Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of primate cardiopulmonary aging

Aging is a major risk factor for many diseases,especially in highly prevalent cardiopulmonary comorbidities and infectious diseases including Coronavirus Diseas...     

Microbial adaptive evolution

Bacterial species can adapt to significant changes in their environment by mutation followed by selection, a phenomenon known as “adaptive evolution.” With the development of bioinformatics and genetic engineering, research on adaptive evolution has progressed rapidly, as have applications of the process. In this review, we summarize various mechanisms of bacterial adaptive evolution, the technologies used for studying it, and successful applications of the method in research and industry. We particularly highlight the contributions of Dr. L. O. Ingram. Microbial adaptive evolution has significant impact on our society not only from its industrial applications, but also in the evolution, emergence, and control of various pathogens.     

莱州湾中国对虾生长特性及其空间分布

根据2010年5月—10月调查资料,对山东莱州湾中国对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)的资源状况、生长特性及其空间分布进行了研究。莱州湾放流前本底调查资料表明,目前山东莱州湾中国对虾捕捞产量主要来源于增殖放流,且在一定条件下捕捞产量与放流数量成正相关关系。依据2010年中国对虾生物学数据,应用R语言命令对中国对虾体长体重关系和体长生长方程进行了拟合,并对拟合系数进行了显著性检验,结果表明中国对虾体长与体重系数a、b处于显著水平(P0.05),中国对虾体长生长方程拟合系数K、t_0、L_∞处于极显著水平(P0.001),故拟合效果明显,获得为中国对虾生长参数雌虾为K=0.0226、t_0=37.45d、L_∞=200.77 mm、W_∞=80.50 g、t_r=85.18d(8月4日),雄虾为:K=0.0419、t_0=40.25d、L_∞=145.81 mm、W_∞=23.37 g、tr=67.24d(7月18日),与20世纪80年代相比,中国对虾个体明显减小,生长速度加快,生长拐点提前了1个月。另外,根据大面调查体长数据,对各个站位体长组出现频率进行Ward聚类分析,利用R语言聚类树的融合水平值定义划分水平,选择具有最大跳跃的分组水平,将中国对虾虾群大致可分为两个组群,河口组和深水组,同时按照各体长组的多度值大小,探讨了各组内具有代表性的分类体长组,结果表明,河口组的中国对虾以体长125—135 mm为主,深水组以体长115—125 mm和105—115mm为主,河口组个体明显大于深水组;河口组分布区入海河流较多,饵料生物丰富,以软泥底质为主,有利于中国对虾的摄食和前期保护,深水组分布于莱州湾中东部,蟹类资源相对较高,且以沙质底质为主,对中国对虾的生长与保护产生一定的影响。     

LGR5 regulates osteogenic differentiation of human thoracic ligamentum flavum cells by Wnt signalling pathway

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) is ectopic ossification of the spinal ligaments. Histologically, the development of TOLF can be described as the process of endochondral ossification. However, the underlying aetiology has not been completely clarified. In this investigation, the gene expression profile associated with leucine‐rich repeat‐containing G‐protein‐coupled receptors (LGR) and Wnt signalling pathway in the thoracic ligamentum flavum cells (TLFCs) of different ossification stages was analysed via RNA sequencing. We further confirmed the significant differences in the related gene expression profile by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. LGR5 was first identified in primary human TLFCs during osteogenic differentiation. To evaluate the effect of LGR5 on osteogenic differentiation, LGR5 has been knocked down and overexpressed in human TLFCs. We observed that the knockdown of LGR5 inhibited the activity of Wnt signalling and attenuated the potential osteogenic differentiation of TLFCs, while overexpression of LGR5 activated the Wnt signalling pathway and increased osteogenic differentiation. Our results provide important evidence for the potent positive mediatory effects of LGR5 on osteogenesis by enhancing the Wnt signalling pathway in TOLF.     

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.     

人类活动影响下新疆生态环境的一些变化

人类活动引起的新疆生态环境变化主要有以下几方面:1.河流流程缩短,河水矿化度和泥沙含量增加;2.湖泊水位下降,湖面缩小或变干,湖水矿化度升高;3.森林破坏,面积缩小;4.草场的产草量降低,牧草质量下降; 5.土壤次生盐渍化、沼泽化和肥力下降;6.土地沙漠化不断扩大。     

暗针叶林下华西箭竹（Fargesia nitida）对岷江冷杉（Abies faxoniana）幼龄植株种群动态的影响

通过不同华西箭竹（Fargesia nitida）环境中岷江冷杉（Abies faxoniana）幼龄植株种群生命表及存活曲线、死亡曲线、消失率曲线和生存函数曲线,分析种群动态趋势,并根据野外取样分析华西箭竹对岷江冷杉幼龄植株生物量分配的影响。结果表明：在暗针叶林下,岷江冷杉幼龄植株总的种群结构呈明显的金字塔型,存活曲线DeeveyⅢ型,幼苗个体丰富,死亡率高,进入小树阶段后有较高的生命期望。小密度华西箭竹增大了岷江冷杉幼苗、幼树的死亡率,该环境下的岷江冷杉幼龄植株种群存活曲线为DeeveyⅡ型,而无竹环境为DeeveyⅢ型。大密度华西箭竹环境中岷江冷杉小幼苗叶重比显著增大,异速生长显著增高。过于密集的华西箭竹严重抑制了岷江冷杉幼苗的定居,而小密度华西箭竹的存在对岷江冷杉的更新并非完全不利。     

转录因子在植物干旱应激中的功能研究进展

转录因子是一种多功能蛋白,在感知应激信号、应答相应应激基因表达及传导应激信号中起着关键作用。干旱是影响植物生长发育的主要非生物胁迫之一。为了适应干旱环境,植物发展了复杂的分子机制,其中转录因子可同时控制多种途径调控干旱应激,是操纵调控和应激响应途径的有力工具。近年来,越来越多的植物转录因子的功能被阐明,了解转录因子在干旱应激的功能,对植物的工程抗旱有重要的实践意义。综述转录因子在植物干旱应激中的功能研究进展,以期为今后转录因子的研究和利用提供理论依据,培育具有较强抗旱能力的植物。     

电针诱导心肌缺血大鼠延髓头端腹外侧区nNOS和iNOS差异表达

许多研究表明,延髓头端腹外侧区(rostral ventrolateml medulla,RVLM)的NO/NOS系统参与心血管活动的中枢调节.本实验以结扎Wistar大鼠左冠状动脉前降支法建立急性心肌缺血(acute myocardial ischemia,AMI)动物模型,观察针刺"内关"穴改善AMI大鼠的心功能作用,同时检测大鼠RVLM区神经元型一氧化氮合酶(neuronal nitric oxide synthase,nNOS)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS)表达的变化,进而探讨针刺治疗AMI的中枢机制.实验观察显示,AMI大鼠心功能各项指标减弱,伴随外周血去甲肾上腺素(norepinephrine,NE)和脑钠肽(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)水平显著升高,同时RVLM区nNOS阳性神经元数和nNOS mRNA表达升高,而iNOS水平则降低.针刺"内关"穴(Pe 6)(每天30 min,连续5天)改善心功能,降低AMI大鼠血清中NE和BNP的水平,同时升高iNOS并降低nNOS在RVLM的表达.以上结果提示,针刺治疗心肌缺血的同时可以调节iNOS/NO和nNOS/NO在RVLM的变化,这可能与针刺通过调节RVLM区的NO含量进而降低交感传出,从而改善AMI大鼠的心功能有关.     

聚乙烯醇生物降解研究进展

聚乙烯醇(PVA)是一种在纺织和化工行业中广泛使用的难降解的高分子聚合物。随着人们对纺织工业清洁生产的关注,如何在退浆工艺中就实现对PVA的生物降解、减少PVA废水的排放,并避免化学退浆过程中高温和氧化造成的棉纤维损伤,是近年来纺织生物技术领域的研究热点。由于PVA降解菌种类不多、培养周期长,PVA降解酶酶活不高、提取不容易等原因,使PVA的生化降解研究还局限在PVA降解菌的筛选、PVA降解酶的酶学性质研究等方面,PVA降解酶还未在纺织工业上得到应用。本文综述了近年来国内外在PVA降解菌筛选、PVA降解酶提取及酶学性质、PVA生化降解机理等方面的研究进展,并讨论了PVA生化降解研究中存在的问题及发展方向。