Analysis of the Maize 19 kD Zein Gene Promoter Fragment Driving Seed specific Expression

A deletion works of a maize 19 kD zein gene promoter in the 5'end was performed and six promoter fragments of different length were obtained. A series of expression vectors was constructed and then transferred into tobacco ( Nicotiarta tabacum L. ) plants. GUS activity assays indicated that the expression of 488 bp promoter was tissue-specific, for which GUS was active only in transgenic tobacco seeds. The other four fragments containing 378 bp,302 bp,152 bp and 124 bp also have the activity of promoter. They could drive gus gene expressed not only in seeds but also in roots and petioles.     

IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 and pentraxin 3 plasma levels are tools for monitoring inflammation and disease activity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10/CXCL10) is a chemokine involved in delayed-type hypersensitivity and attraction of monocytes and activated T lymphocytes at inflammatory foci, whereas pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is part of the innate immune response. In the Republic of Guinea, 220 newly diagnosed, HIV-negative, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients were studied together with 220 healthy household controls and 220 community controls. CXCL10 and PTX3 blood levels were assessed by ELISA at diagnosis, after 2 months and at the end of treatment. In untreated patients, both CXCL10 and PTX3 levels were higher (P < 0.0001) than in controls, although household controls had higher (P < 0.0001) CXCL10 and PTX3 levels than community controls, but lower (P < 0.0001) than those of patients. At the end of treatment, 186 cured patients showed reduction (P < 0.0001) in both CXCL10 and PTX3 levels. In 34 patients with treatment failure, both CXCL10 and PTX3 levels increased further. In five previously healthy households who developed TB during the follow-up and in two patients who relapsed after treatment, a remarkable increase in both CXCL10 and PTX3 plasma levels was observed. Active TB is associated with increased CXCL10 and PTX3 levels in the plasma. Although not specific for TB, measurement of these proteins may help the monitoring of disease activity and efficacy of therapy.     

Efficacy comparison between anti-malarial drugs in Africans presenting with mild malaria in the Central Republic of Africa: a preliminary study

Drug resistance to Plasmodium falciparum contributes to major health problems in central Africa and, as a consequence, poverty. We have analyzed the efficacy of three currently available antimalarial drugs to treat symptomatic, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in semi-immune adults living in Bangui, Central Republic of Africa. 210 consecutive individuals were enrolled in the survey, of which 45 were excluded. Those having received dihydroartemisin proved significantly less parasitemic than those having received quinine per os or sulfadoxin-pyrimethamin (chi2 = 16.93; p < 0.05), and 75% recovered in two days compared to 57 and 44%, respectively. The 25% who did not recover benefited from a second cure with dihydroartemisin, which proved 100% efficient. The most accurate protocol remains to be established by analyzing clinical and parasitological data and taking into account the economics of the country.     

Development of a dual recombinant vaccine to protect small ruminants against peste-des-petits-ruminants virus and capripoxvirus infections

A recombinant capripoxvirus vaccine containing a cDNA of the peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) fusion protein gene was constructed. A quick and efficient method was used to select a highly purified recombinant virus clone. A trial showed that a dose of this recombinant as low as 0.1 PFU protected goats against challenge with a virulent PPRV strain.     

Polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the N2-fixing bacterial diversity in soil under Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana and Balanites aegyptiaca in the dryland part of Senegal

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of amplified nifH gene fragments was used to study the diazotrophic community of soil samples under Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana (legume tree) and Balanites aegyptiaca (non-legume tree), two dominant plant species growing naturally in the dryland part of Senegal. Samples were taken along transects from the stem up to 10 m distance from it, at depths of 0-0.25 m and 0.25-0.50 m. Sampling was done in the dry season (25 June 1999) and in the rainy season (28 August 1999). The community structure and diversity of the bacterial groups from the different samples was analysed further using different techniques, such as statistical analysis and diversity index evaluation of the band patterns. Diazotrophic diversity was lower under B. aegyptiaca than under A. tortilis ssp. raddiana. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis and ANOSIM tests showed a significant effect of the tree on the diazotroph assemblages. SIMPER analysis showed that the major elements responsible for the dissimilarity are a member of the genus Sinorhizobium, which is characteristic of the samples taken under A. tortilis ssp. raddiana and a member of the cluster Bradyrhizobium for the samples taken under B. aegyptiaca. Forty-four major bands were partially sequenced, yielding 33 different nifH sequences, which were used in phylogenetic reconstructions. Most sequences were affiliated with the alpha- beta- and gamma-proteobacteria. Five nifH sequences were identical to those of Pseudomonas stutzeri, and one sequence showed 100% similarity to that of Azotobacter vinelandii. Four bands were affiliated with the Cyanobacteria and a single one with the Firmicutes. For both trees, there were also clear differences between the samples taken in the dry and rainy seasons. Only for the samples taken under A. tortilis ssp. raddiana was a significant difference found between the two sampling depths.     

基于居民生态认知的非使用价值支付意愿空间分异研究——以三江平原湿地为例

在WTP距离衰减性研究基础上,将菲什拜因理论与条件价值法相结合,假设个人对于物品的认知在空间上并不是均衡分布的,不同空间内的受访者的支付意愿存在差异,以三江平原湿地生态系统为应用对象,将样本分为核心区、辐射区、外围区,采用双边界二分式CVM,探讨受访者对三江平原湿地生态环境保护的支付意愿水平及支付意愿的影响因素,建立基于居民生态认知的支付意愿空间分异模型。计算得到核心区、辐射区、外围区居民平均支付意愿分别为142.23元人-1a-1、105.01元人-1a-1、77.62元/人,总体呈递减趋势,验证了距离、认知和WTP之间相关性。研究结果表明,通过空间视角将居民的认知程度纳入支付意愿的计算,能提高CVM在环境价值评估应用中的有效性及可靠性。研究结论将为政府相关政策的制定和决策提供参考依据。     

番茄花粉特异表达的高赖氨酸蛋白基因(tsb)的克隆与特性分析

赖氨酸是人和单胃动物必需的八种氨基酸之一,食物蛋白中的必需氨基酸种类不全或数量不足,都会影响其它氨基酸的利用.玉米等主要禾谷类作物由于缺少赖氨酸,种子蛋白利用率还不到50%.在长期以玉米为口粮的地区,人们往往患有营养不足或糙皮病.     

红皮云杉与嫩江云杉RAPD和ISSR分子标记反应体系优化和特异性检测

以红皮云杉和嫩江云杉为材料,采用现代分子标记技术-RAPD和ISSR标记研究红皮云杉与嫩江云杉间在基因组水平上的遗传差异。通过正交试验设计筛选RAPD和ISSR反应程序和反应体系。从近100个引物中筛选出3个RAPD引物和一个ISSR引物用来区分红皮云杉和嫩江云杉,它们分别是OPN07、OPA17、S25和ISSR67。用这4个引物扩增两种云杉基因组DNA,分别在1 000,950,1 500,2 000 bp处嫩江云杉有特异性谱带而红皮云杉没有。研究表明,采用RAPD和ISSR分子标记可以将红皮云杉和嫩江云杉在分子水平上加以区分,为今后进一步阐明云杉的系统进化,物种鉴定和种间杂交育种提供了理论依据。     

玉米花粉特异的非编码RNA基因ZM401 cDNA全长的克隆及其发育表达模式

通过差异筛选法并结合冷噬菌斑筛选,从玉米(Zea mays L．)成熟花粉cDNA文库中克隆到一个玉米花粉特异表达的cDNA片段ZM401(663bp)。Northern杂交表明ZM401是一个玉米花粉特异表达的基因。本文采用5′RACE,3′RACE及重叠PCR技术获得了ZM401 cDNA的全长(1149bp)。采用生物学软件对ZM401 cDNA的序列和结构进行分析,结果表明,该基因缺乏明显的开放阅读框架,序列中最长的开放阅读框架仅有89个氨基酸,但具有poly(A)尾部结构,符合非编码RNA基因的特点。推断ZM401基因是一个非编码基因。RT-PCR及Northern blot分析表明ZM401基因从玉米花粉小孢子四分体时期、单核期、双核期、成熟花粉开始表达,而且表达量依次增强,证明ZM401可能与玉米花粉的晚期发育过程相关。同时,Northern杂交显示ZM401基因在玉米花粉发育中有两种转录本存在。