Immunocompetence and high metabolic rates enhance overwinter survival in the root vole,Microtus oeconomus

Despite its presumed significance, the association between immune defence, energy expenditures and overwinter survival is rarely studied. We analysed individual variation in immunocompetence quantified as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N/L), total white blood cells (WBC) and natural antibody levels, along with resting (RMR) and peak metabolic rates (PMR) and mortality during three consecutive winter seasons in a natural population of the root vole, Microtus oeconomus. In early winter, WBC count was negatively correlated with RMR, whereas N/L ratio was negatively correlated with swim-elicited PMR. We suggest that while the first correlation reflected the trade-off between energy allocation in immunocompetence and other metabolically demanding processes, the latter correlation stemmed from stress-induced immunosuppression elicited by the necessity to cope with swimming in frequently flooded habitat. In addition, the analysis carried out during the first year of study characterized by a high population density and prevalence of infestation with a blood parasite—Babesia spp., showed that its intensity was inversely correlated with the N/L ratio. In summary, our results suggest that elevated N/L ratio increases the winter survival of free-ranging rodents by increasing their ability to cope with parasitic infections.     

矾冰纳米乳对临床常见病原菌体外抗菌活性的研究

研究纳米化提高白矾与冰片复合物体外抗菌活性的效果。分别采用琼脂扩散法、体外杀菌试验及试管稀释法,测定白矾与冰片O/W型复合纳米乳对临床常见病原菌的体外抑菌、杀菌效果及最低抑菌浓度(MIC),实验中以等浓度矾冰液作为对照。结果显示,矾冰纳米乳对金黄色葡萄球菌、表皮葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌、白假丝酵母菌的抑制及杀灭活性均明显强于矾冰液(P0.05)。矾冰纳米乳对金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌、大肠埃希菌临床菌株MIC90值分别为1.02、2.04和2.04 mg/mL,均明显低于矾冰液的MIC90值(P0.05)。上述实验结果提示,矾冰纳米乳与矾冰液均有广谱体外抑菌及杀菌活性,白矾及冰片复合物纳米化可提高抗菌效果。     

Citric acid excretion and precipitation of calcium citrate in the rhizosphere of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

Abstract. White lupin ( Lupinus albus L.) was grown for 13 weeks in a phosphorus (P) deficient calcareous soil (20% CaCO₃, pH(H₂O)7.5) which had been sterilized prior to planting and fertilized with nitrate as source of nitrogen. In response to P deficiency, proteoid roots developed which accounted for about 50% of the root dry weight. In the rhizosphere soil of the proteoid root zones, the pH dropped to 4.8 and abundant white precipitates became visible. X-ray spectroscopy and chemical analysis showed that these precipitates consisted of calcium citrate. The amount of citrate released as root exudate by 13-week-old plants was about 1 g plant⁻¹, representing about 23% of the total plant dry weight at harvest. In the rhizosphere soil of the proteoid root zones the concentrations of available P decreased and of available Fe, Mn and Zn increased. The strong acidification of the rhizosphere and the cation/anion uptake ratio of the plants strongly suggests that proteoid roots of white lupin excrete citric acid, rather than citrate, into the rhizosphere leading to intensive chemical extraction of a limited soil volume. In a calcareous soil, citric acid excretion leads to dissolution of CaCO₃ and precipitation of calcium citrate in the zone of proteoid roots.     

乌龟白细胞发育过程的观察

通过对乌龟骨髓、脾脏、肝脏等几种组织涂片的观察研究,发现骨髓与脾脏是乌龟的主要造血器官;白细胞的发育过程大致经过三个阶段,即原始阶段、幼稚阶段、成熟阶段。着重描述了各个阶段细胞的形态特征,并对乌龟白血细胞的发育及命名等问题作了初步探讨。     

Sulfanilic acid‐modified chitosan mini‐spheres and their application for lysozyme purification from egg white

A cation exchange matrix with zwitterionic and multimodal properties was synthesized by a simple reaction sequence coupling sulfanilic acid to a chitosan based support. The novel chromatographic matrix was physico‐chemically characterized by ss‐NMR and ζ potential, and its chromatographic performance was evaluated for lysozyme purification from diluted egg white. The maximum adsorption capacity, calculated according to Langmuir adsorption isotherm, was 50.07 ± 1.47 mg g^?1 while the dissociation constant was 0.074 ± 0.012 mg mL^?1. The process for lysozyme purification from egg white was optimized, with 81.9% yield and a purity degree of 86.5%, according to RP‐HPLC analysis. This work shows novel possible applications of chitosan based materials. The simple synthesis reactions combined with the simple mode of use of the chitosan matrix represents a novel method to purify proteins from raw starting materials. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:387–396, 2018     

Fine‐scale habitat use in Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins,Sousa chinensis,may be more influenced by fish rather than vessels in the Pearl River Estuary,China

Shifts in habitat use and distribution patterns in dolphins are often concerns that can result from habitat degradation. We investigated how potential changes to a habitat from human activity may alter dolphin distributions within Lingding Bay in the Pearl River Estuary, China, by studying the relationship between fish choruses, vessel presence and Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) detection rates. Analyses revealed temporal and spatial variation within fish choruses, vessel presence and dolphin detection rates. After accounting for any temporal autocorrelation, correlations between fish choruses and dolphin detection rates were also found; however, no relationship between fish choruses and vessel presence or dolphin detection rates and vessel presence were observed. Furthermore, fewer dolphins were detected at sites where fish activity was less intense. Thus fish activity, rather than vessels, may be a key factor influencing the distribution of the dolphins within the estuary. These findings emphasize the risk of potential shifts in habitat use for Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins due to detrimental changes to prey availability and dolphin feeding grounds from human activity, such as overfishing and coastal developments, within the estuary. This is a critical conservation issue for this dolphin population that is facing intense anthropogenic pressure.     

Use of autonomous audio recordings for the rapid inventory of birds in the white‐sand forests of the Peruvian Amazon

White‐sand forests are patchily distributed ecosystems covering just 5% of Amazonia that host many specialist species of birds not found elsewhere, and these forests are threatened due to their small size and human exploitation of sand for construction projects. As a result, many species of birds that are white‐sand specialists are at risk of extinction, and immediate conservation action is paramount for their survival. Our objective was to evaluate current survey methods and determine the relative effect of the size of patches of these forests on the presence or absence of white‐sand specialists. Using point counts and autonomous recorders, we surveyed avian assemblages occupying patches of white‐sand forest in the Peruvian Amazon in April 2018. Overall, we detected 126 species, including 21 white‐sand forest specialists. We detected significantly more species of birds per survey point with autonomous recorders than point counts. We also found a negative relationship between avian species richness and distance from the edge of patches of white‐sand forest, but a significant, positive relationship when only counting white‐sand specialists. Although we detected more species with autonomous recorders, point counts were more effective for detecting canopy‐dwelling passerines. Therefore, we recommend that investigators conducting surveys for rare and patchily distributed species in the tropics use a mixed‐method approach that incorporates both autonomous recorders and visual observation. Finally, our results suggest that conserving large, continuous patches of white‐sand forest may increase the likelihood of survival of species of birds that are white‐sand specialists.     

E0771 and 4T1 murine breast cancer cells and interleukin 6 alter gene expression patterns but do not induce browning in cultured white adipocytes

Breast cancer remains a substantial clinical problem worldwide, and cancer-associated cachexia is a condition associated with poor prognosis in this and other malignancies. Adipose tissue is involved in the development and progression of cancer-associated cachexia, but its various roles and mechanisms of action are not completely defined, especially as it relates to breast cancer. Interleukin 6 has been implicated in several mechanisms contributing to increased breast cancer tumorigenesis, as well as a net-negative energy balance and cancer-associated cachexia via adipose tissue remodeling in other models of cancer; however, its potential role in breast cancer-associated white adipose browning has not been explored. In this study, we demonstrate localized white adipose tissue browning in a spontaneous model of murine mammary cancer. We then used an in vitro murine adipocyte culture system with the E0771 and 4T1 cell lines as models of breast cancer. We demonstrate that while the E0771 and 4T1 secretomes and cross-talk with white adipocytes alter white adipocyte mRNA expression, they do not directly induce white adipocyte browning. Additionally, we show that neither exogenous administration of interleukin 6 alone or with its soluble receptor directly induce white adipocyte browning. Together, these results demonstrate that neither the E0771 or 4T1 murine breast cancer cell lines, nor interleukin 6, directly cause browning of cultured white adipocytes. This suggests that their roles in adipose tissue remodeling are more complex and indirect in nature.     

中药903口服液长期毒性实验研究

中药９０３口服液经药效学研究,表明该制剂具有良好的扶植正常菌群,调整微生态平衡,提高机体免疫能力的作用。对中药９０３口服液进行长期毒性实验研究结果证实,三种不同剂量组大白鼠给药前后的体重,血常规,主要脏器重量,肝、肾功能均无显著性差异。对４０例大鼠１１种脏器病理检查均未见药物损伤性病变。     

不同产地白蜡虫(Ericerus pela Chavannes)产卵期天敌的种类及其群落结构研究

白蜡虫雌虫产卵期是白蜡种虫生产的关键时期,在我国白蜡主产地区,选择有代表性的4个种虫产地,2个白蜡产地和4个虫蜡混产地,调查群落中白蜡虫天敌的物种组成和数量变化,并进行聚类分析和排序,在10个白蜡主产地内,共收集到各种天敌15种,分属于6科11属,各群落的物种组成变化较小,优势种为白蜡虫花翅跳小蜂Microterys ericeri Ishii、中华花翅跳小蜂M.sinicus Jiang、白蜡虫啮小蜂Tetrastichus kodaikanalensis Saraswat、白蜡蚧长角象Anthribus la-jievorus Chao和黑缘红瓢虫Chilocorus rubidus Hope。群落的优势集中指数较小,多样性指数和均匀性指数较高,群落相似性系数最高达97.46%,最低为75.92%。影响群落相似性的主要因子为白蜡产区不同、生态环境差异和优势种天敌的数量变化,根据聚类分析和排序,将10个不同产地白蜡虫天敌群落分为3类;第1类为种虫产地,优势种天敌发生和危害较轻;第2类为白蜡产地,白蜡虫天敌发生和危害极为严重,其种群数量为第1类的3.36倍,第3类虫蜡皆产,其天敌数量介于第1、2类之间,中华花翅跳小蜂种群数量在第1、3类群落中大致相等,第2类发生较较重,白蜡虫天敌的严重危害是造成蜡区不产种虫的主要原因之一。