Core alpha1,3-fucose is a key part of the epitope recognized by antibodies reacting against plant N-linked oligosaccharides and is present in a wide variety of plant extracts

Carbohydrates have been suggested to account for some IgE cross- reactions between various plant, insect, and mollusk extracts, while some IgG antibodies have been successfully raised against plant glycoproteins. A rat monoclonal antibody raised against elderberry abscission tissue (YZ1/2.23) and rabbit polyclonal antiserum against horseradish peroxidase were screened for reactivity in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against a range of plant glycoproteins and extracts as well as neoglycoproteins, bee venom phospholipase, and several animal glycoproteins. Of the oligosaccharides tested, Man3XylFucGlcNAc2(MMXF3) derived from horseradish peroxidase was the most potent inhibitor of the reactivity of both YZ1/2.23 and anti- horseradish peroxidase to native horseradish peroxidase glycoprotein. The reactivity of YZ1/2. 23 and anti-horseradish peroxidase against Sophora japonica lectin was most inhibited by a neoglycoconjugate of bromelain glycopeptide cross-linked to bovine serum albumin, while the defucosylated form of this conjugate was inactive as an inhibitor. A wide range of plant extracts was found to react against YZ1/2.23 and anti-horseradish peroxidase, with particularly high reactivities recorded for grass pollen and nut extracts. All these reactivities were inhibitable with the bromelain glycopeptide/bovine serum albumin conjugate. Bee venom phospholipase and whole bee venom reacted weakly with YZ1/2.23 but more strongly with anti-horseradish peroxidase in a manner inhibitable with the bromelain glycopeptide/bovine serum albumin conjugate, while hemocyanin from Helix pomatia reacted poorly with YZ1/2.23 but did react with anti-horseradish peroxidase. It is concluded that the alpha1, 3-fucose residue linked to the chitobiose core of plant glycoproteins is the most important residue in the epitope recognized by the two antibodies studied, but that the polyclonal anti-horseradish peroxidase antiserum also contains antibody populations that recognize the xylose linked to the core mannose of many plant and gastropod N-linked oligosaccharides.      

西藏野生芥菜型油菜构件种群相互关系及其与气候因素的灰色关联度分析

以生物构件理论为基础,运用灰色关联分析技术对西藏野生芥菜型油菜种群构件结构与环境因子的关系进行了研究。结果表明:1)每株角果数、每角果粒数和粒重是产量构成的重要指标,随着每株角果数、每角果粒数和粒重的增大,西藏野生芥菜型油菜的产量明显增加,它们之间的构件因子关联度较大;2)主茎系统是西藏野生芥菜型油菜植株的基础,其间的关联性显示了西藏野生芥菜型油菜植株构件组成的整合作用;3)一级分枝长度、一级分枝角果数、二级分枝数、一级分枝粗度之间有较大的关联度,但与一级分枝发生高度关联度相对较小;4)研究的7个环境因子与西藏野生芥菜型油菜种群的生长关系均较密切,且温度是影响西藏野生芥菜型油菜分布和生命活动相对重要的环境因子,而降水为次要因子。     

Microsatellite loci for population and parentage analysis in the Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis de Blainville, 1817)

We developed specific primers for microsatellite DNA regions for the Amazon River dolphin or boto Inia geoffrensis, for use in population and conservation genetic studies. We also tested their transferability for two other species, Pontoporia blainvillei (sister taxon of I. geoffrensis) and Sotalia guianensis. A total of 12 microsatellite loci were polymorphic for the boto. An additional 25 microsatellite loci previously isolated from other cetacean species were also tested in the boto. The 26 polymorphic microsatellite loci indicate they will be excellent markers for studies of population structure and kinship relations of the boto.     

反义锁核酸阻断耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌agr群体感应系统

目的:利用反义策略,设计、筛选针对agrA mRNA的反义锁核酸,阻断agr群体感应系统,降低MRSA毒力因子的表达,减小细菌生存压力,为抗耐药菌感染提供一种新策略。方法:应用Primer Premier 5.0和RNA structure 4.5两种软件,设计、筛选2条针对agrA mRNA的反义寡核苷酸序列,对其进行锁核酸修饰,并与透膜肽(KFF)3K共价连接,将这两条反义序列导入细菌体内。体外与MRSA共培养,观察细菌生存情况。实时定量PCR检测其对agrA及agr群体感受系统的效应分子RNAⅢ和下游毒力基因hla的转录水平的影响,Western blot检测其是否能抑制α-溶血素的表达。结果:两条反义锁核酸序列PLNA34和PLNA522在体外均无抗菌活性,但都能不同程度的抑制agrA,RNAⅢ和hla的转录水平;相比较而言,PLNA34的抑制效果更佳,并能明显抑制α-溶血素的分泌表达。结论:agrA可作为抗MRSA感染的新靶点,为新型抗MRSA药物的研发提供了理论基础。     

Reproductive system and fitness of Vriesea friburgensis,a self‐sterile bromeliad species

Reproductive biology and plant fertility are directly related to many aspects of plant evolution and conservation biology. Vriesea friburgensis is an epiphytic and terrestrial bromeliad endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. Hand‐pollination experiments were used to examine the reproductive system in a wild population of V. friburgensis. Plant fertility was assigned considering flower production, fruit and seed set, seed germination, and pollen viability. Self‐sterility observed from spontaneous selfing and manual self‐pollination treatments may be the consequence of late‐acting self‐incompatibility. Hand‐pollination results indicated no pollen limitation in the population studied. Floral biology features such as a few daily open flowers, nectar production, and sugar concentration corroborate hummingbirds as effective pollinators, although bees were also documented as pollinators. Components of fitness such as high flower, fruit, and seed production together with high seed and pollen viability indicate that this wild population is viable. From a conservation point of view, we highlight that this self‐sterile species depends on pollinator services to maintain its population fitness and viability through cross‐pollination. Currently, pollinators are not limited in this population of V. friburgensis. Conversely, the maintenance and continuous conservation of this community is essential for preserving this plant–pollinator mutualism.     

外源水杨酸对总状绿绒蒿种子萌发及生理特性的影响

以总状绿绒蒿（Meconopsis racemosa Maxim.）为实验材料,通过不同浓度水杨酸（SA）浸种处理,研究了SA在不同温度条件下对总状绿绒蒿种子萌发质量和相关生理特性的影响。结果表明,在5~30℃条件下,对总状绿绒蒿种子萌发都有不同程度影响,但在15~25℃条件下,萌发效果比较显著（P<0.05）,其中20℃萌发效果极为显著（P<0.01）;0.1~1.0 mmol·L^-1 SA浸种预处理明显促进了总状绿绒蒿种子的萌发,其萌发指数、发芽势、萌发率在0.1~0.7 mmol·L^-1 SA范围内呈显著增长趋势,其中0.7 mmol·L^-1 SA处理效果极为显著（P<0.01）;（3） SA浸种后总状绿绒蒿种子内可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸含量的变化同种子的萌发和生长呈相似趋势,用0.7 mmol·L^-1 SA处理后,种子内可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸的含量达到最高。通过SA浸种可以提高总状绿绒蒿种子的萌发率;并且SA在高温和低温条件下对其萌发有一定的缓解作用。     

STUDIES ON THE FORMATION AND STATE OF DETERMINATION OF THE TRUNK ORGANIZER IN THE NEWT, CYNOPS PYRRHOGASTER

Mesoderm formation in the presumptive trunk organizer was analyzed in gastrulae of Cynops pyrrhogaster. The presumptive trunk organizer showed little or no mesodermal differentiation in the beginning gastrula (0 h embryo). But as soon as the presumptive trunk organizer came into contact with the newly invaginated cranial archenteron roof, it rapidly formed mesoderm. This suggests that this differentiation was brought about by an inductive effect of the underlying cranial archenteron roof. For investigation of this possibility, the presumptive trunk organizer of 0 h embryos (Tr-0) and the newly invaginated cranial archenteron roof (presumptive pharyngeal endoderm and prechordal plate) of successive stages were cultured in isolation and by the sandwich technique. The newly invaginated presumptive pharyngeal endoderm and prechordal plate had no effect on mesoderm formation of the presumptive trunk organizer, and mesodermal differentiation of the combinations was similar to that of the Tr-0 alone. On the other hand, results showed that the prechordal plate, which came into contact with the still uninvaginated presumptive trunk organizer, stimulated dorsalisation of the weakly mesodermized trunk organizer. Based on these results, the stepwise process of mesoderm formation in the trunk organizer is discussed.     

Bioactive factors secreted from mesenchymal stromal cells protect the intestines from experimental colitis in a three-dimensional culture

Background aims

Although mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown therapeutic potential in intestinal tissue repair, controversy concerning their short survival and poor biodistribution in recipient tissues still remains. Therefore, we investigated the paracrine role of MSC in three-dimensional culture of colon with experimental colitis.

The presence of Compsocerops (Brachyopoidea: Chigutisauridae) (Late Triassic) in southern Brazil with comments on chigutisaurid palaeobiogeography

Abstract: Chigutisauridae is the longest‐lived trematosaurian clade (from early Triassic to early Cretaceous). They were reported in Argentina, Australia, India and South Africa. This contribution reports a putative chigutisaurid specimen in the Carnian of southern Brazil (Santa Maria Formation, Paraná Basin). The material comprises two skull fragments, a mandibular fragment, a clavicular blade and a humerus. Ontogenetic features point to an early development stage of the specimen. The presence of a long, straight and pointed tabular horn, which runs parallel to the skull midline towards its tip, and a distinctive projection in the posterior border of the postparietal indicates a close relationship of the Brazilian chigutisaurid with the Indian Compsocerops cosgriffi. Three distinctive and combined characters suggest that the Brazilian chigutisaurid is a distinctive specimen: the presence of an alar process of the jugal in the ventral margin of the orbit; jugal does not extend well beyond the anterior margin of the orbit; and tabular does not contact the parietal. These characters could justify the erection of a new taxon; however, they might reflect its immature ontogenetic stage as well. Accordingly, we attribute this new specimen to Compsocerops sp. Argentinean and Indian occurrences are dated as Norian, so the presence of a Carnian chigutisaurid in southern Brazil indicates that western Gondwana chigutisaurids have first occupied the Paraná Basin and later migrated towards west (to Argentina) and east (India). However, the presence of ghost chigutisaurid taxa cannot be dismissed, because their long temporal range contrasts with their still short (in comparison with other temnospondyl groups) geographic distribution. Hence, they might have been more geographically widespread than their fossil record suggests.