Identification of a conservative site in the African swine fever virus p54 protein and its preliminary application in a serological assay

BackgroundASF was first reported in Kenya in 1910 in 1921. In China, ASF spread to 31 provinces including Henan and Jiangsu within six months after it was first reported on August 3, 2018. The epidemic almost affected the whole China, causing direct economic losses of tens of billions of yuan. Cause great loss to our pig industry. As ELISA is cheap and easy to operate, OIE regards it as the preferred serological method for ASF detection. P54 protein has good antigenicity and is an ideal antigen for detection.ObjectiveTo identify a conservative site in the African swine fever virus (ASFV) p54 protein and perform a Cloth-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting the ASFV antibody in order to reduce risks posed by using the live virus in diagnostic assays.MethodWe used bioinformatics methods to predict the antigen epitope of the ASFV p54 protein in combination with the antigenic index and artificially synthesized the predicted antigen epitope peptides. Using ASFV-positive serum and specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), we performed indirect ELISA and blocking ELISA to verify the immunological properties of the predicted epitope polypeptide.ResultsThe results of our prediction revealed that the possible antigen epitope regions were A23–29, A36–45, A72–94, A114–120, A124–130, and A137–150. The indirect ELISA showed that the peptides A23–29, A36–45, A72–94, A114–120, and A137–150 have good antigenicity. Moreover, the A36–45 polypeptide can react specifically with the mAb secreted by hybridoma cells, and its binding site contains a minimum number of essential amino acids in the sequence 37DIQFINPY44.ConclusionsOur study confirmed a conservative antigenic site in the ASFV p54 protein and its amino acid sequence. A competitive ELISA method for detecting ASFV antibodies was established based on recombinant p54 and matching mAb. Moreover, testing the protein sequence alignment verified that the method can theoretically detect antibodies produced by pigs affected by nearly all ASFVs worldwide.     

斑点叉尾鲴嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌的分离鉴定及系统发育分析

从发生在四川、重庆等省市的斑点叉尾妇急性流行性传染病病鱼的肝脏、肾脏内分离到1株高致病性菌株（CCF00024），人工感染健康鱼表现出与自然痛鱼相同的症状，并从中分离获得同种细菌，证实其为斑点叉尾鲴急性流行性传染病的病原菌。形态、生理生化检测表明，该菌为非发酵型直杆菌，严格需氧，革兰氏阴性，极生多鞭毛，对除麦芽糖和甘露糖以外的多种糖类不利用产酸，氧化酶阴性，DNA酶、蛋白酶、脲酶、赖氨酸脱羧酶阳性，MR、VP阴性。在以该菌16SrDNA序列（GenBank登录号AY970826）和GenBank及RDP数据库内同源性较高的细菌16SrDNA序列构建的系统发育树中，分离菌CCF00024与嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌（Stenotrophomonasmaltophilia）聚在一簇，特剐是与5．maltophiliaM5—1的同源性最高，序列相似性达99．6％，结合形态和生理生化特点将其鉴定为嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌（Stenotrophomonasmaltophilia）。药敏试验结果表明，对磺胺甲口恶唑、磺胺异口恶唑、阿齐霉素、洛美沙星高度敏感，而对新霉素、卡那霉素、氨苄青霉素、头孢唑啉、先锋霉素V和链霉素不敏感。     

含非洲猪瘟病毒核酸序列病毒样颗粒的研制及其在检测方法中的应用

非洲猪瘟（African swine fever,ASF）是由非洲猪瘟病毒（African swine fever virus,ASFV）引起的烈性传染病,为了保证其检测结果的准确性和可靠性,需要研制试剂盒中使用的阳性标准质控品。本试验旨在研制含ASFV核酸序列的病毒样颗粒,并探究其在检测方法中的应用。首先扩增p72基因的全长片段,利用昆虫杆状病毒系统,包装出含有p72基因的ASF DNA病毒样颗粒。为了进一步验证该病毒样颗粒在应用中的可靠性,本研究将病毒样颗粒与ASF的组织毒及细胞毒同时进行DNA核酸提取,进行实时荧光定量PCR。结果表明,本研究制备的病毒样粒子能很好的取代ASFV在实时荧光定量PCR检测方法中作为阳性质控品,且能对核酸提取过程进行质控,实时荧光定量PCR检测试剂盒中,病毒样粒子的最低包装浓度为10² TCID₅₀。进一步研究发现该病毒样颗粒也适用于普通PCR及LAMP检测方法中,最低浓度分别为10³和10¹ TCID₅₀。本试验结果将为规范ASF检测方法,促进ASF检测方法的转化应用及保证检测结果的准确度和可靠性提供科学依据。     

一起违规使用餐厨泔水喂养生猪案的评析

2017年8月,青岛市某区动物卫生监督所监督检查发现,B养殖场使用饭店泔水喂养生猪。经立案调查,违法事实确实,依据《畜牧法》《青岛市无规定动物疫病区管理条例》等相关规定,依法给予了1 000元行政处罚。本文对法律法规的适用,泔水处理联防联控及强化普法宣传教育等内容进行了思考,着重分析了泔水喂猪传播非洲猪瘟的原因,坚持疏堵结合,提升泔水处置能力,引导养殖场(户)科学养殖。     

古巴非洲猪瘟根除的经验与借鉴

1971年非洲猪瘟首次传入古巴并于当年根除,1980年再次传入并在一年内又被根除。古巴能快速根除非洲猪瘟,主要与防控专业委员会的及时成立,协作机制的快速建立;全面扑杀措施的快速实施,健康猪产品的合理利用;民间团队的积极参与以及政府财政的大力支持密切相关。古巴的根除经验,可为我国非洲猪瘟的防控提供参考。     

Effects of Phosphate Type on the Quality of Vacuum-Tumbled Catfish Fillets

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of various agglomerated phosphate blends on the quality of vacuum-tumbled catfish fillets. Catfish fillets were tumbled with a brine solution at 15% over initial, raw weight prior to tray-packing and storage at 4°C for 10 days. Fillets were evaluated for protein exudate, tumbling yield, color, pH, cooking loss, tenderness, purge loss, and shelf life. A specific blend of agglomerated sodium phosphates (AGSP) that contains mono-, tri-, and polyphosphates had significantly less protein (p < 0.05) exudate and significantly higher pH (p < 0.05) than other treatments. All phosphate treatments significantly increased (p < 0.05) tenderness and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) purge loss, but agglomerated phosphate blends significantly decreased (p < 0.05) cooking loss and yellowness. Psychrotrophic plate counts for all phosphate treatments were similar to the control at each storage time. All phosphate treatments improved the yield and quality of catfish fillets, but the use of AGSP may optimize quality attributes.     

猪场生物安全体系中十个通道的设计应用

2018年8月开始,非洲猪瘟在我国快速多点发生,该病是高度接触性传染性疾病,目前无有效的疫苗和药物控制,各大公司和养殖户开始了猪场生物安全体系的升级改造。两年后我国大部分猪场的成功复产,全国生猪出栏量的大幅提升,证明了生物安全措施巨大效力;同时在严格的生物安全措施下创新了精准剔除、快速复产等操作,进一步证明了生物安全措施的有效作用。文章主要介绍猪场生物安全体系中入口(大门)和出口(后门)最为关键防线处的通道设计,方便所有的生物安全操作能够高效落实,切断病原轻易进出猪场的途径。     

Effects of dietary protein to carbohydrate ratios on growth and body composition of juvenile yellow catfish, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (Siluriformes, Bagridae, Pelteobagrus)

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary protein to carbohydrate ratios on growth and body composition of juvenile yellow catfish, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco . Nine diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (30%, 36% and 42%), each with three carbohydrate levels (24%, 30% and 36%). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 20 fish (initial mean body weight: 8.24±0.20 g) in indoor flow – through fibreglass tanks. The experiment continued for 8 weeks. Weight gain and specific growth rate were similar for the fish fed the 36% and 42% protein diets but higher than that fed the 30% protein diet. At the 36% protein level, carbohydrate contents varying from 24% to 36% ( P / E ratio of 24.0–28.2 mg protein kJ⁻¹) had no significant effects on growth performance and feed utilization ( P >0.05). Protein efficiency ratio tended to increase with dietary carbohydrate level at the same protein level. Dietary treatments significantly influenced body composition ( P <0.05), but not the condition factor, viscerosomatic index, hepatosomatic index and intraperitoneal fat ratio ( P >0.05). Based on these observations, 36% protein and 24–36% carbohydrate with the P / E ratio of 24.0–28.2 mg protein kJ⁻¹ seemed suitable for optimal growth and feed utilization, and carbohydrate could cause protein-sparing effect in diets for juvenile yellow catfish.     

非洲猪瘟病毒p30蛋白单克隆抗体制备及线性抗原表位定位

【目的】制备非洲猪瘟病毒（African swine fever virus,ASFV）p30蛋白的单克隆抗体（monoclonal antibodies,MAbs）并初步分析其所识别的线性抗原表位,为ASFV及其抗体检测方法的建立及p30蛋白结构和功能的研究奠定基础。【方法】将原核表达并纯化的p30重组蛋白作为免疫原,免疫6—8周龄BALB/c雌鼠,每两周免疫1次,共免疫3次,首次免疫是抗原与等体积的弗氏完全佐剂乳化后免疫,第二次和第三次免疫与等体积的弗氏不完全佐剂乳化,3次免疫后1 w断尾采血,间接酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测血清抗体效价,选择血清效价最高的小鼠进行加强免疫,3 d后取小鼠脾淋巴细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞按照4﹕1的比例使用PEG进行常规细胞融合。利用重组p30蛋白作为包被抗原,间接ELISA筛选阳性杂交瘤细胞,有限稀释法进行克隆纯化,直至筛出能够稳定分泌抗体的MAbs。将ASFV接种于猪肺泡巨噬细胞,以筛选的MAbs为一抗、兔抗鼠HRP-IgG为二抗,进行间接免疫荧光试验（IFA）。将感染和未感染ASFV的细胞沉淀处理后进行 SDS-PAGE并转印至硝酸纤维素膜,分别以IFA鉴定为阳性的MAbs上清为一抗、兔抗鼠HRP-IgG为二抗,进行Western blotting分析,筛选获得p30 MAbs。根据已知序列设计引物扩增p30ab与p30bc两段截短基因,其中p30ab代表由第86—153位氨基酸残基的截短体,p30bc代表由第120—187位氨基酸残基的截短体,原核表达部分重叠的截短p30蛋白,最终获得重组蛋白GST-p30ab与重组蛋白GST-p30bc。分别以GST-p30ab和GST-p30bc融合蛋白为包被抗原,以5株MAbs为一抗,以兔抗鼠HRP-IgG为二抗, 通过间接ELISA方法初步定位p30蛋白的抗原表位。【结果】以纯化的重组蛋白为包被抗原,经间接ELISA试验筛选出25株可分泌抗重组 p30蛋白的杂交瘤细胞株。IFA结果显示,5株MAbs（8F4、1D3、1H2、6C3和8E11）与ASFV感染的猪肺泡巨噬细胞IFA 试验呈阳性;Western blotting结果显示,5株MAbs均能够与ASFV感染的细胞呈阳性反应,与未感染病毒的细胞呈阴性反应。试验构建的p30截短体重组蛋白GST-p30ab以可溶和包涵体两种形式表达,而GST-p30bc仅以包涵体形式表达,以两组截短体融合蛋白为包被抗原,通过间接ELISA检测出MAbs 8F4、1H2和6C3与两个重组蛋白均能有效结合,证明MAbs 8F4、1H2和6C3抗原识别区域为两组截短蛋白重叠区域,即第120—153位氨基酸;MAbs 8E11与1D3则只能与GST-p30ab蛋白结合, 证明MAbs 8E11与1D3抗原识别区域为两个重组蛋白的非重叠区域,即第86—119位氨基酸。【结论】本研究可溶性地表达了p30蛋白的第86—153位氨基酸截短体重组蛋白,制备了5株p30 MAbs,定位到2个p30蛋白抗原表位。结合ELISA和IFA,可建立十分可靠的ASFV及其抗体的检测手段。     

The importance of manual white blood cell differential counts and platelet estimates in elephant hematology: blood film review is essential

Unique features of elephant hematology are known challenges in analytical methodology like two types of monocytes typical for members of the Order Afrotheria and platelet counts of the comparatively small elephant platelet. To investigate WBC differential and platelet data generated by an impedance-based hematology analyzer without availability of validated species-specific software for recognition of elephant WBCs and platelets, compared to manual blood film review. Blood samples preserved in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) of 50 elephants (n = 35 Elephas maximus and n = 15 Loxodonta africana) were used. A Mann-Whitney test for independent samples was used to compare parameters between methods and agreement was tested using Bland-Altman bias plots. All hematological variables, including absolute numbers of heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and platelets, were significantly different (p < 0.0001) between both methods of analysis, and there was no agreement using Bland-Altman bias plots. Manual review consistently produced higher heterophil and monocyte counts as well as platelet estimates, while the automated analyzer produced higher lymphocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts. The hematology analyzer did not properly differentiate elephant lymphocytes and monocytes, and did not accurately count elephant platelets. These findings emphasize the importance of manual blood film review as part of elephant complete blood counts in both clinical and research settings and as a basis for the development of hematological reference intervals.