Development of a highly fecund inbred strain of mice

A highly fecund inbred mouse line has been established from the Quackenbush Swiss (QS) outbred strain by full-sib inbreeding combined with selection for high number of pups born alive (NBA) and low interlitter interval (ILI). After more than 50 generations of inbreeding and selection, this line, named QSi5, has an NBA of 13.4 and an ILI of 29 days, averaged over the first four parities, and a total productivity of 50.7 NBA. With its exceptional reproductive performance, this line will be very useful in the creation of resources (including advanced intercross lines) for analysis of quantitative trait loci for a wide range of traits, and for the cost-effective creation of congenic lines.     

Kinetic studies on a highly productive strain of Zymomonas mobilis

Summary Previous studies have demonstrated that Zymomonas mobilis is a very promising organism for ethanol production. In the present study comparative kinetic data from batch and continuous cultures on glucose media are presented which show that a new strain of Z. mobilis has higher specific rates of growth and ethanol production as well as a higher tolerance to ethanol.     

Copy number variants in a highly inbred Iberian porcine strain

We carried out a comprehensive genomic analysis of porcine copy number variants (CNVs) based on whole‐genome SNP genotyping data and provided new measures of genomic diversity (number, length and distribution of CNV events) for a highly inbred strain (the Guadyerbas strain). This strain represents one of the most ancient surviving populations of the Iberian breed, and it is currently in serious danger of extinction. CNV detection was conducted on the complete Guadyerbas population, adjusted for genomic waves, and used strict quality criteria, pedigree information and the latest porcine genome annotation. The analysis led to the detection of 65 CNV regions (CNVRs). These regions cover 0.33% of the autosomal genome of this particular strain. Twenty‐nine of these CNVRs were identified here for the first time. The relatively low number of detected CNVRs is in line with the low variability and high inbreeding estimated previously for this Iberian strain using pedigree, microsatellite or SNP data. A comparison across different porcine studies has revealed that more than half of these regions overlap with previously identified CNVRs or multicopy regions. Also, a preliminary analysis of CNV detection using whole‐genome sequence data for four Guadyerbas pigs showed overlapping for 16 of the CNVRs, supporting their reliability. Some of the identified CNVRs contain relevant functional genes (e.g., the SCD and USP15 genes), which are worth being further investigated because of their importance in determining the quality of Iberian pig products. The CNVR data generated could be useful for improving the porcine genome annotation.     

Development and characterization of the IOR/Hab inbred mouse strain

The IOR/Hab inbred mouse strain, developed and maintained in the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, is the first inbred strain to be developed in Cuba. It has a high fertility in this tropical climate. A number of physiological characteristics such as longevity, haematological characteristics, and growth are reported. Other experiments and results concerning spontaneous tumour frequency suggest that the strain is well adapted to standard environmental conditions, and could be useful for biomedical research.     

Expression of murine leukemia viruses in the highly lymphomatous BXH-2 recombinant inbred mouse strain

Among 12 recombinant inbred strains of mice derived from crossing two strains, C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ, which have a low incidence of neoplastic disease, one strain (BXH-2) has been found to have a high incidence of lymphoma, of non-T-cell origin, at an early age. The BXH-2 strain carries the Fv-1b allele and spontaneously expresses a B-tropic murine leukemia virus beginning at as early as 10 days of gestation and continuing throughout their life. No significant differences in ecotropic virus titers were observed at any age tested (16 to 17 days of gestation through 7 months), whereas xenotropic virus was first detected in lymphoid tissues of 2-month-old mice and virus titers increased with age. Dual tropic virus(es), which induced cytopathic changes on mink lung cells, was isolated from BXH-2 lymphomatous tissues. Unlike AKR mink lung focus-forming virus (N-tropic recombinant), BXH-2 dual tropic virus is B tropic and induces cytopathic changes in mouse fibroblast cultures as well. The BXH-2 mouse provides a model system for studying the role of replication-competent viruses in spontaneously occurring leukemias of non-T-cell lineage and neurological disease.     

Hydronephrosis in the inbred mouse strain DDD

The inbred mouse strain DDD was found to have an extremely high incidence of hydronephrosis (37/37 in adult males and 12/32 in adult females). The hydronephrosis was classified as open with no definite cause for obstruction. The condition was either unilateral in the right kidney or bilateral. Another feature of the hydronephrotic kidney was circulatory failure. Hydronephrosis in strain DDD mice is considered to be a useful experimental animal model with additional possible use, in investigating disturbances of renal haemodynamics and function.     

Primary structure of apolipoprotein A-II from inbred mouse strain BALB/c

The primary structure of apolipoprotein A-II (apoA-II) isolated from the plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction of the inbred mouse strain BALB/c is described in this work. The complete 78 amino acid protein sequence was determined by proteolytic fragmentation, gas-phase microsequence analysis, and fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry. The apolipoprotein has a calculated molecular weight of 8,715 and a net negative charge conveyed by ten acidic and eight basic amino acid residues. There exists a 55% amino acid sequence homology between the BALB/c mouse apoA-II and human apoA-II. Unlike human plasma apoA-II, which exists as a disulfide dimer, BALB/c apoA-II lacks cysteine and is a monomer. BALB/c apoA-II contains one residue each of histidine and arginine, neither of which are found in the human A-II protein. Chou and Fasman analysis of the BALB/c apoA-II primary structure predicts approximately 68% alpha-helical potential compared with a 62% potential for human apoA-II. The alpha-helical domains are structurally amphipathic, generating a polar and an apolar face consistent with the proposed models describing apolipoprotein-phospholipid interaction.     

A collaborative database of inbred mouse strain characteristics

A database and website (MPD: Mouse Phenome Database) have been developed to serve as a consolidated home for mouse strain characterization data being generated by the scientific community. Physiological, anatomical and behavioral data are being collected and integrated into a common framework for tabulation by strain and sex. Genotypic data are being collected as well. The current focus is on a set of 40 inbred strains. The MPD as of February 2004 contains approximately 500 phenotypic parameters relevant to human health, voluntarily contributed by several dozen investigators and laboratories. AVAILABILITY: www.jax.org/phenome     

Genealogy of the 129 inbred strains: 129/SvJ is a contaminated inbred strain

The 129 mouse is the most widely used strain in gene targeting experiments. However, numerous substrains exist with demonstrable physiological differences. In this study a set of simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs) was used to determine the relatedness of selected 129 substrains. 129/SvJ was significantly different from the other 129 substrains and is more accurately classified as a recombinant congenic strain (129cX/Sv), being derived from 129/Sv and an unknown strain. This mixed genetic background could complicate gene targeting experiments by reducing homologous recombination efficiency when constructs and ES cells are not derived from the same 129 substrain. Additionally, discrepancies due to different genetic backgrounds may arise when comparing phenotypes of genes targeted in different 129-derived ES cell lines. Received: 2 December 1996 / Accepted: 10 February 1997     

The FLS mouse: a new inbred strain with spontaneous fatty liver.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A new strain of mouse, named FLS (fatty liver Shionogi), which develops spontaneous fatty liver without obesity, was established by inbreeding. Morphologic, physiologic, and genetic characterization of the strain was done. METHODS: Characteristics of male FLS mice were compared with those of the sister strain, dd Shionogi (DS), which does not develop spontaneous fatty liver. A genetic cross experiment was performed by mating FLS with C3H/He/Shi mice. RESULTS: The hepatocytes of neonatal FLS mice contained fine lipid droplets throughout the lobules, and large lipid droplets appeared as mice aged. Liver triglyceride concentrations of FLS mice were fivefold higher than those of DS mice, but serum lipid concentrations and the lipoprotein profile did not indicate abnormalities. Higher plasma aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase activities in FLS, compared with DS mice, suggested hepatocellular lesions. The genetic cross experiment suggested that the fatty liver formation is a complex polygenic trait. CONCLUSION: The FLS mice develop a progressive hepatic steatosis without obesity and diabetes. The FLS mouse might be a good model for investigating hepatic disorders accompanied by fatty liver unrelated to alcoholism or obesity.     

PCR-analyzed microsatellites: Data concerning laboratory and wild-derived mouse inbred strains

We have investigated 67 primers designed by Dr. J. Todd and co-workers to amplify microsatellites sequences in the mouse. We report on additional polymorphisms concerning seven laboratory inbred strains, complementary to those already published. We include the survey of three independently derived strains of Mus spretus: SPE/Pas, SEG/Pas and SPR/Smh. SPE/Pas and SEG/Pas are very close (3% polymorphism), whereas the third one, (SPR/Smh), is very different from the other two strains (33% polymorphism). Seventy-four to 84% of the microsatellites analyzed in this study are polymorphic between C57BL/6Pas and Mus spretus strains. By comparison, 36–46% are polymorphic between laboratory inbred strains involved in established sets of recombinant inbred strains. A strain derived from Mus musculus musculus (PWK/Pas) was found to be very different from both C57BL/6Pas (70% polymorphism) and SPE/Pas (82% polymorphism). These results emphasize the interest of using Mus musculus musculus inbred strains to establish interspecific crosses, particularly when considering their breeding performances.     

Inheritance of hydronephrosis in the inbred mouse strain DDD

The mode of inheritance of hydronephrosis was investigated by crossing inbred DDD mice having a high incidence of hydronephrosis and C57BL/6 mice having normal kidneys. In the males, incidences of hydronephrosis in F1 animals were intermediate between the two parental strains at a rate of 32.6% in (DDD x C57BL/6)F1 and 23.4% in reciprocal F1. The same tendency was observed in F2 male animals. In BCF1 males, the number of affected mice was higher in (C57BL/6 x DDD) F1 x DDD (72.4%) than in (DDD x C57BL/6)F1 x C57BL/6 (11.1%). A few affected mice were found among the females of hybrids F1, F2 and BCF1. These results suggested that hydronephrosis in the DDD strain of mice was controlled by polygenes, and that male hormones may have some effect on the occurrence of hydronephrosis.     

Genetic differentiation within the inbred C57BL/6J mouse strain

The C57BL/6J (B6) inbred mouse strain is commonly used in biomedical researches. However, some unexpected inconsistency was reported compared with previous studies, and in most cases, it can be attributed to environmental, epigenetic or stochastic differences. The goal of this study was to investigate the genetic stability of the B6 strain maintained in different breeders. B6 mice purchased from five Chinese commercial breeders were examined, and mitochondrial D-loop sequence and 18 microsatellite loci were genotyped. There is no difference in the D-loop sequences, but variations exist in the nucleic microsatellite markers. Combining the data from MGI_4.01, a significant divergence is observed among those mice. The present study indicates that different B6 mice share the common maternal lineage and are still inbred in each breeder, but subline divergence occurs.     

复合诱变在青霉高产菊粉酶菌株选育中的应用

以Penicillium sp．B01为出发菌株,经吖黄素或DES（硫酸二乙酯）分别与^60Co-γ射线对其孢子悬液进行复合诱变。经过初筛和复筛,在30μg／mL吖黄素诱变时间2h,剂量率为4．11Gy／min的^60Co-γ射线辐射使累计剂量为20．55Gy复合诱变的条件下,筛选出一株菊粉酶活比出发菌株高32％的突变菌株B01-A13-Co31。经同工酶电泳验证,变异株与出发菌株相比酶带有所变化。将此菌种连续传代6次进行产酶性能的稳定性测定,表明此菌株具有良好的遗传稳定性。     

Host mouse strain is not selective for a laboratory adapted strain of Schistosoma mansoni

We genotyped pooled adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni from infected CF1, C57BL/6, BALB/c, and BALB/c interferon gamma knockout mice in order to establish if mouse strain differences selected for parasite genotypes. We also compared differentiation in eggs collected from liver and intestines to determine if there was differential distribution of parasite strains in the vertebrate host that might account for any genotype selection. We found that mouse strains with differing immune responses did not differ in resistance to infection and did not select for parasite genotypes. Schistosoma mansoni egg allele frequencies were also equally distributed in tissues and the difference between adult and egg allele frequencies was negligible.