宁波地区黑斑蛙的繁殖生态和产卵地选择

黑斑蛙是我国分布最广的两栖动物之一，但目前有关其繁殖生态和产卵地选择还所知甚少，而且多局限于定性描述。2004—2006年在宁波地区黑斑蛙的繁殖期，对黑斑蛙的繁殖生态研究分析表明，该蛙在繁殖期的种群密度为0.0903±0.0029只/m (n=11)；该蛙是雌雄二形性的蛙类，雌性蛙类的体重和体长都显著大于雄性；该蛙窝卵数的变化幅度较大 (1 546—7 897个)，平均窝卵数为4643.04±235.96个 (n=50)；卵径范围为1.50—1.74 mm，平均卵径大小为1.6050±0.0046 mm (n=226)。对黑斑蛙产卵地选择的研究结果表明，产卵地在水域比率、裸地比率、植被盖度、水深、水温和水的透明度等方面与随机样方不同；该蛙偏爱在水域比率和植被盖度较高的生境产卵，而避免在水体较深的生境产卵。为了更好地保护黑斑蛙的产卵栖息地，今后应优先保护水域比率和植被盖度较高而水体不深的生境。     

雷山髭蟾繁殖生态初步研究

2014年10月—2016年6月,采用野外定点观察的方法系统观察雷山髭蟾Vibrissaphora leishanensis的繁殖生态习性。研究表明:雷山髭蟾求偶、交配、产卵均在水体中进行;繁殖期在每年的9月底至12月底,11月中旬最集中;雄性的体长和体质量均显著大于雌性;繁殖行为包括筑"巢"、鸣叫求偶、抱对、产卵,雄蟾单个鸣叫,抱对时雄蟾主动。有共用一个"巢"穴抱对产卵的习性和集群产卵的行为。卵群直径65.13~100.47 mm,平均77.73 mm±9.47 mm(n=54);窝卵数162~394粒,平均226.79粒±7.89粒(n=54);卵径2.06~5.18 mm,平均3.82 mm±0.91 mm(n=270);孵化期为107~157 d,平均127.71 d±7.38 d(n=54)。     

猫儿山小鲵(Hynobius maoershanensis)繁殖期生境选择

在广西猫儿山自然保护区的山顶湖、三江源、野人湖等地区,基于植被类型、水体类型、岸边条件、卵袋悬挂物、水中覆盖物、人为干扰程度等20种生境因子,通过61个样方（26个选择样方和35个对照样方）,对猫儿山小鲵繁殖期的生境选择做进行了研究,并得出以下4个主要结论：（1）在基于描述型生态因子的研究中,结果显示选择样方与对照样方在水体类型、岸边条件、水中覆盖物3种因子上差异显著,而植被类型、卵袋悬挂物、人为干扰程度3种生态因子对其生境选择无显著影响。（2）基于14种数值型生态因子的研究结果显示,选择样方和对照样方间的植被盖度、水体面积、水体流速和水底泥沙比方面具有显著差异。植被盖度较低、水体面积较大的水域、水体流速低和水底泥沙比较低的水域是猫儿山小鲵的优选繁殖地。（3）基于14种数值型生态因子的逐步判别表明,通过植被盖度和水底泥沙比2个生态因子可分辨选择样方和对照样方,正确判别率达80.3%,且对于检验也具有最大的贡献值,分别为0.840和0.622。（4）对猫儿山小鲵卵袋对数和14种数值型生态因子的逐步回归分析结果显示猫儿山小鲵在繁殖期生境选择与地表湿度显著正相关,与植被盖度呈显著负相关,高地表湿度和低植被盖度对猫儿山小鲵的产卵量起促进作用。猫儿山小鲵繁殖期间偏好的微生境为较低植被盖度、较大面积水体和较低流速、低水底泥沙、多水中覆盖物、复杂岸边条件的静水型水塘,与选择偏好的微生境相关的生态因子是猫儿山小鲵繁殖期生境选择的主要因子。     

威宁趾沟蛙的繁殖生态

采用野外定期、定点观测与室内观测相结合的方法,于2000年1月21日~2005年2月25日,对威宁趾沟蛙(Pseudorana weiningensis)的繁殖生态进行了研究。结果表明,威宁趾沟蛙的繁殖习性与同属的其他两种趾沟蛙有明显的差异,其繁殖期集中在2月下旬~3月上旬;怀卵量为345.7枚(n=10);产卵量为312.5枚(n=10);威宁蛙卵群呈团状,各卵粒由胶膜粘连成团,卵团平均长6.40 cm;宽3.90 cm;厚为1.44 cm。卵粒的动物极暗褐色,植物极浅黄褐色;卵粒直径为2.0~2.5 mm,连胶膜直径为4.0 mm。卵粒在室内静水中孵化所需时间约20 d,孵出时期为心跳期,在自然环境中该蛙达性成熟所需时间为2年。该蛙无冬眠现象,且在冬季繁殖,这是其最突出的繁殖生态特征之一。     

棕背黑头鸫繁殖习性初步观察

2008年和2009年的4～8月,在四川省雅江县帕姆岭对棕背黑头鸫Turdus kessleri的繁殖生态进行了初步观察.该鸟繁殖期在4月下旬至7月上旬,营树上巢,营巢树种为高山栎Quercus aquifolioides和鳞皮冷杉Abies squamata.窝卵数为2~3枚(n=7),平均卵重(7.96±0.03)g(n=8),卵长径(32.7±0.17)mm,短径(21.9±0.13)mm(n=13),雌雄共同孵卵,以雌性为主,孵化期为15~17 d(n=2),孵化率为83.3%(n=18).雌雄共同育雏,以雄性为主,雏鸟出飞后主要在巢周围的林下或灌从活动,这时亲鸟仍会对幼鸟喂食.在同一繁殖季对巢有重复利用的现象.     

挂榜山小鲵的繁殖生态

2004-2006年对挂榜山小鲵(Hynobius guabangshanensis)的繁殖生态进行了观察研究.结果表明:挂榜山小鲵繁殖期为每年的11月中旬至翌年1月;非繁殖期营陆生生活,繁殖期进入水中繁殖;繁殖期活动高峰为20:00到翌日6:00;繁殖种群数量为198条,现存分布区不足10 km2;繁殖期雌雄性比为1.6,存在明显的两性异型,性成熟雌体的体长和体质量显著大于雄体;挂榜山小鲵的抱对行为与东北小鲵、黑小鲵、极北鲵相似;雄体具有求偶炫耀行为和精子竞争行为;繁殖场多为临时水凼和小而浅的池塘,大部分卵袋被固定在浅水的枯枝和水草上;挂榜山小鲵的卵袋较同科物种粗大,幼体刚出膜时卵袋长(18.40±4.21) cm(n=31),直径(4.23±0.52) cm(n=31);卵径(2.10±0.25) mm(n=45);卵粒数(88.90±20.30)个(n=98)(单个卵袋),受精率为(93.3±21.4)%(n=98).     

内蒙古达赉湖国家级自然保护区短趾百灵繁殖生态学初报

本文对内蒙古达赉湖国家级自然保护区短趾百灵繁殖生态进行了初步研究,共记录到短趾百灵繁殖巢37个。筑巢期7~10 d。巢外径91.95 mm±3.85 mm(n=37),巢内径53.89 mm±3.29 mm(n=37),巢深43.62 mm±5.36 mm(n=37)。平均窝卵数3.05枚±0.51枚。孵卵期10~12 d。孵化率、离巢率和繁殖成功率分别为83.3%、94.1%和54.1%。雏鸟食性以直翅目昆虫幼虫为主。     

四川老君山国家级自然保护区红翅噪鹛的繁殖生态研究

2014—2016年繁殖季,在四川老君山国家级自然保护区内对红翅噪鹛Trochalopteron formosum的繁殖生态进行了初步研究。结果显示,红翅噪鹛的繁殖期为4月下旬到9月中旬。在2016年,红翅噪鹛的繁殖种群密度为14. 733只/km2(95%置信区间:11. 727～18. 511;变异系数:0. 115),主要在八月竹Chimonobambusa szechuanensis上筑巢。在产卵期,雌鸟每天清晨产1枚卵,平均窝卵数为2. 28枚±0. 09枚(n=24;范围:2～3)。孵卵期14～15 d,孵化率约59. 6%。育雏期14 d,出飞率约50. 0%。天敌捕食是红翅噪鹛繁殖失败的首要原因。红翅噪鹛偏好乔木盖度低、竹子较高和竹子盖度较大的巢址生境。乔木盖度可能是影响红翅噪鹛巢址选择的关键生态因子。     

陕西红碱淖白喉林莺繁殖生态

2012~2013年每年的4~7月,在陕西神木县红碱淖(39°04'21″~39°04'43″N,109°53'12″~109°53'40″E)对白喉林莺(Sylvia curruca)的繁殖生态进行了研究。结果表明,白喉林莺4月末迁来繁殖,5月初开始营巢于油蒿(Artemisia ordosia)、臭柏(Sabina vulgaris)和沙棘(Hippophae rhamnoides)灌丛中,巢口向上呈深杯状,巢由柳絮、枯枝和干草编织而成。对33个巢的参数进行了测量,巢外径(9.62±0.227)cm,巢内径(5.21±0.084)cm,巢深(5.05±0.160)cm,巢高(9.03±0.185)cm,巢距地面高度(24.91±1.084)cm,巢约位于植株高度的1/3处(由下而上)。营巢成功率为77.1%(n=35),窝卵数4~5枚(n=27),卵重(7.49±0.021)g,卵长径(17.27±0.057)mm,卵短径(12.86±0.080)mm(n=130)。孵化期为11~13 d,孵化率为93.1%,雏鸟出飞为90.9%。雏鸟的形态参数生长符合Logistic曲线方程拟合。植被高度、植被盖度和单株植物冠径是制约白喉林莺巢址选择的主要因素,同时恶劣天气和人为干扰是影响繁殖成效的主要原因。     

新疆准噶尔盆地东缘猎隼的繁殖生态

猎隼(Falco cherrug)主要繁殖于我国西部省区,为国家Ⅱ级重点保护动物。2005年在新疆准噶尔盆地东缘采用野外调查方法研究了其繁殖生态。猎隼繁殖期为4—7月;窝卵数平均为(4.0±0.63)(3—5)枚;卵长径为(55.40±3.06)mm,卵短径为(41.11±1.70)mm;猎隼的孵化率、雏鸟成活率和繁殖力分别为70.8%、64.7%和1.8;巢成功率为83.3%。雏鸟体重、跗长的生长符合逻辑斯谛曲线增长。食物的可利用性是限制新疆猎隼窝卵数和生殖力的主导因素。要有效保护猎隼首先应保护栖息环境和猎物的多样性及丰富度。     

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.