The dietary protein requirement of a new Japanese strain of juvenile Chinese soft shell turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

De novo transcriptome analysis reveals insights into different mechanisms of growth and immunity in a Chinese soft-shelled turtle hybrid and the parental varieties.

Preliminary surveillance of wild baitfish during the 2006 viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus genotype IVb (VHSV IVb) outbreaks indicated Emerald Shiners Notropis atherinoides and Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus were infected with high levels of VHSV without showing clinical signs of disease. The movement and use of baitfish was recognized as the most probable vector for the introduction of VHSV to inland waters, such as Conesus Lake and Skaneateles Lake in New York, Budd Lake in Michigan, and Little Lake Butte des Morts and Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. While numerous government agencies implemented restrictions to stop the movement of potentially infected baitfish into new waters and prevent the spread of VHSV IVb, until now, studies to investigate whether these initial introductions were by an oral route of infection have not occurred. Our studies identified infected Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas as suitable vectors for transmitting VHSV IVb when fed to Tiger Muskellunge ( ♂ Northern Pi...

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Experimental transmission of VHSV genotype IVb by predation.

An 8-week experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary fish meal (FM) replaced by soybean protein concentrate (SPC) on Japanese strain of soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis juveniles. Diets were formulated to replace FM protein by SPC at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 or 60% supplemented with phytase (2000 FTU kg−1) (designated as S0, S15, S30, S45, S60 and S60P, respectively), and each diet was fed to triplicate groups. The results showed that the growth was significantly lower when dietary SPC replaced more than 45% FM. The turtles fed the S15 or S30 diet showed comparable feed and protein utilization efficiency compared with the S0 group, whereas more than 30% replacement of FM adversely affected these values. Increasing dietary SPC levels significantly lowered the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of dry matter, protein, lipid, phosphorus and gross energy. Whole-body protein, ash and phosphorus content showed a declining trend when dietary SPC levels increased, while body lipid and moisture content were unaffected. When the turtles were fed diets with increasing levels of SPC, serum total protein concentration, alkaline phosphatase and catalase activities decreased with a corresponding increase in glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity. Turtles fed the S60P diet showed comparable growth performance and feed utilization efficiency to the S40 group, and were superior to the S60 group. The present study showed that SPC could successfully substitute for 30% FM protein in the diets for P. sinensis juveniles, and the maximum effective substitution may be greater if exogenous phytase was added.

Partial replacement of fish meal by soy protein concentrates in diets for a new Japanese strain of juvenile soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) of the genus Aquareovirus and the family Reoviridae causes a severe hemorrhagic disease in grass carp fingerlings in China. GCRV genome is composed of 11 double-stranded RNA segments, of which segment 8 encodes the major core capsid protein VP6. In this study, the VP6 gene following an RT-PCR-amplification from the GCRV 104 strain was cloned into an expression vector pET-32a to obtain pET-32(a)-VP6. The VP6 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 as a fusion protein of 64 kDa. After purification with the HisLink Spin Protein Purification System the VP6 protein was used to raise a specific polyclonal antibody in Balb/c mice. Presence of VP6 protein was proved in bacterial lysates containing VP6 fusion protein by Western blot analysis and in GCRV-infected CIK cells by immunofluorescent staining using polyclonal antibody. These results may be helpful in further studies of interactions between GCRV and cells and in preparation of an engineered vaccine against GCRV.

Prokaryotic expression and immunoassay of grass carp reovirus capsid VP6 protein.

Pelodiscus sinensis Japanese population and Qingxiwubie are the two new varieties of soft-shell turtle.It is very importance to master the genetic relationship in Pelodiscus sinensis for further breeding and cross breeding,the genetic diversity in the new varieties of Pelodiscus sinensis were studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) technique to compare with the usual populations of Taihu and Taiwan.A total of 162 bands,including 110 polymorphic ones were detected from the four populations by using 23 random primers.The results showed that the level of genetic diversity was high in Japanese population,and the average genetic similarity index within each population ranked as Japanese population(0.846 9)Taiwan population(0.842 9)Qingxiwubie population(0.831 7)Taihu population(0.825 4).The maximal genetic distance occurred between Taihu and Qingxiwubie populations,while the minimum occurred between Taiwan and Qingxiwubie populations.The total genetic diversity of Pelodiscus sinensis was 0.236 8 and the intra-population genetic diversity was 0.169 9,which suggest that 71.75% of the genetic variation existed within the populations.The genetic differentiation coefficient was 0.282 7,indicating that there was a certain level of population differentiation.With the methods of UPGMA and NJ on the basis of genetic distances,the results showed that the four populations were clustered into two groups: one with Taihu and Japanese populations,and the other with Qingxiwubie and Taiwan populations.Further appropriate measurements must be taken to protect the germplasm of Pelodiscus sinensis from the reduction of genetic diversity.

Analysis and Comparison of Genetic Diversity in the New Cultured Varieties of Pelodiscus sinensis

Studies on the detection of grass carp haemorrhagic virus by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay on nitrocellulose membrane (Dot-ELISA).

As a unique monitoring technique, electrostatic monitoring has been proved to be effective on prognostics and health management of tribological system by using electrostatic sensors. Wear-site sensor (WSS) with a flat circle probe and oil-line sensor (OLS) with a ring probe are two typical sensor types for electrostatic monitoring. However, this developing technique has not been applied in actual industry manufacture so far due to the united characteristics on electrostatic sensors. This paper first presents the mathematical models of both WSS and OLS for theoretical simulation. Then a series of contrast analysis on sensor characteristics between WSS and OLS with varied sensor structure parameters are presented. The results show that the distributions of spatial sensitivity for WSS or OLS itself only are similar, while they are quite different between WSS and OLS. Both WSS and OLS are symmetrical and their distributions can be simplified in one phase for further investigations. The theoretical efficiency curves have close relationship between WSS and OLS. The investigations of sensor performances on characteristics and a presented unified three level system have offered a better electrostatic sensor application in future.

Research on Characteristics of Electrostatic Wear-Site and Oil-Line Sensor with Theoretical and Comprehensive Analysis

Efficient preparation of liquid photonic crystals and their application in bionic structural coloration of textiles

The decontamination effect of mussel Hyropsis cumingii Lea on water pollutants Cr, Pb and Cd was investigated. The results showed that Hyropsis cumingii Lea had high ability to decontaminate the pollutants Cr, Pb and Cd in water. Treating the polluted water with the mussels for 12 days, the concentrations of Cr, Pb and Cd declined about 83%, 77.6% and 72% respectively. The absorption and accumulation characteristics of three pollutants in mussel tissues podium, mantellum, liver, gill, mucus, intestine and gonad were different. Among the six tissues, the mucus, gill and liver were the most efficient absorption and accumulation tissues for Cr, Pb and Cd respectively. The absorption rate of three pollutants into tissues was rapid, the contents of pollutants in tissues could arrive at a relatively high level on the third day, and the pollutants could be transferred and redistributed among the tissues. The research provides a new method of decontamination for heavy metal pollution in water.

Shao Jianzhong

Papers

Analysis and Comparison of Genetic Diversity in the New Cultured Varieties of Pelodiscus sinensis

Studies on the detection of grass carp haemorrhagic virus by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay on nitrocellulose membrane (Dot-ELISA).

Research on Characteristics of Electrostatic Wear-Site and Oil-Line Sensor with Theoretical and Comprehensive Analysis

Efficient preparation of liquid photonic crystals and their application in bionic structural coloration of textiles

Decontamination and absorption of water Cr, Pb and Cd pollution by mussel Hyriopsis cumingii Lea.