Endophytic bacterial flora in the stem tissue of a tropical maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) genotype: isolation,identification and enumeration

The genotypic diversity of indigenous bacterial endophytes within stem of tropical maize (Zea mays L.) was determined in field and greenhouse experiments. Strains were isolated from stem tissues of a tropical maize cultivar (PEHM-1) by trituration and surface disinfestation and their population dynamics was determined. Endophytes were found in most of the growing season at populations ranging from 1.36–6.12 × 10⁵ colony-forming units per gram fresh weight (c.f.u./gm fw) of stem. Analysis of these bacterial endophytes using Gas Chromatography—Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (GC-FAME) led to the identification of Bacillus pumilus, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and P. fluorescens as the relatively more predominant group of bacterial species residing in maize stem. When the maize seedlings grown in a greenhouse were inoculated with these four isolates individually, their population densities decreased (1.6–3.1 × 10⁵ c.f.u./gm fw of stem) as compared to the field-grown maize (1.8–3.8 × 10⁵ c.f.u./gm fw of stem). The highest persistence, however, was recovered in the case of B. subtilis with a population density of 3.1 × 10⁵ c.f.u./gm fw of stem tissue on 28 days after emergence (DAE). This is the first report on population dynamics of bacterial endophytes from tropical maize and the results establish that symptomless populations of bacteria exist in the maize stem.     

Ecological–genetic approach in modeling the natural evolution of a population: Prospects and special aspects of verification

This study presents a complex approach for modeling the natural evolution of a population in terms of population number and dynamics of the genetic structure. A set of dynamic models that consider various types of natural selection was applied to describe possible mechanisms underlying the formation of existing genetic variations in litter sizes in coastal, inland, and farmed arctic fox populations (Alopex lagopus, family Canidae, order Carnivora). The r–K selection model for uniform population and the models with natural selection were assessed on various life cycle stages in a two-age population. The life cycle of arctic fox was fitted to the population model with two age stages. The different reproductive potentials and survivability of progeny on the early stage of life cycle were genetically determined using the model with a single diallelic gene. A monomorphism was obtained for a considered characteristic in a population of coastal arctic fox with constant food supply. Meanwhile, a polymorphism with cyclic fluctuations in population number and gene frequency was obtained in inland arctic fox populations, which could be due to cyclic fluctuations of prey. In farmed fox populations, the considered gene becomes pleiotropic (defines the survival rate of individuals on early and late stages of the life cycle) because of artificial selection performed by farmers to increase the reproductive success of breeders. The application of an appropriate model (with selection by pleiotropic gene) can be used to determine the elimination rate of low litter size alleles from the farmed populations. The possible applications of the proposed models for formulating and solving optimal control tasks in arctic fox populations are discussed too.     

Pollen and gene flow in fragmented habitats

Abstract. Habitat fragmentation affects both plants and pollinators. Habitat fragmentation leads to changes in species richness, population number and size, density, and shape, thus to changes in the spatial arrangement of flowers. These changes influence the amount of food for flower-visiting insects and the quantity and quality of pollinations. Seed set in small populations is often reduced and genetic variation is expected but not always found to be low. The majority of studies show that low flower densities have reduced pollination success and higher inbreeding. Density effects are stronger than size effects. Most studies concluded that species richness in flower-visiting insects is directly related to richness in plant species. However, the consequences of low insect species richness for pollination are not always clear, depending on the studied pollinator-plant relationship. The effects of the presence of simultaneously flowering species are highly dependent on the circumstances and may range from competition to facilitation. Other flowering plant species may play a role as stepping stones or corridor in the connection between populations. In the absence of stepping stones even short distances between populations act as strong barriers for gene flow. We illustrate the present review paper with own data collected for three plant species, rare in The Netherlands: Phyteuma spicatum ssp. nigrum (Campanulaceae), Salvia pratensis (Labiatae) and Scabiosa columbaria (Dipsacaceae). The species differ in their breeding systems and in the assemblage of visitor species. Data are shown on the effects of population size on species richness with consequences for seed set. Effects of flower density and isolation on pollen exchange are given. Since plant reproduction depends on the behaviour of individual insects and not on the overall behaviour of the species, the examples all point to individual insects and extrapolate to effects at the species level.     

肺癌气道播散的研究概况

2015年,世界卫生组织对肺癌的分类提出了气道播散(spread through air spaces,STAS)的概念,作为肺腺癌侵袭的新模式。STAS指的是肺癌细胞在肺实质内经气道播散到肿瘤主灶边缘以外。近年来,随着对STAS研究的深入,研究结果表明STAS作为一种侵袭方式与其他侵袭行为和转移有关。STAS与肺癌的预后存在密切联系,并且与复发的风险独立相关。而选择的手术方式不同,STAS阳性患者的预后大不相同。在影像学方面,STAS有着其特殊的影像学特征,这些影像学特征可以作为STAS可能性估计的工具。因此能否通过影像学等方法判断出是否有STAS存在对选择手术方式和改善患者预后有重要指导意义。这篇综述将重点阐述近年来STAS在与不同类型肺癌的联系、影像学、基因突变等方面的研究概况。     

冰川退缩地15种丛藓科植物茎的比较结构学观察

应用石蜡切片和扫描电镜方法对一号冰川退缩地生长的15种丛藓科植物茎的结构及表面微形态特征进行观察,结果表明：该地区的15种丛藓科植物的茎分为具中轴和无中轴两类,其细胞壁均有不同程度的加厚。而具中轴的丛藓科植物的茎又分为表皮、皮部、中轴三部分,茎表皮细胞短,1层,细胞壁大多向外突出,表面粗糙,表面纹饰多为颗粒状;皮部所占面积最大,大部分有内、外皮部的分化,大多数种的细胞壁由外向内逐渐变薄,细胞由小到大整齐排列;中轴所占的面积也不同,其细胞壁多具角隅加厚;而没有中轴分化的种类,其各自细胞壁加厚的程度基本一致。     

中国结节性硬化症患者的临床特点及诊断现状分析

目的:回顾结节性硬化症(TSC)在中国的诊断现状,分析中国TSC患者的临床特点,促进TSC的识别、规范化诊治和管理。方法:在维普数据库、万方数据库、中国知网、中国生物医学文献数据库、PubMed数据库中全面检索2001年-2014年13年间国内外发表的关于中国患者TSC的269篇所涉及的3171例TSC患者从皮肤、神经系统、肾脏、心脏、肺等多系统的临床特点对文献进行了统计和分析,并对TSC患者遗传学方面的基因检测情况进行了归纳和总结。结果:对照2012年TSC诊断指南,在对诊断标准中主要指征的报道中,共有247篇文献对2607例TSC患者的皮肤损害进行了描述,212篇文献对2395例TSC患者的神经系统损害的影像学表现进行了报道,有55篇文献报道了对348例患者进行的眼底检查中发现多发性视网膜错构瘤84例,32篇文献报道了对282例患者进行的心脏彩超检查中发现162例心脏横纹肌瘤,45篇文献在对282例患者进行的胸片检查、20篇文献在对36例患者进行的胸部CT检查中共发现淋巴管肌瘤病50例。在98篇文献报道的对696例患者进行的肾脏超声检查、51篇文献报道的对221例患者进行的肾脏CT检查和2篇文献报道的对2例患者进行的肾脏MRI检查中共发现肾脏血管平滑肌脂肪瘤416例;在58篇文献报道的对586例TSC患者进行的肝脏超声检查、30篇文献报道的对104例患者进行的腹部CT检查、2篇文献报道的对3例患者进行的腹部MRI检查中共发现肝脏血管平滑肌脂肪瘤141例。在诊断标准中的次要指征的报道中,对多发性肾囊肿的报道最多,而对牙釉质凹陷、Confetti皮损的描述却几乎缺失。在其他临床表现的研究中,癫痫的相关文献最多,有关智力评估的文献尚缺乏客观的智力评估标准。遗传学基因检测逐渐成为近几年文献报道的热点。结论:在过去13年间,中国医生对TSC的诊治作出了很大贡献,但诊断过程中仍存在对疾病认识的不足和对全局观念的缺乏,推广新版指南的诊断标准对于中国医生是十分有意义的。     

一例喉真菌病病例报道并文献复习

目的:探讨喉真菌病的临床特征、诊断要点和治疗方案。方法:回顾我院收治的一例喉真菌病患者的临床病例资料,并对1992年至今国内外报道的类似病例33例进行文献复习。本研究共纳入患者34例,男性16例,女性18例,年龄14-67岁,临床表现以声嘶为主,可伴有咽痛、咽干等咽喉不适感,其中有16例患者被误诊为急性喉炎,27例患者有不同程度的抗生素和(或)糖皮质激素使用史。结果:34例患者中,13例通过病理确诊为喉真菌病。所有患者均予抗真菌药物治疗,其中有1例同时行手术治疗,均治愈。结论:喉真菌病临床罕见,症状无特异性,易误诊,但病理学检查可靠,全身或局部使用抗真菌药物疗效佳,预后良好。     

Genetic diversity and structure of the epiphytic foliose lichen Lobaria pindarensis in the Himalayas depends on elevation

The epiphytic lichen Lobaria pindarensis is a Himalayan endemic species with little information on distribution, genetic diversity and structural complexity. During an intensive survey in the Nepal Himalayas, we collected 1256 thallus fragments from 45 phorophyte species to study their distribution and population genetics along an elevational gradient. We quantified genetic diversity and population structure of each symbiont at 17 fungus specific and 9 alga specific microsatellite loci. The Bayesian clustering identified three and two distinct gene pools for mycobiont and photobiont. We found that genetic diversity, allelic richness and gene pool composition and distribution were significantly influenced by elevation. We discovered both clonally and sexually reproduced repeated genotypes of the symbionts.     

Habitat distribution modelling and reinforcement of Elaeocarpus serratus L. - A threatened tree species of Assam,India for improvement of its conservation status

Elaeocarpus serratus L., commonly known as ‘rudraksh’ referred in the Ayurveda as a wonderful plant for strengthening body constitutions, has been recognized as a threatened plant of Assam, India. Traditionally, rudraksh beads, its bark and leaves are used to cure various ailments like stress, anxiety, depression, nerve pain, epilepsy, migraine, lack of concentration, asthma, hypertension, arthritis and liver diseases. The population stock of the species has been depleting very fast in its natural habitat due to rapid habitat fragmentation and changing climate altering the structural and functional integrity of the plant. Hence, conservation of E. serratus L. with proper scientific investigation to prevent from extinction in its wild habitat is urgently needed. The present study was emphasized with the specific objectives to study the distribution and population status, predication of suitable sites through ENM, standardization of macropropagation methods and reinforcement/reintroduction into the suitable wild habitat to improve conservation status. In the present investigation E. serratus L. was reported in few locations of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with population sizes of mean density, frequency of occurrence and abundance in relation to other associated species as 0.333, 13.922 and 2.215 respectively. For improving the conservation status, potential area and habitat for reinforcement was predicted using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) distribution modelling algorithm. Subsequently, macropropagation protocol was standardized through seed germination and air-layering; saplings were raised and 1050 saplings were reintroduced to the wild habitats selected on the basis of ecological niche modelling. Survival rate was found significantly high as 68%, suggesting that our approach is effective for changing population status and to conserve the plant.