Understanding extinction debts: spatio–temporal scales,mechanisms and a roadmap for future research

Extinction debt refers to delayed species extinctions expected as a consequence of ecosystem perturbation. Quantifying such extinctions and investigating long‐term consequences of perturbations has proven challenging, because perturbations are not isolated and occur across various spatial and temporal scales, from local habitat losses to global warming. Additionally, the relative importance of eco‐evolutionary processes varies across scales, because levels of ecological organization, i.e. individuals, (meta)populations and (meta)communities, respond hierarchically to perturbations. To summarize our current knowledge of the scales and mechanisms influencing extinction debts, we reviewed recent empirical, theoretical and methodological studies addressing either the spatio–temporal scales of extinction debts or the eco‐evolutionary mechanisms delaying extinctions. Extinction debts were detected across a range of ecosystems and taxonomic groups, with estimates ranging from 9 to 90% of current species richness. The duration over which debts have been sustained varies from 5 to 570 yr, and projections of the total period required to settle a debt can extend to 1000 yr. Reported causes of delayed extinctions are 1) life‐history traits that prolong individual survival, and 2) population and metapopulation dynamics that maintain populations under deteriorated conditions. Other potential factors that may extend survival time such as microevolutionary dynamics, or delayed extinctions of interaction partners, have rarely been analyzed. Therefore, we propose a roadmap for future research with three key avenues: 1) the microevolutionary dynamics of extinction processes, 2) the disjunctive loss of interacting species and 3) the impact of multiple regimes of perturbation on the payment of debts. For their ability to integrate processes occurring at different levels of ecological organization, we highlight mechanistic simulation models as tools to address these knowledge gaps and to deepen our understanding of extinction dynamics.     

Molecular and morphological diversity of Trebouxia microalgae in sphaerothallioid Circinaria spp. lichens1

Three vagrant (Circinaria hispida, Circinaria gyrosa, and Circinaria sp. ‘paramerae’) and one crustose (semi‐vagrant, Circinaria sp. ‘oromediterranea’) lichens growing in very continental areas in the Iberian Peninsula were selected to study the phycobiont diversity. Mycobiont identification was checked using nrITS DNA barcoding: Circinaria sp. ‘oromediterranea’ and Circinaria sp. ‘paramerae’ formed a new clade. Phycobiont diversity was analyzed in 50 thalli of Circinaria spp. using nrITS DNA and LSU rDNA, with microalgae coexistence being found in all the species analyzed by Sanger sequencing. The survey of phycobiont diversity showed up to four different Trebouxia spp. as the primary phycobiont in 20 thalli of C. hispida, in comparison with the remaining Circinaria spp., where only one Trebouxia was the primary microalga. In lichen species showing coexistence, some complementary approaches are needed (454 pyrosequencing and/or ultrastructural analyses). Five specimens were selected for high‐throughput screening (HTS) analyses: 22 Trebouxia OTUs were detected, 10 of them not previously known. TEM analyses showed three different cell morphotypes (Trebouxia sp. OTU A12, OTU S51, and T. cretacea) whose ultrastructure is described here in detail for the first time. HTS revealed a different microalgae pool in each species studied, and we cannot assume a specific pattern between these pools and the ecological and/or morphological characteristics. The mechanisms involved in the selection of the primary phycobiont and the other microalgae by the mycobiont are unknown, and require complex experimental designs. The systematics of the genus Circinaria is not yet well resolved, and more analyses are needed to establish a precise delimitation of the species.     

Cytosolic RNA:DNA hybrids activate the cGAS–STING axis

Intracellular recognition of non‐self and also self‐nucleic acids can result in the initiation of potent pro‐inflammatory and antiviral cytokine responses. Most recently, cGAS was shown to be critical for the recognition of cytoplasmic dsDNA. Binding of dsDNA to cGAS results in the synthesis of cGAMP(2′–5′), which then binds to the endoplasmic reticulum resident protein STING. This initiates a signaling cascade that triggers the induction of an antiviral immune response. While most studies on intracellular nucleic acids have focused on dsRNA or dsDNA, it has remained unexplored whether cytosolic RNA:DNA hybrids are also sensed by the innate immune system. Studying synthetic RNA:DNA hybrids, we indeed observed a strong type I interferon response upon cytosolic delivery of this class of molecule. Studies in THP‐1 knockout cells revealed that the recognition of RNA:DNA hybrids is completely attributable to the cGAS–STING pathway. Moreover, in vitro studies showed that recombinant cGAS produced cGAMP upon RNA:DNA hybrid recognition. Altogether, our results introduce RNA:DNA hybrids as a novel class of intracellular PAMP molecules and describe an alternative cGAS ligand next to dsDNA.     

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.     

2011年、2013年和2016年医院内获得性血流感染常见病原菌分布及其耐药性分析

动态监测2011年、2013年和2016年我国不同地区医院内获得性血流感染病原菌分布及耐药进展趋势。从全国10个城市回顾性收集血流感染病原菌非重复性株,采用琼脂稀释法或微量肉汤稀释法进行药物敏感性试验,采用Whonet 5.6软件对药敏试验结果进行分析。收集的2 248株血流感染病原菌中革兰阴性杆菌为1 657株 (占73.7%),革兰阳性球菌为591株 (占26.3%)。分离率排名前五的病原菌依次为大肠埃希菌 (32.6%,733株/2 248株)、肺炎克雷伯菌 (14.5%,327株/2 248株)、金黄色葡萄球菌 (10.0%,225株/2 248株)、鲍曼不动杆菌 (8.7%,196株/ 2 248株) 和铜绿假单胞菌 (6.2%,140株/2 248株)。血流感染分离的革兰阴性杆菌对抗菌药物体外敏感率较高的抗菌药物依次为粘菌素 (96.5%,1 525株/1 581株,不包括天然耐药菌株)、替加环素 (95.6%,1 375株/1 438株,不包括天然耐药菌株)、头孢他啶/克拉维酸 (89.2%,1 112株/1 246株)、阿米卡星 (86.4%,1 382株/1 599株) 和美罗培南 (85.7%,1 376株/1 605株);革兰阳性球菌对抗菌药物体外敏感率较高的抗菌药物依次为替加环素、替考拉宁和达托霉素 (敏感率均为100.0%)、万古霉素和利奈唑胺 (敏感率均为99.7%)。2011年、2013年和2016年产超广谱β-内酰胺酶肠杆菌科细菌分离率分别为50.6% (206株/407株)、49.8% (136株/273株) 和38.9% (167株/429株);碳青霉烯不敏感肠杆菌科细菌分离率分别为2.2% (9株/408株)、4.0% (16株/402株) 和3.9% (17株/ 439株);多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌分离率分别为76.4% (55株/72株)、82.7% (43株/52株) 和87.5% (63株/72株),多重耐药铜绿假单胞菌分离率分别为9.8% (5株/51株)、20.0% (7株/35株) 和13.0% (7株/54株);甲氧西林耐药金黄色葡萄球菌的分离率分别为51.9% (41株/79株)、29.7% (19株/64株) 和31.7% (26株/82株)。屎肠球菌和粪肠球菌中高水平庆大霉素耐药株分离率分别为43.2% (48株/111株) 和40.9% (27株/66株)。碳青霉烯不敏感肠杆菌科细菌中肺炎克雷伯菌居首位,占57.1% (24株/42株) 。肠杆菌科细菌中分离出30株替加环素不敏感株,其中肺炎克雷伯菌占76.7% (23株/30株);分离出粘菌素耐药肠杆菌科细菌39株,其中大肠埃希菌、阴沟肠杆菌和肺炎克雷伯菌分别占43.6% (17株/39株)、35.9% (14株/39株) 和15.4% (6株/39株)。医院获得性血流感染病原菌主要为革兰阴性杆菌 (以大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌为主),其对替加环素、粘菌素和碳青霉烯类药物的敏感率较高;革兰阳性球菌中分离率最高的为金黄色葡萄球菌,其次为屎肠球菌,这两种细菌对替加环素、达托霉素、利奈唑胺、万古霉素和替考拉宁的敏感率较高。粘菌素耐药肠杆菌科细菌、替加环素不敏感肠杆菌科细菌、利奈唑胺或万古霉素不敏感革兰阳性球菌的分离,警示临床高度关注,仍需动态监测耐药进展趋势。     

非嗜食植物乙醇提取物对小菜蛾种群控制作用评价

通过建立实验种群生命表和自然种群生命表,应用种群趋势指数(indexofpopulationtrend,I)和干扰作用控制指数(interferenceindexofpopulationcontrol,IIPC),评价花椒(Zanthoxylumbungeanum)、细叶桉(Eucalyptustereticornis)、烟草(Nicotianatabacum)、构树(Broussonetiapapyrifera)、羊蹄甲(Bauhiniavariegata)、假莲翘(Durantarepens)、飞扬草(Euphorbiahirta)、茶枯(Camelliaoleifera)8种非嗜食植物乙醇提取物对小菜蛾实验种群的控制作用,以及细叶桉、烟草、茶枯3种非嗜食植物乙醇提取物及其混合液对小菜蛾自然种群的控制作用.室内试验结果表明,在各种植物乙醇提取物作用下,I值从小到大的顺序为4.4842(细叶桉)、5.3702(花椒)、5.5199(飞扬草)、6.1609(假莲翘)、6.8937(羊蹄甲)8.0945(烟草)、9.8052(茶枯)、11.1382(构树),对照的I值为69.8964;IIPC值从小到大的顺序为0.0642(细叶桉)、0.0768(花椒)、0.0790(飞扬草)、0.0881(假莲翘)、0.0986(羊蹄甲)、0.1158(烟草)、0.1403(茶枯)、0.1594(构树),说明供试植物提取物对小菜蛾实验种群增长都有一定的抑制和干扰作用.小菜蛾自然种群生命表研究结果表明,在各种植物乙醇提取物作用下,I值从小到大的顺序为5.1997(细叶桉)、7.4160(烟草)、7.3644(茶枯)和3.1399(混合液),对照的I值为21.6232;IIPC值从小到大的顺序为混合液(0.1608)、细叶桉(0.2405)、茶枯(0.3549)、烟草(0.3695),说明供试植物提取物都能明显降低种群趋势指数,在一定程度上抑制和干扰小菜蛾自然种群增长,在生产中有一定的应用前景.     

棕黑腐质霉(Humicola fuscoatra)导致真菌性腹膜炎1例

报道1例由棕黑腐质霉属(Humicola fuscoatra)导致的真菌性腹膜炎。此菌分离自1名长期腹膜透析患者的腹水。腐质霉属在自然界广泛存在,棕黑腐质霉导致的人类感染罕见。现对棕黑腐质霉的真菌学特点进行研究,并进行分子测序。体外药物敏感性试验结果对伊曲康唑的MIC为0.008μg/mL,伏立康唑的MIC为0.016μg/mL,两性霉素B的MIC为1.5μg/mL。患者拔除腹透管,改行血液透析。口服伊曲康唑0.1 g/12 h,28 d后病情明显改善,出院。