Effects of inbreeding and heterozygosity on preweaning traits in a closed population of Herefords under selection

Records of five inbred lines at the Livestock and Range Research Laboratory were used to evaluate effects of inbreeding and heterozygosity on preweaning traits. Members of each line were descendants of a single founder Hereford bull. A total of 8,065 records of birth weight and 7,380 records of preweaning daily gain and weaning weight were analyzed by derivative-free REML using a model that included fixed effects of sex, combination of year and month of birth and parity of dam, with covariates for direct and maternal genetic fractions of inheritance from the genetic groups, inbreeding, and heterozygosity fractions. Heterozygosity fractions were computed for crosses between lines. The random model effects were direct and maternal genetic and uncorrelated maternal permanent environmental and temporary environmental. Direct inbreeding and heterozygosity fractions averaged .098 and .343, and maternal inbreeding and heterozygosity fractions averaged .075 and .294. Regression coefficients of traits on direct and maternal inbreeding fractions were -5.8 +/- 1.1 and -4.7 +/- 1.3 for birth weight, -.189 +/- .031 and -.252 +/- .039 for preweaning daily gain, and -44.5 +/- 6.6 and -56.1 +/- 8.4 kg for weaning weight. Estimates for direct heritability, maternal heritability, and direct-maternal genetic correlations were .37, .12, and -.01 for birth weight; .16, .25, and -.27 for daily gain; and .17, .26, and -.21 for weaning weight. Results suggest that heterosis represents recovery of accumulated inbreeding depression. Results also indicate that selection can overcome inbreeding depression and antagonism exists between direct and maternal genetic effects for preweaning traits.     

Effect of ignoring random sire and dam effects on estimates and standard errors of breed comparisons

Data were weights of F1 calves and weaning weights of top-cross progeny from sires and maternal grandsires of 13 breeds. Three analyses were performed on each trait to obtain estimates and standard errors of breed effects needed to calculate across-breed EPD and accuracies. Model (R) for records of F1 progeny contained fixed effects for birth year and date of birth, sex, age and breed of dam, and breed of sire, and a random residual effect. The second analysis included random effects for sires (RS), and the third analysis included random effects for sires and dams (RSD). In maternal analysis of top-cross progeny, model (Rm) contained fixed effects for cycle of experiment, age of dam, year of birth, sex, breeds of maternal grandam and grandsire, and breed of sire, and a random residual effect. In addition, the second and third analyses fit random effects for maternal grandsires (RSm) and for maternal grandsires and daughters of maternal grandsires (RSDm). Estimates of breed of sire effects changed only slightly for different models. Total variance increased in RSD and RS relative to R. Standard errors of breed of sire comparisons were underestimated with Model R, compared to Models RS and RSD. Standard errors of other contrasts were generally not affected. Variance components, breed effects, and standard errors followed patterns for Rm, RSm, and RSDm similar to those for R, RS, and RSD. Ignoring random variation due to sires and dams underestimated standard errors of breed of sire comparisons.     

Noxiustoxin 2, a novel K+ channel blocking peptide from the venom of the scorpion Centruroides noxius Hoffmann

A novel peptide called Noxiustoxin 2 (NTX2) was purified from the venom of the scorpion Centruroides noxius and characterized chemically and functionally. It is composed of 38 amino acid residues linked by three disulfide bridges and its primary structure is 61% identical to that of Noxiustoxin (NTX). It is not toxic to mice (using up to 200 micrograms/20 g mouse weight) and crustaceans (up to 30 micrograms/g of crayfish), but has a paralysing effect on crickets (30 micrograms/g animal). It displaces the binding of [125I]NTX to rat brain synaptosome membranes with a Ki of 0.1 microM, in comparison NTX has a Ki of 100 pM. Similarly, using single Ca2+ activated K+ channels of small conductance obtained from cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells it was shown that NTX2 is over two logarithm units less potent than NTX in producing 50% blockade of the probability of opening the channels. NTX2 is not recognized by a panel of six distinct monoclonal antibodies against NTX, however it is recognized by polyclonal antibodies raised in mouse, with native NTX. Primary structure comparison of both NTX and NTX2 suggests that the N-terminal segments of these peptides are important for channel affinity.     

New hepatitis viruses: are there enough letters in the alphabet?

Testing is now available for five recognised hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D and E), and molecular technology is uncovering further hepatotropic viruses. An enteric agent isolated from human stool samples and transmitted experimentally to primates is a candidate hepatitis F virus. A provisionally designated blood-borne hepatitis G virus is associated with acute and chronic non-ABCDE hepatitis and has a worldwide distribution. A group of flavi-like viruses, the GB group, also blood borne, has also been reported. The role of two of these viruses, GBV-A and GBV-B, in human viral hepatitis has not been determined, but a third agent, GBV-C, is associated with acute and chronic hepatitis and appears to be a West African variant of hepatitis G. Our current knowledge suggests that the hepatitis alphabet may need to be extended even after inclusion of some of these new viruses.     

Comparison of sire breed solutions for growth traits adjusted by mean expected progeny differences to a 1993 base

Records on growth traits were obtained from five Midwestern agricultural experiment stations as part of a beef cattle crossbreeding project (NC-196). Records on birth weight (BWT, n =3,490), weaning weight (WWT, n = 3,237), and yearling weight (YWT, n = 1,372) were analyzed within locations and pooled across locations to obtain estimates of breed of sire differences. Solutions for breed of sire differences were adjusted to the common base year of 1993. Then, factors to use with within-breed expected progeny differences (EPD) to obtain across-breed EPD were calculated. These factors were compared with factors obtained from similar analyses of records from the U. S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC). Progeny of Brahman sires mated to Bos taurus cows were heaviest at birth and among the lightest at weaning. Simmental and Gelbvieh sires produced the heaviest progeny at weaning. Estimates of heritability pooled across locations were .34, .19, and .07 for BWT, WWT, and YWT, respectively. Regression coefficients of progeny performance on EPD of sire were 1.25+/-.09, .98+/-.13, and .62+/-.18 for BWT, WWT, and YWT, respectively. Rankings of breeds of sire generally did not change when adjusted for sire sampling. Rankings were generally similar to those previously reported for MARC data, except for Limousin and Charolais sires, which ranked lower for BWT and WWT at NC-196 locations than at MARC. Adjustment factors used to obtain across-breed EPD were largest for Brahman for BWT and for Gelbvieh for WWT. The data for YWT allow only comparison of Angus with Simmental and of Gelbvieh with Limousin.     

From noxiustoxin to Shiva-3, a peptide toxic to the sporogonic development of Plasmodium berghei

This communication reviews shortly the main structural and functional characteristics of Noxiustoxin, a 39 amino acid residue peptide, maintained closely packed by three-disulfide bridges and its effects on excitable membranes. Shiva-3, a cecropin like-peptide composed of 38 amino acid residues is also briefly reviewed. Its design and synthesis was made possible by the expertise gained through the work previously performed with Noxiustoxin. One of the most prominent functional characteristics of Shiva-3 is the toxic effect upon the sporogonic development of Plasmodium berghei (responsible for a murine version of malaria). A synthetic Shiva-3 gene was constructed by recursive polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) methodology and expressed using the vector pGEX2T as a hybrid protein between the glutathione-S-transferase at the N-terminal and Shiva-3 in the C-terminal part of the hybrid. The recombinant protein kills bacteria and Plasmodium berghei. The future aim of this work is to produce a transgenic mosquito that carries the message for synthesis and excretion of Shiva-3 and similar peptides, in the midgut of mosquitoes, in an attempt to control the spreading of human malaria.     

Nonstructural carbohydrate and protein effects on rumen fermentation, nutrient flow, and performance of dairy cows

Four multiparous Holstein cows fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square with 20-d periods. Four diets were formulated for high and low rumen availabilities of nonstructural carbohydrate and protein. Cows were milked and fed three times daily. Milk production averaged 39 kg/d and was unaffected by treatment. Dry matter intake and 4% FCM production were increased by 1 kg/d for cows fed the low rumen-available nonstructural carbohydrate diets. Milk protein percentage was elevated when either the high rumen-available nonstructural carbohydrate or high rumen-available protein diets were fed. Low rumen-available protein diets increased duodenal passage of total essential AA but did not increase passage of Arg, Ile, and Met. Passage of bacterial N was highest (262 g/d) when high rumen-available nonstructural carbohydrate was combined with high rumen-available protein and was lowest when high rumen-available nonstructural carbohydrate was combined with low rumen-available protein (214 g/d). Diets with low rumen availabilities of protein were not advantageous, possibly because duodenal passage of one or more of the limiting AA was not increased. Passage of bacterial N to the duodenum was highest when rumen availabilities of both nonstructural carbohydrate and protein were high.