Isolation and pathogenic characterization of an OB1 variant of Babesia rodhaini which has a glycophorin A-independent pathway to murine red blood cells

Recent studies using several Babesia spp. have demonstrated that these species commonly recognize host sialic acids of red blood cells (RBCs) for their invasion. Glycophorin A (GPA), which is a major carrier of the sialic acids on RBCs, is a possible invasive receptor for Babesia parasites. In the present study, a variant of Babesia rodhaini was successfully isolated from a GPA homozygous knockout (GPA^−/−) mouse infected with an Australian strain of B. rodhaini which had originally been unable to replicate in GPA^−/− mice. The isolated parasite (designated as an OB1 variant) caused lethal infection to wild-type mice, as in the case of the parent Australian strain. However, although the growth of the OB1 variant in GPA^−/− mice was comparable with that in wild-type mice at 1–4 days after infection, the growth was significantly inhibited from day 5 onward, leading to the eventual survival of the GPA^−/− mice. Resistance of GPA^−/− mice against OB1 infection was lost by splenectomy, although the cytokine responses to the infection in the sera of GPA^−/− mice were similar to those of wild-type mice. The autoantibody levels to GPA-defective RBCs in the sera of GPA^−/− mice were depressed at a lower level at 0–2 days after infection than those of wild-type mice, while the levels of GPA^−/− mice progressively increased and reached comparable levels to those of wild-type mice at day 3 or later. These results indicate that the isolated OB1 variant has a GPA-independent invasion pathway into murine RBCs and suggest that the resistance of GPA^−/− mice against infection with the OB1 variant may be attributed to the effective clearance of the parasitized RBCs lacking GPA in the spleen, possibly mediated by preferential autoantibody binding to the RBC membrane.     

Establishment of a Conditional Transgenic System Using the 2A Peptide in the Female Mouse Germline

Transgenic mice are essential research tools in developmental biology studies. The 2A peptide allows multiple genes to be expressed simultaneously at comparable levels in somatic cells, but there are no reports of it being used successfully in germ cells. We constructed a Cre/loxP-based conditional vector containing the 2A peptide to significantly enhance the expression of a reporter and target gene from a constitutive promoter in oocytes. Mice with a transgene insertion containing the chicken β-actin promoter, floxed EGFP-polyA cassette, mCherry reporter, 2A peptide and target gene DNA methyltransferase 3A2 (Dnmt3a2) were crossed with TNAP- or Vasa-Cre mice to produce offspring, in which mCherry and DNMT3A2 proteins were highly expressed in oocytes upon Cre-mediated removal of EGFP-polyA. This novel transgenic mouse line based on the 2A expression system can serve as a useful tool for examining gene function during oogenesis.     

Habitat use and home range of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) on farmlands in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are an abundant mesopredator on farmlands (croplands and rangelands) across South Africa. Given their adaptability in a changing anthropogenic landscape, knowledge of spatial movements can provide important ecological information on the species. We captured, collared and monitored five black-backed jackals in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to determine their home range and habitat use in farmlands. The 95% fixed kernel (95% FK) home range sizes were large, showing a marked seasonal variation in movement. One adult male dispersed 150?km over two seasons (winter and spring) and thereafter settled into a home range that it maintained. Transient home ranges of males and juveniles were larger than resident home ranges. The mean resident home ranges (95% FK) across seasons for adult males, adult female and juvenile males were 11.4 ± 4.3 km², 5.6 ± 0.36?km² and 2.15 ± 0.45?km², respectively. The mean transient home ranges (95% FK) of all the seasons for adult and juvenile males were 1 181.93 ± 575.81 km² and 104.27 ± 35.64?km², respectively. Adult jackal preferred croplands in spring, summer and autumn but avoided croplands in winter. Variable habitat use and large home ranges in our study confirmed the species’ ability to adapt to agricultural areas.     

新疆塔里木盆地两河流域野生麻资源调查

麻具有药用、轻纺、保健、造纸、制作药烟、蜜源等多种经济价值.新疆塔里木盆地两河(叶尔羌河、塔里木河)流域是野生麻(大叶白麻Poacynum hendersonii、白麻P.pictum、罗布麻Apocynum venetum)的主要产区,其中大叶白麻分布广,面积大,储量多.按有关分类方法,将野生麻资源划分为6个群系12个群丛.野生麻分布面积23.56万hm2,有麻面积18.12万hm2,其中大叶白麻占99.51%;白麻占0.49%.鲜麻总产量59.35万t,折合干麻总产量24.41万t.为更好的利用野生麻资源,在对其种类、分布、面积、生物量调查的基础上,对麻的开发前景、野生麻田的保护管理及改良培育、人工麻田的建立、科技攻关5个方面提出了建议.     

绵羊WNT5A基因克隆及其组织表达分析

WNT5A(Wnt family member 5A)参与了多种细胞的增殖、凋亡和分化等生物学过程,在乳腺形态发生、毛囊发育等方面发挥了重要作用.该试验利用RT-PCR获得绵羊WNT5A基因的CDS区,分析WNT5A蛋白的结构特征并利用RT-qPCR检测WNT5A基因在9个组织中的表达情况.绵羊WNT5A基因的CDS区...     

全模拟自然生态条件下杂交野猪繁育与肥育性能测定

为了研究杂交野猪的生长性能、繁育水平与养殖环境、运动量、饲料配制的关系,根据野猪生活习性,对杂交野猪放养区内生活环境进行模拟(包括野猪巢穴、生态环境、植被),使杂交野猪能够有更多的运动范围和获取野外食物的机会。结果表明,放养模式下的杂交野猪产仔率(P<0.05)、仔猪存活率(P<0.01)均高于圈养模式杂交野猪,但增重速度显著(P<0.05)低于圈养模式下饲养杂交野猪。由试验结果可以得出,圈养模式下杂交育肥野猪增重速度显著高于放养杂交野猪,饲养管理难度较低,适合集约化大规模饲养。     

饲粮铜和维生素A及其互作效应对肉仔鸡生长性能及抗氧化功能的影响

本研究旨在探讨铜和维生素A及其互作效应对内仔鸡生长性能及抗氧化功能的影响.试验选用1日龄艾维茵肉仔鸡448只,随机分为8组,每组4个重复,每个重复14只鸡.采用4×2(铜×维生素A)完全随机设计,饲粮铜的添加量分别为0、8、150、225 mg/kg,维生素A的添加量分别为1 500、5 000 IU/kg,分为2个生长阶段,前期为1～4周龄,后期为5～7周龄.结果表明:1)高铜( 150、225mg/kg)抑制了全期肉仔鸡生长性能,提高了全期血清铜蓝蛋白(Cp)和后期血清总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性(P＜0.05).2)5 000 IU/kg维生素A组获得较好的生长性能,提高了全期血清T-SOD活性,降低了前期血清Cp活性(P＜0.05).3)铜和维生素A互作效应对前期体增重、血清Cp和T-SOD活性及全期料重比有显著影响(P＜0.05),且二者间存在互补作用.铜(8 mg/kg)×维生素A(5 000 IU/kg)组与铜(0 mg/kg)×维生素A(5 000 IU/kg)组对前期肉仔鸡获得良好生长性能和提高血清T-SOD活性均有促进作用,但对血清Cp活性有显著降低作用(P＜0.05).由此可见,在基础饲粮铜水平为16～23mg/kg时,铜的适宜添加量为前期8 mg/kg,后期0～8 mg/kg;全期维生素A的适宜添加量为5 000 IU/kg.     

天然食品防腐剂作用机理研究进展

食品防腐一直是食品和畜产品加工业所面临的难题 ,在化学防腐剂和传统的物理除菌方法受到种种限制的同时 ,天然食品防腐剂的研究和应用进入了一个新领域 ,也逐渐显示其优势。本文从天然食品防腐剂的作用模式及其微生物对这些防腐剂的抗性机制出发 ,讨论既能满足消费者需求又能有效防腐的新的食品保护剂领域的趋向以及需要解决的问题     

Antibody prevalence of low-pathogenicity avian influenza and evaluation of management practices in Minnesota backyard poultry flocks

Low‐pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses have caused illness in poultry and humans with poultry contact. To determine whether there is evidence of exposure to avian influenza viruses (AIV) among backyard poultry in Minnesota and their human caretakers, 150 flocks of backyard birds were sampled for antibodies to AIV from August 2007 through December 2008. One hundred flocks were tested through routine slaughter surveillance by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and an additional 50 flocks were contacted and sampled by study investigators. Blood was collected from 10 to 13 birds from each flock and a survey of biosecurity and management practices was administered to the flock owner. Blood samples were tested by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) for influenza A antibodies. Tested flocks had a median flock size of 100 birds (range: 12–800 birds), and were most commonly owned for meat for personal use (81% of respondents), fun or hobby (58%) and eggs for personal use (56%). Although 7% of flock owners reported that their birds had shown respiratory signs in the previous 3 months, only 1 of 150 flocks tested positive for influenza by AGID. Antibodies to LPAI H6N1 were detected in the positive flock. The owner of the positive flock did not have antibodies to H6 or other common AIV. Based on the findings of this study, the risk of transmission of LPAI viruses from backyard poultry to owners in Minnesota appears to be low under current conditions and management practices.     

沙葱乙醇提取物对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响

试验选择120只1日龄罗斯308商品肉鸡随机分为4个处理组,每个处理3个重复,每个重复10只鸡。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组分为AWEⅠ组、AWEⅡ组和AWEⅢ组,分别在基础日粮中添加100、300和500 mg/kg沙葱乙醇提取物(AWE),研究其对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响。结果表明,沙葱乙醇提取物对肉仔鸡生产性能无显著影响(P0.05),但有促进日增重、提高采食量及降低料肉比等指标的趋势。