基于miRNA-155结构的人工miRNA表达载体的构建与评价

目的:建立一种适用于人工miRNA(amiRNA)表达研究的克隆载体。方法:基于实验室构建的短发夹RNA(shRNA)表达载体pshOK-basic,将鼠源miRNA-155的侧翼序列插入合适的酶切位点构建得到amiRNA重组表达载体pOK-basic;应用本载体分别构建靶向萤火虫荧光素酶(luc2)和红色荧光蛋白(mCherry)基因的amiRNA并检测其沉默效果。结果:应用此载体能快速高效地构建amiRNA,靶向luc2和mCherry报告基因的amiRNA能较好地抑制靶基因的表达。结论:构建了一种能高效表达amiRNA的克隆载体,为amiRNA的进一步研究及应用奠定了基础。     

中华蜜蜂精子介导egfp基因转移

中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana是一种真社会性昆虫,也是我国重要的经济昆虫。本实验目的是为了检测精子是否可以作为载体将外源egfp基因介导转入中华蜜蜂。首先将雄蜂精子与线性化的质粒DNA共浴,然后通过人工授精技术将精子导入处女王,再对实验蜂群后代进行分析。结果显示EGFP蛋白在一群实验组蜂的1～2日龄小幼虫中表达较强,能检测到0.01%～0.02%荧光阳性小幼虫个体;通过PCR和RT-PCR技术分析,证实转入的外源egfp基因获得表达。实验结果表明精子载体法能够用于中华蜜蜂外源基因的转移和表达。     

繁殖体与微生境在退化草地恢复中的作用

退化草地的成功恢复主要依赖于种子和母株无性繁殖幼苗的有效建植 ,即草地群落中可利用繁殖体是退化草地得以恢复的内在条件。此外 ,群落中那些提供种子发芽、幼苗生长发育的适宜微生境 (safe sites/ suitable microsites) ,构成了退化草地恢复的外在条件。由于严重退化草地群落缺乏可利用繁殖体和供繁殖体生长发育的适宜微生境 ,使得退化草地恢复受到很大限制 ,因而 ,同时满足繁殖体与微生境是退化草地恢复的先决条件。人为提供繁殖体和适宜微生境可以在很大程度上提高退化草地的恢复速度 ,即在缺乏繁殖体草地群落供给繁殖体 ,或者在缺乏微生境的草地群落中创造适宜微生境。不同植物种群建植需要的环境存在着显著差异 ,因此在人工恢复草地群落过程中 ,对这些植物的繁殖体和繁殖体着床环境给予特殊处理是必需的 ,使之同时满足多种植物种群建植需求。对退化草地植物繁殖体、微生境的重要性及其涵义进行讨论     

凡纳滨对虾细菌性病原的分离鉴定和耐药性研究

从5批患病的凡纳滨对虾分离细菌性病原,共分离纯化了50株细菌,随机选择形态差异的11株进行16S rDNA基因测序。测序结果表明,这11株菌主要分布在节杆菌属、弧菌属、芽胞杆菌属、微小杆菌属和希瓦氏菌属。对其中2株弧菌进行16S rDNA基因系统进化树分析,发现1株A1-1可能为Vibrio parahaemolyticus(副溶血性弧菌),而另外1株菌A2-3可能为Vibrio rotiferianus(半滑舌鳎病原菌轮虫弧菌)。形态和生理生化鉴定表明A1-1符合副溶血性弧菌的基本特征,可能是副溶血性弧菌中的一个型。人工感染实验表明A1-1对金鲫鱼具有明显的致病性,1×10~6 CFU感染剂量时能使80%金鲫鱼死亡。耐药性分析表明A1-1对土霉素、红霉素有较强的抗药性,而对链霉素、新霉素、四环素和氟本尼考均表现一定的敏感性。     

Construction of a novel human artificial chromosome vector for gene delivery

Potential problems of conventional transgenes include insertional disruption of the host genome and unpredictable, irreproducible expression of the transgene by random integration. Alternatively, human artificial chromosomes (HACs) can circumvent some of the problems. Although several HACs were generated and their mitotic stability was assessed, a practical way for introducing exogenous genes by the HACs has yet to be explored. In this study, we developed a novel HAC from sequence-ready human chromosome 21 by telomere-directed chromosome truncation and added a loxP sequence for site-specific insertion of circular DNA by the Cre/loxP system. This 21HAC vector, delivered to a human cell line HT1080 by microcell fusion, bound centromere proteins A, B, and C and was mitotically stable during long-term culture without selection. The EGFP gene inserted in the HAC vector expressed persistently. These results suggest that the HAC vector provides useful system for functional studies of genes in isogenic cell lines.     

A unique case of a discontinuous duplication 3q26.1-3q28 resulting from a segregation error of a maternal complex chromosomal rearrangement involving an insertion and an inversion

Until now, few cases of partial trisomy of 3q due to segregation error of parental balanced translocation and segregation of a duplicated deficient product resulting from parental pericentric inversion have been reported so far. Only five cases of chromosomal insertion malsegregation involving 3q region are available yet, thus making it relatively rare. In this case report, we are presenting a unique case of discontinuous partial trisomy of 3q26.1-q28 region which resulted from a segregation error of two insertions involving 3q26.1 to 3q27.3 and 3q28 regions with ~ 21 Mb and ~ 2 Mb sizes, respectively. The maternally inherited insertion was cytogenetically characterized as der(8)(8pter → 8p22::3q26 → 3q27.3::3q28 → 3q28::8p22 → 8qter) and the patient's major clinical features involved Dandy Walker malformation, sub-aortic ventricular septal defect, upslanting palpebral fissures, clinodactyly, hirsutism, and prominent forehead. Besides, a review of the literature involving cases with similar chromosomal imbalances and cases with “3q-duplication syndrome” is also provided.     

Strong influences of a dominant,ground‐nesting ant on recruitment,and establishment of ant colonies and communities

Many factors drive the organization of communities including environmental factors, dispersal abilities, and competition. In particular, ant communities have high levels of interspecific competition and dominance that may affect community assembly processes. We used a combination of surveys and nest supplementation experiments to examine effects of a dominant ground‐nesting ant (Pheidole synanthropica) on (1) arboreal twig‐nesting, (2) ground‐foraging, and (3) coffee‐foraging ant communities in coffee agroecosystems. We surveyed these communities in high‐ and low‐density areas of P. synanthropica over 2 years. To test for effects on twig ant recruitment, we placed artificial nesting resources on coffee plants in areas with and without P. synanthropica. The first sampling period revealed differences in ant species composition on the ground, in coffee plants, and artificial nests between high‐ and low‐density sites of P. synanthropica. High‐density sites also had significantly lower recruitment of twig ants and had species‐specific effects on twig ant species. Prior to the second survey period, abundance of P. synanthropica declined in the high‐density sites, such that P. synanthropica densities no longer differed. Subsequent sampling revealed no difference in total recruitment of twig ants to artificial nests between treatments. Likewise, surveys of ground and coffee ants no longer showed significant differences in community composition. The results from the first experimental period, followed by survey results after the decline in P. synanthropica densities suggest that dominant ants can drive community assembly via both recruitment and establishment of colonies within the community.     

An in vitro urinary tract catheter system to investigate biofilm development in catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Biofilm development in urinary tract catheters is an often underestimated problem. However, this form of infection leads to high mortality rates and causes significant costs in health care. Therefore, it is important to analyze these biofilms and establish avoiding strategies. In this study a continuous flow-through system for the cultivation of biofilms under catheter-associated urinary tract infection conditions was established and validated. The in vitro urinary tract catheter system implies the composition of urine (artificial urine medium), the mean volume of urine of adults (1 mL min^-1), the frequently used silicone catheter (foley silicon catheter) as well as the infection with uropathogenic microorganisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Three clinical isolates from urine of catheterized patients were chosen due to their ability to form biofilms, their mobility and their cell surface hydrophobicity. As reference strain P. aeruginosa PA14 has been used. Characteristic parameters as biofilm thickness, specific biofilm growth rate and substrate consumption were observed. Biofilm thicknesses varied from 105 ± 16 μm up to 246 ± 67 μm for the different isolates. The specific biofilm growth rate could be determined with a non invasive optical biomass sensor. This sensor allows online monitoring of the biofilm growth in the progress of the cultivation.