香菜CsEF 1α基因克隆与表达分析

翻译延伸因子EF 1α(elongation factor 1 alpha)是细胞中最丰富的蛋白质之一,其在确保mRNA正确解码以产生细胞蛋白质方面发挥重要作用。该研究采用RT PCR扩增方法克隆香菜CsEF 1α基因序列,利用生物信息学对CsEF 1α基因结构、序列特征及系统进化等进行分析,并采用qPCR探究CsEF 1α基因在香菜不同生长时期和非生物胁迫下的表达模式,为进一步揭示EF 1α基因调控机制的研究奠定基础。结果显示：(1)成功克隆获得香菜CsEF 1α基因序列;CsEF 1α基因包含1个1 344 bp的开放阅读框,编码447个氨基酸,分子式为C₂₂₀₂H₃₅₄₄N₅₉₄O₆₄₄S₂₀,蛋白质分子量为49.29 kD,等电点为9.12;氨基酸序列组成中赖氨酸数量最多(49个,占11.0%),色氨酸数量最少(3个,占0.7%);属碱性蛋白。(2)CsEF 1α蛋白主要由无规则卷曲(36.91%)和α 螺旋(30.43%)构成,定位于细胞质;系统进化树分析显示,CsEF 1α与胡萝卜、野生番茄、青蒿素和非洲菊的亲缘关系较接近;启动子分析包括4种植物生长发育元件、3种激素响应元件和3种胁迫响应元件。(3)qRT PCR结果显示,CsEF 1α基因的表达量随着香菜生长发育时间的延长而升高,并且与转录丰度的变化一致;CsEF 1α基因对4种不同非生物胁迫的响应表达模式有所差异;随着胁迫时间的延长,在盐胁迫下CsEF 1α基因表现出先升高后降低趋势,而在低温、高温和干旱胁迫下表现出先降低再升高的趋势。研究表明,CsEF 1α基因参与了香菜对非生物胁迫的应答,在香菜生长发育和非生物胁迫中具有重要调控作用。     

华丽龙胆GsF3′5′H和GsFNS基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究以华丽龙胆(Gentiana sino ornata)5个不同开放阶段(H₁~H₅)的蓝色花冠为试材,利用RT PCR技术克隆GsF3′5′H和GsFNS全长序列,并进行生物信息学分析,比较GsF3′5′H和GsFNS在不同组织和不同开放阶段的基因表达模式。结果显示：(1)所克隆的GsF3′5′H和GsFNS基因分别包含1 560 bp和1 590 bp开放阅读框(OFR),并分别编码520和529个氨基酸。(2)结构分析显示,GsF3′5′H和GsFNS均具有典型的F3′5′H和FNSⅡ蛋白保守结构域。(3)系统进化树分析表明,GsF3′5′H和GsFNS亲缘关系最近的物种是三花龙胆(Gentiana triflora)。(4)qRT PCR结果显示,GsF3′5′H和GsFNS基因在根、茎、叶和花冠中均表达,其中GsF3′5′H基因在花冠H₃阶段表达量最高。GsFNS在根中表达量最高,其次在花冠H₄阶段两基因的表达均较高。研究推测,GsF3′5′H基因表达产生的飞燕草素苷和GsFNS表达产生的黄酮共着色作用可能使华丽龙胆的花冠呈更稳定艳丽的蓝色,为蓝色花分子育种提供重要的基因资源。     

水稻CPR5基因参与氧化胁迫响应

为探讨水稻(Oryza sativa L.)中CPR5 基因的功能,以其cDNA 文库为基础进行序列比对,并将1 个同源性较高的序列命名为OsCPR5.生物信息学分析表明,OsCPR5 的开放阅读框长度为1551 bp,编码516 个氨基酸.软件预测该编码蛋白可能是1 个具有5 个跨膜区的膜蛋白和核定位蛋白.组织表达和亚细胞定位分析表明,OsCPR5 在根中的表达水平较高,且广泛分布在细胞膜、细胞质和细胞核上.逆境胁迫分析实验表明,植物激素脱落酸(Abscisic acid, ABA)、过氧化氢(Hydrogen peroxide,H₂O₂)、氯化钠(NaCl)、甲基紫精(Methyl viologen, MV)等环境胁迫可诱导OsCPR5 的上调表达,其中氧化胁迫相关的MV 和H₂O₂ 处理效果最为明显.拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)转基因株系atcpr5/OsCPR5 在浓度为0.5 μmol L^-1、 1.0 μmol L^-1 的MV以及6 mmol L^-1、 8 mmol L^-1 的H₂O₂ 处理下,种子萌发率明显高于atcpr5 突变体.这揭示了OsCPR5 基因在植物抗氧化胁迫响应中具有一定的作用.     

文心兰乙烯不敏感基因EIN2的克隆及表达分析

该研究采用PCR、RACE方法,对文心兰‘南茜’的乙烯不敏感蛋白基因（ethylene insensitive 2,EIN2）进行克隆及生物信息学分析,并采用qRT PCR技术,对该基因在文心兰不同组织器官和不同花期中的表达模式进行分析。结果表明：（1）成功克隆得到文心兰_EIN2基因序列,命名为OnEIN2（MH497388）;该基因cDNA序列全长为4 177 bp,其中开放阅读框3 879 bp,编码1 292个氨基酸,3′非编码区长208 bp,5′非编码区长90 bp。（2）生物信息学分析显示OnEIN2是一个不稳定的疏水蛋白,含有跨膜结构,分子式为C₆₄₀₆H₉₉₈₈N₁₆₇₀O₁₈₉₇S₄₇;蛋白质分子量142.22 kD,理论等电点5.80。多序列比对和系统进化分析表明,文心兰EIN2与铁皮石斛EIN2的相似度最高（81.98%）,二者亲缘关系也最为接近。（3）实时荧光定量PCR分析发现,OnEIN2基因在根、茎、叶花中均有表达,在花中表达量最高,茎中表达量最低;而在不同花期中,盛开期表达量最高,其次是衰老期。研究表明,文心兰OnEIN2基因在开花和衰老过程中可能有重要的作用。     

矮化香蕉及其野生型GA3ox基因的结构特点和表达分析

香蕉的矮化突变是香蕉无性繁殖后代最常见的表型变异之一,但其变异的分子调控机理目前尚未研究清楚; 而内源赤霉素是影响植物株高的重要激素之一,GA3-氧化酶是赤霉素生物合成后期的关键酶。为探究GA3-氧化酶编码基因对香蕉矮化的分子调控机理,该研究以威廉斯B6矮化突变体及其野生型亲本为材料,通过RT-PCR技术克隆得到矮化香蕉及其野生型亲本GA3ox基因的全长cDNA序列,并对其推测的氨基酸序列进行比对分析,同时利用qRT-PCR技术对GA3ox基因在不同组织中的表达水平差异进行分析。结果表明:(1)矮化香蕉GA3ox-A和野生型香蕉GA3ox-G的ORF长度均为864 bp,均编码287个氨基酸,经序列比对分析发现两条氨基酸序列之间存在5个位点的差异,从而产生具有不同性质的蛋白质。(2)氨基酸序列同源性分析表明,矮化香蕉GA3ox的氨基酸序列与油棕、海枣、椰子的同源性最高。(3)qRT-PCR显示,GA3ox基因在矮化香蕉叶片和茎秆中的表达水平整体上低于野生型,其中GA3ox在野生型茎秆中的表达水平是矮化植株的2.2～32倍。综上推测,GA3ox基因可能对香蕉茎杆的矮化变异具有重要的调控作用。该研究结果为揭示香蕉矮化突变的分子机制与筛选优良矮化香蕉株系奠定了基础。     

枸杞LbMYB103基因克隆及转化拟南芥的研究

以枸杞品种‘宁杞1号’花药为材料,采用 RT-PCR技术,分离了R2R3类MYB基因LbMYB103包含完整开放阅读框（ORF）的cDNA片段,碱基序列与已知基因HQ415755完全一致。运用Gateway技术构建LbMYB103基因植物过表达载体pMDC83-LbMYB103,利用基因枪法将融合有绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）的过表达载体转入洋葱表皮细胞,将LbMYB103基因定位在细胞核。实时荧光定量PCR分析发现,LbMYB103基因在花药中优势表达,果实中表达量较低,在根、茎和叶中均未检测到其转录本,推测LbMYB103基因可能在花药发育过程中起重要作用。通过根癌农杆菌介导法将pMDC83-LbMYB103转入拟南芥（Col-0）,经筛选获得T₁代抗性再生植株52棵,PCR鉴定有41棵阳性植株,收获T₁代种子,经抗性筛选获得T₂代抗性植株29棵,PCR鉴定有23棵阳性植株。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,LbMYB103在拟南芥植株的基因组中正常表达。表型观察发现T₁和T₂代拟南芥花药发育异常,花发育迟缓,果荚短小无种子,进一步表明LbMYB103可能与植物的育性有关。该结果为进一步开展枸杞遗传转化,深入研究LbMYB103基因在枸杞花药发育过程中可能发挥的调控功能奠定了基础。     

中国野生毛葡萄VqTLP15基因的克隆与抗病性功能研究

该研究以抗病品种中国野生毛葡萄‘商 24’和感病品种欧洲葡萄‘红地球’为材料,利用 RT PCR 方法克隆TLP15基因,分别命名为 VqTLP15 和 VvTLP15(GSVIVT01018769001),对其进行生物信息学分析、亚细胞定位、转化拟南芥,并接种不同病原菌观察分析转基因株系的抗性,采用qRT PCR 检测SA 和 JA/Eth信号途径以及调控气孔运动的相关基因表达。结果显示：(1)成功克隆获得 VqTLP15 基因的开放阅读框 (ORF);氨基酸序列比对显示,VqTLP15基因与葡萄基因组网站欧洲葡萄‘黑比诺’VvTLP15 和‘红地球’克隆的 VvTLP15基因的同源性分别为 98.99％ 和 99.66％。 (2)亚细胞定位表明,VqTLP15 定位于细胞质。(3)成功获得 VqTLP15 转基因拟南芥株系(L1、 L2、 L3)。(4)接种观察发现：白粉菌处理 7 d后转基因株系对白粉菌的抗性较野生型(Col 0)提高,且其叶片的白粉菌孢子浓度显著低于Col 0;灰霉菌诱导的叶片坏死性损伤在转基因株系(L1、L2 和L3病斑面积>40%的比例分别为 71%、62%和67%)中显著大于 Col 0(43%);接种 PstDC3000后转基因株系叶片的病害表型没有 Col 0 明显,叶片孔径减小程度大于 Col 0,且细菌浓度低于 Col 0。(5)组织化学染色分析表明：白粉菌处理后转基因株系叶片胼胝质沉积、细胞死亡率和 O₂^-·水平都显著大于 Col 0;灰霉菌处理后转基因株系的细胞死亡率、H₂O₂和 O₂^-·水平均高于 Col 0; PstDC3000 处理后细胞死亡率和 O₂^-·积累水平都高于 Col 0。(6)qRT PCR 检测显示：接种白粉菌后,转基因株系中PR1 和 ICS1 的表达水平均升高,PR1 表达在接种72 h时达到峰值,而 ICS1 在 接种120 h时达到峰值,LOX3 的表达水平逐渐降低,并于接种120 h时降至最低水平,但仍高于 Col 0;接种灰霉菌后,转基因株系中 PR1、NPR1 和 PDF1.2 基因的表达均上调,并在接种 48 h时达到峰值,LOX3 基因的表达水平下降,但仍高于 Col 0;接种 PstDC3000 后,转基因株系中 PR1、PDF1.2 和 NHL10的表达均高于 Col 0,但WRKY53的表达低于Col 0, L1 中 COI1、FRK1、ATPPC2、FLS2、OST1 的表达水平高于 Col 0;接种flg22 或 LPS后, L1 中 COI1基因的表达低于 Col 0,但ATPPC2、FLS2、OST1基因的表达水平高于 Col 0。研究表明,过量表达 VqTLP15 基因降低了对白粉菌和 PstDC3000 的敏感性,增加了对灰霉菌的敏感性。 VqTLP15 基因可能通过介导水杨酸 (SA) 和茉莉酸/乙烯 (JA/Eth) 信号转导途径以及气孔免疫反应来参与植物的抗病防御反应,为葡萄抗病分子育种提供了一个可能的候选基因。     

转化crylC基因对苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫活性的影响

将含基因crylC的质粒 ,通过电脉冲法转入含基因CrylC的质粒 ,通过电脉冲法转入含基因CrylAb、CrylAc和cry2的对小菜蛾具有高毒力的苏云金芽胞杆菌野生菌株YBT-803-1中 ,得到转化子BMBY-003。PCR和SDS PAGE分析显示 ,CrylC可在其中正常复制、表达 ,但使受体菌部分内源质粒发生丢失。生物测定结果表明 ,转化子BMBY-003既对甜菜夜蛾有毒力 ,LC₅₀ 值     

纳米铁氧化物对Pelotomaculum schinkii培养系丙酸厌氧降解产甲烷的影响

微生物能利用导电材料进行电子传递,提高种间电子传递效率。铁基纳米导电物质可以加速土壤及厌氧消化系统中微生物间的种间电子传递,促进有机废弃物的产甲烷过程。前期获得了厌氧丙酸富集培养系,互营丙酸氧化菌（Pelotomaculum schinkii）在培养系中占优势,本研究考察了10~4 000 mg/L 纳米铁氧化物对丙酸降解产甲烷过程的作用及微生物的影响。结果表明,低浓度的铁基纳米材料对丙酸降解有一定的促进作用,而高浓度会抑制产甲烷：10~1 000 mg/L纳米Fe₃O₄对产甲烷无明显影响,1 500~4 000 mg/L最大产甲烷速率抑制了26%~80%,延滞期增加了174%~222%;10~200 mg/L纳米Fe₂O₃使最大产甲烷速率提高了21%~29%,1 500~4 000 mg/L最大产甲烷速率抑制了48%~58%,延滞期增加了29%~85%。微生物群落解析结果表明,与对照相比,10~1 000 mg/L纳米Fe₂O₃使P. schinkii相对丰度略有增加,而4 000 mg/L纳米₃O₄/Fe₂O₃使P. schinkii的相对丰度下降了70.7%和55.9%,说明高浓度纳米铁氧化物会抑制P. schinkii的活性,导致丙酸降解及产甲烷速率降低。     

2017–2019年中国南方五省规模化养猪场副猪格拉菌血清型、耐药性及β-内酰胺类耐药基因bla-TEM分子特征分析

【目的】旨在分析当前规模化养殖场副猪格拉菌(Glaesserella parasuis)优势血清型、耐药特性、耐药基因与分子特征。【方法】对源自规模化养猪场21株副猪格拉菌临床分离株,采用PCR鉴定血清型;利用K-B纸片扩散法鉴定其对25种抗生素的耐药表型;采用PCR检测bla-_TEM、bla-_NDM和bla-_CTX等7种耐药基因,并采用Chi-square test和Fisher exact test分析耐药表型和耐药基因型的相关性;耐药基因目的条带测序,并应用CLC Sequence Viewer软件分析β-内酰胺类耐药基因(bla-_TEM)编码蛋白氨基酸关键位点差异与耐药性的关系。【结果】21株副猪格拉菌临床分离株的优势血清型为4和12型;对β-内酰胺类药物苯唑西林的耐药性较强,耐药菌占比达61.9%(13/21);多重耐药菌株占比高达90.5%(19/21);β-内酰胺类耐药基因bla-_TEM携带率较高(52.4%,11/21),且bla-_TEM与β-内酰胺类药物青霉素G、苯唑西林和头孢拉定的耐药性显著相关,部分bla-_TEM编码氨基酸存在可能与副猪格拉菌耐药能力有关的差异位点。【结论】本研究表明,规模化养猪场的副猪格拉菌多重耐药情况仍很严重,并明确了被调查区域β-内酰胺类药物耐药率高的主要原因是携带耐药基因bla-_TEM,为加强对规模化养猪场副猪格拉菌耐药性监测提供理论依据。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Tracking down the "head blob": comparative analysis of wingless expression in the developing insect procephalon reveals progressive reduction of embryonic visual system patterning in higher insects

The evolution of larval head morphology in holometabolous insects is characterized by reduction of antennal appendages and the visual system components. Little insight has been gained into molecular developmental changes underlying this morphological diversification. Here we compare the expression of the segment polarity gene wingless (wg) in the pregnathal head of fruit fly, flour beetle and grasshopper embryos. We provide evidence that wg activity contributes to segment border formation, and, subsequently, the separation of the visual system and protocerebrum anlagen in the anterior procephalon. In directly developing insects like grasshopper, seven expression domains are formed during this process. The activation of four of these, which correspond to polar expression pairs in the optic lobe anlagen and the protocerebral ectoderm, has shifted to postembryonic stages in flour beetle and Drosophila. The remaining three domains map to the protocerebral neuroectoderm, and form by disintegration of a large precursor domain in flour beetle and grasshopper. In Drosophila, the precursor domain remains intact, constituting the previously described “head blob”. These data document major changes in the expression of an early patterning gene correlated with the dramatic evolution of embryonic visual system development in the Holometabola.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phebalium (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and related genera based on the nrDNA regions ITS 1+2

Parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS 1 & ITS 2) for 38 taxa sampled from the Phebalium group (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and two outgroups confirm that, with the exception of Phebalium sensu stricto and Rhadinothamnus, six of the currently recognised genera within the group are monophyletic. The data indicate that Phebaliums. str. is paraphyletic with respect to Microcybe, and Rhadinothamnus is paraphyletic with respect to Chorilaena. Rhadinothamnus and Chorilaena together are the sister group to Nematolepis. Drummondita, included as an outgroup taxon, clustered within the ingroup as sister to Muiriantha and related to Asterolasia.The phylogeny suggests that the evolution of major clades within a number of these genera (e.g. Phebalium) relates to vicariance events between eastern and south-western Australia. Leionema is an eastern genus, with the most basal taxon being the morphologically distinct Leionema ellipticum from northern Queensland. Leionema also includes one species from New Zealand, but this species (as with some others) proved difficult to sequence and its phylogenetic position remains unknown. Taxonomic changes at the generic level are recommended.The authors wish to thank Paul G.Wilson, PERTH, for advice and discussion, and Paul Forster, BRI, for collecting and providing material of Leionema ellipticum. The project was supported by a Melbourne University Postgraduate Award (to BM), the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Australian Systematic Botany Society and Wolf Den (Australia) Investments.     

中国石蕊科地衣研究之四石蕊属地衣新种及中国新记录

摘要:本文报道了中国横断山地区石蕊属地衣12种,其中新种1个:贡嘎石蕊(Cladonia ngganensis S.Y. Guo & Wei),中国新记录11种:类黄粉石蕊(Cl. bacilliformis),比蒙氏石(Cl. beaumontii),小棍棒石蕊(Cl. clavulifera),圆筒石蕊(Cl. cylindrica),具粉石蕊(Cl. farinacea),北海道石蕊(Cl. hokkaidensis),厚叶石蕊(Cl. incrassata),大叶石蕊(Cl. macrophylla),丛杯石蕊( Cl. mateocyatha),多孔石蕊(Cl. multiformis)和亚石蕊(Cl. subrangiformis)。对于每一种的化学成分及地理分布进行了测定和分析。     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

Molecular identification of Taenia spp. in wolves (Canis lupus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) and cervids from North Europe and Alaska

Taenia tapeworms of Finnish and Swedish wolves (Canis lupus) and Finnish brown bears (Ursus arctos), and muscle cysticerci of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), Alaskan Grant's caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Alaskan moose (Alces americanus) were identified on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 396 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Two species were found from wolves: Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei. The cysticerci of reindeer, caribou and one moose also represented T. krabbei. Most of the cysticercal specimens from Alaskan moose, however, belonged to an unknown T. krabbei-like species, which had been reported previously from Eurasian elks (Alces alces) from Finland. Strobilate stages from two bears belonged to this species as well. The present results suggest that this novel Taenia sp. has a Holarctic distribution and uses Alces spp. as intermediate and ursids as final hosts.     

Removal of wastewater pathogen indicators in a constructed wetland in Leon, Spain

This paper studies the seasonal presence and removal of the pathogenous micro-organisms Escherichia coli, total coliforms (TC), Clostridium perfringens (Cp), faecal streptococci (FS), Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs, in a constructed wetland treatment system. The removal efficiency of this system with respect to the indicator micro-organisms achieved maximum values in spring and autumn at 99.9% for E. coli and TC, respectively, in winter at 97.0% for FS, in summer at 100% for Clostridium and throughout the year, also at 100%, in the case of Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs. In general, very low protozoan and helminth egg counts were found, and the system demonstrated efficient reduction of the wastewater indicator pathogens.     

Fungal Thyroiditis: An Overview

The authors review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of fungal thyroiditis cases previously reported in the medical literature. Aspergillus was by far the most common cause of fungal thyroiditis. Immunocompromised patients, such as those with leukemia, lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, and organ-transplant patients on pharmacological immunosuppression were particularly at risk. Fungal thyroiditis was diagnosed at autopsy as part of disseminated infection in a substantial number of patients without clinical manifestations and laboratory evidence of thyroid dysfunction. Local signs and symptoms of infection were indistinguishable from other infectious thyroiditis and included fever, anterior cervical pain, thyroid enlargement sometimes associated with dysphagia and dysphonia, and clinical and laboratory features of transient hyperthyroidism due to the release of thyroid hormone from follicular cell damage, followed by residual hypothyroidism. Antemortem diagnosis of fungal thyroiditis was made by direct microscopy and culture of a fine-needle aspirate, or/and biopsy in most cases. Since most patients with fungal thyroiditis had disseminated fungal infection with delay in diagnosis and treatment, the overall mortality was high.