苏云金芽胞杆菌Sigma K在大肠杆菌中的表达与纯化

【目的】在大肠杆菌中表达纯化苏云金芽胞杆菌HD73的转录调控因子Sigma K(σK)。【方法】PCR扩增出苏云金芽胞杆菌HD73中sig K基因的ORF(Open reading frame)装载到带有His标签的表达载体p ET21b上,转入到表达菌株BL21(DE3)中获得重组菌株BL21(p ETsig K),通过SDS-PAGE、镍柱亲和纯化、阴离子交换纯化和凝胶迁移实验(EMSA)等方法对Sigma K蛋白进行提取、纯化和生物活性分析。【结果】正确表达出大小约为27 k D的His-Sigma K蛋白,并获得了纯化的蛋白。EMSA结果表明纯化的His-Sigma K蛋白可以与受其控制的cry1Ac基因启动子结合。【结论】表达和纯化了His-Sigma K蛋白,His-Sigma K具有与受其控制的启动子结合的功能。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌Sigma54和CcpA共同调控的基因鉴定

【目的】通过综合分析苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)HD73菌株Sigma54缺失突变体的转录组数据和蜡样芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus)ATCC 14579菌株CcpA缺失突变体的转录组数据,并进行启动子与CcpA蛋白的体外结合验证,明确Bt HD73菌株中Sigma54和CcpA共同调控的基因,丰富了对微生物的代谢调控网络的认识。【方法】以转录组测序结果为基础,通过基因同源性的比对在Bt HD73菌株中寻找受Sigma54和CcpA共同调控的基因,在这些基因中找到具有cre序列的启动子,通过凝胶阻滞验证这些启动子与CcpA蛋白的结合。【结果】Bt HD73菌株中有31个基因受Sigma54和CcpA共同调控,其中14个基因的启动子序列包含cre序列,这些启动子都可以与CcpA蛋白发生体外结合。【结论】Bt HD73菌株中有14个基因直接受CcpA的调控,同时其转录受Sigma54的控制。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌rocE基因的转录调控

【目的】rocE基因编码精氨酸降解途径中的精氨酸通透酶,通过分析苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt) rocE基因的转录活性,明确rocE基因的转录调控机制。【方法】通过RT-PCR确定rocE基因所在基因簇的转录单元;β-半乳糖苷酶活性测定分析rocE基因启动子(ProcE)的转录活性;采用同源重组技术敲除BtHD73菌株的rocE基因;通过融合His标签的方法在大肠杆菌中表达纯化RocR蛋白的HTH结构域;通过凝胶阻滞实验明确RocR与rocE基因启动子的结合作用。【结果】在M9培养基中,精氨酸可诱导ProcE的转录活性;在SSM培养基和精氨酸诱导培养基中,与出发菌株HD73相比,ProcE在sigL (编码Sigma54因子)突变体和rocR突变体中的转录活性显著下降。RocR-HTH蛋白与ProcE有结合作用。rocE基因的缺失对菌体生长和Cry1Ac蛋白产量无显著影响。rocE缺失突变体的芽胞形成率为65.5%,HD73出发菌株为85.7%,显著性分析结果表明差异显著(P0.05)。【结论】rocE基因的转录活性受Sigma54的控制,并受RocR正调控。rocE基因的缺失影响菌株的芽胞形成率。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌bkd基因簇的转录调控

【目的】通过分析苏云金芽胞杆菌bkd基因簇的转录调控和bkdR突变体的表型特征,明确bkdR所在基因簇的转录调控机制和对Cry蛋白产量的影响。【方法】通过生物信息学方法分析bkdR所在基因簇的结构,RT-PCR分析基因簇的转录单元,采用同源重组技术敲除苏云金芽胞杆菌HD73菌株的bkdR基因,利用启动子融合lacZ的方法分析启动子的转录活性。利用总蛋白定量确定Cry1Ac蛋白产量。【结果】bkd基因簇由8个基因组成,其中ptb-bkdB7个基因组成1个转录单元。ptb基因的启动子转录活性在sigL和bkdR突变体中均明显降低。bkdR基因的缺失对菌体生长、芽胞形成率和Cry1Ac蛋白产量无影响,但使运动能力减弱。【结论】bkd操纵子受Sigma 54控制,并由BkdR激活,bkdR基因的缺失对Cry蛋白产量无影响,对菌株的运动能力有影响。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌sigK 基因插入失活突变体的特点及其对cry3A基因启动子活性的影响

摘要: 【目的】构建苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,简称Bt) sigK 基因插入失活突变体,分析突变体特点并明确其对cry3A 基因启动子的影响。【方法】采用同源重组技术在苏云金芽胞杆菌HD-73 菌株sigK 基因中插入卡那霉素抗性基因,构建了sigK 基因插入失活突变体。通过生长曲线测定、扫描电子显微镜观察晶体、芽胞形成情况和芽胞计数及SDS-PAGE 等方法分析了突变体的特点; 构建了遗传恢复菌株对上述性状进行了功能验证; 利用启动子融合lacZ 技术检测了cry3A 基因启动子的转录活性。【结果】获得了苏云金芽胞杆菌HD-73 菌株sigK 基因突变体,生长曲线测定表明,突变体较出发菌株在稳定期后期生长较慢; 扫描电子显微镜观察和芽胞计数分析显示,突变体丧失了形成芽胞和晶体的能力; SDS-PAGE 分析表明突变体中伴胞晶体蛋白的表达量明显低于出发菌株和恢复菌株。利用载体pHT315 携带sigK 基因及其启动子在突变株中表达,所获得的遗传恢复菌株恢复了突变株产生芽胞和晶体的能力; sigK 基因的突变可以提高cry3A 基因启动子在产胞后期的转录活性,对cry3A 启动子指导的Cry 蛋白表达量没有显著影响。【结论】本研究证明sigK 基因为苏云金芽胞杆菌芽胞形成所必需,并影响伴胞晶体蛋白的产量; sigK 基因功能的丧失有利于cry3A 基因启动子在产胞后期的转录。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌3-羟基丁酮代谢基因簇的转录调控

摘要:【目的】通过分析苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)3-羟基丁酮代谢基因簇aco的转录调控和acoR突变体的表型特征,明确aco基因簇的转录调控机制和对芽胞产量及Cry蛋白产量的影响。【方法】通过生物信息学方法分析aco基因簇的结构,RT-PCR分析基因簇的转录单元,采用同源重组技术敲除苏云金芽胞杆菌HD73菌株的acoR 基因,利用启动子融合lacZ的方法分析启动子的转录活性。利用总蛋白定量确定Cry1Ac蛋白产量。【结果】aco基因簇由acoABCL 4个基因组成,形成一个转录单元。aco基因簇的启动子PacoA转录活性在sigL(编码Sigma 54因子)和acoR突变体中均明显降低。acoR基因的缺失对菌体生长和Cry1Ac蛋白产量无显著影响,但使菌体运动能力减弱,使芽胞产量略有下降,并且不能利用3-羟基丁酮。【结论】aco操纵子受Sigma 54控制,并由AcoR激活,aocR基因的缺失影响菌体对3-羟基丁酮的利用,但对Cry蛋白产量无显著影响。     

芽胞外壁基质组成蛋白的编码基因启动子PexsY指导的cry1Ac基因表达

【目的】利用非cry基因启动子PexsY(芽胞外壁基质组成蛋白编码基因启动子)表达Cry1Ac晶体蛋白,发现可用于cry基因表达的新元件,为高效工程菌的构建奠定基础。【方法】采用启动子融合lacZ技术,通过β-半乳糖苷酶活性分析了PexsY启动子和截短的PexsY启动子的转录活性;利用该启动子在苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)HD73菌株中表达了cry1Ac基因,通过透射电子显微镜观察晶体形态;蛋白定量、SDS-PAGE比较蛋白产量;生物活性测定进行功能验证。【结果】PexsY启动子在芽胞晚期转录活性很高,透射电镜观察到利用该启动子表达的cry1Ac基因形成了菱形晶体,SDS-PAGE分析可以检测到133kDa的Cry1Ac蛋白,且与cry3A启动子指导表达的蛋白产量相近,少于cry8E启动子指导表达的蛋白产量;生物活性测定表明PexsY指导表达Cry1Ac蛋白对玉米螟(Ostrinia furnacalis)具有杀虫活性。【结论】在Bt无晶体突变体中,非cry基因启动子PexsY可以正常表达133kDa的Cry1Ac蛋白,并形成晶体,具有在芽胞形成晚期表达cry基因的能力,该类启动子将在Bt工程菌构建中发挥重要作用。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌spoIIID基因缺失突变株的特点

摘要：【目的】构建苏云金芽胞杆菌spoIIID基因缺失突变株,并研究其与出发菌株的表型及性质差异。【方法】采用基因同源重组技术敲除了苏云金芽胞杆菌HD-73菌株中的spoIIID基因,构建了spoIIID缺失突变株,测定生长曲线,并通过扫描电子显微镜观察,芽胞计数分析及SDS-PAGE 蛋白电泳比较突变株与出发菌株的差异。构建遗传互补菌株,观察菌株性状的回复情况。【结果】通过温敏载体同源重组敲除技术获得了苏云金芽胞杆菌HD-73菌株spoIIID基因缺失突变株,生长曲线测定表明,突变株较出发菌株在平稳期后期生长较缓和;扫描电子显微镜观察和芽胞计数分析显示,突变株基本丧失了形成芽胞的能力,但依然形成晶体。SDS-PAGE结果显示,在 SSM培养基中,突变株对伴胞晶体蛋白的形成量影响并不显著;在营养较富集的Luria-Bertani培养基中,突变株中伴胞晶体蛋白的形成量较野生型和互补株明显降低。利用载体pHT315携带spoIIID操纵子互补突变株,互补株恢复了产生晶体和芽胞的能力。【结论】本研究证明spoIIID基因是苏云金芽胞杆菌芽胞形成所必需,同时与晶体蛋白的表达相关。     

Bt群体信号应答因子nprR基因的缺失对cry1Ac基因表达的影响

摘要：【目的】研究群体信号应答蛋白编码基因nprR在苏云金芽胞杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt）HD-73菌株晶体蛋白形成过程中的作用。【方法】通过同源重组,构建了HD-73 nprR基因缺失突变菌株HD73（ΔnprR ）。利用启动子-lacZ融合、SDS-PAGE方法,测定不同培养基中nprR基因转录活性及nprR基因缺失对cry1Ac转录及表达的影响。【结果】启动子转录活性分析表明,在LB和SSM培养基中nprR基因从对数期结束（T0）开始表达,稳定期持续表达。在LB培养基中,nprR基因的缺失使cry1Ac基因在生长过渡期和稳定期前期转录活性显著提高,同时HD73（ΔnprR ）菌株Cry蛋白生成量也明显高于出发菌株HD-73,但是在芽胞形成释放后,Cry蛋白的表达没有明显的区别。【结论】在丰富培养基中苏云金芽胞杆菌nprR基因的缺失在生长过渡期和稳定期前期能够提高cry1Ac基因转录和表达,从而缩短了cry基因表达时间,并且Cry蛋白总产量与出发菌株相当。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌BkdR和CcpA对bkd基因簇的转录调控

【目的】通过分析苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)转录调控因子BkdR和多效调控因子CcpA对亮氨酸、异亮氨酸、缬氨酸代谢基因簇bkd的转录调控,明确bkd基因簇的转录调控机制。【方法】通过β-半乳糖苷酶活性测定分析bkd基因簇启动子的诱导转录活性,采用同源重组技术敲除Bt HD73菌株的ccpA基因,通过融合His标签的方法在大肠杆菌中表达纯化BkdR和CcpA蛋白,通过凝胶阻滞实验明确BkdR和CcpA蛋白与bkd基因簇启动子的结合作用。【结果】亮氨酸、异亮氨酸、缬氨酸可诱导bkd基因簇启动子Pptb的转录活性。Pptb的诱导活性在bkdR突变体中明显降低,而在ccpA突变体中明显上升。BkdR和CcpA蛋白与Pptb均有结合作用。【结论】bkd基因簇的转录活性受BkdR正调控,而受CcpA负调控。     

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.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

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.     

Tracking down the "head blob": comparative analysis of wingless expression in the developing insect procephalon reveals progressive reduction of embryonic visual system patterning in higher insects

The evolution of larval head morphology in holometabolous insects is characterized by reduction of antennal appendages and the visual system components. Little insight has been gained into molecular developmental changes underlying this morphological diversification. Here we compare the expression of the segment polarity gene wingless (wg) in the pregnathal head of fruit fly, flour beetle and grasshopper embryos. We provide evidence that wg activity contributes to segment border formation, and, subsequently, the separation of the visual system and protocerebrum anlagen in the anterior procephalon. In directly developing insects like grasshopper, seven expression domains are formed during this process. The activation of four of these, which correspond to polar expression pairs in the optic lobe anlagen and the protocerebral ectoderm, has shifted to postembryonic stages in flour beetle and Drosophila. The remaining three domains map to the protocerebral neuroectoderm, and form by disintegration of a large precursor domain in flour beetle and grasshopper. In Drosophila, the precursor domain remains intact, constituting the previously described “head blob”. These data document major changes in the expression of an early patterning gene correlated with the dramatic evolution of embryonic visual system development in the Holometabola.     

Molecular identification of Taenia spp. in wolves (Canis lupus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) and cervids from North Europe and Alaska

Taenia tapeworms of Finnish and Swedish wolves (Canis lupus) and Finnish brown bears (Ursus arctos), and muscle cysticerci of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), Alaskan Grant's caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Alaskan moose (Alces americanus) were identified on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 396 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Two species were found from wolves: Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei. The cysticerci of reindeer, caribou and one moose also represented T. krabbei. Most of the cysticercal specimens from Alaskan moose, however, belonged to an unknown T. krabbei-like species, which had been reported previously from Eurasian elks (Alces alces) from Finland. Strobilate stages from two bears belonged to this species as well. The present results suggest that this novel Taenia sp. has a Holarctic distribution and uses Alces spp. as intermediate and ursids as final hosts.     

中国石蕊科地衣研究之四石蕊属地衣新种及中国新记录

摘要:本文报道了中国横断山地区石蕊属地衣12种,其中新种1个:贡嘎石蕊(Cladonia ngganensis S.Y. Guo & Wei),中国新记录11种:类黄粉石蕊(Cl. bacilliformis),比蒙氏石(Cl. beaumontii),小棍棒石蕊(Cl. clavulifera),圆筒石蕊(Cl. cylindrica),具粉石蕊(Cl. farinacea),北海道石蕊(Cl. hokkaidensis),厚叶石蕊(Cl. incrassata),大叶石蕊(Cl. macrophylla),丛杯石蕊( Cl. mateocyatha),多孔石蕊(Cl. multiformis)和亚石蕊(Cl. subrangiformis)。对于每一种的化学成分及地理分布进行了测定和分析。     

Fungal Thyroiditis: An Overview

The authors review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of fungal thyroiditis cases previously reported in the medical literature. Aspergillus was by far the most common cause of fungal thyroiditis. Immunocompromised patients, such as those with leukemia, lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, and organ-transplant patients on pharmacological immunosuppression were particularly at risk. Fungal thyroiditis was diagnosed at autopsy as part of disseminated infection in a substantial number of patients without clinical manifestations and laboratory evidence of thyroid dysfunction. Local signs and symptoms of infection were indistinguishable from other infectious thyroiditis and included fever, anterior cervical pain, thyroid enlargement sometimes associated with dysphagia and dysphonia, and clinical and laboratory features of transient hyperthyroidism due to the release of thyroid hormone from follicular cell damage, followed by residual hypothyroidism. Antemortem diagnosis of fungal thyroiditis was made by direct microscopy and culture of a fine-needle aspirate, or/and biopsy in most cases. Since most patients with fungal thyroiditis had disseminated fungal infection with delay in diagnosis and treatment, the overall mortality was high.     

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)。