Characterization and application of monoclonal antibodies against white spot syndrome virus

Three hybridoma clones secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced from mouse myeloma and spleen cells immunized with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) isolated and purified from Penaeus monodon (Fabricius), collected from north-eastern Taiwan. By sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE), the protein profile of this isolate contained four major proteins with sizes of approximately 35 (VP35), 28 (VP28), 24 (VP24), and 19 kDa (VP19). Western blot analysis revealed that two MAbs (1D7 and 6E1) recognized epitopes on VP28 and one MAb (3E8) recognized an epitope on VP19. The MAb 6E1 isotyped to the IgG₁ class was used in both an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and in an immunochemical staining protocol for successful identification and localization of WSSV in infected shrimp tissues. Antigenic similarity of isolates from Indonesia and Malaysia to the Taiwan isolate was illustrated by IFA with MAb 6E1. A MAb (2F6) which bound specifically to two shrimp proteins, 75 and 72 kDa, and reacted to the healthy and non-target tissues of WSSV in infected shrimp, such as hepatopancreas, is also described here and shows the necessity for specific identification of antibodies.     

Digestive protease activities and free amino acids in white muscle as indicators for feed conversion efficiency and growth rate in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

The aim of the present experiment was to screen several biochemical indices in fish and their interrelations in order to select variables for future studies of growth rate and feed conversion. Several parameters [trypsin activity, chymotrypsin activity, free amino acids (FAA) in plasma and white muscle, and RNA and RNA/protein ratio in the white muscle] were measured together with specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in four groups of diploid or triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) reared under different light regimes. SGR was measured on individually tagged fish, whereas feed intake and feed conversion was estimated on tank basis. A principal component analysis (PCA) explained 80.6% of the variance in the data, using all measured parameters, regardless of ploidy and light regime. Muscle free hydroxyproline showed the highest correlation, alone explaining 55% of SGR variability. The SGR also significantly correlated with trypsin activity (r=0.34), the activity ratio of trypsin to chymotrypsin (T/C) (r=0.39), plasma essential FAA (EAA) (r=0.39), plasma total FAA (TFAA) (r=0.37), the ratio of essential to non-essential FAA (EAA/NEAA) in the white muscle (r=–0.45), muscle RNA (r=–0.45) and RNA/protein ratio (r=–0.41). Tank FCE correlated positively (r=0.97) with SGR, T/C ratio and muscle free hydroxyproline, and negatively (r=–0.90) with muscle EAA/NEAA. The groups reared under continuous light (LL) regime showed significantly higher SGR than simulated natural photoperiod (SNP) groups, and with an apparently higher FCE. A higher growth rate was associated with either a higher consumption rate and/or a higher feed utilization. A negative correlation between muscle RNA concentration and SGR may indicate that increased growth rate under LL regime was not caused by an increased protein deposition rate.     

Does the aerobic capacity of fish muscle change with growth rates?

To ascertain whether growth rate modifies the oxidative capacity of fish white muscle, we examined the effects of individual growth rate on the activities of four mitochondrial enzymes in white muscle of the fast growing Atlantic cod,Gadus morhua. Growth rates were individually monitored in cod held at three acclimation temperatures during experiments repeated in four seasons. The size dependence of citrate synthase (CS), cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) and β-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (HOAD) activities was established using wild cod ranging from 115 to 17,350 g. Given their negative allometry, CS and CCO activities in the experimental cod were corrected to those expected for a 1.2 kg animal. HOAD activities did not change with size. The specific activities of CCO and CS were positively correlated with growth rate. However, for both enzymes, season explained more of the variability than growth rate or temperature. Season was the only factor to significantly affect the activity of HOAD, while temperature and season interacted to determine glutamate dehydrogenase activity. CS activity was positively correlated with the initial condition of the cod, which differed among the seasons. The other enzymes did not show this relationship. The independent changes of these enzymes suggest that mitochondria undergo qualitative modifications with changes in growth rate, season and size. Although growth rate and the activities of CCO and CS are positively correlated, the activity of the mitochondrial enzymes is more affected by size, physical condition and season.     

溧阳白芹铅污染原因探析

为寻找溧阳白芹铅超标原因,探索生态修复和控制措施,溧阳市蔬菜办公室在溧阳城郊溧阳白芹基地进行了水、土、肥、产品等四大类样品的铅含量检测,对照相关标准,通过对试验区生态环境的调研和铅污染评价,认为溧阳市城郊溧阳白芹主产区的土壤、基肥、培土与否及铅富集等对溧阳白芹重金属铅污染影响不明显,灌溉水则是重金属铅污染的主因。     

盐碱地渗水调配养殖南美白对虾技术

本文介绍了利用黄河三角洲地区丰富、闲置的重盐碱地,经过合理调配水质,在反复试验的基础上设计出一套合理的健康养殖技术方案,实施了大面积南美白对虾盐碱地健康养殖。尤其是通过在用盐碱地渗出的咸水与淡水混合调配成的,盐度为5～20的养殖用水中,添加一定浓度的钾离子,有效提高了虾苗的成活率。     

对虾白斑病围栏封闭预防技术

“对虾白斑病的围栏封闭预防技术”是一项针对沿海低位池塘、以切断传染病源为主旨、以设置防蟹围栏为特色的对虾白斑病综合预防技术。其主要措施为：首先在贮水(兼水处理)池和养殖池周围设置防蟹围栏，将该等池塘封闭起来，使杂蟹不会从陆地侵入池内；然后通过60目滤网进水，并用敌百虫或敌杀死处理上述两种池塘，杀灭以蟹类为主的一切甲壳动物；解毒后，放养经检测不带白斑症病毒的虾苗；采取封闭式养殖，养殖期中只向养殖池加水以补充渗漏和蒸发的水损失；加水时，先将海水在贮水池中用药物处理，杀灭其中的传染该病的媒介生物(主要是桡足类)，药物解毒后再注入养殖池。此外，作为辅助措施，在养殖期中从多方面尽量保证虾池中有一个良好的生态环境。该技术已经过预备研究、实验研究和扩大试验等阶段，均证明效果良好。已扩大试验了近33．33hm^2(其中实际养虾池约17．33hm^2)，成功率达96％左右。     

Effect of Manually Preheparinized Syringes on Packed Cell Volume and Total Solids in Blood Samples Collected from American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)

The hemodilution effect of manually preheparinized syringes was determined by evaluating the packed cell volume (PCV) and total solids (TS) from blood samples collected from 50 American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). A volume of 0.2 mL of blood was drawn into 3 syringes of 1 mL: control with no heparin sodium, heparin sodium drawn to 0.1 mL and then expelled, and heparin sodium drawn to 0.2 mL and then expelled. PCV and TS values were determined from each syringe immediately after collection. Mean PCV and TS values were compared between the control and heparin groups using linear mixed modeling. The syringes coated with heparin resulted in a significantly lower mean PCV and TS values when compared with controls, with no significant difference between the heparin groups. This dilution effect was also found to be inconsistent and not accurate from one syringe to another. An adjunct method of obtaining 0.5 mL from already-collected blood samples into 1-mL syringes that were coated with heparin drawn to 0.2 mL and then expelled also showed a significant decrease in PCV and TS values when compared with the control samples, although to a lesser extent. As a result, it cannot be recommended to manually preheparinize syringes when collecting small volume of blood samples from American alligators because significant and unpredictable hemodilution is likely to occur.