Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the non-structural 3A and 3B protein-coding regions of foot-and-mouth disease virus subtype A Iran 05

The A Iran 05 foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) subtype was detected in Iran during 2005 and has proven to be highly virulent. This study was undertaken to focus on molecular and phylogenetic analysis of 3A and 3B coding-regions in the A Iran 05 field isolate. To assess the genetic relatedness of A Iran 05 isolate the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the 3AB region of type A FMDV isolates were compared with twenty previously described type A FMDV isolates. The phylogenetic tree based on the 672 bp 3AB gene sequences of type A FMDV from thirteen different locations clustered them into five distinct lineages. The A Iran 05 isolate clustered in lineage A along with four type A variants and was closely matched with viruses isolated in Turkey and Pakistan during 2005~2006. The number of protein sequence differences exhibited by each of the isolates revealed that A Iran 05 isolate contains three amino acid substitutions at positions 47 and 119 of 3A and 27 of the 3B coding region. The nucleotide identity between A Iran 05 and the other four isolates of lineage A was estimated to be 98%.     

Effect of Estradiol-17β on protein synthesis and degradation rates in fused bovine satellite cell cultures

Although androgenic and estrogenic steroids are widely used to enhance muscle growth and increase feed efficiency in feedlot cattle, their mechanism of action is not well understood. Further, in vivo studies indicate that estradiol (E2) affects muscle protein synthesis and/or degradation, but in vitro results are inconsistent. We have examined the effects of E2 treatment on protein synthesis and degradation rates in fused bovine satellite cell (BSC) cultures. Additionally, to learn more about the mechanisms involved in E2-enhanced muscle growth, we have examined the effects of compounds that interfere with binding of E2 or insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 to their respective receptors on E2-induced alterations in protein synthesis and degradation rates in BSC cultures. Treatment of fused BSC cultures with E2 results in a concentration-dependent increase (P < 0.05) in protein synthesis rate and a decrease (P < 0.05) in protein degradation rate. The pure estrogen antagonist ICI 182 780 suppresses (P < 0.05) E2-induced alterations in protein synthesis and degradation in fused BSC cultures. The G-protein coupled receptor (GPR)-30 agonist G1 does not affect either synthesis or degradation rate, which establishes that GPR30 does not play a role in E2-induced alterations in protein synthesis or degradation. JB1, a competitive inhibitor of IGF-1 binding to the Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR-1), suppresses (P < 0.05) E2-induced alterations in protein synthesis and degradation. In summary, our data show that E2 treatment directly alters both protein synthesis and degradation rates in fused BSC cultures via mechanisms involving both the classical estrogen receptor (ER) and IGFR-1.     

Observations on calf scours in New Zealand

Extract

Scouring syndromes constitute a major disease group in dairy calves in New Zealand.     

Multifocal cutaneous histiocytic sarcoma in a young dog and review of histiocytic cell immunophenotyping

A 9‐month‐old male Great Dane had progressive generalized nodular dermatopathy for several months. There were > 100 raised, alopecic, firm, painful nodules throughout the skin. Aspirates from several lesions yielded moderate numbers of irregularly round or polygonal to spindle‐shaped cells with mild to moderate anisocytosis and few inflammatory cells, and the cytologic interpretation was proliferation of mesenchymal or histiocytic cells. On histopathologic examination, nodules were composed of densely packed sheets of round to spindle‐shaped cells with mild anisokaryosis and low mitotic activity. Multifocal histiocytic sarcoma with a spindle‐cell pattern was diagnosed based on morphologic features and intense expression of CD18. Additional immunophenotypic analysis on frozen sections of tissue confirmed the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma; expression of CD18, CD45, CD1a, CD11b, and CD11c, limited expression of Thy‐1 (CD90) and CD80, and lack of expression of CD4, CD11d, and CD86 indicated that the cells were likely interstitial dendritic cells; a review of reactive and neoplastic dendritic cells is provided. Based on staging, internal organs were not affected. Sequential treatment with lomustine and doxorubicin failed to prevent progression of the cutaneous lesions, and the dog died 3 months after initial diagnosis. At necropsy, a focus of neoplastic cells was present in one lymph node, but except for skin other organs were not involved. The clinical presentation of histiocytic sarcoma may be unusual, and neoplastic cells may lack overt features of malignancy on cytologic and histopathologic examination. In some instances, immunophenotyping is required to differentiate histiocytic sarcoma from other histiocytic disorders.     

中国东北松嫩平原丹顶鹤繁殖种群调查(英文)

自2004年至2008年,在白鹤GEF项目的支持下,全国鸟类环志中心于每年5月在东北松嫩平原的4个国家级自然保护区,即黑龙江的扎龙国家级自然保护区、内蒙古的科尔沁国家级自然保护区、吉林的向海和莫莫格国家级自然保护区,开展了繁殖水鸟的地面调查。调查的目的在于了解各个保护区繁殖水鸟的分布和种群动态。丹顶鹤(Grus japonensis)是本调查活动的重要目标物种。通过5年的调查,了解到松嫩平原的扎龙保护区是目前丹顶鹤最为重要的繁殖地,逾90%的繁殖丹顶鹤种群分布在扎龙保护区,但种群数量变动较大,变动幅度介于112–275只之间。良好的芦苇(Phragmites australis)生境是丹顶鹤的繁殖种群保持稳定和增长的首要条件。通过给湿地供水可以缓解丹顶鹤繁殖栖息地的快速退化,但科学合理的供水机制是保证丹顶鹤繁殖成功的前提。     

国内外肉牛分子标记辅助育种的研究进展

分子标记辅助育种(Marker assisted selection,MAS),直接从DNA分子水平上反映种间差异,不受环境、发育阶段、组织等的影响,稳定可靠,多态性好,因而在家畜育种中被广泛利用,本文详尽概述了分子标记辅助选择对于遗传力低的性状如肉质性状和屠宰性状等改良效率相关的研究进展。     

斯氏艾美耳球虫ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2序列的克隆及PCR检测方法的建立

通过对多种鸡球虫和松鼠球虫18SrRNA和28SrRNA进行序列比对分析,在18SrRNA 3′端和28SrRNA 5′端保守区设计艾美耳属通用引物,以斯氏艾美耳球虫洛阳分离株LY卵囊基因组DNA为模板首次成功克隆到斯氏艾美耳球虫完整的ITS1-5.8SrRNA-ITS2序列,其大小为1 178bp,其中ITS1序列长度为423bp,5.8SrRNA为155bp,ITS2为600bp,斯氏艾美耳球虫LY株ITS1/2序列高度变异,与鸡球虫、啮齿动物球虫的序列相似性低于60%。然后在斯氏艾美耳球虫ITS1/2序列超变区设计种特异引物,建立了灵敏、特异的PCR检测方法。本研究结果将为兔球虫强致病种的临床诊断和揭示兔球虫种群遗传特征提供有效的分子工具。     

兔病毒性出血症、多杀性巴氏杆菌病、产气荚膜梭菌病(A)型三联灭活疫苗研制

对 5批兔病毒性出血症、多杀性巴氏杆菌病、产气荚膜梭菌病三联灭活疫苗进行了动物试验 ,结果表明该疫苗安全有效。近期效检对兔病毒性出血症的保护率为 1 0 0 % ,对兔多杀性巴氏杆菌病保护率为 92 % ,对产气荚膜梭菌病 (A)型保护率为 88%。在免疫期试验中 ,免疫 6个月后 ,对兔病毒性出血症保护率为 1 0 0 % ,对多杀性巴氏杆菌病的保护率为 79% ,对产气荚膜梭菌病 (A)型的保护率为 88%。在保存期试验中 ,4～ 8℃保存 1年仍有效。