烟青虫核型多角体病毒的复制和染病后血淋巴蛋白的变化

用烟青虫(Hiliothis assulta)核型多角体病毒感染5龄初烟青虫幼虫,以染病后24、48·,72、96/120小时分别测定了虫体血淋巴蛋白浓度的变化。幼虫染病后24小时血淋巴蛋白浓度要高于同期对照组,72小时后染病幼虫血淋巴蛋白浓度较对照急剧下降。在染病及对照血淋巴样品中电泳分析(PAGE)三种蛋白(普通蛋白、糖蛋白和脂蛋白)均可分别染出22条、3条和3条带。分析结果表明,在虫体正常生长代谢过程中发生变化的主要蛋白可能大多为糖脂复合蛋白,但病毒的侵染能抑制这些变化的产生。电镜观察染病毒后幼虫的中肠组织和气管上皮组织,发现中肠染病轻微,不形成多角体。气管上皮细胞感染情况表明其属于对NPV感染较为敏感的组织之一,并在虫体染病后的病毒二次感染上可能起着重要作用。     

Immunomodulating effect of protein fractions isolated from bifidobacteria

The screening of the immunomodulating activity (IMA) of different protein fractions isolated from bifidobacteria was carried out and the capacity of these fractions for changing the proliferative activity of immunocompetent cells was evaluated. Soluble proteins were extracted from lyophilized and sonicated bacterial mass of B. bifidum strain 1 in Na2HPO4 (pH 8) in a water bath at 65 degrees C for 30 minutes. After the formation and removal of nucleic acid sediment the resulting supernatant fluid was dialyzed, its adsorption spectra were analyzed and the fluid was fractionated in a specially proposed device for preparative electrophoresis. Protein fractions were tested for IMA on spleen cells of CBA mice in the reaction of lymphocyte blast-transformation by the level of the inclusion 3H thymidine. The analysis of IMA of protein fractions revealed that their high-molecular components produced a pronounced dose-dependent effect on the proliferative activity of spleen cells. The fractions containing low-molecular components were either inactive (fraction 4) or active only in the maximum dose (fraction 5).     

Preliminary evaluation of non-native rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) impact on the Cederberg ghost frog (Heleophryne depressa) in South Africa’s Cape Fold Ecoregion

We evaluated the impact of non-native rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss on a population of endemic Cedarberg ghost frog Heleophryne depressa in the upper Krom River (Olifants-Doring River Catchment, Cape Fold Ecoregion). We compared H. depressa abundance (using kick-sampling and underwater video analysis) and environmental conditions between sites above and below a waterfall that marks the upper distribution limit of O. mykiss. Heleophryne depressa abundance was significantly greater above the waterfall than that below it, and, because there was no significant difference in measured environmental variables, O. mykiss presence is identified as the most likely explanation for the observed decrease in H. depressa abundance.     

Distribution and conservation of mobile elements in the genus Drosophila

Essentially nothing is known of the origin, mode of transmission, and evolution of mobile elements within the genus Drosophila. To better understand the evolutionary history of these mobile elements, we examined the distribution and conservation of homologues to the P, I, gypsy, copia, and F elements in 34 Drosophila species from three subgenera. Probes specific for each element were prepared from D. melanogaster and hybridized to genomic DNA. Filters were washed under conditions of increasing stringency to estimate the similarity between D. melanogaster sequences and their homologues in other species. The I element homologues show the most limited distribution of all elements tested, being restricted to the melanogaster species group. The P elements are found in many members of the subgenus Sophophora but, with the notable exception of D. nasuta, are not found in the other two subgenera. Copia-, gypsy-, and F-element homologues are widespread in the genus, but their similarity to the D. melanogaster probe differs markedly between species. The distribution of copia and P elements and the conservation of the gypsy and P elements is inconsistent with a model that postulates a single ancient origin for each type of element followed by mating-dependent transmission. The data can be explained by horizontal transmission of mobile elements between reproductively isolated species.      

Temporal and spatial fluctuations of heavy metals in Opa Reservoir,Ile-Ife,Nigeria

The Opa Reservoir, established for water supply to the Obafemi Awolowo University community, over the years has received direct linkage to township drains as a result of the widening and dredging of its river channels. The current study aimed at documenting monthly heavy metal loads at its riverine, transition and lacustrine zones in 2012–2013. Most of the heavy metals, analysed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, occurred within wide ranges, with coefficients of variation ranging from 60% to 300%, although the differences in heavy metal loads between the different zones were statistically insignificant at both the surface and bottom levels. The overall order of dominance of the metals was Ni > Cu > Fe > Zn > Cd = Cr > Pb, with nickel concentration being very high throughout. Heavy metal total mean concentration was higher during the rainy season (1.889 mg l?1) than the dry season (1.503 mg l?1) irrespective of sampling sites, having highly significant seasonal differences (p < 0.001) in Ni, Cd, Fe and Cu concentrations. The mean concentrations of Zn (0.074 mg l?1), Fe (0.176 mg l?1), Cu (0.507 mg l?1) and Pb (0.004 mg l?1) were within the WHO acceptable limit. However, the recorded levels of toxic elements Cd (0.031 mg l?1) and Ni (0.905 mg l?1) pose potential health risk to water consumers.     

Trophic ecology and persistence of invasive silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in an oligotrophic South African impoundment

The alien invasive silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix established a self-sustaining feral population in an oligotrophic impoundment, Flag Boshielo Dam, in South Africa. The ability of this population to persist in a dam with low algal biomass (median annual suspended chlorophyll a = 0.08 µg l^?1), and limited access to rivers considered large enough for successful spawning, has implications for their invasive potential in other systems. Stomach content and stable isotope analysis were used to assess the trophic ecology of H. molitrix, which was then compared with indigenous Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus, on a seasonal basis during 2011. Hypophthalmichthys molitrix are generalist filter feeders, with a diet consisting primarily of sediment, vegetative detritus, dinoflagellates and diatoms. The dominance of sediments in their stomachs suggests occasional benthic scavenging. However, H. molitrix occupied a higher trophic level (TL = 2.8) than expected, suggesting that this population subsidised their diet with an unidentified dietary constituent, characterised by enriched nitrogen values. Although the stomach contents indicated dietary overlap between H. molitrix and O. mossambicus, stable isotopes revealed fine-scale resource partitioning, despite both species occupying the same trophic level. Nonetheless, the persistence of this feral H. molitrix population in an oligotrophic impoundment highlights their phenotypic plasticity.     

The initiation of free radical peroxidation of low-density lipoproteins by glucose and its metabolite methylglyoxal: a common molecular mechanism of vascular wall injure in atherosclerosis and diabetes

It was found that glucose in the range of concentrations 12.5–100 mM stimulated Cu²⁺–mediated free radical peroxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from human blood plasma. Considering the kinetic parameters of LDL peroxidation we proposed that intensification of this process may be caused by formation of free radical intermediates of glucose auto-oxidation. Addition of SOD to the medium inhibited LDL oxidation, indicating the formation of superoxide anion-radicals under autoxidation of glucose. Similarly, SOD inhibited free radical peroxidation of liposomes from egg lecithin in the presence of glucose that confirms the generation of superoxide radicals under co-oxidation of unsaturated lipids and glucose. Normalization of glucose level in the blood of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during therapy was accompanied by a significant decrease in LDL oxidation in vivo (the decrease in primary and secondary lipoperoxidation products). The formation of superoxide anion-radicals was observed during interaction of aminoacid l-lysine with a product of glucose oxidative metabolism–methylglyoxal, but not with a product of lipoperoxidation malonyldialdehyde. In accordance with the foregoing the administration of sugar-lowering drug metformin, which binds and utilizes methylglyoxal, caused a stronger inhibition of LDL peroxidation in the blood of patients with diabetes mellitus, probably due to decrease in methylglyoxal-dependent generation of superoxide anion-radicals. Based on the results we set out the hypothesis about autocatalytic mechanism of free radical reactions involving natural dicarbonyls and suppose the common molecular mechanism of vascular wall injury in atherosclerosis and diabetes.