利用PCR-RFLP技术鉴定传粉榕小蜂隐种混合样品的物种组成

隐种(cryptic species)是指形态上几乎完全相同但遗传组成存在显著分化的物种。在榕树–榕小蜂一对一共生系统中, 传粉榕小蜂隐种的发现对协同进化、物种共存等重要的生态和进化理论提出了严峻的挑战。因为很难从形态上直接区分隐种, 所以, 相关研究中的一个迫切需要解决的问题就是如何快速而准确地鉴定隐种。本文采用PCR-RFLP方法分析了mtDNACOI基因片段, 对木瓜榕(Ficus auriculata)和鸡嗉果榕(F. semicordata)的传粉榕小蜂隐种进行了区分。结果表明为木瓜榕传粉的大果榕小蜂(Ceratosolen emarginatus)存在两个隐种(A和B), 分别包含1个XhoI和1个BssSI酶切位点。将两个隐种的样品按不同比例混合, 提取基因组DNA, PCR扩增mtDNA COI片段, 经XhoI和BssSI分别酶切, 均能通过酶切图谱准确检测出混合样品的隐种组成。鸡嗉果榕小蜂(C. gravelyi)两个隐种的mtDNA COI基因序列也存在较大差别, 分别包含1个BmrI和1个AvaI酶切位点, 隐种混合样品经BmrI和AvaI分别酶切的结果也能准确鉴定混合样品的物种组成。我们的结果表明基于PCR和DNA酶切技术能快速而准确地区分传粉榕小蜂的隐种。     

基于12S,16S和28S rRNA基因序列的中国小毛瓢虫属系统发育分析

【目的】小毛瓢虫属Scymnus Kugelann昆虫主要捕食蚜虫、蚧虫等害虫,是一类经济上重要的天敌昆虫。目前针对小毛瓢虫属的系统发育研究尚属空白,亚属之间的系统演化关系尚不明确,为了建立合理的分类系统,亟需对小毛瓢虫属的亲缘关系进行研究和探讨。【方法】以华南农业大学馆藏的小毛瓢虫属5亚属共44种为研究对象,采用PCR技术对12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因的部分序列进行扩增;运用MEGA 7.0分析了小毛瓢虫属内12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因的碱基组成,基于K2P模型计算了小毛瓢虫属44种的种间遗传距离;采用最大似然法(maximum-likelihood, ML)和贝叶斯推断法(Bayesian-inference, BI)构建该属的系统发育树。【结果】扩增获得小毛瓢虫属44种的12S rRNA基因序列平均长度为356 bp, 16S rRNA基因序列平均长度为351 bp, 28S rRNA基因序列平均长度为315 bp;序列分析表明,12S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为38.8%, 43.5%, 11.9%和5.8%, 16S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为37.6%, 40.3%, 14.4%和7.7%, 28S rRNA基因的A, T, G和C平均含量分别为26.7%, 18.3%, 31.4%和23.5%;基于联合序列分析的种间遗传距离为0.004～0.276,平均遗传距离为0.115。系统发育分析结果表明,小毛瓢虫属为单系起源,而小毛瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Scymnus) Kugelann、毛瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Neopullus) Sasaji、小瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Pullus) Mulsant和拟小瓢虫亚属Scymnus(Parapullus) Yang均为并系起源。【结论】基于12S, 16S和28S rRNA基因序列的小毛瓢虫属系统发育分析显示传统的形态学分类体系与基于分子数据分析的结果部分不一致,这表明应该对该属内各亚属的鉴别特征进行全面检视,筛选并确立各亚属的形态指标,同时也表明该属内的亚属分类单元需重新厘定。     

Rapid and reliable identification of Staphylococcus equorum by a species-specific PCR assay targeting the sodA gene

Rapid and reliable identification of Staphylococcus (S.) equorum was achieved by species-specific PCR assays. A set of primers targeting the manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (sodA) gene of S.equorum was designed. Species-specificity of the primer set was evaluated by using a total of 112 strains (including 27 reference strains of the DSM collection), representing 26 different species of the genus Staphylococcus, 3 species of the genus Kocuria, and different strains of Macrococcus caseolyticus. By using primers SdAEqF and SdAEqR the expected PCR fragment was obtained only when DNA from S. equorum strains was used as template. The rapidity (about 4 h from DNA isolation to results) and reliability of the PCR procedures established suggests that the method may be profitably applied for specific detection and identification of S. equorum strains.     

Inter-specific sequence conservation and intra-individual sequence variation in a spider silk gene

Currently, studies on major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) genes of non-orb weaving spiders are few, and it is not clear whether genes of these organisms exhibit the same characteristics as those of orb-weavers. In addition, many studies have proposed that MaSp1 might be a single gene with allelic variants, but supporting evidence is still lacking. In this study, we compared partial DNA and amino acid sequences of MaSp1 cloned from different spider guilds. We also cloned partial MaSp1 sequences from genomic DNA and cDNA of the same individuals of spiders using the same primer combination to see if different molecular forms existed. In the repetitive region of partial MaSp1 sequences obtained, GGX, GA and poly-A motifs were present in all Araneomorphae and Mygalomorpae species examined. An extreme similarity in MaSp1 non-repetitive portions was found in sequences of ecribellate, cribellate and Mygalomorphae web-builders and such a result suggested that this sequence might exhibit an important function. A comparison of sequences amplified from the same individual showed that substitutions in amino acids occurred in both repetitive and non-repetitive regions, with a much higher variation in the former. These results suggest that the MaSp1 of Araneomorphae spiders exhibits several forms in an individual spider and it might be either a multiple gene or a single gene with a multiple exon/intron organization.     

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of nuclear rDNA sequences among three opisthorchid liver fluke species (Opisthorchiidae: Trematoda)

In this study, we describe the development of a fast and accurate molecular identification system for human-associated liver fluke species (Opisthorchis viverrini, Opisthorchis felineus, and Clonorchis sinensis) using the PCR-RFLP analysis of the 18S-ITS1-5.8S nuclear ribosomal DNA region. Based on sequence variation in the target rDNA region, we selected three species-specific restriction enzymes within the ITS1 regions, generating different restriction profiles among the species: MunI for O. viverrini, NheI for O. felineus, and XhoI for C. sinensis, respectively. Each restriction enzyme generated different-sized fragments specific to the species examined, but no intraspecific polymorphism or cross-reaction between the species was detected in their restriction pattern. These results indicate that PCR-linked restriction analysis of the ITS1 region allows for the rapid and reliable molecular identification among these opisthorchid taxa. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences using different methods (MP, ML, NJ, and Bayesian inference) displayed O. viverrini and O. felineus as a sister group, but this relationship was not strongly supported. The failure of recovering a robust phylogeny may be due to the relatively small number of synapomorphic characters shared among the species, yielding weak phylogenetic signal. Alternatively, rapid speciation within a very short period time could be another explanation for the relatively poorly resolved relationships among these species. Our data are insufficient for discriminating between sudden cladogenesis and other potential causes of poor resolution. Further information from independent loci might help resolve this phylogeny.     

Amplification and methylation of an esterase gene associated with insecticide-resistance in greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

The greenbug aphid, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) has developed resistance to organophosphorus insecticides by the over-production of esterases that have been classified as Type I and Type II. The first twenty N-terminal amino acids of the Type I esterase were determined and used to design an oligonucleotide, which in conjunction with an active site primer derived from conserved sequences of other insect esterases and two internal primers specific for esterases from another aphid species resulted in a 0.85 kb genomic DNA fragment from resistant greenbugs. This was extended by 5′ RACE which provided approximately 1.2 kb of the 5′ end of the esterase gene. The 5′ DNA sequence corresponded to 19 of the 20 known amino acids of the Type I esterase, with the last needing only a one base change (probably resulting from a PCR artifact). Furthermore, the sequence showed very close similarity to the amplified E4/FE4 esterase genes of Myzus persicae (Sulzer). A comparison of sequences suggested that the S. graminum gene has introns in the same positions as the first two introns of E4/FE4, with the second intron being considerably larger in S. graminum. Probing of Southern blots with the 0.85 kb esterase fragment showed that the gene encoding the Type I esterase is amplified 4- to 8-fold in resistant S. graminum and that the amplified sequences contain 5-methylcytosine at MspI/HpaII sites, again in agreement with previous findings for M. persicae genes.     

Differentiation among three species of bovine Thelazia (Nematoda: Thelaziidae) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism of the first internal transcribed spacer ITS-1 (rDNA).

Thelazia gulosa, Thelazia rhodesi and Thelazia skrjabini are nematodes transmitted by some species of Musca (Diptera: Muscidae) which cause ocular infestations in bovines. Differences in the rDNA of these species were determined by a PCR using different sets of relatively conserved oligonucleotide primers. PCR on the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) revealed differences in size in Thelazia species (437 bp for T. gulosa, 370 bp for T. rhodesi and 506 bp for T. skrjabini) while the DNA control of Musca spp. was not amplified. The ITS-1 amplicons of the three species were sequenced and then analysed. The GC contents ranged from 26 to 36% and the level of differences in the nucleotide sequences of ITS-1 was lower between T. skrjabini and T. gulosa (39%) than the latter and T. rhodesi (49–56%). Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of ITS-1 amplicons was also carried out and the restriction profiles compared. Clear genetic differences among the three Thelazia examined were demonstrated by using the enzymes HpaII, CpoI and SspI. This PCR–RFLP for the delineation of T. gulosa, T. rhodesi and T. skrjabini offers prospects as a molecular epidemiological tool to study parasite transmission patterns and prevalence.     

Multifactorial aspects of antimicrobial activity of propolis

We investigated the antibacterial activity of sub-inhibitory concentrations of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP), and its effect on the antibacterial activity of some antibiotics. Some clinically isolated Gram-positive strains were used.

Moreover, sub-inhibitory concentrations of EEP were used to value its action on some important virulence factors like lipase and coagulase enzymes, and on biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus.

Our results indicated that EEP had a significant antimicrobial activity towards all tested clinical strains.

Adding EEP to antibacterial tested drugs, it drastically increased the antimicrobial effect of ampicillin, gentamycin and streptomycin, moderately the one of chloramphenicol, ceftriaxon and vancomycin, while there was no effect with erithromycin.

Moreover, our results pointed out an inhibitory action of EEP on lipase activity of 18 Staphylococcus spp. strains and an inhibitory effect on coagulase of 11 S. aureus tested strains.

The same EEP concentrations showed a negative interaction with adhesion and consequent biofilm formation in S. aureus ATCC 6538P.     

深海白色侧齿霉遗传转化体系建立及渗透压调控相关的EaSHO1基因功能

海洋中具有丰富的动植物及微生物资源,海洋真菌是其重要组成之一。我们前期的研究发现一株深海真菌白色侧齿霉Engyodontium album能产生具有抑菌活性的次级代谢产物engyodontiumin A,该化合物能抑制黑曲霉、金黄色葡萄球菌及创伤弧菌等病原菌的生长,是一种潜在的海洋源抗菌药物。目前,该菌遗传转化体系尚未建立,不利于开展次级代谢产物合成调控机制及其他功能基因研究。本研究成功制备了深海白色侧齿霉菌的原生质体,建立了借助聚乙二醇3350介导的原生质体转化体系,并将pCT74-sGFP载体成功导入白色侧齿霉的原生质体中,结果显示外源GFP能稳定表达。此外,为了明确白色侧齿霉菌是否能够开展基因敲除研究,通过氨基酸序列同源比对,我们选取酵母高渗甘油信号途径中的同源基因EaSHO1进行初步探究。利用同源重组的方法成功将目的基因EaSHO1的开放阅读框(ORF)替换成潮霉素磷酸转移酶基因(HPH),由此获得EaSHO1基因敲除突变体,并对突变体进行Southern杂交验证及初步的表型分析。结果表明,EaSHO1缺失不影响白色侧齿霉菌的营养生长及对高盐胁迫的响应,亚细胞定位结果显示EaS...     

马铃薯Y病毒多基因系统发育分析及其在株系鉴定中的应用

为实现马铃薯Y病毒(Potato virus Y, PVY)常见株系的快速鉴定,本文以PVY的P1、HC-pro、VPg和CP 4个基因为研究对象建立了快速准确的多基因联合体系。根据基因的不同组合建立5个不同数据集,分别进行系统发育分析,并通过贝叶斯标签关联显著性(Bayesian tip-association significance, BaTS)分析各数据集中代表分离物与株系的关联性,以确定实现PVY快速鉴定的最佳组合。不同数据集的系统发育及BaTS分析结果显示,除了联合P1、VPg和CP 3个基因数据集外,其他4个数据集均无法实现PVY常见株系的准确鉴定。采用不同建树方法对联合P1、VPg和CP 3个基因数据集比较分析显示,基于ML法和NJ法的系统发育树在拓扑结构上基本一致,均优于基于贝叶斯算法的最大分支置信(maximum clade credibility, MCC)树。同时,以HLJ26分离物为研究对象,对建立的多基因联合体系进行实际应用,结果显示该分离物与PVY^NTN-NW株系的3个分离物SYR-Ⅱ-2-8、SYR-Ⅱ-Be1和SYR-Ⅱ-DrH以高置信值聚为一亚簇,表明该分离物可能属于PVY^NTN-NW株系(SYR-Ⅱ型)。重组分析显示,HLJ26基因组存在4个潜在的重组信号,分别位于P1、HC-pro/P3、VPg和CP的5°-末端,与PVY^NTN-NW株系(SYR-Ⅱ型)的重组位点相一致,表明其属于PVY^NTN-NW株系(SYR-Ⅱ型)。同时,应用多重RT-PCR成功扩增出约为1000 bp和400 bp的2个特异性片段,与PVY^NTN-NW株系(SYR-Ⅱ型)的特异条带大小相一致。这些结果进一步支持了多基因联合体系的鉴定结果。联合P1、VPg和CP 3个基因数据集系统发育分析,可以实现PVY常见株系的准确鉴定。     

Development of a PCR for the detection and identification of cyanobacterial nifD genes

In this study we have designed degenerate primers after comparative analysis of nifD gene sequences from public databases, and developed a PCR protocol for the amplification of nifD sequences from cyanobacteria. The primers were tested on a variety of nitrogenase-containing and nitrogenase-lacking bacteria. By using this protocol, we amplified nifD sequences from DNA that was isolated from three phototrophic microbial communities. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone library analysis of the nifD amplicons showed the presence of distinct groups of diazotrophic cyanobacteria in each of the investigated microbial communities. Phylogenetic trees constructed from the sequences of nifD gene fragments are congruent with those based on ribosomal RNA gene sequences.     

Cloning, expression and sequence analysis of the SphI restriction-modification system

SphI, a type II restriction-modification (R-M) system from the bacterium Streptomyces phaeochromogenes, recognizes the sequence 5′-GCATGC. The SphI methyltransferase (MTase)-encoding gene, sphIM, was cloned into Escherichia coli using MTase selection to isolate the clone. However, none of these clones contained the restriction endonuclease (ENase) gene. Repeated attempts to clone the complete ENase gene along with sphIM in one step failed, presumably due to expression of SphI ENase gene, sphIR, in the presence of inadequate expression of sphIM. The complete sphIR was finally cloned using a two-step process. PCR was used to isolate the 3′ end of sphIR from a library. The intact sphIR, reconstructed under control of an inducible promoter, was introduced into an E. coli strain containing a plasmid with the NlaIII MTase-encoding gene (nlaIIIM). The nucleotide sequence of the SphI system was determined, analyzed and compared to previously sequenced R-M systems. The sequence was also examined for features which would help explain why sphIR unlike other actinomycete ENase genes seemed to be expressed in E. coli.     

Identification of major subgroups of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in environmental samples by T-RFLP analysis of amoA PCR products

A cloning-independent method based on T-RFLP (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis of amoA PCR products was developed to identify major subgroups of autotrophic ammonia oxidizers of the beta-subclass of the class Proteobacteria in total community DNA. Based on a database of 28 partial gene sequences encoding the active-site polypeptide of ammonia monooxygenase (amoA), defined lengths of terminal restriction fragments (= operational taxonomic units, OTUs) of amoA were predicted to correlate in TaqI-based T-RFLP analysis with phylogenetically defined subgroups of ammonia oxidizers. Members of the genus Nitrosospira showed a specific OTU of 283 bp in length, while a fragment size of 219 bp was indicative of Nitrosomonas-like sequence types including N. europaea, N. eutropha, and N. halophila. Two amoA sequence clusters designated previously as the lineages 'PluBsee' and 'Sch?hsee' [Rotthauwe, J.-H., Witzel, K.-P., Liesack, W., 1997. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63, 4704-4712] shared a TaqI-based OTU with a fragment size of 48 bp, but sequence types of these two lineages could be differentiated by AluI-based T-RFLP analysis. A survey of various environmental samples and enrichment cultures by T-RFLP analysis and by comparative analysis of cloned amoA sequences confirmed the predicted correlations between distinct OTUs and phylogenetic information. Our data suggest that amoA-based T-RFLP analysis is a reliable tool to rapidly assess the complexity of ammonia-oxidizing communities in environmental samples with respect to the presence of major subgroups, i.e. nitrosospiras versus nitrosomonads.     

The δ subunit of the chloroplast ATPase is plastid-encoded in the diatom Odontella sinensis

A 5.2 kb PstI restriction fragment containing the atpA gene cluster of the plastic genome of the centric diatom Odontella sinensis was cloned. Sequencing revealed a reading frame of 561 bp separating the genes atpF and atpA, which is preceded by a putative ribosome binding site. The third nucleotide of the codon for the last amino acid of atpF is the first nucleotide of the initiation codon of the 561 bp reading frame. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of this gene (ntpD) is colinear with δ subunits of different F₀F₁-ATPases and shows an overall sequence homology of up to 35% when compared with the sequences of cyanobacteria and Cyanophora paradoxa. The results are discussed in context with the evolution of chloroplasts of the chlorophyll-a + b and -a + c lineages, respectively.     

Phylogenetic study and identification of human pathogenic Vibrio species based on partial hsp60 gene sequences

The use of hsp60 gene sequences for phylogenetic study and identification of pathogenic marine vibrios was investigated. A 600-bp partial hsp60 gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced from 29 strains representing 15 Vibrio species within the family Vibrionaceae. Sequence comparison of the amplified partial hsp60 gene revealed 71-82% sequence identity among different Vibrio species and 96-100% sequence identity among epidemiologically distinct strains with the same species designation. This degree of discrimination allows unambiguous differentiation of all Vibrio species included in the current study from each other, as well as from Aeromonas hydrophila and Plesiomonas shigelloides, which are often misidentified as Vibrio species by conventional biochemical methods. Based on the hsp60 gene sequences, two previously unidentified shrimp isolates were found to be more closely related to Vibrio alginolyticus (93-94% sequence identity) than to Vibrio parahaemolyticus (89% sequence identity), whereas 16S rRNA gene analysis was unable to differentiate among these closely related species (95-97% sequence identity). Our results indicate that the hsp60 gene may be a useful alternative target for phylogenetic analysis and species identification of marine Vibrios to complement more conventional identification systems.     

我国沿海棱鳀属鱼类的物种鉴定与系统发育

利用DNA条形码技术对中国沿海分布的6种棱鳀属(Thryssa)鱼类样品进行了物种鉴定, 并每种取5尾用于探讨该属系统发育关系。结果显示: 棱鳀属鱼类的主要形态鉴别特征为上颌骨伸达位置和第一鳃耙的下鳃耙数量。在525 bp的目的片段上有175个变异位点, 其中简约信息位点172个, 单一信息位点3个, 无插入缺失现象, 转换数为182, 颠换数为57。A+T含量明显高于G+C含量, 并且表现出明显的反G偏倚。结合GenBank中相关的同源序列进行比较发现, 所有序列明显分为10个组群, 表明已提交的棱鳀属鱼类COI基因序列中仍存在一定的问题。从各组群间的遗传距离和氨基酸遗传差异水平可以看出, 10个组群应为不同的有效种, 但是否存在隐存种还有待于进一步确定。从NJ树上可以看出, 长颌棱鳀(T. setirostris)是最先分化出的物种, 保持着最原始的特征, 而中颌棱鳀(T. mystax)与黄吻棱鳀(T. vitrirostris)聚类到一起, 二者间存在共享单倍型。棱鳀属鱼类最早分化于中新世早期。在今后的研究中仍需要结合更多的分子标记对中颌棱鳀和黄吻棱鳀的分类地位作进一步的探讨。     

The construction of a versatile plasmid vector that allows direct selection of fragments cloned into six unique sites of the cI gene of coliphage 434

A new plasmid vector, pNSI, is described that allows positive selection for bacterial transformants carrying recombinant plasmids. It is a derivative of pBR327, and it includes a regulatory region from the lambdoid phage 434. The expression of the Tc^R gene of pNS1 is under the control of the o_Rp_R operator-promoter of phage 434, which is regulated by the represser gene c1. The cloning sites of pNSI (StuI, NdeI, HpaI, HindIII, AsuII and EcoRI) are situated within cI; hence insertion of foreign DNA into these sites causes derepressed expression of the Tc^R gene from p_R thus conferring the Tc^R phenotype on the harboring Escherichia coli strain. The use ofpNS1 is facilitated by the presence of another selectable marker, Ap^R its small size, and its known nucleotide sequence; no special host strain is required.     

KpnI families of long, interspersed repetitive DNAs associated with the human β-globin gene cluster

KpnI families of long, interspersed repetitive DNAs are ubiquitous repetitive elements that occur in tens of thousands of copies in primate genomes. KpnI 1.2, 1.5 and two different KpnI 1.8-kb families were found within and flanking a 6.4-kb repeat beginning at 3 kb, 3' from the human β-globin gene. Thus, six different types of KpnI families have now been identified, and four of these are found next to each other in a specific 6.4-kb repeat. Clones of the distinct KpnI families were hybridized to clones of the 6.4-kb repeat and adjacent sequences encompassed within some 17.6 kb of DNA lying 3' to the β-globin gene cluster. The four KpnI families appear to make up the entire length of the 6.4-kb repeat. The linear order of the various cloned KpnI sequences in the repeat is 5'-pBK(1.8)26-pBK.(1.5)54-pBK(1.2)11-pBK(1.8)11-3'. KpnI 1.2-kb sequences were also detected downstream from the 6.4-kb repeat. As in the case of the KpnI 1.2 and 1.5-kb families, the two KpnI 1.8-kb sequence families described here each hybridized with about 15% of all plaques in two independently generated human genome libraries.     

There are at least three genetically distinct small piroplasms from dogs

The 18S nuclear subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene of small piroplasms isolated from dogs from Okinawa (Japan), Oklahoma, North Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, and Alabama, was isolated and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences and comparisons with sequences from other Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria species revealed that all canine small babesial isolates, with the exception of isolates from California and Spain, were placed in a group containing the Babesia spp. sensu stricto. Within the Babesia spp. sensu stricto, there was support for separating the small canine piroplasms from the large canine piroplasm, Babesia canis. The isolate from California was in a distinct phylogenetic clade, closely related to babesial isolates from wildlife and humans from the Western US. The canine isolate from Spain was closely related to Babesia microti. These results suggest that there are multiple small piroplasm species in dogs. The isolates from the Midwestern and Eastern US and the one from Japan probably represent a single species with wide geographic distribution.     

基于形态和分子数据的中国锈迷孔菌属一新种

结合形态学特征和分子序列分析发现采自内蒙古自治区和黑龙江省兴安落叶松树上一新种——蒙古锈迷孔菌,对此种进行了形态描述和特征图示,并讨论了该新种与其近缘种之间的异同。