The occrrence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza in barley and wheat grown in some Danish soils with different fertilizer treatments

Summary Soil samples, roots and shoots were collected from barley crops at three locations which had received different combinations of N and P for 10 years, and from long-term fertilizer experiments on barley in a sandy soil and on barley and wheat in a loamy soil.Soils were analysed for available P by an anion exchange resin procedure, roots were examined for intensity of VAM infection, and shoots wee analysed for N and P.Vesicualr-arbuscular mycorrhizal infection was found at all locations. It was most abundant at the three locations with least soil-P and lightest at the two locations high in soil-P. Within loocations an inverse relation was found between soil-P level and intensity of infection. Infection was also intensity. by increasing N-fertilizer. Spore counts from selected samples correlated well with infection intensity. Shoot-P did not differ significantly between treatments in spite of significant differences in soil-P. This points to the significance of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza: a lower soil-P level accompanied by a higher infection intensity seem to counterbalance each other to a certain extent.     

A simple technique for estimation ofDrechslera nodulosa (Berk. & Curt.) Subram. and Jain propagules in soil

Summary A baiting technique was developed to estimate the population ofDrechslera nodulosa (Berk. and Curt.) Subram. and Jain in soil by using susceptible ragi (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.) culms. The number of lesions developed on baited culms were reduced with the reduction in concentration ofD. nodulosa propagules in both sterilized and unsterilized soils. Based on this a standard correlation (concentrationvs infection probability) was established which was found to be quite efficient method to estimate the population in soil and to bait even when the inoculum level was 4 propagules per g of soil.     

Bdellovibrio-like parasite of cyanobacteria symbiotic in marine sponges

A bdellovibrio-like bacterium was observed infecting unicellular symbiotic cyanobacteria in two coral reef sponges, Neofibularia irata and Jaspis stellifera. The infecting bacterium, which was located between the cell wall and the cytoplasmic membrane of the cyanobacteria, was similar in size and appearance to previously described bdellovibrios. This observation is believed to extend the host range of the bdellovibrios.     

Rearing and Injection of Manduca sexta Larvae to Assess Bacterial Virulence

Manduca sexta, commonly known as the tobacco hornworm, is considered a significant agricultural pest, feeding on solanaceous plants including tobacco and tomato. The susceptibility of M. sexta larvae to a variety of entomopathogenic bacterial species^1-5, as well as the wealth of information available regarding the insect''s immune system^6-8, and the pending genome sequence⁹ make it a good model organism for use in studying host-microbe interactions during pathogenesis. In addition, M. sexta larvae are relatively large and easy to manipulate and maintain in the laboratory relative to other susceptible insect species. Their large size also facilitates efficient tissue/hemolymph extraction for analysis of the host response to infection.The method presented here describes the direct injection of bacteria into the hemocoel (blood cavity) of M. sexta larvae. This approach can be used to analyze and compare the virulence characteristics of various bacterial species, strains, or mutants by simply monitoring the time to insect death after injection. This method was developed to study the pathogenicity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species, which typically associate with nematode vectors as a means to gain entry into the insect. Entomopathogenic nematodes typically infect larvae via natural digestive or respiratory openings, and release their symbiotic bacterial contents into the insect hemolymph (blood) shortly thereafter¹⁰. The injection method described here bypasses the need for a nematode vector, thus uncoupling the effects of bacteria and nematode on the insect. This method allows for accurate enumeration of infectious material (cells or protein) within the inoculum, which is not possible using other existing methods for analyzing entomopathogenesis, including nicking¹¹ and oral toxicity assays¹². Also, oral toxicity assays address the virulence of secreted toxins introduced into the digestive system of larvae, whereas the direct injection method addresses the virulence of whole-cell inocula.The utility of the direct injection method as described here is to analyze bacterial pathogenesis by monitoring insect mortality. However, this method can easily be expanded for use in studying the effects of infection on the M. sexta immune system. The insect responds to infection via both humoral and cellular responses. The humoral response includes recognition of bacterial-associated patterns and subsequent production of various antimicrobial peptides⁷; the expression of genes encoding these peptides can be monitored subsequent to direct infection via RNA extraction and quantitative PCR¹³. The cellular response to infection involves nodulation, encapsulation, and phagocytosis of infectious agents by hemocytes⁶. To analyze these responses, injected insects can be dissected and visualized by microscopy^{13, 14}.     

外泌体在病毒感染诊断和治疗中的作用研究 *

外泌体是多泡体与细胞质膜融合后释放的细胞外囊泡.它们携带有源自分泌细胞的功能性蛋白质,脂质和核酸,能够介导细胞间通信,并在生物体的致病过程中发挥重要作用.当前,对外泌体在病毒感染中的作用机制研究,以及外泌体作为病毒感染诊断和治疗的潜在标志物研究仍处于初级阶段.首先阐述了外泌体的组成和生物学发生机制;然后重点阐述了外泌体在病毒感染中的作用机制,尤其是其在免疫调节中的作用;最后探讨了外泌体作为病毒感染诊断和治疗的潜在标志物的可能性及其应用前景.     

胃底腺息肉与胃增生性息肉的临床、内镜特征分析

目的:分析胃底腺息肉与胃增生性息肉的临床、内镜下等特点。方法:回顾性搜集胃镜检出的经病理证实的胃底腺息肉和胃增生性息肉393例纳入分析,按年龄、性别、发生部位、大小、幽门螺杆菌(helicobacter pylori)感染状态、是否使用质子泵抑制剂(proton pump inhibitor)等因素进行分析比较。结果:393例增生性息肉与胃底腺息肉中,男178例,女215例,男女比例为1:1.2,年龄28~89岁。随着年龄的增高,胃息肉发生率越高,但各年龄段分布差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。不同部位的增生性息肉与胃底腺性息肉大小相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两种胃息肉的性别分布差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。增生性息肉H.pylori感染率较胃底腺性息肉高(P<0.05),而胃底腺息肉质子泵抑制剂使用率较胃增生性息肉高(P<0.05)。结论:增生性息肉与幽门螺旋杆菌感染有关,胃底腺息肉与质子泵抑制剂使用有关。对胃底腺息肉与胃增生性息肉的临床、内镜特点的分析有助于胃镜检查对胃息肉性质的初步判断,提高诊断的准确性。     

肺炎支原体感染对儿童血常规参数及C反应蛋白水平的影响

摘要 目的：探讨肺炎支原体（Mycoplasma pneumoniae, MP）感染对儿童血常规数及C反应蛋白（C reactive protein, CRP）水平的影响。方法：以60例肺炎支原体抗体（MP-IgM）阳性患儿作为观察组,选取同期60名MP-IgM阴性儿童作为对照组,对两组患儿血常规参数和CRP水平进行回顾性分析。结果：与对照组比较,观察组红细胞压积、血红蛋白、单核细胞比例、单核细胞计数、中性粒细胞比例、中性粒细胞计数、红细胞计数均数或中位数升高,嗜碱性粒细胞比例、嗜碱性粒细胞计数、嗜酸性粒细胞比例、嗜酸性粒细胞计数、淋巴细胞比例（LY）、淋巴细胞比计数（LY#）、平均红细胞血红蛋白量、红细胞平均体积、平均血小板体积、血小板压积、血小板分布宽度、血小板计数、红细胞分布宽度均数或中位数降低;观察组患儿的CRP水平中位数显著高于对照组,以上差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;Logistic多元回归分析结果显示,MP感染与淋巴细胞比例、淋巴细胞比计数降低具有正相关性（P<0.05）。结论：MP感染患儿的血常规参数和CRP水平均发生变化,临床医生应对这些参数给予关注和连续监测,从而提高诊疗效果。     

Dysregulation of metallothionein and zinc aggravates periodontal diseases

BackgroundPeriodontitis (PD) is a multifaceted inflammatory disease connected to bacterial infection that results in the destruction of tooth supporting structures and eventually tooth loss. Given their involvement in infection and inflammation, both metallothionein (MT) and zinc (Zn) might play vital roles in the development and progression of PD. More specifically, both MT and Zn are heavily involved in regulating immune functions, controlling bacterial infection, balancing inflammatory responses, and reducing oxidative stress, all of which are associated with the pathogenesis of PD.ObjectiveThis review paper will explore the physiological functions of MT and Zn and hypothesise how dysregulation could negatively affect periodontal health, leading to PD.FindingsBacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from periodontal pathogens, namely P. gingivalis initiates the acute phase response, thus upregulating the expression of MT which leads to the subsequent deficiency of Zn, a hallmark of periodontal disease. This deficiency leads to ineffective NETosis, increases the permeability of the gingival epithelium, and disrupts the humoral immune response, collectively contributing to PD. In addition, the presence of LPS in Zn deficient conditions favours M1 macrophage polarisation and maturation of dendritic cells, and also inhibits the anti-inflammatory activity of regulatory T cells. Collectively, these observations could theoretically give rise to the chronic inflammation seen in PD.ConclusionA disrupted MT and Zn homeostasis is expected to exert an adverse impact on periodontal health and contribute to the development and progression of PD.     

基于多源数据的“安全公正空间”在大通湖流域环境管理中的应用

如何在确保生态系统安全的同时有效地开发和利用资源、保障人类福祉是当前面临的挑战。近年来兴起的“安全公正空间”(Safe and Just Operating Space, SJOS)理论框架为人类可持续发展提供了有效的评估方法, 即充分利用自然资源来提高人类社会福祉的同时确保环境生态安全。研究以长江中下游地区大通湖流域为例, 根据流域内的社会经济数据、环境监测数据和湖泊沉积记录, 从社会基础和环境系统两个方面构建该流域的SJOS框架, 并利用环境库兹涅兹曲线来揭示总体环境变化特征。结果表明: 流域内淡水利用、空气质量、水质均突破环境上限, 处于危险的状态, 此外流域内无贫困和产业创新两个社会基础维度的完成度相对较低。环境库兹涅兹曲线揭示了大通湖流域内社会-生态系统大致分为初始阶段(1950s—1980s)、严重退化阶段(1980s—2000s)和逐步改善(2000s后)三个阶段。研究为维持区域可持续发展提供了重要的参考信息, 同时也为区域SJOS框架的构建提供了一种有效的方法。