Spatial and temporal nature of reactive oxygen species production and programmed cell death in elm (Ulmus pumila L.) seeds during controlled deterioration

Seed deterioration is poorly understood and remains an active area for research. Seeds of elm (Ulmus pumila L.) were aged at 37 °C above water [controlled deterioration treatment (CDT)] for various lengths of time to assess programmed cell death (PCD) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) product in embryonic tissues during a 5 d period. The hallmarks of PCD were identified in the elm seeds during CDT including TUNEL experiments, DNA laddering, cytochrome c (cyt c) leakage and enzymatic activities. These analyses indicated that PCD occurred systematically and progressively in deteriorated elm seeds. Cyt c release and increase in caspase‐3‐like/DEVDase activity occurred during CDT, which could be suppressed by ascorbic acid (AsA) and caspase‐3 inhibitor Ac‐DEVD‐CHO, respectively. In situ localization of ROS production indicated that the distinct spatial‐temporal signature of ROS during CDT coincided with the changes in PCD hallmark features. Multiple antioxidant elements were activated during the first few days of CDT, but were subsequently depleted as PCD progressed. Taken together, our findings identify PCD as a key mechanism that occurs asymmetrically during elm seeds CDT and suggest an important role for PCD in seeds deterioration.     

Variability and adaptability of Miscanthus species evaluated for energy crop domestication

A growing body of evidence indicates that second‐generation energy crops can play an important role in the development of renewable energy and the mitigation of climate change. However, dedicated energy crops have yet to be domesticated in order to fully realize their productive potential under unfavorable soil and climatic conditions. To explore the possibility of domesticating Miscanthus crops in northern China where marginal and degraded land is abundant, we conducted common garden experiments at multiple locations to evaluate variation and adaptation of three Miscanthus species that are likely to serve as the wild progenitors of the energy crops. A total of 93 populations of Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, and Miscanthus lutarioriparius were collected across their natural distributional ranges in China and grown in three locations that represent temperate grassland with cold winter, the semiarid Loess Plateau, and relatively warm and wet central China. Evaluated with growth traits such as plant height, tiller number, tiller diameter, and flowering time, the Miscanthus species showed high levels of genetic variation within and between species. There were significant site × population interactions for almost all traits of M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis, but not M. lutarioriparius. The northern populations of M. sacchariflorus had the highest establishment rates at the most northern site owing to their strong cold tolerance. An endemic species in central China, M. lutarioriparius, produced not only the highest biomass of the three species but also higher biomass at the Loess Plateau than the southern site near its native habitats. These results demonstrated that the wild species harbored a high level of genetic variation underlying traits important for crop establishment and production at sites that are colder and drier than their native habitats. The natural variation and adaptive plasticity found in the Miscanthus species indicated that they could provide valuable resources for the development of second‐generation energy crops.     

An Outbreak of Tularemia in a Colony of Outdoor-Housed Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Since an epizootic and detection of clinical cases of tularemia (Francisella tularensis) in 1996 at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, only 8 cases were identified in the succeeding 13 y. However, within a period of 7 mo, primarily during Winter 2010, 6 rhesus macaques were confirmed positive for Francisella tularensis type B by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by culture and fluorescent antibody testing. All cases had similar gross pathologic findings, which included necrotizing splenitis and lymphadenitis. Recent colony management efforts have focused on minimizing nonhuman primate exposure to commonly observed reservoir species and controlling rodent access to corral-style housing. Strategies continue to evolve with regard to managing a large breeding colony of nonhuman primates in the presence of this threat.Abbreviation: ONPRC, Oregon National Primate Research CenterFrancisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is a small pleomorphic gram-negative coccobacillus.¹¹ Severe disease and potentially death in humans can result from exposure to as few as 10 cfu of this highly infectious organism.^7,10 The disease is also known as rabbit fever and deer-fly fever, reflecting 2 common sources of infection for humans.³ F. tularensis is classified by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a Category A Select Agent.⁶ It is considered a potential agent of biologic warfare, and in fact, has been weaponized and stockpiled in the past.¹⁰ The 2 biovars that are referenced most frequently in published human and nonhuman primate literature are tularensis (type A) and holarctica (formerly paleartica; type B).^4,12,13,23 An additional biovar, novicida (type C), has been described, but its virulence in humans is decreased due to its lack of a capsule.¹⁰Tularemia is endemic to many parts of the northern hemisphere, which includes the region surrounding the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), an AAALAC-accredited facility.²⁰ Tularemia has one of the broadest host ranges of all bacteria, encompassing well over 200 mammalian species primarily, in addition to birds, amphibians, fish, and various arthropods such as fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and flies.^10,15,19,20 The ONPRC is located in a mixed forest and field environment which is bordered by wetlands and residential neighborhoods outside of Portland. More than 4500 nonhuman primates are housed here, and most live outdoors in breeding groups. Therefore, exposure to this potentially life-threatening and zoonotic pathogen is inevitable, due to its persistence in the environment and the close proximity of several reservoir species. Presumed reservoir species commonly observed at ONPRC include meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), deer mice (genus Peromyscus), house mice (Mus musculus), and California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi). Potential arthropod vectors that are monitored regularly at ONPRC include biting flies and mosquitoes. At this time, testing of prospective rodent carriers for tularemia is ongoing; therefore, in the interest of caution, all of the rodent and arthropod species listed are considered potential carriers of the disease.Tularemia was first recognized at the ONPRC in 1996 during an epizootic that resulted in 24 deaths among corral-housed rhesus macaques. Serology results from banked sera and sera collected during and after the outbreak demonstrated a seroconversion rate of approximately 25% in 723 animals. During the succeeding 13 y, only 8 sporadic cases were diagnosed. However, within a period of 3 mo during the winter of 2010, 5 rhesus macaques were diagnosed with Francisella tularensis type B by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA). Four months later, an additional case was confirmed. All 6 macaques were younger than 1 y and were assigned to a breeding colony protocol approved by the ONPRC Animal Care and Use Committee. The current report describes the clinical signs and gross and histologic findings associated with these cases, as well as methods for prevention and control of future cases of disease.     

烟草种间杂交亲和性

以野生烟草Nicotiana alata、N.rustica、N.repanda、N.stocktonnii与栽培烟草K326、红花大金元、Yun87、Yun97为材料,进行种间正反杂交,研究种间杂交亲和性。田间观察杂交后的坐果情况并统计坐果率,采用显微荧光染色观察授粉后花粉管在雌蕊上的生长情况,并结合杂交后代萌发检测的方法。结果表明：N.rustica、N.repanda、N.stocktonnii与栽培烟草杂交不亲和。N.rustica花粉能够穿过K326花柱,N.repanda和N.stocktonnii花粉在K326柱头上很少萌发生长。N.alata花粉可以穿过K326的花柱,并得到果实,但是萌发实验显示其种子无活力。N.alata作为母本与栽培烟草杂交不亲和。     

中国外来入侵植物研究现状及存在的问题

生物入侵是当今各国发展的一大挑战,特别是像中国这样的发展中国家。然而,我们对外来入侵种的本底资料还很不清楚,更缺乏相关的深入调查;对生物入侵所造成的生态和经济影响还没有引起足够的重视,同时也忽视了盲目引种可能带来的各种危害。本文在文献调研的基础上,从外来植物的入侵历史和文化、中国外来入侵植物的调查现状、外来植物入侵对生态安全及经济的影响等方面进行了全面系统的总结,并提出了中国外来入侵植物研究领域存在的问题及应对措施。     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and its regulator XBP-1 contributes to dendritic cell maturation and activation induced by high mobility group box-1 protein

High mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) had been proved to induce maturation and activation of dendritic cell (DC), however, the endogenous changes and mechanisms underlying are unknown. Since endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) activates an adaptive unfolded protein response (UPR) that facilitates cellular survival and repair, we hypothesized that HMGB1 may regulate the function of DC by modulating ERS. In our study, HMGB1 stimulation induced significant ERS responses in DCs in a time- and dose-dependent manner, demonstrated by the up-regulation of a number of ERS markers. Gene silence of XBP-1 in splenic DCs decreased the levels of CD80, CD86 as well as major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II expression and cytokine secretion after HMGB1 treatment, when compared with untransfected or nontargeting-transfected DCs (all P<0.05). Moreover, XBP-1 silenced DCs after treatment with HMGB1 failed to stimulate notable proliferation and differentiation of T cells, unlike normal DCs or nontargeting-transfected DCs (all P<0.05). Gene silence of XBP-1 resulted in down-regulation of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) expression on the surface of splenic DCs induced by HMGB1 stimulation (P<0.05). These findings demonstrate an important role for ERS and its regulator XBP-1 in HMGB1-induced maturation and activation of DCs.     

Up-regulation of mitofusin-2 protects CD4+ T cells from HMGB1-mediated immune dysfunction partly through Ca(2+)-NFAT signaling pathway

High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) was recently discovered to be a critical late-acting cytokine and innate immune-modulating factor in sepsis, but the potential role and mechanism of HMGB1 in adaptive immunity remains elusive. The present study demonstrated that HMGB1 had a dual influence on immune function of CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Low dose of HMGB1 had no effect on the proliferation activity of CD4(+) T lymphocytes, but the Th1 cytokines production was increased. In contrast, treatment with high amount of HMGB1 suppressed the proliferative response and induced Th2 polarization of CD4(+) T lymphocytes. We found that the expression of mitofusin-2 (Mfn2; also named hyperplasia suppressor gene), a member of the mitofusin family, was decreased in CD4(+) T lymphocytes when stimulated with high dose of HMGB1. Up-regulation of Mfn2 attenuated the suppressive effect of HMGB1 on CD4(+) T lymphocytes, which was associated with profound elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) activity. These results indicate that HMGB1 have a direct role on adaptive immunity, and the decrease of Mfn2 expression may be a major cause of HMGB1-mediated immune dysfunction and Ca(2+)-NFAT signaling defect of CD4(+) T lymphocytes.     

百香果内生细菌多样性及促生长特性

内生菌可为植物提供营养成分,也可以通过代谢产物促进植物生长,目前很少出现关于百香果(Passiflora edulia Sims)内生菌的研究.百香果是西番莲科西番莲属的一种草质藤本植物,主要生长于亚热带与热带地区,对其内生菌进行分离纯化,依据插入序列指纹图谱(IS-PCR)结果对所得菌株聚类,经16S rRNA基因测...     

基于荧光激活细胞分选技术的超高通量酶活性筛选方法及其应用

基于荧光激活细胞分选(FACS)技术的超高通量酶活性筛选方法是新出现的一类高通量筛选技术.它利用流式细胞仪高灵敏度、高通量的特点,能以极高的速度(108/天)对大容量酶基因文库进行筛选.FACS筛选技术的出现突破了常规筛选方法低效、耗时、费力等瓶颈问题,极大地提升了人类对大容量基因文库的探索能力,因此在新酶基因筛选、酶活性检测、酶定向进化等领域有广泛的应用潜力.综述了FACS超高通量酶活性筛选方法的最新研究进展,着重介绍了其在酶定向进化中的应用.     

乌兰布和沙漠典型灌木群落结构及数量特征

灌木群落是乌兰布和沙漠生态系统中最重要的组成部分,根据野外样地的调查资料,从各群落物种组成、生活型谱、盖度特征、物种多样性、群落相似性等方面对乌兰布和沙漠中典型灌木群落结构和数量特征进行分析,为该区生物多样性保护与植物资源持续利用提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)梭梭、白刺、沙冬青、沙蒿、油蒿、盐爪爪是乌兰布和沙漠中主要灌木群落类型;各典型灌木植被群落中仅出现12科47属共计58种植物,各群落间物种组成差异较大,但均以藜科、菊科、禾本科、蒺藜科、豆科等干旱荒漠区的表征科数量居多;(2)沙漠中分布范围最广的梭梭群落、白刺群落、沙冬青群落和油蒿群落其生活型谱均以一年生植物所占比例最大,与研究区干旱的气候特征相吻合;(3)各群落中灌木层植物所占群落盖度的比重均超过了50%,其贡献率大于草本植物;(4)分布于生境条件较好的群落类型其物种多样性相对较高,从整体看各典型灌木群落的H′多样性指数的变化范围在0.98～3.42之间,而D多样性指数的变化范围在0.415 5～0.879 5之间,其物种多样性指数较低,物种组成比较简单;(5)各典型植物群落的相似性系数在0.068 2～0.604 7之间,均未达到极相似水平,其中白刺群落、梭梭群落以及沙冬青群落之间呈轻度相似水平,而其他各群落之间相似性系数均低于0.25,表明各群落间生境差异较大。