Cell wall-associated malate dehydrogenase activity from maize roots

Isolated cell walls from maize (Zea mays L.) roots exhibited ionically and covalently bound NAD-specific malate dehydrogenase activity. The enzyme catalyses a rapid reduction of oxaloacetate and much slower oxidation of malate. The kinetic and regulatory properties of the cell wall enzyme solubilized with 1 M NaCl were different from those published for soluble, mitochondrial or plasma membrane malate dehydrogenase with respect to their ATP, Pi, and pH dependence. Isoelectric focusing of ionically-bound proteins and specific staining for malate dehydrogenase revealed characteristic isoforms present in cell wall isolate, different from those present in plasma membranes and crude homogenate. Much greater activity of cell wall-associated malate dehydrogenase was detected in the intensively growing lateral roots compared to primary root with decreased growth rates. Presence of Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in the assay medium inhibited the activity of the wall-associated malate dehydrogenase. Exposure of maize plants to excess concentrations of Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in the hydroponic solution inhibited lateral root growth, decreased malate dehydrogenase activity and changed isoform profiles. The results presented show that cell wall malate dehydrogenase is truly a wall-bound enzyme, and not an artefact of cytoplasmic contamination, involved in the developmental processes, and detoxification of heavy metals.     

Host-derived pericytes and Sca-1+ cells predominate in the MART-1- stroma fraction of experimentally induced melanoma

Identification of cell types in tumor-associated stroma that are involved in the development of melanoma is hampered by their heterogeneity. The authors used flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry to demonstrate that anti-MART-1 antibodies can discriminate between melanoma and stroma cells. They investigated the cellular composition of the MART-1-, non-hematopoietic melanoma-associated stroma, finding it consisted mainly of Sca-1+ and CD146+ cells. These cell types were also observed in the skin and muscle adjacent to developing melanomas. The Sca-1+ cell population was observed distributed in the epidermis, hair follicle bulges, and tumor capsule. The CD146+ population was found distributed within the tumor, mainly associated with blood vessels in a perivascular location. In addition to a perivascular distribution, CD146+ cells expressed α-smooth muscle actin, lacked expression of endothelial markers CD31 and CD34, and were therefore identified as pericytes. Pericytes were found to be associated with CD31+ endothelial cells; however, some pericytes were also observed associated with CD31-, MART-1+ B16 melanoma cells that appeared to form blood vessel structures. Furthermore, the authors observed extensive nuclear expression of HIF-1α in melanoma and stroma cells, suggesting hypoxia is an important factor associated with the melanoma microenvironment and vascularization. The results suggest that pericytes and Sca-1+ stroma cells are important contributors to melanoma development.     

干旱区绿洲土地利用/覆被及景观格局变化特征——以新疆精河县为例

从宏观上运用3S技术,利用1972年MSS、1990年Landsat TM、2001年Landsat ETM+和2005年CBERS 4个时期遥感影像数据,将GIS和景观生态学的数量分析方法相结合,运用ArcGIS以及Fragstats,分析了干旱区绿洲精河县1972～2005年间的土地利用/覆被和景观格局的变化.结果表明:(1)1972～2005年的33a中,精河县LUCC的总体变化趋势是绿洲面积有小幅度扩张,其中人工绿洲面积扩张尤为显著,天然绿洲面积减少.(2)研究区水域面积的变化受艾比湖湖面面积的变化影响较大,变化不显著,但总体上呈缓慢增长的趋势.(3)盐渍地面积的变化经历了先扩张后减小的一个过程.1990年达到最大值,但到2005年面积又有很大程度减少.沙地面积小幅度减小,其他地类的面积始终呈增加趋势.(4)景观在各个研究时段也发生显著变化.总的来说,整个研究区景观的密度持续增大,最大斑块指数先减小后增大,面积加权形状指数减小,形状趋于规则;斑块间的最邻近距离减小.表明1972年时景观中的优势斑块类型的连接性较2005年好,逐渐向具有多种要素的密集格局演变,景观更加破碎.同时不同斑块间的分离度增大,也说明景观破碎化程度加深.从香农多样性指数和香农均度指数的变化可以看出,景观的多样性增加,且均度增强.景观多样性及破碎化程度增加,也反映了土地利用越来越丰富.总之,要实现区域土地资源的可持续发展和景观生态功能的良性发挥,必须注重土地利用格局优化,维护景观生态过程与格局的连续性.     

猪流感病毒进化方式及其流行特点

摘要：猪在甲型流感病毒生态分布和遗传进化中占有重要地位。猪的呼吸道上皮同时具有禽和人流感病毒2种类型的受体,因此人和禽流感病毒都可以感染猪,猪被认为是禽、人流感病毒的中间宿主和不同来源流感病毒的基因“混合器”。猪流感病毒（Swine influenza virus, SIV）的进化方式包括基因重配、抗原漂移和宿主适应性进化,其中基因重配是主要进化方式。与人类季节性流感病毒相比,SIV在全球的流行情况各不相同,呈地方流行性,并具有明显的地区差异。全球范围内流行的SIV亚型主要有3种：H1N1、H3N2和H1N2亚型,其中各亚型内病毒基因来源又不尽相同。欧洲、北美及我国猪群中流行的流感病毒在遗传进化和基因来源方面各具特色。目前欧洲猪群中流行的主要是类禽H1N1、H1N2和H3N2病毒,其中后两者是基因重配病毒。从1998年开始,古典猪H1N1、“人-猪-禽”三源基因重配H3N2、H1N1和H1N2病毒共存于北美的猪群中,其遗传变异日趋复杂。在基因进化上,欧洲和北美基因重配的SIV是目前新的人类大流感病毒-“甲型H1N1病毒”-的母源病毒。我国猪群中流感病毒主要是古典猪H1N1和类人H3N2病毒,但近年来在我国猪群中分离到遗传上与欧洲和北美SIV高度相关的病毒,提示我国SIV的进化趋势值得关注。1970年代以来,全球已报道了50多起人感染SIV事件,表明SIV也是一种值得重视的人兽共患病,预示了SIV可能成为人类大流感毒株或为大流感毒株提供基因。鉴于SIV在甲型流感病毒生态学上的重要意义,以及对人类公共卫生的潜在威胁,建议应尽早启动我国SIV的常规监测工作,密切关注SIV的流行动态,掌握其分子遗传进化规律。同时,将SIV的监测工作纳入整个流感病毒（人和动物流感病毒）的监测网络,在信息上实现共享,从生态学的高度把握我国流感病毒的流行和进化趋势,这对保护动物健康和预防人类大流感都有重要意义。     

传染性法氏囊病病毒反向遗传技术发展及其应用

传染性法氏囊病病毒(Infectious bursal disease virus,IBDV)是双股双节段RNA病毒科的主要代表,其主要侵害鸡的中枢免疫器官法氏囊,引起的传染性法氏囊病(Infectious bursal disease,IBD)是危害养禽业健康发展的重要免疫抑制病。IBDV反向遗传技术诞生的近20年来,病毒拯救技术不断完善,病毒基因功能研究更为深入,而且基于此的新型疫苗的研究也有较大进展。本实验室在该领域也做了比较系统和深入的工作。本综述对IBDV致病机制和防控研究具有重要启示意义。     

猪丹毒丝菌天然SpaA和重组SpaA-N免疫保护效果的评价

【目的】本试验以小鼠为动物模型,评估了猪丹毒丝菌重组表面保护性抗原A的N端保护区域(rSpaA-N)和天然SpaA的免疫保护效果。【方法】将猪丹毒丝菌C43311株SpaA-N以可溶形式表达在大肠杆菌BL21中,用GST Bind Resin纯化试剂盒纯化rSpaA-N,采用电洗脱法从猪丹毒丝菌C43311株NaOH提取抗原中纯化天然SpaA,将rSpaA-N、天然SpaA和NaOH提取抗原制成亚单位疫苗,同时设GST及生理盐水对照组,间隔2周分3次皮下免疫小鼠,第3次免疫后2周用100LD50猪丹毒丝菌C43065株进行腹腔攻毒,采用间接ELISA方法检测免疫组小鼠血清的抗体动态变化。【结果】SDS-PAGE结果显示,采用GST Bind Resin纯化试剂盒和电洗脱法纯化得到了66kDa的rSpaA-N和64kDa的天然SpaA,蛋白含量分别为1.34mg/mL和1.26mg/mL,而Western印迹结果表明rSpaA-N和纯化前后的SpaA具有良好的免疫反应性。保护试验结果表明,不同免疫剂量的rSpaA-N组、天然SpaA组和NaOH提取抗原组均能完全保护小鼠受强毒株C43065的致死性攻击,而GST组和生理盐水组小鼠攻毒后全部死亡。ELISA检测结果表明,在不同免疫剂量的rSpaA-N组、天然SpaA组和NaOH提取抗原组小鼠血清中的抗体效价之间无显著差异(P0.05)。【结论】本研究结果表明rSpaA-N具有良好的免疫保护作用,可以作为猪丹毒亚单位疫苗。     

球孢白僵菌高渗适应性相关基因Bbmpd的克隆与表达分析

【目的】克隆与球孢白僵菌(Beauveria bassiana)的高渗适应性相关基因,并对其功能进行分析,以揭示球孢白僵菌对高渗等逆境适应的分子机理。【方法】利用YADE法克隆T-DNA的侧翼序列并进行基因组步行,获得突变基因的全长及上游序列;利用RT-PCR技术分析突变基因的表达特性以及与Bbhog1的关系;采用同源重组技术敲除Bbmpd基因。【结果】克隆得到插入突变基因及其上、下游序列全长3037bp。该基因与编码球孢白僵菌的1-磷酸甘露醇脱氢酶基因相似性为98%。Bbmpd的表达受高渗环境(0.8mol/L NaCl)的诱导,受Bbhog1信号途径的激活调节,Bbhog1缺失导致Bbmpd表达下调。Bbmpd缺失突变体在高渗胁迫下的生长受到明显抑制。Bbmpd缺失不影响球孢白僵菌在查氏培养基上的生长和产孢。【结论】由T-DNA突变体克隆了编码球孢白僵菌1-磷酸甘露醇脱氢酶基因Bbmpd,该基因的表达受高渗环境的诱导和Bbhog1的调控,与球孢白僵菌高渗适应性相关。     

Integrating Culture-based Antibiotic Resistance Profiles with Whole-genome Sequencing Data for 11,087 Clinical Isolates

Emerging antibiotic resistance is a major global health threat. The analysis of nucleic acid sequences linked to susceptibility phenotypes facilitates the study of genetic antibiotic resistance determinants to inform molecular diagnostics and drug development. We collected genetic data(11,087 newly-sequenced whole genomes) and culture-based resistance profiles(10,991 out of the11,087 isolates comprehensively tested against 22 antibiotics in total) of clinical isolates including18 main species spanning a time period of 30 years. Species and drug specific resistance patterns were observed including increased resistance rates for Acinetobacter baumannii to carbapenems and for Escherichia coli to fluoroquinolones. Species-level pan-genomes were constructed to reflect the genetic repertoire of the respective species, including conserved essential genes and known resistance factors. Integrating phenotypes and genotypes through species-level pan-genomes allowed to infer gene–drug resistance associations using statistical testing. The isolate collection and the analysis results have been integrated into GEAR-base, a resource available for academic research use free of charge at https://gear-base.com.     

Thoughts of a Travelling Ecologist, 6 On monitoring

Monitoring. We, ecologists, hear the word nearly every day. From the most unexpected corners this word springs out, much used and abused. One one hand, it is often used by my peers to justify their work, their project or even their existence as scientists. They claim to do useful work, because they monitor some phenomenon or another. This, goes the argument, is essential for the continued survival of … generally, nothing less than humankind.     

鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒的反向遗传研究

鸡传染性法氏囊病(infectious bursal disease,IBD)是由传染性法氏囊病病毒(infectious bursal disease virus,IBDV)引起的一种危害鸡的急性、高度接触性、免疫抑制性传染病。该病由Cosgrove于1962年作为一种新的疾病首次报道,最初病死率并不高(5%左右),但到了上世纪80年代末90