Density‐dependent sex‐biased development of macroptery in a water strider

In wing‐polymorphic insects, wing morphs differ not only in dispersal capability but also in life history traits because of trade‐offs between flight capability and reproduction. When the fitness benefits and costs of producing wings differ between males and females, sex‐specific trade‐offs can result in sex differences in the frequency of long‐winged individuals. Furthermore, the social environment during development affects sex differences in wing development, but few empirical tests of this phenomenon have been performed to date. Here, I used the wing‐dimorphic water strider Tenagogerris euphrosyne to test how rearing density and sex ratio affect the sex‐specific development of long‐winged dispersing morphs (i.e., sex‐specific macroptery). I also used a full‐sib, split‐family breeding design to assess genetic effects on density‐dependent, sex‐specific macroptery. I reared water strider nymphs at either high or low densities and measured their wing development. I found that long‐winged morphs developed more frequently in males than in females when individuals were reared in a high‐density environment. However, the frequency of long‐winged morphs was not biased according to sex when individuals were reared in a low‐density environment. In addition, full‐sib males and females showed similar macroptery incidence rates at low nymphal density, whereas the macroptery incidence rates differed between full‐sib males and females at high nymphal density. Thus complex gene‐by‐environment‐by‐sex interactions may explain the density‐specific levels of sex bias in macroptery, although this interpretation should be treated with some caution. Overall, my study provides empirical evidence for density‐specific, sex‐biased wing development. My findings suggest that social factors as well as abiotic factors can be important in determining sex‐biased wing development in insects.     

Do different rates of gene flow underlie variation in phenotypic and phenological clines in a montane grasshopper community?

Species responses to environmental change are likely to depend on existing genetic and phenotypic variation, as well as evolutionary potential. A key challenge is to determine whether gene flow might facilitate or impede genomic divergence among populations responding to environmental change, and if emergent phenotypic variation is dependent on gene flow rates. A general expectation is that patterns of genetic differentiation in a set of codistributed species reflect differences in dispersal ability. In less dispersive species, we predict greater genetic divergence and reduced gene flow. This could lead to covariation in life‐history traits due to local adaptation, although plasticity or drift could mirror these patterns. We compare genome‐wide patterns of genetic structure in four phenotypically variable grasshopper species along a steep elevation gradient near Boulder, Colorado, and test the hypothesis that genomic differentiation is greater in short‐winged grasshopper species, and statistically associated with variation in growth, reproductive, and physiological traits along this gradient. In addition, we estimate rates of gene flow under competing demographic models, as well as potential gene flow through surveys of phenological overlap among populations within a species. All species exhibit genetic structure along the elevation gradient and limited gene flow. The most pronounced genetic divergence appears in short‐winged (less dispersive) species, which also exhibit less phenological overlap among populations. A high‐elevation population of the most widespread species, Melanoplus sanguinipes, appears to be a sink population derived from low elevation populations. While dispersal ability has a clear connection to the genetic structure in different species, genetic distance does not predict growth, reproductive, or physiological trait variation in any species, requiring further investigation to clearly link phenotypic divergence to local adaptation.     

Effects of diet,habitat, and phylogeny on the fecal microbiome of wild African savanna (Loxodonta africana) and forest elephants (L. cyclotis)

The gut microbiome, or the community of microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract, is often unique to its symbiont and, in many animal taxa, is highly influenced by host phylogeny and diet. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiome of the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), sister taxa separated by 2.6–5.6 million years of independent evolution. We examined the effect of host phylogeny on microbiome composition. Additionally, we examined the influence of habitat types (forest versus savanna) and diet types (crop‐raiding versus noncrop‐raiding) on the microbiome within L. africana. We found 58 bacterial orders, representing 16 phyla, across all African elephant samples. The most common phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The microbiome of L. africana was dominated by Firmicutes, similar to other hindgut fermenters, while the microbiome of L. cyclotis was dominated by Proteobacteria, similar to more frugivorous species. Alpha diversity did not differ across species, habitat type, or diet, but beta diversity indicated that microbial communities differed significantly among species, diet types, and habitat types. Based on predicted KEGG metabolic pathways, we also found significant differences between species, but not habitat or diet, in amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides. Understanding the digestive capabilities of these elephant species could aid in their captive management and ultimately their conservation.     

Effects of captivity,diet, and relocation on the gut bacterial communities of white‐footed mice

Microbes can have important impacts on their host's survival. Captive breeding programs for endangered species include periods of captivity that can ultimately have an impact on reintroduction success. No study to date has investigated the impacts of captive diet on the gut microbiota during the relocation process of generalist species. This study simulated a captive breeding program with white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to describe the variability in gut microbial community structure and composition during captivity and relocation in their natural habitat, and compared it to wild individuals. Mice born in captivity were fed two different diets, a control with dry standardized pellets and a treatment with nonprocessed components that reflect a version of their wild diet that could be provided in captivity. The mice from the two groups were then relocated to their natural habitat. Relocated mice that had the treatment diet had more phylotypes in common with the wild‐host microbiota than mice under the control diet or mice kept in captivity. These results have broad implications for our understanding of microbial community dynamics and the effects of captivity on reintroduced animals, including the potential impact on the survival of endangered species. This study demonstrates that ex situ conservation actions should consider a more holistic perspective of an animal's biology including its microbes.     

蕨类植物叶绿体rps12基因的分子进化研究

以68种蕨类植物和2种石松类植物的rps12基因为对象,在系统发育背景下,结合最大似然法,使用HyPhy和PAML软件对该基因进行进化速率和适应性进化研究。结果显示:位于IR区的外显子2~3,其替换率明显降低,rps12基因编码序列的替换率也随之降低,且rps12基因密码子第3位的GC含量明显升高;在蕨类植物的进化过程中,3′-rps12更倾向定位于IR区,以保持较低的替换率;rps12基因编码的123个氨基酸位点中,共检测到4个正选择位点和116个负选择位点。研究结果表明基因序列进入到IR区后,显示出降低的替换率;强烈的负选择压力表明RPS12蛋白的高度保守性以及rps12基因的功能和结构已经趋于稳定。     

40种蕨类植物matK基因的系统分类及分子进化研究

采用“放松分子钟”模型、氨基酸位点正选择模型和分子内共进化网络估算方法,对蕨类植物Ⅱ型内含子成熟酶蛋白K(Maturase K,MATK)编码基因matK的进化趋势进行研究。结果显示:matK基因在蕨类植物系统学研究中具有一定的应用价值,与rbcL基因和psaA基因联合后能显著提升系统发育树的可信度;蕨类植物MATK蛋白中存在少数曾经历正选择的位点;MATK蛋白内部有多对氨基酸位点共同构成共进化网络。在被子植物兴起环境改变后,MATK蛋白部分位点发生适应性进化,通过位点间共进化网络协同作用方式提升蕨类植物对新光合环境的适应能力。     

慢病毒介导的c-Myc启动子结合蛋白1过表达对结肠癌HCT116细胞增殖与凋亡的影响及其机制研究

目的探讨慢病毒介导的c-Myc启动子结合蛋白1(MBP-1)过表达对结肠癌HCT116细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及其机制。方法将体外培养的HCT116细胞分为以下3组:空白对照组,细胞未做任何处理;空载感染组,空载体对照慢病毒(LV-GFP)感染HCT116细胞;MBP-1过表达慢病毒组(MBP-1组),MBP-1过表达的重组慢病毒(LV-MBP-1-GFP)感染HCT116细胞。RT-PCR检测各组细胞中MBP-1 mRNA的表达,CCK-8实验检测细胞的增殖能力,流式细胞仪检测细胞的周期变化,Western blot检测细胞中MBP-1、NF-κB p65、c-Myc、CyclinD1及细胞凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax、cleaved caspase-3的表达。三组间比较采用单因素方差分析,方差齐性采用F检验,若方差齐则组间比较采用LSD检验,若方差不齐则组间比较采用Dunnett检验。结果与空载感染组比较,MBP-1组在MBP-1 mRNA(1.02±0.15比4.56±1.03)、蛋白表达水平(0.18±0.01比0.72±0.10)、S期百分比[(39.12±2.18)﹪比(45.64±3.21)﹪]、G2/M期的百分比[(14.81±1.02)﹪比(23.16±2.12)﹪]、细胞中Bax蛋白(0.55±0.10比0.76±0.11)、cleaved caspase-3蛋白(0.45±0.08比0.81±0.11)表达水平均升高,差异具有统计学意义(P均<0.001),而细胞48 h OD值(0.58±0.08比0.43±0.03)、72 h OD值(1.10±0.13比0.52±0.09)、细胞G0/G1期的百分比[(46.06±1.89)﹪比(31.36±2.02)﹪]、细胞中Bcl-2蛋白(0.52±0.10比0.23±0.02)、NF-κB p65蛋白(0.61±0.13比0.16±0.03)、c-Myc蛋白(0.79±0.15比0.43±0.05)、CyclinD1蛋白(0.62±0.09比0.32±0.01)的表达水平均降低,差异具有统计学意义(P均<0.001);空白对照组和空载感染组之间各指标差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论MBP-1过表达可抑制HCT116细胞增殖及诱导细胞周期阻滞于S期,其作用机制可能与抑制NF-κB信号通路活化有关。     

基于焦磷酸测序技术建立基因编辑水稻检测方法

基因编辑技术发展迅速,但对应的检测方法较少。为寻找创建基因编辑作物适用的检测方法,以 PL3 基因编辑水稻编辑位点为靶标,有效设计了焦磷酸测序的扩增引物及测序引物,并进行有效性检测,分别利用Sequence to Analyze等程序以及SNP和AQ两种模式完成了对PL3 基因的定性和定量检测试验,建立了 PL3 基因编辑水稻编辑位点焦磷酸测序检测方法。结果表明,基于焦磷酸测序技术可以通过检测编辑位点从而将基因编辑型水稻与野生型水稻进行区分。与常规的转基因检测方法相比,该检测方法具有较好的准确性、高效性及高灵敏度等优点,在基因编辑型水稻编辑位点定性和定量检测分析方面具有很好的应用前景。     

培养基灭菌方式对细菌分离效率的影响

自然界蕴含大量未/难培养微生物,分离这些微生物对理论研究和资源开发具有重要意义。本研究使用高压灭菌和过滤除菌方式制备培养基,采用稀释涂布方法,从红树林灰泥样品中分离获得123株细菌,通过16S rRNA基因序列分析对其进行鉴定,进而探究培养基灭菌方式对细菌分离效果的影响。结果表明：过滤除菌培养基生长的单菌落数目（339±82）个显著多于高压灭菌培养基生长的单菌落数目（179±65）个;两种培养基分离细菌的群落结构在门、科和属分类水平上总体相似,但优势类群的数目和少数类群存在差异;过滤除菌培养基分离细菌的Shannon Wiener’s指数、均匀度、新种率、基因多样性均高于高压灭菌培养基,而其与近缘模式菌株相似度的平均值和中位数则低于高压灭菌培养基。因此,过滤除菌培养基分离获得细菌的多样性、均匀性和新颖性均高于高压灭菌培养基。本研究首次探究培养基灭菌方式对细菌分离效果的影响,具有更高分离效率的过滤除菌培养基为未/难培养微生物菌株资源获取提供了借鉴。