Identification and evaluation of a potential biocontrol agent,Bacillus subtilis,against Fusarium sp. in apple seedlings

To find a potential biocontrol agent against Fusarium sp. in apple seedlings, an endophytic bacterium strain was isolated from apple tree tissues. The inhibitive efficiency of the isolated strain against the hyphal growth of Fusarium sp. and Rhizoctonia solani was tested. Strain Y-1 showed significant inhibitory effects against Fusarium oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. proliferatum, F. solani and R. solani. Its antifungal activity against F. oxysporum was the highest, reaching up to 64.90 %. In vivo tests indicated that strain Y-1 effectively protects apple from F. oxysporum infections. The control effect reached 92.26 % when bacterial inoculation was performed 3 days prior to pathogen inoculation. Strain Y-1 could colonize the rhizosphere and tissues within 30 days. It was also able to induce systemic resistance in apple seedlings as shown by the activities of SOD and POD. Strain Y-1 significantly increased the root length, root wet and dry weights, and plant height of the apple seedlings compared with the control group. The homology analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence, together with morphological, physical, and biochemical analyses, revealed that strain Y-1 is Bacillus subtilis.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of aluminum ions via complexation with luteolin in absolute ethanol

An optimized and validated spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the rapid determination of aluminum in absolute ethanol. The method is based on the chelation of aluminum and luteolin which results in a complex exhibiting an intense emission signal. The characterization of Al–luteolin complex was studied using ultraviolet–visible spectrometry, infrared spectrometry, fluorescence and mass spectrometry. The complex stoichiometry ratio of aluminum:luteolin was 1:2. The fluorescence of the complex was monitored at an emission wavelength of 545 nm with excitation at 518 nm. The linear concentration range was 6.5 × 10^‐7 to 4.0 × 10^‐5 M with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.998. The detection limit was 5.0 × 10^‐7 M. The method was appropriately validated and yielded relative standard deviations of < 2.3% (n = 5), which was considered acceptable. The method was successfully applied in the determination of aluminum in river water, skin care products and pharmaceutical samples. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Replication Study of ESCC Susceptibility Genetic Polymorphisms Locating in the ADH1B-ADH1C-ADH7 Cluster Identified by GWAS

China was one of the countries with highest esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) incidence and mortality worldwide. Alcohol drinking has been identified as a major environmental risk-factor related to ESCC. The alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) family are major enzymes involved in the alcohol-metabolizing pathways, including alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) and ADH1C. Interestingly, ADH1B and ADH1C genes locate tandemly with ADH7 in a genomic segment as a gene cluster, and are all polymorphic. Several ESCC susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ADH1B-ADH1C-ADH7 cluster have been identified previously through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). In the study, we examined the association between five ADH1B-ADH1C-ADH7 cluster SNPs (rs1042026, rs17033, rs1614972, rs1789903 and rs17028973) and risk of developing ESCC. Genotypes were determined in two independent case-control sets from two regions of China. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by logistic regression. Our data demonstrated that these ADH1B-ADH1C-ADH7 cluster SNPs confer susceptibility to ESCC in these two case-control sets, which were consistent to results of the previous GWAS.     

Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide Induced Inflammation in Part via Downregulated NF-κB and p38/JNK Activation in Microglial and Attenuates Microglia Activation in Lipopolysaccharide Treatment Mice

Therapeutic strategies designed to inhibit the activation of microglia may lead to significant advancement in the treatment of most neurodegenerative diseases. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a naturally occurring redox cofactor that acts as an essential nutrient, antioxidant, and has been reported to exert potent immunosuppressive effects. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effects of PQQ was investigated in LPS treated primary microglia cells. Our observations showed that pretreatment with PQQ significantly inhibited the production of NO and PGE2 and suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as iNOS, COX-2, TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6, MCP-1 and MIP-1a in LPS treated primary microglia cells. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB and the phosphorylation level of p65, p38 and JNK MAP kinase pathways were also inhibited by PQQ in LPS stimulated primary microglia cells. Further a systemic LPS treatment acute inflammation murine brain model was used to study the suppressive effects of PQQ against neuroinflammation in vivo. Mice treated with PQQ demonstrated marked attenuation of neuroinflammation based on Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis of Iba1-against antibody in the brain tissue. Indicated that PQQ protected primary cortical neurons against microglia-mediated neurotoxicity. These results collectively suggested that PQQ might be a promising therapeutic agent for alleviating the progress of neurodegenerative diseases associated with microglia activation.     

Molecular replacement studies on crystal structure of allophycocyanin from red algaePorphyra yezoensis

Using the crystal structure of allophycocyanin from cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis (APC-SP) as a search model, the crystal structure of allophycocyanin from red algae Porphyra yezoensis (APC-PY) has been studied by molecular replacement methods. The APC-PY crystals (Form 3) belong to the space group of R32, cell dimensions a = b = 10.53 nm, c = 18.94 nm, α =β = 90°, γ= 120°; there is one αβ monomer in each crystallographic asymmetric unit in the cell. The translation function search gave a unique peak with a correlation coefficient (Cc) of 67.0% and an R-factor of 36.1 % for reflection data from 1.0 to 0.4 nm. Using the results by molecular replacement, the initial model of APC-PY was built, and the coincidence of the chromophore in APC-PY initial model with its 2Fo-FC OMIT map further confirms the results by molecular replacement.     

饥饿对中华倒刺鲃幼鱼代谢、个性和集群的影响

在自然界中,环境变化、季节更替和人为因素造成食物资源时空分布的不均一性,导致鱼类经常面临食物资源短缺的环境胁迫,对其能量代谢和行为造成一定影响。为考察食物资源短缺下暖水性鲤科鱼类能量代谢、个性与集群行为的应对策略及其可能的内在关联,选取中华倒刺鲃(Spinibarbus sinensis)幼鱼为实验对象,分别测定饥饿组(2周)和对照组(维持日粮)在处理前后实验鱼的标准代谢率(Standard metabolic rate,SMR)、个性行为(勇敢性、探索性和活跃性)以及实验处理后的集群行为(凝聚力和协调性)。研究发现:(1)饥饿组和对照组实验过程中实验鱼SMR均显著下降,但仅饥饿组实验鱼SMR具有重复性;(2)饥饿导致中华倒刺鲃幼鱼勇敢性、探索性、活跃性均显著增加;(3)饥饿导致群体成员间距离缩短,游泳速度及其同步性上升。研究表明:饥饿后的中华倒刺鲃不仅适应性降低SMR以减少能量消耗,而且呈现出更高的勇敢性、探索性和活跃性以利于获取食物资源;饥饿迫使中华倒刺鲃群体提高凝聚力和协调性,可能有助于提高群体的生存能力。     

Determination of Mineral Elements in Gentiana rigescens from Different Zones of Yunnan, China

The concentrations of nine mineral elements were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy in Gentiana rigescens from three zones (middle, southeast, and northwest zones) of Yunnan province in China. The average concentrations of mineral elements were found in the order K>Ca>Mg>Fe>Na>Zn>Cu>Cr>Se. Samples collected from the middle zone of Yunnan were enriched in Na (242.24 ± 50.80 mg/kg) and Mg (959.78 ± 54.60 mg/kg). However, materials from the southeast zone were particularly enriched in Ca (3,448.70 ± 749.82 mg/kg), but depleted in Se. Whereas those from the northwest zone were plentiful of K (2,746.89 ± 84.84 mg/kg), Fe (923.06 ± 127.52 mg/kg), Zn (261.38 ± 53.05 mg/kg), Cu (110.08 ± 46.23 mg/kg), and Se (53.99 ± 22.38 mg/kg).     

哈维氏弧菌胞外蛋白酶基因的表型克隆与序列分析

哈维氏弧菌是引起大黄鱼疾病的主要致病菌之一,胞外蛋白酶是哈维氏弧菌GYC1108-1的主要致病因子。利用表型克隆技术,用Sau3AⅠ将提取的哈维氏弧菌基因组DNA酶切成短片段,纯化回收1-5 kb的片段与BamH I酶切的pUC118在T4连接酶的作用下进行连接,并转化感受态细胞TG1,在含0.5%脱脂奶和100μg/mL氨苄青霉素的LB平板上筛选胞外蛋白酶阳性株,命名为YZ。测定阳性株YZ的胞外蛋白酶活性,并对阳性株的重组质粒的插入片段进行序列测定,分析开放阅读框,确定胞外蛋白酶基因编码区。发现蛋白酶基因的ORF编码531个氨基酸,在起始密码子ATG上游存在一个核糖体结合位点(SD),其上游的启动区与大肠杆菌的σ70启动区和枯草芽孢杆菌的启动区高度同源。在终止子(TAG)下游,存在两个反向重复序列,为推导的2个转录终止子。哈维氏弧菌胞外蛋白酶基因的克隆与诠释为哈维氏弧菌致病机理和疫苗的开发奠定了基础。     

细菌生物被膜基质的研究进展

细菌生物被膜(biofilm)附着在生物或者非生物表面,由细菌及其分泌的糖、蛋白质和核酸等多种基质组成的细菌群落,是造成病原细菌持续性感染、毒力和耐药性的重要原因之一.细菌的生物被膜基质由复杂的胞外聚合物(extracellular polymeric substances,EPS)构成,影响生物被膜的结构和功能.本文...     

Identification and characterization of antifungal active substances of Streptomyces hygroscopicus BS-112

An antifungal Actinomyces BS-112 strain, with Aspergillus flavus as the target pathogen, was isolated from soil in the forest land of Mountain Tai. This strain showed a strong antagonistic activity against various mold fungi in food and feed. Strain BS-112 was identified as Streptomyces hygroscopicus based on its morphologic, cultural, physiological, biochemical characteristics, cell wall components and 16S rDNA sequence. Four active components were separated and purified from strain BS-112. These four antifungal components were identified as tetrins A and B and tetramycins A and B using spectroscopic analysis including mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Tetrins A and B and tetramycins A and B strongly inhibited the growth of A. flavus, A. alutaceus, A. niger, and A. fumigatus in vitro.