Cyclic di-GMP-dependent Signaling Pathways in the Pathogenic Firmicute Listeria monocytogenes

We characterized key components and major targets of the c-di-GMP signaling pathways in the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, identified a new c-di-GMP-inducible exopolysaccharide responsible for motility inhibition, cell aggregation, and enhanced tolerance to disinfectants and desiccation, and provided first insights into the role of c-di-GMP signaling in listerial virulence. Genome-wide genetic and biochemical analyses of c-di-GMP signaling pathways revealed that L. monocytogenes has three GGDEF domain proteins, DgcA (Lmo1911), DgcB (Lmo1912) and DgcC (Lmo2174), that possess diguanylate cyclase activity, and three EAL domain proteins, PdeB (Lmo0131), PdeC (Lmo1914) and PdeD (Lmo0111), that possess c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase activity. Deletion of all phosphodiesterase genes (ΔpdeB/C/D) or expression of a heterologous diguanylate cyclase stimulated production of a previously unknown exopolysaccharide. The synthesis of this exopolysaccharide was attributed to the pssA-E (lmo0527-0531) gene cluster. The last gene of the cluster encodes the fourth listerial GGDEF domain protein, PssE, that functions as an I-site c-di-GMP receptor essential for exopolysaccharide synthesis. The c-di-GMP-inducible exopolysaccharide causes cell aggregation in minimal medium and impairs bacterial migration in semi-solid agar, however, it does not promote biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. The exopolysaccharide also greatly enhances bacterial tolerance to commonly used disinfectants as well as desiccation, which may contribute to survival of L. monocytogenes on contaminated food products and in food-processing facilities. The exopolysaccharide and another, as yet unknown c-di-GMP-dependent target, drastically decrease listerial invasiveness in enterocytes in vitro, and lower pathogen load in the liver and gallbladder of mice infected via an oral route, which suggests that elevated c-di-GMP levels play an overall negative role in listerial virulence.     

Seasonal occurrence of Aphis glycines and physiological responses of soybean plants to its feeding

The soybean aphid Aphis glycines Matsumura （Hemiptera： Aphididae） is an important pest of soybean in China. To monitor and manage this pest effectively it is neces-sary to understand its population dynamics and demographics, as well as the physiological responses of soybean plants to its feeding. In this study, using field surveying and suction-trap monitoring, we investigated the population dynamics of the soybean aphid in Xiuyan County, Liaoning Province in northeastern China during 2009-2012. The results indicatedthat the population dynamics of the soybean aphid followed a unimodal curve distribution, with the insect generally colonizing soybean fields from the middle of June to early Julyand the population reaching a peak between early July and early August. On the whole, soybean aphids occurred in suction-traps at least 2 weeks earlier than they were foundin field surveys. A total of 72 alates were collected by suction-trapping over the 4 years, with the earliest alate captures occurring on 28 May in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 4 June in 2010. The life table parameters clearly showed that this aphid had a short doubling time （4.73 ± 0.21 days）, and 7.36± 0.98 nymphs were produced by a soybean aphid adult during its lifetime （13.57 ± 0.30 days）. Finally, biochemical assays indicated that the amount of malondialdehyde and the activities of four defense-related enzymes in soybean leavessignificantly changed between 0 day and 7 days of aphid infestation. Polyphenol oxidase （PPO） and catalase （CAT） activities increased more dramatically after 1 day of aphid feed-ing. In addition, significantly higher levels of superoxide dismutase and CAT were found after aphid feeding for 7 days, whereas there was no significant change in the activitiesof peroxidase and PPO. Consequently, this study will be beneficial in determining the seasonal occurrence of the soybean aphid and selecting insect-resistant soybean varieties,and thus in developing a theoretical framework for appropriate management strategies.     

一个中国Gilbert综合征家系的遗传学分析

对一个中国汉族Gilbert综合征遗传家系致病基因突变位点进行鉴定,以期了解该病的分子遗传学基础。首先提取先证者基因组DNA,PCR扩增尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖醛酸转移酶UGT1A1基因的5个外显子,以琼脂糖电泳鉴定PCR产物,纯化后直接测序鉴定。基因扫描显示,与血清胆红素水平密切相关的UGT1A1基因在第1和第5外显子存在纯合突变,而 UGT1A1基因启动子区域和内含子/外显子剪接边界位点序列未检测到突变。进一步对其他家系成员该基因的相应位点进行突变检测,结果显示他们在第1和第5外显子也存在杂合突变,其中还有两个成员在启动子区域检测到(TA)插入突变。对家系成员未抗凝新鲜血液进行生化检测证实了基因突变分析的结果。综合以上结果发现该家系三种突变并存,致病因素为第1和/或第5外显子突变,为显性遗传,两种突变位点纯合导致先证者出现严重胆红素代谢功能障碍。该家系因此成为Gilbert综合征突变位点及其致病机理研究的一个典型临床病例。     

子宫-胎盘血管紧张素及其受体

子宫－胎盘中存在局部肾素－血管紧张素系统（ｒｅｎｉｎ－ａｎｇｉｏｔｅｎｓｉｎ ｓｙｓｔｅｍ,ＲＡＳ）。血管紧张素的分布较广泛,胎盘合体滋养层、子宫腺体、肌肉和血管壁均可见ＡｎｇⅡ的免疫阳性染色。胎盘主要表达血管紧张素Ⅰ型受体,子宫至少有两种血管紧张素受体亚型,其分布与数量存在种间差异。血管紧张素Ⅰ型受体与Ｇ蛋白偶联,可以激活三种不同的信号途径,Ⅱ型受体能否与Ｇ蛋白偶联及其信号转导途径仍有不同看法。     

微生物学实验网上预习与管理系统及其在实验教学中的应用

实验预习是实验教学的首要环节,是学生在开放实验室高效实验的基本保证.针对我校微生物学实验的教学特点和要求,开发设计了微生物学实验网上预习与管理系统并应用于微生物实验教学中.该系统集学生预习和教师管理于一体,每个实验都包括有实验目的,实验原理、实验材料与仪器设备、实验演示、模拟实验和预习测试等6个环节.教学实践证明,该系统的应用从根本上确保了学生实验预习的质量,使实验教学管理更加规范、标准和高效,有效地保证了微生物实验教学质量.     

一株产絮凝剂不动杆菌的筛选及其絮凝特性

从活性污泥中筛选出一株高效的微生物絮凝剂产生菌,鉴定为鲍曼不动杆菌.蚕豆根尖细胞微核试验未显示该菌株所产絮凝剂具有遗传毒性.该菌产絮凝剂的最佳碳源和氮源分别为葡萄糖和酵母浸出汁,培养时间为24 h.在絮凝体系中加入Ca2 能明显提高发酵液的絮凝率.在pH为8.0时对高岭土悬浊液和污水具有良好的絮凝效果.     

科研设计性大实验在微生物学实验教学中的应用

探讨了在工科专业的微生物实验教学中结合科研工作开展科研设计性大实验的方法与对师生的影响, 分析了开展科研设计性大实验存在的问题。科研设计性大实验在本科生教学实践中的应用表明该方法可促进本科生的专业学习, 提升本科生的理论应用能力及科研创新能力, 是具有推广意义的教学新模式。     

Lysobacter antibioticus 13-1菌株抗菌物质鉴定及对水稻白叶枯病的防治效果

【目的】为了明确对水稻白叶枯病具有优质防效的生防细菌——抗生素溶杆菌13-1菌株抗菌物质及对白叶枯病的防治效果。【方法】研究采用高效液相色谱、质谱、13C核磁共振谱、氢核磁共振谱、电喷雾质谱等分析方法。【结果】13-1产生4种抑菌活性组分:6-甲氧基-10-氧基-1-吩嗪醇、吩嗪、吩嗪-1-羧酸及1-羟基-6-甲氧基吩嗪。4种吩嗪类物质对水稻白叶枯病原细菌均具有抑菌活性。田间小区试验表明,菌株13-1发酵液对水稻白叶枯病的防效在60%以上。【结论】研究明确了菌株13-1产生的抗菌物质为吩嗪类物质,这是国内关于吩嗪类物质控制水稻白叶枯病的首次报道。     

一种调控脂解的重要蛋白——围脂滴蛋白(Perilipin)

围脂滴蛋白（perilipin）是脂滴相关蛋白家族的核心成员之一,是定位于脂滴表面的高磷酸化的蛋白,对脂肪组织中甘油三酯的代谢有双重调节作用,既可通过阻止脂肪酶接近脂滴降低基础状态下的脂解,又可促进激素刺激的脂肪分解.Perilipin在脂代谢中发挥重要作用,其表达调控可能与肥胖及其相关代谢疾病如糖尿病、胰岛素抵抗等有重要关系.本文主要介绍了perilipin的发现、命名、结构特征以及激素和转录因子对perilipin的调控,并阐述了其与相关脂肪酶间的相互作用.目前的研究主要集中于围脂滴蛋白（perilipin）和激素敏感脂肪酶（HSL）之间,与新近发现的脂肪酶脂肪三酰甘油脂酶（ATGL）的相互作用则有待于进一步研究.     

三唑磷降解菌的筛选及其降解途径研究

从三唑磷生产厂周围的土壤中用土壤富集的方法筛选分离出一株三唑磷降解菌Klebsiella sp.,它能以三唑磷为唯一碳源、唯一氮源、唯一磷源生长同时实现对三唑磷的降解,三唑磷作为唯一氮源时的降解速度最快,是实现三唑磷降解的最佳营养方案。在三唑磷为唯一氮源时,1000 mg/L的三唑磷浓度对菌体降解无抑制作用。此降解菌首先通过水解作用实现对TAP 的降解,之后把水解产物进一步降解为无毒的无机物质。降解菌的这些降解特性表明了它用于生物降解消除三唑磷污染的巨大潜力。