真菌Batrachochytrium dendrobaidis是蛙类种群衰退的近因吗?

蛙类衰退是过去二十年来全球许多地区倍受关注的问题, 澳大利亚似乎是衰退的热点地区。当前研究所形成的主流假设是, 真菌Batachochytrium dendrobatidis 引发的壶菌病导致蛙类种群衰退。我们在毗邻农业和城市发展区的天然未开垦林地内, 用陷阱捕捉三个与大面积临时湿地相连生境中的蛙类。作为这项庞大研究工作的一部分, 我们观察了壶菌流行病, 确认了这类真菌的感染率。在各年份中, 该地蛙类中仅斑点草蛙(Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) 有些个体因此类病症死亡, 尽管该种的若干近缘种亦是该地蛙类的一部分; 病疫流行的证据仅见于其中一个年份。在所有具有典型壶菌病症状死亡的动物中, 仅22%的动物表皮受真菌感染。虽然种群中存在壶菌病, 我们认为这不是影响种群内个体死亡率的近因。根据这一观察, 我们质疑B. dendro batidis 是蛙类死亡主要原因假设的正确性。     

真菌Batrachochytrium denrobaidis是蛙类种群衰退的近因吗？

蛙类衰退是过去二十年来全球许多地区倍受关注的问题,澳大利亚似乎是衰退的热点地区。当前研究所形成的主流假设是,真菌Batrachochytrium denrobaidis引发的壶菌病导致蛙类种群衰退。我们在毗邻农业和城市发展区的天然未开垦林地内,用陷阱捕捉三个与大面积临时湿地相连生境中的蛙类。作为这项庞大研究工作的一部分,我们观察了壶菌流行病,确认了这类真菌的感染率。在各年份中,该地蛙类中仅斑点草蛙(Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)有些个体因此类病症死亡,尽管该种的若干近缘种亦是该地蛙类的一部分;病疫流行的证据仅见于其中一个年份。在所有具有典型壶菌病症状死亡的动物中,仅22％的动物表皮受真菌感染。虽然种群中存在壶菌病,我们认为这不是影响种群内个体死亡率的近因。根据这一观察,我们质疑B.dendrobatidis是蛙类死亡主要原因假设的正确性。     

泽陆蛙(Fejervarya limnocharis)两性异形的个体发育和雌体繁殖

2010年3月下旬-7月上旬于浙江富阳市农田采集680只泽陆蛙(Fejervarya limnocharis),研究了泽陆蛙成体和幼体的个体大小和局部形态特征的两性异形;通过解剖雌体获得窝卵数、测量抱对个体获得形态数据,研究了雌体大小与生育力关系以及抱对两性个体体形大小的相关性.结果表明:捕获个体中,雌性和雄性成体的最小体长分别为33mm和30 mm;雄性成体个体数显著超过雌性成体,两性幼体个体数无显著差异;两性成体头部大小、四肢长随体长呈同速增长,眼径和体重随体长呈异速增长,两性幼体所有被检形态特征均随体长呈同速增长;雌性成体平均体长显著大干雄性成体,去除体长差异的影响后发现,除眼径无显著的两性差异外,其余被检形态特征均为雌性大于雄性;幼体除雌性体重大于雄性外,其余被检形态特征均无两性差异;窝卵数与雌体大小(体长和体重)呈显著的正相关;两性抱对个体的体长无显著相关性;泽陆蛙雄性成体体形小于雌性成体的个体大小两性异形模式可能决定于驱使雄性向较大体形发展的进化驱动力相对较弱,雌性增大体形可增加繁殖输出,故向较大体形发展的进化驱动力相对较强;除体重外,其余被检形态特征的两性异形均形成于性成熟之后.     

水蛭捕食两栖类卵

许多卵生动物具有对付食卵者的精巧策略以降低死亡率,因为早期发育阶段的捕食压力能显著影响具复杂生活史动物的生存。两栖动物卵被水蛭等很多物种所捕食。我们查阅了水蛭捕食两栖类卵的文献,发现27篇论文。在所报道的水蛭捕食两栖类卵的例子中,无尾类(3.6%,n=591)明显多于有尾类(1.6%,n=255)。此外,我们第一次记录到水蛭捕食四趾螈(Salamandrina perspicillata)卵,这也是西欧有尾类的第一例报道。我们没有发现两个两栖动物类群间存在差异。然而,当我们分别分析来自北美、欧洲和亚洲三个地区的数据时,发现北美的有尾类和无尾类间存在显著差异。水蛭可捕食各生活史阶段的两栖动物,因此,水蛭应归为一些两栖类的天敌。     

中杜鹃捕食比氏鹟莺的卵

许多杜鹃在产下寄生卵之前通常会先叼走或吃掉宿主的1~2枚卵,这说明杜鹃不仅是寄生性繁殖的鸟类,同时可能也是潜在的捕食者。关于杜鹃对其宿主巢捕食的动机,一般认为一是由于杜鹃发现宿主巢时,已不适合寄生,将其捕食或毁坏可迫使宿主重新筑巢,从而杜鹃会获得寄生机会;二则可能由于宿主识别并拒绝了寄生卵,一些杜鹃会通过捕食或破坏宿主的巢,作为对宿主的一种惩罚性报复。2015年6月,在贵州宽阔水自然保护区,通过录像首次记录到中杜鹃(Cuculus saturatus)捕食整巢比氏鹟莺(Seicercus latouchei)卵的行为,表明中杜鹃不仅是许多宿主鸟类的巢寄生者,同时也可能是其巢捕食者。     

海陆蛙的两性异形和雌性繁殖特征

用采自海南东寨港红树林保护区的58只(35 ♀♀,23 ♂♂)成体海陆蛙(Fejervarya cancrivora),通过测量头体长、体重、头长、头宽、吻长等11个形态特征指标和雌体卵巢质量(窝卵重),研究该种形态特征的两性异形和雌性繁殖特征,并检验雌性成体大小(头体长和体重)与其繁殖的相关性.雌雄两性个体的最小头体长分别为44.9 mm和45.2 mm.除吻长和眼间距外,其余局部形态特征与头体长皆呈正相关性.头体长在雌雄两性之间差异显著,雌性显著大于雄性;而体重、头长、头宽等局部形态均无两性差异.海陆蛙雌体的窝卵重与头体长和体重之间皆成正相关关系,表明雌性可能是通过增大体型从而增加繁殖输出,而向较大体型发展.     

小杜鹃对强脚树莺的巢寄生及其卯色模拟

于1999-2009年的鸟类繁殖季(4-8月)对贵州宽阔水自然保护区内的强脚树莺(Cettia fortipes)的繁殖进行监测,并采用光纤光谱仪,通过_芏成分分析、反射光谱、罗宾逊投射等方法对强脚树莺的卵色与小杜鹃(Cuculuspoliocephalus)对其寄生的卵色模拟程度进行分析.研究结果表明,强脚树莺的繁殖成效在不同年份间均尤显著差异,但其巢被捕食率和巢被寄生率都较高,分别为49.26%和9.18%.通过反射光谱分析,表明小杜鹃卵在色调和色度上高度模拟强脚树莺的卵,但其亮度高于宿主卵,而且在人眼无法探测的紫外光部分存在差异.     

江西永丰发现长肢林蛙

正2018年6至8月在江西省永丰县、福建省明溪县和武夷山市开展两栖动物调查时采集到5个蛙类标本,经鉴定为长肢林蛙(Rana longicrus),其隶属无尾目蛙科(Ranidae)蛙属。该种最初仅发现于台湾地区(费梁等2009)。2011年10月,胡诗佳等(2012)在广东省惠东县发现该蛙;2012年3月,杨军校在福建省拍到该蛙照片(中国     

中国新外来害虫——洋白蜡卷叶绵蚜

在北京的洋白蜡Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.上发现了一种卷叶绵蚜,小枝端部卷叶里的蚜群在植物生长季节均有发生,绵蚜的寄生造成卷叶,部分卷叶会枯黄,影响美观。这是一种我国新记录的外来种,为原产于北美的洋白蜡卷叶绵蚜Prociphilus fraxinifolii(Riley,1879)。本文描述了该种绵蚜的鉴别特征,记录了其5种捕食性天敌(异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis,大草蛉Chrysopa pallens,黑带食蚜蝇Episyrphus balteata,食虫齿爪盲蝽Deraeocoris punctulatus和斑楔齿爪盲蝽Deraeocoris ater)和3种访问的蚂蚁(日本弓背蚁Camponotus japonicus,丝光褐林蚁Formica fusca和黑褐草蚁Lasius niger)。     

田间转Bt基因水稻上稻飞虱卵量、孵化率及天敌作用

为了评估转基因水稻释放后对非靶标害虫及其天敌的影响, 本研究在浙江大学实验农场和中国水稻研究所实验农场2008和2009年连续两年监测了转Bt基因水稻对田间稻飞虱着卵量、卵孵化率、卵被捕食率、卵被寄生率和卵死亡率的影响。结果表明: 两年2个调查地点3个水稻品系（克螟稻1、克螟稻2和秀水11）上的稻飞虱平均每分蘖着卵量、卵孵化率、卵被捕食率和卵被寄生率的趋势基本一致, 而且田间3个水稻品系上稻飞虱卵量的高峰期均持续2周左右; 但是两年2个调查地点3个水稻品系上稻飞虱卵死亡率则没有一致的趋势。此外, 总体上3个水稻品系上稻飞虱平均每分蘖着卵量、卵孵化率、卵被捕食率、卵被寄生率和卵死亡率差异均不显著（P>0.05）。因此, 稻田中转Bt基因水稻对稻飞虱卵没有显著的影响。     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

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.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial studies of hydrazone derivatives of 4-[3-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-4-formyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]benzoic acid and 4-[3-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-4-formyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]benzoic acid

Microbial resistance to antibiotics is an unresolved global concern, which needs urgent and coordinated action. One of the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) to combat antibiotic resistance is the development of new antibiotics to treat drug-resistant bacteria. In our effort to find new antibiotics, we report the synthesis and antimicrobial studies of 30 new pyrazole derivatives. These novel molecules have been synthesized by using readily available starting materials and benign reaction conditions. Some of these molecules have shown activity with MIC values as low as 0.78?µg/mL against four bacterial strains; Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Furthermore, active molecules are non-toxic to mammalian cell line.

     

Novel compounds with potent CDK9 inhibitory activity for the treatment of myeloma

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and Polo-like kinases (PLKs) play key role in the regulation of the cell cycle. The aim of our study was originally the further development of our recently discovered polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitors. A series of new 2,4-disubstituted pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized around the original hit, but their PLK1 inhibitory activity was very poor. However the novel compounds showed nanomolar CDK9 inhibitory activity and very good antiproliferative effect on multiple myeloma cell lines (RPMI-8226).