Identification of feline blood B and T lymphocytes by cell electrophoresis.

The electrokinetic properties of feline blood lymphocytes isolated by centrifugation over Ficoll-Isopaque gradient were investigated. A biphasic electrophoretic mobility (EPM) distribution was regularly observed with a low-mobility (LM) population (mean EPM: 0.82) accounting for 32% of blood lymphocytes and a high-mobility (HM) population (mean EPM: 1.09) representing 68% of blood lymphocytes. Following fractionation on nylon-wool columns, lymphocytes with B-cell properties (64% sIg⁺; 9% guinea pig erythrocytes (GPE)-rosette⁺, PHA and Con A unresponsive) were enriched in the adherent fraction and belonged mainly (78%) to the LM population. In contrast, lymphocytes with T properties (5% sIg⁺, 42% GPE-rosette⁺, PHA and Con A responsive) were recovered in the effluent fraction and comprised 84% of HM elements.Thus, in cat blood, LM lymphocytes are likely to represent in majority B cells and HM lymphocytes T cells. This indicates that cell electrophoresis provides an interesting mean for differentiating B and T cells in the cat.     

Bacterial diseases of potatoes: from classical phytobacteriology to molecular pathogenicity

Various bacterial pathogens attack potato plants and tubers. These pathogens includeErwinia, Corynebacterium (Clavibacter), Psuedomonas andStreptomyces. Over the past few years there have been significant advances in the molecular biological analysis of several of these pathogens and this is now helping us to understand the major aspects of virulence mechanisms. However, to date, such information is not sufficiently useful to allow us to intervene rationally in these potato diseases, except by the standard practises of good husbandry.     

ONCHOCERCA GUTTUROSA IN Danish cattle. Prevalence, geographic distribution and host-vector relationships.

1. Onchocerca gutturosa is reported in Danish cattle for the first time. Microfilariae were found in 38 (9.4%) of 406 cows that were 2 years or older.
2. Microfilariae were not randomly distributed throughout the skin but were concentrated in the umbilical area.
3. No difference in prevalence was observed between breeds of cattle.
4. Most of the infected cows had grazed on fields close to streams that contained Simulium ornatum, the vector of O. gutturosa.
5. Differences in preferred biting sites of S. ornatum from cow to cow were correlated with the arrangement of hair.

     

Stress parameters and immune response of layers under different cage floor and density conditions

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of cage floor and cage density on stress parameters of laying hens. A total of 162 brown laying hens (Hyline Brown), aged 34 weeks, were used in the experiment. Compact-type battery cages, with three floors, were used. Hens were allocated as one, three or five hens in each of 18 cages to obtain three different cage density groups of 1968, 656 and 393.8 cm² floor area per hen, respectively. The same number of cages with different cage density were allocated to three different battery floors (first floor=top, second=middle, third=bottom) systematically. Values for body weight, mortality rate, egg weight, egg production, egg quality characteristics, egg yolk cholesterol content, the levels of blood plasma corticosterone, serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides, the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H-L ratio), antibody titers, claw length score, foot health score, plumage score and throat skin injuries were taken as indicators of stress. The values for egg weight (P<0.01) at the first floor were greater than the other floor levels. The group with five hens per cage had significantly lower mean estimates (P<0.01) than other groups with respects to body weight (P<0.001), egg production (P<0.001), egg weight (P<0.001) and plumage score (P<0.01), while significantly higher mean estimates for egg albumen index (P<0.01), Haugh unit (P<0.01), serum glucose (P<0.001), and H-L ratio (P<0.001). Serum cholesterol was higher in cages with one hen than that with five hens, whereas plasma corticosterone was lower. Antibody titers in cages with one hen was similar to that with three or five hens; however, those with three hens had higher titers than those with five hens. Values for egg breaking strength, yolk index, egg cholesterol content, and foot health score were not affected by cage density or floor. The results suggest that the allocation of three hens per cage had no measurable effect on health and welfare.     

中国山羊品种资源及其遗传多样性研究

本文论述了中国山羊的起源、品种遗传资源及其遗传多样性的研究进展。最新调查 显示中国的山羊品种达50个,其中43个为地方品种,4个培育品种,3个引入品种,许多品种 具有独特的生产性能或适应能力。大量研究表明,我国山羊遗传多样性较为丰富。     

Spatial dependence and the relationship of soil organic carbon and soil moisture in the Luquillo Experimental Forest,Puerto Rico

We used geo-spatial statistical techniques to examine the spatial variation and relationship of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil moisture (SM) in the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF), Puerto Rico, in order to test the hypothesis that mountainous terrain introduces spatial autocorrelation and crosscorrelation in ecosystem and soil properties. Soil samples (n = 100) were collected from the LEF in the summer of 1998 and analyzed for SOC, SM, and bulk density (BD). A global positioning system was used to georeference the location of each sampling site. At each site, elevation, slope and aspect were recorded. We calculated the isotropic and anisotropic semivariograms of soil and topographic properties, as well as the cross-variograms between SOC and SM, and between SOC and elevation. Then we used four models (random, linear, spherical and wave/hole) to test the semi-variances of SOC, SM, BD, elevation, slope and aspect for spatial dependence. Our results indicate that all the studied properties except slope angle exhibit spatial dependence within the scale of sampling (200 – 1000 m sampling interval). The spatially structured variance (the variance due to the location of sampling sites) accounted for a large proportion of the sample variance for elevation (99%), BD (90%), SOC (68%), aspect (56%) and SM (44%). The ranges of spatial dependence (the distances within which parameters are spatially dependent) for aspect, SOC, elevation, SM, and BD were 9810 m, 3070 m, 1120 m, 930 m and 430 m, respectively. Cross correlograms indicate that SOC varies closely with elevation and SM depending on the distances between samples. The correlation can shift from positive to negative as the separation distance increases. Larger ranges of spatial dependence of SOC, aspect and elevation indicate that the distribution of SOC in the LEF is determined by a combination of biotic (e.g., litterfall) and abiotic factors (e.g., microclimate and topographic features) related to elevation and aspect. This demonstrates the importance of both elevation and topographic gradients in controlling climate, vegetation distribution and soil properties as well as the associated biogeochemical processes in the LEF.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Approach of allelopathy study with Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Hevnh. and Neurospora crassa

Allelopathy in Arabidopsis seeds was investigated in the present study because there are few available reports of allelopathy studies regarding the early development stage of the plant life cycle, and because Arabidopsis is widely used as a model plant for molecular biology. When cockscomb ( Celosia cristata ) was incubated together with Arabidopsis seeds, the growth of cockscomb was promoted by Arabidopsis seeds. Exudate of Arabidopsis seeds showed a promotive activity on the growth of cockscomb and Arabidopsis itself. A new method for studying allelopathic mechanisms involving the interaction of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Hevnh. and the fungus Neurospora crassa was suggested. Arabidopsis seed exudate and the water-soluble fraction of the exudate promoted Arabidopsis growth and reduced fungal germination, indicating that the seed exudate has a species-selective activity. Conversely, the ethylacetate-soluble fraction inhibited growth of all tested materials in the current study. These results demonstrate that the water-soluble substance(s) released from Arabidopsis seeds have species-selective activity on growth of both plants and microorganisms.     

外源绿原酸对苹果抗病相关酶的影响

采用离体培养方法对富士、红星和八棱海棠进行绿原酸处理,研究苹果在外源绿原酸处理下POD、PPO、PAL活性的动态变化以及绿原酸含量的变化。结果表明,富士以0.0001%绿原酸、红星以0.0008%绿原酸、八棱海棠以0.0004%绿原酸处理后,其PAL活性均显著提高,苹果体内也因此而提高了绿原酸水平。