澳门鸟类资源调查报告

1989～2009年在澳门山林和沿海滩涂湿地对鸟类进行了调查和记录,共记录鸟类297种,加上文献中记录的3种,整理出澳门鸟类名录共300种,隶属17目56科.其中非雀形目有30科160种,占澳门鸟类总种数的53.33%;雀形目有26科140种,占澳门鸟类种数46.67%.就数量来看,澳门鸟类中的优势种有9种,常见种44种,偶见种96种,稀有种则有151种.白腹海雕Haliaeetus leucogaster属于国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生鸟类.属于国家Ⅱ级重点保护的鸟类有33种.澳门鸟类属于<濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约,2007>公约附录Ⅰ的有游隼Falco peregrinus peregrinus、小青脚鹬Tringa guttifer和小杓鹬Numenius minutus 3种,属于公约附录Ⅱ的有29种.勺嘴鹬Eurynorhynchus pygmeus被世界自然保护联盟(2009)列入极危(CR)鸟类,黑脸琵鹭Platalea minor和小青脚鹬被列入濒危(EN)鸟类.易危(VU)鸟类有4种,近危(NT)鸟类有5种.本文成果可为今后长期监测和保护澳门鸟类资源提供依据.     

Role of accessory cells in B cell activation. I. Macrophage presentation of TNP-Ficoll: evidence for macrophage-B cell interaction

The importance of cell interaction for thymic independent antigen responses has not been widely appreciated. The present report demonstrates, however, that macrophage-B cell interaction may be an important feature of B ce-l activation for the response to at least one polysaccharide thymic independent antigen, TNP-Ficoll. Experiments were performed demonstrating that a strict accessory cell requirement exists for the thymic independent response to soluble TNP-Ficoll, and that such accessory cells are both adherent and phagocytic, that is, macrophages. It was further demonstrated that macrophages could be pulsed with TNP-Ficoll and that these pulsed macrophages could activate B cells to respond, but only if the pulsed macrophages were viable. Thus, one function that macrophages can fulfill in responses to TNP-Ficoll is the specific function of antigen presentation. Such presentation of TNP-Ficoll by macrophages to B cells suggests that the antigen may not be activating B cells directly, and raises the possibility that the interaction of B cells and macrophages might be genetically restricted.     

Effect of cyclosporin A on lymphopoiesis. I. Absence of mature T cells in thymus and periphery of bone marrow transplanted mice treated with cyclosporin A

In this report, we investigate the effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on lymphopoiesis, and demonstrate that CsA selectively abrogates the development of CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ T cells (single positive cells) in the thymus. This developmental arrest results in the complete absence of mature T cells (assessed both by phenotypic and functional analyses) in the spleen of syngeneic bone marrow transplanted mice subsequently treated with CsA. In contrast to its remarkable effect on T cells, CsA had no detectable effect on B cells differentiation. In the thymus, the generation of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes was not affected by CsA treatment, and CD4-CD8- thymocytes of CsA-treated mice expressed surface markers characteristic of normal CD4-CD8- thymocytes, and exhibited normal functional activity when stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody. Thus, CsA appears to prevent the generation of mature, single positive T cells without affecting the development of immature T cells in the thymus. In addition to its immunosuppressive effect on immunocompetent cells, these results indicate a novel feature of CsA, which involves arrest of T cell differentiation, a finding that may be important for applications in clinical bone marrow transplantation.     

Trophic state and nutrient limitation in Lake Baringo,Kenya

The trophic state of Lake Baringo and factors that could be limiting the development of algal biomass in it were investigated during one wet/dry hydrological cycle in 2014–2015. Water samples were analysed for dissolved inorganic nutrients, including , and , total phosphorus and Chlorophyll a. Light attenuation was estimated using Secchi depth. The trophic state was determined using Carlson trophic state indices (CTSI). Deviations in CTSI, nutrient ratios and ambient nutrient concentrations were used to identify factors limiting phytoplankton growth. The mean values measured for Secchi depth, nitrate, total phosphorus and Chlorophyll a showed significant seasonal variation (p < 0.05). Based on the Carlson trophic state index, the results show that Lake Baringo is eutrophic. However, the lake is also experiencing phosphorus limitation and poor light penetration, because of high turbidity, which is more pronounced during the wet season.     

Epitope clusters of Qa-2 antigens defined by a panel of new monoclonal antibodies

A recently derived intra-MHC recombinant mouse strain, the C3H.KBR was found to produce a surprisingly high titer of anti-Qa antibodies when immunized with C3H.SW lymphocytes. By using this immunization combination, a panel of 10 mAb with specificity for determinants encoded by the Q region was produced. These reagents were analyzed for strain distribution by microcytotoxicity, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry assays. Competitive inhibition analyses, performed by using fluorescein-labeled antibodies and normal spleen cells, defined at least three epitope clusters, or groups of spatially related determinants, detected by this panel. One epitope cluster was unique to this new series of antibodies in that it was not detected with seven previously described anti-Qa mAb. These antibodies also have been analyzed for reactivity with products of isolated Q-region genes by using transfected cell lines. The data indicate that the Q6d, Q7d, and Q10d genes encode determinants reactive with one or more mAb and that two of the three epitope clusters defined with normal cells map to the N and/or C2 domains of these molecules. The third epitope cluster is presumed to map to the C2 domain. These reagents should be useful in determining the number of Q-region genes expressed and in analyses of Q gene expression in subpopulations of normal cells, in transfected cell lines, and during differentiation and ontogeny.     

Human memory T lymphocytes express increased levels of three cell adhesion molecules (LFA-3, CD2, and LFA-1) and three other molecules (UCHL1, CDw29, and Pgp-1) and have enhanced IFN-gamma production

Studies of cell-surface molecules involved in human T cell interaction reveal that differential expression of each of three adhesion molecules (LFA-3, CD2, and LFA-1) subdivides human peripheral blood T cells into major subpopulations. Systematic analysis of the relationship between expression of these and other markers of T cell subsets demonstrates a single major subset of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes distinguished by enhanced expression of LFA-3, CD2, LFA-1, and three other markers (CDw29 [4B4], UCHL1, and Pgp-1). Large differences in relative expression are observed for UCHL1 (29-fold) and LFA-3 (greater than 8-fold), and smaller differences (2- to 4-fold) are seen for CDw29, CD2, LFA-1, and Pgp-1. Bimodal distribution of LFA-3 is found on both CD4+ cells and on CD8+ cells as well as on B lymphocytes (CD19+). Neonatal T cells (CD3+) are comprised almost exclusively of the subset expressing low LFA-3, CD2, LFA-1, CDw29, and UCHL1. Activation of cord peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes with PHA leads to uniform enhanced expression of each of these molecules on CD3+ cells. Functional analyses of these T cell subsets were performed after sorting of adult T cells based on differential LFA-3 expression. Only the LFA-3+ subset proliferated in response to the Ag tetanus toxoid, even though the LFA-3- subset proliferated more strongly to PHA. Furthermore, the LFA-3+ subset made greater than fivefold more IFN-gamma than the LFA-3- subset in response to PHA, despite the fact that both subsets made equivalent amounts of IL-2. This phenotypic and functional analysis of resting and activated newborn and adult T cells indicates that human memory T cells express enhanced levels of LFA-3, CD2, LFA-1, UCHL1, CDw29, and Pgp-1; we speculate that the increase in expression of T cell adhesion molecules LFA-3, CD2, and LFA-1 on memory cells is functionally important in their enhanced responsiveness.     

Repopulation of host lymphohematopoietic systems by donor cells during graft-versus-host reaction in unirradiated adult F1 mice injected with parental lymphocytes.

The graft-vs-host reaction (GVHR) generated by the injection of parental lymphocytes into unirradiated immune-competent F1 hosts is characterized by an acute loss of immune functions, an attack on host tissues, and a gradual recovery of function. Flow cytometric analysis of the donor- and host-derived splenic populations during the course of acute dysfunction and gradual recovery revealed a complex pattern of changes in lymphoid and myeloid populations that resulted in the repopulation of the host with donor-derived cells. Initially, donor-derived T cell populations expanded, particularly CD8+ T cells. Next, host T cell and B cell populations disappeared. Finally, donor-derived cells repopulated the lymphohematopoietic system in the sequence myeloid populations, B cells, and, after a protracted period, T cells. The recovery of immune functions following GVHR-induced immune deficiency was associated with this repopulation of the spleen by donor-derived cells. Donor repopulation of the host lymphohematopoietic system required the presence of both CD4 and CD8 cells in the original donor inoculum. Depletion of donor CD4 populations precluded development of GVHR or any donor engraftment; depletion of CD8 cells resulted in engraftment solely of donor CD4 populations.     

Cell surface comodulation of CD4 and T cell receptor by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody

In our study we have used anti-CD4 mAb to investigate the cell surface association between CD4 and the Ag-specific TCR complex on mature peripheral T cells. Anti-CD4 mAb was administered in vivo and in vitro and its effects on CD4 and CD3 cell surface expression were determined. In vivo, anti-CD4 mAb reduced cell surface expression of its ligand, CD4, and secondarily also reduced cell surface expression of CD3/TCR on CD4+ splenic T cells. In vitro, multivalent cross-linking of CD4 by anti-CD4 mAb and either FcR+ cells or anti-Ig mAb also resulted in decreased surface expression of CD4 and specific comodulation of CD3/TCR. The secondary reduction in cell surface CD3/TCR expression induced by CD4 cross-linking could be pharmacologically disrupted by high doses of PMA, indicating that the comodulation of CD3 with CD4 was dependent upon intracellular mediators, possibly including protein kinase C. These results demonstrate that, in the presence of anti-CD4 mAb, CD4 is functionally associated with the CD3/TCR complex, and that this association is dependent upon the activity of intracellular mediators. Such intracellular mediators might induce the coordinate down-modulation of physically unassociated CD4 and CD3/TCR molecules, or, alternatively, might promote a physical interaction between CD4 and CD3/TCR molecules.     

A tetravalent dengue nanoparticle stimulates antibody production in mice

Background

Dengue is a major public health problem worldwide, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Infection with a single Dengue virus (DENV) serotype causes a mild, self-limiting febrile illness called dengue fever. However, a subset of patients experiencing secondary infection with a different serotype progresses to the severe form of the disease, dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or antiviral drugs to prevent or treat dengue infections. Biodegradable nanoparticles coated with proteins represent a promising method for in vivo delivery of vaccines.

Findings

Here, we used a murine model to evaluate the IgG production after administration of inactivated DENV corresponding to all four serotypes adsorbed to bovine serum albumin nanoparticles. This formulation induced a production of anti-DENV IgG antibodies (p < 0.001). However, plaque reduction neutralization assays with the four DENV serotypes revealed that these antibodies have no neutralizing activity in the dilutions tested.

Conclusions

Our results show that while the nanoparticle system induces humoral responses against DENV, further investigation with different DENV antigens will be required to improve immunogenicity, epitope specicity, and functional activity to make this platform a viable option for DENV vaccines.