Bioinformatic Analysis of Non-VP1 Capsid Protein of Coxsackievirus A6

This study bioinformatically analyzed the non-VP1 capsid proteins（VP2-VP4） of Coxasckievirus A6（CVA6）, with an attempt to predict their basic physicochemical properties, structural/functional features and linear B cell eiptopes. The online tools Sub Loc, Target P and the others from Ex PASy Bioinformatics Resource Portal, and SWISS-MODEL（an online protein structure modeling server）, were utilized to analyze the amino acid（AA） sequences of VP2-VP4 proteins of CVA6. Our results showed that the VP proteins of CVA6 were all of hydrophilic nature, contained phosphorylation and glycosylation sites and harbored no signal peptide sequences and acetylation sites. Except VP3, the other proteins did not have transmembrane helix structure and nuclear localization signal sequences. Random coils were the major conformation of the secondary structure of the capsid proteins. Analysis of the linear B cell epitopes by employing Bepipred showed that the average antigenic indices（AI） of individual VP proteins were all greater than 0 and the average AI of VP4 was substantially higher than that of VP2 and VP3. The VP proteins all contained a number of potential B cell epitopes and some eiptopes were located at the internal side of the viral capsid or were buried. We successfully predicted the fundamental physicochemical properties, structural/functional features and the linear B cell eiptopes and found that different VP proteins share some common features and each has its unique attributes. These findings will help us understand the pathogenicity of CVA6 and develop related vaccines and immunodiagnostic reagents.

DNA methylation affects photoperiodic tuberization in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) by mediating the expression of genes related to the photoperiod and GA pathways

Overcoming short-day-dependent tuberization to adapt to long-day conditions is critical for the widespread geographical success of potato.The genetic pathways of photoperiodic tuberization are similar to those of photoperiodic flowering.DNA methylation plays an important role in photoperiodic flowering.However,little is known about how DNA methylation affects photoperiodic tuberization in potato.Here,we verified the effect of a DNA methylation inhibitor on photoperiodic tuberization and compared the DNA methylation levels and differentially methylated genes(DMGs)in the photoperiodic tuberization process between photoperiod-sensitive and photoperiod-insensitive genotypes,aiming to dissect the role of DNA methylation in the photoperiodic tuberization of potato.We found that a DNA methylation inhibitor could promote tuber initiation in strict short-day genotypes.Whole-genome DNA methylation sequencing showed that the photoperiod-sensitive and photoperiod-insensitive genotypes had distinct DNA methylation modes in which few differentially methylated genes were shared.Transcriptome analysis confirmed that the DNA methylation inhibitor regulated the expression of the key genes involved in the photoperiod and GA pathways to promote tuber initiation in the photoperiod-sensitive genotype.Comparison of the DNA methylation levels and transcriptome levels identified 52 candidate genes regulated by DNA methylation that were predicted to be involved in photoperiodic tuberization.Our findings provide a new perspective for understanding the relationship between photoperiod-dependent and GA-regulated tuberization.Uncovering the epigenomic signatures of these pathways will greatly enhance potato breeding for adaptation to a wide range of environments.

Histological Observation of Gonads of Male Elk (Elaphurus davidianus)

Elk (Elaphurus davidianus) is a rare species native to China, and much less efforts have been dedicated to gonadal histology of male elk.The microscopic morphology of gonadal tissue of elk was observed by paraffin method. The results showed that the tunica albuginea testis was com-posed of collagenous fibers and elastic fibers, with the thickness of about 1 054 μm, and a large number of blood vessels were distributed in tunica albuginea;the seminiferous tubule was about 203 μm in diameter, with uneven thickness of tubule wall, which was consisted of sustentacular cells and spermatogenic cells;there were interstitial cells and blood vessels between seminiferous tubules. The epididymis contained more than 20 effer-ent ducts and a long curly epididymal duct;the capsule thickness at epididymis head was about 53 μm, and that at epididymis body and tail was400-1 000 μm;the epithelium of efferent duct was pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells;the wall epithelium of epididymal duct was composed of tall columnar cells at proximal lumina and stroma cells at distal lumina;the epithelial basement membrane of efferent duct and epididymal duct contained circular smooth muscle. The wall of spermatic duct was divided into mucosae, tunica muscularis and tunica adventitia. The tunica muscu-laris was well developed, which was smooth muscle fiber.

Histology Observation on Intestine of Elaphurus davidianus

Elaphurus davidianus is one of the rare species originally come from China. And study on intestine histology observation of Elaphurus davidianus has not been reported widely. In the test, microscopic morphology on intestinal tissue of Elaphurus davidianus was observed by the method of paraffin sectioning. Test results showed that jejunum epithelium villi structure of Elaphurus davidianus was obvious, a large number of intestinal glands distributed in lamina propfia of jejunal epithelium. There was lymphoid tissue distributing in the base of the mucosa. The muscularis mucosa was composed of smooth muscle, thickness of muscularis mucosae was about 53μm. There was no villous structure in the cecal mucosa of Elaphurus davidianus, capillaries in mucosal lamina propria were rich, the mucosal thickness was （236 ＋55）μm. There were large amounts of intestinal glands in inherent layer, thickness of mucosal muscle was about 27 μm. The blood vessels located in submucosal loose connective tissue were rich. The structure of small intestine was similar with that of large intestine. There was no villus structure in rectal mucosal epithelium, the maximum thickness of mucosal layer was 835μm, and the minimum thickness of mucosal layer was 313 μm. Mucosal muscular layer was developed, which was composed of several smooth muscle bands, different bundles scattered, the thickness was about 200 - 600 μm.

Diagnosis and Treatment of a Case of Leydig Cell Tumor in Dogs

Based on such diagnostic measures as clinical diagnosis and lab etiological examination,the disease was diagnosed as Leydig cell tumor in dogs. Combined with the clinical examination results of the dog,testicular tumor removal operation was conducted,and the prognosis was favorable.

Discussion on the Main Reasons for a Large Number of Père David s Deer ( Elaphurus davidianus ) with Abnormal Antler Shedding

[Objectives]This study was conducted to find out the causes of abnormal antler shedding in Père David s deer(Elaphurus davidianus).[Methods]Abnormally-shed antlers were compared with normally-shed antlers in terms of light condition,antler development and bone nutritional status during the abnormal shedding season in the growth area of Père David s deer.[Results]Abnormally-shed antlers had no significant differences in the development of shed antlers,or even in the overall composition of antlers,from those of normal Père David s deer.[Conclusions]Insufficient light was the main cause of abnormal antler shedding in Père David s deer.