A weighted measure for the similarity analysis of DNA sequences

Here we propose a weighted measure for the similarity analysis of DNA sequences. It is based on LZ complexity and (0,1) characteristic sequences of DNA sequences. This weighted measure enables biologists to extract similarity information from biological sequences according to their requirements. For example, by this weighted measure, one can obtain either the full similarity information or a similarity analysis from a given biological aspect. Moreover, the length of DNA sequence is not problematic. The application of the weighted measure to the similarity analysis of β-globin genes from nine species shows its flexibility.     

Characteristics of soil fauna community in the Dongjiao coconut plantation ecosystem in Hainan, China

From July 2002 to July 2004, we investigated the soil fauna in the Dongjiao coconut plantation of Hainan Island. A total of 5,378 specimens were obtained. These species represented 4 phyla, 12 classes and 27 genera. The soil animal clusters are as follows: All major animal groups presented in a tropical rain forest are present in Dongjiao coconut plantation's soil community. The Dongjiao coconut plantation demonstrated the typical characteristics of a tropical soil animal community. The number of species and the diversity index (H) increase from the high latitude areas toward the equator; The dominance index (C) decreased from the high latitude areas toward the equator; the ratio of Acarina/Collembola and the percentage occurrence of increase along the declination of latitude; the occurrence of termites, a typical member of tropical community, varies from absent to present and a dramatic increase along the declination of latitude. Compared to primary tropical rainforests, the Dongjian coconut plantation community is relatively low in species diversity, and has a high dominance index and low diversity index. This may partially due to some characters of the plantation: singular tree species, monsoon climate, seashore location, high pH and salinity of the soil, soil moisture and other environmental factors. A seasonal change occurs in the community structure but is not obvious. Soil around human residences has a higher organic material content, and has higher counts of specimens and numbers of species, compared to other three sampling sites. Coconut production at locations around human residences is higher than at any other microhabitats. The high production is positively correlated with the richness of animal community in the soil.     

马铃薯吸附干燥特性及模型拟合

在实验的基础上研究了马铃薯的干燥特性,考察了温度、湿度、风速和粒子大小对马铃薯的干燥特性的影响。对马铃薯的干燥特性进行模型拟合结果表明:马铃薯吸附式低温干燥过程分为调整、恒速和降速3个阶段。含水率从76.88%变化到65.44%这段为调整阶段;从65.44%变化到47.34%这段为恒速阶段,主要是去除非结合水;从47.34%降到27.7%为降速阶段,主要脱除非结合水及部分结合水,干燥速度下降。温度是影响干燥的主要因素,温度越高,湿度越小,介质流速快,干燥速度越快。Page模型能够较好地拟合马铃薯干燥过程的特性。     

柠檬酸合酶的分子生物学研究进展

柠檬酸合酶（citrate synthase,CS）是细胞内多种重要代谢途径的关键酶。CS可催化草酰乙酸和乙酰辅酶A之间的缩合反应生成柠檬酸和辅酶A。通常革兰氏阳性细菌、古菌以及真核细胞的CS为同源二聚体,而革兰氏阴性细菌的CS为同源六聚体。根据其在细胞内的定位不同,CS可分为线粒体CS、乙醛酸循环体CS、过氧化物酶体CS。这些同工酶在能量代谢、植物脂肪的代谢、脂肪酸的氧化及细胞解毒过程中起着重要作用。不同来源的CS空间结构、催化机制和动力学性质十分相似。针对其生化特性、空间结构特点、催化机制以及分子进化等研究进展进行综述。     

Uncinaria stenocephala: assessment of antigens for the immunodiagnosis of canine uncinariosis

Although Uncinaria stenocephala is the most frequent hookworm in the intestine of dogs from Northern, Central and Southern Europe, little is known about its host-parasite relationship. Three groups of sera from dogs (Group 1: dogs naturally infected only by U. stenocephala; Group 2: helminth-free dogs at necropsy, and Group 3: dogs parasitized by other helminths) were analyzed by ELISA using U. stenocephala antigens from adult worms (somatic and excretory-secretory antigens) and from L3 larvae (somatic antigens). All three sources of antigens were found to be suitable for immunodiagnosis of canine uncinariosis with up to 90% efficacy. However, an analysis to assess the diagnostic value of the different antigens demonstrated that the adult excretory-secretory antigens had a higher diagnostic efficacy (96.7%), indicating that this is the best antigen source for the diagnosis of Uncinaria infection.     

Propagule vs. niche limitation: untangling the mechanisms behind plant species' distributions

Distinguishing the roles of propagule limitation and niche requirements in controlling plant species distributions is important for understanding community structure, invasion, and restoration. We used species distribution models based on plant and environmental survey data to assess the strength of species' affinities for particular environmental conditions. We hypothesized that species with statistically detectable environmental requirements were primarily niche-limited, while species with weak habitat affinities were primarily propagule-limited. We tested this hypothesis via a seeding experiment in which we compared species' reproductive fitness in occupied and unoccupied sites. Species that appeared to be niche-limited based on distribution models had lower fitness when planted in unoccupied sites, while species that models suggested were propagule-limited had equivalent fitness when planted in occupied and unoccupied sites. Our results demonstrate that within a single community, both species limited primarily by niche availability or primarily by propagule availability can be identified using observational data.     

Superoxide dismutase activity of Helicobacter pylori per se from 158 clinical isolates and the characteristics

We investigated the correlation between the SOD activity of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and gastroduodenal diseases and the characteristics of strains exposed to oxidative stress. Two sequenced strains, 26695 and J99, and clinical isolates from 156 Japanese patients with gastroduodenal diseases such as gastric cancer (n= 59) and non-cancer (n= 97) were used. SOD activities of all 158 isolates were measured and were divided into three groups: high-SOD activity (>0.22, n= 2), moderate-SOD activity (0.15≦≦0.22, n= 16) and low-SOD activity (<0.15, n= 140). Expressions of H. pylori Fe-SOD were examined by western blotting with anti-H. pylori Fe-SOD antibody prepared inhouse, and the profiles of Fe-SOD activity were investigated by zymogram with activity staining in native-PAGE. The characteristics of strains from high-SOD and low-SOD groups were examined under oxidative stress by paraquat. The average of H. pylori SOD activity was significantly higher in the cancer group than in the non-cancer group (P < 0.05). However, irrespective of SOD activity level, the amount of Fe-SOD expressed was variable among individual strains. Zymogram revealed a single band in moderate-SOD and low-SOD strains, but multiple bands in high-SOD strains were observed. These bands were confirmed as H. pylori Fe-SOD. Under oxidative stress with paraquat, low-SOD strains were drastically eliminated without inducible SOD activity; however, high-SOD strains were still viable with increased SOD activity. This study is the first to exhibit the characteristics of high-SOD activity strains representing multiple bands in zymograms and the correlation between H. pylori SOD activity and gastric cancer.     

榆木蠹蛾生物学特性观察

结合田间观察和室内试验,对榆木蠹蛾HolcocerusvicariusWalker的生物学特性进行了较为系统的研究。结果表明,榆木蠹蛾在宁夏3年发生1代,幼虫主要危害枝干和根颈部,幼虫在蛀道内越冬,5月下旬老熟幼虫在被害树周围5—10cm深的沙土内分散化蛹,蛹期（21±5）d。6月初成虫开始出现,有2个羽化高峰,分别为6月中旬和7月下旬,成虫羽化当晚即可交尾,交尾当天或第2天产卵,每雌蛾产卵最多达720粒,卵期（17±5）d,孵化率为72％～88％。未交尾雌雄成虫寿命为5—6d,交尾后雌雄成虫寿命缩短为3—5d。初孵幼虫于6月中旬始见,10月下旬幼虫开始越冬。幼虫孵化后,先危害韧皮部,常10多条聚集在一起,稍大一点即蛀入木质部。本研究为制定切实可行的榆木蠹蛾有效防治提供理论依据。     

2-苯乙醇对酿酒酵母生理生化特性影响

【目的】研究在不同浓度2-苯乙醇作用下,酵母生理生化特性的变化规律,为优化2-苯乙醇生物合成过程提供重要依据。【方法】透射电镜观察细胞形态;流式细胞术检测细胞膜渗透性、胞内ROS浓度、线粒体膜电位;实时荧光定量PCR检测关键酶基因表达。【结果】随着2-苯乙醇浓度增加(从0到4.0 g/L),酵母细胞分解代谢能力、细胞膜渗透性及aro10基因表达量逐渐降低;线粒体膜电位逐渐增加;胞内ROS浓度先增加后减少。当2-苯乙醇浓度从2.4 g/L增加到3.0 g/L,酵母的分解代谢能力、细胞膜渗透性、aro10基因表达水平等生理生化特性都发生较为显著的变化。【结论】产物原位转移过程中水相2-苯乙醇浓度可考虑控制在2.4 3.0 g/L。     

Urinary proteomics revealed prostaglandin H(2)D-isomerase, not Zn-α2-glycoprotein, as a biomarker for active lupus nephritis

Although renal histopathology is the gold standard for the diagnosis and prognosis of lupus nephritis (LN), the invasiveness of renal biopsy warrants the discovery of novel non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In the present study, urine samples from 10 LN patients (5 active and 5 inactive) were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) to screen for potential biomarkers of active LN. Quantitative analysis and statistics revealed 16 protein spots whose levels significantly differed between groups. These proteins were successfully identified by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS). Among these potential candidates, differential levels of urinary Zn-α2-glycoprotein (ZA2G) and prostaglandin H(2)D-isomerase (PGDS) were further validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in another independent group of 78 subjects, including 30 active LN, 26 inactive LN, 14 non-LN glomerular diseases, and 8 healthy normal individuals. Whereas ZA2G levels were elevated in urine of patients with active LN and non-LN glomerular diseases, PGDS was elevated only in the urine of the active LN group. Urinary PGDS, not ZA2G, may serve as a biomarker for active LN and upon validation in larger studies, may become the non-invasive test to evaluate the disease activity in future management of LN.