Association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of interleukin-10 and susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease

The aim of this study was to assess the association of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene with the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Fifteen studies (3,693 cases and 4,574 controls) were included in a meta-analysis of association between IL-10 ?1082G/A, ?819C/T and ?592C/A polymorphisms, and IBD, CD and UC using allele contrast and the recessive, dominant, and additive models. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was confirmed for each study. Heterogeneity and study quality were investigated using stratification analyses and sensitivity analyses. Polymorphism ?1082G/A showed significant association with CD, with odds ratios (ORs) for the GG + GA genotype and GG versus AA genotype of 1.278 (1.004–1.627) and 1.238 (1.027–1.492) in all subjects. Significant associations were found in the Caucasian subgroup using the allele contrast, dominant, and additive models. C-allele carriers of the ?819C/T polymorphism were at increased risk of IBD (OR 1.093, 95 % CI 1.004–1.190). Association with the ?819C/T polymorphism was also found in Caucasians with CD (C vs. T: OR 1.104, 95 % CI 1.010–1.206; CC + CT vs. TT: OR 1.328, 95 % CI 1.006–1.754; CC vs. TT: OR 1.339, 95 % CI 1.008–1.778), and with UC (CC vs. CT + TT: OR 1.188, 95 % CI 1.019–1.385). No significant association was found between the ?592C/A polymorphism and IBD, CD or UC. In conclusion, the meta-analysis demonstrated clear association between the IL-10 polymorphisms ?1082G/A and ?819C/T and the risk of IBD.     

北方半干旱集雨补灌旱作区节水农业发展模式

内蒙古准格尔旗集雨补灌旱作节水农业示范区地处黄土高原北部砒砂岩区,是我国水土流失最严重地区之一,集雨补灌是缓解当地干旱缺水的唯一途径.目前该区很多地方雨水收集利用缺乏整体研究,工程规划和生产布局有一定盲目性.在分析准格尔旗示范区生态、经济、社会等条件的基础上,总结出以集雨补灌为中心的旱作增产技术体系,确定了集雨高效种植型、集雨生态畜牧型和庭院集雨经济型3种模式,提出了示范区雨水综合利用需水量标准,并对3种模式在示范区运行3年来的经济、社会和生态效果进行了评价.     

符合经济生态效益的农田化肥施用量

在洞庭湖区研究了农田化肥的外部成本和经济生态施用量.采用环境影响经济评价方法,估算了化肥的外部成本;运用外部不经济性原理和生产函数模型研究了兼顾农户经济效益、生态效益的农田适宜施肥量.结果表明,2002年洞庭湖区粮食生产中因化肥施用不当而带来的外部成本约为1.35×10⁸元,每千克纯氮的外部成本约为0.3元.在洞庭湖区目前生产条件下,兼顾生产、经济、生态三效益的适宜施肥量是208.26～210.65 kg·hm^-2,相应的粮食产量为5528～5539 kg·hm^-2.2002年洞庭湖区粮食生产实际施肥量已超过农户经济最优施肥量和生态适宜施肥量,建议政府在一些化肥高投入、高污染的地区征收环境污染税.     

Production and Characterization of Improved Adenovirus Vectors with the E1, E2b, and E3 Genes Deleted

Adenovirus (Ad)-based vectors have great potential for use in the gene therapy of multiple diseases, both genetic and nongenetic. While capable of transducing both dividing and quiescent cells efficiently, Ad vectors have been limited by a number of problems. Most Ad vectors are engineered such that a transgene replaces the Ad E1a, E1b, and E3 genes; subsequently the replication-defective vector can be propagated only in human 293 cells that supply the deleted E1 gene functions in trans. Unfortunately, the use of high titers of E1-deleted vectors has been repeatedly demonstrated to result in low-level expression of viral genes still resident in the vector. In addition, the generation of replication-competent Ad (RCA) by recombination events with the E1 sequences residing in 293 cells further limits the usefulness of E1-deleted Ad vectors. We addressed these problems by isolating new Ad vectors deleted for the E1, E3, and the E2b gene functions. The new vectors can be readily grown to high titers and have several improvements, including an increased carrying capacity and a theoretically decreased risk for generating RCA. We have also demonstrated that the further block to Ad vector replication afforded by the deletion of both the E1 and E2b genes significantly diminished Ad late gene expression in comparison to a conventional E1-deleted vector, without destabilization of the modified vector genome. The results suggested that these modified vectors may be very useful both for in vitro and in vivo gene therapy applications.     

宏基因组文库中的组成型启动子在大肠杆菌中的克隆

启动子是决定基因表达水平的重要因素之一。组成型表达启动子被认为是工业上表达重要蛋白质的理想启动子。本研究利用蔗糖为唯一碳源的基本培养基对榨糖废水浸润的土壤微生物宏基因组文库进行筛选,获得两个阳性克隆。对其中一个克隆的柯斯质粒进行亚克隆,利用在线启动子预测和序列比对工具对其中一个亚克隆子进行分析,获得一个启动子序列。然后,利用PCR方法将该启动子和地衣芽孢杆菌的α-淀粉酶基因一起克隆到T载体上。结果表明该启动子在不加诱导剂的条件下能够在大肠杆菌中启动外源基因的高效表达。本研究结果为在生物领域中组成型启动子的应用研究提供了基础。     

空心莲子草性可塑性影响下的克隆整合

植物的生活史由其有性生殖构件和营养体构件相互作用共同完成,克隆整合作为克隆植物的重要特征,其与有性生殖特征的相互作用关系却所知很少。该研究通过同质园种植实验,分析了空心莲子草的分株表型、生理、性别等与克隆整合的关系。结果表明:(1)克隆整合以及分株间是否连接对空心莲子草的表型特征、气体交换等生理性状和性别特征均有显著影响。(2)克隆整合显著缩小了雌雄同花和雄蕊心皮化两种性别植株间表型特征的差距,后代的性别特征与营养体表型特征显著相关。(3)在贫瘠的沙土基质中克隆整合明显增加了空心莲子草的营养体生长特征和气体交换等光合生理指标,但这种增加在富含有机质的塘泥基质中不明显。(4)居于不同土壤基质分株间的联系会减少分株表型特征和气体交换对生长环境的响应,并保持母体性别特征不受环境的影响,但单独居于沙土或塘泥单一土壤基质的分株性别特征却因受到环境影响而改变。因此,克隆整合有利于空心莲子草性别特征的稳定。     

营养物质对桑黄菌丝生物量及胞外多糖产量的影响

研究了不同碳源、氮源和无机盐对桑黄深层培养菌丝生物量和胞外多糖产量的影响,结果表明：在培养温度为26℃、摇床转速为160r／min、发酵时间为10d的条件下,以桑黄菌丝生物量为指标,最适碳源、氮源和无机盐分别是果糖或葡萄糖、酵母粉或酵母膏、KH2P04或MgSO4·7H2O;菌丝生物量分别达到1．51、1．31、1．69、1．52、1．52、1．36g／100mL;以胞外多糖为指标,最适碳源、氮源和无机盐分别是葡萄糖、酵母膏、ZnSO4·7H2O,胞外多糖产量分别达到0．49、0．45、0．22g／100mL。     

氮磷添加对杉木林土壤碳氮矿化速率及酶动力学特征的影响

以江西杉木林红壤为研究对象,开展野外长期氮(N)、磷(P)添加控制试验,设置对照(CK)、N(50kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))、P(50kg P hm~(-2)a~(-1))、NP(50kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1)+50kg P hm~(-2)a~(-1))处理,分析N、P添加对土壤碳矿化速率(C_(min))、氮矿化速率(N_(min))和相关的β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)和β-1,4-N-乙酰葡糖氨糖苷酶(NAG)动力学参数的影响。结果表明:(1)N添加明显降低了C_(min)和N_(min),比CK分别减少了25%和18%;N添加减小了NAG的潜在最大酶活性(V_(max))、半饱和常数(K_m)、催化效率(V_(max)/K_m),但差异不显著(P0.05);N添加显著增加了βG的V_(max)、K_m,但对V_(max)/K_m有抑制作用。(2)P输入(P、NP)较CK使NAG的V_(max)、K_m减小26%—60%;NP同时添加明显提高βG和NAG的V_(max)/K_m(P0.05),但P输入(P、NP)对C_(min)和N_(min)影响不显著(P0.05)。(3)C_(min)与土壤溶解性有机碳正相关,N_(min)与pH显著正相关,与土壤NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N显著负相关;βG和NAG的V_(max)/K_m均与NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N负相关(P0.05),K_m均与NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N正相关(P0.05)。βG的V_(max)与NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N正相关(P0.05),NAG的V_(max)与有机碳、全氮、全磷、有效磷负相关(P0.05)。研究结果表明,在亚热带杉木人工林中,N添加降低土壤pH,增加土壤有效氮含量,抑制βG和NAG的V_(max)/K_m,对土壤C_(min)和N_(min)产生抑制作用;而NP添加增加土壤有效磷含量,增加土壤βG和NAG的V_(max)/K_m。     

中国陆地生态系统通量观测站点空间代表性

涡度相关技术是测定大气与陆地生态系统之间CO₂交换、水分和能量通量最直接的方法,可用于研究土壤、植被与大气间的CO₂交换及其调控机制。收集了11个影响净碳交换量的主要变量信息,包括气象因素、土壤因素和地形因素的非生物因子、实际植被状态以及植被生产力,采用多元地理变量空间聚类分析方法,绘制出不同聚类数（25、50、75、85、100、150和200类）的通量生态区。结合中国现有通量观测站点的空间分布格局,与新生成的通量生态区和已有的自然地理区划进行对比分析,发现由于中国地形复杂,生态系统类型多样,现有85个涡度相关通量观测站点仅能刻画部分中国生态系统类型的净碳交换量时空特征,通量生态区划分为100-150类比较合适。考虑到涡度相关通量观测运行成本,通量站点可增加至150个,从而使得优化后的通量观测网络能够代表中国主要类型的生态系统,并且有利于通量观测数据与遥感资料的有效结合,提高碳水通量观测从站点扩展到区域尺度的精度,从而更好地检验过程机理模型的模拟结果。     

Sonic hedgehog signaling regulates Gli3 processing, mesenchymal proliferation, and differentiation during mouse lung organogenesis

Lack of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling, mediated by the Gli proteins, leads to severe pulmonary hypoplasia. However, the precise role of Gli genes in lung development is not well established. We show Shh signaling prevents Gli3 proteolysis to generate its repressor forms (Gli3R) in the developing murine lung. In Shh(-/-) or cyclopamine-treated wild-type (WT) lung, we found that Gli3R level is elevated, and this upregulation appears to contribute to defects in proliferation and differentiation observed in the Shh(-/-) mesenchyme, where Gli3 is normally expressed. In agreement, we found Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) lungs exhibit enhanced growth potential. Vasculogenesis is also enhanced; in contrast, bronchial myogenesis remains absent in Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) compared with Shh(-/-) lungs. Genes upregulated in Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) relative to Shh(-/-) lung include Wnt2 and, surprisingly, Foxf1 whose expression has been reported to be Shh-dependent. Cyclins D1, D2, and D3 antibody labelings also reveal distinct expression patterns in the normal and mutant lungs. We found significant repression of Tbx2 and Tbx3, both linked to inhibition of cellular senescence, in Shh(-/-) and partial derepression in Shh(-/-); Gli3(-/-) lungs, while Tbx4 and Tbx5 expressions are less affected in the mutants. Our findings shed light on the role of Shh signaling on Gli3 processing in lung growth and differentiation by regulating several critical genes.