Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Italian ryegrass silage

Twenty-three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from three cultivars (Akiaoba, Nagahahikari and Tachiwase) of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) silage were precisely characterized by a combination of phenotypic tests, genotypic 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing and rapid PCR-based analyses, focusing on their useful phenotypes for silage preparation as inoculants. We successfully identified both at the species and subspecies levels: phenotypically novel Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. torquens, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, Lactobacillus sakei subsp. carnosus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum and Pediococcus parvulus. This is the first report to elucidate the presence of Lactobacillus coryniformis ssp. torquens and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum in Italian ryegrass silages. Physiological and biochemical tests revealed that phenotypic characteristics are different among the different strains of the same species and subspecies, and that the isolates show unique and diverse phenotypes related to fermentation factors, such as available carbohydrates, optimal growth pH and temperature. These results suggest that, for various well-preserved silage preparations, the isolates may be useful in producing novel inoculants corresponding to their optimally climatic and ecological niches.     

Fine mapping of a calving QTL on Bos taurus autosome 18 in Holstein cattle

Decreased calving performance not only directly impacts the economic efficiency of dairy cattle farming but also influences public concern for animal welfare. Previous studies have revealed a QTL on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 18 that has a large effect on calving traits in Holstein cattle. In this study, fine mapping of this QTL was performed using imputed high‐density SNP chip (HD) genotypes followed by imputed next‐generation sequencing (NGS) variants. BTA18 was scanned for seven direct calving traits in 6113 bulls with imputed HD genotypes. SNP rs136283363 (BTA18: 57 548 213) was consistently the most significantly associated SNP across all seven traits [e.g. p‐value = 2.04 × 10^?59 for birth index (BI)]. To finely map the QTL region and to explore pleiotropic effects, we studied NGS variants within the targeted region (BTA18: 57 321 450–57 625 355) for associations with direct calving traits and with three conformation traits. Significant variants were prioritized, and their biological relevance to the traits was interpreted. Considering their functional relationships with direct calving traits, SIGLEC12, CD33 and CEACAM18 were proposed as candidate genes. In addition, pleiotropic effects of this QTL region on direct calving traits and conformation traits were observed. However, the extent of linkage disequilibrium combined with the lack of complete annotation and potential errors in the Bos taurus genome assembly hampered our efforts to pinpoint the causal mutation.     

犬冠状病毒的分离鉴定及其纤突蛋白基因的克隆与序列比较

以犬胎原代细胞，采用同步接种、带毒传代和添加新细胞的方法，从１例腹泻犬脾脏和１例临床健康犬肠内容物中分离出２株犬冠状病毒（ＣＣＶＹＳ１，ＣＣＶ ＣＩ１）。该２株病毒可使ＣＲＦＫ细胞出现典型的细胞融合病变，与从美国引进的ＣＣＶＮＬ－１８参考株形成的细胞病变相似；电镜负染和超薄切片观察，分离毒株细胞培养物中均含有典型的冠状病毒粒子，并形成胞浆内包涵体；经理化学、生物学鉴定，濉有ＣＣＶ的特性；间接免疫荧     

猪CD4分子的全长cDNA克隆与序列分析

CD4分子为动物辅助性T细胞（TH）和部分胸腺细胞的共受体与信号传导分子，参与TCR介导的TH细胞活化和胸腺细胞分化过程。本研究应用RT-PCR和RACE技术从猪胸腺细胞总RNA中扩增克隆了猪CD4全长cDNA序列，并进行了序列特性分析。序列分析结果表明，在猪胸腺细胞和外周血淋巴细胞中存在2种方式剪接的CD4 mRNA转录本，其中一种mRNA转录本缺失编码40个氨基酸残基的120nt序列，提示该转录本可能编码猪分泌型CD4分子；猪CD4全长cDNA序列为2715nt。其中5′非编码区159nt，3′非编码区1183nt，1374nt的开放阅读框编码457个氨基酸的猪CD4前体蛋白（含4个糖基化住点）；猪CD4分子的7个Cys残基（Cys^43、Cys^122、Cys^327、Cys^418、Cys^421、Cys^444和Cys^446）和2个Ser残基（Ser^432和Ser^439）在动物种间保守；在猪CD4分子胞浆区．存在高度保守的Src家族蛋白酪氨酸激酶p56^kk。识别位点KKTCQC和内化相关双亮氨酸基序。推导氨基酸序列分析结果显示，猪与人、免、猫、狗和鼠CD4蛋白的氨基酸同源性分别为56．0％，54．5％。56．9％，56．5％和44．9％。     

3株新城疫病毒广西分离株L基因的克隆与序列分析

根据GenBank登陆的新城疫病毒L基因序列,设计了3对引物(L1和L2、L3和L4、L5和L6)。用RT-PCR技术对3株新城疫病毒广西分离GX7/02、GX9/03、GX11/03的L基因进行了分段扩增和克隆,并对克隆出来的3个片段进行序列测定,用DNAstar软件比较分析后进行拼接,得到长约为6.8 kb、包含有L基因全长的核苷酸序列。L基因的RNA全长为6 704 bp,拥有一个6 615 bp的开放阅读框,推导其编码的氨基酸数为2 204个。氨基酸同源性分析表明广西分离株之间同源性为98.6%~98.7%;与ZJ1株同源性为98.8%~98.9%;与La-Sota、B1、F48E9、HB92同源性为92.0%~94.2%。     

6株猪O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因的克隆与序列分析

根据口蹄疫病毒（FMDV）VP1基因的序列，设计并合成了2对用于扩增VP1基因的引物。从组织中提取总RNA，首先用P1、P2引物对6株猪。型口蹄疫病毒进行RT—PCR扩增，获得1000bp的片段；再用P3、P4引物进行巢式PCR扩增，结果获得850bp的片段。将850bp的片段克隆到pMD18—-T载体中，通过PCR鉴定，将阳性重组质粒进行测序并分析。结果发现6株FMDV的核苷酸同源性为80．2％～99．4％，其推导的氨基酸序列同源性为86．9％～99．5％；构建遗传发生树，发现6株FMDV属于两个不同的基因型，其中的Shunde00、Sihui01、Shenzhen99、Fushan01株属一个基因型（与Hongkong93、广东86分离株属同一基因型）；Guangzhou99、Shenzhen00株属另一个基因型（与UKG-12—2001株、JPN2000株属同一基因型）。通过对口蹄疫病毒VP1基因的测序与分析，了解其变异情况，为科学地防控FMD提供分子水平的依据。     

Disseminated protothecosis diagnosed by evaluation of CSF in a dog

A 5-year-old female spayed Shetland Sheepdog Mix dog was evaluated for a history of recent seizure activity, progressive hind limb ataxia, polyuria, and polydipsia and no history of gastrointestinal signs. Physical examination findings included conscious proprioceptive deficits, ataxia, and anterior uveitis along with a hypermature cataract in the right eye. Results of a CBC, serum biochemical profile, urinalysis, and computed tomography scan of the brain were unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed marked eosinophilic pleocytosis and rare organisms consistent with Prototheca spp within neutrophils and macrophages. On postmortem histologic examination, mononuclear inflammation and numerous intralesional algal organisms, similar to those seen on the cytologic preparation of CSF, were found in the brain, eyes, kidneys, and heart. Abnormalities were not detected on gross and histologic examination of the gastrointestinal tract. Cultures of CSF and subdural/olfactory bulb, but not intestinal tract, yielded growth of Prototheca spp, and PCR analysis and DNA sequencing confirmed the organism as Prototheca zopfii genotype 2. We have reported a rare case of disseminated protothecosis that was diagnosed by evaluation of CSF in a dog presented with neurologic signs and no overt enteric disease. Protothecosis should be considered as a rare cause of seizures, even in the absence of obvious enteric signs, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic pleocytosis.     

Detection of papillomavirus-DNA in mesenchymal tumour cells and not in the hyperplastic epithelium of feline sarcoids

Abstract We examined 12 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded feline skin tumours which had the histopathological features of fibropapillomas for the presence of papillomavirus (PV) DNA using touchdown polymerase chain recation (PCR), DNA sequencing and nonradioactive in situ hybridization. Nine of the tumours contained a 102-bp PCR product demonstrated using consensus PV primers that amplify a portion of the L1 gene. The nucleotide sequences are closely related, but not identical to that of ovine PV type 2, rabbit oral PV and reindeer PV. The deduced amino acid sequences had strong homologies with the major capsid protein L1 of deer PV, bovine papillomavirus (BPV) 1 and BPV 2, and European elk PV. Although PV antigens were not detected in any of the tumours by immunohistochemistry, PV DNA was demonstrated in individual mesenchymal cells or cell nests of 4/12 tumours by in situ hybridization. A nonproductive infection of mesenchymal fibroblast-like tumour cells with a papillomavirus would explain the lack of PV antigen expression and the absence of PV DNA in the hyperplastic epithelium. Because these tumours and their pathogenesis are similar to equine sarcoids, we suggest that they should be reclassified as 'feline sarcoids' instead of fibropapillomas.     

基于16S rDNA测序分析腹腔注射苦参碱的昆明小鼠肠道菌群结构

旨在通过16S rDNA测序技术分析腹腔注射苦参碱的昆明小鼠肠道菌群的结构。本研究将20只昆明小鼠随机分为2组,分别是苦参碱组(MT组)和阴性对照组(NC组),连续腹腔给药5 d,每天给药2次,收集各组粪便和各肠段组织,进行β多样性、Lefse及Metastats分析,qPCR检测差异菌种在各肠段的mRNA表达量,通过KEGG分析肠道菌群变化导致的代谢途径差异。稀释曲线结果显示,所测样本数据足以反映样品中物种多样性;β多样性分析结果显示,苦参碱可以调节肠道菌群的结构,Lefse及Metastats分析结果均显示,苦参碱显著增加了拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、拟杆菌目(Bacteroidales)、Muribaculaceae、益生菌嗜酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acidophilus)的丰度,而显著减少了厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、瘤胃菌科(Ruminococcaceae)和脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)的丰度。与Lefse及Metastats分析结果一致,qPCR结果显示苦参碱组小鼠粪便中嗜酸乳杆菌含量增加。同时,苦参碱可以增强嗜酸乳杆菌在各肠段的定植。通过KEGG分析发现,NC与MT组之间在聚糖的生物合成与代谢、运输与分解代谢等代谢途径存在显著差异。本研究结果表明,腹腔注射苦参碱可以显著改变昆明小鼠肠道菌群的结构,增加有益菌嗜酸乳杆菌在肠道中的定植,并造成了聚糖生物合成与代谢、运输与分解代谢等代谢途径的差异,为进一步揭示苦参碱发挥药效作用的机理奠定了基础。     

育肥猪粪便菌群结构及其与生长速度的相关性分析

【目的】 研究育肥猪的生长速度与粪便微生物之间的作用关系,寻找与猪生长速度相关的微生物菌群。【方法】 选取50头出生重相近的仔猪,在相同饲养环境中进行饲养管理,生病猪及时转出试验组,125日龄时按体重由高到低排序,把体重最高和最低的4头猪分别分为体重高（51.30 kg±2.57 kg,HW）、低（36.90 kg±2.50 kg,LW）组,通过16S rRNA测序,对125日龄生长育肥猪的粪便微生物区系多样性、群落组成及与生长速度的关联性进行分析。【结果】 Alpha多样性分析显示,两组间均无显著差异（P>0.05）。主成分分析结果显示,HW和LW组中能够明显区分菌群结构。粪便微生物结构组成分析表明,HW和LW组的优势菌门均为厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门和螺旋体门,优势菌属为密螺旋体属、乳杆菌属、链球菌属和未被培养菌属Muribaculaceae菌。LW组中拟杆菌门丰度极显著高于HW组（P<0.01）,纤维杆菌门丰度显著高于HW组（P<0.05）,而髌骨细菌门丰度显著低于HW组（P<0.05）。对粪便微生物结构组成进行差异分析发现,HW组检测到16个特有菌门,LW组检测到1个特有菌门和24个特有菌属。将肠道菌群与生长速度进行相关性分析,共发现10个菌门,18个属与体重（BW）和平均日增重（ADG）呈正相关,7个菌门和12个属与BW和ADG呈负相关。【结论】 相同日龄不同生长速度的猪粪便微生物的区系结构存在显著差异,差异菌群可能对猪的生长速度起到了一定的调控作用,本研究结果为研发益生菌和提高猪生长速度提供了参考依据。