Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Inheritance of beta-cypermethrin resistance in the housefly Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

BACKGROUND: Beta-cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, was applied frequently in the control of health pests including houseflies, Musca domestica L., in China. However, different levels of resistance to beta-cypermethrin were monitored in field strains of houseflies. A strain of M. domestica, 4420-fold resistant to beta-cypermethrin after continuous 25 generations of selection, was used in this paper to determine the mode of inheritance of pyrethroid resistance. RESULTS: The estimated realized heritability (h(2)) of beta-cypermethrin resistance was 0.30 in this resistant strain. Results of bioassays showed no significant difference in values of LD(50) and slope of log dose-probit lines between reciprocal progenies F(1) and F'(1), and yielded values of - 0.10 (F(1)) and - 0.11 (F'(1)) for the degree of dominance (D). Chi-square analysis from responses of self-bred and backcross progenies (F(2), BC(1) and BC(2) respectively) indicated that the null hypothesis, a single gene responsible for resistance, was accepted. The minimum number of independent segregation genes was 0.93 for F(1) by Lande's method. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that beta-cypermethrin resistance in the housefly was inherited as a single, major, autosomal and incompletely recessive factor. These results would provide the basic information for pest management programmes.     

茉莉酸甲酯调控防御酶活性诱导猕猴桃果实抗采后软腐病

以‘金魁’猕猴桃果实为试验材料,研究茉莉酸甲酯(methyl jasmonate,MeJA)调控防御酶活性抗猕猴桃采后软腐病的效应。测定了MeJA对猕猴桃软腐病病斑直径、软腐病菌Botryosphaeria dothidea抑菌作用及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和多酚氧化酶(PPO)等防御酶活性的影响。结果表明:在0.001～10 mmol/L浓度范围内,MeJA对猕猴桃软腐病菌B.dothidea的抑制作用随浓度升高而增强;MeJA对猕猴桃果实最佳诱导浓度和熏蒸时间分别为0.1 mmol/L和24 h,其诱导效果分别为26.01%和26.85%;猕猴桃果实经0.1 mmol/L MeJA熏蒸处理24 h后,SOD、POD、CAT、APX和PPO活性提高,其中SOD和POD活性分别较对照增加33.85%和61.61%,差异达显著水平(P<0.05)。以上结果暗示MeJA诱导猕猴桃果实抗采后软腐病可能与其提高防御酶活性有关。     

Deep‐sequencing revealed Citrus bark cracking viroid (CBCVd) as a highly aggressive pathogen on hop

Newly emerging or re‐emerging diseases are a constant and significant threat to agricultural production, so prompt and accurate identification of the causative agents is required for rapid and appropriate disease management. Classical methods of pathogen detection can be successfully supplemented by next‐generation sequencing (NGS), whereby sequence analysis can help in the discovery of new or emerging diseases. In 2007, hop growers in Slovenia reported the appearance of severely stunted hop plants, a phenomenon that spread rapidly within hop gardens and among farms. Classical diagnostic methods were unable to detect a new pathogen; therefore, single step high‐throughput parallel sequencing of total RNA and small RNAs from plants with and without symptoms was employed to identify a novel pathogen. The sequences were assembled de novo and also mapped to reference genomes, resulting in identification of a novel sequence of Citrus bark cracking viroid (CBCVd) in the stunted hop plants. Furthermore, the presence of this novel pathogen on hop was confirmed by RT‐PCR analysis of 59 plants with symptoms from 15 hop gardens, representing the main outbreak locations identified by systematic disease monitoring, and small RNA Illumina sequencing of the bulked RNA sample. The high infectivity of the newly identified CBCVd was also confirmed by biolistic inoculation of two hop cultivars, which developed aggressive symptoms in controlled conditions. This study shows the feasibility of deep sequencing for the identification of causative agents of new diseases in hop and other plants.     

诱导剂对番木瓜环斑病毒病的防治效果

为了探讨水杨酸、茉莉酸甲酯和壳聚糖对番木瓜环斑病毒病的病情指数和防治效果的影响,在番木瓜上喷施不同浓度的诱导剂,然后在叶腋处接种番木瓜环斑病毒,观察和记录番木瓜的病情指数,计算其防治效果.结果表明,诱导剂提高了番木瓜对环斑病毒病的抗性,其中水杨酸的效果优于茉莉酸甲酯和壳聚糖.水杨酸、茉莉酸甲酯和壳聚糖的最佳施用浓度分别为50 mg/L、0.05 mmol/L和1％,最佳防治效果则分别为77.19％、53.11％和22.95％.水杨酸、茉莉酸甲酯、壳聚糖与对照之间的防治效果差异极显著,3种诱导剂在最佳浓度下防治效果差异极显著.50 mg/L水杨酸对番木瓜环斑病毒病防治效果最佳,在生产上施用具有一定的经济效益.