The Effect of Old Age on the Free-Running Period of Circadian Rhythms in Rat

The free-running period is regarded to be an exclusive feature of the endogenous circadian clock. Changes during aging in the free-running period may therefore reflect age-related changes in the internal organization of this clock. However, the literature on alterations in the free-running period in aging is not unequivocal. In the present study, with various confounding factors kept to a minimum, it was found that the free-running periods for active wakefulness, body temperature, and drinking behavior were significantly shorter (by 12-17 min) in old than in young rats. In addition, it was found that the day-to-day stability of the different sleep states was reduced in old rats, whereas that of the drinking rhythm was enhanced. Transient cycles were not observed, nor were there any age-related differences in daily totals of the various sleep-wake states. The amplitudes of the circadian rhythms of active wakefulness, quiet sleep, and temperature were reduced, whereas those of paradoxical sleep and quiet wakefulness remained unchanged.     

A Circadian Clock of Drosophila: Effects of Deuterium Oxide and Mutations at the period Locus

Mutations at the period (per) locus (1:1.3; 3B1-2) in Drosophila melanogaster lengthen (per^L), shorten (per⁵), or abolish (per°) overt circadian rhythmi-city. Deuterium oxide lengthens the free-running circadian period. We tested the effects of deuterium on three mutants of the per gene (per⁵ per^L, and per°) and wild-type Drosophila melanogaster (per⁺) to assess interactions. With increasing concentrations of deuterium, the free-running circadian period of locomotor activity rhythms increased. The dose-response was linear in all genotypes tested. With increasing dosages ofdeuterium, circadian rhythms became weaker as evidenced by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Genotype and deuterium changed circadian period length independently and additively, showing no interaction. SNRs for all genotypes converged on a low level as deuterium concentration increased. Deuterium increased life span, except at high concentrations (40 and 50%).     

The Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model: Studying Pathogen and Host Contributions to Infectious Colitis

This protocol outlines the steps required to produce a robust model of infectious disease and colitis, as well as the methods used to characterize Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice. C. rodentium is a gram negative, murine specific bacterial pathogen that is closely related to the clinically important human pathogens enteropathogenic E. coli and enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Upon infection with C. rodentium, immunocompetent mice suffer from modest and transient weight loss and diarrhea. Histologically, intestinal crypt elongation, immune cell infiltration, and goblet cell depletion are observed. Clearance of infection is achieved after 3 to 4 weeks. Measurement of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity, bacterial load, and histological damage at different time points after infection, allow the characterization of mouse strains susceptible to infection.The virulence mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens colonize the intestinal tract of their hosts, as well as specific host responses that defend against such infections are poorly understood. Therefore the C. rodentium model of enteric bacterial infection serves as a valuable tool to aid in our understanding of these processes. Enteric bacteria have also been linked to Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs). It has been hypothesized that the maladaptive chronic inflammatory responses seen in IBD patients develop in genetically susceptible individuals following abnormal exposure of the intestinal mucosal immune system to enteric bacteria. Therefore, the study of models of infectious colitis offers significant potential for defining potentially pathogenic host responses to enteric bacteria. C. rodentium induced colitis is one such rare model that allows for the analysis of host responses to enteric bacteria, furthering our understanding of potential mechanisms of IBD pathogenesis; essential in the development of novel preventative and therapeutic treatments.     

The etymology of microbial nomenclature and the diseases these cause in a historical perspective

When the hunter-gatherers finally started settling down as farmers, infectious diseases started scourging them. The earlier humans could differentiate sporadic diseases like tooth decay, tumors, etc., from the infectious diseases that used to cause outbreaks and epidemics. The earliest comprehension of infectious diseases was primarily based on religious background and myths, but as human knowledge grew, the causes of these diseases were being probed. Similarly, the taxonomy of infectious diseases gradually changed from superstitious prospects, like influenza, signifying disease infliction due to the “influence of stars” to more scientific ones like tuberculosis derived from the word “tuberculum” meaning small swellings seen in postmortem human tissue specimens. From a historical perspective, we identified five categories for the basis of the microbial nomenclature, namely phenotypic characteristics of microbe, disease name, eponym, body site of isolation, and toponym. This review article explores the etymology of common infectious diseases and microorganisms’ nomenclature in a historical context.     

Antiviral Activity of Antimicrobial Lipopeptide from Bacillus subtilis fmbj Against Pseudorabies Virus, Porcine Parvovirus, Newcastle Disease Virus and Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Vitro

Bacillus subtilis fmbj can produce lipopeptide antimicrobial substance, whose main components were surfactin and fengycin. In the study, the antiviral activity of antimicrobial lipopeptides (AMLs) from B. subtilis fmbj (CGMCC No. 0934) against Pseudorabies Virus (PRV), Porcine Parvovirus (PPV), Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) was evaluated in vitro. The AMLs represented a direct inactivation effect on cell-free virus stocks of PRV, PPV, NDV and IBDV, and it could effectively inhibit infection and replication of the NDV and IBDV, but failed to affect PRV and PPV. The AMLs were represented higher toxicity for the Porcine Kidney (PK-15) cells (50% cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) value was 32.87 μM) and lower for the Chicken Embryo Fibroblasts (CEF) cells (CC₅₀ value was 89.16 μM). The Selectivity index of AMLs on PRV, PPV, NDV and IBDV was 1.44, 2.23, 8.40 and 12.19, respectively.     

2007－2012 年佛冈县稻飞虱灯下发生期及种群数量动态分析

明确佛冈县稻飞虱灯下发生期及灯诱种群数量动态,对当地稻飞虱的预测预报和防治工作具有重要意义.根据佛冈县2007-2012年白背飞虱和褐飞虱的灯诱数据,分析了该县白背飞虱和褐飞虱的灯下始见日、终见日、发生期及灯诱量等.结果表明在佛冈地区,白背飞虱和褐飞虱混合发生;白背飞虱的灯下始见日集中在3月底至4月上旬,明显比褐飞虱早一个月,终见日均在10月下旬,差别不大;稻飞虱在早稻和晚稻期间均会出现大小不一的灯诱高峰,早稻期间白背飞虱高峰期集中在5月中旬至6月中旬,褐飞虱灯诱高峰期较迟,主要在7月中旬前后;晚稻期间向背飞虱高峰期大多在9月上旬至10月上旬,褐飞虱高峰期在10月份;早稻期间,白背飞虱的灯诱量占绝对优势,晚稻期间褐飞虱的灯诱量上升,与白背飞虱灯诱量基本持平.因此,佛冈县稻飞虱的灯下发生期及种群数量动态在一定程度上可反映当地稻飞虱的发生情况.     

period基因的Thr—Gly区段在果蝇和部分双翅目昆虫中的分子进化特征

以亲缘关系极近的近缘种类群、中等距离的远缘种类群为对象,分析生物钟基因period的Thr-Gly区段的分子进化特征,发现Thr-Gly区段在果蝇和部分双翅目昆虫中未曾经历性选择和其他定向的正选择。Thr-Gly区段在果蝇nasuta亚群中的分子进化速率为10.4×10     

Biological characteristics of three co‐occurring species of armorhead from different genera vary markedly from previous results for the Pentacerotidae

Biological characteristics of Pentaceropsis recurvirostris, Paristiopterus gallipavo and Parazanclistius hutchinsi were determined from commercial gillnet samples from temperate south‐western Australian coastal waters. Growth zones in otoliths, with more than a few such zones, were readily detectable only after the otoliths had been sectioned. Visual analyses and modelling of the trends in marginal increments on sectioned otoliths demonstrate that these opaque zones are formed annually. Maximum ages of 55, 36 and 49 years, derived for P. recurvirostris, P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi, respectively, reflect relatively low mortalities. These longevities greatly exceed those estimated, using otoliths, for Pentaceros wheeleri and Pentaceros richardsoni, which belong to the other pentacerotid subfamily. These differences may be due to the counts of ‘daily’ growth zones in sectioned otoliths of P. wheeleri not representing the complete age range of that species and the zones detected in whole otoliths of P. richardsoni not constituting the complete range of annually‐formed zones. Pentaceropsis recurvirostris, P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi recruited into the fishery in the sampling area as 2–3 year‐old fishes. Pentaceropsis recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi exhibited little or no subsequent growth throughout the remainder of their protracted life, whereas, P. gallipavo continued to grow for c. 5 years and then underwent little further growth. Spawning of P. recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi peaked in the austral winter and autumn, respectively, but in the austral spring and summer with P. gallipavo, which is more typical of temperate species. Although the females of P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi were mature, this did not apply to a few P. recurvirostris, some of which were >20 years old, implying that any given female of this species does not always spawn every year. Ovarian mass greatly exceeded testis mass, indicative of pair spawning, which is consistent with field observations. In contrast to P. recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi, the sex ratio was heavily biased towards males and the spawning period longer in P. gallipavo, suggesting that selection pressures for spawning success were greater for this latter species.     

栽培川西獐牙菜中6种药用成分的测定方法和动态积累研究

采用反相高效液相色谱法对川西獐牙菜中6种药用成分不同生长期的含量进行了测定.色谱柱为Kro-masilC18 250mm×4.60mm,5μm ,流动相为甲醇-0.02%的磷酸水溶液,检测波长260nm.该方法具有很好的线性关系和回收率.结果显示,川西獐牙菜全草的最佳采收期为9月中旬 花果期 .     

从保护生物多样性角度谈频振式杀虫灯的应用

频振式杀虫灯诱杀昆虫的效果较好 ,但是在诱杀昆虫的过程中选择性不强 ,在诱杀害虫的同时对天敌和其它无益无害昆虫也具有较强的杀伤能力。为了更好地保护自然生态平衡和生物多样性。作者建议在自然生态条件好的地区最好不要使用频振式杀虫灯 ,在适合使用的地区应该事先做好害虫监测 ,应在防治适期使用。