Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of Anaplasma spp. in sheep and goats from six provinces of China

Yan Zhang,Yali Lv,Feifei Zhang,Wenjing Zhang,Jinhong Wang,Yanyan Cui,Rongjun Wang,Fuchun Jian,Longxian Zhang,Changshen Ning 대한수의학회 2016 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.17 No.4

Members of the genus Anaplasma are important emerging tick-borne pathogens in both humans and animals in tropical and subtropical areas. Here, we investigated the presence of Anaplasma spp. in 621 sheep and 710 goats from six provinces of China. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and DNA sequencing were conducted to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma (A.) phagocytophilum, A. ovis and A. bovis targetingthe 16S ribosomal RNA or the major surface protein 4 gene. PCR revealed Anaplasma in 39.0% (240/621) of sheep and 45.5% (323/710)of goats. The most frequently detected species was A. ovis (88/621, 14.2% for sheep; 129/710, 18.2% for goats), followed by A. bovis (60/621,9.7% for sheep; 74/710, 10.4% for goats) and A. phagocytophilum (33/621, 5.3% for sheep; 15/710, 2.1% for goats). Additionally, eight sheepand 20 goats were found to be infected with three pathogens simultaneously. DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of these three Anaplasmaspecies in the investigated areas, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that there was geographic segregation to a certain extent, as well as arelationship between the host and cluster of A. ovis. The results of the present study provide valuable data that helps understand theepidemiology of anaplasmosis in ruminants from China.

Photocatalytic improvement of Mn-adsorbed <i>g</i>-C₃N₄

Zhang, Weibin,Zhang, Zhijun,Kwon, Sangwoo,Zhang, Fuchun,Stephen, Boandoh,Kim, Ki Kang,Jung, Ranju,Kwon, Sera,Chung, Kwun-Bum,Yang, Woochul Elsevier BV 2017 Applied Catalysis B Vol.206 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>This study employed experimental results and theoretical calculations to investigate Mn-adsorbed <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB> as a potential photocatalyst with high efficiency. Mn was chosen as the incorporating element, because among the 3<I>d</I> transition metals it exhibits the highest binding energy and most suitable band edge positions. The photocatalytic efficiency of Mn-adsorbed <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB> is 3 times higher that of pristine <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB>. Although small variations in the phase and surface morphology were observed, which were confirmed to not be the determining factors to improve efficiency. The factors that affect the high photocatalytic efficiency are therefore the electronic structure, optical absorption, and band edge variations after Mn-adsorption. The Mn atoms stably are bonded with N atoms, due to the strong absorption energy and ionic bond. Moreover, reduction of the <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB> band gap after Mn-adsorption results in a red shift of the absorption band edge. The half-filled Mn 3<I>d</I> state introduces impurity states into the forbidden band gap, which will increase the life time of charge carriers. In addition, the up-shifting of band edges of Mn-adsorbed <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB> leads to inhibition of the electron-hole recombination. As a consequence, the photocatalytic efficiency of Mn-adsorbed <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB> is enhanced due to the combination of the aforementioned effects.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The photocatalytic efficiency of Mn-adsorbed <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB> is three times higher that of pristine <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB>. </LI> <LI> The Mn atoms adsorbed on <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB> stably form ionic bond with N atoms, as confirmed by DFT calculation and experiment. </LI> <LI> The photocatalytic efficiency enhancement of Mn-adsorbed <I>g</I>-C<SUB>3</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB> is attributed to the decrease of band gap, the half-filled Mn 3d states in the forbidden gap, and the up-shifting of band edges. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Knockout of Myostatin by Zinc-finger Nuclease in Sheep Fibroblasts and Embryos

Zhang, Xuemei,Wang, Liqin,Wu, Yangsheng,Li, Wenrong,An, Jing,Zhang, Fuchun,Liu, Mingjun Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.10

Myostatin (MSTN) can negatively regulate the growth and development of skeletal muscle, and natural mutations can cause "double-muscling" trait in animals. In order to block the inhibiting effect of MSTN on muscle growth, we transferred zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN) which targeted sheep MSTN gene into cultured fibroblasts. Gene targeted colonies were isolated from transfected fibroblasts by serial dilution culture and screened by sequencing. Two colonies were identified with mono-allele mutation and one colony with bi-allelic deletion. Further, we introduced the MSTN-ZFN mRNA into sheep embryos by microinjection. Thirteen of thirty-seven parthenogenetic embryos were targeted by ZFN, with the efficiency of 35%. Our work established the technical foundation for generation of MSTN gene editing sheep by somatic cloning and microinjection ZFN into embryos.

Vascular bundle xylem water transport repression and cell anatomical structure differences may lead to berry cracking near the proximal end

Zhang Chuan,Cui Liwen,Shen Meng,Yadav Vivek,Zhong Haixia,Zhang Fuchun,Zhou Xiaoming,Wu Xinyu 한국원예학회 2024 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.65 No.2

Grape berries often crack near the proximal end, which may be related to water absorption and their cellular anatomical structure. To study the relationship between water absorption, cell anatomical structures, and berry cracking near the proxi mal end, 49 varieties were selected. Eighteen were prone to cracking near the proximal end, while 31 were resistant. An in vitro soaking experiment on ripe berries measured the diff erence in berry-cracking degrees among diff erent varieties. In vitro staining was used to trace water absorption and paraffi n sections were prepared to observe and analyze the struc tural parameters of diff erent tissues. Results showed that the cracking rate and water uptake of the crack-prone berries were signifi cantly higher than those of the crack-resistant berries. Fruit prone to cracking was characterized by a thinner cuticle, epidermis, and sub-epidermis. After staining, it was found that dye absorption was limited to the berry near the proximal end. Other cell size parameters may also lead to cracking near the proximal end. By tracing water transport and analyzing diff erences in cell structure characteristics among varieties, we speculated that the vascular bundle xylem water transport repression and diff erences in cell anatomical structures may have led to berry cracking near the proximal end. The reasons for berry cracking near the proximal end were preliminarily explained, providing theoretical support for further screening of crack-resistant varieties.

First-Principles Calculation the Electronic Structure and the Optical Properties of Mn-Decorated g-C3N4 for Photocatalytic Applications

Weibin Zhang,Hoon Young Cho,Zhijun Zhang,Woochul Yang,Ki Kang Kim,Fuchun Zhang 한국물리학회 2016 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.69 No.9

The electronic structure and the optical properties of Mn-decorated graphitic carbon nitride (g- C3N4) were investigated using the density functional method. The large absorption energy of the Mn atoms on the g-C3N4 surface was found to suppress the clustering of the Mn atoms, which led to a conservation of the photocatalytic activity. The electronic structures of the Mn-decorated g-C3N4 showed that impurity energy levels emerged in the forbidden band of g-C3N4 and that the band edge of g-C3N4 shifted upward to 0.40 eV. In addition, the calculated optical constants showed that the novel photon absorption in the range of visible light originated from electronic transitions from the N 2p states in the upper valence band to impurity Mn 3d states. Moreover, the photon absorption reached a maximum when all sites of triangular N holes were decorated with Mn atoms. Our results provide evidence that the Mn-decorated C3N4 system could be a highly-efficient photocatalyst for solar light due to the extension of the range of photon absorption to include almost all visible light.

Robust Consensus for Networked Mechanical Systems with Coupling Time Delay

Haibo Min,Shicheng Wang,Fuchun Sun,Jinsheng Zhang 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2012 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.10 No.2

This paper studies the state consensus for a class of networked nonlinear mechanical systems with coupling time delay. In particular, robust consensus protocols for both deterministic and uncertain systems with time delay are investigated. For deterministic systems, we develop a P-like protocol which allows for variable coupling time delay. We show that it is sufficient to have only the relative position information together with a damping control term, whereas the relative velocity information is not needed for state consensus. Then, an adaptive robust control protocol is proposed for uncertain sys-tems with unknown parameters in the system dynamics and arbitrary constant coupling time delays. By introducing the passivity-based framework, we demonstrate that state consensus is still reachable in this case. Finally, a numerical example is included to illustrate the obtained results.

Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles of Liver Stellate Cells During Liver Regeneration in Rats

Xu Cunshuan,Chen Xiaoguang,Chang Cuifang,Wang Gaiping,Wang Wenbo,Zhang Lianxing,Zhu Qiushi,Wang Lei,Zhang Fuchun 한국분자세포생물학회 2011 Molecules and cells Vol.31 No.1

This study performed a large-scale, high-throughput analy-sis of transcriptional profiling of liver stellate cells (LSCs) at the cellular level to investigate changes in the biological activity of LSCs during rat liver regeneration (LR) and the relation of these changes to LR. First, a rat liver regeneration model was established by partial hepatectomy (PH). Stellate cells were isolated in high purity and yield from the regenerating rat liver by Percoll density gradient centrifugation and immunomagnetic bead sorting. The changes in gene expression of LSCs after PH were examined using a rat genome 230 2.0 array composed of 24622 genes. The results indicated that 10241 of the 24622 genes investigated on the array were differentially expressed in LSCs. Of the 10241 genes, 1563 known genes were related to LR, which were grouped into three major gene expression clusters according to three-fold cut-off threshold: the up-regulated gene cluster, the down-regulated gene cluster, and the cluster composed of genes showing complex changes in expression. Additionally, the genes were grouped into those involved in transcription regulation, signal transduction, transport, cellular metabolism, in-flammation and immunity by functional analysis. When gene expression profiles were combined with the results of gene functional analysis, most of the genes involved in cytokine secretion and retinol metabolism in LSCs were significantly enriched in the cluster characterized by decreased expression, whereas genes involved in lipid metabolism were mostly enriched in the cluster showing increased expression. Based on further analysis of genes expressed in a phase-dependent manner during LR, it was suggested that lipid metabolism in LSCs was enhanced in the whole regeneration process, and that immune response and cytokine secretion were impaired during all three regenerative phases.

Transcriptional profiles of biliary epithelial cells from rat regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy

Cunshuan Xu,Xiaoguang Chen,Cuifang Chang,Gaiping Wang,Wenbo Wang,Lianxing Zhang,Qiushi Zhu,Lei Wang,Fuchun Zhang 한국유전학회 2012 Genes & Genomics Vol.34 No.3

It has been widely accepted that hepatocytes are critical for liver regeneration (LR), but very little is known about the role of biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in this event, so this study aims to manifest the relevance of BECs with LR. High purity population of BECs was obtained using Percoll gradient centrifugation combined with immunomagnetic-bead separation technique. Transcriptional profiles of BECs from rat regenerating liver after 2/3 hepatectomy were monitored with rat genome 230 2.0 array. Microarray analysis results were evaluated by RT-PCR assays. Of all the genes on the array, 1262 known genes and 1026 unknown genes were related to LR. 79 of 1262 known genes showed a ≥ 20-fold change in expression level, mainly participating in primary metabolism and inflammatory response. In contrast to the regenerating liver,BEC division did not occur at proliferative phase of LR; alterations in nucleic acid, lipid and protein metabolism were significantly different from each other or within the same substance metabolism at different phases; the active signaling pathways in priming phase were mediated mainly by G protein-coupled receptor, small GTPase and Wnt receptor. Transport-related genes showed up-regulated expression mainly in priming and proliferative phases, possibly linked to cell membrane formation and transport function recovery of BECs in the late phase. In brief, comparative analysis of biological activities of BECs and the regenerating liver reveals that bio-logical activities at the cellular level are not always consistent with those at tissue level, suggesting the necessity of cell level investigation on liver regeneration. Finally, expression of BEC markers in hepatocytes may suggest the potential of hepatocytes to transdifferentiate into BEC.