Physical mapping of 5S and 18S-25S rDNA and repetitive DNA sequences in Aegilops umbellulata.

An accurate physical map of the location of the 5S and the 18S-5.8S-25S rRNA genes and a repetitive DNA sequence has been produced on Aegilops umbellulata Zhuk., (2n = 2x = 14) chromosomes by in situ hybridization. Chromosome morphology together with the hybridization pattern of pSc119.2, a DNA sequence from rye, allowed identification and discrimination of different chromosomes; pSc119.2 hybridizes with all Ae. umbellulata chromosomes at the telomeres, except for the short arm of chromosome 6U, and shows intercalary sites on the long arms of chromosomes 6U and 7U. The 5S and 18S-25S rDNA have been mapped physically only on the short arms of chromosomes 1U and 5U. On chromosome 1U the order of the genes is 5S rDNA subterminal and 18S-25S rDNA more proximal, while on chromosome 5U the position of the genes is reversed. The relative order of the genes, together with the hybridization pattern of the pSc119.2, is useful in identifying whole chromosomes or chromosome segments from Ae. umbellulata in recombinant or addition lines with wheat. The data help link the physical organization of chromosomes to the genetic map. Other members of the Triticeae vary in the presence and order of the 5S and 18S-25S rDNA sequences on groups 1 and 5, indicating multiple and complex evolutionary rearrangements of the chromosome arms.     

MR弥散加权成像对鉴别诊断良恶性椎体压缩性骨折的临床价值研究

目的：探讨MR弥散加权成像（DWI）鉴别诊断良恶性椎体压缩性骨折的临床价值。方法：对57例经临床或病理证实的椎体良恶性压缩性骨折患者行矢状位T1M、T2WI、T2WI／FS及DWI扫描,研究其在常规序列和DWI序列上的表现,将常规MR序列和DWI序列检出率进行比较,测量正常椎体及病变椎体的表观弥散系数（ADC）值,并进行统计学分析。结果：（1）MR常规序列和DWI序列（b=500s／mm2）表现：良性椎体压缩性骨折呈长T1长或等T2改变,T2WI／FS呈高信号,DWI可以呈高信号、等信号及低信号;恶性椎体压缩性骨折呈长T1长T2信号,大部分病灶T2WUFS及DWI呈高信号,少数变现为低信号;（2）MR常规序列和DWI序列（b=500s／mm2）病灶检出率的比较：T1WI、T2WI／FS及DWI序列病灶检出率均高于T2WI序列,其间的差别有显著性意义（P〈0．01）,T1WI、T2WI／FS及DWI序列病灶检出率之间无显著性差异（P〉0．01）;（3）ADC值比较：在DWI（b=500s／mm2）上,良性组ADC值为（2．03±0．83）×10^3mm^2/s,恶性组ADC值为（1．37±0．75）×10^-3mm^2/s,正常组ADC值为（0．36±0．21）×10^-3mm^2／s,成像条件相同时,良性组高于恶性组,两组间有明显的统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：DWI可较好的反映椎体的弥散特征,ADC值作为量化指标可对良恶性椎体压缩性骨折进行可靠鉴别。     

羊草与其主要伴生种竞争与共存的格局分析

在羊草种群与其它植物种群的交错区,应用频度、格避形式,格局强度指数对羊草及其主要伴生种之间的共存格局进行了分析。结果表明,羊草及其主要伴生种的格局呈多样化,集聚格局形式是羊草抵御外来物种入侵,或者是自身扩散的一种对策,羊草与其主要伴生种之间存在竞争与共存作用,羊草与芦苇之间通过拮抗作用实现竞争与共存,羊草与鸡儿肠通过竞争而实现共存,光稃茅香,碱茅以营养繁殖策略实现与羊草竞争,指子茅的生长受羊草竞争的抑制。     

基于ISSR标记的辽宁4个东北林蛙种群遗传多样性分析

辽宁是东北林蛙Rana dybowskii主要分布地之一,种群数量巨大,其群体遗传多样性有待评估.本研究应用ISSR标记技术对东北林蛙4个种群105个样本进行研究,5个引物共获得44条清晰谱带,4个种群的多态位点率均大于75%,Nei's基因多样性为0.2851,Shannon信息指数为0.4476,显示了较高的遗传多样性.对遗传分化系数、Nei's遗传距离、AMOVA分子变异巢式方差分析和F-统计量等遗传参数的统计结果表明,辽宁东北林蛙种群间已经出现一定程度的遗传分化,分析认为,自然屏障(高山和平原等)以及栖息地片段化是其遗传分化形成的主要因素.     

Relationship between epipelon,epiphyton and phytoplankton in two limnological phases in a shallow tropical reservoir with high Nymphaea coverage

Macrophytes and phytoplankton are recognized as having roles in determining alternative stable states in shallow lakes and reservoirs, while the role of periphyton has been poorly investigated. Temporal and spatial variation of phytoplankton, epipelon and epiphyton was examined in a shallow reservoir with high abundance of aquatic macrophytes. The relationships between algae communities and abiotic factors, macrophyte coverage and zooplankton density were also analyzed. Monthly sampling was performed in three zones of the depth gradient of the reservoir. Two phases of algal dominance were found: a phytoplankton phase and epipelon phase. The phase of phytoplankton dominance was characterized by high macrophyte coverage. Rotifera was the dominant zooplankton group in all the zones. Flagellate algae were dominant in phytoplankton, epipelon and epiphyton. Macrophyte coverage was found to be a predictor for algal biomass. Changes in biomass and species composition were associated with macrophyte cover variation, mainly the Nymphaea. In addition to the abiotic factors, the macrophyte coverage was a determining factor for changes to the algal community, contributing to the alternation between dominance phases of phytoplankton and epipelon. The macrophyte–phytoplankton–periphyton relationship needs to be further known in shallow reservoirs, especially the role of epipelon as an alternate stable state.

     

Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase Impacts Cancer Stem Cells and Induces Epithelial-Mesenchyme Transition of Head and Neck Cancer

The genome is organized and packed into the nucleus through interactions with core histone proteins. Emerging evidence suggests that tumors are highly responsive to epigenetic alterations that induce chromatin-based events and dynamically influence tumor behavior. We examined chromatin organization in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using acetylation levels of histone 3 as a marker of chromatin compaction. Compared to control oral keratinocytes, we found that HNSCC cells are hypoacetylated and that microenvironmental cues (e.g., microvasculature endothelial cells) induce tumor acetylation. Furthermore, we found that chemical inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC) reduces the number of cancer stem cells (CSC) and inhibits clonogenic sphere formation. Paradoxically, inhibition of HDAC also induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HNSCC cells, accumulation of BMI-1, an oncogene associated with tumor aggressiveness, and expression of the vimentin mesenchymal marker. Importantly, we observed co-expression of vimentin and acetylated histone 3 at the invasion front of human HNSCC tumor tissues. Collectively, these findings suggest that environmental cues, such as endothelial cell-secreted factors, modulate tumor plasticity by limiting the population of CSC and inducing EMT. Therefore, inhibition of HDAC may constitute a novel strategy to disrupt the population of CSC in head and neck tumors to create a homogeneous population of cancer cells with biologically defined signatures and predictable behavior.     

Haemosporidian Parasites of Antelopes and Other Vertebrates from Gabon,Central Africa

Re-examination, using molecular tools, of the diversity of haemosporidian parasites (among which the agents of human malaria are the best known) has generally led to rearrangements of traditional classifications. In this study, we explored the diversity of haemosporidian parasites infecting vertebrate species (particularly mammals, birds and reptiles) living in the forests of Gabon (Central Africa), by analyzing a collection of 492 bushmeat samples. We found that samples from five mammalian species (four duiker and one pangolin species), one bird and one turtle species were infected by haemosporidian parasites. In duikers (from which most of the infected specimens were obtained), we demonstrated the existence of at least two distinct parasite lineages related to Polychromophilus species (i.e., bat haemosporidian parasites) and to sauropsid Plasmodium (from birds and lizards). Molecular screening of sylvatic mosquitoes captured during a longitudinal survey revealed the presence of these haemosporidian parasite lineages also in several Anopheles species, suggesting a potential role in their transmission. Our results show that, differently from what was previously thought, several independent clades of haemosporidian parasites (family Plasmodiidae) infect mammals and are transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes.     

Geographical variation in fecundity and reproductive investment of Loxopagurus loxochelis (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae) along the south-eastern coast of Brazil

We aimed to study the fecundity and reproductive investment of Loxopagurus loxochelis under different environmental conditions. In total, 67 ovigerous females were analyzed, 20 from Macaé, 26 from Ubatuba and 21 from Cananéia. The cephalothoracic shield length, fecundity and reproductive investment (Ubatuba 10.2%, Macaé 8.9% and Cananéia 7.5%) were different among the regions (ANCOVA, p < 0.05), caused by different abiotic resources and environmental characteristics found in each sampling region. Cananéia had the smallest individuals and low availability of adequate shells to hermit crabs, a condition that may have affected the growth and reproduction of the animals. Macaé has a continuous transport of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus to the surface promoted by the Cabo Frio Upwelling zone, which may be a favourable condition for plankton production and, consequently, the extended ‘match/mismatch’ adjustment of spawning females of L. loxochelis. We propose that the highest reproductive investment on the Ubatuba coast is a consequence of regional environmental scenarios of waters colder than the Cananéia region, i.e. females concentrate more energy to reproduce seasonally. Thus, we proved that patterns of L. loxochelis’ reproduction can change on a regional scale according to the local condition of shell supply and water temperature.