Impacts of the 2014 severe drought on the Microcystis bloom in San Francisco Estuary

The increased frequency and intensity of drought with climate change may cause an increase in the magnitude and toxicity of freshwater cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (CHABs), including Microcystis blooms, in San Francisco Estuary, California. As the fourth driest year on record in San Francisco Estuary, the 2014 drought provided an opportunity to directly test the impact of severe drought on cyanobacteria blooms in SFE. A field sampling program was conducted between July and December 2014 to sample a suite of physical, chemical, and biological variables at 10 stations in the freshwater and brackish reaches of the estuary. The 2014 Microcystis bloom had the highest biomass and toxin concentration, earliest initiation, and the longest duration, since the blooms began in 1999. Median chlorophyll a concentration increased by 9 and 12 times over previous dry and wet years, respectively. Total microcystin concentration also exceeded that in previous dry and wet years by a factor of 11 and 65, respectively. Cell abundance determined by quantitative PCR indicated the bloom contained multiple potentially toxic cyanobacteria species, toxic Microcystis and relatively high total cyanobacteria abundance. The bloom was associated with extreme nutrient concentrations, including a 20-year high in soluble reactive phosphorus concentration and low to below detection levels of ammonium. Stable isotope analysis suggested the bloom varied with both inorganic and organic nutrient concentration, and used ammonium as the primary nitrogen source. Water temperature was a primary controlling factor for the bloom and was positively correlated with the increase in both total and toxic Microcystis abundance. In addition, the early initiation and persistence of warm water temperature coincided with the increased intensity and duration of the Microcystis bloom from the usual 3 to 4 months to 8 months. Long residence time was also a primary factor controlling the magnitude and persistence of the bloom, and was created by a 66% to 85% reduction in both the water inflow and diversion of water for agriculture during the summer. We concluded that severe drought conditions can lead to a significant increase in the abundance of Microcystis and other cyanobacteria, as well as their associated toxins.     

国内外心力衰竭治疗质量评价的研究现状

心力衰竭是世界主要的公共卫生问题之一,庞大的心力衰竭患者消耗着大量的医疗资源。近几十年,世界各国专家越来越关注心力衰竭的治疗质量,评价治疗质量已成为医疗体制改革的一项措施。通过总结国内外心力衰竭治疗质量评价的组织机构、评价指标、治疗质量改善项目及有关评价研究,探讨我国心力衰竭治疗质量评价与国外的差距,针对出现的问题,提出相应的建议,为改善我国心力衰竭的治疗质量提供新思路。     

四川杂谷脑河底栖动物初步调查

于2004年5月对四川杂谷脑河流域9个断面的底栖动物进行了调查。共采集到底栖动物11种,其中水生昆虫8种,软体动物2种和扁形动物1种。应用Beck生物指数对其水质状况进行评价,结果表明杂谷脑河流域除个别断面(红叶减水河段)清洁外,大部分河段有一定程度的污染。     

粤东柘林湾海域富营养化评价与分析

根据2001年7月～2002年7月对拓林湾进行的生态调查所得的数据,运用模糊集理论中的权距离概念结合隶属度的模糊评价方法,以化学耗氧量、总无机氮、活性磷酸盐和叶绿素a为指标,对粤东拓林湾和湾外水域的富营养化状况进行了评价.结果表明,拓林湾的营养状况已达到中营养程度以上,而湾外则处于贫营养状态.     

基于NGS的染色质测序在肿瘤研究中的应用

染色质是真核生物细胞核内由核酸和蛋白质组成的复合结构,有着精密且复杂的三维结构。染色质除基本的DNA序列外,内部还存在着不同化学修饰,DNA-蛋白质相互作用,DNA-DNA相互作用和DNA-RNA相互作用,以上这些若发生改变都可能在肿瘤发生发展过程中起到至关重要的作用。通过不同的染色质测序方法,可以解析出这些改变,并进一步加深研究者对肿瘤形成机制的理解,最终应用于肿瘤的治疗。本文对常见的染色质测序技术部分原理和应用进行综述。     

Conservation in a cup of water: estimating biodiversity and population abundance from environmental DNA

Three mantras often guide species and ecosystem management: (i) for preventing invasions by harmful species, ‘early detection and rapid response’; (ii) for conserving imperilled native species, ‘protection of biodiversity hotspots’; and (iii) for assessing biosecurity risk, ‘an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure.’ However, these and other management goals are elusive when traditional sampling tools (e.g. netting, traps, electrofishing, visual surveys) have poor detection limits, are too slow or are not feasible. One visionary solution is to use an organism’s DNA in the environment (eDNA), rather than the organism itself, as the target of detection. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Thomsen et al. (2012) provide new evidence demonstrating the feasibility of this approach, showing that eDNA is an accurate indicator of the presence of an impressively diverse set of six aquatic or amphibious taxa including invertebrates, amphibians, a fish and a mammal in a wide range of freshwater habitats. They are also the first to demonstrate that the abundance of eDNA, as measured by qPCR, correlates positively with population abundance estimated with traditional tools. Finally, Thomsen et al. (2012) demonstrate that next‐generation sequencing of eDNA can quantify species richness. Overall, Thomsen et al. (2012) provide a revolutionary roadmap for using eDNA for detection of species, estimates of relative abundance and quantification of biodiversity.     

Reduced histamine levels and H3 receptor antagonist-induced histamine release in the amygdala of Apoe-/- mice

The histamine H(3) receptor is a constitutively active G protein-coupled receptor for the neurotransmitter histamine that serves a negative feedback function. A role for the histamine H(3) receptor has been suggested in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinsons disease and Alzheimer's disease. Mice deficient in apolipoprotein E (apoE), a protein involved in development, regeneration, neurite outgrowth, and neuroprotection, show increased measures of anxiety and reduced sensitivity to effects of histamine H(3) receptor antagonists on measures of anxiety. In this study, we tested whether in mice lacking apoE (Apoe-/-) histamine levels and histamine release in brain areas involved in the regulation of anxiety are altered. H(3) receptor antagonist-induced histamine release was lower in the amygdala of Apoe-/- than wild-type mice. In contrast, there were no genotype differences in histamine release in the hypothalamus. Consistent with these data, histamine immunohistochemistry revealed lower total and synaptic histamine levels in the central nucleus of the amygdala of Apoe-/- than wild-type mice. Such changes were not seen in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, or cortex. In Apoe-/- mice, chronically decreased histamine levels and reduced histamine release in the amygdala might contribute to increased measures of anxiety.     

第三脑室注射组胺及其受体激动剂对五肽促胃液素诱导的大鼠胃酸分泌的影响

本文报道第三脑室注射组胺(0.25—2.0μg/5μl)对五肽促胃液素诱导的胃酸分泌的双重影响。雄性Wistar大鼠,重200—300g,戊巴比妥钠腹腔麻醉。用37℃生理盐水通过恒流泵进行连续胃灌流。在静脉恒速灌注五肽促胃液素(7.5μg/kg·h)的基础上,第三脑室注射组胺(0.25μg/5μl)或H_1受体激动剂2-Pyridylethylamine(PEA,10μg/5μl),10min后总酸排出量即开始减少,90min仍未恢复。组胺剂量增至1.0μg或2.0μg时,出现双重效应。部份动物(分别占73％或50％)胃酸分泌减少,另一部分动物(27％或50％)胃酸分泌增多。H_2受体激动剂dimaprit(10μg/5μl)或impromidine(0.1μg/5μl)对胃酸分泌无明显影响。苯海拉明(16μg/0.2ml或32μg/0.2ml,i.m.)预处理可分别取消组胺和PEA的抑胃酸效应。这些结果提示:脑内组胺可能参与胃酸分泌中枢调节。其抑制效应似通过H_1受体介导;双重效应的机制有待进一步研究。     

Detection of Erwinia species from the apple and pear flora by mass spectroscopy of whole cells and with novel PCR primers

Aims: To detect the apple and pear pathogens Erwinia amylovora and Erwinia pyrifoliae as well as the related epiphytes Erwinia tasmaniensis and Erwinia billingiae, we created novel PCR primers and also applied them to a series of other plant‐associated bacteria as control. To facilitate fast diagnosis, we used matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS). Methods and Results: The PCR primers were deduced from the pstS–glmS regions, which can include the gene for levansucrase, and also from regions encoding capsular polysaccharide synthesis. All primer combinations were specific for their associated Erwinia species to detect them with conventional PCR, also in mixed cultures from necrotic plant tissue. Other primers designed for quantitative PCR with SYBR Green or together with TaqMan probes were applied for real‐time detection to determine growth of Erw. amylovora, Erw. billingiae, Erw. pyrifoliae and Erw. tasmaniensis in apple blossoms. From whole‐cell protein extracts, profiles were generated using a Bruker microflex machine and Erwinia strains classified according to a score scheme. Conclusions: The designed PCR primers identified the Erwinia species unambiguously and can be applied to qualitative and quantitative tests. MALDI–TOF MS data were in agreement with the PCR assays. Significance and Impact of the Study: The applied diagnosis methods allow fast and precise monitoring of two pathogenic and two epiphytic Erwinia species. They are valuable for population studies with apple and pear flowers and with diseased plant material.     

三种生物质能源植物组织的乙醇提取液对烟粉虱生物活性的影响

为了探讨蓖麻、海滨锦葵等生物质能源植物组织的抽提物作为植物保护剂的可行性,用蓖麻种子、蓖麻叶片、海滨锦葵叶片等生物质能源植物组织的乙醇粗提物处理烟粉虱成虫,4、24、48、72和96 h后测定其体内的谷胱甘肽转移酶和羧酸酯酶活性,并利用Y型嗅觉仪测定烟粉虱对3种生物质能源植物组织的乙醇粗提物的嗅觉反应.结果表明:3种生物质能源植物组织的乙醇粗提物对烟粉虱谷胱甘肽转移酶和羧酸酯酶均有明显影响,随着浓度的提高,其作用增强,其中250倍液的作用与1.8%的阿维菌素3000倍液作用相当.3种提取液的250倍液对烟粉虱成虫具有明显的驱避作用,其中蓖麻种子、蓖麻叶片和海滨锦葵叶片等乙醇粗提物的驱避率分别为100.0%、96.7%和79.4%.表明蓖麻种子、蓖麻叶片和海滨锦葵叶片的乙醇粗抽提物对烟粉虱具有驱避作用和其他生物活性.     

The ecology and phylogeny of oomycete infections in Asplanchna rotifers

1. Recently, the potential for parasites to influence the ecology and evolution of their zooplankton hosts has been the subject of increasing study. However, most research to date has focussed on Daphnia hosts, and the potential for parasites to influence other zooplankton taxa remains largely unstudied. 2. During routine sampling of zooplankton in a eutrophic lake, we observed that the rotifer Asplanchna girodi was often infected with a parasitic oomycete. Epidemics of this parasite occurred frequently, with three separate events in a single year. Prevalence at peak infection ranged from 29 to 41% and epidemics lasted from 17 to 56 days. Our data indicate that high densities of the host population are required for epidemics to occur. 3. Our morphological and molecular analyses suggest that this parasite is in the genus Pythium. Most Pythium spp. are plant pathogens, but our study supports recent work on Daphnia, suggesting that Pythium spp. are also important parasites of zooplankton. 4. As the parasite in this study was recalcitrant to cultivation, we developed an alternative method to verify its identity. Our approach used quantitative PCR to show that the ribosomal sequences identified increased with increasing density of infected hosts and, thus, were associated with the parasite. This approach should be generally applicable to other plankton parasites that are difficult to cultivate outside their hosts. 5. Infections significantly reduced host fecundity, lifespan and population growth rate. As a result of the virulence of this parasite, it is likely to influence the population ecology and evolution of its Asplanchna host, and may be a useful model system for studies on host–parasite coevolutionary dynamics.