Low Seroprevalent Species D Adenovirus Vectors as Influenza Vaccines

Seasonal and pandemic influenza remains a constant threat. While standard influenza vaccines have great utility, the need for improved vaccine technologies have been brought to light by the 2009 swine flu pandemic, highly pathogenic avian influenza infections, and the most recent early and widespread influenza activity. Species C adenoviruses based on serotype 5 (AD5) are potent vehicles for gene-based vaccination. While potent, most humans are already immune to this virus. In this study, low seroprevalent species D adenoviruses Ad26, 28, and 48 were cloned and modified to express the influenza virus A/PR/8/34 hemagglutinin gene for vaccine studies. When studied in vivo, these species D Ad vectors performed quite differently as compared to species C Ad vectors depending on the route of immunization. By intramuscular injection, species D vaccines were markedly weaker than species C vaccines. In contrast, the species D vaccines were equally efficient as species C when delivered mucosally by the intranasal route. Intranasal adenovirus vaccine doses as low as 10⁸ virus particles per mouse induced complete protection against a stringent lethal challenge dose of influenza. These data support translation of species D adenoviruses as mucosal vaccines and highlight the fundamental effects of differences in virus tropism on vaccine applications.     

Species Richness and Invasion Vectors: Sampling Techniques and Biases

During a European Union Concerted Action study on species introductions, an intercalibration workshop on ship ballast water sampling techniques considered various phytoplankton and zooplankton sampling methods. For the first time, all the techniques presently in use worldwide were compared using a plankton tower as a model ballast tank spiked with the brine shrimp and oyster larvae while phytoplankton samples were taken simultaneously in the field (Helgoland Harbour, Germany). Three cone-shaped and 11 non-cone shaped plankton nets of different sizes and designs were employed. Net lengths varied from 50 to 300 cm, diameters 9.7–50 cm, and mesh sizes 10–100 μm. Three pumps, a Ruttner sampler, and a bucket previously used in ballast water sampling studies were also compared. This first assessment indicates that for sampling ballast water a wide range of techniques may be needed. Each method showed different results in efficiency and it is unlikely that any of the methods will sample all taxa. Although several methods proved to be valid elements of a hypothetical `tool box' of effective ship sampling techniques. The Ruttner water sampler and the pump P30 provide suitable means for the quantitative phytoplankton sampling, whereas other pumps prevailed during the qualitative trial. Pump P15 and cone-shaped nets were the best methods used for quantitative zooplankton sampling. It is recommended that a further exercise involving a wider range of taxa be examined in a larger series of mesocosms in conjunction with promising treatment measures for managing ballast water. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

3种番荔枝科植物花粉形态观察

利用扫描电子显微镜对番荔枝科2属3种植物的干花粉形态进行了观察,旨在为番荔枝科植物花粉多样性及其演化关系提供形态学证据。观察结果显示,Asimina longifolia var.spatulata Kral、Asimina reticulate Shuttlew.ex Chapm.和Disepalum plagioneurum（Diels）D.M.Johnson 3种植物的花粉多为四合体,在Asimina reticulata内偶见二合体、三合体,Disepalum plagioneurum偶见多合体;四合体类型大多为偏菱形,A.reticulata和D.plagioneurum中偶见四角形;3种植物花粉表面纹饰分别为皱波状（rugulate）、微网状（microreticulate）和网状（reticulate）。花粉通过形成外壁短链接（short exine connections）或花粉联丝（pollen-connecting threads）的方式将四合体凝集成花粉块（pollinium）,提高了单一传粉过程中卵细胞的受精几率。Asimina和Disepalum两属植物花粉在表面纹饰、四合体类型等方面都十分相似,支持两者在系统发育中亲缘关系较近的观点。     

中国兰科植物三个新记录种

报道了中国兰科植物的三个新记录种,裂唇卷瓣兰(Bulbophyllum picturatum),长柄虾脊兰(Calan-the allizettei)和绿花毛兰(Eria lanigera)。裂唇卷瓣兰的中萼片全缘前部具一粒状附属物,唇瓣基部两侧具耳。长柄虾脊兰的中裂片非常小并具三条褶片。黄花毛兰的花黄绿色,唇瓣不裂。     

Three new Leuctra Species from Tunisia (Plecoptera: Leuctridae)

Three new Leuctra species, L. khroumiriensis sp. n., L. sartorii sp. n. and L. medjerdensis sp. n., from Tunisia, are described. They share a close morphological relationship with two other species of the hippopus group, L. occitana Despax and L. vaillanti Aubert, which are redescribed. L. occitana is redescribed from material collected in Southern Spain, and L. vaillanti from Moroccan and Tunisian material, constituting the first record for Tunisia.     

三种阔叶树雌雄异株木材结构的比较

在光学显微镜下较详细地比较了重阳木、大叶刺篱木和红毛丹,雌雄异株木材的结构。结果表明：同一种树木两性间木材结构总体上是很相似的,但有的定量特征差异显著甚至极显著。３个种的树木中,雌株木纤维壁腔比值较雄株的大,而分膈纤维和纤维管胞数量较小。雌株木材结构特点可能表明其木材具较强的机械支持能力,利用于果实的支持 。     

Three New Species of Vernonia (Compositae: Vernonieae) from Mexico

Three new Mexican species ofVernonia,V. macphersonii,V. pugana andV. tequilana, are described.     

布鲁菌致病特点和疫苗的研究新进展

布鲁菌能够干扰宿主细胞发挥固有和适应性免疫应答,这是布鲁菌突出的致病特点。布鲁菌通过减少、修饰或隐藏病原相关分子模式,经由脂筏进入巨噬细胞后形成布氏小体,实现胞内生存复制,从而导致机体的持续性感染。深入了解布鲁菌逃避机体免疫应答的机制有助于研制新型有效的疫苗,如DNA疫苗、重组蛋白疫苗等。     

中国星水虻属三新种(双翅目:水虻科)

@@ 本文记述中国星水虻属3新种,即双斑星水虻Actina bimaculata,sp.nov.,三斑星水虻A trimaculata,sp.nov.和单斑星水虻A unimaculata,sp.nov..模式标本保存在中国农业大学昆虫博物馆.     

Morphometric Analysis of Anguina amsinckiae from Three Host Species

Amsinckia species (fiddleneck) in the South Coast Ranges of California were surveyed to determine if any of the 12 different California species of Amsinckia are hosts of the nematode, Anguina amsinckiae (Steiner and Scott, 1935) Thorne, 1961. Previously only Amsinckia intermedia Fischer and Meyer was reported as a host of Anguina amsinckiae. The survey established that there are at least two additional hosts of Anguina amsinckiae: Amsinckia lycopsoides Lehmann and Amsinckia gloriosa Suksdorf. Seven sites containing nematode-infected Amsinckia plants were discovered. Every site contained two or more species of Amsinckia; however, only one site contained more than one species of Amsinckia that was galled. Nematode specimens from A. intermedia, A. lycopsoides, and A. gloriosa were used in a morphometric analysis of 14 morphological variables. Stepwise discriminant analysis of the variables to separate the populations by host were successful for females, and the pairwise F-tests showed all three populations to have different group means (P < 0.05). Males from the three hosts were not always separable, however, as only the nematodes from Amsinckia gloriosa had a different group mean (P < 0.05).     

云南蕨类植物三个新记录种

报道三种云南分布新记录的蕨类植物,即耳羽短肠蕨、毛枝蕨和假黑鳞耳蕨并附有新记录种的特征照片;对新记录种及其近缘种的分类特征进行了描述,对新记录种的地理分布进行了补充.     

Three New Species of Thraulodes (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae) from Venezuela

Three new species of Thraulodes from Venezuela are described. One species is known from male and female imagines, and the other two only from male imagines. With this, the known Thraulodes species for Venezuela are four. A key for the male imagines of the known species of Thraulodes from Venezuela is provided.     

A Comparison of Hypoglycemic Activity of Three Species of Basidiomycetes Rich in Vanadium

The hypoglycemic activity of fermented mushroom of three fungi of basidiomycetes rich in vanadium was studied in this paper. Alloxan- and adrenalin-induced hyperglycemic mice were used in the study. The blood glucose and the sugar tolerance were determined. After the mice were administered (ig) with Coprinus comatus rich in vanadium, the blood glucose of alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice decreased (p < 0.05), ascension of blood glucose induced by adrenalin was inhibited (p < 0.01) and the sugar tolerance of the normal mice was improved. However, the same result did not occur in Ganoderma lucidum and Grifola frondosa group. Compared with Ganoderma rich in vanadium and Grifola frondosa rich in vanadium, the hypoglycemic effects of Coprinus comatus rich in vanadium on hyperglycemic animals are significant; it may be used as a hypoglycemic food or medicine for hyperglycemic people.     

云南三种角蟾的细胞遗传学研究

本文研究了云南三种角蟾的核型,C－带和Ag-NORs,结果显示宽头大角蟾,其2n=26(16M 8SM 2T),NF=50,5 8,No.10为T,次缢痕和Ag－NORs位于1p per,该区域同时还呈现C－带正染,其全部染色体的着丝点都有强弱不等的C－带染色;大花角蟾的核型2n=26(16M 8SM=2ST),NF＝50,5＋8,No.6为ST,次缢痕和Ag-NORs位于5q pes,全部着丝点均有C－带正染;凹顶角蟾5n=26(16M 4SM 6T),NF=46,6 7.No.11-13为T,次缢痕和Ag-NORs位于5q per,全部着丝点及周围均有浓C－带正染。三个种均未发现与性别相关的异形染色体,最后讨论了角蟾属核型演化的途径。     

mRNA Differential Display in a Microbial Enrichment Culture: Simultaneous Identification of Three Cyclohexanone Monooxygenases from Three Species

mRNA differential display has been used to identify cyclohexanone oxidation genes in a mixed microbial community derived from a wastewater bioreactor. Thirteen DNA fragments randomly amplified from the total RNA of an enrichment subculture exposed to cyclohexanone corresponded to genes predicted to be involved in the degradation of cyclohexanone. Nine of these DNA fragments are part of genes encoding three distinct Baeyer-Villiger cyclohexanone monooxygenases from three different bacterial species present in the enrichment culture. In Arthrobacter sp. strain BP2 and Rhodococcus sp. strain Phi2, the monooxygenase is part of a gene cluster that includes all the genes required for the degradation of cyclohexanone, while in Rhodococcus sp. strain Phi1 the genes surrounding the monooxygenase are not predicted to be involved in this degradation pathway but rather seem to belong to a biosynthetic pathway. Furthermore, in the case of Arthrobacter strain BP2, three other genes flanking the monooxygenase were identified by differential display, demonstrating that the repeated sampling of bacterial operons shown earlier for a pure culture (D. M. Walters, R. Russ, H. Knackmuss, and P. E. Rouvière, Gene 273:305-315, 2001) is also possible for microbial communities. The activity of the three cyclohexanone monooxygenases was confirmed and characterized following their expression in Escherichia coli.     

A Comparison of the Adaptive Immune Response between Recovered Anthrax Patients and Individuals Receiving Three Different Anthrax Vaccines

Several different human vaccines are available to protect against anthrax. We compared the human adaptive immune responses generated by three different anthrax vaccines or by previous exposure to cutaneous anthrax. Adaptive immunity was measured by ELISPOT to count cells that produce interferon (IFN)-γ in response to restimulation ex vivo with the anthrax toxin components PA, LF and EF and by measuring circulating IgG specific to these antigens. Neutralising activity of antisera against anthrax toxin was also assayed. We found that the different exposures to anthrax antigens promoted varying immune responses. Cutaneous anthrax promoted strong IFN-γ responses to all three antigens and antibody responses to PA and LF. The American AVA and Russian LAAV vaccines induced antibody responses to PA only. The British AVP vaccine produced IFN-γ responses to EF and antibody responses to all three antigens. Anti-PA (in AVA and LAAV vaccinees) or anti-LF (in AVP vaccinees) antibody titres correlated with toxin neutralisation activities. Our study is the first to compare all three vaccines in humans and show the diversity of responses against anthrax antigens.