Effect of dilution rate on the release of pertussis toxin and lipopolysaccharide ofBordetella pertussis

Summary The kinetics ofBordetella pertussis growth was studied in a glutamate-limited continuous culture. Growth kinetics corresponded to Monod's model. The saturation constant and maximum specific growth rate were estimated as well as the energetic parameters, theoretical yield of cells and maintenance coefficient. Release of pertussis toxin (PT) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were growth-associated. In addition, they showed a linear relationship between them. Growth rate affected neither outer membrane proteins nor the cell-bound LPS pattern.Nomenclature X cell concentration (g L^–1) - specific growth rate (h^–1) - _m maximum specific growth rate (h^–1) - D dilution rate (h^–1) - S concentration of growth rate-limiting nutrient (glutamate) (mmol L^–1 or g L^–1) - Ks substrate saturation constant (mol L^–1) - m_s maintenance coefficient (g g^–1 h^–1) - Y_x/s theoretical yield of cells from glutamate (g g^–1) - Y_x/s yield of cells from glutamate (g g^–1) - Y_PT/s yield of soluble PT from glutamate (mg g^–1) - Y_KDO/s yield of cell-free KDO from glutamate (g g^–1) - Y_PT/x specific yield of soluble PT (mg g^–1) - Y_KDO/x specific yield of cell-free KDO (g g^–1) - q_PT specific soluble PT production rate (mg g^–1 h^–1) - q_KDO specific cell-free KDO production rate (g g^–1 h^–1)     

Influence of crucifer cropping system on the parasitism ofPlutella xylostella (Lep., Yponomeutidae) byCotesia plutellae (Hym., Braconidae) andDiadegma semiclausum (Hym., Ichneumonidae)

Field experiments were conducted to study the influence of cabbage monoculture and mixed cropping on the parasitism of diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (L.), a destructive pest of all crucifers, by 2 larval parasites,Diadegma semiclausum Hellén andCotesia plutellae Kurdjumov. There was no significant difference in parasitism by either species whether cabbage was planted in insecticide-free monoculture or in mixed cropping with 8 noncrucifers which were sprayed twice a week with chemical insecticides mevinphos, methamidophos and permethrin. Population ofP. xylostella increased as the cabbage plants grew older. Parasitism byC. plutellae was higher soon after cabbage transplanting but decreased as the plants grew older. Parasitism byD. semiclausum was very low soon after cabbage planting but increased as the plants grew older. A significant negative correlation was found betwen parasitism byC. plutellae andD. semiclausum. In a caged field study where only one parasite species was used in an individual cage, parasitism ofP. xylostella by both species decreased as theP. xylostella population increased. This is believed to be due to the absence of competition between the two parasites inside the cage. There was no relationship between host-plant age and parasitism ofP. xylostella larvae by either parasite species.     

基于主体功能区的长江经济带绿色发展评价与问题区域识别

长江经济带已成为我国推进绿色发展的重要阵地。基于主体功能区视角,构建以水系统为纽带的长江经济带绿色发展评价指标体系,采用综合加权法、空间自相关、耦合协调度模型等方法探究2018年长江经济带130个城市绿色发展及各子系统耦合协调水平的空间格局,并对绿色发展的问题区域进行分类识别。结果表明：(1)长江经济带绿色发展水平呈由下游、中游至上游递减趋势;各主体功能区绿色发展指数表现为优化开发区>限制开发区>重点开发区。(2)绿色发展各子系统耦合协调度值位于0.365—0.656之间,多处于濒临失调和勉强协调的临界区间,耦合协调水平整体偏低。(3)从长江经济带整体来看,长江中上游地区绝大部分城市绿色发展主要受资源利用和产业发展水平偏低,及由此带来的生态和生活问题限制,且长江中上游地区各省会或直辖市对区域内其他城市绿色发展带动能力不足。从主体功能区视角来看,优化开发区以生态问题为主,仅上海和嘉兴两市;重点开发区以生态和生产问题为主,集中于武汉都市圈和成渝双城经济圈内部;限制开发区以生产和生活问题为主,主要位于省际边界型城市地区。最后综合问题识别结果,分别对长江经济带各主要问题区域绿色发展...     

Effects of Allelochemicals on Root Growth and Pod Yield in Response to Continuous Cropping Obstacle of Peanut

Continuous cropping (CC) obstacle is a major threat in legume crops production; however, the underlying mechanisms concerning the roles allelochemicals play in CC obstacle are poorly understood. The current 2-year study was conducted to investigate the effects of different kinds and concentrations of allelochemicals, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (H), cinnamic acid (C), phthalic acid (P), and their mixtures (M) on peanut root growth and productivity in response to CC obstacle. Treatment with H, C, P, and M significantly decreased the plant height, dry weight of the leaves and stems, number of branches, and length of the lateral stem compared with control. Exogenous application of H, C, P, and M inhibited the peanut root growth as indicated by the decreased root morphological characters. The allelochemicals also induced the cell membrane oxidation even though the antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly increased in peanut roots. Meanwhile, treatment with H, C, P, and M reduced the contents of total soluble sugar and total soluble protein. Analysis of ATPase activity, nitrate reductase activity, and root system activity revealed that the inhibition effects of allelochemicals on peanut roots might be due to the decrease in activities of ATPase and NR, and the inhibition of root system. Consequently, allelochemicals significantly decreased the pod yield of peanut compared with control. Our results demonstrate that allelochemicals play a dominant role in CC obstacle-induced peanut growth inhibition and yield reduction through damaging the root antioxidant system, unbalancing the osmolytes accumulation, and decreasing the activities of root-related enzymes.

     

固定化酵母细胞生产1,6-二磷酸果糖研究

本文研究了固定化酵母细胞制备果糖1,6二磷酸(FDP)的方法及其生产。用卡拉胶包埋方法固定化酿酒酵母(Sacchromyces cerevisae),对含葡萄糖1.0M,磷酸盐0.8M的糖磷液,pH6.5,在37℃下进行磷酸化反应。反复分批转化20天以上,可达到平均产FDPH_427.58mg/ml,最高为59.94mg/ml。用100ml固定化细胞生物反应器连续运转309h,稀释速率D=0.097h~(-1),平均产FDPH_4 21.51mg/ml。20L反应器连续运转,生产能力达到1.7g/h.L。用层析方法制备FDPNa_3结晶粉,提取收率为72.08％,制备质量达到或超过了国内外同类产品的质量要求。     

Effect of legume-based cropping systems on nitrogen mineralization potential of Vertisol

The quantity and patterns of net mineralization of soil nitrogen (N) were studied in Vertisols under different cropping systems in the semi-arid tropical areas. Eight cropping systems were selected; three contained pigeonpea (PP), one contained PP and cowpea (COP), and two contained chickpea (CP) as legume component crops, one included sequence cropping with nonlegumes during the rainy and postrainy seasons, and one system was kept fallow (F) during the rainy season and sown to sorghum (S) during the postrainy season. Cropping systems with PP as a component crop increased mineralizable N(N _o ) content two-fold in the soil compared with fallow + sorghum (F+S)–F+S system. The N mineralization rate constant (k) was not significantly affected by previous cropping history of the soil; however, a numerically higher rate constant was observed in the COP/PP intercrop, followed by sequential S+safflower (SF) system as compared to the other soils. Mineral N accumulation curves for six soils were more accurately described by the exponential model than the linear model. The active N fraction (N _o /N_tot %) varied between 8 and 16% for different systems and a direct relationship was observed between N _o /N_tot and total N for the soils under diverse cropping systems.ICRISAT JA (1638)     

The growth and nutrient utilization of the insect cell line Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 in batch and continuous culture

The growth of the Spodoptera frugiperda cell line Sf9 was studied in batch and continuous culture. The results of batch cultivations showed that glucose was the preferred energy and carbon source limiting the cell density in both TNM-FH and IPL-41 media. Continuous culture using IPL-41-based feeding medium with different glucose (2.5, 5 and 10 g l⁻¹) and yeast extract concentrations (4, 8 and 16 g l⁻¹) showed that in serum-supplemented medium the maximum cell density was limited by glucose and yeast extract concentration. The transition to glucose limitation caused a decrease in growth rate and viability. A high cell density culture (18 × 10⁶ ml⁻¹) was obtained using a glucose concentration of 10 g l⁻¹ and a yeast extract concentration of 8 g l⁻¹ in the feeding medium. A yeast extract concentration of 16 g l⁻¹ inhibited growth. Unlike mammalian cell cultures, lactate, alanine and ammonia were not involved in growth inhibition. Lactate did not accumulate under aerobic conditions. Ammonia accumulation, if observed, was insignificant. The level of alanine synthesized and excreted into the culture medium never reached an inhibitory level. During glucose limitation alanine did not accumulate and ammonia was released. However, even in the presence of glucose significant amounts of Asp, Glu, Gln, Asn, Ser, Arg and Met were utilized for energy production. The amino groups of these amino acids were transferred to pyruvate or used for nucleic acid synthesis and excreted in the form of alanine into the culture medium. The consumption of His, Lys, Thr, Gly, Val, Leu, Phe, Tyr, Trp and Ile by growing Sf-9 cells was almost equal to their concentration in the biomass.     

Total nitrogen and phosphorus balance sheet in a typic ustochrept soil under intensive cropping and fertilizer use

Summary Balance sheets were computed for total nitrogen and phosphorus in plough layer (0–15 cm) of a Typic Ustochrept soil under continuous multiple cropping for seven years (1971–72 to 1977–78) with a fixed rotation of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoideum L.) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Vigna sinensis Savi.) The treatments considered of soil test-based rates of N, P and K, applied both singly and in combinations together with farm yard manure, sulphur and zinc superimposed over optimum rates (100%) of NPK. Heavy, losses of N (762–899 kg ha⁻¹) occurred in the plots which received high rates of Nviz. 150% of recommended NPK and 100% NPK plus FYM. Application of N alone accelerated N losses whereas addition of P, PK, PKS to N minimised such losses. Enrichment of P (66 to 198 kg ha⁻¹) occurred in all phosphate-treated plots. A marginal net decrease (29–54 kg ha⁻¹) in P levels was observed in control and N alone treatments.     

A graph theoretic approach to the development of minimal phylogenetic trees

Summary The problem of determining the minimal phylogenetic tree is discussed in relation to graph theory. It is shown that this problem is an example of the Steiner problem in graphs which is to connect a set of points by a minimal length network where new points can be added. There is no reported method of solving realistically-sized Steiner problems in reasonable computing time. A heuristic method of approaching the phylogenetic problem is presented, together with a worked example with 7 mammalian cytochrome c sequences. It is shown in this case that the method develops a phylogenetic tree that has the smallest possible number of amino acid replacements. The potential and limitations of the method are discussed. It is stressed that objective methods must be used for comparing different trees. In particular it should be determined how close a given tree is to a mathematically determined lower bound. A theorem is proved which is used to establish a lower bound on the length of any tree and if a tree is found with a length equal to the lower bound, then no shorter tree can exist.     

Autoinduction of bacterial bioluminescence in a carbon limited chemostat

Several strains of four species of luminous marine bacteria were maintained in a chemostat at a constant dilution rate and a variety of steady state densities by carbon (glycerol) limitation in order to study the relationship between culture density and bioluminescence activity. In general, luminescence per cell was constant at high culture density, and decreased dramatically at low culture density. For Vibrio fischeri, luminescence decreased to nondectable levels when the culture was maintained at low density; such dark cells were stimulated to synthesize luciferase and became luminous within minutes when purified autoinducer was added to the chemostat. Two strains, Photobacterium phosphoreum NZ11D and Photobacterium leiognathi S1, did not show the decrease in light intensity at low culture density that was characteristic of all other strains tested; they appeared to be constitutive for bioluminescence.Abbreviations BCM basal salts glycerol medium - BM basal salts medium - BSA bovine serum albumin - D dilution rate - DTT dilitiothreitol - LU light unit=2×10¹⁰ quanta s^-1 - OD optical density - SWC sea water complete medium - specific growth rate