Effects of three esca-associated fungi on Vitis vinifera L.: II. Characterization of biomolecules in xylem sap and leaves of healthy and diseased vines

Secondary metabolites and host defense compounds were shown to occur in xylem sap, and leaves of Vitis vinifera cv. Italia and cv. Matilde naturally infected by the esca-associated fungi Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch), Togninia minima (Tmi) and Fomitiporia mediterranea (Fme). Samples of xylem sap and leaves were collected from healthy vines and from vines showing severe symptoms of brown wood-streaking caused by Pch and Tmi, or from vines with symptoms of both brown wood-streaking and white rot caused by Fme. Xylem sap collection was carried out during the early spring of 2003 and 2004, corresponding to the phenological phases: (A) cotton bud; (B) green tip; (C) leaves out; (D) stretched out leaves; and (E) visible clusters. In the present work we have studied the accumulation of biomolecules (pentaketides and α-glucans), host defense compounds (benzaldehydes, benzoic acid and cinnamic acid derivatives, flavonols, flavanols, flavan-3-ol derivatives and stilbenes) at different stages of grapevine development. Accumulation and changes in total phenolics and recurring phenolics, and of three phytotoxic secondary metabolites (scytalone, isosclerone and pullulan) were analyzed by HPLC. On comparing results for cv. Italia and cv. Matilde, it can be seen that phenolic concentrations are strongly related to the cv.     

Modifying Myxococcus xanthus protoporphyrinogen oxidase to plant codon usage and high level of oxyfluorfen resistance in transgenic rice

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox) of Myxococcus xanthus (Mx Protox) is a 49-kDa membrane protein that catalyzes conversion of protoporphyrinogen IX (Protogen IX) into protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX). Upon heterologous expression in transgenic rice plants, Mx Protox is dually targeted into plastids and mitochondria, increasing resistance against the herbicidal Protox inhibitor oxyfluorfen. Here, we describe the chemical synthesis of the Mx Protox gene by assembling several small synthetic DNA fragments derived by ligation-PCR. Codon usage in the resulting 1416-bp gene was modified to correspond to that of the Arabidopsis Protox gene, a change that resulted in a decrease in G+C content from 71 to 49%. The modified Mx Protox gene was used to generate transgenic rice plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Integration, expression, and inheritance of the transgenes were demonstrated by Southern, Northern, and Western blot analyses. In plants transformed with the modified, low G+C-content Mx Protox gene, levels of Protox expression and enzyme activity were low compared to the levels observed for plants transformed with the native Mx Protox gene. Nonetheless, like the native gene, the modified gene conferred a high level of resistance to the herbicide oxyfluorfen in a seedling growth test.     

纤维素、滤纸纤维分别与淀粉混合瘤胃体外发酵的比较

以3只瘘管羊作为瘤胃液供体,用体外法研究可溶性淀粉和纤维素与滤纸纤维不同NSC/SC水平组合的体外发酵规律.底物使用可溶性淀粉与纯纤维素、可溶性淀粉与滤纸纤维,NSC/SC比例为:100:0、70:30、50:50、30:70、0:100.结果表明:不同的NSC/SC水平组合比较,以70:30组发酵状态最佳;滤纸纤维较纤维素总体发酵水平为低.     

杜泊、萨福克、无角陶塞特与小尾寒羊杂交肥羔肉质特性的研究

选在相同条件下饲养的杜泊、萨福克、无角陶塞特与小尾寒羊杂交一代及小尾寒羊(公羔、5～6 月龄、体重46～48.5 kg)共16只,每个处理4只.经屠宰取背最长肌和股二头肌各半制备样品,测定肌肉中化学成分、氨基酸、矿物质和微量元素含量.结果表明:粗蛋白质含量,萨寒F1 20.8%,陶寒F1 20.5%,杜寒F1 20.1%,均高于小尾寒羊(19.6%).每百克肉中17种氨基酸总量也分别高于小尾寒羊,依次为萨寒F1(20.09g),陶寒F1(19.78g);杜寒F1(19.13g);小尾寒羊(18.42g).人体营养所需要的必需氨基酸总量分别比小尾寒羊提高8.86%;8.54%和2.16%,其中组氨酸的含量显著高于小尾寒羊(P＜0.05);杜寒F1和陶寒F1的蛋氨酸含量也显著高于小尾寒羊(P＜0.05).与风味(鲜味)有直接关系的天冬氨酸和谷氨酸含量也分别比小尾寒羊高.萨寒F1和陶寒F1粗脂肪含量高于小尾寒羊(P＜0.05).杂交肥羔钙极显著高于小尾寒羊(P＜0.01),铁、锰、硒含量也显著高于小尾寒羊(P＜0.05);而小尾寒羊肥羔肉含锌量(34mg)高于杂交羊;有毒有害元素均未检出,综合评定杂交肥羔肉的营养价值和肉质品质均优于小尾寒羊.     

Enhancement of protective immune responses by oral vaccination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing recombinant Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ApxIA or ApxIIA in mice

We previously induced protective immune response by oral immunization with yeast expressing the ApxIIA antigen. The ApxI antigen is also an important factor in the protection against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 infection; therefore, the protective immunity in mice following oral immunization with Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing either ApxIA (group C) or ApxIIA (group D) alone or both (group E) was compared with that in two control groups (group A and B). The immunogenicity of the rApxIA antigen derived from the yeast was confirmed by a high survival rate and an ApxIA-specific IgG antibody response (p < 0.01). The highest systemic (IgG) and local (IgA) humoral immune responses to ApxIA and ApxIIA were detected in group E after the third immunization (p < 0.05). The levels of IL-1β and IL-6 after challenge with an A. pleuropneumoniae field isolate did not change significantly in the vaccinated groups. The level of TNF-α increased in a time-dependent manner in group E but was not significantly different after the challenge. After the challenge, the mice in group E had a significantly lower infectious burden and a higher level of protection than the mice in the other groups (p < 0.05). The survival rate in each group was closely correlated to the immune response and histopathological observations in the lung following the challenge. These results suggested that immunity to the ApxIA antigen is required for optimal protection.     

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based co-agglutination test to detect enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic neonatal calves

Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains were collected from young diarrheic calves in farms and field. Strains that expressed the K99 (F5) antigen were identified by agglutination tests using reference antibodies to K99 antigen and electron microscopy. The K99 antigen from a selected field strain (SAR-14) was heat-extracted and fractionated on a Sepharose CL-4B column. Further purification was carried out by sodium deoxycholate treatment and/or ion-exchange chromatography. Monoclonal antibodies to purified K99 antigen were produced by the hybridoma technique, and a specific clone, NEK99-5.6.12, was selected for propagation in tissue culture. The antibodies, thus obtained, were affinity-purified, characterized and coated onto Giemsa-stained Cowan-I strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The antibody-coated S. aureus were used in a co-agglutination test to detect K99+ E. coli isolated from feces of diarrheic calves. The specificity of the test was validated against reference monoclonal antibodies used in co-agglutination tests, as well as in ELISA. Specificity of the monoclonal antibodies was also tested against various Gram negative bacteria. The developed antibodies specifically detected purified K99 antigen in immunoblots, as well as K99+ E. coli in ELISA and co-agglutination tests. The co-agglutination test was specific and convenient for large-scale screening of K99+ E. coli isolates.     

Prokaryotic Expression and Polyclonal Antibody Preparation of σC Protein of Novel Duck Reovirus DH13 Strain

The aims of the experiment was to optimize the prokaryotic expression system of σC protein,prepare polyclonal antibody against σC protein of novel duck reovirus (NDRV),and evaluate the titer of the antibody.The σC gene of NDRV-DH13 strain was amplified by RT-PCR,ligated into pET-30a(+) and pET-32a(+) expression vector,constructed prokaryotic expression plasmid,which were transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) and the expression of the σC protein were induced by IPTG.The proteins expression were analyzed by SDS-PAGE.The recombinant protein without His tag was purified by digestion,and the recombinant protein with His-tagged was purified by Ni-NTA column.Then the polyclonal antibody was obtained from rabbits which had been immunized by the purified protein without His tag.Anti-His-labeled mAb and NDRV-σC positive serum were used as primary antibodies to evaluate antibodies specificity,the antibodies titer was detected by indirect ELISA (iELISA).SDS-PAGE results showed that the molecular weight of the expression on recombinant proteins were 34 and 37 ku respectively,the proteins were highly expression.Western blotting showed that they had the specific reaction and the prepared antibodies had higher affinity with σC protein,the titer were about 1:25 600 by iELISA detection.This study successfully constructed and optimized the prokaryotic expression system of the polyclonal antibody against σC protein,laid a foundation for the further study of σC protein and the research of genetically engineered vaccine.     

Isolation and Identification of Enterococcus faecalis from Fur-bearing Animals

In order to obtain Enterococcus faecalis from fur animals and evaluate its prebiotic properties,in this study,Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from the feces of healthy adult fur-bearing animals (mink,fox,raccoon dog),identified by morphological observation,biochemical test and 16S rRNA sequence analysis.The growth curve,acid production capacity and antibiotic sensitivity of the Enterococcus faecalis isolates were measured to evaluate their probiotic properties.Some strains were selected to determine their tolerance to temperature,artificial gastric juice and artificial bile salt.The results showed that five strains were Gram-positive,and their biochemical characteristics were basically consistent with the standard strains of Enterococcus faecalis,and they were identified as Enterococcus faecalis by 16S rRNA sequence analysis.The five strains all entered the logarithmic phase at 2 h after culture,and entered the stable phase at 8-10 h,and had weak acid production capacity.The resistance rate of the isolates to tetracycline and levofloxacin was 100%,followed by penicillin (80%),erythromycin (80%),gentamicin (80%) and chloramphenicol (40%).All the isolates were sensitive to ampicillin and vancomycin.Enterococcus faecalis from mink,fox and raccoon dog had strong tolerance to temperature below 60 ℃,artificial gastric juice with pH>3.0 and 0.3%-0.5% concentration of bile salt,but poor tolerance to temperature above 70 ℃,and artificial gastric juice with pH<3.0.In conclusion,five strains of Enterococcus faecalis from fur animals (mink,fox,raccoon dog) were obtained in this study.The isolated strains propagated rapidly,which were suitable for colonization and played a prebiotic role in fur animals' intestines,and had good prebiotic characteristics and stress resistance.They could be used as candidate strains for animal microbiological agents for further study.     

几种动物病原菌对替米考星耐药性的体外诱导

在测定替米考星对鸡毒支原体、多杀巴氏杆菌和猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的最小抑菌浓度基础上,采用药物浓度递增法体外诱导3种病原菌对替米考星的耐药性。结果鸡毒支原体经9次传代对替米考星产生了高水平耐药,多杀巴氏杆菌经7~9次传代对替米考星产生了高水平耐药,猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌经14次传代对替米考星的耐受浓度未发生明显变化;鸡毒支原体和多杀巴氏杆菌替米考星诱导耐药株对红霉素、阿奇霉素、泰乐菌素、吉他霉素和林可霉素表现交叉耐药。研究结果提示,替米考星较易诱导鸡毒支原体和多杀巴氏杆菌产生耐药性,兽医临床应合理应用。     

鸡IGF-Ⅰ基因SNPs及其对屠体性状的遗传效应分析

以180只3个品系的温岭草鸡为材料,采用PCR-RFLP方法测定了IGF-Ⅰ基因的3个SNPs座位,同时分析了它们对屠体性状的遗传效应.结果显示PstⅠ、HinfⅠ和TaqⅠ识别座位分别发生T→C、C→A和C→T突变,每个SNPs座位各出现了3种基因型,其中A系在3个座位上均处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态(P＞0.05).方差分析显示每个座位基因型对部分屠体性状都有极显著或显著的差异(P≤0.01或0.01＜P≤0.05).多重比较显示在其中6个屠体性状上,每个座位3种基因型的最小二乘均值之间均有突变型＞杂合型＞野生型的关系,联合基因型QF/QF和QE/QF的最小二乘均值在4个屠体性状上显著高于(0.01＜P≤0.05)联合基因型PE/QE,每个座位突变等位基因都对部分屠体性状具有增效作用.A系和B系之间的遗传距离为0.005 3,聚类分析表明两系同为1枝.