一种简便快速筛选重组子的方法

目的：根据碱裂解法抽提质粒DNA的原理,研究应用快检缓冲液方法挑取重组子克隆,从而获得简单易行,快速方便,节省时间,提高工作效率的筛选重组子的方法。方法：不需抽提质粒,只要将菌落接入快检缓冲液后直接进行普通琼脂凝胶电泳分析,就可以快速筛选出重组子。结果：结果和提取质粒酶切鉴定结果一致。结论：经实验证明用快检缓冲液方法筛选重组子是一种简单易行,快速方便,节省时间,提高工作效率并且可靠的方法。     

Cold acclimation and lipid composition in the earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra

We have investigated the lipid chemistry during cold acclimation in the freeze tolerant earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra. The dominant phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) of D. octaedra were 20:4, 20:5 and 20:1 (50% of total PLFA) followed by 18:0, 18:1 and 18:2omega6,9 (25% of total PLFA). The ability to tolerate freezing in this species was acquired after acclimation at low temperature for 2-4 weeks. During this period one particular membrane PLFA, 18:2omega6,9, increased significantly and there was a good correlation between the proportion of this PLFA and the survival of freezing. The composition of neutral lipid fatty acids (NLFA), most likely representing storage lipids (triacylglycerides), also changed during cold acclimation so that the overall degree of unsaturation increased. Using a common-garden experiment approach, we compared lipid composition of three genetically different populations (Denmark, Finland and Greenland) that differed in their freeze tolerance. Inter-populational differences and differences due to cold acclimation in overall fatty acid composition were evident in both PLFAs and NLFAs. Specifically, the PLFAs, 20:4 and 20:5, were considerably more represented in worms from Greenland, and this contributed to a higher UI of PLFAs in this population.     

A potent reporter applicable to the monitoring of caspase-3-dependent proteolytic cleavage

In this study, we developed a chimeric caspase-3 substrate (GST:DEVD:EGFP) comprised of glutathione-S transferase (GST) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) with a specialized linker peptide harboring the caspase-3 cleavage sequence, DEVD. Using this reporter, we assessed the proteolytic cleavage of the artificial caspase-3 substrate for caspase-3. The common feature of this approach is that the presence of the DEVD sequence between GST and EGFP allows for caspase-3-dependent cleavage after the Asp (D) residue, resulting in the elimination of EGFP from the GST:DEVD:EGFP reporter. To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the first application employing a chimeric protein substrate, with the similar accuracy level compared to the conventional methods such as fluorometric assays. As a result, using this GST:DEVD:EGFP reporter, caspase-3 activation based on proteolytic properties could be monitored via a variety of bioanalytical techniques such as immunoblot analysis, glutathione-agarose bead assay, and on-chip visualization, providing both technical and economical advantages over the extensively utilized fluorogenic peptide assay. Our results convincingly showed that this versatile reporter (GST:DEVD:EGFP) constitutes a useful system for the monitoring of caspase-3 activation, potentially enabling the monitoring of the proteolytic activities of different intra-cellular proteases via the substitution of the cleavage sequence within the same schematic construct.     

The viral mimic, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, induces fever in rats via an interleukin-1-dependent mechanism

Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) is a synthetic double-stranded RNA that is used experimentally to model viral infections in vivo. Previous studies investigating the inflammatory properties of this agent in rodents demonstrated that it is a potent pyrogen. However, the mechanisms underlying this response have not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we examined the effects of peripheral administration of poly I:C on body temperature and cytokine production. Male rats were implanted with biotelemetry devices and randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: poly I:C + saline, poly I:C + interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), or saline + saline. Maximal fever of 1.6 degrees C above baseline was observed 3 h after an intraperitoneal injection of poly I:C (750 microg/kg). Pretreatment with IL-1ra diminished this response by >50% (maximum body temperature = 0.6 degrees C above baseline). Plasma IL-6 concentration increased fivefold 2 h post-poly I:C compared with saline-injected rats; levels returned to baseline 4 h postinjection. Pretreatment with IL-1ra prevented this rise in IL-6. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was also increased more than fourfold 2 h postinjection but remained unaffected by IL-1ra treatment. IL-1beta and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA were significantly upregulated in the hypothalamus of poly I:C-treated animals. Finally, poly I:C decreased food intake by 30%, but this response was not altered by pretreatment with IL-1ra. These results suggest that poly I:C induces fever, but not anorexia, through an IL-1 and prostaglandin-dependent mechanism.     

Application of proteomics in studying bacterial persistence

Introduction: Persisters, a small subpopulation of bacterial cells that can survive antibiotic treatment due to transient growth inhibition, pose a serious threat in clinics. Given the nature of persistence as an emergent property of a biological network, proteomics is well-suited to study this phenomenon.

Areas covered: In this review, we introduce the phenomenon of bacterial persistence, review previous proteomics studies on persisters, discuss challenges in studying persisters by proteomics, and provide future perspectives in applying proteomics to study persisters.

Expert opinion: Despite the potential, there are limited attempts of applying proteomics to study persisters in the literature, partly due to the technical challenges involved. However, with recent advances, such as the discovery of new methods for persister enrichment and isolation, this is the most opportune time to apply proteomics to tackle this high-impact problem of bacterial persistence.     

Diurnal Variation in Scent Marking Behavior in Captive Male and Female Common Marmosets, Callithrix jacchus

Chemical communication by scent-marking behavior in New World primates is used to prevent the access of potential competitors to a territory, to identify food resources and the reproductive condition of mates, among others. In common marmosets, primates of the Callitrichidae family, this behavior also occurs as olfactory identification of an individual or of the reproductive status of females. Despite this information, the diurnal variation and gender differences in the profile of this behavior remain to be investigated. The aims of this study were to establish the diurnal profile of the distribution of this behavior and the influence of the sex of markers. We used 18 adult common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, 10 males and 8 females from 6 family groups (6 fathers and 4 sons; 4 mothers and 4 daughters). The frequency of scent-marking behavior was recorded for each animal over a period of 8 days, twice a week, for 4 weeks, starting when the animals left the nest box (approximately at 05:00 a.m.) until the end of the photophase, at about 05:00 p.m. A MANOVA test was performed to compare the frequency of scent-marking behavior at 2 hour intervals using pooled data for males and females. The results showed that significantly higher levels of scent-marking behavior occurred during the 03:00-05:00 p.m. interval compared to all other intervals. Lower values were recorded during the 11:00-13:00 interval and an effect of the sex factor was also found, with the values being higher for females than for males, although a significant difference was recorded only for the 07:00-09:00 interval. Minimal values for males were recorded during the 07:00-09:00 interval, whereas minimum values for females were recorded during the 11:00-13:00 interval. However, the highest values for both sexes continued to occur during the 15:00-17:00 interval. These results suggest that scent marking behavior in common marmosets has a preferential incidence at the end of the day and this might be occurring in association with feeding behavior. At this time these animals usually forage more to prepare for the night's fast. Since these animals can discriminate chemical clues as long as 24 hours after they have been left, the higher incidence of this behavior at this time probably will assure that the animals will localize feeding resources used on the preceding day. Significant elevation of scent marking behavior in females in relation to males was found only at 07:00-09:00 interval and seems to be associated with signalizing of reproductive status, preferential access to foraging or both.     

基于SAFLP的我国常见索线虫科昆虫病原线虫亲缘关系分析

本研究建立并优化了索线虫科(Mermithidae)SAFLP体系,构建了我国常见索线虫科昆虫病原线虫6属11种/亚种的指纹图谱。采用EcoRⅠ和MseⅠ两种限制性内切酶单酶切,结果显示EcoRⅠ酶更适合作为索线虫科线虫SAFLP的内切酶。3个带有3个选择性碱基的EcoRⅠ引物进行扩增共得条带225个,片段大小为250～1 650 bp。通过NTsys-PC2.1软件计算了索线虫科6属11种/亚种的Nei-Li遗传距离(0.1980～034554)和相似系数,利用NTsys-PC2.1软件中的UPGMA方法构建其聚类图。索线虫科这6属11种/亚种从属级阶元可以分为两大类群：罗索属Romanomermis和八腱索属Octomyomermis聚为一支构成第一大类群;六索属Hexamermis与卵索属Ovomermis先聚在一起然后与多索属Agamermis聚在一起,再与两索属Amphimermis聚在一起构成第二大类群。在八腱索属和两索属中属内不同种/亚种间线虫采集地相距较近的其遗传距离较近。优化的索线虫科线虫SAFLP体系能够反映索线虫科线虫种属间的亲缘关系,并与形态学的研究结果基本相符,可以用于属种的分类和亲缘关系的研究。     

Diurnal Variation in Scent Marking Behavior in Captive Male and Female Common Marmosets,Callithrix jacchus

Chemical communication by scent-marking behavior in New World primates is used to prevent the access of potential competitors to a territory, to identify food resources and the reproductive condition of mates, among others. In common marmosets, primates of the Callitrichidae family, this behavior also occurs as olfactory identification of an individual or of the reproductive status of females. Despite this information, the diurnal variation and gender differences in the profile of this behavior remain to be investigated. The aims of this study were to establish the diurnal profile of the distribution of this behavior and the influence of the sex of markers. We used 18 adult common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, 10 males and 8 females from 6 family groups (6 fathers and 4 sons; 4 mothers and 4 daughters). The frequency of scent-marking behavior was recorded for each animal over a period of 8 days, twice a week, for 4 weeks, starting when the animals left the nest box (approximately at 05:00 a.m.) until the end of the photophase, at about 05:00 p.m. A MANOVA test was performed to compare the frequency of scent-marking behavior at 2 hour intervals using pooled data for males and females. The results showed that significantly higher levels of scent-marking behavior occurred during the 03:00–05:00 p.m. interval compared to all other intervals. Lower values were recorded during the 11:00–13:00 interval and an effect of the sex factor was also found, with the values being higher for females than for males, although a significant difference was recorded only for the 07:00–09:00 interval. Minimal values for males were recorded during the 07:00–09:00 interval, whereas minimum values for females were recorded during the 11:00–13:00 interval. However, the highest values for both sexes continued to occur during the 15:00–17:00 interval. These results suggest that scent marking behavior in common marmosets has a preferential incidence at the end of the day and this might be occurring in association with feeding behavior. At this time these animals usually forage more to prepare for the night's fast. Since these animals can discriminate chemical clues as long as 24 hours after they have been left, the higher incidence of this behavior at this time probably will assure that the animals will localize feeding resources used on the preceding day. Significant elevation of scent marking behavior in females in relation to males was found only at 07:00–09:00 interval and seems to be associated with signalizing of reproductive status, preferential access to foraging or both.     

茁霉多糖发酵及提取工艺条件研究

目的：茁霉多糖是一种新型多功能生物材料,该文拟对出芽短梗霉发酵茁霉多糖及其提取条件进行初步探索。方法：通过摇瓶培养确定了该菌株的发酵优化条件,在此条件下,获得了较高的多糖产量,同时通过醇提的方法对茁霉多糖的提取进也行了研究。结果：初步确定了茁霉多糖最佳发酵与提取条件。结论：摇瓶转速和发酵初始pH值是多糖发酵的重要影响因素,它们与多糖的合成密切相关。     

Presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in living layer hens

AIMS: To evaluate the presence of Shiga toxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli (STEC) of the O157:H7 serotype in living layer hens so as to analyse the role of this avian species as potential reservoir. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cloacal swabs were collected between November 2004 and November 2005 from four intensive management layer hen farms and analysed for STEC O157:H7 by immunomagnetic separation methods and multiplex polymerase chain reaction for stx1 and/or stx2, the E. coli attaching and effacing (eae) and hly genes. STEC was detected in 26 of the 720 samples. CONCLUSIONS: The layer hens analysed were shown to carry STEC O157:H7. The presence of this bacterium in living layer hen farms investigated did not result in any detectable increase in gastrointestinal disease in this species. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Living layer hens are a novel potential reservoir of E. coli O157:H7.     

A specific acyl-ACP thioesterase implicated in medium-chain fatty acid production in immature cotyledons of Umbellularia californica

Umbellularia californica (California Bay) seeds accumulate 10:0 and 12:0 as principal reserve fatty acyl groups. An in vitro fatty acid synthesis system from the developing cotyledons produces chiefly 10:0 and 12:0, in approximately the same proportions as the intact tissue. The kinetics of acyl thioester and free fatty acid formation in this system suggest that a medium-chain specific acyl-acyl-carrier protein (ACP) hydrolysis mechanism is responsible for the preponderance of medium-chain products. A crude extract of the developing cotyledons exhibits hydrolytic activity toward acyl-ACPs, with marked preference for 12:0-ACP and 18:1-ACP in the test series 6:0, 8:0, 10:0, 11:0, 12:0, 14:0, 16:0, and 18:1-ACPs. Partial purification of the 12:0-ACP hydrolytic activity has resulted in its separation from the 18:1-ACP hydrolase(s) and the 12:0-coenzyme A hydrolase(s) that are also present, thereby demonstrating its specificity for the 12-carbon acyl chain length and the ACP derivative. During cotyledon development, as the proportion of medium-chain to other fatty acyl groups increases, the extractable yield of this activity also increases substantially. Collectively these results suggest a role for this 12-ACP thioesterase in medium-chain production in vivo.     

Functional compensation of a recognition-defective transfer RNA by a distal base pair substitution.

A single G3:U70 base pair in the acceptor helix is the major determinant of alanine acceptance in alanine transfer RNAs. Transfer of this base pair into other transfer RNAs confers alanine acceptance. A G3:C70 substitution eliminates alanine acceptance in vivo and in vitro. In this work, a population of mutagenized G3:C70 alanine tRNA amber suppressors was subjected to a selection for mutations that compensate for the inactivating G3:C70 substitution. No compensatory mutations located in the acceptor helix were obtained. Instead, a U27:U43 substitution that replaced the wild-type C27:G43 in the anticodon stem created a U27:U43/G3:C70 mutant alanine tRNA that inserts alanine at amber codons in vivo. The U27:U43 substitution is at a location where previous footprinting work established an RNA-protein contact. Thus, this mutation may act by functionally coupling a distal part of the tRNA structure to the active site.     

Rabbit liver tRNA1Val:II. unusual secondary structure of T psi C stem and loop due to a U54:A60 base pair.

In contrast to all other known tRNAs, mammalian tRNA1Val contains two adenosines A59 and A60, opposite to U54 and psi 55 in the U psi CG sequence of the T psi C loop, which could form unusual A:U (or A: psi pairs in addition to the five "normal" G:C pairs. In order to measure the number of G:C and A:U (A: psi) pairs in the T psi C stem, we prepared the 30 nucleotide long 3'-terminal fragment of this tRNA by "m7G-cleavage". From differentiated melting curves and temperature jump experiments it was concluded that the T psi C stem in this fragment is in fact extended by an additional A60:U54 pair. A dimer of this fragment with 14 base pairs was characterized by gel electrophoresis and by the same physical methods. An additional A:U pair in the tRNA1Val fragment does not necessarily mean that this is also true for intact tRNA. However, we showed that U54 is far less available for enzymatic methylation in mammalian tRNA1Val compared to tRNA from T-E. coli. This clear difference in U54 reactivity, together with the identification of an extra A60:U54 pair in the U psi CG containing fragment suggests the presence of a 6 base pair T psi C stem and a 5 nucleotide T psi C loop in this tRNA.     

New information and establishment of a new genus for the Egyptian Paleogene turtle ‘Stereogenys’ libyca (Podocnemididae,Erymnochelyinae)

The poorly known pleurodiran turtle ‘Stereogenys’ libyca (Podocnemididae, Erymnochelyinae) is studied in this paper. It was defined in lower Oligocene levels of the Fayum Depression (Egypt), its presence in the upper Eocene levels of the same area being confirmed here. Its holotype corresponds to an almost complete and well preserved shell, that was until recently considered to be lost. No photograph of material attributable to this species had hitherto been published. Thus, the current knowledge about it was exclusively based on the limited information published more than a century ago. The recently rediscovered holotype, and also more than fifteen additional historical but unpublished specimens recognized here as attributable to this species, are studied in this paper. This species is attributed to a new genus, Andrewsemys, and the new combination Andrewsemys libyca is proposed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6D87831A-4510-4A3E-A624-C40FD644F448     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
MISCELLANEOUS: Tales of the North American Indians . S tith T hompson .
MISCELLANEOUS: Motif-Index of Folk-Literature. Vol. I: A-C; II: D-E . S tith T hompson .     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Archaeology: Cherokee Archaeology: A Study of the Appalachian Summit. Bennie C. Keel
Archaeology: Cherokee Prehistory: The Pisgah Phase in the Appalachian Summit Region. Roy S. Dickens, Jr     

Verification of the final anion exchange chromatography in the r-hGH manufacturing process

In this study, final anion exchange chromatography in the recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) manufacturing process was validated using a validation protocol that was consistent with both policy and standard operation procedure (SOP). Two buffer solutions used in chromatography were first validated and were found to satisfy pre-established acceptance criteria as follows: pH: 8.2, endotoxin: < 0.6 EU/mL, bioburden test: negative. Final anion exchange chromatography was conducted using a DEAE Sepharose FF Resin and eluted with a linear gradient of 30 to 110 mM NaCl in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer at a flow rate of 15 L/h. Three consecutive batches of hGH solutions were generated via anion exchange chromatography, which was performed within pre-established operating parameters determined through in-process control. When all three batches were assessed by the pre-established sampling plan and tested for quality control, this purification process was shown to satisfy pre-established acceptance criteria; endotoxin: ≤ 0.5 EU/mg, ECP: ≤ 1.4 ppm, IEF: same removal distance, hGH content by Native-PAGE: 100%, purity by HPLC: ≥ 99%, yield by UV scanning: 87 to 89%, hGH monomer protein content by HPLC: 99%. Therefore, the final anion chromatography process was successfully validated in this study, and this method consistently yielded hGH solutions that satisfied pre-established criteria for subsequent processing.     

Multiple miscarriages are associated with the risk of ovarian cancer: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

While the risk of ovarian cancer clearly reduces with each full-term pregnancy, the effect of incomplete pregnancies is unclear. We investigated whether incomplete pregnancies (miscarriages and induced abortions) are associated with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. This observational study was carried out in female participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). A total of 274,442 women were followed from 1992 until 2010. The baseline questionnaire elicited information on miscarriages and induced abortions, reproductive history, and lifestyle-related factors. During a median follow-up of 11.5 years, 1,035 women were diagnosed with incident epithelial ovarian cancer. Despite the lack of an overall association (ever vs. never), risk of ovarian cancer was higher among women with multiple incomplete pregnancies (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.74, 95% CI: 1.20-2.70; number of cases in this category: n?=?23). This association was particularly evident for multiple miscarriages (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.99, 95% CI: 1.06-3.73; number of cases in this category: n?=?10), with no significant association for multiple induced abortions (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.46, 95% CI: 0.68-3.14; number of cases in this category: n?=?7). Our findings suggest that multiple miscarriages are associated with an increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer, possibly through a shared cluster of etiological factors or a common underlying pathology. These findings should be interpreted with caution as this is the first study to show this association and given the small number of cases in the highest exposure categories.     

The vegetation of springs,lakes and “flags” of Reykjanes Peninsula,SW. Iceland (Plant communities of Reykjanes Peninsula,Part 3)

In this paper the syntaxonomy and ecology of the following plant communities is discussed:Montic-Cardaminetalia: Montion: Philonoto-Saxifragetum stellaris; Koenigio-Microjuncion: Equiseto palustris-Sedetum villosi, Koenigio-Agrostetum stoloniferae; Litorelletalia: Subularion aquaticae: Subulario-Ranunculetum reptantis; Isoetion lacustris: Ranunculo-Isoetetum lacustris.     

Object-oriented biological system integration: a SARS coronavirus example

MOTIVATION: The importance of studying biology at the system level has been well recognized, yet there is no well-defined process or consistent methodology to integrate and represent biological information at this level. To overcome this hurdle, a blending of disciplines such as computer science and biology is necessary. RESULTS: By applying an adapted, sequential software engineering process, a complex biological system (severe acquired respiratory syndrome-coronavirus viral infection) has been reverse-engineered and represented as an object-oriented software system. The scalability of this object-oriented software engineering approach indicates that we can apply this technology for the integration of large complex biological systems. AVAILABILITY: A navigable web-based version of the system is freely available at http://people.musc.edu/~zhengw/SARS/Software-Process.htm