外源一氧化氮对铅胁迫下小麦种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

利用室内水培实验,研究了外源一氧化氮（NO）供体硝普钠（SNP）对Pb²⁺处理下小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）种子萌发、幼苗生长及相关生理指标变化的影响。结果表明,Pb²⁺处理使小麦种子发芽势、发芽率、幼苗根长和茎长均显著降低,诱导叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量减少及叶绿素荧光参数F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o的比值减小,25 μmol·L^-1 SNP明显缓解Pb²⁺胁迫对种子萌发及幼苗生长的抑制作用,提高Pb²⁺胁迫下叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量及F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o的比值,而100 μmol·L^-1SNP无明显缓解作用。此外,25和100 μmol·L^-1SNP诱导Pb²⁺胁迫下小麦幼苗叶片过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性增强和可溶性蛋白含量增多,但100 μmol·L^-1SNP处理降低了过氧化物酶（POD）活性。结果说明,外源NO促进Pb²⁺胁迫下小麦种子萌发及幼苗生长,提高叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量,诱导CAT活性升高,从而增强小麦对Pb²⁺胁迫的适应性。     

NaCl胁迫下胡杨（Populus euphratica）和群众杨(P.popularis)抗氧化能力及耐盐性

在盐浓度逐渐提高的胁迫条件下,对抗盐的胡杨（Populus euphratica）和盐敏感的群众杨（P.popularis 35~44）1年实生苗木叶片中Na⁺、Cl^-水平、O₂^-•产生速率以及抗氧化酶：超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）的动态变化以及抗盐性进行了研究。结果表明,在盐浓度不断提高的胁迫条件下,群众杨叶片中Na⁺、Cl^-浓度持续增加,盐胁迫18d时,群众杨叶中Na⁺、Cl^-含量分别达到对照的17.8和14.6倍,此时O₂^-•产生速率也达到最高水平。而在盐胁迫期间,群众杨叶片SOD活性没有明显提高,CAT活性维持在对照水平以下,只有APX和GR活性在盐胁迫13~18d,即盐害症状出现前才有所上升,属于典型的盐害反应。胡杨与群众杨明显不同：在盐胁迫初期,胡杨叶片Na⁺、Cl^-含量虽然没有明显的变化,但胡杨叶片中O₂^-•产生速率在盐胁7d时明显提高,SOD、APX、CAT活性也都先后相应上升,表明胡杨能响应盐胁迫并上调SOD、APX和CAT等保护酶类,降低盐诱导的膜脂过氧化,从而减少了电解质外渗,最终提高了树木的抗盐性。     

外源NO对南方红豆杉幼苗光合色素及抗氧化酶的影响

以4年生南方红豆杉幼苗为实验材料,通过对南方红豆杉幼苗喷施不同浓度外源一氧化氮（NO）供体硝普钠溶液（0、0.01、0.1、0.5和1 mmol·L^-1SNP）,测定光合色素含量、抗氧化酶活性、丙二醛（MDA）含量和过氧化氢（H₂O₂）含量等生理指标,以探讨不同浓度外源NO对南方红豆杉叶片光合色素和抗氧化酶的影响。结果表明：喷施低浓度（0.01、0.1 mmol·L^-1）SNP可显著提高南方红豆杉叶片的叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素和总叶绿素含量,增加叶绿素a/b的比值,而喷施高浓度（0.5、1 mmol·L^-1）SNP降低了叶片的光合色素含量。随着外源NO供体浓度的增加,叶片过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性显著增加,过氧化物酶(POD)活性先增加后降低。此外,处理前期,低浓度SNP处理明显提高了抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性,而高浓度SNP处理显著降低了APX活性,处理后期APX活性随SNP浓度的增加而显著下降。喷施低浓度SNP可有效提高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和增加可溶性蛋白含量,降低MDA和H₂O₂的含量,而喷施高浓度SNP显著增加了MDA和H₂O₂的含量。因此,低浓度的SNP（<0.5 mmol·L^-1）处理南方红豆杉幼苗,可增加其叶绿素含量,提高抗氧化酶活性,降低MDA和H₂O₂的含量,而高浓度的SNP（≥0.5 mmol·L^-1）处理会降低叶绿素含量,提高H₂O₂含量,增加细胞膜质过氧化程度,从而对南方红豆杉幼苗造成一定伤害。     

外源NO对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗活性氧代谢、多胺含量和光合作用的影响

采用溶液培养法研究了外源一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)供体硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)对100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下黑麦草幼苗生长、活性氧代谢、多胺含量和光合作用的影响。结果表明,50 μmol·L^-1 SNP显著提高盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性及谷胱甘肽(GSH)、精胺(Spm)、亚精胺(Spd)含量和(Spm+Spd)/Put比值,降低了腐胺(Put)、超氧阴离子(O^—·₂)、H₂O₂和丙二醛(MDA)含量,使幼苗叶片叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量、净光合速率(P_n)和气孔导度(G_s)升高,胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)下降,相对生长量增加。叶绿素荧光动力学资料显示,SNP处理降低盐胁迫下黑麦草叶片的初始荧光(F₀),表明它对光合膜系统具有保护效应。SNP处理不仅提高了盐胁迫下叶片的最大荧光(F_m)、PSⅡ潜在光化学效率(F_v/F₀)和PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m),而且提高了PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Φ_PSⅡ)、光化学荧光猝灭系数(q_P)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)和光化学速率(PCR),降低了非光化学荧光猝灭系数(NPQ)和天线热耗散(D),而1 mmol·L^-1 NO清除剂PTIO和0.5 μmol·L^-1 NaNO₂处理(对照)则无此效应。由此表明,外源NO可能通过提高植株的抗氧化能力及光能的捕获与转换而增强盐胁迫下黑麦草叶片的光合能力,从而缓解盐胁迫对幼苗生长的抑制作用。     

硝普钠缓解镧引起的黑麦草幼苗生长抑制和根系氧化损伤

采用水培方法,研究了外源一氧化氮（NO）供体硝普钠（SNP）对300 μmol·L^-1 LaCl₃胁迫下黑麦草幼苗生长和根系活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明：在LaCl₃胁迫下,喷施50 μmol·L^-1 SNP能够抑制镧（La）从黑麦草根系向地上部的转运,缓解La对幼苗生长的抑制作用;提高幼苗根系超氧化物歧化酶和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性,降低过氧化物酶活性及谷胱甘肽、脯氨酸、H₂O₂、丙二醛含量、超氧阴离子产生速率和质膜相对透性,对过氧化氢酶活性和抗坏血酸含量无显著影响。表明NO可通过活性氧代谢的调节,缓解高浓度La胁迫对黑麦草幼苗生长的抑制作用。     

外源NO对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根生长抑制和氧化损伤的缓解效应

研究了外源一氧化氮(nitric oxide, NO)对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根生长和氧化损伤的影响。结果表明,5~100 μmol·L^-1的NO供体硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside, SNP)处理显著减轻100mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根生长的抑制效应,其中50 μmol·L^-1的SNP效果最明显,150 μmol·L^-1以上的SNP处理则抑制根的生长。50 μmol·L^-1 SNP处理提高了100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)及液泡膜上H⁺-ATP酶(H⁺-ATPase)和H⁺焦磷酸酶(H⁺-PPase)的活性,使谷胱甘肽(GSH)、抗坏血酸(ASA)和脯氨酸含量及K⁺/Na⁺、(Spd+Spm)/Put比值和根干物质积累量增加,超氧阴离子(O^-₂)、H₂O₂和丙二醛(MDA)含量降低,而1mmol·L^-1NO清除剂PTIO和1 μmol·L^-1 NaNO₂处理(对照)的效果则不明显。由此推断,NO通过提高根组织的抗氧化和渗透调节能力,促进根系对K⁺的选择性吸收及Put向Spd和Spm的转化,降低Na⁺的吸收并加强在液泡中的区隔化缓解盐胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根生长的抑制和膜脂过氧化损伤。     

黄瓜幼苗对氯化钠和碳酸氢钠胁迫的生理响应差异

采用营养液培养方法,分别用不同浓度（0、25、50和75 mmol·L^-1）的NaCl和NaHCO₃对黄瓜幼苗进行胁迫处理,研究黄瓜幼苗对NaCl和NaHCO₃胁迫的生理响应差异.结果表明：随着胁迫强度的增加,黄瓜植株地上部和地下部生长量、叶片叶绿素含量和相对含水量均呈明显下降趋势,但NaHCO₃处理下降幅度大于NaCl处理.随着处理浓度的增加,黄瓜地上部Na⁺含量显著上升,K⁺含量显著下降,在相同的Na⁺浓度下,NaHCO₃处理比NaCl处理下降幅度更大,具有更低的K⁺/Na⁺.与NaCl处理相比,NaHCO₃处理的黄瓜叶片电解质渗漏率、丙二醛、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量增加幅度更大.NaCl和NaHCO₃处理使黄瓜叶片超氧化物歧化酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶活性受到显著诱导,而使过氧化物酶活性受到明显抑制.     

森草净杀灭薇甘菊(Mikania micrantha)及其安全性

在深圳市内伶仃岛薇甘菊危害的不同群落生境中,设立9块样地81个小样方,用森草净（即70%嘧碘降水溶性粉剂）杀灭样地中的薇甘菊施量为0.0001~0.02 g•m^-2,结果表明：各浓度的森草净杀灭效果均较好,杀灭率随着用药量的增加而提高;在坡地和溪谷生境中,森草净用药量分别为0.05~0.1 g•m^-2、>0.2 g•m^-2能较彻底地杀灭薇甘菊。应用HPLC法检测样地土壤中嘧磺隆残留量,溪谷土壤中嘧磺隆半衰期C=C₀•e^-0.083T, T_1/2＝8.4,施药后37 d消解95.9％,坡地高浓度级半衰期C=C₀•e^-0.046T, T_1/2＝15.1 d,施药后37 d消解85.0％,坡地低浓度级半衰期C=C₀•e-0.090T, T_1/2＝7.7 d,施药后15 d消解742％。不同浓度森草净处理样地,施药后7、15、37 d均可检测到嘧磺隆,并且含量越来越小,但施药后68 d的土样,均未检测到嘧磺隆的存在。     

外源NO对增补UV-B辐射下兴安落叶松幼苗叶片光合色素和叶绿素荧光特性的影响

在增强UV-B辐射下,以3年生兴安落叶松幼苗为实验材料,研究了外源NO供体硝普钠(Sodium nitroprusside,SNP)对幼苗的光合色素（Chla、Chlb和Car）和叶绿素荧光参数的影响。方差分析结果表明0.5 mmol·L^-1的SNP对增补UV B胁迫下的兴安落叶松幼苗产生显著影响。0.5 mmol·L^-1的SNP能够显著抑制增补UV-B辐射后光合色素、F_v/F_m、Φ_PSⅡ、F_v′/F_m′和qP的明显下降以及Chla /Chlb、F_o和NPQ的升高。表明了外源NO能够减轻UV-B辐射胁迫下兴安落叶松幼苗光合反应中心的生理损伤,从而增强兴安落叶松幼苗对增补UV-B辐射胁迫环境的适应能力。     

镧对硝酸盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长及叶片抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用水培方法研究了LaCl₃对硝酸盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长及叶片抗氧化酶活性的影响.结果表明：硝酸盐胁迫显著抑制了黄瓜幼苗的生长,尤其是地上部生长.在处理7 d时,与对照相比,硝酸盐胁迫下的黄瓜单株地上部鲜质量降低了12.77 g,叶片超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性升高,而抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性显著降低.外加低浓度（0.05 mmol·L^-1）LaCl₃可以显著提高硝酸盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗单株鲜质量,比硝酸盐胁迫下提高了35%左右,还提高了叶片热稳定蛋白含量及SOD、POD、CAT、APX、DHAR、GR活性,降低了电解质渗漏率及丙二醛(MDA)含量,在一定程度上缓解了硝酸盐对黄瓜幼苗生长的抑制作用.但外加高浓度LaCl₃（0.5 mmol·L^-1）长期处理对黄瓜硝酸盐胁迫的缓解效果并不明显.因此外加一定浓度的LaCl₃可通过提高黄瓜抗氧化酶活性及热稳定蛋白含量来缓解硝酸盐胁迫.     

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.