微囊藻毒素生物合成基因及其功能研究进展

水体富营养化加剧,导致了蓝藻水华在世界范围内频发。蓝藻产生的微囊藻毒素是最常见的一种藻毒素,对人类和动物造成了很大的危害甚至导致死亡。微囊藻毒素经非核糖体合成途径由多肽合成酶合成。对微囊藻毒素的结构与性质、微囊藻毒素合成基因的功能及其生物合成、微囊藻毒素的分子生物学检测技术进行了评述,对未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

藻类的毒素

自然界藻类植物种类繁多,分布极广,它除了在工业、农业、医药卫生等方面发挥作用外,还会给人类带来危害。藻类毒素的研究就是随着有毒藻类对人类危害加剧而越来越受到各国的重视。下面介绍藻类毒素的种类及其致毒情况。 (一)金藻类毒素是由小定鞭金藻(Prymesium parvum)产生的溶血性毒素。这类藻生活在海洋中,但在气候干旱的地区也会在半咸水的池塘出现。它产生的具有溶血及鱼毒活性     

杜氏盐藻分子生物学最新进展及展望

杜氏盐藻是一种无细胞壁的单细胞双鞭毛真核藻类,是一种十分重要的藻类资源。过去对杜氏盐藻的研究多集中在形态学、耐盐机理及β-胡萝卜素等方面,近年来,随着藻类基因工程的快速发展,本研究课题组及国内外在杜藻盐藻分子生物学方面做了大量工作,现就杜氏盐藻在这一领域的研究进展进行综述,主要是重要功能基因的克隆与分析、杜氏盐藻调控序列的研究以及杜氏盐藻作为宿主表达外源基因等。     

一株海洋藻类的分子鉴定及分类

海洋藻类种类繁多,由于形态的易变性和生活史的复杂性,传统的形态分类往往十分困难。分子标记技术的发展,使DNA分子成为区分物种的有效手段,成功地解决了许多疑难藻种的分类鉴定问题。本研究测定和比较了一株海洋藻类ST3的18S rDNA基因部分核苷酸序列,序列长度为1733bp,通过与GenBank中序列数据进行比较分析,对其进行了分子鉴定和分类。研究结果表明藻株ST3属于硅藻门海链藻目,与骨条藻属的亲缘关系较海链藻属为近,但与骨条藻属遗传距离远大于骨条藻属种间差异,说明ST3可能是硅藻门海链藻目新的藻属。18S rDNA可用于海洋藻类分子分类与鉴定。     

三种典型赤潮藻产生与消耗二甲基硫化物的速率估算

采用抑制剂加入法估算了中肋骨条藻、棕囊藻和东海原甲藻在不同生长期内二甲基硫化物的产生与消耗速率.结果表明:颗粒态二甲基巯基丙酸(DMSPp)和颗粒态二甲亚砜(DMSOp)在3种藻类的不同生长期内均为净消耗,溶解态二甲基巯基丙酸(DMSPd)和溶解态二甲亚砜(DMSOd)的含量受藻类产生与细菌病毒消耗控制,在藻类不同生长期内存在不同的产生与消耗速率,而二甲基硫(DMS)在3种藻不同生长期内均为净产生.同一种藻在不同生长期内以及不同藻在相同生长期内二甲基硫化物的产生与消耗速率均存在较大差异,表明藻类的生理状态和种间差异均对二甲基硫化物的产生与消耗速率产生影响.     

淡水藻类产毒研究进展

淡水藻类的许多种属都可产生毒素,如微囊藻属(Microcystis)、节球藻属(Nodularia)、鱼腥藻属(Anabaena)等。藻类毒素可通过多种途径,直接或间接引起人类或动物的健康问题。严重者,甚至导致死亡。试就国内外近年来对藻类毒素的毒理、性质、结构和检测方法等方面的研究作一简要综述。     

饮用水中藻类污染及其控制技术

近年来,我国地表水体富营养化愈加严重,这导致藻类污染成为饮用水安全的重要影响因素,其中藻类及其副产物如藻毒素等的污染,是近几年造成重大供水灾害的首要原因。此文就饮用水中的藻类污染问题,研究了藻类及藻毒素的检测方式以及给水处理时藻类的控制技术等,并针对未来的发展趋势给出了建议。     

黄曲霉毒素生物合成径调节基因aflR

黄曲霉毒素生物合成途径调节基因在黄曲霉毒素产生过程中发挥十分重要的作用,它为绝大多数黄曲霉毒素合成相关基因的表达所必需。黄曲霉毒素生物合成途径调节基因的启动子中,含有若干真菌转录因子同源物的假定结合位点。AflR蛋白是黄曲霉毒素生物合成途径中的主要正性转录因子,它调节大多数黄曲霉毒素合成相关基因,也包括其自身基因的表达。     

人工滩涂湖泊滴水湖浮游藻类群落特征

于2009年3月—2010年2月逐月对中国最大人工滩涂湖泊——滴水湖的浮游藻类群落特征进行研究。利用CANOCO4.5软件对浮游藻类数据和环境因子数据进行典范对应分析(CCA),以揭示浮游藻类对生态环境的响应。结果表明:全年共检测到浮游藻类186种及变种,隶属于8门92属,其中绿藻门种类最多,其次是蓝藻门和硅藻门;主要优势种为小席藻、微小平裂藻、银灰平裂藻、不定微囊藻、弱细颤藻、啮蚀隐藻、四尾栅藻、扁圆卵形藻;藻类的年均丰度和年均生物量分别为(4552.29±4591.33)×104cells·L-1和8.15±6.63mg·L-1,藻类现存量各月份间差异极显著(P<0.01),但站点间差异不显著;多样性分析显示,藻类物种多样性较好;典范对应分析表明,水温、总氮等是影响滴水湖藻类群落结构的主要因素。     

铁对藻类生长及藻毒素合成影响研究进展

铁作为藻类生长发育所必需的矿质营养元素之一,在藻类光合作用、呼吸作用、固氮作用、蛋白质与核酸合成等生理代谢过程中发挥着极为重要的作用.鉴于水体中不同形态铁可被藻类吸收利用,本文综述了铁在水体中的存在形态和循环途径、藻类吸收铁的机理、铁对藻类生长及藻毒素合成的影响,总结了有关微囊藻毒素合成基因及其在铁限制条件下的表达,并对今后铁蛋白基因调控藻类富营养化的研究方向进行了展望,以期为水体富营养化修复技术提供参考.     

赤潮藻毒素危害及其检测方法研究进展

近年来,世界各地包括我国部分沿海地区赤潮发生过度频繁,许多赤潮藻毒素不但使其他海洋生物中毒,对人类健康也有潜在的危害,因此对赤潮藻毒素的研究已经成为海洋环境科学研究的重要内容。我们介绍了赤潮藻毒素的危害,并详细综述了赤潮藻毒素检测技术研究进展。     

A shift in the dominant toxin-producing algal species in central California alters phycotoxins in food webs

In California, the toxic algal species of primary concern are the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella and members of the pennate diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia, both producers of potent neurotoxins that are capable of sickening and killing marine life and humans. During the summer of 2004 in Monterey Bay, we observed a change in the taxonomic structure of the phytoplankton community—the typically diatom-dominated community shifted to a red tide, dinoflagellate-dominated community. Here we use a 6-year time series (2000–2006) to show how the abundance of the dominant harmful algal bloom (HAB) species in the Bay up to that point, Pseudo-nitzschia, significantly declined during the dinoflagellate-dominated interval, while two genera of toxic dinoflagellates, Alexandrium and Dinophysis, became the predominant toxin producers. This change represents a shift from a genus of toxin producers that typically dominates the community during a toxic bloom, to HAB taxa that are generally only minor components of the community in a toxic event. This change in the local HAB species was also reflected in the toxins present in higher trophic levels. Despite the small contribution of A. catenella to the overall phytoplankton community, the increase in the presence of this species in Monterey Bay was associated with an increase in the presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in sentinel shellfish and clupeoid fish. This report provides the first evidence that PSP toxins are present in California's pelagic food web, as PSP toxins were detected in both northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) and Pacific sardines (Sardinops sagax). Another interesting observation from our data is the co-occurrence of DA and PSP toxins in both planktivorous fish and sentinel shellfish. We also provide evidence, based on the statewide biotoxin monitoring program, that this increase in the frequency and abundance of PSP events related to A. catenella occurred not just in Monterey Bay, but also in other coastal regions of California. Our results demonstrate that changes in the taxonomic structure of the phytoplankton community influences the nature of the algal toxins that move through local food webs and also emphasizes the importance of monitoring for the full suite of toxic algae, rather than just one genus or species.     

赤潮过程中“藻-菌”关系研究进展

微生物对促进海洋物质循环,维持水生环境的生态平衡具有重要作用。在赤潮事件中,基于微生物(尤其是细菌)的多样性和重要性,它们与藻类之间的相互关系成为了研究的热点。过去20年里,人们从不同角度对"藻-菌"间的关系进行了探索,包括物理学过程、生物学过程、环境过程以及化学过程。就化学过程而言,它作为一种较早出现的技术,在以往的研究中带给人们许多认识藻菌关系的方法。随着学科的渗透,化学法有了拓展与延伸,为人们认识藻菌关系带来了新的契机。从化学生态学领域来梳理"藻-菌"关系中涉及的现象和行为,包括菌对藻的有益面、菌对藻的有害面、以及藻类应答细菌行为的化学途径;并从信号语言(群体感应、化感作用)的角度来阐释两者之间的互生或克生关系。通过文献综述的方式来解读藻菌关系的互作过程和机理,为认识赤潮的发生和防控方法提供借鉴。     

CULTIVATION STUDIES OF GIGARTINA SKOTTSBERGII IN SOUTHERN CHILE

Increases in population and agriculture in coastal areas can result in increased nutrient inputs and alterations in the ratios of organic to inorganic nutrients in coastal waters. Such changes in coastal nutrient regimes can affect phytoplankton community structure by creating conditions favorable for growth and dominance of algae that were not dominant before. The effect that changes in ratios and concentrations of nutrients have on toxicity of harmful algal species is not well known. There seems to be a relationship; however, between nutrient stress and toxin production among harmful phytoplankton producing low-N toxins, e.g. Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins. Even less is known about the relationship between organic nutrient uptake and toxin production. Benthic species and species in coastal areas are probably exposed to greater fluxes of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). In this study, benthic and planktonic species of Prorocentrum were grown on L1 media with the sole N-source varying among treatments as nitrate, ammonium, urea, L-glutamic acid, and high molecular weight natural DON. An ELISA specific to the DSP toxins, okadaic acid and 35-methylokadaic acid, was used to determine toxin production by each species when grown on the different N sources. Preliminary results indicate that some organic forms of N support growth as well as inorganic forms for Prorocentrum minimum , P. mexicanum , and P. hoffmannianum.     

环境水体藻毒素生物处理技术研究进展

近年来,随着水体富营养化程度加剧,蓝藻水华现象时有发生,蓝藻及其释放的藻毒素对生态环境和人类健康构成严重威胁.本文概述了常见藻毒素的分类及其主要理化性质,总结了生物接触氧化、生物滤池和生物-生态耦合等工艺对藻毒素的去除性能与机制,分析了生物处理工艺的反应条件(温度、pH和水力停留时间)、原水性质及营养限制等影响因素,并对藻毒素去除机理、新工艺研发等方面进行了展望.     

THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN SOURCE ON THE GROWTH AND TOXICITY OF THREE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL DINOFLAGELLATES

Increases in population and agriculture in coastal areas can result in increased nutrient inputs and alterations in the ratios of organic to inorganic nutrients in coastal waters. Such changes in coastal nutrient regimes can affect phytoplankton community structure by creating conditions favorable for growth and dominance of algae that were not dominant before. The effect that changes in ratios and concentrations of nutrients have on toxicity of harmful algal species is not well known. There seems to be a relationship; however, between nutrient stress and toxin production among harmful phytoplankton producing low‐N toxins, e.g. Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins. Even less is known about the relationship between organic nutrient uptake and toxin production. Benthic species and species in coastal areas are probably exposed to greater fluxes of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). In this study, benthic and planktonic species of Prorocentrum were grown on L1 media with the sole N‐source varying among treatments as nitrate, ammonium, urea, L‐glutamic acid, and high molecular weight natural DON. An ELISA specific to the DSP toxins, okadaic acid and 35‐methylokadaic acid, was used to determine toxin production by each species when grown on the different N sources. Preliminary results indicate that some organic forms of N support growth as well as inorganic forms for Prorocentrum minimum, P. mexicanum, and P. hoffmannianum.     

有机改性粘土去除有害赤潮藻的研究

本研究以阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵为改性材料,通过粘土颗粒的表面吸附及离子交换作用对粘土进行了表面改性,并以常见于我国沿海的有害赤潮生物种—东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)为目标生物,研究了有机粘土对该藻的去除效果．结果表明,改性后的粘土具有极强的去除赤潮生物能力,当有机粘土的用量为0．01g·L-1时,在24h内东海原甲藻的去除率大于95％。而未经改性处理的原土在相同用量下没有表现出对东海原甲藻的有效去除作用,这表明通过有机改性能显著增强粘土的除藻能力．对有机粘土高效去除机理分析表明。有机粘土表面静电作用、季铵盐离子亲脂性长脂肪链的“网捕”作用及粘土颗粒表面局部高浓度季铵盐离子的灭杀作用是有机粘土具有强去除藻细胞能力的主要原因．     

Modelling the Stoichiometric Regulation of C-Rich Toxins in Marine Dinoflagellates

Toxin production in marine microalgae was previously shown to be tightly coupled with cellular stoichiometry. The highest values of cellular toxin are in fact mainly associated with a high carbon to nutrient cellular ratio. In particular, the cellular accumulation of C-rich toxins (i.e., with C:N > 6.6) can be stimulated by both N and P deficiency. Dinoflagellates are the main producers of C-rich toxins and may represent a serious threat for human health and the marine ecosystem. As such, the development of a numerical model able to predict how toxin production is stimulated by nutrient supply/deficiency is of primary utility for both scientific and management purposes. In this work we have developed a mechanistic model describing the stoichiometric regulation of C-rich toxins in marine dinoflagellates. To this purpose, a new formulation describing toxin production and fate was embedded in the European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model (ERSEM), here simplified to describe a monospecific batch culture. Toxin production was assumed to be composed by two distinct additive terms; the first is a constant fraction of algal production and is assumed to take place at any physiological conditions. The second term is assumed to be dependent on algal biomass and to be stimulated by internal nutrient deficiency. By using these assumptions, the model reproduced the concentrations and temporal evolution of toxins observed in cultures of Ostreopsis cf. ovata, a benthic/epiphytic dinoflagellate producing C-rich toxins named ovatoxins. The analysis of simulations and their comparison with experimental data provided a conceptual model linking toxin production and nutritional status in this species. The model was also qualitatively validated by using independent literature data, and the results indicate that our formulation can be also used to simulate toxin dynamics in other dinoflagellates. Our model represents an important step towards the simulation and prediction of marine algal toxicity.     

Hemagglutination method for detection of freshwater cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) toxins.

Strains of the freshwater cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) Anabaena flosaquae and Microcystis aeruginosa produced toxins that caused intermittent but repeated cases of livestock, waterfowl, and other animal deaths. They also caused illness, especially gastrointestinal, in humans. The most common group of toxins produced by these two species were peptide toxins termed microcystin, M. Aeruginosa type c, and anatoxin-c. A method was found to detect the toxins which utilizes their ability to cause agglutination of isolated blood cells from mice, rats, and humans. The method could detect the toxin in samples from natural algal blooms, laboratory cultures, and toxin extracts. The method consists of: (i) washing lyophilized cyanobacteria cells with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl), (ii) centrifuging the suspension and then mixing portions of the cell-free supernatant with equal volumes of saline-washed erythrocytes in V-shaped microtiter plates, (iii) allowing the mixture to stand for 3 to 4 h, and (iv) scoring the presence of the toxin as indicated by blood cell agglutination. Nontoxic strains, as determined by intraperitoneal mouse bioassay of cyanobacteria or green algae, did not produce an agglutination response.     

Elucidating the composition and conservation of the autophagy pathway in photosynthetic eukaryotes

Aquatic photosynthetic eukaryotes represent highly diverse groups (green, red, and chromalveolate algae) derived from multiple endosymbiosis events, covering a wide spectrum of the tree of life. They are responsible for about 50% of the global photosynthesis and serve as the foundation for oceanic and fresh water food webs. Although the ecophysiology and molecular ecology of some algal species are extensively studied, some basic aspects of algal cell biology are still underexplored. The recent wealth of genomic resources from algae has opened new frontiers to decipher the role of cell signaling pathways and their function in an ecological and biotechnological context. Here, we took a bioinformatic approach to explore the distribution and conservation of TOR and autophagy-related (ATG) proteins (Atg in yeast) in diverse algal groups. Our genomic analysis demonstrates conservation of TOR and ATG proteins in green algae. In contrast, in all 5 available red algal genomes, we could not detect the sequences that encode for any of the 17 core ATG proteins examined, albeit TOR and its interacting proteins are conserved. This intriguing data suggests that the autophagy pathway is not conserved in red algae as it is in the entire eukaryote domain. In contrast, chromalveolates, despite being derived from the red-plastid lineage, retain and express ATG genes, which raises a fundamental question regarding the acquisition of ATG genes during algal evolution. Among chromalveolates, Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyta), a bloom-forming coccolithophore, possesses the most complete set of ATG genes, and may serve as a model organism to study autophagy in marine protists with great ecological significance.