山羊溶酶体α-AMA基因的克隆、生物信息学及组织表达谱分析

本研究旨在对山羊溶酶体α-甘露糖苷酶(α-AMA)基因进行组织表达谱和生物信息学分析。参考牛α-AMA基因序列设计引物,采用PCR技术克隆山羊α-AMA基因序列,并利用荧光定量RT-PCR进行组织表达谱分析以及进行生物信息学预测。首次获得了山羊α-AMA基因,含有完整CDS编码区3 000bp,编码999个氨基酸,其中前50个氨基酸为信号肽序列。其编码区的核苷酸序列和预测氨基酸序列与牛的α-AMA相似性最高,分别为95.93%和94.79%。组织表达谱分析表明α-AMA在山羊各组织均不同程度的表达,其中在肺脏、肝脏、小脑表达量较高。生物信息学预测发现,α-AMA蛋白属于糖苷水解酶38家族成员,有2个保守的结构域,存在9个N-糖基化位点。SWISS-MODEL同源建模山羊α-AMA具有良好的可信度。本研究为探讨酶的作用机理及疯草解毒剂的研制提供了理论依据。     

Evaluation of Nociception,Sedation, and Cardiorespiratory Effects of a Constant Rate Infusion of Xylazine Alone or in Combination with Lidocaine in Horses

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of xylazine or xylazine in combination with lidocaine on nociception, sedation, and physiologic values in horses. Six horses were given intravenous (IV) administration of a loading dose (LD) of 0.55 mg/kg of xylazine followed by a CRI of 1.1 mg/kg/hr. The horses were randomly assigned to receive three treatments, on different occasions, administered 10 minutes after initiation of the xylazine CRI, as follows: control, physiologic saline; lidocaine low CRI (LLCRI), lidocaine (LD: 1.3 mg/kg, CRI: 0.025 mg/kg/min); and lidocaine high CRI (LHCRI), lidocaine (LD: 1.3 mg/kg, CRI: 0.05 mg/kg/min). A blinded observer assessed objective and subjective data for 50 minutes during the CRIs. In all treatments, heart and respiratory rates decreased, end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration increased, and moderate to intense sedation was observed, but no significant treatment effect was detected in these variables. Ataxia was significantly higher in LHCRI than in the control treatment at 20 minutes of infusion. Compared with baseline values, nociceptive threshold increased to as much as 79% in the control, 190% in LLCRI, and 158% in LHCRI. Nociceptive threshold was significantly higher in LLCRI (at 10 and 50 minutes) and in LHCRI (at 30 minutes) than in the control treatment. The combination of CRIs of lidocaine with xylazine produced greater increases in nociceptive threshold compared with xylazine alone. The effects of xylazine on sedation and cardiorespiratory variables were not enhanced by the coadministration of lidocaine. The potential to increase ataxia may contraindicate the clinical use of LHCRI, in combination with xylazine, in standing horses.     

Antinociceptive and antiplasmodial activities of cassane furanoditerpenes from Caesalpinia volkensii H. root bark

The chloroform and ethyl acetate extract (100 mg/kg) of Caesalpinia volkensii H. exhibited significant (P ≤ 0.05) antinociceptive activities using hot plate and writhing tests in mice while the later showed antiplasmodial activity (IC₅₀ 0.23 ± 0.07 and 4.39 ± 2.49 μg/ml) against chloroquine sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2), respectively. Two new furanoditerpenes [rel. 1β,5α-dihydroxyvoucapane (1) and rel. 1β,6β-dihydroxyvoucapane; 19β-methyl ester (2)] together with seven known compounds [voucapane (3), voucapan-5-ol (4), deoxycaesaldekarin C (5), caesaldekarin C (6), 5-hydroxyvinhaticoic acid (7), triacontanyl-(E)-ferulate (8), triacontanyl-(E)-caffaete (9) and 30′-hydroxytriacontanyl-(E)-ferulate (10)] were isolated from the two extracts. The administration of 3, 4, 5 and 6 (100 mg/kg i.p) caused a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction in the number of writhing episodes induced by acetic acid and (P ≤ 0.01) increased pain latency threshold in hot-plate test compared to control. However, the pure compounds indicated relatively (P ≤ 0.05) low antiplasmodial activity. The phytochemical constituents from the root bark of C. volkensii had better analgesic properties than antimalarial properties, justifying the use of the plant root bark as a remedy for pain.     

固态混菌发酵生产饲用复合酶制剂营养条件和培养条件的研究

黑曲霉变种(A.niger v.Tiegh)CGMCC1182、黑曲霉MA-56(A.niger MA-56)CGMCC2722和黑曲霉XY-1(A.niger XY-1)CGMCC1182分别为α-半乳糖苷酶、β-甘露聚糖酶和木聚糖酶生产菌株。为获得高产α-半乳糖苷酶、β-甘露聚糖酶和木聚糖酶的复合酶制剂,通过单因素实验,研究了黑曲霉三种菌株在固态发酵条件下产复合酶制剂的培养基组成和培养条件。结果表明,黑曲霉混菌发酵生产复合酶的最适培养基组成为:麸皮∶豆粕为7∶3(m/m),在此基础上(以麸皮和豆粕总量为10 g计算)添加玉米芯1.0 g,魔芋粉0.1 g,葡萄糖0.5 g,(NH4)2SO4 0.2 g,NaNO3 0.1 g,MgSO4 0.1 g,KH2PO4 0.2 g,H2O 11 mL。产酶最适培养条件为:培养温度30℃,固形物与加水比1∶1,α-半乳糖苷酶、β-甘露聚糖酶和木聚糖酶接种比例为5∶6∶6,接种混合孢子悬浮液2.5 mL(以一支菌种斜面加30 mL无菌水为标准),300 mL三角瓶中装量8 g培养基,发酵60 h时,复合酶产量达到最优,α-半乳糖苷酶、β-甘露聚糖酶和木聚糖酶三种酶制剂的活力分别可以达到221、894、10188 IU/g。     

团花树α扩展蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

采用扩增保守区域、基因组步移及3'RACE技术,在团花树中克隆到15个α-expansin基因的cDNA序列,命名为AcEXPA2-16(GenBank注册号JF922686-JF922700),其相对应的基因组序列GenBank注册号为JF922701-JF922715.包括已知的AcEXPA1,这16个EXPA蛋白的大小及序列高度保守,包括N端的信号肽、3个外显子和2个内含子.通过氨基酸序列比对和系统进化树分析,AcEXPA1-16分为4个亚族,分别为A、B、C和D亚族.定量PCR分析显示AcEXPA1-16基因在同一组织中的表达存在冗余现象,而单个基因在不同的组织中又存在特异表达,尤其AcEXPA8在形成层中的表达水平极高.这表明AcEXPA8在木质部发生的过程中可能起到重要的作用.研究结果为在团花树中研究α-expansin基因与木质部的生长和材质的关系提供信息,并最终为林木分子育种提供潜在的候选基因.     

牛α干扰素在毕赤酵母中的高效分泌表达及活性鉴定

为高效分泌表达牛α干扰素(boIFN-α),本研究通过人工合成boIFN-α基因,将目的基因克隆至表达载体pPIC9K中,构建重组质粒pPIC9K-boIFN-α,将其电转化于毕赤酵母菌株GS115,利用抗药选择压力G418筛选重组菌,对重组菌诱导表达,取上清进行SDS-PAGE和western blot检测,并优化重组菌的诱导表达条件.结果显示:筛选获得高效分泌表达boIFN-α的重组菌,其最佳诱导条件为:250 r/min,26℃培养,1％甲醇浓度诱导,诱导72 h.上清中目的蛋白表达量最高可达200 μg/mL,本研究为boIFN-α在生产中的应用奠定了基础.     

Increased Inflammatory Mediators in Horses Naturally Infected with Trypanosoma vivax. A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to measure the levels of inflammatory mediators in serum from horses naturally infected with Trypanosoma vivax. Banked serum samples collected during a previously reported T. vivax natural infection were used to analyze proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and nitrite/nitrate (NO_x) levels. We evaluated 12 serum samples from horses from a farm in southern Brazil, four of which had parasitological and molecular diagnoses for T. vivax and presented with clinical signs of disease. Cytokines were assessed by quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and NO_x was measured using the modified Griess method. Levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and NO_x were increased in serum of infected animals compared to that in noninfected animals. Therefore, infection with T. vivax caused an increase in proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide content.     

Role of estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) and the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR1) in estradiol-stimulated proliferation of cultured bovine satellite cells

Although the exact mechanism(s) by which estradiol (E₂) enhances muscle growth in a number of species, including humans and cattle, is not known, E₂ treatment has been shown to stimulate proliferation of cultured bovine satellite cells (BSCs). This is particularly significant because satellite cells are the source of nuclei needed to support postnatal muscle fiber hypertrophy and are thus crucial in determining the rate and extent of muscle growth. The objective of this study was to assess the role of estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) and the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR1) in E₂-stimulated proliferation of cultured BSCs. To accomplish this, we have used small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence expression of ESR1 or IGFR1 and assessed the effects on E₂-stimulated proliferation in BSC cultures. In BSCs treated with nonspecific siRNA, E₂ significantly (P < 0.05) stimulates proliferation under conditions in which neither IGF-1 nor IGF-2 expression is increased; however, treatment of ESR1- or IGFR1-silenced cells with E₂ does not significantly stimulate proliferation. These results indicate that both ESR1 and IGFR1 are required for E₂ to stimulate proliferation in BSC cultures. The fact that this occurs under culture conditions in which neither IGF-1 nor IGF-2 mRNA expression is increased strongly suggests that E₂ activates IGFR1 via a mechanism that does not involve increased IGF-1 or IGF-2 binding to the receptor.     

Chlamydia infection in cats in New Zealand

Conjunctival swabs collected in 1991-92 from 333 pedigree and non-pedigree cats were tested for the presence of Chlamydia spp. antigen using an ELISA antigen kit. Forty (18.4%) of the 217 samples from cats with conjunctivitis were positive. Seven (6%) of 116 samples from cats which were in contact with cats with conjunctivitis but which showed no clinical signs at the time of sample collection were positive. Positive-testing cats were frequently from multi-cat households. Chlamydia spp. is present and associated with conjunctivitis in cats in New Zealand. Infection may occur concurrently with viral diseases. Feline calicivirus was recovered from 27 (21 with conjunctivitis) of 37 cats tested in five catteries. Four cats (with conjunctivitis) were FIV-positive.     

Pregnancy recognition signaling mechanisms in ruminants and pigs

Maternal recognition of pregnancy refers to the requirement for the conceptus（embryo and its associated extraembryonic membranes） to produce a hormone that acts on the uterus and/or corpus luteum（CL） to ensure maintenance of a functional CL for production of progesterone;the hormone required for pregnancy in most mammals.The pregnancy recognition signal in primates is chorionic gonadotrophin which acts directly on the CL via luteinizing hormone receptors to ensure maintenance of functional CL during pregnancy.In ruminants,interferon tau（IFNT） is the pregnancy recognition signal.IFNT is secreted during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy and acts on uterine epithelia to silence expression of estrogen receptor alpha and oxytocin receptor which abrogates the oxytocin-dependent release of luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F2-alpha（PGF） by uterine epithelia;therefore,the CL continues to produce progesterone required for pregnancy.Pig conceptuses secrete interferon delta and interferon gamma during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy,but there is no evidence that they are involved in pregnancy recognition signaling.Rather,pig conceptuses secrete abundant amounts of estrogens between Days 11 to 15 of pregnancy required for maternal recognition of pregnancy.Estrogen,likely in concert with prolactin,prevents secretion of PGF into the uterine venous drainage（endocrine secretion）,but maintains secretion of PGF into the uterine lumen（exocrine secretion） where it is metabolized to a form that is not luteolytic.Since PGF is sequestered within the uterine lumen and unavailable to induce luteolysis,functional CL are maintained for production of progesterone.In addition to effects of chorionic gonadotrophin,IFNT and estrogens to signal pregnancy recognition,these hormones act on uterine epithelia to enhance expression of genes critical for growth and development of the conceptus.