Protein markers of Marteilia sydneyi infection in Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata

Marteilia sydneyi is the causative agent of QX disease in Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata . It is responsible for disease outbreaks among oysters that occur during summer and can result in up to 95% mortality. QX disease has significantly decreased S. glomerata production in some areas of Australia's eastern seaboard over the past 30 years. Marteilia sydneyi sporulates in the digestive gland of oysters leading to complete disorganization of the infected tissues. The current study used proteomics to identify potential molecular markers of sporulating M. sydneyi infection during a field trial undertaken in the Georges River, Sydney, between December 2006 and May 2007. Early stages of M. sydneyi infection were detected by polymerase chain reaction, whilst cytological examination was used to identify sporulating M. sydneyi in the gut. Protein expression in oyster haemolymph was assessed during the M. sydneyi infection period by two dimensional electrophoresis. Proteome maps identified significant differences in the expression of four proteins in oysters with sporulating M. sydneyi infections.     

The evaluation of secondary stress response of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Val. 1844) after exposing to the saline water

The stress response of grass carp to salinity was evaluated assessing the levels of hematocrit, leucocrit, plasma glucose, sodium, potassium and calcium. Mean hematocrit values increased following exposure to salinity. Mean leucocrit values elevated after exposure to salinity for 24 h, then decreased. Mean plasma glucose increased during saline exposure for 48 h and then decreased to normal values. Plasma sodium and chloride levels were increased to their highest values after 48 h. While plasma potassium value increased with the exposure time, plasma calcium values were not affected by salinity exposure.     

A novel mannose-binding lectin from plasma of Labeo rohita

A new mannose-binding lectin was purified from plasma of freshwater fish, rohu (Labeo rohita) by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography. The hemagglutinating activity is strong for neuraminidase-treated rabbit erythrocytes. Mannose, glucose and their derivatives inhibit hemagglutination. The apparent molecular weight was determined to be 210 kDa in native PAGE. Analysed on SDS-PAGE under reducing and non-reducing conditions, the protein migrated as a single band of mol.wt. 40,000. The lectin is acidic in nature showing a pI of 4.5. It is a glycoprotein containing complex glycan part as indicated by carbohydrate analysis using high-pressure anion exchange chromatography with a pulsed amperometric detector. The N-terminal sequence (WLNGIGTQIPMKITT) shows no significant homology with known proteins. It appears to be a C-type lectin as Ca²⁺ is essential for carbohydrate-binding activity. Methyl -α- D-mannopyranoside was found to be the most potent inhibitor among the monosaccharides and disaccharides tested. Purified lectin was found to induce intracellular superoxide production following opsonization of E. coli by its own macrophages. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of ambient ion concentrations on gill ATPases in fresh water eel,Anguilla anguilla

Branchial activities of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase (ouabain sensitive), Mg²⁺ ATPase (ouabain insensitive) and kinetic analysis of high and low affinity Ca²⁺ ATPase were measured inAnguilla anguilla that had been acclimated to demineralized water (DW, Ca < 10 M), freshwater (FW, Ca = 2 mM), and Low calcium freshwater (L-Ca, Ca = 0.9 mM). Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity decreased while ouabain insensitive activity increased when ambient Ca²⁺ decreased. Two kinetic forms of Ca²⁺ ATPase could be resolved in each environmental condition. The stimulation coefficients of both sites or enzymes were not affected by ambient Ca²⁺ concentrations. The maximal velocity of both the high and the low affinity Ca²⁺ ATPase was increased when external Ca²⁺ was decreased during acclimation. The low affinity Ca²⁺ ATPase and the Mg²⁺ stimulated enzyme could be a non specific enzyme accepting either Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺. Results are compared with previous results in the literature and in relation to the branchial morphology and ionic exchanges in fish.     

甲醛对吊兰等植物细胞质膜相对透性和光合特性的影响

采用方差分析比较5种甲醛浓度[分别为Ⅰ (CK)、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ]对虎尾兰、吊兰、袖珍椰子、白鹤芋、常春藤细胞质膜相对透性和光合特性的影响.结果显示,质膜透性随着甲醛浓度增加而提高,Ⅱ处理对5种植物质膜相对透性影响不显著,Ⅲ处理对吊兰质膜相对透性影响不显著而对其他4种植物质膜相对透性影响极显著,Ⅳ、Ⅴ处理对5种植物质膜相对透性影响极显著;Ⅱ处理提高植物的净光合速率(Pn)、除常春藤外其他4种植物的蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)和胞间CO2浓度(Ci),降低气孔限制值(Ls),植株生长良好,无受毒害症状;Ⅲ处理提高Ci,提高除了常春藤外其他4种植物的Pn、Tr和Gs,降低Ls,降低虎尾兰、吊兰、袖珍椰子的水分利用效率(WuE),虎尾兰、袖珍椰子、白鹤芋、常春藤植株长势一般,有轻微的受毒害症状,吊兰长势良好,无受毒害症状;Ⅳ、Ⅴ处理导致Pn下降,造成袖珍椰子、白鹤芋、常春藤的Tr和白鹤芋、常春藤的Gs下降.Ⅴ处理还引起虎尾兰、吊兰、白鹤芋的Ci下降和Ls提高,植株长势较差,有明显的受毒害症状.结果表明,虎尾兰、吊兰、袖珍椰子、白鹤芋、常春藤对甲醛的耐受力即阈值分别为1.335～2.367、2.370～5.150、1.374～2.523、1.326～2.287、1.354～2.482 mg/m3.     

Determination of Major and Trace Elements in Plant Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry

The determination of several trace elements [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb)] in plant samples using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) was evaluated. It was established experimentally that moderate amounts (0.2–2%) of dissolved solids decreased the analyte signals significantly. Internal standardization with Rh was efficiently used to compensate for these matrix effects. The accuracy of the method was verified using reference materials digested according to two different procedures: dry ashing and microwave digestion. No significant differences were observed between measured concentrations and certified values. The investigation was next extended for the determination of major elements [aluminum (Al), boron (B), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn)] on the same reference materials. The ICP‐MS values agree well with the values supplied. However, it appeared that Sc was the most useful internal standard for major elements.     

cDNA cloning and characterization of the warm-temperature-acclimation-associated protein Wap65 from carp, Cyprinus carpio

We determined full-length cDNA of carp warm-temperature-acclimation-associated 65-kDa protein (Wap65). It encoded 439 amino acid residues with a signal peptide of 22 residues and showed an amino acid sequence identity of 88% to that of goldfish reported before (J. Biol. Chem. 1995. 270: 17087–17092). The number of potential N-linked glycosylation sites of carp Wap65 was two in contrast to three for goldfish. In addition, molecular mass determined by SDS-PAGE was apparently different from that of goldfish. These results suggest that the amount of oligosaccharide is different between the carp and goldfish protein. As in goldfish, carp Wap65 mRNA showed marked accumulation in hepatopancreas of the 30 °C- acclimated fish, which was 8-fold higher than that of the 10 °C-acclimated fish. Carp Wap65 showed 30% amino acid identity to mammalian hemopexins, which appeared to be considerably low in comparison with those among mammalian hemopexins (72 to 80%), or among carp Wap65 and rainbow trout hemopexin-like protein (70%). However, although mammalian hemopexins contain residues comprising the heme binding pocket, carp Wap65 lacked one of the two histidine residues to serve as heme axial ligands in hemopexins. Our data on carp protein substantiates the previous observation for goldfish and indicates that Wap65 might have some important functions in warm-temperature-acclimation of fish.     

Association of hyponatremia and hyperglycemia with outcome in dogs with congestive heart failure

Objective: To evaluate plasma sodium and glucose concentrations in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) prior to treatment and evaluate the differences between survivors and non‐survivors. Design: Retrospective study. Animals: Fifty‐nine dogs with CHF prior to receiving cardiac medication. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: The mean plasma sodium concentration in dogs with CHF was below the reference range (144–156 mmol/L) and significantly lower (P=0.009) in non‐survivors (141±6 mmol/L) compared with survivors (147±4 mmol/L). The mean plasma glucose concentration was above the reference range (76–117 mg/dL) and significantly higher (P=0.004) in non‐survivors (128±52 mg/dL) compared with survivors (100±13 mg/dL). Forty‐four percent of non‐survivors had concurrent low plasma sodium and high plasma glucose concentrations, whereas no survivors had both abnormalities (P<0.0001). Conclusions: Lower plasma sodium and higher plasma glucose are associated with a worse outcome in dogs with CHF.     

肉种鸡血浆极低密度脂蛋白质量浓度双向选择的效应

以父母代肉种鸡为材料,以血浆极低密度脂蛋白（very low density lipoprotein,VLDL）质量浓度为选择指标建立肉鸡高脂系和低脂系,个体测定一世代高、低脂系母鸡产蛋性能、种蛋受精率、孵化率、二世代6周龄体质量,观察血浆VLDL质量浓度选择效应。结果显示,一世代低脂系比高脂系早开产6．7d,低脂系40周龄和54周龄产蛋量显著高于高脂系零世代,一世代低脂系种蛋受精率、受精蛋孵化率、入孵蛋孵化率均优于高脂系;二世代高、低脂系6周龄体质量差异不显著。结果表明,对血浆VLDL质量浓度的低向选择使种鸡产蛋性能、种蛋受精率、孵化率产生了有益的间接反应,但对早期体质量没有影响。