Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is an important pathogen isolated from grouper, Epinephelus tauvina, and characterized as a novel ranavirus. To better understand the function of viral structural genes involved in SGIV infection and virus-host interactions, a candidate gene, VP38 (ORF038L), was investigated in this study. SGIV VP38 was found to encode a 170-aa peptide containing an RGD motif, and it showed significant identity only to members of the genus Iridovirus, family Iridoviridae, except megalocytivirus. The VP38 gene was identified by temporal expression pattern analysis and drug inhibition assay as a late (L) gene. Immunofluorescence localization revealed that P38 was distributed predominately in the cytoplasm and that association of VP38 with viral factories increased at the late stage of SGIV infection. Consistent results from immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) and western blot analysis revealed that SGIV VP38 is a viral capsid protein. Furthermore, antibodies specific for SGIV VP38 exhibited substantial SGIV-neutralizing activity in vitro, suggesting that VP38 might play an important role in SGIV infectivity.

The objective of the study was the determination of the characteristics and the potential of remediation As polluted soil of three different biochars and straws. Results showed that biochar has better properties and microstructure for heavy metals remediation. Short-term incubation remediation experiments showed that biochars could decreased biological toxicity and mobility of As.

The minimum energy required for destratification of a source water reservoir is important to determine the design capacity of mixing system used to improve the source water quality. Taking Jinpen Reservoir in Xi’an, as a study case, the water volumes under different water levels of the reservoir were numerically calculated using the geometry data obtained with a RTK system. The total potential energy (PE) was determined by integrating the PE in each thin sub-layer over the water depth with density dependent on the water temperature. The average water temperature after complete mixing was calculated based on the heat exchange theory, and was consistent with the numerical result of temperature simulation. The difference of total potential energy before and after mixing was calculated for each month with the data of water temperature, water density and water volume. The minimum energy required for destratification increasing with the temperature gradient, was relatively high during the period from June to October, and reached a peak of 2412.92 kW·h in July.