Isolation, Identification, and Evaluation of the Pathogenicity of a Porcine Enterovirus G Isolated From China

Enterovirus G (EV-G) infects porcine populations worldwide and the infections are generally asymptomatic, with the insertion of the papain-like cysteine protease gene (PLCP) increasing the potential public health threats. However, the genetic and pathogenic characteristics of EV-G itself are not fully understood as yet. In the present study, one EV-G strain, named CH/17GXQZ/2017, was isolated and purified from piglets with diarrheic symptoms from the Guangxi Province, China. This strain produced stable cytopathic effects on Marc-145 cells with a titer of 5 × 106 PFU/mL. The spherical enterovirus particles with diameters of 25–30 nm were observed by using transmission electron microscopy. The whole genome sequence of the CH/17GXQZ/2017 strain consists of 7,364 nucleotides, and the phylogenetic tree based on the amino acid sequences of VP1 indicated this strain was clustered to the G1 genotype. Seven-day-old piglets were inoculated orally with the CH/17GXQZ/2017 strain in order to evaluate its pathogenicity. Although none of the infected piglets died during the experiment, clinical neurological symptoms were observed manifesting as mild hyperemia and Nissl bodies vacuolization in the cerebrum. In addition, the infection with the CH/17GXQZ/2017 strain decelerated the weight gain of suckling piglets significantly. This study demonstrates that CH/17GXQZ/2017 is pathogenic to neonatal piglets and advance knowledge on the biological characteristics, evolution and pathogenicity of EV-G.

Hydrogen Sulfide Alleviates Dark-promoted Senescence in Postharvest Broccoli

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is an important vegetable crop rich in vitamins and sulforaphane. However, the floral heads of broccoli experience rapid postharvest senescence. Here we found that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) treatment alleviated dark-promoted senescence in broccoli florets. H2S delayed the symptoms of senescence and maintained higher levels of chlorophyll and Rubisco and lower protease activity compared with water control. Gene expression analysis showed that H2S down-regulated the expression of chlorophyll degradation-related genes BoSGR, BoNYC, BoCLH1, BoPPH, and BoRCCR. Expression of lipoxygenase gene BoLOX1 and the genes involved in the ethylene synthesis pathway, BoACS2 and BoACS3, were also down-regulated by H2S. The reduced expression level in cysteine protease gene BoCP3 and aspartic protease gene BoLSC807 suggested the role of H2S in alleviating protein degradation during broccoli senescence. H2S up-regulated the expression of sulfur metabolism genes BoSR and BoOASTL, and the antioxidant gene BoCAT. These results show that H2S plays a vital role in alleviating broccoli senescence through a broad regulation on gene expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism genes, ethylene synthesis genes, and protease genes.