半散养东北虎繁殖期PAE编码行为谱的构建

2006—2007年,采用全事件记录法、目标动物取样法和行为取样法对泰山东北虎园半散养东北虎繁殖期的各种行为进行了观察。基于以"姿势-动作-环境"(posture-act-environment,PAE)为轴心,以行为生态功能为依据的PAE编码系统,对半散养东北虎的行为进行分类和系统编码并构建PAE行为谱。研究结果区分和定义了14种姿势、47种动作和98种行为型;并将所区分、命名和编码的所有行为型归类于摄食、排遗、调温、发情、交配、分娩、冲突、育幼、通讯、聚群、休息、运动和杂类等13类;由此构建了基于PAE编码系统的半散养东北虎首个繁殖期行为谱。     

麋鹿行为谱及PAE编码系统

以麋鹿为实例,通过辨识行为的基本单元,区别了“姿势”、“动作”和“环境”,分解了动物行为的层次,然后根据行为的适应和社群机能归类,建立了以“姿势—动作—环境”为轴心的,以生态功能为分类依据的动物行为分类编码系统（PAE编码分类系统）。PAE编码分类系统以集合论为基础,明确了动物行为的三要素：姿势、动作和生态环境之间的关系,避免了笼统地将动物的姿势、动作和行为混为一谈的做法,区分了动物行为的组成要素和结构层次。行为要素编码方法为动物行为学研究提供了一个新的生长点。在继承前人工作的基础上,记录了有关麋鹿的姿势、动作和行为达200多种,还区别了各种行为在雄性、雌性和幼体之间的相对发生频次以及发生季节。     

基于PAE编码系统的半放养阿拉伯狒狒的行为多样性

动物行为多样性作为生物多样性的重要组成部分,与珍稀动物的迁地保护以及行为管理密切相关。2015年12月至2016年8月,我们在广州长隆野生动物世界园区内的狒狒岛,利用焦点取样法和瞬时扫描取样法,观察并记录了半放养条件下阿拉伯狒狒(Papio hamadryas)行为的发生过程、内容和环境。基于以"姿势–动作–环境"(posture-act-environment,PAE)为轴心、以行为生态功能为依据的PAE编码系统,对该环境下阿拉伯狒狒的行为进行分类和系统编码,构建并利用PAE行为谱表征其行为多样性。结果如下:(1)研究中分辨并记录到阿拉伯狒狒的18种姿势,120种动作,208种行为;(2)记录到的行为可分别归入摄食、排遗、调温、配对、交配、育幼、亲密、高序位、威胁、攻击、屈服、通讯、聚群、休息、运动、玩耍、讨食和杂类18个类别中;(3)编制基于PAE编码系统的人工饲养阿拉伯狒狒行为谱,描述了各种行为的相对发生频次与性别、年龄的关系;(4)在前人工作的基础上为非人灵长类PAE行为编码系统丰富了两类行为(玩耍行为和讨食行为),描述了半放养环境下阿拉伯狒狒这两类行为的特点,并探讨了其生态功能和适应意义;(5)基于PAE行为谱求得阿拉伯狒狒各年龄–性别组的行为多样性指数。本研究发现,阿拉伯狒狒各年龄–性别组的行为多样性在总体层面上很接近,在细分的行为层面上则有着渐进明显的差别。这表明,利用PAE行为编码分类系统对动物的行为进行归类细分以及编码标准化,对于行为多样性的研究是有帮助的。     

黔金丝猴的行为谱及PAE编码系统

2009年10月~2014年4月,在贵州梵净山国家级自然保护区和北京动物园,采用焦点动物取样法和随意取样法,观察记录了野外和圈养黔金丝猴Rhinopithecus brelichi行为发生的过程及环境特征。按照以"姿势-动作-环境"(posture-act-environment,PAE)为轴心,以行为的生态功能为依据的PAE编码系统,对黔金丝猴的行为进行分类和系统编码并构建PAE行为谱。分辨并记录了黔金丝猴的16种姿势,107种动作及163种行为,将记录到的行为分别划归于摄食、排遗、调温、交配、分娩、育幼、亲密、作威、冲突、通讯、聚群、休息、运动和杂类等14个类别中;区别了各种行为在雄性、雌性、亚成体、幼猴和婴猴之间的相对发生频次以及发生季节。与川金丝猴R.roxellana和滇金丝猴R.bieti相比,黔金丝猴在个体行为和社会行为方面均有所不同,这可能与三者生活环境差异有关。     

基于PAE 编码系统的太行山猕猴行为谱

2009 年2 月至2010 年3 月,在河南太行山猕猴国家级自然保护区济源管理局愚公管理分局所辖的天坛山
管护区,利用焦点动物取样法,观察并记录了野生太行山猕猴行为的发生过程、内容和环境。基于以“姿势-
动作- 环境”(Posture-act-environment,PAE)为轴心、以行为生态功能为依据的PAE 编码系统,对野生太行山
猕猴的行为进行分类和系统编码并构建PAE 行为谱。结果:1)研究中分辨并记录到猕猴的14 种姿势,93 种动
作,121 种行为;2)将所记录到的行为分别划归于摄食、排遗、调温、配对、交配、育幼、竞争、亲密、聚群、
通讯、休息、运动和其他等13 个类别中;3)得到了基于PAE 编码系统的野生太行山猕猴行为谱。     

彩鹬繁殖期行为谱及PAE编码系统

2014年3—10月和2015年3—9月,采用瞬时扫描取样法和行为取样法对四川省南充市彩鹬Rostratula benghalensis繁殖种群进行了观察。辩识和定义了彩鹬繁殖期的11种姿势、46种动作、9种环境和12类83种行为,构建了彩鹬繁殖期行为谱及PAE编码系统。行为谱所表述的彩鹬繁殖期行为特征,符合以往研究者对彩鹬生物学特性、繁殖生物学特性的研究报道,同时也描述了彩鹬具体的动作和行为,以及行为产生与环境的关系。繁殖期雌雄成鸟行为差异显著;低日龄雏鸟行为简单但行为特征明显。相同动作和行为在不同时间或发生在不同行为主体上表现出不同的行为功能。     

利用红外相机建立野生水鹿行为谱及PAE编码系统

动物行为谱是动物行为学研究的基础。2015年1月至2016年6月,在四川卧龙自然保护区,利用PAE编码分类系统并结合红外相机所获得的照片和视频数据开展水鹿(Rusa unicolor)行为谱的研究,建立了野生水鹿行为谱及其PAE编码系统。本研究共分辨并记录了野生水鹿的7种姿势,63种动作和74种行为,基本涵盖了水鹿的主要行为,并区别了各种行为在成年雄性、成年雌性和亚成体之间的相对发生频次,分析水鹿的具体行为与环境之间的关联。通过建立野生水鹿的行为谱,能为更深入地开展水鹿行为生态学研究提供基础信息,也为水鹿的保护与管理提供依据。该研究可以推广到其他不易直接观测的野生动物的行为学研究中。     

滇金丝猴的行为谱及PAE编码系统

2012年6月到2013年3月,在云南白马雪山国家级自然保护区响古箐区域,依据以"姿势-动作-环境"(Posture-act-environment,PAE)为轴心、以行为生态功能为依据的PAE编码系统,对滇金丝猴的行为进行分类和系统编码并构建PAE行为谱。分辨并记录了滇金丝猴的14种姿势、82种动作及143种行为,描述了各种行为的相对发生频次与性别、年龄的关系。与川金丝猴相比,滇金丝猴的行为有些不同,这可能与两者生活环境的差异有关。     

半自然条件下成年雌性长江江豚的抚幼行为

2014年5-9月,采用目标动物取样法,对栖息在铜陵淡水豚国家级自然保护区半自然水域的两头成年雌性长江江豚分娩后4个月内的抚幼行为进行观察。结果表明,母豚有5种明显的抚幼行为,其中以护领行为和携带行为为主,托举行为、返回行为和干涉行为发生频率较低;随着幼豚发育,托举、携带、干涉行为呈下降趋势;护领行为先上升,后趋于平稳;返回行为变化相对平稳,但在幼豚2月龄左右出现一个高峰。此外,两头母豚间的干涉和返回行为发生频率差别较大。综合以上结果可见,出生后约两个月内是半自然水域长江江豚抚幼的关键时期,应在此期间加强管理。     

卧龙国家级自然保护区野生岩羊行为谱及PAE编码系统

2015年1月—2016年6月,利用红外相机监测方法对四川卧龙国家级自然保护区的岩羊Pseudois nayaur进行了行为谱研究。结合照片和视频建立了岩羊行为谱及PAE编码系统,分析了岩羊的9种姿势、68种动作、7种环境和61种行为,并总结出各种行为在不同年龄阶段的相对发生频次。本研究为岩羊行为特征及其栖息地保护提供基础信息,也为其他高海拔珍稀野生动物开展行为谱研究奠定基础。将建立的行为谱与圈养或半圈养状态下的岩羊行为谱进行对比,有助于更深入理解分析动物行为的生物学意义。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.