Application of Dolichos biflorus in immunoassay detection of kidney collecting duct biomarkers

Currently there are no biomarkers for detecting collecting duct damage in man. Antibodies to several collecting duct-specific antigens exist but sandwich assays have been difficult to establish due to the need for two different antibodies to the same protein. We hypothesized that a collecting duct-specific lectin could be used in combination with a collecting duct-specific antibody to negate the need for two different antibodies. The collecting duct specificity of selected antibodies (NiCa II 13C2, Pap XI 3C7, HuPaP VII 2B11 and aquaporin 2), was verified by immunohistochemistry. Aquaporin 2 and Pap XI 3C7 were used successfully in setting up assays with the lectin Dolichos biflorus, using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) platform. Antigen expression was highest in the papillae of rat and human kidney (corresponding to the greatest density of collecting ducts) and was also present in normal urine. We propose that further qualification and validation would lead to an assay for detecting collecting duct damage in man.     

Confronting the challenges of discovery of novel antibacterial agents

Bacterial resistance is inevitable and is a growing concern. It can be addressed only by discovery and development of new agents. However the discovery and development of new antibacterial agents are at an all time low. This article broadly examines the historical as well as current status of antibacterial discovery and provides some perspective as how to address some of the challenges.     

我国某些苏铁类生殖器官化石的发现兼论苏铁类起源

本文对苏铁类化石的系统分类作了概要的介绍。重点报道了笔者在近廿年来所采集的苏铁类生殖器官化石,特别是中晚石炭世的一枚苏铁大孢子叶化石的发现,将苏铁类起源的时间大大地推前了,并指出其起源地应在中国西北的甘肃地区。所有这些生殖器官的发现将推动苏铁化石生殖生物学的发展,对其起源、分布、演化和苏铁植物区系的形成和发展提供了极为重要的材料。     

新生儿接种小剂量乙肝疫苗后3-5年随访观察

本文对９３８例初生婴儿接种小剂量（１０ｕｇ×３）乙肝疫苗后３－５年的预防效果进行了随访观察,并以２５３例初生儿未接种疫苗者作为对照,结果表明,接种组３－５年后抗－ＨＢｓ阳性率显著高于对照组,ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性率则较对照组显著为低。感染保护率８６．７％。结果还表明,接种乙肝疫苗３年后加强１次,比不加强者Ｐ／Ｎ均值显著增高。文章认为初生儿接种小剂量乙肝疫苗有长期免疫效果;接种后３年加强接种１次,可保持较高免疫力。     

应用光敏生物素标记核酸探针鉴定分枝杆菌的研究

用光敏生物素标记非结核分枝杆菌临床分离株及标准分枝杆菌全染色体ＤＮＡ制成探针,与已知标准牛分枝杆菌（ＢＣＧ株）及不同种的非结核分枝杆菌ＤＮＡ杂交,可快速将分支杆菌鉴定到种,同时以大肠埃希氏菌做阴性对照,显示良好的特异性和准确性。此种方法具有鉴定速度快、操作简便、稳定性好及对人体无害等特点,适用于结核杆菌和非结核分枝杆菌的菌种鉴定。     

Book reviews

The numbers of perch Perca fluviatilis in the Cikola backwater system of the river Danube were estimated by mark-recapture techniques using multiple fishings. Fish were caught by fyke nets and electrical fishing. The latter method was unselective for sex and the catch data could be used to correct the sex bias in the fyke net catches. A population estimate in April of 6059 ind ha^–1 (95% C.L. 5135–7386) for perch > 5 cm was obtained for a 0.6 ha area of backwater and 1665 ind ha^–1 (95% C.L. 1204–2692) in May for a 0.4 ha area of a small bay.     

Movement of sturgeons (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus and A. fulvescens) in the St. Lawrence Estuary: A 35-year tagging study

Movement of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) and lake sturgeon (A. fulvescens) in the St. Lawrence Estuary (Québec, Canada) are not fully understood. To assess the movement extent of both species, a mark–recapture study was conducted in collaboration with commercial fishermen operating in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Between 1981 and 2015, 3,367 Atlantic sturgeon (fork length 21.8–199.5 cm) and 3,180 lake sturgeon (fork length 17.8–190.8 cm) were tagged and released. Of these, 673 Atlantic sturgeon and 42 lake sturgeon were recaptured. The maximum distances traveled between capture and recapture locations were 1,307 km for Atlantic sturgeon (8 years after initial capture) and 252 km for lake sturgeon (less than 1 year after initial capture). Statistical analyses identified differences in the dispersal distance of both species as revealed by a first component characterized by individuals with short dispersal distances (98% and <35 km for Atlantic sturgeon; 58% and <1 km for lake sturgeon) and a second component characterized by individuals with longer dispersal distances (2% and >600 km for Atlantic sturgeon; 42% and >190 km for lake sturgeon). We suggest that the short dispersal distances detected in the vast majority of Atlantic sturgeon recaptures likely reflect strong site fidelity, highlighting the importance of the St. Lawrence Estuary as a preferred habitat for juveniles and subadults. Although recaptures were low for lake sturgeon because this species is only marginally targeted by commercial fishermen in the St. Lawrence Estuary, our results also showed that this species uses estuarine habitats and that half of the population seems to exhibit strong site fidelity (67% of individuals were recaptured within 2 km).     

起测径对南盘江流域次生林中枯立木空间结构的影响

树木大小是林分的基础属性,反映个体在森林生态系统过程中扮演的角色和地位。作者于2016-2018年在中国西南地区南盘江流域松栎混交林中建立3块永久性标准固定样地(A、B、C),并用双相关函数g(r)、标记相关函数k_(mm)(r)、标记变差函数γ(r)和k-邻体距离分布函数D~k(r)分析不同大小枯立木的空间结构特征,以揭示林分水平上枯立木的大小和空间结构之间的关系。结果显示:(1)枯立木的起测径(minimum measured diameter, mmd)越小,小尺度上(r=0～5 m)的分布格局趋向聚集状态,但随着起测径的增大(mmd=5～8 cm),随机分布格局几乎占据每个尺度(r=0～20 m)。(2)当起测径等于1～2 cm时,枯立木的大小在小尺度上(r=0～1 m)接近聚集分布,除此之外它一直保持随机分布。(3)当起测径≤4 cm时,枯立木的树种分布集中;反之,它在每个尺度上越接近或成为随机状态。(4)当起测径由1 cm增大至8 cm时,r=0～10 m之内相邻木的株数减少且距离增加,其变化程度受到林分株数的影响。研究表明,枯立木的起测径与其分布格局类型、标记特征以及距离分布紧密相关,暗示同种小树易呈团块死亡,而大径的枯立木偏向随机分布;对比分析枯死木的空间结构需使用统一的起测径标准。