西瓜连作对土壤主要微生物类群和土壤酶活性的影响

从昌乐不同种植年限西瓜大棚采集土壤,测定了连续种植6、8、10、14和20年西瓜大棚土壤中细菌、放线菌和真菌数量、土壤酶活性及土壤理化特性状的变化特点.结果表明:随着种植年限的增加,土壤中细菌、放线菌呈现先升后降趋势;真菌数量变化趋势则与之相反;蛋白酶、多酚氧化酶也同样呈现先升后降趋势,脲酶呈下降趋势,蔗糖酶呈上升趋势;同时在连作栽培过程中,土壤中速效氮含量较为稳定,速效钾和速效磷的含量随着连作年限的增加出现少量积累,土壤酸化日趋严重.讨论了连作条件下土壤微生物数量与土壤酶活性及土壤理化性状之间的关系.     

川楝内生放线菌的分离及多样性研究

【目的】分离四川省各个地区川楝内生放线菌并研究其物种多样性。【方法】应用7种选择性分离培养基分离样品根、茎、叶、树皮和果实中的内生放线菌,采用16SrRNA基因RFLP分析代表菌株多样性。【结果】研究共获得403株内生放线菌。不同地点、不同植株部位、不同培养基分离得到的内生放线菌数目均有差异。广元采集的样品分离得到的数目最多,为86株;最少的是绵阳,仅有12株。从植物表皮中分离到148株放线菌,占获得菌株总数的36.7%;而从果中分离到31株,仅占获得菌株总数的7.6%;虽然从根部分离到的数量也很少,但是其出菌率却是最高的。5号和3号培养基的分离效果最为理想。16S rRNA基因RFLP分析结果显示所有供试菌株在68%的相似性上聚在一起,在84%的相似水平上分成了10个遗传类型。代表菌株的16SrRNA基因序列测定及系统发育分析结果表明:分离得到的放线菌包括4个属,分别是链霉菌属(Streptomyces)、北里孢菌属(Kitasatospora)、节杆菌属(Arthrobacter)、克里布所菌属(Kribbella)。其中,链霉菌是优势类群,占代表菌株数目的比例高达91%,而稀有放线菌的比例只有9%。【结论】研究发现的川楝内生放线菌主要属于链霉菌属(Streptomyces)、北里孢菌属(Kitasatospora)、节杆菌属(Arthrobacter)、克里布所菌属(Kribbella)。     

硝酸盐型厌氧铁氧化菌的种类、分布和特性

硝酸盐型厌氧铁氧化(NAFO)是指微生物在厌氧条件下利用硝酸盐或亚硝酸盐作为电子受体,将低价铁(二价铁或零价铁)氧化为高价铁(三价铁)的过程。具有NAFO代谢能力的微生物称为硝酸盐型厌氧铁氧化菌(NAFOM)。NAFO是微生物领域的重大发现,也是环境领域开发新型脱氮技术和地学领域研究铁、氮循环的理论依据。整理文献报道的NAFOM资料,分析NAFOM系统发育性状,探讨典型NAFOM的生态分布及其营养、代谢特性,以期为NAFOM菌种资源的开发、地球铁素和氮素循环的研究、NAFO过程的优化提供借鉴。     

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

北京地区热力景观格局及典型城市景观的热环境效应

城市热环境是城市生态环境中的一个重要指标,将景观生态学理论融入到热环境研究中,尝试探讨北京地区热力景观格局及城市公园、道路景观的热环境效应。地表温度反演是分析热力景观格局及典型城市景观热环境效应的前提,论文以北京地区为例,首先利用两景ASTER影像数据采用TES算法定量反演地表温度。通过半变异函数分析地表温度空间异质性,确定最大采样尺度,然后在景观统计软件Fragstats中,计算不同粒度下的景观格局指数,分析热力景观格局及其尺度效应。通过景观斑块特征分析和缓冲区分析,探讨公园景观斑块、道路景观廊道特征的热环境效应。总体上公园景观对应的平均温度随着公园面积、边界长度的增加而减小,随着公园周长面积比增大而增大;随着距离公园渐远,地表温度升高,且升温趋势变缓。随着道路密度增加,道路平均温度显著升高,标准差显著降低,道路密度等级与道路平均温度的相关系数达到0.8021;随着距离道路中心线距离增加,缓冲区内的平均温度略有下降,但变化微弱。因此,应充分重视公园景观在缓解城市热环境方面的作用,合理布局城市道路。     

LGR5 regulates osteogenic differentiation of human thoracic ligamentum flavum cells by Wnt signalling pathway

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) is ectopic ossification of the spinal ligaments. Histologically, the development of TOLF can be described as the process of endochondral ossification. However, the underlying aetiology has not been completely clarified. In this investigation, the gene expression profile associated with leucine‐rich repeat‐containing G‐protein‐coupled receptors (LGR) and Wnt signalling pathway in the thoracic ligamentum flavum cells (TLFCs) of different ossification stages was analysed via RNA sequencing. We further confirmed the significant differences in the related gene expression profile by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. LGR5 was first identified in primary human TLFCs during osteogenic differentiation. To evaluate the effect of LGR5 on osteogenic differentiation, LGR5 has been knocked down and overexpressed in human TLFCs. We observed that the knockdown of LGR5 inhibited the activity of Wnt signalling and attenuated the potential osteogenic differentiation of TLFCs, while overexpression of LGR5 activated the Wnt signalling pathway and increased osteogenic differentiation. Our results provide important evidence for the potent positive mediatory effects of LGR5 on osteogenesis by enhancing the Wnt signalling pathway in TOLF.     

Gut microbiome in gastrointestinal cancer: a friend or foe?

The impact of the gut microbiome on host health is becoming increasingly recognized. To date, there is growing evidence that the complex characteristics of the microbial community play key roles as potential biomarkers and predictors of responses in cancer therapy. Many studies have shown that altered commensal bacteria lead to cancer susceptibility and progression in diverse pathways. In this review, we critically assess the data for gut microbiota related to gastrointestinal cancer, including esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Importantly, the underlying mechanisms of gut microbiota involved in cancer occurrence, prevention and treatment are elucidated. The purpose of this review is to provide novel insights for applying this understanding to the development of new therapeutic strategies in gastrointestinal cancer by targeting the microbial community.