The development of diving in marine endotherms: preparing the skeletal muscles of dolphins, penguins, and seals for activity during submergence

Myoglobin is an important oxygen store for supporting aerobic diving in endotherms, yet little is known about its role during postnatal development. Therefore, we compared the postnatal development of myoglobin in marine endotherms that develop at sea (cetaceans) to those that develop on land (penguins and pinnipeds). We measured myoglobin concentrations in the major locomotor muscles of mature and immature bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and compared the data to previously reported values for northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). Neonatal dolphins, penguins, and seals lack the myoglobin concentrations required for prolonged dive durations, having 10%, 9%, and 31% of adult values, respectively. Myoglobin contents increased significantly during subsequent development. The increases in myoglobin content with age may correspond to increases in activity levels, thermal demands, and time spent in apnea during swimming and diving. Across these phylogenetically diverse taxa (cetaceans, penguins, and pinnipeds), the final stage of postnatal development of myoglobin occurs during the initiation of independent foraging, regardless of whether development takes place at sea or on land.     

Some aspects of the gastrointestinal microflora of germfree mice associated with cultured microfloras

Attempts are described to 'normalize' germfree mice by association with 3, 21 and 71 different intestinal bacterial cultures isolated from mice with an SPF flora. Germfree mice associated naturally with an SPF flora served as controls. Vital bacterial counts were determined by aerobic and anaerobic culture. Stomach and small intestine contained fewer bacteria per gram than caecum and large intestine. Aerobic vital counts from caecum and large intestine were higher in the experimental groups than in control mice. The aerobic and anaerobic flora in stomach and small intestine comprised mainly Gram-positive non-fusiform shaped rods. In the caecum and colon Gram-positive cocci predominated in the aerobic culture while in the anaerobic culture fusiform-shaped rods were prominent. Scanning electron microscopy of oesophagus, ileum, caecum and faeces demonstrated colonization of the oesophageal epithelium only after association with 71 bacterial strains; the filamentous bacteria present in the ileum of SPF mice were not found in the experimental groups and caecum and faeces contained mainly fusiform-shaped bacteria. Non-bacterial matter decreased in the caecum and faeces with increase in the complexity of the flora.     

Alteration in the endogenous intestinal flora of Swiss Webster mice by experimental Angiostrongylus costaricensis infection

The association between worm infections and bacterial diseases has only recently been emphasized. This study examined the effect of experimental Angiostrongylus costaricensis infection on endogenous intestinal flora of Swiss Webster mice. Eight mice aging six weeks were selected for this experiment. Four were infected with A. costaricensis and the other four were used as controls. Twenty eight days after the worm infection, all mice in both groups were sacrificed and samples of the contents of the ileum and colon were obtained and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. In the mice infected with A. costaricensis there was a significant increase in the number of bacteria of the endogenous intestinal flora, accompanied by a decrease in the number of Peptostreptococcus spp. This alteration in the intestinal flora of mice infected by the nematode may help to understand some bacterial infections described in humans.     

食物过敏儿童肠道正常菌群的定量调查与分析

目的探讨儿童食物过敏与肠道正常菌群的关系。方法采集食物过敏儿童与正常儿童粪便,每例作需氧或厌氧培养、计数与鉴定。结果食物过敏儿童肠道中的双歧杆菌、乳酸杆菌、肠杆菌数量与正常儿童差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论食物过敏与肠道菌群失调有密切关系。     

几种常用中药对地鼠肠道正常菌群的影响

我们选择了几种药性不同的中药,使用各种选择性培养基,对给药组和正常动物组的地鼠肠菌群进行了研究,结果表明,黄芪组与正常动物组比较需氧菌的量有所增加,统计学差异显著(P<0.001)。而其他几味苦寒药(大黄、黄芩、白芍等)对需氧菌的作用不明显。在各类厌氧菌的分离结果中,各给中药组与正常组比较均有明显差异。给药组之间比较,药性相同的组之间没有显著变化,药性不同的组之间变化显著。通过实验我们发现中药对正常地鼠的肠道菌群是有明显影响的,与正常动物组相比及不同药性组间相比各类菌的增长或减少都具有统计学意义。     

King-size fast food for Antarctic fur seals

The study of scats of adult male Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella (AFS) revealed occasional frequent capture of penguins. Although AFS adult males have been occasionally reported to kill king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus at the shore, here we report the first observations of at-sea predation by AFS on adult king penguins in the Crozet archipelago, southern Indian Ocean. During our 20 days survey, we observed 17 penguins attacked and either severely injured or killed and consumed. Only AFS adult males were seen catching king penguins successfully. Some adult females and sub-adults also attempted to catch penguins, either at sea or in land, and so did subantarctic fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis individuals. Our results confirm the ability of fur seals to catch and predate large seabirds, even at sea.     

Composition and ecology of the human intestinal flora

Longitudinal quantitative cultures of fecal flora of 20 newborns, 4 older babies and 10 healthy adults were carried out to study the composition and development of the intestinal flora. In all newborns the same sequence of colonization was observed. The numbers of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria fluctuated and reached finally numbers of 10¹⁰/g wet weight. In adults the flora was in balance with 10⁵–10⁷ aerobic and 10¹⁰–10¹¹ anaerobic bacteria/g wet weight. Interaction experiments in vitro showed growth inhibition of Bacteroides fragilis by all intestinal species isolated. Bifidobacteria were not inhibited. The assumption was made that this type of interaction could be one of the mechanisms involved in the intestinal micro-ecology. Three of the Bacteroides fragilis strains tested were able to grow on natural intestinal substrates as gastric mucin, glycogen and a variety of plant polysaccharides. Acetic, lactic, propionic and succinic acids were detected as fermentation products.     

青年咽部菌群分布状况

目的调查健康青年上呼吸道的微生物群分布,寻找优势菌群,为微生态方法治疗呼吸道感染性疾病提供科学依据。方法随机自愿原则选取沈阳医学院学生61名,采集咽后壁标本分离培养并生化鉴定。结果青年咽后壁共检出19个菌属,42个菌种。需氧菌的95％可信区间为（4．7×10^6,6．8×10^6）CFU／mL,厌氧菌的95％可信区间为（5．9×10^6,8．4×10^6）CFU／mL;需氧菌菌群密度为4．8816±1．0251,厌氧菌菌群密度为5．1347±0．9118。需氧菌中链球菌属检出率为100％,其次为奈瑟球菌属（77．4％）、葡萄球菌属（33．9％）。链球菌中缓症链球菌和口腔链球菌、奈瑟球菌属中的灰色奈瑟球菌的检出率与构成比均较高。厌氧菌中检出率与构成比较高是的韦荣球菌属、拟杆菌属、孪生球菌和放线杆菌属。结论青年上呼吸道菌群种类复杂多样;需氧菌中的口腔链球菌、缓症链球菌、灰色奈瑟球菌,厌氧菌中的韦荣球菌属、拟杆菌属、孪生球菌属为优势菌群,对于维护上呼吸道微生态平衡可能起重要的作用。     

First documentation of leopard seal predation of South Georgia pintail duck

Leopard seals are regular winter visitors to Bird Island, South Georgia, where they mostly prey on fur seals and penguins, and to a lesser extent on Antarctic krill and fish. Leopard seals can exploit many different species, but there are no records of predation on flying shorebirds in the wild. On 4 October 2008, an individually identified juvenile leopard seal female was observed killing and eating a South Georgia Pintail duck. It also preyed on Antarctic fur seals and gentoo and macaroni penguins during its 2-month temporary residency around the island. The varied diet of this seal exemplifies the generalist prey utilization typical of its species. Long-term diet studies at Bird Island and the published record suggest that predation on ducks is a rather exceptional finding; individual ducks are more likely to escape leopard seal attacks than penguins and provide a far less substantial ration. This note documents the first observation of this species of duck in the diet of leopard seals.     

肠易激综合征患者服用酪酸菌制剂前后肠道菌群状况

治疗ＩＢＳ,观察酪酸菌制剂的临床疗效及肠道菌群状况。从门诊随机选择２１例男性,９例女性。检测大便常见菌群和病原菌,采用Ｍｉｌｅｓ－Ｍｉｓｒｏ介绍的滴注法操作。每次培养时均选上述细菌标准菌株一同培养作质控。治疗前总厌氧菌、双歧杆菌和乳酸杆菌下降,而有潜在致病性的梭菌明显下降。无致病菌生长。治疗后腹泻次数明显减少。总有效率为８３４％,双歧杆菌和乳酸杆菌升高明显。结论：ＩＢＳ易致肠菌失调,酪酸菌能抑制肠道内腐败菌、病原菌,并能促进双歧杆菌、乳酸菌等肠道内的有益菌发育。     

化感水稻根际微生物类群及酶活性变化

以化感水稻PI312777（PI）和非化感水稻Lemont（LE）为材料,分别测定不同水稻叶龄期（3～7叶期）根际微生物区系变化及根际土壤酶活性.结果表明,化感水稻明显影响土壤根际微生物类群及相关酶活性.化感水稻PI根际细菌、放线菌、固氮菌的数量高于非化感水稻LE,增幅分别在11.2%～28.3%、40%～78.6%和111.5%～173.9%之间,而真菌数量低于非化感水稻LE,最高仅为其值的25.5％,说明化感水稻PI对绝大多数细菌、放线菌、固氮菌生长有促进作用,对一些真菌生长有抑制作用.进一步分析表明,化感水稻PI对氨化细菌、亚硝酸细菌、硝酸细菌、好气性固氮菌、好气性纤维素分解菌、硫化细菌的生长具有促进作用,其中以氨化细菌、好气性固氮菌的更为明显,最低增幅分别为53.7％和57.6％;而对反硫化细菌、反硝化细菌生长有抑制作用,其值最高分别为非化感水稻的54.2％和50.6％.此外,化感水稻PI根系分泌物对脲酶、磷酸酶、蔗糖酶的活性具有促进作用,而对过氧化氢酶则呈抑制作用.     

悉生重症联合免疫缺陷(SCID)小鼠的研究——Ⅰ.肠道厌氧菌群的分离和鉴定

本文报道了由澳大利亚WEHI研究所(The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)引进的悉生SCID(Severe Combined Immunodeficient)小鼠肠道厌氧菌群的分离、鉴定结果。该小鼠粪便标本需氧及厌氧培养发现应用非选择性Scheadler血琼脂需氧条件下有一种革兰氏阳性杆菌生长;厌氧条件下生长的培养物经数种选择性培养基也分离出革兰氏阴性及阳性杆菌,据细菌形态学,染色特征,生化反应特性等鉴别为吉氏拟杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌和梭形杆菌。     

DNA-methyltransferase activities in Streptomyces antibioticus

Abstract To quantitate ammonia production by the intestinal flora, ammonia levels in arterial blood and the venous effluent of the small and large bowel of conventional, selectively decontaminated, germ-free and gnotobiotic rats were measured.
When the anaerobic flora was removed by decontamination a significant decrease in ammonia levels was observed in the effluent of both the small and large intestine. Decontamination of aerobic flora did not result in depression of ammonia production. Gnotobiotic rats colonised with an anaerobic flora or with a mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora, showed a slight increase in ammonia levels. No increase in ammonia production was observed when rats were colonised with aerobic flora. These results indicate that the Enterobacteriaceae were not responsible for ammonia generation.
The increase in ammonia levels after colonisation with anaerobic or mixed anaerobic/aerobic flora did not completely restore ammonia levels, despite reaching bacterial counts which were comparable to those in conventional rats. This may be explained by the limited number of species with which the rats were colonized. The finding that aerobic flora does not significantly contribute to ammonia production suggests that neomycin, known to be exclusively effective against aerobic flora, must have other effects to explain improvement of hepatic encephalopathy.     

Effects of dietary antibiotics on intestinal microflora in broiler chickens

Changes were examined in the intestinal microflora in broiler chickens fed a diet containing antibiotics to obtain fundamental information on the mechanisms of beneficial effect of the antibiotics upon livestock production. Three antibiotics (colistin, bacitracin, and enramycin) were employed as feed additives. Experiments were conducted with broiler chickens in two ways. In one way dietary antibiotics were fed continually at levels approved for use as feed additives for a long term. In the other they were fed the same antibiotics for a short term. Significant changes in microflora were observed mainly in such bacterial groups as aerobic bacteria and Lactobacillus. In the long term administration, three possible modes of variance in the bacterial flora were postulated: Changes directly related to the antibacterial spectrum of antibiotics. Antagonistic changes related to an ecological balance in the bacterial flora. Changes in quantitative balance of bacteria constituting each bacterial group. The change in the intestinal microflora during administration of the antibiotic diet was expressed as a complex form of these transition modes. In the short term administration, it was demonstrated that the effect of the antibiotic diet lingered even 7 days after administration. This suggests that antibiotics used as feed additives may possibly affect the stability of the intestinal microflora.     

Bacterial flora of newly caught Antarctic fish Notothenia neglecta

Summary The heterotrophic bacterial flora of Antarctic fish Notothenia neglecta was studied in Potter Cove (King George Island, South Shetland Islands). Quantitative and qualitative analysis of aerobic bacteria from sea water, skin, stomach and intestine were carried out. In addition, anaerobic flora of stomach and intestine was studied and compared. Pseudomonas was dominant in sea water samples but, neither skin nor digestive tract samples showed to be rich in this genus. Stomach flora showed variable results between samples. The gut flora was composed almost exclusively of Vibrio. Despite extreme environmental conditions this Antarctic fish show an intestinal indigenous microflora very similar to warmer waters fish. Several factors, that we discussed, could be determining the Vibrio dominance in the gut of marine teleosts.     

腰椎后路手术肠道菌群变化的研究

目的探讨腰椎后路手术患者肠道菌群的变化以期更合理的指导临床治疗。方法选择58例腰椎后路手术患者,出现肠道菌群失调症者38例,未出现肠道菌群失调症的20例作为对照组。在腰椎后路手术后,分别取2组患者自然排出的新鲜粪便10 g,采用定性定量检测比较2组患者肠道主要菌群差异及B/E值。肠道菌群失调症患者且与手术前自然排出的新鲜粪便进行相同比较。结果试验组肠道的双歧杆菌、类杆菌数量及B/E值较对照组均减少,分别是:9.21±0.65 vs 10.12±0.85;10.02±0.45 vs 10.23±0.45;1.05±0.17 vs 6.99±1.24,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);而肠杆菌、肠球菌数量较对照组增加,分别是:9.11±1.09 vs 8.55±0.89;7.80±1.02vs 7.29±0.98,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。小梭菌、乳杆菌与对照组相比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。肠道菌群失调症患者与手术前进行比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论腰椎后路手术出现肠道菌群失调患者专性厌氧菌减少,条件致病菌增加,肠道微生物定植抗力下降。正确及时地去除病因,尽可能地采取微创手术技术,减少医源性损伤,调整机体免疫功能,纠正营养不良,合理使用抗生素是解决腰椎后路手术患者肠道功能障碍的有效办法。     

A comparison of bacterial flora isolated by transtracheal aspiration and pharyngeal swabs in Macaca fascicularis.

The pulmonary flora of 30 monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) was sampled by the transtracheal aspiration technique and the pharyngeal swab method, and the results were compared. The transtracheal aspiration technique yielded lower numbers of bacteria in both aerobic and anaerobic cultures. The bacteria isolated by transtracheal aspiration were predominately pure culture, thereby lowering the possibility of contamination from commensal flora. Bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated from 23.3% of the monkeys by transtracheal aspiration, but this organism was not isolated when samples were collected with pharyngeal swabs.     

海参多糖对小鼠肠道菌群紊乱的恢复作用

目的探究海参多糖对抗生素所致小鼠肠道菌群失衡的调整作用。方法超声浸提法提取海参多糖,硫酸-苯酚法测定多糖含量;通过抗生素连续灌胃1周,构建小鼠肠道紊乱模型;将18只昆明种小鼠随机分为正常对照、自然恢复和海参多糖干预组(每组6只),定期留取粪便,采用PCR-DGGE技术获得肠道菌群分子指纹图谱,进行相似性、多样性及主要差异条带序列的分析。结果提取海参多糖的浓度为1.92 mg/mL;正常对照组小鼠肠道菌群以有益菌,即乳杆菌属和梭菌属占主导地位;而在抗生素干预后,这两种菌的含量明显下降,并伴随检测出致病性卟啉单胞菌属;经海参多糖处理后,有益菌含量有所恢复,有害菌含量降低。结论海参多糖对抗生素所致实验小鼠肠道菌群紊乱有一定的恢复作用。     

大棚蔬菜轮/连作系统土壤肥力与微生物因子综合评价

从土壤肥力与微生物因子探索连茬障碍机理,以期为其提供科学依据。研究草莓番茄轮作(RST)、番茄连作4年(CT4)和番茄连作10年(CT10)3种蔬菜种植模式根际与非根际土壤微生物区系及生理菌群,并对土壤肥力与微生物生物因子进行主成分分析。结果表明根际土壤微生物三大类群和生理菌群数量均高于非根际,根际效应显著。番茄连作根际与非根际土壤细菌和放线菌数量呈现先增加后减少趋势;真菌数量呈线型增加趋势,CT4和CT10在根际与非根际较RST分别增加9.09%和2.11%、75.48%和57.72%。番茄连作根际土壤硝化细菌和好气性自生固氮菌数量的减少,氨化细菌与好气性纤维素分解菌在短期连作表现为增加长期减少的变化趋势;解钾菌、无机磷和有机磷细菌数量在根际与非根际土壤均减少。在6种研究的种植模式中,RST根际土壤状况最好,其次为CT4的根际与RST非根际土壤,CT10的根际土壤、CT4与CT10非根际土壤状况最差。结论是蔬菜连作造成土壤质量下降,连作年限越长下降越显著。     

Stable isotopes document seasonal changes in trophic niches and winter foraging individual specialization in diving predators from the Southern Ocean

1. Climatic variation outside the breeding season affects fluctuations in population numbers of seabirds and marine mammals. A challenge in identifying the underlying biological mechanisms is the lack of information on their foraging strategies during winter, when individuals migrate far from their breeding grounds. 2. We investigated the temporal variability in resource partitioning within the guild of five sympatric Subantarctic penguins and fur seals from Crozet Islands. The stable isotopic ratios of carbon (delta(13)C) and nitrogen (delta(15)N) for whole blood were measured for penguins and fur seals, as were the isotopic ratios for penguin nails and food. Animals were sampled at two periods, during breeding in summer and at their arrival in the colonies in spring (hereafter winter, since the temporal integration of blood amounting to several months). 3. In summer, delta(13)C and delta(15)N for blood samples defined three foraging areas and two trophic levels, respectively, characterizing four nonoverlapping trophic niches. King penguins and female Antarctic and Subantarctic fur seals are myctophid eaters foraging in distinct water masses, while both macaroni and rockhopper penguins had identical isotopic signatures indicating feeding on crustaceans near the archipelago. 4. Isotopic ratios were almost identical in summer and winter suggesting no major changes in the species niches, and hence, in the trophic structure of the guild during the nonbreeding period. A seasonal difference, however, was the larger variances in delta(13)C (and also to a lesser extent in delta(15)N) values in winter, thus verifying our hypothesis that trophic niches widen when individuals are no longer central place foragers. 5. Winter isotopic ratios of macaroni penguins and male Antarctic fur seals had large variances, indicating individual foraging specializations. The range of delta(13)C and delta(15)N values of male fur seals showed, respectively, that they dispersed over a wide latitudinal gradient (from Antarctica to north of the archipelago) and fed on different prey (crustaceans and fish). 6. By comparing summer and winter isotopic ratios and examining the summer diet, we highlight the feeding habits of marine predators that were not previously addressed. The findings have a number of implications for understanding the functioning of the pelagic ecosystem and on the demography of these species.