Production rate estimation of mycosporine‐like amino acids in two Arctic melt ponds by stable isotope probing with NAH13CO3

The net carbon uptake rate and net production rate of mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs) were measured in phytoplankton from 2 different melt ponds (MPs; closed and open type pond) in the western Arctic Ocean using a ¹³C stable isotope tracer technique. The Research Vessel Araon visited ice‐covered western‐central basins situated at 82°N and 173°E in the summer of 2012, when Arctic sea ice declined to a record minimum. The average net carbon uptake rate of the phytoplankton in polycarbonate (PC) bottles in the closed MP was 3.24 mg C · m^?3 · h^?1 (SD = ±1.12 mg C · m^?3 · h^?1), while that in the open MP was 1.3 mg C · m^?3 · h^?1 (SD = ±0.05 mg C · m^?3 · h^?1). The net production rate of total MAAs in incubated PC bottles was highest (1.44 (SD = ±0.24) ng C · L^?1 · h^?1) in the open MP and lowest (0.05 (SD = ±0.003) ng C · L^?1 · h^?1) in the closed MP. The net production rate of shinorine and palythine in incubated PC bottles at the open MP presented significantly high values 0.76 (SD = ±0.12) ng C · L^?1 · h^?1and 0.53 (SD = ±0.06) ng C · L^?1 · h^?1. Our results showed that high net production rate of MAAs in the open MP was enhanced by a combination of osmotic and UVR stress and that in situ net production rates of individual MAA can be determined using ¹³C tracer in MPs in Arctic sea ice.     

Molecular cloning,characterization and expression of a gene encoding phosphoketolase from Termitomyces clypeatus

A phosphoketolase (pk) gene from the fungus Termitomyces clypeatus (TC) was cloned and partially characterized. Oligonucleotide primers specific for the phosphoketolase gene (pk) were designed from the regions of homologies found in the primary structure of the enzyme from other fungal sources related to TC, using multiple sequence alignment technique. The cDNA of partial lengths were amplified, cloned and sequenced in three parts by 3′ and 5′ RACE and RT-PCR using these oligonucleotide primers. The full length ds cDNA was constructed next by joining these three partial cDNA sequences having appropriate overlapping regions using Overlap Extension PCR technique. The constructed full length cDNA exhibited an open reading frame of 2487 bases and 5′ and 3′ UTRs. The deduced amino acid sequence, which is of 828 amino acids, when analyzed with NCBI BLAST, showed high similarities with the phosphoketolase enzyme (Pk) superfamily with expected domains. The part of the TC genomic DNA comprising of the pk gene was also amplified, cloned and sequenced and was found to contain two introns of 68 and 74 bases that interrupt the pk reading frame. The coding region of pk cDNA was subcloned in pKM260 expression vector in correct frame and the protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) transformed with this recombinant expression plasmid. The recombinant protein purified by His-tag affinity chromatography indicated the presence of a protein of the expected size. In vivo expression studies of the gene in presence of different carbon sources indicated synthesis of Pk specific mRNA, as expected. Phylogenetic studies revealed a common ancestry of the fungal and bacterial Pk. The TC is known to secrete several industrially important enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. However, the presence of Pk, a key enzyme in pentose metabolism, has not been demonstrated conclusively in this organism. Cloning, sequencing and expression study of this gene establishes the functioning of this gene in T. clypeatus. The Pk from TC is a new source for commercial exploitation.     

鲟源嗜水气单胞菌拮抗解淀粉芽孢杆菌微胶囊的制备工艺及其特性

【目的】优化鲟源嗜水气单胞菌拮抗解淀粉芽孢杆菌微胶囊的制备工艺,并观察其特性。【方法】以明胶为壁材,采用单因素法,考察了明胶浓度、进风温度、进料速度、空气流量等因素对解淀粉芽孢杆菌微胶囊有效含菌量的影响,并进一步通过正交试验设计优化制备解淀粉芽孢杆菌微胶囊的喷雾干燥工艺参数,观察其微胶囊颗粒形态以及对人工模拟胃液和肠液的耐受力。【结果】解淀粉芽孢杆菌微胶囊喷雾干燥的最佳制备工艺条件为:明胶浓度为3%,进风温度为155°C,进料速度为8 mL/min,空气流量为700 L/h,各因素对其喷雾干燥工艺的影响程度为:明胶浓度进料速度空气流量进风温度。此外,解淀粉芽孢杆菌微胶囊的颗粒呈球形,表面有凹陷,但没有孔和裂纹,颗粒粒径分布基本均匀,平均大小为9.22μm,对人工模拟胃液和肠液具有较好的耐受力,对鲟源嗜水气单胞菌具有良好的生长抑制效果。【结论】本研究结果为鲟源嗜水气单胞菌拮抗解淀粉芽孢杆菌微胶囊的工业化生产奠定了基础。     

Artificial diets used in mass production of the New World screwworm,Cochliomyia hominivorax

The New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), has been eradicated from North and Central America using the sterile insect technique. This success has been based on mass production of high‐quality screwworms using artificial diets since 1958. Many diet formulations for both larvae and adults have been developed, mainly driven by cost efficiency and material supply. However, only four larval and two adult diet formulations have been applied in the six sterile fly mass production plants in the USA, Mexico and Panama. Herein, we briefly review the history of screwworm diet research and development, introduce the diet formulations used in mass rearing and discuss their advantages and disadvantages in terms of plant application. Finally, we propose future research on screwworm nutrition, potential protein sources, feeding stimulants, further optimization of screwworm formulations and possible methods to reduce the negative qualities of waste generated during the mass production.     

免疫学技术在细胞生物学教学中的应用

免疫学技术在细胞生物学理论与实验课程中具有重要的应用价值,两者的有机结合能使细胞生物学课程教学更丰富形象,有利于教学质量的提高。目前,免疫学技术普遍只停留于细胞生物学理论课本知识教授中,在对学生开展的细胞实验操作课程中应用较少。如能将免疫荧光标记、流式细胞术等相关技术引入到实验教程中,不仅能使细胞实验结果更形象生动,更能拓宽学生知识领域与实验技能,有利于其综合能力的培养。     

北部湾北部海域夏季微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食压力

2011年8月份于北部湾北部海域5个观测站位获得的分层水样,分析了表层叶绿素a含量和表层微型浮游动物丰度以及类群组成;同时于现场采用稀释培养法研究了该海域浮游植物生长率(μ)和微型浮游动物的摄食率(g)。分析和测定结果表明:调查海区的微型浮游动物丰度400—1167个/L,类群组成以无壳纤毛虫为主;浮游植物的生长率为-1.50—1.13 d-1,微型浮游动物摄食率为0.33—1.08 d-1;推算微型浮游动物对浮游植物现存量以及初级生产力的摄食压力分别为28.1%—66.0%和-7.4%—438.4%。相对于中国其他海区,8月份北部湾北部海域微型浮游动物摄食速率处于中等水平。调查期间,广西沿海高生产力海区,浮游植物生长率大于微型浮游动物动物的摄食率,浮游植物生物量处于积累期;涠洲岛以南海域,浮游植物生产力较低,微型浮游动物摄食作用是控制浮游植物生长的重要因素。     

面向土系调查制图的小尺度区域景观分类——以宁镇丘陵区中一小区域为例

土系是中国土壤系统分类的基层分类单元,与所处微域景观联系密切,对小尺度样区进行景观分类研究有助于对研究区景观建立系统的认识。以宁镇丘陵区一小尺度样区为例,结合景观生态分类理论及土系特点,探讨了面向土系调查制图的景观分类的原则与方法,建立了包括景观区、景观类、景观亚类和景观相的四级景观分类系统,并借助3S技术进行了景观制图,并以此为基础对样区开展土系调查,对景观分类体系进行了验证。结果表明,景观相与土系有较好相关性,对土系分布具有指示作用,此景观分类体系有助于对土壤所处景观条件形成深入系统认识,可为土系调查制图工作提供参考。     

斑膜合垫盲蝽若虫在国槐上的空间分布型及抽样技术

斑膜合垫盲蝽Orthotylus(O.)sophorae Josifov是近年来临夏地区国槐Sophora japonica Linnaeus上严重发生的害虫之一。应用6种分布型指数法分析判定了斑膜合垫盲蝽若虫在国槐上的空间分布型,利用Taylor幂法则和Iwao回归方程分析聚集原因,结果表明,斑膜合垫盲蝽若虫在国槐上呈聚集分布,公共k c值为0.6169,且符合负二项分布;其种群聚集是由某些环境作用引起的。在此基础上,采用Iwao的方法确定了斑膜合垫盲蝽若虫的田间最适抽样数和序贯抽样表;并根据Gerrard的零频率模型建立了估计该种群平均密度的零频率公式:x=1.7457(-lnP0)1.1119。     

蛋白质组学技术在网络药理学中的应用

蛋白质组学发展至今已日趋成熟,在生物医药相关领域研究中的应用显著增加,与之相关的样品制备技术、蛋白定量方法及先进的质谱仪器也得到了快速发展。网络药理学是近年来提出的新药发现新策略,是药理学的新兴分支学科,它从整体的角度探索药物与疾病的关联性,发现药物靶标,指导新药研发。将蛋白质组学技术应用于网络药理学研究,能使研究人员系统地预测和解释药物的作用,加速药物靶点的确认,从而设计多靶点药物或药物组合。综述了蛋白质组学技术的新近研究进展,并简单概述了其在网络药理学中的应用。     

Laboratory adaptation reduces female mating resistance in the sweet potato weevil

Selection for genetic adaptation might occur whenever an animal colony is maintained in the laboratory. The laboratory adaptation of behavior such as foraging, dispersal ability, and mating competitiveness often causes difficulties in the maintenance of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms used in procedures such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). Sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Summers) (Coleoptera: Brentidae), is an important pest in sub‐tropical and tropical regions. An eradication program targeting C. formicarius using SIT was initiated in Japan with weevils being mass‐reared for 95 generations to obtain sufficient sterile males. The mass‐reared strain of C. formicarius exhibits weaker female resistance to male mating attempts compared with the wild strain. This could affect the success of SIT programs because mating persistence of mass‐reared males might be expected to decrease in response to weak female resistance. We show that high success of sperm transfer to mass‐reared females was due to weak female resistance to male mating attempts. However, the mating behavior of mass‐reared males did not change. In C. formicarius, the trait of male persistence to mate was not correlated with the female resistance traits. Our results suggest that mass‐rearing conditions do not have negative effects on the mating ability of the sterile males of this species, and thus that the current mass‐rearing procedures are suitable for production of sterile males for the weevil eradication program.