毛壳菌产抗真菌活性物质菌株筛选及种间原生质体融合研究

毛壳菌属很多种类具有重要生防价值，其生防机理包括对植物病原真菌的重寄生作用、诱导植物产生抗病性、产生抗真菌活性的次生代谢产物等。迄今，学界对毛壳菌的研究主要集中在毛壳菌的生防机理，毛壳菌活性次生代谢产物的分离等方面。本研究致力于产抗生素的毛壳菌的种间原生质体融合，从产抗生素毛壳菌菌株的筛选开始，进而对产抗生素的角毛壳菌进行诱变选育，最终用产不同抗生素的角毛壳菌与球毛壳菌进行种间原生质体融合。主要有以下五方面研究结果。 1、毛壳菌抗真菌活性物质产生菌株的筛选：不同毛壳菌菌株发酵液采用琼脂扩散法对植物病原真菌进行抑菌活性试验，结果显示，菌株CH08和CH23的发酵液对芒果炭疽、苹果炭疽和马铃薯晚疫菌具有抑制作用。菌株CH16和CH17的发酵液对芒果炭疽菌、苹果炭疽菌有抑制作用。菌株CH21发酵液对辣椒炭疽菌和西瓜枯萎菌有抑制作用。经形态学研究，菌株CH08、CH16、CH17和CH23鉴定为球毛壳菌，菌株CH21鉴定为角毛壳菌。对角毛壳菌与球毛壳菌菌株发酵液抑菌谱比较，发现角毛壳菌与球毛壳菌发酵液具有明显不同的抑菌谱，表明角毛壳菌与球毛壳菌产生不同的抗真菌活性物质。 2、角毛壳菌（CH21）和球毛壳菌（CH08）原生质体制备和再生条件研究：考察了菌龄、酶浓度、稳渗剂及其浓度、酶解温度、酶解时间及再生培养基对原生质体制备和再生的影响。用菌龄为生长54 h的角毛壳菌菌丝，以0.06 M磷酸缓冲液（pH6.0）配制成含蜗牛酶15 mg/ml、溶壁酶10 mg/ml、蔗糖0.6 mol/L的酶解液，30℃酶解1.5 h，原生质体释放量2.02×107个/g；以PDA为再生培养基，0.7 mol/L的蔗糖再生稳渗剂，再生率可达51.45%。用菌龄为生长48 h的球毛壳菌菌丝，以0.06 M磷酸缓冲液（pH6.0）配制成含蜗牛酶15 mg/ml、溶壁酶10 mg/ml、蔗糖0.6 mol/L的酶解液，30℃酶解1 h，原生质体释放量达1.57×108个/g；以PDA为再生培养基，0.7 mol/L的蔗糖为再生稳渗剂，再生率可达41.48%。 3、角毛壳菌（CH21）原生质体紫外诱变选育：以CH21为出发菌株，制备原生质体进行紫外诱变，诱变条件为：15 w紫外灯，距离30 cm，照射90 s，致死率80%~85%。建立了诱变菌株初筛的双层平板筛选模型。经平板初筛和摇瓶复筛，获得一株突变菌株CH21-I-402，其发酵液抑菌活性较出发菌株提高18.3%。 4、抗性标记菌株的获得：菌株CH21-I-402和CH08抗生素药敏试验表明， CH21-I-402菌株对潮霉素有抗性、对G418（Geneticin）敏感，菌株CH08对潮霉素和G418都敏感。根癌农杆菌EHA105介导的新霉素磷酸转移酶基因转化球毛壳菌，经PCR检测，新霉素磷酸转移酶基因成功转化进菌株CH08-GR70，CH08-GR120。转化子对G418抗性提高3～4倍，对潮霉素仍然比较敏感。 5、以G418和潮霉素抗性为筛选标记的原生质体融合与融合菌株AFLP分析：制备角毛壳菌CH21-I-402和球毛壳菌CH08-GR70原生质体，以35％的PEG6000为助融剂进行原生质体融合，以65 μg/ml的潮霉素和60 μg/ml G418为抗性筛选标记，获得46个再生菌株。再生菌株连续传代5代后，再生菌株表现出多种形态类型。利用AFLP技术对再生菌株及亲本菌株基因组DNA分析表明，再生菌株PF1、PF26为融合菌株。抑菌活性测试表明，融合菌株PF26发酵液对芒果炭疽菌和苹果轮纹菌有强的抑制作用，且抑菌活性比亲本球毛壳菌明显提高。 Chaetomium spp. have great potentials as biocontrol agents against a range of plant pathogens on the basis of its mycoparasitism, induced plant disease resistance, production of antifungal metabolites, and so on. Previous researches on C. spp. mostly focused on the mechanisms of its biocontrol and the isolation of secondary metabolites. In this study, screening antifungal C. spp., mutation breeding of C. cupreum and interspecies protoplast fusion between C. cupreum and C. globosum were carried out, respectively. The corresponding results are as follows: Firstly, among more than 40 C. spp., the strains produced anti-fungal antibiotics were screened by agar diffusion experiments. Results showed that both CH08 and CH23 had inhibition against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Cladosporium fulvum, and Phytophthora infestans. Both CH16 and CH17 had inhibition against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Cladosporium fulvum. In addition, CH21 exhibited anti-fungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp niveum and Colletotrichum capsici. Furthermore, CH08, CH16, CH17 and CH23 were identified as C. globosum, CH21 was proved to be C. cupreum based on morphology. The comparison of the anti-fungal spectrum between C. cupreum and C. globosum, showed they could produce different antibiotics. Secondly, specified protocols for preparing and regenerating protoplasts from mycelia of C. cupreum CH21 and C. globosum CH08 were studied. The effects of the age mycelia, the concentration of enzyme, digestion temperature and time, kinds of osmotic stabilizer and regeneration medium on protoplasts preparation and regeneration were all optimized, respectively. In one protocol, with 15 mg/mL snailase, 10 mg/mL lywallzyme, 0.6 M sucrose, in 0.06 M phosphate buffer (pH6.0), and digested for 1.5 h at 30 ºC, 2.02×107 protoplasts from each gram mycelia were obtained from cultures of C. cupreum CH21 grown in potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium for 54 h. And when 0.7 M sucrose was used as osmotic stabilizer in the regeneration medium OPDA (potato dextrose agar with osmotic stabilize), the regeneration efficiency of protoplasts was 51.45%. In another protocol, with 15 mg/mL snailase, 10 mg/mL lywallzyme, 0.6 M sucrose, in 0.06 M phosphate buffer (pH6.0), and digested for 1 h at 30 ºC, 1.57×108 protoplasts from each gram mycelia were obtained from cultures of C. globosum CH08 grown in PDB for 48 h. And when 0.7 M sucrose was used as osmotic stabilizer in the regeneration medium OPDA, the regeneration efficiency of protoplasts was 41.48%. Thirdly, the mutagenesis conditions and secondary screening model of C. cupreum CH21 were explored. An 80% to 85% death rate could be achieved when the protoplasts of C. cupreum CH21 were irradiated by 15 w UV lamp from 30 cm distance for 90 s. In addition, the doublelayer plate’s method for the primary screening of high-producing antibiotics strains was established. A high yielding antibiotic mutant CH21-I-402 was obtained through the primary screening on plate and the secondary selection in Erlenmeyer flask, compared to the original CH21 strain, the antifungal activity of the mutant CH21-I-402 was increased by 18.3%. Fourth, the sensitivity to antibiotics of both C. cupreum CH21-I-402 and C. globusm CH08 was detected. Results showed C. cupreum CH21-I-402 was sensitive to G418 (Geneticin) (Gs) and resistant to Hygromycin B(Hr), and C. globusm CH08 was sensitive to both G418 (Geneticin) (Gs) and Hygromycin B(Hs). At the same time, neomycin phosphotransferase II (npt II) gene was transformed into C. globusm CH08(Gs, Hs) mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105, and the npt II gene was verified by polymerase chain reaction in resistance to G418 strains CH08-GR70 and CH08-GR120. The transformants still showed sensitive to Hygromycin B(Hs). Finally, a selection system for hybrids was set up by interspecies protoplast fusion between C. cupreum and C. globusm using dominant selective drug resistance markers. At first, protoplasts of C. cupreum CH21-I-402 (Hr, Gs) and C. globusm CH08-GR70 (Hs, Gr) were prepared, then the protoplasts were fused in the presence of 35% polyethylene glycol 6000 and regenerated on OPDA medium with 65 μg/ml Hygromycin B and 60μg/ml G418, at last 46 colonies with Hr and Gr were obtained. Even after 5 generations’ subculture, most of the colonies displayed significant difference in taxonomic characteristics with their parental strains. Regenerated strains PF1 and PF26 were confirmed as fusants by amplified fragment length polymorphisms analysis with the genomic DNA as the model. PF26 showed higher inhibitory activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Macrophoma kuwatsukai than that of the parental strain C. globusm.

Electrochemical measurement of hydrogen peroxide in plasma: Evaluation of freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and crucian carp (Cyprinus carpio) phagocytes under natural conditions

An electrochemical technique for the real-time detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was employed to describe respiratory burst activity (RBA) of phagocytes in plasma which can be used to evaluate the ability of immune system and disease resistance. The method is based upon the electric current changes, by redox reaction on platinum electrode of extracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) released from phagocytes stimulated by the zymosan at 680 mV direct current (d.c.). Compared with the control, activation of respiratory burst by zymosan particles results in a high amperometric response, and a current peak was obtained during the whole monitoring process. The peak current was proved by addition Of Cu2+ and other controls, to be the result of intense release of H2O2 from phagocytes. The peak area was calculated and used to evaluate the quantity of effective H2O2, which represents the quantity of H2O2 beyond the clearance of related enzymes in plasma. According to Faraday's law, the phagocytes' ability of prawns to generate effective H2O2 was evaluated from 1.253 x 10(-14) mol/cell to 6.146 x 10(-14) mol/cell, and carp from 1.689 x 10(-15) Mol/Cell to 7.873 x 10(-1)5 mol/cell. This method is an acute and quick detection of extracellular effective H2O2 in plasma and reflects the capacity of phagocytes under natural conditions, which could be applied for selecting species and parents with high immunity for breeding in aquaculture. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of acute salinity change on white spot syndrome (WSS) outbreaks in Fenneropenaeus chinensis

In order to observe the effect of salinity on disease resistance and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) proliferation in Fenneropenaeus chinensis, shrimps with latent WSSV were subjected to two acute salinity changes from the original salinity of 22 ppt to 18 and 14 ppt in an hour, respectively. The total haemocyte count (THC) of the challenged group showed no evident change under salinity adjustments, but the phenoloxidase (PO) index declined significantly (P<0.05) corresponding to continuing acute salinity changes from the 24th to the 72nd hour. According to the WSSV load detected by quantitative real-time PCR method, it was found that WSSV carried by the challenged group and control group were significantly different (P<0.05); acute salinity change from 22 to 14 ppt led to the WSSV carried in the challenged group being significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of those surviving in 22 ppt, but salinity change from 22 to 18 ppt had no such effect. At the end of the 72-h experiment, the challenged group subjected to salinity change from 22 to 14 ppt had nearly 3 times the WSSV load as the control group with no salinity change. Therefore, salinity changes over a particular range could result in a decrease of immunocompetence and obvious WSSV proliferation in the shrimps, leading to white spot syndrome developing from a latent infection to an acute outbreak. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Índice de cruzabilidade entre espécies de passifloras nas condições do Distrito Federal.

2006

BRS Cometa: nova cultivar de feijoeiro comum com grão do tipo comercial carioca para a região do Distrito Federal.

ABSTRACT: During the years 2003 and 2004, four experiments were conducted in the winter season, under irrigation and in the raining season in the experimental area of the Embrapa Cerrados Research Center at Planaltina, Federal District. The objective was to identify cultivars that presented the following characteristics: resistance to diseases, high yield, resistance to lodging, desirable plant height and good market acceptance, to be indicated for cultivation in the Federal District. It was concluded that the cultivar BRS Cometa is indicated for this region, due to its high yield characteristics, resistance to diseases and lodging, excellent cooking qualities and erect type.

Phenotypical characterization in "Plasmopara halstedii" (sunflower downy mildew) isolates of several races

Phenotypic variation (morphological and pathogenic characters), and genetic variability were studied in 50 isolates of seven Plasmopara halstedii (sunflower downy mildew) races 100, 300, 304, 314, 710, 704 and 714. There were significant morphological, aggressiveness, and genetic differences for pathogen isolates. However, there was no relationship between morphology of zoosporangia and sporangiophores and pathogenic and genetic characteristics for the races used in our study. Also, our results provided evidence that no relation between pathogenic traits and multilocus haplotypes may be established in P. halstedii. The hypothesis explaining the absence of relationships among phenotypic and genetic characteristics is discussed.

Research strategies to improve honeybee health in Europe

Understanding the fundaments of colony losses and improving the status of colony health will require cross-cutting research initiatives including honeybee pathology, chemistry, genetics and apicultural extension. The 7th framework of the European Union requested research to empirically and experimentally fill knowledge gaps on honeybee pests and diseases, including 'Colony Collapse Disorder' and the impact of parasites, pathogens and pesticides on honeybee mortality. The interactions among these drivers of colony loss will be studied in different European regions, using experimental model systems including selected parasites (e. g. Nosema and Varroa mites), viruses (Deformed Wing Virus, Black Queen Cell Virus, Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus) and model pesticides (thiacloprid, tau-fluvalinate). Transcriptome analyses will be used to explore host-pathogen-pesticide interactions and identify novel genes for disease resistance. Special attention will be given to sublethal and chronic exposure to pesticides and will screen how apicultural practices affect colony health. Novel diagnostic screening methods and sustainable concepts for disease prevention will be developed resulting in new treatments and selection tools for resistant stock. Research initiatives will be linked to various national and international ongoing European, North-and South-American colony health monitoring and research programs, to ensure a global transfer of results to apicultural practice in the world community of beekeepers.

Covariation between colony social structure and immune defences of workers in the ant Formica selysi

Several ant species vary in the number of queens per colony, yet the causes and consequences of this variation remain poorly understood. In previous experiments, we found that Formica selysi workers originating from multiple-queen (=polygyne) colonies had a lower resistance to a fungal pathogen than workers originating from single-queen (=monogyne) colonies. In contrast, group diversity improved disease resistance in experimental colonies. This discrepancy between field and experimental colonies suggested that variation in social structure in the field had antagonistic effects on worker resistance, possibly through a down-regulation of the immune system balancing the positive effect of genetic diversity. Here, we examined if workers originating from field colonies with alternative social structure differed in three major components of their immune system. We found that workers from polygyne colonies had a lower bacterial growth inhibitory activity than workers from monogyne colonies. In contrast, workers from the two types of colonies did not differ significantly in bacterial cell wall lytic activity and prophenoloxidase activity. Overall, the presence of multiple queens in a colony correlated with a slight reduction in one inducible component of the immune system of individual workers. This reduced level of immune defence might explain the lower resistance of workers originating from polygyne colonies despite the positive effect of genetic diversity. More generally, these results indicate that social changes at the group level can modulate individual immune defences.

Unique and unifying themes in the mechanisms regulating the expression of the arabidopsis thaliana PR-1 and Solanum tuberosum PR-10a inducible defense genes

Arabidopsis is a model plant used to study disease resistance; Solanum tuberosum or potato is a crop species. Both plants possess inducible defense mechanisms that are deployed upon recognition of pathogen invasion. Transcriptional reprogramming is crucial to the activation of defense responses. The Pathogenesis-Related (PR) genes are activated in these defense programs. Expression of Arabidopsis PR-l and potato PR-10a serve as markers for the deployment of defense responses in these plants. PR-l expression indicates induction of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Activation of SAR requires accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), in addition to the interaction of the non-expressor of pathogenesis-related genes I (NPRI), with the TGA transcription factors. The PR-10a is activated in response to pathogen invasion, wounding and elicitor treatment. PR-10a induction requires recruitment of the Whirly I (Whyl) activator to the promoter. This locus is also negatively regulated by the silencer element binding factor (SEBF). We established that both the PR-l and PR-10a are occupied by repressors under non-inducing conditions. TGA2 was found to be a constitutive resident and repressor of PR-l, which mediates repression by forming an oligomeric complex on the promoter. The DNA-binding activity of this oligomer required the TGA2 N-terminus (NT). Under resting conditions we determined that the PR-10a is bound by a repressosome containing SEBF and curiously the activator Pto interacting protein 4 (Pti4). In the context of this repressosome, SEBF is responsible for PR-10a binding, yet rWe also showed that PR-l and PR-10a are activated by different means. In PR-l activation the NPRI NT domain alleviates TGA2-mediated repression by interacting with the TGA2 NT. TGA2 remains at the PR-l but adopts a dimeric conformation and forms an enhanceosome with NPRl. In contrast, the PR-10a is activated by evicting the repressosome and recruiting Why! to the promoter. These results advance our understanding of the mechanisms regulating PR-l and PR-10a expression under resting and inducing conditions. This study also revealed that the means of regulation for related genes can differ greatly between model and crop s

Cell wall degrading enzymes and interaction between Trichoderma Aggressivum and Agaricus Bisporus

Agaricus bisporus is the most commonly cultivated mushroom in North America and has a great economic value. Green mould is a serious disease of A. bisporus and causes major reductions in mushroom crop production. The causative agent of green mould disease in North America was identified as Trichoderma aggressivum f. aggressivum. Variations in the disease resistance have been shown in the different commercial mushroom strains. The purpose of this study is to continue investigations of the interactions between T. aggressivum and A. bisporus during the development of green mould disease. The main focus of the research was to study the roles of cell wall degrading enzymes in green mould disease resistance and pathogenesis. First, we tried to isolate and sequence the N-acetylglucosaminidase from A. bisporus to understand the defensive mechanism of mushroom against the disease. However, the lack of genomic and proteomic information of A. bisporus limited our efforts. Next, T. aggressivum cell wall degrading enzymes that are thought to attack Agaricus and mediate the disease development were examined. The three cell wall degrading enzymes genes, encoding endochitinase (ech42), glucanase (fJ-1,3 glucanase) and protease (prb 1), were isolated and sequenced from T. aggressivum f. aggressivum. The sequence data showed significant homology with the corresponding genes from other fungi including Trichoderma species. The transcription levels of the three T. aggressivum cell wall degrading enzymes were studied during the in vitro co-cultivation with A. bisporus using R T -qPCR. The transcription levels of the three genes were significantly upregulated compared to the solitary culture levels but were upregulated to a lesser extent in co-cultivation with a resistant strain of A. bisporus than with a sensitive strain. An Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation system was developed for T. aggressivum and was used to transform three silencing plasmids to construct three new T. aggressivum phenotypes, each with a silenced cell wall degrading enzyme. The silencing efficiency was determined by RT-qPCR during the individual in vitro cocultivation of each of the new phenotypes with A. bisporus. The results showed that the expression of the three enzymes was significantly decreased during the in vitro cocultivation when compared with the wild type. The phenotypes were co-cultivated with A. bisporus on compost with monitoring the green mould disease progression. The data indicated that prbi and ech42 genes is more important in disease progression than the p- 1,3 glucanase gene. Finally, the present study emphasises the role of the three cell wall degrading enzymes in green mould disease infection and may provide a promising tool for disease management.

Defence of Agaricus bisporus against toxic secondary metabolites from Trichoderma aggressivum.

Trichoderma spp are effective competitors against other fungi because they are mycoparasitic and produce hydrolytic enzymes and secondary metabolites that inhibit the growth of their competitors. Inhibitory compounds produced by Trichoderma aggressivum, the causative agent of green mold disease, are more toxic to the hybrid off-white strains of Agaricus bisporus than the commercial brown strains, consistent with the commercial brown strain’s increased resistance to the disease. This project looked at the response of hybrid off-white and commercial brown strains of A. bisporus to the presence of T. aggressivum metabolites with regard to three A. bisporus genes: laccase 1, laccase 2, and manganese peroxidase. The addition of T. aggressivum toxic metabolites had no significant effect on MnP or lcc1 transcript abundance. Alternatively, laccase 2 appears to be involved in resistance to T. aggressivum because the presence of T. aggressivum metabolites results in higher lcc2 transcript abundance and laccase activity, especially in the commercial brown strain. The difference in laccase expression and activity between A. bisporus strains was not a result of regulatory or coding sequence differences. Alteration of laccase transcription by RNAi resulted in transformants with variable levels of laccase transcript abundance. Transformants with a low number of lcc transcripts were very sensitive to T. aggressivum toxins, while those with a high number of lcc transcripts had increased resistance. These results indicated that laccase activity, in particular that encoded by lcc2, serves as a defense response of A. bisporus to T. aggressivum toxins and contributes to green mold disease resistance in commercial brown strains.

Étude du polymorphisme du gène majeur d’histocompatibilité de classe IIb (MHIIb) chez l’omble de fontaine (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Les molécules classiques du complexe majeur d’histocompatibilité de classe II (CMHII) sont des glycoprotéines de surface spécialisées dans la présentation de peptides, principalement dérivés de pathogènes extracellulaires, aux récepteurs des lymphocytes T CD4+ afin d’initier la réponse immunitaire adaptative. Elles sont encodées, avec celles du CMH de classe I, par les gènes les plus polymorphiques identifiés jusqu’à maintenant, avec plusieurs loci et une grande diversité allélique à chacun d’eux. De plus, le polymorphisme des gènes du CMHII n’est pas limité qu’aux séquences codantes. Il est également observé dans les promoteurs où on a démontré ses effets sur le niveau d’expression des gènes. La variation de la régulation d’un gène est considérée comme un facteur important et pour laquelle des modifications morphologiques, physiologiques et comportementales sont observées chez tous les organismes. Des séquences d’ADN répétées impliquées dans cette régulation ont été identifiées dans les régions non-codantes des génomes. D’un autre côté, la sélection par les pathogènes permettrait l’évolution et le maintien du polymorphisme des gènes du CMH chez les vertébrés. À ce sujet, plusieurs études ont montré l’implication de différents allèles du CMH dans la résistance ou la susceptibilité aux maladies. Cette étude avait pour objectifs de caractériser le polymorphisme du gène MHIIb chez l’omble de fontaine (Salvelinus fontinalis) et de documenter ses effets au niveau de la survie conférée par des allèles et/ou génotypes particuliers lors d’une infection, ainsi que sur la variation du niveau d’expression du gène dans différentes conditions. Dans une première partie, nous avons identifié un total de 6 allèles du gène MHIIb, désignés Safo-DAB*0101 à Safo-DAB*0601, qui montrent une grande similarité avec les séquences codantes provenant de poissons téléostéens et de l’humain. L’analyse des séquences du domaine b1 a permis de détecter l’effet d’une pression sélective positive pour maintenir le polymorphisme dans cette région de la molécule. Quatre de ces allèles ont été testés lors d’une expérience d’infection avec le pathogène Aeromonas salmonicida afin d’évaluer l’effet qu’ils pouvaient avoir sur la survie des poissons. Nous avons trouvé que l’allèle DAB*0101 était significativement associé à la résistance à la furonculose. En plus d’avoir été identifié chez les individus homozygotes pour cet allèle, l’effet a également été remarqué au niveau de la survie les poissons de génotype DAB*0101/*0201. À l’opposé, les facteurs de risque élevé obtenus pour les génotypes DAB*0201/*0301 et DAB*0301/*0401 suggèrent plutôt une association à la susceptibilité. Étant donné la faible fréquence à laquelle l’allèle DAB*0101 a été retrouvé dans la population, le modèle de la sélection dépendante de la fréquence pourrait expliquer l’avantage conféré par ce dernier et souligne l’importance de ce mécanisme pour le maintien du polymorphisme du gène MHIIb chez l’omble de fontaine. Dans une seconde partie, nous avons rapporté la présence d’un minisatellite polymorphique formé d’un motif de 32 nucléotides dans le second intron du gène MHIIb, et pour lequel un nombre exclusif de répétitions du motif a été associé à chaque allèle (69, 27, 20, 40, 19 et 25 répétitions pour les allèles DAB*0101 à DAB*0601 respectivement). L’expression relative de quatre allèles a été évaluée dans des poissons hétérozygotes aux températures de 6 ºC et 18 ºC. Les résultats indiquent que les allèles possédant un long minisatellite montrent une réduction de l’expression du gène d’un facteur 1,67 à 2,56 par rapport aux allèles qui en contiennent un court. De même, des allèles qui incluent des minisatellites de tailles similaires n’affichent pas de différence significative au niveau de l’abondance du transcrit aux deux températures. De plus, l’effet répressif associé aux longs minisatellites est amplifié à la température de 18 ºC dans des poissons de trois génotypes différents. Nous avons finalement observé une augmentation significative par un facteur 2,08 de l’expression totale du gène MHIIb à la température de 6 ºC. Ces résultats appuient l’implication des séquences d’ADN répétées dans la régulation de l’activité transcriptionnelle d’un gène et suggèrent qu’un minisatellite sensible aux différences de températures pourrait être soumis aux forces sélectives et jouer un rôle important dans l’expression de gènes et l’évolution des organismes poïkilothermes.

Influence of Selected Dietary Micronutrient Elements on Growth and Biochemistry of Farmed Prawns

From the present study, it is clear that all the three metals, selenium, molybdenum and cobalt have significant effect on the antioxidant status of the shrimps. Selenium and molybdenum were observed to induce peroxidative damage at elevated levels. But at the same level, cobalt did not show such an effect. Selenium was found to be growth promoting at lower levels of dietary supplementation. Even though low levels of dietary selenium had a protective effect against the lipid peroxidation, the present study indicates that high levels of dietary selenium could promote lipid peroxidation. The selenium-dependent antioxidant enzyme, GPx behaved differently in muscle and hepatopancreas. A high concentration of selenium was required for the active expression of the enzyme in the muscle, where as in hepatopancreas maximum activity was observed at lower selenium concentration. Selenium supplementation had a positive effect on GSH concentration. The other antioxidant enzymes such as GST, SOD and CAT showed enhanced activity at higher concentration of selenium. Molybdenum supplementation significantly reduced the free radical scavenger enzymes SOD and CAT. This resulted in enhanced lipid peroxidation in tissues. The activity of antioxidant enzyme GPx and the concentration of the substrate for the enzyme, GSH also were lower at elevated levels of molybdenum supplementation. In addition to this amino acids and fatty acids were also altered in molybdenum supplemented groups. In trace amounts, dietary molybdenum exerts a beneficial effect on the growth and also in the activities of the enzymes XO and SO. At the same time it also indicates a possibility of oxidative damage as a result of the peroxidation caused by the activities of the enzymes SO and XO at elevated concentrations of molybdenum is also indicated. The absorption of various trace elements was also altered by molybdenum supplementation.Among the three metals studied, cobalt was the least toxic one at the administered levels. But this metal has a significant effect on the lipid content, amino acid composition, cholesterol levels and phospholipid levels. Increased growth was also observed as a result of cobalt supplementation in shrimps. The antioxidant system of the animal was activated by dietary cobalt. Tissue levels of the trace metals were also found to be altered in cobalt supplemented groups of shrimps.These studies, thus shows that influence of dietary trace metals calls for more detailed studies in farmed shrimp. They may hold the key to growth and even disease resistance in shrimp. But this still remains as a virgin field which demands more attention, especially in view of the increasing importance of shrimp farming.

Penaeus monodon larvae can be protected from Vibrio harveyi infection by pre-emptive treatment of a rearing system with antagonistic or non-antagonistic bacterial probiotics

This study shows that the disease resistance and survival rate of Penaeus monodon in a larval rearing systems can be enhanced by supplementing with antagonistic or non-antagonistic probiotics. The antagonistic mode of action of Pseudomonas MCCB 102 and MCCB 103 against vibrios was demonstrated in larval mesocosm with cultures having su⁄cient concentration of antagonistic compounds in their culture supernatant. Investigations on the antagonistic properties of Bacillus MCCB 101, Pseudomonas MCCB 102 and MCCB 103 and Arthrobacter MCCB 104 against Vibrio harveyi MCCB111under in vitro conditions revealed that Pseudomonas MCCB 102 and MCCB 103 were inhibitory to the pathogen.These inhibitory propertieswere further con¢rmed in the larval rearing systems of P. monodon. All these four probionts signi¢cantly improved larval survival in long-term treatments as well as when challengedwith a pathogenic strain ofV. harveyiMCCB111. We could demonstrate that Pseudomonas MCCB 102 andMCCB103 accorded disease resistance and a higher survival rate in P. monodon larval rearing systems throughactive antagonism of vibrios,whereas Bacillus MCCB 101 and Arthrobacter MCCB 104 functioned as probiotics through immunostimulatory and digestive enzyme-supporting modes of action.

Molecular genetic profiling of functional genes of pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata

There are a number of genes involved in the regulation of functional process in marine bivalves. In the case of pearl oyster, some of these genes have major role in the immune/defence function and biomineralization process involved in the pearl formation in them. As secondary filter feeders, pearl oysters are exposed to various kinds of stressors like bacteria, viruses, pesticides, industrial wastes, toxic metals and petroleum derivatives, making susceptible to diseases. Environmental changes and ambient stress also affect non-specific immunity, making the organisms vulnerable to infections. These stressors can trigger various cellular responses in the animals in their efforts to counteract the ill effects of the stress on them. These include the expression of defence related genes which encode factors such as antioxidant genes, pattern recognition receptor proteins etc. One of the strategies to combat these problems is to get insight into the disease resistance genes, and use them for disease control and health management. Similarly, although it is known that formation of pearl in molluscs is mediated by specialized proteins which are in turn regulated by specific genes encoding them, there is a paucity of sufficient information on these genes.In view of the above facts, studies on the defence related and pearl forming genes of the pearl oyster assumes importance from the point of view of both sustainable fishery management and aquaculture. At present, there is total lack of sufficient knowledge on the functional genes and their expressions in the Indian pearl oyster Pinctada fucata. Hence this work was taken up to identify and characterize the defence related and pearl forming genes, and study their expression through molecular means, in the Indian pearl oyster Pinctada fucata which are economically important for aquaculture at the southeast coast of India. The present study has successfully carried out the molecular identification, characterization and expression analysis of defence related antioxidant enzyme genes and pattern recognition proteins genes which play vital role in the defence against biotic and abiotic stressors. Antioxidant enzyme genes viz., Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), glutathione peroxidise (GPX) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were studied. Concerted approaches using the various molecular tools like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), random amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), molecular cloning and sequencing have resulted in the identification and characterization of full length sequences (924 bp) of the Cu/Zn SOD, most important antioxidant enzyme gene. BLAST search in NCBI confirmed the identity of the gene as Cu/Zn SOD. The presence of the characteristic amino acid sequences such as copper/zinc binding residues, family signature sequences and signal peptides were found out. Multiple sequence alignment comparison and phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences using bioinformatics tools like BioEdit,MEGA etc revealed that the sequences were found to contain regions of diversity as well as homogeneity. Close evolutionary relationship between P. fucata and other aquatic invertebrates was revealed from the phylogenetic tree constructed using SOD amino acid sequence of P. fucata and other invertebrates as well as vertebrates