Effect of anti-mosquito antibodies on the infectivity of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei to Anopheles farauti

The effect of mouse anti-mosquito antibodies, present in the bloodmeal, on the infectivity of Plasmodium berghei Vincke to Anopheles farauti Laveran was investigated. Significantly fewer oocysts developed in mosquitoes feeding on mice immunized with sugar-fed mosquito midgut antigens than in mosquitoes feeding on control mice. Mosquitoes feeding on mice immunized with the midgut antigens derived from sugar-fed mosquitoes also showed reduced mortality and had lower infection rates than those fed on unimmunized mice. Blood-fed midgut antigen was less effective in producing these effects than sugar-fed midgut antigen.     

Molecular biology of wound-inducible proteinase inhibitors in plants

Abstract. The techniques of molecular biology are being employed to investigate at the gene level the systemically mediated, wound-induced accumulation of two defensive proteinase inhibitor proteins in plant leaves. These techniques have added a new dimension to biochemical and physiological studies already underway to understand the mechanism of induction by wounding. The acquisition of cDNAs from the RNAs coding for the two inhibitors facilitated studies of mRNA synthesis in leaves in response to wounding, and provided probes to obtain wound-inducible proteinase inhibitor genes from tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) and potato (Solarium tuberosum) genomes. Successful transformations of tobacco plants with fused genes, containing the 5' and 3' regions of the inhibitor genes with the open reading frame of the chloramphenicol acelyltransferase ( cat ) gene, have provided a wound-inducible chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CATase) activity with which to seek cis- and transacting elements that regulate wound-inducibility to help to understand the interaction of cytoplasmic and nuclear components of the intracellular communication systems that activate the proteinase inhibitor genes in response to wounding by insect pests.     

beta-N-gamma-glutamyl diaminopropionic acid, a convulsant and an inhibitor of brain glutamate decarboxylase

The different isomers of the dipeptide beta-N-gamma-glutamyl diaminopropionate inhibit L-glutamate-1-carboxylyase (GAD, EC-4.1.1.15) activity in mouse brain homogenates. The L-D isomer is the most effective as an inhibitor, while the D-D isomer is least inhibitory. The different isomers are neurotoxic to mice and the chick, the L-D isomer being the most toxic. The neurotoxicity of the isomers in mice was also associated with a significant lowering in GAD activity in the brains of convulsing mice.     

Production of DON-related trichothecenes byFusarium graminearum Schw from Krasnodarski krai of the USSR

34Fusarium graminearum Schw isolates produced 4-deoxynivalenol to form significant amounts of 4, 7 — dideoxynivalenol and lesser amounts of 4 — deoxynivalenol monoacetates on grain substratesin vitro. This is the first report on the capability a large group of naturally occurring isolates to produce 4,7-dideoxynivalenol. The average levels of 4,7-dideoxynivalenol on rice, corn, barley, and wheat as a substrate were respectively 26.8, 14.0, 12.8, and 10.5% of the level of 4-deoxynivalenol. 4, 7 — dideoxynivalenol was present in all examined naturally contaminated wheat kernel samples at levels of 1.7 to 7.9% of the level of 4-deoxynivalenol. These findings suggest that more attention should be given to the occurrence of 4,7-dideoxynivalenol in cereals.     

Rhabdospora thelohani Laguessé, 1895 (Apicomplexa): new host and geographic records with taxonomic considerations.

New fish species and geographic records for Rhabdospora thelohani Laguessé, 1895 (rodlet cells) are presented. Additionally, the ultrastructure of R. thelohani in Alburnoides bipunctatus ohridanus Karaman, Borostomias antarcticus (L?nnberg), Leuciscus cephalus albus Bonaparte and Rutilus rubilio (Bonaparte) is compared with that reported by other authors and with members of Subphylum Apicomplexa. The ultrastructure of R. thelohani was similar in all the fish species examined; however, the organism was not present in all members of any single species and had intertissue density variations. Rhabdospora thelohani is pyriform, averaging in size 7 X 12 micrometer, with a basal nucleus. The surface complex is composed of a layer (0.5 micrometer diameter) formed by microfilaments (9.3 nm) and an outer trilaminar membrane (9.3 nm). The cytoplasm contains structures identical to rhoptries, micronemes and subpellicular microtubules. Mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and rough endoplasmic reticulum were not observed, althouth free ribosomes were present and arranged in a vesicular pattern. The observations suggest that the organism moves between cell of epithelial layers and is either released into a lumen intact or passively or actively discharges its contents into a lumen. Results from this study indicate that R. thelohani should be considered a member of Apicomplexa unless definitive evidence is presented to the contrary.     

库布齐沙漠南缘风沙-植被相互作用及其景观效应

干旱区尤其沙漠边缘地区的风沙与植被相互作用对塑造地表景观具有重要意义。选择库布齐沙漠南缘的油蒿灌丛地为研究区,开展了植被调查、风沙流观测和表层沉积物粒度采样测试,分析了顺风向植被盖度、风沙流结构与沉积物特征的沿程变化,探讨了风沙-植被相互作用及其对地表景观格局的影响。结果表明,风沙流与植被相互作用方式的改变使植物生长状况与地表蚀积模式发生变化,进而导致顺风向景观表现出明显的空间异质性。自上风向裸地过渡到均匀分布的新生油蒿和油蒿灌丛再至斑块状分布的灌丛沙堆,植被盖度与覆沙厚度先增大后减小,空气动力学粗糙度沿程不断增加且在过渡时其增幅最大,输沙率与沉积物粒度呈先减小后增大趋势,并在植被盖度与覆沙厚度最大处出现最小值。在沙漠边缘剥蚀高原上,起初适量风沙堆积促进油蒿定植与生长,均匀分布的油蒿灌丛进一步促进沙物质堆积,但当堆积厚度超过油蒿耐沙埋深度时发生退化,灌丛出现斑块状分布且风沙流在丘间地处侵蚀。据此,可理解为剥蚀高原风沙区景观异质性是风沙与植被相互协同与抑制作用的结果。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区典型小流域生态系统服务权衡与协同关系研究

黄土高原植被恢复状况制约生态系统服务的提升,本研究依托中国科学院水利部水土保持研究所安塞国家科学野外观测站的基础土壤、植被、气象和水文等数据,在黄土丘陵沟壑区选取纸坊沟和坊塌2个典型小流域,通过购买1998、2008和2018年遥感影像,采用InVEST(Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs)模型对生态服务(碳储量、土壤保持量、生境质量和产水量)进行评估,探究植被恢复过程中生态系统服务的协同效应和权衡关系。通过对比得知：随着植被的恢复,坊塌和纸坊沟各生态服务(碳储量、土壤保持量、生境质量和产水量)均得到了大幅度的提升,其中2008—2018年增加幅度较小,而1998—2008年增加幅度较大,主要原因在于该阶段(1998—2008年)是退耕还林还草的初始10年,林地及草地面积增长较多,而后10年为退耕的延续阶段,退耕面积增长减缓。从1998—2018年,受自然因素和人为因素的影响,坊塌和纸坊沟流域生态系统服务表现出协同和权衡关系。对于坊塌流域,2008年生态系统服务主要表现为协同关系,1998、2018年以权衡关...     

Indoor residual spraying for the control of visceral leishmaniasis: A systematic review

Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) is one of the interventions to control the vectors of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). Different insecticides are used in affected countries, also in the Regional Initiative for the Elimination of VL in South-East Asia. This systematic review assesses all available studies analysing the effectiveness of IRS on the key vectors of VL. The systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, with a broad search strategy, applied to seven key databases. Inclusion criteria were studies focusing on 1) Visceral leishmaniasis 2) Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) or synonyms, and 3) all primary research methods. 21 studies were included, five cluster randomised controlled trials (cRCTs), one randomised controlled trial (RCT), 11 intervention studies, also included were three modelling studies and one survey. 19 out of 21 included studies were published between 2009 and 2020. 18 of the studies were conducted in the context of the Regional Initiative. Effects of IRS on vector populations are positive, confirmed in terms of effectiveness and by the availability of studies. Deltamethrin and alpha-Cypermethrin reduce total sandfly counts, and/or Phlebotomus argentipes counts by up to 95% with an effect of a minimum of one month. Prolonged effects are not regularly seen. DDT has been used in India only: whereas in the 1990s a good effect could be measured, this effect waned over time. Two intervention studies, embedded in larger programmes in 2019 and 2020, replaced DDT with alpha-Cypermethrin throughout the study. Combinations of different interventions are not systematically researched, however showing some promising results, for example for the combination of IRS and Temephos. Constant monitoring of insecticide resistancies and quality delivery of IRS are confirmed as key issues for programmes. No human transmission data are available to directly relate an effect of IRS–although modelling studies confirm the effect of IRS on human transmission. Concluding, IRS continues to be an effective intervention for Phlebotomus argentipes control. Delivery requires constant monitoring and quality assurance. Further studies need to assess IRS in different geographical areas affected by VL and combinations of interventions.     

不同污染程度下毛白杨叶表面PM2.5颗粒的数量及性质和叶片气孔形态的比较研究

选择了北京市环境PM_(2.5)浓度不同的两个采样点的毛白杨(Populus tomentosa Carr.)作为研究对象,利用环境扫描电镜及X-射线能谱仪对杨树叶片表面滞留的PM_(2.5)颗粒进行了观察、统计和成分分析,并研究了叶片气孔对环境颗粒物污染的适应性变化。结果表明:夏秋两季西直门叶片样品上下表面的PM_(2.5)数量均多于森林公园样品这说明环境PM_(2.5)浓度是影响叶片表面滞留颗粒物数量的主要原因;其中叶片上表面是滞留PM_(2.5)颗粒的主要区域。森林公园样品中PM_(2.5)颗粒性质比较单一,硅铝酸盐颗粒和石英颗粒占很大比例,二者的主要来源均为天然源,如土壤扬尘、矿物颗粒等;而西直门采样点叶片样品滞留的PM_(2.5)颗粒的元素组成更为复杂,其中50%以上的硅铝酸盐颗粒检测出了明显的铜、钾、氯、钠等元素的谱峰其来源主要是工业排放;西直门样品PM_(2.5)的含硫量高于森林公园样品,且夏季明显高于秋季。研究还发现有少数PM_(2.5)颗粒进入了毛白杨叶片的气孔而且不同污染程度下气孔的形态特征存在差异。与森林公园毛白杨叶片的气孔相比,西直门处的毛白杨叶片气孔的长度、宽度、面积和气孔密度均较小,说明较高的PM_(2.5)污染程度对毛白杨叶片的形态发育有一定影响。研究结果可以为揭示植物叶片阻滞、吸收大气颗粒污染物的机制、合理选择和优化城市绿化树种从而改善空气质量提供一定的科学理论依据。