Full-genome characterization and genetic analysis of a H9N2 virus in commercial broilers in Iran, 2017

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Since 1998, Iran’s poultry industry has faced several outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2. Tissue samples were collected from a broiler...     

Synergistic effect of ERK inhibition on tetrandrine-induced apoptosis in A549 human lung carcinoma cells

Tetrandrine (TET), a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from the root of Stephania tetrandra, is known to have anti-tumor activity in various malignant neoplasms. However, the precise mechanism by which TET inhibits tumor cell growth remains to be elucidated. The present studies were performed to characterize the potential effects of TET on phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways since these signaling pathways are known to be responsible for cell growth and survival. TET suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in A549 human lung carcinoma cells. TET treatment resulted in a down-regulation of Akt and ERK phosphorylation in both time-/concentration-dependent manners. The inhibition of ERK using PD98059 synergistically enhanced the TET-induced apoptosis of A549 cells whereas the inhibition of Akt using {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002 had a less significant effect. Taken together, our results suggest that TET: i) selectively inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells by blocking Akt activation and ii) increases apoptosis by inhibiting ERK. The treatment of lung cancers with TET may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and increase the apoptotic potential of lung cancer cells.     

Methoxyfenozide and pyriproxifen alter the cellular immune reactions of Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) against Beauveria bassiana

Effects of the two insect growth regulators (IGRs) methoxyfenozide, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) agonist, and pyriproxifen, Juvenile hormone (JH) agonist, were examined on the cellular immune responses of the Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps versus the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The simultaneous treatment with the IGRs and the fungal spores altered haemocyte count (total and differentiate), nodulation response and phenoloxidase (PO) activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was observed that different concentrations of methoxyfenozide increased total and differentiate haemocyte numbers as well as B. bassiana-induced nodulation response. In contrast with the JH agonist, pyriproxifen significantly decreased total and differentiate haemocyte numbers and inhibited nodule formation in E. integriceps adults. The 20E agonist displayed major effects when injected at the doses 2.79 and 5.59 μg/mg adult. In contrast, injecting adults by pyriproxifen significantly impaired their ability to raise an efficacious response against the fungal spores. The ability of the two IGR analogues to interfere with activity of the PO system in haemolymph of E. integriceps adults was also investigated 6 h after injection by fungal spores. Methoxyfenozide had an excitatory effect on PO activity when the 5.59 μg/mg concentration was used against adults. Conversely, pyriproxifen had an inhibitory effect on PO activity when used at 1.49 μg/mg adult concentration. These findings demonstrate that pyriproxifen may interfere with cell-mediated immunity of E. integriceps. So, pyriproxifen could be a good candidate for the integrated control of the Sunn pest.     

森林生态蓄水功能的经济评价(个案研究:伊朗扎格罗斯森林)(英文)

森林生态服务直接或间接地造福人类。本文利用模拟模型和地理信息系统作为工具,分析生态因子对生态系统服务功能的作用,评估了伊朗西部扎格罗斯森林对Bazoft河流域水源保护的经济价值。应用HEC-HMS模型中的曲线数字法对降雨量-径流进行了模拟。该模型需要输入土地覆被、土壤、短期降雨和流出数据。用观测数据并分阶段校对对拟合模型的功效进行了修订。测定了森林在4种设定的土地覆盖方案中保水性和减少地表径流量的作用以及土地用途改变对该区降雨量-径流行为的影响。结果表明:方案一假定该流域全被森林覆盖,总的流出量将最小,降雨初期损失将增加。用重置成本法估算了森林水文功能之保水性经济价值。评估结果表明,每公顷Bazoft河流域的森林可以蓄存84.8立方米水,年产值0.5 US$/m3。因此,每公顷BazoR河流域的森林保水性经济评价值是43US$。说明覆被森林有利于该流域经济发展,该研究有助于决策者选择适当的、经济可行的发展策略。     

An Invasive Shrimp Species,Machrobrachium nipponense,in Anzali Wetland Demonstrated a Potential Source for Commercial Fishing

ABSTRACT

The proximate content, fatty acids composition, and nutritional quality index (NQI) of Macrobrachium nipponense at three habitats in the Anzali wetland in Iran were investigated as a potential source for human consumption. The highest amounts of protein, lipid, ash, and energy contents in muscle of M. nipponense were showed in autumn (non-reproductive season) (p < 0.05). The main monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were oleic acid (C18:1 n9 C, C18:1 ω9 T) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1). Moreover, the main polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n3), arachidonic acid (ARA, C20:4 n6), linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 ω6), and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 n3). The predominant individual saturated fatty acid (SFA) was palmitic acid (0.07–13.4%), while oleic acid (14.7–26.3%), EPA (3.5–12.7%) and linoleic acid (0.04–14.9%) represented the most abundant individual MUFA and PUFA in M. nipponense. The highest mean value of EPA+DHA (14.0), n3/n6 (1.02), ΣMUFA/ΣSFA (1.05), ΣPUFA/ΣSFA (1.04), and EPA/DHA (3.8) ratios in M. nipponense was in autumn. The range of atherogenicity index (AI) and thrombogenicity index (TI) was much lower, from 0.42 to 0.6 and from 0.33 to 0.57, respectively, in terms of season. The results obtained in the present study show that M. nipponense is an excellent nutritional food source in the Anzali wetland.     

Genetic variation of ten microsatellite loci in Makui sheep of Iran

The native breeds, because of their natural selection against harsh environment and adaptation to regional conditions are important to resource-poor farmers and pastoralists. The molecular characterization of genetic variation is a fundamental step to manage and conserve indigenous breeds. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic variation of Makui sheep. Totally, 100 sheep (60 ewes, 10 ram and 30 lambs) were used in this study. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed using microsatellite primers BM1329, OarAE101, OarFCB11, OarFCB128, OarFCB129, OarFCB20, OarFCB304, OarFCB5, OarHH35 and OarHH55 in a standard 25 μl reaction. All microsatellite loci were amplified and produced minimum 2 and maximum 14 alleles ranging from 90 to 185 bp in size. The mean number of alleles for each locus was 6.8. Loci OarFCB128 and OarAE101 produced the highest (8.5288) and the lowest (1.0304) effective number of alleles, respectively. The mean expected heterozygosity for all loci was 0.6893 (range 0.0295–0.8837). The highest (2.12) and the lowest (0.07) Shanon Index was observed in OarFCB11 and OarAE101, respectively. Only two (OarFCB5 and OarAE101) out of ten loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The present study was able to demonstrate a reasonable genetic variation and polymorphism across all microsatellite loci studied in the Makui sheep.     

Assessing environmental impacts of major vegetable crop production systems of East Azerbaijan province in Iran

In the present study, environmental effects of carrot, tomato, potato and onion production systems were evaluated using the quantitative indices of energy efficiency, global warming potential (GWP), economic indicators, pesticide risk (field environmental impact quotient – FEIQ), tillage impact (TI), fertilizer, land and water use efficiency, and the eco-efficiency index (ratio of gross production to environmental impact for GWP, FEIQ and TI). Data was collected from 110 farmers by survey to determine crop production in the region. The results showed that the energy index for the potato production system was the most efficient; however, the carrot production system was the best in terms of the economic and environmental indices of GWP, FEIQ and TI. For irrigation water productivity (IWP) and land production efficiency (LPE), the potato production system was superior. The carrot production system had the highest values for economic irrigation water productivity (EIWP), economic land production efficiency (ELPE) and phosphorous and potassium use efficiency. The tomato production system recorded the lowest nitrogen use and highest nitrogen use efficiency. It can be concluded that the onion production system was furthest from sustainability goals based on the aforesaid indices.     

Molecular characterization of a pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 virus isolated from Eurasian collared doves in Iran, 2017

In September 2017, an outbreak with high mortality, which showed the typical signs of ND, occurred among a flock of more than 2000 Eurasian collared doves in Konarak, southeast of Iran. A confirmed pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 strain was isolated from the brain tissues of the dead doves. The isolate, which was called Pigeon/Iran/Konarak/Barin/2017, was classified as a highly velogenic NDV. Complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolate belonged to subgenotype XXI.2, which has never been reported from Iran before. The isolate had the highest homology (96.15%) with early 2010s Italian isolates. Further studies will be required to understand the diversity better.