Chemical induction of disease resistance in rice is correlated with the expression of a gene encoding a nucleotide binding site and leucine-rich repeats

Probenazole (3-allyloxy-1,2-benzisothiazole-1,1-dioxide) is an agricultural chemical primarily used to prevent rice blast disease. Probenazole-treated rice acquires resistance to blast fungus irrespective of the rice variety. The chemical is applied prophylactically, and is thought to induce or bolster endogenous plant defenses. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect have not been established. To understand the mode of the chemical's action, we screened for novel probenazole-responsive genes in rice by means of differential display and identified a candidate gene, RPR1. RPR1 contains a nucleotide binding site and leucine-rich repeats, thus sharing structural similarity with known disease resistance genes. The expression of RPR1 in rice can be up-regulated by treatment with chemical inducers of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and by inoculation with pathogens. RPR1-related sequences in rice varieties seem to be varied in sequence and/or expression, indicating that RPR1 itself is not a crucial factor for induced resistance in rice. However, Southern blot analysis revealed the existence of homologous sequences in all varieties examined. While the role of RPR1 has yet to be clarified, this is the first report of the identification of a member of this gene class and its induction during the systemic expression of induced disease resistance.     

NaCl胁迫对甘薯叶片叶绿体超微结构及一些酶活性的影响

随ＮａＣｌ 胁迫浓度的提高,甘薯叶片叶绿体数目逐渐减少, 类囊体膜片层松散、扭曲、破裂并逐渐解体, 叶绿素含量下降。与此同时,Ｈ２Ｏ２ 、ＭＤＡ 含量增加, ＡＳＰ、ＳＯＤ 活性表现出先上升后下降的趋势。耐盐品种在ＮａＣｌ 胁迫下能维持较强的Ｈ２Ｏ２ 清除能力和较低的ＭＤＡ 水平     

Differential Effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Isolates on β-Chemokine and Gamma Interferon Production and on Cell Proliferation

All human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) isolates can grow readily in primary CD4⁺ T cells, but they can be distinguished by their ability to replicate in macrophages and established T-cell lines. The macrophage-tropic viruses are generally non-syncytium inducing (NSI), whereas the T-cell-line-tropic viruses are syncytium inducing (SI) in cultured cells. We now demonstrate that infection of CD4⁺ T cells by NSI and SI viruses shows a differential effect on production of β-chemokines and gamma interferon. Infection by NSI viruses increased production of MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and gamma interferon, whereas infection by SI viruses had no effect or decreased production of these cytokines. Production of RANTES was slightly increased during infection by both virus phenotypes. This differential effect of NSI and SI viruses was observed at the level of β-chemokine mRNA as well as at the level of protein expression. Infection by NSI viruses also increased CD4⁺ cell proliferation. These results may have relevance for a differential role of HIV strains in AIDS pathogenesis.     

野生朱鹮的种群数量和分布现状

2012年9-10月,我们对野生朱鹮（Nipponia nippon）的分布区和潜在分布区进行了调查,共发现其游荡期夜宿地23个,其中20个有朱鹮夜宿,分布在洋县（16个）、宁陕县（3个）和城固县（1个）。对这些夜宿地进行了的同步调查,共统计到野生朱鹮1 090只,其中97.2%分布在洋县境内。最大的夜宿集群数量为184只,集群数量超过40只的夜宿地共11个,累计停歇的朱鹮占总数的91.7%,表明野生朱鹮在游荡期有趋于集结较大群体夜宿的习性。朱鹮野生种群中当年出生的幼鸟占19.0%,据此估算,截至秋季朱鹮幼鸟的存活率约为67.2%。加强对保护区以外,尤其是野生朱鹮新扩散地区的的保护管理,将促进野生朱鹮种群的扩散,进一步增加这一濒危物种抵御风险的能力。     

云南野生稻资源及其保护

云南野生稻生态类型丰富,且具有抗白叶枯病、抗稻瘟病、耐旱、耐寒等栽培稻不具有或已经消失的遗传基因,是水稻品种改良的优良基因库。然而,随着人类社会经济活动对生态环境影响的加剧,这一宝贵的战略性生物资源正面临着快速消失的危险。为了加强云南野生稻资源的保护,近年来,我们对云南野生稻资源开展了原生境保护(物理隔离方式和主流化方式)及非原生境保护(种质库、种质圃、细胞库和DNA库)等保护技术研究,明确了各种保护方法的优缺点和适用性,保护了云南野生稻的多样性和丰富度,为改良栽培稻储备了丰富的基因源。