Repeat tuberculin skin testing leads to desensitisation in naturally infected tuberculous cattle which is associated with elevated interleukin-10 and decreased interleukin-1 beta responses

The principal surveillance tool used to control bovine tuberculosis in cattle is the removal of animals that provide a positive response to the tuberculin skin-test. In this study we performed a longitudinal investigation of the immunological and diagnostic consequences of repeated short-interval skin-tests in cattle naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Tuberculin skin-test positive cattle were subjected to up to four further intradermal comparative cervical skin-tests at approximately 60-day intervals. A significant progressive reduction in the strength of the skin-test was observed after successive tests. In contrast, the magnitude of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) responses was not influenced by repeat skin-testing either transiently around the time of each skin-test or longitudinally following repeated tests. A significant boost in blood interleukin-10 (IL-10) production was observed within 3 days following each skin-test although the magnitude of this boosted response returned to lower levels by day 10 post-test. The application of a novel multiplex assay to simultaneously measure seven cytokines and chemokines also identified that skin-testing resulted in a significant and progressive reduction in antigen specific interleukin-1β (IL-1β) whilst confirming stable IFN-γ and elevated IL-10 responses in the blood. Therefore, we have demonstrated that in cattle naturally infected with M. bovis, repeat short-interval skin-testing can lead to a progressive reduction in skin-test responsiveness which has potential negative consequences for the detection of infected animals with marginal or inconclusive skin-test responses. The desensitising effect is associated with decreased IL-1β and elevated IL-10 responses, but importantly, does not influence antigen specific IFN-γ responses.     

Evaluation of a recombinant measles virus expressing hepatitis C virus envelope proteins by infection of human PBL-NOD/Scid/Jak3null mouse

In this study, we infected NOD/Scid/Jak3null mice engrafted human peripheral blood leukocytes (hu-PBL-NOJ) with measles virus Edmonston B strain (MV-Edm) expressing hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins (rMV-E1E2) to evaluate the immunogenicity as a vaccine candidate. Although human leukocytes could be isolated from the spleen of mock-infected mice during the 2-weeks experiment, the proportion of engrafted human leukocytes in mice infected with MV (10³–10⁵ pfu) or rMV-E1E2 (10⁴ pfu) was decreased. Viral infection of the splenocytes was confirmed by the development of cytopathic effects (CPEs) in co-cultures of splenocytes and B95a cells and verified using RT-PCR. Finally, human antibodies against MV were more frequently observed than E2-specific antibodies in serum from mice infected with a low dose of virus (MV, 10⁰–10¹ pfu, and rMV-E1E2, 10¹–10² pfu). These results showed the possibility of hu-PBL-NOJ mice for the evaluation of the immunogenicity of viral proteins.     

Distribution of the neurokinin-1 receptor in equine intestinal smooth muscle

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Tachykinins have profound effects on equine intestinal motility, but the distribution of the neurokinin receptors (NKRs) through which they act is unknown. This study reports the distribution of one of these receptors, the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), in smooth muscle throughout the equine intestinal tract. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the distribution of the NK1R, based upon mRNA expression, in smooth muscle of different regions of the equine intestinal tract. METHODS: Nine regions of the intestinal tract were sampled in 5 mature horses. Total RNA was isolated from smooth muscle and reverse transcribed; NK1R mRNA was then quantified using real-time PCR. RESULTS: NK1R mRNA was found at all levels of the sampled intestinal tract. The smooth muscle of the proximal small intestine and the ventral colon exhibited the highest level of NK1R mRNA expression in the equine intestinal tract. CONCLUSIONS: Tachykinins probably affect intestinal contractility and propulsion in the proximal small intestine and in the ventral colon.     

DIPHOSPHONATE TREATMENT OF A PRIMARY OSTEOSARCOMA IN A DOG: A CASE REPORT

The following sequence of treatments was administered to a Saint Bernard dog with a primary distal right radius osteosarcoma: 54 days of daily disodium 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate (HEDP) subcutaneous injections; 53 days of HEDP per os ; one ³²P-HEDP intravenous injection. During the pretreatment period, there was an extensive increase in calcific tumor growth and osteoblastic proliferation. After the subcutaneous HEDP treatment, almost complete tumor necrosis was seen. After the oral HEDP treatment, only the deepest tumor portion contained active osteoblasts, calcific growth of the tumor was completely blocked, and uptake of ^99mTc-Sn-HEDP was reduced to one fourth of the pretreatment uptake. After a single ³²P-HEDP dose, large areas of tumor necrosis were evident histopathologically. However, subsequent resumption of cellular activity occurred in the tumor, and the uptake of ^99mTc-Sn-HEDP increased to pretreatment values. These data suggest that systemically administered HEDP should be studied further for its possible therapeutic potential in the treatment of osteosarcoma and indicate a need for further study of ³²P-HEDP or possibly ³³P-HEDP.     

高寒牧区碱茅＋杂花苜蓿混播试验初报

为选择适合在高海拔，寒冷地区推广的多年生混播牧草品种，采用近年培育出的甘农１号杂花苜蓿与碱茅，在肃南县进行了混播试验，结果表明，高寒地区碱茅与甘农１号杂花苜蓿混播有较强的抗寒性和越冬能力，碱茅与苜蓿以７：４比例混播，可获得最佳产草量和牧草品质。     

家蚕P450基因CYP305B1的基因组序列克隆及结构分析

为了研究家蚕P450基因CYP305B1的结构,采用反向PCR技术克隆了家蚕CYP305B1基因的基因组序列,经序列测定,拼接得到家蚕CYP305B1全基因序列,发现家蚕CYP305B1的第1内含子位于5′端非翻译区序列(5′-UTR)中间。将家蚕CYP305B1与野桑蚕P450基因CYP305B1V1序列进行同源性比较的结果表明,二者在5′-UTR上游-400～-770 bp序列间的同源性只有40.4%,序列差异最大的是第1内含子和第6内含子。在第1内含子中,野桑蚕CYP305B1V1在翻译起始密码ATG上游-340之前存在330 bp的插入序列,在-110～-340 bp间二者的同源性也只有46.9%;在第6内含子中,家蚕CYP305B1比野桑蚕CYP305B1V1多了一段约300 bp的插入序列。研究结果有助于进一步探究该基因的转录和调控机制。     

中国华东地区猪生殖-呼吸道综合征病毒(S_1株)ORF_(5～7)基因特征研究

本研究对我国华东地区猪生殖和呼吸综合征病毒（ＰＲＲＳＶ）分离株Ｓ１主要结构蛋白基因（ＯＲＦ５～７）进行了ＰＣＲ扩增和ＤＮＡ测序分析。结果表明，长度为１５２０ｂｐＤＮＡ序列含有３个阅读框ＯＲＦｓ，即ＯＲＦ５、ＯＲＦ６和ＯＲＦ７，ＯＲＦ５和ＯＲＦ６及ＯＲＦ６和ＯＲＦ７间有部分碱基重叠，且与欧洲型和美洲型ＰＲＲＳＶ相似。ＯＲＦｓ推导的氨基酸序列与美国ＶＲ２３３２和欧洲ＬＶ毒株同源性分析为９９％～１００％和５９％～７８％。ＯＲＦｓ预测的蛋白质分子量、等电点、糖基化位点、亲水性分布图及跨膜螺旋区与ＶＲ２３３２毒株相似。     

Effects of calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids and rumen-protected methionine on plasma concentrations of ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (7 to 36) amide and pancreatic hormones in lactating cows

Our objective was to determine the effects of calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids (CLFAs) and rumen-protected methionine (RPM) on plasma concentrations of ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (7 to 36) amide, and pancreatic hormones in lactating cows. Four Holstein cows in midlactation were used in a 4 by 4 Latin square experiment in each 2-wk period. Cows were fed corn silage-based diets with supplements of CLFAs (1.5% added on dry matter basis), RPM (20 g/d), CLFAs plus RPM, and without supplement. Jugular blood samples were taken from 1 h before to 2 h after morning feeding at 10-min intervals on day 12 of each period. CLFAs decreased dry matter intake, but RPM did not affect dry matter intake. Both supplements of CLFAs and RPM did not affect metabolizable energy intake and milk yield and composition. Plasma concentrations of NEFAs, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (T-Cho) were increased with CLFAs alone, but increases of plasma concentrations of TG and T-Cho were moderated by CLFAs plus RPM. Calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids increased plasma ghrelin concentration, and the ghrelin concentration with CLFAs plus RPM was the highest among the treatments. Plasma concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-1, glucagon, and insulin were decreased with CLFAs, whereas adding RPM moderated the decrease of plasma glucagon concentration by CLFAs. These results indicate that the addition of methionine to cows given CLFAs increases plasma concentrations of ghrelin and glucagon associated with the decrease in plasma concentrations of TG and T-Cho.     

抗精神分裂症药物对吐鲁番斗鸡5-HTT和TPH1基因表达的影响

为探讨不同抗精神分裂症药物对吐鲁番斗鸡攻击行为影响的分子机理,试验将36只斗鸡随机分为12组,并选取利培酮、阿立哌唑、盐酸曲唑酮、盐酸舍曲林4种抗精神分裂症药物,且每种药物设有低剂量组（L）、正常剂量组（N）及高剂量组（H）,每天人工口服给药。分别在第1、2、5、8、11、14天时,翅下静脉采血,并采用实时荧光定量PCR法对口服不同剂量药物的吐鲁番斗鸡各阶段血液中5-羟色胺转运体（5-hydroxy-tryptamine transporter,5-HTT）、色氨酸羟化酶1（tryptophan hydroxylase 1,TPH1）的mRNA表达量进行检测。结果显示,口服4种药物后,利培酮组和阿立哌唑组斗鸡血液中5-HTT、TPH1基因mRNA的表达变化具有相似性,5-HTT基因整体呈下降趋势,TPH1基因均表现为波动性上升,且利培酮组TPH1基因mRNA的表达量及上升幅度高于阿立哌唑组;盐酸曲唑酮组和盐酸舍曲林组5-HTT基因mRNA的表达均从第5天开始呈直线上升,并于第14天达到峰值,且盐酸舍曲林组TPH1基因的表达呈微上调,盐酸曲唑酮组则无明显变化。利培酮组和阿立哌唑组斗鸡攻击行为减弱与其血液中5-HTT基因mRNA的低表达有关,本试验结果为进一步研究药物影响吐鲁番斗鸡攻击行为的分子机理提供了重要参考依据。