Impact of macronutrient composition and palatability in wet diets on food selection in cats

Cats are obligate carnivores adapted to high‐protein diets, but are commonly fed diets rich in carbohydrate. The aim of this study was to examine the food intake choices of cats when diets with different protein and carbohydrate contents were offered. Thirty‐nine cats participated in voluntary dietary intake studies. Four foods were formulated to provide between 24% and 53% of metabolizable energy as protein, between 43% and 11% as carbohydrate and holding dietary fat constant with a contribution of approximately 36%. Foods were offered either singly to evaluate voluntary food intake or in pairs to compare food intake between pairs of diets. Cats regulated their macronutrient intake to attain an overall diet composition that provided 53% of metabolizable energy as protein, 11% as carbohydrate and 36% as fat. The protein contribution corresponded to approximately 6 g of protein/kg body weight/day. High‐protein/low‐carbohydrate diets were always eaten preferentially over low‐protein/high‐carbohydrate foods. When low‐protein/high‐carbohydrate diets were offered, cats limited their food intake to limit daily carbohydrate intake to less than 3 g of carbohydrate/kg body weight. This carbohydrate ceiling may limit protein and even energy intake when only low‐protein/high‐carbohydrate diets were offered. The inclusion of palatability enhancer in the diets increased food intake but did not change protein or carbohydrate intake patterns, indicating that macronutrient intake can be regulated regardless of the use of palatability enhancers in cats. We conclude that cats can discriminate between diets based on macronutrient composition and regulate their intake to maintain maximal protein intake but limit carbohydrate intake.     

Responses of glutamine synthetase activity and gene expression to nitrogen levels in winter wheat cultivars with different grain protein content

Glutamine synthetase (GS) plays a central role in plant nitrogen (N) metabolism, which improves crops grain protein content. A pot experiment in field condition was carried out to evaluate GS expression and activity, and grain protein content in high (Wanmai16) and low grain protein (Loumai24) wheat cultivars under two N levels (0.05 and 0.15 g N kg⁻¹ soil). High nitrogen (HN) resulted in significant increases in GS1 and GS2 expression at 10 days after anthesis (DAA), and higher GS activity during the entire grain filling stage. HN also significantly increased yield, grain protein content and protein fraction (except for glutenin of Luomai24) in two wheat cultivars, which indicated that it increased grain yield and protein content by improving nitrogen metabolism. Wanmai16 showed higher grain protein content, gliadin and glutenin content, and had higher expression level of GS2 both in flag leaves and grains at early grain filling stage. However, Luomai24 had greater yield and higher expression level of GS1. The difference expression of GS2 and GS1 genes indicates they had various contributions to the accumulation of protein and starch in wheat grains, respectively. The results suggest that GS2 would be serving as a potential breeding target for improving wheat quality.     

河南商丘地区棉花黄萎病菌分离鉴定和致病力分析

为探讨河南商丘地区棉花黄萎病菌的致病型群体变异,对该地区棉花上分离的8株单孢菌株的菌落形态、显微结构、致病力、ITS序列、系统进化及菌体蛋白等方面进行了研究。结果表明:这些菌株均属于棉花黄萎病菌Verticilliumdahliae;系统进化树显示8株菌株并没有聚在同一进化枝上;8株黄萎菌菌株存在致病力差异,SQ4菌株致病力最强,属于落叶型,而其它致病力较弱的7个菌株属于非落叶型;不同致病力的菌株间蛋白谱带存在差异。     

一株鸭新城疫强毒的分离鉴定和分子特性分析

从山东地区发病鸭中分离到一株新城疫病毒(SDLP09),经测定,其鸡胚半数致死量(ELD50)、鸡胚平均死亡时间(MDT)、1日龄雏鸡脑内接种致病指数(ICPI)、6周龄鸡静脉接种致病指数(IVPI)分别为107.84/0.1 mL、48.5 h、1.80、2.36,表明该新城疫病毒为强毒.通过分析其融合蛋白(F)发现,F蛋白多肽裂解位点为112RRQKRF117,符合NDV强毒株裂解位点氨基酸序列.F基因分型及氨基酸同源性比较发现,SDLP09株属于基因Ⅶ型,与野鸭源强毒NDV同源性更高,提示着该毒株可能来源于野鸭.     

Ameliorative Effects of Oyster Protein Hydrolysates on Cadmium-Induced Hepatic Injury in Mice

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental toxicant that can cause severe hepatic injury. Oyster protein hydrolysates (OPs) have potential effects on preventing liver disease. In this study, thirty mice were randomly divided into five groups: the control, Cd, Cd + ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, 100 mg/kg), and low/high dose of OPs-treatment groups (100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg). After continuous administration for 7 days, the ameliorative effect of OPs on Cd-induced acute hepatic injury in Cd-exposed mice was assessed. The results showed that OPs significantly improved the liver function profiles (serum ALT, AST, LDH, and ALP) in Cd-exposed mice. Histopathological analysis showed that OPs decreased apoptotic bodies, hemorrhage, lymphocyte accumulation, and inflammatory cell infiltration around central veins. OPs significantly retained the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px, and decreased the elevated hepatic MDA content in Cd-exposed mice. In addition, OPs exhibited a reductive effect on the inflammatory responses (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and inhibitory effects on the expression of inflammation-related proteins (MIP-2 and COX-2) and the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway. OPs suppressed the development of hepatocyte apoptosis (Bax, caspase-3, and Blc-2) and the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in Cd-exposed mice. In conclusion, OPs ameliorated the Cd-induced hepatic injury by inhibiting oxidative damage and inflammatory responses, as well as the development of hepatocyte apoptosis via regulating the ERK/NF-κB and PI3K/AKT-related signaling pathways.     

淡色库蚊氯菊酯抗性相关基因PR-XP1 cDNA的克隆与序列分析

【目的】克隆淡色库蚊一个全新的氯菊酯抗性相关基因PR-XP1的全长序列,分析、预测其编码蛋白的结构与功能,为阐明该基因的抗性机制及研制新型卫生杀虫剂奠定基础。【方法】依据抗性与敏感品系库蚊差异表达的EST片段（GenBank号:EC093826.1）,设计特异性PCR引物,采用RACE技术,克隆淡色库蚊氯菊酯抗性相关基因PR-XP1的全长cDNA序列,运用生物信息学软件对其同源性与系统进化进行分析,并对PR-XP1编码蛋白的结构与功能进行预测。【结果】获得了全长为2 004bp的淡色库蚊氯菊酯抗性相关基因PR-XP1,该基因具有完整的CDS区,编码249个氨基酸。同源性比对与系统进化分析表明,PR-XP1基因核苷酸序列与致倦库蚊（GenBank号:XM₀01862469.1）、埃及伊蚊（GenBank号:XM₀01658032.1）和冈比亚按蚊（GenBank号:BX021208.1）相关基因的同源性分别为95%,83%和70%;其编码蛋白的氨基酸序列与致倦库蚊、埃及伊蚊、西方蜜蜂、入侵红火蚁、佛罗里达弓背蚁、印度跳蚁等昆虫中"假设性蛋白"的氨基酸序列同源性均达46%以上。结构分析显示,PR-XP1基因编码蛋白可能为具有2个跨膜螺旋的膜蛋白,跨膜区形成了一个特异性的"U"形结构;该基因还具有1个微弱的信号肽位点和24个磷酸化位点。【结论】克隆得到了一个全新的淡色库蚊氯菊酯抗性相关的"保守性假设蛋白"基因PR-XP1,推测其功能与氯菊酯抗性相关。     

Effect of dietary GroBiotic®‐A supplementation as a prebiotic on the intestinal microflora,growth performance,haemato‐serological parameters,survival rate and body composition in juvenile beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1754)

The objectives of the present study were to investigate of GroBiotic^®‐A (GBA) on growth, autochthonous intestinal microbiota and haemato‐serological parameters of beluga juvenile. A total of 180 fish (40.82 ± 5.81 g) were fed diets containing graded levels of GBA (0, 5, 10 and 20 g kg^?1 diet) for 8 weeks. No significantly differences in body composition, total viable aerobic bacteria, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, albumin, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were detected between treatment groups. The fish fed on 10 and 20 g kg^?1 GBA significantly showed higher lactic acid bacteria, final weight, body weight increases, weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio compared with the control and 5 g kg^?1 groups. The group fed 20 g kg^?1 GBA showed a highly significant difference in condition factor, survival rate, final length, total red and white blood cells, lymphocytes, haematocrit, haemoglobin, total protein, total immunoglobulin and lysozyme activity. The specific growth rate of the treatment groups was significantly elevated compared with the control groups. These results indicated that GBA at level 20 g kg^?1 improved growth, welfare and survival of beluga juvenile.     

Feed consumption, nutrient utilization and serum metabolite profile of captive blackbucks (Antelope cervicapra) fed diets varying in crude protein content

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum level of crude protein (CP) in the diet of captive blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra) in which feed consumption and nutrient utilization are maximal. Fifteen blackbucks (BW 25-34 kg) were distributed into three groups of five each in an experiment of 75-days duration including a digestion trial of 5-day collection period. All the animals were offered 200 g of concentrates and fresh maize fodder ad libitum. The overall CP content of the three respective diets was 6.9%, 10.4% and 12.7%. Blood samples were collected on the last day of the experiment. Intake and digestibility of CP increased (p < 0.01) with the increased level of CP in the diet. Feed consumption and nutrient intake were not significantly different among the groups. However, digestibilities of most of the nutrients were higher in the 10.4% CP diet than in the 6.9% CP diet. The endogenous loss of nitrogen was similar among the groups. Based on the endogenous losses, minimum N requirement was calculated to be 776 mg/kg BW(0.75) /day, and to meet this requirement, diet must contain at least 8.27% CP. Serum urea nitrogen concentration increased (p < 0.01) with increased level of dietary CP. Serum level of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase was higher (p < 0.05) in the group fed 6.9% CP diet. Animals in the group fed low protein diet also lost body mass during the experimental period. It was concluded that a diet containing 10.4% CP was optimum for maximizing nutrient utilization without any adverse effect on voluntary feed consumption and serum metabolite profile of blackbucks.     

绿盲蝽化学感受蛋白基因AlucCSP1的克隆、表达谱分析及结合特征

 【目的】克隆、组织特异性表达以及荧光结合特征分析绿盲蝽 (Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür)化学感受蛋白（chemosensory protein,CSP）。【方法】设计特异性引物,用RT-PCR技术克隆绿盲蝽化学感受蛋白基因AlucCSP1,使用半定量RT-PCR和Real-time PCR技术对AlucCSP1组织特异性表达进行研究,在BL2（DE3）工程菌株中用pGEX-4T-1载体进行原核表达,并在GSTrap FF柱中纯化和去标签蛋白。使用bis-ANS作为荧光配基,研究AlucCSP1蛋白与58种气味标样和5种棉花次生代谢物质的结合特征。【结果】得到了绿盲蝽化学感受蛋白基因,命名为AlucCSP1（GenBank登录号：JN573217）。该序列阅读框全长393 bp,编码130个氨基酸残基,N端有一段长17个aa的信号肽,具有4个保守的半胱氨酸残基。绿盲蝽AlucCSP1几乎全部在雌虫触角中表达。构建pGEX/AlucCSP1原核表达载体,在BL21（DE3）工程菌株中表达出分子量约为39 kD的融合蛋白,用亲和层析法纯化、经凝血酶作用去除标签蛋白获得纯化的AlucCSP1蛋白,该蛋白与棉酚、单宁、槲皮素、芦丁水合物亲和力较强,结合常数分别为13.4、32.7、19.7、38.5 μmol•L-1。【结论】克隆得到绿盲蝽化学感受蛋白基因AlucCSP1,在雌性触角内特异表达,并进一步得到约13 kD的AlucCSP1纯蛋白。为研究AlucCSP1在绿盲蝽化学感器中的作用奠定了基础。