植物内整流K~+通道AKT1的研究进展

K~+是植物生长发育所必需的大量营养元素。内整流K~+通道(Arabidopsis K~+transporter 1,AKT1)属于Shaker家族,是介导K~+吸收的重要通道,为质膜的K~+感应器,参与调节细胞的生长发育、调控气孔运动及植物蒸腾作用,能够提高植株的抗旱耐盐性,因而在植物生长过程中具有重要作用。该文概述了AKT1的结构、组织表达定位和表达调控及功能等方面的研究进展,并提出采用蛋白组学、基因工程技术及RNAi手段深入研究K~+、Na~+吸收及转运的协同调控机制,提高作物对土壤中K~+的利用效率及AKT1在植物生理代谢、抗逆性中的作用。     

O型、A型及Asia1型3个型口蹄疫病毒通用套式RT-PCR检测方法的建立

为了建立针对流行于我国及周边国家主要口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)血清型的检测方法,本实验设计2对特异性引物,通过对反应条件的优化,建立了能够同时扩增O型、A型及Asia1型FMDV VP1全基因的套式RT-PCR (RT-nPCR)方法.该方法能特异性检测O型、A型和Asia1型FMDV,对其它相关动物病毒的检测结果均为阴性;比FMDV多重RT-PCR商品试剂盒敏感约1 000倍.利用该方法对10份FMDV样品进行扩增检测,结合扩增产物的克隆测序技术,对所检样品进行了准确定型.实验结果表明,该方法通用型强,可用于3个血清型FMDV的检测和分子流行病学调查.     

猪胰岛素样生长因子-1的研究进展

综述了猪胰岛素样生长因子-1近年来的研究工作,并提出存在的问题和展望.     

我国猪群中TTV的鉴定及其分子流行病学分析

为了确定Torque teno virus(TTV)在我国猪群中是否存在及其感染情况,本研究利用套式PCR方法首次检测了来自广东、福建和江西等7个省份的258份血液样品和组织样品.结果表明猪群中TTV1和TTV2感染总阳性卒分别为37.6%和82.6%.两者的混合感染率为38.4%.挑选部分阳性样品用套式PCR引物扩增出TTV1和TTV2的部分非编码区(UTR)片段,并将扩增出的部分UTR基因与已报道的TTV1和TTV2病毒UTR序列进行比较分析,同时我们选择了8份阳性样品进行了TTV1和TTV2的全长基因的扩增和克隆.分析结果显示TTV可分为TTV1和TTV2两大分支,其中我们分离获得的TTV1和TTV2之间的UTR核苷酸同源性分别为80.8%～98.5%和94.2%～100%,而与参考株相比同源性分别为82.7%～100%和95.5%～99.1%.本研究首次证实在我国猪群中存在TTV感染,提示我们对猪群感染的TTV是一个不容忽视的新病原.     

稳定表达猪圆环病毒2型Cap蛋白的CHO-K1细胞系的建立及免疫原性分析

建立高表达PCV2-Cap蛋白的CHO-K1悬浮稳转细胞系,鉴定蛋白的免疫原性,为开发新型且有效防治猪圆环病毒的亚单位疫苗奠定基础。构建重组质粒pEE12.4-PCV2-Cap,转染CHO-K1细胞,通过加压筛选,有限稀释,细胞悬浮驯化及Western blot检测得到高表达Cap蛋白的悬浮稳转单克隆细胞株,并对该细胞株进行发酵,纯化得到的目的蛋白,通过小鼠免疫验证其免疫原性。结果表明PCV2-Cap蛋白能够在CHO-K1细胞中正确表达;发酵过程中活细胞密度高达6×10~6个·mL^-1,细胞活力在80%以上,PCV2-Cap蛋白表达量约为370 mg·L^-1;利用间接ELISA检测小鼠免疫后血清中的抗体水平,证明了利用CHO-K1细胞生产的Cap蛋白具备良好的免疫原性。本研究成功构建了表达PCV2-Cap蛋白的CHO-K1悬浮稳转细胞系,并进一步对目的蛋白进行免疫原性分析,为猪圆环病毒亚单位疫苗的开发打下扎实的基础。     

不同疏水性氨基酸对α-螺旋抗菌肽生物学活性的影响

天然抗菌肽具有较强的杀菌能力,但其较高的细胞毒性会使肽的细胞选择性降低。为了提高抗菌肽的选择特异性,本研究拟探讨不同疏水性氨基酸对α-螺旋抗菌肽生物学活性的影响及其抑菌机制。笔者采用α-螺旋肽GRX_2RX_3RX_2RG作为模板,分别以疏水性氨基酸色氨酸(Try,W)、苯丙氨酸(Phe,F)、缬氨酸(Val,V)、丙氨酸(Ala,A)、亮氨酸(Leu,L)和异亮氨酸(Ile,I)来替换X位置,得到了一系列富含疏水氨基酸的肽GW、GF、GV、GI、GA和GL。本研究检测了抗菌肽的二级结构、溶血活性、抑菌活性、盐离子活性,并对其抑菌的作用机制进行了研究。结果表明:通过CD光谱试验检测出GF、GI、GA和GL在细胞膜模拟环境中均表现出典型的α螺旋结构,而GV只在TFE中呈现α螺旋结构;溶血试验结果表明,GV和GA在浓度为128μmol·L^-1未表现出溶血活性,而其他肽均表现出较高的溶血活性;抑菌试验发现GV的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)的几何平均值为3.7μmol·L^-1,并具有最高的治疗指数(TI);盐离子稳定性试验表明,在NH_4^+、Zn²⁺和Fe³⁺中GV对大肠杆菌25922(E.coli ATCC 25922)的抑菌能力较稳定。进一步通过扫描电镜和内膜通透性试验对抗菌肽GV的抑菌机制进行分析,结果观察到GV能够通过穿透E.coli ATCC 25922和金黄色葡萄球菌29213(S.aureus ATCC 29213)促使细胞内容物流出而导致细菌死亡,以及通过时间和剂量依赖的方式穿透细菌内膜。综合以上结果,富含Val的GV具有较高的细胞选择性和成为高效抗菌药物的发展潜力。     

Constitutive expression of interferons in swine leukocytes

Interferon (IFN)-α and IFN-γ positive cells were revealed by flow cytometry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) pigs. A low prevalence of IFN-γ positive cells was also detected in PBMC of some Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus-infected pigs and uninfected, control pigs. IFN-α positive cells showed phenotypes of both monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. The presence of IFN-α in PBMC was also confirmed by Western blotting. By immunoprecipitation, IFN-α was detected as 32 and 55-57 kDa bands in PBMC of healthy SPF piglets. These samples were also IFN-γ positive; the cytokine was revealed as 24, 37 and 54 kDa bands. The unusual molecular mass values of intracellular interferons were probably due to oligomerization, as previously described for human IFN-α. Swine intracellular IFN-α displayed the expected antiviral activity on bovine MDBK cells. The results indicate that interferons are constitutively expressed in swine leukocytes with peculiar molecular features.     

Yak interferon-alpha loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for controlled release

To explore the potential of a novel animal interferon formulation for controlled release, the yak interferon-alpha (IFN-α) glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the purified recombinant IFN-α was encapsulated into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) by double emulsion solvent evaporation (w/o/w) method. The particle size and zeta potential of IFN-α-loaded SLN were 124.2 ± 10.2 nm and −11.2 ± 0.6 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of IFN-α and loading capacity of the SLN were 83.7 ± 4.5% and 1.73 ± 0.15%, respectively. In vitro release study and antiviral assay demonstrated that the IFN-α released from the SLN in a 16-day period exhibited antiviral activity in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and showed a release pattern of an initial burst release followed by a sustained and slow release. Cytotoxicity assay in cell culture demonstrated that the SLN were not toxic. The results of this exploratory study suggest that the IFN-α-loaded SLN could be a useful formulation for controlled release in veterinary therapeutics.     

Macrocyclic lactone toxicity due to abamectin in farm dogs without the ABCB1 gene mutation

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A 5-year-old entire female Huntaway from a sheep and beef farm was one of four dogs that developed clinical signs including hypersalivation, depression, blindness and ataxia after the death of another dog. A 4-year-old female Huntaway farm dog from a second farm was observed to be sitting down more often than usual on the day after being fed part of a calf carcass that had been treated with an abamectin pour-on.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: The first dog was ataxic and depressed but did respond to sound. The second dog presented with an acute onset of blindness, mydriasis, absence of a menace response, hypersalivation, gait abnormalities (e.g. high stepping gait and ataxia), and depression. Other presenting signs included muscle tremors, dehydration and difficulty eating. No abnormalities were detected from routine haematology and biochemistry. Analysis of samples of plasma from both dogs revealed concentrations of abamectin of 0.149 mg/L and 0.260 mg/L for the first and second dogs, respectively. Buccal swabs taken from the first dog for DNA testing for the ABCB1 gene mutation, gave a negative result.

DIAGNOSIS: In addition to the presenting signs which suggested a toxicosis, both dogs had measurable concentrations of abamectin in plasma confirming exposure.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Farm dogs exposed to concentrated pour-on products containing abamectin have been poisoned and recover or die. The product labels do not carry any warnings as to the risk of poisoning to dogs. This paper discusses two incidents affecting six farm dogs, but the authors are aware of more toxicoses in farm dogs exposed to abamectin.