Using genetic methods for analysis of fish meals and feeds employed in Greek mariculture

Large quantities of high protein fish meals are needed to sustain cultured species and thus the impact to marine ecosystem has been highly discussed. The aim of this study was to apply a PCR‐cloning methodology for a robust insight into the composition of commercial fish meals and feeds for farmed species of the Greek mariculture, assessing the risk posed by aquaculture to marine ecosystems but also the risk posed by commercial fish feeds to the increase in trophic level of species farmed in Greece. 89% of the sequences were identified to species level and only 11% to genus/family level. Overall, a total of 49 taxa were identified (44 fish species/taxon, five non‐fish species/taxon). Even though small pelagic fish like Engraulis sp. were the main portion, a wide range of species constituted the fish meals and feeds. Plant and animal species were also detected as an alternative protein source. Feed products employed in Greek mariculture still contain large portions of fish meals which increase the mean trophic level of farmed species causing a farming up trend. The results emphasize that such molecular methodologies are needed to certify aquafeeds allowing fish feed producers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable aquaculture.     

Description and phylogeny of Ceratomyxa anko sp. n. and Zschokkella lophii sp. n. from the Japanese anglerfish, Lophius litulon (Jordan)

Two new species of myxozoans from the Japanese anglerfish, Lophius litulon, are described using myxospore morphology and small subunit rDNA sequences. Ceratomyxa anko sp. n. is a parasite of the gall bladder and had a prevalence of 57%. Mature spores of C. anko sp. n. are arcuate to crescent shaped with valves tapering to rounded tips. A prominent sutural line runs centrally between the round adjacent polar capsules containing the polar filament coiled two to three times. Spore measurements: length 10.8 (9.7-11.9) microm, width 41.9 (36.9-47.2) microm, polar capsule diameter 4.6 (4.1-5.3) microm. Ceratomyxa anko sp. n. can be distinguished from other Ceratomyxa spp. due to its spore dimensions and shape. Zschokkella lophii sp. n. is a parasite of the urinary bladder and had a prevalence of 70%. Mature spores are ellipsoidal to semicircular with bluntly pointed ends. The sutural line is curved or sinuous and the valves have no discernable surface ornamentation. Two almost spherical polar capsules are located separately in the ends of the spore, opening in almost opposite directions and contain the polar filament with five coils. Spore measurements: length 20.1 (16.8-24.0) microm, width 14.9 (12.7-16.8) microm, polar capsule diameter 5.1 (3.6-5.8) microm. Zschokkella lophii sp. n. can be distinguished from other Zschokkella spp. due to the terminal opening of the polar capsules within the spores and the site of infection within the host fish. In the phylogenetic analyses, C. anko sp. n. grouped with other members of the same genus forming a monophyly. Zschokkella lophii sp. n. forms a discrete clade with another Zschokkella sp. that infects the urinary bladder of marine fish. This grouping forms a sister clade to one containing members of the genus Parvicapsula, all of which are parasites of the urinary system in marine fish.     

The use of a real-time PCR primer/probe set to observe infectivity of Yersinia ruckeri in Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), and steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM), a common pathogen affecting aquaculture facilities and implicated in large losses of cultured fish. Fisheries scientists continue to gain a greater understanding of the disease and the pathogen by investigating methods of identification and pre- and post-infection treatment. In this study, a real-time PCR probe set for Y. ruckeri was developed to detect daily changes in the bacterial load during pathogen challenges. Two species of fish, Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were exposed to two strains of Y. ruckeri (Hag and SC) during bath challenges. A subset of fish was killed daily for 14 days, and the kidney tissue was biopsied to enumerate copies of pathogen DNA per gram of tissue. While Chinook exposed to either the Hag or SC strains exhibited similar pathogen loads, those exposed to the Hag strain displayed higher mortality (～66%) than fish exposed to the SC strain (～24% mortality). Steelhead exposed to the Hag strain exhibited a greater pathogen load and higher mortality (～42%) than those exposed to the SC strain (<1% mortality). Steelhead challenged with either strain showed lower pathogen loads than Chinook. The study illustrates the efficacy of the probe set to enumerate Y. ruckeri bacterial growth in the kidneys of fish. Also, strains of Y. ruckeri display species-specific growth patterns that result in differential mortality and pathogen load.     

荧光实时定量PCR技术及其在水产养殖研究中的应用

荧光实时定量PCR技术是近年来快速发展起来的一门新技术,它是核酸探针技术、荧光共振能量传递技术(Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer,FRET)和PCR技术的有机结合。与常规PCR相比,它具有特异性更强、有效解决PCR污染问题、自动化程度高、能较准确定量等特点。本文综述了荧光实时定量PCR技术的基本原理及几种广泛应用的荧光化学方法,并概述了荧光实时定量PCR技术在水产养殖研究领域的应用现状,并对荧光实时定量PCR技术的应用前景进行了展望。     

汽车前照灯智能控制系统的设计

基于汽车驾驶的安全性,结合传感器技术和微控制技术,对汽车前照灯设计了一套智能控制系统。该系统能在不同的情况下,对前照灯的照射角度和亮度进行自动实时调整和自动选择适宜的灯光模式,实现汽车前照灯的智能化控制,提高了汽车驾驶的安全性、舒适性以及智能感觉。     

用籼/籼交重组自交系群体构建的分子遗传图谱及其与籼/粳交群体的分子图谱的比较

为了最终实现对籼稻数量性状基因位点 (QTLs)精确定位 ,用一个包含 1 31个系的籼 /籼交重组自交系群体 (F6∶7)构建了分子遗传连锁图谱。该图谱含由 1 1 3个水稻探针、2 8个小麦探针揭示的 1 6 0个RFLP标记和由 5个PstⅠ /MseⅠ引物组合揭示的 78个AFLP标记。群体的杂合性比率接近期望值 ,表明该群体具有正常的遗传结构。在 6个染色体区域观察到标记的偏分离 ,表明即使在亚种内群体中也可能发生标记的偏分离。本图谱的总长度为 1 4 35 8cM ,相邻标记间的平均距离为 6 38cM。由于采用了一套日本水稻基因组计划 (RGP)的RFLP标记 ,使本图谱能与RGP图谱进行比较。结果表明 ,两个图谱上的共同标记所覆盖图谱总长度几乎相同 ;在水稻 1 2条染色体中的 9条表现完全的连锁保守性。此外 ,水稻的第 1号染色体与小麦的第 3组染色体具有很强共线性。但是 ,两个图谱间也存在明显的差异 ,在 1S、1L、4L和 8L 4个染色体臂上发现 4个小倒位 ;除第 5号和第 6号染色体外的其他染色体上共检测到 1 9个新的位点。籼稻亲本间在染色体臂 2S、7S、1 0L和 1 1S 4个区域的RFLP多态性很低或没有 ,从而导致籼稻图谱在这些区域呈现空白。在这个籼稻图谱中 ,未检测到第 1 1号和 1 2号染色体间的重复性。还就稻属在基因组进化中的染     

Identification of QTL Affecting Protein and Amino Acid Contents in Rice

The phenotypes of protein and amino acid contents were measured in an F9 recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between Zhenshan 97B and Delong 208. A total of 48 and 64 QTLs were identified in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The contribution of each QTL to the phenotypic variation ranged from 4.0% to 43.7%. Most QTLs co-localized, forming 29 QTL clusters on the chromosomes with three major ones detected in both years, which were mapped on chromosomes 1, 7 and 9, respectively. The two QTL clus...     

Comparative proteomics analysis of maize (Zea mays) leaves infected by small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus)

Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD) is a viral disease caused by brown planthopper infestation, and leads to great yield loss, especially in China. Comparative proteomics was performed using maize inbred line Zheng 58 and LN 287. MRDD pathogen was detected as rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) in Shandong Province, China. The modified trichloroacetic acid (TCA)/acetone method was used for soluble protein extraction from leaves. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis was performed on 24-cm long, pH 4–7 linear immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips, and gels were stained with silver and coomassie brilliant blue. We identified 944 proteins expressed in RBSDV infected maize leaves by proteomics approaches. Among these, 44 protein spots that revealed a 1.5-fold difference in intensity were identified by mass spectrometry between mock-inoculated and RBSDV infected samples. Among these, 17 and 26 spots were up-regulated, and 27 and 18 spots were down-regulated in the virus infected samples of Zheng 58 and LN 287, respectively. Differential protein spots were analyzed by mass spectrometry identification, which could be divided into six categories. Furthermore, the expression of stress-related proteins was detected and confirmed by qRT-PCR. This study lays the foundation for further investigations, enabling the enhancement of MRDD resistance in maize.     

富含多糖甜玉米幼穗RNA提取及高温胁迫基因表达分析

以改良Trizol试剂法从富含多糖的甜玉米幼穗中提取高质量、完整的总RNA,利用实时荧光定量PCR对高温胁迫下粤甜13雌穗发育的8个差异表达基因进行分析。结果表明,8个基因分为上调表达和下调表达,实时荧光定量PCR和测序法基因表达谱检测的基因上调或下调表达的趋势一致,上调表达基因ZM2G058057和下调表达基因ZM2G059964、ZM2G044670相对表达量较高,可能在高温胁迫影响甜玉米幼雌穗发育过程中起更重要的作用。     

小麦籽粒淀粉合成酶基因表达与酶活性特征的研究

为研究小麦籽粒淀粉合成酶基因表达与酶活性的特征,以普通小麦品种秦麦11(粒重36.942 mg/粒,淀粉含量61.02%)和中优9507(粒重50.636 mg/粒,淀粉含量68.36%)为材料,采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法,对灌浆期籽粒淀粉合成酶相关基因的表达进行了研究,并对其表达量与相应酶活性的相关性做了分析.结果表明,腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶基因(AGPase)、束缚态淀粉合成酶基因(GBSSI)、可溶性淀粉合成酶基因(SSS)、淀粉分支酶基因(SBE)表达均呈单峰曲线变化,在花后3 d 内检测不到其表达,花后4～6 d 这些基因开始表达.AGPase和SSS在花后12 d左右表达量达到高峰,GBSSI和SBE在花后15 d左右的表达量最大.自花后18 d开始,各基因的表达量均显著下降.中优9507在表达高峰期(即花后第12、15、18 d)的酶基因相对表达量均显著高于秦麦11,且差异均达显著水平.整个灌浆期间中优9507的四种淀粉合成酶活性高于秦麦11,尤其在灌浆中期差异更显著.相关分析表明,AGPase、SSS、SBE基因在花后15 d的相对表达量与相应酶活性间呈极显著正相关,而GBSS基因的相对表达量与GBSS酶活性间相关不显著,暗示AGPase、SSS、SBE基因在籽粒淀粉合成过程中属于转录水平调控,而GBSSI基因属于转录后调控.