Analysis of Spacing for Spotted Gum Plantations for Maximizing Merchantable Logs' Volume in Southeast Queensland,Australia

Spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora subspecies Variegata) has the potential to be the major hardwood species for large-scale plantations in Southeast Queensland, Australia, but production research is limited due to the lack of age of research plots. Optimal spacing is a major subject of concern. Based on time series data from a spotted gum experiment site, growth performance was analyzed for five spacing levels: 11.3 m?×?11.3 m (78 stems ha^?1), 7.4 m?×?7.4 m (182 stems ha^?1), 5.4 m?×?5.4 m (343 stems ha^?1), 3.6 m?×?3.6 m (771 stems ha^?1), and 2.9 m?×?2.9 m (1189 stems ha^?1). The major objective was assumed to be to maximize total merchantable log volume. A growth model was produced, and the mean diameter at breast height (DBH) and total merchantable log volume for each spacing level at a range of harvesting ages were estimated. From the analysis, the spacing level of 5.4 m?×?5.4 m was found to be optimal for maximizing merchantable log volume to a 10-cm small-end diameter. Further analysis of mean DBH, height, and volume of the largest 200 and 250 trees from this spacing level indicates that merchantable log volume could be maximized by retaining the 250 largest trees ha^?1. The total financial revenue from the best spacing level in 25 and 30 yr are predicted to be Australian dollars (A$) 13,637 and A$17,779 ha^?1, respectively. If full rotation data could be obtained, more reliable models could be produced, and a more accurate financial estimate could be made.     

Distribution of Selected Timber Species of a Central African Rain Forest in Relation to Topography and Soil Heterogeneity: Implications for Forest Management

Several studies have looked at the relative importance of habitat association of tree species in maintaining tropical tree species diversity at a variety of scales including the importance of edaphic factors. The objective of this study was to test hypotheses on the distribution of important timber species in relation to topographic position and soil chemical parameters. Tree species from a Central African rain forest were selected within a 100-ha plot in southwestern Central Africa Republic. Individuals of Lovoa trichilioides, Nesogordonia papaverifera, Pterocarpus soyauxii, Terminalia superba ≥ 10 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) were inventoried then mapped to topography using a survey laser. A torus translation was performed to test for associations between tree species distribution and topographic position as well as soil mineral nutrients for three of the four species. Trees ≥ 30 cm dbh of all three species showed no association with topographic position. However, the distribution of T. superba was significantly associated with high concentrations of soil mineral nutrients. Evidence from mineral nutrient levels indicates that extrapolating topography to define habitat and soil type can be very misleading. Because many of Central Africa's most important timber species have distributions linked to edaphic factors, it is clear that soils must be considered equally as much as topographic position for management plans of logging concessions within Central African tropical forests.     

非洲猪瘟病毒p54蛋白单克隆抗体制备及其抗原表位鉴定

旨在制备非洲猪瘟病毒(ASFV)p54蛋白的特异性单克隆抗体。本研究利用大肠杆菌表达系统表达p54蛋白,免疫BALB/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与SP2/0细胞进行细胞融合。利用纯化的p54蛋白作为包被抗原,采用间接ELISA方法筛选获得阳性杂交瘤细胞。经4次亚克隆后,取杂交瘤细胞上清进行单克隆抗体亚型鉴定,利用体内诱生法制备单克隆抗体并进行纯化。间接ELISA方法检测单克隆抗体的效价,利用交叉反应性试验、间接免疫荧光试验和蛋白印迹对所获单克隆抗体的特异性进行鉴定。根据预测的p54蛋白二级结构,采用逐步截短法分析鉴定单克隆抗体识别的抗原表位区域,并在p54的三级结构中进行标注。结果显示：成功筛选了6株分泌p54单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞,分别命名为28G12-1、31G7-1、31G7-2、35F10-1、35F10-2、38D3-1。其中28G12-1、31G7-1、31G7-2重链为IgG2a型,35F10-1、35F10-2、38D3-1重链为IgG1型;轻链均为κ链。单克隆抗体的最低效价为1∶25 600,与猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、猪伪狂犬病病毒、猪流行性腹泻病毒、猪细小病毒、猪急性腹泻综...     

Characterisation of a SAT-1 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in captive African buffalo (Syncerus caffer): clinical symptoms, genetic characterisation and phylogenetic comparison of outbreak isolates

African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) play an important role in the maintenance of the SAT types of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in southern Africa. These long-term carriers mostly become sub-clinically infected, maintaining the disease and posing a threat to other susceptible wildlife and domestic species. During an unrelated bovine tuberculosis experiment using captive buffalo in the Kruger National Park (KNP), an outbreak of SAT-1 occurred and was further investigated. The clinical signs were recorded and all animals demonstrated significant weight loss and lymphopenia that lasted 100 days. In addition, the mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin values were significantly higher than before the outbreak started. Virus was isolated from several buffalo over a period of 167 days post infection and the molecular clock estimated to be 3 × 10⁻⁵ nucleotide substitutions per site per day. Seven amino acid changes occurred of which four occurred in hypervariable regions previously described for SAT-1. The genetic relationship of the outbreak virus was compared to buffalo viruses previously obtained from the KNP but the phylogeny was largely unresolved, therefore the relationship of this outbreak strain to others isolated from the KNP remains unclear.     

Apparent nutrient digestibility and excreta quality in African grey parrots fed two pelleted diets based on coarsely or finely ground ingredients

A feeding trial was performed to study the influence of particle size in extruded parrot pellets on apparent digestibility and excreta consistency and pH. Two test diets were alternately provided to eight African grey parrots according to a 2 x 2 cross-over design. Both diets were similar in nutrient content and ingredient composition but differed in particle size of the composing particles of individual pellets. Apparent digestibility of macronutrients was studied using the total collection method. Next, the appearance of the excreta was studied by calculation of weight-surface ratio of individual excrements as an objective measurement of consistency. Last, excreta pH was measured directly on fresh excrements and on homogenized 10% excreta solutions. Neither apparent digestibility coefficients nor excreta pH values were significantly different in parrots fed the two diets. However, excreta consistency was significantly (p < 0.05) more solid when fed the coarse diet than when fed with the finely ground diet. The results of this study suggest that excreta consistency can be improved through larger particle size, without adverse effects on nutritive value of the diet.     

Patterns of alveolar macrophage activation upon attenuated and virulent African swine fever viruses in vitro

The pattern of porcine alveolar macrophage (AM) activation upon classical stimuli of two strains of African swine fever (ASF) viruses, an attenuated ASFV-BA71V and virulent ASFV-Georgia2007 were investigated. In an in vitro experiment ASFV-Georgia2007-infected AM showed M1 polarization pattern different from the one induced by classical stimuli. Altered morphology, appearance of binuclear cells, decreased synthesis of IFN-alpha as well as IFN-epsilon was observed compared with attenuated ASFV-BA71V, and decreased synthesis of IFN-omega compared with intact cells. However, CD68 level did not significantly differ between alveolar macrophage populations infected by ASFV-Georgia2007 and control group, while both LPS/IFN-gamma stimulation and non-pathogenic ASFV-BA71V virus increased the level of CD68 soluble receptor.AM infection with ASFV-Georgia2007 resulted in remarkable DNA proliferation whereas LPS/IFN-gamma and ASFV-BA71V induced less expressed DNA proliferation in activated cells. The higher value of nitric oxide was obvious in the cells infected with ASFV-BA71V, compared to ASFV-Georgia2007 and LPS/IFN-gamma activated cells.In conclusion, pattern of activation of alveolar macrophages induced by ASFV-Georgia2007 virus differs from the one expressed in LPS/IFN-gamma- and ASFV-BA71V-activated cells. ASFV-BA71V and LPS/IFN-gamma share similar antiviral response of porcine AM. Therefore we assume that wild type virulent ASFV can partially down regulate antiviral response of AM and conclude that evolutionary decrease of virulence in ASFV is related to alterations of control of the host cell antiviral response.     

Mycobacterium bovis prevalence affects the performance of a commercial serological assay for bovine tuberculosis in African buffaloes

The endemic presence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in African buffaloes in South Africa has severe consequences for BTB control in domestic cattle, buffalo ranching and wildlife conservation, and poses a potential risk to public health. This study determined the BTB prevalence in free-ranging buffaloes in two game reserves and assessed the influence of the prevalence of mycobacterial infections on the performance of a commercial cattle-specific serological assay for BTB (TB ELISA). Buffaloes (n = 997) were tested with the tuberculin skin test and TB ELISA; a subset (n = 119) was tested longitudinally. Culture, PCR and sequencing were used to confirm infection with M. bovis and/or non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Prevalence of BTB, but not NTM, influenced the TB ELISA performance. Multiple testing did not increase test confidence. The findings strongly illustrate the need for development of novel assays that can supplement existing assays for a more comprehensive testing scheme for BTB in African buffaloes.     

非洲猪瘟病毒p62蛋白单克隆抗体的制备及初步应用

为制备非洲猪瘟病毒（ASFV）p62蛋白的特异性单克隆抗体,并初步应用于感染组织样品中ASFV抗原的免疫组化（IHC）检测,本研究以杆状病毒表达的非洲猪瘟病毒重组p62蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与骨髓瘤细胞进行融合获得杂交瘤细胞。结果显示：基于纯化的p62蛋白建立的间接ELISA方法对杂交瘤细胞进行筛选和亚克隆,获得了18株可稳定分泌抗非洲猪瘟病毒p62蛋白单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株。经IFA检测,制备的单克隆抗体均与非洲猪瘟病毒反应,且不与猪瘟病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、猪伪狂犬病病毒、猪圆环病毒2型等猪源常见病毒反应,特异性良好。抗体识别蛋白的鉴定结果显示,3株MAbs识别p35蛋白,15株MAbs识别p15蛋白。14株MAbs重链亚类为IgG1型,4株MAbs重链亚类为IgG2a,轻链均为κ链。利用18株MAbs对ASFV感染猪的肺、扁桃体、淋巴结等组织进行IHC检测,结果显示5株MAbs均能够与感染ASFV的组织发生特异性的免疫反应。本研究获得的非洲猪瘟病毒p62蛋白单克隆抗体可为非洲猪瘟病毒免疫学检测方法的建立及p62蛋白的结构功能等基础研究提供重要的生物材料。     

“非瘟”与“新冠肺炎”双重防控压力下我国养猪业所面临的困境及现代生物技术和育种技术应用的迫切性

目前我国养猪业正经受防控非洲猪瘟和新冠肺炎双重疫情的挑战。本文分析了我国种猪资源保护利用以及育种工作的现状和所面临的问题,并建议我国尽快利用现代生物技术保护我国优良猪种种质资源,尽快推广和应用现代育种技术,提高种猪生产性能,加快我国生猪产能的恢复。