海洋生理活性物质的研究及发展趋势

本文概述海洋生理活性物质特有的特异结构和药理作用,对研究治疗心脑血管疾病、癌症和艾滋病等方面的意义及发展前景。阐述我国近年来从海洋生物活性物质中发现如三丙酮胺、喹啉酮、柳珊瑚酸及其衍生物等观种显著生理活性新化合物及１６种海洋生理活性物质;８种已投入市场的海洋药物及保健品。提出对海洋生理活性物质研制成新药的可行途径及应采取的决策和有效措施;提出应用如基因工程、细胞工程、发酵工程和酶学工程等生物技术来研制、生产出纯度高、质量高、成本低的海洋药物资源物质。海洋生物技术领域的迅速发展,对海洋生物活性物质的研究及开发海洋药物具有广阔的应用前景。     

In vitro anti- biofilm and anti-bacterial activity of Sesbania grandiflora extract against Staphylococcus aureus

The main objective of this research is to investigate the anti-biofilm and anti-bacterial activity of Sesbania grandiflora (S. grandiflora) against Staphylococcus aureus. S. grandiflora extract were prepared and analyzed with UV –Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering. Biofilm forming pathogens were identified by congo-red assay. Quantification of Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) particularly protein and carbohydrate were calculated. The efficacy of the herbal extract S. grandiflora and its inhibition against the pathogenic strain of S. aureus was also evaluated. The gradual decrease or disappearance of peaks reveals the reduction of protein and carbohydrate content in the EPS of S. aureus when treated with S. grandiflora. The antibacterial activity of S. grandiflora extract against the bacterial strain S. aureus showed that the extract were more active against the strain. To conclude, anti-biofilm and antibacterial efficacy of S. grandiflora plays a vital role over biofilm producing pathogens and act as a good source for controlling the microbial population.     

高温胁迫下西伯利亚蝗体内抗逆物质含量变化

【目的】新疆气候变暖是导致西伯利亚蝗Gomphocerus sibiricus (L.)持续严重发生的重要原因之一,前期研究表明近40年来西伯利亚蝗严重发生与新疆同期气候变暖有显著相关性,本研究进一步探讨了温度升高条件下西伯利亚蝗的生理生化适应机理。【方法】采用生理生化研究方法,研究了24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39和42℃下西伯利亚蝗体内海藻糖、甘油、油酸、亚油酸和亚麻酸5种抗逆物质的积累与变化过程。【结果】在24~42℃范围内,西伯利亚蝗体内5种物质的积累量随温度的升高呈现出先增后减的变化趋势。海藻糖、甘油、油酸、亚油酸和亚麻酸含量在30℃时含量最高,分别为18.691 μg/g, 261.432 μg/g, 79.063 mg/g, 78.664 mg/g和227.593 mg/g;42℃高温时为最低,含量依次为18.218 μg/g, 104.588 μg/g, 4.343 mg/g, 3.039 mg/g和11.067 mg/g。5种抗逆物质积累的速率不同,其中随温度升高亚油酸含量增、减速率最快,分别为832.189%和63.988%,海藻糖含量增、减速率最慢,分别为 0.893%和0.224%。【结论】在24~30℃之间,随着温度升高,西伯利亚蝗可以通过积累体内抗逆物质,尤其通过快速积累不饱和脂肪酸以提高自身对阶段性高温的耐受能力;超过30℃,蝗虫体内抗逆物质积累下降,死亡率增加,虫体对高温胁迫失去耐受力。这预示着在气候变暖趋势下,西伯利亚蝗仍将是新疆草原最重要的生物灾害之一。     

Review: microbial mechanisms of accessing insoluble Fe(III) as an energy source

Of all the terminal electron acceptors, Fe(III) is the most naturally abundant in many subsurface environments. Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms are phylogenetically diverse and have been isolated from a variety of sources. Unlike most electron acceptors, Fe(III) has a very low solubility and is usually present as insoluble oxides at neutral pH. The mechanisms by which microorganisms access and reduce insoluble Fe(III) are poorly understood. Initially, it was considered that microorganisms could only reduce insoluble Fe(III) through direct contact with the oxide. However, recent studies indicate that extracellular electron shuttling or Fe(III)-chelating compounds may alleviate the need for cell–oxide contact. These include microbially secreted compounds or exogenous electron shuttling agents, mainly from humic substances. Electron shuttling via humic substances is likely a significant process for Fe(III) reduction in subsurface environments. This paper reviews the various mechanisms by which Fe(III) reduction may be occurring in pure culture and in soils and sediments.     

Dissolved organic carbon and fluorescence in Lake Hovsgol: factors reducing humic content of the lake water

 Lake Hovsgol is a large tectonic lake located in northern Mongolia, which has extremely transparent lake water. In our survey, the dissolved organic carbon of the lake water was 80–100 μM-C, and the fluorescence intensity in an excitation and emission matrix was very low. The brown color and high content of humic substances in river water flowing from a watershed consisting of grassland and forests rapidly declined in the coastal area of the lake. The decrease in humic content may be due not only to dilution by the lake water but also to flocculation and photobleaching. Among tectonic lakes in Asia, Lake Hovsgol would appear to have unique biological and hydrological features that reduce humic content and help to maintain water transparency. Received: June 25, 2002 / Accepted: January 10, 2003 Acknowledgments The authors acknowledge helpful discussion with Dr. J. Urabe. We thank Dr. T. Galbaatar, Mongolian Academy of Science, Mongolia, for his arrangements on the expeditions in 1999. We are also indebted to Mr. D. Hadbaatar, B. Ganbat, and the cruise staff of the R/V Suchbaatar for their assistance in the course of the study. This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid No. 09041159 and 13575034 for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. Correspondence to:K. Hayakawa     

Damage released prey alarm substances or predator odours? Risk assessment by an aquatic oligochaete

Although the abilities of prey to detect and respond to chemical substances associated with a predator have been widely reported, the factors promoting the evolution of responses to prey alarm cues vs. predator odours are still vague. In this article, we combined field research with laboratory experiments to explore which chemical substance associated with predator activity (predator odour, conspecific or heterospecific alarm substances) induces defence responses in the aquatic oligochaete Stylaria lacustris, which is vulnerable to common littoral predators. The field results indicated that predators injure the oligochaetes and a great proportion, up to 45% of individuals in the population, were found to be damaged. The results of the laboratory experiments revealed that chemical odours from damselfly larvae feeding on S. lacustris did not induce the defence response in the oligochaetes. On the contrary, oligochaetes detected and responded to alarm substances from damaged conspecifics alone and substances from damaged cladoceran Daphnia magna. We discussed conditions favouring the responses to damage released prey alarm cues instead of predator odours in Stylaria lacustris. Our data suggest that the selection of responses to alarm cues from damaged prey vs. predator odours may be dependent on three factors: (1) non-species-specific predation, (2) divergence of food niche of the different stages of the predator and (3) complex food web with multiple predators. Handling editor: S. Declerk     

Enhancement of the biocontrol agent Candida oleophila (strain O) survival and control efficiency under extreme conditions of water activity and relative humidity

The objective of this work is to evaluate the ability of some additive substances in protecting the biocontrol agent Candida oleophila (strain O) against the adverse effects of environmental factors, such as water activity (a_w, 0.93 and 0.98) and relative humidity (75% and 98%). The protection obtained with various protectant substances, skimmed milk (SM), peptone, maltose, sucrose, sorbitol, lactose and polyethylene glycol was assayed under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The yeast cells with the highest level of protecting agents (1%) had higher viability than those with low protectant levels (0.1% and 0.5%). SM, sucrose and sorbitol improved significantly the C. oleophila survival on apple fruit surface by 80.8%, 42.26% and 37.27% and gave a significant protection (from 96% to 100%) against Penicillium expansum under dried conditions. The highest strain O density and efficacy was obtained with SM. Under experimental conditions reflecting practical conditions, SM applied in combination with the strain O resulted in improved biocontrol efficacy by 74.65%. Therefore, SM could be used as material substrate with the best sugar protectants during the formulation process of this antagonistic yeast for eventual pre-harvest application.     

Strain improvement of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporosarcina pasteurii</Emphasis> for enhanced urease and calcite production

Phenotypic mutants of Sporosarcina pasteurii (previously known as Bacillus pasteurii) (MTCC 1761) were developed by UV irradiation to test their ability to enhance urease activity and calcite production. Among the mutants, Bp M-3 was found to be more efficient compared to other mutants and wild-type strain. It produced the highest urease activity and calcite production compared to other isolates. The production of extracellular polymeric substances and biofilm was also higher in this mutant than other isolates. Microbial sand plugging results showed the highest calcite precipitation by Bp M-3 mutant. Scanning electron micrography, energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analyses evidenced the direct involvement of bacteria in CaCO₃ precipitation. This study suggests that calcite production by the mutant through biomineralization processes is highly effective and may provide a useful strategy as a sealing agent for filling the gaps or cracks and fissures in any construction structures.     

Occurrence and chemical diversity of the genus Bryoria in the Sučí Potok Valley, Veporské Vrchy Mountains (Central Slovakia)

Four species of the genus, Bryoria were found in the Sučí Potok Valley: B. capilaris (Ach.) Brodo & D. Hawksw., B. fuscescens (Gyeln.) Brodo & D. Hawksw., B. implexa (Hoffm.) Brodo & D. Hawksw., B. nadvornikiana (Gyeln.) Brodo & D. Hawksw. The most common species in the valley was B. implexa. Four chemotypes of this lichen were recognized.     

美洲黑杨次生维管组织发育的内在节律性与细胞内含物的动态变化

美洲黑杨（Populus deltoids）是一种重要的商业用材树种,在我国多用作胶合板和纸浆原料,其速生性的特点也很早为人们所认识。众所周知,树木次生维管组织的发育具有内在的节律性,与此同时维管组织的细胞内含物也会发生动态变化。利用电镜技术及细胞化学方法,研究了美洲黑杨次生维管组织的发育以及细胞内含物分布的变化,发现次生维管组织的发育具有内在节律性,在年周期中表现为分化期和休眠期交替出现,次生韧皮部与次生木质部交替分化形成。在维管组织发育过程中,早期蛋白质和脂类物质首先减少,然后淀粉粒解体消失,发育期内维管组织的蛋白质、脂类和淀粉的积累最少,休眠期内维管组织细胞内最早出现淀粉的积累,然后蛋白质和脂类物质积累大大增加。杨树维管组织发育过程的内在节律性与细胞内含物的动态变化密切相关。