Survival of gfp-tagged antagonistic bacteria in the rhizosphere of tomato plants and their effects on the indigenous bacterial community

The survival and colonization patterns of Pseudomonas putida PRD16 and Enterobacter cowanii PRF116 in the rhizosphere of greenhouse-grown tomato plants and the effects of their inoculation on the indigenous bacterial community were followed by selective plating, molecular fingerprinting, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) over 3 weeks. Both strains, which showed in vitro antagonistic activity against Ralstonia solanacearum, were previously tagged with gfp. Seed and root inoculation were compared. Although plate counts decreased for both gfp-tagged antagonists, PRD16 showed a better survival in the rhizosphere of tomato roots independent of the inoculation method. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified from total community DNA by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and CLSM confirmed the decrease in the relative abundance of the inoculant strains. Pronounced differences in the Pseudomonas community patterns for plants inoculated with PRD16 compared to the control were detected 3 weeks after root inoculation, indicating a longer-lasting effect. Analysis by CLSM showed rather heterogeneous colonization patterns for both inoculant strains. In comparison with seed inoculation, root inoculation led to a much better colonization as evidenced by all three methods. The colonization patterns observed by CLSM provide important information on the sampling strategy required for monitoring inoculant strains in the rhizosphere.     

B 细胞膜CD20 抗原的分布与单分子力谱探测

CD20抗原分子在B细胞上表达下降是慢性B淋巴细胞白血病 (B-CLL) 的标志性特征。采用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜 (LSCM) 和量子点标记相结合的方法对正常和B-CLL外周血CD20+B淋巴细胞膜表面CD20抗原分子的表达及分布进行了荧光成像。同时,采用原子力显微镜 (AFM) 对CD20+B细胞的形貌及超微结构特征进行了表征,并且将AFM针尖用生物素化的单克隆抗体进行修饰,对CD20+B细胞表面的CD20抗原-抗体之间的单分子力谱进行了探测。LSCM荧光图像显示,B-CLL CD20+B淋巴细胞上CD20分子的表达量比正常CD20+B淋巴细胞显著降低。AFM结果显示,B-CLL CD20+B淋巴细胞超微结构比正常的粗糙。力谱结果显示,CD20抗原-抗体的相互作用力大约是非特异性黏附力的5倍,CD20分子在正常CD20+B淋巴细胞膜上分布比较均匀,小部分有聚集现象,反之,在B-CLL CD20+B淋巴细胞膜表面分布稀疏。利用以上两种方法能进一步观察到B-CLL外周血B淋巴细胞的异常,并在一定程度上解释临床上B-CLL病人对利妥昔的低反应现象,为针对抗原CD20的治疗用药选择提供参考。     

An investigation of the fine structure, cell surface carbohydrates, and appeal of the diatom Extubocellulus sp. as prey for small flagellates

Summary. The fine structure and surface exopolymers of a coastal planktonic nanodiatom of the sparsely reported genus Extubocellulus were studied respectively by scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy in conjunction with fluorescent lectins. Monitoring the suitability of the species as prey food for other protists was also investigated by video microscopy coupled with digital film. Cells are rectangular in girdle view, with a pervalvar axis longer than the apical axis. Valves are almost circular with a diameter of 2.8 to 3.6 μm. The valve face bears randomly distributed areolae (ca. 50 in 10 μm), which may be either open or occluded. Two small raised ocelluli occur at the apices, with a rim devoid of perforations and about 6–7 porelli. Glucose and N-acetyl-glucosamine moieties present on the surface of the live diatom were labelled with fluorescent lectins, and a differential pattern of distribution for both carbohydrates was observed. The potential role of fluorescent lectins as cellular probes of taxonomic value in small diatoms is compared with that of nucleotide and antibody probes. We provide the first illustrative evidence of the presence of Extubocellulus sp. in the cytoplasm of the nanoflagellate Goniomonas amphinema and of the egestion of diatom frustules. Results obtained are discussed in the light of the present knowledge of the role of carbohydrate–protein interactions in phagocytosis of prey by free-living protozoa. Correspondence (present address): M. Martin-Cereceda, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Haworth Hall, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, U.S.A.