Major surface protein 1a effects tick infection and transmission of Anaplasma marginale.

Anaplasma marginale, an ehrlichial pathogen of cattle and wild ruminants, is transmitted biologically by ticks. A developmental cycle of A. marginale occurs in a tick that begins in gut cells followed by infection of salivary glands, which are the site of transmission to cattle. Geographic isolates of A. marginale vary in their ability to be transmitted by ticks. In these experiments we studied transmission of two recent field isolates of A. marginale, an Oklahoma isolate from Wetumka, OK, and a Florida isolate from Okeechobee, FL, by two populations of Dermacentor variabilis males obtained from the same regions. The Florida and Oklahoma tick populations transmitted the Oklahoma isolate, while both tick populations failed to transmit the Florida isolate. Gut and salivary gland infections of A. marginale, as determined by quantitative PCR and microscopy, were detected in ticks exposed to the Oklahoma isolate, while these tissues were not infected in ticks exposed to the Florida isolate. An adhesion-recovery assay was used to study adhesion of the A. marginale major surface protein (MSP) 1a to gut cells from both tick populations and cultured tick cells. We demonstrated that recombinant Escherichia coli expressing Oklahoma MSP1a adhered to cultured and native D. variabilis gut cells, while recombinant E. coli expressing the Florida MSP1a were not adherent to either tick cell population. The MSP1a of the Florida isolate of A. marginale, therefore, was unable to mediate attachment to tick gut cells, thus inhibiting salivary gland infection and transmission to cattle. This is the first report of MSP1a being responsible for effecting infection and transmission of A. marginale by Dermacentor spp. ticks. The mechanism of tick infection and transmission of A. marginale is important in formulating control strategies and development of improved vaccines for anaplasmosis.     

提高三角酵母细胞DAO表观活力的透性化研究

三角酵母(Trigonopsis variabilis)的D-氨基酸氧化酶(D-amino acid oxidase,DAO,EC1.4.3.3)是一种胞内酶,完整细胞并不呈现酶促活性。为了获得三角酵母细胞的较高表观活力,需对细胞进行处理以改变壁和膜对反应底物和产物的通透性。研究中比较了冻融、丙酮、丁醇和十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide,CTAB)等理化因子的透性化效率,并对丙酮的透性化条件进行了优化。证明丙酮的透性化作用与溶剂浓度、保温时间和温度有关。30%～35%丙酮浓度,4～28℃保温,可得到最大酶活力。透性化所需时间极短,在5min内即可完成。同时,透性化细胞中的DAO比无细胞抽提液中的酶对热更为稳定。用丙酮透性化细胞作为生物催化剂可有效地转化头孢菌素C(Cephalosporin C, CPC)为戊二酰-7ACA(Glutaryl-7-ACA,GL-7ACA)。     

H(2) photoproduction by batch culture of Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 and its mutant PK84 in a photobioreactor.

Hydrogen production by Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 and of its mutant PK84, grown in batch cultures, was studied in a photobioreactor. The highest volumetric H(2) production rates of native and mutant strains were found in cultures grown at gradually increased irradiation. The native strain evolved H(2) only under an argon atmosphere with the actual rate as high as the potential rate (measured in small vials under optimal conditions). In this case 61% of oxygenic photosynthesis was used for H(2) production. In contrast the mutant PK84 produced H(2) during growth under CO(2)-enriched air. Under these conditions at the maximum rate of H(2) production (10 mL h(-1) L(-1)), 13% of oxygenic photosynthesis was used for H(2) production and the actual H(2) production was only 33% of the potential. Under an atmosphere of 98% argon + 2% CO(2) actual H(2) production by mutant PK84 was 85% of the potential rate and 66% of oxygenic photosynthesis was used for H(2) production. Hydrogen production under argon + CO(2) by the mutant was strictly light-dependent with saturation at about 300 microE m(-2) s(-1). However, the rate of photosynthesis was not saturated at this irradiation. At limiting light intensities (below 250 microE m(-2) s(-1)) 33-58% of photosynthesis was used for H(2) production. Hydrogen evolution by PK84 under air + 2% CO(2) was also stimulated by light; but was not saturated at 332 microE m(-2) s(-1) and did not cease completely in darkness. The rate of oxygen photoevolution was also not saturated. A mechanism for increasing cyanobacterial hydrogen production is proposed.     

Interaction of Two Populations of the Blue-Green Algae in Co-Culture

Interaction of the populations of two species of blue-green algae Tolypothrix tenuis and Anabaena variabilis "1058", in mixed culture, was observed in three different ways: (1) The growth competition was studied in mixed-culture, where the two species grew in one batch of culture. (2) The effect of the filtrate, the extracellular products, from the culture of one species on the growth of the other species was studied. (3) In fitrated culture, two algal species were cultivated separately in either side a U-form container partitioned by a micro-pore membrane in the middle. The extracellular products were permeable through the membrane from one side to the other side. The influonce of the biologically active substances prosduced by the algae at different growth stages can be observed and estimated. The growth was measured by dry weight of biomass andchlorophyll-a content. The proportion of components of phycobiliprotein (e. g. ratio of phycocyanin to phycoerythrin) was estimated as the specific growth rate of two blue-greens in the mixed cultures. 1. The results obtained are summarized as follows. There were three types of the bioactivity of the extracellular products: (1) The lethal effects on each other caused the by the lethal agents of these two blue-greens were different. (2) The suppressive effects on growth by each other in one community were also found. (3) Effect on growth promotion exhibited only in the extracellular products of A. variabilis "1058". 2. The results indicate that there occur a direct competitive interaction of two populations. This Competition was controlled by the bio-active substances of the extracellular products which might regulate the structural composition and inturn, the succession of the comunity.     

四种类型栓皮栎栲胶含量

为了阐明不同类型(薄皮深裂、薄皮浅裂、厚皮深裂、厚皮浅裂)栓皮栎各器官栲胶含量,系统采集了秦岭南坡商州区4种类型的栓皮栎不同径级植株根、主干木材、叶片、枝条和树皮样品,用紫外光分光光度法(UV Spectrophotometry)测定了4种类型栓皮栎不同器官栲胶含量,分析了林木生长与栲胶含量的关系。结果表明,(1)4种类型栓皮栎的根、主干木材、叶片、枝条和树皮单宁含量平均值分别为2.64%—3.02%、1.74%—2.02%、6.63%—7.21%、4.69%—5.10%、8.87%—9.46%,叶片、枝条和树皮均可以作为栲胶生产主要原材料。(2)不同类型各器官单宁含量存在极显著差异(P0.01),4种类型的树皮、叶片、枝条单宁含量均表现为:厚皮深裂型厚皮浅裂型薄皮深裂型薄皮浅裂型;根部和主干木材在4种类型间单宁含量表现为:薄皮深裂型薄皮浅裂型厚皮深裂型厚皮浅裂型;厚皮深裂类型的栓皮栎是提取栲胶的最佳类型。(3)4种类型栓皮栎各器官单宁含量与胸径呈显著正相关,各器官单宁含量随着栓皮栎胸径增大而增多,并最终趋于稳定,在第Ⅳ径级(胸径20.1—25cm)时,栲胶含量均值最大。因此,栲胶生产可以高效利用第Ⅳ径级及其以上径级的栓皮栎,并对第Ⅳ径级以下栓皮栎进行定向培育和重点保护。     

栓皮栎种群生殖生态与稳定性机制研究

对河南省内不同干扰程度下栓皮栎种群的乍殖乍态特征及稳定性进行研究。结果表明：不同干扰程度下种群的各生殖参数变化较大,种群表现出不同的生态适应策略,成为其稳定与恢复的主要机制。结果还表明较大程度干扰下的栓皮栎种群主要由无性繁殖来恢复,因此应加强其机理的研究。     

The role of a conserved histidine residue, His324, in Trigonopsis variabilisd-amino acid oxidase

To investigate the functional role of an invariant histidine residue in Trigonopsis variabilis D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO), a set of mutant enzymes with replacement of the histidine residue at position 324 was constructed and their enzymatic properties were examined. Wild-type and mutant enzymes have been purified to homogeneity using the His-bound column and the molecular masses were determined to be 39.2 kDa. Western blot analysis revealed that the in vivo synthesized mutant enzymes are immuno-identical with that of the wild-type DAAO. The His324Asn and His324Gln mutants displayed comparable enzymatic activity to that of the wild-type enzyme, while the other mutant DAAOs showed markedly decreased or no detectable activity. The mutants, His324/Asn/Gln/Ala/Tyr/Glu, exhibited 38-181% increase in Km and a 2-10-fold reduction in kcat/Km. Based on the crystal structure of a homologous protein, pig kidney DAAO, it is suggested that His324 might play a structural role for proper catalytic function of T. variabilis DAAO.     

秦岭北坡不同生境栓皮栎实生苗生长及其影响因素

栓皮栎(Quercus variabilis)是中国暖温带和亚热带林区的主要建群种,也是重要的栲胶、软木资源树种。为了阐明栓皮栎在不同生境条件下的种子成苗、实生苗生长及其与环境因素的关系,采用典型样地调查的方法,对秦岭北坡栓皮栎林3种生境中(林窗、林缘、林下)的栓皮栎种子库中种子数量、实生苗的存活数量、生长情况及生物量分配进行了研究,对影响实生苗生长发育的环境因素进行了相关分析。结果表明:林下、林窗和林缘的种子库中种子数量差异显著(P0.05),3种生境中能够萌发形成1a苗的种子数量少,种子能否萌发明显受枯枝落叶层厚度、光照强度和空气湿度的影响;栓皮栎种群有充足的苗库,其中较大年龄实生苗数量是种群能否持续更新的关键,林下、林窗和林缘中8a苗分别占该年龄实生苗总量的22.53%、45.60%和31.87%,林窗中较大年龄实生苗的数量比林下和林缘多,林窗为栓皮栎实生苗的定居提供了有利条件;栓皮栎实生苗的生长与光照强度和空气温度显著正相关,与土壤含水量显著负相关,林窗中实生苗的生长状况和生物量积累均优于林缘、林下。林窗对栓皮栎种群更新有利。在今后的栓皮栎林的经营过程中,可以适当间伐,增加林窗数量,为种群可持续发育提供有利条件。     

土壤盐分对高寒草甸主要植物生态位的影响

采用Levins生态宽度指数和Cowell生态位相似性公式,计算了巴音布鲁克高寒草甸主要物种在4个盐分梯度上土壤水分、有机质、速效钾3个资源维的生态位宽度及生态位相似性.结果表明：在3个资源维上,随着土壤盐分含量的增加,主要建群种细果苔草的平均生态位由0.4433降至0.1740,伴生种鹅绒委陵菜的平均生态位由0.1263升至0.2215,说明耐盐性较差的物种生态位宽度逐渐减小,耐盐性较好的物种逐渐增大,可能成为重要的演替种.随土壤盐分含量的增加,耐盐性较差物种间的生态位相似性逐渐升高, 而耐盐性较好的物种则逐渐降低.细果苔草和线叶嵩草的生态位相似比例由0.701升至0.842, 而鹅绒委陵菜和山地蒲公英的生态位相似比例由1降至0.708.物种的生物学特性是物种对土壤盐分响应不同的主要原因.     

Prolonged Lag in Population Outbreak of an Invasive Mussel: A Shifting-Habitat Model

Biological invasions pose a great threat to the integrity of natural communities. Some invasive species demonstrate a population explosion shortly after arrival while in other cases a prolonged lag between arrival and population outbreak is evident. This paper describes a case of a prolonged lag and explores the possible mechanism for this lag. The Red Sea mussel Brachidontes pharaonis, a Lessepsian migrant, was first recorded in the Mediterranean seven years after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Since then it spread along the Israeli coast and as far northwest as Sicily. Studies conducted in the late 1970s, when B. pharaonis was still rare, predicted that it would not establish dense populations along the Israeli coast and would not outcompete the indigenous mussel Mytilaster minimus, although it has strong negative effects on survival and growth of the native species. It was attributed to the invader's low intrinsic rate of increase relative to that of the native species, and to strong density-independent mortality generated by exposure to high wave action and sedimentation. In contrast to these predictions, we found massive formations of B. pharaonis beds after lag of about 120 years. We looked for distributional patterns that may explain this lag and found no south–north gradient but a strong habitat-dependent colonization. Most apparent are dense B. pharaonis mussel beds (density >300 per 100cm²) on rocky platforms where mussel beds were absent in the past. These platforms lack the vermetid rim that is typical to this formation. In platforms protected by a biogenic rim, sediment accumulation is high and perennial algae flourish. None of the mussel species form beds in such habitats. We suggest that the delayed formation of B. pharaonis beds along the Israeli coast is a consequence of a recent shift in habitat conditions on some platforms. It is possible that receding of the biogenic rim at the edge of these platforms allowed more effective washing, reduced sediment accumulation, and reduced perennial algae cover making platforms more suitable for the mussels. Lower density-independent mortality allowed B. pharaonis to dominate on such platforms over the indigenous species. On beachrock, a habitat previously dominated by M. minimus, we recorded a rapid shift in numerical domination to B. pharaonis (from 1:7 to 1.4:1 Brachidontes/Mytilaster individuals) over a period of 4 years (1995–1999). This is probably a result of saturation of the habitat by B. pharaonis recruits originating from the established populations on platforms. Salinity changes and a potential genetic shift may also have contributed to the invasive mussel outbreak.