Metagenomic Analysis Identifies Sex-Related Cecal Microbial Gene Functions and Bacterial Taxa in the Quail.

Background: Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) are important and widely distributed poultry in China. Researchers continue to pursue genetic selection for heavier quail. The intestinal microbiota plays a substantial role in growth promotion; however, the mechanisms involved in growth promotion remain unclear. Results: We generated 107.3 Gb of cecal microbiome data from ten Japanese quail, providing a series of quail gut microbial gene catalogs (1.25 million genes). We identified a total of 606 main microbial species from 1,033,311 annotated genes distributed among the ten quail. Seventeen microbial species from the genera Anaerobiospirillum, Alistipes, Barnesiella, and Butyricimonas differed significantly in their abundances between the female and male gut microbiotas. Most of the functional gut microbial genes were involved in metabolism, primarily in carbohydrate transport and metabolism, as well as some active carbohydrate-degrading enzymes. We also identified 308 antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) from the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Euryarchaeota. Studies of the differential gene functions between sexes indicated that abundances of the gut microbes that produce carbohydrate-active enzymes varied between female and male quail. Bacteroidetes was the predominant ARG-containing phylum in female quail; Euryarchaeota was the predominant ARG-containing phylum in male quail. Conclusion: This article provides the first description of the gene catalog of the cecal bacteria in Japanese quail as well as insights into the bacterial taxa and predictive metagenomic functions between male and female quail to provide a better understanding of the microbial genes in the quail ceca.

Hybrid cytomegalovirus enhancer-h1 promoter-based plasmid and baculovirus vectors mediate effective RNA interference.

Plasmid and viral vectors harboring an RNA polymerase (Pol) III promoter would be useful in achieving sustained cellular expression of short interfering RNA (siRNA) to inhibit disease-associated genes. Given that transcription machineries directed by certain Pol II and III promoters may use common factors, we investigated whether the enhancer of the Pol II cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early promoter could improve the efficacy of RNA interference mediated by the Pol III H1 promoter. We constructed a hybrid promoter by appending the CMV enhancer 5' to the H1 promoter. In the context of plasmid vectors, the hybrid promoter provided up to 50% greater inhibition of the expression of target genes than the unmodified H1 promoter and extended the silencing effect beyond that provided by the H1 promoter. Insect baculoviruses can infect a broad range of mammalian cell types. We constructed a baculovector expression cassette in which the synthesis of short hairpin RNA was under the control of the hybrid CMV enhancer-H1 promoter. This recombinant baculovirus vector was capable of suppressing expression of a target gene by 95% in cultured cells and by 82% in vivo in rat brain. These findings indicate that the hybrid CMV enhancer-H1 promoter can be used favorably for RNA interference.

The extended lateral arm flap in head and neck reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The lateral arm flap has been proven to be a reliable and versatile flap for the coverage of small to moderated-sized defects, especially in the head and neck and in the extremities. This flap has been modified by either extending the vascular pedicle or the flap territory. METHODS: From September 1997 to October 2000, we performed 17 free lateral arm flaps with extension of the flap size, including 1 osteofasciocutaneous flap for the coverage of head and neck defects. The reconstructions included a partial circumference defect of the esophagus, extensive intraoral defects, through-and-through bucco-cheek defect, etc. Follow-up was from three months to 12 months, with an average of 8 months. RESULTS: All but one flaps survived completely. Necrosis of the distal part occurred in one flap. Follow-up of donor sites revealed minimal morbidity when the flaps were extended to the below-elbow level. CONCLUSIONS: The cutaneous territory of the lateral arm flap, based on the posterior radial collateral artery, can be extended distally onto the forearm up to 10 cm. The center point of the flap design could be located more distally toward the lateral epicondyle in order to increase the size of the flap and the length of the vascular pedicle. The lateral arm flap provides a considerable amount of thin, pliable fasciocutaneous tissue. The advantages of the flap are constant anatomy, very easy and fast dissection, and the donor site being easier to camouflage than that of the radial forearm flap. The lateral arm flap is an excellent choice of fasciocutaneous flap for the reconstruction of head and neck defects.