Bird flu (H7N9) outbreak and its implications on the supply chain of poultry meat in China

During the past two decades, food safety issues in China not only posed serious threats to Chinese consumers but also damaged the image of Chinese products internationally. In China, food safety is not only about scientific discoveries, advanced laboratories, and sanitation equipment; it is more about the role of different players in the food supply chain. The poultry meat supply chain is instrumental in the spread of the avian influenza A virus (H7N9), raising questions about how policymakers respond to such threats and whether industries need to be restructured to manage and control this epidemic so that it does not recur. As a short-term measure, to prevent the spread of this disease, government authorities enforced the closure of live bird markets (LBM) in disease-affected areas of China. However, in the long term, the poultry meat supply chain needs to be restructured. The aim of the current study was to analyze distribution channels for chicken meat in China and then describe arrangements in poultry meat sectors that incorporate small- and medium-scale producers into the supply chain while responding to shifts in LBMs. We also assessed the role of LBMs in spreading H7N9 and how these interventions affect the poultry meat supply chain in the Chinese market.     

Abomasal infusion of casein, starch and soybean oil differentially affect plasma concentrations of gut peptides and feed intake in lactating dairy cows

The effects of specific nutrients on secretion and plasma concentrations of gut peptides (glucagon-like peptide-1((7-36)) amide (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and cholecystokinin-8 (CCK)) differ across species, but are not reported for cattle. Our objective was to determine acute (hours) and chronic (1 week) effects of increased abomasal supply of protein, carbohydrate, or fat to the small intestine on dry matter intake (DMI) and plasma concentrations of GLP-1, GIP, CCK, and insulin. Four mid-lactation Holstein cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment. Treatments were 7-day abomasal infusions of water, soybean oil (500 g/d), corn starch (1100 g/d), or casein (800 g/d). Jugular vein plasma was obtained over 7h at the end of the first and last day of infusions. Oil infusion decreased DMI on day 7, but total metabolizable energy (ME) supply (diet plus infusate) did not differ from water infusion. Casein and starch infusion had no effect on feed DMI; thus, ME supply increased. Decreased DMI on day 7 of oil infusion was accompanied by increased plasma GLP-1 concentration, but decreased plasma CCK concentration. Increased plasma GIP concentration was associated with increased ME supply on day 7 of casein and starch infusion. Casein infusion tended to increase plasma CCK concentration on both days of sampling, and increased plasma GLP-1 and insulin concentration on day 1 of infusion. The present data indicate a sustained elevation of plasma concentration of GLP-1, but not CCK, may contribute to the reduced DMI observed in dairy cows provided supplemental fat.     

家兔BMP7成熟肽编码区克隆及BMP7、BMP4基因组织表达谱分析

用RT-PCR方法克隆家兔BMP 7基因成熟肽编码区cDNA序列,并对2月龄家兔BMP 7和BMP 4基因的组织表达谱进行半定量分析。结果表明,家兔BMP 7成熟肽编码序列长414 bp,与人、小鼠BMP 7的同源性分别为91.89%、89.32%,三者的同源性为94.98%。在家兔心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑、脊髓、小肠8种组织中检测到BMP 7和BMP 4基因表达。BMP 7基因在心、脾组织以低丰度表达,在肺、脊髓、十二指肠以中等丰度表达,在肝、肾、脑中以高丰度表达;BMP 4基因在脊髓以低丰度表达,在脑、心、脾、小肠等器官组织中呈中等丰度表达,在肝、肺、肾中以高丰度表达。因此,家兔BMP 7基因成熟肽编码区在进化过程中高度保守。BMP 7和BMP 4具有广泛的组织表达谱和组织表达特异性。     

ACE inhibition in goats under fixed‐time artificial insemination protocol increases the pregnancy rate and twin births

To assess the effect of the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on the efficiency of the fixed‐time artificial insemination (TAI), 69 goats were divided randomly into two groups: enalapril (n = 35) and control (n = 34). In the experiment, all animals underwent the protocol of fixed‐time artificial insemination for 12 days. Enalapril group received enalapril maleate dissolved in saline (Enalapril, Lab Teuto Ltda) subcutaneously at the following doses: 0.2 mg/kg/day in D0‐D2; 0.3 mg/kg/day in D3‐D6 and 0.4 mg/kg/day in D7‐D11. The control group received the corresponding volume of 0.9% saline solution. We performed a single insemination 36 hr after sponge removal using frozen semen from two adult male goats with recognized fertility. The ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis was 30 days after the artificial insemination (AI). There was significant increase in pregnancy rates and twinning as well as a decrease in foetal loss in animals receiving enalapril (p < .01). The use of ACE inhibitors during the TAI protocol was shown to be a promising alternative to increase the efficiency of such reproductive biotechnology.     

H7N2禽流感病毒分离株血凝素蛋白全基因的序列分析

为进一步分析H7N2禽流感病毒（AIV）分离株血凝素（HA）基因的特性,参照已发表序列设计了1对引物,采用RT-PCR获得了1条约1.7 kb的DNA片段,测序后进行了同源性比较、HA基因系统发育进化树分析和氨基酸编码分析.结果表明,所测的2个分离株的HA基因全长1 664 bp,编码除信号肽以外的HA蛋白的全部544个氨基酸,其中包括HA1的323个氨基酸,HA2的221个氨基酸.2个分离株HA基因核苷酸序列的同源性为99.4%;与GenBank中AIV标准株A/Afri.Star./Eng-Q/983/79（H7N1）的同源性最高,分别为99.4%和99.0%;与美国A/Chicken/NewYork/13142-5/94（H7N2）株同源性很低（仅65.0%）,而与以色列、意大利H7N2 AIV的同源性较高（为96%～97%）;2个分离株在HA基因进化树中均处于H7亚型AIV的欧亚群系分支内.推导氨基酸的序列分析表明,其HA蛋白裂解位点的氨基酸序列为-GR-GLF-,仅包含1个碱性氨基酸（R-）残基,符合低致病力AIV的基因特征.     

HPLC法测定复方黄芪饲料添加剂中五种指标成分含量

试验旨在建立采用HPLC同时测定复方黄芪饲料添加剂中毛蕊异黄酮苷、甘草苷、刺芒柄花苷、毛蕊异黄酮、甘草酸5种指标成分含量的方法.试验采用Agela Venusic C18色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm),以乙腈-0.1％磷酸溶液为流动相,进行梯度洗脱,流速1.0 mL/min,柱温302.结果 显示,复方黄...     

中草7号扁蓿豆种子硬实的破除方法研究

[目的]探究中草7号扁蓿豆（Melilotoides ruthenica cv. Zhongcao No.7）种子硬实的有效破除方法。[方法]利用KNO₃溶液、赤霉素（GA）溶液、98%的浓H₂SO₄、热水、液氮和机械擦破种皮方法对中草7号扁蓿豆种子进行处理,以不做任何处理的种子为对照（CK）,用发芽第14天统计获得的正常发芽种子数和硬实种子数,计算发芽率、硬实率、发芽势、发芽指数、死苗率,对不同处理方法破除种子硬实的效果进行评价。[结果]机械方法擦破种皮处理能使中草7号扁蓿豆种子的硬实率降低至4%,发芽率提高至96%;98%的浓H₂SO₄处理种子25~30 min,能使种子硬实率下降至5%,发芽率提高至95%;2种处理方式下种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数均显著（P<0.05）高于CK,死苗率较低,两者均能有效破除中草7号扁蓿豆的种子硬实。在其他处理中,与CK相比,只有75 ℃热水处理、400 mg/L的GA溶液36~48 h处理、0.1%的KNO₃溶液浸种发芽处理,对降低中草7号扁蓿豆种子硬实率有显著（P<0.05）影响,但由于降低幅度较小,不宜采用。液氮处理使死苗率大幅增加,也不宜采用。[结论]考虑到98%的浓H₂SO₄处理安全风险较高,建议在中草7号扁蓿豆批量种子的硬实处理中,优先采用擦破种皮的机械处理。     

Expression and functional analysis of chemokine receptor 7 in canine lymphoma cell lines

C-C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) contributes to cell homing to lymph nodes (LNs). Recent studies reported that CCR7 is also expressed in tumor cells, which correlates with LN metastasis in various cancers. However, the expression of CCR7 in tumor cells is unknown in dogs due to the lack of appropriate antibodies. In the present study, a fusion protein of C-C chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19) was employed as an alternative method to CCR7 antibodies. The fusion CCL19 protein specifically detected CCR7 expressed in canine lymphoma cell lines, which showed active chemotaxis to both canine and mouse ligands. The present study will help further research on the involvement of canine CCR7 in LN metastasis.     

牛源犬新孢子虫NcSRS2-NcGRA7融合基因的克隆与生物信息学分析

为了解牛源犬新孢子虫NcSRS2-NcGRA7融合基因的生物学特性,本试验提取牛源犬新孢子虫基因组DNA,应用PCR技术扩增犬新孢子虫表面蛋白基因NcSRS2和致密颗粒蛋白基因NcGRA7,SOE-PCR技术拼接NcSRS2和NcGRA7基因,构建NcSRS2-NcGRA7融合基因重组克隆质粒,并进行PCR鉴定、双酶切鉴定及生物信息学分析。结果,NcSRS2基因扩增片段大小为1 061 bp,NcGRA7基因扩增片段大小为364 bp,NcSRS2-NcGRA7融合基因扩增片段大小为1 482 bp;获得重组克隆质粒pMD18-NcSRS2-NcGRA7经PCR鉴定、双酶切鉴定正确;测序分析表明,与Gen-Bank中已发表的美国株犬新孢子虫(AF061249、AF176649)核苷酸序列同源性为99%;经DNAman等软件分析,预测NcSRS2-NcGRA7融合蛋白抗原指数较高,融合蛋白二级结构以α-螺旋和β-折叠为主,三级结构中2种蛋白独立折叠,并借助Linker互相连接,功能互不影响。本试验为牛源犬新孢子虫NcSRS2-NcGRA7融合蛋白的免疫学研究奠定了基础。     

骨骼肌卫星细胞自我更新的研究进展

骨骼肌卫星细胞（skeletal satellite cells）是一类位于骨骼肌纤维细胞膜与基底膜之间的成体干细胞,在骨骼肌损伤修复过程中起着重要的作用。随着研究的不断深入,人们对骨骼肌卫星细胞的功能及其作用机制了解也越来越多,但目前仍存在着许多未解之谜。骨骼肌卫星细胞是如何进行自我更新调控的,研究者们提出了骨骼肌卫星细胞进行自我更新的模式假说及其可能的信号转导通路,作者对其最新研究进展作一概述。