Mercury uptake and phytotoxicity in terrestrial plants grown naturally in the Gumuskoy (Kutahya) mining area,Turkey

This study investigated mercury (Hg) uptake and transport from the soil to different plant parts by documenting the distribution and accumulation of Hg in the roots and shoots of 12 terrestrial plant species, all of which grow naturally in surface soils of the Gumuskoy Pb-Ag mining area. Plant samples and their associated soils were collected and analyzed for Hg content by ICP-MS. Mean Hg values in the soils, roots, and shoots of all plants were 6.914, 460, and 206 µg kg^?1, respectively and lower than 1. The mean enrichment factors for the roots (ECR) and shoots (ECS) of these plants were 0.06 and 0.09, respectively and lower than 1. These results show that the roots of the studied plants prevented Hg from reaching the aerial parts of the plants. The mean translocation factor (TLF) was 1.29 and higher than 1. The mean TLF values indicated that all 12 plant species had the ability to transfer Hg from the roots to the shoots but that transfer was more efficient in plants with higher ECR and ECS. Therefore, these plants could be useful for the biomonitoring of environmental pollution and for rehabilitating areas contaminated by Hg.     

The current state of the art of quantitative phosphoproteomics and its applications to diabetes research

Protein phosphorylation is a fundamental regulatory mechanism in many cellular processes and aberrant perturbation of phosphorylation has been implicated in various human diseases. Kinases and their cognate inhibitors have been considered as hotspots for drug development. Therefore, the emerging tools, which enable a system-wide quantitative profiling of phosphoproteome, would offer a powerful impetus in unveiling novel signaling pathways, drug targets and/or biomarkers for diseases of interest. This review highlights recent advances in phosphoproteomics, the current state of the art of the technologies and the challenges and future perspectives of this research area. Finally, some exemplary applications of phosphoproteomics in diabetes research are underscored.     

Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination and Potential Ecological Risk in Soils Affected by a Former Mn Mining Activity,Drama District,Northern Greece

Manganese mining activities in the Drama district, northern Greece, have resulted in a legacy of abandoned mine wastes at the “25 km Mn-mine” site. Current research was focused on the western Drama plain (WDP), constituting the recipient of the effluents from Xiropotamos stream, which passes through the “25 km Mn-mine” place. A total of 148 top soil samples were collected and their heavy metals (HMs) concentrations (Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As) were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), and pollution load index (PLI) were calculated as an effort to assess metal accumulation, distribution, and pollution status of the soils due to the former mining activity. The overall potential ecological risk of HMs to the environment was also evaluated using the potential toxicity response index (RI). Results showed that peak values of the elements (13 wt% for Mn, 0.2 wt% for Pb, 0.2 wt% for Zn, 0.1 wt% for As, 153 mg/kg for Cu, and 27.5 mg/kg for Cd) were found in soils from sites close to and along both sides of the Xiropotamos stream. In this sector of WDP, values of EF, Igeo, and PLI classify the soils as moderately to highly polluted with Mn, Pb, Zn, Cd, and As. Based on RI values, soils in this part of WDP display considerable to very great potential ecological risk and, therefore, a remediation has to be applied. The main cause of soil contamination is considered the Xiropotamos downstream transfer and dispersion of Mn mine wastes via flooding episodes.     

基于高通量测序数据构建斑马鱼隐性遗传突变筛选系统

目的:针对斑马鱼高通量测序数据,通过一系列质量控制和突变过滤,构建一套有效隐性遗传突变筛选系统。方法:A)经过与斑马鱼参考基因组比对,利用GATK获得初始的VCF格式突变信息。B)使用perl语言编写本地脚本,对突变信息进行过滤,注释等。C)通过绘制纯合突变点分布图,找出突变富集区域。整合以上步骤,构建出一套针对斑马鱼高通量测序数据的遗传性突变筛选系统。结果:对获得的突变位点进行了一系列的质量控制,定位到具体染色体上的特定区域,并且对获得的突变进行了功能上的注释。结论:本过滤筛选系统能有效控制检测的假阳性率,对斑马鱼致病性的隐性突变位点筛查提供有力参考。     

基于脂质组学技术研究急性缺血性脑卒中临床诊断标志物

目的:急性缺血性脑卒中(Acute ischemic stroke, AIS)是由于血流减少导致的脑功能突然丧失。由于AIS发病机制是异质性和多因素的,我们建立全面的脂质组学方法来阐明AIS进程相关的脂质变化和复杂的脂质代谢网络。方法:选取26例AIS患者血液标本和27例健康志愿者血清作为研究对象,进行总脂抽提,通过基于LC-MS策略的非靶向脂质组学方法进行规模性、整体性的脂质组学分析。结果:对AIS患者和健康志愿者血浆进行大规模脂质定性定量分析,通过Progenesis~? QI软件分析Xevo~? G2-XS QTOF质谱系统MSE采集的子离子数据,精确定量到1054个脂质特征差异,准确定性得到368个脂质分子,多变量统计分析中差异脂质组成能将AIS患者和健康志愿者区分开来,通路富集分析图显示差异脂质主要参与甘油磷脂代谢的紊乱。结论:AIS患者血浆脂质组成与健康志愿者存在显著差异,差异表达的脂质可能与AIS发生有关。这些发现有助于开发新的诊断标志物和AIS治疗靶点。     

Improved expansion of T cells in culture when isolated with an equipment-free,high-throughput,flow-through microfluidic module versus traditional density gradient centrifugation

Background

The isolation of lymphocytes – and removal of platelets (PLTs) and red blood cells (RBCs) – from an initial blood sample prior to culture is a key enabling step for effective manufacture of cellular therapies. Unfortunately, currently available methods suffer from various drawbacks, including low cell recovery, need for complex equipment, potential loss of sterility and/or high materials/labor cost.

31° South: The physiology of adaptation to arid conditions in a passerine bird

Arid environments provide ideal ground for investigating the mechanisms of adaptive evolution. High temperatures and low water availability are relentless stressors for many endotherms, including birds; yet birds persist in deserts. While physiological adaptation probably involves metabolic phenotypes, the underlying mechanisms (plasticity, genetics) are largely uncharacterized. To explore this, we took an intraspecific approach that focused on a species that is resident over a mesic to arid gradient, the Karoo scrub‐robin (Cercotrichas coryphaeus). Specifically, we integrated environmental (climatic and primary productivity), physiological (metabolic rates: a measure of energy expenditure), genotypic (genetic variation underlying the machinery of energy production) and microbiome (involved in processing food from where energy is retrieved) data, to infer the mechanism of physiological adaptation. We that found the variation in energetic physiology phenotypes and gut microbiome composition are associated with environmental features as well as with variation in genes underlying energy metabolic pathways. Specifically, we identified a small list of candidate adaptive genes, some of them with known ties to relevant physiology phenotypes. Together our results suggest that selective pressures on energetic physiology mediated by genes related to energy homeostasis and possibly microbiota composition may facilitate adaptation to local conditions and provide an explanation to the high avian intraspecific divergence observed in harsh environments.     

Evaluation of Enrichment for Reptiles in Zoos

Studies on environmental enrichment for reptiles are lacking in the scientific literature. Although the literature reflects a limited take on reptile enrichment in the zoological community, it may not be the case in reality as enrichment is generally considered an important aspect of the care of nonhuman animals in captivity. This project investigated the current state of reptile enrichment as it is being used in zoos. Although respondents were disproportionately accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the results showed many forms of enrichment being used for reptiles in zoos and happening at much greater levels than what has been suggested in the scientific literature. There were significant differences between a) reptile groups for each form of enrichment, and b) enrichment forms within each reptile group, except with the use of natural enrichment devices and structural/habitat design, which did not differ across all reptile groups. Enrichment goals, assessment methods, and sources of information for reptile enrichment used by zoos suggest the need for more scientific publications for facilities to make evidence-based decisions to improve the welfare of reptiles in captivity.     

CO2加富对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片光合特性及活性氧代谢的影响

以‘津优35号’黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)水培苗为试材,采用裂区设计,主区因素为CO_2浓度处理,设大气CO_2浓度(Symbol{B@400μmol/mol)和CO_2加富[(800±40)μmol/mol]2个CO_2浓度水平,裂区因素为盐胁迫处理,用NaCl模拟盐胁迫,设对照(0 mmol/L NaCl)、盐胁迫(80 mmol/L NaCl)2个盐分水平,研究了CO_2加富对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长、光合特性及活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明:盐胁迫显著抑制黄瓜幼苗的生长,并降低了叶绿素含量、ETR、Φ_(PSII)、核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶(RuBPCase)活性及净光合速率;盐胁迫增加了丙二醛及活性氧的累积,与此同时也提高了脯氨酸含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,但降低了过氧化物酶(POD)活性。CO_2加富显著提高了盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗的株高、茎粗、叶面积及地上部鲜重,降低了叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素及叶绿素(a+b)含量,但显著提高了净光合速率和RuBPCase活性,同时降低了气孔导度及蒸腾速率,并且使其具有较高的表观电子传递速率及PSII实际光化学效率;CO_2加富显著提高了盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片脯氨酸含量及SOD、POD、CAT活性,丙二醛、过氧化氢含量和超氧阴离子产生速率显著降低。综上所述,CO_2加富可通过提高幼苗叶片净光合速率、脯氨酸含量及抗氧化酶活性,降低蒸腾速率、减少丙二醛含量及活性氧的积累,从而缓解盐胁迫对黄瓜植株造成的伤害。     

镉胁迫对紫花苜蓿幼苗生理特性和镉富集的影响

以"甘农三号"紫花苜蓿幼苗为材料,在水培条件下,探究了在10 d内不同浓度(0～2.0 mmol·L^-1)镉(Cd)胁迫对其根长、茎长、生物量、叶绿素和丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性、Cd富集及其亚细胞分布的影响。结果表明:低浓度(0.125 mmol·L^-1) Cd能促进幼苗根和茎的生长,增加叶片叶绿素含量,较高浓度(0.5～2.0 mmol·L^-1) Cd显著抑制幼苗根和茎的生长,叶绿素及生物量显著降低; Cd胁迫使MDA含量显著增加,而SOD和POD活性显著增强,其中Cd胁迫浓度为0.5mmol·L^-1时,SOD和POD活性达到最大值,这可能是植物对环境胁迫的一种应激保护反应; Cd在各亚细胞组分中的含量依次为细胞壁>细胞质>线粒体>叶绿体,且均随Cd胁迫浓度的升高而增加。当Cd胁迫浓度为0.125 mmol·L^-1时,水培10 d的紫花苜蓿幼苗单株地上部对Cd的净化率最高可达0.214%,而整盆植株在单位体积内对Cd的净化率最高可达15.5%;当Cd胁迫浓度为2.0 mmol·L^-1时,紫花苜蓿幼苗地上部Cd含量达89.36μg·g-1。这些结果表明紫花苜蓿对Cd具有很强的富集能力,虽未达到Cd超富集植物的临界标准,但从植株生物量、耐Cd能力、富集Cd量及对Cd的净化率等方面综合考虑,紫花苜蓿在Cd污染土壤的植物修复中具备良好的应用价值。