Parasite reliance on its host gut microbiota for nutrition and survival

Studying the microbial symbionts of eukaryotic hosts has revealed a range of interactions that benefit host biology. Most eukaryotes are also infected by parasites that adversely affect host biology for their own benefit. However, it is largely unclear whether the ability of parasites to develop in hosts also depends on host-associated symbionts, e.g., the gut microbiota. Here, we studied the parasitic wasp Leptopilina boulardi (Lb) and its host Drosophila melanogaster. Results showed that Lb successfully develops in conventional hosts (CN) with a gut microbiota but fails to develop in axenic hosts (AX) without a gut microbiota. We determined that developing Lb larvae consume fat body cells that store lipids. We also determined that much larger amounts of lipid accumulate in fat body cells of parasitized CN hosts than parasitized AX hosts. CN hosts parasitized by Lb exhibited large increases in the abundance of the bacterium Acetobacter pomorum in the gut, but did not affect the abundance of Lactobacillus fructivorans which is another common member of the host gut microbiota. However, AX hosts inoculated with A. pomorum and/or L. fructivorans did not rescue development of Lb. In contrast, AX larvae inoculated with A. pomorum plus other identified gut community members including a Bacillus sp. substantially rescued Lb development. Rescue was further associated with increased lipid accumulation in host fat body cells. Insulin-like peptides increased in brain neurosecretory cells of parasitized CN larvae. Lipid accumulation in the fat body of CN hosts was further associated with reduced Bmm lipase activity mediated by insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS). Altogether, our results identify a previously unknown role for the gut microbiota in defining host permissiveness for a parasite. Our findings also identify a new paradigm for parasite manipulation of host metabolism that depends on insulin signaling and the gut microbiota.Subject terms: Animal physiology, Microbial ecology     

血管紧张素转换酶纯化与性质研究

为了深入了解猪肺血管紧张素转换酶 (angiotensin converting enzyme,ACE)的性质和功能 ,对猪肺 ACE的分离纯化以及部分酶学性质进行了研究 .猪肺组织匀浆经 1 .6～ 2 .6mol/L硫酸铵分级沉淀等步骤后 ,利用亲和胶进行亲和层析分离 .2 0 0 g猪肺组织中提纯出 0 .79mg ACE,比活力 38.8U/mg,SDS- PAGE电泳鉴定为一条带 ,分子量约 1 80 k D,等电点 (p I)为 p H4.5,糖含量约 2 3.6% ,氨基酸组成分析发现猪肺 ACE分子中含有 1 346个氨基酸 ,其中酸性氨基酸含量较高 ,碘乙酸的修饰结果表明猪肺 ACE中巯基基团未参与酶的催化反应 .酶反应动力学结果显示 ,ACE催化 Fa PGG底物反应时的最适 p H大约为 p H 7.6,反应活化能 Ea=4.37× 1 0 4 J/mol,酶活性部位附近的组氨酸和具有类似 α-氨基性质的氨基酸可能参与了 ACE催化反应 .有关猪肺 ACE的基本生化性质、氨基酸组成以及酶学性质的结果 ,为今后深入研究奠定了基础 .     

CHIP facilitates ubiquitination of inducible nitric oxide synthase and promotes its proteasomal degradation

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is responsible for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis from l-arginine in response to inflammatory mediators. It is reported that iNOS is degraded mainly by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in RAW264.7 cells and human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. In this study, we showed that iNOS was ubiquitinated and degraded dependent on CHIP (COOH terminus of heat shock protein 70-interacting protein), a chaperone-dependent ubiquitin ligase. The results from overexpression and RNAi experiments demonstrated that CHIP decreased the protein level of iNOS, shortened the half-life of iNOS and attenuated the production of NO. Furthermore, CHIP promoted ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of iNOS by associating with iNOS. These results suggest that CHIP plays an important role in regulation iNOS activity.     

镉诱导金属硫蛋白在华溪蟹组织中的表达

采用体外暴露染毒法,研究了不同浓度与时间条件下,镉诱导河南华溪蟹(Sinopotamon henanense)金属硫蛋白(metallothionein,MT)在肝胰腺、肌肉、鳃和卵巢中的表达差异。镉浓度分别为0、14·5mg/L、29mg/L和58mg/L;处理时间依次为1d、3d和5d。利用镉血红蛋白饱和法和火焰原子吸收分光光度法(AAS)测定MT的蛋白含量。结果显示,用不同的染毒浓度和处理时间,镉在组织中诱导产生MT的含量有较大差异,其中肝胰腺MT的诱导量最大,变化规律也最明显;肌肉中也有较大量MT的表达;而鳃和卵巢MT的诱导量均较低。此外,本文分析了镉的浓度与时间梯度对诱导MT表达的影响与毒性效应机制。结论:组织不同,染毒浓度及时间不同,镉诱导MT的表达也不同,具有一定的组织差异性和规律性。     

铅锌矿尾矿场植被重建的生态学研究Ⅰ.尾矿对种子萌发的影响

在实验条件下,供试的林木、农作物及牧草种子均能在铅锌矿尾矿中萌发,其中萌发率与非污染土壤中的相近,多数种子的萌发速率低于对照组。供试植物幼苗出土30天内没有死苗现象,但与对照相比,株高下降28.4%,复叶数减少34.1%,生物量下降52.6%.     

鄱阳湖湿地不同土地利用方式下土壤微生物群落功能多样性

于2011年5月分别采集鄱阳湖围垦92、48a和38a的水稻田,退田还湖25a的退耕地以及自然湿地共5个样地的表层土壤,利用Biolog-ECO板技术对土壤微生物群落的单一碳源利用情况进行了测定,并结合群落指数和主成分分析(PCA)对培养72 h土壤微生物群落功能多样性变化进行了分析。结果表明:退耕地和自然湿地土壤微生物群落利用31种碳源的能力较强,来自不同围垦年限的土壤微生物群落利用碳源能力均较弱;且随围垦时间的增长,土壤微生物对碳源的利用能力呈降低的趋势。自然湿地、退耕地与围垦92、38a样地土壤之间存在显著的微生物功能多样性差异;围垦对土壤微生物代谢糖类、羧酸类、氨基酸类物质的影响最为明显。结果提示,围垦改变了湿地土壤微生物群落结构,退田还湖有助于湿地土壤微生物群落结构的恢复。     

镉离子诱导BA/F3β细胞发生奇特的细胞凋亡

细胞凋亡一般都伴随有ＤＮＡ 片段化, 活性氧含量增加, 并能被过量的Ｂｃｌ２ 所抑制。以ＢＡ／Ｆ３β细胞为模型, 利用ＭＴＴ 检测、Ｈｏｃｈｅｓｔ 染色以及透射电镜检测等技术却发现, 镉离子虽然可以诱导该细胞凋亡, 但是这种凋亡没有ＤＮＡ 片段化, 也没有活性氧含量增加。此外, 过量Ｂｃｌ２ 对这种凋亡也没有保护作用。因此, 可以确认镉离子诱导ＢＡ／Ｆ３β细胞发生了奇特的细胞凋亡。     

Fluorescent probes to evaluate the physiological state and activity of microbial biocatalysts: a guide for prokaryotic and eukaryotic investigation

Many fluorescent techniques are employed to evaluate the viability and activity of microbial cells used in biotechnology. These techniques are sometimes complex and the interpretation of results opened to misunderstanding. Moreover, new developments are constantly proposed especially concerning a more accurate evaluation of the state of the cells including eukaryotic microorganisms. This paper aims at presenting to biotechnologists unfamiliar with fluorescence the principles of these methods and the related possible pitfalls. It focuses on probes of the physical (integrity and fluidity) and energetical (intracellular pH and membrane potential) state of the cell membrane (bacterial and yeast cells) and presents also other probes (nucleic acids, respiration...) and new technical trends. The specificities of Gram-negative bacterial cells are also discussed.