Bifidobacterium longum supplementation improves age-related delays in fracture repair

Age-related delays in bone repair remains an important clinical issue that can prolong pain and suffering. It is now well established that inflammation increases with aging and that this exacerbated inflammatory response can influence skeletal regeneration. Recently, simple dietary supplementation with beneficial probiotic bacteria has been shown to influence fracture repair in young mice. However, the contribution of the gut microbiota to age-related impairments in fracture healing remains unknown. Here, we sought to determine whether supplementation with a single beneficial probiotic species, Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum), would promote fracture repair in aged (18-month-old) female mice. We found that B. longum supplementation accelerated bony callus formation which improved mechanical properties of the fractured limb. We attribute these pro-regenerative effects of B. longum to preservation of intestinal barrier, dampened systemic inflammation, and maintenance of the microbiota community structure. Moreover, B. longum attenuated many of the fracture-induced systemic pathologies. Our study provides evidence that targeting the gut microbiota using simple dietary approaches can improve fracture healing outcomes and minimize systemic pathologies in the context of aging.     

陕南地区油橄榄生长发育与生态条件关系的研究

根据定位观测和实地调查资料研究了油橄榄在陕南地区的生长发育和环境条件的关系,油橄榄树的枝条日高生长量为昼夜生长类型。夜间生长高于昼间的１２１％－１６０％;６、７、８、９月的生长量占全年生长量的７６％。油橄榄树的年生长量和产量状况与土壤含水量和土壤质地性质有密切关系;油橄榄树为阳性树种,在增加光照的环境条件下生长和结实良好,反之较差。     

耐高温亚硝酸盐降解菌的分离、鉴定及降低雪茄烟叶亚硝胺的应用

【背景】烟草特有亚硝胺(tobacco-specific nitrosamines, TSNAs)是烟草于调制和发酵阶段产生的一类致癌物质,由烟草生物碱与氮氧化物发生亚硝化反应生成,生物碱和亚硝酸盐是TSNAs的直接前体物质。【目的】发掘适用雪茄高温发酵且显著降低TSNAs形成与积累的微生物。【方法】以TSNAs前体物质亚硝酸盐的高效降解为目标,对从雪茄烟叶分离得到的烟草源微生物菌株进行高温培养、亚硝酸盐降解及亚硝酸盐耐受能力研究,得到可于50℃高效降解亚硝酸盐及耐受高浓度亚硝酸盐的微生物菌株,将菌株应用于雪茄烟叶高温发酵35 d,对发酵前后亚硝酸盐、TSNAs、常规化学成分和中性香味成分含量进行测定,分析菌株在雪茄烟叶发酵中对TSNAs含量及烟叶品质的影响。【结果】获得了3株于50℃高效降解亚硝酸盐的菌株NY7、NY8和NY9,分别鉴定为莫海威芽孢杆菌(Bacillus mojavensis) NY7、耐盐芽孢杆菌(Bacillus halotolerans) NY8和枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis) NY9,其中B. halotolerans NY8亚硝酸盐降解能...     

植物类型III聚酮合酶超家族基因结构、功能及代谢产物

植物聚酮类化合物主要包括酚类、芪类及类黄酮化合物等,在植物花色、防止紫外线伤害、预防病原菌、昆虫危害以及作为植物与环境互作信号分子方面行使着重要的生物学功能。该类化合物具有显著多样的生物学活性,对人体保健及疾病治疗有显著意义。植物类型III 聚酮化合物合酶 (PKS) 在该类化合物生物合成起始反应中行使着关键作用,决定该类化合物基本分子骨架建成和代谢途径碳硫走向,为合成途径关键酶和限速酶。以查尔酮合酶为原型酶的植物类型III PKS超家族是研究系统进化和蛋白结构与功能关系的模式分子家族,目前已经分离得到14种植物类型III PKS基因,这些同祖同源基因及其表达产物既有共性,也表现出许多独特个性,这些个性赋予此类次生代谢产物结构上的多样性。以下综述了植物类型III PKS超家族基因结构、功能及代谢产物研究进展。     

Improvement of the catalytic performance of glycerol kinase from Bacillus subtilis by chromosomal site-directed mutagenesis

Biotechnology Letters - Glycerol kinase is the key enzyme in glycerol metabolism, and its catalytic efficiency has an important effect on glycerol utilization. Based on an analysis of the glycerol...     

Spoligotyping and drug resistance analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from national survey in China

Background

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), is one of the major causes of death in the world today. Although China has the second largest global case rate of tuberculosis, a systematic study of TB prevalence in China has not been completed. From 2006 to 2007, the base line surveillance of tuberculosis was carried out by Ministry of Health, and more than 4000 representative strains were selected from 31 provinces in China.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The aim of the present research was to survey the genotypes of representative Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) strains from China using spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping), and to analyze the relationship between genotype and drug resistance for the first time. A total of 4017 clinical isolates were collected from 2007 to 2008 throughout China. Among those M. tuberculosis isolates, 2500 (62.2%) isolates were Beijing genotypes. The percentage of Beijing genotypes in northern China was higher than in southern China (76.5% vs. 53.2%). Additionally, the frequencies of rifampin-resistant, ofloxacin-resistant and multidrug-resistant isolates were significantly higher in Beijing genotype strains than non-Beijing strains. Furthermore, a novel genotype named “China Southern genotype (CS)” was only isolated from Fujian and Guangdong provinces. Hence, it is very practical to uncover the reason for prevalence of the CS type in southern China.

Conclusions/Significance

In conclusion, Beijing family genotypes were still the predominant genotype throughout China, which exhibited a greater correlation with rifampin-resistance, ofloxacin-resistance and MDR phenotypes than other TB spoligotypes, and some regions of China showed several unique characters in the distribution of M. tuberculosis genotypes. Our research represents an important contribution for the TB control and research community, which completes broad pictures on drug resistance levels and distribution of M. tuberculosis strain types over China.     

枣麦间作枣园主要蚧虫复合种群结构及生态位

为了有效地控制枣树蚧害,2002年在太谷地区对枣麦间作枣园的康氏粉蚧(Pseudococcus comstock Kuwane)、日本蜡蚧(Ceroplastes japonicus Green)和梨园蚧(Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comstock)的复合种群结构及其生态位进行了系统研究.结果表明,在枣树发育早期,3种蚧虫分布范围主要在下、中部的东、南方位,康氏粉蚧的时空二维生态位的宽度较大,是该时期的优势种.到中期3种蚧虫复合种群的分布聚集在树冠上部的西、北方位,时 空二维生态位的宽度以日本蜡蚧较大,种间相似程度和竞争不明显.后期3种蚧虫的复合种群结构在各部位的各个方位的分布无明显差异,但梨园蚧的虫口密度较大,日本蜡蚧在生态位上占据较大的空间.与枣树发育的中期相比,3种蚧虫复合种群结构的相似性与种间竞争系数的平均值要小.蚧害预防应早期控制康氏粉蚧,中期调治3种蚧虫的危害,后期应采取措施压低越冬虫源.