Molecular cloning,purification and immunogenicity of recombinant Brucella abortus 544 malate dehydrogenase protein

The Brucella mdh gene was successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli. The purified recombinant malate dehydrogenase protein (rMDH) was reactive to Brucella-positive bovine serum in the early stage, but not reactive in the middle or late stage, and was reactive to Brucella-positive mouse serum in the late stage, but not in the early or middle stage of infection. In addition, rMDH did not react with Brucella-negative bovine or mouse sera. These results suggest that rMDH has the potential for use as a specific antigen in serological diagnosis for early detection of bovine brucellosis.     

The influences of ambient temperature and crude protein levels on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broilers

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of ambient temperature, crude protein levels and their interaction on performance and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 216 Arbor Acre broiler chickens (108 males and 108 females) were used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement and randomly reared at two temperatures (normal temperature: 23 °C; daily cyclic high temperature: 28–32 °C) and fed on three diets with different crude protein levels (153.3, 183.3 or 213.3 g/kg, with constant essential amino acids) from 28 to 42 days of age. Daily cyclic high ambient temperature decreased final body weight, average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and serum total protein contents (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.008 respectively), but increased feed/gain, mortality, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, serum uric acid contents and serum creatine kinase activity (p = 0.008, p = 0.003, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.003 respectively), irrespective of crude protein levels. At the ambient temperature, reducing crude protein levels resulted in an increase in feed/gain (p < 0.001), but a decrease in serum total protein and uric acid contents. Only serum creatine kinase activity in broiler chickens was interacted by daily cyclic high ambient temperature and dietary crude protein levels (p = 0.003). These results indicated that daily cyclic high ambient temperature had a great effect on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens, whereas dietary crude protein levels affected them partially.     

Molecular cloning of a Mycoplasma meleagridis-specific antigenic domain endowed with a serodiagnostic potential

A recombinant phage library harbouring Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) genomic DNA fragments was generated in the bacteriophage lambda gt11 expression vector. The library was screened for expression of MM specific antigens with a polyclonal antiserum that had been preadsorbed with antigens of the most common unrelated avian mycoplasma species. A 49-amino acid antigenic domain unique to MM was isolated, expressed in Escherichia coli, and its serodiagnostic potential was demonstrated. An antiserum raised against this MM-specific antigenic domain recognized a cluster of seven membrane-associated MM proteins with molecular masses ranging from 34 to 75 kDa. Overall, this study resulted in the identification of a potent serodiagnostic tool and revealed the complex antigenic nature of MM.     

Adrenomedullin (AM) and adrenomedullin binding protein (AM-BP) in the bovine mammary gland and milk: Effects of stage of lactation and experimental intramammary E. coli infection

Adrenomedullin (AM) has been characterized as an endogenous tissue survival factor and modulator of many inflammatory processes. Because of the increased susceptibility of the mammary gland to infection during the time surrounding parturition in the cow, we investigated how milk and tissue content of AM and its binding protein (AM-BP) might be affected by the stage of lactation and the udder health status. Milk and mammary biopsy samples were obtained from Holstein cows 21 days prior to and at various times after calving to represent the dry period and early and mid-stages of lactation. Additional cows received an intramammary challenge with Escherichia coli for immunohistochemical characterization of AM and AM-BP. Milk AM concentrations were relatively constant across the stages of lactation while AM-BP increased two-fold (P<0.04) between early and mid-lactation. Milk AM (P<0.04) and AM-BP (P<0.03) increased as somatic cell counts (SCCs) increased within a given stage of lactation. Tissue content of both (AM and AM-BP) were significantly affected by stage of lactation, lowest in the dry period and progressively increasing to peak at mid-lactation as well as increasing in association with higher levels of SCCs. Following E. coli challenge, AM increased in epithelial cells surrounding mammary alveoli presenting high levels of SCCs. The data suggest that AM and AM-BP are cooperatively regulated in the mammary gland during lactation; changes in localized tissue AM and AM-BP content reflect a dynamic regulation of these tissue factors in the bovine mammary gland consistent with their protective effects within inflamed tissue.     

Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors and the intestine

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have long been used for the treatment of pain and inflammation because of their inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase (COX). For almost as long as NSAIDs have been in use, multiple adverse effects have been noted. Assessment of many of these adverse effects have been complicated because of the discovery of multiple splice variants of the cox gene, and a greater array of COX inhibitors, especially the COX-2 selective inhibitors have become available. Some of these adverse effects cannot be readily explained by the effect of these drugs on COX. This has sparked a new field of investigation into the COX-independent effects of the COX inhibitors. The major noncyclooxygenase targets of the COX inhibitors of particular relevance to inflammation and the gastrointestinal tract are phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase Akt signaling, uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, PPARgamma, nuclear factor KB, mitogen activated protein kinases, and heat shock proteins.     

Serum C-reactive protein concentration as an indicator of remission status in dogs with multicentric lymphoma

BACKGROUND: The acute-phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) is used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in humans with various neoplasias, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if CRP could be used to detect different remission states in dogs with lymphoma. ANIMALS: Twenty-two dogs with untreated multicentric lymphoma. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Blood samples were collected at the time of diagnosis, before each chemotherapy session, and at follow-up visits, resulting in 287 serum samples. RESULTS: Before therapy, a statistically significant majority of the dogs (P = .0019) had CRP concentrations above the reference range (68%, 15/22). After achieving complete remission 90% (18/20) of the dogs had CRP concentrations within the reference range, and the difference in values before and after treatment was statistically significant (P < .001). CRP concentrations of dogs in complete remission (median, 1.91; range, 0.2-103) were significantly different (P = .031) from those of dogs with partial remission (median, 2.48; range, 0-89), stable disease (median, 1.77; range, 1.03-42.65), or progressive disease (median, 8.7; range, 0-82.5). There was profound variation of CRP measurements within each dog. CONCLUSIONS: CRP is useful in determining complete remission status after treatment with cytotoxic drugs. However, the individual variation between dogs means CRP concentration is not sufficiently different in other remission states to permit its use in monitoring progression of the disease. Greater reliability in determining remission status might be achieved by combining CRP concentration with other serum markers.     

沉默蜕皮激素受体对雌性中黑盲蝽生殖力的影响

中黑盲蝽Adelphocoris suturalis是一种重要的农业害虫,主要为害棉花、果树和牧草等作物。昆虫保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)与蜕皮激素(molting hormone, 20E)是调控昆虫生殖的主要因素。本研究运用基因克隆、基因沉默(RNAi)、实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)等技术研究蜕皮激素受体(ecdysone receptor, EcR)、超气门蛋白(ultraspiracle protein, USP)在中黑盲蝽生殖调控中的作用。结果表明,中黑盲蝽EcR基因的ORF全长1 413 bp,编码470个氨基酸。预测蛋白质分子量为53.65 kD,pI值为7.79。中黑盲蝽USP基因ORF全长1 209 bp,编码402个氨基酸。预测蛋白质分子量为44.99 kD, pI值为7.94。与对照相比,注射dsEcR、dsUSP后6～18 d的中黑盲蝽体内EcR基因、USP基因在转录水平分别被显著抑制;卵巢的挂卵量分别仅有对照组的31.5%、86.6%;单雌产卵量减少36.0%～80.4%,显著低于对照。EcR和USP基因沉默后,产卵前期与对照相比无显...     

棉铃虫 JNKs 基因的克隆及表达分析

c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK)是MAPK家族(mitogen-activated protein kinases, 丝裂原活化蛋白激酶)的重要成员, 具有参与昆虫抗逆反应等多种功能。为明确JNK在棉铃虫 Helicoverpa armigera 中的表达特性及其对Bt杀虫蛋白的应激与免疫反应, 本研究通过PCR克隆得到2个棉铃虫 JNK 基因 HaJNK1 和 HaJNK2; 生物信息学分析结果显示: HaJNK1和 HaJNK2基因开放阅读框分别为1 191、1 143 bp, 分别编码397、381个氨基酸。系统进化树分析结果表明棉铃虫 HaJNK1 与黏虫 Mythimna separata 聚为一支, 亲缘关系较近, HaJNK2与 家蚕 Bombyx mori 聚为一支, 同源性较高。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析 HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 在棉铃虫不同发育时期、不同组织中的表达量, 发现 HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 在卵中表达量最高, 其次是雌成虫; HaJNK1 在性腺中表达量最高, 其次是唾液腺; HaJNK2 在头部表达量最高, 其次是性腺。取食Cry1Ac的4龄棉铃虫幼虫的中肠组织中, HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 的表达量均显著升高。推测 HaJNKs 基因可能参与棉铃虫抵御Bt杀虫蛋白伤害的应激和抗逆反应。     

玉米黄花叶病毒运动蛋白的原核表达纯化与抗血清制备

为实现对玉米黄花叶病毒（maize yellow mosaic virus,MaYMV）的血清学检测,丰富该病毒的检测方法,将编码MaYMV运动蛋白（movement protein,MP）的基因连接到原核表达载体pDBHis-MBP上,将构建成功的原核表达质粒转化到大肠杆菌Escherichia coli中诱导表达融合蛋白,将纯化后的融合蛋白对新西兰大白兔Oryctolagus cuniculus进行免疫并制备MaYMV MP多克隆抗血清,并采用Western blot对抗血清的效价、灵敏度和特异性进行检测。结果显示,利用成功构建的原核表达载体经诱导表达获得分子量大小约为62 kD的融合蛋白,纯化后对新西兰大白兔进行免疫获得MaYMV MP抗血清,该抗血清的效价为1∶128 000,灵敏度为1∶32,且该抗血清能够特异性地检测到本氏烟Nicotiana benthamiana中瞬时表达的MaYMV MP,而不与马铃薯卷叶病毒属Polerovirus及黄症病毒属Luteovirus的其他病毒发生血清学交叉反应,证明该抗血清具有良好的特异性。表明本研究制备的MaYMV MP抗血清能特异性...