Phylogenetic placement of Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi (Schwager, 1866) from methane seeps and non‐seep habitats on the Pacific margin

Benthic foraminifera are among the most abundant groups found in deep‐sea habitats, including methane seep environments. Unlike many groups, no endemic foraminiferal species have been reported from methane seeps, and to our knowledge, genetic data are currently sparse for Pacific deep‐sea foraminifera. In an effort to understand the relationships between seep and non‐seep populations of the deep‐sea foraminifera Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi, a common paleo‐indicator species, specimens from methane seeps in the Pacific were analyzed and compared to one another for genetic similarities of small subunit rDNA (SSU rDNA) sequences. Pacific Ocean C. wuellerstorfi were also compared to those collected from other localities around the world (based on 18S gene available on Genbank, e.g., Schweizer et al., 2009). Results from this study revealed that C. wuellerstorfi living in seeps near Costa Rica and Hydrate Ridge are genetically similar to one another at the species level. Individuals collected from the same location that display opposite coiling directions (dextral and sinstral) had no species level genetic differences. Comparisons of specimens with genetic information available from Genbank (SSU rDNA) showed that Pacific individuals, collected for this study, are genetically similar to those previously analyzed from the North Atlantic and Antarctic. These observations provide strong evidence for the true cosmopolitan nature of C. wuellerstorfi and highlight the importance of understanding how these microscopic organisms are able to maintain sufficient genetic exchange to remain within the same species between seep and non‐seep habitats and over global distances.     

不同油松种源光合和荧光参数对水分胁迫的响应特征

采用盆栽控水试验方法,设置正常水分(T1,田间持水量的70％-80％)、轻度胁迫(T2,田间持水量的50％-60％)和严重胁迫(T3,田间持水量的30％-40％)3个水分梯度,对6个油松(Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.)种源(陕西洛南LN,陕西桥山 QO,山西灵空山LK,辽宁千山QN,河北雾灵山WL和山西芦芽山LY)的光合参数和叶绿素荧光参数进行比较,探讨种源间光合和水分利用特征的差异及其与气孔导度和荧光参数的关系.结果表明,3个水分梯度下6个种源的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、水分利用效率(WUE)、原初光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)和PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)差异均极显著(P＜0.01),在T1和T3下,各种源的实际光量子效率φPSⅡ和电子传递速率ETR差异显著(P＜0.05).在T2下,LK和WL的Pn达到最大,具有轻度胁迫下提高光合生产力的倾向.在T3下,QN种源的Pn和WUE较高(除LK的WUE最高外),而WL的Pn和WUE较低(除LK的Pn最低外);6个种源中QN的Pn、φPSⅡ和ETR最大,LY和QO的光合生产力仅次于QN,而LN、LK和WL的Pn、Gs、φPSⅡ和ETR比较低,其光合生产力及光量子产量受干旱胁迫影响较大.LK的WUE在各个水分梯度下均显著高于其它种源(P＜0.05).在T3下,各种源通过降低Tr提高WUE.在T1下,气孔限制是影响油松Pn的主要因素;在T2和T3下,Pn和WUE均与气孔导度、PSⅡ反应中心的光量子产量和电子传递速率密切相关.     

Controlling viral immuno-inflammatory lesions by modulating aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling

Ocular herpes simplex virus infection can cause a blinding CD4⁺ T cell orchestrated immuno-inflammatory lesion in the cornea called Stromal Keratitis (SK). A key to controlling the severity of SK lesions is to suppress the activity of T cells that orchestrate lesions and enhance the representation of regulatory cells that inhibit effector cell function. In this report we show that a single administration of TCDD (2, 3, 7, 8- Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), a non-physiological ligand for the AhR receptor, was an effective means of reducing the severity of SK lesions. It acted by causing apoptosis of Foxp3^- CD4⁺ T cells but had no effect on Foxp3⁺ CD4⁺ Tregs. TCDD also decreased the proliferation of Foxp3^- CD4⁺ T cells. The consequence was an increase in the ratio of Tregs to T effectors which likely accounted for the reduced inflammatory responses. In addition, in vitro studies revealed that TCDD addition to anti-CD3/CD28 stimulated naïve CD4⁺ T cells caused a significant induction of Tregs, but inhibited the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells. Since a single TCDD administration given after the disease process had been initiated generated long lasting anti-inflammatory effects, the approach holds promise as a therapeutic means of controlling virus induced inflammatory lesions.     

Microfluidics-based diagnostics of infectious diseases in the developing world

One of the great challenges in science and engineering today is to develop technologies to improve the health of people in the poorest regions of the world. Here we integrated new procedures for manufacturing, fluid handling and signal detection in microfluidics into a single, easy-to-use point-of-care (POC) assay that faithfully replicates all steps of ELISA, at a lower total material cost. We performed this 'mChip' assay in Rwanda on hundreds of locally collected human samples. The chip had excellent performance in the diagnosis of HIV using only 1 μl of unprocessed whole blood and an ability to simultaneously diagnose HIV and syphilis with sensitivities and specificities that rival those of reference benchtop assays. Unlike most current rapid tests, the mChip test does not require user interpretation of the signal. Overall, we demonstrate an integrated strategy for miniaturizing complex laboratory assays using microfluidics and nanoparticles to enable POC diagnostics and early detection of infectious diseases in remote settings.     

Fire,landscape change and models of small mammal habitat suitability at multiple spatial scales

Fire is an important process in many ecosystems, but inappropriate fire regimes can adversely affect biodiversity. We identified a naturally flammable heathy woodland ecosystem where the use of planned fire had increased the extent of older vegetation, and quantified the abundance of two small native mammals in this landscape (silky mouse Pseudomys apodemoides and heath rat P. shortridgei). We defined four time‐since‐fire (TSF) categories representing a 2‐ to 55‐year post‐fire sequence and, on the basis of a habitat accommodation model, predicted that both species would select younger age‐classes over older ones. We also predicted that (i) much of the variance in vegetation structure would remain unexplained by TSF and (ii) statistical models of mammal abundance and occupancy including structural variables as predictors would be better than models including TSF. Pseudomys apodemoides selected 17‐ to 23‐year‐old sites, while there was no evidence that P. shortridgei selected a particular TSF category, findings that were inconsistent with our predictions. In line with our predictions, relatively large portions of the variance in vegetation structure remained unexplained by TSF (adjustedr² for four structural variables: 0.24, 0.29, 0.35 and 0.57), and in three of four cases there was strong evidence that statistical models of mammal abundance and occupancy including structural variables were better than those including TSF. At the site scale (hectares), P. shortridgei abundance was positively related to the cover of dead material at the base of Xanthorrhoea plants and at the trap scale (metres), the trapability of both species was significantly related to vegetation volume at 0–20 cm. Our findings suggest that TSF may not be a good proxy for either vegetation structure or species abundance/occupancy.