Symbiotic complexity: discovery of a fifth symbiont in the attine ant-microbe symbiosis

The fungus-growing ant-microbe mutualism is a classic example of organismal complexity generated through symbiotic association. The ants have an ancient obligate mutualism with fungi they cultivate for food. The success of the mutualism is threatened by specialized fungal parasites (Escovopsis) that consume the cultivated fungus. To defend their nutrient-rich garden against infection, the ants have a second mutualism with bacteria (Pseudonocardia), which produce antibiotics that inhibit the garden parasite Escovopsis. Here we reveal the presence of a fourth microbial symbiont associated with fungus-growing ants: black yeasts (Ascomycota; Phialophora). We show that black yeasts are commonly associated with fungus-growing ants, occurring throughout their geographical distribution. Black yeasts grow on the ants' cuticle, specifically localized to where the mutualistic bacteria are cultured. Molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal that the black yeasts form a derived monophyletic lineage associated with the phylogenetic diversity of fungus growers. The prevalence, distribution, localization and monophyly indicate that the black yeast is a fifth symbiont within the attine ant-microbe association, further exemplifying the complexity of symbiotic associations.     

A High-Throughput Method for the Analysis of Larval Developmental Phenotypes in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans postembryonic development consists of four discrete larval stages separated by molts. Typically, the speed of progression through these larval stages is investigated by visual inspection of the molting process. Here, we describe an automated method to monitor the timing of these discrete phases of C. elegans maturation, from the first larval stage through adulthood, using bioluminescence. The method was validated with a lin-42 mutant strain that shows delayed development relative to wild-type animals and with a daf-2 mutant that shows an extended second larval stage. This new method is inherently high-throughput and will finally allow dissecting the molecular machinery governing the speed of the developmental clock, which has so far been hampered by the lack of a method suitable for genetic screens.     

Ecological genomics of mutualism decline in nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Anthropogenic changes can influence mutualism evolution; however, the genomic regions underpinning mutualism that are most affected by environmental change are generally unknown, even in well-studied model mutualisms like the interaction between legumes and their nitrogen (N)-fixing rhizobia. Such genomic information can shed light on the agents and targets of selection maintaining cooperation in nature. We recently demonstrated that N-fertilization has caused an evolutionary decline in mutualistic partner quality in the rhizobia that form symbiosis with clover. Here, population genomic analyses of N-fertilized versus control rhizobium populations indicate that evolutionary differentiation at a key symbiosis gene region on the symbiotic plasmid (pSym) contributes to partner quality decline. Moreover, patterns of genetic variation at selected loci were consistent with recent positive selection within N-fertilized environments, suggesting that N-rich environments might select for less beneficial rhizobia. By studying the molecular population genomics of a natural bacterial population within a long-term ecological field experiment, we find that: (i) the N environment is indeed a potent selective force mediating mutualism evolution in this symbiosis, (ii) natural variation in rhizobium partner quality is mediated in part by key symbiosis genes on the symbiotic plasmid, and (iii) differentiation at selected genes occurred in the context of otherwise recombining genomes, resembling eukaryotic models of adaptation.     

An out-of-body experience: the extracellular dimension for the transmission of mutualistic bacteria in insects

Across animals and plants, numerous metabolic and defensive adaptations are a direct consequence of symbiotic associations with beneficial microbes. Explaining how these partnerships are maintained through evolutionary time remains one of the central challenges within the field of symbiosis research. While genome erosion and co-cladogenesis with the host are well-established features of symbionts exhibiting intracellular localization and transmission, the ecological and evolutionary consequences of an extracellular lifestyle have received little attention, despite a demonstrated prevalence and functional importance across many host taxa. Using insect–bacteria symbioses as a model, we highlight the diverse routes of extracellular symbiont transfer. Extracellular transmission routes are unified by the common ability of the bacterial partners to survive outside their hosts, thereby imposing different genomic, metabolic and morphological constraints than would be expected from a strictly intracellular lifestyle. We emphasize that the evolutionary implications of symbiont transmission routes (intracellular versus extracellular) do not necessarily correspond to those of the transmission mode (vertical versus horizontal), a distinction of vital significance when addressing the genomic and physiological consequences for both host and symbiont.     

幼虫密度对二点委夜蛾生长发育及繁殖的影响

【目的】在不同幼虫密度饲养条件下,研究二点委夜蛾Athetis lepigone生长发育及繁殖的情况,明确幼虫密度对该害虫的室内种群增长的影响。【方法】本实验设置5个幼虫饲养密度即1,5,10,20和30头/瓶(750 mL),分别观察5个饲养密度下该虫的各个龄期及整个幼虫发育历期及存活率、蛹重、蛹期以及成虫生殖情况。【结果】幼虫密度对该虫幼虫各龄期及整个幼虫发育历期及存活率、蛹重、蛹期以及成虫生殖情况均有显著性影响。整个幼虫发育历期随着密度的增加而缩短,10头/瓶达到最短(18.27 d),之后随着幼虫密度的增加而显著延长;幼虫至蛹的存活率随着密度增高而显著下降,30头/瓶最低(39.37%)。蛹期随着密度的增加而延长(10头/瓶除外)。蛹重和每雌产卵量均以1头/瓶最高,随着幼虫密度的增加而显著下降。雌雄蛾寿命均以10头/瓶最长,与1和5头/瓶没有显著性差异。生命表分析显示:二点委夜蛾的种群增长指数以5头/瓶最高,幼虫密度过低或者过高均不利于种群增长。【结论】幼虫密度是影响二点委夜蛾种群增长的重要因子之一。     

子陵栉鰕虎鱼繁殖特性、胚胎及仔鱼的发育

子陵栉(鰕)虎鱼(Ctenogobius giurinus)在嘉陵江中游南充段繁殖期在4～6月,产卵时间持续2～3h,每间隔1～2min交尾一次,每次交尾产卵30～50枚,累计产卵可达1000～1600枚.多数时间由雄性亲鱼负责孵卵,当雄性亲鱼出巢摄食时,由雌性亲鱼替代孵卵.成熟卵产出时为球形,卵径0.453～0.644mm,具黏性,呈淡黄色,半透明,油球1～30个,其中大油球1～4个.受精4min后吸水膨胀成椭圆形.根据其胚胎发育过程的形态特征,胚胎发育全程可划分为7个阶段:受精卵胚盘形成阶段、卵裂阶段、囊胚阶段、原肠胚阶段、神经胚形成阶段、器官形成阶段和孵化出膜阶段.在水温22.3～25.7℃的条件下,胚胎发育共需109h52min.出膜前的器官分化程度高,胸鳍原基、鳃板、半规管、鳔、下颌及颌齿在出膜前均已存在,初孵仔鱼全长2.485～2.640mm,体高O.350～O.460 mm,初孵仔鱼至卵黄囊消失需要4d,至油球消失约6d.     

Larval stop,delayed development and survival in overcrowded cultures of Drosophila melanogaster: Effect of urea and uric acid

Uric acid and urea added to non-crowded cultures of D. Melanogaster are able to reproduce the larval stop (cessation in development) detected in highly competitive situations. The quantitative analysis of media as well as of larvae and pupae reveals the presence of both compounds as natural waste products of nitrogen metabolism in Drosophila. The nature of their effect is discussed in terms of larval intoxication as a mechanism which may account for the effects usually observed in crowded cultures: development delay, lower survival and also larval stop (which can only be detected by interrupting the competitive process by an overfeeding technique).     

脊椎动物多趾性状的研究进展

多趾是脊椎动物常见的肢体异常,在不同物种间具有相似的表型。研究表明,有相同的基因和发育机理控制不同物种间的多趾表型;最近在人和鼠上的研究进一步表明PPD应是由于干扰了位于Lmbr1内含子内的Shh长程顺式调控元件引起的。对脊椎动物多趾性状的发生机理和相关基因的研究进展进行了综述。Abstract: Polydactyly is a common abnormal limb phenotype in vertebrate and there is similar limb phenotype among different species. Research shows that polydactyly has a similar development mechanism, and this kind of polydactyly character seems to be controlled by homologous genes among species. The latest research results on human and mouse further shows that PPD should be caused by the disruption of a long range cis-acting regulator for Shh within Lmbr1 intron. Here the development mechanism and related genes controlling polydactyly character of vertebrate are reviewed.     

小叶黑面神与小叶头细蛾互惠共生系统的种群调控机制(英文)

【目的】探索小叶黑面神Breynia vitis-idaea对小叶头细蛾Epicephala vitisidaea种群数量的调控机制。【方法】跟踪记录小叶黑面神物候及头细蛾的生物学。解剖在小叶黑面神上访花头细蛾的外生殖器,鉴定头细蛾种类。对不同时期小叶黑面神有梗和无梗的果实进行解剖,统计果实内幼虫数量、果实表面孔的数量以及果实表面产卵疤数量,计算头细蛾幼虫存活率。统计不同时期小叶黑面神有梗和无梗的果实的比例。【结果】在福建厦门小叶黑面神每年有5个花果期,相应地,为小叶黑面神传粉的头细蛾每年有5个生活世代。通过解剖,该种头细蛾被鉴定为小叶头细蛾。一头小叶头细蛾幼虫需要消耗2~4粒种子才能发育成熟。小叶黑面神有两种不同形态的果实:有梗和无梗。头细蛾幼虫在无梗果实内的存活率明显高于有梗果实,并且晚秋时期头细蛾幼虫的存活率要高于夏季。小叶黑面神无梗果实的比例在晚秋(82.04%)要高于夏季(31.53%)。【结论】本研究揭示了维持互利共生体系稳定的机制。小叶黑面神能够通过果实基部果梗的有无来调节小叶头细蛾幼虫的存活率。小叶黑面神通过季节性的调节有梗果实的比率,既有效避免了夏季种子被过度消耗的风险,又提高了头细蛾在冬季的存活率。小叶黑面神这种自身调控机制对维持小叶黑面神与小叶头细蛾互惠共生系统的稳定性起到了至关重要的作用。     

转基因技术在果蝇及脊椎动物心脏基因研究中的应用

转基因技术是一项非常重要的生物工程新技术,主要应用于生产药物蛋白及异种器官移植,建立疾病基因模型,提高和改善家畜生产的产量和质量以及研究新基因的功能及表达调控.重点综述了几个新的转基因技术-UAS-Gal4系统,热休克启动子载体,RNAi技术,原核胚胎显微注射及基因敲除技术在研究果蝇及脊椎动物心脏基因中的应用.     

The interplay between morphogens and tissue growth

Morphogens are conserved, secreted signalling molecules that regulate the size, shape and patterning of animal tissues and organs. Recent experimental evidence has emphasized the fundamental role of tissue growth in expanding the expression domains of morphogens and their target genes, in generating morphogen gradients and in modulating the response of cells to morphogens. Moreover, the classic view of how morphogens, particularly through their concentration gradient, regulate tissue size during development has been revisited recently. In this review, we discuss how morphogens and tissue growth affect each other, and we attempt to integrate genetic and molecular evidence from vertebrate and invertebrate model systems to put forward the idea that the interaction between growth and morphogens is a general feature of highly proliferative tissues.