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Over 200 different serogroups of Vibrio cholerae based on O-polysaccharide specificity have been described worldwide, including the two most important serogroups, O1 and O139. Non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae serogroups generally do not produce the cholera-causing toxin but do sporadically cause gastroenteritis and extra-intestinal infections. Recently, however, bloodstream infections caused by non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae are being increasingly reported, and these infections are associated with high mortality in immunocompromised hosts. We describe a case of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae bacteremia in a patient with autoimmune pancreatitis and stenosis of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. The clinical manifestations of bacteremia were fever and mild digestive symptoms. The blood cultures showed V. cholerae, which was identified as a non-O1, non-O139 serogroup by slide agglutination tests and PCR. The bloodstream infection of the patient was likely caused by the consumption of contaminated seafood at a banquet. The patient recovered after the administration of a third-generation cephalosporin. Non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae infection presents with or without gastrointestinal manifestations; close attention should be paid to the possibility of disseminated non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae infection in high-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this experiment was to explore the monthly dynamic changes of yield and nutrient components of temperate desert-steppe type rangeland and temperate steppe-desert type rangeland on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, and the effects of grazing on the weight changes of multiple Suffolk ewes and weaned lambs under the conditions of two grassland types. Suffolk postpartum ewes with a similar weight of two years old and 120 lambs after weaning were randomly divided into two groups. Each group had three repetitions, and each repetition had 20 sheep. Group A lambs and Group C ewes were grazed in temperate desert-steppe type rangeland experimental area (type I grass group, namely Festucasulcata, feather grass and Seriphidium kaschgaricum), while Group B lambs and Group D ewes were grazed in temperate steppe-desert type rangeland experimental area (type II grass group, namely Seriphidium borotalense Ling et Y. R. Ling, Kochia prostrata and Carex turkestanica). The trial period was 120 days. The results showed that in June and September, the fresh grass yield of type I grass group was significantly higher than that of type II grass group (P<0.05). In September, the hay yield of type I grass group was significantly higher than that of type II grass group (P<0.05). In June, the dry-fresh ratio of type I grass group was significantly lower than that of type II grass group (P<0.05). In June and September, the crude ash content of type I grass group was significantly lower than that of type II grass group ( P<0.05). In July, the crude protein content of type I grass group was significantly higher than that of type II grass group (P<0.05), and in September, the crude protein content of type I grass group was significantly lower than that of type II grass group (P<0.05). The content of nitrogen-free extracts of type I grass group in June was significantly higher than that in September (P<0.05). In June, July and September, the phosphorus content of type II grass group was significantly higher than that of type I grass group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in total weight gain, average daily weight gain, and relative weight gain between the two grazing grassland types (P>0.05). The weaned lamb weight increased continuously, and the litter size, litter weight, and weaned weight of ewes in the following year had no significant difference (P>0.05). The results showed that with the increase of temperature and the decrease of precipitation, the forage yield of the two grazing grassland types decreased first and then increased, and the forage nutrition level decreased. The grazing adaptability and stress resistance of multiple Suffolk sheep were better under extreme environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic sheep and their wild relatives harbor substantial genetic variants that can form the backbone of molecular breeding, but their genome landscapes remain understudied. Here, we present a comprehensive genome resource for wild ovine species, landraces and improved breeds of domestic sheep, comprising high-coverage (∼16.10×) whole genomes of 810 samples from 7 wild species and 158 diverse domestic populations. We detected, in total, ∼121.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms, ∼61 million of which are novel. Some display significant (P < 0.001) differences in frequency between wild and domestic species, or are private to continent-wide or individual sheep populations. Retained or introgressed wild gene variants in domestic populations have contributed to local adaptation, such as the variation in the HBB associated with plateau adaptation. We identified novel and previously reported targets of selection on morphological and agronomic traits such as stature, horn, tail configuration, and wool fineness. We explored the genetic basis of wool fineness and unveiled a novel mutation (chr25: T7,068,586C) in the 3'-UTR of IRF2BP2 as plausible causal variant for fleece fiber diameter. We reconstructed prehistorical migrations from the Near Eastern domestication center to South-and-Southeast Asia and found two main waves of migrations across the Eurasian Steppe and the Iranian Plateau in the Early and Late Bronze Ages. Our findings refine our understanding of genome variation as shaped by continental migrations, introgression, adaptation, and selection of sheep., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of natakalim against rat aortic vascular endothelial cells (RAVECs) injuries induced by hypoxia and its mechanisms., Methods: Selecting RAVECs as a cell model injured by hypoxia, these RAVECs were divided into 5 groups: i.e. control group, hypoxia group, natakalim low, medium and high group. The cell survival rate was determined by MTT assay, con was measured using Griess Assay, RT-PCR was used to examine t he expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1) mRNA in RAVEC., Results: Natakalim could reverse hypoxia-induced changes in endothelial cell function, including increased endothelial cell survival rate and level of NO concentration, significantly inhibited the hypoxia-induced endothelial ICAM-1, ET-1, VEGF mRNA expression levels increased., Conclusion: Natakalim have protective effects on hypoxia-induced changes in endothelial cell function, increasing of permeation, excess expression of cell adhesion molecules.

Aim: To study the magnitude and correlation of humoral and cellular immune responses to hepatitis surface antigen(HBsAg), preS1+S2 antigen, and core antigen(HBcAg) in the blood donors., Methods: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to scan the humoral immune responses to HBsAg, preS1+S2 antigen, and HBcAg. Enzyme linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) was used to check the antigen specific IFN-γ secreting cells stimulated by HBsAg, preS1+S2 antigen or HBcAg in peripheral blood mononuclear cell from blood donors., Results: The prevalence of humoral immune response to preS1+S2 antigen was as high as 85.7% (48/56), compared with the lower response to HBcAg (30.4%, 17/56). In the cellular immune response, there was no difference between preS1+S2 antigen and HBcAg, both of which were stronger than the response stimulated by HBsAg. PreS1+S2 antigen or HBsAg specific humoral immune and cellular immune responses were highly correlated, which could not be observed in the HBcAg specific humoral immune and cellular immune responses(P>0.05)., Conclusion: Either humoral or cellular immune responses to HBsAg, preS1+S2 antigen and HBcAg could be detected in the blood donors. PreS1+S2 antigen immune responses, however, were most powerful, which may suggest that PreS1+S2 antigen may be a candidate for the further HBV vaccine.

Aim: To expand HBV special interferon-γ secreting human T lymphocytes in vitro and sustain the ability to recognize special T cell epitodes of HBcAg., Methods: After stimulated by peptide 22 hours, feeded with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs) deproliferated by mitomycin C and low concentration of IL-2 to expand in vitro for other 4 weeks. Then cells were collected and tested by flow cells assay every week. The ability of these cells to recognize special epitodes was tested by enzyme linked immunospot assay in which autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) produced from PBMC was transfected by epstein-barr virus pulsed with peptides and used as target cell., Results: HBV special interferon-secreting human T lymphocytes were selected and expanded more than 1000 times in vitro. The ability of the T cells to recognize special epitodes is as same as unexpanded cells and the proportion of CD4 and CD8 positive cells likely remained native state., Conclusion: HBV special interferon-γ secreting T lymphocytes are effectively expanded in vitro and keep the ability to recognize stringently special T cell epotides.

A single-chamber and membrane-less microbial fuel cells were successfully started up using anaerobic sludge as inoculums without any chemical substance for 20 d. The electricity generation of the microbial fuel cell using surplus sludge as fuel and the change of substrate were investigated. The results showed that the obtained maximum voltage and power density were 495 mV and 44 mW x m(-2) (fixed 1,000 Omega), and the internal resistance was about 300 Omega during steady state. In a cycle, the removal efficiency of SS and VSS were 27.3% and 28.7%, pH was 6.5-8.0. In addition, the COD increased from 617 mg x L(-1) to 1,150 mg x L(-1) and decreased afterwards with time. The change of glucose was similar to that of COD, glucose increased from 47 mg x L(-1) to 60 mg x L(-1) and decreased afterwards with time. Consequently, the microbial fuel cell can transform chemical energy of surplus sludge into the cleanest electrical energy, and it provides a new way of sludge recycling.

In this study, PCR-SSCP analysis was used to identify genetic variation in IGFBP-3 gene in Chinese Merino and Kazakh sheep. A PCR product of 178 bp corresponding to partial intron1 illustrated three unique binding patterns by SSCP analysis. Frequencies of the genotype AA, AB, BB and allele A, B in Chinese Merino sheep were 0.70, 0.24, 0.06, and 0.82, 0.18 respectively , and they were 0.87, 0.13, 0.00, and 0.93, 0.07 respectively in Kazaka sheep. Sequence analysis revealed a G/T transversion at position 122 of the fragment. This polymorphic locus of IGFBP-3 gene was at Hardy-Weinberg dis-equilibrium (P<0.01) in the two breeds. Different genotypes slightly affected several wool traits of Chinese Merino sheep. The individuals of genotype AA, AB, and BB had no significant difference in post-shearing weight and clean wool rate. Sta-ple length (SL) was decreased with the genotype of AA, AB, and BB, and the difference between AA and AB was significant (P<0.01). Greasy fleece weight (GFW) and follicle density in individuals of genotype AA was significantly lower than that in individuals of genotype AB (P<0.01) and BB (P<0.05); Average fiber diameter (AFD) in individuals of genotype AA was significantly higher than that in individuals of genotype AB (P<0.01) and BB (P<0.05).

Batch tests of anaerobic fermentative hydrogen production by Pseudomonas sp. GL1 were investigated using sterilization, microwave and ultrasonication pretreated sludge as substrate. The profiles of soluble COD, protein, carbohydrate and pH value during the fermentation process were monitored. The results showed that only hydrogen and carbon dioxide were produced and methane was not observed during the process. A maximal hydrogen yield (30.07 mL x g(-1)) and bio-hydrogen content (81.45%) were obtained from the sterilization pretreated sludge run. The shortest lag time for hydrogen production was in ultrasonication pretreated sludge run (3 h), while the longest one was in sterilization pretreated sludge run (15 h), and the medial one was in microwave pretreated sludge run (12 h). It was found that the changes of sludge substrates (soluble COD, protein, carbohydrate and pH value) were various with different pretreated sludge during the fermentation process, especially in the sterilization sludge run, which implied that the pretreatment method could affect substrate utilization by Pseudomonas sp. GL1.