Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)中新颖Ⅰ型羊毛硫肽的挖掘及异源表达

【目的】Ⅰ型羊毛硫肽通常具有广泛的生物活性,且抑菌机制独特,较少产生耐药性,因而在临床上具有很好的应用前景。本文对Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)基因组上2个新颖的Ⅰ型羊毛硫肽生物合成基因簇进行研究,以实现目标羊毛硫肽的表达。【方法】首先,通过antiSMASH分析S. coelicolor A3(2)基因组序列,挖掘羊毛硫肽生物合成基因簇,使用BLAST进行基因功能注释,选择可能参与生物合成过程的基因;然后利用基因组装技术构建异源表达质粒,通过接合转移在链霉菌底盘细胞中进行异源表达;最后对发酵产物进行高效液相色谱、质谱及生物活性检测。【结果】通过添加启动子元件重构S. coelicolor A3(2)上基因簇3 (8.9 kb)和基因簇24 (9.0 kb),得到pYES-ColE1-SCO-cluster3和pYES-ColE1-SCO-cluster24。pYES-ColE1-SCO-cluster3在底盘细胞Streptomyces coelicolor M1152和Streptomycessp. A14中成功表达,得到潜在目标化合物coelin 3;pYES-ColE1-SCO-cluster24在底盘细胞Streptomyces sp. ZM13中成功表达,得到潜在目标化合物coelin 24。其中coelin 3对Bacillus subtilis 168和Escherichia coli ATCC 25922具有抑制作用,并且抑菌圈均达到28 mm。【结论】本研究成功使用启动子激活和异源表达策略实现了coelin 3和coelin 24的表达和活性测试,为后续新颖的羊毛硫肽结构解析和作用机制研究奠定了基础。     

染色体DNA琼脂糖包埋法辅助的ExoCET技术克隆放线菌天然产物生物合成基因簇

【目的】本研究旨在通过将琼脂糖包埋染色体DNA的方法与ExoCET重组技术相结合,建立放线菌天然产物生物合成基因簇的捕获方法。然后将克隆基因簇导入通用底盘宿主中,实现目标生物合成基因簇的异源表达。【方法】首先,利用低熔点琼脂糖包埋技术制备菌株的染色体基因组总DNA,再用限制性内切酶消化含有染色体DNA的琼脂块,获得线性化的DNA样品;然后利用ExoCET重组技术,以p15A线性载体片段将目标基因簇线性片段进行捕获;再通过PCR-targeting的方法向目标质粒中引入所需的接合转移DNA元件。接着,将改造质粒通过接合转移导入到Streptomyces coelicolor M1252宿主中,获得不同的重组菌株。最后,对不同的菌株进行发酵并提取化合物,最后进行活性检测以及质谱检测。【结果】通过该方法,从菌株S.lincolnensisNRR2936中成功获得了林可霉素生物合成基因簇(lmb-BGC),从菌株Nonomuraea nitratireducens WYY166^T中克隆得到了2个核糖体肽类化合物的生物合成基因簇(nioblantin,niob-BGC和nitblantin,nitb-BGC),并实现了lmb-BGC在天蓝色链霉菌M1252中的成功表达。【结论】本研究通过将低熔点琼脂糖包埋技术与ExoCET重组技术进行合理整合,定向克隆得到了林可霉素以及2个新颖的羊毛硫肽类化合物的生物合成基因簇。然后,分别对重组质粒改造后,在天蓝色链霉菌M1252宿主中进行表达,分别获得重组菌株MJX01、MJX02和MJX04。最后,利用质谱以及活性测试的手段对发酵提取物进行了检测,确定了林可霉素生物合成基因簇在天蓝色链霉菌M1252中成功表达。本研究为通过基因簇克隆和异源表达发掘新化合物奠定了基础。     

Streptomyces aidingensis CGMCC 4.5739中环二肽氧化酶DmtD3_E3的体外生化功能

【背景】环二肽合酶(cyclodipeptide synthase, CDPS)途径中新颖后修饰酶的挖掘对获得结构新颖活性良好的二酮哌嗪类化合物具有重要意义。前期研究中发现来源于Streptomyces aidingensis CGMCC 4.5739的环二肽合酶基因簇dmt3中dmtA3B3C3可编码二酮哌嗪—萜类化合物drimentines (DMTs),推测其下游环二肽氧化酶基因dmtD3_E3也参与了DMTs的生物合成,但其功能一直未鉴定。【目的】对S.aidingensisCGMCC 4.5739中环二肽合酶基因簇dmt3内的环二肽氧化酶DmtD3_E3的功能进行表征,为增加二酮哌嗪类化合物结构多样性提供功能元件。【方法】从S.aidingensisCGMCC 4.5739的基因组中克隆环二肽氧化酶基因dmtD3_E3,构建重组表达质粒pWLI209,并在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中可溶性表达。通过建立体外酶促反应,运用液质联用(high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry,HPLC-MS)和核磁共振(nuclear magnetic resonance,NMR)等方法确定催化产物结构。【结果】环二肽氧化酶DmtD3_E3可催化环二肽cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Leu) (cWL)的C14-C17位氧化脱氢形成cyclo-(L-Trp-L-ΔLeu) (cWΔL)。此外DmtD3_E3还可以催化环二肽cyclo-(L-Trp-L-Ala) (cWA)的C10-C11位脱氢生成cyclo-(L-Trp-L-ΔAla) (cΔWA),具有底物宽泛性。【结论】本研究通过对环二肽合酶生物合成途径中新颖环二肽氧化酶的挖掘和表征,为后续通过组合生物合成及合成生物学手段生成“非天然”二酮哌嗪类化合物衍生物奠定了基础。     

脓肿分枝杆菌MBT结构鉴定与比较演化分析

【背景】作为临床最常见的非结核条件致病分枝杆菌,脓肿分枝杆菌(Mycobacteroides abscessus)因其天然、多耐药等特性成为目前临床治疗的一大挑战。作为分枝杆菌限制性营养元素——铁摄取的关键系统,分枝杆菌素(mycobactin,MBT)、羧基分枝杆菌素(carboxymycobactin,cMBT)与病原分枝杆菌的毒力、耐药等密切相关。【目的】丰富分枝杆菌MBT、cMBT结构数据,探究MBT在致病分枝杆菌起源过程中的演化规律。【方法】在MALDI-TOF-MS与FT-MS/MS解析脓肿MBT、cMBT结构的基础上,进一步开展其活性分析与生物合成基因簇比较基因组分析。【结果】虽然脓肿分枝杆菌MBT、cMBT母核修饰模式与海洋分枝杆菌最相似,R1、R2、R3、R5等位置的修饰完全相同,而且脂肪酸链均位于R4位置;但脂肪酸链长度不同[C10-17 (MBT)、C4-8 (cMBT)],为新结构。Fe-cMBT不仅以浓度依赖方式促进脓肿分枝杆菌生长,而且利用效率显著高于FeCl₃,相关结果表明MBT-cMBT是脓肿分枝杆菌高效获取铁元素的关键系统。与MBT结构结果一致,mbt-1基因簇共线性分析及mbt-1、mbt-2系统发育分析结果均表明脓肿分枝杆菌与海洋分枝杆菌(M.marinum)亲缘关系最近,而非结核分枝杆菌(M.tuberculosis)或耻垢分枝杆菌(M.smegmatis) (基于16S rRNA基因序列分析)。进一步分析发现,M.marinum、M.tuberculosis、M.bovis等病原分枝杆菌脂肪酸链长度变化范围仅4 C,而M.abscessus、M.fortuitum、M.avium和M.smegmatis等条件致病与非致病菌的脂肪酸链长度变化范围为7-11 C,暗示MBT同系物脂肪酸链长度变化范围与分枝杆菌不同生活方式、环境之间可能存在关联。【结论】作为获取铁元素的关键系统,具有独特结构的脓肿分枝杆菌MBT-cMBT在致病、耐药等方面的作用及起源、演化规律值得深入研究。     

卡伍尔氏链霉菌NA4的Ⅱ型聚酮基因簇的靶向激活及其产物鉴定

【目的】以基因组信息为导向,定向激活海洋来源卡伍尔氏链霉菌（Streptomyces cavourensis） NA4中沉默的Ⅱ型聚酮类次级代谢产物生物合成基因簇,鉴定新产生的次级代谢产物的结构和抑菌活性。【方法】通过添加启动子和敲除负调控基因的方法激活实验室培养条件下沉默或低表达的生物合成基因簇,并完成目标化合物的分离与纯化,通过电喷雾质谱（electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry,ESI-MS）和核磁共振（nuclear magnetic resonance,NMR）数据分析鉴定目标化合物结构,对目标化合物进行抑菌活性鉴定,基于生物信息学信息推导化合物的生物合成途径。【结果】根据基因组生物信息学分析,从海洋来源链霉菌Streptomyces cavourensis NA4中选取一个编码PKSⅡ型次级代谢产物的生物合成基因簇开展研究,成功激活目标基因簇,从中分离到1个PKSⅡ型化合物,推导了其生物合成途径并进行了抑菌活性鉴定。【结论】基因组导向下的天然产物挖掘,可以目标明确地分离产物,充分挖掘链霉菌编码次级代谢产物的潜力。     

珠江口沉积物来源链霉菌SCSIO 40020中bafilomycins的鉴定及其生物合成基因簇的异源表达

[目的] 从珠江口沉积物来源的菌株SCSIO 40020中分离bafilomycins,并对其生物合成基因簇进行克隆和异源表达研究。[方法] 通过分析菌株SCSIO 40020的16S rRNA基因序列并构建系统发育树以鉴定菌种,以柱层析法和制备色谱法对次级代谢产物进行分离纯化,借助波谱学手段完成单体化合物的结构鉴定,采用生物信息学分析定位bafilomycins的生物合成基因簇,通过筛选菌株SCSIO 40020基因组的细菌人工染色体文库和接合转移将bafilomycins生物合成基因簇导入3种链霉菌进行异源表达,利用高效液相色谱检测异源表达菌株的发酵产物。[结果] 菌株SCSIO 40020被鉴定为链霉菌属菌株,从其发酵产物中分离鉴定了2个单体化合物bafilomycins A₁和D。克隆了链霉菌SCSIO 40020中bafilomycins的生物合成基因簇并推导了其生物合成途径,在3种链霉菌中表达产生了bafilomycins。[结论] 从珠江口环境中获得了一株产生bafilomycins的链霉菌SCSIO 40020,成功建立了该菌株次级代谢产物生物合成基因簇的异源表达体系,并首次在链霉菌Streptomyces lividans SBT18、Streptomyces coelicolor M1154和Streptomyces albus J1074中进行了表达,获得了bafilomycins,为后续bafilomycins结构类似物的生产和链霉菌SCSIO 40020中新结构活性化合物的挖掘奠定了基础。     

Nonomuraea candida HMC10T中新结构套索肽noncaromin生物合成基因簇的克隆及异源表达

【目的】本研究旨在通过定向克隆菌株Nonomuraea candida HMC10^T中一个新的Ⅱ型套索肽类生物合成基因簇,通过在放线菌底盘宿主中的异源表达,获得新结构套索肽noncaromin,并完成其抑菌活性分析。【方法】通过antiSMASH软件分析菌株N.candida HMC10^T全基因组序列,确定新的Ⅱ型套索肽noncaromin的生物合成基因簇(biosynthetic gene cluster of noncaromin,nonc-BGC)。然后,利用ExoCET重组技术(exonuclease combined with RecET recombination)获得完整的nonc-BGC,得到重组质粒pJQK652,并通过λ-Red重组技术改造得到整合型质粒pJQK653。采用接合转移方法,将该质粒分别导入白色链霉菌、2株变铅青链霉菌、2株天蓝色链霉菌和红色糖多孢菌宿主中进行异源表达,再通过发酵和分离纯化获得目标套索肽noncaromin。最后,利用QTOF-ESI-MS²完成套索肽noncaromin的结构鉴定,并通过抗菌活性检测确定该化合物的生物活性。【结果】本研究利用ExoCET技术成功获得了完整的nonc-BGC,在6种放线菌宿主中成功异源表达,完成了noncaromin的结构鉴定,确定了其具有微弱的抗枯草芽孢杆菌活性。【结论】本研究在克隆得到新结构套索肽nonc-BGC的基础上,实现了该基因簇在6个放线菌底盘宿主中的成功表达,获得了1个具有微弱抑制枯草芽孢杆菌活性的新结构Ⅱ型套索肽noncaromin。本研究结果为发掘菌株N.candida HMC10^T及其他放线菌中的新结构化合物提供了借鉴。     

短头熊蜂肠道拮抗菌株的分离筛选鉴定及其生物特性评价

【背景】近年来,由于栖息地减少、农药的大量使用及病原菌侵染等综合因素,导致全世界的熊蜂种类与数量逐年减少,病原菌的侵染可通过微生物在自身生长过程中会产生的抑菌物质进行有效抑制或杀灭。【目的】短头熊蜂(Bombus breviceps)长期生存在野外环境中,其肠道内存在着大量微生物资源。从短头熊蜂肠道内筛选拮抗菌株,并对其抑菌特性进行研究。【方法】采用牛津杯双层法筛选拮抗菌株,测定抑菌活性最佳菌株发酵液的抑菌物质稳定性与抑菌广谱性等抑菌特性,并借助细胞膜通透性、流式细胞仪检测等试验探究其抑菌机制。【结果】得到了5株具有明显抑菌作用的拮抗菌株,其中果杆菌(Fructobacillus tropaeoli)CZ01对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)、沙门氏菌(Salmonella choleraesuis)、大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)、福氏志贺氏菌(Shigella flexneri)和无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)这5种病原指示菌都具有高度抑菌效果。菌株CZ01对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌效果最佳,抑菌圈直径可达到(21.21±0.25) mm,在121 ℃处理后仍具有67.36%以上的抑菌活性,调整pH值为10.0时仍具有78.16%的抑菌活性。【结论】短头熊蜂肠道微生物资源较丰富,尤其是果杆菌(F.tropaeoli)CZ01具有抑菌活性高、稳定性好、抑菌谱广等特性,对金黄色葡萄球菌具有良好的杀灭效果,显示出良好的应用潜能。     

一种适用于链霉菌异源合成基因簇同框缺失的高效方法

【背景】对抗生素生物合成途径的阐明有助于提高目标化合物的产量并开发具有更高活性的新化合物。基因的同框缺失是天然产物生物合成研究的常规手段,通过分析突变菌株积累的中间产物,可以帮助推导天然产物的合成途径及相关基因的功能。天然产物生物合成基因簇的大小一般在20 kb以上,对每个基因进行同框缺失耗时耗力,因此,优化链霉菌来源的基因同框缺失的方法有重要的意义。【目的】基于PCR-targeting重新设计了一套在链霉菌柯斯文库质粒上进行基因同框缺失的方法,实现链霉菌基因在大肠杆菌中快速、高效的基因同框缺失的技术体系。【方法】使用氨苄青霉素抗性基因bla作为PCR-targeting DNA片段的筛选标记,同时使用体外的Pac I酶切和酶连系统代替体内的Flp/FRT系统来介导同框缺失的构建。【结果】利用这种方法,在6 d内完成了米多霉素生物合成基因簇中14个基因的同框缺失。【结论】此方法与传统的PCR-targeting方法相比,构建同框缺失载体的效率明显提高;Pac I识别序列在链霉菌基因组上的稀有性使得此方法在构建抗生素生物合成基因簇必需基因的同框缺失载体上具有普适性。     

拮抗烟草疫霉的枝穗霉菌株筛选

【背景】烟草疫霉(Phytophthora nicotianae)引起的烟草黑胫病(tobacco black shank)是烤烟生产上重要的土传根茎病害之一,生产上防治困难。【目的】筛选对病原菌具有强拮抗能力的有益微生物菌株是开展生物防治的基础。【方法】采用平板对峙法筛选对烟草疫霉具有拮抗作用的枝穗霉菌株。根据枝穗霉在烟草疫霉菌落上的覆盖程度和产孢量,以及对烟草疫霉菌丝、孢囊梗和孢子囊的缠绕情况,将枝穗霉的拮抗能力划分为强、中等、弱和无4个等级。【结果】供试8种65株枝穗霉中,6株具有强拮抗能力、27株具有中等拮抗能力、22株具有弱拮抗能力、10株无拮抗能力;不同枝穗霉菌株对烟草疫霉的抑制率大小为20.0%-86.7%。【结论】粉红枝穗霉(Clonostachys rosea)菌株7901、11361和亚麻生枝穗霉(C. byssicola)5072、6729、7507及条孢枝穗霉(C. grammicospora)6730对烟草疫霉具有强拮抗能力,这为后续盆栽试验及作用机理研究等提供了种质资源。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phebalium (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and related genera based on the nrDNA regions ITS 1+2

Parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS 1 & ITS 2) for 38 taxa sampled from the Phebalium group (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and two outgroups confirm that, with the exception of Phebalium sensu stricto and Rhadinothamnus, six of the currently recognised genera within the group are monophyletic. The data indicate that Phebaliums. str. is paraphyletic with respect to Microcybe, and Rhadinothamnus is paraphyletic with respect to Chorilaena. Rhadinothamnus and Chorilaena together are the sister group to Nematolepis. Drummondita, included as an outgroup taxon, clustered within the ingroup as sister to Muiriantha and related to Asterolasia.The phylogeny suggests that the evolution of major clades within a number of these genera (e.g. Phebalium) relates to vicariance events between eastern and south-western Australia. Leionema is an eastern genus, with the most basal taxon being the morphologically distinct Leionema ellipticum from northern Queensland. Leionema also includes one species from New Zealand, but this species (as with some others) proved difficult to sequence and its phylogenetic position remains unknown. Taxonomic changes at the generic level are recommended.The authors wish to thank Paul G.Wilson, PERTH, for advice and discussion, and Paul Forster, BRI, for collecting and providing material of Leionema ellipticum. The project was supported by a Melbourne University Postgraduate Award (to BM), the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Australian Systematic Botany Society and Wolf Den (Australia) Investments.     

New species and new combinations in Peruvian Orchidaceae

seventeen new species and combinations are proposed in the generaChondrorhyncha, Cischweinfia, Cochlioda, Eloyella, Encyclia, Kefersteinia, Koellensteinia, Macroclinium, Rodriguezia, Solenidiopsis, andStenia. All new species are illustrated. A key is provided for 2-flowered species ofMacroclinium, PeruvianSigmatostalix, and PeruvianStenia. Solenidium (Solenidiopsis) peruvianum Schltr. is lectotypified.     

Phylogenetic investigations of Sordariaceae based on multiple gene sequences and morphology

The family Sordariaceae incorporates a number of fungi that are excellent model organisms for various biological, biochemical, ecological, genetic and evolutionary studies. To determine the evolutionary relationships within this group and their respective phylogenetic placements, multiple-gene sequences (partial nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA, nuclear ITS ribosomal DNA and partial nuclear β-tubulin) were analysed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Analyses of different gene datasets were performed individually and then combined to generate phylogenies. We report that Sordariaceae, with the exclusion Apodus and Diplogelasinospora, is a monophyletic group. Apodus and Diplogelasinospora are related to Lasiosphaeriaceae. Multiple gene analyses suggest that the spore sheath is not a phylogenetically significant character to segregate Asordaria from Sordaria. Smooth-spored Sordaria species (including so-called Asordaria species) constitute a natural group. Asordaria is therefore congeneric with Sordaria. Anixiella species nested among Gelasinospora species, providing further evidence that non-ostiolate ascomata have evolved from ostiolate ascomata on several independent occasions. This study agrees with previous studies that show heterothallic Neurospora species to be monophyletic, but that homothallic ones may have a multiple origins. Although Gelasinospora and Neurospora are closely related and not resolved as monophyletic groups, there is insufficient evidence to place currently accepted Gelasinospora and Neurospora species into the same genus.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Die GattungKarschia — Bindeglied zwischen bitunicaten Ascomyceten und lecanoralen Flechtenpilzen?

The genusKarschia, in the earlier sense, including saprophytes and parasites on lichens, has been thought to be a non-lichenized parallel genus of the lichen genusBuellia. Modern workers included it on the one hand inBuellia, on the other hand combined it with bitunicate ascomycetes. It is now proved thatKarschia is heterogeneous and contains but superficially similar members both of the genusBuellia of theLecanorales and of typical or masked bitunicateAscomycetes. Therefore, it can not be regarded as a link betweenLecanorales andDothideales. The type species ofKarschia belongs to theDothideales.

     

Entwicklungsgeschichte und Ultrastruktur von Pollenkitt und Exine bei nahe verwandten entomophilen und anemophilen Angiospermensippen derAlismataceae,Liliaceae, Juncaceae,Cyperaceae, Poaceae undAraceae

Some closely related members of the monocotyledonous familiesAlismataceae, Liliaceae, Juncaceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae andAraceae with variable modes of pollination (insect- and wind-pollination) were studied in relation to the ultrastructure of pollenkitt and exine (amount, consistency and distribution of pollenkitt on the surface of pollen grains). The character syndromes of pollen cementing in entomophilous, anemophilous and intermediate (ambophilous or amphiphilous) monocotyledons are the same in principal as in dicotyledons. Comparing present with former results one can summarize: 1) The pollenkitt is always produced in the same manner by the anther tapetum in all angiosperm sub-classes. 2) The variable stickiness of entomophilous and anemophilous pollen always depends on the particular distribution and consistency of the pollenkitt, but not its amount on the pollen surface. 3) The mostly dry and powdery pollen of anemophilous plants always contains a variable amount of inactive pollenkitt in its exine cavities. 4) A step-by step change of the pollen cementing syndrome can be observed from entomophily towards anemophily. 5) From the omnipresence of pollenkitt in all wind-pollinated angiosperms studied one can conclude that the ancestors of anemophilous angiosperms probably have been zoophilous (i.e. entomophilous) throughout.

     

Changes of dung beetle communities from rainforests towards agroforestry systems and annual cultures in Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Little is known about how tropical land-use systems contribute to the conservation of functionally important insect groups, including dung beetles. In a study at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park (a biodiversity hotspot in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) dung-beetle communities were sampled in natural forest, young secondary forest, agroforestry systems (cacao plantations with shade trees) and annual cultures (maize fields), each with four replicates (n = 16 sites). At each site we used 10 pitfall traps, baited with cattle dung, along a 100 m transect for six 3-day periods. The number of trapped specimens and species richness at the natural forest sites was higher than in all land-use systems, which did not significantly differ. Each land-use system contained, on average, 75% of the species richness of the natural forest, thereby indicating their importance for conservation. However, a two-dimensional scaling plot based on NESS indices (m = 6) indicated distinct dung beetle communities for both forest types, while agroforestry systems and annual cultures exhibited a pronounced overlap. Mean body size of dung beetles was not significantly influenced by land-use intensity. Five of the six most abundant dung beetle species were recorded in all habitats, whereas the abundance of five other species was significantly related to habitat type. Mean local abundance and number of occupied sites were closely correlated, further indicating little habitat specialisation. The low dung beetle diversity (total of 18 recorded species) may be due to the absence of larger mammals in Sulawesi during historical times, even though Sulawesi is the largest island of Wallacea. In conclusion, the dung beetle fauna of the lower montane forest zone in Central Sulawesi appears to be relatively robust to man-made habitat changes and the majority of species did not exhibit strong habitat preferences.     

安徽牯牛降的丝孢菌Ⅰ

本文报导作者采自安徽枯牛降自然保护区的18种丝孢菌,分属于5个属,其中有3个新种:牛皮冻生尾孢(Cercospora paederiicola),山鸡椒假尾饱(Pseudocercospora litseae-cubebae),鸡血藤生假尾孢(P. millettiicola)和2个中国新纪录。文中对新种进行了描述及绘图,新记录种作了简要说明。研究的标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室(HMAS)。