The heterogenicity of Cowdria ruminantium stocks: cross-immunity and serology in sheep and pathogenicity to mice

Ten stocks of Cowdria ruminantium (Ball 3, Breed, Comoro, Germishuys, Kümm, Kwanyanga, Mali, Mara, Nonile and Welgevonden) were compared from a cross-immunity, serological and mouse pathogenicity point of view. They were found to differ in varying degrees. Except for the Ball 3, Comoro and Germishuys stocks that were similar but not identical, there was no pattern in the antigenic diversity of the 10 stocks. The Welgevonden stock emerged as the stock that elicits an immunity against most of the South African stocks. The inability of the reference Ball 3 stock to protect sheep against no fewer than 6 other stocks questions the advisability of retaining this stock as the vaccine stock. The antigenic diversity of the 10 stocks could not be correlated with the antibody levels detected with the indirect fluorescent antibody test, since the sera against all 10 stocks reacted positively to the Kümm stock antigen and the variation in titres was not stock-related.     

H5N1亚型禽流感病毒NS1基因的原核表达及其ELISA检测方法的建立

采用RT-PCR技术扩增了禽流感病毒（AIV）A／Goose／HLJ／p46／2003（H5N1）的NSl基因，将其克隆于融合蛋白表达载体pMAL-c2X上，转化DH5α大肠埃希氏菌感受态细胞，经BamHⅠ和HindⅢ双酶切鉴定及序列分析，表明筛选到了重组质粒pc2X-NS1。SDS-PAGE电泳结果显示，重组质粒转化TB1大肠埃希氏菌后，经0．3mmol／L的IPTG诱导，融合蛋白MBP-NS1得到大量表达，融合蛋白以可溶形式存在，分子质量约为67ku。Western-blotting检测结果表明，融合蛋白MBP-NS1能够与H5N1亚型AIV活病毒感染康复鸭血清发生特异性反应，而不能够与H5N1亚型AIV灭活疫苗免疫鸭血清发生反应。试验初步建立了以纯化的融合蛋白MBP-NS1为包被抗原的间接ELISA检测方法，为AIV灭活疫苗免疫家禽与AIV感染家禽的鉴别诊断奠定了基础。     

Promoter identification and effect on activation of NF-κB of porcine ISG58

Interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene (ISG) 56 family (composed of ISG54, ISG56, ISG58, and ISG60) plays important roles in defense against viral infection in mammalian cells. Numerous studies have been conducted on ISG54, ISG56, and ISG60; however, little is known on ISG58. In the present study, the upstream sequence of porcine ISG58 gene was first characterized as functional promoter by luciferase reporter assay, and then two directly adjacent IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs), one at ?206 to ?194 (ISRE-I) and a second one, directly upstream of this element at ?219 to ?207?bp (ISRE-II), were identified using the bioinformatics method. The subsequent site-directed deletion and transient transfection experiments showed the candidate ISREs are functional. ISRE-I works better than ISRE-II and synergistic cooperation exists between two ISREs. Additionally, the effect of porcine ISG58 on activation of NF-κB was analyzed using the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The results will contribute to revealing the role of ISG58 in immune response.     

绵羊中草药饲料添加剂预试初报

为了帮助我国北方旱区或半干旱区绵羊度过草枯严寒的漫长冬、春季，开发研制一种能够提高现有草料利用率的绵羊中草药饲料添加剂。根据中兽医药学的辨证施治理论，采用小鼠日粮添加倍量秸秆粉和不同中草药复方的方法，在120只小鼠上进行了增重率和重料比的中草药复方的筛选研究。结果表明，以益气养血和消食健胃为主的两个中草药复方能够较好地改善小鼠的增重率和重料比。     

正确认识现代养猪生产的市场规律

中国现代养猪业在经历了政府宏观调控的计划经济之后,已逐步走上了以市场规律调节为主的市场经济。尤其在20世纪90年代以后,国内养猪业经过几次周期性波动发展,更明显地表现出市场调节机制在养猪生产中所发挥的作用。2003年6月至2005年7月,养猪生产经历了新一轮的大好形势。200     

结缕草种子打破休眠过程呼吸途径的研究

采用呼吸抑制剂测定了结缕草休眠与打破休眠种子在发芽过程中的各个呼吸代谢途径－糖酵解呼吸途径（ＥＭＰ）、三羧酸循环呼吸途径（ＴＣＡ）、磷酸戊糖呼吸途径（ＰＰＰ）的呼吸速率及其占总呼吸速率的比例，结果表明，休眠种子的总呼吸速率显著低于打破休眠种子的总呼吸速率，造成这种差异的原因是磷酸戊糖途径及三羧酸循环途径的呼吸速率低，这是休眠结缕草种子不能发芽的原因之一。     

Caspase 3 is not likely involved in the postmortem tenderization of beef muscle

Postmortem proteolysis is an important determinant of beef tenderness. Caspase 3 is a protease that functions in apoptosis and has been shown to degrade myofibrillar proteins. Our objective was to evaluate whether caspase 3 activity is related to beef tenderness and muscle growth, and whether caspase 3 is activated in postmortem beef muscle. In experiment 1, longissimus thoracis (LT) and sternomandibularis muscle samples were obtained at 0, 0.25, 1, 3, 24, 72, and 240 h postmortem from 5 steers. In experiment 2, a group of 40 beef cattle was slaughtered at the University of Wyoming Meat Lab with 10 steers of different tenderness and growth characteristics chosen for the analysis of caspase 3 activity in the LT. In experiment 3, 10 steers with different tenderness but matched growth characteristics were chosen for analyses. In experiment 1, no significant activation (P = 0.70) of caspase 3 activity was detected; only a decreased activity at 72 (P = 0.05) and 240 h (P = 0.02) postmortem was observed. Western blot analysis of both muscle samples showed only the pro-caspase 3 form and failed to detect the activated enzyme. In experiment 2, caspase 3 activity in the LT immediately postmortem was greater (P = 0.05) for the cattle with increased Warner-Bratzler shear force values. No difference in caspase 3 activity was detected for experiment 3. Our results demonstrate that caspase 3 activity is not activated, with its activity decreasing with time postmortem, and caspase 3 activity is not associated with Warner-Bratzler shear force at slaughter. Therefore, caspase 3 is not anticipated to be involved in postmortem tenderization of beef.     

2月龄仔猪发生梭菌性肠毒血症的诊治报告

仔猪肠毒血症又名仔猪传染性坏死性肠炎、猪梭菌性肠炎，俗称仔猪红痢。主要发生于1周龄内的新生仔猪，以泻出红色带血稀粪为特征。淮安市楚州区某乡村连续发生多起60日龄左右仔猪以衰竭、瘫痪、昏迷、急性死亡为特征的病例。经流行病学调查、临床症状、尸体剖检、实验室检验，确诊为产气荚膜芽孢梭菌引起的急性肠毒血症。