Exfoliation rate of mammary epithelial cells in milk on bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is associated with bacterial load

The exfoliation rate of mammary epithelial cells (MECs) in milk is affected by physiological, breeding and environmental factors. Little is known about the relationship between the MEC exfoliation into milk and mammary‐infected Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) load on bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between S. aureus load and the proportion of MEC exfoliation in milk using five substantial bovine mastitis models. In 64 randomly extracted milk samples from udders at 3–21 days after S. aureus infusion, there were various samples with different numbers of S. aureus counts and somatic cell counts. No significant correlations were found between the S. aureus counts and somatic cell count (r = 0.338). In contrast, a significant correlation was noted between S. aureus counts and the proportion of cytokeratin‐positive cells in the milk from the infused udders (r = 0.734, P < 0.01). In conclusion, the increasing MEC exfoliation rate in milk from mastitis udders caused by S. aureus may contribute to reduced milk yield.     

Feline vaccine‐associated sarcomagenesis: Is there an inflammation‐independent role for aluminium?

Aluminium has been found in feline vaccine‐associated sarcomas. In this study, we investigated the potential for aluminium to contribute directly to tumourigenesis. Our results indicated that an aluminium hydroxide adjuvant preparation was cytotoxic and mutagenic in human‐Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) hybrid cells in vitro. Moreover, CHO cells deficient in DNA double strand break (DSB), but not single‐strand break (SSB), repair, were particularly sensitive to aluminium exposure compared with repair proficient cells, suggesting that aluminium is associated with DSBs. In contrast to CHO cells, primary feline skin fibroblasts were resistant to the cytotoxic effects of aluminium compounds and exposure to an aluminium chloride salt promoted cell growth and cell cycle progression at concentrations much less than those measured in particular feline rabies vaccines. These findings suggest that aluminium exposure may contribute, theoretically, to both initiation and promotion of tumours in the absence of an inflammatory response.     

Marc145细胞源EDC3基因的克隆及其生物信息学分析

为获得Marc145细胞源EDC3基因序列,分析其序列特征及编码蛋白的结构和功能,本试验采用RT-PCR方法从Marc145细胞中扩增EDC3基因,并进行克隆和序列测定;应用DNAStar软件分析该基因的核苷酸和氨基酸序列,与参考序列经BLAST比对后分析同源性,并构建系统进化树;利用生物信息学方法对其编码区蛋白进行二级结构、三级结构、B细胞表位、跨膜结构域和信号肽预测。结果显示,Marc145细胞源EDC3基因长度为1 527 bp,共编码507个氨基酸;EDC3基因编码区核苷酸序列与绿猴、猕猴、狒狒、人、倭黑猩猩、马、野猪、虎鲸、绵羊、非洲象和大熊猫的同源性在91.5%~99.2%之间,与非哺乳动物原鸡同源性最低,仅为81.2%;EDC3氨基酸序列与上述物种的同源性在95.3%~99.6%之间,与原鸡的同源性仅为88.8%。系统进化树结果显示,Marc145细胞源EDC3基因与绿猴的亲缘关系最近,其次是灵长类。蛋白结构预测结果表明,EDC3蛋白主要由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲组成,分别为23.38%和47.35%,二级结构与三级结构预测结果相符。该蛋白存在多个B细胞优势抗原表位,无跨膜结构域及信号肽区域。本试验结果可为Marc145细胞源EDC3基因功能的进一步研究提供参考。     

虫草素预防肥胖及通过ADORA1介导GH3细胞中泌乳素分泌研究

为了研究虫草素是否具有预防肥胖的作用及其可能机制,试验利用高脂饮食诱导肥胖型高脂血症大鼠动物模型,并给予高、中、低不同剂量（50、25、12.5 mg/（kg·d））的虫草素,连续灌胃35 d后观察大鼠体重、脂肪系数、血脂水平的变化;体外培养大鼠脑垂体瘤细胞（GH3）,通过CCK8、Western blotting、ELISA等方法检测虫草素对GH3细胞的增殖毒性,以及腺苷受体A₁（ADORA₁）的表达和对泌乳素分泌量的影响。体内试验结果显示,与正常对照组相比,模型组大鼠体重、脂肪系数和血脂水平（高密度脂蛋白（HDL）除外）均极显著升高（P<0.01）;虫草素高、中、低各剂量组均能极显著或显著降低大鼠体重、脂肪系数及总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白（LDL）水平（P<0.01;P<0.05）,但HDL水平仅在虫草素高剂量组中显著升高（P<0.05）,而虫草素中、低剂量组均无显著变化（P>0.05）;体外试验结果显示,虫草素浓度低于25 μg/mL时对GH3细胞增殖无影响;虫草素能够诱导GH3细胞ADORA₁表达升高;虫草素和ADORA₁激动剂（R-PIA）单独作用能显著或极显著降低泌乳素的分泌量（P<0.05;P<0.01）,虫草素与ADORA₁抑制剂（DPCPX）联合作用时能够在一定程度上阻断虫草素对泌乳素的抑制作用。结果表明,虫草素具有预防肥胖和降血脂的作用,其可能的作用机制是通过诱导ADORA₁表达抑制泌乳素的分泌,该研究结果将为虫草素作为一种潜在的减肥降脂药物的开发提供一定依据。     

高非蛋白氮利用能力酵母菌的筛选与诱变

蛋白质饲料资源短缺一直是制约着中国饲料工业健康平稳发展的瓶颈问题之一。单细胞蛋白（single cell protein,SCP）在解决世界粮食与蛋白饲料短缺问题存在较大潜质。经多年研究,单细胞蛋白在菌种选育、生产工艺、发酵原料等方面均取得了较大进展,但单细胞蛋白饲料成本仍居高不下,在饲料工业中一直未得到大量应用。提高生产单细胞蛋白生产菌株非蛋白氮（non-protein nitrogen,简称NPN）利用效率和生长速度,是降低单细胞蛋白生产成本的关键。本试验从多株酵母菌中筛选出NPN利用能力较强的菌株,并对其进行紫外照射诱变,以期获得菌体蛋白产量高的突变菌株。通过对14株酵母菌对不同碳、氮源利用的研究,确定其最适碳、氮源,并依据14株酵母的生长潜力、菌体蛋白产量、NPN利用能力等进行排名,筛选出综合性能较优的酿酒酵母菌M（Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain YI59）和N2（Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolate AA2）。将酵母菌M和N2作为出发菌,进行紫外照射诱变。以葡萄糖、硫酸铵为碳、氮源,依平板菌落大小与液体发酵菌体蛋白产量进行初筛和复筛,最终获得菌落较大的3株突变菌MU23、MU3和MU5。经液体发酵复筛发现,MU3和MU5菌体蛋白含量较原出发菌M有显著提高,分别提高12.93%和11.82%（P<0.05）,但菌体蛋白产量与出发菌相比无显著差异（P>0.05）;菌株MU23菌体蛋白含量与出发菌M无显著差异（P>0.05）,但菌体蛋白产量较原出发菌M有较大幅度提升,为0.26 g/L,提高13.04%（P>0.05）。综合上述试验结果,使用紫外照射诱变可以达到提高酵母菌NPN利用能力和菌体蛋白产量的目的。     

天山天池二倍体棱叶蒜的开花动态及交配系统

以分布于新疆天山天池的二倍体棱叶蒜(Allium caeruleum)为研究对象,观察记录了开花进程,测定其花粉活力和柱头可授性,并采用去雄、套袋、人工授粉等方法对其交配系统进行检测。结果表明:(1)伞形花序平均直径为(29.07±1.17)mm,花被片天蓝色,花期6—8月;两性花,平均小花数205.67±19.88个,密集,无株芽;小花开放历经弹头、张口、吐药、展开、抱合和萎蔫等过程,历时5~7 d;小花开放进程中花药和柱头间存在空间隔离,从第1枚花药伸出至6枚花药全部脱落以及柱头伸长至萎蔫各需要2~3 d;阴天比晴天分别延长散粉以及延迟柱头萎蔫0.5~1 d。棱叶蒜具有雄蕊先熟、雌雄异熟、雌雄异位以及吸引昆虫避免自交的花部特征。(2)花药开裂散粉4 h时花粉活力最强(79.23%±1.97%的花粉具有活力),36 h后降至很低,属于短寿命花粉。(3)联苯胺—过氧化氢和MTT法检测柱头可授性;花丝、花柱等长期部分柱头开始具有可授性,花丝、花柱合拢期至花丝萎蔫期柱头可授性最强。同一朵花雄蕊和雌蕊的可育期存在部分时间重叠,防止了杂交失败。(4)单花花粉量为31 275±3 651,胚珠数6,P/O值为5 212±608;杂交指数OCI为5;无自发的自花传粉现象,不存在风媒传粉和无融合生殖;倾向于异交为主、自交可育,具备兼性异交并需要传粉媒介的混合交配系统的特征。天山天池二倍体棱叶蒜还以种子休眠、鳞芽无性繁殖的生殖补偿方式保证特殊地理环境下的种群繁衍。     

完全雄性柿种质‘雄株8号’作为中国甜柿育种亲本的可能性研究

‘雄株8号’是中国中部大别山区分布的完全雄性柿种质,可能源自中国原产完全甜柿(中国甜柿)的杂交后代或是其自然变异,其作为完全甜柿专用授粉品种的可能性已有研究报道,但其作为完全甜柿育种亲本的应用潜力尚不明确。以‘华柿1号’(不完全涩柿)ב雄株8号’的杂交后代单株为试材,以常见中国甜柿、日本甜柿和非完全甜柿为对照,对其果实进行可溶性和不溶性单宁含量、单宁细胞大小等指标测定,确认杂交后代单株H8-2为具中国甜柿自然脱涩特点的完全甜柿类型。现有完全甜柿自然脱涩性状遗传特点的研究结果认为,只有日本甜柿相互杂交,或者是亲本之一为中国甜柿时,F_1才可能出现完全甜柿单株。该研究结果首次证明中国原产完全雄性柿种质‘雄株8号’带有控制自然脱涩性状的显性基因,因此其在完全甜柿遗传改良中具有作为育种亲本的应用潜力。     

Effect of fucoxanthin on growth and apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells

AIM: To explore the effect of fucoxanthin (Fu) on the growth and apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells. METHODS: HSC-T6 cells were divided into blank control group, negative control group and drug groups (treated with different concentrations of Fu). The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after Fu treatment. The cell cycle distribution and apoptotic rate were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with blank control group, the viability of HSC-T6 cells was inhibited by Fu at concentrations of 15~75 μmol/L in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.01). The cell ratio of G₁ phase was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) and the cell ratio of S phase and G₂ phase was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in 60 μmol/L Fu group after 24 h. The cell ratio of G₁ phase was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and the cell ratio of S phase and G₂ phase was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in 15 μmol/L and 30 μmol/L Fu groups in a dose-dependent manner after 48 h. The early cell apoptotic rates and total cell apoptotic rates were significantly increased in the Fu treatment groups in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The protein expression of Bax was significantly increased in the Fu treatment groups and the protein expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased in 30 μmol/L and 60 μmol/L Fu groups (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Fu inhibits the growth of HSC-T6 cells possiblely via arresting the cell cycle at S phase and G₂ phase. The apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells induced by Fu might be via down-regulating the protein expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulating the protein expression of Bax.