Molecular and pathogenic characterization of new Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae strains from the coastline region of Fangchenggang city in China

Virulence assays and DNA polymorphism analyses were used to characterize 33 Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) strains collected from the coastline region of Fangchenggang city in China. Two new pathogenic races (FXP1 and FXP2), were determined by leaf-clipping inoculation of 12 near-isogenic International Rice-Bacterial Blight (IRBB) rice lines, each containing a single resistance gene. Race FXP1 consisted of twenty-eight strains that were incompatible on IRBB5 and IRBB7, while race FXP2 included five strains that were incompatible on IRBB5 and IRBB7 and moderately virulent on IRBB8 containing the xa8 gene. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis revealed that each probe of avrXa10 and IS1112 resolved two haplotypes. In a dendrogram generated from the combined RFLP data, the 33 Xoo strains were resolved into two clusters. There was a weak correlation (r = 0.53) between race and haplotype. All of the rice cultivars planted in the coastline region of Fangchenggang city were susceptible to the representative Xoo strains tested above. However, we found that four rice cultivars used as breeding materials in the laboratory could fully resist infection by the Xoo strains, suggesting that the isolated Xoo strains could be used to detect resistant rice cultivars suitable for planting in the local rice field.     

Development of rRNA-targeted probes for detection of Prorocentrum micans (Dinophyceae) using whole cell in situ hybridization

Prorocentrum is a common dinoflagellate genus along the Chinese seacoast, which frequently causes harmful algal blooms. Efforts to understand and prevent blooms caused by these harmful species require the development of methods for rapid and precise identification and quantification so that an adequate early warning of harmful algal blooms may be given. Here, we report the development and application of rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to aid in the detection of Prorocentrum micans. The hypervariable D1–D2 regions of a large subunit rDNA of a strain isolated from East China Sea identified as P. micans were first sequenced to design species-specific probes. Analysis of sequences identified as P. micans and deposited in GenBank revealed significant base differences among them and phylogenetic analyses revealed multiple clades within the taxon P. micans. Thus, it is likely that more than one taxonomic and genetically distinct entity has been identified as P. micans, if not misidentified. A series of probes were identified to one of these clades and tested for their specificity. Second, whole cell in situ hybridization procedures were established and the optimal probes were screened among the candidate probes. Next, cross-reactivity was performed to test the specificity of the probes and the detection reliability under various culture conditions, including different nutrient levels, temperatures, and light intensities. Finally, an improved protocol for natural samples was applied to the field material. The designed rRNA-targeted probe was specific, showing no cross-reactivity with other microalgae. The optimized detection protocol could be completed within 1.5 h. All target cells were speculated to be identified during all stages of their whole growth cycle under different culture conditions because the difference in fluorescence intensities throughout the experiment was not significant (p?>?0.05). The cell densities determined by FISH and light microscopy (LM) were comparable, without any significant difference (p?>?0.05) between them. In general, the established FISH probe was promising for specific, rapid, precise detection of a selected set of P. micans in natural samples and served as a good detection model for other Prorocentrum in the future.     

妇科恶性肿瘤术后阴道微生态状况分析

目的了解妇科恶性肿瘤术后患者阴道微生态的状况,探讨妇科恶性肿瘤术后阴道微生态评价的临床意义。方法选取100例妇科恶性肿瘤术后复查的患者,取阴道分泌物进行微生态评价,以同期30例绝经体检妇女作为对照。结果妇科恶性肿瘤术后阴道优势菌以乳酸杆菌为主的,占41%;菌群密集度多在＋ ＋ ～＋ ＋ ＋,占52%;菌群多样性多在＋ ＋ ～＋ ＋ ＋,44% ;PH^4.5,占35% ;VVC阳性率为4% ;阴道毛滴虫阳性率为7% ;BV阳性率为5% ;微生态失调的发生率占69%。结论（1）妇科恶性肿瘤术后,阴道微生态失调发生率明显增高;（2）妇科恶性肿瘤术后阴道微生态的失调与肿瘤的种类、恶性程度、手术范围、卵巢去留等无关,但术后时间越长,阴道微生态失调率越高;（3）评价妇科恶性肿瘤术后阴道微生态环境的状况,对预防与治疗术后生殖道感染具有重要指导意义。     

革兰阴性杆菌10年耐药性变化分析

目的 对重庆医科大学附属第二医院2001年1月1日至2009年12月31日10年临床标本中分离的主要革兰阴性杆菌耐药性变化进行分析,为临床合理用药提供依据.方法 采用回顾性方法对十年间大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌和不动杆菌的药敏结果用WHONET 5.4软件进行统计分析.结果 大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌对亚胺培南耐药率小于5％;对阿米卡星、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、头孢吡肟耐药率小于30％;对三代头孢、头孢西丁和氨曲南耐药率为40％左右;对青霉素类、喹诺酮类和磺胺类耐药率大于50％.铜绿假单胞菌对头孢他啶、头孢吡肟和亚胺培南耐药率小于40％;对其余监测抗生素耐药率大于50％.不动杆菌属对亚胺培南耐药率小于25％(2009年除外),对其余监测抗生素耐药率很高,维持在50％ ～ 96％.铜绿假单胞菌、鲍曼不动杆菌泛耐药菌检出率分别为0～14％和0～48％.结论 革兰阴性杆菌对常用抗菌药物的耐药已非常普遍,且有逐年升高的趋势;肠杆菌科对碳青霉烯类、阿米卡星、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、头孢吡肟耐药率相对较低;非发酵菌耐药性增加明显,铜绿假单胞菌、不动杆菌泛耐菌增加明显;严格控制抗菌药物的应用及耐药菌和泛耐药菌的传播和爆发流行已迫在眉睫.     

光敏剂HMME对人骨肉瘤细胞U-2OS的光动力作用及其作用机制的初步研究

目的：探讨光敏剂（HMME）介导的光动力疗法对人骨肉瘤细胞U-2OS的杀伤效应及机制研究。方法：使用不同浓度（0、10、20、30、40μg.ml-1）的光敏剂,采用不同光照能量（0、3、6、9 J.cm-2）照射人骨肉瘤细胞,与空白对照组、药物对照组（无光照但加光敏剂）和光照对照组（不加光敏剂但加光照）进行比较,MTT法检测细胞的存活率,选择半数有效量药物浓度和光照能量,作为实验组。以空白对照组为对照,采用Hoechst33342染色法,观察细胞凋亡情况。用western blot方法检测细胞凋亡蛋白caspase-7、caspase-9和PARP-1。结果：MTT结果显示,空白对照组、药物对照组和光照对照组对细胞存活率在96.7%和100%之间,药物的半数有效量为40.1μg.ml-（16 J.cm-2）和25.0μg.ml-（19 J.cm-2）。Hoechst33342染色法观察到实验组细胞明显凋亡。westen blotting检测结果,实验组与对照组相比,caspase-7、caspase-9和PARP-1表达明显增高。结论：HMME-PDT对人骨肉瘤细胞U-2OS有显著的杀伤效应,且呈光敏剂浓度和光照强度依赖性,其杀伤效应与caspase途径相关。     

Highly Active and Stable Graphene Tubes Decorated with FeCoNi Alloy Nanoparticles via a Template‐Free Graphitization for Bifunctional Oxygen Reduction and Evolution

Development of highly active and stable bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts from earth‐abundant elements remains a grand challenge for highly demanded reversible fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Carbon catalysts have many advantages over others due to their low cost, excellent electrical conductivity, high surface area, and easy functionalization. However, they typically cannot withstand the highly oxidative OER environment. Here, a new class of bifunctional electrocatalyst is reported, consisting of ultralarge sized nitrogen doped graphene tubes (N‐GTs) (>500 nm) decorated with FeCoNi alloy particles. These tubes are prepared from an inexpensive precursor, dicyandiamide, via a template‐free graphitization process. The ORR/OER activity and the stability of these graphene tube catalysts depend strongly on the transition metal precursors. The best performing FeCoNi‐derived N‐GT catalyst exhibits excellent ORR and OER activity along with adequate electrochemical durability over a wide potential window (0–1.9 V) in alkaline media. The measured OER current is solely due to desirable O₂ evolution, rather than carbon oxidation. Extensive electrochemical and physical characterization indicated that high graphitization degree, thicker tube walls, proper nitrogen doping, and presence of FeCoNi alloy particles are vital for high bifunctional activity and electrochemical durability of tubular carbon catalysts.     

Oligoclonal expansion of TCR <Emphasis Type="Italic">V</Emphasis>δ T cells may be a potential immune biomarker for clinical outcome of acute myeloid leukemia

Background

Recent data have shown that γδ T cells can act as mediators for immune defense against tumors. Our previous study has demonstrated that persisting clonally expanded TRDV4 T cells might be relatively beneficial for the outcome of patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, little is known about the distribution and clonality of the TRDV repertoire in T cell receptor (TCR) of γδ T cells and their effects on the clinical outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of this study was to assess whether the oligoclonal expansion of TCR Vδ T cells could be used as an immune biomarker for AML outcome.

Findings

γδ T cells were sorted from the peripheral blood of 30 patients with untreated AML and 12 healthy donors. The complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) sizes of eight TCR Vδ subfamily genes (TRDV1 to TRDV8) were analyzed in sorted γδ T cells using RT-PCR and GeneScan. The most frequently expressed TRDV subfamilies in the AML patients were TRDV8 (86.67 %) and TRDV2 (83.33 %), and the frequencies for TRDV1, TRDV3, TRDV4, and TRDV6 were significantly lower than those in healthy individuals. The most frequent clonally expanded TRDV subfamilies in the AML patients included TRDV8 (56.67 %) and TRDV4 (40 %). The clonal expansion frequencies of the TRDV2 and TRDV4 T cells were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals, whereas a significantly lower TRDV1 clonal expansion frequency was observed in those with AML. Moreover, the oligoclones of TRDV4 and TRDV8 were independent protective factors for complete remission. Furthermore, the oligoclonal expansion frequencies of TRDV5 and TRDV6 in patients with relapse were significantly higher than those in non-recurrent cases.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, we characterized for the first time a significant alteration in the distribution and clonality of the TRDV subfamily members in γδ T cells sorted from AML patients. Clonally expanded TRDV4 and TRDV8 T cells might contribute to the immune response directed against AML, while oligoclonal TRDV5 and TRDV6 might occur in patients who undergo relapse. While the function of such γδ T cell clones requires further investigation, TRDV γδ T cell clones might be potential immune biomarkers for AML outcome.

     

Temporal Patterns of Larval Fish Occurrence in a Large Subtropical River

Knowledge of temporal patterns of larval fish occurrence is limited in south China, despite its ecological importance. This research examines the annual and seasonal patterns of fish larval presence in the large subtropical Pearl River. Data is based on samples collected every two days, from 2006 to 2013. In total, 45 taxa representing 13 families and eight orders were sampled. The dominant larval family was Cyprinidae, accounting for 27 taxa. Squaliobarbus curriculus was the most abundant species, followed by Megalobrama terminalis, Xenocypris davidi, Cirrhinus molitorella, Hemiculter leuscisculus and Squalidus argentatus. Fish larvae abundances varied significantly throughout the seasons (multivariate analyses: Cluster, SIMPROF and ANOSIM). The greatest numbers occurred between May and September, peaking from June through August, which corresponds to the reproductive season. In this study, redundancy analysis was used to describe the relationship between fish larval abundance and associated environmental factors. Mean water temperature, river discharge, atmospheric pressure, maximum temperature and precipitation play important roles in larval occurrence patterns. According to seasonal variations, fish larvae occurrence is mainly affected by water temperature. It was also noted that the occurrence of Salanx reevesii and Cyprinus carpio larvae is associated with higher dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, higher atmospheric pressure and lower water temperatures which occur in the spring. On the other hand, M. terminalis, X. davidi, and C. molitorella are associated with high precipitation, high river discharge, low atmospheric pressure and low DO concentrations which featured during the summer months. S. curriculus also peaks in the summer and is associated with peak water temperatures and minimum NH₃–N concentrations. Rhinogobius giurinus occur when higher atmospheric pressure, lower precipitation and lower river discharges occur in the autumn. Dominant fish species stagger their spawning period to avoid intraspecific competition for food resources during early life stages; a coexistence strategy to some extent. This research outlines the environmental requirements for successful spawning for different fish species. Understanding processes such as those outlined in this research paper is the basis of conservation of fish community diversity which is a critical resource to a successful sustainable fishery in the Pearl River.     

NtGNL1基因通过调控囊泡运输影响烟草根毛的极性生长

极性生长是植物生长发育中的常见现象,但囊泡运输与极性生长的关系还未完全明确。花粉管和根毛是植物细胞极性生长的典型模式。早期研究显示NtGNL1(Nicotiana tabacum GNOM-LIKE 1)通过调节囊泡的后高尔基体转运来影响烟草的花粉管生长。本文以NtGNL1 RNAi转基因植株为材料,研究NtGNL1基因在根毛生长中的作用。结果表明,NtGNL1 RNAi转基因植株的根毛生长明显滞后于野生型,且其根毛出现膨大、弯折、扭曲等形态,与NtGNL1 RNAi转基因植株的花粉管异常形态类似。q RT-PCR检测RNAi转基因株系根毛中PIN1、PIN2、GL2、ROP6、RHD6基因的m RNA表达量,显示PIN2和GL2的表达量显著下调,PIN1、ROP6和RHD6的表达量变化不明显。FM4-64染色表明烟草根表皮细胞和根毛的囊泡分布都受到影响,即NtGNL1基因也影响根毛中的囊泡运输。BFA处理加剧了囊泡的聚集程度,提示根毛尖端还存在其它对BFA敏感并调控囊泡运输的基因。以上证据显示,NtGNL1基因通过囊泡运输途径影响烟草根毛的极性生长,NtGNL1基因的表达下调也影响了PIN2和GL2的表达,从而间接影响根毛的极性生长。     

Morphological Diversity of the Rod Spherule: A Study of Serially Reconstructed Electron Micrographs

Purpose

Rod spherules are the site of the first synaptic contact in the retina’s rod pathway, linking rods to horizontal and bipolar cells. Rod spherules have been described and characterized through electron micrograph (EM) and other studies, but their morphological diversity related to retinal circuitry and their intracellular structures have not been quantified. Most rod spherules are connected to their soma by an axon, but spherules of rods on the surface of the Mus musculus outer plexiform layer often lack an axon and have a spherule structure that is morphologically distinct from rod spherules connected to their soma by an axon. Retraction of the rod axon and spherule is often observed in disease processes and aging, and the retracted rod spherule superficially resembles rod spherules lacking an axon. We hypothesized that retracted spherules take on an axonless spherule morphology, which may be easier to maintain in a diseased state. To test our hypothesis, we quantified the spatial organization and subcellular structures of rod spherules with and without axons. We then compared them to the retracted spherules in a disease model, mice that overexpress Dscam (Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule), to gain a better understanding of the rod synapse in health and disease.

Methods

We reconstructed serial EM images of wild type and Dscam^GoF (gain of function) rod spherules at a resolution of 7 nm in the X-Y axis and 60 nm in the Z axis. Rod spherules with and without axons, and retracted spherules in the Dscam^GoF retina, were reconstructed. The rod spherule intracellular organelles, the invaginating dendrites of rod bipolar cells and horizontal cell axon tips were also reconstructed for statistical analysis.

Results

Stereotypical rod (R1) spherules occupy the outer two-thirds of the outer plexiform layer (OPL), where they present as spherical terminals with large mitochondria. This spherule group is highly uniform and composed more than 90% of the rod spherule population. Rod spherules lacking an axon (R2) were also described and characterized. This rod spherule group consists of a specific spatial organization that is strictly located at the apical OPL-facing layer of the Outer Nuclear Layer (ONL). The R2 spherule displays a large bowl-shaped synaptic terminal that hugs the rod soma. Retracted spherules in the Dscam^GoF retina were also reconstructed to test if they are structurally similar to R2 spherules. The misplaced rod spherules in Dscam^GoF have a gross morphology that is similar to R2 spherules but have significant disruption in internal synapse organization.

Conclusion

We described a morphological diversity within Mus musculus rod spherules. This diversity is correlated with rod location in the ONL and contributes to the intracellular differences within spherules. Analysis of the Dscam^GoF retina indicated that their R2 spherules are not significantly different than wild type R2 spherules, but that their retracted rod spherules have abnormal synaptic organization.