The morphology and histology of the cirripede pemis

The general morphology and detailed histology of the penis of two common boreo-arctic cirripedes, Balanus balanoides (L.) and B. balanus (L.) have been investigated. The penis is a highly extensible, annulated organ beset with four rows of sensory setae. The paired vesiculae seminales unite within the pedicel of the penis to give the single ductus. Distally, the exoskeleton is invaginated into this ductus. Circular muscles are present in the vesiculae seminales but do not continue into the penis. The histology of the ductus epithelium indicates a secretory nature as does that of a specialized group of cells, termed the ‘cushion’, towards the distal end: this group of cells is surrounded by circular muscle bands. Longitudinal muscles extend virtually the whole length of the penis; they give off fibres which are inserted at the junctions of the annulations. The muscles of the pedicel are described. Paired nerves in the pedicel give rise to four in the penis. The sensory innervation of the setae is described. The possible functional relations of the structure to the activities of the penis at copulation and during the emission of semen is discussed.     

Phototaxis in stage i nauplius larvae of two cirripedes

The positive phototaxis of newly hatched, dark-adapted nauplius larvae, stage I, of Balanus balanoides (L.) and Elminius modestus Darwin has been investigated using interference filters with a narrow band transmission. The spectral sensitivity curve expressed in reciprocal μW/cm² required to give positive phototaxis shows a maximum between 520 and 530 nm and a marked shoulder at the shorter wavelengths. The number of photons/eye for threshold response has been calculated.     

Tolerances of Nauplii of Balanus balanoides (L.) and Elminius modestus (Darwin) exposed to cyclical temperature fluctuations

1. 1.|Newly-released larvae of both E. modestus and B. balanoides show similar tolerances to steady temperature levels.

2. 2.|Both species show an ability to withstand a wider range of temperatures when subjected to cyclic thermal shocks.

3. 3.|E. modestus shows a greater tolerance to short-term thermal shocks than B. balanoides.

Groupement et ordination appliqués à l''étude de la répartition de l''épifaune benthique de l''estuaire maritime et du Golfe du Saint-Laurent

Forty-seven navigation buoys were used to collect quantitative samples of epibenthic fauna in the Lower Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Stations, as described by their sessile species and biomass composition, were grouped using multivariate analysis. A Gower similarity index, modified to take into account the importance of each species in the ecosystem, was used to compare stations. Results obtained by cluster and principal coordinate analyses showed comparable relations between stations. North Shore and Gaspé Coast stations were separated from those of the Lower North Shore, the Mingan Island sector and the Lower Estuary. Stations from the Lower North Shore were also separated from those of the Mingan Island region and of the Lower Estuary, but at a higher level of similarity. All animal assemblages consisted of the following sessile species: Obelia longissima (Pallas), Hiatella arctica (L.), Mytilus edulis L., Balanus balanoides (L.) and B. crenatus (Bruguière). These species formed over 95% of biomass of all sessile species. Differences between the various station assemblages were mainly due to changes in the relative abundance of these species. The geographical gradient of summer surface water temperature best explains the observed clusters. In the Lower Estuary, the spatio-temporal variations of physico-chemical factors and the surface circulation may influence the number of species and their abundance. The circulation systems of the Lower Estuary and near the Mingan Islands might account for the similarity between their assemblages. The same dominant species, Obelia longissima, characterizes the fauna of these two regions.     

Comparison of nutritional status of field and laboratory reared Balanus amphitrite Darwin (Cirripedia: Thoracica) larvae and implication of starvation

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the influence of rearing temperature and food concentration (20 and 30 °C, 1×10⁵ and 2×10⁵ cells ml⁻¹) on the starvation threshold and nucleic acid content of the larvae of Balanus amphitrite. The larvae were also field-reared using micro-enclosures. Laboratory-reared larvae were larger in size than the field-reared larvae. An increase in size, DNA content and instar index of the starved II instar larvae was observed indicating that the absence of food may not be fatal to this early instar. The temperature at which larvae were raised and the food concentration had variable influence on the capacity to withstand starvation. Exposure to increased temperatures during starvation eliminated the effect of doubling food concentration during their feeding period prior to starvation. The larvae reared at 20 °C had comparatively lower nucleic acid content. The laboratory-reared larvae had ca. 1.7 times greater RNA:DNA ratio than larvae raised at comparable temperature in the field.     

红树植物改造桐花树次生灌木林效果的研究

通过对16a生的木榄、红海榄、海莲红树植物在桐花树次生灌木群落中进行人工改造的形成的新群落调查与分析,结果表明:海莲、红海榄和木榄都能成功在桐花树灌木林群落定居,其中以木榄的地径、树高生长量较大;红海榄、海莲的造林的株行距为1m×1m或0.8m×1m,木榄的株行距为1.5m×2m为宜;引入红树林乔木树种海莲、红海榄、木榄小苗16年后,桐花树密度呈不同程度的减少,其中木榄的引入较不利于桐花树次生灌木群落的发展;海莲、红海榄各自生物量或群落总生物量均比桐花树群落总生物量增加,以红海榄的生物量增加量最大,为桐花树群落总生物量的1.9倍;海莲、木榄具有良好的更新状况,特别在海莲群落中,平均每方米超过2株幼苗,说明该群落开始步入发育盛期,可以预见未来的15年内,可使红树林群落茂密复生。     

Development of a rapid and sensitive immunoassay for detection and subsequent recovery of Bacillus anthracis spores in environmental samples

Bacillus anthracis is considered a major threat as an agent of bioterrorism. B. anthracis spores are readily dispersed as aerosols, are very persistent, and are resistant to normal disinfection treatments. Immunoassays have been developed to rapidly detect B. anthracis spores at high concentrations. However, detection of B. anthracis spores at lower concentrations is problematic due to the fact that closely related Bacillus species (e.g., B. thuringiensis) can cross-react with anti-B. anthracis antibodies, resulting in false positive detections. Subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis is required to differentiate virulent strains. We report here on a protocol for the rapid, sensitive detection of B. anthracis spore using the Integrating Waveguide Biosensor followed by a method for the rapid release and germination of immunocaptured spores. A detection limit of ca. 10³ spores was achieved by incubating spores simultaneously with capture and detection antibodies (“liquid-phase” assay) prior to capture on capillary tubes/waveguides. Subsequent incubation with BHI broth directly in capillary tubes allowed for rapid germination, outgrowth, and release of spores, resulting in vegetative cells for PCR analysis.     

中国东部和南部小檗属植物之研究

我国小檗属植物种类十分丰富,据文献记载共有200余种,主要分布于西部和南部地区。东部和南部种类虽然较少,但迄今尚未见有较全面的整理和报导,故名称亦混乱。作者在编写《广东植物志》的过程中,对这一地区(包括广西、广东、湖南、江西、安徽、江苏、浙江、福建)的小檗属进行了初步的研究,发现了一些新分类群和分布新纪录,归并了B.chekiangensis Ahrendt和B.pingjiangensis Q.L.Chen et B.M.Yang,已知这一地区共有14种,2亚种和1变种。现将结果整理成文,内容包括已知种类的检索表、产地、分布以及对部分种类的评注和讨论。文中所引证的标本,凡未加标本室缩写代号者,均存华南植物研究所标本室。     

Expression of human dihydrofolate reductase cDNA and its induction by chloramphenicol in Bacillus subtilis

A bifunctional plasmid (pMP358) able to replicate and to express cloned human dihydrofolate reductase cDNA (cDHFR) in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis was constructed. The expression of cDHFR in B. subtilis was the result of a deletion that placed the cDNA fragment under the control of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene promoter of Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pC194. By sequence analysis of plasmid pMP358, we observed a gene fusion occurring between the cDHFR and the 32nd codon of the CAT gene. We report that such a “hybrid” gene is able to direct the synthesis of a 25-kDal “hybrid” protein, which was found to be inducible by supplementing B. subtilis cells with sublethal doses of chloramphenicol.     

The composition of pyrophosphate heavy metal detoxification granules in barnacles

A major detoxification mechanism involving the binding of excess metals to inorganic, insoluble metalliferous granules occurs in many invertebrates. X-ray microanalysis of granules extracted from the barnacles Elminius modestus Darwin and Semibalanus balanoides (L.) (Crustacea: Cirripedia) indicated that one granule type was predominant. Examples of this granule type usually contained Fe and P, or Zn and S, or a combination of all four elements as major constituents. The predominant form of P in the granules was pyrophosphate, P₂O⁴⁻₇, with oprthophosphate and other polyphosphates present in lower amounts. The S was present as organic S. Biochemical analysis showed high levels of Ca, Fe, Mg, K and Zn in the granules with Cu and Ag present in smaller quantities. Considerable variation was shown between granules.     

Responses of four Brassica species to sodium chloride

Responses in sand culture of four Brassica species, B. campestris, B. carinata, B. juncea and B. napus to NaCl were assessed for growth and yield. B. napus produced significantly greater fresh and dry biomass than the other three species in NaCl treatments and also a higher seed yield in both absolute and relative terms when grown at 125 mol/m³ NaCl. In contrast, B. campestris had the lowest biomass production, seed yield and oil content. B. campestris did not differ significantly from B. juncea and B. carinata in biomass production for growth, but B. carinata had a significantly higher seed yield (1.60 g/plant) than that of B. juncea and B. campestris (0.69 and 0.61 g/plant, respectively). The higher seed yielding species, B. napus (1.74 g/plant) and B. carinata (1.60 g/plant) accumulated lower amounts of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in their tissues and had significantly higher K selectivity (S_K,Na) in their shoots than did those of B. campestris and B. juncea, B. napus and B. carinata also had higher leaf succulence than that of B. campestris. In view of the results presented here it can be concluded that B. napus and B. carinata are relatively tolerant to NaCl whereas B. campestris and B. juncea are relatively sensitive to NaCl.     

香蕉抗(感)病品种根系分泌物对枯萎病菌和枯草芽孢杆菌的生物效应

为明确香蕉根系分泌物对枯萎病菌及其生防枯草芽孢杆菌的生物效应,采用离位溶液培养法收集抗枯萎病香蕉品种(南天黄)和感枯萎病香蕉品种(桂蕉6号)的根系分泌物,研究根系分泌物对土壤微生物种群数量、香蕉枯萎病菌和枯草芽孢杆菌生长的影响。结果表明: 抗病品种根系分泌物能显著减少土壤真菌的数量,抑制枯萎病菌孢子的萌发;而感病品种根系分泌物能显著促进病菌菌丝生长和孢子的萌发,两个品种根系分泌物均能显著促进枯草芽孢杆菌的生长和生物膜形成。经抗(感)病香蕉品种根系分泌物处理,病菌菌丝生长速率分别为11.28和12.28 mm·d^-1,病菌孢子的萌发率分别为34.6%和79.5%;枯草芽孢杆菌培养12 h后菌体生长量的OD₆₀₀分别为1.27和1.14,生物膜形成量在静置培养72 h后OD₅₇₀分别达1.11和1.30,两个品种处理间的差异均达显著水平。枯草芽孢杆菌在香蕉感病品种根际中定殖的菌量显著高于抗病品种。通过对两个品种根系分泌物中可溶性总糖、游离氨基酸和有机酸的含量和组成分析,发现抗病品种根系分泌物中有机酸和游离氨基酸的含量明显高于感病品种,在各组成成分中,以乙酸和脯氨酸在抗(感)病香蕉品种根系分泌物中含量比值较高,分别达3.7和2.4倍。综上所述,抗病品种根系分泌物能抑制病菌生长,感病品种根系分泌物则会显著促进病菌生长,而两个品种根系分泌物均能显著促进枯草芽孢杆菌的生长和生物膜的形成。     

阔叶丰花草与2种菊科植物之间的化感作用

阔叶丰花草是一种适用于华南果园生草控草的一年生植物。为了揭示阔叶丰花草与果园常见杂草之间的竞争关系,研究了阔叶丰花草与两种菊科植物(胜红蓟和白花鬼针草)之间的化感作用。结果表明: 10～50 mg·mL^-1的阔叶丰花草水浸液处理显著抑制胜红蓟和白花鬼针草种子萌发和幼苗生长,胜红蓟和白花鬼针草的胚根长分别比对照降低57.4%～90.2%和57.3%～62.3%。胜红蓟和白花鬼针草水浸液对阔叶丰花草种子萌发也有较强的化感效应,在50 mg·mL^-1的浓度处理下,阔叶丰花草种子几乎不能萌发。经10 mg·mL^-1阔叶丰花草水浸液处理30 d后,胜红蓟播种苗的净光合作用、株高和生物量分别比对照降低15.2%、20.6%和41.5%,白花鬼针草播种苗的生物量也出现下降趋势;但胜红蓟和白花鬼针草水浸液处理对阔叶丰花草播种苗生长的影响均不显著。在混种条件下,阔叶丰花草的生物量与单种的水平相当,胜红蓟和白花鬼针草的生物量则分别比单种降低86.0%和27.1%。与胜红蓟和白花鬼针草相比,阔叶丰花草的化感优势在于除了能抑制对方的种子萌发,也能抑制其植株生长。     

胶陀螺光敏毒性成分

食用未经碱处理过的胶陀螺子实体,会出现嘴巴肿胀、暴露在日光下的皮肤灼痛等过敏症状,一直以来困扰着长白山当地居民对这一美食的需求。本文旨在找到胶陀螺Bulgaria inquinans中光敏活性成分。将胶陀螺子实体粉末用丙酮回流提取,浓缩得到浸膏,加吐温-80溶解后灌胃昆明种小鼠,进行光敏活性试验。把出现光敏反应的小鼠处死后,取下红肿的小鼠耳朵用甲醇索式提取得活性组分,进行薄层色谱层析和柱层析,得到一种活性单体化合物,经核磁共振和电子轰击质谱波谱综合解析鉴定该化合物为邻苯二甲酸二异丁酯(DiBP)。结果表明DiBP就是引起胶陀螺光敏中毒反应的活性成分,且经碱水降解后毒性降低。     

Natural occurrence of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus in eukaryotic organisms: a case for symbiosis

Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus, two members of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group, are most noted for their virulence in, respectively, arthropods and mammals including humans. Because of their pathogenicity to insects in particular, and their narrow host range, strains of B. thuringiensis have been utilised successfully as biocontrol agents of insect pests. Whereas B. cereus is not an established entomopathogen, certain strains of this species are well known to be etiological agents of gastrointestinal and emetic syndromes in humans. While much is known about the taxonomic properties and molecular basis for virulence of B. thuringiensis and B. cereus, comparatively less is known about their ecology in natural environments. Thus, there are limited data regarding their resilience, i.e. recycling of vegetative and sporulated phases of growth in soil, ecolgical niches including symbiotic interactions with other organisms, and the impact on ecosystems in which they proliferate. Nevertheless, based on recent data, a picture is beginning to emerge that B. thuringiensis and B. cereus are capable of establishing mutual and commensal relationships with both animals and plants. In this regard, these bacilli can proliferate in the digestive tracts of animals, where upon defecation they form dormant spores in the soil, and to a lesser extent on the phylloplane and rhizospheres of plants. Altogether, current evidence strongly suggests that B. thuringiensis and B. cereus are capable of completing their life cycles and recycling through various reservoirs, including animals, plants, and soil. This review focuses on the current knowledge pertaining to the ecologic interactions between B. thuringiensis and B. cereus and eukaryotic hosts, with special emphasis on symbiosis.     

栎生桑黄和忍冬桑黄液体培养过程中发酵液抗氧化能力

桑黄孔菌属Sanghuangporus是药用木生真菌资源中一个重要的属,但是该属仅有少数几个种类被用于人工栽培,且栽培面积较小。此外,桑黄孔菌属中大部分种类的药用功能仍未完全明确。因此,本研究以桑黄孔菌属近期新发表的新种栎生桑黄S. quercicola和关注度较低的忍冬桑黄S. lonicericola为主要研究对象,通过测定它们液体培养过程中第2、4、6、8、10、12和14天的菌丝生物量以及发酵液的粗多糖含量、多酚含量、黄酮含量、抗坏血酸含量、DPPH自由基清除能力、ABTS自由基清除能力、总抗氧化能力、超氧化物歧化酶活性、羟自由基清除能力、超氧阴离子清除能力、铁离子还原能力和亚铁离子螯合能力等12个抗氧化指标,对桑黄的抗氧化能力进行评定。2种桑黄真菌各选取一号菌株,其发酵液均表现出强抗氧化能力。相比之下,栎生桑黄的多糖、抗坏血酸和超氧化物歧化酶含量更高,而忍冬桑黄的多酚和黄酮含量更高。相应的,栎生桑黄和忍冬桑黄在其他一些抗氧化指标上也表现出强弱程度及出现时间的差异。上述研究结果为桑黄孔菌属真菌的药用功能开发提供了新资源,为不同抗氧化代谢产物的分离纯化提供了科学依据。     

直翅目虫草（肉座菌目）：物种多样性及其与寄主的关系

迄今为止,以直翅目昆虫为寄主的虫草共报道25种,本研究详细介绍了它们的种类、寄主与分布,并给出了相关的分类学注释。ITS和tef1-α基因联合数据的分子系统发育显示,直翅目虫草分别隶属于白僵菌属Beauveria、绿僵菌属Metarhizium和线虫草属Ophiocordyceps 3个属。基于直翅目昆虫六大类群的生态习性特点,分析并讨论了直翅目虫草物种多样性与寄主的关系。以两种白僵菌Beauveria及戴氏虫草Metacordyceps taii（贵州绿僵菌Metarhizium guizhouense的异名）为例,介绍了虫草的根状菌索,一种介于子实体和孢梗束形体之间的根须状结构。种类修订：蟋螽白僵菌新组合Beauveria grylli comb. nov. ≡ 蟋蟀虫草Cordyceps grylli = Beauveria loeiensis,Beauveria kirkii comb. nov. ≡ Cordyceps kirkii。寄主更正：蟋螽白僵菌的寄主由原来的蟋蟀成虫（蟋蟀科Gryllidae）更正为螽斯（蟋螽）若虫（蟋螽科Gryllacrididae）,蟋蟀线虫草Ophiocordyceps tettigonia 寄主由原来的螽斯成虫（螽斯科Tettigoniidae：螽斯属Tettigonia）更正为蟋蟀成虫（蟋蟀科）。