增强宿主免疫力是降低鸡发病率的有效途径。异嗜性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比率（H/L）与鸟类的抗病性有关。具有不同H/L表型的鸡只表现出抗病性的差异。然而，H/L作为免疫功能指标的有效性仍需进一步分析。本研究构建了H/L定向选育系（京星黄鸡），该品系已培育了12个世代。我们比较了异嗜性粒细胞的功能，并结合统计学分析方法来探索与H/L相关的候选基因和调控途径。与非选择系（NS）相比，从H/L选择系（G12）分离的异嗜性粒细胞的氧化爆发功能较强（P=0.044）。基于全基因组选择性清除分析，选择系第九世代（G9，n=92）相比于非选择系（NS，n=92），有22.44 Mb基因组区域受到选择，注释到300个蛋白编码基因。其中，包含与细胞内受体信号通路相关的解旋酶C结构域1（IFIH1）和moesin（MSN）诱导的干扰素，与白细胞趋化性负调节相关的C-C基序趋化因子受体6（CCR6），二肽基肽酶4（DPP4）和溶血补体（HC）以及与肌动蛋白细胞骨架组织相关的紧密连接蛋白1（TJP1）等基因。此外，基于全基因组关联分析（GWAS），还鉴定出了45个indels与H/L相关，共注释到29个蛋白编码基因。北京油鸡肝脏转录组验证发现，蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶非受体5型（PTPN5）（r=0.75，P=0.033）和氧甾醇结合蛋白5（OSBPL5）（r=0.89，P=0.0027）基因的表达量与H/L呈正相关。与高H/L组相比，北京油鸡低H/L组PTPN5和OSBPL5的表达量较低（P<0.05）。OSBPL5基因上indel位点 5_13108985（P=3.85E-06）的A/A等位基因频率从NS到G5和G9逐渐增加，且A/A个体的H/L低于杂合子A/ATCT（P=4.28E-04）和纯合ATCT/ATCT个体（P=3.40E-05）。以上结果表明，H/L经过定向选育，异嗜性粒细胞的氧化爆发功能增强，基因组22.44 Mb区域受到定向选择。另外PTPN5和OSBPL5基因被鉴定为H/L相关候选基因。这些发现揭示了H/L与免疫相关的复杂遗传机制，基于H/L进行遗传选育有助于提高鸡的免疫力。

叶片的光合作用主要发生在叶绿体中，叶绿体的发育受核基因编码蛋白调控。其中，PPR蛋白参与细胞器RNA编辑。在水稻中虽然鉴定出了约450个PPR蛋白家族成员，但只有少数被证明影响水稻叶绿体RNA编辑。利用基因编辑技术创造了新的水稻种质资源和突变体，能够用于水稻育种和基因功能研究。本研究鉴定了一个DYW类型PPR蛋白OsPPR9在水稻叶绿体RNA编辑中的功能。通过CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术获得了Osppr9突变体，该突变体叶片黄化和致死表型；在突变体中，叶绿体发育相关基因表达量降低，光合作用相关蛋白的积累减少。此外，OsPPR9蛋白功能的缺失降低了叶绿体中rps8-C182, rpoC2-C4106, rps14-C80和ndhB-C611 RNA编辑位点的编辑效率，影响水稻叶绿体的生长发育。OsPPR9在水稻叶片中表达量最高和编码一个定位于叶绿体的PPR蛋白。此外，通过酵母双杂验证OsPPR9与OsMORF2和OsMORF9相互作用。总之，我们的研究为探明PPR蛋白在水稻叶绿体发育中的作用提供了线索。 

梨果皮的红色主要是由花青苷合成积累导致，以‘巴梨’（‘Bartlett’, BL）和‘红巴梨’（‘Max Red Bartlett’, MRB）为代表的芽变品种是研究梨果皮花青苷合成积累分子机制的理想材料。虽然早前的研究已通过遗传图谱定位了‘红巴梨’果皮色泽的数量性状基因座（QTL），但是决定色泽突变的关键基因及调控机制尚不明确。因此，本研究以‘巴梨’和‘红巴梨’为研究试材，通过对其果皮组织的转录组和DNA甲基化差异比较分析，发现‘红巴梨’的PcHY5 DNA甲基化水平低于‘巴梨’，且PcHY5基因的表达量高于‘巴梨’，由此推测PcHY5 DNA甲基化水平可能与‘巴梨’和‘红巴梨’果皮颜色差异有关，并利用双荧光素酶试验证实了PcHY5不仅能激活花青苷合成相关转录因子PcMYB10和PcMYB114，也能激活花青苷合成基因PcUFGT和转运基因PcGST，说明PcHY5不仅能调控花青苷的合成，还调控了花青苷的转运。进一步，对‘巴梨’和‘红巴梨’PcHY5的关键差异甲基化位点进行了分析，发现‘红巴梨’PcHY5内含子区域的低甲基化水平与果皮红色形成显著相关，而‘巴梨’同一位点的高甲基化水平与果皮绿色显著相关。因此，基于‘巴梨’和‘红巴梨’PcHY5基因差异表达和差异甲基化，结合基因的调控功能验证，推测‘红巴梨’PcHY5 通过DNA低甲基化水平促进其自身基因表达，并调控花青苷合成和转运相关基因的表达，从而促进果皮着色。

本研究比较H/L选育群体和非选育群体的基因组数据和沙门氏菌感染后的脾脏转录组数据，旨在鉴定H/L选育过程中参与脾脏抗菌能力的关键基因。在选择系第10代，从H/L选育系和对照系分别选取41只和31只个体采集外周血样本提取DNA，并基于55K SNP芯片进行基因分型进行选择信号分析；分别选取选育系和对照系群体于7日龄进行鼠伤寒沙门氏菌（ST）感染试验，感染后3d测定肝组织载菌量和血液溶菌酶含量，同时采集脾脏组织（N=9）进行转录组分析；结合选择信号和脾脏转录组结果共同鉴定脾脏中参与沙门氏菌抵抗的候选基因。结果表明，与对照系群体相比，H/L选育群体对鼠伤寒沙门氏菌的抗性更强（P<0.05）。在选育系和对照系之间，鉴定的分化基因主要参与TGF-β信号通路、FoxO信号通路和沙门氏菌感染通路。对所有鉴定得到的脾脏差异表达基因（DEGs）的分析结果表明，沙门氏菌感染途径涉及的G蛋白偶联受体（GPCR）和胰岛素样生长因子（IGF-I）信号通路被显著富集（p<0.01）。基于DEGs和Fst（Fixation index）的综合分析鉴定了参与沙门氏菌感染途径的候选基因，如GPR39、NTRK2和ANXA1。广泛的基因组变化显示了在鸡群中免疫反应的多基因遗传基础。许多与免疫防御功能相关的基因在H/L选育和对照系中差异表达，选育系群体对沙门氏菌表现出更强的抗性。该研究确定了在用ST攻击后易感鸡和抗性鸡中差异表达的基因和通路，以更好地了解宿主对ST感染的免疫抗性。本研究利用动物模型（H/L定向选育系和对照系）的基因组数据和脾脏转录组数据进行了系统性的研究，解析了H/L定向选育后脾脏影响沙门氏菌抗性的分子机制。

冬枣（Ziziphus jujuba cv. Dongzao）是中国优良的晚熟鲜食枣品种。质地是水果的重要感官品质指标。为探究冬枣质地指标间的关系，建立冬枣质地品质评价体系，采用TMS-Touch质地多面分析法（TPA）对采自中国三大主产区的1150个冬枣果实进行8项质地指标测定，包括胶粘性、咀嚼性、内聚性、粘附性、破裂力、弹性、硬度和最大粘附力，其最佳拟合分布分别为弹性—Beta General分布，咀嚼性、胶粘性和硬度—Inv Gauss分布，粘附性和内聚性—Log Logistic分布，破裂力—Pearson分布，最大粘附力—Weibull分布。每项冬枣质地指标均可基于最佳拟合分布，用第10、30、70和90百分位点值划分为极低、低、中、高和极高五个等级。相关分析显示，冬枣质地指标间的28个相关系数中，82%的相关系数达到极显著（p<0.01）。其中，咀嚼性与弹性和胶粘性均呈极显著正相关，相关系数分别达0.8692和0.8096；粘附性与最大粘附力呈极显著负相关，相关系数为-0.7569。在胶粘性、咀嚼性、内聚性、弹性、硬度等5项冬枣质地指标中，各指标均存在关于其余4项指标的多元线性回归方程，决定系数均在0.94以上，平均拟合误差和平均预测误差均小于10%。基于因子分析建立了冬枣质地综合评价模型：Q = 0.370C₁ + 0.251C₂ + 0.241C₃ + 0.138C₄，综合得分较高的冬枣果实表现为较高的弹性和咀嚼性，以及较低的最大粘附力和粘附性。通过因子分析和聚类分析，可将8项冬枣质地指标分为4组（内聚因子、粘附因子、梗硬因子和酥脆因子），其代表性指标分别为弹性、粘附性、硬度和破裂力。本研究探讨了冬枣果实8项质地指标及其相互关系，筛选出了代表性指标，并建立了冬枣果实质地评价体系。研究结果可为冬枣质地评价提供方法依据和技术支撑。

Under the limited cultivated land area and the pursuit of sustainable agricultural development, it is essential for the safety of grain production to study agricultural management approaches on narrowing the winter wheat yield gap and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in China. In this study, DSSAT-CERES-Wheat Model is used to simulate winter wheat yield under different agricultural treatments, and we analyze yield gaps and NUE with different management scenarios at regional scales and evaluate the suitable approaches for reducing yield gap and increasing NUE. The results show that, the potential of narrowing yield gap ranges 300–900 kg ha^–1 with soil nutrients increase, 400–1 200 kg ha^–1 with sowing date adjustment and 0–400 kg ha^–1 with planting density increase as well as 700–2 200 kg ha^–1 with adding nitrogen fertilizer. Contribution rates of management measures of soil nutrients, sowing date adjusting, planting density, and nitrogen fertilizers are 5–15%, 5–15%, 0–4%, and 10–20%, respectively. Difference in nitrogen partial productivity ranges 3–10 kg kg^–1 for soil nutrients, 1–10 kg kg^–1 for sowing date adjusting, 1–5 kg kg^–1 for planting density increase, and –12–0 kg kg^–1 for adding nitrogen fertilizers, respectively. It indicates that four treatments can narrow yield gap and improve the NUE in varying degrees, but increasing nitrogen fertilizer leads to the decrease of NUE.

Duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) shares many basic characteristics with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is an attractive model for vaccine development.  In this study, DHBV DNA vaccines were designed to express envelope and capsid fusion proteins to enhance the breadth of immune response in ducks.  Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium (SL7207) was used as a carrier and adjuvant to boost the magnitude of immune response.  Based on this strategy, novel DNA vaccines (SL7207-pVAX1-LC and SL7207-pVAX1-SC) were generated.  Growth kinetics, genetic stabilities and relative transcription levels of the L, S and C genes introduced by these vaccine strains were measured before inoculation to guarantee safety and efficacy.  The relative transcript levels of the CD4 and CD8 T genes and the antibody levels (IgY) in ducks receiving the vaccines were higher than those in single gene delivered groups.  Additionally, the copy number of covalently closed circular DNA in hepatocytes after DHBV challenge also provided evidence that our fusion vaccines could enhance the protective efficiency against DHBV infection in ducks.

    Dissecting the genetic relationships among gluten-related traits is important for high quality wheat breeding. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analysis for gluten strength, as measured by sedimentation volume (SV) and gluten index (GI), was performed using the QTLNetwork 2.0 software. Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the winter wheat varieties Shannong 01-35×Gaocheng 9411 were used for the study. A total of seven additive QTLs for gluten strength were identified using an unconditional analysis. QGi1D-13 and QSv1D-14 were detected through unconditional and conditional QTLs mapping, which explained 9.15–45.08% of the phenotypic variation. QTLs only identified under conditional QTL mapping were located in three marker intervals: WPT-3743–GLU-D1 (1D), WPT-7001–WMC258 (1B), and WPT-8682–WPT-5562 (1B). Six pairs of epistatic QTLs distributed nine chromosomes were identified. Of these, two main effect QTLs (QGi1D-13 and QSv1D-14) and 12 pairs of epistatic QTLs were involved in interactions with the environment. The results indicated that chromosomes 1B and 1D are important for the improvement of gluten strength in common wheat. The combination of conditional and unconditional QTLs mapping could be useful for a better understanding of the interdependence of different traits at the QTL molecular level.

    The enzyme Δ³,Δ²-dienoyl-CoA isomerase (ECI1) plays a crucial role in the mitochondrial β-oxidation of fatty acids with a double-bond in odd and even positions. The ECI1 gene might be a qualified candidate for studies pertaining to lipid deposition and meat quality in swine. In the present study, ECI1 cDNA of the Tibetan pig was obtained by in silico cloning and verified by PCR analysis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ECI1 were screened by PCR-sequencing and genotypes of those SNPs were tested by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in Diannan small-ear pigs (DSP, n=40), Tibetan pigs (TP, n=60) and Yorkshire pigs (YP, n=30). The expression levels of ECI1 were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting in tissues of the liver, backfat, and longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of DSP (n=8), TP (n=8) and YP (n=8). Single factor linear correlation analysis was applied separately for each breed to evaluate correlations between ECI1 gene expression in the LD muscle and intramuscular fat (IMF) content. We obtained an ECI1 gene length of 1 401 bp from the cDNA that contained a full coding region of 909 bp. Three novel SNPs (g.42425337G>A; g.42424666A>G; and g.42422755A>G) were detected, and only g.42424666A>G exhibited three genotypes among the three breeds. The ECI1 expression levels in the LD muscle of DSP and TP were significantly higher than that of YP (P<0.05). Moreover, TP had the highest ECI1 expression in backfat (P<0.01), and a positive correlation was observed between gene expression and IMF content. The results suggest that differences in ECI1 gene expression might be related to lipid deposition and meat quality in pig.

Gayal is a rare semi-wild bovine species found in the Indo-China. They can graze grasses, including bamboo leaves, as well as reeds and other plant species, and grow to higher mature live weights than Yunnan Yellow cattle maintained in similar harsh environments. The aim of this study was to identify specific cellulase in the gayal rumen. A metagenomic fosmid library was constructed using genomic DNA isolated from the ruminal contents of four adult gayals. This library contained 38 400 clones with an average insert size of 35.5 kb. The Umcel-1 gene was isolated from this library. Investigation of the cellulase activity of 24 random clones led to the identification of the Umcel-1 gene, which exhibited the most potent cellulase activity. Sequencing the Umcel-1 gene revealed that it contained an open reading frame of 942 base pairs that encoded a product of 313 amino acids. The putative gene Umcel-1 product belonged to the glycosyl hydrolase family 5 and showed the highest homology to the cellulase (GenBank accession no. YP_004310852.1) from Clostridium lentocellum DSM 5427, with 44% identity and 62% similarity. The Umcel-1 gene was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, and recombinant Umcel-1 was purified. The activity of purified recombinant Umcel-1 was assessed, and the results revealed that it hydrolyzed carboxymethyl cellulose with optimal activity at pH 5.5 and 45°C. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence for a cellulase produced by bacteria in gayal rumen.

  The safety of feeding transgenic cry1Ab/cry1Ac rice (a genetically modified (GM) rice variety) to broilers was examined from an immunological perspective. Hatchling Arbor Acres chickens (240) were assigned to two dietary treatments (diets containing GM or non-GM rice) with 12 replicates per group and 10 birds per replicate. Traits were measured on one randomly selected bird from each replicate at d 21 and 42. The 42-d feeding trial revealed that cry1Ab/cry1Ac rice had no significant effect relative to non-GM rice on body weight and the immune organ indices. No significant pathological lesion in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius was found in the GM rice group. There were no significant differences in serum concentrations of immunoglobulin Y (IgY), IgM, interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-6 between the two groups at d 21 or 42, except for IL-6 being higher (P<0.05) in the GM-fed chickens at d 42. There were no differences in the T and B lymphocyte transformation rate and CD4+/CD8+ ratio between the two groups at d 42. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the two diets in expression of relevant genes viz. the major histocompatibility complex class II beta chain (BLB2), interferon beta 1 (IFNβ), tumour necrosis factor alpha-like (TNFα) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius. All the data demonstrated that transgenic cry1Ab/cry1Ac rice had no adverse effect on these aspects of immune function of broilers during 42-d feeding trial. Transgenic rice was therefore indistinguishable from non-GM rice in terms of short-term feeding in chickens.  

Is China able to maintain fast growth after three decades? This paper tries to answer this question by: 1) arguing that factors contributed to sustained long-run growth at supply side; 2) focusing on contributions of demographic dividend especially that of rural-urban migration; and 3) analyzing rural demographic change with information collected through village-wide household survey. Policy alternatives to realize remaining potential demographic dividend are proposed based on the analysis of changing rural demographic structure.

The aim of this study is to reveal the regulation mechanism of the effect of Semen vaccariae and Taraxacu mogono on the cell-cell adhersion molecule, E-cadherin and b-catenin on the proliferation role and secretion function of bovine mammary epithelial cells cultured in vitro. Firstly, the epithelial character of bovine mammary epithelial cells was authenticated using immunofluorescence, then the cell grow curve was observed and investigated after S. vaccariae and T. mogono treatment. On the effect of S. vaccariae and T. mogono, cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin, b-catenin and CycinD1 mRNA and protein were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that the cellular keratin 18 expressed positively and proliferated vigorously after S. vaccariae and T. mogono treament. The mRNA and protein levels of E-cadherin and CycinD1 were remarkably higher (P<0.05) in 36 h after S. vaccariae and T. mogono treatment. The cell proliferation at 36 h was increased significantly (P<0.05). In conclusion, S. vaccariae and T. mogono have a positive impact on the cell proliferation and an effect on the adhesion molecules E-cadherin, b-catenin and CycinD1 in the Wnt signaling pathway.

Mitosis of mammary epithelial cell is foundation of mammal lactation. We developed a strategy of combined application of generation of longer cDNA fragments from the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) tags for gene identification (GLGI) to screen and identify genes influencing lactating ability of mammary epithelial cell in dairy goat. GLGI as a new tag identification technique was brought about with SAGE. Bzw2 was found as a candidate gene related to lactation by screening Long-SAGE library of mammary gland in dairy goat. Bzw2 cDNA was synthesized by switching mechanism at 5´-end of RNA transcript (SMART) technology. The mRNA level of Bzw2 was relatively higher in early lactation than in other development stages of mammary gland. The proliferation of mammary epithelial cell was inhibited by transfecting specific shRNA of Bzw2. The mRNA levels of Stat5, Csn2 and Prlr were also down-regulated, suggesting the lactating ability of mammary epithelial cell was attenuated after Bzw2 RNAi. The reduction of mammary epithelial cell growth and lactation by Bzw2 RNAi was rescued through over-expression of Bzw2. These results revealed that Bzw2 might play an important role in lactation though the molecular mechanism was still unclear.

In previous experiment, we isolated a compound dibutyl phthalate (DBP) from Vaccaria segetalis which had galactopoieticfunction on mammary gland epithelial cells of dairy cow (DCMECs). In this experiment, we ascertained the metabolicregulation function of DBP on DCMECs. Many genes related to lactation including Stat5, AMPK, â-casein, Glut1, SREBP-1,PEPCK, and ACC were detected by real-time PCR. Furthermore, Stat5 and AMPK were detected by Western blot andimmunofluorescence co-localization, respectively. The results showed that DBP stimulates the expression of Stat5 andp-Stat5, thus activates Stat5 cell signal transduction pathway and stimulates â-casein synthesis. DBP also raises theactivities of Glut1 and AMPK to stimulate glucose uptake and glycometabolism and activates the expression of AMPKdownstream target genes PEPCK and ACC and expression of SREBP-1 to stimulate milk fat synthesis. In addition, theactivities of HK, G-6-PDH, ICDH, ATPase, and energy charges were stimulated by DBP to increase the energy metabolismlevel of DCMECs. The results showed DBP stimulates energy metabolism related to galactopoietic function in DCMECs.

The objective of the present work was to determine the effect of wooden ash extract on anti-nutritional factors and to assess the effect of soaking with malting on nutritional properties of sorghum flour used for impeke. The addition of wooden ash extract during 24 h of soaking resulted in significant decrease in tannin by 50.2% and the decrease was observed to be progressive as malting time increases. 5 d of malting resulted in significant decrease in tannin by 69.3% and in phytic acid by 66.4% with slight decrease in ash, lipid, fiber, and starch. Malting showed an increased percentage of protein, essential amino acids, and then in vitro protein digestibility were markedly improved with increasing malting time. Sugars analysis proved a significant increase in maltose, glucose, fructose, and structural analysis of sorghum starch displayed porosity on granule’s surface susceptible to the amylolysis.