有机酸对黄莒蒲镉、铜积累及生理特性的影响

应用有机酸辅助植物修复重金属污染以提高修复效率逐渐成为治理重金属污染的有效途径之一.采用溶液培养研究了外施乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)和柠檬酸2种有机酸对黄菖蒲(Iris pseudacorus L.)Cd、Cu积累及生理特性的影响.结果表明:不同浓度的EDTA和柠檬酸均增加了黄菖蒲对Cd、Cu的吸收,且提高了其向地上部运输2种重金属的能力,其中,柠檬酸对黄菖蒲吸收Cd的促进作用高于EDTA,EDTA对Cu吸收的促进效果优于柠檬酸;不同浓度EDTA和柠檬酸对黄菖蒲生长及生理特性的影响有所差异,5 mmol·L-1的EDTA及0.5和5 mmol·L-1的柠檬酸均使黄菖蒲干质量较对照有不同程度的下降,膜脂过氧化产物MDA含量明显增加,而0.5 mmol·L-1的EDTA不仅增加了黄菖蒲对Cd、Cu的积累,降低了植物的膜脂过氧化程度,还在植物生长方面起到一定的积极作用.     

入侵植物假苍耳对土壤中铜、铅重金属污染的富集特征

通过室内盆栽试验研究入侵植物假苍耳(Iva xanthifolia)在营养生长阶段对铜、铅的耐性及富集特征。实验结果表明,在1~16 mg·L^-1的添加铜处理及0.5~14 mg·L^-1的添加铅处理条件下,假苍耳对铜、铅两种单一金属均有很强的耐性及富集作用,重金属在植物体地上部和地下部的富集量分别为607.59、137.20,404.38、34.53 mg·kg^-1,对应的富集系数为11.39、4.18,转运系数4.43、11.71,且重金属在植物体内的分布规律均表现为：茎部＞叶片＞根部,地上部分的积累量远大于地下部分。对叶色、株高及生物量等特征的观察表明假苍耳的生长未受到抑制,符合超富集植物的基本特征。与一般超富集植物相比,假苍耳作为一种外来入侵植物,具有生长迅速、植物材料易得,生物量大且分布范围广的优点。     

黔西北铅锌矿区植物群落分布及其对重金属的迁移特征

重金属耐性植物和超富集植物的筛选、鉴定和驯化是植物修复技术研究与发展的关键。以黔西北4个不同恢复年限的铅锌矿为研究对象,通过群落生态调查利用聚类分析方法筛选出研究区域中重金属耐性植物优势种,并分析其对重金属Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd的迁移富集能力。结果表明:4个矿区共发现高等植物22种,分属13科21属,筛选出9种重金属耐性植物优势种,其中转运系数大于1的植物有:黄花蒿(Cu)、珠光香青(Zn)、大叶醉鱼草(Zn/Pb/Cd)、野艾蒿(Cu/Zn/Pb/Cd);没有富集系数大于1的植物。其中大叶醉鱼草具有耐贫瘠、耐旱、生物量大等优势,可将其作为典型的重金属耐性先锋植物,用于矿区废弃地的植物修复。     

超富集植物遏蓝菜对重金属吸收、运输和累积的机制

遏蓝菜Thlaspi caerulescens可以在其地上部累积大量重金属如锌、镉等,是公认的超富集植物。由于该植物生物量小,不宜直接用于重金属污染的土壤植物修复,而被广泛作为一种模式植物来进行重金属富集机制研究。遏蓝菜对重金属离子的累积大致经过螯合剂解毒、地上部长距离运输以及在液泡中的储存等生理过程。已经发现的植物体内的金属螯合剂——有机酸、氨基酸、植物络合素(PCs)、金属硫蛋白(MT)和尼克烟酰胺NA等,区室化以及长距离运输相关的转运蛋白——ZIP(ZRT/IRTlike protein)、CDF(Cation diffusion facilitator)、Nramp(Natural resistance and macrophage protein)和HMA(Heavy metal ATPase)等家族,以上各种基因、多肽与蛋白等共同参与了植物对金属累积与耐受过程并发挥各自重要的作用。以下主要介绍了遏蓝菜重金属超富集相关的基因、多肽和蛋白,以及它们在重金属螯合作用和运输过程中的功能。     

水培条件下四种植物对Cd、Pb富集特征

利用水培方法测定了不同浓度下向日葵、蓖麻、紫花苜蓿及芥菜的生物量和植物体内重金属Cd、Pb含量,分析了植物对重金属的富集特征。结果表明:经过5周培养后,4种植物根部与地上部对重金属的富集量随着浓度的增加而增加,Cd浓度为20mg·L-1时,向日葵的根部Cd含量最高,达到237.86mg·kg-1,地上部Cd含量为89.48mg·kg-1;而Pb浓度为200mg·L-1时,芥菜根部对Pb的吸收量较高,达到597.22mg·kg-1,地上部Pb含量最高的则出现在向日葵处理Pb100mg·L-1中,为318.33mg·kg-1。4种植物对Cd、Pb的富集系数随重金属浓度的增加而减小;根部及地上部富集系数与生物量和重金属浓度呈现出一定的相关性;另外,在Cd、Pb复合处理中,一种重金属的存在会在不同程度上影响植物对另一种重金属的吸收。通过比较4种植物根部与地上部的生物量和对Cd、Pb富集特征,认为相对于其他3种植物向日葵对Cd、Pb具有较强的吸收潜力,并可以作为Cd、Pb污染土壤植物修复的备选植物。     

强化植物修复重金属污染土壤的策略及其机制

重金属对生态环境、农业生产、人类健康等诸多方面造成重要危害。植物修复因其具有经济有效、绿色生态等优点,已经成为土壤重金属污染修复研究领域的热点。由于植物重金属毒害、修复耗时过长等因素致使植物修复技术受限于研究阶段而不能广泛应用于实践。采用科学合理的强化措施提高植物修复的效率可能是解决该矛盾的关键之一。讨论了根瘤菌、丛枝菌根真菌、溶磷微生物和内生真菌构建的微生物-植物共生系统在强化植物修复过程中的具体应用;概述了EDTA、EDDS等螯合剂在改变土壤中重金属可溶态,促进重金属从土壤向植株转运的重要作用;介绍了植物中编码金属转运蛋白、金属硫蛋白、植物螯合肽等与重金属转运和代谢相关的基因在植物修复领域的实际应用;归纳了上述强化策略主要机制为微生物促进植物生长、缓解重金属植物毒性以及提高了土壤中重金属生物利用度,从而促进重金属在富集植物中积累和植物生物量的增加;最后总结并展望了植物修复强化技术在今后研究的重点及存在的问题。综述植物修复技术采用的主要强化策略及其机制,旨在为利用植物修复技术治理土壤重金属污染提供重要参考。     

土壤添加剂对蜈蚣草吸收转运铅、镉的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了磷酸二氢铵、柠檬酸与乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)对蜈蚣草在Pb-Cd复合污染的2种北方典型土壤(潮土和潮褐土)中吸收转运Pb、Cd的影响。结果表明,EDTA显著提高了蜈蚣草体内Pb的浓度与积累量,其中羽叶的Pb浓度在潮土与潮褐土中分别为对照的33.9和5.97倍,积累量分别为对照的9.22与1.18倍。EDTA也显著提高了蜈蚣草体内Cd的浓度,其中羽叶Cd的浓度分别为对照的9.16和2.40倍;而对Cd的积累无促进作用。磷酸二氢铵与柠檬酸在2种土壤中对蜈蚣草吸收富集Pb、Cd均无促进作用。此外,磷酸二氢铵显著促进了蜈蚣草的生长;而EDTA显著降低了蜈蚣草的生物量。本研究可为蜈蚣草应用于北方Pb-Cd复合污染土壤修复和应用土壤添加剂来提高其修复效率提供理论依据。     

活化土壤重金属天然植物螯合剂的筛选

目前常用的化学合成的土壤重金属活化剂EDTA(乙二胺四乙酸)存在难降解、成本高等问题。选用3种天然植物叶子汁液[马尾松(Pinus massonianaLamb.)、湿地松(Pinus elliottiiEngelm)、酸藤果(Embelia LaetaL.Mez)],并与3种浓度(1.25、2.50、5.00mmol.L-1)的EDTA作对比,对采自广东清远市和乐昌市的二种铅锌矿废水污染水稻土(分别为酸性土壤和中性土壤)进行重金属活化试验,比较不同天然植物螯合剂对土壤重金属Cd、Pb、Zn的活化效率。结果表明,不同种类的植物汁液对土壤Cd、Pb和Zn的活化能力为:酸藤果湿地松马尾松。1∶1(鲜叶重∶蒸馏水重)提取的酸藤果汁液的活化能力显著高于其1∶2提取的汁液。天然植物螯合剂对Pb、Cd的活化能力明显低于EDTA,但对Zn的活化能力强,酸藤果1∶1汁液和湿地松1∶2汁液对酸性的酸性土壤活化量显著高于5.00mmol.L-1EDTA,其它天然植物螯合剂对Zn的活化量显著高于2.50mmol.L-1EDTA。植物汁液对中性土壤重金属的活化率通常较低。结果表明,酸藤果汁液是一种较有前途的天然植物螯合剂。     

油菜对Pb污染土壤的修复效应研究

采用盆栽试验研究了甘蓝型油菜'秦油8号'(Brassica napus L.'Qinyou 8')对不同水平Pb污染的耐性及富集效应,并施加不同水平螯合剂对油菜的修复效果进行强化研究.结果表明:(1)油菜的株高、干重、叶绿素含量等在低水平Pb处理时得到轻微的促进,而在高水平Pb处理中受到抑制,在土壤Pb添加量为2 000 mg·kg-1时, 它们分别比对照降低了8.O%、21.1%和51.7%.(2)植株中脯氨酸含量与Pb添加量呈显著正相关关系(r=0.990 8**),当土壤Pb含量为2 000 rng·kg-1时油菜体内脯氨酸含量达到最高,为1 227.8 μg·g-1,比对照升高了18倍.(3)油菜体内Pb积累分布大小为:根部>地上部>籽实,各部位Pb含量以及每盆油菜吸收Pb总量都随土壤Pb添加量的增加而递增,并在土壤Pb添加量为l 500 mg·kg-1达到最大值,此后则下降.(4)在土壤Pb添加量为1 000 mg·kg-1时,施加4种水平螯合剂均提高了油菜对Pb的吸收量,并以10 mmol·kg-1螫合剂处理油菜对Pb的吸收效率最高,过高水平(15 mmol·kg-1)的螯合剂处理则导致油菜死亡.研究发现,甘蓝型油菜'秦油8号,对Pb表现出一定的耐性和吸收能力,添加螯合剂能明显提高油菜对Pb的转运效率,具有修复Pb污染土壤的潜力.     

植物对铅的吸收、转运、累积和解毒机制研究进展

揭示植物对铅的吸收、转运、累积和解毒的分子机制,可以明晰农作物吸收铅的关键过程,阻控铅在粮食、蔬菜中的积累,降低重金属的食用风险;也可以阐明某些铅超积累植物的耐性与解毒机制,分离并克隆铅超积累的功能基因,培育高效的铅污染土壤修复植物.本文从铅进入植物的两个重要途径(叶片的吸附与吸收以及根系的吸收与转运)出发,系统总结讨论了植物对铅的吸收、转运、累积和分布的研究进展;采用胞外至胞内的空间顺序,分别从植物根系分泌物的解毒、细胞壁的固定和动态响应、细胞质膜的选择透过性作用、液泡的区隔化作用以及金属有机配体的螯合等方面论述植物铅耐性和解毒的分子机理,并在此基础上提出存在的问题和今后研究的重点.     

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.