Identification of QTL underlying vitamin E contents in soybean seed among multiple environments

Vitamin E (VE) in soybean seed has value for foods, medicines, cosmetics, and animal husbandry. Selection for higher VE contents in seeds along with agronomic traits was an important goal for many soybean breeders. In order to map the loci controlling the VE content, F₅-derived F₆ recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were advanced through single-seed-descent (SSD) to generate a population including 144 RILs. The population was derived from a cross between ‘OAC Bayfield’, a soybean cultivar with high VE content, and ‘Hefeng 25’, a soybean cultivar with low VE content. A total of 107 polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers were used to construct a genetic linkage map. Seed VE contents were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography for multiple years and locations (Harbin in 2007 and 2008, Hulan in 2008 and Suihua in 2008). Four QTL associated with α-Toc (on four linkage groups, LGs), eight QTL associated with γ-Toc (on eight LGs), four QTL associated with δ-Toc (on four LGs) and five QTL associated with total VE (on four LGs) were identified. A major QTL was detected by marker Satt376 on linkage group C2 and associated with α-Toc (0.0012 > P > 0.0001, 5.0% < R ² < 17.0%, 25.1 < α-Toc < 30.1 μg g⁻¹), total VE (P < 0.0001, 7.0% < R ² < 10.0%, 118.2 < total VE < 478.3 μg g⁻¹). A second QTL detected by marker Satt286 on LG C2 was associated with γ-Toc (0.0003 > P > 0.0001, 6.0% < R ² < 13.0%, 141.5 < γ-Toc < 342.4 μg g⁻¹) and total VE (P < 0.0001, 2.0% < R ² < 9.0%, 353.9 < total VE < 404.0 μg g⁻¹). Another major QTL was detected by marker Satt266 on LG D1b that was associated with α-Toc (0.0002 > P > 0.0001, 4.0% < R ² < 6.0%, 27.7 < α-Toc < 43.7 μg g⁻¹) and γ-Toc (0.0032 > P > 0.0001, 3.0% < R ² < 10.0%, 69.7 < γ-Toc < 345.7 μg g⁻¹). Since beneficial alleles were all from ‘OAC Bayfield’, it was concluded that these three QTL would have great potential value for marker assisted selection for high VE content.     

Transferability of a tetracycline resistance gene from probiotic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus reuteri</Emphasis> to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of humans

The potential of Lactobacillus reuteri as a donor of antibiotic resistance genes in the human gut was investigated by studying the transferability of the tetracycline resistance gene tet(W) to faecal enterococci, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. In a double-blind clinical study, seven subjects consumed L. reuteri ATCC 55730 harbouring a plasmid-encoded tet(W) gene (tet(W)-reuteri) and an equal number of subjects consumed L. reuteri DSM 17938 derived from the ATCC 55730 strain by the removal of two plasmids, one of which contained the tet(W) gene. Faecal samples were collected before, during and after ingestion of 5 × 10⁸ CFU of L. reuteri per day for 14 days. Both L. reuteri strains were detectable at similar levels in faeces after 14 days of intake but neither was detected after a two-week wash-out period. After enrichment and isolation of tetracycline resistant enterococci, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli from each faecal sample, DNA was extracted and analysed for presence of tet(W)-reuteri using a real-time PCR allelic discrimination method developed in this study. No tet(W)-reuteri signal was produced from any of the DNA samples and thus gene transfer to enterococci, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli during intestinal passage of the probiotic strain was non-detectable under the conditions tested, although transfer at low frequencies or to the remaining faecal bacterial population cannot be excluded.     

Assessment of fire blight tolerance in apple based on plant inoculations with Erwinia amylovora and DNA markers

Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) causes serious damage to pome fruit orchards, and identification of germplasm with heritable disease resistance is therefore crucial. Two dominant SCAR (sequence characterised amplified region) marker alleles (AE10-375 and GE-8019), flanking a previously identified QTL (quantitative trait locus) for resistance to fire blight on ‘Fiesta’ linkage group 7 in apple cultivars related to ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, were screened on 205 apple cultivars. Both marker alleles were present in 22% of the cultivars, indicating presence of the QTL allele for tolerance, and both were lacking in 25%, indicating homozygosity for absence of the QTL tolerance allele. However, 33% had only the marker allele AE10-375, while 20% had only GE-8019, suggesting that some cultivars with the dominant alleles for both of the flanking markers can carry these on separate chromosomes and may lack the QTL allele for tolerance. In 2009 and 2010, terminal shoots of greenhouse-grown grafted trees of 21 cultivars (only 20 in 2010) were inoculated with Erwinia amylovora. ‘Idared’ (susceptible) and ‘Enterprise’ (tolerant) were included as controls. Disease severity for each cultivar was expressed as percentage of necrosis in relation to entire length of shoot, and the ranking of cultivars in 2009 and 2010 was compared with a Spearman rank correlation test, P < 0.01. A relationship between presence of both flanking marker alleles for tolerance and level of fire blight tolerance was confirmed with a Mann–Whitney U-test, P < 0.01 in 2009, and P < 0.05 in 2010. A PCO (principal coordinate) analysis based on band profiles obtained with 12 SSR (simple sequence repeat) loci produced three loose clusters, two of which contained known offspring of ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, and one with cultivars that were either unrelated or had an unknown origin. Cases where DNA markers did not predict level of fire blight damage as expected, were, however, as common among descendants of ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ as among apparently unrelated cultivars. Obviously the ‘Fiesta’ LG 7 QTL has some predictive value, both for known ‘Cox’ relatives and others, but more efficient markers would be desirable for marker-assisted selection.     

Role of tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor polymorphism in myocardial infarction

A case–control association study on 229 Myocardial Infarction (MI) patients and 217 healthy controls was carried out to determine the role of tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) (Alu-repeat insertion (I)/deletion (D)) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) (4G/5G insertion/deletion) polymorphisms with MI in the Pakistani population. In MI patients the genotype distribution of the PAI-1 gene was not found to be different when compared with the unaffected controls (P > 0.05, χ² = 1.03). The risk allele 4G was also not associated with MI (P > 0.05, χ² = 0.46, odds ratio (OR) = 1.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.84–1.43), P > 0.05). Similarly, the genotype frequencies of t-PA I/I, I/D and D/D were not different from the unaffected controls (P > 0.05, χ² = 1.60), and the risk allele “I” was not found to be associated with MI (P > 0.05, χ² = 1.35, OR = 0.86 (95% CI = 0.66–1.11), P > 0.05). However, when the data were distributed along the lines of gender a significant association of the 4G/4G PAI-1 genotype was observed with only the female MI patients (P < 0.05, z-test = 2.21). When the combined genotypes of both the polymorphisms were analyzed, a significant association of MI was observed with the homozygous DD/4G4G genotype (P < 0.01, z-test = 2.61), which was specifically because of the female samples (P = 0.01, z-test = 2.53). In addition smoking (P < 0.001, χ² = 13.52, OR = 3.45 (95% CI = 1.77–6.94)), diabetes (P < 0.001, χ² = 22.45, OR = 8.89 (95% CI = 2.96–29.95)), hypertension (OR = 7.76 (95% CI = 2.88–22.68), P < 0.001) family history (P < 0.001, χ² = 13.72, OR = 3.7 (95% CI = 1.71–8.18)) and lower HDL levels (P < 0.05) were found to be significantly associated with the disease. In conclusion the PAI-1 gene polymorphism was found to have a gender specific role in the female MI patients.     

Expansion of a direct shoot organogenesis system in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to include US cultivars

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, employing direct shoot organogenesis, allows for mature transgenic plants to be obtained quickly (3–4 mo). In this study, peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars Florida-07, Georgia Green, Georgia Brown, New Mexico Valencia A, and VC-2 were selected to test their shoot induction response for use in future transformation experiments. Two types of cotyledon explants were examined, those that previously had an attached embryo axis upon cotyledon separation (explant A) and those that were embryo axis-free upon separation (explant B). Explants were placed onto a shoot induction medium with N ⁶-benzyladenine concentrations ranging from 10–80 μM for Florida-07, Georgia Green, and VC-2; 10–20 μM for Georgia Brown; and 10–640 μM for New Mexico Valencia A. Following a 4-wk culture period, explants were visually rated based on a scale of 1–4, where 1 indicated slight greening, but no growth, and 4 indicated greening, adventitious bud formation, as well as small leaf expansion. A difference in shoot induction was observed for the cotyledon explants examined (P > t = <0.0001). Explant A had greater shoot induction with a visual rating of 1.8 ± 0.1; explant B had a rating of 1.6 ± 0.1 (P > t = <0.0001). Additionally, cultivars responded to the culture conditions differently (cultivar × N ⁶-benzyladenine interaction). Georgia Green on 10 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine produced the most shoot buds (24.6%) and the highest visual rating (2.1), followed by VC-2 on 10 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine (22.1%, 1.8), New Mexico Valencia A on 640 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine (21.4%, 1.8), Georgia Brown on 80 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine (9.0%, 1.7), and Florida-07 on 40 μM N ⁶-benzyladenine (7.1%, 1.8). Of the tested varieties, Georgia Green, New Mexico Valencia A, and VC-2 were best suited for future transformation experiments based on their shoot bud production.     

Iso-lines and inbred-lines confirmed loci that underlie resistance from cultivar ‘Hartwig’ to three soybean cyst nematode populations

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars varied in their resistance to different populations of the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, called HG Types. The rhg1 locus on linkage group G was necessary for resistance to all HG types. However, the loci for resistance to H. glycines HG Type 1.3- (race 14) and HG Type 1.2.5- (race 2) of the soybean cyst nematode have varied in their reported locations. The aims were to compare the inheritance of resistance to three nematode HG Types in a population segregating for resistance to SCN and to identify the underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL). ‘Hartwig’, a soybean cultivar resistant to most SCN HG Types, was crossed with the susceptible cultivar ‘Flyer’. A total of 92 F5-derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs; or inbred lines) and 144 molecular markers were used for map development. The rhg1 associated QTL found in earlier studies were confirmed and shown to underlie resistance to all three HG Types in RILs (Satt309; HG Type 0, P = 0.0001 R ² = 22%; Satt275; HG Type 1.3, P = 0.001, R ² = 14%) and near isogeneic lines (NILs; or iso-lines; Satt309; HG Type 1.2.5-, P = 0.001 R ² = 24%). A new QTL underlying resistance to HG Type 1.2.5- was detected on LG D2 (Satt574; P = 0.001, R ² = 11%) among 14 RILs resistant to the other HG types. The locus was confirmed in a small NIL population consisting of 60 plants of ten genotypes (P = 0.04). This QTL (cqSCN-005) is located in an interval previously associated with resistance to both SDS leaf scorch from ‘Pyramid’ and ‘Ripley’ (cqSDS-001) and SCN HG Type 1.3- from Hartwig and Pyramid. The QTL detected will allow marker assisted selection for multigenic resistance to complex nematode populations in combination with sudden death syndrome resistance (SDS) and other agronomic traits.     

Effects of exogenous B supply on growth, B accumulation and distribution of two navel orange cultivars

To investigate the effects of boron (B) on growth, B concentration and distribution of two navel orange cultivars, ‘Newhall’ (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) and ‘Skagg’s Bonanza’ (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) grafted on the rootstock trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.], B at five levels was exogenously supplied to 1-year-old grafted plants of both cultivars under greenhouse conditions. Plants were grown in sand:perlite (1:1, v/v) medium and were irrigated every 2 days with half-strength Hoagland’s No. 2 nutrient solutions containing different B, 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25 and 2.50 mg l⁻¹ (0.25 and 2.50 mg l⁻¹ were considered as control and excess B treatment, respectively, and the other three B levels were considered as low B treatments). After treatments for 183 days, leaves (from basal, middle, upper parts of the shoots), stem of scion, stem of rootstock and root were separately sampled. Our results showed that plant growth (plant height, root volume and dry weights of various parts) was inhibited in response to low or excess B supplies in both cultivars. It was found that B concentrations in the upper leaves of both cultivars were substantially higher than those in the basal leaves when low concentrations (≤0.05 mg l⁻¹) of exogenous B were applied, suggesting that B was preferentially translocated to the upper-younger leaves to support their growth. Analysis of B distribution in different parts indicated that translocation of B from the root to the scion’s shoots (stems and leaves of scion) may be restricted upon exposure to low B conditions. When B was inadequately supplied, growth of ‘Skagg’s Bonanza’ was better than ‘Newhall’, implying that the former cultivar was more tolerant to low B status, which may be due to the higher efficiency of B translocation from the root to the scion’s shoots. However, when the plants were treated with excess B (2.50 mg l⁻¹), both cultivars showed a similar degree of B toxicity. The probability of scion–rootstock interactions in relation to the differential responses of growth and different efficiency of B translocation involved in the two orange cultivars following the long-term low B stress were discussed.     

Sp1 polymorphism in collagen I α1 gene is associated with osteoporosis in lumbar spine of Mexican women

The Sp1 binding site polymorphism in collagen type I alpha 1 gene (COLIA1) has been associated with osteoporosis (OP) and bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to explore the association of this polymorphism with OP and BMD in the Mexican population by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) procedure. Allelic and genotypic frequencies from the Sp1 polymorphism were determined in 100 women with OP, 100 women without OP and 500 subjects from general Mexican population (GMP). Distribution of Sp1 polymorphism was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. In spite of population structure due to racial mix in Mexican population, associations with OP were demonstrated. The frequency of “s” allele was significantly higher in women with OP (35%) than in women without OP (11%; P < 0.00001). Interestingly, “ss” genotype, was exclusive of women with OP and was associated with low BMD (0.588 ± 0.077 g/cm²) in contrast to “SS” genotype (0.733 ± 0.039 g/cm²; P = 0.0001). This work confirms the association of Sp1 polymorphism with low BMD and OP in Mexican population and make sure to use Sp1 as a genetic marker for OP in our population.     

Identification of QTL underlying isoflavone contents in soybean seeds among multiple environments

Soybean isoflavones are valued in certain medicines, cosmetics, foods and feeds. Selection for high-isoflavone content in seeds along with agronomic traits is a goal of many soybean breeders. The aim of the study was to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying seed isoflavone content in soybean among seven environments in China. A cross was made between ‘Zhongdou 27’, a soybean cultivar with higher mean isoflavone content in the seven environments (daidzein, DZ, 1,865 μg g⁻¹; genistein, GT, 1,614 μg g⁻¹; glycitein, GC, 311 μg g⁻¹ and total isoflavone, TI, 3,791 μg g⁻¹) and ‘Jiunong 20’, a soybean cultivar with lower isoflavone content (DZ, 844 μg g⁻¹; GT, 1,046 μg g⁻¹; GC, 193 μg g⁻¹ and TI, 2,061 μg g⁻¹). Through single-seed-descent, 130 F₅-derived F₆ recombinant inbred lines were advanced. A total of 99 simple-sequence repeat markers were used to construct a genetic linkage map. Seed isoflavone contents were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography for multiple years and locations (Harbin in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Hulan in 2006 and 2007, and Suihua in 2006 and 2007). Three QTL were associated with DZ content, four with GT content, three with GC content, and five with TI content. For all QTL detected the beneficial allele was from Zhongdou 27. QTL were located on three (DZ), three (GC), four (GT) and five (TI) molecular linkage groups (LG). A novel QTL was detected with marker Satt144 on LG F that was associated with DZ (0.0014 > P > 0.0001, 5% < R ² < 11%; 254 < DZ < 552 μg g⁻¹), GT (0.0027 > P > 0.0001; 4% < R ² < 9%; 262 < GT < 391 μg g⁻¹), and TI (0.0011 > P > 0.0001; 4% < R ² < 15%; 195 < TI < 871 μg g⁻¹) across the various environments. A previously reported QTL on LG M detected by Satt540 was associated with TI across four environments and TI mean (0.0022 > P > 0.0001; 3% < R ² < 8%; 182 < TI < 334 μg g⁻¹) in China. Because both beneficial alleles were from Zhongdou 27, it was concluded that these two QTL would have the greatest potential value for marker-assisted selection for high-isoflavone content in soybean seed in China. G. Zeng, D. Li and Y. Han have equal contributions to the paper.     

Parasitism ofLeptinotarsa decemlineata [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae] byEdovum puttleri [Hymenoptera: Eulophidae] in different cultivars of eggplant

Experiments were conducted to quantify parasitism of Colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), by the egg parasitoid,Edovum puttleri Grissell, on 3 different cultivars of eggplant,Solanum melongena L. Levels of parasitism were higher (P<0.05) on ‘Black Pride’ than on other cultivars. The percentage of egg masses that were parasitized was 1.2-fold higher (P<0.05) on ‘Black Pride’ than on ‘Harris Special’ and ‘White’. The number of eggs per mass that were parasitized was 1.3- and 1.4- fold greater (P<0.05) on ‘Black Pride’ than on ‘Harris Special’ and ‘White’, respectively. The percentage of eggs that were parasitized per mass and percentage of emerged adult parasitoids did not differ (P>0.05) among cultivars; between 2.1- to 2.6- fold more females than males emerged from eggs on all cultivars during the growing season.Edovum puttleri suppressed the 2nd generation ofL. decemlineata on ‘Black Pride’ and ‘Harris Special’, but did not suppress populations on ‘White’.      

A risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">SMAD7</Emphasis> is common to colorectal,gastric, and lung cancers in a Han Chinese population

SMAD7 has been demonstrated to antagonize TGF-β-mediated fibrosis, carcinogenesis, and inflammation. Two previous genome-wide association studies identified three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4939827, rs12953717 and rs4464148) in SMAD7 to be associated with colorectal cancer in a Western population. We conducted the first case–control study in a Han Chinese population to explore the associations between these three SNPs and colorectal, gastric, and lung cancers. Of the three SNPs, only rs12953717 was strongly associated with the three types of cancer, fitting the overdominant model. Compared with the CC/TT (CC combined with TT) genotype, the adjusted odds ratios for the CT genotype were 2.002 (95% CI, 1.250–3.207, P = 0.004), 1.678 (95% CI, 1.048–2.689, P = 0.031), 3.825 (95% CI, 2.310–6.335, P < 1 × 10⁻⁴), and 2.294 (95% CI, 1.537–3.343, P < 1 × 10⁻⁴), respectively, for colorectal, gastric, lung, and combined cancers. These outcomes suggest that rs12953717 is a common risk marker of these three types of cancer in the Han Chinese.     

Meta-analysis of TYK2 gene polymorphisms association with susceptibility to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

The aim of our meta-analysis was to quantitatively summarize the association of TYK2 gene polymorphisms with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 11 studies that included data from 21497 cases and 22647 controls were identified. OR was used as a measure of the effect of the association in a fixed/random effect model. Meta-analysis was performed for six TYK2 gene polymorphisms (rs34536443, rs2304256, rs280523, rs280519, rs12720270 and rs12720356). Significant association was found in rs34536443 (C versus G: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.69–0.84, P < 0.00001; GC + CC versus GG: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68–0.90, P = 0.0005; CC versus GG + GC: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.28–2.05, P = 0.58; CC versus GG: OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.27–2.02, P = 0.56; GC versus GG: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68–0.90, P = 0.0006) and rs2304256 (A versus C: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.70–0.87, P < 0.0001; CA + AA versus CC: OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.59–0.81, P < 0.0001; AA versus CC + CA: OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.66–1.00, P = 0.05; AA versus CC: OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.47–0.86, P = 0.003; CA versus CC: OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.60–0.83, P < 0.0001) in TYK2 gene, but not for the other polymorphisms (rs280523, rs280519, rs12720270, and rs12720356). This meta-analysis demonstrates that autoimmune and inflammatory diseases is associated with TYK2 gene rs34536443 and rs2304256 polymorphisms, but not rs280523, rs280519, rs12720270 and rs12720356.     

Evaluation of haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms with potential application in the effluent treatment of the petroleum industry

Haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing mixed cultures for the treatment of alkaline–saline effluents containing sulfide were characterized and evaluated. The mixed cultures (IMP-PB, IMP-XO and IMP-TL) were obtained from Mexican alkaline soils collected in Puebla (PB), Xochimilco (XO) and Tlahuac (TL), respectively. The Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (RISA) revealed bacteria related to Thioalkalibacterium and Thioalkalivibrio in IMP-XO and IMP-PB mixed cultures. Halomonas strains were detected in IMP-XO and IMP-TL. In addition, an uncultured Bacteroides bacterium was present in IMP-TL. Mixed cultures were evaluated at different pH and NaCl concentrations at 30°C. IMP-PB and IMP-TL expressed thiosulfate-oxidizing activity in the 7.5–10.5 pH range, whereas IMP-XO presented its maximal activity with 19.0 mg O₂ g_protein⁻¹ min⁻¹, at pH 10.6; it was not affected by NaCl concentrations up to 1.7 M. In continuous culture, IMP-XO showed a growth rate of 15 day⁻¹, productivity of 433.4 mg_protein l⁻¹ day⁻¹ and haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing activity was also detected up to 170 mM by means of N-methyl-diethanolamine (MDEA). Saline–alkaline soil samples are potential sources of haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and the mixed cultures could be applied in the treatment of inorganic sulfur compounds in petroleum industry effluents under alkaline–saline conditions.     

In vivo Effect of Antidepressants on [<Superscript>3</Superscript>H]paroxetine Binding to Serotonin Transporters in Rat Brain

Amine transporters are major target for development of various pharmacological agents to treat behavioral disorders. Serotonin transporters (SERT) have been implicated in the etiology of depression and drugs acting on SERT can be effective in treating depression. The aim of the present study was to study the in vivo effect of various antidepressants on [³H]paroxetine binding to SERT in regions of rat brain. Rats were treated with tricyclic antidepressant (TCAs) such as amitriptyline (AMI), serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs) such as clomipramine (CMI), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (FLX) and citalopram (CIT) (10 mg/kg body wt.) for 30 days. Density of SERT was measured in cortex and hippocampus using [³H]paroxetine (0.03–1.0 nM) in presence and absence of 10 μM fluoxetine as displacer. It was observed that the density of cortical SERT was significantly decreased with CMI (68%, P < 0.0001), FLX (67%, P < 0.0001), CIT (54%, P < 0.0001), and AMI (52%, P < 0.0001) treatment, when compared to the density of 120.7 ± 4.0 fmol/mg protein in control rats, without altering the affinity (Kd) of [³H]paroxetine to the transporters. The density of SERT in hippocampus was also significantly decreased with FLX (65%, P < 0.0001), CMI (54%, P < 0.0001), CIT (52%, P < 0.0001) and AMI (46%, P < 0.0001) treatment, when compared to the density of 74.0 ± 2.6 fmol/mg protein in control rats, without altering the affinity of [³H]paroxetine to the transporters. Displacement study showed high affinity for CMI > CIT > FLX. The results suggest that chronic antidepressant treatment significantly down-regulates both cortical and hippocampal SERT in rat brain and SSRIs have high affinity for SERT than TCAs.     

Effects of genetic variability of the carpine homeobox transcription factor <Emphasis Type="Italic">HESX1</Emphasis> gene on performance traits

HESX1 plays a key role in the development of the forebrain and pituitary gland and produces potential effects on performance traits. The objective of this study was to detect and assess the associations of the possible polymorphisms of six loci within HESX1 gene with performance traits in Chinese 1,119 goats. Only one novel SNP (NM_001494116:g.307049A > G) locating on IVS1 + 348A > G was identified and detected by HaeIII forced-RFLP-PCR. The frequencies of allele “G” varied from 0.025 to 0.245 in analyzed populations with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05). Genotypic and allelic frequencies were found to be significantly different in four breeds (χ² = 147.674, df = 6, P < 0.001; χ² = 157.250, df = 3, P < 0.001, respectively), implying that the distribution of genotypic and allelic frequencies of goat HESX1 gene was significantly associated with different goat utilities (cashmere, meat and dairy). Association analysis results revealed no significant effects of caprine HESX1 gene on body sizes in XNSN population (P > 0.05) and cashmere traits in IMWC population (P > 0.05). Significant statistical of HESX1 gene with body weight was found (*P < 0.05). The genotype AA showed significantly higher body weight than those of AG in 2-year-old age (*P < 0.05), while the AA genotype was senior to AG genotype in 4-year-old body weight trait (*P < 0.05). These suggestions indicated that the HESX1 gene has significant effect on goat body weight depending on ages, which is accordance with the function repressor of the HESX1.     

Effect of Diets Supplemented with Different Levels of Manganese,Zinc, and Copper from their Organic or Inorganic Sources on Egg Production and Quality Characteristics in Laying Hens

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc, manganese, and copper sources (inorganic vs. organic) in the diet on laying performance and eggshell quality characteristics. One hundred and eighty Hy-Line W-36 layers at 38 weeks of age were allocated to 36-layer cages of five hens each. Each six cages were randomly assigned to one of the six experimental diets fed from 38 to 53 week of age. In three experimental treatments, the basal diet was supplemented with 65–75–7 or 65–75–7 or 40–40–7 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively, from their oxide or sulfate sources. Three other groups were fed diets supplemented with 20–20–3.5 or 40–40–7.5 or 60–60–10.5 mg/kg of organic forms of Zn, Mn, and Cu, respectively. Dietary treatments significantly did affect feed intake (P < 0.001), feed conversion ratio (P < 0.001) and percentage of broken eggs (P < 0.05). Substitution of Zn and Mn oxides (65 and 75 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) with equal amounts of their sulfate forms significantly improved feed intake, feed conversion ratio, percentage of broken eggs, and Haugh Unit (P < 0.05). In addition, laying hens maintained their performance when substitution of Zn and Mn oxides and Cu sulfate (65, 75, and 7 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) reduced up to 20, 20, and 3.5 mg kg⁻¹ by amino acid complexes of the microelements. The results showed that a corn–soybean diet supplemented with the organic forms of Zn, Mn, and Cu at a dosage 50% to 75% lower than NRC recommendation is sufficient to maintain laying performance and can improve eggshell and albumen qualities of the egg in laying hens.     

Effects of water-level fluctuation and invasive water plants on pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirugus) at the Annaiwilundawa Ramsar site of northwestern Sri Lanka

The effects of alien invasive water plants (Eichhornia crassipes, Salvinia molesta, Imperata cylindrical and Mikania micrantha) on the pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirugus) was studied in three reservoirs from June 2004 to May 2005 at the Annaiwilundawa Ramsar site of northwestern Sri Lanka. Jacanas were observed in significantly fewer numbers among invasive plants and open water and in significantly higher numbers among grass and floating leaved plants than predicted from the proportions of the reservoirs covered by these habitat types (Annaiwilundawa χ² = 64.35, P < 0.0001; Suruwila χ² = 45.66, P < 0.0001; Maiyawa χ² = 33.35, P < 0.0001). Feeding was the major activity of the pheasant-tailed jacana during the study period [analysis of variance (ANOVA) F = 79.58, P < 0.0001 in the morning and F = 85.53, P < 0.0001 in the evening]. Jacanas preferred to forage in grass and floating leaved vegetation compared to invasive plants and open water (ANOVA F = 168.63, P < 0.001). The jacana population was significantly positively correlated with water level in all three reservoirs. (Spearman’s rank correlation, Annaiwilundawa z = 2.035, P < 0.05; Suruwila z = 2.19, P < 0.05; Maiyawa z = 2.563, P < 0.05). The findings of this study revealed that the most critical factor for the occupation of the reservoirs by jacanas was the water level and that the spread of the invasive plants in these reservoirs were detrimental to jacanas, since these plants deprived jacanas of useful foraging habitats.     

Geographical variation in population demography and life history traits of Tecate cypress (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hesperocyparis forbesii</Emphasis>) suggests a fire regime gradient across the USA–Mexico border

Plant adaptations to fire often display spatial heterogeneity associated with geographical variation in fire regime. We examined whether populations of the Tecate cypress (Hesperocyparis forbesii Adams) in southern California and northern Baja, Mexico, exhibited spatial heterogeneity in cone serotiny, in other life history traits associated with fire-adaptation, and in population demographic structure, to assess a putative difference in fire regime across the USA–Mexico border. Demographic data, tree life history data, and tree ring series were used to compare the demographic structure and life history traits of three populations in southern California with three populations in northern Baja California. In Baja populations, a greater number of tree size classes were present (χ ² = 12,589; P < 0.05), cone serotiny was more facultative (Mann–Whitney U = 58, P < 0.05), and young adult trees had a higher reproductive output (Mann–Whitney U = 2.65, P < 0.05), suggesting that a difference in fire regime between southern California and northern Baja has existed long enough (ca 8000 years) to drive microevolutionary divergence between the two sets of populations, and is not solely the result of 20th century differences in fire management policies across the international border. The transitional area between the two different fire regimes does not appear to coincide with the border itself but may lie in a zone of ecological transition south of Ensenada. The range of phenotypic variation observed within the Tecate cypress metapopulation suggests this species has the capacity to adapt to future environmental changes.     

A Th1 cytokine–enriched microenvironment enhances tumor killing by activated T cells armed with bispecific antibodies and inhibits the development of myeloid-derived suppressor cells

In this study, we investigated whether activated T cells (ATC) armed with bispecific antibodies (aATC) can inhibits tumor growth and MDSC development in a Th₁ cytokine–enriched (IL-2 and IFN-γ) microenvironment. Cytotoxicity mediated by aATC was significantly higher (P < 0.001) against breast cancer cell lines in the presence of Th₁ cytokines as compared with control co-cultures. In the presence of aATC, CD33⁺/CD11b⁺/CD14⁻/HLA-DR⁻ MDSC population was reduced significantly under both control (P < 0.03) and Th₁-enriched (P < 0.036) culture conditions. Cytokine analysis in the culture supernatants showed high levels of MDSC suppressive chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 in Th₁-enriched culture supernatants with highly significant increase (P < 0.001) in the presence of aATC. Interestingly, MDSC recovered from co-cultures without aATC showed potent ability to suppress activated T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity (P < 0.001), IFN-γ production (P < 0.01) and T-cell proliferation (P < 0.05) compared to those recovered from aATC-containing co-cultures. These data suggest that aATC can mediate enhanced killing of tumor cells and may suppress MDSC and T_reg differentiation, and presence of Th₁ cytokines potentiates aATC-induced suppression of MDSC, suggesting that Th₁-enriching immunotherapy may be beneficial in cancer treatment.