Fish oil-induced yellow fat disease in rats. II. Enzyme histochemistry of adipose tissue

Adipose tissue in various stages of fish oil-induced yellow fat disease in the rat had the same acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase activity pattern as similar stages of the disorder in mink and pig. A weak acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase activity was seen in interstitial lipofuscin-laden macrophages in "stage M" yellow fat disease without fat cell degeneration. Activity of these macrophagic enzymes increased when there was fat cell degeneration ("stage S" and "stage E" yellow fat disease). This different phosphatase activity in the same cell type may result from phagocytosis of substrates with variable digestibility. Macrophages directly surrounding affected fat cells in steatitis areas ("stage S" and "stage E") had strong acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase activity. As in the pig, increased 5-nucleotidase activity was found in affected fat cells, which probably indicates plasma membrane damage. Increased nonspecific esterase activity occurred around affected fat cells. Only a small part of this esterase activity originated from inflammatory cells. This indicates that an increase of esterase activity in degenerating adipose tissue may be an endogeneous process in this tissue.     

Preliminary investigation of the causal agent(s) of a disease causing leaf curl of tobacco in South Africa

A high incidence (86%) of potyvirus infection was noted in tobacco plants exhibiting a form of leaf curl in South Africa. Despite leaf curl being reported in the literature to be of geminiviral aetiology, no geminiviruses were detected. Furthermore, no other virus particles were detected by virus purification, TEM and serology. Twelve species of dsRNA were consistently isolated from these tobacco plants, but were absent from other forms of leaf curl-affected and healthy tobacco. Aphid and mechanical inoculation demonstrated that the purified potyvirus(es) did not cause leaf curl symptoms, but rather mild mottle and mosaic symptoms in tobacco. Partial characterization of the potyvirus preparation showed a possible relationship to a South African strain of potato virus Y. Because potyvirus-inoculated plants did not manifest leaf curl symptoms, and because leaf curl symptoms were noted in some plants not infected with a potyvirus, it was concluded that the potyvirus is not involved in the leaf curl aetiology, but causes a latent infection, the symptoms of which are masked. The pattern of the dsRNA banding, induction of enations and lack of mechanical and seed transmission are common to plant reoviruses. The possibility of a phytoreovirus involvement in this form of leaf curl is currently being investigated. The results from this study suggest that tobacco leaf curl disease worldwide, with regard to geminiviruses, be re-evaluated.     

德南牛全基因组变异解析和功能基因挖掘

[目的]研究德南牛的群体遗传结构和解析影响其重要性状的关键基因。[方法]通过主成分分析、群体进化树分析、群体遗传结构分析等方法,研究德南牛的遗传结构和与其他品种的亲缘关系;同时,利用全基因组SNP数据,计算德南牛与德国黄牛、南阳牛群体固定指数(Fst)和核苷酸多样性比值(π ratio)、复合似然比(CLR)、XP-EHH等多种选择信号指标,以筛选出德南牛基因组上受到选择的信号,鉴定出重要的候选基因。[结果] 德南牛具有欧洲普通牛(0.789)、东亚牛(0.176)、中国瘤牛(0.035)的混合血统。在θπ和CLR方法中鉴定出93个共有基因,使用FST和XP-EHH方法鉴定出17个共有基因。进行富集以及基因功能注释后,发现这些基因可能与生殖性能(TUBB3、NSD2、GRM1、ERBB4)、生长性状(RFX3、FGFR3、GABRB1、PDE4D)、环境适应性(PGR、GRIA4)和免疫系统反应(P2RY12、P2RY13、GPR87、P2RY14、GPR171)有关。[结论]本项研究发现德南牛血统受德国黄牛影响较多,且挖掘了德南牛基因组内可能具有经济意义的性状相关的选择特征,为德南牛种群的选育提高提供理论支撑。