香芹酚抑制金黄色葡萄球菌生物被膜的形成

【背景】生物被膜是细菌的一种自我保护形式,可以增强细菌对药物及宿主免疫应答的抵抗力,引起细菌耐药性和持续性感染。【目的】探究香芹酚对金黄色葡萄球菌生物被膜的作用机制,为开发新型抗生物被膜药物提供可靠的理论依据。【方法】通过结晶紫染色法检测香芹酚对供试菌株生物被膜形成的抑制和对成熟生物被膜的清除作用;使用刚果红平板法探究香芹酚对供试菌株生物被膜形成过程中细胞间多糖黏附素(polysaccharide intercellular adhesion,PIA)合成的作用;通过分光光度法检测香芹酚对胞外DNA (extracellular DNA,eDNA)分泌的抑制作用;利用RT-PCR技术检测香芹酚对供试菌株的生物被膜相关基因icaA、cidA和sarA转录水平的影响。【结果】香芹酚对生物被膜形成的抑制和生物被膜的清除均有较强作用效果。256μg/mL香芹酚抑制PIA合成和e DNA释放的效果显著。香芹酚可通过抑制相关基因转录从而抑制生物被膜的形成,当64μg/mL的香芹酚作用后,sarA的转录水平降低了60.44%±2.91%,cidA的转录水平降低了76.48%±1.67%,icaA的转录水平降低了70.00%±1.94%。【结论】香芹酚对金黄色葡萄球菌ATCC 25923生物被膜的抑制和清除作用显著,其作用机制主要是通过降低icaA、sarA和cidA基因转录水平抑制PIA的合成和eDNA的释放。     

猪源肠外致病性大肠杆菌耐药性分析及耐药基因和I类整合子检测

【背景】由于抗生素的长期大量且不合理使用,猪源肠外致病性大肠杆菌(extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli,ExPEC)多重耐药性日趋严重。【目的】探究猪源ExPEC的耐药性及其与耐药基因和I类整合子的相关性。【方法】采用微量肉汤稀释法测定54株猪源ExPEC对22种抗生素的最低抑菌浓度(minimal inhibitory concentration,MIC)和最低杀菌浓度(minimum bactericidal concentration,MBC);依据药敏试验结果确定相关耐药基因,采用PCR方法检测染色体DNA和质粒DNA上的耐药基因及I类整合子分布情况。【结果】54株猪源ExPEC对青霉素、氟苯尼考、氨苄西林、阿莫西林高度耐药,其中52株对甲氧苄氨嘧啶、复方新诺明高度耐药,它们的MIC值均大于256μg/mL,无MBC值;对头孢唑林、四环素、头孢氨苄、大观霉素、链霉素的MIC值在1-256μg/mL之间,MBC值分别为8、16、32、64、128、256μg/mL,均可耐受11种以上抗生素,其中以耐受17种为主,占比为18.52%...     

蓝莓提取物对产超广谱β-内酰胺酶肺炎克雷伯菌的抑菌活性

【背景】随着细菌耐药性的增强,产超广谱β-内酰胺酶肺炎克雷伯菌的出现严重危害食品安全和人体健康。蓝莓中含有丰富的多酚和花青素,是天然抗菌材料的优选。【目的】分析蓝莓提取物对3株产超广谱β-内酰胺酶肺炎克雷伯菌的抑制活性及作用机制,并以牛乳为样品检测食品基质对蓝莓提取物抑菌活性的影响。【方法】利用甲醇制备巴尔德温和黑珍珠蓝莓提取物并检测提取物中总酚和花青素含量,利用纸片扩散法检测肺炎克雷伯菌的耐药性,利用最小抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)、最小杀菌浓度(minimum bactericidal concentration,MBC)和生长曲线研究蓝莓提取物的抗菌活性,通过共聚焦激光扫描显微镜观察蓝莓提取物对细胞膜完整性的影响,并检测其在牛乳中的抑菌活性。【结果】巴尔德温和黑珍珠蓝莓提取物中的总酚含量分别为2.3 mg/g和3.5 mg/g,花青素含量分别为67.5 mg/100 g和92.5 mg/100 g。两种蓝莓提取物对肺炎克雷伯菌KP106、KP305和KP408的MIC均为25mg/mL,MBC均为50mg/mL。生长曲线表明...     

大黄酸抗耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌机制

【背景】耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus,MRSA)是医院及社区常见的机会性致病菌,具有多重耐药性、高发病率和高死亡率的特点。MRSA感染已成为全球医学界的普遍难题之一。【目的】研究大黄酸对MRSA的抗菌机制。【方法】以二倍稀释法测定大黄酸对MRSA的最小抑菌浓度(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,MIC);通过MIC测定大黄酸对MRSA动态抑菌作用;建立生物膜模型,测定大黄酸在生物膜屏障下对生物膜内存活菌的影响,并通过扫描电镜观察不同浓度大黄酸作用后的MRSA菌体形态变化;用免疫荧光染色法、荧光分析法测定大黄酸对MRSA细胞质膜去极化和细胞膜通透性的影响。【结果】大黄酸对MRSA的MIC为8μg/mL;大黄酸能对生物膜内存活菌有明显的抑制作用,而且在大黄酸作用下菌体的形态发生明显皱缩和破损,破损严重程度与浓度呈正相关;随着大黄酸浓度和作用时间的增加,荧光强度出现明显变化,细胞膜的通透性发生改变。【结论】大黄酸主要通过损伤细菌的细胞膜,从而抑制细菌的生长和繁殖。     

生姜精油化学成分及其抗菌活性

【背景】随着耐药微生物种类的增多和耐药性增强,抗耐药微生物新药的发现已成为全球关注的问题。生姜精油是纯天然植物精油,是天然抗菌材料的优选。【目的】分析生姜精油的化学成分,研究生姜精油对常见条件致病菌抗菌活性的影响,并阐明其可能的抗菌机制。【方法】采用气相色谱/质谱技术(Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry,GC/MS)对生姜精油的化学成分进行分析,利用牛津杯法、最小抑菌浓度法(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,MIC)、最小杀菌浓度法(Minimum Bactericidal Concentration,MBC)和生长曲线绘制法研究生姜精油的抗菌活性和抗菌动力学特征,并通过透射电镜(Transmission Electron Microscopy,TEM)观察生姜精油对细菌超微结构的影响。【结果】生姜精油的化学成分主要为姜烯(22.014%)、β-倍半水芹烯(11.276%)、α-法呢烯(8.222%)、α-姜黄烯(6.854%)、姜酮(5.610%)、姜辣二酮(5.192%)、6-姜烯酚(4.670%)、桧烯(3.393%)和β-红没药烯(3.080%)等萜类物质。生姜精油对枯草芽孢杆菌的MIC和MBC分别为2.3μg/mL和4.6μg/mL;对表皮葡萄球菌及金黄色葡萄球菌的MIC均为9.2μg/mL,MBC均为18.4μg/mL;对肺炎克雷伯菌的MIC和MBC分别为18.4μg/m L和36.8μg/mL。生长曲线结果显示,生姜精油能延长细菌的生长停滞期、抑制细菌的生长速率。透射电镜结果表明,生姜精油能引起细菌细胞膜破损,致使胞内物质渗漏。【结论】生姜精油富含萜类化合物,具有中度的抗菌活性,能破坏细菌细胞膜的完整性,引起菌体损伤和死亡。本文有望更好地为有害微生物的防控提供新方法。     

抗菌肽17BIPHE2对金黄色葡萄球菌生物被膜的抑制作用

【目的】研究抗菌肽17BIPHE2单独使用及联合抗生素对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)生物被膜的抑制作用。【方法】采用刚果红平板测试法和结晶紫染色评估受试菌形成生物被膜的能力;微量肉汤稀释法和琼脂平板测试法测定金黄色葡萄球菌最小抑菌浓度(MIC)和最小杀菌浓度(MBC);利用抑制金黄色葡萄球菌黏附实验和生物被膜形成抑制实验观察17BIPHE2单独使用及联合抗生素对生物被膜黏附阶段和形成阶段的影响;通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察17BIPHE2单独使用及联合抗生素对成熟生物被膜的清除作用。【结果】17BIPHE2的MIC为8μmol/L,1/2×MIC就可以有效抑制浮游菌的生长。单独使用17BIPHE2在细菌黏附阶段抑制率为40%,在生物被膜形成阶段抑制率达到35%。17BIPHE2联合抗生素使用较单独使用抗生素其抑制率均有所下降。生物被膜成熟阶段17BIPHE2于1/4×MIC浓度即可促进生物被膜崩解,1×MIC生物被膜崩解同时细菌黏附量有所下降,联合万古霉素促进生物被膜崩解同时细菌胞质大量外泄。【结论】抗菌肽17BIPHE2具有良好的抑制金黄色葡萄球菌生物被膜作用,联合抗生素其抗生物被膜作用进一步提高。这将为治疗由金黄色葡萄球菌生物被膜引起的相关感染提供了一个新思路。     

桦褐孔菌发酵鸭跖草提取物对铜绿假单胞菌群体感应系统的影响

【背景】群体感应在铜绿假单胞菌感染中常引起对抗生素的耐药性,因此迫切需要寻找新型抑制剂。【目的】研究桦褐孔菌发酵鸭跖草提取物(fermented Commelina communis extract,FCC)对铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa,PA)群体感应系统的影响及其原因。【方法】采用微量稀释法测定FCC对PA的最小抑菌浓度(minimal inhibitory concentration,MIC),通过微量法测定FCC对生物膜形成、以及毒力因子(绿脓素、LasA蛋白酶及鼠李糖脂)合成的影响,利用高效液相色谱(high performance liquidchromatography,HPLC)法分析发酵前后化学物质的变化,采用福林酚(Folinand Ciocalteu's phenolreagent,Folin-Ciocalteu)法测量FCC和未发酵鸭跖草提取物(unfermented Commelina communis extract,UCC)的总酚含量。【结果】发酵前后提取物的MIC分别为16 g/L和64 g/L,FCC抑制了生物膜的形成,降低了毒力因子的产生,发酵提取物的化学组分在发酵过程中产生了很大的变化,发酵后提取物总酚含量相较于未发酵增加了219.97%。【结论】桦褐孔菌固体发酵具有增强鸭跖草提取物抗PA群体感应的作用,通过抑制群体感应系统产生抑菌作用。     

连翘提取物对嗜水气单胞菌群体感应系统的影响

【背景】传统抑菌剂的大量使用导致细菌产生多重耐药性与抗性,而基于细菌群体感应靶点调控的新型抑菌剂可缓解细菌耐药性与抗性,是未来抑菌剂的发展方向之一。【目的】研究连翘(Forsythiasuspensa)提取物对嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonashydrophila)群体感应系统的影响及可能的作用机制,为新型抑菌剂的开发提供理论依据。【方法】以紫色杆菌(Chromobacterium violaceum)CV026为报告菌株,以嗜水气单胞菌为供试菌株,采用倍比稀释法测定连翘提取物对2种菌的最小抑菌浓度(minimal inhibitory concentration,MIC),通过微量法测定提取物对嗜水气单胞菌生长、群集运动及蛋白酶活性的影响,利用高效液相色谱串联质谱法分析提取物中的主要成分,采用分子对接模拟探究提取物对嗜水气单胞菌群体感应系统的作用机制。【结果】连翘提取物对紫色杆菌CV026和嗜水气单胞菌的MIC均为16.00mg/mL。在亚抑菌浓度下,连翘提取物处理显著抑制了CV026紫色菌素的产生,最大抑制率高达56.30%。经8.00mg/mL连翘提取物处理后,嗜水气单胞菌的群集运...     

一种源自人α-2-巨球蛋白的抗菌肽A2M3及其对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌机制

【目的】在人的鼻腔中鉴定出一种源自α-2-巨球蛋白的抗菌肽(命名为A2M3),并探究其对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)的抑菌作用和机制。【方法】结合生物信息学技术对人类鼻液的质谱结果进行分析,并筛选潜在抗菌肽;通过微量稀释法和平板涂布法分别分析A2M3对金黄色葡萄球菌最低抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC)和时间杀伤曲线(time-kill curve);采用透射电镜、碘化丙锭(propidium iodide, PI)摄取实验、流式细胞术和核酸蛋白质泄露实验分析A2M3对金黄色葡萄球菌膜完整性、膜通透性的影响;通过凝胶阻滞实验和荧光光谱实验探究A2M3对金黄色葡萄球菌基因组DNA的影响。【结果】利用生物信息学技术筛选出源自α-2-巨球蛋白的潜在抗菌肽A2M3,其对金黄色葡萄球菌的MIC为125.0 μg/mL,且能在3 h内完全杀灭细菌。A2M3通过增加细胞膜的通透性,促使核酸和蛋白质泄漏,继而穿过细胞膜嵌入DNA的碱基对,影响细菌的基因功能,从而导致菌体死亡。【结论】A2M3对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌机制涉及多靶点协同作用,能够改变细菌细胞膜的通透性,影响细菌的基因功能。这一发现揭示了从人体体液中筛选和分离抗菌功能肽的潜在应用价值。     

绞股蓝内生真菌抗大肠杆菌抗菌机制的研究

【目的】药用植物内生真菌是一种新型抗生素的微生物资源,研究绞股蓝内生真菌JY25的抗菌机制对内生真菌的研发具有重要意义。【方法】以二倍稀释法测定发酵液的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)和最小杀菌浓度(MBC);以MIC测定发酵液对大肠杆菌生长的抑制作用;扫描电镜观察发酵液作用下的大肠杆菌形态变化;同时,以β-半乳糖酶、碱性磷酸酶和电导率测定发酵液对细胞膜和细胞壁的损伤效果;采用考马斯亮蓝法检测发酵液对蛋白质合成的影响。【结果】JY25发酵液对大肠杆菌MIC为7 g/L、MBC为14 g/L;MIC浓度的发酵液使细菌对数生长期延迟12 h,菌体形态发生严重的畸形和破损;随着抑菌作用时间的延长,β-半乳糖酶含量增加、电导率增加,同时,实验发现大肠杆菌蛋白质合成异常,未检测到碱性磷酸酶。【结论】绞股蓝内生真菌JY25主要以破坏细菌的细胞膜及影响细菌蛋白质合成而抑制细菌生长。     

Presence of Rhizobium Etli bv . Phaseoli and Rhizobium Gallicum bv . Gallicum in Egyptian Soils

Seven bean rhizobial strains EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29 identified as Rhizobium etli, and EBRI 32 identified as Rhizobium gallicum, isolated from Egyptian soils and which nodulated Phaseolus vulgaris efficiently, were subjected to hybridization with a nifH probe in order to estimate the copy number of this gene. Seven strains (EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29) which were only able to nodulate Phaseolus vulgaris, contained three copies of the nifH gene, consistent with their identification as Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli. Only one strain (EBRI 32) which nodulated both Phaseolus vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala, had one copy of nifH gene. This confirmed the classification of this strain as Rhizobium gallicum bv. gallicum.     

Effects of MULTIFOLIATE-PINNA, AFILA, TENDRIL-LESS and UNIFOLIATA genes on leafblade architecture in Pisum sativum

In order to dissect the genetic regulation of leafblade morphogenesis, 16 genotypes of pea, constructed by combining the wild-type and mutant alleles of MFP, AF, TL and UNI genes, were quantitatively phenotyped. The morphological features of the three domains of leafblades of four genotypes, unknown earlier, were described. All the genotypes were found to differ in leafblade morphology. It was evident that MFP and TL functions acted as repressor of pinna ramification, in the distal domain. These functions, with and without interaction with UNI, also repressed the ramification of proximal pinnae in the absence of AF function. The expression of MFP and TL required UNI function. AF function was found to control leafblade architecture multifariously. The earlier identified role of AF as a repressor of UNI in the proximal domain was confirmed. Negative control of AF on the UNI-dependent pinna ramification in the distal domain was revealed. It was found that AF establishes a boundary between proximal and distal domains and activates formation of leaflet pinnae in the proximal domain.     

Prosthecium species with Stegonsporium anamorphs on Acer

Data from microscopic morphology, single-spore cultures, and DNA analyses of teleomorphs and anamorphs support the recognition of five species of Prosthecium with Stegonsporium anamorphs on Acer: P. acerinum sp. nov., the teleomorph of S. acerinum; P. acerophilum comb. nov., formerly known as Dictyoporthe acerophila; P. galeatum comb. nov., originally described as Massaria galeata; P. opalus sp. nov.; and P. pyriforme sp. nov., the teleomorph of S. pyriforme s. str. The morphology of both type specimens and freshly collected material was investigated. The teleomorphs have brown ellipsoidal ascospores with five distosepta and often a longitudinal distoseptum. The anamorphs of all species described here belong to Stegonsporium; their connection to the Prosthecium teleomorphs was demonstrated by morphology and DNA sequences of single spore cultures derived from both ascospores and conidia. The anamorphs and teleomorphs of all five Prosthecium species are described and illustrated by LM images, and a key to these species is provided. As perceived from this work, S. pyriforme is restricted to Europe and does not occur in North America, whereas S. acerinum is restricted to North America, not found in Europe. The host associations given in the literature are revised and evidence is provided that only A. opalus, A. pseudoplatanus, and A. saccharum are confirmed hosts of Prosthecium with Stegonsporium anamorphs. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of tef1, ITS rDNA, and partial nuLSU rDNA sequences confirm that the species with Stegonsporium anamorphs are closely related to P. ellipsosporum, the generic type species. Stilbospora macrosperma is confirmed as the anamorph of P. ellipsosporum by DNA data of single spore isolates obtained from both ascospores and conidia.     

Characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactans-proteins (AGPs) and phenolics of Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds

Many Cola plant species are endemic to West and Central Africa. Cola acuminata and Cola nitida are used as masticatory when fresh, while the dried nuts are used for beverages and pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and North America. Garcinia kola seeds, that serve as a substitute for the true kola nuts, are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including colic, headache and liver cirrhosis. Seeds extracts of G. kola are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To gain information on the chemical properties of the kolas, we have isolated and analyzed cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactan-proteins and phenolic substances from the seeds of the three kola species. The sugar composition of cell wall material of C. acuminata, C. nitida and G. kola revealed that Gal (up to 30%), Ara, GalA and Glc as the predominant monosaccharides, representing approximately 90% by mol of the total hydrolysable sugar present in this material. In Ammonium oxalate cell wall fraction, GalA was found to be the major sugar present in all kola species. In the alkali-soluble fraction, there were significant differences in the level of Glc and Gal. The level of Glc was high in C. acuminata and C. nitida while the level of Gal and Xyl were high in C. nitida and G. cola. Isolation and quantification of arabinogalactan-proteins demonstrate that G. kola seeds contained four to eight times more of these proteoglycans than the seeds of the other two species. Finally, analysis of soluble phenolic substances shows that caffeine and catechin were largely represented in C. acumina and C. nitida seeds, with caffeine accounting for 50% of all soluble phenolics. These findings indicate that the three Kola seeds are highly enriched in pectins and proteoglycans and that C. acuminata and C. nitida can be used as a possible source of caffeine and catechin.     

中国黑粉菌属和利罗黑粉菌属

黑粉菌属是Roussel 1806年建立的,全世界记载有三百余种,主要寄生于禾本科,是经济作物及牧草的重要致病菌·长期以来,对黑粉菌的邢子使用过各种名称,如厚垣孢子,冬孢子及黑粉孢子等.本文采用黑粉孢子以区别锈菌的冬孢子. 芳’(1979)在《中国真菌总汇》中列出黑粉菌属五十种及一个变型.作者经过显微结构和超显微结构的研究,承认其中二十九种为正确名称,八种及一变型为异名,顶黑粉菌(Ustilago acrearus Berk.)由于错拼而被废弃.埃地黑粉菌(Ustilago emodensis Berk.)被转移至利罗粉菌属(Liroa).另有十一种黑粉菌因缺少标本留待今后订正.自1979年以后,杨信东(1983)增加黑粉菌属二种我国新纪录,K.范基和郭林(1986)描述一新种,四种新纪录.在本文中,作者描述一新种:鸢尾蒜黑粉(Ustilago ixiolirii Guo L) ,孢子堆生在蒴果内,不开裂,黑色,粉末状.黑粉孢子球形,近球形,稀椭圆形, 12.5-21×10-21μm,黑褐色,壁厚1-1.Sμm,纹饰脑状.是迄今生在石蒜科植物上唯一黑粉菌的种,其它几种黑粉菌均属条黑粉菌属.本文增加七种我国新纪录.共计四十九种,寄生于六科四十四属植物,主要是禾本科和蓼科.这仅是黑粉菌属研究的初步报告,在全国范围内大量采集黑粉菌标本后,作者相信会有更多新种和我国新纪录被发现.利罗黑粉菌属(Liroa)是从黑粉菌属(Ustaligo)分出的,此属为单种属.     

Comparative study of Bifidobacteriumanimalis, Escherichiacoli, Lactobacilluscasei and Saccharomycesboulardii probiotic properties

The present work investigates some probiotic properties of four different microorganisms (Bifidobacterium animalis var. lactis BB-12, Escherichia coli EMO, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii). In vitro and in vivo tests were carried out to compare cell wall hydrophobicity, production of antagonistic substances, survival capacity in the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice without pathological consequence, and immune modulation by stimulation of Küpffer cells, intestinal sIgA and IL-10 levels. In vitro antagonism against pathogenic bacteria and yeast was only observed for the probiotic bacteria B. animalis and L. casei. The hydrophobic property of the cell wall was higher for B. animalis and E. coli EMO, and this property could be responsible for a better ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice. Higher levels of sIgA were observed mainly for S. boulardii, followed by E. coli EMO and B. animalis, and only S. boulardii induced a significant higher level of IL-10. In conclusion, for a probiotic use, S. boulardii presented better characteristics in terms of immunomodulation, and B. animalis and L. casei for antagonistic substance production. The knowledge of the different probiotic properties could be used to choice the better microorganism depending on the therapeutic or prophylactic application.     

Probing the Drosophila retinal determination gene network in Tribolium (II): The Pax6 genes eyeless and twin of eyeless

The Pax6 genes eyeless (ey) and twin of eyeless (toy) are upstream regulators in the retinal determination gene network (RDGN), which instructs the formation of the adult eye primordium in Drosophila. Most animals possess a singleton Pax6 ortholog, but the dependence of eye development on Pax6 is widely conserved. A rare exception is given by the larval eyes of Drosophila, which develop independently of ey and toy. To obtain insight into the origin of differential larval and adult eye regulation, we studied the function of toy and ey in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. We find that single and combinatorial knockdown of toy and ey affect larval eye development strongly but adult eye development only mildly in this primitive hemimetabolous species. Compound eye-loss, however, was provoked when ey and toy were RNAi-silenced in combination with the early retinal gene dachshund (dac). We propose that these data reflect a role of Pax6 during regional specification in the developing head and that the subsequent maintenance and growth of the adult eye primordium is regulated partly by redundant and partly by specific functions of toy, ey and dac in Tribolium. The results from embryonic knockdown and comparative protein sequence analysis lead us further to conclude that Tribolium represents an ancestral state of redundant control by ey and toy.     

Doc and copia instability in an isogenic Drosophila melanogaster stock

A high degree of heterogeneity and an overall increase in number of insertion sites of the mobile elements Doc and copia were revealed in one substock of an isogenic Drosophila melanogaster stock, while in two other substocks the distribution of copia sites was highly homogenous, but that of Doc sites was again heterogenous. We therefore concluded that copia was unstable in one of the substocks and Doc was unstable in all. Doc instability presumably arose earlier than copia instability. Doc and copia transpositions were directly observed in experiments with one substock. An abundance of copia insertions was revealed in the X chromosome where insertions with deleterious effects are exposed to selection in hemizygous condition. The locations of many other mobile elements (mdg1, mdg2, mdg3, mdg4, 297, B104, H.M.S. Beagle, I, P, BS, FB) were found to be conserved in each substock and did not differ between them, indicating that these mobile elements were stable. This homogeneity is a strong argument against any possibility of inadvertent contamination.