole manure and unamended plots. Our results indicate that separating the solid from the liquid fraction of manure, to improve crop yield and reduce P loading, did not reduce microbial community size and activity and that all manure treatments increased microbial biomass and activity compared to mineral fertilizer application.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme I inhibitory activity of phlorotannins from Ecklonia stolonifera

ABSTRACT:   As part of our study of the isolation of antihypertensive agents derived from natural marine products, the bioactivity of 10 edible Korean seaweeds were screened by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and peroxynitrite assays. Among the crude extracts of selected seaweeds, including five Phaeophyta ( Ecklonia stolonifera , E. cava , Pelvetia siliquosa , Hizikia fusiforme , and Undaria pinnatifida ), four Rhodophyta ( Gigartina tenella , Gelidium amansii , Chondria crassicaulis , and Porphyra tenera ) and one Chlorophyta ( Capsosiphon fulvescens ), the ethanol extracts of E. stolonifera , E. cava , P. siliquosa , U. pinnatifida , and G. tenella exhibited significant inhibitory properties against ACE at more than 50% inhibition at a concentration of 163.93 µg/mL. Phloroglucinol 1 , eckstolonol 2 , eckol 3 , phlorofucofuroeckol A 4 , and dieckol 5 had been isolated previously, and triphlorethol-A 6 and fucosterol 7 were isolated for the first time from E. stolonifera. Also, the ACE inhibitory and peroxynitrite scavenging properties of phlorotannins 1–6 were evaluated, along with fucosterol 7 obtained from E. stolonifera . Among profound peroxynitrite scavenging compounds 1–6 , phlorotannins 3 , 4 and 5 were also determined to manifest marked inhibitory activity against ACE, with 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values of 70.82 ± 0.25, 12.74 ± 0.15, and 34.25 ± 3.56 µM, respectively.     

薄皮甜瓜内源激素对不同夜间温度的响应及与果实生长的关系

 【目的】探讨薄皮甜瓜内源激素对夜间不同温度的应答及果实内源激素与果实发育之间的关系。【方法】采用HPLC方法,测定果实膨大期不同夜温处理后薄皮甜瓜果实中内源激素的含量,分析不同夜温处理下内源激素含量与单果重增长率的相关关系。【结果】薄皮甜瓜果实中内源GA3和ZT含量均在果实膨大前期出现高峰,IAA在果实膨大后期出现高峰,ABA含量一直维持较低的水平。不同夜温处理后薄皮甜瓜果实中内源激素含量变化明显。与其它处理相比,夜温9℃处理后,果实内源GA3、ZT、IAA含量均明显降低,GA3/ABA、ZT/ABA明显减小,ABA含量在果实发育后期明显升高,均达到极显著水平。夜温18℃处理后果实内源GA3、GA3/ABA含量明显低于夜温15℃和12℃处理。在薄皮甜瓜整个夜温处理过程中,夜温15℃和12℃间的内源激素无显著差异。进一步分析果实内源激素与果实膨大的关系表明,GA3/ABA与单果重增长率呈极显著正相关,不适宜夜温下其二者直线相关的斜率较小,其中9℃最小。ZT/ABA与单果重增长率间,除夜温15℃和18℃达到显著正相关外,其它夜温处理均不显著。【结论】不同夜间温度对果实内源激素含量的影响不同,GA3和GA3/ABA可能与薄皮甜瓜果实生长具有一定的关系,同时还与其它因子有关。     

A binding protein for fatty acids in cytosol of intestinal mucosa, liver, myocardium, and other tissues

A protein of molecular weight approximately 12,000 which binds long-chain fatty acids and certain other lipids has been identified in cytosol of intestinal mucosa, liver, myocardium, adipose tissue, and kidney. Binding is noncovalent and is greater for unsaturated than for saturated and medium-chain fatty acids. This protein appears to be identical with the smaller of two previously described cytoplasmic anion-binding proteins. Binding of long-chain fatty acids by this protein is greater than that of other anions tested, including sulfobromophthalein, and does not depend on negative charge alone. The presence of this binding protein may explain previously observed differences in intestinal absorption among fatty acids, and the protein may participate in the utilization of long-chain fatty acids by many mammalian tissues.     

Linking long-term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes

Diet strongly affects human health, partly by modulating gut microbiome composition. We used diet inventories and 16S rDNA sequencing to characterize fecal samples from 98 individuals. Fecal communities clustered into enterotypes distinguished primarily by levels of Bacteroides and Prevotella. Enterotypes were strongly associated with long-term diets, particularly protein and animal fat (Bacteroides) versus carbohydrates (Prevotella). A controlled-feeding study of 10 subjects showed that microbiome composition changed detectably within 24 hours of initiating a high-fat/low-fiber or low-fat/high-fiber diet, but that enterotype identity remained stable during the 10-day study. Thus, alternative enterotype states are associated with long-term diet.