Activity- and mTOR-dependent suppression of Kv1.1 channel mRNA translation in dendrites

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is implicated in synaptic plasticity and local translation in dendrites. We found that the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, increased the Kv1.1 voltage-gated potassium channel protein in hippocampal neurons and promoted Kv1.1 surface expression on dendrites without altering its axonal expression. Moreover, endogenous Kv1.1 mRNA was detected in dendrites. Using Kv1.1 fused to the photoconvertible fluorescence protein Kaede as a reporter for local synthesis, we observed Kv1.1 synthesis in dendrites upon inhibition of mTOR or the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor. Thus, synaptic excitation may cause local suppression of dendritic Kv1 channels by reducing their local synthesis.     

Improved subtilisin YaB production in Bacillus subtilis using engineered synthetic expression control sequences

Alkaline elastase YaB, a favorable meat tenderizer, is an extracellular subtilisin-type protease produced by wild strain alkalophilic Bacillus YaB. The gene ale coding for subtilisin YaB with its own expression control sequence has been cloned and expressed in Bacillus subtilis, but at levels much lower than in the parental strain Bacillus YaB. This study investigates the influence of various expression control sequences including expression control sequences of cdd and veg from B. subtilis, a synthetic expression control sequence (SECS), and engineered synthetic expression control sequences (engineered SECSs) on the expression of subtilisin YaB in B. subtilis. The engineered SECSs were generated by using the Polymerase Chain Reaction; their UP element, Shine-Dargarno (SD) sequence, or both were different from those of the native SECS. The expression efficiencies of SECS and engineered SECSs were higher than those of expression control sequences of ale, cdd, and veg. Substitution of the SD sequence of SECS resulted in higher expression of subtilisin YaB than substitution of the UP element, whereas combined substitution of both gave the highest expression. These results demonstrate that engineering of SECSs is an approach for improving subtilisin YaB production in B. subtilis. Moreover, it is suggested that these enginnered SECSs could potentially be used to express homologous and heterologous proteins in B. subtilis at high level.     

Migration and spawning behavior of the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili in eastern Taiwan

Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) is an important fishery resource with a circumglobal distribution from tropical to temperate waters. Here, we investigated the spawning migration and habitat utilization of S. dumerili in the East China Sea (ECS). Archival tags were attached to 22 adult fish to examine their horizontal and vertical movements and estimate the spawning ground. S. dumerili were captured and released in the coastal waters of eastern Taiwan on November of 2016 and 2017. Information from seven pop-up satellite archival tags and seven depth–temperature recorders was recovered. Almost all of the fish stayed in the Taiwanese exclusive economic zone. Most individuals moved from released site to the southern edge of the ECS and showed behavior associated with the topographic features in winter (November to December). These phenomena may be related to foraging and be driven by oceanographic features such as the seasonal monsoon and the Kuroshio. The fish then migrated to the south offshore area of Taiwan in January and February. During their southward migration, the fish experienced a slowly elevated water temperature regime (SETR), which is one of the environmental factors that induce final oocyte maturation. In the spawning season (February to April), tagged females exhibited continuous diel vertical movements (DVMs) after experiencing the SETR. These continuous DVMs were observed over a wide geographic range from north to south in the Kuroshio off eastern Taiwan. Our study demonstrated that the putative spawning ground of S. dumerili must extend further in a north–south direction than predicted in a previous study.     

Different central manifestations in response to electroacupuncture at analgesic and nonanalgesic acupoints in rats: a manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Acupuncture analgesia is an important issue in veterinary medicine. This study was designed to elucidate central modulation effects in response to electroacupuncture (EA) at different acupoints. Manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats after sham acupuncture, sham EA, or true EA at somatic acupoints. The acupoints were divided into 3 groups: group 1, analgesic acupoints commonly used for pain relief, such as Hegu (LI 4); group 2, nonanalgesic acupoints rarely used for analgesic effect, such as Neiguan (PC 6); and group 3, acupoints occasionally used for analgesia, such as Zusanli (ST 36). Image acquisition was performed on a 1.5-T superconductive clinical scanner with a circular polarized extremity coil. The results showed that there was no neural activation caused by EA at a true acupoint with shallow needling and no electric current (sham acupuncture). When EA at a true acupoint was applied with true needling but no electric current (sham EA), there was only a slight increase in brain activity at the hypothalamus; when EA was applied at a true acupoint with true needling and an electric current (true EA), the primary response at the hypothalamus was enhanced. Also, there was a tendency for the early activation of pain-modulation areas to be prominent after EA at analgesic acupoints as compared with nonanalgesic acupoints. In conclusion, understanding the linkage between peripheral acupoint stimulation and central neural pathways provides not only an evidence-based approach for veterinary acupuncture but also a useful guide for clinical applications of acupuncture.     

Animal Health Policy Principles for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: Shared Experience from China and Canada

Animal health policy for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) must, for the time being, be based on expert opinion and shared international experience. We used the intellectual capital and knowledge of experienced Chinese and Canadian practitioners and policy makers to inform policy options for China and find shared policy elements applicable to both countries. No peer‐reviewed comprehensive evaluations or systematic regulatory impact assessments of animal health policies were found. Sixteen guiding policy principles emerged from our thematic analysis of Chinese and Canadian policies. We provide a list of shared policy goals, targets and elements for HPAI preparedness, response and recovery. Policy elements clustered in a manner consistent with core public health competencies. Complex situations like HPAI require complex and adaptive policies, yet policies that cross jurisdictions and are fully integrated across agencies are rare. We encourage countries to develop or deploy capacity to undertake and publish regulatory impact assessments and policy evaluation to identify policy needs and provide a basis for evidence‐based policy development.     

Associations between management practices and colostrum quality on New Zealand dairy farms

Abstract

AIMS: To describe colostrum quality in spring-calving dairy herds in New Zealand, in terms of Brix, pH and total and coliform bacterial counts and to investigate associations between farm management practices and these measures of colostrum quality.

METHODS: In June 2015, commercial dairy farms (n=105), located in North and South Islands of New Zealand, were visited shortly after the first cows had calved, and when approximately 50% and 80% of the herd had calved (early, middle and late visits). One litre of pooled colostrum that was being fed to newborn calves was collected at each visit and used to determine Brix, pH, total bacterial and coliform counts. A survey of calf management practices was conducted with the herd manager or calf rearer after the final visit.

RESULTS: Of 298 pooled colostrum samples tested 29/298 (9.7%) had Brix >22%. Brix was higher on farms where calves were picked up twice daily compared with once daily (18.2 (95% CI=16.5–19.9)% vs. 15.9% (95% CI=15.2–16.6)%; p=0.012), and was lower where first milking colostrum was combined with colostrum obtained at later milkings (15.0 (95% CI=13.9–16.1)%) compared with where it was not (16.9 (95% CI=16.3–17.6)%; p=0.002). Vaccination of all cows against calf diarrhoeal pathogens was associated with increased Brix compared with no vaccination (18.1 (95% CI=16.6–19.6)% vs. 16.3 (95% CI=15.6–17.0)%; p=0.033). Mean pH of samples tested decreased from 5.97 (95% CI=5.84–6.09) to 5.58 (95% CI=5.45–5.71) for early and late-season visits, respectively (p<0.001). Of 268 samples tested, 23 (8.6%) had bacterial counts below the recommended threshold of 1.00×10⁵ cfu/mL. Mean bacterial counts increased from 2.75 (95% CI=1.80–3.70)×10⁸ to 4.99 (95% CI=3.95–6.03)×10⁸ cfu/mL for early and late-season visits, respectively (p<0.001). Of 259 samples tested, 23 (8.9%) had coliform counts below the recommended threshold of 1.00×10⁴ cfu/mL.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On a large majority of dairy farms included in this study the pooled colostrum fed to newborn calves had sub-optimal Brix and excessive bacterial counts. Farm-level risk factors such as twice daily pick up of calves from the paddocks, herd vaccination and feeding pooled colostrum that did not combine colostrum obtained at later milkings with first milking colostrum were associated with colostrum quality measures.     

Calf and colostrum management practices on New Zealand dairy farms and their associations with concentrations of total protein in calf serum

AIMS: To gather information on management practices and farmer attitudes to management of cows and calves during the immediate post-partum period on dairy farms in New Zealand, and to assess these practices for associations with concentrations of total protein (TP) in serum of calves 1–8 days-old.

METHOD: Between July and September 2015 blood samples were collected from calves aged between 24 hours and 7 days, from dairy farms (n=105) in nine areas in New Zealand, on three occasions throughout the calving period. Concentrations of TP were determined in all serum samples. At each visit technicians collected 1?L of the pooled colostrum that was intended for feeding to newborn calves that day. These samples were assessed for Brix, coliform and total bacterial counts. After the last sampling visit, the calf rearer or farm manager were asked to complete a questionnaire describing calf and colostrum management practices on the farm. Potential farm-level variables associated with concentrations of TP in serum of sampled calves were identified using univariable and multivariable linear mixed models.

RESULTS: Mean concentration of TP in serum of calves across all farms was 59.8 (95% CI=59.4–60.2) g/L, and was associated with region and herd size in the final multivariable model. Concentrations of TP were lower in calves from farms in Otago (56.2 (95% CI=53.4–58.9) g/L) and Southland (56.9 (95% CI=54.1–59.7) g/L) compared to calves on farms in the Far North (62.6 (95% CI=59.8–65.3) g/L), and were lower in calves from farms with a herd size >600 (58.3 (95% CI=56.7–59.8) g/L) than ≤600 (61.3 (95% CI=60.1–62.5) g/L) cows. After accounting for fixed effects, farm accounted for only 8.4% of the unexplained variation. There was no association between any of the measures of colostrum quality and concentrations of TP in serum (p>0.2).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Very few herd-level variables were associated with concentrations of TP in serum. Risk factors that have been shown to be of importance in previous studies outside New Zealand were not identified as important in the current study. It is possible that, in the situation where calves are kept at pasture with their dams for prolonged periods, variables which influence how well a cow can feed its calf in the first 12–24 hours have a larger influence on concentrations of TP in serum than the collection and management of calves once they reach the rearing shed.     

Cembranoids from Octocoral Lobophytum crassum (von Marenzeller, 1886)

Two cembranoids, including a new compound, lobocrassin I (1), as well as a known analogue, lobohedleolide (2), were obtained by solvent extraction from octocoral Lobophytum crassum. This study employed a spectroscopic approach to establish the structures of these two cembranoids, and utilized single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to determine their absolute configurations. The results of biological activity assays demonstrated that cembranoid 2 exhibited bioactivity against the protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells.     

Contact inhibition in colony formation

Contact inhibition of replication of the established mammalian cell line 3T3 was examined during growth of the colony and compared with that of the Chinese-hamster cell line CHL-1. The growth curves of cells in the colonies conformed to the predicted exponential and linear rates for CHL-1 and 3T3 respectively. Autoradiographs of colonies in which DNA was labeled with tritiated thymidine showed that in 3T3 colonies, only peripheral cells were labeled, while CHL-1 colonies were labeled throughout.