塔里木河下游地下水埋深对胡杨气体交换和叶绿素荧光的影响

为了分析干旱环境下地下水埋深变化对胡杨(Populus euphratica oliv.)光合作用的影响,对塔里木河下游3个地下水埋深(4.91,6.93m和8.44m)环境下胡杨叶片的气体交换日变化、光响应曲线、PN-C_i曲线以及叶绿素荧光特性等进行了比较研究。研究结果表明:当地下水埋深从4.91m增加到6.93m和8.44m,胡杨光合速率(P_N)(10:00),初始荧光(F₀)、最大荧光(F_m)、以及PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Ω_PSⅡ)、电子传递速率(ETR)、非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)和正午叶水势(Ψ_midday)等都发生了明显变化,其中胡杨NPQ增加了109% 127%,Ω_PSⅡ,ETR和Ψ_midday分别减小了24% 29%,17% 22%和31.6% 45.6%,表明胡杨受到的干旱胁迫程度在增加;而当地下水埋深在6.93 8.44m之间时,上述参数无显著变化,表明胡杨很可能处于相同干旱胁迫程度;并且在地下水埋深4.91 8.44m范围内,最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m),表观量子效率(φ),Rubisco羧化速率(V_cmax), 等参数都未发生明显变化,表明即使地下水埋深增加到8.44m,此时的干旱胁迫程度也未超过胡杨的耐受能力,其光合能力也未受到不可逆转的伤害。     

Notch1 augments intracellular trafficking of adeno-associated virus type 2

We report here the significance of the Notch1 receptor in intracellular trafficking of recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (rAAV2). RNA profiling of human prostate cancer cell lines with various degrees of AAV transduction indicated a correlation of the amount of Notch1 with rAAV transgene expression. A definitive role of Notch1 in enhancing AAV transduction was confirmed by developing clonal derivatives of DU145 cells overexpressing either full-length or intracellular Notch1. To discern stages of AAV2 transduction influenced by Notch1, competitive binding with soluble heparin and Notch1 antibody, intracellular trafficking using Cy3-labeled rAAV2, and blocking assays for proteasome and dynamin pathways were performed. Results indicated that in the absence or low-level expression of Notch1, only binding of virus was found on the cell surface and internalization was impaired. However, increased Notch1 expression in these cells allowed efficient perinuclear accumulation of labeled capsids. Nuclear transport of the vector was evident by transgene expression and real-time PCR analyses. Dynamin levels were not found to be different among these cell lines, but blocking dynamin function abrogated AAV2 transduction in DU145 clones overexpressing full-length Notch1 but not in clones overexpressing intracellular Notch1. These studies provide evidence for the role of activated Notch1 in intracellular trafficking of AAV2, which may have implications in the optimal use of AAV2 in human gene therapy.     

Upregulation of Stromal Cell–Derived Factor 1 (SDF-1) is Associated with Macrophage Infiltration in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Background

Stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1) is a chemotactic and angiogenic factor that mediates the repair of various tissues. As macrophages are important contributors to ischemic kidney injury, we examine the role of SDF-1 in a rodent model of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Methods

Male wild-type (WT) (C57BL/6) mice were subjected to bilateral I/R injury or sham operation in the presence or absence of macrophage depletion (liposomal clodronate [0.2 ml/20–25 g body weight i.p.]). Macrophage accumulation was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Tissue levels of SDF-1 (ELISA) and SDF-1 mRNA expression (real-time PCR) were measured. The cellular location of SDF-1 was assessed using immunohistochemical staining.

Results

Immunofluorescence staining of renal tissue sections confirmed macrophage depletion by liposomal clodronate. SDF-1 production was elevated in response to I/R injury and was significantly increased upon macrophage depletion. SDF-1 positive cells initially appeared initially in the cortex, and subsequently diffused to the outer medulla after I/R injury.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that SDF-1 is significantly upregulated during renal I/R. We hypothesize that SDF-1 upregulation may be an important macrophage effector mechanism during I/R injury.     

The Functional TP53 rs1042522 and MDM4 rs4245739 Genetic Variants Contribute to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Risk

As a heterogeneous kind of malignances, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematologic cancer worldwide with the significantly increased morbidity in China. Accumulated evidences demonstrated that oncoprotein MDM4 plays a crucial role in the TP53 tumor suppressor signaling pathway. An rs4245739 A>C polymorphism locating in the MDM4 3′-untranslated region creates a miR-191 target site and results in allele-specific MDM4 expression. In this study, we examined the association between this polymorphism as well as the TP53 Arg72Pro (rs1042522 G>C) genetic variant and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) risk in a Chinese Han population. Genotypes were determined in 200 NHL cases and 400 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by logistic regression. We found significantly increased NHL risk among carriers of the TP53 72Pro allele compared with those with the 72Arg allele (P = 0.002 for the Pro/Pro genotype). We also observed a significantly decreased NHL risks among carriers of the MDM4 rs4245739 C allele compared with those with the A allele in Chinese (P = 0.014 for the AC genotype). Stratified analyses revealed the associations between these SNPs and NHL risk are especially noteworthy in young or male individuals. Additionally, the associations are much pronounced in NHL patients with B-cell lymphomas or grade 3 or 4 disease. Our results indicate that the TP53 Arg72Pro and the MDM4 rs4245739 polymorphisms contribute to NHL susceptibility and support the hypothesis that genetic variants in the TP53 pathway genes can act as important modifiers of NHL risk.     

A low-cost microfluidic chip for rapid genotyping of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes

Background

Vector control is one of the most effective measures to prevent the transmission of malaria, a disease that causes over 600,000 deaths annually. Around 30–40 Anopheles mosquito species are natural vectors of malaria parasites. Some of these species cannot be morphologically distinguished, but have behavioral and ecological differences. Emblematic of this is the Anopheles gambiae species complex. The correct identification of vector species is fundamental to the development of control strategies and epidemiological studies of disease transmission.

Methodology/Principal Findings

An inexpensive, disposable, field-deployable, sample-to-answer, microfluidic chip was designed, constructed, and tested for rapid molecular identification of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis. The chip contains three isothermal amplification reactors. One test reactor operates with specific primers to amplify Anopheles gambiae DNA, another with specific primers for Anopheles arabiensis DNA, and the third serves as a negative control. A mosquito leg was crushed on an isolation membrane. Two discs, laden with mosquito tissue, were punched out of the membrane and inserted into the two test chambers. The isolated, disc-bound DNA served as a template in the amplification processes. The amplification products were detected with intercalating fluorescent dye that was excited with a blue light-emitting diode. The emitted light was observed by eye and recorded with a cell-phone camera. When the target consisted of Anopheles gambiae, the reactor containing primers specific to An. gambiae lit up while the other two reactors remained dark. When the target consisted of Anopheles arabiensis, the reactor containing primers specific to An. arabiensis lit up while the other two reactors remained dark.

Conclusions/Significance

The microfluidic chip provides a means to identify mosquito type through molecular analysis. It is suitable for field work, allowing one to track the geographical distribution of mosquito populations and community structure alterations due to environmental changes and malaria intervention measures.     

Particle Erosion Resistance of Bionic Samples Inspired from Skin Structure of Desert Lizard, Laudakin stoliczkana

In order to improve the particle erosion resistance of engineering surfaces,this paper proposed a bionic sample which is inspired from the skin structure of desert lizard,Laudakin stoliczkana.The bionic sample consists of a hard shell (aluminum) and a soft core (silicone rubber) which form a two-layer composite structure.The sand blast tests indicated that the bionic sample has better particle erosion resistance.In steady erosion period,the weight loss per unit time of the bionic sample is about 10％ smaller than the contrast sample.The anti-erosion mechanism of the bionic sample was studied by single particle impact test.The results show that,after the impact,the kinetic energy of the particle is reduced by 56.5％ on the bionic sample which is higher than that on the contrast sample (31.2％).That means the bionic sample can partly convert the kinetic energy of the particle into the deformation energy of the silicone rubber layer,thus the erosion is reduced.     

小叶章生态系统根际土壤微生物及CO2、CH4、N2O动态

研究了培养 4 5 d的小叶章根际土壤微生物和二氧化碳 ,甲烷及氧化亚氮产生与消耗之间的关系。结果表明好氧微生物与厌氧微生物的空间分布与甲烷 ,二氧化碳及氧化亚氮的产生和氧化有着密切的关系。好氧微生物与甲烷产生呈负相关 ,与二氧化碳和氧化亚氮的产生呈正相关关系。厌氧微生物与甲烷的产生呈正相关 ,与二氧化碳和氧化亚氮的产生呈负相关关系     

p21~(HBsAg/HBsAg)转基因小鼠肝脏病理学研究

[目的]观察p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏病理学改变。[方法]分别选取2,6,12,18,24月龄的SPF级p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠和p21+/+野生型小鼠,剖检进行大体观察,取肝脏及肝脏肿瘤组织,进行组织学HE染色及电镜超微结构观察。[结果]p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏大体、光镜和电镜下均有的明显病理改变。随着月龄的增加,肝脏色暗质硬,表面有结节和肿瘤形成;光镜下,肝细胞浊肿,炎症细胞浸润,脂肪变性,点状、灶状和碎屑状坏死,非典型增生,肝细胞癌。癌细胞分化良好,类似肝细胞,形成索状和腺泡状结构。癌细胞核深染,具核分裂像。电镜下,癌细胞核变形,核膜曲折凹陷,线粒体肿胀,数目增多,脊减少。4例18月龄转基因小鼠发生肝细胞癌(4/10),6例24月龄的转基因小鼠发生肝细胞癌(6/10),其中2例发现远处转移;[结论]p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏出现明显病理损害,18月龄小鼠开始发展成高分化的肝细胞癌,高龄小鼠形成的肝细胞癌能够转移。     

闽东北海域中华管鞭虾种群聚集特性

以负二项参数、平均拥挤度和聚块指数为种群分布格局强度指标,分析了闽东北海域中华管鞭虾(Solenocera crassicornis)种群聚集特性,探讨了种群聚集特性的驱动因子。结果表明,中华管鞭虾种群聚集强度较强,个体平均拥挤度较高,种群主要集中于少数团聚的斑块,不同季节种群聚集特性差异显著,春季,种群聚集强度较强,个体平均拥挤度最低,种群主要由单一团聚的斑块组成;夏季,种群聚集强度较弱,个体平均拥挤度高,种群主要由4个斑块组成;秋季,种群聚集强度最弱,个体平均拥挤度较低,种群主要由7个斑块组成;冬季,种群聚集强度最强,个体平均拥挤度最高,种群主要由单一团聚的大斑块组成。随着个体生长速度的增大,种群呈现扩散的趋势,饵料浮游动物生物量和底层水温是影响种群聚集强度的主要因子。