Virus-derived anti-inflammatory proteins: potential therapeutics for cancer

Inflammatory responses now have a defined central role in cancer cell growth, invasion, and metastases. Anti-inflammatory proteins from viruses target key stages in immune response pathways and have potential as novel therapeutics for cancer, including highly potent virus-derived inhibitors of protease, chemokine, cytokine, and apoptotic cascades that have been identified. Serine proteases, in addition to their conventional roles in thrombosis, thrombolysis, and apoptotic pathways, are essential regulators of inflammation and are associated with developing cancers. Chemokines drive other inflammatory response pathways with central roles in cell invasion and activation as well as establishing the microenvironment of tumors, modulating immune cell infiltration, cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. This review focuses on the mechanisms of action and potential for application of viral immunomodulatory proteins as anticancer therapeutics.     

在低蛋白质饲料中补充必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈生长、体组成和免疫指标的影响简

为了研究在低蛋白质饲料中补充晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈生长、体组成和免疫指标的影响,根据鱼体的必需氨基酸组成模式设计了7种等能的试验饲料。其中4种饲料(45CP、40CP、35CP和30CP)的粗蛋白质水平分别为45%、40%、35%和30%,另3种饲料(40AA、35AA和30AA)是在低蛋白质饲料(40CP、35CP和30CP)的基础上添加必需氨基酸,使它们的必需氨基酸含量与45CP(对照组)相一致。用上述饲料对初始体重为(10.13±0.01)g的大口黑鲈进行了89d的饲养试验。饲养试验在室内循环水养殖系统中进行,每种饲料设3个重复,每重复放养30尾鱼。方差分析显示:试验鱼的生长性能、饲料效率、全鱼和肌肉的粗蛋白质含量、成活率以及免疫指标均随着饲料蛋白质含量的降低而显著降低(P0.05)。添加必需氨基酸的35AA和30AA的饲料效率和蛋白质保留率分别显著高于对应的未添加必需氨基酸的35CP和30CP组(P0.05),但仍显著低于45CP组(P0.05)。40AA的试验鱼血清溶菌酶活性和血清补体活性与45CP组差异不显著(P0.05)。35AA和30AA组的头肾白细胞呼吸爆发活性显著高于35CP和30CP组(P0.05)。30AA组的全鱼粗蛋白质含量以及肥满度显著高于30CP(P0.05)。各组试验鱼的水分和灰分均无显著差异(P0.05)。回归分析显示:在低蛋白质饲料中补充晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈幼鱼的生长、饲料效率和蛋白质保留率所产生的影响与其引起增加了的饲料蛋白质水平而不是饲料的必需氨基酸水平正相关。研究表明,在低蛋白质饲料中补充的晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈的生长、体组成和免疫指标产生的有益作用不及等量的以蛋白质为来源的必需氨基酸。     

Molecular tools and analytical approaches for the characterization of farm animal genetic diversity

Genetic studies of livestock populations focus on questions of domestication, within- and among-breed diversity, breed history and adaptive variation. In this review, we describe the use of different molecular markers and methods for data analysis used to address these questions. There is a clear trend towards the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms and whole-genome sequence information, the application of Bayesian or Approximate Bayesian analysis and the use of adaptive next to neutral diversity to support decisions on conservation.     

蛋白质合成中的核糖核酸蛋白质复合物

细胞中的RNA和RNA结合蛋白质(RNA-binding proteins,RBPs)相互作用形成核糖核酸蛋白质(ribonucleoprotein,RNP)复合物。RNP复合物分布广泛,功能众多。蛋白质生物合成包括转录及其调控、mRNA加工转运、tRNA传递、翻译及其调控等,是核酸编码的遗传信息流向活性蛋白质的过程。多种RNA分子参与这一过程,有的与对应的RNA结合蛋白质形成RNP复合物。RNP复合物的多样性和重要功能在此得到了最好的体现。该文以其中起核心作用的RNA分子为主线,对蛋白质合成中的RNP复合物进行了综述。     

Quantifying hummingbird preference for floral trait combinations: The role of selection on trait interactions in the evolution of pollination syndromes

Darwin recognized the flower's importance for the study of adaptation and emphasized that the flower's functionality reflects the coordinated action of multiple traits. Here we use a multitrait manipulative approach to quantify the potential role of selection acting on floral trait combinations underlying the divergence and maintenance of three related North American species of Silene (Caryophyllaceae). We artificially generated 48 plant phenotypes corresponding to all combinations of key attractive traits differing among the three Silene species (color, height, inflorescence architecture, flower orientation, and corolla‐tube width). We quantified main and interaction effects of trait manipulation on hummingbird visitation preference using experimental arrays. The main effects of floral display height and floral orientation strongly influenced hummingbird visitation, with hummingbirds preferring flowers held high above the ground and vertically to the sky. Hummingbirds also prefer traits in a nonadditive manner as multiple two‐way and higher order interaction effects were important predictors of hummingbird visitation. Contemporary trait combinations found in hummingbird pollinated S. virginica are mostly preferred. Our study demonstrates the likelihood of pollination syndromes evolving due to selection on trait combinations and highlights the importance of trait interactions in understanding the evolution of complex adaptations.     

Ecological mechanisms underpinning climate adaptation services

Ecosystem services are typically valued for their immediate material or cultural benefits to human wellbeing, supported by regulating and supporting services. Under climate change, with more frequent stresses and novel shocks, 'climate adaptation services', are defined as the benefits to people from increased social ability to respond to change, provided by the capability of ecosystems to moderate and adapt to climate change and variability. They broaden the ecosystem services framework to assist decision makers in planning for an uncertain future with new choices and options. We present a generic framework for operationalising the adaptation services concept. Four steps guide the identification of intrinsic ecological mechanisms that facilitate the maintenance and emergence of ecosystem services during periods of change, and so materialise as adaptation services. We applied this framework for four contrasted Australian ecosystems. Comparative analyses enabled by the operational framework suggest that adaptation services that emerge during trajectories of ecological change are supported by common mechanisms: vegetation structural diversity, the role of keystone species or functional groups, response diversity and landscape connectivity, which underpin the persistence of function and the reassembly of ecological communities under severe climate change and variability. Such understanding should guide ecosystem management towards adaptation planning.     

Contemplating the future: Acting now on long‐term monitoring to answer 2050's questions

In 2050, which aspects of ecosystem change will we regret not having measured? Long‐term monitoring plays a crucial part in managing Australia's natural environment because time is a key factor underpinning changes in ecosystems. It is critical to start measuring key attributes of ecosystems – and the human and natural process affecting them – now, so that we can track the trajectory of change over time. This will facilitate informed choices about how to manage ecological changes (including interventions where they are required) and promote better understanding by 2050 of how particular ecosystems have been shaped over time. There will be considerable value in building on existing long‐term monitoring programmes because this can add significantly to the temporal depth of information. The economic and social processes driving change in ecosystems are not identical in all ecosystems, so much of what is monitored (and the means by which it is monitored) will most likely target specific ecosystems or groups of ecosystems. To best understand the effects of ecosystem‐specific threats and drivers, monitoring also will need to address the economic and social factors underpinning ecosystem‐specific change. Therefore, robust assessments of the state of Australia's environment will be best achieved by reporting on the ecological performance of a representative sample of ecosystems over time. Political, policy and financial support to implement appropriate ecosystem‐specific monitoring is a perennial problem. We suggest that the value of ecological monitoring will be demonstrable, when plot‐based monitoring data make a unique and crucial contribution to Australia's ability to produce environmental accounts, environmental reports (e.g. the State of the Environment, State of the Forests) and to fulfilling reporting obligations under international agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. This paper suggests what must be done to meet Australia's ecological information needs by 2050.     

Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate severe acute pancreatitis in rats via hemeoxygenase-1–mediated anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects

Background and aims

It has been previously verified that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have a good therapeutic effect on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and the potential for regeneration of damaged pancreatic tissue, but the exact molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated the therapeutic effect of bone morrow MSCs (BMSCs) on SAP, probably by targeting heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).

泌桐高速公路生态护坡不同草灌混播10a后的植被群落特征

稳定的边坡群落是公路边坡生态防护的目标,为探究高速公路生态护坡工程10 a演替后群落特征,该研究以泌桐高速公路为依托,布设自然恢复、单一狗牙根播种和5个不同播种密度的草灌混播生态防护措施,分析不同恢复方式对边坡群落组成、生活型和物种多样性的影响。结果表明:(1)调查样方内共有52种植物,分属于17科49属。禾本科、菊科和豆科植物共26属29种,占种总数的55.77%,表明这三大科植物在边坡群落演替过程中起着重要作用。(2) 10 a演替后不同恢复方式下群落中多年生植物比例高于一年生草本植物。(3)在草灌混播样地中,群落物种多样性指数随着播种密度的增加呈先增加后降低的单峰变化趋势,在播种密度为每平方米500株时达到最大。(4)草灌混播的生态恢复效果优于纯草本种植和自然恢复方式。(5)播种密度对草灌混播群落类型,地上生物量和物种多样性指数没有显著影响。从植物的生长效果及成本方面考虑,初播密度每平方米为500~600株的草灌混播可构建较为稳定的边坡植物群落,实现最佳的边坡恢复效果,可应用于类似区域边坡生态恢复工程。     

高效氮肥对新疆膜下滴灌棉田土壤氧化亚氮排放的影响

高效氮肥对新疆灰漠土农田氧化亚氮(N₂O)排放的影响目前尚不明确.本研究选取树脂包膜尿素(ESN)和尿素配施脲酶抑制剂和硝化抑制剂(U+I)两种高效氮肥处理,以传统尿素(U)处理为对照,研究高效氮肥对新疆膜下滴灌棉田N₂O排放的影响.ESN在播种时一次性施入,而其他处理的氮肥在生育期内随灌溉分次施入.在生育期内,采用静态箱-气相色谱法每周采集和分析2次气体样品.结果表明: 与其他处理相比,ESN处理显著增加了生育期间土壤N₂O的排放量,增幅47%～73%;在施肥后的4个月内,ESN处理下的土壤铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)和硝态氮(NO₃^--N)含量始终处于较高水平,随后则逐渐减小并与其他处理的含量相近.ESN在播种时全部施入可能是导致土壤高NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N含量以及高N₂O排放量的原因.与U处理相比,U+I处理减少了9.9%的N₂O排放量,但两者间差异不显著;U+I处理NO₃^--N含量始终低于ESN和U处理.新疆灰漠土膜下滴灌棉田生育期土壤的N₂O排放为300～500 g N₂O-N·hm^-2,整体低于其他农田生态系统.与播种前全部施入相比,氮肥随滴灌多次施入更利于降低N₂O排放.本试验条件下,高效氮肥对干旱区膜下滴灌棉田土壤N₂O的减排效应有限.