藤椒精油对腐败解淀粉芽孢杆菌DY1a生物被膜的抑制作用

【背景】芽孢杆菌是豆制品的重要腐败菌,在气液界面形成生物膜,对产品生产带来持续污染。【目的】探讨藤椒精油(Zanthoxylum armatum DC.essential oil,ZA-EO)对腐败解淀粉芽孢杆菌DY1a菌体及生物被膜的抑制作用与机制。【方法】采用气相色谱-质谱(gas chromatography-mass spectrometer,GC-MS)分析藤椒精油主要成分与相对含量,通过二倍稀释法测定藤椒精油对菌株的最低抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)和最低杀菌浓度(minimum bactericidal concentration,MBC),并分析精油对腐败菌胞外蛋白酶活性、腐败菌生物被膜形成抑制及成熟生物被膜的清除作用,采用扫描电镜结合三维光学显微镜分析生物被膜形貌结构变化,测定生物被膜胞外聚合物(extracellular polymeric substance,EPS)多糖与蛋白质含量变化;并通过细菌运动能力、细胞黏附及自聚集能力、细胞表面疏水性和Zeta电位来初步探讨藤椒精油对生物被膜的抑制机理。【结果】藤椒精...     

基因编辑技术发展现状

鉴于以CRISPR/Cas9为代表的基因编辑技术在可操作性、经济性和时效性上取得的革命性突破,以及国内外对此技术的研发和应用现状,中国有可能在基因编辑技术的下游技术研发(特别是植物基因编辑的应用)、专业公司孵化等方面取得突破。因此分析目前中国基因编辑技术发展的关键需求、潜在应用领域就显得尤为迫切和必要。采用问卷调查和计量方法对基因编辑技术发展的关键技术需求和最潜在应用领域进行研究。首先建立有序多分类Logistic回归模型并进行因变量分析,通过显著性检验在4个方面共24个问卷问题中选择8个存在显著因果关系的自变量,然后基于有序多分类Logistic回归模型,分析8个问题中不同选项对基因编辑技术发展的具体影响作用。调查结果表明多数基因编辑领域的研究人员认为在注重基因编辑基础技术研发的同时应更多地关注如何进行技术产业化,要注重在植物领域发展潜在竞争优势;促进我国基因编辑技术发展不仅需要科研机构参与,更需要包括高校、政府在内的多方力量协同作用;正确引导公众的基因编辑技术舆论认识和建立安全规范体系较为迫切;技术风险规避的重点应放在生物武器和生物恐怖、基因编辑相关传染病、物种基因改变对生态环境的...     

果胶甲酯酶的结构与功能研究进展

果胶甲酯酶(PME)是一种重要的果胶酶,其水解果胶中的甲酯基从而释放甲醇并降低果胶的甲酯化程度。目前在食品加工、茶饮料、造纸等生产工艺中有着广泛的应用前景。随着对PME的深入研究,已报道了几种不同来源的酶晶体结构,对这些已获得的晶体结构进行分析发现,PME属于右手平行β-螺旋结构,其催化残基为2个保守的天冬氨酸和1个谷氨酰胺残基,并且在催化过程中分别起到了一般酸碱、亲核试剂以及稳定中间体的作用。同时对其底物特异性进行分析,初步了解其底物与活性位点的识别机制。文中针对这几个相关方面进行了系统的综述。     

A baseline epidemiological study of the co-infection of enteric protozoans with human immunodeficiency virus among men who have sex with men from Northeast China

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and enteric parasite co-infection not only aggravates the clinical symptoms of parasites but also accelerates acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) progression. However, co-infection research on men who have sex with men (MSM), the predominant high-risk population of HIV/AIDS in China, is still limited. In this study, we investigated the epidemiology of enteric parasites, risk factors, and associations with clinical significance in an MSM HIV/AIDS population in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China.MethodsWe recruited 308 MSMs HIV/AIDS patients and 199 HIV-negative individuals in two designated AIDS hospitals in Heilongjiang between April 2016 and July 2017. Fresh stool samples were collected. DNA extraction, molecular identification, and genotyping of Cryptosporidium species, Entamoeba histolytica, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis hominis were performed. Fourteen diarrhea-related pathogens were examined to exclude the influence of other bacterial pathogens on diarrhea incidence.Results31.5% of MSM HIV/AIDS participants were infected with at least one parasite species, a significantly higher proportion than that found in the HIV-negative individuals (2.5%). E. bieneusi presented the highest prevalence, followed by B. hominis, E. histolytica, Cryptosporidium spp., and C. cayetanensis. Warm seasons were the risk factor for parasitic infections in this population [odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.47–4.57]. In addition, these individuals showed a higher proportion (35.8%) of present diarrhea (PD) compared with men who have sex with women (MSW) with HIV/AIDS (16.7%). The infection proportions of both Cryptosporidium spp. and E. histolytica were significantly higher in the PD. E. bieneusi infection was more prevalent in the historic diarrhea (HD) group. CD4⁺ T cell counts in the MSM patients with the above three parasites were significantly lower. New species and genotypes were found, and MSM patients had a wider range of species or genotypes.ConclusionsEnteric parasitic infection was prevalent in the MSM HIV/AIDS population, especially in patients with present diarrhea during warm seasons. E. histolytica and B. hominis should also be considered high-risk parasites for opportunistic infections in AIDS patients in addition to Cryptosporidium spp.     

The mode of action of thidiazuron: auxins,indoleamines, and ion channels in the regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinacea purpurea</Emphasis> L.

The biochemical mechanisms underlying thidiazuron (TDZ)-induced regeneration in plant cells have not been clearly elucidated. Exposure of leaf explants of Echinacea purpurea to a medium containing TDZ results in undifferentiated cell proliferation and differentiated growth as mixed shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. The current studies were undertaken to determine the potential roles of auxin, indoleamines, and ion signaling in the dedifferentiation and redifferentiation of plant cells. E. purpurea leaf explants were found to contain auxin and the related indoleamine neurotransmitters, melatonin, and serotonin. The levels of these endogenous indoleamines were increased by exposure to TDZ associated with the induction of regeneration. The auxin-transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid and auxin action inhibitor, p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid decreased the TDZ-induced regeneration but increased concentrations of endogenous serotonin and melatonin. As well, inhibitors of calcium and sodium transport significantly reduced TDZ-induced morphogenesis while increasing endogenous indoleamine content. These data indicate that TDZ-induced regeneration is the manifestation of a metabolic cascade that includes an initial signaling event, accumulation, and transport of endogenous plant signals such as auxin and melatonin, a system of secondary messengers, and a concurrent stress response.     

Genetic structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cerasus jamasakura</Emphasis>, a Japanese flowering cherry,revealed by nuclear SSRs: implications for conservation

The genetic resources of a particular species of flowering cherry, Cerasus jamasakura, have high conservation priority because of its cultural, ecological and economic value in Japan. Therefore, the genetic structures of 12 natural populations of C. jamasakura were assessed using ten nuclear SSR loci. The population differentiation was relatively low (F _ST, 0.043), reflecting long-distance dispersal of seeds by animals and historical human activities. However, a neighbor-joining tree derived from the acquired data, spatial analysis of molecular variance and STRUCTURE analysis revealed that the populations could be divided into two groups: one located on Kyusyu Island and one on Honshu Island. Genetic diversity parameters such as allelic richness and gene diversity were significantly lower in the Kyushu group than the Honshu group. Furthermore, STRUCTURE analysis revealed that the two lineages were admixed in the western part of Honshu Island. Thus, although the phylogeographical structure of the species and hybridization dynamics among related species need to be evaluated in detail using several marker systems, the Kyusyu Island and Honshu Island populations should be considered as different conservation units, and the islands should be regarded as distinct seed transfer zones for C. jamasakura, especially when rapid assessments are required.     

Production of Manoalide and Its Analogues by the Sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luffariella variabilis</Emphasis> Is Hardwired

The Great Barrier Reef sponge Luffariella variabilis (Poléjaeff 1884) produces a range of potent anti-inflammatory compounds as its major metabolites. These major metabolites—manoalide monoacetate, manoalide, luffariellin A and seco-manoalide—were monitored temporally and spatially to quantify the potential yield from wild harvest or aquaculture. Production of the major metabolites was hardwired at the population level with little variation in space and time over meters to tens of kilometers in the Palm Islands, Queensland, Australia. Manoalide monoacetate (35 to 70 mg g⁻¹ dry weight of sponge) was consistently the most abundant compound followed by manoalide (15 to 20 mg g⁻¹ dry weight). Luffariellin A and seco-manoalide were 10 to 70 times less abundant and varied between 0 and 3 mg g⁻¹ dry weight. On a larger spatial scale, L. variabilis from Davies Reef and Magnetic Island contained the same rank order and yields of compounds as the Palm Islands, indicating a generality of pattern over at least 100 km. The “hardwiring” of metabolite production at the population level by L. variabilis was also reflected in the lack of any inductive effect on metabolite production. In addition, individually monitored sponges produced fixed ratios of the major metabolites over time (years). However, these ratios varied between individuals, with some individuals consistently producing high levels of manoalide and manoalide monoacetate, providing the potential for selection of high-yielding stocks.     

Evolution of resident bird breeding phenology in a landscape with heterogeneous resource phenology and carryover effects

It is generally expected that, in environments with pronounced seasonal resource peaks, birds’ reproductive success will be maximised when nestlings’ peak food demand coincides with the timing of high food availability. However in certain birds that stay resident over winter, earlier breeding leads juveniles to join the winter flock earlier, which by the prior residence effect increases their success in breeding territory competition. This trade-off between reproduction and competition may explain why, in certain species, breeding phenology is earlier and asynchronous with the resource. This study extends a previous model of the evolution of breeding phenology in a single habitat type to a landscape with two habitat types: ‘early’ and ‘late’ resource phenology. The offspring’s natal habitat type has a carryover effect upon their competitive ability regardless of which habitat type they settle in to potentially breed. We find that, when the difference in resource phenology between habitats is small (weak carryover effect), breeding phenology in the late habitat evolves to occur earlier and more asynchronously than in the early habitat, to compensate for the competitive disadvantage to juveniles raised there. However if the difference is large (strong carryover effect), then the reproductive cost of earlier breeding outweighs the benefit of the compensation, so instead breeding phenology in the late habitat evolves to become more synchronous with the resource. Recruitment is generally asymmetric, from early to late habitat type. However if the early habitat is less frequent in the landscape or produces fewer offspring, then the asymmetry is reduced, and if there is some natal habitat-type fidelity, then recruitment can have an insular pattern, i.e. most recruits to each habitat type come from that same habitat type. We detail the different scenarios in which the different recruitment patterns are predicted, and we propose that they have implications for local adaptation.