PlasmoSEP: Predicting surface‐exposed proteins on the malaria parasite using semisupervised self‐training and expert‐annotated data

Accurate and comprehensive identification of surface‐exposed proteins (SEPs) in parasites is a key step in developing novel subunit vaccines. However, the reliability of MS‐based high‐throughput methods for proteome‐wide mapping of SEPs continues to be limited due to high rates of false positives (i.e., proteins mistakenly identified as surface exposed) as well as false negatives (i.e., SEPs not detected due to low expression or other technical limitations). We propose a framework called PlasmoSEP for the reliable identification of SEPs using a novel semisupervised learning algorithm that combines SEPs identified by high‐throughput experiments and expert annotation of high‐throughput data to augment labeled data for training a predictive model. Our experiments using high‐throughput data from the Plasmodium falciparum surface‐exposed proteome provide several novel high‐confidence predictions of SEPs in P. falciparum and also confirm expert annotations for several others. Furthermore, PlasmoSEP predicts that 25 of 37 experimentally identified SEPs in Plasmodium yoelii salivary gland sporozoites are likely to be SEPs. Finally, PlasmoSEP predicts several novel SEPs in P. yoelii and Plasmodium vivax malaria parasites that can be validated for further vaccine studies. Our computational framework can be easily adapted to improve the interpretation of data from high‐throughput studies.     

昆嵛山老杨坟阳坡与阴坡半天然植被植物群落生态学特性的初步研究

本文对昆嵛山老杨坟阳坡与阴坡半天然植被植物群落的上层（乔木层）和下层（灌木层）的物种优势度、多样性指数、群落的均匀度、相似性指数以及群落的最小面积进行了分析。昆嵛山老杨坟半天然植物群落上层的最小面积应为３００ｍ２,下层应为２２５ｍ２。阳坡与阴坡植物群落的上层和下层优势种的分布格局存在一定差异;乔木层的物种多样性指数,阴坡大于阳坡,灌木层阳坡大于阴坡,但二者的差异水平不显著;两群落乔木层的均匀度指数存在显著差异。阳坡与阴坡植物群落乔木层的相似性指数低于灌木层,并且以相对盖度和相对优势度（相对重要值）为基础统计所得到的群落相似性指数更好地反映了群落间乔木层在结构和功能上的差异。     

水稻成熟花药和花粉的结构和组织化学研究

用乙二醇甲基丙烯酸脂(简称GMA)和环氧树脂Epon812包埋的薄切片方法对水稻成熟花药和花粉的结构进行了观察,并对各种结构的性质和细胞中的后含物做了细胞化学的分析.对成熟花药的绒毡层膜及乌氏体的研究采用了分离技术,做了显微和超微观察.证明水稻成熟花药壁和花粉除具一般禾本科植物特征外,还揭示了花药壁表皮上可能有硅质,药壁表皮细胞内含有脂类颗粒,药室内壁具纤维素质的纤维状加厚;发现花粉粒中除了贮存有大量淀粉颗粒外,还含有脂类,成熟花粉中营养核与两个精细胞及两个精细胞间联系紧密;并讨论了薄切片的优越性,绒毡层膜的意义及其上细胞印迹的来源.     

有限灌溉对半干旱区春小麦根系发育的影响

 对半干旱区旱地春小麦(Triticum aestivum)的有限灌溉试验表明,苗期灌溉显著减少春小麦三叶期—抽穗期总根量和根密度,并促使开花期根系的良好更新和下扎,明显提高春小麦水分利用效率和籽粒产量。苗期水分胁迫则导致春小麦生长前期根系过大,影响地上部分的生长并加重土壤水分的亏缺,籽粒产量严重下降。     

Alterations of membrane lipids and in gene expression of ganglioside metabolism in different brain structures in a mouse model of mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I)

Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) is a congenital disorder caused by the deficiency of α-l-iduronidase (IDUA), with the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the CNS. Although GAG toxicity is not fully understood, previous works suggest a GAG-induced alteration in neuronal membrane composition. This study is aimed to evaluate the levels and distribution of gangliosides and cholesterol in different brain regions (cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and hypothalamus) in a model using IDUA knockout (KO) mice (C57BL/6). Lipids were extracted with chloroform–methanol and then total gangliosides and cholesterol were determined, followed by ganglioside profile analyses. While no changes in cholesterol content were observed, the results showed a tissue dependent ganglioside alteration in KO mice: a total ganglioside increase in cortex and cerebellum, and a selective presence of GM3, GM2 and GD3 gangliosides in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. To elucidate this, we evaluated gene expression of ganglioside synthesis (GM3, GD3 and GM2/GD2 synthases) and degradation of (Neuraminidase1) enzymes in the cerebellum and hippocampus by RT-sq-PCR. The results obtained with KO mice showed a reduced expression of GD3 and GM2/GD2 synthases and Neuraminidase1 in cerebellum; and a decrease in GM2/GD2 synthase and Neuraminidase1 in the hippocampus. These data suggest that the observed ganglioside changes result from a combined effect of GAGs on ganglioside biosynthesis and degradation.