Reduced‐risk insecticides in Neotropical stingless bee species: impact on survival and activity

As honeybees are the main pollinator subject to an intense research regarding effects of pesticides, other ecologically important native bee pollinators have received little attention in ecotoxicology and risk assessment of pesticides in general, and insecticides in particular, some of which are perceived as reduced‐risk compounds. Here, the impact of three reduced‐risk insecticides – azadirachtin, spinosad and chlorantraniliprole – was assessed in two species of stingless bees, Partamona helleri and Scaptotrigona xanthotrica, which are important native pollinators in Neotropical America. The neonicotinoid imidacloprid was used as a positive control. Spinosad exhibited high oral and contact toxicities in adult workers of both species at the recommended label rates, with median survival times (LT₅₀s) ranging from 1 to 4 h, whereas these estimates were below 15 min for imidacloprid. Azadirachtin and chlorantraniliprole exhibited low toxicity at the recommended label rates, with negligible mortality that did not allow LT₅₀ estimation. Sublethal behavioural assessments of these two insecticides indicated that neither one of them affected the overall group activity of workers of the two species. However, both azadirachtin and chlorantraniliprole impaired individual flight take‐off of P. helleri and S. xanthotrica worker bees, which may compromise foraging activity, potentially leading to reduced colony survival. These findings challenge the common perception of non‐target safety of reduced‐risk insecticides and bioinsecticides, particularly regarding native pollinator species.     

Signaling networks regulating leukocyte podosome dynamics and function

Podosomes are ventral adhesion structures prominent in cells of the myeloid lineage. A common aspect of these cells is that they are highly motile and must to traverse multiple tissue barriers in order to perform their functions. Recently podosomes have gathered attention from researchers as important cellular structures that can influence cell adhesion, motility and matrix remodeling. Adhesive and soluble ligands act via transmembrane receptors and propagate signals to the leukocyte cytoskeleton via small G proteins of the Rho family, tyrosine kinases and scaffold proteins and are able to induce podosome formation and rearrangements. Manipulation of the signals that regulate podosome formation and dynamics can therefore be a strategy to interfere with leukocyte functions in a multitude of pathological settings, such as infections, atherosclerosis and arthritis. Here, we review the major signaling molecules that act in the formation and regulation of podosomes.     

Social organization in a flatworm: trematode parasites form soldier and reproductive castes

In some of the most complex animal societies, individuals exhibit a cooperative division of labour to form castes. The most pronounced types of caste formation involve reproductive and non-reproductive forms that are morphologically distinct. In colonies comprising separate or mobile individuals, this type of caste formation has been recognized only among the arthropods, sea anemones and mole-rats. Here, we document physical and behavioural caste formation in a flatworm. Trematode flatworm parasites undergo repeated clonal reproduction of ‘parthenitae’ within their molluscan hosts forming colonies. We present experimental and observational data demonstrating specialization among trematode parthenitae to form distinct soldier and reproductive castes. Soldiers do not reproduce, have relatively large mouthparts, and are much smaller and thinner than reproductives. Soldiers are also more active, and are disproportionally common in areas of the host where invasions occur. Further, only soldiers readily and consistently attack heterospecifics and conspecifics from other colonies. The division of labour described here for trematodes is strongly analogous to that characterizing other social systems with a soldier caste. The parallel caste formation in these systems, despite varying reproductive mode and taxonomic affiliation, indicates the general importance of ecological factors in influencing the evolution of social behaviour. Further, the ‘recognition of self’ and the defence of the infected host body from invading parasites are comparable to aspects of immune defence. A division of labour is probably widespread among trematodes and trematode species encompass considerable taxonomic, life history and environmental diversity. Trematodes should therefore provide new, fruitful systems to investigate the ecology and evolution of sociality.     

应用微卫星标记研究Dunkin Hartley豚鼠封闭群的遗传背景

目的检测我国现有Dunkin Hartley豚鼠封闭的遗传背景,分析评估其遗传多样性水平和遗传分离情况,为建立标准化的豚鼠封闭群监测方法提供基础资料。方法应用筛选获得的8个微卫星位点,从一个数量为1000的豚鼠封闭群中随机选择72个个体,通过PCR扩增和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳的方法,进行等位基因检测。并根据检测结果分析评估了该豚鼠封闭群的遗传现状。结果共检测到28个等位基因,每个座位的等位基因数为2～5个,有效等位基因数为1.5191～3.4422,平均2.3093。平均期望杂合度为0.5294。各位点多态信息含量在0.3154～0.6545之间,平均值为0.4687。有5个位点显著偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡。结论豚鼠封闭群的遗传多态性处于中等水平,遗传平衡检测结果提示种群的繁殖过程未能实现完全随机交配,近交现象一定程度上存在。本研究的结果将为豚鼠封闭群遗传监测方法和标准的建立提供基础。     

Risk factors associated with mortality from white-nose syndrome among hibernating bat colonies

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease responsible for unprecedented mortality in hibernating bats. First observed in a New York cave in 2006, mortality associated with WNS rapidly appeared in hibernacula across the northeastern United States. We used yearly presence-absence data on WNS-related mortality among hibernating bat colonies in the Northeast to determine factors influencing its spread. We evaluated hazard models to test hypotheses about the association between the timing of mortality and colony-level covariates, such as distance from the first WNS-affected site, colony size, species diversity, species composition and type of hibernaculum (cave or mine). Distance to origin and colony size had the greatest effects on WNS hazard over the range of observations; the type of hibernaculum and species composition had weaker effects. The distance effect showed a temporal decrease in magnitude, consistent with the pattern of an expanding epizootic. Large, cave-dwelling bat colonies with high proportions of Myotis lucifugus or other species that seek humid microclimates tended to experience early mortality. Our results suggest that the timing of mortality from WNS is largely dependent on colony location, and large colonies tend to be first in an area to experience high mortality associated with WNS.     

高脂摄入对小鼠空肠微生物群落结构及功能的损伤

探讨高脂饲养对动物肠道菌群结构及功能的影响。

选择60只8周龄的清洁级雌性KM小鼠, 随机分为3组: 正常饮食组(ND组)、高脂饮食组(HD组)和饥饿组(LD组), 每组20只。预饲期2周, 正饲期4周, 实验结束称重后处死小鼠, 采集小鼠空肠内容物, 采用16S rDNA测序技术分析空肠菌群结构多样性和功能差异。

(1) 不同饲喂方式下各组小鼠体质量变化差异有统计学意义(F=48.859 0, P < 0.05);(2)16S rDNA分析表明, ND组、HD组和LD组小鼠空肠菌群OTUs数量分别为1 218、1 724和1 769个, 其中特有OTUs数量HD组和LD组显著高于ND组, HD组和LD组的Chao1指数和Ace指数显著高于ND组(F=136.747 0、275.740 0, 均P < 0.05);(3)不同饲喂方式下小鼠空肠鉴定出的微生物归为12个门, Bacteroidota和Firmicutes为优势菌门; 丰度大于1%的菌属有17个, 物种注释发现HD组和LD组分别有11个、6个菌属丰度显著增加; 在科水平, Bacteroidaceae和Erysipelotrichaceae在HD组显著高于其他2组(F=5.795 0、154.733 0, 均P < 0.05), Lactobacillaceae和Muribaculaceae在LD组显著高于其他2组(F=9.576 0、7.139 0, 均P < 0.05), Prevotellaceae和Helicobacteraceae在ND组显著高于其他2组(F=130.123 0、20.321 0, 均P < 0.05);(4)KEGG功能预测发现不同饲喂方式小鼠空肠微生物的功能主要在碳水化合物代谢、复制和修复等方面富集; 通过PPIs聚类发现空肠微生物主要富集在碳水化合物代谢、能量吸收等方面。

高脂饲喂使小鼠肠道菌群结构发生变化, 有益菌数量减少, 进而损伤肠道上皮组织, 破坏肠道屏障, 使其功能发生紊乱。

     

新疆阿克苏地区一株羊源沙门菌及其小菌落变异株的生物学特性

【背景】小菌落变异株(smallcolonyvariant,SCV)是一种具有独特的表型及致病特征且生长缓慢的细菌亚群,而国内鲜有关于食源性沙门菌SCV的研究报道。【目的】为食源性沙门菌的防治及动物性食品安全提供实验数据。【方法】使用氨基糖苷类抗生素对羊源胆汁中分离的沙门菌进行实验室诱导得到SCV,然后分别对野生株和诱导株的菌落形态、生长、生化特性、营养缺陷型检测、运动性、耐药性检测及耐药基因、毒力基因、生物被膜形成能力进行比较和分析。【结果】经卡那霉素诱导获得一株血红素依赖型沙门菌SCV,与野生株相比,诱导株生长缓慢,低于野生株84%,不利用柠檬酸盐,溶血能力增强40%,对磺胺类和氨基糖苷类药物的耐受性增强,生物被膜形成能力减弱45%,运动能力减弱78%。【结论】沙门菌SCV的生长和生理生化特性与野生株相比有显著差异,使得沙门菌SCV的分离鉴定尤为困难;并且SCV的致病性与耐药性等方面的变化可能给沙门菌病的防治带来更大挑战,其机制还有待深入研究。     

重组IL－6与IL－3或／和GM－CSF合用对正常BN大鼠粒单系体外造血的调控效应

本研究探讨了重组人ＩＬ－６与大鼠ＩＬ－３和／或小鼠ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ结合对正常ＢＮ大鼠粒单系体外造血的调控效应。结果表明,ＩＬ－６在１０００－４０００Ｕ／ｍｌ呈剂量依赖性刺激粒系造血祖细胞集落形成及骨髓细胞的ＤＮＡ合成,集落以ＧＭ型为主,其刺激活性低于ＩＬ－３或ＣＭ－ＣＳＦ。ｌＬ－６与ＩＬ－３和／或ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ的结合对粒单系集落形成及ＤＮＡ合成无协同或相加作用,甚至出现拮抗效应,但却显著增大集落。提示ＩＬ－６可能具有双向调控作用,促进早期造血细胞的增殖,拮抗其它因子对晚期粒单系造血的刺激作用;具有重叠生物效应的这３种细胞因子在调控造血时,它们之间的相互作用应是顺序的而不是同时的。     

NESTMATE RECOGNITION AND KIN RECOGNITION IN ANTS

Abstract  All ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) are highly eusocial insects that are characterized by reproductive division of labor with sterile castes (worker and soldier) helping fertile castes (queen and male) to reproduce.
Ant societies, like other complex animal societies, have developed a sophisticated communication system, in which recognition behaviors are frequently involved Recognition abilities allow individuals to orient and modulate their behaviors effectively and appropriately in response to the characteristics andlor signals expressed by other organisms. Among recognition behaviors, nestmate recognition and kin recognition mechanisms have attracted great attention of sociobiologists, ecologists, insect physiologists and biochemists since 1970's. This is parallel with the popularization of Hamilton's kin selection theory. The present paper aims at reviewing the current understanding on nestmate/kin recognition in ants. This review consists of three parts. The first part concerns the diversity of recognition behaviors and their ecological implications with emphasis on nestmatelkin recognition; in the second part, the current understandings on the mechanism of nestmatelkin recognition are outlined; and in the third part, we discuss the ontogenetic development of nestmate recognition behavior and naturally mixed colonies. The study of the integration mechanism of social parasite may provide heuristic clues to the understanding of kin/nestmate recognition system.     

Do bumblebees always forage as much as they could?

Summary Bumblebees must forage to provide food to the colony. However, foraging is costly as worker longevity is inversely related to foraging effort. Given this trade-off, workers from colonies with abundant food supplies could either maintain foraging to increase reserves for future use or forage less to avoid the associated costs. We tested these hypotheses over one summer, using 13 pairs of field colonies of Bombus impatiens. Half of the colonies were provided with a sucrose solution ad libitum and pollen at regular intervals throughout their entire development, while the other half served as controls. We measured the forager activity rates in colonies with infra-red motion detectors fit in nest box entrances. However, due to reasons beyond our control (loss of the queen, usurpation by Psithyrus, debris in the entrance tunnel, etc.), we could use data from only two pairs of colonies for the analysis. Food supplemented colonies had a forager activity rate per worker 25% lower than controls which supports the hypothesis that workers reduce risks when given the opportunity.Received 15 May 2003; revised 15 January 2004; accepted 19 February 2004.