Genome sequence of "Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae"

"Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae" is the agent of lymphangitis-associated rickettsiosis, an emerging human disease that has been diagnosed in Europe and Africa. The present study reports the draft genome of Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae strain HA-91.     

Comparison of in vitro susceptibilities of Rickettsia prowazekii, R. rickettsii, R. sibirica and R. tsutsugamushi to antimicrobial agents

The in vitro activities of 16 antimicrobial agents against Rickettsia prowazekii (Breinl strain), R. rickettsii (Bitterroot strain), R. sibirica (ATCC No. VR151) and R. tsutsugamushi (Gilliam, Karp, Kato, Shimokoshi, Kawasaki and Kuroki strains) were determined by the cell culture method. Tetracycline, demethylchlortetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, chloramphenicol, kitasamycin and rifampicin were generally effective (MIC, 0.005-0.78 micrograms/ml) to all strains tested. Quinolones such as norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were moderately active, but they were less active against R. tsutsugamushi than other rickettsial species. Penicillins and cephems showed low activity against most of the strains tested, but high concentrations of benzylpenicillin (MIC, 25-50 micrograms/ml) inhibited R. prowazekii, R. rickettsii and R. sibirica. These findings may be applicable for differentiation of species of genus Rickettsia.     

Occurrence of Pinus sibirica Du Tour in Da Hinggan Mountains

Based on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of vegetative organs,as well as the ecology and geography, Zhao Guang-yi et al. have reported the occurrence of siberian pine(Pinus sibirica) in the Da Hinggan Mountains continuously since 1981, that arouses disputing, The pine cones of the disputing pine were collected in the Mangui Forestry Bureau in the Da Hinggan Mountains, Northeast China, in autumn of 1989. By comparing it with those of Pinus sibirica and P. koraiensis it is proved that the disputing pine in the Da Hinggan Mountains is P. sibirica, but not P. koraiensis. And the 30-year old wrong name of “Mohe Korean Pine” has been corrected. A map showing the distribution of the P. koraiensis and P. sibirica in the DaHinggan Mountains and its adjacent regionswas drawn according to the 10-year investigation.     

Detection of spotted fever group Rickettsia in Haemaphysalis longicornis from Hebei Province, China

DNA samples from 737 tick pools, representing 6,850 Haemaphysalis longicornis and 51 Dermacentor nuttalli collected from Hebei Province, China, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of spotted fever group Rickettsia. Fifty (6.9%) of 724 H. longicornis in the tick pool were positive, but no positive samples were found in 13 D. nuttalli. Sequence analysis of the partial outer membrane protein A (ompA) genes from the 10 positive samples showed 97.4-99.8% identity, but were different from the homologous sequence of Rickettsia previously deposited in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis of ompA genes indicated that the Rickettsia detected in this study belonged to a novel haplotype, and formed a clade distinct from Rickettsia heilongjiangii, Rickettsia sibirica, and Rickettsia hulinii in China. The new strain, named Candidatus Rickettsia hebeiii, appears to represent a distinct lineage and could constitute a new species with a minimum prevalence of about 0.7% in H. longicornis from Hebei Province, China.     

Phylogenetic position of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi and the relationship among its antigenic variants by analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences

Abstract The 16S rRNA gene sequences of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi and Rickettsia sibirica were determined by PCR and DNA sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that R. sibirica is positioned in a cluster of the genus Rickettsia with a similarity value of 98.1–99.6%, whereas R. tsutsugamushi is located apart from the cluster with a similarity value of 90.2–90.6%. This evidence suggests that R. tsutsugamushi should be excluded taxonomically from the genus Rickettsia . The phylogenetic classification of six antigenic variants in R. tsutsugamushi moderately reflected their antigenic relationship known in closely and distantly related strains.     

芦笋木蠹蛾的生物学特性

芦笋木蠹蛾Isoceras sibirica(Alpheraky)是危害芦笋的重要害虫。该虫在山西省运城市1年发生1代,以老熟幼虫在土中结薄茧越冬。翌年3~4月老熟幼虫由深土层上移至地表土壤结茧化蛹。4月中下旬为化蛹高峰。5月上中旬为蛹羽化高峰期。6月上旬为卵孵化高峰期。幼虫为害期为5月下旬至10月下旬。对该虫的形态、生活习性和发生规律作了描述和报道。     

Antimicrobial and Antiradical Activities of Individual Fractions of Pinus sibirica Du Tour and Abies sibirica Ledeb. Growing in Siberia

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - Essential oil from the spruce branches of Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) and Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb.) growing on the territory of...     

冀东地区西伯利亚白刺开发利用价值研究

西伯利亚白刺是华北沿海地区仅有的一个白剌种,在冀东滨海地区有一定的野生群落分布。研究结果表明,西伯利亚白刺具有极强的耐盐能力,0—50cm土体平均全盐含量最高达到1．97％,极端最高值达到3．99％。其果汁含有非常丰富的维生素C,高达444．07mg／100g,仅次于酸枣,排在各类蔬菜、水果的第二位,是开发功能饮料的上好原料。果实成熟后的嫩茎叶含粗蛋白28．80％,粗纤维8．86％,粗脂肪2．24％,是优质的饲料。种子脂肪含量17．2％,其中油酸含量25．02％,亚油酸含量69．02％,是生产优质保健食用油的好原料。所以,西伯利亚白刺是开发利用重盐碱地和沿海滩涂的优良植物,极具开发价值。     

唐古拉特白刺和西伯利亚白刺叶挥发性成分研究

利用固相微萃取技术提取唐古拉特白刺和西伯利亚白刺叶的挥发性成分,采用气相色谱-质谱联用结合保留指数法鉴定了其成分。分别从唐古拉特白刺叶和西伯利亚白刺叶中的挥发油中鉴定出40、33个化合物,二者共有成分27个。对比二者的挥发性成分,发现唐古拉特白刺叶烃类化合物(25.54%),远高于西伯利亚白刺叶(12.00%),并且以二十一烷为转折点,在此之前,各烃类化合物的在唐古拉特白刺叶中的含量均高于西伯利亚白刺叶,在此之后,烃类化合物在前者中的含量低于后者;乙酸仅存在于西伯利亚白刺叶中,且含量高达20.00%,二氢猕猴桃内酯为二者叶中的主要赋香成分。     

珍贵树种西伯利亚红松引进的可行性

西伯利亚红松 (Pinussibirica)主产于俄罗斯的西伯利亚地区 ,广泛分布于欧亚泰加林带 ,种内变异非常丰富 ,存在大量优良种质 .该树种具有极强的耐寒性 ,其水平分布可进入北极圈内 (6 8.5°N) ,垂直分布可达树木上限 ,分布区内绝对低温有 - 6 7℃的记录 (红松约 - 5 0℃ ) ,是寒温带针叶林的著名建群种 .而我国的寒温性森林面积很大 ,自然环境条件与西伯利亚红松分布区基本相似或略好 ,但树种较单一 ,西伯利亚红松仅在我国的北疆高山及生态环境最严酷的大兴安岭满归林业局有极少量分布 ,因此在环境条件更好的其他地区引进是完全可能的 .西伯利亚红松的引进不仅可能在短期内解决我们对良种的需求 ,而且可以开展食用松籽的生产试验 ,使我国一向几乎无农业可言的广大高寒林区 ,逐渐成为新兴的坚果林生产基地 .     

Spotted fever rickettsioses in southern and eastern Europe

Mediterranean spotted fever due to Rickettsia conorii conorii was thought, for many years, to be the only tick-borne rickettsial disease prevalent in southern and eastern Europe. However, in recent years, six more species or subspecies within the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia have been described as emerging pathogens in this part of the world. Tick-borne agents include Rickettsia conorii israelensis, Rickettsia conorii caspia, Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae and Rickettsia massiliae. Many Rickettsia of unknown pathogenicity have also been detected from ticks and could represent potential emerging pathogens to be discovered in the future. Furthermore, a new spotted fever rickettsia, Rickettsia felis, was found to be associated with cat fleas and is an emerging human pathogen. Finally, the mite-transmitted Rickettsia akari, the agent of rickettsialpox, is also known to be prevalent in Europe. We present here an overview of these rickettsioses, focusing on emerging diseases.     

树锦鸡儿的分布式样及其生态适应

树锦鸡儿为典型的中生植物,既是锦鸡儿属的模式种,又是该属植物的原始种。本文认为树锦鸡儿的分布式样为西西伯利亚东南部（阿尔泰—萨彦）—东亚北部（华北—东北—远东）间断分布种。在西西伯利亚东南部地区,本种为寒温型常绿针叶林西伯利亚落叶松和西伯利亚冷杉林下及林缘的伴生种,在东亚北部地区本种为中温型和暖温型夏绿阔叶林蒙古栎和辽东栎林下及林缘灌丛的伴生种。     

低温胁迫下红松与西伯利亚红松光合与气孔特性

红松与西伯利亚红松均为寒温带著名的成林树种,具有较强的耐寒性,与红松相比,西伯利亚红松具有更强的耐寒性。为探究低温胁迫下两树种的生理响应机制及抗寒生理机理,本研究以5年生的红松与西伯利亚红松幼苗为材料,对其进行低温处理,3个胁迫温度(0℃、-20℃和-40℃)和3个胁迫时间(6、24和48 h),20℃为对照,研究低温胁迫下红松与西伯利亚红松的光合特性和气孔特性。T检验和方差分析结果表明,各光合指标和气孔密度在红松与西伯利亚红松中的差异显著(P<0.05),低温及低温胁迫时间对红松与西伯利亚红松各光合指标具有极显著影响(P<0.01),低温对红松与西伯利亚红松的气孔开度与气孔面积具有极显著影响(P<0.01)。胁迫前(20℃)和0℃低温胁迫下,红松中的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率均显著高于西伯利亚红松,但在-20℃条件下胁迫6 h,西伯利亚红松各光合测定指标显著高于红松。随着温度的降低与胁迫时间的延长,两树种的各光合指标均呈下降趋势。红松中的气孔密度显著高于西伯利亚红松,胁迫前(20℃),红松与西伯利亚红松的气孔均为椭圆形,随着温度的降低,两树种的气孔开度和气孔面积显著减小。     

新疆阜康绿洲荒漠过渡带叉毛蓬种群遗传多样性及环境适应性研究

本文采用RAPD分子标记分析了新疆阜康绿洲荒漠过渡带叉毛蓬种群的遗传多样性;运用ORIGIN软件,对叉毛蓬种群的遗传多样性和土壤因子进行了回归相关分析。结果表明:叉毛蓬种群具有高的遗传多样性(P=98.7%)。亚种群的Nei基因多样性指数(H)与土壤中的钠离子、氯离子含量显著负相关(P=0.042、P=0.0408);遗传多样性指数与土壤中的电导率、含水量无显著相关关系;多态位点比率(P)与土壤中的全钾含量显著相关(P=0.011),Shannon多样性指数和Nei基因指数与有机质呈极显著负相关(P=0.0030、P=0.0015),与全磷、全氮负相关,但没有达到显著水平。叉毛蓬为旱生植物,利用有限的水分就可以完成生活史,水分没有成为一种限制性因子;土壤中的氯盐在维持叉毛蓬亚种群遗传多样性方面可能起着较为重要的作用,成为与遗传多样性显著相关的限制性因子,对叉毛蓬种群的遗传多样性具有一定的选择压力;同时处于贫瘠土壤上的叉毛蓬机体能够更加完全地利用土壤中的限制性养分,与土壤养分表现出负相关关系。另外,用随机引物检测到的叉毛蓬种群77个位点中有11个位点的基因频率与过渡带土壤因子存在着显著相关,表明这些位点对土壤因子具有特殊的敏感性。新疆阜康地区绿洲荒漠过渡带中叉毛蓬种群的遗传多样性特性可能是亚种群对所处微生境长期适应的结果。     

Determination of genome sizes of Rickettsia spp. within the spotted fever group, using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

The chromosome lengths of six spotted fever group Rickettsia species (Rickettsia rickettsii, R. conorii, R. rhipicephali, R. sibirica, R. australis, and R. akari) were estimated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The genome size of R. rickettsii was about 2,100 kb, but the chromosome lengths of the five other species were, surprisingly, much lower and ranged between 1,200 and 1,300 kb.     

Action of tetracycline and rifampicin on Rickettsia prowazekii and Rickettsia sibirica

The effect of tetracycline and rifampicin on R. prowazekii, strain Breinl and R. sibirica, strain X1 was studied in the experiments with chick embryos exposed to the antibiotic mixture with the infection material. It was shown that tetracycline in doses of 0.1 and 1 mg/embryo had the rickettsiostatic and rickettsiocidic effects respectively on R. sibirica. Rifampicin had only the rickettsiostatic effect in a dose of 0.1 mg/embryo and no rickettsiocidic effect even in a dose of 2 mg/embryo. Higher doses were toxic for 100 per cent of the embryos. The rickettsiostatic and rickettsiocidic effects of tetracycline on R. prowazekii were evident in doses of 0.05 and 0.1 mg/embryo, respectively. Rifampicin in a dose of 0.05 mg/embryo had both the rickettsiostatic and the rickettsiocidic effects on R. prowazekii. Therefore, rifampicin was more active with respect to R. prowazekii and tetracycline was more active with respect to R. sibirica. In addition, R. sibirica was more resistant to both tetracycline and rifampicin as compared to R. prowazekii.     

不同土壤水分下山杏光合作用光响应过程及其模拟

摘 要 利用CIRAS－2型便携式光合作用测定系统,在黄土高原丘陵沟壑区,测定了山杏（Prunus armeniaca L.）在8个土壤水分梯度下光合作用的光响应过程,并采用直角双曲线模型、非直角双曲线模型和直角双曲线修正模型对其进行拟合分析。结果表明：土壤相对含水量（RWC）在56.3%—80.9%范围内,山杏在强光下能维持较高的光合作用水平,受到的光抑制不明显。在此土壤水分范围内,3个模型均能较好地拟合光合作用的光响应过程及其表观量子效率（Φ）、光补偿点（LCP）和暗呼吸速率（Rd）,对Φ、LCP和Rd的拟合精度以非直角双曲线模型＞直角双曲线修正模型＞直角双曲线模型。但超出此范围（即RWC＜56.3%或RWC＞80.9%）时,山杏的光合作用在强光下会发生明显的光抑制,表现为光合速率随光强增加而明显降低,量子效率和光饱和点明显减小,此时只有直角双曲线修正模型能较好地拟合山杏光响应过程及其特征参数。结论：山杏光合作用正常的土壤水分范围在RWC为56.3%—80.9%之间;直角双曲线修正模型能较好地拟合各种土壤水分下山杏的光响应过程及其特征参数;直角和非直角双曲线模型适用于正常水分下山杏光响应过程及其特征参数的模拟,但不能用于拟合胁迫水分（或光抑制）下的光响应过程。     

Widespread use of real-time PCR for rickettsial diagnosis

We report 2?years of experience with rickettsial molecular diagnosis using real-time PCR at the French National Reference Center. All Rickettsia genomes available were compared to discover specific sequences to design new sets of primers and probes. The specificity was verified in silico and against a panel of 30 rickettsial species. Sensitivity was determined using 10-fold serial dilutions. Finally, primers and probes that were both specific and sensitive were routinely used for the diagnosis of rickettsial infections from clinical specimens. We retained sets of primers and probes to detect spotted fever group Rickettsia, typhus group Rickettsia,Rickettsia conorii,Rickettsia slovaca,Rickettsia africae and Rickettsia australis; 643 clinical samples were screened for the presence of Rickettsia DNA. Overall, 45 positive samples were detected, including 15 Rickettsia africae, nine R.?conorii, five Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae, four R.?slovaca, two R.?australis, four Rickettsia massiliae, one Rickettsia honei, one Rickettsia typhi and eight Rickettsia sp. Positive samples were detected mainly from cutaneous biopsies and swabs (31/45). Widespread use of real-time PCR is inexpensive and reduces delay in the diagnosis of rickettsial infections. These real-time PCR assays could be implemented easily in laboratories that have molecular facilities and may be added to existing molecular tools as a point-of-care strategy.     

山杏叶片光合生理参数对土壤水分和光照强度的阈值效应

以半干旱黄土丘陵区主要灌木树种山杏(Prunus sibirica)为试验材料, 应用CIRAS-2型光合作用仪测定不同土壤质量含水量(W_m)下山杏叶片净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)及水分利用效率(WUE)的光响应过程, 探讨山杏光合特性对土壤水分和光照条件的适应性。结果表明: P_n、T_r及WUE对W_m和光照强度的变化有明显的阈值响应。随着W_m (6.5%-18.6%)的递增, 光补偿点降低, 光饱和点、表观量子效率和最大净光合速率均升高; 在W_m为18.6%时, 山杏利用弱光和强光的能力最强, 光照生态幅最宽。随着W_m (9.2%-18.6%)的递增, P_n、T_r有明显升高的趋势, 水分过高或过低, 两者均呈现下降趋势; 山杏对光照环境的适应性较强, 在光合有效辐射为800-1 200 µmol∙m^-2∙s^-1时, P_n和WUE都具有较高水平, 饱和光强在983-1 365 µmol∙m ^-2∙s^-1之间。以光合生理参数为指标对山杏土壤水分有效性及生产力进行分级与评价, 确定W_m < 9.2%或W_m > 22.3%时为“低产中效水”; W_m在20.5%-22.3%和9.2%-12.9%时, 分别为“中产低效水”和“中产中效水”; W_m在12.9%-20.5%时为“高产高效水”。其中W_m为18.6%时为“最佳产效水”, 对应光强为1 365 µmol∙m^-2∙s^-1。     

Molecular phylogeny and rearrangement of rRNA genes in Rickettsia species.

It has previously been observed that Rickettsia prowazekii has an unusual arrangement of the rRNA genes. In this species, the three rRNA genes, 16S (rrs), 23S (rrl), and 5S (rrf), are not linked in the typical arrangements for bacteria. Rather, the 16S rRNA gene has been separated from the 23S and 5S rRNA gene cluster, and the 23S rRNA gene is preceded by a gene which codes for methionyl-tRNAf(Met) formyltransferase (fmt). In this study, we screened the genus Rickettsia for the fmt-rrl motif in order to examine the phylogenetic depth of this unusual rRNA gene organization. A rearranged operon structure was observed in Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia sibirica, Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia amblyomii, Rickettsia montana, Rickettsia rhipicephali, Rickettsia australis, Rickettsia akari, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia canada, and Rickettsia typhi. There is also evidence for a divided operon in Rickettsia belli, but in this species, the fmt gene could not be identified upstream of the 23S rRNA gene. In order to place the rearrangement event in the evolutionary history of the Rickettsia, phylogenetic analyses were performed based on the fmt-rrl spacer regions and the 23S rRNA genes. Based on these phylogenies, we suggest that the genomic rearrangement of the rRNA genes preceded the divergence of the typhus group and the spotted fever group Rickettsia. The unique organization of the 23S rRNA genes provides a simple diagnostic tool for identification of Rickettsia species.