Micro-biological research relies on the use of model organisms that act as representatives of their species or subspecies,
these are frequently well-characterized laboratory strains. However, it has often become apparent that the model strain initially
chosen does not represent important features of the species. For micro-organisms, the diversity of their genomes is such that
even the best possible choice of initial strain for sequencing may not assure that the genome obtained adequately represents
the species. To acquire information about a species' genome as efficiently as possible, we require a method to choose strains
for analysis on the basis of how well they represent the species. 相似文献
Different values have resulted in conflicts between anglers and conservation lobbies in the management of trout in South Africa. Key to the conflict is the demarcation of boundaries to areas in which brown trout Salmo trutta and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss currently occur, or are likely to establish following stocking for angling. To provide a longer-term perspective on these areas, we developed models to link salmonid biological thermal thresholds to elevation. These, when applied spatially using a digital elevation model with a probability of occurrence model, provided the basis for estimating potentially available thermal habitat for these two cold water species. Here, we acknowledge that other variables (stocking history; river connectivity) also play a role in understanding trout distributions. Using a simple scenario of an increase in mean daily water temperatures of 2 °C, we demonstrated that both brown and rainbow trout are likely to exhibit considerable range reductions in the future. Because it is possible that these range restrictions will result in an increasing desire to introduce trout into areas above their current distribution limits for the maintenance of angling opportunities, conservation managers should prioritise these areas, with management interventions seeking to understand what will help to limit introductions. 相似文献
To identify the chromosomal regions affecting wood quality traits, we conducted a genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL)
analysis of wood quality traits in Eucalyptus nitens. This information is important to exploit the full potential of the impending Eucalyptus genome sequence. A three generational mapping population consisting of 296 progeny trees was used to identify QTL associated
with several wood quality traits in E. nitens. Thirty-six QTL positions for cellulose content, pulp yield, lignin content, density, and microfibril angle (MFA) were identified
across different linkage groups. On linkage groups (LG)2 and 8, cellulose QTL cluster with pulp yield and extractives QTL
while on LG4 and 10 cellulose and pulp yield QTLs cluster together. Similarly, on LG4, 5, and 6 QTL for lignin traits were
clustered together. At two positions, QTL for MFA, a physical trait related to wood stiffness, were clustered with QTL for
lignin traits. Several cell wall candidate genes were co-located to QTL positions affecting different traits. Comparative
QTL analysis with Eucalyptus globulus revealed two common QTL regions for cellulose and pulp yield. The QTL positions identified in this study provide a resource
for identifying wood quality genes using the impending Eucalyptus genome sequence. Candidate genes identified in this study through co-location to QTL regions may be useful in association
studies. 相似文献
Current techniques used to obtain lung samples have significant limitations and do not provide reproducible biomarkers of inflammation. We have developed a novel technique that allows multiple sampling methods from the same area (or multiple areas) of the lung under direct bronchoscopic vision. It allows collection of mucosal lining fluid and bronchial brushing from the same site; biopsy samples may also be taken. The novel technique takes the same time as standard procedures and can be conducted safely.
Methods
Eight healthy smokers aged 40–65 years were included in this study. An absorptive filter paper was applied to the bronchial mucosa under direct vision using standard bronchoscopic techniques. Further samples were obtained from the same site using bronchial brushings. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was obtained using standard techniques. Chemokine (C-C Motif) Ligand 20 (CCL20), CCL4, CCL5, Chemokine (C-X-C Motif) Ligand 1 (CXCL1), CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) and MMP-9 were measured in exudate and BAL. mRNA was collected from the bronchial brushings for gene expression analysis.
Results
A greater than 10 fold concentration of all the biomarkers was detected in lung exudate in comparison to BAL. High yield of good quality RNA with RNA integrity numbers (RIN) between 7.6 and 9.3 were extracted from the bronchial brushings. The subset of genes measured were reproducible across the samples and corresponded to the inflammatory markers measured in exudate and BAL.
Conclusions
The bronchoabsorption technique as described offers the ability to sample lung fluid direct from the site of interest without the dilution effects caused by BAL. Using this method we were able to successfully measure the concentrations of biomarkers present in the lungs as well as collect high yield mRNA samples for gene expression analysis from the same site. This technique demonstrates superior sensitivity to standard BAL for the measurement of biomarkers of inflammation. It could replace BAL as the method of choice for these measurements. This method provides a systems biology approach to studying the inflammatory markers of respiratory disease progression.
1. Aquatic ecosystems in Northern Europe are expected to face increases in temperature and water colour (TB) in future. While effects of these factors have been studied separately, it is unknown whether and how a combination of them might affect phenological events and trophic interactions. 2. In a mesocosm study, we combined both factors to create conditions expected to arise during the coming century. We focused on quantifying effects on timing and magnitude of plankton spring phenological events and identifying possible mismatches between resources (phytoplankton) and consumers (zooplankton). 3. We found that the increases in TB had important effects on timing and abundance of different plankton groups. While increased temperature led to an earlier peak in phytoplankton and zooplankton and a change in the relative timing of different zooplankton groups, increased water colour reduced chlorophyll‐a concentrations. 4. Increased TB together benefitted cladocerans and calanoid copepods and led to stronger top‐down control of algae by zooplankton. There was no sign of a mismatch between primary producers and grazers as reported from other studies. 5. Our results point towards an earlier onset of plankton spring growth in shallow lakes in future with a stronger top‐down control of phytoplankton by zooplankton grazers. 相似文献
1. Environmental changes such as eutrophication and increasing inputs of humic matter (brownification) may have strong effects on predator–prey interactions in lakes through a reduction in the visual conditions affecting foraging behaviour of visually oriented predators. 2. In this experiment, we studied the effects of visual range (25–200 cm) in combination with optically deteriorating treatments (algae, clay or brown humic water) on predator–prey interactions between pike (Esox lucius) and roach (Rutilus rutilus). We measured effects on reaction distance and strike distance for pike and escape distance for roach, when pike individuals were exposed to free‐swimming roach as well as to roach held in a glass cylinder. 3. We found that reaction distance decreased with decreasing visual range caused by increasing levels of algae, clay or humic matter. The effect of reaction distance was stronger in turbid water (clay, algae) than in the brown water treatment. 4. Strike distance was neither affected by visual range nor by optical treatment, but we found shorter strike distances when pike attacked roach using visual cues only (roach held in a cylinder) compared to when pike could use multiple senses (free‐swimming roach). Escape distance for roach was longer in turbid than in brown water treatments. 5. Changes in environmental drivers, such as eutrophication and brownification, affecting the optical climate should thus have consequences for the strength of predator–prey interactions through changes in piscivore foraging efficiency and prey escape behaviour. This in turn may affect lake ecosystems through higher‐order interactions. 相似文献
Mucin-type O-glycosylation is initiated by a large family of UDP- GalNAc:
polypeptide N -acetyl-galactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc- transferases).
Individual GalNAc-transferases appear to have different functions and
Northern analysis indicates that they are differently expressed in
different organs. This suggests that O-glycosylation may vary with the
repertoire of GalNAc-transferases expressed in a given cell. In order to
study the repertoire of GalNAc-transferases in situ in tissues and changes
in tumors, we have generated a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with
well defined specificity for human GalNAc-T1, -T2, and -T3. Application of
this panel of novel antibodies revealed that GalNAc- transferases are
differentially expressed in different cell lines, in spermatozoa, and in
oral mucosa and carcinomas. For example, GalNAc-T1 and -T2 but not -T3 were
highly expressed in WI38 cells, and GalNAc-T3 but not GalNAc-T1 or -T2 was
expressed in spermatozoa. The expression patterns in normal oral mucosa
were found to vary with cell differentiation, and for GalNAc-T2 and -T3
this was reflected in oral squamous cell carcinomas. The expression pattern
of GalNAc-T1 was on the other hand changed in tumors to either total loss
or expression in cytological poorly differentiated tumor cells, where the
normal undifferentiated cells lacked expression. These results demonstrate
that the repertoire of GalNAc-transferases is different in different cell
types and vary with cellular differentiation, and malignant transformation.
The implication of this is not yet fully understood, but it suggests that
specific changes in sites of O-glycosylation of proteins may occur as a
result of changes in the repertoire of GalNAc-transferases.
相似文献
Low-lying coral reef islands are considered highly vulnerable to climate change, necessitating an improved understanding of when and why they form, and how the timing of formation varies within and among regions. Several testable models have been proposed that explain inter-regional variability as a function of sea-level history and, more recently, a reef platform size model has been proposed from the Maldives (central Indian Ocean) to explain intra-regional (intra-atoll) variability. Here we present chronostratigraphic data from Pipon Island, northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), enabling us to test the applicability of existing regional island evolution models, and the platform size control hypothesis in a Pacific context. We show that reef platform infilling occurred rapidly (~4–5 mm yr−1) under a “bucket-fill” type scenario. Unusually, this infilling was dominated by terrigenous sedimentation, with platform filling and subsequent reef flat formation complete by ~5000 calibrated years BP (cal BP). Reef flat exposure as sea levels slowly fell post highstand facilitated a shift towards intertidal and subaerial-dominated sedimentation. Our data suggest, however, a lag of ~1500 yr before island initiation (at ~3200 cal BP), i.e. later than that reported from smaller and more evolutionarily mature reef platforms in the region. Our data thus support: (1) the hypothesis that platform size acts to influence the timing of platform filling and subsequent island development at intra-regional scales; and (2) the hypothesis that the low wooded islands of the northern GBR conform to a model of island formation above an elevated reef flat under falling sea levels.
Preformulation studies were performed on a hemiglutarate ester prodrug of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-HG), to facilitate the development of stable formulations by hot-melt methods. The various studies
performed included solid-state thermal characterization, pKa, logP, aqueous and pH dependent solubility, pH stability and
effect of moisture, temperature and oxygen on solid-state stability. A hot-melt method was utilized to fabricate THC-HG incorporated
poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrices and the bioadhesive properties, release profiles and post-processing stability of these
matrices were assessed as a function of the polymer molecular weight. The prodrug exhibited a Tg close to 0°C, indicating its amorphous nature. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed a rapid weight loss after 170°C. The prodrug
exhibited a seven-fold higher aqueous solubility as compared to the parent drug (THC). Also, the solubility of the compound
increased with increasing pH, being maximum at pH 8. The prodrug exhibited a v-shaped pH-rate profile, with the degradation
rate minimum between pH 3 and 4. The moisture uptake and drug degradation increased with an increase in relative humidity.
Solid-state stability indicated that the prodrug was stable at −18°C but demonstrated higher degradation at 4°C, 25°C and
40°C (51.6%, 74.5% and 90.1%, respectively) at the end of 3-months. THC-HG was found to be sensitive to the presence of oxygen.
The release of the active from the polymeric matrices decreased, while bioadhesion increased, with an increase in molecular
weight of PEO. 相似文献
In order to develop a method for obtaining mitotic synchrony in aspergillus nidulans, we have characterized previously isolated heat-sensitive nim mutations that block the nuclear division cycle in interphase at restrictive temperature. After 3.5 h at restrictive temperature the mitotic index of a strain carrying one of these mutations, nimA5, was 0, but when this strain was subsequently shifted from restrictive to permissive temperature the mitotic index increased rapidly, reaching a maximum of 78 percent after 7.5 min. When this strain was examined electron-microscopically, mitotic spindles were absent at restrictive temperature. From these data we conclude that at restrictive temperature nimA5 blocks the nuclear division cycle at a point immediately preceding the initiation of chromosomal condensation and mitotic microtubule assembly, and upon shifting to permissive control over the initiation of microtubule assembly and chromosomal condensation in vivo through a simple temperature shift and, consequently, nimA5 should be a powerful tool for studying these processes. Electron-microscopic examination of spindles of material synchronized in this manner reveals that spindle formation, although very rapid, is gradual in the sense that spindle microtubule numbers increase as spindle formation proceeds. 相似文献