Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of an Orf Virus Isolated from an Outbreak in Boer Goat in Shanxi Province

To identify and analyze the Orf virus in Shanxi Province, China, an Orf virus strain was successfully isolated from crust materials of boer goat with clinical sore mouth symptom from a goat farm of Shanxi Province by passaging in lamb testis （LT）. The Orf virus was identified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） test, recurrent infection test, transmission electron microscopy, and PCR. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of two genes of the Orf virus were analyzed. The results showed that under the electron microscopy the virus had a presence of typical parapoxvirus virions and there were many eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions observed by hematoxylin-eosin （H＆E） stain. In ELISA test, optical density （OD） readings of the sample showed a positive result, and the rabbits infected with the virus showed a typically Orf virus-infected appearance. All these findings proved that the sample was an Orf virus. The phylogenetic studies of Orf B2L and Orf F1L genes showed that the virus clustered in different branches and were closer to the Orf virus Nantou （DQ904351） and the OV-SA00 isolates （AY386264）. Furthermore, the above results may provide some insight into the genotype of the etiological agent responsible for the Orf outbreak in Shanxi Province, and could also provide a comparative view of the B2L and F1L genes of parapoxvirus.

Effects of Fleckvieh on the Performance of Dual-Purpose Cattle Improved by Hybridization with Local Beef Cows

[Objective] The paper aimed to study the improved effect of local beef cattle with Fleckvieh cattle and provide theoretical basic data for local cattle industry in central plain agricultural area in China. [Method] With 500 local beef cattle as female parents and Fleckvieh cattle as male parents,hybridization improvement was conducted via artificial insemination. The growth performance,slaughter performance,milk performance and milk components of F1 and F2 hybrids were measured. [Result] The birth body weights of F2 were significantly higher than those of local beef cow,but there was no remarkable difference between F1 and local beef cow or F1 and F2. The growth rates of F1 and F2 at different stages were higher than those of local beef cattle. The slaughter performance,such as carcass weight( P < 0. 05),dressing percentage,net meat rate( P < 0. 05),marbling score of F1 and F2 were higher than those of local beef cow. Milk production performance,such as actual milk yield,305 d corrected milk yield and 4% standard milk yield of F2 were signally higher than those of F1 and local beef cattle( P< 0. 05),and F1 was markedly higher than local beef cattle( P < 0. 05). For milk composition,although milk fat percentage,milk protein rate,lactose rate and total solids( TS) of F1 and F2 were slightly lowered compared with local beef cattle at varying degrees,they were still at high levels compared with Holstein cows.[Conclusion]Fleckvieh cattle,as a male parent,can significantly improved growth performance,slaughter performance and milk performance of offsprings. It would also increases the economic efficiency of local beef cattle by higher quality and price,as well as changing production model from beef to dual purpose of beef and milk.

Genomic variation,origin tracing,and vaccine development of SARS-CoV-2:A systematic review

COVID-19 has spread globally to over 200 countries with more than 40 million confirmed cases and one million deaths as of November 1,2020.The SARS-CoV-2 virus,leading to COVID-19,shows extremely high rates of infectivity and replication,and can result in pneumonia,acute respiratory distress,or even mortality.SARS-CoV-2 has been found to continue to rapidly evolve,with several genomic variants emerging in different regions throughout the world.In addition,despite intensive study of the spike protein,its origin,and molecular mechanisms in mediating host invasion are still only partially resolved.Finally,the repertoire of drugs for COVID-19 treatment is still limited,with several candidates still under clinical trial and no effective therapeutic yet reported.Although vaccines based on either DNA/mRNA or protein have been deployed,their efficacy against emerging variants requires ongoing study,with multivalent vaccines supplanting the first-generation vaccines due to their low efficacy against new strains.Here,we provide a systematic review of studies on the epidemiology,immunological pathogenesis,molecular mechanisms,and structural biology,as well as approaches for drug or vaccine development for SARSCoV-2.