Functional analysis of the 3′ end of avrBs3/pthA genes from two Xanthomonas species

The phytopathogens Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar (pv.) oryzae and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri each contain several avrBs3/pthA family genes. Structural features of these genes important for avirulence and/or virulence functions include a central region of multiple direct repeats and three nuclear localization signals (NLSs) and an acidic activation domain (AAD) at the 3′ end. To identify other regions critical to function in the 3′ ends of these genes, we constructed several chimeras using apl1 and apl2 from X. axonopodis pv. citri and avrXa10 and avrXa7 from X. oryzae pv. oryzae and evaluated their functions by inoculation to citrus and rice. The apl1 and avrXa7 genes are major virulence determinants in citrus and rice, respectively, while the contributions of apl2 and avrXa10 to virulence are negligible or not measurable. Constructs that contained a 417 bp HincII-SphI fragment from the 3′ end of apl1 in combination with the repeats from avrXa7, avrXa10, and apl1 caused a canker phenotype on citrus. Interchange of the HincII-SphI fragment between avrXa7 and avrXa10 abolishes avrXa7 avirulence function and reduces its virulence but it does not affect avrXa10 avirulence function in rice. avrXa7 caused a hypersensitive response (HR) in citrus and replacement of it's 3′ end with that of apl1 resulted in loss of canker and induction of HR. Thus, the HincII-SphI fragment of the avrBs3/pthA gene family is important for avirulence and virulence functions in two different plant species, Oryza sativa and Citrus natsudaidai HAYATA.     

棉花调亏灌溉的生理基础研究

以盆栽棉花为材料,通过苗期和现蕾期不同程度的亏水处理(低、中、高三个水平),对调亏灌溉节水效应及生理机制进行了研究。结果表明:适时适度的水分亏缺可使植株旺盛的营养生长得以有效控制,株型和根冠比都更为理想。调亏期间,蒸腾速率和气孔导度都明显下降,而光合速率下降不明显,复水后光合速率和气孔导度明显恢复且接近或高于对照;此外,水分亏缺不仅影响棉桃的数量,而且影响单果重。表明适度的亏水处理可使水分利用效率明显提高,而经济产量接近或高于对照,同时节水20%以上。     

Analysis of blood biochemistry and arterial blood gas of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in the early time after trauma

AIM: To explore the variation of blood biochemistry and arterial blood gas of patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in the early time after trauma and improve the diagnosis and first aid. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with trauma from August 2003 to February 2004 were divided into two groups by their AIS-ISS90 score. The data of temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, white blood cell counts, Hb, blood glucose and arterial blood gas (PaO₂, PaCO₂, HCO₃^-, AG) were collected and compared with each group by statistic methods. RESULTS: Of the 88 patients, 49 underwent SIRS, 12 in light trauma group (ISS≥16) and 37 in severe trauma group (ISS<16). Compared with light trauma group, the data of pulse, respiratory rate, white blood cell counts, blood glucose, AG and rate of SIRS of severe trauma group were higher, PaO₂ and HCO₃^- were lower and the cases of PaCO₂>45 mmHg or <35 mmHg were more (P<0.01). The data of temperature and Hb had not significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). 13 patients had MODS in severe trauma group and 2 died while none had MODS or died in light trauma group. CONCLUSION: Application of AIS-ISS90 and SIRS-related blood biochemistry and arterial blood gas is beneficial for the diagnosis and treatment of patients in the early time after trauma.     

Bt玉米对中红侧沟茧蜂发育的间接影响及室内行为研究

利用Y-型嗅觉仪研究了中红侧沟茧蜂(Microplitis Mediator Haliday)对Bt玉米、常规玉米、粘虫幼虫和其虫粪及虫害苗挥发物的行为反应,同时研究了Bt玉米对中红侧沟茧蜂发育的影响。结果表明,两种玉米健康植株的挥发物对中红侧沟茧蜂均有引诱作用;中红侧沟茧蜂对两种玉米的健康植株及机械损伤株挥发物之间的选择性无显著差异;相对于Bt玉米,中红侧沟茧蜂更趋向于选择常规玉米的虫伤苗及玉米-粘虫幼虫-虫粪混合物的挥发物。与对照(寄生于取食常规玉米粘虫的中红侧沟茧蜂)相比,寄生于取食Bt玉米粘虫幼虫的中红侧沟茧蜂幼虫历期延长,出茧率、茧重、羽化率、蜂重均有显著降低,茧历期、蜂历期则差异不显著。     

中华鳖对温和气单胞菌口服微球缓释疫苗的免疫应答

以中华鳖温和气单胞菌 (Aeromonas sobria,As) Z- 1株灭活全菌液 ,采用生物降解性高分子材料制成缓释微球疫苗 ,口服免疫中华鳖 ,测定血清中凝集抗体、血液中白细胞杀菌率以及对活菌攻击的免疫保护率。结果表明 ,中华鳖口服微球疫苗 ,其血清中凝集抗体效价和血液中白细胞杀菌百分率均可达到灭活菌液注射组相当的水平 (P>0 .0 5 ) ,显著高于对照组 (P<0 .0 1) ;微球疫苗口服组和灭活菌液注射组的免疫保护率分别为 94 .7%和 89.5 % ,两者差异不显著 (P>0 .0 5 ) ,而对照组小鼠 95 %死亡。采用可生物降解微球作为中华鳖气单胞菌口服疫苗的载体系统是可行的。     

乙烯对匍匐翦股颖ISR抗病反应中AsA-GSH循环及胼胝质沉积的影响

以匍匐翦股颖品种“Penn-A4”为试验材料,侵染立枯丝核菌后,经丁二醇(BDO)诱导产生系统抗性(ISR),喷施不同浓度的乙烯合成抑制剂氯化钴(CoCl₂)和促进剂1-氨基环丙烷羧酸(ACC)后,检测抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽(AsA-GSH)循环中抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量及相关酶活性的变化,并观察匍匐翦股颖ISR反应中胼胝质沉积的变化。结果表明,乙烯抑制剂处理下,匍匐翦股颖幼苗中AsA含量较低,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性下降,大量GSH被催化还原为氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG),GSSG大量积累,同时谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性较低,GSSG经GR少量还原为GSH。乙烯促进剂处理下,AsA含量较高,APX活性升高,GSSG在高活性GR作用下催化还原为GSH,使得GSH大量积累。因此在匍匐翦股颖ISR抗病反应中,高浓度乙烯促进AsA和GSH的大量积累,它们不仅参与了活性氧的代谢平衡,同时也作为信号分子在ISR抗病反应中起着重要作用。匍匐翦股颖感染褐斑病后,胼胝质主要沉积在厚壁细胞、韧皮部、木质部和表皮组织,其中厚壁细胞胼胝质沉积最多,表皮组织沉积最少。此外,胼胝质沉积面积在不同乙烯信号分子处理间存在差异,但随着处理时间的延长差异不显著。一定浓度的乙烯对ISR反应中胼胝质的沉积具有一定的影响,随着处理时间的延长显著增加,在100 μmol·L^-1ACC处理5 d后,胼胝质沉积总面积仅为9.916 mm²,处理10 d后升至最高,为38.396 mm²,但在病害侵染后期,胼胝质数量减少,在100 μmol·L^-1ACC处理15 d后,胼胝质沉积总面积降至20.052 mm²,反映了乙烯信号分子对胼胝质沉积的影响是一种短期效应,短期内可提高匍匐翦股颖植株抗病性,具有信号分子的短时效特点。研究结果为探清匍匐翦股颖ISR抗病响应中ET信号分子如何调控抗病生理特性提供了理论基础。     

Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves improved the egg and meat qualities and protected against ethanol‐induced oxidative damage in laying hens

Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves (PE) were value resources due to various pharmacological activities, but data on the effect on laying hens are very scare. This study was conducted to determine the effect of PE on the laying performance, egg traits, meat quality, antioxidant status and liver tissues of laying hens. One hundred and twenty 256‐day‐old Yueqinhuang laying hens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (different levels of PE at 0, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.2 g/kg diet) for 63 days with 15 replicates per group. Addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg trait by increasing the eggshell thickness and decreasing MDA production and cholesterol content in the egg yolk, but also significantly enhanced meat quality of hens, as suggested by the increase pH_45 min (p < .01) and a* value, and decrease drip loss rate (p < .01). Meanwhile, under acute ethanol‐induced oxidative damage condition, supplementation of 0.8 g/kg PE enhanced the serum antioxidant status by increasing enzymatic activities (GSH‐PX, T‐SOD, T‐AOC), inhibited oxidative damage and provided protective effect to liver tissue. In conclusion, addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg traits and meat quality without obvious adverse effects, but also increased the serum antioxidant status of the hens and protected their liver tissue from ethanol‐induced oxidative damage. This study indicated that PE could be utilized as an effective feed additive for laying hens to improve health performance and egg traits.     

Effect of gut stress induced by oxidized wheat gluten on the growth performance,gut morphology and oxidative states of broilers

This study was to investigate the effect of oxidized wheat gluten (OG) on growth performance, gut morphology and its oxidative states of broilers. One hundred and eighty‐day‐old male broilers (10 chicks/pen) were randomly allocated into three dietary treatments: control diet (CON), diet with 8% wheat gluten (WG) and diet with 8% OG with six pens/treatment. Body weight (BW) (21 and 35 days) and average daily gain (ADG) (1–21 days and 22–35 days) decreased (p < .05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1–21 days and 22–35 days) increased (p < .05) in OG treatment. Feed intake (FI) decreased (p < .05) in WG and OG treatments during 22–35 days. However, FI was not influenced by dietary treatments during 1–21 days (p > .05). The OG‐fed broilers had a lower faecal pH value (p < .05) and higher faecal moisture content (p < 05) at 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. Villus height, crypt depth and V/C value were not different (p > .05) among treatments at 21 and 35 days. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) (21 and 35 days) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (35 days) content in crop of OG treatment increased (p < .05). Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) (21 days), LPO (21 and 35 days) and MDA (21 and 35 days) content in ileum of OG treatment increased (p < .05). The reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) (21 days) and (GSH) (35 days) in ileum of OG treatment decreased (p < .05). The present findings indicate that OG might be a stressor for broiler gut, which could induce oxidative stress both in crop and in ileum, and the diarrhoea as well. The growth performance of broiler was consequently depressed.     

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the egg quality,immune response,zinc retention,and blood parameters of laying hens in the late phase of production

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) on the performance, egg quality, Zn retention, immunity responses, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), egg malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and serum parameters in laying hens in the late phase of production. A total of 288 laying hens at 64 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates, and 12 birds within each group. Experimental diets included a corn‐soybean meal‐based diet (without Zn supplementation) and a basal diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg of Zn‐oxide, ZnO‐NPs, and Zn‐methionine. The results indicated that egg production and egg mass were significantly higher in the Zn‐methionine and ZnO‐NPs groups (p < .05). Also, eggshell thickness and shell strength increased in the ZnO‐NPs group as compared with the other groups (p < .05). Moreover, Zn supplementation decreased egg loss (p < .05). There were significant differences among treatments in Zn deposition in tibiotarsus, liver, pancreas, eggs, and excreta (p < .01). Antibody titre, heterophil (%(, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were significantly higher in birds fed with Zn‐supplemented diets (p < .05). In treatments supplemented with ZnO‐NPs and Zn‐methionine, the SOD activity in the liver, pancreas, and plasma was greater as compared with the other treatments (p < .05). The MDA content in eggs was significantly reduced in groups supplemented with Zn (p < .01). Moreover, dietary Zn supplementation significantly affected serum total protein, albumin, glucose, alkaline phosphatase activity, carbonic anhydrase activity, and Zn level (p < .05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with ZnO‐NPs can improve the performance of laying hens. Therefore, ZnO‐NPs can enhance zinc absorption in the intestine of aged layers and can be a more suitable source of zinc than regular Zn‐oxide in diets.