Evidence for Inbreeding and Genetic Differentiation among Geographic Populations of the Saprophytic Mushroom Trogia venenata from Southwestern China

During the past 40 years, more than 400 Sudden Unexplained Deaths (SUDs) have occurred in Yunnan, southwestern China. Epidemiological and toxicological analyses suggested that a newly discovered mushroom called Trogia venenata was the leading culprit for SUDs. At present, relatively little is known about the genetics and natural history of this mushroom. In this study, we analyzed the sequence variation at four DNA fragments among 232 fruiting bodies of T. venenata collected from seven locations. Our ITS sequence analyses confirmed that all the isolates belonged to the same species. The widespread presence of sequence heterozygosity within many strains at each of three protein-coding genes suggested that the fruiting bodies were diploid, dikaryotic or heterokaryotic. Within individual geographic populations, we found significant deviations of genotype frequencies from Hardy-Weinberg expectations, with the overall observed heterozygosity lower than that expected under random mating, consistent with prevalent inbreeding within local populations. The geographic populations were overall genetically differentiated. Interestingly, while a positive correlation was found between population genetic distance and geographic distance, there was little correlation between genetic distance and barium concentration difference for the geographic populations. Our results suggest frequent inbreeding, geographic structuring, and limited gene flow among geographic populations of T. venenata from southwestern China.     

OGR1/GPR68 Modulates the Severity of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Regulates Nitric Oxide Production by Macrophages

Ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1) is a proton-sensing molecule that can detect decreases in extracellular pH that occur during inflammation. Although OGR1 has been shown to have pro-inflammatory functions in various diseases, its role in autoimmunity has not been examined. We therefore sought to determine whether OGR1 has a role in the development of T cell autoimmunity by contrasting the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis between wild type and OGR1-knockout mice. OGR1-knockout mice showed a drastically attenuated clinical course of disease that was associated with a profound reduction in the expansion of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55-reactive T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells in the periphery and a reduced accumulation of Th1 and Th17 effectors in the central nervous system. We determined that these impaired T cell responses in OGR1-knockout mice associated with a reduced frequency and number of dendritic cells in draining lymph nodes during EAE and a higher production of nitric oxide by macrophages. Our studies suggest that OGR1 plays a key role in regulating T cell responses during autoimmunity.     

Molecular characterization of β-thalassemia in Czechoslovakia

Summary We have identified different -thalassemia mutations in 93 members of 34 families of Czech or Slovakian descent using gene amplification, hybridization with specific ³²P-labeled oligonucleotide probes, sequencing of amplified DNA, and gene mapping. The GA mutation at IVS-I-1 was found in 18 families; other Mediterranean mutations were IVS-II-1 (GA), IVS-II-745 (CG), IVS-I-110 (GA), and codon 39 (CT); these were present in 9 additional families. The GT mutation at codon 121, known to cause Heinzbody -thalassemia, was present in 3 families, and the frameshift at codons 82/83 (-G), first described in the Azerbaijanian population, in 2 families. A newly discovered allele was a frameshift at codons 38/39 (-C). One -thalassemia allele was incompletely characterized. We observed in 2 families a TC mutation at position +96 UTR (untranslated region) relative to the termination codon; this mutation likely is a rare polymorphism, -Thalassemia was rare; only one person carried the -^3.7 heterozygosity, and one other had a yet to be identified -thalassemia-1, while seven had the ^{anti 3.7} triplication.     

室旁核在刺激猫肾神经传入纤维引起的血压效应中的作用

本研究的目的是在氯醛糖麻醉、颈动脉窦、主动脉弓去神经和切断迷走神经的猫中探讨室旁核和室旁核α_1肾上腺素受体在刺激肾神经传入纤维引起的升压反应中的作用。刺激肾神经中枢端可引起动脉血压明显升高。这种血压升高由两个成分组成。第一成分可被植物性神经阻断剂六烃季铵和阿托品所阻断,第二成分不能被植物性神经阻断剂所阻断。双侧室旁核毁损后,植物性神经阻断前、后刺激肾神经中枢端引起的升压反应都明显减弱。侧脑室和室旁核微量注射α_1肾上腺素受体拮抗剂哌唑嗪,可显著抑制刺激肾神经传入纤维引起的升压反应。这些结果表明,室旁核和中枢的,尤其在室旁核的α_1肾上腺素受体在刺激肾神经传入纤维引起的升压反应中起重要作用。     

广东省蝗虫二新种(直翅目:蝗总科)

在整理广东省蝗虫标本时,发现二新种。模式标本保存于中山大学昆虫学研究所标本室。 1.蒲氏板齿蝗Sinstauchira pui新种(图1—9) 雄虫 体中型。头短于前胸背板,头顶平,顶端圆形,宽略大于长。触角丝状,到达后足股节基部,中段一节长为宽的2倍。颜面倾斜,具粗刻点,颜面隆起明显,中眼以上侧缘近平行,中眼以下逐渐展开,纵沟浅。复眼卵圆形,纵径为横径的1.38倍,为眼下沟的2.57倍。眼间距为触角间颜面隆起的1.6倍。前胸背板前缘较平,后缘呈弧形突出;中隆线明     

超干处理对几种芸苔属植物种子生理生化和细胞超微结构的效应

几种芸苔属植物种子经过超干处理后,发芽力和活力不受影响,耐藏性大为提高。超干及老化后种子的脱氢酶、超氧物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶等酶系统保持完好;丙二醛和挥发性醛类物质等劣变产物相应减少;电导率测定表明,细胞膜系统的完整性良好;透射电镜(TEM)和扫描电镜(SEM)观察表明,细胞超微结构及功能保持完好。不同干燥方法和不同干燥剂的系列实验证实,生石灰的脱水效果并不亚于冰冻真空干燥法,且经济实用。     

胄蝗属一新种及其染色体组型与带型分析(直翅目:蝗总科)

胄蝗属(Stolzia Willemse)的种类,已知分布于菲律宾、印度尼西亚、马来西亚及我国等地区。在我国已知仅一种,即海南胄蝗Stolzia hainanensis(Tinkham).作者等于1985年9月,在海南省尖峰岭地区采集时,采得胄蝗属一新种,我们同时对该种蝗虫的染色体组型和带型进行了观察,现记述如下。 模式标本保存于陕西师范大学生物系蝗虫研究室。 尖峰胄蝗Stolzia jianfengensis新种 雄性:体中小型,密具皱纹和刻点。头顶近平,狭三角形,突出于触角基节之前,眼间距极狭,其最狭处狭于触角基节的宽度;颜面侧观倾斜,在触角基部之间的下方略凹曲,颜