Multiple amino acid substitutions are involved in the adaptation of H9N2 avian influenza virus to mice

To explore adaptation of avian influenza virus to mice we previously performed serial lung-to-lung passages of the influenza A/Chicken/Jiangsu/7/2002 (H9N2) strain, resulting in the isolation of a variant influenza strain lethal for mice. We now report that virulence correlates with improved growth characteristics on mammalian cells and extended tissue tropism in vivo. Sequencing of the complete genomes of the wild-type and mouse-adapted viruses revealed 25 amino acid substitutions. Some were found to reiterate known substitutions in human and swine H9N2 influenza isolates. Functions affected include nuclear localization signals and sites of protein and RNA interaction, while others are known determinants of pathogenicity and host specificity such as the viral polymerase PB2 E627K substitution. These observations suggest that enhanced growth characteristics and modified cell tropism may contribute to increased virulence in mice. We conclude that multiple amino acid substitutions are likely to be involved in the adaptation of H9N2 avian influenza virus to mice.     

血红素氧合酶-2基因真核表达载体的构建

为构建血红素氧合酶-2（HO-2）真核表达载体pEF1α-HO-2-AcGFP,并观察其在小鼠脑血管内皮细胞中的表达情况。试验利用PCR技术从C57BL/6小鼠海马组织中扩增出HO-2基因cDNA序列,用双酶切法将此序列克隆到真核表达载体pEF1α-IRES-AcGFP上,构建HO-2的真核表达载体pEF1α-HO-2-AcGFP,重组载体经EcoRI和BamHI双酶切和测序鉴定。电穿孔法转染小鼠脑血管内皮细胞,48h后,实时定量PCR、Western blot检测HO-2在小鼠脑血管内皮细胞中mRNA和蛋白质水平的表达情况。结果表明,pEF1α-HO-2-AcGFP载体构建正确;重组载体转染小鼠脑血管内皮细胞后HO-2在mRNA水平表达量较空载体转染极显著增高（P〈0.01）,在蛋白水平表达量较空载体转染显著增高（P〈0.05）。表明HO-2基因的真核表达载体pEF1α-HO-2-AcGFP构建成功,为进一步研究其机制和功能奠定了基础。     

Is the metabolic syndrome a useful clinical concept in dogs? A review of the evidence

The metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and stroke in human beings. The term has recently been applied to dogs that exhibit components of the human metabolic syndrome, specifically visceral obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypertension and fasting hyperglycaemia. Obese dogs, like obese humans, are known to develop resistance to the glucose-lowering effects of insulin, and develop increased circulating concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol and blood pressure. Unlike humans, however, obese dogs do not develop fasting hyperglycaemia or atherogenic hyperlipidaemia. Importantly, there is no evidence that dogs develop type 2 diabetes. Atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and stroke are rare and not known to be associated with obesity in dogs. On the basis of current knowledge, the use of the term ‘metabolic syndrome’ in dogs does not appear to have merit.     

盐胁迫对星星草幼苗保护酶系统的影响

在盐胁迫下,星星草幼苗过氧化氢酶活性随着胁迫时间的延长而增强,并与盐浓度呈显著正相关。超氧化物歧化酶活性随着胁迫浓度的增强而增强,当超过一定浓度(3.0%Na₂CO₃)时则趋减弱,尔后随着胁迫时间的延长而增强。过氧化物酶活性的变化规律与超氧化物歧化酶活性相似,但变化幅度较小。丙二醛含量随着胁迫时间的延长和胁迫强度的增强而增加。     

Establishment of a Conditional Transgenic System Using the 2A Peptide in the Female Mouse Germline

Transgenic mice are essential research tools in developmental biology studies. The 2A peptide allows multiple genes to be expressed simultaneously at comparable levels in somatic cells, but there are no reports of it being used successfully in germ cells. We constructed a Cre/loxP-based conditional vector containing the 2A peptide to significantly enhance the expression of a reporter and target gene from a constitutive promoter in oocytes. Mice with a transgene insertion containing the chicken β-actin promoter, floxed EGFP-polyA cassette, mCherry reporter, 2A peptide and target gene DNA methyltransferase 3A2 (Dnmt3a2) were crossed with TNAP- or Vasa-Cre mice to produce offspring, in which mCherry and DNMT3A2 proteins were highly expressed in oocytes upon Cre-mediated removal of EGFP-polyA. This novel transgenic mouse line based on the 2A expression system can serve as a useful tool for examining gene function during oogenesis.     

T-2毒素毒性作用研究进展

T-2是A类单端孢霉烯族化合物中毒性最强的一种,对动物机体具有较强的危害,可造成多个系统出现中毒效应。作者主要对T-2毒素对动物的广泛毒性作用进行论述,且对下一步的研究方向进行了展望。     

Evaluation of a new strategy to modulate skeletal development in racehorses by imposing track-based exercise during growth: the effects on 2- and 3-year-old racing careers

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: No data exist on the effects of conditioning exercise at foal age on workload and subsequent clinical injury rate during their 2- and 3-year-old racing careers. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of subjecting TB foals to conditioning exercise prior to the start of race training on: the workload required to reach a level of fitness sufficient to compete; and the prevalence of orthopaedic injury during the first 2 seasons of their racing careers. METHODS: Twenty 18-month-old TBs, 12 subjected to conditioning exercise at foal age (CONDEX) and 8 exercised spontaneously at pasture only (PASTEX) were trained and entered in competitive events. Workload was quantified using the cumulative workload index (the product of average velocity and distance at a specific gait) and the animals were monitored clinically and radiographically for signs of musculoskeletal disorders. RESULTS: Workload to reach the desired fitness level was similar for CONDEX and PASTEX. CONDEX performed more prerace training sessions as 2-year-olds (P<0.05). The incidence of orthopaedic injuries was low in both groups and there were no differences in the occurrence of orthopaedic ailments. PASTEX animals tended to show signs of musculoskeletal disorders earlier than CONDEX animals. This time difference was significant for metacarpophalangeal joint pain on flexion, reduced carpal flexion and hindlimb lameness (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subjecting TB foals to conditioning exercise early in life does not have adverse effects on racing careers at ages 2 and 3 years, and does not influence the workload needed to reach a fitness level that is sufficient for racing. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The lack of negative effects and the indications of some positive effects of early conditioning exercise in the Thoroughbred encourage further large-scale comparative studies.     

犬新孢子虫NcSRS2基因原核表达质粒的构建

根据已发表的犬新孢子虫NcSRS2基因序列,设计1对含有EcoRⅠ和NotⅠ酶切位点的引物。以提取犬新孢子虫虫体基因组DNA为模板,应用PCR扩增获得NcSRS2 ORF基因片段,将此基因片段克隆到pMD18-T Simple载体上,用EcoRⅠ和NotⅠ双酶切该片段,回收得到含有两个酶切位点黏端的Nc-SRS2 ORF基因,将此基因片段克隆至相同酶切回收后的PGEM-4T-2原核表达载体中,获得重组质粒pGEX-NcSRS2,经PCR鉴定,限制性内切酶分析和克隆片段序列测定比较,证实了重组质粒的正确性。     

饲料中添加2%麦饭石对猪生产性能的影响

试验结果显示:生产母猪饲料中添加2%麦饭石,母猪产仔成活率提高21.82%;猪育肥增重试验,断奶仔猪增重提高20.08%,提高饲料报酬34.21%:4月龄育肥猪增重提高18.38%,提高饲料报酬25.58%。