Frequency of occurrence of mangrove fungi from the east coast of India

This paper describes the frequency of occurrence and biodiversity of fungi from mangroves of the Godavari and Krishna deltas, on the east coast of India. Seventy three species were identified from Godavari and 67 from the Krishna mangroves. Fifty five species were common to both sites, 18 were found only at Godavari and 12 at Krishna mangroves. Verruculina enaliawas found to be very frequent at both sites with a higher frequency of occurrence at Godavari. Eutypa bathurstensis was very frequent at Godavari but only frequent at Krishna. Cirrenalia pygmea and Cryptosphaeria mangrovei were frequent at the Godavari mangrove, but were recorded occasionally at Krishna. Decaying samples of Rhizophora and Avicennia were studied in detail. Forty three species were common to both hosts, while 22 species were recorded only from Avicennia and 20 only from Rhizophora. Verruculina enalia was the only very frequent fungus recorded on both hosts with a lower percentage occurrence (14.8%) on R. apiculata as compared to Avicennia spp. (24.3%). Eutypa bathurstensis was the next most frequent fungus on Avicennia, while Rhizophila marina was next most frequent on Rhizophora. Dactylospora haliotrepha which was recorded frequently on Rhizophorawas infrequent on Avicennia.     

Isolation and characterization of regulatory mutations affecting the expression of the guaBA operon of Escherichia coli K-12

Summary We isolated strains of Escherichia coli K 12 in which the lac structural genes were fused to the structural genes of the guaBA operon. These strains were used to isolate regulatory mutations that increased the expression of the guaBA operon under normal repressing conditions as compared to the wild type parental fusion strain. Three classes of guaBA specific regulatory mutations were identified. Class I regulatory mutations were trans-acting and unlinked to the guaBA operon as shown by bacteriophage P1 transduction. Class II regulatory mutations were tightly linked to the guaBA operon, cis-dominant to the wild type allele in a cis-trans analysis and were regarded as control region mutations. Class III regulatory mutations were tightly linked to the guaBA operon and trans-recessive to the wild type allele in a cis-trans analysis. We have designated the locus responsible for the class III regulatory mutations as guaR. The guaR locus is tightly linked and was mapped to the counterclockwise side of the guaBA operon. The guaR locus is proposed to specify a trans acting regulatory element involved in the regulation of the guaBA operon.     

Specificity of an ant-lycaenid interaction

Summary Many lycaenid butterflies are believed to be mutualists of ants — the butterfly larvae secrete sugars and amino acids as rewards for the ants, and the ants protect the larvae from predation or parasitism. We examined the specificity of the relationship between the lycaenid Plebejus argus and ants in the genus Lasius. Eggs were not attractive to Lasius ants until the emerging larvae had broken through the chorion. First instar larvae were palpated and picked up by Lasius workers and taken to the nest. First instars were mostly ignored by Myrmica sabuleti ants and they were rarely detected by Formica fusca. Older larvae were more attractive to Lasius than to the other ant genera. Pupae were very attractive to Lasius, moderately so to Myrmica, and were ignored by Formica fusca. Teneral adults were palpated by Lasius, but were attacked by Myrmica and Formica workers. We conclude that P. argus is a specialist associate of Lasius ants. Two populations of Plebejus argus were compared: one is naturally associated with Lasius niger, and the other with Lasius alienus. In reciprocal trials, larvae were slightly more attractive to their natural host ant species. Since test larvae were reared on a single host plant species in captivity, this differentiation probably has a genetic basis.     

Recovery of Bacillus thuringiensis from Marine Sediments of Japan

Marine sediments from a Japanese bay were examined for the occurrence of Bacillus thuringiensis. Of 1313 colonies belonging to the Bacillus cereus/B. thuringiensis group, 22 (1.7%) were allocated to B. thuringiensis. Marine isolates of B. thuringiensis consisted of heterogeneous multiple H serogroups; 10 isolates were assigned to the eight serovars (kurstaki, sumiyoshiensis, sotto, aizawai, darmstadiensis, thompsoni, neoleonensis, and higo); two motile isolates failed to react with the reference antisera; and the others were serologically untestable. Insecticidal activities were associated with two kurstaki isolates (toxic to both Lepidoptera and Diptera) and a higo isolate (Diptera-specific). None of the parasporal inclusion proteins of the 22 isolates exhibited in vitro cytotoxic activity against two vertebrate cells, sheep erythrocytes and HeLa cells. All B. thuringiensis isolates had no halophilism, although seawater-based medium supported their growth, sporulation, and formation of parasporal inclusions. Received: 29 November 1999 / Accepted: 10 January 2000     

碎米荠超氧化物歧化酶基因家族成员的鉴定和分析

为了解碎米荠(Cardamine hirsuta)的SOD基因特征,对SOD家族成员的基因结构、染色体定位、系统进化关系进行了分析,对顺式作用元件和蛋白结构进行了预测,并利用qRT-PCR技术检测各家族成员的组织表达模式。结果表明,碎米荠基因组中共有10个SOD基因(ChSODs),包括6个Cu/Zn-SOD、3个Fe-SOD和1个Mn-SOD。编码的ChSODs蛋白有57~ 324个氨基酸,分子量为6 419.41~34 659.01 kDa,理论等电点为4.92~9.60;系统进化树分析表明,碎米荠的ChSOD与拟南芥的AtSOD的同源性较高;ChSODs在根、茎、叶中均有表达,且在叶中高表达,其中CARHR085500和CARHR256690在叶和茎中表达量较高;顺式作用元件预测表明,碎米荠SOD响应多种非生物胁迫,其中对ABA和低温胁迫较为敏感; ChSODs蛋白质的二级和三级结构具有差异性。这表明碎米荠SOD基因在抗氧化过程中发挥重要作用。     

Evaluation of selected features of Staphylococcus cohnii enabling colonization of humans

Based on iron utilization, sensitivity to skin fatty acids, lipolytic and proteolytic activity the potential abilities ofStaphylococcus cohnii strains to colonize humans were evaluated. The investigation included 60 strains that belong to both subspecies,viz. S. cohnii ssp.cohnii andS. cohnii ssp.urealyticus. Strains were isolated from different sources of theIntensive Care Unit and from non-hospital environment. Most of the strains were multiple antibiotic-resistant. Strains of both subspecies revealed a relatively low iron requirement. These strains were capable of utilizing iron bound in oxo acids and from host iron-binding proteins.S. cohnii ssp.urealyticus were more effective in iron uptake thanS. cohnii ssp.cohnii. All investigated strains revealed sensitivity to skin fatty acids, butS. cohnii ssp.urealyticus strains were more resistant. Special features of strains of this subspecies promote colonization of humans.     

Phylogenetic diversity of isolates belonging to genera Geobacillus and Aeribacillus isolated from different geothermal regions of Turkey

The phylogenetic diversity of 31 thermophilic bacilli belonging to genera Geobacillus and Aeribacillus were investigated which were isolated from various geothermal sites of Turkey. Twenty-seven of these isolates were found to be belonged within the genus Geobacillus, whereas 4 of them were identified as Aeribacillus pallidus. The comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses revealed that the A. pallidus isolates displayed sequence similarity values from 98.0 to 99.6% to their closest relative. Furthermore, Geobacillus isolates showed sequence similarity values from 88.9 to 99.8% with the reference type strains. According to the phylogenetic analysis, isolates belonging to genus Geobacillus were diverged into nine clusters and among these isolates, 19 of them were identified as strains related to G. caldoproteolyticus, G. thermodenitrificans, G. stearothermophilus, G. thermoglucosidasius and G. toebii with the most abundant 13 isolates from G. caldoproteolyticus. Four of the Geobacillus isolates were named as unidentified mix group, as they found to be genetically very homogenous like their closely related type species: G. thermoleovorans, G. vulcani, G. lituanicus, G. kaustophilus, G. caldovelox, G. caldotenax, and G. uralicus. Moreover, the sequence comparisons of E173a, E265, C161ab and A142 isolates demonstrated that they represented novel species among genus Geobacillus as they shared lower than 96.7% sequence similarity to all the described type species. The AluI-, HaeIII- and TaqI-ARDRA results were in congruence with the 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. By ARDRA results, the isolates were able to be differentiated and clustered, the discriminative restriction fragments of these isolates and type species were determined and the novelty of E173, E265, C161ab and A142 isolates could be displayed. Some differentiating phenotypic characters and the ability of amylase, glucosidase and protease production of these bacilli were also studied and biotechnologically valuable thermostable enzyme producing isolates were introduced in order to use in further studies.     

Seasonal study of the fungal biota of the fur of dogs

During a one year period, 944 dogs from the Municipal kennel of Barcelona were examined to detect animals with suspected dermatophytosis. Only a few animals (1.8%) presented skin lesions but none of them had dermatophytosis. A representative number of dogs without visible skin lesions (n=172), selected at random, were used to carry out a seasonal study of the mycobiota of their fur. Fifteen isolates belonging to the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton were isolated from 14 of the 172 (8.1%) dogs without lesions. The identity of these fungi was Microsporum gypseum (6/15), Trichophyton terrestre (4/15), M. canis (2/15), M. cookei (2/15) and Trichophyton ajelloi (1/15) (one strain each of M. gypseum and T. ajelloi were isolated from one dog). Species of Penicillium (% prevalence=89.5%), Alternaria (86.6%), Cladosporium (84.9%), Aspergillus (77.3%), Scopulariopsis (65.7%) and Chrysosporium (64.5%) were the most prevalent. No significant differences in the fungal biota were observed with respect to age, gender, hair length or between mixed and pure breed dogs. A large number of isolates, including species belonging to the genera Beauveria, Chrysosporium, Malbranchea and Scopulariopsis, that macroscopically and/or microscopically resemble dermatophytes and may be mistaken for them, produced a red color change in Dermatophyte Test Medium. No significant seasonal difference was detected among the isolates belonging to the the most frequently encountered genera, with the exception of Scopulariopsis (higher in summer and autumn) and Chrysosporium (higher in summer). Species from other genera, with lower occurrence also presented significant differences in their seasonal distribution. Arthrinium, Aureobasidium, Chaetomium and Phoma spp. presented maximum prevalence peaks in spring, Fusarium, Paecilomyces, Phoma and Rhizopus spp. in summer and Geotrichum and Mucor spp. in autumn. The Microsporum and Trichophyton species were more frequently isolated in summer.     

5种相思树和尾巨桉人工林土壤养分和酶活性特征

为揭示固氮树种土壤养分转化的酶学机制,对固氮树种[厚荚相思(Acacia crassicarpa)、黑木相思(A. melanoxylon)、卷荚相思(A.cincinnata)、大叶相思(A.auriculiformis)和马占相思(A.mangium)]及非固氮树种尾巨桉(Eucalyptusurophylla×E.grandis)人工林的土壤养分含量、酶活性及其相关性进行研究。结果表明,相思林40～60cm土层的pH均高于尾巨桉林;5种相思林土壤各土层的TP、TK含量均低于尾巨桉林,而20～40 cm土层的TC、TN含量均高于尾巨桉林,黑木相思林和马占相思林各土层的有效养分均显著高于尾巨桉林(P0.05)。0～10 cm土层中,相思林的土壤酸性磷酸酶和纤维素酶活性均高于尾巨桉林,大叶相思林的土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、纤维素酶和芳基硫酸酯酶活性显著高于尾巨桉林(P0.05),卷荚相思林的土壤脲酶、纤维素酶、几丁质酶和淀粉酶活性显著高于尾巨桉林(P0.05)。相关分析结果表明,土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶和几丁质酶活性与AP显著负相关(P0.05),蔗糖酶和纤维素酶活性与NH4+-N显著负相关(P 0.05),脲酶、纤维素酶、芳基硫酸酯酶与土壤TK显著负相关(P0.05),几丁质酶活性与TN含量呈显著正相关(P0.05),土壤淀粉酶活性与NH4+-N呈显著正相关(P 0.05),过氧化氢酶活性与土壤TK含量呈显著正相关。可见,与尾巨桉人工林相比,在我国南方退化山地引种相思树可提高土壤关键酶的活性,对土壤有效养分具有明显改良作用,有利于退化地土壤的生态修复及人工林长期生产力的维持。     

基于cpDNA单倍型多态性的草果栽培地理起源证据

为了探索草果(Amomum tsaoko)的栽培地理起源,该文检测了草果、拟草果(A. paratsaoko)的cpDNA序列变化,并获取了单倍型多态性信息。结果表明:(1)20个草果居群272个植株、5个拟草果居群62个植株共检测到7种单倍型。其中,草果有3种单倍型(H1、H3、H6),拟草果有6种单倍型(H1、H2、H3、H4、H5、H7)。H1和H3为共享单倍型,H6为草果私有单倍型,H2、H4、H5、H7为拟草果私有单倍型。H1为普通单倍型,H2为祖先单倍型。(2)草果居群遗传多样性远小于拟草果居群,遗传变异主要来源于居群内,拟草果居群主要来源于居群间。麻栗坡铁厂(TC)、屏边玉屏(YP)居群的遗传多样性、单倍型多样性高于其他18个草果居群。(3)进一步分析表明,包含屏边、马关、西畴、麻栗坡的云南东南部前端地域和邻接的广西那坡可能共同构成草果栽培驯化起源中心,以麻栗坡为核心区域,向周边的西畴、马关、屏边、那坡扩张。因此,结果显示应对TC、YP、那坡下华(XH)居群加以保护。该研究结果为草果种质资源保护、利用提供了遗传学信息。     

不同种苏铁珊瑚状根内生微生物多样性及适应性研究

【目的】苏铁(Cycassp.)是珍稀濒危树种,能在干热河谷中长期稳定生存的原因可能与珊瑚状根内生微生物有密切关系。不同种苏铁在同一生境下其珊瑚状根内生微生物种类和群落组成存在怎样的差异性是本研究的科学问题。【方法】采用宏基因测序技术对四川省攀枝花公园内5种同属不同种苏铁珊瑚状根进行了分子鉴定,分析了苏铁间微生物类型、功能基因和代谢通路过程的差异性。【结果】公园内不同苏铁的珊瑚状根内生微生物的优势类群在门水平上基本相同,但相对丰度有差异性。在真菌界水平上的优势类群为担子菌门(Basidiomycota)、子囊菌门(Ascomycota)、球囊菌门(Glomeromycota)和隐真菌门(Cryptomycota),在细菌界水平上的优势类群为蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、螺旋体门(Spirochaetes)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)。不同种的苏铁在真菌界和细菌界的微生物群落相对丰度存在一定差异。蓝细菌门在篦齿苏铁、攀枝花苏铁、华南苏铁和贵州苏铁中的相对丰度远高于宽叶苏铁,而放线菌门和球囊...     

Phylogenetic Analysis of S-Locus Genes Reveals the Complicated Evolution Relationship of S Haplotypes in Brassica

Self-incompatibility (SI) is reported to play a key role in the evolution of species as it promotes their outcrossing through the recognition and rejection of self-pollen grains. In Brassica, two S-locus genes expressed in the stigma, S-locus glycoprotein (SLG) gene and S-locus receptor kinase (SRK) gene, and one expressed in the pollen, S-locus protein 11 (SP11) gene, were linked as an S haplotype. In order to analyze the evolutionary relationships of S haplotypes in Brassica, a total of 39 SRK, 37 SLG, and 58 SP11 sequences of Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa and Brassica napus were aligned. Two phylogenetic trees with similar pattern were constructed based on the nucleotide sequences of SRK/SLG and SP11, respectively. Class I and class II alleles were clustered into two distinct groups, and alleles from different species, including all the interspecific pairs of S haplotypes, were closely related to each other. The S-locus genes identified in B. napus were intermingled in phylogenetic trees. All these observations showed that class I and class II S haplotypes diverged ahead of the species differentiation in Brassica. The evolution and the genetic diversity of S haplotypes in Brassica were discussed. Moreover, the relationships between S haplotypes and SI phenotypes in Brassica, especially in B. napus, were also discussed.     

Toxicity of blooms of the cyanobacterium Trichodesmium to zooplankton

The marine filamentous bloom-forming cyanobacteria Trichodesmium thiebautii and T. erythraeum were collected at locations in the Carribean during Jan.–Feb. 1991. They were screened for toxicity using Artemia salina and several species of copepods, which were harpacticoid grazers, filter-feeding calanoids, or cyclopoid copepods. Approximately 50% of the 89 T. thiebautii samples caused> 50% lethality of A. salina, though none of the 16 T. erythraeum samples caused> 25% lethality. The T. thiebautii bloom samples were toxic to the calanoid and cyclopoid copepods and non-toxic to the harpacticoid grazers. In contrast the T. erythraeum bloom samples were not toxic to any copepods tested.     

Length–weight relationships for five species of Chimaerids and two species of Rhinochimaerids to the west of Ireland

Length–weight regressions for five chimaerid species, Chimaera monstrosa Linnaeus, 1758, Chimaera opalescens Luchetti, Iglesias & Sellos, 2011, Hydrolagus affinis de Brito Capello, 1868, Hydrolagus pallidus Hardy & Stehmann, 1990 and Hydrolagus mirabilis Collett, 1904, and two Rhinochimaerid species, Rhinochimaera atlantica Holt & Byrne, 1909 and Harriotta raleighana Goode & Beane, 1895, are calculated from data collected during a series of deepwater surveys conducted by the Irish Marine Institute from 2006 to 2009. This work was carried out on the continental slope to the west and northwest of Ireland and the northern slope of the Porcupine bank. Samples were measured fresh at the end of each haul. Due to the fragility of the tails of many of these species, length measurements for Chimaerids were made to the pre supra caudal fin, while for Rhinochimaerids they were made to the second dorsal fin. Lengths were measured to the nearest centimetre below and weights were recorded to the nearest gram. Outliers were removed from the dataset according to difference in fits (DFFITS) (Belsley et al., Regression diagnostics: Identifying influential data and sources of collinearity, John Wiley & Sons; 1980). b values for the Chimaeridae ranged from 2.915 to 3.075, while r² values ranged from .981 to .995. b values for H. raleighana and R. atlantica were 2.764 and 3.505 and r² values were .977 and .976 respectively.     

Genomic organization of the ribosomal DNA of sorghum and its close relatives

Summary The structure and organization of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and several closely related grasses were determined by gel blot hybridization to cloned maize rDNA. Monocots of the genus Sorghum (sorghum, shattercane, Sudangrass, and Johnsongrass) and the genus Saccharum (sugarcane species) were observed to organize their rDNA as direct tandem repeats of several thousand rDNA monomer units. For the eight restriction enzymes and 14 cleavage sites examined, no variations were seen within all of the S. bicolor races and other Sorghum species investigated. Sorghum, maize, and sugarcane were observed to have very similar rDNA monomer sizes and restriction maps, befitting their close common ancestry. The restriction site variability seen between these three genera demonstrated that sorghum and sugarcane are more closely related to each other than either is to maize. Variation in rDNA monomer lengths were observed frequently within the Sorghum genus. These size variations were localized to the intergenic spacer region of the rDNA monomer. Unlike many maize inbreds, all inbred Sorghum diploids were found to contain only one rDNA monomer size in an individual plant. These results are discussed in light of the comparative timing, rates, and modes of evolutionary events in Sorghum and other grasses. Spacer size variation was found to provide a highly sensitive assay for the genetic contribution of different S. bicolor races and other Sorghum species to a Sorghum population.     

基于rbcL和matK序列探讨马鞭草科部分植物的系统学位置

为探究适用于马鞭草科植物的DNA条形码及该类群的系统分类关系,对豆腐柴(Premna microphylla)的叶绿体基因ycf6-psbM、trnV-atpE、rbcL、trnL-F、psbM-trnD、atpB-rbcL、trnC-ycf6、trnH-psbA、rpl36-infA-rps8和核基因ITS序列进行了PCR扩增和测序,结果表明仅rbcL、trnl-F、trnH-psbA序列的PCR扩增以及测序效果较好,而ITS不能得到明显的扩增条带,ycf6-psbM不能成功测序,其它序列存在有部分双峰或噪值高等问题。根据DNA条形码标准,rbcL序列是所有测试条码中相对最适合的。应用rbcL和matK序列对马鞭草科(Verbenaceae)豆腐柴属、牡荆属(Vitex L.)、马鞭草属(Verbena L.)和大青属(Clerodendrum L.)等4属与唇形科宝盖草属(Lamium L.)、水苏属(Stachys L.)、鼠尾草属(Salvia L.)和香科科属(Teucrium L.)等4属的分类和系统发育关系进行分析,以紫草科Lithospermum multiflorum L.为外群,最大简约法对2个片段的单独和联合矩阵分别构建系统发育树。豆腐柴属和大青属应从马鞭草科划入唇形科,马鞭草属仍归于马鞭草科,而牡荆属的系统学位置还需更多的证据。     

Isolation and characterization of marine bacteria capable of utilizing phthalate

Eleven phthalate-degrading bacterial strains were isolated from seawater collected off the coast of Japan. The isolates were found to be most closely related to the marine bacterial genera Alteromonas, Citreicella, Marinomonas, Marinovum, Pelagibaca, Rhodovulum, Sulfitobacter, Thalassobius, Thalassococcus, Thalassospira, and Tropicibacter. For the first time, members of these genera were shown to be capable of growth on phthalate. The plate assay for visual detection of phthalate dioxygenase activity and PCR detection of a possible gene encoding 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate decarboxylase indicated that phthalate is degraded via 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate to protocatechuate in all the isolates.     

两种栽培型广藿香内生真菌群落组成变化

为探索内生真菌与广藿香互作间对宿主活性成分形成机制的影响,该研究以成分差异较大的牌香和湛香为对象,采用传统形态学方法对所获菌株归类,通过真菌通用引物ITS1/ITS4扩增菌株rDNA-ITS序列,鉴定其分类地位并研究其多样性。结果表明：(1)用PDA和LBA培养基对苗期、分枝期和成株期广藿香茎叶组织块进行内生真菌分离,共获得3 070株菌株,其中牌香(PX)分离出1 624株,鉴定出1 319株,分属于36属;湛香(ZX)分离出1 446株,鉴定出994株,分属于33属。牌香分离出7种特有内生真菌,分别为香柱菌(Epichloe typhina)、盘长孢状刺盘孢菌(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)、座腔孢菌(Botryosphaeria sp.)、丝核菌(Rhizoctonia sp.)及截盘多毛孢菌(Truncatella sp.),并首次分离到疫霉菌(Phytophthora sp.)和指疫霉菌(Sclerophthora sp.),这2种菌属于卵菌门内生菌。湛香分离出拟青霉菌(Paecilomyces sp.)和尾孢菌(Cercospora sp.)...     

Three fim genes required for the regulation of length and mediation of adhesion of Escherichia coli type 1 fimbriae

Summary Three novel fim genes of Escherichia coli, fimF, fimG and fimH, were characterized. These genes were not necessary for the production of fimbriae but were shown to be involved in the adhesive property and longitudinal regulation of these structures. Complementation experiments indicated that both the major fimbrial subunit gene, fimA, and the fimH gene in combination with either the fimF or the fimG gene were required for mannose-specific adhesion. The fimF, fimG and fimH gene products were likewise shown to play a major role in the fimbrial morphology as longitudinal modulators. The amount of FimF, FimG and FimH proteins appeared to control the length and number of the fimbriae. The DNA sequence of a 2050 bp region containing the three genes was determined. The corresponding protein sequences all exhibited homology with the fimbrial subunit protein, FimA.