First chromosome scale genomes of ithomiine butterflies (Nymphalidae: Ithomiini): Comparative models for mimicry genetic studies

The ithomiine butterflies (Nymphalidae: Danainae) represent the largest known radiation of Müllerian mimetic butterflies. They dominate by number the mimetic butterfly communities, which include species such as the iconic neotropical Heliconius genus. Recent studies on the ecology and genetics of speciation in Ithomiini have suggested that sexual pheromones, colour pattern and perhaps hostplant could drive reproductive isolation. However, no reference genome was available for Ithomiini, which has hindered further exploration on the genetic architecture of these candidate traits, and more generally on the genomic patterns of divergence. Here, we generated high-quality, chromosome-scale genome assemblies for two Melinaea species, M. marsaeus and M. menophilus, and a draft genome of the species Ithomia salapia. We obtained genomes with a size ranging from 396 to 503 Mb across the three species and scaffold N50 of 40.5 and 23.2 Mb for the two chromosome-scale assemblies. Using collinearity analyses we identified massive rearrangements between the two closely related Melinaea species. An annotation of transposable elements and gene content was performed, as well as a specialist annotation to target chemosensory genes, which is crucial for host plant detection and mate recognition in mimetic species. A comparative genomic approach revealed independent gene expansions in ithomiines and particularly in gustatory receptor genes. These first three genomes of ithomiine mimetic butterflies constitute a valuable addition and a welcome comparison to existing biological models such as Heliconius, and will enable further understanding of the mechanisms of adaptation in butterflies.     

Exploiting the complete yeast genome sequence

The completion of the genome sequence of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae marks the dawn of an exciting new era in eukaryotic biology that will bring with it a new understanding of yeast, other model organisms, and human beings. This body of sequence data benefits yeast researchers by obviating the need for piecemeal sequencing of genes, and allows researchers working with other organisms to tap into experimental advantages inherent in the yeast system and learn from functionally characterized yeast gene products which are their proteins of interest. In addition, the yeast post-genome sequence era is serving as a testing ground for powerful new technologies, and proven experimental approaches are being applied for the first time in a comprehensive fashion on a complete eukaryotic gene repertoire.     

新疆血革螨属一新种（蜱螨亚纲：血革螨科）

本文报道血革螨属一新种,命名为狭背血革螨,新种Ｈａｅｍｏｇａｍａｓｕｓａｎｇｕｓｔｕｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．采自新疆乌苏,寄主为野兔。     

Effects of manipulation of food supply on estuarine meiobenthos

A comparative mesocosm experiment was carried out to determine the effects of natural foods of different quality and quantity on the structure of natural meiobenthic communities collected in undisturbed sediment from the polluted Westerschelde and the comparatively undisturbed Gironde estuaries. Nematode communities are more diverse and species rich in the latter estuary. The organic matter or foods used were phytoplankton, green alga, salt marsh plant detritus and leaf litter detritus which were added at three dose rates including a high dose. There was no change in community structure in response to the treatments in either of the estuarine meiobenthic communities. Analysis of all the results from this experiment indicate that the food quantity manipulations had almost no effect on the deposit feeding meiofauna. It may be that the reserves of organic matter within the sediment were sufficient to satisfy their dietary requirements for the duration of the experiment. The abundance of diatom/epigrowth feeding nematodes which were initially dominant in the Gironde, declined substantially suggesting that they may have been food limited since diatoms were not among the sources of organic matter added to the mesocosm. There was no specific response to the five different types of organic matter added to the mesocosm     

雕盾螨属一新种记述（蜱螨亚纲：巨螯螨科）

本文记述雕盾螨属一新种;吴氏雕盾螨采自吉林省白城的土壤和马粪中。模式标本保存于全国鼠疫布氏菌病防治基地。     

枯草杆菌蛋白酶E的156和165位突变

应用定点突变方法,在M222A突变的枯草杆菌蛋白酶E基因上进行E156S和V165I定点突变. 将突变基因插入大肠杆菌-枯草杆菌穿梭质粒pBE-2中,在碱性和中性蛋白酶缺陷型的枯草杆菌DB104中进行表达,得到突变种(M222A,E156S)和(M222A,E156S,V165I)蛋白酶E. 性质测定表明,E156S突变使蛋白酶比活力增加90%,并不影响酶的热稳定性和抗氧化性. 而V165I突变使蛋白酶比活力降低.     

EB病毒BNLF-1基因的分子生物学研究进展

位于EB病毒基因组U₅-TR区内的BNLF-1基因,其转译产物为潜伏膜蛋白(latent membrane protein1, LMP-1),由于LMP-1可以导致细胞转化并在EB病毒致癌过程中具有重要作用,因而成为近年来EB病毒分子生物学及相关肿瘤如人鼻咽癌、伯基特淋巴瘤、何杰金氏病等疾病病因发病学研究的热点,并取得了一批有重要意义的成果,文章从BNLF-1的基因结构及表达调控, LMP蛋白的结构及生化功能, LMP-1的生物学功能和LMP-1研究进行评述.     

丁酸钠和pH值对离体蚕豆花药中小孢子有丝分裂的影响

含单核中后期至后期花粉的蚕豆离体花药,经过2mM丁酸钠24小时预处理后,再漂浮培养于pH5.8或7.0的液体培养基。以不经预处理的作为对照。结果如下: 1.培养后9天内,丁酸钠预处理和培养基pH值并不明显影响花粉退化百分率。2.培养初期,pH7.0显著促进小孢子不等分裂。3.丁酸钠预处理抑制培养初期的小孢子有丝分裂,而后又显著增加小孢子均等分裂百分率。4.丁酸钠预处理导致小孢子有丝分裂类型的趋向改变。本文还对丁酸钠导致有丝分裂类型趋向改变的可能原因,进行了讨论。     

人工补充寄主卵对松林内卵蜂种群消长的影响

在不同生境的松林中,人工补充寄主卵都能提高寄生效果。但林地生境不同,寄生率有明显差异。在松阔混交林中补充寄主,其寄生率比对照提高5.5—16.2倍。植被稀疏的纯松林效果较差,补充的寄生率比对照提高3.0倍。 卵蜂种群消长随季节温度而变化,全年以5月中旬至6月下旬和9月中旬至10月中旬为两个寄生高峰。卵蜂种群与松毛虫种群的消长存在较明显的相依关系,卵蜂种群随着松毛虫种群的消长而消长。施药对卵蜂种群有较大影响,施药区比对照区的寄生率约降低一倍。在混交林中填充寄主卵,能促进卵蜂种群世代延续。在逐步改善林地生境的基础上,利用人工补充寄主,可以代替人工繁蜂放蜂。