南极海-陆界面营养物质流动和磷循环

南极大陆气候严寒、营养贫瘠,企鹅、海豹等生物能传递海洋中的营养物质到陆地,这些营养物质是维系南极无冰区生态系统的基础.本文首先阐述了海洋向南极无冰区输入营养物质的方式,重点介绍了生物方式输入的营养物质对无冰区生态系统组成、结构和功能的影响,以及无冰区向近海输入营养物质的方式及其影响.然后,以西南极法尔兹半岛为例,对企鹅、海豹传输的营养物质磷在陆地、淡水生态系统中的记录进行了分析,讨论了南极近海磷的生物地球化学循环及其机理,估算了磷循环通量.结果表明,南极阿德雷岛磷的外来营养源包括物理输入、生物输入和大气沉降输入3种,其中,生物输入(企鹅粪)占94.34％ ～ 99.74％,在近海磷循环中起着关键作用.     

海南东寨港红树林区主要鱼类汞含量及生物质量指数

汞可以通过鱼类富集,危害人类健康.为了解东寨港红树林区鱼类的汞含量及其生物质量,本研究对林区内14种主要鱼类和不同环境介质的汞含量进行了分析.研究发现,鱼肉汞平均含量为67.7 ng·g-1,变化范围为34.9～154.9 ng·g-1.海水、红树植物叶片、沉积物中汞含量分别为0.4 μg·L-1、153.9 ng·g-1、314.1 ng·g-1.相对于海水,鱼对环境中的汞具有明显的生物富集作用,鱼体汞含量与其食物来源和生活习性有关,杂食性鱼类汞含量高于植食性鱼类和肉食性鱼类汞含量.所有鱼类体内的生物质量指数均＜1,可安全食用.     

南极食物链顶端海鸟卵中PCBs和OCPs积累水平及其全球意义

采用气相色谱-电子捕获检测器(GC-ECD)内标法定量测定了南极乔治王岛世袭栖息地海鸟(棕贼鸥、灰贼鸥、巨海燕、白眉企鹅)卵样中持久性有机氯污染物多氯联苯(PCBs)和有机氯农药(OCPs)残留量,研究探讨南极海洋食物链顶级生物体有机毒物积累水平探讨其环境意义。结果显示,卵样中有机毒物积累水平依次为:多氯联苯>滴滴涕>氯代苯>六六六。贼鸥卵样多氯联苯含量范围在91.9~515.5ng/g,滴滴涕56.6~304.4ng/g,氯代苯6.5~70.5ng/g,六六六<0.5~2.0ng/g;企鹅卵样多氯联苯含量范围在0.4~0.9ng/g,滴滴涕2.4~10.3ng/g,氯代苯6.0~10.2ng/g,六六六0.1~0.4ng/g;巨海燕卵样多氯联苯含量范围在38.1~81.7ng/g,滴滴涕12.7~53.7ng/g,氯代苯4.2~8.8ng/g,六六六0.5~1.5ng/g。研究结果还显示,不同种类海鸟卵样检出多氯联苯和有机氯农药均以七氯、六氯联苯、滴滴涕同系物(P,P′-DDE)和氯代苯化合物为主体。贼鸥、巨海燕卵样检出9种多氯联苯同系物(大小依次为PCB-180>PCB-153>PCB-194>PCB-138>PCB-118>PCB-170>PCB-101>PCB163>PCB-149)。贼鸥卵样七氯、六氯取代物的多氯联苯同系物含量在17.5~205.5ng/g占其总多氯联苯的62%;巨海燕卵样在14.5~30.5ng/g,占其总多氯联苯的69%;企鹅卵样检出5种多氯联苯同系物相对积蓄较低,其卵样之间变化相对稳定。对不同种类海鸟卵样的有机污染物数据进行统计分析,结果显示不同鸟种有机毒物积累水平的差异取决于不同鸟种的生态习性,如活动范围、迁徒距离、觅食习性以及巢址选择等,最主要是海鸟在海洋生态食物链中的位置,其食谱的宽窄,同时表明海鸟体内PCBs和OCPs积累通过食物链逐级加强的结果。有机毒物最高积累水平出现在棕贼鸥卵样中,灰贼鸥和巨海燕次之,企鹅最低。因为贼鸥不仅食性杂食谱宽,而且贼鸥与企鹅及其他小型海鸟之间存在着一定的捕食与被捕食的关系。南极海鸟卵样多氯联苯和有机氯农药的检出,是全球性有机氯污染又一新的重要证据。南极海鸟卵样中有机毒物的检出,揭示了人造有机污染物在南极鸟类代间转移的存在,它们在南大洋生态系统中的消除将会需要较长的时间过程,表明人类活动对南极生物圈与南极海洋环境的持久影响,南极是全球唯一无污染地区的价值正在丧失。     

南极Gerlache海峡海鸟的取食集群及食性

1997年12月至1998年2月,我们对南极半岛席尔瓦角善于飞翔海鸟与企鹅的取食关联性进行了研究,同时调查了取食集团中主要鸟种的食性.发现每个取食集团中有35.6-37.0只善于飞翔的海鸟,其中几乎都有纹颊企鹅群 (Pygoscelis antarctica),黑背鸥(Larus dominicanus)、灰贼鸥(Catharacta maccormicki)、花斑鹱(Daption capensis)和巨鹱(Macronectes giganteus)是各集团中最常见的鸟类.各取样单元内有相关性的种数随季节变化而减少,一些种类的减少与特定的物候期有关.南极磷虾(Euphausia superba)是绝大部分飞翔海鸟的主要食物,研究发现黑背鸥与纹颊企鹅所捕食的南极磷虾的大小最为接近.飞翔海鸟的觅食行为表明:在海面上短时停留的飞翔海鸟也能够成功捕捉到磷虾,这可能与磷虾躲避企鹅的捕食有关[动物学报 53(3):425-430,2007].     

大亚湾表层沉积物和底栖生物中重金属的污染特征与生物积累

通过分析2015 年5 月大亚湾海域34 个采样站位表层沉积物和底栖生物生物体中5 种重金属(铜、铅、锌、镉、汞)的综合污染程度因子、潜在生态风险因子和生物-沉积物积累因子, 评估了大亚湾海域表层沉积物重金属的污染现状、潜在生态风险水平和生物-沉积物积累程度。结果表明: 大亚湾海域表层沉积物中重金属含量上呈现锌>铅>铜>镉>汞的规律; 空间上呈带梯度带分布: 北部沿岸海域含量较高, 南部口门附近海域最低。重金属污染属于中等-比较严重污染水平, 其中锌、镉、汞是大亚湾沉积物污染的主要因子, 潜在生态风险属于中等-较高风险水平, 汞、镉是较大的潜在风险因子。底栖生物生物体重金属含量上呈现锌>铜>铅>镉>汞。铜、铅、锌、汞四种重金属除铜、锌在棒锥螺(Turritella terebra)生物体轻度积累外, 其它均无明显积累表现, 而重金属镉呈现较强的积累现象。     

福建漳江口红树林沉积物重金属汞(Hg)的分布特征

对福建漳江口红树林沉积物中重金属汞(Hg)含量的时空分布进行了研究。结果表明漳江口红树林湿地汞含量为0.0815 mg•kg–1—0.3431 mg•kg–1。在潮间带水平分布上, 从光滩到高潮位汞含量显著上升(P<0.05), 相对光滩, 红树林沉积物更易富集汞, 其中高潮位红树林底泥中汞含量最高。在垂直方向上, 大多数的汞富集在表层及亚表层, 随着深度的加深, 汞含量呈现下降趋势。汞在红树林湿地沉积物中的积累主要与有机碳(TOC), 含水率, 盐度相关。从计算的单一污染指数(Pi)来看, 漳江口地区汞污染等级为Ⅲ级以下, 大多数采样点属于自由污染或轻度污染。就该地区汞污染的时空变化趋势以及和其他红树林区汞污染状况的对比来看, 漳江口地区存在一定程度的汞污染威胁加剧的现象, 值得引起注意。     

黄粉虫幼虫对硒的生物积累

在饲料中添加含硒化合物喂养黄粉虫Tenebrio molitor L.幼虫,测定幼虫硒含量、粪便硒含量和体重的变化,计算黄粉虫幼虫特定生长率及幼虫对硒生物积累系数,分析黄粉虫有效积累硒的条件。结果表明,饲料硒含量在15~20mg/kg时,幼虫硒含量明显提高,对硒的生物积累系数高于其它试验组水平,饲料硒含量过高,幼虫硒含量降低,正常生长受到抑制。黄粉虫幼虫特定生长率、取食量、排粪量、干物质含量随着饲料硒含量的增加而降低,死亡率、粪便硒含量随着饲料硒含量的增加而增大。饲料硒含量为15～20mg/kg时黄粉虫幼虫对硒的生物积累效果最好。     

芦竹修复镉汞污染湿地的研究

以湿土盆栽方法研究了芦竹在Cd和Hg污染模拟湿地中的富集能力及其在植株中的分布.结果表明,芦竹在101mg·kg^-1Hg污染环境中生长8个月后,对Hg的富集量是根系>茎>叶片,植物地上部分对Hg富集量为200±20mg·kg^-1DW;而在115mg·kg^-1Cd污染环境中生长8个月后,其对Cd的富集量是叶片>根系>茎,芦竹叶片对Cd的富集量在160±26mg·kg^-1DW.重金属在芦竹各器官内的含量随种植时间的延长而增加,8个月生长期富集量比4个月生长期富集量高30%～50%.芦竹生物富集系数(Bio concentrationfactorBCF)随土壤中重金属含量增加而减小.在污染土壤中,芦竹叶、茎对Hg的BCF为1.9和2.1、对Cd为1.5和0.3;在未受污染的空白对照湿土中(含Hg6.8mg·kg^-1,Cd8.5mg·kg^-1),芦竹叶、茎对Hg的BCF为6.8和12.2,对Cd为7.0和2.7,表明芦竹具有生物量大、根系发达、适应性强等特点,对Cd、Hg有较大富集量和较好的耐受性.     

汞甲基化细菌研究进展

汞甲基化细菌在厌氧条件下将无机汞(Hg)转化成最高毒性的甲基汞(MeHg),通过生物富集以及在食物链中的生物放大造成人类甲基汞暴露.本文综述了水环境中汞甲基化细菌的种类、系统发生、甲基化机理、甲基汞生成的空间位置和影响因素.水环境中汞甲基化主要发生在海洋、海湾、河流和湖泊的厌氧沉积物中.硫酸盐还原菌和铁还原菌是主要的汞甲基化细菌,它们的种类、群落结构和分布制约了甲基汞的生成,从而影响人体健康.汞甲基化的生化机理的研究表明,甲基汞可能产生于不同的代谢途径,但是对于汞甲基化机理仍没有一致的认识.沉积物中汞甲基化细菌的分布影响甲基汞生成的空间位置和甲基化率.因此,水环境中的地球化学因素影响甲基化细菌的分布、甲基化率和甲基汞的生成.     

生物扰动对沉积物中污染物环境行为的影响研究进展

生物扰动由于显著改变沉积物结构和性质,进而影响沉积物中污染物的环境行为。综述生物扰动对沉积物中氮、磷、重金属和疏水性有机污染物环境行为的影响。生物扰动促进这些污染物从沉积物向水体释放。生物扰动还对不同的污染物产生其它不同的影响。对于氮,生物扰动还影响其硝化与反硝化作用;对于磷,生物扰动不仅改变其化学形态,还提高有机磷降解。对于重金属,生物扰动还能改变其在沉积物中的分布及化学形态。对于疏水性有机污染物,生物扰动主要增强生物富集和代谢,以及提高生物降解。     

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.