Isolation and characterization of 16 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the red panda (Ailurus fulgens)

A total of 15 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the red panda, Ailurus fulgens, were characterized in this study. Based on evaluations of 33 red pandas, the number of observed alleles for each locus ranged from seven to 17 and the expected and observed heterozygosities were 0.412–0.897 and 0.121–0.909, respectively. The mean polymorphic information content was 0.721. These markers would greatly strengthen the utilization of microsatellite tools in genetic variation studies in red panda populations.     

影响玉米螟微孢子虫病田间传播的因素

玉米螟微孢子虫病很早就被认为是玉米螟自然平衡的重要因素(Paillot,1928)。它对玉米螟的生存、繁殖和越冬都造成严重影响(zimmack等,1957;Kramer,1959;Frye等,1974;问锦曾,1975;Windels等,1976)。在室内饲养的玉米螟群体,常会因微孢子虫病的污染而毁灭。但在田间,玉米螟自然发病率一般仅0—40％(Weiser,1956;问锦曾.1975)。近年Lewis(1978)在田间小区玉米上人工接种螟虫的试验中发现,螟虫群体初始仅有25％染病,通过粪便传染,后期染病率可高达90％以上。显     

Integrated species delimitation and conservation implications of an endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Green and Orchid Islands of Taiwan

Oceanic islands are productive habitats for generating new species and high endemism, which is primarily due to their geographical isolation, smaller population sizes and local adaptation. However, the short divergence times and subtle morphological or ecological divergence of insular organisms may obscure species identity, so the cryptic endemism on islands may be underestimated. The endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani Kôno (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Pachyrhynchini) is endemic to Green Island and Orchid Island of the Taiwan‐Luzon Archipelago and displays widespread variation in coloration and host range, thus raising questions regarding its species boundaries and degree of cryptic diversity. We tested the species boundaries of P. sonani using an integrated approach that combined morphological (body size and shape, genital shape, coloration and cuticular scale), genetic (four genes and restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing, RAD‐seq) and ecological (host range and distribution) diversity. The results indicated that all the morphological datasets for male P. sonani, except for the colour spectrum, reveal overlapping but statistically significant differences between islands. In contrast, the morphology of the female P. sonani showed minimum divergence between island populations. The populations of P. sonani on the two islands were significantly different in their host ranges, and the genetic clustering and phylogenies of P. sonani established two valid evolutionary species. Integrated species delimitation combining morphological, molecular and ecological characters supported two distinct species of P. sonani from Green Island and Orchid Island. The Green Island population was described as P. jitanasaius sp.n. Chen & Lin, and it is recommended that its threatened conservation status be recognized. Our findings suggest that the inter‐island speciation of endemic organisms inhabiting both islands may be more common than previously thought, and they highlight the possibility that the cryptic diversity of small oceanic islands may still be largely underestimated.     

不同含湿率及加载条件对人皮质骨纳米压痕测试的影响

目的:探讨不同含湿率及加载条件对人皮质骨纳米压痕测试的影响。方法:采用美国Hysitron纳米压痕仪,设定不同加载模式(高峰载荷分别为300、400、500 nm;加载速度分别为6、8、10 nm/s)对不同含湿率(20‰、30‰、40‰、50‰、60‰)人皮质骨进行弹性模量及硬度测量。结果:在同一加载模式下,不同含湿率标本的测试值随着含湿率增高,弹性模量及硬度值均显著降低(P0.01);三种不同加载模式对含湿率为20‰标本测试值无明显变化;对含湿率60‰标本测试值有显著性影响(P0.02)。结论:纳米压痕仪测试骨微观力学特性时,测试值不仅受标本本身含湿率的影响,当测试条件改变,对湿润标本测试结果也完全不同。当使用纳米压痕技术时,通常采用脱水包埋处理的标本测试出的机械性能,对我们在微观层面认识人体骨在湿润的生理环境下的机械性能是不够全面的。     

荒漠草原盐沼湿地苦豆子土壤细菌群落构建机制及其影响因素

【背景】荒漠草原盐沼湿地是陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,土壤水分和盐分变化是影响该生态系统土壤细菌群落构建的重要因素。【目的】土壤细菌群落构建是由确定性和随机性主导的连续生态过程,阐明荒漠草原盐沼湿地土壤细菌群落的构建机制对于加深微生物作为关键生态系统因子重要性的理解具有积极意义。【方法】以宁夏中部典型荒漠草原盐沼苦水湖湿地为研究对象,对近湖边（near the lake,NL）和远离湖边（far from the lake,FL）苦豆子群落土壤理化特性进行测定并结合土壤细菌高通量测序分析。【结果】NL和FL样地具有明显的水盐梯度变化,NL样地土壤pH、含水量和电导率均显著高于FL样地;变形菌门、放线菌门、厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门和黏菌门是研究区域土壤细菌群落的优势菌门,变形菌门相对丰度随水盐梯度上升而升高,放线菌门和厚壁菌门相对丰度则随之下降,门下成员大多与水盐变化具有明显的相关性;此外,FL样地土壤细菌网络则具有稳定的网络关系;随着NL样地向FL样地的延伸,土壤细菌群落由随机过程主导,并且受pH、电导率和环境变量的影响。【结论】荒漠草原盐沼湿地水分和盐分的变化改变了土壤细菌群落结构;土壤细菌群落通过生态位占据等策略提高逆境下的生存能力;细菌群落构建是随机过程和确定性过程组成的连续统一体,同样受环境变化的影响。本结果揭示了荒漠草原盐沼湿地细菌群落结构和相互关系对环境变化的响应特征,同时阐明了该区土壤细菌群落的构建机制及影响因素,也为相关科学研究提供了一定理论参考。     

茄子果实相关农艺性状全基因组关联分析研究进展与展望

茄子是重要的园艺作物,也是茄科植物中种植最广泛的蔬菜之一。茄子果实相关农艺性状是一种复杂的数量性状,传统育种选育效率低、周期长。高通量测序技术与生物信息学技术的快速发展,使得全基因组关联分析(genome-wide association study, GWAS)在解析茄子果实相关复杂农艺性状的遗传规律方面展现出巨大的应用前景。本文对全基因组关联分析在茄子的果形、果色等果实相关农艺性状中的研究进展进行了综述;针对茄子数量性状遗传研究中普遍存在的“丢失遗传力”(missing heritability)问题,从4个GWAS策略在茄子果实相关农艺性状研究中的应用热点出发,提出了未来茄子GWAS的发展对策;并结合当前茄子遗传改良的实践需求,展望了GWAS策略在茄子分子育种领域的广阔应用前景。本文为今后利用GWAS解析各种茄子果实相关性状的遗传基础以及选育符合消费者需求的果实材料提供了理论依据和参考。     

壳聚糖在神经组织工程中的应用

功能性高分子材料壳聚糖(CS)及其复合其他材料作为组织工程的支架材料已在生物医学领域等方面取得了一定的进展。CS自身的功能基团可聚合一些聚合物来增强其复合支架的各方面性能,从而使其应用范围更广泛,应用效率更高。在神经损伤中,CS支架材料对促进神经的再生和修复起着至关重要的作用,主要对CS在神经组织工程方面的应用研究做了简要概述。