Evaluation of Nisin F in the Treatment of Subcutaneous Skin Infections, as Monitored by Using a Bioluminescent Strain of Staphylococcus aureus

The potential of nisin F as an antimicrobial agent in treating subcutaneous skin infections was tested in vivo by infecting C57BL/6 mice with a bioluminescent strain of Staphylococcus aureus (Xen 36). Strain Xen 36 has the luxABCDE operon located on a native plasmid. Mice were grouped into four groups: Infected with strain Xen 36 and treated with nisin F, infected with strain Xen 36 and treated with saline (placebo), not infected and treated with nisin (control) and not infected and not treated (control). The immune systems of the mice were suppressed with deksamethasone. Mice were treated with either nisin F or sterile physiological saline 24 and 48 h after infection with subcutaneously injected S. aureus Xen 36 (4 × 10⁶ CFU). Histology and bioluminescent flux measurements revealed no significant difference between infected mice treated with nisin and saline, respectively. However, infected mice treated with nisin F had an increased number of polymorphonuclear cells when compared with infected mice treated with saline. Also, not infected mice treated with nisin F had an influx of polymorphonuclear cells. Nisin F is thus ineffective in combating deep dermal staphylococcal infections. The apparent immune modulation of nisin when subcutaneously injected has to be investigated.     

Familial interactions of male rhesus monkeys in a semi-free-ranging troop

Although the central and stable position of female rhesus monkeys in semi-free-ranging bands has been observed and described, the position of the developing male in the social group is not as well delineated. The present study is an attempt to describe interactions of 18 males with members of their families. Quantitative observations were made on one band (E) of rhesus monkeys on Cayo Santiago. Incidences of behavior recorded were joining, grooming, and threatening. The resulting data were analyzed by comparing the behavior of the males studied toward members of their genealogy as well as unrelated members of the social group. Behavior of family and non-relatives toward the males was also revealed. Statistical analysis revealed that the male subjects engaged in more positive social interactions within the matrifocal family than with other members of the genealogy, and in turn, more such behavior was observed within the genealogy than with unrelated monkeys. Threatening behavior within the genealogies was infrequent. Age effects were noted in that family members directed more interactions toward younger males and as males matured, they groomed more but joined family members less frequently. These data suggest mechanisms of socialization within the genealogy that may be different from those employed within the unrelated social group.     

Identification and physiological characteristics of heterofermentative strains of Lactobacillus from South African red wines

Nineteen atypical heterofermentative strains of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from South African red wines were identified with the API 50 CHL system and by computerized comparison of their total soluble cell protein patterns. Eleven strains were identified as Lactobacillus hilgardii and eight strains as L. brevis . Three strains of L. hilgardii and three strains of L. brevis produced small amounts of H₂S in peptone water supplemented with 001% l -cysteine. All strains produced mannitol from fructose. Proteolytic activity was detected in all except two strains of L. hilgardii . Strains capable of digesting gelatine, hydrolized casein, but not vice versa . The excessive production of sulphur-containing compounds, mannitol and acetaldehyde by lactic acid bacteria could have serious quality implications for the wine industry. Three strains of L. hilgardii and all strains of L. brevis decarboxylated l -malic acid to l -lactic acid.     

Technique for isolating plasmids from exopolysaccharide producing Lactobacillus spp.

Summary A large scale plasmid isolation technique is described for the isolation of plasmids from exopolysaccharide producing strains of Lactobacillus spp. Plasmids of 1.9 to 56 kb were isolated which were pure enough to be used for restriction analysis and cloning experiments.     

慢性心功能不全大鼠心脏和血淋巴细胞β-肾上腺素受体的改变

在主动脉与肾动脉缩窄造成的慢性心功能不全大鼠,血浆儿茶酚胺浓度增高;心脏β-肾上腺素受体(β-AR)数量增加,其中β_1-AR及其mRNA增加,而β_2-AR及其mRNA不变;左心房异丙基肾上腺素(ISO)浓度-收缩效应曲线右移;而心肌ISO浓度-cAMP蓄积曲线无显著改变;血淋巴细胞β-AR数量显著减少.结果提示心功能不全时心脏β_1-AR数量增多,但其介导的正性变力效应反而降低,在cAMP生成以后的信号转导过程或心肌收缩成分功能存在障碍,而血淋巴细胞β-AR的改变与心脏β-AR的功能改变平行.     

城市生态系统的模拟方法：灵敏度模型及其改进

评估城市生态系统的持续发展能力,探讨其持续发展对策是一个复杂的动态问题,需要运用动态的模拟方法进行。由德国著名生态控制论专家Ｆ．Ｖｅｓｔｅｒ和Ａ．Ｖ．Ｈｅｓｌｅｒ教授提出的“灵敏度模型”方法,将系统科学思想、生态控制论方法及城市规划融为一体,解释、模拟、评价和规划城市复杂的系统关系,是模拟城市生态系统很好的方法。本文对该方法进行了改进。改进后的“灵敏度模型”为评价城市持续发展能力、探讨其持续发展对策提供了新的思路。     

灰飞虱与褐飞虱种内和种间密度效应比较

在人工气候室内比较研究了灰飞虱和褐飞虱在汕优63和秀水11上的种内和种间密度效应对其主要生物学参数的影响,结果表明两种稻飞虱均存在显著的种内竞争,主要表现为随着密度增加,若虫发育历期延长、若虫羽化率下降、雌成虫寿命缩短、每雌产卵量下降。种内密度效应与稻飞虱种类和寄主品种有显著互作关系,灰飞虱种内竞争较褐飞虱明显,二者在适宜寄主上种内竞争更为明显。同时,两种稻飞虱存在着显著的种间密度效应,主要表现为异种存在时的促进作用,即异种共存时若虫历期缩短、若虫羽化率提高、雌虫寿命延长、每雌产卵量增加。种间密度效应也与稻飞虱种类和寄主品种有显著互作关系,两种共存对灰飞虱的有利作用显著大于对褐飞虱的有利作用,在欠适宜寄主上种间互利效应更为明显。最后,本文对稻飞虱种内和种间密度效应的机制和进化意义进行了讨论。     

松嫩碱化草甸土壤种子库格局、动态研究进展

草地退化是全球干旱和半干旱草地生态系统的共同特征,由于土壤种子库在植被恢复和生物多样性维持等方面的重要作用,已成为研究热点。作为重要的脆弱生态系统,松嫩碱化草甸在人类活动和全球变化影响下发生了明显退化。松嫩碱化草甸土壤种子库研究始于20世纪90年代,主要集中在对虎尾草群落、星星草群落、碱蓬群落、羊草群落等不同演替阶段土壤种子库物种种类、密度、季节变化研究;该地区土壤种子库的物种数目随着恢复演替由初级向高级阶段而呈现逐渐增加的趋势,但物种数目均相对较少,且多以1年生为主。另外对种子雨和某些物种种子散布动态也有零星报道,主要是从群落水平进行的研究,种子雨的空间异质性表现在其组成和大小因群落而异。今后需要加强对松嫩碱化草甸土壤种子库格局与关键生境要素的耦合特征、种子库分布格局的形成机制等研究,研究方法上,引入稳定同位素标记和分子遗传学等研究方法和手段,开展持久种子库的长期定位监测研究,为盐碱地植被恢复提供理论依据。     

水分和温度对春玉米出苗速度和出苗率的影响

在东北地区中部开展春玉米春季水分胁迫和分期播种试验。试验在人工防雨棚内进行,设4个水分处理和3个播种期处理。结果表明,春玉米(Zea mays )播种出苗期间土壤含水量与出苗期和出苗率的关系均呈显著的二次函数关系。在田间持水量以下,耕层土壤湿度越大,玉米出苗越快,出苗率越高;干旱推迟出苗期,降低出苗率。气温低出苗慢,但温度对出苗率无明显影响。播种出苗期间0～20cm深平均土壤湿度（S）、土壤有效水量（H）和平均气温(T)对出苗速度的组合影响指标是：25 %>S>21%（或70mm >H>45mm）、T>18℃玉米出苗快;21% >S>18%(或45mm >H>35mm)、18℃>T>16.5℃ 玉米出苗比较快;18%>S>16%（或35mm >H>25mm）、16.5℃>T>15.5℃玉米出苗较慢;S<16%（或H< 25）、T<15.5℃出苗很慢,出苗期明显推迟。玉米出苗率主要取决于水分,0～20cm深土壤相对湿度在85%以上（或H>50mm）出苗率最高（95%以上）;相对湿度80%左右（或50>H>40mm）出苗率较高（90% 左右）;相对湿度70%以下(或H<40mm)出苗率明显降低, 60%以下(或H<30mm)为严重干旱,出苗率低至65%以下。     

鸭疫里默氏杆菌Mtan对底物SAH的催化活性

【目的】分析鸭疫里默氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer,RA)不同血清型pfs基因的序列差异,并开展其编码蛋白S-腺苷高半胱氨酸核苷酶(Mtan,又称Pfs)的催化活性研究。【方法】PCR扩增9株不同血清型RA的pfs基因,分析其核苷酸序列的同源性;构建该基因的重组表达载体p Cold-RA-pfs,表达、纯化RA的重组蛋白Mtan(RA-Mtan);测定RA-Mtan对底物S-腺苷同型半胱氨酸(S-adenosylhomocysteine,SAH)的催化活性,运用哈维弧菌报告菌株BB170检测催化底物的自诱导物2(Autoinducer-2,AI-2)活性。【结果】对RA的pfs序列分析结果表明,不同血清型RA的核苷酸一致性在93.9%-100%之间;SDS-PAGE检测结果表明,RA-Mtan呈可溶性表达;酶活测定表明RA-Mtan和禽致病性大肠杆菌(Avain pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)的Lux S蛋白共同作用于底物时,可产生浓度为176.7μmol/L的同型半胱氨酸(Homocysteine,HCY);AI-2活性检测结果表明,产生的AI-2具有生物学活性。【结论】RA不同血清型的pfs高度保守,RA pfs基因的编码产物RA-Mtan在体外具有催化SAH的活性,RA-Mtan和禽致病性大肠杆菌的Lux S蛋白共同作用于底物SAH时,能产生有活性的AI-2,为进一步研究pfs对RA的调控作用提供参考。