The first troglobitic species of freshwater flatworm of the suborder Continenticola (Platyhelminthes) from South America

Brazilian cave diversity, especially of invertebrates, is poorly known. The Bodoquena Plateau, which is located in the Cerrado Biome in central Brazil, has approximately 200 recorded caves with a rich system of subterranean water resources and high troglobitic diversity. Herein we describe a new troglobitic species of Girardia that represents the first obligate cave-dwelling species of the suborder Continenticola in South America. Specimens of the new species, which occur in a limestone cave in the Bodoquena Plateau, in the Cerrado biome, are unpigmented and eyeless. Species recognition in the genus Girardia is difficult, due to their great morphological resemblance. However, the new species can be easily recognized by a unique feature in its copulatory apparatus, namely a large, branched bulbar cavity with multiple diverticula.     

PHYCOBILIPROTEIN COMPOSITION AND CHLOROPLAST STRUCTURE IN THE FRESHWATER RED ALGA COMPSOPOGON COERULEUS (RHODOPHYTA)1

Serial sections of uncorticated axial cells of Compsopogon coeruleus revealed a single interconnected parietal chloroplast. Phycobilisomes in such chloroplasts were hemidiscoidal in shape with a broad-face diameter of ca. 25–30 nm. The molar ratio of phycobiliproteins in whole cell extracts was IPE:3PC:1APC, similar to isolated phycobilisomes. Two spectrally distinct C-phycocyanin forms (A618 nm, F648 nm and A630 nm, F652 nm) were resolved in dissociated phycobilisomes along with B-phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin.     

A Pirhemocyton-like parasite of the Blenny, Blennius pholis L. (Teleostei; Blenniidae) and its relationship to Immanoplasma Neumann, 1909

A light and electron microscopic study was made of a Pirhemocyton-like infection of the red blood cells of B. pholis, an intertidal fish. Electron micrographs show that polygonal particles occur in the cytoplasm of infected cells; these particles resemble the supposed icosahedral virus of Pirhemocyton. Inclusion bodies associated with the infection also resemble those seen in Pirhemocyton.Immanoplasma Neumann, 1909, was re-examined from blood films taken from three infected Scyliorhinus canicula collected in 1970. A marked similarity was noted between the inclusion bodies of the Blenny infection, Pirhemocyton and the Immanoplasma body. The nature of the numerous particles in the infected red blood cells of S. canicula is not known, therefore, Immanoplasma is only tentatively included in the group of known and suspected icosahedral cytoplasmic deoxyriboviruses.     

Screening of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for the revegetation of eroded red soils in subtropical China

Some acidic red soils in hilly regions of subtropical China were degraded as a result of slope erosion following the removal of natural vegetation, primarily for fuel. Revegetation is important for the recovery of the degraded ecosystem, but plant growth is limited by the low fertility of eroded sites. One factor contributing to the low fertility may be low inoculum density of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Compared to red soils under natural vegetation or in agricultural production, substrates on eroded sites had significantly lower AM fungal propagule densities. Thus, the management and/or application of AM fungi may increase plant growth and accelerate revegetation. Thirteen species of AM fungi were identified in red soils by spore morphology. Scutellospora heterogama, Glomus manihotis, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus aggregatum and Acaulospora laevis were among the most common according to spore numbers. Pot cultures were used to isolate and propagate 14 isolates of AM fungi indigenous to red soil. The effectiveness of each fungus in promotion of growth of mungbean was evaluated in red soil. For comparison, three isolates from northern China, known to be highly effective in neutral soils, and two isolates from Australia, known to be from acidic soil were used. Effectiveness was positively related to root infection (r ² = 0.601). For two of these isolates, Glomus caledonium (isolated from northern China) and Glomus manihotis (an isolate indigenous to red soil), the applied P concentration giving the highest infection and response to infection was approximately 17.5 mg P kg^–1 soil. In field experiments in which this concentration of P was applied, the five most effective isolates were tested on mungbean. The Glomus caledonium isolate from northern China was the most effective, followed by the indigenous Glomus manihotis isolate. The Glomus caledonium isolate was also shown to be effective on Lespedeza formosa, which is commonly used in revegetation efforts. We conclude that inoculation of plants with selected isolates of AM fungi may aid in revegetation efforts on eroded red soils in subtropical China.     

Membrane interaction of the N-terminal domain of chemokine receptor CXCR1

The N-terminal domain of chemokine receptors constitutes one of the two critical ligand binding sites, and plays important roles by mediating binding affinity, receptor selectivity, and regulating function. In this work, we monitored the organization and dynamics of a 34-mer peptide of the CXC chemokine receptor 1 (CXCR1) N-terminal domain and its interaction with membranes by utilizing a combination of fluorescence-based approaches and surface pressure measurements. Our results show that the CXCR1 N-domain 34-mer peptide binds vesicles of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and upon binding, the tryptophan residues of the peptide experience motional restriction and exhibit red edge excitation shift (REES) of 19 nm. These results are further supported by increase in fluorescence anisotropy and mean fluorescence lifetime upon membrane binding. These results constitute one of the first reports demonstrating membrane interaction of the N-terminal domain of CXCR1 and gain relevance in the context of the emerging role of cellular membranes in chemokine signaling.     

基于连续统去除法的冬小麦叶片氮积累量的高光谱评价

作物氮素状况是评价长势、提高产量和改善品质的重要指标,它对作物氮素诊断与管理具有重要意义。本文基于不同施氮水平下的冬小麦冠层光谱及相应的叶片氮积累量数据,将广泛应用于岩矿高光谱分析中的连续统去除法借用至作物冠层氮素营养状况评价。通过对550~760nm波段的冠层光谱进行连续统去除处理,提取了3个吸收特征。结果表明:在所有生育期中,叶片氮积累量均随着施氮量的增加而增大;在所有氮处理中,从起身期、拔节期、孕穗期到抽穗期,叶片氮积累量均呈先增加后减小的趋势,且在孕穗期达到峰值;在各生育期,吸收峰总面积、吸收峰左面积和吸收峰右面积均随着施氮量的增加而增大,面积归一化最大吸收深度均随着施氮量的增加而减小。通过相关分析发现:各吸收特征参数与叶片氮积累量之间均存在显著性相关,且面积归一化最大吸收深度参数的相关性最好;全生育期的相关性高于各单生育期;但从单生育期来看,孕穗期是监测叶片氮积累量最佳时期。回归分析结果发现,基于全生育期建立的叶片氮积累量评价模型均达到了极显著性水平。     

江西铅山红芽芋胚性愈伤组织的包埋玻璃化超低温保存

为长期安全保存江西铅山红芽芋种质资源,本文以江西铅山红芽芋的胚性愈伤组织为对象,研究了包埋玻璃化冻存过程中各因素对细胞活力和愈伤组织成活率的影响,优化建立了江西铅山红芽芋胚性愈伤组织包埋玻璃化超低温保存体系。将约0.2 g胚性愈伤组织块包埋成海藻酸钙凝胶珠后,在25℃下转入MS+2 mg/L TDZ+1 mg/L NAA+0.75 mol/L蔗糖的培养基中于14 h/d光周期下预培养1 d;预培养后的胚性愈伤组织块用2 mol/L甘油和0.4 mol/L蔗糖的混合物在25℃下装载40 min;采用PVS2在25℃下脱水30 min,更换PVS2后直接投入液氮保存1 d;再将胚性愈伤组织块置于37℃恒温水浴中化冻3 min,然后用MS+2 mg/L TDZ+1 mg/L NAA+1.2 mol/L蔗糖的液体培养基洗涤3次,每次10 min;洗涤后的胚性愈伤组块转入MS+2 mg/L TDZ+1mg/L NAA固体培养基上先暗培养7 d再转到14 h/d光周期中培养。7 d后胚性愈伤组织块开始恢复生长,并且在30 d内分化出胚状体;将胚状体再次转入MS+2 mg/L TDZ+1 mg/L NAA固体培养基上,60 d后形成完整的植株。红芽芋胚性愈伤组织包埋玻璃化超低温保存后的平均成活率约为60%,并且红芽芋胚性愈伤组织冻后再生苗没有发生形态性状和染色体数目的变异,此结果为长期安全保存江西铅山红芽芋种质资源奠定了良好的基础。     

人和猴T淋巴细胞表面TRBC受体及其配体不同于E2分子和CD2的配体

T淋巴细胞表面的TRBC受体不同介导E花结形成的E受体(CD2)和E2分子。CD2的配体,人红细胞表面的CD58(LFA-3)和绵羊红细胞表面的T11 TS,S42,S14及S110-220,与TRBC受体的配体无关,TRBC玫瑰花结的形成是通过不同于E花结和人自身玫瑰花结的受体-配体相互作用来实现的,进一步表明,人和猴T淋巴细胞表面和TRBC表面,可能都有独特的蛋白质分子介导TRBC玫瑰花结的形成。