4株高效产电菌的电化学活性及其生物学特征

采用循环伏安法对从湖南省吉首大田湾污水处理厂曝气池活性污泥中富集和筛选的37株产电菌的电化学活性进行考察。结果发现,4株菌株（F012、F015、F021、F026）的电化学活性较为显著,其中F026的电化学活性最好。对4株产电菌的系统发育分析表明,菌株F012属于Dyella属,与Dyella marensis CS5-B2^T系统发育关系最为密切（相似性为97.22%）;菌株F015属于Paludibacterium属,与该属的Paludibacterium yongneupense 5YN8-15^T系统发育关系最为密切（相似性为97.70%）;菌株F021和F026都属于Pseudomonas属,分别与该属的Pseudomonas simiae OLi^T和Pseudomonas otitidis MCC10330^T系统发育关系最为密切（相似性分别为99.60%和98.62%）。生物学特性研究表明,电化学活性最好的产电菌F026的生长温度范围为20~40 ℃,最适宜生长温度为30~35 ℃;生长pH范围为5~9,最适pH生长范围为8~9,适合作为微生物燃料电池的高效产电菌。     

一株糖降解噬糖菌FZY0027的多糖水解活性及基因组分析

【目的】潮间带海水中分离获得一株具有水解多糖能力的菌株FZY0027,分析其对不同多糖的水解能力和基因组特征。【方法】通过形态观察、16S rRNA基因测序和基于Illumina NovaSeq和OxfordNanopore PromethION测序技术全基因组测序对菌株FZY0027进行鉴定。使用dbCAN、EasyCGTree、BRIG和Easyfig等生物信息学软件将菌株FZY0027和降解糖噬糖菌(Saccharophagus degradans) 2-40^T进行比较。使用3,5-二硝基水杨酸(3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid, DNS)法测定多糖水解活性。【结果】菌株FZY0027与S. degradans 2-40^T的16S rRNA基因序列相似度达到99.9%,初步鉴定为降解糖噬糖菌(S. degradans) FZY0027。该菌株在水解淀粉、木聚糖和甘露聚糖时产生的还原糖浓度最高,分别为2.28、1.75和1.10 mg/mL。菌株FZY0027基因组全长5 178 381 bp,共编码4 156个基因,G+C含量为45.8%。菌株FZY0027与S. degradans 2-40^T的平均核苷酸一致性(average nucleotide identity, ANI)、平均氨基酸一致性(average amino acid identity, AAI)和DNA-DNA分子杂交(digital DNA-DNA hybridization, dDDH)值分别为96.5%、96.7%和70.0%。经碳水化合物活性酶数据库注释获得303个基因,其中,菌株FZY0027和S. degradans 2-40^T分别有糖苷水解酶(glycoside hydrolases, GHs)结构域的基因137个和130个。菌株FZY0027具有多个参与淀粉、木聚糖等多糖水解的基因,这与菌株FZY0027对淀粉和木聚糖的水解能力强的结果一致。然而,与S. degradans 2-40^T相比,菌株FZY0027在实验条件下只能水解少数多糖,这可能需要特定的诱导条件才能充分发挥其多糖水解能力。【结论】菌株FZY0027是一株多能型多糖水解菌,具有潜在开发价值。     

海滨盐薄片菌——分离自海洋盐田的一个嗜盐古菌新种

【目的】研究分离自我国华南地区阳江盐田的一株嗜盐古菌菌株YJ-41^T,探究其分类学地位。【方法】运用多相分类学方法即通过表型和遗传型特征鉴定,研究菌株YJ-41^T 的分类学地位。【结果】菌株YJ-41^T 的细胞为杆状、革兰氏染色阴性、菌落呈红色。菌株YJ-41^T 的生长温度范围20–50 ℃ (最适为37 ℃)、NaCl 浓度范围2.1–4.8 mol/L (最适为3.1 mol/L)、MgCl₂浓度范围0–1.0 mol/L (最适为0.05 mol/L)、pH 范围5.0–9.0 (最适为pH 7.0)。细胞在蒸馏水中会裂解,维持细胞形态的最低NaCl 浓度为10% (质量体积比)。菌株YJ-41^T 的极性脂为磷脂酸(Phosphatidic acid,PA)、磷脂酰甘油(Phosphatidyl glycerol,PG)、磷脂酰甘油磷酸甲基酯(Phosphatidyl glycerol phosphate methyl ester,PGP-Me)、磷脂酰甘油硫酸酯(Phosphatidylglycerol sulphate,PGS)和8 种糖脂;其中3 种糖脂为硫酸甘露糖苷葡萄糖二醚(Sulfated mannosylglucosyl diether,S-DGD-1)、半乳糖苷甘露糖苷葡萄糖二醚(Galactosyl mannosy glucosyl diether,TGD-1)和甘露糖苷葡萄糖二醚(Mannosyl glucosyl diether,DGD-1),其余为未知糖脂。菌株YJ-41^T 的16S rRNA 基因和rpoB''基因与盐薄片菌属(Halolamina)的成员相关基因相似性分别为97.5%–98.4%和93.1%–94.4%。菌株YJ-41^T 的G+C mol%为61.4 mol%。【结论】表型、化学分类和系统发育的特性表明,菌株YJ-41^T (=CGMCC 1.12859^T=JCM 30237^T)代表Halolamina 属的一个新种,建议命名为海滨盐薄片菌(Halolamina litorea)。     

来源于中国南海的微生物新种乙醇速生杆菌(Celeribacter ethanolicus)多相分类研究

【目的】研究来源于南海海水的一株速生杆菌属菌株NH195^T 的多相分类。【方法】采用表型、基因型和化学分类方法,并综合系统发育关系结果,分析菌株NH195^T 的分类学地位。【结果】菌株NH195^T 是一株革兰氏阴性、好氧、杆状、无运动性细菌;能积累Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB);能在0.5%-10.0% (质量体积比) NaCl 浓度,pH 5.0-9.0 和20-40 ℃ 条件下生长,最适NaCl 生长浓度为1.0%-3.0%;氧化酶、触酶和脲酶反应结果阳性。菌株NH195^T 主要呼吸醌为Q-10,主要脂肪酸为C_18:1ω7c、C_18:1ω6c 和11 methyl C_18:1ω7c,主要极性脂为磷脂酰胆碱、磷脂酰甘油、双磷脂酰甘油、一个未知的氨基脂和两个未知脂。基因组G+C 含量为61.3 mol%。基于16S rRNA 基因的系统发育结果显示,菌株NH195^T 隶属于速生杆菌属;其与速生杆菌属标准菌株的16S rRNA 基因相似性范围为94.4%-97.7%。菌株NH195^T 与速生杆菌属标准菌株C. halophilus ZXM137^T 和C. indicus P73^T 的平均核苷酸一致性(ANI)分别为78.6%和78.0%;基于基因组数据计算所得的DNA 杂交同源率分别为26.1%和23.0%。【结论】基于表型和基因型结果,菌株NH195^T 代表了速生杆菌属一个新物种,命名为Celeribacter ethanolicus,标准菌株为NH195^T (CGMCC 1.15406^T=JCM 31095^T)。     

红树林沉积物中多环芳烃降解菌Aquabacter sediminisP-9T的分离、鉴定及降解机制的研究

多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs)是一类具有致畸、致癌和致突变特性的高风险有毒污染物,近年来,关于红树林生态系统受到PAHs污染的报道引起广泛关注,微生物降解被认为是处理PAHs污染的有效、经济和多功能替代方法。目前,研究者发现了大量细菌利用PAHs污染作为碳源和能源,然而其普遍存在降解效率偏低、降解谱系窄、对高盐环境适应性差等问题,红树林来源的PAHs降解菌的降解机理尚待充分挖掘。【目的】在红树林沉积物中定向筛选针对PAHs的高效广谱降解菌,并深入探讨其降解效能与作用机制,以期为红树林生态系统中微生物污染修复技术的创新研发提供坚实的科学基础。【方法】从深圳福田红树林沉积物筛选出一株降解PAHs的潜在新种菌株P-9^T,通过形态学观察、生理生化特性检测和16S rRNA基因序列分析,对该菌株进行鉴定;基于菌株基因组测序与分析预测该菌株的PAHs代谢潜能;在不同温度(25-40 ℃)、不同pH (5.0-9.0)和不同底物条件下,对菌株P-9^T的降解能力进行测定;利用高效液相色谱-质谱联用(HPLC-ESI-MS/MS)技术检测菌株降解PAHs的中间代谢产物,初步揭示P-9^T降解PAHs的代谢机制。【结果】菌株P-9^T为黄色杆菌科(Xanthobacteraceae)水杆菌属(Aquabacter)的潜在新种,暂命名为Aquabacter sediminis P-9^T,也是Aquabacter属中首次发现的PAHs降解菌种;在菌株A. sediminis P-9^T的基因组中则发现了一条完整的苯甲酸盐降解通路,以及参与萘和其他PAHs降解的脱氢酶、水杨酸羟化酶和细胞色素P450等关键基因。菌株P-9^T可以在25-40 ℃和pH 5.0-8.0的条件下降解菲,并且可分别以萘、菲、芘为唯一碳源生长繁殖。在菲初始浓度为50 mg/L下培养5 d降解率达100%。利用HPLC-ESI-MS/MS技术检测发现,该菌株对萘、菲、芘降解的中间代谢产物包括1-羟基-2-萘甲酸、1,2-萘二酚和儿茶酚和1-羟基-2-萘醛。推断菌株P-9^T是采用水杨酸途径降解PAHs。【结论】A. sediminis P-9^T是Aquabacter属的新种,而且是该属中首次发现的PAHs降解菌,最佳降解条件为37 ℃和pH 7.0,可通过水杨酸途径高效降解萘、菲及芘。     

Nonomuraea candida HMC10T中新结构套索肽noncaromin生物合成基因簇的克隆及异源表达

【目的】本研究旨在通过定向克隆菌株Nonomuraea candida HMC10^T中一个新的Ⅱ型套索肽类生物合成基因簇,通过在放线菌底盘宿主中的异源表达,获得新结构套索肽noncaromin,并完成其抑菌活性分析。【方法】通过antiSMASH软件分析菌株N.candida HMC10^T全基因组序列,确定新的Ⅱ型套索肽noncaromin的生物合成基因簇(biosynthetic gene cluster of noncaromin,nonc-BGC)。然后,利用ExoCET重组技术(exonuclease combined with RecET recombination)获得完整的nonc-BGC,得到重组质粒pJQK652,并通过λ-Red重组技术改造得到整合型质粒pJQK653。采用接合转移方法,将该质粒分别导入白色链霉菌、2株变铅青链霉菌、2株天蓝色链霉菌和红色糖多孢菌宿主中进行异源表达,再通过发酵和分离纯化获得目标套索肽noncaromin。最后,利用QTOF-ESI-MS²完成套索肽noncaromin的结构鉴定,并通过抗菌活性检测确定该化合物的生物活性。【结果】本研究利用ExoCET技术成功获得了完整的nonc-BGC,在6种放线菌宿主中成功异源表达,完成了noncaromin的结构鉴定,确定了其具有微弱的抗枯草芽孢杆菌活性。【结论】本研究在克隆得到新结构套索肽nonc-BGC的基础上,实现了该基因簇在6个放线菌底盘宿主中的成功表达,获得了1个具有微弱抑制枯草芽孢杆菌活性的新结构Ⅱ型套索肽noncaromin。本研究结果为发掘菌株N.candida HMC10^T及其他放线菌中的新结构化合物提供了借鉴。     

基于基因组的一株土壤固氮菌分离菌株鉴定及其促生作用

[目的] 为获得高效固氮菌株,充分研究利用土壤固氮菌资源。[方法] 选取固氮能力较高的紫色土发育水稻土,采用富集纯化法分离固氮微生物菌株。通过16S rRNA基因系统发育分析和全基因组相关指数比较对新分离菌株进行物种鉴定。采用乙炔还原法和¹⁵N₂示踪法定量测定新分离菌株的固氮能力,通过培养特性和接种效果初步研究固氮菌株的促生作用。[结果] 从紫色土发育水稻土中分离得到1株可在无氮培养基上快速生长的菌株P208。基于16S rRNA基因和基因组92个核心基因的系统发育分析结果表明,新分离菌株P208与Azotobacter chroococcum IAM 12666^T（=ATCC 9043^T）系统发育距离最近（16S rRNA基因相似度为99.79%）。菌株P208与A.chroococcum ATCC 9043^T的基因组平均核苷酸一致性（ANI）、平均氨基酸一致性（AAI）和数字DNA-DNA杂交值（dDDH）高于物种分类阈值（ANI>95%-96%,AAI>95%-96%,dDDH>70%）,最大唯一匹配指数（MUMi）低于物种分类阈值（<0.33）,得出新分离菌株P208为褐球固氮菌（A.chroococcum）。A.chroococcum P208固氮活性为模式菌株A.chroococcum ATCC 9043^T的2.61倍。除固氮能力外,A.chroococcum P208具有IAA生成、溶磷活性和铁载体生成等促进植物生长潜力的培养特性,室内培养条件下接种A.chroococcum P208能够促进水稻、小麦幼苗根系的生长。[结论] 从固氮能力较强的水稻土中分离纯化得到1株具有较强固氮、促生潜力的固氮菌,具有潜在的开发应用价值,可为研究利用生物固氮提供微生物资源。     

禾谷镰刀菌拮抗菌21-6的鉴定及其抑菌活性测定

【背景】禾谷镰刀菌（Fusarium graminearum）是一种危害小麦生产的重要病原真菌。【目的】筛选对禾谷镰刀菌具有拮抗活性的链霉菌菌株,为该病原的生物防治提供理论基础。【方法】采用稀释涂布法分离链霉菌,利用平板对峙法筛选高活性拮抗菌株;通过形态学、生理生化特征和16S rRNA基因序列分析确定其分类地位;采用生长速率法分析其发酵条件及无菌发酵液的稳定性;并测定该菌株的防病效果和抑菌谱。【结果】筛选到一株对禾谷镰刀菌具有较强抑制作用的链霉菌菌株21-6,抑菌率为75.2%±2.1%。根据形态学、生理生化特征及16S rRNA基因序列分析,将其鉴定为Streptomyces stelliscabiei。菌株21-6在pH为中性条件下的PDB培养基中培养5 d能够产生更好的抑菌效果。无菌发酵液能够抑制禾谷镰刀菌的菌丝生长和孢子萌发过程。无菌发酵液不受高温、胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶及蛋白酶K的影响,耐酸但对碱性条件敏感。发酵液对禾谷镰刀菌侵染小麦胚芽鞘具有抑制效果。菌株21-6具有聚酮合酶pks-Ⅰ和pks-Ⅱ基因。此外,该菌株对5种植物病原真菌均具有抑制效果。【结论】链霉菌菌株21-6对禾谷镰刀菌具有较好的生防潜力。     

南海东海岛沉积物分离细菌的鉴定及其抑菌活性

[背景] 海洋微生物在活性物质开发方面具有巨大的应用前景,而目前有关南海东海岛微生物的研究鲜少。[方法] 对从东海岛沉积物中分离纯化的海洋细菌,采用形态学观察、生理生化以及16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析方法进行鉴定;以大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli）、枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）和金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus）作为指示菌,测定其抑菌活性;对具有抑菌活性的菌株扩增聚酮合酶（Polyketide synthase I,PKSI）基因,并与已知的PKSI氨基酸序列比对;选择具有PKSI基因的代表菌株,检测菌株及其发酵抑菌物的稳定性。[结果] 分离纯化到25株海洋细菌,分属于不动杆菌属（Acinetobacter）、交替单胞菌属（Alteromonas）、芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）、嗜冷杆菌属（Psychrobacter）、假交替单胞菌属（Pseudo-alteromonas）、海洋单胞菌属（Oceanimonas）、葡萄球菌属（Staphylococcus）、微球菌属（Micrococcus）和海杆菌属（Marinobacter）。12株菌株通过基因筛选检测到PKSI编码基因,其中6株菌株具有抑菌活性和PKSI编码基因,并分属于芽孢杆菌属和交替单胞菌属;PKSI氨基酸序列同源性分析推测菌株DHD-15和DHD-a可能产生新的I型聚酮合酶结构。菌株DHD-15和DHD-L生长温度范围为15-40℃,可耐受10% NaCl高盐以及pH 3和pH 11的酸碱条件,但不耐高温;菌株DHD-15产生的抑菌物质可耐受100℃和pH 11的高温碱性条件,在50℃、pH 9条件下制备和室温保藏条件下抑菌活性较高,其稳定性较好。[结论] 南海东海岛沉积物筛选的细菌种具有抑菌活性,具有产聚酮类活性物质的潜力。     

硇洲岛牡蛎相关细菌抗菌筛选及系统发育分析

以8个敏感菌株作为指示菌,采用管碟法对分离自湛江硇洲岛（20°52′N～20°56′N,110°33′E～110°38′E）潮汐带香港巨牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis)中的72株细菌的发酵液进行抗菌筛选,并对阳性菌株进行基因组DNA提取、16S rRNA基因PCR扩增和序列测定,继而进行系统发育分析。抗菌实验结果表明,受试菌株中有23株菌的发酵产物具有抗菌活性（阳性率31.9%）,其中有5个菌株（JSM 111024、JSM 111027、JSM 111029、JSM 111076、JSM 111083）具有较强的抗菌活性。基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析表明,这23株菌具有较高的类群多样性和物种多样性,属于3个系统发育群/门(Alpha Proteobacteria、Gamma Proteobacteria、Bacteroidetes)中的8个科(Aeromonadaceae、Flavobacteriaceae、Halomonadaceae、Idiomarinaceae、Phyllobacteriaceae、Pseudoalteromonadaceae、Shewanellaceae、Xanthomonadaceae)的8个属(Idiomarina、Halomonas、Myroides、Nitratireductor、Oceanimonas、Pseudoalteromonas、Shewanella、Wohlfahrtiimonas),可分为11个物种。优势类群为Gamma Proteobacteria亚门（14株）,其中优势属为Oceanimonas属（6株）;第二大类群为Bacteroidetes门（7株）,都属于Flavobacteriaceae科的Myroides属。具有较强抗菌活性的5个菌株中,有4个菌株（JSM 111024、JSM 111027、JSM 111029、JSM 111083）属于Alpha Proteobacteria 亚门Phyllobacteriaceae科〖WTBX〗Oceanimonas属,而菌株JSM 111076属于Gamma Proteobacteria 亚门Aeromonadaceae科Nitratireductor属。     

Characterization of SSEA-1 glycolipids from the brain of a patient with fucosidosis

Neutral glycolipids from the brain of a patient with Fucosidosis were analyzed and two complex glycolipids containing five and eight sugars were isolated from the cortical grey matter. These two glycolipids reacted with antibodies recognizing the SSEA-1 [Le^x(X)] carbohydrate determinant. SSEA-1 glycolipids are normally expressed in human embryonic brain but are found in only small amounts in postnatal human brain. The accumulation of the two SSEA-1 glycolipids in Fucosidosis brain thus represents a defect which affects the normal developmentally regulated decrease in postnatal, expression of these glycolipids, and may be a contributing factor in the abnormal brain development associated with the disease. Chemical characterization of the two isolated glycolipids by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses has identified the two glycolipids as lacto-N-fucopentaosylceramide (III) and difucosyl-neolactonorhexaosylceramide.Abbreviations DCl direct chemical ionization - FAB tastatiom bombardment - GC gas chromatography - GSLs glycosphingolipids - MS mass spectrometry - SSEA-1 stage specific embryonic antigen-1 - TLC thin layer chromatographys     

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.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Elucidation of Structure of Lipid A from the Marine Gram-Negative Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis ATCC 14393T

The chemical structure of lipid A, from the marine -proteobacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis 14393, a main product of lipopolysaccharide hydrolysis (1% AcOH), was determined using chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy. The lipid A was shown to be -1,6-glucosaminobiose 1,4-diphosphate acylated with two (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid residues at C3 and C3 and amidated with one (R)-3-hydroxydodecanoyl and one (R)-3-dodecanoyloxydodecanoyl residue at N2 and N2, respectively.     

Structural Peculiarities of Na+,K+-ATPase Isozymes from the Calf Brain

Functionally active preparations of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase isozymes from calf brain that contain catalytic subunits of three types (1, 2, and 3) were obtained using two approaches: a selective removal of contaminating proteins by the Jorgensen method and a selective solubilization of the enzyme with subsequent reconstitution of their membrane structure by the Esmann method. The ouabain inhibition constants were determined for the isozymes. The real isozyme composition of the Na⁺ pump from the grey matter containing glial cells and the brain stem containing neurons was determined. The plasma membranes of glial cells were shown to contain mainly Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase of the 11 type and minor amounts of isozymes of the 22(1) and the 31(2) type. The axolemma contains 21 and 31 isozymes. A carbohydrate analysis indicated that 11 enzyme preparations from the brain grey matter substantially differ from the renal enzymes of the same composition in the glycosylation of the 1 isoform. An enhanced sensitivity of the 3 catalytic subunit of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase from neurons to endogenous proteolysis was found. A point of specific proteolysis in the amino acid sequence PNDNR⁴⁹² Y⁴⁹³ was localized (residue numbering is that of the human 3 subunit). This sequence corresponds to one of the regions of the greatest variability in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-subunits, but at the same time, it is characteristic of the 3 isoforms of various species. The presence of the 3 isoform of tubulin (cytoskeletal protein) was found for the first time in the high-molecular-mass Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase 31 isozyme complex isolated from the axolemma of brain stem neurons, and its binding to the 3 catalytic subunit was shown.     

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.     

The evolution of the Hox cluster: insights from outgroups

Two burgeoning research trends are helping to reconstruct the evolution of the Hox cluster with greater detail and clarity. First, Hox genes are being studied in a broader phylogenetic sampling of taxa: the past year has witnessed important new data from teleost fishes, onychophorans, myriapods, polychaetes, glossiphoniid leeches, ribbon worms, and sea anemones. Second, commonly accepted notions of animal relationships are being challenged by alternative phylogenetic hypotheses that are causing us to rethink the evolutionary relationships of important metazoan lineages, especially arthropods, annelids, nematodes, and platyhelminthes.     

Systematic significance of mature embryo of bamboos

The mature embryo of seven species belonging to five genera of Indian bamboos is described. In all these the basic pattern of embryo organisation is same: the scutellar and coleoptilar bundles are not separated by an internode, the epiblast is absent, the lower portion of the scutellum and the coleorhiza are separated by a cleft and the margins of embryonic leaves overlap. The features unique to fleshy fruited bamboos are: presence of a massive scutellum, the juxtaposition of plumule and radicle and the occurrence of a bud in the axil of the coleoptile. The fleshy fruit bearing bamboos should be classified into one group, the tribeMelocanneae. Evidence is provided to recognise additional groups in the subfamilyBambusoideae.     

Demographic characteristics of an intertidal bay goby (Lepidogobius lepidus)

Synopsis In a fourteen month study (May 1976 – June 1977) I examined the following characteristics of an intertidal bay goby (Lepidogobius lepidus) in Morro Bay, California, U.S.A.: annual and seasonal patterns of abundance, age composition and growth rates, survivorship and mortality patterns, and the reproductive cycle for female gobies. Fishes were collected with the aid of quinaldine and otoliths and ovaries removed. Age and growth rates were estimated from otolith annuli using a back calculation formula and a Brody-Bertalanffy growth curve. Mortality rates were derived using the methods of Heincke (1913), Robson & Chapman (1960), mean age, and a catch curve (Ricker 1975). A gonad index was used to describe the annual reproductive cycle. Results indicated that abundance fluctuated seasonally and that these fluctuations appeared to be caused by reproductive emigrations. Bay gobies reached an age of 7+ and a standard length of 87 mm. Growth was relatively constant (6 mm yr⁻¹) until age 5, at which point it began to decline. The mean rates of survivorship, mortality, and instantaneous mortality were 0.75, 0.25, and 0.29 respectively. Mortality rates for individual age classes ranged from 0.13 to 0.51 and increased with age. This stock appears to reproduce mainly during the winter.     

Biological control of three floating water weeds,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eichhornia crassipes,Pistia stratiotes</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salviniamolesta</Emphasis> in the Republic of Congo

Since 1999, four specific weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) were released in the Republic of Congo against three exotic floating water weeds: Neochetina eichhorniae Warner and N. bruchi Hustache against water hyacinth, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache against water lettuce, and Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands against water fern. Recoveries of exotic weevils were made from all 24 release sites except one, and all four species have established and spread (up to 800 km for water hyacinth weevils). Within a few years of releases, control of water fern and water lettuce was such that fishing and navigation could be resumed, while reductions of water hyacinth populations were only beginning.