Evaluation of a recombinant measles virus expressing hepatitis C virus envelope proteins by infection of human PBL-NOD/Scid/Jak3null mouse

In this study, we infected NOD/Scid/Jak3null mice engrafted human peripheral blood leukocytes (hu-PBL-NOJ) with measles virus Edmonston B strain (MV-Edm) expressing hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins (rMV-E1E2) to evaluate the immunogenicity as a vaccine candidate. Although human leukocytes could be isolated from the spleen of mock-infected mice during the 2-weeks experiment, the proportion of engrafted human leukocytes in mice infected with MV (10³–10⁵ pfu) or rMV-E1E2 (10⁴ pfu) was decreased. Viral infection of the splenocytes was confirmed by the development of cytopathic effects (CPEs) in co-cultures of splenocytes and B95a cells and verified using RT-PCR. Finally, human antibodies against MV were more frequently observed than E2-specific antibodies in serum from mice infected with a low dose of virus (MV, 10⁰–10¹ pfu, and rMV-E1E2, 10¹–10² pfu). These results showed the possibility of hu-PBL-NOJ mice for the evaluation of the immunogenicity of viral proteins.     

Repeat tuberculin skin testing leads to desensitisation in naturally infected tuberculous cattle which is associated with elevated interleukin-10 and decreased interleukin-1 beta responses

The principal surveillance tool used to control bovine tuberculosis in cattle is the removal of animals that provide a positive response to the tuberculin skin-test. In this study we performed a longitudinal investigation of the immunological and diagnostic consequences of repeated short-interval skin-tests in cattle naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Tuberculin skin-test positive cattle were subjected to up to four further intradermal comparative cervical skin-tests at approximately 60-day intervals. A significant progressive reduction in the strength of the skin-test was observed after successive tests. In contrast, the magnitude of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) responses was not influenced by repeat skin-testing either transiently around the time of each skin-test or longitudinally following repeated tests. A significant boost in blood interleukin-10 (IL-10) production was observed within 3 days following each skin-test although the magnitude of this boosted response returned to lower levels by day 10 post-test. The application of a novel multiplex assay to simultaneously measure seven cytokines and chemokines also identified that skin-testing resulted in a significant and progressive reduction in antigen specific interleukin-1β (IL-1β) whilst confirming stable IFN-γ and elevated IL-10 responses in the blood. Therefore, we have demonstrated that in cattle naturally infected with M. bovis, repeat short-interval skin-testing can lead to a progressive reduction in skin-test responsiveness which has potential negative consequences for the detection of infected animals with marginal or inconclusive skin-test responses. The desensitising effect is associated with decreased IL-1β and elevated IL-10 responses, but importantly, does not influence antigen specific IFN-γ responses.     

Expression and Bioinformatic Analysis of ADIPOQ Gene in Hanper Sheep

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and biological characteristics of adiponectin (ADIPOQ) gene in longissimus dorsi muscle of Hanper sheep at different months of age.The ADIPOQ gene mRNA expression was detected in longissimus dorsi muscle of Hanper sheep at 3 different growth periods (1,7 and 13 months old) by Real-time quantitative PCR.The bioinformatics method was used to analyze the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of ADIPOQ gene,protein characteristics and network interaction protein.The results showed that ADIPOQ gene was expressed in longissimus dorsi muscle of Hanper sheep,which showed an increasing trend with the growth of the months age without significant difference (P>0.05).There was higher homology of ADIPOQ gene with Capra hircus (98.60%,99.00%) and Bos taurus (98.60%,87.00%) in nucleotide and amino acid sequences.The results of physical and chemical properties analysis showed that the molecular formula of ADIPOQ protein was C₁₁₇₂H₁₇₇₆N₃₁₄O₃₄₉S₅,the molecular mass was 26.00 ku,and the theoretical isoelectric point (pI) was 5.88,which suggested that the protein was acidic.The average value of ADIPOQ hydrophilic protein (GRAVY) was －0.403,which indicated that the protein was hydrophilic and didn’t belong to transmembrane protein.In addition,the signal peptide sequence was Met¹-Ala¹⁷,and the cleavage site was between Ala¹⁷ and Arg¹⁸.ADIPOQ existed collagen structure domain and C1Q conserved structure domain at position 45－101 and 101－237,respectively.The secondary structure mainly composed of random coil (66.95%).The construction of protein interaction network indicated that ADIPOQ might interact with ADIPOR1,ADIPOR2,CDH13 and LEP.The results provided a theoretical basis for further exploring the molecular biological functions of ADIPOQ gene in the process of muscle development in Hanper sheep.     

鸡褪黑激素受体基因在开产前后不同组织中的表达差异

为了从分子水平上了解鸡褪黑激素受体（MTNR）基因在开产前后不同组织中的表达差异,以β-actin基因为内标基因,运用实时荧光定量PCR方法,比较了MTNR1A、MTNR1B和MTNR1C这3个受体基因在心脏、肝脏、输卵管、卵巢、脑和视交叉各组织及在鸡开产前后表达量的差异。结果表明,MTNR1A只在开产后各组织中的表达量存在差异,其中以卵巢组织表达量最高,心脏中表达量最低。MTNR1B和MTNR1C的表达量在开产前或开产后均表现出组织间的显著差异;在开产前后的各组织中,MTNR1B的表达量均以视交叉为最高,卵巢为最低;而MTNR1C的表达量在开产前以心脏中最高,开产后在视交叉中最高,在卵巢组织中的表达量开产前后均为最低。同一组织开产后与开产前比较,MTNR1C基因在心脏、输卵管和脑组织中的表达量呈显著下调趋势。因此,3个受体基因在鸡的不同组织和生理时期存在表达差异。     

miR-127和miR-136在转基因克隆绵羊胎盘中的表达分析及其靶基因的鉴定

克隆动物胎盘发育缺陷是造成动物克隆效率低下的一个重要原因。目前认为克隆胎盘发育异常通常是由于一些基因表达的异常所致,与表观遗传修饰有关。microRNA是一种重要的表观遗传修饰方式,对动物胚胎发育和胎盘的形成有着重要的调控作用。为研究miR-127和miR-136在克隆动物胎盘中的表达情况及其与克隆动物发育缺陷的关系,本实验运用荧光定量PCR分析了死亡克隆绵羊胎盘和同期普通绵羊胎盘组织中miR-127和miR-136的相对表达量,并鉴定了miR-127和miR-136的靶基因及靶基因在胎盘中的表达情况。结果显示,miR-127和miR-136在克隆绵羊胎盘中的表达量分别增加了3.1和2.8倍。EGFP荧光敲除实验证实,胎盘发育相关基因Rtl1是miR-127和miR-136的靶基因,同时定量PCR分析发现Rtl1基因在克隆绵羊胎盘中的表达量降低了3/5。结果说明,miR-127和miR-136在克隆胎盘中的异常表达可导致Rtl1基因的低表达,这很可能是导致克隆动物死亡的一个重要原因。     

昆虫共生菌沃尔巴克氏体(Wolbachia)的wsp基因密码子使用模式分析

沃尔巴克氏体(Wolbachia)主要感染昆虫等节肢动物,是一类革兰阴性共生细菌。为探讨昆虫纲共生菌Wolbachia的系统发育,研究Wolbachia基因组中进化速度较快的外膜蛋白基因wsp的密码子使用模式及影响因素,统计分析该基因的GC含量(GCall、GC1、GC2、GC3、GC3s)、有效密码子数(ENc)、相对同义密码子使用度(RSCU)等指标。结果显示:昆虫纲共生菌Wolbachia的wsp基因密码子偏好性均不强,昆虫纲不同目间共生菌Wolbachia的wsp基因碱基组成及ENc值差异较小;多数基因数据点沿标准曲线或在其附近分布,突变对碱基组成的影响较弱;18种由多个密码子编码的氨基酸中有11种氨基酸的偏好性密码子在昆虫纲7个目及对照蛛形纲1个目间均相同,有2种氨基酸的偏好性密码子在7个目间相同,这些密码子均以A/U结尾;供分析的140个wsp基因中仅编码6个半胱氨酸(Cys);对应分析中第1、第2向量轴贡献率均不高,分别为13.53%和12.49%,均与碱基组成(GC1、GC2、GC3)显著相关。综合各项分析认为,Wolbachia的wsp基因密码子偏好性不具有宿主分类特异性,密码子使用模式主要受碱基组成影响,而碱基组成主要受选择影响。     

顶复门原虫电子转移链代谢及Ⅱ型NADH脱氢酶研究进展

顶复门原虫是包括刚地弓形虫、疟原虫及球虫等在内的一大类寄生性原虫的总称,可引起重要的人畜寄生虫病.抗顶复门原虫药物的长期使用,甚至是滥用,使得这类寄生虫对现有药物产生了明显的抗药性,急需开发新型药物.Ⅱ型NAD(P)H脱氢酶是电子转移链途径中的关键酶,由于其仅存在于某些植物、细菌、真菌和寄生原虫等一些低等生物体内,而在高等动物体内缺失,是研发新型抗感染性药物的重要靶标.笔者主要针对顶复门原虫线粒体电子转移链代谢途径以及Ⅱ型NAD(P)H脱氢酶的研究概况进行综述.     

Transthoracic echocardiographic measurement of patent ductus arteriosus in dogs

BACKGROUND: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) size and morphology influence the selection of the kind and the size of the embolization device used to effect shunt closure. HYPOTHESIS: That echocardiographic measurement of PDA in dogs is accurate. ANIMALS: Forty-five client-owned dogs with PDA. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Echocardiographic and angiographic data were compared. RESULTS: Measurement of the ductus in color Doppler echocardiography (CD-E) and 2-dimensional echocardiography (2D-E) was achieved from left parasternal views in 43 of 45 unsedated dogs (96%). In these 43 dogs, the angiographic minimal PDA diameter was 3.72 +/- 1.59 mm, and the diameter of the PDA ampulla was 8.46 +/- 3.01 mm. The CD-E minimal PDA diameter ranged from 2.3 to 9.5 mm (median, 4.0 mm). There was a significant mean difference to the angiographic measurements (1.15 +/- 0.95 mm; P < .0001). An agreement in a 1-mm range was found in 21 of 43 dogs (48%). The 2D-E minimal PDA diameter was 3.73 +/- 1.78 mm, and the mean difference to the angiographic measurements was not significant (0.00 +/- 0.72 mm; P = .98). An agreement in a 1-mm range was found in 31 of 43 dogs (72%). The 2D-E measurement of the PDA ampulla revealed a significant mean difference to the angiographic data (1.95 +/- 2.43 mm, P < .0001). An agreement in a 2-mm range was found in 21 of 43 dogs (49%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The 2D-E from the left cranial parasternal view is an excellent noninvasive method to estimate the PDA minimal diameter before doing catheter intervention.     

Identification of polymorphisms and association analysis with meat quality traits in the porcine KIAA1717 and HUMMLC2B genes

Skeletal muscle genes are potential candidates for production and meat quality. Screening a subtracted cDNA library constructed with mRNA obtained from longissimus dorsi muscles of F1 hybrids Landrace × Yorkshire and their female parents Yorkshire, we isolated two partial sequences coding for the H3-K4-specific methyltransferase (KIAA1717) and skeletal muscle myosin regulatory light chain (HUMMLC2B) genes. Database search revealed KIAA1717 and HUMMLC2B encoded proteins with SET domain and EF-hand calcium binding motif, respectively. In the present work we identified their partial polymorphisms and two SNPs, one (C1354T) at the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of KIAA1717 and one (A345G) at the SINE (PRE-1) element of HUMMLC2B, both created/disrupted a restriction site for endonuclease Msp I. The selected pigs were genotyped at the KIAA1717 C1354T and HUMMLC2B A345G sites by means of a PCR-RFLP protocol. Significant associations were observed for the KIAA1717 C1354T polymorphic site with meat marbling (longissimus doris (p < 0.05), biceps femoris (p < 0.01)) and intramuscular fat (p < 0.01). HUMMLC2B A345G were significantly associated with meat pH (longissimus doris (p < 0.05), biceps femoris (p < 0.01)), drip loss (p < 0.01), water holding capacity (p < 0.01) and meat color value (longissimus doris (p < 0.01), biceps femoris (p < 0.05)). Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.     

马鹿Zfx/Zfy基因的克隆及序列分析

根据GenBank中公布的牛Zfx/Zfy基因的mRNA序列,设计特异性引物,对马鹿Zfx/Zfy基因进行扩增,并对该序列进行分析。结果表明,克隆得到马鹿Zfx基因序列长为2 115 bp,GenBank登录号为KP257294.1,编码696个氨基酸;Zfy基因序列长为2 406 bp,GenBank登录号为KU041539,编码801个氨基酸。依据Zfx/Zfy基因氨基酸序列构建进化树,分析表明,马鹿Zfx基因与人的亲缘关系较近,与聚为一类的野牛、藏羚羊、虎、家猫、家牛、家犬、绵羊的亲缘关系稍远;Zfy基因与家牛、野牛、藏羚羊、绵羊的亲缘关系较近,与其他动物及人的亲缘关系较远。本研究首次克隆了马鹿Zfx/Zfy基因,为研究该基因蛋白质的结构和功能奠定了基础。