Comparison of sampling methods for alate aphids and observations on epidemiology of soybean mosaic virus in Nanjing, China

Using standard diversity indices, samples of aphids collected on a vertical net were found to be more diverse than collections from green pan traps in experiments conducted in Nanjing, China in 1981. Some species, notably Myzuspersicae, Aphis citricola, and Eriosoma (Schizoneura) japonicum, were collected in greater relative numbers in the pan traps. Several species, including the Macrosiphoniella spp., were under-represented in the green pan traps presumably because they were not attracted to the green colour of the traps. Yellow pan traps, used concurrently to monitor landing rates of economic species, caught relatively more Aphis craccivora and M. persicae and relatively fewer Aphis gossypii than green ones. In the Nanjing area soybean mosaic virus (SMV) usually spreads in spring planted soybeans during the latter half of May, causing damage. The predominant aphid species trapped at that time were M. persicae, Lipaphis erysimi, A. gossypii, A. craccivora and E. japonicum, of which the first four are known vectors. Summer planted soybeans are usually affected during a second period of virus spread occurring in mid-August when various Aphis spp. are abundant. The predominant vector of SMV at that time was thought to be Aphis glycines which colonises the crop; in 1981, however, A. citricola and A. gossypii, which do not colonise soybean and A. craccivora. which rarely colonises soybean, were much more abundant in mid-August than A. glycines. A. citricola, A. gossypii and A. craccivora are all able to transmit SMV, and thus should be considered as potentially important vectors. In infectivity assays, only four of 1040 aphids transmitted SMV. These included an A. craccivora, two Toxoptera citricidus and one Aphis sp.     

鄂西奥陶系庙坡组短剑类化石新材料*

短剑类(Machaeridia)属于环节动物(Annelida), 其主要特征为个体微小且左右两侧对称, 是一类相对稀少但是分布范围广泛的海相动物化石。在摩洛哥Anti-Atlas地区、中国华南、塔里木等地的奥陶系中皆有短剑类的报道, 但是研究程度相对较低。本文报道并描述了产自湖北省远安县嫘祖剖面庙坡组的短剑类标本3枚, 经初步鉴定为Plumulites sp. A (羽毛虫)和Lepidocoleus sp. (鳞鞘虫), 这项发现拓展了短剑类在华南地区的时限和地理分布, 也可看作是华南奥陶纪生物大辐射期间短剑类在扬子台地局部凹陷区域定居的反映。此外, 本文还讨论了短剑类的形态特征和分类框架, 认为早古生代的短剑类根据形态特征和骨片结构, 可以划分为3科: 羽毛虫科 Plumulitidae Jell, 1979、鳞鞘虫科Lepidocoleidae Clarke, 1896、塔形壳虫科Turrilepadidae Clarke, 1896。     

Resveratrol ameliorates thymus senescence changes in D-galactose induced mice

The thymic microenvironment plays an important role in the development of T cells. A decrease of thymic epithelial cells is the main cause of age-related thymic atrophy or degeneration. Resveratrol (RSV), a phytoalexin produced from plants, has been shown to inhibit the adverse effects of dietary obesity on the structure and function of the thymus. D-Galactose (D-gal) can induce accelerated aging in mice. In the present study, young mice (2 months old) were injected with D-gal (120 mg/kg/day) for 8 consecutive weeks to construct an accelerated aging model. Compared with normal control mice, the thymus epithelium of the D-gal treated mice had structural changes, the number of senescent cells increased, the number of CD4+ T cells decreased, and CD8+ T cells increased. After RSV administration by gavage for 6 weeks, it was found that RSV improved the surface phenotypes of D-gal treated mice, and recovered thymus function by maintaining the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ cells. It also indicated that RSV enhanced the cell proliferation and inhibited cell senescence. Increased autoimmune regulator (Aire) expression was present in the RSV treated mice. The lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTβR) expression also increased. These findings suggested that RSV intake could restore the alterations caused by D-gal treatment in the thymus via stimulation of Aire expression.