Enzymatic Characterization of Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms in Field Populations of Malaysian Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

Background

There has been no comprehensive study on biochemical characterization of insecticide resistance mechanisms in field populations of Malaysian Culex quinquefasciatus. To fill this void in the literature, a nationwide investigation was performed to quantify the enzyme activities, thereby attempting to characterize the potential resistance mechanisms in Cx. quinquefasciatus in residential areas in Malaysia.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Culex quinquefasciatus from 14 residential areas across 13 states and one federal territory were subjected to esterases, mixed function oxidases, glutathione-S-transferase and insensitive acetylcholinesterase assays. Enzyme assays revealed that α-esterases and β-esterases were elevated in 13 populations and 12 populations, respectively. Nine populations demonstrated elevated levels of mixed function oxidases and glutathione-S-transferase. Acetylcholinesterase was insensitive to propoxur in all 14 populations. Activity of α-esterases associated with malathion resistance was found in the present study. In addition, an association between the activity of α-esterases and β-esterases was also demonstrated.

Conclusions/Significance

The present study has characterized the potential biochemical mechanisms in contributing towards insecticide resistance in Cx. quinquefasciatus field populations in Malaysia. Identification of mechanisms underlying the insecticide resistance will be beneficial in developing effective mosquito control programs in Malaysia.     

Effects of environmental factors on genetic diversity of Caragana microphylla in Horqin Sandy Land,northeast China

Caragana microphylla (Leguminosae) is a dominant climax semishrub species in northern China. We evaluated genetic variation within and among populations sampled from three different environmental gradients in Horqin Sandy Land in northern China using intersimple sequence repeats markers and investigated the possible existence of relationships between genetic diversity and environmental factors. The results showed that C. microphylla have high genetic diversity, and environmental gradients affected genetic diversity of C. microphylla populations. Genetic diversity of all populations was affected by many environmental factors and as well correlated with warm index and soil Olsen phosphorus (SOP) concentration. These results have important implications for restoration and management of these degraded ecosystems in arid and semi‐arid areas.     

氟啶脲防治烟草甲的研究

本文通过室内及现场试验,研究氟啶脲防治烟草甲的效果。试验结果表明,烟草甲人工饲料中氟啶脲的浓度为4mg/kg时,烟草甲2龄幼虫的校对死亡率可达97.33%;对库存烟叶,当烟叶中氟啶脲的浓度为8～16mg/kg时,对烟草甲防治效果达到100%,并有24个月的防治作用。     

Molecular systematics of four endemic Batrachospermaceae (Rhodophyta) species in China with multilocus data

Four endemic Batrachospermaceae species in China, Batrachospermum hongdongense Xie & Feng, Batrachospermum longipedicellatum Hua & Shi, Kumanoa curvata (Shi) Vis et al., and Kumanoa intorta (Jao) Entwisle et al., were analyzed with multilocus data in order to assess their phylogenetic placement. Multilocus molecular data from one nuclear gene (the ribosomal SSU), one chloroplast gene (rbcL), and two mitochondrial genes (COI and the cox2-3 spacer) as well as morphological studies were used to determine the phylogenetic relationships of these endemic species within the Batrachospermales. Batrachospermum hongdongense and B. longipedicellatum had previously been placed in Batrachospermum section Batrachospermum, but based on the data from this study they should be transferred into section Helminthoidea. Kumanoa curvata and K. intorta clearly belong to the newly established genus Kumanoa.     

酿酒酵母代谢工程技术

自20世纪90年代初期诞生以来,代谢工程历经了30年的快速发展。作为代谢工程的首选底盘细胞之一,酿酒酵母细胞工厂已被广泛应用于大量大宗化学品和新型高附加值生物活性物质的生物制造,在能源、医药和环境等领域取得了巨大的突破。近年来,合成生物学、生物信息学以及机器学习等相关技术也极大地促进了代谢工程的技术发展和应用。文中回顾了近30年来酿酒酵母代谢工程重要的技术发展,首先总结了经典代谢工程的常用方法和策略,以及在此基础上发展而来的系统代谢工程和合成生物学驱动的代谢工程技术。最后结合最新技术发展趋势,展望了未来酿酒酵母代谢工程发展的新方向。     

Expansion of bone marrow IFN-alpha-producing dendritic cells in New Zealand Black (NZB) mice: high level expression of TLR9 and secretion of IFN-alpha in NZB bone marrow

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have elevated IFN-alpha production. Furthermore, sera IFN-alpha levels correlate with disease activity. We have focused our attention on whether this phenotype is also seen in the New Zealand Black (NZB) mice and simultaneously addressed the underlying mechanisms. Specifically, we analyzed: 1) levels of sera IFN-alpha after type A CpG ODN 2216 injection in autoimmunity-prone NZB and control mice, and 2) levels of IFN-alpha synthesized by IFN-alpha-producing dendritic cells (IPDCs) using highly enriched populations of CD11c+B220+ IPDCs derived from NZB and control mice; IPDCs are divided into two subpopulations (CD4+CD11c+B220+ and CD4-CD11c+B220+). Our data demonstrate that NZB mice produced higher levels of sera IFN-alpha after type A CpG ODN 2216 injection when compared with control mice (p < 0.01). In addition, the cell numbers, frequency, and TLR9 mRNA levels of CD4+ and CD4- IPDC were markedly increased in the bone marrow (BM) of NZB mice. Upon in vitro stimulation with TLR9 ligand-CpG ODN 2216, higher levels of IFN-alpha were synthesized by IPDCs from the BM of NZB. The major contributor of IFN-alpha was the CD4-CD11c+B220+ IPDC subpopulation. Furthermore, NZB BM IPDCs manifest impaired expression of homing chemokine CCR7 and CD62L, and IL-12 production. These data on the functional characteristics of the IPDC lineages explain in part the mechanism of hyper-IFN-alpha production and help clarify the mechanism for the expansion of NZB BM IPDCs.     

Enhanced Kinetics Harvested in Heteroatom Dual‐Doped Graphitic Hollow Architectures toward High Rate Printable Potassium‐Ion Batteries

Carbonaceous materials have emerged as promising anode candidates for potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) due to overwhelming advantages including cost‐effectiveness and wide availability of materials. However, further development in this realm is handicapped by the deficiency in their in‐target and large‐scale synthesis, as well as their low specific capacity and huge volume expansion. Herein the precise and scalable synthesis of N/S dual‐doped graphitic hollow architectures (NSG) via direct plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition is reported. Thus‐fabricated NSG affording uniform nitrogen/sulfur co‐doping, possesses ample potassiophilic surface moieties, effective electron/ion‐transport pathways, and high structural stability, which bestow it with high rate capability (≈100 mAh g^?1 at 20 A g^?1) and a prolonged cycle life (a capacity retention rate of 90.2% at 5 A g^?1 after 5000 cycles), important steps toward high‐performance K‐ion storage. The enhanced kinetics of the NSG anode are systematically probed by theoretical simulations combined with operando Raman spectroscopy, ex situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique measurements. In further contexts, printed NSG electrodes with tunable mass loading (1.84, 3.64, and 5.65 mg cm^?2) are realized to showcase high areal capacities. This study demonstrates the construction of a printable carbon‐based PIB anode, that holds great promise for next‐generation grid‐scale PIB applications.     

小鼠腹腔注射硫酸铍的病理形态学观察

目的研究腹腔注射硫酸铍（BeSO4.4H2O）对小鼠主要脏器的损害作用。方法将30只6周龄昆明（KM）雄性小鼠随机分为三组,分别予以不同剂量硫酸铍生理盐水溶液腹腔注射染毒,隔日一次,染毒两周。观察主要脏器的病理组织学变化并测定脏器系数。结果与对照组比较,染毒组心、脾、肾、睾丸脏器系数无显著差异,肝、肺脏器系数差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;对照组肺、肝病理学组织检查未见异常,低剂量组小鼠肺组织可见淤血、出血、支气管扩张出血,肺泡腔内有少量炎性渗出物、支气管周围炎、间质性肺炎、小叶性肺炎等;高剂量组小鼠肺组织可见支气管扩张出血,支气管腔内有大量炎性渗出物,支气管周围肺泡扩张,间质性肺炎、小叶性肺炎、融合性小叶性肺炎;低剂量组肝细胞水肿,可见点状坏死和小灶性坏死;高剂量组小鼠肝组织损伤严重,肝细胞排列紊乱,多数肝细胞呈细胞水肿,肝细胞胞质成空泡状,可见明显的点状坏死和小灶性坏死,并伴有炎细胞浸润,坏死区周围肝细胞细胞质呈嗜酸性变,轻度核固缩,并且肝细胞呈不同程度的胞质疏松,肝窦以及肝中央静脉扩张有广泛变性、坏死等病理改变。睾丸、心、脾、肾未见明显异常。结论小鼠腹腔注射本试验剂量的硫酸铍后主要引起肺组织和肝脏损伤,其它脏器未见明显异常。