Diagnosing feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in FIV-vaccinated and FIV-unvaccinated cats using saliva

We recently showed that two immunochromatography point-of-care FIV antibody test kits (Witness FeLV/FIV and Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV) were able to correctly assign FIV infection status, irrespective of FIV vaccination history, using whole blood as the diagnostic specimen. A third FIV antibody test kit, SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo (an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), was unable to differentiate antibodies produced in response to FIV vaccination from those incited by FIV infection. The aim of this study was to determine if saliva is a suitable diagnostic specimen using the same well characterized feline cohort. FIV infection status of these cats had been determined previously using a combination of serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and virus isolation. This final assignment was then compared to results obtained using saliva as the diagnostic specimen utilizing the same three point-of-care FIV antibody test kits and commercially available PCR assay (FIV RealPCR). In a population of cats where one third (117/356; 33%) were FIV-vaccinated, both immunochromatography test kits accurately diagnosed FIV infection using saliva via a centrifugation method, irrespective of FIV vaccination history. For FIV diagnosis using saliva, the specificity of Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV and Witness FeLV/FIV was 100%, while the sensitivity of these kits was 96% and 92% respectively. SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo had a specificity of 98% and sensitivity of 44%, while FIV RealPCR testing had a specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 72% using saliva. A revised direct method of saliva testing was trialed on a subset of FIV-infected cats (n = 14), resulting in 14, 7 and 0 FIV positive results using Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV, Witness FeLV/FIV and SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo, respectively. These results demonstrate that saliva can be used to diagnose FIV infection, irrespective of FIV vaccination history, using either a centrifugation method (Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV and Witness FeLV/FIV) or a direct method (Anigen Rapid FIV/FeLV). Collection of a saliva specimen therefore provides an acceptable alternative to venipuncture (i) in fractious cats where saliva may be easier to obtain than whole blood, (ii) in settings when a veterinarian or trained technician is unavailable to collect blood and (iii) in shelters where FIV testing is undertaken prior to adoption but additional blood testing is not required.     

Apparent seroprevalence,isolation and identification of risk factors for brucellosis among dairy cattle in Goa,India

Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic infection affecting livestock and human beings. The disease has been reported worldwide except in few countries where it has been eradicated. The prevalence of brucellosis among cattle from 11 farms having a history of abortions was studied. A total of 481 samples comprising of blood, milk, vaginal swabs, vaginal discharges, placental tissues and fetal tissues were collected from 296 animals. Clinical samples were processed for the isolation of Brucella. Serum samples (n = 296) were tested by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and indirect ELISA. A total of 90 (30.40%) and 123 (41.55%) samples were positive by RBPT and indirect ELISA, respectively. Also 27.02% samples were positive by both the tests. Brucella isolates (n = 8) were recovered from clinical samples using Brucella selective media. All the isolates demonstrated PCR amplification for the bcsp31 and IS711 genes. Amplification of Brucella abortus specific primer was demonstrated by all the isolates in AMOS PCR indicating isolates to be of either B. abortus biotype 1, 2 or 4. Risk factors for transmission of brucellosis among cattle population were studied by field surveys. It was observed that lack of awareness about brucellosis (OR = 8.739, P = 0.138) and inadequate floor space (OR = 0.278, P = 0.128) were crucial risk factors for transmission of bovine brucellosis.     

金针菇异戊烯基焦磷酸异构酶基因的克隆及表达分析

PCR扩增了金针菇(Flammulina velutipes)异戊烯基焦磷酸异构酶基因(FvIDI)的DNA全长和开放阅读框序列.该基因的ORF全长753 bp,DNA全长923 bp,含有3个内含子和4个外显子,编码250个氨基酸,金针菇异戊烯基焦磷酸异构酶相对分子质量为28450,等电点为5.05.采用实时荧光定量PCR技术研究FvIDI基因在不同发育时期和不同温度下的表达量,结果显示,FvIDI基因在采收期菌盖中表达量最高,4℃诱导处理2～4 h和37℃诱导处理2～6 h的表达量明显高于常规温度21℃处理.     

Assessing the within-herd prevalence of Coxiella burnetii milk-shedder cows using a real-time PCR applied to bulk tank milk

Thirty-seven bulk tank milk (BTM) and individual milk samples of all contributing cows were tested for Coxiella burnetii detection by a real-time PCR assay and used to assess the relationship between the BTM PCR-response and (i) the within-herd prevalence of milk-shedder cows and (ii) the proportion of heavy milk-shedder cows. The within-herd prevalence of milk-shedder cows (i) was found to be significantly higher in herds with a positive BTM and (ii) increased significantly with the estimated titre in Coxiella burnetii obtained in positive BTM. The proportion of heavy milk-shedder cows among the milk-shedder cows increased significantly with an increased estimated titre in Coxiella burnetii in positive BTM. Therefore, a real-time PCR assay applied to BTM samples collected repeatedly over time appears to be a valuable tool to assess on a larger scale the status of herds towards Coxiella shedding, and to evaluate the efficiency of control actions aimed at controlling and/or preventing Coxiella shedding in dairy herds.     

薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌TaqMan荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

疮痂病是薄壳山核桃上最具毁灭性的病害,带菌植物材料是传播疮痂病的重要来源。准确、灵敏、快速的检测方法可为该病害流行规律调查和防控提供有力的依据。本文通过比较薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌Venturia effusa及其近似种之间的ITS序列差异,设计了特异性引物和TaqMan探针,建立了薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌的荧光定量PCR检测方法。特异性检测结果表明,该方法可以检测不同地区的薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌菌株,而对其近似种以及薄壳山核桃上的其他真菌均没有信号。本研究建立的检测方法对薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌DNA的最低检测限可达0.5 pg/μL。该方法用于田间样品检测时,检测时间仅需1 h,远快于常规的分离培养法。本研究建立的基于TaqMan探针的荧光定量PCR检测方法为薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌的快速检测和监测提供了有力工具。     

鼠源细胞TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

为对鼠源细胞进行鉴别检测,以鼠线粒体16S rRNA基因序列为靶位点设计特异性引物及探针,建立实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,并评价该方法的特异性及敏感性。结果显示,所建立的检测方法特异性好,针对鼠源细胞基因组荧光定量PCR扩增曲线良好,其他物种来源细胞基因组及生物制品原辅材料未出现特异性扩增曲线;敏感性高,基因拷贝数检出限度为45.3拷贝。本试验建立的荧光定量PCR检测方法能够有效地对鼠源细胞进行快速检测,为细胞质量控制提供了有效方法。     

Test Analysis of Ecosystem on Functional Groups of Microorganism in Spiral Up- flow Reactor System

The test of functional groups of microorganisms in Spiral Up-flow Reactor System and the correlation between microorganisms in the water and the main environmental factors are studied.The results show that the diversity of microorganisms population in the SUFR system is complex and the bio-community formed in the SUFR system is stable.The close relations between abundance of bacteria and nutrients are found.The correlation between heterotrophic bacteria and COD is 0.949.The correlation between organic phosphate bacteria and TP is 0.815. The correlation between nitrosobacteria and NH_3-N is 0.909. The correlation between disnitrifier bacteria and TN is 0.653.     

植物基因启动子的克隆方法及其应用

植物基因的表达调控已成为分子生物学研究热点,启动子是基因表达调控的重要顺式元件,启动子的克隆对于研究基因表达调控、构建基因工程载体、表达目的蛋白有着重要的意义。启动子克隆的方法很多,从常用的启动子陷阱技术筛选启动子到PCR方法的应用,此后相继问世的一些基于PCR的克隆启动子技术,如载体锚定PCR、反向PCR、接头PCR、交错热不对称PCR等,为克隆启动子提供了更可靠,更合理的方法。本文着重介绍了几种植物基因启动子的克隆方法,分析了它们的优缺点,并展望了今后的研究前景。     

人在环路模拟驾驶仿真实验系统研发

汽车是人机协同控制的复杂系统,基于NI PXIe8108实时控制器、PXI7842R数据采集卡、模拟驾驶输入设备及相关软硬件搭建了驾驶模拟仿真系统;用LabVIEW编程语言建立了车辆动力学模型;用虚拟引擎Unity3D软件开发了视景系统;并通过数据库技术使仿真过程与视景系统相结合,实现仿真过程与三维动画实时视景系统的数据交互。结果表明：通过人在环路模拟驾驶仿真实验,使仿真过程中引入了驾驶模拟操纵,实现了人在环路的人机交互式仿真,得到汽车相关性能仿真结果,为驾驶过程中人和汽车协同控制仿真和极端工况下的仿真,提供了一种安全、可靠的人车协同控制仿真环境。