Effect of the expression of Escherichia coli fhuA gene in Rhizobium sp. IC3123 and ST1 in planta: Its role in increased nodule occupancy and function in pigeon pea

The inability to utilize a fungal siderophore as source of iron nutrition by most of the rhizobial cultures isolated from pigeon pea, could be considered a negative fitness factor since hydroxamate siderophores are found in significant amounts in natural soils. Thus these cultures were engineered to use ferrichrome a prototype of hydroxamate type siderophore. Pigeon pea Rhizobium spp. IC3123 and ST1 harboring Escherichia coli fhuA gene, responsible for uptake of Fe³⁺-ferrichrome, were obtained by transformation with pGR1, a broad host range plasmid carrying the fhuA gene under the control of the lac promoter of E. coli. Expression of fhuA in transformed rhizobial strains IC3123::pGR1 and ST1::pGR1 was confirmed by the ability of the plasmid-bearing strains to utilize iron bound to ferrichrome. Inoculation of pigeon pea plants with fhuA expressing rhizobial strains in pot experiments showed a significant increase in plant growth as well as nodule density as compared to those inoculated with the parent as well as the empty vector-bearing strain. Inoculation of pigeon pea seedlings with IC3123::pGR1 and ST1::pGR1 led to marked increase in shoot fresh weight, nodule number per plant, chlorophyll content of leaves and effective nodule symbiosis when compared with plants inoculated with the parent strains IC3123 and ST1. The positive effect of IC3123::pGR1 and ST1::pGR1 treatment on plant growth was more significantly observed when ferrichrome producing Ustilago maydis, known to secrete ferrichrome, was co-inoculated along with the transformed rhizobia. The presence of fhuA gene in rhizobial strains also led to an increased survival and root colonization.     

Cultivation technique of pigeon pea in mountainous areas

介绍了在山地环境条件下木豆种植管理技术要点,包括选地、播种、肥水管理、病虫害防治、保苗越冬以及收获等技术措施。     

Experimental Transmission of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Biovar equi in Horses by House Flies

Background

The route of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses remains undetermined, but transmission by insects is suspected.

Objectives

To investigate house flies (Musca domestica L.) as vectors of C. pseudotuberculosis transmission in horses.

Animals

Eight healthy, adult ponies.

Methods

Randomized, controlled, blinded prospective study. Ten wounds were created in the pectoral region where cages for flies were attached. Three ponies were directly inoculated with C. pseudotuberculosis. Four ponies were exposed for 24 hours to 20 hours C. pseudotuberculosis‐inoculated flies. One negative control pony was exposed to noninoculated flies. Ponies were examined daily for swelling, heat, pain, and drainage at the inoculation site. Blood was collected weekly for CBC and biochemical analysis, and twice weekly for synergistic hemolysis inhibition titers.

Results

Clinical signs of local infection and positive cultures were observed in 7/7 exposed ponies and were absent in the negative control. In exposed ponies, peak serologic titers (1 : 512 to 1 : 2,048) were obtained between days 17 and 21. Seroconversion was not observed in the negative control. Neutrophil counts were higher in the positive and fly‐exposed groups than in the negative control (P = .002 and P = .005) on day 3 postinoculation. Serum amyloid A concentrations were higher in the positive control than in the negative control and fly‐exposed ponies on days 3 (P < .0001) and 7 (P = .0004 and P = .0001). No differences were detected for other biochemical variables.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

House flies can serve as mechanical vectors of C. pseudotuberculosis and can transmit the bacterium to ponies.     

Content of antinutrients and in vitro protein digestibility of the African yambean,pigeon and cowpea

The protein, trypsin inhibitor (TI), tannin, phytate, phytic acid phosphorus and in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) of cultivars of the African yambean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) — AYB, pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) — PP and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) — CP were determined. The protein content of CP (24–28.0%) was higher than those of PP (21–22.5%) and AYB (21–22.5%). The cream and speckled AYB contained more TI (30.9 and 25.3 mg/g) than PP (7.5–14.1 mg/g) and CP (9.8–20.5 mg/g). Apart from the white CP cultivar, they contained more tannin (1.24–1.42 mg/g) than PP (0.14–0.97 mg/g) and AYB (0.71–1.17 mg/g). Phytate was lowest in the AYB (6.30–7.49 mg/g) than PP (8.31–11.31 mg/g) and CP (8.40–9.92 mg/g). Phytic acid contributed 67–74% of the phosphorous in the AYB, 66–75% in PP and 54–59% in CP. The IVPD of the AYB (73.3±0.7%) was significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of PP (76.34±0.2%) and CP (77.8±0.4%). There was a significant negative correlation between TI and IVPD (r=–0.63,p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between IVPD and phytate and tannin contents. There was a positive correlation between protein content and IVPD (r=0.69**) for the legumes under study. These legumes may pose no serious problems to populations consuming them especially when heat treatment is applied before consumption.     

芦芽山自然保护区岩鸽繁殖生态的观察

于 1997、1998年 ,对山西省芦芽山自然保护区内岩鸽的繁殖生态和种群数量进行了观察。岩鸽间或有一年繁殖两窝的 ,巢多营建于悬崖峭壁的缝隙或洞穴中 ,有利用旧巢的习性。窝卵数多为 2枚 ,卵重平均 15 .6 7( 15 .0～ 16 .4) g。雌雄鸽均参加孵卵 ,孵化期 18d,孵化率 10 0 %,离巢率 87.5 %,巢内育雏 17d～ 19d,种群密度为15 .79只 / km     

应用PCR技术检测鸽源性成分

根据鸽子线粒体DNAD-loop环基因中的保守序列,用Primer5.0设计针对鸽的特异性扩增引物。通过聚合酶链式反应从鸽样品中得到约150bp的特异条带。通过测序对扩增产物进行验证,鸽组织的PCR产物序列与基因库中检索到的相应序列相吻合。该实验建立了检测鸽动物源性成分的PCR方法,其检测灵敏度为0.1%。     

Tetrameriosis in feral pigeons from Murcia, Southeastern Spain

A total of 165 adult feral pigeons (Columba livia) were captured in 7 different parks of the municipality of Murcia, Southeastern Spain. Birds were evaluated clinically and subsequently necropsied. All birds appeared to be in good physical condition and no apparent signs of disease were observed. However, 17.6% of the pigeons were parasitized by Tetrameres (Petrowimeres) fissispina. The nematode burden in the proventriculus ranges from 5 to 64 specimens (median: 19); the median of female and male nematodes was 17 (range: 4–54) and 3 (range: 0–12), respectively. Despite the absence of detectable signs of disease, lesions induced by T. (P.) fissispina were evident. The histopathologic analysis revealed a pressure atrophy of the proventricular glands and a light inflammatory infiltrate surrounding the papillae. Pigeons captured in parks with soil had significantly higher T. (P.) fissispina prevalence compared with those captured in paved areas.     

美国王鸽能量代谢的研究

本文研究美国王鸽的代谢率、每日代谢能消耗及食物能量摄入与利用,其结果:在同温条件下,1～5日龄时的代谢率(2.657±1.078meo_2/W~(0.67)·hr)为最低,6～10日龄(11.334±2.421)为最高,以后逐渐下降,至26～30日龄接近于成鸽水平。每日代谢能消耗以1～5日龄(17.971±11.147千焦/只·日)为最低,16～20日龄时为(268.490±57.124)最高,但仍低于成鸽(285.426±71.835)。在12～25℃环境中,21℃与25℃的代谢率没有显著差异,而12℃和16℃的代谢率与25℃的差异极显著或显著。10日龄前雏鸽的代谢率与体重呈强的线性正相关,而后呈强的线性负相关,代谢率呈两个相反趋向的年龄相。40～50日龄童鸽的能量摄入为 533.331千焦/只·日,真同化率为84.69％,每日代谢能消耗占真可代谢能的54.5％,大于生长能量(45.5％)。     

鸽副黏病毒灭活疫苗候选株aYQ的生物学特性研究

评价鸽副黏病毒(PPMV)致弱毒株aYQ的生物学特性,为研制鸽副黏病毒灭活疫苗奠定基础。将PPMV aYQ株经SPF鸡胚连续传代,建立种子批。测定各代次毒种的血凝效价(HA)和鸡胚半数感染量(EID50),并进行纯净性检验;测定毒种鸡胚最小致死量的平均死亡时间(MDT)、1日龄鸡脑内接种致病指数(ICPI)和6周龄鸡静脉接种致病指数(IVPI);测定毒种对鸡胚和鸽的毒力、遗传稳定性和抗原相关性。PPMV aYQ株经SPF鸡胚传代至F10,HA效价为1∶256～1∶512,病毒含量为10-8.5 EID50/0.1mL～10-8.9 EID50/0.1mL,毒种各代次均无细菌、霉菌、支原体以及外源病毒污染;PPMV aYQ株的ICPI和IVPI结果均为0,MDT测定结果大于120h;以103倍稀释的PPMV aYQ株病毒液接种10日龄SPF鸡胚96h无死亡,无眼观病变。以106EID50/羽的剂量人工感染鸽,未见异常症状;PPMV aYQ株各代次F基因均未发生基因突变,F蛋白裂解位点氨基酸序列均为-112GRQGRL 117-;交叉血凝抑制试验和交叉中和试验结果表明,PPMV aYQ株与NDV La Sota株间存在明显的抗原性差异。鸽副黏病毒弱毒株aYQ能够在SPF鸡胚上稳定传代,且生物学特性稳定,免疫原性良好,可以作为鸽源副黏病毒灭活疫苗的毒种。     

Enzyme pretreatment and negative pressure cavitation extraction of genistein and apigenin from the roots of pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] and the evaluation of antioxidant activity

An enzyme pretreatment and negative-pressure cavitation extraction (E-NPCE) method was investigated for extraction genistein and apigenin from pigeon pea roots. The important parameters involved in E-NPCE process were optimized by single-factor experiments and then critical parameters were investigated by a 2³ full factorial central composite design (CCD) to optimize extract conditions. Under optimal conditions, the yields of genistein and apigenin were 0.628 mg/g and 0.359 mg/g, which represented an increase of 44.70% and 53.05%, respectively, compared to standard NPCE. Furthermore, from DPPH scavenging activity test the extract of E-NPCE showed better antioxidant activity than these of other methods. The results demonstrated that E-NPCE would have lower energy consumption, higher efficiency and could be an alternative method for natural compounds extraction.