基于mtDNA D-loop分析高原鳅群体遗传多样性和系统发育

本研究以高原鳅属6个群体共82尾个体的线粒体DNA D-loop高变区为标记,采用分子生物信息学方法分析其遗传多样性及系统发育关系.结果表明,在570 bp的mtDNA D-loop中共检测到149个多态位点,由此界定了 39个单倍型.在6个群体中,单倍型多样度(Hd)由高到低依次为细尾高原鳅(T.stenura)(0...     

Quantitative regulation of the thermal stability of enveloped virus vaccines by surface charge engineering to prevent the self-aggregation of attachment glycoproteins

The development of thermostable vaccines can relieve the bottleneck of existing vaccines caused by thermal instability and subsequent poor efficacy, which is one of the predominant reasons for the millions of deaths caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. Research into the mechanism of viral thermostability may provide strategies for developing thermostable vaccines. Using Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as model, we identified the negative surface charge of attachment glycoprotein as a novel determinant of viral thermostability. It prevented the temperature-induced aggregation of glycoprotein and subsequent detachment from virion surface. Then structural stability of virion surface was improved and virus could bind to and infect cells efficiently after heat-treatment. Employing the approach of surface charge engineering, thermal stability of NDV and influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines was successfully improved. The increase in the level of vaccine thermal stability was determined by the value-added in the negative surface charge of the attachment glycoprotein. The engineered live and inactivated vaccines could be used efficiently after storage at 37°C for at least 10 and 60 days, respectively. Thus, our results revealed a novel surface-charge-mediated link between HN protein and NDV thermostability, which could be used to design thermal stable NDV and IAV vaccines rationally.     

放牧对鄂尔多斯高原油蒿草场生物量及植被-土壤碳密度的影响

以围封保护和自由放牧油蒿草场为研究对象,通过野外调查与室内分析,研究了围封和放牧条件下沙地草场生物量和植被-土壤碳密度。结果表明:(1)自由放牧使油蒿群落中植物种类增加,但降低了植物群落盖度。自由放牧不仅导致油蒿草场地上、地下总生物量降低,也使得油蒿地上、地下生物量占群落地上、地下总生物量的比例减小。生长季自由放牧样地凋落物生物量显著大于围封保护样地(P0.05);(2)围封保护样地植被碳密度大于自由放牧样地,土壤碳密度却小于自由放牧样地,但两个样地间差异不显著(P0.05);(3)油蒿草场90%以上的碳储存于土壤中,围封保护样地和自由放牧样地油蒿草场土壤碳密度占植被-土壤系统碳密度的91%、93%;(4)围封保护油蒿草场碳密度为2.29 kg/m2,自由放牧油蒿草场碳密度为2.68 kg/m2,两个样地间差异不显著,自由放牧对油蒿草场碳密度影响不大。     

高寒生态脆弱区农户的气候变化适应策略评价——以甘南高原为例

气候变化加剧了高寒生态脆弱区农户的生计脆弱性,为应对气候变化,农户已采取了各种响应措施,当前急需评估农户所采取适应策略的效果,以便选择更有效的适应策略。以甘南高原为研究区,基于入户调查数据分析了农户所采取适应策略的特征,采用模糊综合评价法分析现行适应策略的效果,并利用多准则决策模型确定了最优的气候变化适应策略。结果显示:(1)甘南高原农户多采取组合型策略应对气候变化,尤以调整+扩张型策略为主;(2)甘南高原农户所采取气候变化适应策略的效果较好,效益指数为3.43。其中,农区农户的适应策略效果最好、半农半牧区次之、纯牧区最差;(3)甘南高原不同区域农户筛选的最优策略存在差异。其中,纯牧区和半农半牧区农户筛选的最优策略为调整农牧业结构,而农区农户为完善农牧业基础设施。最后,提出了提高农户适应策略效果的对策建议及未来研究中需进一步关注的问题。     

PcoB is a defense outer membrane protein that facilitates cellular uptake of copper

Copper (Cu) is one of the most abundant trace metals in all organisms, involved in a plethora of cellular processes. Yet elevated concentrations of the element are harmful, and interestingly prokaryotes are more sensitive for environmental Cu stress than humans. Various transport systems are present to maintain intracellular Cu homeostasis, including the prokaryotic plasmid‐encoded multiprotein pco operon, which is generally assigned as a defense mechanism against elevated Cu concentrations. Here we structurally and functionally characterize the outer membrane component of the Pco system, PcoB, recovering a 2.0 Å structure, revealing a classical β‐barrel architecture. Unexpectedly, we identify a large opening on the extracellular side, linked to a considerably electronegative funnel that becomes narrower towards the periplasm, defining an ion‐conducting pathway as also supported by metal binding quantification via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. However, the structure is partially obstructed towards the periplasmic side, and yet flux is permitted in the presence of a Cu gradient as shown by functional characterization in vitro. Complementary in vivo experiments demonstrate that isolated PcoB confers increased sensitivity towards Cu. Aggregated, our findings indicate that PcoB serves to permit Cu import. Thus, it is possible the Pco system physiologically accumulates Cu in the periplasm as a part of an unorthodox defense mechanism against metal stress. These results point to a previously unrecognized principle of maintaining Cu homeostasis and may as such also assist in the understanding and in efforts towards combatting bacterial infections of Pco‐harboring pathogens.     

悦目金蛛拖丝的超微结构研究

采用非固定的抽丝方法,从一只未麻醉的悦目金蛛(Argiope amoena)的纺器将拖丝抽出,然后用扫描电镜(SEM)对拖丝进行超微结构的观察,结果表明:悦目金蛛拖丝至少具有2根、3根、4根及多根单丝纤维构成的4种不同结构,其中有一种类似弹簧的结构;另外,丝的表面还出现一种小环结构,这两种结构可能是拖丝纤维具有优良机械性能的原因之一。"束状结构"和"小环结构"在文献中未见报道。拖丝的直径范围为0.25~10.77μm;悦目金蛛似乎能调节拖丝的结构和直径,以适应其所面临的即时环境。本文基于上述观察结果并结合前人的研究,提出了蜘蛛拖丝结构-生物学功能多样性假说,对蜘蛛丝的结构与生物学功能之间的关系作了探讨。     

病原真菌感染与TOLL样受体

TOLL样受体(TLR)是参与天然免疫的主要模式识别受体之一,与许多微生物病原体及其产物的病原相关分子模式PAMP结合后通过MyD88依赖性或非依赖性途径启动宿主胞内信号传导途径,引发一系列生物学效应。白色念珠菌表面的特征性糖磷脂甘露聚糖可被TLR2、TLR4识别,诱导前炎性细胞因子的释放及促进中性粒细胞的聚集等来介导宿主的抗真菌免疫反应。烟曲霉则可能利用表型转换(酵母样与菌丝态),通过不同TLRs逃避宿主天然免疫系统的识别。新型隐球菌的多糖荚膜成分葡糖醛氧化甘露聚糖GXM可与TLR2、TLR4、CD14结合,在单核细胞、巨噬细胞对GXM的内化、吞噬中起重要作用,而不是诱导细胞因子的分泌;酿酒酵母胞壁成分酵母多糖则可激活TLR2、TLR6异源二聚体。总之,TLR与真菌配体相互作用的具体机制及其活化后胞内信号传导调控机制的深入研究与分析,对临床真菌病的免疫调节及治疗具有重要意义。     

环境微生物群落功能研究的新方法和新策略

微生物群落在驱动生物地球化学循环中扮演着重要角色,传统的研究方法可对微生物群落进行遗传结构的解析,但不能有效地与功能研究耦联.概述了近年发展起来的基于核酸和蛋白质水平的分子生物学新方法--环境mRNA 和 rRNA同时荧光原位杂交(FISH)、寡核苷酸微阵列技术(Oligonucleotide Microarray)、 稳定性同位素联合宏基因组学(SIP-enabled Metagenomics)和环境蛋白质组学(Metaproteomics)在环境微生物群落功能研究中的应用,并且对其发展趋势进行了分析和展望.