Outbreak of anaplasmosis associated with novel genetic variants of Anaplasma marginale in a dairy cattle

During early lactation, dairy cows may present a transient immunosuppressive state and develop anaplasmosis caused by Anaplasma marginale. In this study, clinical anaplasmosis in dairy cattle in the Thrace region of Turkey was investigated with respect to within-herd prevalence, vertical transmission, and genetic diversity. In March and September 2015, thirty lactating cows showed primary clinical signs of anaplasmosis, including fever, anaemia, decreased milk yield, anorexia, and laboured breathing. Symptoms disappeared in most cows after administration of long-acting oxytetracycline, but nine of them (30%) died. Following diagnosis based on clinical signs, microscopy and molecular findings, blood samples were collected from apparently healthy lactating cows (n = 184), pregnant heifers (n = 39) and newborn calves (n = 24). DNA was extracted from each sample and analyzed for the presence of major surface proteins (MSPs) of A. marginale, followed by sequencing to assess diversity of isolates. Microscopic examination of erythrocytes revealed A. marginale inclusion bodies in symptomatic cows. Examination of thin blood smears showed 3.8% of the lactating, clinically asymptomatic, cows to be infected with A. marginale, while nPCR detected 31.0% positive. A. marginale infection was not detected in pregnant heifers by either method. Congenital infection was found in one calf by nPCR. This is the first report of transplacental transmission of A. marginale in Turkey. The MSP4 sequence analyses showed high genetic diversity among the isolates, presenting 97.6-99.6% homology at the amino acid level. The sequences of MSP1a amplicons revealed genetic diversity providing three new tandem repeats.     

Transgenic expression of a sorghum gene (SbLRR2) encoding a simple extracellular leucine-rich protein enhances resistance against necrotrophic pathogens in Arabidopsis

Plant leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain-containing proteins are known to play important roles in signaling transduction and defense responses. In sorghum, SbLRR2 is pathogen-inducible gene encoding a simple extracellular LRR protein. Here, we demonstrated an earlier and stronger expression of SbLRR2 in a sorghum resistant genotype in comparison to a susceptible genotype following inoculation with the anthracnose pathogen (Colletotrichum sublineolum). In addition, SbLRR2 expression was found to be induced strongly by methyl-jasmonate treatment. Functional analysis was performed in SbLRR2 over-expression (OE) Arabidopsis plants, which showed enhanced resistance against the necrotrophic pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria brassicicola. In addition, the OE lines were found to have elevated expression of several jasmonate acid (JA)-associated genes and higher endogenous JA contents. Hence, the SbLRR2-mediated defense responses in transgenic Arabidopsis are likely to be dependent on JA-signaling through increased JA production. On the other hand, the OE lines remained susceptible to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato like the wild type plants. Consistently, there was no up-regulation of salicylic acid (SA) defense marker gene expression or SA levels in the OE lines. Our results suggested that SbLRR2 is potentially useful for enhancing resistance against necrotrophic pathogens in transgenic dicot crops.     

Effects of germination and kilning on the phenolic compounds and nutritional properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus)

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus) are nutritious pseudocereals that originate from the Andean region. The aim of this research was to study the effect of germination and the subsequent kilning on the phenolic compounds and proximate composition in selected Peruvian varieties of quinoa (“Chullpi”) and kiwicha (“Oscar Blanco”). The germination process was carried out for 24, 48 and 72 h at 22 °C, and the kilning was performed with samples germinated for 72 h by drying the seeds at 90 °C for 5 min. Both processes increased the protein content of the samples. However, lipid content was reduced during germination. On the other hand, germination and kilning clearly increased the concentration of total phenolic compounds in both quinoa and kiwicha. Germination for 72 h either with or without kilning process resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the total content of phenolics compared to untreated materials, which was especially due to coumaric acid and a kaempferol tri-glycoside in quinoa and caffeoylquinic acid in kiwicha. Based on the results, germination and kilning may improve the nutritional quality of the Andean grains, encouraging the usage of the processed grains as ingredients in functional products for people with special gluten-free or vegetarian diets.     

不同饲粮粗蛋白质水平下黑水虻蛋白替代豆粕对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋清品质及血清蛋白质代谢指标的影响

本试验旨在探讨不同饲粮粗蛋白质水平下黑水虻蛋白替代豆粕对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋清品质及血清蛋白质代谢指标的影响。采用单因素随机试验设计,选用252只产蛋率相近的33周龄罗曼白蛋鸡,随机分为3组,每组7个重复,每重复12只鸡。各组分别饲喂标准回肠可消化氨基酸(SIDAA)平衡模式下配制的不同粗蛋白质水平(16.50%、14.85%、13.20%)的玉米-豆粕-黑水虻蛋白饲粮,各组黑水虻蛋白与豆粕提供等量的粗蛋白质。预试期2周,正试期12周。结果表明:1)与16.50%组相比,14.85组%和13.20%组的产蛋率和平均日采食量无显著影响(P>0.05),平均蛋重显著降低(P<0.05),料蛋比显著升高(P<0.05);13.20%组的产蛋量显著降低(P<0.05),14.85%组的产蛋量无显著差异(P>0.05)。2)与16.50%组相比,14.85%组的平均蛋重、蛋清重、浓蛋白重、蛋白高度、哈氏单位和蛋清比例均无显著差异(P>0.05);13.20%组的平均蛋重、浓蛋白重、蛋白高度显著降低(P<0.05),蛋清重和哈氏单位呈下降趋势(P=0.0513和P=0.0673)。3)各组血清谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶活性及总蛋白、白蛋白、尿酸含量无显著差异(P>0.05)。16.50%和13.20%饲粮粗蛋白质水平对蛋鸡输卵管膨大部分泌功能有轻微不良影响。由此可见,在SIDAA模式下,以黑水虻蛋白替代豆粕并使饲粮粗蛋白质水平降低至14.85%时对鸡蛋蛋清品质无不良影响。     

Expression and mechanisms of hsa_circ_087631 in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

AIM To explore the expression and mechanisms of circular RNA hsa_circ_087631 in the patients with primary biliary cholangitis （PBC）. METHODS RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of hsa_circ_087631 in PBC patients and healthy controls. Hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector pLenti-EF1a-EGFP-F2A-Puro-CMV-MCS was constructed and transfected into human acute T cell leukemia Jurkat cells， and then the expression levels of hsa_circ_087631， Bcl-6 mRNA and interleukin-21 （IL-21） mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the interactions between hsa_circ_087631 and hsa-miR-346. RESULTS The expression of hsa_circ_087631 in the PBC patients was significantly increased compared with the healthy subjects. Hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector pLenti-EF1a-EGFP-F2A-Puro-CMV-MCS was successfully constructed. The expression of hsa-miR-346 was significantly increased after the hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector was transfected into the Jurkat cells， while the expression levels of hsa_circ_0087631， Bcl-6 mRNA and IL-21 mRNA were significantly decreased. After wild-type or mutant hsa_circ_087631 vector and hsa-miR-346 mimics were transfected into 293T cells， the results of dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that hsa-miR-346 significantly decreased the luciferase activity of wild-type hsa_circ_087631 （P<0.01）， but the regulation did not change significantly after mutation of the predicted binding site. CONCLUSION Peripheral blood hsa_circ_087631 level is elevated in the PBC patients. The hsa_circ_087631/hsa-miR-346/Bcl-6 signaling may take effect in human T cells. Hsa-miR-346 significantly reduces the expression of hsa_circ_087631， but it may not be regulated by predicted binding sites.     

膜联蛋白B1在猪囊尾蚴免疫逃避作用的研究进展

膜联蛋白是一类有效的内源性调节蛋白,在Ca²⁺存在的条件下与膜磷脂结合,参与细胞活动的多种功能,其与肿瘤发生、自身免疫性疾病、病毒和寄生虫感染等密切相关。作为膜联蛋白家族成员Annexin B1具有独特的氨基酸残基结构,与不同种属的寄生虫入侵特异性宿主密切相关。本文主要阐述了膜联蛋白的种类及膜联蛋白B1在猪囊尾蚴感染宿主机体过程中免疫逃避的作用,旨在探索其猪囊尾蚴感染的免疫逃避机制。深入对膜联蛋白B1和囊尾蚴之间相互关系的进一步了解,以及膜联蛋白B1在寄生虫免疫中更深入的研究,对寄生虫免疫逃避的生物学意义和寄生虫病诊断治疗提供了相关的策略。     

桑天牛卵啮小蜂对桑天牛卵寄生作用的初探

为了研究桑天牛卵啮小蜂对桑天牛卵的寄生作用,采用SDS聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳的方法,在室内测定桑天牛卵啮小蜂寄生后桑天牛卵内蛋白质的变化情况,结果表明:桑天牛卵内的蛋白质图谱变化顺序被桑天牛卵啮小蜂的寄生改变了,尤其是前3d的蛋白质条带变化比较显著,寄生1d的桑天牛卵内比未被寄生的卵内多出3条谱带,分别为200kD、170kD和150kD,到寄生2d时又一起消失了;与此同时又新出现1条小于43kD的蛋白质带,该带到第10天时仍然存在;这表明前3d是寄生作用的关键时期,出现一些特异性蛋白质的可能性比较大。     

持续冷热环境对肉鸡生产性能、糖代谢和解偶联蛋白mRNA表达的影响

本试验研究了不同环境温度(10~30℃)持续14 d对肉鸡生产性能、糖代谢和禽类解偶联蛋白(av UCP)mRNA表达的影响。试验选取21日龄爱拔益加(AA)肉鸡288只,随机分到6个人工环境控制舱中,每个舱饲养6笼,每笼8只鸡作为1个重复。预试期7 d,温度22℃,相对湿度60%。28日龄时将各环境控制舱温度分别逐渐(1 h内)调到10、14、18、22、26和30℃,相对湿度60%,温湿度均保持恒定直至试验结束。正试期14 d。结果表明:1)试验期内,30℃组的体重(BW)显著低于14~26℃组(P<0.05);22~30℃组平均日采食量(ADFI)随温度升高而显著下降(P<0.05);10~30℃组平均日增重(ADG)随温度升高出现先升高后下降的趋势,在22℃时最高;料重比(F/G)随温度升高呈现先下降后升高的趋势,22℃时最低;平均日饮水量(ADWC)在10℃组最低。2)试验第14天,26℃组血糖水平显著低于18℃组(P<0.05);肝糖原水平在各组之间差异不显著(P>0.05);22℃组肌糖原水平显著低于10、26和30℃组(P<0.05)。3)试验第14天,18、22℃组av UCP mRNA相对表达量显著高于其他组(P<0.05)。结果提示:在本试验条件下,从生产性能和能量利用效率考虑,28~42日龄AA肉鸡的适宜养殖温度为22~26℃。     

大豆抗原蛋白对幼龄动物致敏作用的研究进展

大豆抗原蛋白对幼龄动物的致敏作用及不易灭活性使其成为大豆及其制品在动物养殖中有效利用的主要瓶颈。本文从主要抗原蛋白的特性、致敏机制、对幼龄动物的影响、降低抗原蛋白的方法及有待进一步探索问题等方面进行了阐述,旨在为高效利用大豆及其制品,以及进一步深入研究提供参考。