A fluorescent sterol probe study of cholesterol/phospholipid membranes

The behavior of dehydroergosterol in -α-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) unsonicated multilamellar liposomes was characterized by absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence measurements. Dehydroergosterol exhibited a lowered absorption coefficient in multilamellar liposomes whiel the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of dehydroergosterol in these membranes decreased significantly with increasing dehydroergosterol concentration, suggesting membrane sterol-sterol interactions. The comparative steady-state anisotropy of 0.9 mole percent dehydroergosterol in multilamellar liposomes was lower than in small unilamellar vesicles suggesting different sterol environments for dehydroergosterol. Dehydroergosterol fluorescence lifetime was relatively independent of membrane sterol content and yielded similar values in sonicated and unsonicated model membranes. In multilamellar liposomes containing 5 mole percent cholesterol, the gel-to-liqui crystalline phase transition of DMPC detected by 0.9 mole percent dehydroergosterol was significantly broadened when compared to the phase transition detected by dehydroergosterol in the absence of membrane cholesterol (Smutzer, G. et al. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 862, 361–371). In multilamellar liposomes containing 10 mole percent cholesterol, the major fluorescence lifetime of dehydroergosterol did not detect the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition of DMPC. Time-correlated fluorescence anisotropy decays of dehydroergosterol in DMPC multilamellar liposomes in the absence and presence of 5 mole percent cholesterol exhibited a single rotational correlation time near one nanosecond that was relatively independent of temperature and low concentrations of membrane cholesterol. The limiting anisotropy of 0.9 mole percent dehydroergosterol decreased above the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition in membranes without cholesterol and was not significantly affected by the phase transition in membranes containing 5 mole percent cholesterol. These results suggested hindered rotational diffusion of dehydroergosterol in multilamellar liposomes. Lifetime and time-correlated fluorescence measurements of 0.9 mole percent dehydroergosterol in multilamellar liposomes further suggested this fluorophore was detecting physical properties of the bulk membrane phospholipids in membranes devoid of cholesterol and was detecting sterol-rich regions in membranes of low sterol concentration.     

实夜蛾亚科的种间杂交研究进展

本文综述了实夜蛾亚科的种间杂交研究进展 ,包括已进行种间杂交的种类 ,H eliothis virescens和 H eliothis subflexa杂交后的回交雄虫不育现象、机理、杂种后代与其它生物的关系 ,以及在遗传防治上的应用     

Structural characterization of the lipid A region of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida lipopolysaccharide

The lipid A components of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida from strains A449, 80204-1 and an in vivo rough isolate were isolated by mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide. Structural studies carried out by a combination of fatty acid, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses confirmed that the structure of lipid A was conserved among different isolates of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. All analyzed strains contained three major lipid A molecules differing in acylation patterns corresponding to tetra-, penta- and hexaacylated lipid A species and comprising 4'-monophosphorylated beta-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose-(1-->6)-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose disaccharide, where the reducing end 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose was present primarily in the alpha-pyranose form. Electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry fragment pattern analysis, including investigation of the inner-ring fragmentation, allowed the localization of fatty acyl residues on the disaccharide backbone of lipid A. The tetraacylated lipid A structure containing 3-(dodecanoyloxy)tetradecanoic acid at N-2',3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at N-2 and 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at O-3, respectively, was found. The pentaacyl lipid A molecule had a similar fatty acid distribution pattern and, additionally, carried 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at O-3'. In the hexaacylated lipid A structure, 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at O-3' was esterified with a secondary 9-hexadecenoic acid. Interestingly, lipid A of the in vivo rough isolate contained predominantly tetra- and pentaacylated lipid A species suggesting that the presence of the hexaacyl lipid A was associated with the smooth-form lipopolysaccharide.     

Learning and signal copying facilitate communication among bird species

Signals relevant to different sets of receivers in different contexts create a conflict for signal design. A classic example is vocal alarm signals, often used both during intraspecific and interspecific interactions. How can signals alert individuals from a variety of other species in some contexts, while also maintaining efficient communication among conspecifics? We studied heterospecific responses to avian alarm signals that drive the formation of anti-predator groups but are also used during intraspecific interactions. In three species-rich communities in the western Himalayas, alarm signals vary drastically across species. We show that, independently of differences in their calls, birds respond strongly to the alarm signals of other species with which they co-occur and much more weakly to those of species with which they do not co-occur. These results suggest that previous exposure and learning maintain heterospecific responses in the face of widespread signal divergence. At an area where only two species regularly interact, one species'' calls incorporate the call of the other. We demonstrate experimentally that signal copying allows strong responses even without previous exposure and suggest that such hybrid calls may be especially favoured when pairwise interactions between species are strong.     

新疆甘草属的种间杂交

试验以居群为单位的新疆甘草属７个种进行种间人工杂交。通过对种间杂交结实量（ＲＳ）和亲本种平均结实量（ＲＳｍ和ＲＳｆ）的分析比较,测出相应的杂交结实指数（ＩＳ）、初步了解种间杂交亲和性的大小,为甘草属植物系统与演化的研究提供参考依据。     

Intra- and interspecific predation on four life stage groups by the adult females of Metaseiulus occidentalis, Typhlodromus pyri, Neoseiulus fallacis and Amblyseius andersoni

Do adult females of oligophagous species such as Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) and Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) show less intra- and interspecific predation on phytoseiids when other foods are scarce than polyphagous species such as Amblyseius andersoni Chant and Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten? We caged single adult females of each species without food with ten of their own eggs or larvae, with ten eggs or larvae of the other species or with ten nymphs or adult females of M. occidentalis (T. pyri for M. occidentalis). We assessed the ambulatory activity, survival time, egg levels and prey loss in each test. Polyphages (in particular T. pyri) lived longer than oligophages (in particular N. fallacis) without food. The small T. pyri detected its own stages and benefited most by feeding on small active stages of other species. Amblyseius andersoni, the largest mite, fed and gained the most of any species when held with nymphs and female adults. Metaseiulus occidentalis fed on eggs of all four species to enhance survival. The large hyperactive N. fallacis gained the least from these behaviours. Each mite seemed uniquely adapted to survive conditions of scarce prey and these behaviours may explain their roles in phytoseiid mite complexes. Overall, oligophagous adult females fed less and gained less by feeding on phytoseiids than did polyphagous adult females.     

Brain GABA and glutamate levels in workers of two ant species （Hymenoptera： Formicidae）： Interspecific differences and effects of queen presence/absence

Presence of amino acid neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid （GABA） and glutamate （Glu） in ant brains was reported in very few studies. To learn more about factors influencing GABA and Glu levels in ant brains, we applied high-performance liquid chromatography to measure levels of these compounds in single brains of workers of 2 ant species, Myrmica ruginodis （subfamily Myrmicinae） and Formica polyctena （subfamily Formicinae） taken from queenright/queenless colony fragments and tested in dyadic aggression tests consisting of an encounter with a nestrnate, an alien conspecific or a small cricket. Brain glutamate levels were higher than those of GABA in both tested species. Brain GABA levels （in μmol/brain） and GABA ： Glu ratio were higher in M. ruginodis （a submissive species） than in E polyctena （a dominant, aggressive species） in spite of smaller brain weight of M. ruginodis. Brain glutamate levels （in μmol/brain） did not differ between the tested species, which implies that glutamate concentration （in μmol/mg of brain tissue） was higher in M. ruginodis. Queen absence was associated with increased worker brain GABA levels in E polyctena, but not in M. ruginodis. No significant effects of opponent type were discovered. As GABA agonists enhance friendly social behavior in rodents, we hypothesize that elevated brain GABA levels of orphaned workers of F.polyctena facilitate the adoption of a new queen. This is the first report providing information on GABA and glutamate levels in single ant brains and documenting the effects of queen presence/absence on brain levels of amino acid neurotransmitters in workers of social Hymenoptera.     

南盘江流域细叶云南松次生林群落主要木本种群的种间联结

该研究运用方差比率法、χ~2检验、Pearson相关检验和Spearman轶相关检验,对广西雅长兰科植物国家级自然保护区南盘江流域的细叶云南松(Pinus yunnanensis Franch.var.tenuifolia Cheng et Law)次生林14个大树树种(DBH≥10cm)、15个小树树种(5cm≤DBH10cm)和19个幼树树种(1cm≤DBH5cm)进行定量分析,以揭示南盘江流域细叶云南松次生林群落中木本种群的关联性及其更新演替规律,为桂西北细叶云南松林管理保护、干热河谷地区植被恢复和生态重建提供参考依据。结果表明:(1)研究区内细叶云南松林大树和小树的总体关联性表现为不显著负关联,幼树及群落总体表现为不显著正关联;χ~2检验显示,大树和小树负关联种对占多数(分别为48.35%和46.67%),幼树的正关联或负关联种对占比基本持平(分别为40.35%和39.18%),群落整体无关联种对占比较大(41.13%)。(2)Pearson相关系数和Spearman秩相关系数检验显示,细叶云南松林的大树、小树、幼树和群落总体均表现为负关联种对较多,正关联次之。(3)群落大树和小树物种在资源竞争上较激烈,结构不稳定;群落幼树物种适应了林下荫蔽环境,对光照要求较低,种间关系已具有较低的稳定性,个别物种表现出独立性。研究认为,南盘江流域细叶云南松次生林群落物种间存在一定的关联性,但未能形成稳定的配置关系,群落结构尚不稳定,仍处于演替早期阶段。     

The behavioural ecology of marine cleaning mutualisms

Cleaning interactions, in which a small ‘cleaner’ organism removes and often consumes material from a larger ‘client’, are some of the most enigmatic and intriguing of interspecies interactions. Early research on cleaning interactions canonized the view that they are mutualistic, with clients benefiting from parasite removal and cleaners benefiting from a meal, but subsequent decades of research have revealed that the dynamics of these interactions can be highly complex. Despite decades of research on marine cleaning interactions (the best studied cleaning systems), key questions remain, including how the outcome of an individual cleaning interaction depends on ecological, behavioural, and social context, how such interactions arise, and how they remain stable over time. Recently, studies of marine parasites, long-term data from coral reef communities with and without cleaners, increased behavioural observations recorded using remote video, and a focus on a larger numbers of cleaning species have helped bring about key conceptual advances in our understanding of cleaning interactions. In particular, evidence now suggests that the ecological, behavioural, and social contexts of a given cleaning interaction can result in the outcome ranging from mutualistic to parasitic, and that cleaning interactions are mediated by signals that can also vary with context. Signals are an important means by which animals extract information about one another, and thus represent a mechanism by which interspecific partners can determine when, how, and with whom to interact. Here, I review our understanding of the behavioural ecology of marine cleaning interactions. In particular, I argue that signals provide a useful framework for advancing our understanding of several important outstanding questions. I discuss the costs and benefits of cleaning interactions, review how cleaners and clients recognize and assess one another using signals, and discuss how signal reliability, or ‘honesty’, may be maintained in cleaning systems. Lastly, I discuss the sensory ecology of both cleaners and clients to highlight what marine cleaning systems can tell us about signalling behaviour, signal form, and signal evolution in a system where signals are aimed at multiple receiver species. Overall, I argue that future research on cleaning interactions has much to gain by continuing to shift the research focus toward examining the variable outcomes of cleaning interactions in relation to the broader behavioural, social, and ecological contexts.     

Ecology of invasive mosquitoes: effects on resident species and on human health

Investigations of biological invasions focus on patterns and processes that are related to introduction, establishment, spread and impacts of introduced species. This review focuses on the ecological interactions operating during invasions by the most prominent group of insect vectors of disease, mosquitoes. First, we review characteristics of non-native mosquito species that have established viable populations, and those invasive species that have spread widely and had major impacts, testing whether biotic characteristics are associated with the transition from established non-native to invasive. Second, we review the roles of interspecific competition, apparent competition, predation, intraguild predation and climatic limitation as causes of impacts on residents or as barriers to invasion. We concentrate on the best-studied invasive mosquito, Aedes albopictus, evaluating the application of basic ecological theory to invasions by Aedes albopictus. We develop a model based on observations of Aedes albopictus for effects of resource competition and predation as barriers to invasion, evaluating which community and ecosystem characteristics favour invasion. Third, we evaluate the ways in which invasive mosquitoes have contributed to outbreaks of human and animal disease, considering specifically whether invasive mosquitoes create novel health threats, or modify disease transmission for existing pathogen-host systems.