Aptamer selection for the detection of Escherichia coli K88

In this study, the first group of single-stranded DNA aptamers that are highly specific to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 was obtained from an enriched oligonucleotide pool by the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) procedure, during which the K88 fimbriae protein was used as the target and bovine serum albumin as counter targets. These aptamers were applied successfully in the detection of ETEC K88. They were then grouped under different families based on the similarity of their secondary structure and the homology of their primary sequence. Four sequences from different families were deliberately chosen for further characterization by fluorescence analysis. Having the advantage of high sensitivity, fluorescence photometry was selected as single-stranded DNA quantification method during the SELEX process. Aptamers with the highest specificity and affinity were analyzed to evaluate binding ability with E. coli. Since ETEC K88 is the only type of bacterium that expressed abundant K88 fimbriae, the selected aptamers against the K88 fimbriae protein were able to specifically identify ETEC K88 among other bacteria. This method of detecting ETEC K88 by aptamers can also be applied to bacteria other than ETEC K88.     

KLOTHO allele status and the risk of early-onset occult coronary artery disease

We previously identified a functional variant of KLOTHO (termed "KL-VS"), which harbors two amino acid substitutions in complete linkage disequilibrium and is associated with reduced human longevity when in homozygosity. Klotho-deficient mice display extensive arteriosclerosis when fed a normal diet, suggesting a potent genetic predisposition. To determine whether klotho influences atherosclerotic risk in humans, we performed cross-sectional studies to assess the association between the KL-VS allele and occult coronary artery disease (CAD) in two independent samples of apparently healthy siblings of individuals with early-onset (age <60 years) CAD (SIBS-I [N=520] and SIBS-II [N=436]). Occult CAD was defined as the occurrence of a reversible perfusion defect during exercise thallium scintigraphy and/or as an abnormal result of an exercise electrocardiogram (SIBS-I, n=97; SIBS-II, n=56). In SIBS-I, the KL-VS allele conferred a relative odds of 1.90 (95% confidence interval 1.21-2.98) for occult CAD, after adjusting for familial intraclass correlations (P<.005). Logistic regression modeling, incorporating known CAD risk factors, demonstrated that the KL-VS allele is an independent risk factor (P<.019) and that the imposed risk of KL-VS allele status is influenced by modifiable risk factors. Hypertension (P<.022) and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (P<.022) mask or reduce the risk conferred by the KL-VS allele, respectively, whereas current smoking (P<.004) increases the risk. Remarkably concordant effects of the KL-VS allele and modifying factors on the risk of occult CAD were seen in SIBS-II. These results demonstrate that the KL-VS allele is an independent risk factor for occult CAD in two independent high-risk samples. Modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, smoking status, and HDL-C level, appear to influence the risk imposed by this allele.     

Isolation of chicken embryonic stem cell and preparation of chicken chimeric model

Chicken embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were separated from blastoderms at stage-X and cultured in vitro. Alkaline phosphatase activity and stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 staining was conducted to detect ESCs. Then, chicken ESCs were transfected with linearized plasmid pEGFP-N1 in order to produce chimeric chicken. Firstly, the optimal electrotransfection condition was compared; the results showed the highest transfection efficiency was obtained when the field strength and pulse duration was 280 V and 75 μs, respectively. Secondly, the hatchability of shedding methods, drilling a window at the blunt end of egg and drilling a window at the lateral shell of egg was compared, the results showed that the hatchability was the highest for drilling a window at the lateral shell of egg. Thirdly, the hatchability of microinjection (ESCs was microinjected into chick embryo cavity) was compared too, the results showed there were significant difference between the injection group transfected with ESCs and that of other two groups. In addition, five chimeric chickens were obtained in this study and EGFP gene was expressed in some organs, but only two chimeric chicken expressed EGFP gene in the gonad, indicating that the chimeric chicken could be obtained through chick embryo cavity injection by drilling a window at the lateral shell of egg.     

3种阴生地被植物对SO_2胁迫的生理响应及净化能力

该研究以3种阴生地被植物麦冬、虎耳草和紫萼玉簪为研究材料,采用人工模拟熏气方法,测定不同浓度(5.71,11.43,17.14,22.86mg·m~(-3))SO_2胁迫下参试植物的外观受害症状,以及膜质过氧化、保护酶活性、渗透调节物质等生理指标,以叶片吸硫量比较3种植物的净化能力,并采用模糊数学隶属函数与主成分分析法对其抗SO_2能力进行综合评价。结果显示:(1)随着SO_2熏气浓度的升高,3种植物的叶片都有不同程度的受害症状,叶片叶绿素含量、汁液pH值和相对含水量下降,丙二醛含量、叶片相对电导率、可溶性糖、游离脯氨酸含量上升,且其SOD和CAT活性显著增强。(2)隶属函数法和主成分分析法综合评定结果显示,3种地被植物对SO_2抗性能力表现为:麦冬紫萼玉簪虎耳草,与叶片受伤害症状和叶液pH值下降的顺序相反,说明这2个指标可作为简单可行的评价SO_2抗性的重要鉴定指标。(3)3种植物均有一定的SO_2净化能力,其强弱顺序为虎耳草麦冬紫萼玉簪。研究表明,3种阴生地被植物都能够在SO_2胁迫下提高其保护酶活性和渗透调节物质含量,增强其抗硫胁迫和SO_2吸收能力,并以麦冬对SO_2抗性最强,虎耳草对SO_2的吸收能力最强;该试验中最低参试SO_2浓度远远高于城市大气中的实际SO_2浓度,在试验环境下3种阴生植物再都未呈现伤害症状,说明吸收硫能力强的虎耳草和麦冬可以在SO_2污染严重的林下区域大面积应用推广。     

梁子湖水——陆交错区水生植物群落生态学研究

对梁子湖水－陆交错区中植物群落的的组成、结构、生长型和生物量进行了测定,结果表明交错区内共分布有9种植物群落：1）微齿眼子菜（Potamogeton maackianus)群落;2）狐尾藻（Myriophyllum spicatum)＋苦草（Vallis-neria natans)＋金鱼藻（Ceratophyllum denersum）群落;3）微齿眼子菜＋金鱼藻群落;4）金鱼藻＋狐尾藻＋微齿眼子菜群落;5）金鱼藻＋狐尾藻＋荇菜（Nymphyoides pettlatum)群落;6）水蓼（Polygonum hydropiper)＋菱（Trapa bipinosa）＋菰（Zizania latifolia)群落;7）菹草（Potamogeton crispus)群落;8）菰＋荇菜＋蓼群落;9）湿生植物(Helophyte）群落。主要植物群4落生物量：狐尾藻＋苦草＋金鱼藻群落2414g.m^-2。金鱼藻＋狐尾藻＋微齿眼子菜群落4379g.m^-2,微齿眼子菜＋金龟藻群落1486g.m^-2,微齿眼子菜群4落2805g.m^-2。交错区内主要植物群落生量的季节变化与群落内优势种的生长方式、人为活动的干扰以及个体生态特征密切相关。群落内优势物种的水平分布表现为均匀分布和群聚分布两种方式。     

间断低氧对大鼠下丘脑超微结构及前增食欲素水平的影响

目的探讨睡眠中间断低氧对大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素及受体水平的影响以及下丘脑超微结构的变化。方法大鼠分成对照组、间断低氧组和持续低氧组,分别给予吸入空气,持续低氧和间断低氧气体,并在实验开始后1d、3d、1w和4w应用RT-PCR方法测定大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素及受体水平,分析其间的变化关系,电镜观察下丘脑的超微结构变化。结果与对照组和持续低氧组比较,间断低氧4w后大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素mRNA水平明显降低,受体水平升高,但在持续低氧和对照组之间无明显差异。在低氧后1d、3d、7d后大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素mRNA降低,受体水平升高,在4w后,持续低氧组则接近正常。急性持续低氧大鼠超微结构变化更严重,而慢性间断低氧变化更持久。结论慢性间断低氧可以引起下丘脑前增食欲素下降及受体水平升高,急性持续低氧也可引起上述变化,而慢性持续低氧未引起增食欲素改变;慢性间断低氧大鼠下丘脑超微结构表现为严重而持久的变化。     

MTH1, an oxidized purine nucleoside triphosphatase, protects the dopamine neurons from oxidative damage in nucleic acids caused by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

We previously reported that 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) accumulates in the cytoplasm of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease and the expression of MTH1 carrying an oxidized purine nucleoside triphosphatase activity increases in these neurons, thus suggesting that oxidative damage in nucleic acids is involved in dopamine neuron loss. In the present study, we found that levels of 8-oxoG in cellular DNA and RNA increased in the mouse nigrostriatal system during the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopamine neuron loss induced by the administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). MTH1-null mice exhibited a greater accumulation of 8-oxoG in mitochondrial DNA accompanied by a more significant decrease in TH and dopamine transporter immunoreactivities in the striatum after MPTP administration, than in wild-type mice. We thus demonstrated that MTH1 protects the dopamine neurons from oxidative damage in the nucleic acids, especially in the mitochondrial DNA of striatal nerve terminals of dopamine neurons.     

沉默交配型信息调节因子2同源蛋白Sirt1

沉默交配型信息调节因子2同源蛋白1(silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1,Sirt1)是哺乳动物中与酵母沉默信息调节蛋白2(silencing information regulator 2,Sir2)高度同源的蛋白质,它是一种依赖NAD+的III类组蛋白去乙酰化酶(HDAC III),在细胞分化、衰老、凋亡、DNA损伤修复、能量及内分泌代谢调节中起重要作用,同时在基因沉默、表观遗传学修饰、转录调控及信号转导调节中发挥重要的生物学功能。本文对其近年的研究进展做一概述。     

Plant rhizosphere influence on microbial C metabolism: the role of elevated CO2, N availability and root stoichiometry

Microbial decomposer C metabolism is considered a factor controlling soil C stability, a key regulator of global climate. The plant rhizosphere is now recognized as a crucial driver of soil C dynamics but specific mechanisms by which it can affect C processing are unclear. Climate change could affect microbial C metabolism via impacts on the plant rhizosphere. Using continuous ¹³C labelling under controlled conditions that allowed us to quantify SOM derived-C in all pools and fluxes, we evaluated the microbial metabolism of soil C in the rhizosphere of a C4 native grass exposed to elevated CO₂ and under variation in N concentrations in soil and in plant root C:N stoichiometry. Our results demonstrated that this plant can influence soil C metabolism and further, that elevated CO₂ conditions can alter this role by increasing microbial C efficiency as indicated by a reduction in soil-derived C respiration per unit of soil C-derived microbial biomass. Moreover, under elevated CO₂ increases in soil N, and notably, root tissue N concentration increased C efficiency, suggesting elevated CO₂ shifted the stoichiometric balance so N availability was a more critical factor regulating efficiency than under ambient conditions. The root C:N stoichiometry effect indicates that plant chemical traits such as root N concentration are able to influence the metabolism of soil C and that elevated CO₂ conditions can modulate this role. Increased efficiency in soil C use was associated with negative rhizosphere priming and we hypothesize that the widely observed phenomenon of rhizosphere priming may result, at least in part, from changes in the metabolic efficiency of microbial populations. Observed changes in the microbial community support that shifting microbial populations were a contributing factor to the observed metabolic responses. Our case study points at greater efficiency of the SOM-degrading populations in a high CO₂, high N world, potentially leading to greater C storage of microbially assimilated C in soil.     

Genetic diversity and structure of the tropical seagrass Cymodocea serrulata spanning its central diversity hotspot and range edge

Aquatic Ecology - Persistence of populations at their distributional ranges relies on local population dynamics and the fitness of species with low dispersal potential. We analyzed the population...