“强基计划”背景下生物学实验教学改革——以“生物学综合设计”课程为例北大核心CSCD

人才培养是未来国家竞争的核心。“强基计划”是我国对基础学科拔尖创新人才培养模式的重要探索,是满足国家重大战略人才需求的重要举措。“强基计划”招收的学生,往往成绩优异、兴趣浓厚,这为相关学科的人才培养模式提出了新要求和新目标。其中,“强基计划”背景下的基础教学改革势在必行。超学科教育理念(science,technology,engineering,arts,mathematics,STEAM)作为一种跨学科的综合性教育理念,与“强基计划”的建设理念不谋而合。鉴于此,天津大学生命科学学院根据“强基计划”背景下生物学科人才培养目标,结合STEAM教育理念,以“生物学综合设计”课程为例,对生物学实验教学改革进行了探索与实践。     

Extracellular vesicles derived from Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid from patients: isolation,characterization and evaluation of immunomodulatory functions on T cells

Cystic echinococcosis is a chronic and complex zoonotic disease. The mechanisms underlying the parasite’s establishment, growth and persistence are not completely understood, and are thought be modulated by a crosstalk through extracellular vesicles. Here, EVs were isolated from the hydatid cyst fluid of patients with cystic echinococcosis and protoscolex culture supernatant. Proteomic analysis of these EVs revealed several parasite- and human-derived proteins. Very few studies have performed proteomic analysis of EVs isolated from HCF and PCS. Our proteomic analysis of the EVs derived from HCF and PCS facilitated identification of 1175 proteins, wherein 1026 and 38 proteins were exclusively identified in the EVs derived from HCF (HCF-EVs) and PCS (PCS-EVs), respectively, and 111 proteins were shared in both. The results of co-culture of PCS-EVs with murine peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed that PCS-EVs significantly regulated T lymphocyte functions in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, our results provide valuable information on parasite survival strategies and new insights into the role of these EVs in the establishment and persistence of hydatid cysts.     

中国产3种防己科植物细胞学研究

报道了3种国产防己科植物的染色体数目。金线吊乌龟Stephania cepharantha Hayata为二倍体2n=22,部分居群的一些个体存在B染色体;轮环藤Cyclea racemosa Oliv．为二倍体2n=24;木防己CDcculus orbiculatus(L)DC为四倍体2n=4x=52.3个种的染色体基数分别为x=11,12,13。观察了木防己的小孢子母细胞减数分裂过程,其减数分裂过程正常,且花粉粒具较高活性。     

Two‐dimensional reference map for the basic proteome of the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of the prefrontal lobe region of the brain

We describe a 2‐DE proteomic reference map containing 227 basic proteins in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex region of the human brain. Proteins were separated in the first dimension on pH 6–11 IPG strips using paper‐bridge loading and on 12% SDS‐PAGE in the second dimension. Proteins were subsequently identified by MS and spectra were analyzed using an in‐house proteomics data analysis platform, Proline. The 2‐DE reference map is available via the UCD 2‐DE Proteome Database ( http://proteomics‐portal.ucd.ie:8082 ) and can also be accessed via the WORLD‐2DPAGE Portal ( http://www.expasy.ch/world‐2dpage/ ). The associated protein identification data have been submitted to the PRIDE database (accession numbers 10018–10033). Separation of proteins in the basic region resolves more membrane associated proteins relevant to the synaptic pathology central to many neurological disorders. The 2‐DE reference map will aid with further characterisation of neurological disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia.     

BMPs induce dermal markers and ectopic feather tracts

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is known to be involved in multiple inductive events during embryogenesis including the development of amniote skin. Here, we demonstrate that early application of BMP-2 to the lateral trunk of chick embryos induces the formation of dense dermis, which is competent to participate in feather development. We show that BMPs induce the dermis markers Msx-1 and cDermo-1 and lead to dermal proliferation, to expression of β-catenin, and eventually to the formation of ectopic feather tracts in originally featherless regions of chick skin. Moreover, we present a detailed analysis of cDermo-1 expression during early feather development. The data implicate that cDermo-1 is located downstream of BMP in a signaling pathway that leads to condensation of dermal cells. The roles of BMP and cDermo-1 during development of dermis and feather primordia are discussed.     

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Taxus chinensis var. mairei (Taxaceae): loss of an inverted repeat region and comparative analysis with related species

Taxus chinensis var. mairei (Taxaceae) is a domestic variety of yew species in local China. This plant is one of the sources for paclitaxel, which is a promising antineoplastic chemotherapy drugs during the last decade. We have sequenced the complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast (cp) genome of T. chinensis var. mairei. The T. chinensis var. mairei cp genome is 129,513 bp in length, with 113 single copy genes and two duplicated genes (trnI-CAU, trnQ-UUG). Among the 113 single copy genes, 9 are intron-containing. Compared to other land plant cp genomes, the T. chinensis var. mairei cp genome has lost one of the large inverted repeats (IRs) found in angiosperms, fern, liverwort, and gymnosperm such as Cycas revoluta and Ginkgo biloba L. Compared to related species, the gene order of T. chinensis var. mairei has a large inversion of ~ 110 kb including 91 genes (from rps18 to accD) with gene contents unarranged. Repeat analysis identified 48 direct and 2 inverted repeats 30 bp long or longer with a sequence identity greater than 90%. Repeated short segments were found in genes rps18, rps19 and clpP. Analysis also revealed 22 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci and almost all are composed of A or T.     

Cloning,expression and cellular localization of the Doublesex gene in the water flea, Daphnia carinata, during different developmental stages

In this study, one of Doublesex genes from the common freshwater cladoceran Daphnia carinata, designated DapcaDsx1, was cloned using primers based on homologous sequences and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). qPCR was employed to quantify differences in DapcaDsx1 expression between the different sexual phases, with expression levels being higher in sexual females. The role of DapcaDsx1 in the reproductive transformation was further investigated in parthenogenetic-phase females and sexual-phase females using whole-mount in situ hybridization. This cellular localization study showed specific expression of DapcaDsx1 in the thoracic segments, second antenna and part of the ventral carapace. Higher expression levels were exhibited in sexual females compared to parthenogenetic females. This suggests that the DapcaDsx1 gene plays significant roles in switching modes of reproduction and during sexual differentiation.