海马内注射脑啡肽对细胞免疫功能及脑内IL－1α基因表达的影响

本文研究了海马内微量注射脑啡肽对大鼠细胞免疫功能及海马内白细胞介素－１α（ＩＬ－１α）基因表达的影响。结果发现：（１）双侧海马内微量注射甲硫－脑啡肽或亮－脑啡肽各１μｌ（１８ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）能明显增强ＣｏｎＡ刺激的脾淋巴细胞增殖活性,而双侧海马内微注射脂多糖各１μｌ（５０ｎｇ／μｌ）则起抑制作用。切除双侧肾上腺后,海马内注射脑啡肽仍可增强脾淋巴细胞增殖反应。低浓度亮－及甲硫－脑啡肽（１０￣（－１０）,１０￣（－１１）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）直接作用于体外培养的大鼠脾淋巴细胞,也明显增强ＣｏｎＡ刺激的细胞增殖活性。（２）双侧海马内微量注射脂多糖各１μｌ（５０ｎｇ／μｌ）,于９０ｍｉｎ后用逆转录－聚合酶链反应技术检测到海马结构内ＩＬ－１α基因表达,而海马内甲硫或亮脑啡肽注射３０ｍｉｎ后再给予脂多糖,则未检测到ＩＬ－１αｃＤＮＡ的扩增条带。上述结果表明,海马结构对机体免疫功能的调节中脑啡肽起着重要作用,其机制可能与抑制海马结构ＩＬ－１α基因表达有关。     

Divergent Evolution of Symbiotic Bacteria: Rhizobia of the Relic Legume <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vavilovia formosa</Emphasis> Form an Isolated Group within <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizobium leguminosarum</Emphasis> bv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">viciae</Emphasis>

Comparative sequence analysis of symbiotic genes (nodA, nodC, nodD, nifH), which are elements of accessory component of the rhizobial genome, demonstrated that the strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae, isolated from the nodules of a relic legume, Vavilovia formosa, the closest relative of hypothetical common ancestor of the tribe Fabeae, represented a group separated from the strains of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae, isolated from other representatives of this tribe (Vicia, Lathyrus, Pisum, Lens). No isolation was observed relative to the genes representing the core component of the rhizobial genome (16S rDNA, ITS, glnII) or relative to host specificity of the rhizobia. The data obtained suggest that sequence divergence of symbiotic genes marks the initial stage of sympatric speciation, which can be classified as the isolation of the relic “vaviloviae” symbiotype, a possible evolutionary precursor of the “viciae” biotype.     

Relationships of water temperature and aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure with non-native riparian plant densities in the southern Cape,South Africa

Non-native vegetation in the riparian zone impacts on water temperatures, flow patterns, degree of shading, channel modification, and changes to natural sediment loads. Freshwater ecosystems in the Garden Route Initiative planning domain are of particular conservation value, because of the rich Gondwanaland relict aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna found in the rivers there, which are vulnerable to thermal changes. Data were collected during 2013 and 2014 at 19 sites on seven river systems between George and Knysna in the southern Cape, South Africa. These included 12 months of hourly water temperatures at all sites, and quantitative sampling of aquatic macroinvertebrates at ten sites. Each site was characterised in terms of water quality (pH, conductivity and turbidity) and general characteristics, including impacts such as density of non-native riparian trees. At the family level, aquatic macroinvertebrate communities showed variation between sites and seasons. Differences were more pronounced on the basis of natural land cover type (fynbos versus indigenous forest) than densities of non-native invasive riparian vegetation. Conservation of these river systems will depend on maintaining a mosaic of natural vegetation types.     

Triggers of phytoplankton bloom dynamics in permanently eutrophic waters of a South African estuary

The permanently eutrophic Sundays Estuary experiences recurrent harmful algal blooms (HABs) of Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae). This study aimed to identify the environmental variables shaping phytoplankton community composition and succession patterns during a typical spring/summer harmful algal bloom (HAB) period. Monitoring of abiotic and phytoplankton variables was undertaken over the period of a month in 2016. Surface water salinity corresponding to mesohaline conditions (9 to 12) was a prerequisite for site selection. During the study, two HABs (>550 µg Chl a l^?1) of H. akashiwo occurred, each lasting for approximately a week in duration. Analyses highlighted nutrient depletion (i.e. nitrate and phosphate concentrations) as the key constraint on bloom duration. When the density of H. akashiwo decreased, the community composition became more diverse with species belonging to Bacillariophyceae and Dinophyceae becoming more abundant; albeit to a lesser degree (<180 µg Chl a l^?1). Dissolved oxygen shifted from super-saturated conditions (>14 mg l^?1) during peak HAB conditions, to instances of bottom water oxygen depletion (2–4 mg l^?1) during the decay phase. These findings highlight the potential severity of transforming a catchment from natural to one that is highly regulated by agricultural practices, while also emphasising the need for management intervention.     

Pindamoraria boraceiae, a new genus and species of freshwater Canthocamptidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from Brazil

Members of a new genus and species of harpacticoid copepod crustacean appeared in samples from semi-terrestrial (moist arboreal mosses, wet soil) and aquatic (bromeliad tanks, Sphagnum moss, rock pools, stream) habitats in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in south-eastern Brazil. The new taxon, for which we propose the name Pindamoraria boraceiae sp. nov. , is distinguished by a unique combination of characters, in particular the segmentation and setation pattern of legs 1–4 in both sexes, the structure of leg 5 in the female, and the strongly modified claw of the maxilliped in the male. It most resembles the canthocamptid genera Moraria , Pseudomoraria , Morariopsis and Paramorariopsis . Both previous records of species of Moraria from South America refer to members of Antarctobiotus , which is not considered a member of the Moraria group: Moraria (Kuehneltiella) neotropica Löffler has previously been transferred to Antarctobiotus ; and we propose herein the transfer of Moraria kummeroworum Ebert & Noodt to Antarctobiotus as well. In the New World, the genus Moraria extends only as far south as Honduras; and Pseudomoraria , Morariopsis and Paramorariopsis are Old World genera. The new species from Brazil is therefore the only member of the Moraria group known from South America.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 139, 81–92.     

Using stable isotope analysis to study the diet of Gilchristella aestuaria larvae: preliminary insights into the foodwebs of six South African estuaries

South African estuarine systems are becoming increasingly altered by anthropogenic and environmental factors, but the consequences of such changes for these systems are still not fully understood. The most common approach for evaluating the ecological status of aquatic systems is studying their associated foodwebs. Due to their high abundance and important ecological role, the larvae of estuarine round herring Gilchristella aestuaria (Gilchrist, 1913) are key candidates for examining the foodweb structure and function of southern African estuaries. The foodwebs and trophic interactions of G. aestuaria larvae in six estuaries in South Africa were compared using larvae sampled in November 2013 and analysed using δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N and Bayesian isotopic mixing models. The main prey type for G. aestuaria larvae in all estuaries was zooplankton. We found a high similarity among the Kariega, Gamtoos, Great Fish and Sundays estuaries in terms of consumers and potential sources for both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N signatures. Significant differences were found in δ¹³C values among marine-dominated estuaries, such as the Kromme Estuary, and the more freshwater-dominated systems. In addition, in the Kromme Estuary particulate organic matter was very important in the diet of G. aestuaria larvae. Our results suggest that both food availability and physical environmental parameters strongly affect the diet and condition of G. aestuaria and, consequently, the entire foodweb in the system.     

γ-聚谷氨酸基因工程研究进展与展望

γ-聚谷氨酸(γ-PGA)是一种天然高分子可降解、环境友好型的新型阴离子聚合物。目前发现多种芽孢杆菌、古细菌和一种真核生物均可合成γ-PGA。根据其合成是否需要外加谷氨酸分为谷氨酸依赖性和谷氨酸非依赖型。γ-PGA的合成基因分为结合型的cap系和游离型的pgs系,其表达产物组成的γ-PGA合成酶复合体调节着γ-PGA的合成和转运。由于γ-PGA具有水溶性好、保湿性好、吸水性好、良好的生物兼容性和生物可降解性、可食用、对环境无污染等优点,在医药、农业、食品、环境、化妆品等领域具有广泛的应用前景。主要对γ-PGA的结构特点、微生物合成、相关基因、合成机理、应用、诱变处理进行综述。以期通过物理和化学等技术的诱变,获得γ-PGA的高产菌株,为提高γ-PGA产量提供依据。     

四个不同种属动物肢体Ⅱ导联心电图比较

目的对比格犬、恒河猴、日本大耳白兔、树鼩四个不同种属实验动物的ECG-II进行分析比较,归纳其ECG-II的特点,旨在为上述动物在安评中的运用提供参考。方法选择成年比格犬、恒河猴、日本大耳白和树鼩,分别对其在清醒状态下的ECG-II进行描记和分析,并对ECG-II各项指标进行测量分析。结果与结论不同种属动物均为窦性心律,在波型方面基本一致,未出现特异性改变,但不同动物在QRS波群和T波形态上具有一定差异;各指标测定结果显示,日本大耳白兔P波、T波振幅和树鼩心率分别小于和快于其他种属动物。     

Ag85ADNA疫苗对荷瘤鼠Th1细胞免疫功能的影响

为了探讨肌肉注射Ag85A DNA疫苗能否在肿瘤宿主,一个低细胞免疫应答的机体内激发Th1型细胞免疫应答,将6~8周龄BALB/c雌性小鼠随机分成实验组(Ag85A-V1Jns.tPA组),空质粒组(V1Jns.tPA组)和生理盐水组3组,将生长旺盛的Meth-A细胞接种于各组小鼠右侧背部皮下,每只小鼠2×105个细胞,1d后于小鼠大腿肌肉内分别注射100μL Ag85A-V1Jns.tPA(1 g/L),V1Jns.tPA(1 g/L)或生理盐水。每10 d 1次,共3次,于末次注射后第8 d,无菌取脾,分离细胞进行培养。检测NK细胞活性以及脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ含量。结果显示:实验组平均NK细胞杀伤率以及脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ含量较空质粒组和生理盐水组均显著增高,而空质粒组和生理盐水组之间未见有意义的变化。提示肌肉注射Ag85A DNA疫苗可以提高Meth-A纤维肉瘤荷瘤小鼠Th1细胞免疫功能。     

Construction and evaluation of multisite recombinatorial (Gateway) cloning vectors for Gram-positive bacteria

Background  

The Gateway recombinatorial cloning system allows easy and rapid joining of DNA fragments. Here we report the construction and evaluation of three different Gram-positive vectors that can be used with the Multisite Gateway cloning system to rapidly produce new gene arrangements in plasmid constructs for use in a variety of Gram-positive bacteria.