The multiplication rate of amoebae related to the cultivation temperature

The cultivation temperature-dependent rate of multiplication in amoebae was studied using three strains of Amoeba proteus and another amoeba strain of unknown specific and generic position.

1. 1. The multiplication rates are characterized by optima that vary with strains.

2. 2. The temperature-induced changes in the multiplication rate of a given strain are non-hereditary; they are common modifications.

3. 3. Hereditary interstrain differences in the multiplication rate have also been shown at constant temperatures.

4. 4. The range of modificational changes with increase or decrease of cultivation temperature appears to be greater than interstrain differences in multiplication rate.

A novel group I intron in Candida dubliniensis is homologous to a Candida albicans intron

In the present study, we determined the sequence of group I self-splicing introns found in the large ribosomal RNA subunit of Candida albicans, Candida stellatoidea and the recently-described species Candida dubliniensis. It was found that both the intron and ribosomal RNA nucleotide sequences are almost perfectly identical between different C. albicans strains as well as between C. albicans and C. stellatoidea strains. Comparisons of ribosomal RNA sequences suggest that local isolates of atypical C. albicans from individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus can be assigned to the C. dubliniensis species. C. dubliniensis strains also harbor a group I intron in their ribosomal RNA, as observed in about 40% of C. albicans strains and all C. stellatoidea strains. This novel C. dubliniensis group I intron is identical to the C. albicans and C. stellatoidea intron, except for two widely divergent stem-loop regions. Despite these differences, the C. dubliniensis intron possesses self-splicing ability in an in vitro assay. Taken together, these data support the idea that C. albicans and C. stellatoidea should be joined together as variants of the same species while C. dubliniensis is a distinct but closely related microorganism. To our knowledge, the C. albicans and C. dubliniensis introns are the first example of a pair of homologous group I introns differing only by the presence of apparently facultative sequences in some stem-loops suspected to be involved in stabilization of tertiary structure.     

印度蔊菜与无瓣蔊菜形态变异特征的比较及分类关系

印度蔊菜(Rorippa indica)与无瓣蔊菜(R. dubia)的分类关系仍存在较大争议, 为阐明二者的分类学关系, 本研究综合利用形态指标测量、DNA相对含量检测、体细胞染色体观察和基于SSR分子标记的遗传距离分析等方法, 系统地比较了二者的分类学特征和细胞遗传学差异。结果表明: 印度蔊菜(2n = 48)为六倍体, 无瓣蔊菜(2n = 32)为四倍体。同时, 前者DNA相对含量约为150, 是后者的1.5倍。通过45对SSR分子标记的遗传距离分析得出, 相对于球果蔊菜(R. globosa)与欧亚蔊菜(R. sylvestris), 二者亲缘关系较近, 独立聚类为一支, 但在遗传距离为0.23处可以明确划分为两个种。同时, 利用角果长度和结籽密度两个形态指标可以将二者明显区分为两个种。另外, 二者存在明显的生殖障碍, 通过正反交授粉实验得出: 印度蔊菜与无瓣蔊菜自花授粉的结实率分别为97.73%和95.65%, 而以印度蔊菜为母本的杂交处理结实率为0, 以无瓣蔊菜为母本的杂交处理结实率为47.06%, 但其种子萌发率为0。综上所述, 印度蔊菜与无瓣蔊菜为两个种。     

新疆不同来源金黄壳囊孢的多样性

为明确新疆不同寄主及地理来源的金黄壳囊孢(Cytospora chrysosperma)的多样性, 探讨种内亲缘关系和多样性差异。作者通过记录菌株在PDA培养基上的菌落颜色、形状、子实体形态等特征, 并应用Biolog-FF技术及ISSR分子标记技术, 比较了来自新疆5个地区5种寄主上的47株金黄壳囊孢的培养特征、生理生化特征及遗传多样性。结果表明47株金黄壳囊孢依据培养特征可划分为15种类型。不同类型菌株在碳源利用及代谢能力上存在差异, 各菌株对碳源的利用数量随着培养时间的增长逐渐增多。菌株882利用的碳源数量最多, 培养120 h可利用28种不同碳源, 碳源代谢能力中等; 菌株812-1利用的碳源数量最少, 培养120 h仅利用7种碳源, 代谢能力较低; 菌株1074-2、847、934、891-1、896、740具有单独利用碳源的能力。基于遗传相似性系数进行聚类分析, 结果显示遗传相似性系数为0.58时, 47个菌株被划分为两大类群, 其中第二类群菌株的培养特征为: 菌落白色、子实体较小且分布密集。供试金黄壳囊孢的多样性主要受自身遗传结构的影响, 不同寄主种类和地理来源对多样性的影响不显著。     

Cryptococcus zeae, a new yeast species associated with Zea mays

A new yeast, Cryptococcus zeae (type strain HB 1207^T) is described. Six strains were isolated from corn and pests of corn in Austria. Microsatellite-primed polymerase chain reaction (MSP-PCR) fingerprints showed that the strains are members of the same species. Phylogenetical analyses of domains D1/D2 26S rDNA and ITS 1-5,8S–ITS 2 sequences showed C. zeae to have the closest relationship to C. luteolus. The D1/D2 sequences of C. zeae fit with three Korean Cryptococcus sp. strains (AF459690, AF459691, AF459692). The new species is separable from the closest relative C. luteolus using only two physiological tests.     

Biogeography and incipient speciation in Ophryotrocha labronica (Polychaeta, Dorvilleidae)

Crossing experiments were conducted between the Naples I (NI) strain of Ophryotrocha labronica labronica, three strains of O. l. pacifica from Japan (M3), Hawaii (WH) and Los Angeles (LA), two strains of O. labronica from Australia and one from an unknown origin, discovered in a Moscow aquarium, to determine the relationships between the European and Pacific subspecies, and the newly discovered strains. Previously published data combined with new results revealed several stages in the process of speciation within the sibling group. Interpopulation crosses yielded an increased sex ratio that appears to be positively related to genetic distance and to the sex ratio of the parent strains. Fecundity data demonstrated that the three northern Pacific strains are more closely related to each other than to any other strain, confirming that they are a valid subspecies, and indicate that they are the result of natural distribution. The strain of unknown origin as well as the Australian strains clearly belong to O. l. labronica. Its isolated presence in the South Pacific may be a remnant of an earlier wider distribution or an introduction of the Mediterranean population, as the life histories of Ophryotrocha species have made them prime candidates for anthropogenic dispersals.     

Susceptibility assays of Candida tropicalis to miconazole

In vitro evaluation of antifungal activity of imidazole derivatives is made difficult by the inhibitory effects of several factors such as inoculum size, growth form of the fungus, incubation temperature, the presence of complex substances, including divalent ions, which strongly influence final results. This is particularly evident when testing clinical isolates of C. tropicalis strains resistant to imidazole drugs. Our data based on assays of miconazole nitrate and miconazole sulfosalicylate against C. tropicalis show that it is possible to abolish various interference activities on the antimicrobial activity by suitable modifications of some cultural conditions. Thus, a study has been carried out to assess miconazole sulfosalicylate activity on C. tropicalis throughout experiments performed by contact test and agar diffusion test. The use of these techniques made it possible to display some activity of the imidazoles even against strains of C. tropicalis, which were defined as resistant using usual susceptibility assay conditions. Experimental conditions which cause the increase of susceptibility of C. tropicalis are related to factors that modify the barrier function and cellular permeability as demonstrated mainly by the effect of electrical conductivity (E.C.), pH of the medium and pretreatment of fungal inoculum with sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (SDSS). Our results suggest that the correlation between drug dosage and inhibitory activity in vitro can be improved by the modifications proposed in this paper.     

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of Chlamydomonas (Chlorophyta). I. Emendation of Chlamydomonas Ehrenberg and Chloromonas Gobi, and description of Oogamochlamys gen. nov. and Lobochlamys gen. nov

The genus Chlamydomonas (including Chloromonas) is one of the largest green algal genera comprising more than 600 species. To initiate a comprehensive analysis of the phylogeny and systematics of the genus, we determined nuclear-encoded SSU rRNA sequences from 32 strains of Chlamydomonas, Chloromonas and Chlorogonium with emphasis on oogamous taxa and related strains, and incorporated these into global molecular phylogenetic analyses of 132 strains of Chlorophyceae. In addition, we studied the morphology and reproduction of oogamous and related strains by light microscopy. We recognize and designate 18 monophyletic lineages (clades) within the Chlorophyceae, 11 of which are confined to the CW (basal bodies displaced clockwise) subgroup. The majority of clades recognized within the Chlorophyceae do not correspond to any of the traditional classification systems, which are still largely based on the organization level. Strains assigned to Chlamydomonas and Chloromonas were found in seven different clades confirming the polyphyly of the two genera as presently conceived. To initiate the taxonomic revision of Chlamydomonas, C. reinhardtii is proposed as the conserved type of the genus. In consequence, species in clades other than the clade containing C. reinhardtii must be transferred to other genera, a process initiated in this contribution. The oogamous strains studied represent a monophyletic lineage, which is described as Oogamochlamys gen. nov. comprising three species (O. gigantea, O. zimbabwiensis and O. ettlii spec. nov.). The sister clade to Oogamochlamys consists of isogamous strains characterized by chloroplasts with incisions and is described as Lobochlamys gen. nov. with two species (L. culleus and L. segnis). Another clade is characterized by asteroid or perforated, parietal chloroplasts and contains the type species of Chloromonas (C. reticulata). Thus, the polyphyletic Chloromonas (traditionally defined as “Chlamydomonas without pyrenoids”) can be legitimized as a monophyletic genus by restriction to this clade and is here emended on the basis of chloroplast characters (the clade contains strains with or without pyrenoids thus rejecting the character “absence of pyrenoids”).     

Phylogenomic analysis clarifies the evolutionary origin of Coffea arabica

Interspecific hybridization events have played a major role in plant speciation, yet the evolutionary origin of hybrid species often remains enigmatic. Here, we inferred the evolutionary origin of the allotetraploid species Coffea arabica, which is widely cultivated for Arabica coffee production. We estimated genetic distances between C. arabica and all species that are known to be closely related to C. arabica using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) data. In addition, we reconstructed a time-calibrated multilabeled phylogenetic tree of 24 species to estimate the age of the C. arabica hybridization event. Ancestral states of self-compatibility were also inferred to shed new light on the evolution of self-compatibility in Coffea. Coffea canephora and C. eugenioides were confirmed as the putative progenitor species of C. arabica. These species most likely hybridized between 1.08 million and 543 000 years ago, coinciding with periods of environmental upheaval, which may have induced range shifts of the progenitor species that facilitated the emergence of C. arabica.     

Iron protein content of Thiocapsa pfennigii, a purple sulfur bacterium of atypical chlorophyll composition

Four out of five soluble electron transport iron proteins of Thiocapsa pfennigii plus the particulate cytochromes have been found to be analogous to those of Chromatium vinosum strain D. In addition to ferredoxin, high potential iron-sulfur protein. cytochrome c′, and cytochrome c-552(550), T. pfennigii contains a cytochrome c-552(545) not previously isolated from photosynthetic bacteria. It is concluded that T. pfennigii is more closely related to C. vinosum than to Rhodopseudomonas viridis, the only other known bacterial species having bacteriochlorophyll b.     

基于报告基因敲入构建果生刺盘孢细胞核荧光标记菌株

运用基因敲入技术,将GFP、mCherry整合到果生刺盘孢 Colletotrichum fructicola组蛋白histone H1位点,实现融合表达,获得细胞核荧光标记菌株。基于标记菌株可以对分生孢子、营养菌丝、附着胞、侵染菌丝等结构中的细胞核进行实时活体观察。果生刺盘孢存在性亲和的“+”、“-”型菌株分化,GFP“+”型菌株和mCherry“-”型菌株接触形成明显杂交线,杂交线上单子囊内含红绿两种孢子,表明“+”、“-”型菌株间发生杂交;杂交线上子囊壳壁表达mCherry,表明由“-”型菌株发育而来。本研究构建的核荧光标记菌株将是研究果生炭疽菌细胞周期调控和有性繁殖过程的重要材料。     

热带假丝酵母高效利用甘油研究

目的:热带假丝酵母以油脂为底物发酵时会产生副产物甘油,研究对热带假丝酵母gk基因进行过表达,将副产物甘油转化为能量,提高油脂转化利用效率。方法:以热带假丝酵母Candida tropicalis 1798中的甘油激酶(gk)为研究对象,利用PCR技术获得同源臂基因gkpR,通过一步法无缝克隆将同源臂和G418抗性基因(kanr)连接至pPICzαA载体,同时将解脂假丝酵母Candida lipolytica 1457中的启动子基因pGAP无缝连接至载体中的gkpR,构成质粒pPICzαA-gkp,并电转化至C.tropicalis 1798感受态细胞中,通过一次同源单交换,将启动子pGK替换为pGAP。结果:经过G418抗性筛选和PCR鉴定,成功获得pGAP基因替换菌株C.tropicalis 1798-gkPr;发酵验证结果显示,启动子基因替换C.tropicalis 1798在以甘油为底物培养时重组菌OD600值比野生型菌株高46.4%,重组菌培养基中甘油剩余量比野生菌降低56.1%,表明启动子替换能促进C.tropicalis1798对甘油的吸收利用。此外,以油脂为底物进行发酵实验时还发现重组菌产长链二元酸的量比野生菌提高32.7%。结论:通过启动子替换手段构建的重组菌C.tropicalis 1798-gkPr,提高了热带假丝酵母对油脂组分中甘油成分的利用效率。     

A yeast clade near Candida kruisii uncovered: nine novel Candida species associated with basidioma-feeding beetles

Yeasts similar to Candida kruisii were isolated repeatedly from the digestive tracts of basidioma-feeding beetles, especially nitidulids inhabiting and feeding on a variety of agarics in the southeastern USA and Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Based on the identical sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene (rDNA) and host beetle information, the isolates were grouped into 19 genotypes which varied from C. kruisii by up to 38 nucleotide differences in the D1/D2 region. Phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences and phenotypic traits placed the isolates in C. kruisii and in nine undescribed taxa. The new species and type strains are designated as Candida pallodes (NRRL Y-27653^T), C. tritomae (NRRL Y-27650^T), C. panamensis (NRRL Y-27657^T), C. lycoperdinae (NRRL Y-27658^T), C. atbi (NRRL Y-27651^T), C. barrocoloradensis (NRRL Y-27934^T), C. aglyptinia (NRRL Y-27935^T), C. stri (NRRL Y-48063^T), and C. gatunensis (NRRL Y-48064^T). A phylogeny based on analysis of a combined database of sequences of SSU and LSU rDNA and the ITS region showed that the nine new species formed a novel sister clade to C. kruisii that was strongly supported by bootstrap analysis. Candida pallodes, C. tritomae, C. panamensis, and C. lycoperdinae formed one subclade, while C. atbi, C. barrocoloradensis, C. aglyptinia, C. stri, and C. gatunensis formed a second distinct subclade within the larger clade. Candida pallodes and C. atbi showed a strong host specificity to beetle species in the genus Pallodes (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) collected from a variety of agarics. On the other hand, C. panamensis, C. tritomae, and C. lycoperdinae were associated with several unrelated beetles in Erotylidae, Scarabaeidae, Tenebrionidae, and Curculionidae as well as Lycoperdina ferruginea (Nitidulidae). Candida pallodes, C. tritomae, C. lycoperdinae, and C. atbi have been isolated repeatedly in the USA, while the other five new species have been found only at Barro Colorado Island, Panama.     

基于生态位模型预测野生油茶的潜在分布

油茶(Camellia oleifera)是我国第一大木本油料作物, 野生油茶是油茶育种的宝贵遗传资源。本研究从中国数字植物标本馆(CVH, http://www.cvh.org.cn/)获得可靠的野生油茶分布点数据, 结合气象和土壤数据, 分别应用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型和规则集遗传算法(GARP)模型构建了野生油茶的生态位模型, 预测了野生油茶的潜在分布区, 并分析了影响野生油茶分布的主要环境变量。根据生态位模型预测的分布概率值, 对野生油茶的潜在分布区划分适生等级, 并与主要油茶产地的实际分布数据进行比较, 以验证适生等级划分的可靠性。结果表明, 两种模型的预测结果均能较好地反映油茶的分布情况。GARP模型预测的潜在分布区更广, 而MaxEnt模型的预测结果更精确。两种模型的预测结果均显示, 野生油茶的潜在分布区大部分位于中国, 但在中南半岛也有部分分布。MaxEnt模型预测的野生油茶在中国的潜在分布区与我国亚热带常绿阔叶林的分布区基本吻合, 高适生区主要可以分为3大区域: (1)东北-西南走向的武夷山脉及附近的群山区域; (2)东西走向的南岭山脉及附近的群山区域; (3)东北-西南走向的武陵山脉及附近的群山区域。MaxEnt模型分析显示, 影响野生油茶分布的主要环境变量是昼夜温差月均值、最干季降水量与最暖季降水量。油茶生长面积较大的地区绝大部分都位于MaxEnt模型预测的中、高适生区, 说明适生等级的划分较可靠。实地考察显示, 生态位模型的预测结果对于寻找野生油茶资源具有较高的参考价值。此外, 本研究也充分显示, 利用中国数字植物标本馆的植物分布数据, 结合相应的环境数据构建生态位模型, 有助于了解作物野生近缘种的地理分布。     

Selection and preliminary characterization of β-glycosidases producer Patagonian wild yeasts

Four pre-selected indigenous yeast strains belonging to Candida guilliermondii (V₂ and V₅), Candida pulcherrima (V₆) and Kloeckera apiculata (V₉), were used as β-glucosidase (βGL) and β-xylosidase (βXL) sources. The optimization of yeast culture conditions was carried out and the effects of oenological parameters on β-glycosidase activities were evaluated. C. guilliermondii V₂ and C. pulcherrima V₆ strains were selected. These strains showed intracellular (C. pulcherrima V₆) and parietal (C. guilliermondii V₂) constitutive βGL and βXL. The enzymatic activities were active at pH, glucose, ethanol and SO₂ concentrations usually found in winemaking and they were able to release monoterpenols and alcohols from grape juice glycoside extracts. Additionally, these yeast strains were not able to produce volatile acidity and off flavour. Regional ecological relevance of these species was also discussed. Our results evidence that the selected C. guilliermondii V₂ and C. pulcherrima V₆ strains have interesting oenological characteristics and allow us to think in their potential application in winemaking.     

中国沿海洛氏角毛藻复合群的多样性组成及地理分布

洛氏角毛藻复合群(Chaetoceros lorenzianus complex)指具有与洛氏角毛藻相似形态学特征的物种集合, 它们广泛分布于全球近岸水域。近年国际上关于该复合群的分类学研究取得新进展, 而我国相关研究仍较为滞后。为了弄清我国沿海洛氏角毛藻复合群的物种多样性, 明确物种信息, 厘清种间界限, 为相关研究提供准确的物种鉴定依据, 本研究陆续在中国沿海建立了该复合群的332个单克隆培养株系, 利用光学显微镜、扫描电镜和透射电镜进行了较为详尽的形态学研究, 基于核糖体大亚基编码基因D1-D3区序列, 构建了分子系统学关系。结果表明其形态聚类与分子系统学结论相一致, 显示我国洛氏角毛藻复合群具有较高的物种多样性, 共鉴定到5个物种, 分别是并基角毛藻(C. decipiens)、优美角毛藻(C. elegans)、平孢角毛藻(C. laevisporus)、曼纳角毛藻(C. mannaii)和稀树角毛藻(C. pauciramosus)。研究表明传统认知的光镜下特征, 如群体特征、角毛走势等易变化, 其分类学价值需谨慎应用。角毛的超微结构, 如角毛孔纹的形状、大小、密度等是有效的种间区别特征, 休眠孢子亦是重要的物种识别依据。并基角毛藻和平孢角毛藻在我国沿岸的分布范围最为广泛, 而稀树角毛藻的分布较为有限。     

Sexual dimorphism in Champsosaurus (Diapsida, Choristodera)

Two nearly complete specimens of Champsosaurus (Diapsida, Choristodera) with distinctive morphologies, from the Tullock Formation (Early Paleocene) of northeastern Montana, USA, were described as different species. The limb bones of C. ambulator are more robust than those of C. laramiensis, indicating that C. ambulator was more adapted for walking than C. laramiensis. The phylogenetic significance of these limb bone morphologies, however, appears questionable because similar dimorphic variations occur in a closely related genus and champsosaurs from other geologic ages and locations. Female champsosaurs may have been better adapted to a terrestrial life than males due to nesting behavior on land, resulting in variable limb bone morphologies between sexes. The observed morphologic variations are, hence, hypothesized to reflect sexual dimorphism rather than sympatry of species. The C. ambulator-shaped humeri and femora, demonstrating a terrestrial adaptation, are suggested to belong to females and C. laramiensis-shaped limb bones to males. No significant variations of humeral and femoral morphologies occur in small champsosaur specimens, suggesting an aquatic niche for juveniles like adult males.     

不同来源的蛹虫草子实体活性成分的比较

通过比较不同来源的蛹虫草子实体的活性成分以探讨蛹虫草品质的差异。对17个蛹虫草菌株栽培得到的子实体及16个市售样品中的多糖、核苷类成分、游离糖醇及小分子糖类的含量进行分析测定,并比较其核苷类成分HPLC指纹图谱。结果表明,因菌株不同蛹虫草子实体的活性成分具有不同程度的差异,菌株对虫草素含量的影响最大,其次是N ⁶-(2-羟乙基)腺苷,因菌株不同虫草素含量可相差14倍,N ⁶-(2-羟乙基)腺苷的含量差异可达6倍以上。市售样品中的核苷类成分分析结果也证明了在测定的几种成分中,虫草素是含量差异最大的活性成分。17个蛹虫草菌株子实体的多糖含量为1.81%-4.92%,甘露醇含量为1.44%-4.47%,海藻糖含量为3.58%-25.43%。16个市售样品的多糖含量为2.84%-5.55%,甘露醇含量为0.96%-3.93%,海藻糖含量为1.04%-19.91%。采用数据归一化法进行子实体品质综合评价研究,结果表明菌株G7a、G10a、G15a综合品质较好,多数成分含量均大于平均值,是生产高品质蛹虫草的合适菌株。     

Allozyme differentiation in four species of the Crocus cartwrightianus group and in cultivated saffron (Crocus sativus)

The genetic variability and divergence of four species of the genus Crocus L., related to Crocus cartwrightianus group, namely Crocus thomasii Ten., Crocus hadriaticus Herbert, Crocus oreocreticus B.L. Burtt, C. cartwrightianus Herbert, has been studied by means of starch gel isozyme electrophoresis. For each population the following enzymatic loci were analyzed: PGI-1, PGI-2, G6PDH-1, G6PDH-2, IDH-1, IDH-2, 6PGDH-1, 6PGDH-2, SKDH-1, SKDH-2, AK-1 and AK-2. The genetic variability was estimated through the parameters A (mean number of alleles per locus), P (percent of polymorphic loci), H_o (mean observed heterozygosity), and H_e (mean expected heterozygosity). The genetic differentiation has been assayed by Wrigth's F-statistics, and the genetic divergence by Nei's index. Our data confirmed that the taxa are distinct species, in spite of their similar morphology and karyology. C. thomasii is more genetically similar to C. cartwrightianus and C. oreocreticus than to C. hadriaticus. We hypothesized an autopolyploid origin of saffron, probably from C. cartwrightianus, considering the genotypic classes of Crocus sativus and the other related species of the C. cartwrightianus group studied here.