微卫星及其应用

微卫星是广泛分布于真核生物基因组中的短串联重复序列（1-5bp),具有突变速率快、多态性高等特性,已被广泛应用于生物遗传作图、群体遗传研究、个体间亲缘关系鉴定等方面。简要论述了微卫星的突变、位点的分离、数据的收集、在生物学中的应用及其存在的缺陷。     

微卫星在种公牛个体识别与亲缘鉴定方面的应用

采用美国ABI公司牛亲子鉴定试剂盒(Bovine Paternity PCR Typing Kit, 包括11个常染色体)和3个自选的Y染色体微卫星座位, 检测我国部分种公牛站肉用种公牛14个微卫星座位的多态性分布, 评估其遗传多样性, 并探讨其用于个体识别与亲缘鉴定的可行性。结果表明: 种公牛在14个微卫星座位中遗传多样性均较高, 其中MCM158座位的平均多态信息含量最高达到0.888, ETH10座位的最低, 为0.482。单个座位的个体识别能力在0.715~0.968之间, 累积个体识别能力为99.99%, 累计非父排除率达到99.99%, 表明采用的14个位点适用于个体识别和亲缘鉴定。     

利用SRY基因和微卫星标记鉴定反刍动物性别

以反刍动物为研究对象,应用多重PCR技术扩增绵羊基因组中X、Y染色体上的4个微卫星标记和SRY基因, 根据基因型进行性别鉴定,试图通过一次DNA扩增同时提供性别鉴定和基因分型的信息。结果表明所设计SRY基因的引物具有高度特异性,是性别鉴定的主要依据,而Y染色体上的MCM158、MAF45两标记由于特异性不好,因此不适用于性别鉴定,对于X染色体上所选的两标记MILVET09和AE25只能进一步验证所鉴定的雄性个体。得出结论在被检个体中,能同时扩增出SRY基因、MCM158、MAF45,X染色体上MILVET09和AE25,且X染色体上的MILVET09、AE25基因型为纯合子的个体为正常的雄性;被检个体中只有Y染色体上MCM158、MAF45和X染色体上MILVET09、AE25的扩增产物,而没有SRY基因的扩增产物,则被检个体为雌性,且MILVET09、AE25的基因型对雌性个体的性别判断无影响。MCM158、MAF45两标记基因型不影响个体的性别鉴定结果。
     

建鲤(Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)微卫星DNA亲权鉴定

利用16个微卫星座位对建鲤10个全同胞家系647个子代进行亲权鉴定。Cervus3.0分析表明,16个微卫星位点的平均多态信息含量为0.7025,平均等位基因数为6.63,期望杂合度平均为0.7405。当双亲未知时,累积排除概率为0.999225,已知单亲时的累积排除概率为0.999996,置信度为95%。进一步模拟分析表明,要达到亲权鉴定的要求在双亲未知时通常需要8～12个微卫星位点,已知单亲时需要5～8个微卫星位点。在双亲均未知的情况下进行亲权鉴定,94.6%的后裔找到了其父母本,真实鉴定率低于模拟分析预测值,分析可能是与候选亲本间存在亲缘关系、无效等位基因的存在以及分型错误等因素有关。9个建鲤全同胞家系的鉴定,为今后的遗传图谱构建、QTL定位及分子标记辅助育种研究奠定了基础。     

白条草蜥微卫星多态性的分离和鉴定

白条草蜥（Takydromus wolteri）是一种年产多窝卵的蜥蜴。为了对其婚配制度、同一雌性个体所产卵的窝内和窝间的父权状况、种群的遗传结构和物种的进化历史等研究内容进行探讨,本研究筛选出白条草蜥的9个具有高度多态性的微卫星位点。微卫星位点筛选自包含(AC)n 和(ATAG)n重复片度的微卫星富集文库。在白条草蜥安徽滁州种群的16~32个个体中对上述位点进行检测后发现,上述座位的等位基因数目范围为12~20个,期望杂合度范围为0.894~0.955,观测杂合度范围0.565~0.938,表明这些微卫星标记具有良好的遗传多样性,它们将在白条草蜥的种群遗传结构、基因流水平、种群分化和婚配制度的研究中发挥重要作用。     

微卫星分型法应用于豢养繁殖长江江豚的父权鉴定

目的:鉴定武汉白鱀豚馆及安徽铜陵淡水豚保护区两个豢养长江江豚繁殖群体中出生的6头幼豚的生物学父亲.方法:选择8对江豚物种特异性微卫星引物对两个待鉴定群体的14个DNA样品进行了荧光标记PCR扩增,将纯化后的扩增产物在ABI3130遗传分析仪上进行基因分型,并根据GeneScan Rox 500内标确定不同等位基因的大小,随后对待鉴定对象进行等位基因分析,并计算主要多态性参数.结果:所采用的8个微卫星座位在待鉴定的两个江豚群体中均表现出不同程度的多态性.在母本已知的条件下,利用其中6个微卫星座位的等位基因数据,通过排除法成功地鉴定出两个繁殖群体中出生的6头幼豚的生物学父亲.结论:本研究首次成功地将6个物种特异性微卫星标记应用于豢养长江江豚的父权鉴定,从而为该物种微卫星亲子鉴定技术体系的建立及迁地保护繁殖群体遗传谱系的构建奠定了技术基础.     

白条草蜥多态性微卫星位点的分离与鉴定

白条草蜥(Takydromus wolteri)是一种年产多窝卵的蜥蜴。为了对其婚配制度、同一雌性个体所产卵的窝内和窝间的父权状况、种群的遗传结构和物种的进化历史等研究内容进行探讨,本研究筛选出白条草蜥的9个具有高度多态性的微卫星位点。微卫星位点筛选自包含(AC)n和(ATAG)n重复片度的微卫星富集文库。在白条草蜥安徽滁州种群的16～32个个体中对上述位点进行检测后发现,上述座位的等位基因数目范围为12～20个,期望杂合度范围为0.894～0.955,观测杂合度范围0.565～0.938,表明这些微卫星标记具有良好的遗传多样性,它们将在白条草蜥的种群遗传结构、基因流水平、种群分化和婚配制度的研究中发挥重要作用。     

林麝微卫星座位的分离和鉴定

利用改进的磁珠富集法从林麝(Moschus berezovskii)的基因组中分离到10个新的(AC)n重复微卫星座位,并分析其在24个林麝个体(取样于中国四川金凤山群体)中的多态性。其中,5个位点在24个林麝个体中具有4—13个等位基因,观察杂合度和期望杂合度分别是0.429—0.957和0.587—0.902,平均多态信息含量是0.730。表明这5个微卫星位点具有高度的多态性,可以用于林麝遗传多样性研究,对林麝的保护具有很重要的意义。     

微卫星标记在不同壳色虾夷扇贝家系亲权鉴定的适用性

实验选取8 个多态性微卫星位点, 用于虾夷扇贝4 个不同壳色全同胞和半同胞家系160 个子代的亲权鉴定。在亲本未知和一亲本已知的情况下, 8 个微卫星位点累积排除概率分别为0.823 和0.961。鉴于亲权分析时子代的亲本在已知和未知情况下位点的累积排除概率不同, 实验采用了两种方法用于家系的亲权鉴定。方法1: 当子代的父母本情况未知时, 根据子代基因型数据, 通过CERVUS 2.0 软件计算子代所对应的候选亲本的LOD 值, 直接将候选亲本中具有最大的两个LOD 值的亲本确定为子代的父母本; 方法2: 在子代的亲本未知情况下, 视具有最大LOD 值的候选亲本为子代的第一候选亲本, 然后将该亲本视为已知, 通过CERVUS 2.0 软件重新计算每个侯选亲本的LOD 值, 再从中选择具有最大LOD 值的候选亲本作为该子代的第二候选亲本。结果表明, 采用方法2 得到的家系亲权鉴定成功率达到95%以上, 确定了微卫星标记在虾夷扇贝家系鉴定中的可行性。所检测的微卫星位点在子代中出现无效等位基因现象, 而无效等位基因存在会引起子代与亲本的错配。实验在家系鉴定时采用了无效等位基因存在(情况1)和缺失(情况2)两种子代基因型文件进行分析, 不同情况下同一方法家系鉴定成功率相差无几。这表明了基于多个微卫星位点计算候选亲本LOD 值大小寻找子代真实父母本可以降低由无效等位基因引起的错配的几率。研究表明了微卫星标记适合于不同壳色虾夷扇贝家系亲权鉴定工作。       

微卫星DNA在进化中的研究进展

在过去的十年中,微卫星已经变成最流行的基因标记之一。尽管微卫星分析已有广泛的应用,然而关于微卫星DNA变异动力学的完整的画面才刚刚浮现。文章将从微卫星的起源、微卫星进化模式的推断、DNA复制的滑动是微卫星DNA变异的主要机制、影响微卫星突变率的因素、微卫星的长度分布和微卫星的频率分布等方面综述有关微卫星进化动力学方面的研究进展。     

中国沙皮犬微卫星DNA分析的遗传多样性

运用20对微卫星引物对来自中国广东省的92份沙皮犬血液样品(骨嘴型沙皮犬21只,骨肉嘴型沙皮犬29只,肉嘴型沙皮犬42只)进行了遗传背景的检测。结果表明,20个多态性微卫星座位共检测到272个等位基因,平均每个座位为13.6个。中国沙皮犬群体的平均杂合度为0.8259,所有微卫星标记座位的多态信息含量(PIC)在0.5352到0.9226之间,说明中国沙皮犬群体存在较为丰富的遗传多样性。遗传距离和聚类分析结果显示,3种类型沙皮犬之间已产生了一定的遗传分化。上述结果为中国沙皮犬细分为不同的品系以及澄清中国沙皮犬种质资源的混乱状况提供了理论依据。     

Dog Bite Prevention: Effect of a Short Educational Intervention for Preschool Children

This study aimed to investigate whether preschool children can learn how to interpret dogs’ behaviours, with the purpose of helping avoid dog bites. Three- to five-year-old children (N = 70) were tested on their ability to answer questions about dogs’ emotional states before and after participating in either an educational intervention about dog behaviour (intervention group) or an activity about wild animals (control group). Children who had received training about dog behaviour (intervention group) were significantly better at judging the dogs’ emotional states after the intervention compared to before. The frequency with which they referred to relevant behaviours in justifying their judgements also increased significantly. In contrast, the control group’s performance did not differ significantly between the two testing times. These results indicate that preschool children can be taught how to correctly interpret dogs’ behaviours. This implies that incorporating such training into prevention programmes may contribute to reducing dog bite incidents.     

牦牛基因组微卫星富集文库的构建与分析

根据生物素与链亲和素的强亲和性原理,用链亲和素磁珠亲和捕捉与生物素标记的微卫星寡核苷酸探针(CA)12、(CCG)8、(CAG)8、(TTTC)8退火结合的含有接头和牦牛微卫星序列的单链限制性酶切片段,获得单链目的片段,经PCR扩增形成双链,然后克隆到pMD18-T载体上,转化至DH5α中,首次成功构建牦牛基因组微卫星富集文库。测序结果发现,阳性克隆率为77％(37／48),说明构建的牦牛基因组微卫星富集文库是一个高质量的文库。牦牛富集微卫星文库的建立和牦牛微卫星的筛选将为下一步进行牦牛基因组结构的分析、牦牛遗传连锁图谱的构建、分子进化和系统发育研究、标记辅助选择以及经济性状的QTL定位提供大量的微卫星标记。     

活性氧在创伤愈合中作用的研究

：创伤愈合是一个复杂的生物学过程,包括出血与凝血、炎症渗出、血管和肉芽组织的形成、再上皮化、纤维化和瘢痕改建等,在这一系列的生物学活动过程中都需要能量支持;高等动物使用氧气作为终端氧化剂,通过对碳水化合物的氧化作用为愈合过程中的各种生命活动提供能量,但该过程却可以产生大量的活性氧,这些活性氧在创伤愈合的过程中扮演着重要的角色,在低浓度情况下可以促进伤口的愈合,而在高浓度时会抑制伤口愈合,而活性量浓度的过高过低都会影响创口的正常愈合过程。     

Dog Demography,Animal Bite Management and Rabies Knowledge-Attitude and Practices in the Awash Basin,Eastern Ethiopia

Background

Rabies is a viral zoonosis that has been described in limited numbers of studies in Ethiopia at large and among pastoralists in particular. This study assessed dog demography, bite wound prevalence and management, potential risk factors of disease transmission and knowledge attitude practice towards rabies among urban dwellers, pastoralists and health workers in Awash, Eastern Ethiopia.

Methodology

Information was collected by means of structured questionnaires and interviews and through medical and official records from the Agricultural and Health bureaus.

Principal Findings

Respondents totaled 539 (471 urban, 49 pastoralists, 19 medical). Dog(s) were owned in 33% urban and 75.5% pastoralist households respectively. Mean dog number per dog owning household was 1.50 (95%CI: 1.40–1.60) in urban and 2.05 (95%CI: 1.51–2.60) in pastoralists sites. Human Dog Ratio in Metahara was 4.7:1. No bite wounds records were kept in medical facilities, where staff recalled around 100 bites per year, 2/3 being in adults. Over 90% of the respondents claimed knowing rabies but up to 79.2% pastoralist did not know how dogs acquire the disease; 37.3% urban and 23% pastoralist did not know the symptoms of rabies in dogs; 36% urban and 44% pastoralists did not know rabies symptoms in people. Eighty percent of pastoralists did not know that the disease was fatal in people if untreated. Over half (58.7%) of pastoralist respondents go to traditional healers if bitten, despite a health extension worker program in place in the study area. Knowledge gaps were also shown amidst medical staff.

Conclusions

The study highlighted overall poor disease knowledge, severe under-reporting of human rabies cases, lack of record keeping and poor collaboration between the public and animal health sectors and communities in rabies control.     

Role of 4-H Dog Programs in Life Skills Development

Stress management, resilience, learning-to-learn, self-esteem, and empathy are life skills that play a pivotal role in the psychosocial development of youth who are prepared to manage everyday challenges, and are caring toward people and animals. We hypothesized that 4-H dog club membership is associated with improved life skills of youth participating in these activities compared with youth who do not. We surveyed Washington and Idaho youth (n = 150, 6–17 years old, M = 11.5) in three conditions: 4-H clubs conducting dog-focused activities (4-H dog clubs), 4-H clubs conducting activities not involving dogs (4-H non-dog clubs), and school youth not involved in 4-H (school group). Life skills, and attitude toward and attachment to pets, were assessed using the Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version (Short), Self-Perception Profile for Children, Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales, Pet Attitude Scale, and Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate main effects of condition and covariates (age, sex, number of siblings, and dog(s) at home), and two-way interaction effects on questionnaire scores. Condition affected scores: youth in 4-H dog clubs had higher stress management scores (p < 0.01) compared with those in 4-H non-dog clubs and school group conditions, and higher scholastic competence (p < 0.05) and global self-worth (p < 0.01) scores compared with those in the school group. Much of the variation in scores remains unexplained by the predictors investigated. Thus, the extent to which the results represent an interest in 4-H dog activities due to pre-existing characteristics as opposed to changes resulting from the 4-H experience is unclear. Nevertheless, 83% of study participants had at least one dog, and condition effects were detected after accounting for dogs at home, suggesting that 4-H activities involving dogs had beneficial effects over and above any benefits resulting from dog contact per se.     

利用微卫星标记对种公牛进行个体识别鉴定

利用17个微卫星标记及其荧光标记引物扩增短片段串联重复序列(STR),并通过全自动基因分析仪检测基因型,识别和鉴定了中国荷斯坦种公牛(Bos taurus)的冷冻精液。只允许1个位点有错配作为判别标准,对牛冷冻精液进行个体识别鉴定。结果表明,实验采用的17个微卫星座位的遗传多样性均较高,累积个体识别能力达99.99%,累积偶合率是9.74×10-10,17个微卫星位点适用于牛的个体识别鉴定。     

Hevin Plays a Pivotal Role in Corneal Wound Healing

Background

Hevin is a matricellular protein involved in tissue repair and remodeling via interaction with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In this study, we examined the functional role of hevin using a corneal stromal wound healing model achieved by an excimer laser-induced irregular phototherapeutic keratectomy (IrrPTK) in hevin-null (hevin^-/-) mice. We also investigated the effects of exogenous supplementation of recombinant human hevin (rhHevin) to rescue the stromal cellular components damaged by the excimer laser.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Wild type (WT) and hevin ^-/- mice were divided into three groups at 4 time points- 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Group I served as naïve without any treatment. Group II received epithelial debridement and underwent IrrPTK using excimer laser. Group III received topical application of rhHevin after IrrPTK surgery for 3 days. Eyes were analyzed for corneal haze and matrix remodeling components using slit lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo confocal microscopy, light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting (WB). IHC showed upregulation of hevin in IrrPTK-injured WT mice. Hevin ^-/- mice developed corneal haze as early as 1-2 weeks post IrrPTK-treatment compared to the WT group, which peaked at 3-4 weeks. They also exhibited accumulation of inflammatory cells, fibrotic components of ECM proteins and vascularized corneas as seen by IHC and WB. LM and TEM showed activated keratocytes (myofibroblasts), inflammatory debris and vascular tissues in the stroma. Exogenous application of rhHevin for 3 days reinstated inflammatory index of the corneal stroma similar to WT mice.

Conclusions/Significance

Hevin is transiently expressed in the IrrPTK-injured corneas and loss of hevin predisposes them to aberrant wound healing. Hevin ^-/- mice develop early corneal haze characterized by severe chronic inflammation and stromal fibrosis that can be rescued with exogenous administration of rhHevin. Thus, hevin plays a pivotal role in the corneal wound healing.     

Identification of 13 Human Microsatellite Markers via Cross-species Amplification of Fecal Samples from Rhinopithecus bieti

Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) are 1 of 3 snub-nosed monkey species endemic to China. Only ca. 1500 individuals remain in high-altitude forests 3000–4500 m above sea level on the Tibetan Plateau, making them the nonhuman primate living at the highest known elevation. It is one of the most endangered 25 primate species in the world. Proper knowledge of the population genetics and social system of Rhinopithecus bieti will contribute to more appropriate conservation management decisions. Cross-species amplification of human microsatellite loci has facilitated analysis of the population genetics and reproductive strategies of various primate species. We screened 72 human-derived markers to assess their utility in Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys. Thirteen of them produced reliable results and exhibited moderate levels of polymorphism.