Intercropping Enhances Productivity and Maintains the Most Soil Fertility Properties Relative to Sole Cropping

Yield and nutrient acquisition advantages are frequently found in intercropping systems. However, there are few published reports on soil fertility in intercropping relative to monocultures. A field experiment was therefore established in 2009 in Gansu province, northwest China. The treatments comprised maize/faba bean, maize/soybean, maize/chickpea and maize/turnip intercropping, and their correspoding monocropping. In 2011 (the 3^rd year) and 2012 (the 4^th year) the yields and some soil chemical properties and enzyme activities were examined after all crop species were harvested or at later growth stages. Both grain yields and nutrient acquisition were significantly greater in all four intercropping systems than corresponding monocropping over two years. Generally, soil organic matter (OM) did not differ significantly from monocropping but did increase in maize/chickpea in 2012 and maize/turnip in both years. Soil total N (TN) did not differ between intercropping and monocropping in either year with the sole exception of maize/faba bean intercropping receiving 80 kg P ha⁻¹ in 2011. Intercropping significantly reduced soil Olsen-P only in 2012, soil exchangeable K in both years, soil cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) in 2012, and soil pH in 2012. In the majority of cases soil enzyme activities did not differ across all the cropping systems at different P application rates compared to monocrops, with the exception of soil acid phosphatase activity which was higher in maize/legume intercropping than in the corresponding monocrops at 40 kg ha⁻¹ P in 2011. P fertilization can alleviate the decline in soil Olsen-P and in soil CEC to some extent. In summary, intercropping enhanced productivity and maintained the majority of soil fertility properties for at least three to four years, especially at suitable P application rates. The results indicate that maize-based intercropping may be an efficient cropping system for sustainable agriculture with carefully managed fertilizer inputs.     

重组人干扰素—β的中试研究

从大肠杆菌中大规模纯化新型干扰素β(IFN-βser17).首先建立IFN-βser17发酵和纯化工艺,连续大量纯化三批,并对纯化终产品进行全面鉴定.建立了稳定的发酵和纯化工艺流程,中试三批菌产量平均为4.33g/L,IFNβser17的表达量平均为20%,经破碎、粗提、精制后IFN-βser17的比活达2×107IU/mg以上,纯度超过96%,其他检定项目也均符合规程要求.     

MMP-12-mediated by SARM-TRIF signaling pathway contributes to IFN-γ-independent airway inflammation and AHR post RSV infection in nude mice

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most frequently observed pathogens during infancy and childhood. However, the corresponding pathogenesis has not been determined to date. We previously demonstrated that IFN-γ plays an important role in RSV pathogenesis, and SARM-TRIF-signaling pathway could regulate the production of IFN-γ. This study is to investigate whether T cells or innate immune cells are the predominant producers of IFN-γ, and further to explore other culprits in addition to IFN-γ in the condition of RSV infection.

Methods

Normal BALB/c mice and nude mice deficient in T cells were infected intranasally with RSV. Leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were counted, lung histopathology was examined, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was measured by whole-body plethysmography. IFN-γ and MMP-12 were detected by ELISA. MMP408, a selective MMP-12 inhibitor, was given intragastrically. Resveratrol, IFN-γ neutralizing antibody and recombinant murine IFN-γ were administered intraperitoneally. SARM and TRIF protein were semi-quantified by Western blot. siRNA was used to knock-down SARM expression.

Results

RSV induced significant airway inflammation and AHR in both mice; IFN-γ was significantly increased in BALB/c mice but not in nude mice. MMP-12 was dramatically increased in both mice but earlier in nude mice. When MMP-12 was inhibited by MMP408, RSV-induced respiratory symptoms were alleviated. SARM was significantly suppressed while TRIF was significantly enhanced in both mice strains. Following resveratrol administration in nude mice, 1) SARM inhibition was prevented, 2) TRIF and MMP-12 were correspondingly down-regulated and 3) airway disorders were subsequently alleviated. Moreover, when SARM was efficiently knocked down using siRNA, TRIF and MMP-12 were markedly enhanced, and the anti-RSV effects of resveratrol were remarkably abrogated. MMP-12 was significantly increased in the IFN-γ neutralizing antibody-treated BALB/c mice but reduced in the recombinant murine IFN-γ-treated nude mice.

Conclusions

MMP-12 can result in at least part of the airway inflammation and AHR independent of IFN-γ. And SARM-TRIF- signaling pathway is involved in regulating the overproduction of MMP-12. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first that has examined the effects of SARM on MMP-12 and further highlights the potential to target SARM-TRIF-MMP-12 cascades to treat RSV infection.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-015-0176-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Enhancement in Myocardial Infarction Rat Model under Ultrasound Combined with Nitric Oxide Microbubbles

Objective

This study evaluated the effects of ultrasound combined with the homemade nitric oxide (NO) micro-bubble destruction on the in vitro proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Furthermore, we studied whether or not irradiation of the NO micro-bubble combined with bone-marrow derived MSC infusion had a better effect on treating myocardial infarction. The possible mechanism of MSC delivery into the infarcted myocardium was also investigated.

Methods

The murine bone marrow-derived MSCs were isolated, cultured, irradiated, and combined with different concentrations of NO microbubbles. MTT proliferation assay, annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection, migration assay, and RT-PCR were performed 24 h after the irradiation. The NO micro-bubbles was a intravenously injected, followed by the infusion of MSCs, which were labeled by CM-Dil. Myocardium was harvested 48 h later and the distribution of MSCs was observed by laser scanning confocal microscope after frozen sectioning. Echocardiography, histological examination, RT-PCR, and western blotting were performed four weeks after the cell transplantation.

Results

Ultrasound combined with 1:70 NO micro-bubbles had no significant impact on the proliferation or apoptosis of MSCs. Transwell chamber findings demonstrated that MSCs migrated more efficiently in group that underwent ultrasound combined with 1:70 NO micro-bubbles. The Real-time PCR results indicated that the expression of CXCR4 was much higher in the group undergoing ultrasound combined with 1:70 NO micro-bubbles. The normalized fluorescence intensity greatly increased in the group of US+NO micro-bubbles and the cardiac function was also markedly improved. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the capillary density was much greater in the group of US+NO micro-bubbles as compared to that of the other groups. RT-PCR and western blotting also revealed a higher SDF-1 and VEGF expression in the group of US+NO micro-bubbles.

Conclusions

NO micro-bubbles could be used in the cell transplantation, which efficiently promoted the MSC homing into the infarcted myocardium.     

阴山山脉天然侧柏林的基本特征

阴山山脉是中国天然侧柏(Platycladus orientalis)林分布的西北界, 侧柏林也是阴山山脉最主要的森林群落之一。它具有较好的固坡、保土、涵养水源及改善生境的作用。为了解阴山山脉天然侧柏林种群、群落特征和空间分布规律以更好地为侧柏林的经营提供理论依据, 我们以阴山山脉大青山及乌拉山段天然侧柏林为研究对象, 通过样方调查, 分析了侧柏林的植物区系特征, 并根据群落各层片物种优势度将该区侧柏林划分为6个群丛类型, 分析了各群丛特征及其空间分布的生态序列。结果表明: (1)阴山山脉天然侧柏林群落共出现维管植物96种, 隶属于30科70属, 种的地理成分包括8个类型18个亚型, 其中东古北极分布最多, 其次为东亚分布; (2)从群落结构分析, 发育良好的侧柏群落表现为完整的乔木层和草本层, 灌木盖度普遍偏低, 基本不能成层, 在干扰较为严重的地段甚至消失; (3)各群丛侧柏的径级结构基本呈正态分布, 属于稳定的群落类型, 侧柏的平均株高随胸径的增大整体呈增长型; (4)该区侧柏林受干扰较严重, 加之严酷的生境条件, 建群种侧柏的平均胸径较小且植株分叉较多, 不适合作为用材林, 建议将其作为生态公益林及种源林加以保护利用。     

系统发生分析发现牛病毒性腹泻病病毒新基因亚型

本研究对我国首次分离获得的牛源牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)毒株Changchun 184(CC-184)和猪源牛病毒 性腹泻病毒ZM-95进行了遗传衍化关系研究。选择主要抗原E2基因为研究对象,首先应用RT-PCR及套式PCR 克隆得到CC-184和ZM-95的E2片段,通过序列测定发现CC-184和ZM-95 E2基因长度分别为1,122bp和1, 125bp,各自编码374和375个氨基酸残基。核酸序列同源性比较和系统发生分析表明2株病毒均属于BVDV-1, CC-184与Osloss亲缘关系最近,都属于已有的b基因亚型,其E2基因同源性达91．8％。而ZM-95的E2基因有 一个特征性的变异区,包含一个密码子序列插入,这一变异区编码了一段有别于其他瘟病毒的五肽氨基酸序列 HYKKK。结果还表明ZM-95与BVDV-1现有的5个基因亚型的亲缘关系均较远,E2基因同源性最高(与Oregon c24v)只有72．4％。而BVDV-1亚型内毒株间的同源性大于85％,亚型间的同源性在69％～75％之间,充分说明 ZM-95是BVDV-1中一个新发现的基因亚型。通常认为猪源BVDV来源于牛,应该与牛源BVDV有十分近的遗 传关系,但是本研究发现ZM-95与其他已知牛源BVDV较低的基因同源性说明猪源BVDV还具有独立的遗传衍 化与传播来源的可能性。