Population structure and genetic diversity of Bromus tectorum within the small grain production region of the Pacific Northwest

Bromus tectorum L. is an invasive winter annual grass naturalized across the United States. Numerous studies have investigated B. tectorum population structure and genetics in the context of B. tectorum as an ecological invader of natural areas and rangeland. Despite the wealth of information regarding B. tectorum, previous studies have not focused on, or made comparisons to, B. tectorum as it persists in individual agroecosystems. The objectives of this study were to assess the genetic diversity and structure, the occurrence of generalist and specialist genotypes, and the influence of climate on distribution of B. tectorum sourced exclusively from within small grain production regions of the Pacific Northwest. Genetic diversity of B. tectorum sourced from agronomic fields was found to be similar to what has been observed from other land use histories. Six distinct genetic clusters of B. tectorum were identified, with no evidence to indicate that any of the genetic clusters were better adapted to a particular geographical area or climate within the region. Given the apparent random spatial distribution of B. tectorum genetic clusters at the spatial scale of this analysis, unique genotypes may be well mixed within region, similar to what was reported for other inbreeding weedy grass species.     

Genetic and morphological analyses of tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna populations in Turkish marine waters

Genetic and morphological structure of tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna populations in Turkish marine waters were investigated with mtDNA sequencing of 16S rRNA and morphological characters. C. lucerna samples were collected from the Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean and northeastern Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. The lowest genetic diversity was found in the northeastern Mediterranean (Iskenderun Bay) population, while the highest was in the Marmara population with overall average value of genetic diversity within populations. A total of 14 haplotypes was found, and the highest haplotype diversity was in the Black Sea whereas the lowest was in the northeastern Mediterranean population (Iskenderun Bay). The Black Sea and Iskenderun Bay populations showed the least genetic divergence (0.001081), while the highest was between the Marmara Sea and northeastern Mediterranean (Antalya Bay) populations (0.002067). Pairwise comparisons of genetic distance revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the Marmara and both the Aegean and northeastern Mediterranean (Antalya Bay) samples. Neighbour joining tree analyses clustered the northeastern Mediterranean populations (Antalya Bay and Iskenderun Bay) as genetically more interrelated populations, whereas the Aegean Sea population was clustered as most isolated one. Discriminant function analysis of morphological characters showed that only the Black Sea population is differentiated from the other populations.     

Microbiological interactions with cold plasma

There is a diverse range of microbiological challenges facing the food, healthcare and clinical sectors. The increasing and pervasive resistance to broad‐spectrum antibiotics and health‐related concerns with many biocidal agents drives research for novel and complementary antimicrobial approaches. Biofilms display increased mechanical and antimicrobial stability and are the subject of extensive research. Cold plasmas (CP) have rapidly evolved as a technology for microbial decontamination, wound healing and cancer treatment, owing to the chemical and bio‐active radicals generated known collectively as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. This review outlines the basics of CP technology and discusses the interactions with a range of microbiological targets. Advances in mechanistic insights are presented and applications to food and clinical issues are discussed. The possibility of tailoring CP to control specific microbiological challenges is apparent. This review focuses on microbiological issues in relation to food‐ and healthcare‐associated human infections, the role of CP in their elimination and the current status of plasma mechanisms of action.     

施用生石灰对精养池塘浮游细菌群落结构和多样性的影响

为研究施用生石灰对池塘浮游细菌群落结构和多样性的影响，采用基于16S rRNA的高通量测序技术比较分析了施用生石灰前后精养池塘浮游细菌群落结构和多样性差异。研究结果显示，施用生石灰进行处理1d后，池塘优势浮游细菌在门和属水平上均与施用前相同，但相对丰度产生变化。在门水平上，蓝细菌门（Cyanobacteria）的相对丰度由53.80%显著降低至47.57%，拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）的相对丰度由7.00%显著降低至5.24%，变形菌门（Proteobacteria）的相对丰度由19.72%显著降低至17.60%，而放线菌门（Actinobacteria）的相对丰度由6.76%显著上升至13.47%，浮霉菌门（Planctomycetes）的相对丰度由8.24%显著上升至11.10%。另外，在属水平上，分枝杆菌属（Mycobacterium）的相对丰度由0.73%显著降低至0.49%，浮丝藻属（Planktothrix）的相对丰度由0.041%显著降低至0.0074%。施用生石灰后池塘浮游细菌群落的物种丰富度指数（ACE和Chao 1）和Shannon多样性指数均显著提高，且Simpon指数显著降低（P < 0.05）。研究结果可为施用生石灰管理池塘水质和进行疾病预防提供理论解释，并可为更加科学合理地利用生石灰管理池塘提供科学指导。     

Preliminary fabrication and characterization of electron beam melted Ti–6Al–4V customized dental implant

The current study was aimed to fabricate customized root form dental implant using additive manufacturing technique for the replacement of missing teeth. The root form dental implant was designed using Geomagic™ and Magics™, the designed implant was directly manufactured by layering technique using ARCAM A2™ electron beam melting system by employing medical grade Ti–6Al–4V alloy powder. Furthermore, the fabricated implant was characterized in terms of certain clinically important parameters such as surface microstructure, surface topography, chemical purity and internal porosity. Results confirmed that, fabrication of customized dental implants using additive rapid manufacturing technology offers an attractive method to produce extremely pure form of customized titanium dental implants, the rough and porous surface texture obtained is expected to provide better initial implant stabilization and superior osseointegration.     

DNA replication stress: Causes,resolution and disease

DNA replication is a fundamental process of the cell that ensures accurate duplication of the genetic information and subsequent transfer to daughter cells. Various pertubations, originating from endogenous or exogenous sources, can interfere with proper progression and completion of the replication process, thus threatening genome integrity. Coordinated regulation of replication and the DNA damage response is therefore fundamental to counteract these challenges and ensure accurate synthesis of the genetic material under conditions of replication stress. In this review, we summarize the main sources of replication stress and the DNA damage signaling pathways that are activated in order to preserve genome integrity during DNA replication. We also discuss the association of replication stress and DNA damage in human disease and future perspectives in the field.     

Species identification and comparative population genetics of four coastal houndsharks based on novel NGS‐mined microsatellites

The common smooth‐hound (Mustelus mustelus ) is the topmost bio‐economically and recreationally important shark species in southern Africa, western Africa, and Mediterranean Sea. Here, we used the Illumina HiSeq? 2000 next‐generation sequencing (NGS ) technology to develop novel microsatellite markers for Mustelus mustelus . Two microsatellite multiplex panels were constructed from 11 polymorphic loci and characterized in two populations of Mustelus mustelus representative of its South African distribution. The markers were then tested for cross‐species utility in Galeorhinus galeus , Mustelus palumbes , and Triakis megalopterus , three other demersal coastal sharks also subjected to recreational and/or commercial fishery pressures in South Africa. We assessed genetic diversity (N _A, A _R, H _O, H _E, and PIC) and differentiation (F _ST and D _est) for each species and also examined the potential use of these markers in species assignment. In each of the four species, all 11 microsatellites were variable with up to a mean N _A of 8, A _R up to 7.5, H _E and PIC as high as 0.842. We were able to reject genetic homogeneity for all species investigated here except for T . megalopterus . We found that the panel of the microsatellite markers developed in this study could discriminate between the study species, particularly for those that are morphologically very similar. Our study provides molecular tools to address ecological and evolutionary questions vital to the conservation and management of these locally and globally exploited shark species.     

肠道菌群核酸提取自动化流程的优化

目的:优化肠道菌群核酸提取自动化流程。方法:收集粪便样本,分别采用手工方法、核酸提取工作站提取核酸,然后利用液体工作站制备PCR反应液进行PCR扩增,最后采用文库工作站建库测序。结果:400μl样品用QIAamp~ Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit试剂盒裂解液裂解后,用MagMAX~(TM) Express 96机器提取核酸的方法与用QIAamp~ Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit试剂盒手工提取核酸的方法相比,测序得到的序列数基本一致,分析结果也没有明显区别;而单独采用MagMAX~(TM)Viral RNA Isolation Kit试剂盒提取核酸由于样品投入体积受限(50μl)、核酸浓度低、测序得到的序列数太少,不能满足后续的分析要求。结论:通过结合使用两种不同的试剂盒,可以实现核酸提取、PCR反应液配制及文库制备的全流程自动化操作,从而大大提高工作效率和结果的稳定性。