半导体矿物介导非光合微生物利用光电子新途径

自然界中微生物按其能量代谢途径主要分为两种:光能营养微生物和化能营养微生物.化能营养微生物作为非光能营养微生物长期被排除在以日光为能量来源的能量利用途径之外.本文介绍了一种新的微生物能量利用途径,即非光能营养微生物通过半导体矿物光催化作用来利用太阳能进行生长.实验室模拟体系中,金属氧化物、金属硫化物等天然半导体矿物在模拟日光激发下产生的光电子促进了化能自养与异养微生物的生长.研究结果表明微生物的生长与光子能量和光子数量密切相关,同时不同波长光辐照下的微生物生长情况与矿物的光吸收谱相吻合.这一能量利用途径的光能-生物能转化效率为0.13‰-1.90‰.在含有天然半导体矿物与天然微生物的红壤体系中,进一步发现半导体矿物光催化能够明显改变环境微生物的种群结构.已有的研究揭示了一种新发现并极有可能长期在地球上存在的微生物能量利用途径,即通过自然界中半导体矿物日光催化作用产生的光电子能够促进非光能营养微生物的生长代谢活动.     

The content of protein,fibre and minerals of leaves of selected Acacia species indigenous to north-western Tanzania

Abstract

Browse tree leaves of six species of Acacia (A. angustissima L., A. drepanolobium L., A. nilotica L., A. polyacantha L., A. senegal L., A. tortilis L.) were screened for chemical composition, including minerals and trace elements. Crude protein (CP) varied among the species from 145 (A. senegal) to 229 g/kg DM (A. angustissima). The species had moderate to high levels of minerals. The concentrations of Ca, P, Mg and S varied among the species from 14.6 – 31.5, 3.5 – 4.9, 1.4 – 3.0 and 1.7 – 2.8 g/kg DM, respectively. The forages showed relatively low concentrations of trace elements. Content of trace elements varied among the species from 4.5 – 23.8, 99.4 – 173.6, 146.2 – 432, 41.0 – 90.1, 10.9 – 22.2 and 0.05 – 0.65 mg/kg DM for Cu, Mo, Fe, Mn, Zn and Co, respectively. All leaves of browse species would meet the normal requirements for Ca, P, Mg and S in ruminants, although some species had higher levels of Ca than tabulated mineral requirements in livestock. Assayed Cu, Mn, Zn and Co would satisfy the lower range of recommended requirements of trace elements depending on their bioavailability. Therefore, browse leaves from Acacias could form good sources of CP and mineral supplements to ruminants.     

Plant–soil feedback during biological invasions: effect of litter decomposition from an invasive plant (Sphagneticola trilobata) on its native congener (S. calendulacea)

生物入侵过程中的植物-土壤反馈：一种入侵植物的凋落物分解对其本地近缘植物的影响 植物入侵可通过正或负的植物-土壤反馈效应改变土壤的生物和非生物性质,从而影响入侵栖息地的土壤理化性质。许多入侵物种的凋落物分解可增加土壤养分,降低本地植物多样性,并导致进一步的植物入侵。关于入侵植物凋落物在不同土壤类型及深度分解及反馈效应的研究依然很少。本研究旨在明确入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Sphagneticola trilobata)凋落物在不同土壤类型和不同土壤深度条件下的分解情 况及其对本地近缘植物蟛蜞菊(S. calendulacea)生理生长的影响。将装有南美蟛蜞菊凋落物的尼龙袋加入到不同深度(即0、2、4 和6 cm)的砂土、营养土和粘土中,经6个月的分解后,回收凋落物袋并计算分解速率,随后在凋落物分解处理后的土壤中种植本地蟛蜞菊,并在生长期结束时测量其生理生态指标。研究结果表明,所有处理土壤类型中,凋落物在土壤深度为2和4 cm处分解后显著增加了土壤养分,而对本 地蟛蜞菊的叶片叶绿素、叶氮含量等生长指标表现为负效应。因此,入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊凋落物分解对土壤养分表现为正的反馈效应,而对本地植物蟛蜞菊的生长表现为负效应。我们的研究结果还表明,入侵植物的凋落物分解对土壤和本地物种的影响还因凋落物分解所在的土壤深度而显著不同。未来的研究应侧重于入侵栖息地中更多本地和入侵物种的植物-土壤反馈效应,以及更多土壤类型和土壤深度的入侵植物凋落物效应。     

油藏嗜热菌与膨润土的相互作用及其对储层防膨的意义

[目的]本文从胜利油田沾3区块的高温油藏的原油采出液中分离得到一株嗜热菌,通过其与膨润土的相互作用,尝试探讨油藏微生物作为油藏储层中水敏性矿物（如蒙皂石）改性剂的可能性。[意义]研究结果将在降低水敏矿物的膨胀性能,为解决水驱采油中遇到的水敏效应的瓶颈问题提供微生物的新途径。[结果]所得菌株为革兰氏阳性菌,呈杆状,具芽孢,兼性厌氧,鉴定为Geobacillus icigianus SL-1。菌株SL-1在厌氧条件下能够还原蒙皂石的结构铁。扫描电镜（SEM）结果显示,无菌对照体系中,蒙皂石呈不规则薄片状。而经微生物作用后,除薄片状蒙皂石外,另有板状次生矿物的生成。进一步能谱（EDS）分析表明,与薄片状蒙皂石相比,板状矿物含有较高的Al/Si比值,且含有明显的K⁺信号。XRD结果显示,经过微生物作用后,固相物质中蒙皂石的百分比下降至47.7%,伊利石百分比上升至29.1%,而无菌对照组中蒙皂石的百分含量则为70.4%,伊利石的百分比则为19.8%。XRD物相分析和EDS结果均证实经过微生物作用后,部分蒙皂石转化成了伊利石。膨胀性能的分析进一步揭示菌株SL-1作用后,矿物膨胀性较初始矿物显著降低,缩膨率达到25.9%。以上结果为油藏储层防膨提供了重要的实验依据。     

Anatomical defences against bark beetles relate to degree of historical exposure between species and are allocated independently of chemical defences within trees

Conifers possess chemical and anatomical defences against tree‐killing bark beetles that feed in their phloem. Resins accumulating at attack sites can delay and entomb beetles while toxins reach lethal levels. Trees with high concentrations of metabolites active against bark beetle‐microbial complexes, and more extensive resin ducts, achieve greater survival. It is unknown if and how conifers integrate chemical and anatomical components of defence or how these capabilities vary with historical exposure. We compared linkages between phloem chemistry and tree ring anatomy of two mountain pine beetle hosts. Lodgepole pine, a mid‐elevation species, has had extensive, continual contact with this herbivore, whereas high‐elevation whitebark pines have historically had intermittent exposure that is increasing with warming climate. Lodgepole pine had more and larger resin ducts. In both species, anatomical defences were positively related to tree growth and nutrients. Within‐tree constitutive and induced concentrations of compounds bioactive against bark beetles and symbionts were largely unrelated to resin duct abundance and size. Fewer anatomical defences in the semi‐naïve compared with the continually exposed host concurs with directional differences in chemical defences. Partially uncoupling chemical and morphological antiherbivore traits may enable trees to confront beetles with more diverse defence permutations that interact to resist attack.     

Influence of culture conditions on production and freeze-drying tolerance of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus blastospores

With the goal of developing a defined medium for the production of desiccation-tolerant blastospores of the bioinsecticidal fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, we evaluated the impact of various media components such as amino acids, carbohydrates, trace metals and vitamins on hyphal growth and sporulation of P. fumosoroseus cultures and on the freeze-drying tolerance of blastospores produced under these conditions. A comparison of 13 amino acids as sole nitrogen sources showed that glutamate, aspartate, glycine and arginine supported biomass accumulations (12–16 mg ml⁻¹) and blastospore yields (6–11 × 10⁸ blastospores ml⁻¹) comparable to our standard production medium which contains casamino acids as the nitrogen source. Using glutamate as the sole nitrogen source, tests with various carbohydrates showed that P. fumosoroseus grew best on glucose (18.8 mg biomass ml⁻¹) but produced similar blastospore concentrations (7.3–11.0 × 10⁸) when grown with glucose, glycerol, fructose or sucrose. P. fumosoroseus cultures grown in media with sodium citrate or galactose as the sole carbohydrate produced lower blastospore concentrations but more-desiccation-tolerant spores. Zinc was the only trace metal tested that was required for optimal growth and sporulation. In a defined medium with glutamate as the nitrogen source, vitamins were unnecessary for P. fumosoroseus growth or sporulation. When blastospores were freeze-dried in the absence of a suspension medium, residual glucose (>2.5% w/v) was required for enhanced spore survival. Thus, a defined medium containing basal salts, glucose, glutamate and zinc can be used to produce optimal concentrations of desiccation-tolerant blastospores of P. fumosoroseus. Received 27 October 1998/ Accepted in revised form 06 May 1999     

Plasma micronutrient concentrations in infants undergoing therapy for phenylketonuria

Twenty-seven infants with classical phenylketonuria were evaluated longitudinally for 6 mo while ingesting Phenex^TM -1 Amino Acid Modified Medical Food With Iron as their primary protein source. Intake of selected nutrients and biochemical indices of trace and ultratrace mineral status and plasma retinol and α-tocopherol concentrations were evaluated. The means of iron status indices (complete blood count, plasma ferritin, iron, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity) and the plasma concentrations of trace and ultratrace minerals (copper, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc) and plasma retinol and α-tocopherol were in the reference ranges. Vitamin A intakes (r = 0.49,p < 0.05) and plasma retinol-binding protein concentrations (r = 0.42,p < 0.05) were positively correlated with plasma retinol concentrations at 3 mo of study. At 6 mo, concentrations of plasma transthyretin (r = 0.72,p < 0.01) and retinolbinding protein (r = 0.48,p < 0.05) were positively correlated with plasma retinol concentrations. At 6 mo, concentrations of plasma transthyretin (r = 0.52,p < 0.05) were positively correlated with retinol-binding protein concentrations. Phenex-1 supports normal mean iron status indices and mean concentrations of trace and ultratrace minerals, retinol, and α-tocopherol when fed in adequate amounts.     

Silicon bioavailability studies in young rapidly growing rats and turkeys fed semipurified diets

Two experiments were conducted using completely randomized designs to study the bioavailability of Si from three sources to growing rats and turkeys fed semipurified diets. The basal diets were dextrose-egg albumin for rats and dextrose-casein for turkeys. The Si sources were tetraethylorthosilicate (TES), sodium silicate (NaSil), and sodium zeolite A (NaZA). Rats and turkeys were supplemented at 500 and 270 ppm Si, respectively, from each source. A control group of unsupplemented rats and turkeys was included in each experiment. In general, irrespective of Si source, Si supplementation slowed (p < 0.05 orp < 0.01) growth rates in both rats and turkeys. Although dietary Si supplementation reduced (p < 0.05) plasma Mg levels and liver Zn concentrations in rats, it increased (p < 0.05) plasma P and reduced (p < 0.05) plasma Cu levels in turkeys. Rats on TES had significantly slower (p < 0.05 orp < 0.01) growth rates (5–10%) than those on NaSil or NaZA. In rats, NaZA and TES reduced (p < 0.05) hemoglobin concentrations and plasma Zn, respectively. However, plasma Mg levels were higher (p < 0.05) in TES than NaSil-or NaZA-fed rats. The source of the dietary Si did not affect (p < 0.05) the organ weights of rats and their mineral concentrations. Turkeys on TES diets grew at a significantly faster (p < 0.05) rate (15%) than those on NaSil or NaZA diets during the first 2 wk of experimentation. However, after 4 wk, there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in growth between the Si sources. In turkeys, NaZA increased (p < 0.05) hematocrit levels and plasma Mg levels. Turkeys on NaZA diets had larger (p < 0.05) hearts and livers than those on NaSil but not TES. Liver Mn content was higher (p < 0.05) in turkeys on NaSil than TES or NaZA. Heart Zn was lower (p < 0.05) in turkeys on NaSil than TES, but not NaZA.     

Elemental composition of human milk from mothers of premature and full-term infants during the first 3 months of lactation

To examine longitudinal and gestational effects of mineral content in human milk, we analyzed human milk from lactating mothers of premature (PRT,n = 24, < 2000g birth weight, < 37 wk gestation) and fullterm (FT,n = 19, > 2500g, 39–41 wk gestation), living in Newfoundland, Canada. Samples were collected once a week for 8 wk with one final sample collected at 3 mo. Milk samples collected in acid-washed containers were wet ashed with concentrated HNO₃, and barium, cadmium, calcium, cesium, cobalt, copper, cerium, lanthanum, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, rubidium, tin, strontium, and zinc were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Data were analyzed using standard multiple-regression procedures with correlated data analyses to take account of the relationship between successive weeks. Results indicated lower Ca and Pb in PRT milk. Calcium was the only nutritionally significant element to differ between groups. Molybdenum in both PRT and FT milk showed a definite decrease with time, suggesting that the Mo content in milk is homeostatically regulated. However, Ce, La, Ba, and Sn did not display any pattern indicative of biological regulation and potential human requirement.     

Effects of Nigella sativa L. and Urtica dioica L. on selected mineral status and hematological values in CCl4-treated rats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Nigella sativa L. (NS), known as black seed, or/and Urtica dioica L. (UD), known as stinging nettle root, treatments on serum Na, K, Cl, and Ca levels and some hematological values of CCl₄-treated rats. Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250–300 g, were randomly allotted into 1 of 4 experimental groups: A (CCl₄-only treated), B (CCl₄+UD treated), C (CCl₄+NS treated), and D (CCl₄+UD+NS treated), each containing 15 animals. All groups received CCl₄ (0.8 mL/kg of body weight, subcutaneously, twice a week for 90 d starting d 1). In addition, B, C, and D groups also received the daily ip injection of 0.2 mL/kg NS and/or 2 mL/kg UD oils for 45 d starting d 46. Group A, on the other hand, received only 2 mL/kg normal saline solution for 45 d starting d 46. Blood samples for the biochemical analysis were taken by cardiac puncture from five randomly chosen rats in each treatment group at the beginning, d 45, and d 90 of the experiment. The CCl₄ treatment for 45 d significantly (p<0.05) increased the serum K and Ca and decreased (p<0.05) the red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), and Hb levels without changing (p>0.05) the serum Na and Cl levels. NS or UD treatments (alone or combination) for 45 d starting d 46 significantly (p<0.05) decreased the elevated serum K and Ca levels and also increased (p<0.05) the reduced RBC, WBC, PCV, and Hb levels. It is concluded that NS and/or UD treatments might ameliorate the CCl₄-induced disturbances of anemia, some minerals, and body’s defense mechanism in CCl₄-treated rats.