A modular toolbox for Golden‐Gate‐based plasmid assembly streamlines the generation of Ralstonia solanacearum species complex knockout strains and multi‐cassette complementation constructs

Members of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (Rssc) cause bacterial wilt, a devastating plant disease that affects numerous economically important crops. Like other bacterial pests, Rssc injects a cocktail of effector proteins via the bacterial type III secretion system into host cells that collectively promote disease. Given their functional relevance in disease, the identification of Rssc effectors and the investigation of their in planta function are likely to provide clues on how to generate pest‐resistant crop plants. Accordingly, molecular analysis of effector function is a focus of Rssc research. The elucidation of effector function requires corresponding gene knockout strains or strains that express the desired effector variants. The cloning of DNA constructs that facilitate the generation of such strains has hindered the investigation of Rssc effectors. To overcome these limitations, we have designed, generated and functionally validated a toolkit consisting of DNA modules that can be assembled via Golden‐Gate (GG) cloning into either desired gene knockout constructs or multi‐cassette expression constructs. The Ralstonia‐GG‐kit is compatible with a previously established toolkit that facilitates the generation of DNA constructs for in planta expression. Accordingly, cloned modules, encoding effectors of interest, can be transferred to vectors for expression in Rssc strains and plant cells. As many effector genes have been cloned in the past as GATEWAY entry vectors, we have also established a conversion vector that allows the implementation of GATEWAY entry vectors into the Ralstonia‐GG‐kit. In summary, the Ralstonia‐GG‐kit provides a valuable tool for the genetic investigation of genes encoding effectors and other Rssc genes.     

Friend小鼠白血病病毒（Fr.MuLV）对新生金地鼠的感染性研究

一般认为,Ｆｒｉｅｎｄ小鼠白血病病毒（Ｆｒｉｅｎｄｍｕｒｉｎｅｌｅｕｋｅｍｉａｖｉｒｕｓ：Ｆｒ．ＭｕＬＶ）属同种嗜性白血病病毒（ｅｃｏｔｒｏｐｉｃＭｕＬＶ）,只感染小鼠或大鼠,分别引起小鼠发生白血病和大鼠发生呆小病;但对小鼠或大鼠以外的动物（包括人等）无感染性。为进一步探讨该病毒的感染范围,本文进行了该病毒对金地鼠的感染性研究。结果表明,该病毒可在新生金地鼠体内增殖,引起新生金地鼠出现体重减轻、脾萎缩、并发早死等呆小病样症状,病理学检查发现接种该病毒后新生金地鼠的脾脏、胸腺呈明显的病理变化。提示Ｆｒ．ＭｕＬＶ对新生金地鼠具有感染作用,并产生病毒增殖和引起呆小病样症状,为阐明Ｆｒ．ＭｕＬＶ的感染范围和致病作用提供了实验依据。     

An untold story in biology: the historical continuity of evolutionary ideas of Muslim scholars from the 8th century to Darwin’s time

Textbooks on the history of biology and evolutionary thought do not mention the evolutionary ideas of Muslim scholars before Darwin’s time. This is part of a trend in the West to minimise the contributions of non-Western scientists to biology, human anatomy and evolutionary biology. Therefore, this paper focuses on the contributions of pre-Darwinian Muslim scholars to the history of evolutionary thought. Our review of texts from a wide range of historical times, and written in various languages, reveals that there were in fact several Muslim scholars who postulated evolutionary ideas, some with remarkable similarities to Darwin’s theory. These ideas included the adaptation and survival of the fittest, a specific origin of humans from apes/monkeys, the notion of evolutionary constraints, the occurrence of extinctions within taxa and hereditary variability. Moreover, while both the scientific community and the broader public generally base their knowledge on Western textbooks, several parts of the Muslim world have indicated an overall rejection of biological–including human–evolution. Therefore, to improve historical accuracy and create a better understanding of scientific history, the world’s diverse civilisations and their philosophies, this untold story should be widely disseminated to the scientific community and the general public.     

滇金丝猴毛首线虫一新种记述

1987年4月初在云南省维西县捕获的四只滇金丝猴中,从剖检一只病死猴中获得一批线虫标本,经鉴定,隶属于毛首线虫科(Trichuride Raillict,1915)毛首线虫属(Trichocephalus Rocdcrcr,1761)的一新种。现报道于后。     

Structure of the cumulus matrix and zona pellucida in the golden hamster: A new view of sperm interaction with oocyte-associated extracellular matrices

Summary Hamster oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCC), with and without sperm, were structurally analyzed by light- and electron microscopy using freeze substitution. This method has yielded a clear picture of the extracellular oocyte investments, the cumulus cell matrix and the zona pellucida. The cumulus matrix has an overall homogeneous fibrillar structure which appears to attach to cumulus cells at their filopodial extensions. The matrix also extends into the outer regions of the zona pellucida. The zona pellucida has a distinct porous configuration throughout its entire structure. During gamete interaction experiments, capacitated hamster sperm with ultrastructurally intact acrosomes were found throughout the matrix. Sperm had dramatic effects on the matrix, resulting in compression and stretching. Sperm found on the zona pellucida had initiated or completed the acrosome reaction. During the initial stages of the acrosome reaction, the matrix was in contact with the sperm. At later stages of the acrosome reaction, there was a complete loss of matrix material in regions near the sperm.     

The influence of bedding depth on behaviour in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Although digging was found to be important in captive rodents, most golden hamsters are provided with only little material to dig. In this study, the influence of different bedding depths and acute stressors on the behaviour and welfare of golden hamsters was analysed. Forty-five male golden hamsters were assigned singly to three experimental groups with 80, 40 or 10 cm deep wood shavings. Behaviour was evaluated by continuous running wheel activity and video recordings, a series of stressors was applied after 7 and 8 weeks. Burrows, if constructed, were mapped monthly. Additionally, adrenals, testes and body mass as well as hormone levels of corticosteroids and testosterone were measured at euthanasia. Hamsters kept with 10 cm deep bedding showed significantly more wire-gnawing and a higher running wheel activity than the hamsters in the other groups. In 80 cm deep bedding wire-gnawing was never observed. Stressor application showed no significant immediate influence on behaviour. All hamsters in 40 and 80 cm bedding constructed burrows which they occupied. The body condition (body weight/body size³) was significantly higher in the animals kept in deep (80 cm) compared with those housed in low (10 cm) bedding cages. The relative testes weights were significantly heaviest in the medium treatment group. No significant differences could be detected for the adrenal glands and testosterone levels. In this study, we showed that cages with at least 40 cm of bedding seemed to enhance the welfare of golden hamsters, although those in 80 cm bedding had more body fat compared with the other groups. However, deep bedding which is appropriate for burrowing can be recommended for golden hamsters.     

The bridge-partitioning complex of germ-cell intercellular bridges in the testis of the golden hamster

The bridge-partitioning complex present in pre-existing intercellular bridges of dividing spermatogonia in the juvenile golden hamster testis was studied by electron microscopy. There is a close temporal adjustment in the appearance of this structure to those stages of mitosis during which the cells are without a nuclear membrane, i.e., the bridge-partitioning complex is formed at the transition between prophase and prometaphase and gradually disappears during telophase. In addition, in a certain form of degenerative dividing germ cells, which completely lack a bridge-partitioning complex in pre-existing intercellular bridges, condensed chromatin not surrounded by a nuclear membrane occasionally projects through these open bridges and thus may well change over to a neighboring cell of the same clone. These results strongly indicate an essential barrier function of the bridge-partitioning complex. It temporarily prevents intraclonal exchange of nuclear material during those stages of mitosis where a nuclear membrane is lacking and, thus, maintains genetic integrity of male germ cells during synchronous divisions.