高原鼠兔在胚后发育过程中热代谢和褐色脂肪组织(BAT)的变化

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)新生个体不能维持稳定的体温,仅具有初步的热调节能力,主要利用小气候环境和BAT产热克服低温压力,随着个体发育高原鼠兔的产热能力和隔热性都得到发展,但隔热能力比产热能力优先发育,同时BAT的重要性相对下降。体重达到成体水平后,最低代谢率高于同体重的Kleiber期望值,热传导率低于同体重的Bradley-Deavers期望值。另外,高原鼠兔通过行为热调节对生理调节加以补充。     

高原鼠兔红细胞免疫功能的研究

本文应用免疫花环试验法测定了封闭群中高原鼠兔红细胞Ｃ３ｂ受体和红细胞免疫复合物的花环率,并比较了不同年龄高原鼠兔红细胞的免疫功能。研究结果表明,高原鼠兔红细胞在自身免疫系统中具有重要的免疫功能;随年龄增长,其红细胞免疫功能逐渐减弱。与人、兔和大白鼠等动物相比,高原鼠兔红细胞免疫粘附活性高,因此适宜作红细胞免疫实验的动物模型。     

高原鼠兔对高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸的干扰

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)的穴居和啃食活动改变土壤养分含量、微生物群落、团聚体结构和孔隙度, 干扰生态系统土壤CO2排放, 对生态系统碳循环产生重要影响。为了研究高原鼠兔干扰下的高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸动态, 实验设计了高原鼠兔实验组和自然对照组, 采用LI-8100A土壤呼吸测量系统在2018年的生长季监测了高原鼠兔干扰下的土壤呼吸、土壤温度及土壤含水量, 分析了高原鼠兔对高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸的影响。实验发现: (1)在高原鼠兔活动干扰下土壤呼吸速率增加了9.58%(高原鼠兔实验组的土壤呼吸速率值为5.27 µmol·m-2·s-1, 自然对照组为5.22 µmol·m-2·s-1, P<0.05), (2)在高原鼠兔干扰下高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸对土壤温度的敏感程度(Q10)降低了21.02%; (3)土壤呼吸变化深受5 cm土壤温度变化的影响(P<0.05)。研究结果表明高原鼠兔活动深刻干扰高寒沼泽草甸土壤呼吸, 影响高寒沼泽草甸生态系统碳循环。因此, 在全球气候变暖的背景下, 加强高原鼠兔活动对高寒沼泽草甸土壤碳排放的干扰研究具有重要的科学与现实意义。     

基于BIOMOD的青海湖流域高原鼠兔分布模拟

随着统计模型及空间信息数据的不断发展和完善,物种分布模型已经成为全球变化背景下研究大尺度物种分布情况的重要工具。高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)是青藏高原特有的关键物种,在青藏高原生态系统中占有重要地位。通过采集高原鼠兔的分布点数据及环境变量数据,基于R语言中BIOMOD包中的7个模型对其在青海湖流域的分布进行了模拟。结果表明,高原鼠兔主要分布于青海湖西岸和北岸、天峻县周边及布哈河流域上游,影响高原鼠兔分布的主要环境因子为距道路距离、距居民点距离、最暖月最高气温、NDVI标准差、最冷季和最干季降水量。BIOMOD组合模型中,推进式回归树模型(GBM)和最大熵模型(MAXENT)的模拟效果最好,广义线性回归模型(GLM)结果较差。而优化后的结果显示,模拟结果的集成和筛选能有效提高模型的精度和效果。     

高原鼠兔诱导型一氧化氮合酶cDNA克隆及序列分析

高原鼠兔Ochotona curzoniae,世居在青藏高原海拔3000~5000 m的地区,是一种典型的低氧耐受哺乳动物。一氧化氮(NO)作为一种有效的血管舒张因子,在预防低氧诱导的低氧性肺血管收缩反应和肺动脉高压中发挥着重要功能。诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)是一种催化L-精氨酸合成NO的重要酶,受低氧调控。本研究经RTPCR和cDNA 3’末端快速扩增(3’RACE)方法成功克隆了高原鼠兔iNOS基因cDNA序列,并对其分子特征进行了分析。结果显示:高原鼠兔iNOS cDNA全长为3981 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)为3450 bp,共编码1149个氨基酸残基;预测的蛋白序列与北美鼠兔、兔、人、大鼠、小鼠、狗以及猪的同源性分别为98%、87%、82%、78%、78%、82%和83%;蛋白结构预测结果显示高原鼠兔iNOS具有氧化域、还原域及黄素腺苷酸结合区域等iNOS所具有的典型结构域;基于iNOS的最大似然树和贝叶斯树均支持鼠兔与兔有最近的亲缘关系,与形态或其他分子标记构建的进化关系相符;分子进化分析检测到高原鼠兔iNOS中存在3个正选择位点——32T、33Y和46R,但不同模型的结果表明哺乳动物iNOS基因所受选择以净化选择为主,不支持iNOS在高原鼠兔支系发生适应性进化。该研究为揭示高原鼠兔iNOS的表达特征及其在低氧适应中的作用与调控机制研究奠定了初步基础。     

高原鼠兔脑红蛋白基因的克隆与组织表达

克隆高原鼠兔脑红蛋白(Neuroglobin,NGB)基因编码区并检测其在成年高原鼠兔脑组织和其他组织中的表达,同时探讨高原鼠兔低氧适应的分子生物学机制。从高原鼠兔脑组织中提取总RNA,通过RT - PCR 获得高原鼠兔NGB cDNA,将其与pGEM - T Easy 载体连接,构建重组质粒,蓝白斑筛选阳性克隆并进行鉴定和测序;制备地高辛标记的RNA 探针并采用原位杂交法(In suit hybridization,ISH) 分析脑红蛋白基因在高原鼠兔脑组织中的分布;采用RT - PCR 和蛋白印记(Western blot)检测高原鼠兔不同组织中脑红蛋白的表达含量。将含有目的片段的阳性克隆经测序和Blast 分析,显示其部分编码序列与GenBank 中绵羊、大鼠等同源性很高(大于84% ),表明本实验所克隆的序列为脑红蛋白基因;原位杂交结果显示NGB 在青藏高原土著动物高原鼠兔脑部分布较为广泛;高原鼠兔不同组织中都有NGB mRNA 表达,NGB 基因并不是中枢神经系统所特有的,睾丸和肾上腺也有较高的表达。NGB 基因在高原鼠兔脑组织和其他组织中分布较为广泛,推测NGB mRNA 可能在高原鼠兔机体较为广泛的区域中发挥着作用,同时为高原低氧适应相关基因的研究提供了实验依据。     

微卫星技术在高原鼠兔繁殖行为研究中的应用

2002年4～8月,在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站对高原鼠兔的种群进行标志重捕,用眶下取血法对标志的鼠兔各取血样100μL,使用8对引物对血样中的DNA微卫星序列进行扩增。结果每对引物所扩增的产物都具有明显的多态性;结合野外行为观察对这些多态性位点进行分析,基本上对当年出生幼体的父权进行了准确的确定;从中发现高原鼠兔的交配体制为多配制,其家庭中存在等级制度,处于统治地位的雄性的繁殖成功率明显高于处于从属地位的雄性个体。上述工作表明微卫星技术在动物行为研究中具有很高的优越性,在高原鼠兔社会动态、亲缘关系和行为进化等研究领域具有广阔的应用前景。     

高原鼠兔血清无机元素含量的分析

测定分析了高原鼠兔血清电解质、无机元素、血清铁和总铁结合力, 并与人和其它实验动物的相应指标进行了比较。得出以下主要结论: 1.高原鼠兔血清电解质浓度不受生活环境和食物条件的影响, 其机体能自身调节血清离子浓度, 以维持电解质在血液中的相对衡定; 2.高原鼠兔血清铁含量与其栖息地海拔相关, 随海拔升高血清铁含量增加; 3.高原鼠兔通过增加运铁蛋白与铁的结合力作为适应高原低氧环境的方式之一。     

青海湖流域高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)粪花粉和真菌孢子组合及其生态指示意义

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)是青藏高原生态系统中的关键物种,是高寒草地生态系统演化过程中的重要组成部分,其对高寒生态系统的影响作用是广泛关注的热点科学问题。本研究采集了青藏高原东北部青海湖流域高寒草甸和温性草原植被群落中的27个高原鼠兔粪样品并开展花粉和真菌孢子分析。结果表明,高原鼠兔粪样品中花粉组合以蒿属、禾本科、莎草科、豆科、菊科、蔷薇科和龙胆科等为主,通过与研究区表土花粉组合对比发现,高原鼠兔的主要食物类型为禾本科和豆科植物,蒿属、莎草科、紫菀属、蔷薇科、蒲公英属和龙胆科等植物也是其少量采食的植物类型。高寒草甸和温性草原植被群落中高原鼠兔粪花粉组合存在一定的差异,表明植物群落组成对高原鼠兔食物的选择产生一定的影响;高原鼠兔粪便真菌孢子组合中荚孢腔菌属占显著优势,是监测高原鼠兔种群密度变化的潜在指示性属种。此外,粪壳菌属、条黑粉菌属、毛壳菌属、格孢腔菌属、Fungi type-1和Fungi type-10也是重要的粪生真菌孢子类型。鼠兔粪样品真菌孢子组合中球囊霉属百分含量较低,指示高原鼠兔对植物根系啃食程度较低。本研究对于深入理解高原鼠兔采食习性,以及对区域植...     

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔骨骼无机化学成分的研究Ⅰ.常量元素

本文对高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔骨骼中的无机常量元素K、N a、Ca、M g、P 和A l 进行了比较分析。研究结果表明, 高原鼢鼠骨骼中Ca、P、A l 的含量极显著地高于高原鼠兔(P <0.01) ,K 含量高原鼢鼠极显著地低于高原鼠兔(P < 0.001) , N a 和M g 的含量两者间无显著差异(P > 0.05) ; 骨骼各部位元素总量的分布顺序为: 高原鼢鼠下肢骨> 头骨> 脊柱; 高原鼠兔头骨> 下肢骨> 脊柱。15个元素对中, 大部分元素之间线性相关非常显著, 其中高原鼢鼠10对呈显著的线性相关, 高原鼠兔13对呈显著相关。     

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.