Morphological comparison ofSqualus blainvillei andS. megalops in the Eastern Atlantic,with notes on the genus

Morphological comparisons are made from the study of 64 specimens belonging to the following species:Squalus acanihias, S. blainvillei, S. megalops andS. acutirostris. The results suggest conspecificity betweenS. acutipinnis andS. megalops. The differences betweenS. blainvillei andS. megalops in the E-Atlantic are stressed. The Indo-Pacific species calledS. blainvillei by Chen et al. (1979) is regarded in this paper as probably an undescribed species. Some consideration on the status of several nominal species and the species grouping withinSqualus are also made.     

Overexpression of Small Heat Shock Protein LimHSP16.45 in Arabidopsis Enhances Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses

Small heat shock proteins (smHSPs) play important and extensive roles in plant defenses against abiotic stresses. We cloned a gene for a smHSP from the David Lily (Lilium davidii (E. H. Wilson) Raffill var. Willmottiae), which we named LimHSP16.45 based on its protein molecular weight. Its expression was induced by many kinds of abiotic stresses in both the lily and transgenic plants of Arabidopsis. Heterologous expression enhanced cell viability of the latter under high temperatures, high salt, and oxidative stress, and heat shock granules (HSGs) formed under heat or salinity treatment. Assays of enzymes showed that LimHSP16.45 overexpression was related to greater activity by superoxide dismutase and catalase in transgenic lines. Therefore, we conclude that heterologous expression can protect plants against abiotic stresses by preventing irreversible protein aggregation, and by scavenging cellular reactive oxygen species.     

Elevated 12-Month and Lifetime Prevalence and Comorbidity Rates of Mood,Anxiety, and Alcohol Use Disorders in Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men

Background

This study aimed to assess whether Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) had a significantly elevated prevalence of psychiatric disorders compared to urban males in China.

Methods

807 MSM were recruited using a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method in urban area of northeast China. Psychiatric disorders were assessed employing the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI. Version 1.0) according to the criteria of the DSM-III-R.

Results

Chinese MSM had a significantly elevated standardized prevalence ratios (SPR) for lifetime prevalence of any disorder (SPR = 2.8; 95%CI: 2.5–3.2), mood disorder (SPR = 3.0; 95%CI: 2.3–3.7), anxiety disorder (SPR = 5.5; 95% CI: 4.6–6.5), alcohol use disorder (SPR = 2.4, 95%CI: 2.0–2.8), and combination of disorders (SPR = 4.2; 95%CI: 3.4–5.1).

Conclusions

Chinese MSM had significantly elevated prevalence and comorbidity of psychiatric disorders. RDS is a suitable sampling method for psychiatric epidemiological survey in MSM population.     

Therapeutic DNA vaccine encoding peptide P10 against experimental paracoccidioidomycosis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, is the most prevalent invasive fungal disease in South America. Systemic mycoses are the 10th most common cause of death among infectious diseases in Brazil and PCM is responsible for more than 50% of deaths due to fungal infections. PCM is typically treated with sulfonamides, amphotericin B or azoles, although complete eradication of the fungus may not occur and relapsing disease is frequently reported. A 15-mer peptide from the major diagnostic antigen gp43, named P10, can induce a strong T-CD4+ helper-1 immune response in mice. The TEPITOPE algorithm and experimental data have confirmed that most HLA-DR molecules can present P10, which suggests that P10 is a candidate antigen for a PCM vaccine. In the current work, the therapeutic efficacy of plasmid immunization with P10 and/or IL-12 inserts was tested in murine models of PCM. When given prior to or after infection with P. brasiliensis virulent Pb 18 isolate, plasmid-vaccination with P10 and/or IL-12 inserts successfully reduced the fungal burden in lungs of infected mice. In fact, intramuscular administration of a combination of plasmids expressing P10 and IL-12 given weekly for one month, followed by single injections every month for 3 months restored normal lung architecture and eradicated the fungus in mice that were infected one month prior to treatment. The data indicate that immunization with these plasmids is a powerful procedure for prevention and treatment of experimental PCM, with the perspective of being also effective in human patients.     

Embryological Observation on the Apomictic Rice-ApⅢ (Shuang 13)

Since 1988s, the phenomenon of multiple seedlings and multiple embryoes of apomictic rice, Ap Ⅲ (Shuang 13) has been interestingly concerned. Embryological investigation of Ap Ⅲ has been carried out with the whole dissection and conventional sectioning technique. The main conclusions are as follows: 1.8. 9 % of 5000 matured caryopsises, contained one embryo in a caryopsis, from which single seedling arose, while 8.9 % twin embryoes and 1.2 % triplet embryoes of which developed two seedlings and triple seedlings respectively; 2. In over 700 young caryopsises, 90.0%～95.0% contained only one embryo, 5.0%～7.0% twin embryoes, except a few of the ovules with absorptive embryo sac or embryo and endosperm. Triplet embryoes caryopsis could not be traced further due to their low frequency; 3. Authors' materials showed that all the single, twin and triplet embryoes were situated at the micropylar end in one embryo sac of young ovule and no adventitious embryo was seen outside the embryo sac of ovules. From the aforementioned results, it can be infered that albeit single embryo is derived from the egg cell yet it could be possible twin or triplet embryocs may be developed from the egg cell and one or two of the synergids either or not through fertilization.     

牛肝菌类一新种——蔚青华牛肝菌

蔚青华牛肝菌,其盖表有绒毛,柄等粗而细长,具棱纹无网纹,担孢子长短兼存,6–16μm兼之。本种庆祝著名真菌学家蔚青王云章教授,欣逢公百年华诞,其对西南菌学研究和人才培养,屡蒙厚贶,感不胜言,谨以此名,敬寄慕念。     

一株高效降解芘的细菌分离、鉴定及其降解效果

摘要：【目的】获得高效降解高分子量多环芳烃的细菌,并研究其对多环芳烃的降解能力。【方法】利用富集培养和芘升华平板方法,从焦化厂污染土壤中分离多环芳烃降解细菌,对分离菌株通过形态特征、16S rRNA基因和gyrb基因序列相似性分析进行鉴定,并研究该菌对高分子量多环芳烃（HMW-PAHs）的降解效果。【结果】筛选到一株能以芘、苯并蒽、屈、苯并芘、茚并芘、苯并苝、荧恩为碳源和能源生长并降解这些底物的菌株HBS1,该菌株的16S rRNA基因和gyrb基因序列与Gordonia amicalis的相应基因的相似     

Novel probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 strain active against rotavirus infections

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis among children worldwide. It is well known that breast-feeding and vaccination afford infants protection. Since breast-feeding has drastically decreased in developed countries, efforts have been focused on the potential use of probiotics as preventive agents. In this study, a novel Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis strain was isolated from infant feces and selected, based on its capacity to inhibit in vitro rotavirus Wa replication (up to 36.05% infectious foci reduction) and also to protect cells from virus infection (up to 48.50% infectious foci reduction) in both MA-104 and HT-29 cell lines. Furthermore, studies using a BALB/c mouse model have proved that this strain provides preliminary in vivo protection against rotavirus infection. The strain has been deposited in the Spanish Type Culture Collection under the accession number CECT 7210. This novel strain has the main properties required of a probiotic, such as resistance to gastrointestinal juices, biliary salts, NaCl, and low pH, as well as adhesion to intestinal mucus and sensitivity to antibiotics. The food safety status has been confirmed by the absence of undesirable metabolite production and in acute ingestion studies of mice. Overall, these results demonstrate that Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 can be considered a probiotic able to inhibit rotavirus infection.