Analysis of the Microbial Community Structure by Monitoring an Hg Methylation Gene (hgcA) in Paddy Soils along an Hg Gradient

Knowledge of the diversity of mercury (Hg)-methylating microbes in the environment is limited due to a lack of available molecular biomarkers. Here, we developed novel degenerate PCR primers for a key Hg-methylating gene (hgcA) and amplified successfully the targeted genes from 48 paddy soil samples along an Hg concentration gradient in the Wanshan Hg mining area of China. A significant positive correlation was observed between hgcA gene abundance and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations, suggesting that microbes containing the genes contribute to Hg methylation in the sampled soils. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the hgcA gene diversity in microbial community structures from paddy soils was high and was influenced by the contents of total Hg, SO₄²⁻, NH₄⁺, and organic matter. Phylogenetic analysis showed that hgcA microbes in the sampled soils likely were related to Deltaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Euryarchaeota, and two unclassified groups. This is a novel report of hgcA diversity in paddy habitats, and results here suggest a link between Hg-methylating microbes and MeHg contamination in situ, which would be useful for monitoring and mediating MeHg synthesis in soils.     

Activation of CFTR trafficking and gating by vasoactive intestinal peptide in human bronchial epithelial cells

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an apical membrane chloride channel critical to the regulation of fluid, chloride, and bicarbonate transport in epithelia and other cell types. The most common cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) is the abnormal trafficking of CFTR mutants. Therefore, understanding the cellular machineries that transit CFTR from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface is important. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) plays an important role in CFTR-dependent chloride transport. The present study was designed to observe the affection of VIP on the trafficking of CFTR, and channel gating in human bronchial epithelium cells (HBEC). Confocal microscopy revealed CFTR immunofluorescence extending from the apical membrane deeply into the cell cytoplasm. After VIP treatment, apical extension of CFTR immunofluorescence into the cell was reduced and the peak intensity of CFTR fluorescence shifted towards the apical membrane. Western blot showed VIP increased cell surface and total CFTR. Compared with the augmented level of total CFTR, the surface CFTR increased more markedly. Immunoprecipitation founded that the mature form of CFTR had a marked increase in HBEC treated with VIP. VIP led to a threefold increase in Cl(-) efflux in HBEC. Glibenclamide-sensitive and DIDS-insensitive CFTR Cl(-) currents were consistently observed after stimulation with VIP (10(-8) mol/L). The augmentation of CFTR Cl(-) currents enhanced by VIP (10(-8) mol/L) was reversed, at least in part, by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H-89 and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, H-7, suggesting PKA and PKC participate in the VIP-promoted CFTR Cl(-) currents.     

西花蓟马表皮碳氢化合物成份分析

西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis(Pergande)是一种重要的世界性害虫。为了明确西花蓟马表皮碳氢化合物的主要成分,本文采用改进的进样技术,利用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)对西花蓟马成虫和若虫表皮碳氢化合物进行分析。经NIST数据库检索,并与标准图谱比较,应用色谱峰面积归一法测定各种成分及其相对含量,实验结果表明,西花蓟马成虫和若虫表皮中的主要成分为C25～C29的直链和支链饱和烷烃;成虫表皮中含有9种碳氢化合物,若虫表皮中有8种碳氢化合物;9-甲基二十五烷是其成虫特有的,其它8种碳氢化合物是成虫与若虫共有的,但其含量略有差异。     

A Comparison of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) with Other Surveillance Tools for Echinococcus granulosus Diagnosis in Canine Definitive Hosts

Background

Cystic echinococcosis is highly prevalent in northwest China. A cost-effective, easy to operate diagnostic tool with high sensitivity and specificity would greatly facilitate the monitoring of Echinococcus infections in canine definitive hosts.

Methods

The primers used in the LAMP assay were based on the mitochondrial nad5 gene of E. granulosus sensu stricto (E. granulosus s.s., or E.g.s.s.) and were designed using Primer Explorer V4 software. The developed LAMP assay was compared with a conventional PCR method, copro-ELISA and microscopy, using the faeces of dogs experimentally infected with E.g.s.s., and field-collected faeces of domestic dogs including 190 from Qinghai province highly endemic for E.g.s.s. and 30 controls from an area in Gansu, where a domestic dog de-worming program was in operation.

Results

The positivity rates obtained for the field-collected faecal samples were 12.6%, 1.6% and 2.1% by the LAMP, PCR and copro-ELISA assays, respectively. All samples obtained from the control dogs were negative. Compared with the conventional PCR, the LAMP assay provided 88.8% specificity and 100% sensitivity. The higher sensitivity of the LAMP method was also shown by the fact that it could detect the presence of laboratory challenge dog infections of E. granulsous s.s. four days earlier than the PCR method. Three copro-samples shown positive by the commercial copro-ELISA were all negative by LAMP, PCR and microscopy, which suggests these samples may have originated from another infection rather than E. granulsous s.s., possibly E. shiquicus or E. Canadensis, which is also present in China.

Conclusions

We have developed a potentially useful surveillance tool for determining the prevalence of canine E. granulosus s.s. infections in the field. The LAMP assay may lead to a more cost-effective and practicable way of tracking Echinococcus infections in canids, especially when combined with the copro-ELISA.     

具有第Ⅳ类功能性反应脉冲捕食-食饵扩散系统正周期解的存在性

本文利用重合度理论,考虑了具有第四类功能性反应脉冲捕食-食饵扩散系统,得到了该系统存在正周期解的充分条件.推广和改进了已有文献中的结果.     

晋西黄土丘陵区若干树种水分生理及抗旱性量化研究

1996年林木生长季节(5~10月)野外条件下测定了12个树种的P-V曲线水分参数。研究了水分参数的季节变化及与林木抗旱性的关系。提出树种在水分胁迫条件下以水分参数Ψ_i^sat和Ψ_i^tlp所定义的渗透调节能力。并研究了树种的这种渗透调节能力的季节变化规律及与环境因素的关系。应用数量分析的方法对林木的抗旱性予以综合评价。     

新型生物反应器——杜氏盐藻研究进展

转基因植物作为生物反应器生产外源物质已成为基因工程领域的研究热点之一 ,而杜氏盐藻 (Dunaliellasalina)作为新型生物反应器生产外源蛋白具有独特的优点 ,就盐藻这一生物反应器的特点、存在问题和开发应用前景等的最近研究进展作一简要综述。     

环境因子对海月水母螅状体存活与繁殖的影响

以我国黄渤海主要致灾大型水母海月水母的螅状体为实验材料,采用实验生态学方法研究了温度、盐度、光照强度、饵料量对其存活与繁殖的影响。结果表明,在0—25℃范围内,螅状体40 d的成活率均为100%,螅状体相对繁殖速度随温度的升高而增加;盐度在15—40范围内,螅状体40 d的成活率均为100%,盐度22.5组的螅状体相对繁殖速度最高,但盐度对螅状体种群数量影响不显著;螅状体相对繁殖速度随光照强度的增加而下降,黑暗条件有利于海月水母螅状体个体数量增加;螅状体相对繁殖速度随饵料量的增加而增加。研究结果说明海月水母螅状体对环境具有较强的适应性,水温升高、饵料量增加可导致海月水母螅状体种群数量快速增加。     

间甲酚及施磷对小麦间作蚕豆土壤微生物和酶活性的影响

通过盆栽试验,研究了不同磷水平下化感物质间甲酚对小麦间作蚕豆和单作小麦、单作蚕豆土壤微生物和酶活性的影响。结果表明,间甲酚对不同模式生长盛期细菌和微生物总数表现为化感促进作用,对真菌表现为化感抑制作用,随施磷量的增加间甲酚对土壤微生物的化感促进作用降低;不同模式生长盛期土壤微生物数量在施磷量为100mg／kg土的处理中最高,但成熟期施磷量为200mg／kg土的处理最高;间作较单作具有保持较高土壤细菌和微生物总数的作用,施磷水平越高间作增大微生物数量的效果越大;间甲酚对土壤微生物多样性具有明显降低作用,间作土壤的微生物多样性低于单作。间作具有较高的弱化间甲酚对土壤过氧化氢酶化感负效应的作用,施磷可增强土壤过氧化氢酶活性;磷素作用下土壤脲酶活性增强,间甲酚对单作蚕豆和间作土壤脲酶活性具有促进作用,但弱化了施磷对脲酶活性的增强作用;增施磷肥可弱化间甲酚对单作蚕豆和间作土壤酸性磷酸酶的化感负效应,对单作小麦土壤酸性磷酸酶活性的影响相反。间甲酚对不同模式土壤微生物和酶活性的影响在作物成熟期显著下降,说明随时间的推移土壤中间甲酚的作用力在不断弱化。     

城镇化对我国食物消费系统氮素水体排放的影响

城镇化的快速发展,将带来巨大的生态环境压力和严重的污染问题.以1982年、1992年和2002年我国城镇与农村居民食用氮的流动去向为对象,探讨了城镇化对氮素水体排放的影响.结果表明:城镇居民食用氮与排泄的粪尿氮高于农村居民;人均排入水体氮量,1982年城镇与农村居民大体相当,1992年、2002年城镇居民是农村居民2.8倍;粪尿氮排入水体比率,1982年城镇与农村基本相当,在7.5%左右,但到2002年城镇粪尿氮排入水体比率高达56.7%,城镇比农村要高34个百分点.情景分析结果表明,如果在人口增加的同时还要改善食物结构增加蛋白质摄入量, 2020年粪尿氮总产生量将增加121～155万t,排入水体氮量也将增加41～64万t.提高粪尿还田率、污水处理率及氮的去除率可以降低粪尿氮排入水体比率.