Sporulation studies in Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of healthcare-associated diarrhoea. In recent years, certain C. difficile types have become highly represented among clinical isolates and are associated with outbreaks of increased disease severity, higher relapse rates and an expanded repertoire of antibiotic resistance. Endospores, produced during sporulation, play a pivotal role in infection and disease transmission and it has been suggested in the literature that these so-called ‘hypervirulent’ C. difficile types are more prolific in terms of sporulation in vitro. However, work in our laboratory has provided evidence to the contrary suggesting that although there is significant strain-to-strain variation in C. difficile sporulation characteristics this variation does not appear to be type-associated. On analysis of the literature, it is apparent that the methods used to quantify sporulation in previous studies have varied greatly and sample sizes have remained small. The conflicting data in the literature may, therefore, not necessarily be generally representative of C. difficile sporulation. Instead, these inconsistencies may reflect differences in the experimental design of each study. In this review, the need for further investigations of C. difficile sporulation rates is highlighted. Specifically, the advantages and disadvantages of the different experimental approaches previously used are discussed and a standard set of principles for measuring C. difficile sporulation in the future is proposed.     

环境因子对蕨类植物孢子萌发的影响

蕨类植物通过孢子萌发形成独立生活的配子体,配子体能够形成精子器和颈卵器,进而通过受精作用形成新的孢子体。孢子萌发是蕨类植物生活史过程中配子体世代向孢子体世代转变的关键步骤。同时,此过程不仅受到多种环境因子的影响,也是研究细胞核极性移动、细胞不对称分裂、假根极性生长等独特的细胞学事件的良好模型。迄今为止,人们已经研究发现多种环境因子对约200余种蕨类植物孢子萌发有影响。总结了环境因子对蕨类植物孢子萌发影响的规律如下:(1)孢子萌发除了受到光照强度影响外,主要受光质的影响,光质的影响主要表现为4种方式:①孢子萌发受红光刺激与远红光抑制像开关一样调控;②孢子萌发不受远红光抑制;③孢子萌发受蓝光抑制;④孢子只能在黑暗条件下萌发。(2)重力作用会影响孢子细胞核移动,进而影响孢子细胞发育的极性。(3)赤霉素(GA)能增加孢子萌发率或帮助孢子打破休眠。成精子囊素与GA作用相似,启动或促进孢子萌发。而脱落酸(ABA)、茉莉酸(JA)和乙烯等其它激素对孢子萌发的影响相对较小。(4)不同植物孢子有着各自最适的萌发培养基条件,如不同种类孢子对MS培养基中无机盐含量、蔗糖含量、pH值的要求不同。孢子外被中的Ca2+、Mn2+和Mg2+,培养基中的Cd2+和La3+,以及孢子接种密度、萌发空间CO2含量也会对孢子萌发造成影响。(5)多数蕨类植物孢子在15-30℃可以萌发,最适萌发温度为25℃。(6)4℃和液氮储藏可以延长孢子寿命并保持较高萌发率。     

一株生防圆突起链霉菌的分类鉴定

菌株SCY311是从河南省凤凰山土壤样品中分离到的对多种植物病原真菌具有拮抗活性的一株放线菌。为了明确其分类地位, 在形态特征、培养特征、生理生化特征、细胞壁组分测定等传统分类学方法的基础上, 测定和分析了菌株的16S rRNA基因序列。结果表明, 菌株SCY311在高氏一号培养基上生长良好, 基内菌丝呈褐色; 气生菌丝灰色至鼠灰色, 不产生可溶性色素, 无吸水现象; 孢子链卷曲, 末端形成闭合或开放螺旋; 孢子椭圆或圆柱状, 表面形成结节状突起; 生理生化特征和在国际链霉菌计划(ISP)培养基上的培养特     

中国蕨类植物孢子形态的研究Ⅲ.金星蕨科1.毛蕨属

利用扫描电镜对中国产毛蕨属51种植物孢子形态进行了研究。结果表明：该属孢子为单裂缝,两侧对称,极面观为椭圆形,赤道面观为肾形,由周壁形成表面纹饰。表面纹饰可分为3种类型：(1)周壁具流苏状的翅状纹饰,表面有突起或穿孔,有19种属于此类型;(2)鸡冠状纹饰,有11种属于此类型;(3)刺状纹饰,有10种属于此类型。另外有11种具有上述纹饰的混合纹饰,被认为是中间类型。孢子的形态特征可作为该属的分类学和孢粉学研究的资料。     

Conidial germination and germ tube elongation of Phomopsis amaranthicola and Microsphaeropsis amaranthi on leaf surfaces of seven Amaranthus species: Implications for biological control

Microsphaeropsis amaranthi and Phomopsis amaranthicola are potential biological control agents for several Amaranthus species. In an effort to understand the initial infection processes with these pathogens, a study was conducted of the conidial germination and germ tube length (μm) on the weed leaf surfaces at 21 °C and 28 °C. Weeds included Amaranthus rudis, A. palmeri, A. powellii, A. retroflexus, A. spinosus, A. hybridus, and A. albus. For P. amaranthicola, conidial germination and germ tube length varied among the seven weed species at both temperatures, while for M. amaranthi the differences in germ tube lengths were significant among weed species only at 21 °C. While the conidia of M. amaranthi and P. amaranthicola germinated on the leaf surfaces of all seven weed species, temperature appeared to impact the number and length of germ tubes on the leaf surfaces. The percentage of germinated conidia and the length of germ tubes at both temperatures were often greater for M. amaranthi than for P. amaranthicola. In order for the fungal pathogen to successfully infect and kill a weedy host, conidia must germinate and form a germ tube, two processes that vary with host species and temperature for M. amaranthi and P. amaranthicola. The extent to which successive infection processes, e.g., penetration, invasion and colonization, contribute to host specificity warrants study.     

23种顶蒴藓类孢子形态的观察

报道了中国２３种顶蒴藓类孢子的形态特征。观察结果显示：孢子形状有两类,球形和卵球形。孢子直径可分为４组：１０μm以下、１１－２０μm、２１－３０μm和３１μm以上。萌发孔有３种类型：近极薄壁区、单裂缝和无萌发孔。外壁纹饰有４种：棒状、瘤状、疣状和鼓槌状。孢子颜色有６种：黄褐色、黑褐色、金黄色、草绿色和紫红色。藓类孢子体积不同物种间有差异,但球形和卵球形是基本类型。苔藓孢子的萌发孔有３种类型：三裂缝为类     

The systematic position ofAsplenium cardiophyllum (Aspleniaceae)

Asplenium cardiophyllum is a morphologically unusual species with simple leaves and anastomosing venation, and is often placed in the segregate genusBoniniella. To determine its systematic position, character comparisons were made of vascular anatomy, raphides in leaf epidermis, chromosome number and perispore of this species and those ofAsplenium sect.Hymenasplenium. Asplenium cardiophyllum conforms with sect.Hymenasplenium in its dorsiventral dictyostele, the presence of raphides, a chromosome number of 2n=156 (x=39), and lophate peristore with spinulate projections on the lumina. We therefore propose to includeA. cardiophyllum in that section. Dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Kunio Mitui.     

家蚕微孢子虫孢壁蛋白与其发芽的相关性

为了研究孢壁蛋白与家蚕微孢子虫发芽（孢原质弹出）的相关性,我们采用碳酸钾诱导微孢子虫体外发芽结合密度梯度离心的方法（简称GDGC法）,收集纯化发芽后的孢子空壳（简称孢壳）,对发芽液、纯化的孢壳及成熟孢子的孢壁蛋白组分进行了分析。结果表明：GDGC法可以获得高纯度孢壳,计算出其密度为1．130g/cm^3;与发芽前成熟孢子提取的孢壁蛋白相比,空孢壳可以提取到主要孢壁蛋白SWP32、SWP30、SWP25,同时发现SWP32、SWP25丰度有所降低;结合碳酸钾发芽液的蛋白电泳分析,发现孢壳上丰度降低的SWP32在发芽液蛋白样品中存在,LC—MS／MS数据分析也发现SWP32、SWP30、SWP25在碳酸钾处理液中都有存在;而用碳酸钾溶液处理冷冻孢子时,未观察到发芽现象,电泳结果显示此时K2CO,溶液中只有SWP30条带,说明在碳酸钾溶液诱导的发芽过程中SWP32和SWP25从孢壳上脱落可能与发芽相关而不是被碱性的碳酸钾溶解下来的[动物学报54（6）：1068—1074,2008]。     

中国介蕨属孢子形态的研究

采用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对国产介蕨属Dryoathyrium 14种植物及宁陕蛾眉蕨Lunathyri- um ningshenense 的孢子形态进行了观察。介蕨属孢子单裂缝,两侧对称,极面观为椭圆形,赤道面观为半 圆形或肾形。根据其周壁褶皱隆起形成的表面纹饰,介蕨属孢子可分为3种类型：第一种类型的周壁 具有网状或拟网状脊状纹饰,具此类型的种有翅轴介蕨D．pterorachis,中华介蕨D．chinense,朝鲜介蕨 D．coreanum;第二种类型的周壁具有裂片状、弯裂片状或瘤状突起,具此类型的种有介蕨D．boryanum, 陕甘介蕨D．confusum,无齿介蕨D．edentulum,鄂西介蕨D.henryi,华中介蕨D．okuboanum,川东介 蕨D．stenopteron,刺毛介蕨D．setigerum,绿叶介蕨D．viridifrons;第三类型的周壁具有刺状、不规则 棒状或乳头状突起,具此类型的种有直立介蕨D．erectum,镰小羽介蕨D．falcatipinnulum,蛾眉介蕨D． unifurcatum。宁陕蛾眉蕨的孢子形态与朝鲜介蕨D．coreanum 十分相似,支持将前者作为后者的异名的分类处理。     

中国桑寄生科的孢粉学研究

系统报道了中国桑寄生科Loranthaceae33种5变种植物的花粉形态,并与澳大利亚 2属6种植物的花粉形态做了比较。通过光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察,国产桑寄生科花粉外壁 纹饰可明显分为两个类型:一种类型为刺状或条状纹饰,另一种为颗粒状纹饰,这与该科的鞘 花族和桑寄生族两个族相吻合。在鞘花族类型中,3合沟、钝刺状或条状纹饰的花粉是基本类 型,合半沟或孔沟形,刺状纹饰的花粉是较进化的类型;在桑寄生族类型中,等极、3合沟、 颗粒状纹饰的花粉是基本类型,异极、副合半沟-合半沟、3沟形和沟形-短沟形或沟孔形、粗 糙或模糊颗粒状纹饰的花粉是较进化类型。根据萌发孔和纹饰可将桑寄生族类型花粉分为3个 类群:类群I包括五蕊寄生属Dendrophtho、梨果寄生属Scurrula、钝果寄生属Taxillus和大苞 寄生属Tolypanthus;类群II仅包括离瓣寄生属Helixanthera;类群III也仅1属,桑寄生属Lor anthus。在这3个类群中,类群I属于基本的类型,属间花粉差别较小,其中梨果寄生属和钝 果寄生属花粉差别最小,显示出较近的亲缘关系;类群II和类群III皆是较进化类型。