Cloning and Characterization of a 22 kDa Outer-Membrane Protein (Omp22) from Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a causative agent of gastritis and peptic ulceration in humans. As the first step towards development of a vaccine against H. pylori infection, we have attempted to identify protective antigens. A potential target of vaccine development would be a H. pylori specific protein, which is surface-exposed and highly antigenic. We identified a 22 kDa outer-membrane protein (Omp22) from H. pylori, which was highly immunoreactive. By screening a H. pylori genomic DNA library with rabbit anti-H. pylori outer-membrane protein antibodies, the omp22 gene was cloned and 1.4 kb of the nucleotide sequence was determined. One open reading frame, encoding a 179-residue polypeptide, was identified and the amino acid sequence deduced showed homology with peptidoglycan-associated lipoproteins. The sequence was conserved among other H. pylori strains. Omp22 protein is expressed as a precursor polypeptide of 179 residues and undergoes lipid modification and cleavage of an 18 amino acid signal peptide to yield a mature protein. Omp22 protein in H. pylori as well as recombinant Omp22 protein expressed in E. coli was localized into the outer membrane and exposed on the cell surface. Omp22 may have the potential as a target antigen for the development of a H. pylori vaccine.     

Cytotoxic ent-kaurane diterpenoids from Isodon sinuolata

Five (1–5) ent-kaurane diterpenoids and 17 other known ones, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Isodon sinuolata. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against a small panel of cell lines. Some compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity.     

A new fungal genus, Teracosphaeria, with a phialophora-like anamorph (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota)

The new genus and species Teracosphaeria petroica is described for a perithecial ascomycete and its anamorph occurring on decayed wood collected in New Zealand. The fungus produces immersed, non-stromatic ceratosphaeria-like perithecia in nature, with hyaline, septate ascospores produced in unitunicate, non-amyloid asci. The anamorph produced in vitro is phialophora-like with lightly pigmented phialides terminating in flaring, deep collarettes that are often noticeably brown with conspicuous periclinal thickening. Phylogenetic analysis of LSU rDNA sequence data indicates that this fungus is distinct from morphologically similar fungi classified in the Chaetosphaeriales, the Trichosphaeriales or the Magnaporthaceae. It forms a monophyletic group with recently described, chaetosphaeria-like ascomycetes, such as the pyrenomycete genus Mirannulata, and shows affinity with the anamorphic species Dictyochaeta cylindrospora. The usefulness of describing anamorph genera for morphologically reduced anamorphs, when anamorph characteristics are actually part of the holomorph diagnosis, is discussed. An apparently contradictory example of the so-called Cordana and Pseudobotrytis anamorphs of Porosphaerella spp. is also discussed.     

Isariotins G–J from cultures of the Lepidoptera pathogenic fungus Isaria tenuipes

Four new alkaloids isariotins G–J (1–4), together with the known isariotins, were isolated from cultures of the Lepidoptera pathogenic fungus Isaria tenuipes. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data. Compounds 1–4 exhibited antimalarial and cytotoxic activities.     

松叶猪毛菜NADP-苹果酸酶基因家族及启动子克隆分析北大核心CSCD

NADP-苹果酸酶(NADP-ME)是C_(4)植物的关键光合酶,在生物和非生物胁迫中发挥了重要的作用。为了进一步研究该酶编码基因的功能,该研究以典型荒漠C_(3)-C_(4)中间型植物松叶猪毛菜为研究对象,在克隆得到NADP-ME家族基因序列的基础上,研究其表达部位及在非生物胁迫下的表达模式,并克隆其启动子序列分析响应非生物胁迫的元件差异。结果表明:(1)成功获得松叶猪毛菜3个NADP-MEs,命名为SaNADP-ME1、SaNADP-ME2和SaNADP-ME4,CDS序列长度分别为1755、1758和1941 bp。(2)SaNADP-ME1主要在根中表达,SaNADP-ME2和SaNADP-ME4主要在叶中表达;在ABA、NaCl、NAHCO_(3)和PEG_(6000)胁迫下松叶猪毛菜幼苗中3个NADP-MEs均可被诱导表达,且SaNADP-ME2和SaNADP-ME4的响应表达模式相似。(3)成功克隆得到SaNADP-ME1、SaNADP-ME2和SaNADP-ME4启动子区域2351、1655和2887 bp。生物信息学分析发现它们都含有基本启动子元件以及响应外界刺激的元件。     

Susceptibility of Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Vip3A insecticidal protein expressed in VipCot™ cotton

Susceptibility of laboratory and field colonies of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Heliothis virescens F. to Vip3A insecticidal protein was studied in diet incorporation and diet overlay assays from 2004 to 2008. Responses of field populations were compared to paired responses of University of Arkansas laboratory susceptible H. zea (LabZA) and H. virescens (LabVR) colonies. After 7 d of exposure, observations were made on number of dead larvae (M) and the number of larvae alive but remaining as first instars (L1). Regression estimates using M (LC₅₀) and M plus L1 (MIC₅₀) data were developed for laboratory and field populations. Susceptibility of laboratory and field populations exposed to Vip3A varied among different batches of protein used over the study period. Within the same batch of Vip3A protein, susceptibilities of laboratory colonies of both species (LabZA and LabVR) were similar. Field colonies were significantly more susceptible to Vip3A than the respective reference colonies of both species. Within field populations, susceptibility to Vip3A varied up to 75-fold in H. zea and 132-fold in H. virescens in LC₅₀ estimates. Variabilities in MIC₅₀s were up to 59- and 11-fold for H. zea and H. virescens, respectively.     

New species of Phaeoramularia, Pseudocercospora and Stenella from Western Ghats of India

Four new species of the hyphomycete genera Phaeoramularia viz. Ph. caesalpinae, Pseudocercospora viz., Ps. tiliacearum, Stenella, viz. S. argyreiae and S. grewiae occurring on Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming (Caesalpiniaceae), Grewia sp. (Tiliaceae), Argyrea sp. Lour (Convolvulaceae) and Grewia sp. L. (Tiliaceae), respectively are described and illustrated here. All these fungi were collected from Western Ghats of India.     

黄蜻幼虫肠道菌QTYC01除草活性代谢产物的分离和鉴定

【目的】从黄蜻幼虫肠道中分离出具有除草活性的真菌,并在其代谢产物中寻找具有除草活性的先导化合物。【方法】采用涂布平板法对黄蜻幼虫肠道共生真菌进行分离,通过形态学观察和5.8S r RNA序列分析初步确定目标菌株QTYC01的分类地位。利用离体的方法测定菌株发酵液及其乙酸乙酯提取物的除草活性以及粗提物对常见农作物的安全性;利用盆栽方法测定发酵液对稗草幼苗的活性。运用重结晶的方法对发酵产物进行分离、纯化,利用质谱和核磁共振谱分析鉴定出化合物的结构。【结果】菌株QTYC01被鉴定为Curvularia crepinii。离体活性测试发现QTYC01发酵液可显著抑制稗草和反枝苋幼根的生长,其抑制率分别可达95.0%和90.1%,并可使经喷施发酵液的稗草幼苗的受害率达到71.1%。发酵液的乙酸乙酯提取物对稗草和反枝苋幼根具有很好的抑制效果,在100μg/m L的浓度条件下,粗提物对稗草和反枝苋的抑制活性分别为56.8%和71.2%,且在该浓度条件下对一些常见农作物具有很好的安全性,其抑制率均低于32.6%。进一步从其乙酸乙酯提取物中分离得到化合物(5Z)-7-oxozeaenol,活性测试表明化合物具有较好的抑制反枝苋活性,其IC_(50)为4.8μg/m L。【结论】菌株QTYC01具有开发为新型微生物除草剂的潜力。     

Brominated metabolites from an Okinawan Laurencia intricata

Two halogenated C₁₅ acetogenins, itomanallenes A and B, with a terminal bromoallene moiety along with a halogenated sesquiterpene, itomanol, have been isolated from the red alga Laurencia intricata collected in Okinawan waters. Their structures were deduced from 1D and 2D NMR experiments including ¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY methods. The alcohol corresponding to itomanallene B seems to be a plausible precursor of itomanallene A, which has an unusual 2,10-dioxabicyclo[7.3.0]dodecene skeleton. Itomanol was found to be a selinane-type bromosesquiterpenoid, and is the first example of a selinane to be isolated from Japanese Laurencia species.     

中间锦鸡儿CiPUB22基因克隆与功能分析

中间锦鸡儿(Caragana intermedia)耐旱、耐寒、耐盐碱,是西北干旱地区的重要固沙灌木,筛选其优良抗逆境基因,可以作为林草基因工程的基因源。该研究在中间锦鸡儿干旱胁迫转录组文库中找到1条CiPUB22 (plant U box 22)基因的cDNA全长序列,CiPUB22基因包括1 260 bp开放阅读框,编码419个氨基酸。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,在脱水、盐和ABA处理1 h后CiPUB22基因表达量上升并达到最高水平,分别为对照表达量的12倍、35倍和7倍,干旱处理后12 d达到最高值,为对照的2.5倍,表明CiPUB22的转录水平受非生物胁迫诱导。构建CiPUB22基因的过表达载体并转化野生型拟南芥,对转基因纯合体株系抗逆性分析发现,在150 mmol/L NaCl、1 μmol/L ABA和400 mmol/L甘露醇处理下,过表达株系的萌发率均低于野生型,说明过表达CiPUB22基因降低了拟南芥在种子萌发过程中对盐和渗透胁迫的耐受性。     

Corylomyces: a new genus of Sordariales from plant debris in France

The new genus Corylomyces, isolated from the surface of a hazelnut (Corylus avellana) in the French Pyrenees, is described, illustrated and compared with morphologically similar taxa. It is characterised by tomentose, ostiolate ascomata possessing long necks composed of erect to sinuose hairs, and one- or two-celled, opaque, lunate to reniform ascospores. Analyses of the SSU and LSU fragments rDNA gene sequences support its placement in the Lasiosphaeriaceae (Sordariales).     

The cytotoxicity of protoneodioscin (NSC-698789), a furostanol saponin from the rhizomes of Dioscorea collettii var. hypoglauca, against human cancer cells in vitro

Protoneodioscin (NSC-698789) is a furostanol saponin isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea collettii var. hypoglauca (Dioscoreaceae), a Chinese herbal remedy for cancer treatment. Our studies showed that protoneodioscin is cytotoxic against most cell lines from leukemia and solid tumors in the NCI's (National Cancer Institute, USA) anticancer drug screen. Leukemia, CNS cancer, and prostate cancer are the most sensitive subpanels to protoneodioscin, while melanoma, ovarian cancer, and renal cancer are less sensitive. The preliminary animal studies showed that the maximum tolerant dose of protoneodioscin was 600 mg/kg to mice. Based on an analysis of the COMPARE software with protoneodioscin as a seed compound, no compounds in the NCI's database have similar cytotoxicity patterns to those of protoneodioscin, indicating a potentially novel mechanism of anticancer action involved.     

Cesariella, a new genus of Laboulbeniales

Cesariella graeca gen. sp. nov. is described to accommodate a new species of the Laboulbeniales (Fungi, Ascomycota) parasitic on the endogean ground beetles Reicheadella aetolica and R. bischoffi (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from Greece. Cesariella is distinguished from the allied genus Laboulbenia by the presence of two cells borne on the inner side of cell III, and by the presence of a conspicuous remnant of the spore apex protruding laterally near the base of the appendage.     

Development of cost-effective medium for the large-scale production of a mosquito pupicidal metabolite from Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula

Although Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus sphaericus are being used extensively for mosquito control, the recent reports of development of resistance in insects against them prompted many workers to search for new microbial agents or their metabolites for mosquito control. This has resulted in the isolation of a new bacterial isolate Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula which is known to be toxic against larval and pupal stages of mosquitos and could be considered for further development as a biocontrol agent. But the large-scale production of this bacterium is expensive because the high cost of the medium restricts this bacterium is used in mosquito control programs. In this study, we attempted to develop a cost-effective medium, based on inexpensive, locally available raw material Soya bean (Glycine max) by using 100-L bioreactor. Biomass and pupicidal metabolite production were satisfactory after P. fluorescens was produced on both media. Results showed that the Biomass in dry weight of Soya medium was 12.7 g/L and GPS medium (conventional medium) was 11.23 g/L. The maximum pupicidal metabolite production in Soya medium was (LC50 0.24 μL/mL) and in GPS medium was (LC50 0.44 μL/mL).     

Genotoxic evaluation of extracts from Aplysina fulva, a Brazilian marine sponge

A range of biologically active secondary metabolites with pharmacological application has been reported to occur in marine sponges. The present study was undertaken to provide a set of data on the safety of a hydro-alcoholic extract (ALE) and an aqueous fraction (AQE) from Aplysina fulva Pallas, 1766 (Aplysinidae, Verongida, Porifera). Salmonella typhimurium strains TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102, Escherichia coli strains PQ65, OG40, OG100, PQ35 and PQ37 and Balb/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts were used to detect induction of DNA lesions by ALE and AQE. Assays used for these analyses were a bacterial (reverse) mutation assay (Ames test), the SOS-chromotest and the comet assay. Both extracts presented identical infrared 2-oxazolidone spectra. ALE treatment induced a higher frequency of type-4 comets, indicative of increasing DNA migration, in the alkaline comet assay. ALE also induced a weak genotoxic effect, as expressed by the induction factor (IF) values in the test with E. coli strain PQ35 (IF = 1.5) and by cytotoxic effects in strains PQ35, PQ65 and PQ37. Positive SOS induction (IF = 1.7) was detected in strain PQ37 treated with diluted AQE. No genotoxic effects were observed in strains PQ35, PQ65, OG40 and OG 100 after treatment with AQE dilutions. Using the bacterial (reverse) mutation test and survival assays with or without S9 mix, after 60 min of pre-incubation, we observed for strain TA97 treated with ALE a weak mutagenic response (MI = 2.2), while cytotoxic effects were seen for strains TA98, TA100 and TA102. AQE did not show mutagenic activity in any of the strains tested, but a weak cytotoxic effect was noted in strain TA102. Our data suggest that both ALE and AQE from A. fulva induce DNA breaks leading to cytotoxicity and mutagenicity under the conditions used.     

Effects of irradiance and temperature on photosynthesis in C3, C4 and C3/C4 Panicum species

Species in the Laxa and Grandia groups of the genus Panicum are adapted to low, wet areas of tropical and subtropical America. Panicum milioides is a species with C₃ photosynthesis and low apparent photorespiration and has been classified as a C₃/C₄ intermediate. Other species in the Laxa group are C₃ with normal photorespiration. Panicum prionitis is a C₄ species in the Grandia group. Since P. milioides has some leaf characteristics intermediate to C₃ and C₄ species, its photosynthetic response to irradiance and temperature was compared to the closely related C₃ species, P. laxum and P. boliviense and to P. prionitis. The response of apparent photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature was similar to that of P. laxum and P. boliviense, with saturation at a photosynthetic photo flux density of about 1 mmol m^-2 s^-1 at 30°C and temperature optimum near 30°C. In contrast, P. prionitis showed no light saturation up to 2 mmol m^-2 s^-1 and an optimum temperature near 40°C. P. milioides exhibited low CO₂ loss into CO₂-free air in the light and this loss was nearly insensitive to temperature. Loss of CO₂ in the light in the C₃ species, P. laxum and P. boliviense, was several-fold higher than in P. milioides and increased 2- to 5-fold with increases in temperature from 10 to 40°C. The level of dark respiration and its response to temperature were similar in all four Panicum species examined. It is concluded that the low apparent photorespiration in P. milioides does not influence its response of apparent photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature in comparison to closely related C₃ Panicum species.Abbreviations AP apparent photosynthesis - I CO₂ compensation point - gl leaf conductance; gm, mesophyll conductance - PPFD photosynthetic photon flux density - PR apparent photorespiration rate - RuBPC sibulose bisphosphate carboxylase     

Evolutionary relationships among aquatic anamorphs and teleomorphs: Lemonniera, Margaritispora, and Goniopila

The hypothesis that similar conidial morphologies in aquatic hyphomycetes are a result of convergent evolution was tested using molecular sequence data. Cladistic analyses were performed on partial sequences of 28S rDNA of seven species of Lemonniera, one species of Margaritispora and one species of Goniopila. Lemonniera has tetraradiate conidia with long arms, whereas Margaritispora and Goniopila have typically globose (isodiametric) conidia, with short conical protuberances in a stellate or quadrangular arrangement. Lemonniera and Margaritispora have phialidic conidiogenesis and both produce dark, minute sclerotia in culture whereas Goniopila has holoblastic conidiogenesis and does not produce sclerotia in culture. Goniopila produces a microconidial phialidic synanamorph in culture. All three genera have schizolytic conidial secession. Molecular analyses demonstrate that Lemonniera species are placed in two distinct clades: one within Leotiomycetes; the other within Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes. Margaritispora is placed with Lemonniera species within Leotiomycetes. Goniopila and Lemonniera pseudofloscula are placed within Dothideomycetes. No morphological character was entirely congruent with the molecular derived phylogeny. This suggests that for the group of species studied, conidial shape is not a reliable indicator of phylogeny but more likely the result of convergent evolution in response to the aquatic environment.     

微嗜酸寡养单胞菌中磷酸吡哆胺氧化酶基因pnpox生物学功能研究北大核心

【目的】研究微嗜酸寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila)CW117中磷酸吡哆胺氧化酶基因pnpox(phosphopyridoxamine oxidase,pnpox)在维生素B6(VB6)合成中的贡献及对黄曲霉毒素B1(aflatoxin B1,AFB1)的降解活性。【方法】采用基因插入突变方式,对菌株CW117中磷酸吡哆胺氧化酶基因pnpox进行突变,得到突变菌株。通过高效液相色谱法(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)检测突变株对AFB1的降解活性,以及突变株中吡哆醇和吡哆醛的合成情况,确定基因pnpox在寡养单胞菌体内VB6合成中的贡献和黄曲霉毒素降解代谢作用。【结果】成功构建了磷酸吡哆胺氧化酶基因突变子pnpox::pK19mobΩ2HMB,突变子吡哆醛的合成量较野生型菌株显著减少,吡哆醇合成量与野生型菌株无显著性差异;同时,突变子与野生型株CW117对AFB1的降解活性未发现显著性差异。【结论】菌株CW117中磷酸吡哆胺氧化酶在吡哆醛合成的过程中起着重要作用,该基因突变会导致VB6的严重缺乏,影响寡养单胞菌正常生长,但该基因对CW117降解黄曲霉毒素无显著性贡献。     

中国树萝卜属(杜鹃花科)一新记录种——葡萄树萝卜

报道了采自云南省绿春县的杜鹃花科树萝卜属一中国新记录种,即葡萄树萝卜(Agapetes putaoensis Y. H. Tong & N. H. Xia)。葡萄树萝卜原记录产于缅甸东北部克钦邦葡萄地区。该研究对该种进行了描述,补充了该种发表时未曾描述的果实特征,并提供彩色图版以方便鉴别。凭证标本存放于中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园标本馆(HITBC)和中国医学科学院药用植物研究所云南分所标本馆(IMDY)。     

中国囊萼花属一新记录种——茎花囊萼花

首次报道了囊萼花属(Cyrtandromoea Zoll.)的1个中国新记录种——茎花囊萼花(Cyrtandromoea grandis Ridl.),该种原记载产于泰国、马来半岛和苏门答腊岛,2019年在中国云南省勐海县布朗山地区发现有分布。茎花囊萼花与囊萼花(Cyrtandromoea grandiflora C.B.Clarke)最为相似,但前者聚伞花序生于老茎上,每一花序3～18朵花,二者容易区别。