FUNCTIONAL GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN HIGH CO2 ADAPTED EMILIANIA HUXLEYI POPULATIONS

Predicting the impacts of environmental change on marine organisms, food webs, and biogeochemical cycles presently relies almost exclusively on short‐term physiological studies, while the possibility of adaptive evolution is often ignored. Here, we assess adaptive evolution in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi, a well‐established model species in biological oceanography, in response to ocean acidification. We previously demonstrated that this globally important marine phytoplankton species adapts within 500 generations to elevated CO₂. After 750 and 1000 generations, no further fitness increase occurred, and we observed phenotypic convergence between replicate populations. We then exposed adapted populations to two novel environments to investigate whether or not the underlying basis for high CO₂‐adaptation involves functional genetic divergence, assuming that different novel mutations become apparent via divergent pleiotropic effects. The novel environment “high light” did not reveal such genetic divergence whereas growth in a low‐salinity environment revealed strong pleiotropic effects in high CO₂ adapted populations, indicating divergent genetic bases for adaptation to high CO₂. This suggests that pleiotropy plays an important role in adaptation of natural E. huxleyi populations to ocean acidification. Our study highlights the potential mutual benefits for oceanography and evolutionary biology of using ecologically important marine phytoplankton for microbial evolution experiments.     

Lipid phenotyping of lung epithelial lining fluid in healthy human volunteers

Background

Lung epithelial lining fluid (ELF)—sampled through sputum induction—is a medium rich in cells, proteins and lipids. However, despite its key role in maintaining lung function, homeostasis and defences, the composition and biology of ELF, especially in respect of lipids, remain incompletely understood.

Objectives

To characterise the induced sputum lipidome of healthy adult individuals, and to examine associations between different ELF lipid phenotypes and the demographic characteristics within the study cohort.

Methods

Induced sputum samples were obtained from 41 healthy non-smoking adults, and their lipid compositions analysed using a combination of untargeted shotgun and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry methods. Topological data analysis (TDA) was used to group subjects with comparable sputum lipidomes in order to identify distinct ELF phenotypes.

Results

The induced sputum lipidome was diverse, comprising a range of different molecular classes, including at least 75 glycerophospholipids, 13 sphingolipids, 5 sterol lipids and 12 neutral glycerolipids. TDA identified two distinct phenotypes differentiated by a higher total lipid content and specific enrichments of diacyl-glycerophosphocholines, -inositols and -glycerols in one group, with enrichments of sterols, glycolipids and sphingolipids in the other. Subjects presenting the lipid-rich ELF phenotype also had significantly higher BMI, but did not differ in respect of other demographic characteristics such as age or gender.

Conclusions

We provide the first evidence that the ELF lipidome varies significantly between healthy individuals and propose that such differences are related to weight status, highlighting the potential impact of (over)nutrition on lung lipid metabolism.

     

Association between high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein,lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 and carotid atherosclerosis: A cross‐sectional study

High‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) and lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2) have been reported to be independent predictors of atherosclerosis. However, whether the combination of these two markers can improve the prediction of atherosclerosis is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association between combining hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 and predicting carotid atherosclerosis. A total of 1982 participants aged ≥40 years were included in this study. Hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 were measured by a high‐sensitivity nephelometry assay and quantitative sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Ultrasonography was performed on the bilateral carotid arteries to evaluate stenosis and plaques. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between the combination of the hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 levels and carotid plaques and stenosis. A total of 1579 (79.7%) and 181 (9.1%) subjects had carotid plaques and carotid stenosis, respectively. The group with high hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 levels had the highest prevalence of carotid plaques (90.6%) and stenosis (20.8%). A significant association was found between high hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 levels and carotid stenosis (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13‐5.09), but this combination was not associated with carotid plaques (OR: 2.62, 95% CI: 0.93‐7.38). The results suggested that the combination of hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 were better predictors than either protein alone with regard to carotid atherosclerosis.     

Screening of a beta-cypermethrin-degrading bacterial strain <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevibacillus parabrevis</Emphasis> BCP-09 and its biochemical degradation pathway

A novel beta-cypermethrin (Beta-CP)-degrading strain isolated from activated sludge was identified as Brevibacillus parabrevis BCP-09 based on its morphological and physio-biochemical characteristics, and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Strain BCP-09 could effectively degrade Beta-CP at pH 5.0–9.0, 20–40 °C, and 10–500 mg L^?1 Beta-CP. Under optimal conditions (pH 7.41, 38.9 °C, 30.9 mg L^?1 Beta-CP), 75.87% Beta-CP was degraded within 3 days. Beta-CP degradation (half-life, 33.45 h) and strain BCP-09 growth were respectively described using first-order-kinetic and logistic-kinetic models. Seven metabolites were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry- methyl salicylate, catechol, phthalic acid, salicylic acid, 3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid, 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde, and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA). The major Beta-CP metabolite, 3-PBA was further degraded into phenol, benzoic acid, and 4-methylhexanoic acid. BCP-09 also degraded aromatic compounds such as phenol, catechol, and protocatechuic acid. Beta-CP appears to be mainly degraded into 3-PBA, which is continuously degraded into smaller benzene or chain compounds. Thus, strain BCP-09 could form a complete degradation system for Beta-CP and might be considered a promising strain for application in the bioremediation of environments and agricultural products polluted by Beta-CP.     

青藏高原高寒草甸植被特征与温度、水分因子关系

以广布于青藏高原的高寒草甸为研究对象,进行模拟增温实验,探讨高寒草甸植被特征与温度、水分因子关系,并试图论证高寒草甸植被是否符合生物多样性代谢理论.结果表明:①高寒草甸植被物种多样性的对数与绝对温度的倒数呈显著线性递减关系,空气-地表-浅层土壤(0-20 cm)温度(R2 ＞0.6,P＜0.01)较深层土壤(40-100 cm)温度(R2＜0.5,P＜0.05)对物种多样性影响大;其植被新陈代谢平均活化能为0.998-1.85 eV,高于生物多样性代谢理论预测值0.6-0.7 eV,这是高寒草甸植被对长期低温环境适应进化的结果.②除趋势对应分析和冗余分析显示,温度对植被地上部分影响较大,而土壤水分对全株影响均较大,适当的增温与降水均可极显著促进高寒草甸植被生长.③逐步回归和通径分析显示,40 cm、60 cm深度土壤水分对植被地上部分产生直接影响,20 cm高度空气相对湿度和40 cm深度土壤温度对其产生间接影响;40 cm深度土壤温度和60 cm深度土壤水分对植被地下部分产生直接影响,红外地表温度对其产生间接影响.深层土壤温度和水分对高寒草甸植被具有影响作用,这可能与增温后冻土的融化有关,但其机理尚待进一步研究.     

Enhanced Functional Connectivity between Putamen and Supplementary Motor Area in Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a surprisingly heterogeneous disorder with symptoms including resting tremor, bradykinesia and rigidity. PD has been associated with abnormal task related brain activation in sensory and motor regions as well as reward related network. Although corticostriatal skeletomotor circuit dysfunction is implicated in the neurobiology of Parkinson’s disease, the functional connectivity within this circuit at the resting state is still unclear for PD. Here we utilized resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure the functional connectivity of striatum and motor cortex in 19 patients with PD and 20 healthy controls. We found that the putamen, but not the caudate, exhibited enhanced connectivity with supplementary motor area (SMA), using either the putamen or the SMA as the “seed region”. Enhanced SMA-amygdala functional connectivity was also found in the PD group, compared with normal controls. Our findings highlight the key role of hyper-connected putamen-SMC circuit in the pathophysiology of PD.     

细胞因子基因转导对人乳腺癌细胞MHC抗原及细胞膜糖蛋白表达的影响

为探讨细胞因子基因(人IL-2、IL-6)转导对于肿瘤细胞膜MHC抗原及细胞膜糖蛋白表达调控的影响,本文利用脂质体介导的方法,将含人IL-6、IL-2基因的逆转录病毒载体分别导入人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7细胞中,采用间接免疫荧光染色流式细胞仪测定法,对基因转导的瘤细胞细胞膜糖蛋白及MHC抗原表达进行测定。结果表明经两种基因修饰的MCF-7细胞MHCⅠ型抗原表达均获得增强,此外,基因转导细胞可程度不同地表现出细胞膜多种糖蛋白表达的变化。提示肿瘤细胞膜抗原及糖蛋白表达的改变可能是细胞因子基因转导影响肿瘤细胞免疫原性的重要结构基础。     

Analysis of the Maternal and Child Health Care Status in Suizhou City,Hubei Province,China, from 2005 to 2011

Background

Improving the health and well-being of women and children has long been a common goal throughout the world. From 2005 to 2011, Suizhou City had an annual average of 22,405 pregnant and parturient women (1.04% of the population) and 98,811 children under 5 years old (4.57% of the population). Understanding the status of maternal and child health care in Suizhou City during such period can provide the local health administrative department valid scientific bases upon which to construct effective policies.

Methods

Various types of annual reports on maternal and child health care were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

Results

Mortality rates for infants and children under 5 years showed a declining trend, while the rates of newborn home visiting, maternal health service coverage, and children health systematic management increased annually in Suizhou City from 2005 to 2011. The incidence of birth defect increased from 2.42‰ in 2005 to 3.89‰ in 2011. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) fluctuated from 8.39/100,000 to 28.77/100,000, which was much lower than the national MMR (30.0/100,000 in 2010). The rates of hospitalized delivery and births attended by trained health personnel for pregnant women increased to more than 90% in the past five years.

Conclusions

The improvements in maternal and child health care work in Suizhou City are worthy of recognition. Thus, the government should continue to increase funding in these areas to promote the complete enhancement of the maternal and child health care system.     

Diversity of prokaryotes associated with soils around coal-fire gas vents in MaNasi county of Xinjiang, China

Bacterial and archaeal diversity in surface soils of three coal-fire vents was investigated by T-RFLP analysis and clone libraries of 16S rRNA genes. Soil analysis showed that underground coal fires significantly influenced soil pH, moisture and NO₃ ^? content but had little effect on other elements, organic matter and available nutrients. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that bacterial community patterns in the soils were very similar, but abundance varied with geographic distance. A clone library from one soil showed that the bacterial community was mainly composed of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, Actinobacteria, and unidentified groups. Of these, Firmicutes was the most abundant, accounting for 71.4 % of the clones, and was mainly represented by the genera Bacillus and Paenibacillus. Archaeal phylotypes were closely related to uncultivated species of the phyla Crenarchaeota (97.9 % of clones) and Thaumarchaeota (2.1 %). About 28 % of archaeal phylotypes were associated with ammonia oxidization, especially phylotypes that were highly related to a novel, ammonia-oxidizing isolate from the phylum Thaumarchaeota. These results suggested that microbial communities in the soils were diverse and might contain a large number of novel cultivable species with the potential to assimilate materials by heterotrophic metabolism at high temperature.