热带季节雨林凋落叶分解过程中的中小型土壤节肢动物的群落结构及动态

2000年5月-2001年4月,采用尼龙网袋法,以西双版纳热带季节雨林混合凋落叶作为分解基质,在3个季节雨林样地开展分解实验,对实验过程中分解袋内的中小型土壤节肢动物(meso—microarthropod)进行取样调查。根据所获数据探讨了中小型土壤节肢动物群落在分解过程中的结构和动态。结果显示：(1)在季节雨林凋落叶分解过程中,中小型土壤节肢动物群落组成始终以弹尾目和蜱螨目相对数量较高(均在30％以上),成为优势类群。(2)分解中期,土壤节肢动物群落多样性指数,类群、个体及重要类群的数量均处于整个分解过程中的较高水平,分解初期和后期相对较低,且波动性大,其中分解初期各多样性指标在波动过程中呈逐步增长趋势,而后期逐步降低,其变化过程受凋落叶数量和质量、林地降雨量变化的影响。土壤动物群落类群和个体相对密度(每克凋落叶干重的类群数和个体数)的变化可在一定程度上反映土壤动物与凋落物质量的动态关系。(3)不同样地间,土壤节肢动物群落结构及动态差异在分解前期不明显,而分解后期差异有所增加,但3样地凋落叶分解物质损失率没有明显差异。     

高榕小蜂群落结构及物种多样性的初步研究

在西双版纳地区采集干、湿两季5个样株的高榕(Ficus altissima)隐头果,单果收蜂,鉴定蜂种,共获高榕隐头果内小蜂标本18 000多号,隶属膜翅目5科9属14种。然后对样株小蜂群落结构、组成、性比及物种多样性进行对比研究。小蜂群落的结构和组成在干、湿两季有着明显的差异：湿季隐头果内的小蜂种类比干季丰富。另外,受人为干扰较少的样株隐头果内小蜂种类比受严重干扰的样株丰富。高榕的非传粉小蜂主要由造瘿者组成,寄生小蜂和寄居性小蜂仅占很少一部分;干、湿两季的小蜂群落多样性指数均很低,虽然在湿季群落内小蜂的丰富度指数较高,但不如干季小蜂分布得均匀;相同季节的小蜂群落均为中等相似,不同季节的2个榕树小蜂群落为中等不相似,有的树对达到极不相似水平;高榕隐头果内传粉小蜂的雄雌性比(♂：♀)较低,为0.14：1,而非传粉小蜂的雄雌性比相对较高,多在1：1左右。以上研究结果表明,西双版纳地区高榕隐头果内的小蜂受不同季节温湿度、人为干扰程度等因素的影响,保护并改善西双版纳地区的生态环境对丰富高榕隐头果小蜂物种多样性有重要意义。     

Dual Y-chromosome painting and immunofluorescence staining of archival human liver transplant biopsies.

Combining fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and indirect immunofluorescence staining of protein markers provides a highly specific method for identifying chromosomes in phenotypically defined cells and tissues. We developed a technique enabling dual chromosome painting and immunofluorescence staining of archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material, and used this to phenotype chimeric cells in female-to-male human liver transplants.     

三峡库区特有种疏花水柏枝的保护遗传学研究

采用超薄平板微型聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦电泳方法对三峡库区特有种疏花水柏枝 (Myricarialaxiflora)的 13个自然居群和 1个人工迁地保护居群的等位酶遗传变异进行了初步研究。检测了 5个酶系统 ,得到 13个等位酶位点 ,遗传多样性及其遗传结构分析结果表明 :疏花水柏枝具有较高水平的遗传多样性 ,平均多态位点比率P =78.7% ,每位点平均等位基因数A =1.8,平均预期杂合度He=0 .317,高于中国植物特有种的平均水平 ,且群体中杂合基因型个体偏多 ;其遗传变异主要发生于居群内 ( 84.86 % ) ,居群间又存在一定的遗传分化 (Gst=0 .15 14) ,居群间平均基因流Nm =1.40 1,居群间遗传距离为 0 .0 0 2～ 0 .176 ;UPGMA聚类分析显示疏花水柏枝在三峡湖北境内的白水河—泄滩一带分为上游和下游 2个居群组 ;武汉植物园迁地保护的混合居群基本保育了其遗传多样性总水平。在分析讨论疏花水柏枝遗传多样性与其繁育系统、生境及其起源进化的关系的基础上 ,探讨了疏花水柏枝濒危的主要原因 ,推断其应为第四纪冰期影响后的古孑遗种。最后 ,在评价迁地保护成果的基础上 ,提出了今后进一步保育的策略。     

Cutting edge: the phosphoinositide 3-kinase p110 delta is critical for the function of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells

CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance by inhibiting the expansion and function of conventional T cells. Treg development and homeostasis are regulated by the Ag receptor, costimulatory receptors such as CD28 and CTLA-4, and cytokines such as IL-2, IL-10, and TGF-beta. Here we show that the proportions of Tregs in the spleen and lymph nodes of mice with inactive p110delta PI3K (p110deltaD910A/D910A) are reduced despite enhanced Treg selection in the thymus. p110deltaD910A/D910A CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs showed attenuated suppressor function in vitro and failed to secrete IL-10. In adoptive transfer experiments, p110deltaD910A/D910A T cells failed to protect against experimental colitis. The identification of p110delta as an intracellular signaling protein that regulates the activity of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs may facilitate the further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms responsible for Treg-mediated suppression.     

PDA: Pooled DNA analyzer

Background  

Association mapping using abundant single nucleotide polymorphisms is a powerful tool for identifying disease susceptibility genes for complex traits and exploring possible genetic diversity. Genotyping large numbers of SNPs individually is performed routinely but is cost prohibitive for large-scale genetic studies. DNA pooling is a reliable and cost-saving alternative genotyping method. However, no software has been developed for complete pooled-DNA analyses, including data standardization, allele frequency estimation, and single/multipoint DNA pooling association tests. This motivated the development of the software, 'PDA' (Pooled DNA Analyzer), to analyze pooled DNA data.     

Characterizing the Hez-PBAN gene products in neuronal clusters with immunocytochemistry and MALDI MS

Methods to characterize pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and other PBAN gene encoded neuropeptides (PGN) from individual subesophageal ganglion neuronal clusters of the corn earworm moth, Helicoverpa zea, were developed. Individual antisera against the N-terminal sequence to PBAN and each of the three PGNs from the Hez-PBAN prohormone were developed, and their specificity determined. In all cases, each antiserum stains the same three groups of subesophageal ganglion ventral midline neurons-the mandibular, maxillary and labial neurons-in both adult females and males. These results were confirmed using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) of individual subesophageal ganglion neuronal clusters. Using mass spectrometry, the amidated PGN-24 was not detected but an N-terminally extended form is observed that is two amino acids longer. Other peptides resulting from the processing of the Hez-PBAN prohormone were detected. Using both the specific antisera and the cellular profiling abilities of MALDI MS, the roles of individual members of the Hez-PBAN prohormone derived peptides can now be explored.