State-of-the-art review of goat TSE in the European Union, with special emphasis on PRNP genetics and epidemiology

Scrapie is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats. It is also the earliest known member in the family of diseases classified as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) or prion diseases, which includes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and chronic wasting disease in cervids. The recent revelation of naturally occurring BSE in a goat has brought the issue of TSE in goats to the attention of the public. In contrast to scrapie, BSE presents a proven risk to humans. The risk of goat BSE, however, is difficult to evaluate, as our knowledge of TSE in goats is limited. Natural caprine scrapie has been discovered throughout Europe, with reported cases generally being greatest in countries with the highest goat populations. As with sheep scrapie, susceptibility and incubation period duration of goat scrapie are most likely controlled by the prion protein (PrP) gene (PRNP). Like the PRNP of sheep, the caprine PRNP shows significantly greater variability than that of cattle and humans. Although PRNP variability in goats differs from that observed in sheep, the two species share several identical alleles. Moreover, while the ARR allele associated with enhancing resistance in sheep is not present in the goat PRNP, there is evidence for the existence of other PrP variants related to resistance. This review presents the current knowledge of the epidemiology of caprine scrapie within the major European goat populations, and compiles the current data on genetic variability of PRNP.     

对草地贪夜蛾高毒力的苏云金芽胞杆菌菌株筛选与杀虫活性研究

草地贪夜蛾是一种世界性重大农业害虫,给玉米等多种主要粮食和经济作物造成严重危害.为实现对草地贪夜蛾的高效、绿色、持续防控,亟需筛选高毒力苏云金芽胞杆菌菌株资源.本研究以前期实验室储备的对斜纹夜蛾、小地老虎具有杀虫活性的363株野生菌株库为候选菌株,基于菌株杀虫基因差异及进化关系,去除冗余菌株后获得172株候选菌株.通过...     

Outbreak of anaplasmosis associated with novel genetic variants of Anaplasma marginale in a dairy cattle

During early lactation, dairy cows may present a transient immunosuppressive state and develop anaplasmosis caused by Anaplasma marginale. In this study, clinical anaplasmosis in dairy cattle in the Thrace region of Turkey was investigated with respect to within-herd prevalence, vertical transmission, and genetic diversity. In March and September 2015, thirty lactating cows showed primary clinical signs of anaplasmosis, including fever, anaemia, decreased milk yield, anorexia, and laboured breathing. Symptoms disappeared in most cows after administration of long-acting oxytetracycline, but nine of them (30%) died. Following diagnosis based on clinical signs, microscopy and molecular findings, blood samples were collected from apparently healthy lactating cows (n = 184), pregnant heifers (n = 39) and newborn calves (n = 24). DNA was extracted from each sample and analyzed for the presence of major surface proteins (MSPs) of A. marginale, followed by sequencing to assess diversity of isolates. Microscopic examination of erythrocytes revealed A. marginale inclusion bodies in symptomatic cows. Examination of thin blood smears showed 3.8% of the lactating, clinically asymptomatic, cows to be infected with A. marginale, while nPCR detected 31.0% positive. A. marginale infection was not detected in pregnant heifers by either method. Congenital infection was found in one calf by nPCR. This is the first report of transplacental transmission of A. marginale in Turkey. The MSP4 sequence analyses showed high genetic diversity among the isolates, presenting 97.6-99.6% homology at the amino acid level. The sequences of MSP1a amplicons revealed genetic diversity providing three new tandem repeats.     

昆虫共生菌沃尔巴克氏体(Wolbachia)的wsp基因密码子使用模式分析

沃尔巴克氏体(Wolbachia)主要感染昆虫等节肢动物,是一类革兰阴性共生细菌。为探讨昆虫纲共生菌Wolbachia的系统发育,研究Wolbachia基因组中进化速度较快的外膜蛋白基因wsp的密码子使用模式及影响因素,统计分析该基因的GC含量(GCall、GC1、GC2、GC3、GC3s)、有效密码子数(ENc)、相对同义密码子使用度(RSCU)等指标。结果显示:昆虫纲共生菌Wolbachia的wsp基因密码子偏好性均不强,昆虫纲不同目间共生菌Wolbachia的wsp基因碱基组成及ENc值差异较小;多数基因数据点沿标准曲线或在其附近分布,突变对碱基组成的影响较弱;18种由多个密码子编码的氨基酸中有11种氨基酸的偏好性密码子在昆虫纲7个目及对照蛛形纲1个目间均相同,有2种氨基酸的偏好性密码子在7个目间相同,这些密码子均以A/U结尾;供分析的140个wsp基因中仅编码6个半胱氨酸(Cys);对应分析中第1、第2向量轴贡献率均不高,分别为13.53%和12.49%,均与碱基组成(GC1、GC2、GC3)显著相关。综合各项分析认为,Wolbachia的wsp基因密码子偏好性不具有宿主分类特异性,密码子使用模式主要受碱基组成影响,而碱基组成主要受选择影响。     

PCV2 Rep蛋白N-糖基化位点突变对病毒复制的影响

N-糖基化对病毒的感染与增殖均具有重要作用,与PCV2复制相关的Rep蛋白含有三个N-糖基化位点。为了分析PCV2Rep蛋白N-糖基化位点突变对病毒复制的影响,本试验构建了三个双拷贝突变体感染性克隆2M23、2M256、2M286,并成功拯救病毒。通过间接免疫荧光检测病毒的拯救效果,TCID50测定病毒的感染力,荧光定量PCR检测细胞病毒的载量。结果显示,PCV2Rep蛋白的23~25aa、256~258aa N-糖基化位点突变后降低病毒的复制能力,而286~288aa突变后增强病毒的复制能力,为进一步阐明PCV2的复制及致病机制提供参考。     

特殊医学用途婴儿配方食品中氯的国标检测方法适用性

依据GB 5009.44—2016《食品安全国家标准 食品中氯化物的测定》,对特殊医学用途婴儿配方食品中氯的检测方法适用性展开研究。结果表明：采用GB 5009.44—2016第三法（银量法）检测特殊医学用途婴儿配方食品中乳蛋白部分水解配方、乳蛋白深度水解配方、氨基酸配方得到的样品加标回收率分别为95%～108%、98%～125%、100%～106%,相对标准偏差为12.7%～32.9%;采用GB 5009.44—2016第一法（电位滴定法）得到的检测结果低于第三法检测结果。     

Transgene expression for Gladiolus plants grown outdoors and in the greenhouse

Transgene expression was evaluated for Gladiolus plants transformed with either the CaMV 35S, double CaMV 35S, rolD, or Arabidopsis UBQ3 promoter controlling the uidA or bean yellow mosaic virus coat protein gene in either the sense or antisense orientation to determine differences in expression for plants grown in the greenhouse and outdoors for two years. There was more variability in GUS expression when plants were grown outdoors than in the greenhouse for two years. Four of the six transformed plant lines with the UBQ3, rolD, and CaMV 35S promoters grown outdoors showed significant differences in GUS expression from year to year as compared to two of the six lines with the UBQ3 and rolD promoters grown in the greenhouse. When grown the same year, two plant lines with the CaMV 35S and one line with the rolD promoter showed 2–16× higher levels of GUS expression outdoors than in the greenhouse, and one plant line with the UBQ3 promoter had 31× higher GUS expression in the greenhouse instead of outdoors. Three of six plant lines transformed with the bean yellow mosaic virus coat protein gene in either the sense or antisense orientation under control of the double CaMV 35S promoter showed obvious transgene expression as compared to three lines that did not show expression or negligible expression for both years when plants were grown both outdoors and in the greenhouse. This study verified long-term gene expression, rather than silencing, for Gladiolus plants when grown outdoors and in the greenhouse from year to year.     

NA-1株鹅源副黏病毒表面结构蛋白HN的真核表达

应用特异性引物,从鹅源副黏病毒NA-1株中扩增出HN蛋白基因,PCR产物纯化后克隆入pGEM-T载体,得到重组质粒pTHN。用EcoRⅠ和NotⅠ双酶切pTHN,回收目的基因HN片段并将其定向克隆到pPICZαA中,构建重组质粒pPICZαAHN。用SacⅠ酶切pPICZαAHN使其线性化,并电击转化至感受态毕赤酵母细胞GS115。PCR法鉴定阳性重组子,用1%甲醇诱导表达后,进行SDS-PAGE及Western-blot分析。结果在酵母菌培养基上清中检测到相对分子质量为63000的重组蛋白,且该重组蛋白可与NA-1株病毒多克隆抗体发生特异性血清学反应,表明NA-1的HN蛋白片段在Pichiapastoris中获得成功表达。     

Serum Biomarkers of Clinical and Cytologic Response in Dogs with Idiopathic Immune‐Mediated Polyarthropathy

Background

Immune‐mediated polyarthopathy (IMPA) is common in dogs, and is monitored by serial arthrocenteses.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Plasma C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and CXCL8 (interleukin‐8) would serve as noninvasive markers of joint inflammation in IMPA.

Animals

Nine client‐owned dogs with idiopathic IMPA; 6 healthy controls.

Methods

Prospective study. Plasma CRP, IL‐6, and CXCL8 were measured by ELISA at baseline, 2, and 4 weeks during treatment with prednisone at 50 mg/m²/day. Arthrocenteses, the canine brief pain inventory (CBPI), and accelerometry collars were used to assess joint inflammation, lameness, and mobility at all 3 time points.

Results

C‐reactive protein concentrations were higher in IMPA dogs (median 91.1 μg/mL, range 76.7–195.0) compared with controls (median <6.3 μg/mL, <6.3–13.7; P = .0035), and were significantly lower at week 2 (10.6 μg/mL, <6.3–48.8) and week 4 (<6.3 μg/mL, <6.3–24.4; P < .001).C‐reactive protein was correlated with median CBPI scores (r = 0.68; P = .0004), joint cellularity (r = 0.49, P = .011), and mobility by accelerometry (r = −0.42, P = .048). Plasma IL‐6 concentrations were also higher in IMPA dogs (median 45.9 pg/mL), compared with controls (median <15.7 pg/mL; P = .0008). IL‐6 was lower in IMPA dogs by week 4 (<15.7 pg/mL; P = .0099), and was modestly correlated with CBPI scores (r = 0.47, P = .023). CXCL8 did not differ significantly between IMPA and healthy dogs.

Conclusions

Plasma CRP and IL‐6 might be useful surrogate markers of synovial inflammation and disease activity in dogs with IMPA.