Temporal and Spatial Diversity of Bacterial Communities in Coastal Waters of the South China Sea

Bacteria are recognized as important drivers of biogeochemical processes in all aquatic ecosystems. Temporal and geographical patterns in ocean bacterial communities have been observed in many studies, but the temporal and spatial patterns in the bacterial communities from the South China Sea remained unexplored. To determine the spatiotemporal patterns, we generated 16S rRNA datasets for 15 samples collected from the five regularly distributed sites of the South China Sea in three seasons (spring, summer, winter). A total of 491 representative sequences were analyzed by MOTHUR, yielding 282 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) grouped at 97% stringency. Significant temporal variations of bacterial diversity were observed. Richness and diversity indices indicated that summer samples were the most diverse. The main bacterial group in spring and summer samples was Alphaproteobacteria, followed by Cyanobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, whereas Cyanobacteria dominated the winter samples. Spatial patterns in the samples were observed that samples collected from the coastal (D151, D221) waters and offshore (D157, D1512, D224) waters clustered separately, the coastal samples harbored more diverse bacterial communities. However, the temporal pattern of the coastal site D151 was contrary to that of the coastal site D221. The LIBSHUFF statistics revealed noticeable differences among the spring, summer and winter libraries collected at five sites. The UPGMA tree showed there were temporal and spatial heterogeneity of bacterial community composition in coastal waters of the South China Sea. The water salinity (P=0.001) contributed significantly to the bacteria-environment relationship. Our results revealed that bacterial community structures were influenced by environmental factors and community-level changes in 16S-based diversity were better explained by spatial patterns than by temporal patterns.     

Comparison of heavy metal accumulation and cadmium phytoextraction rates among ten leading tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivars in China

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) contamination is one of the most serious global environmental problems, and phytoremediation, which uses Cd-accumulator plants, is potentially one of the sustainable solutions. Pot experiments with natural and Cd-amended soils were conducted to investigate the accumulation of heavy metals in 10 leading cultivars of tobacco in China. The extraction ability and profiles of Cd accumulation among plant organs were also analyzed. The tobacco roots accumulated cobalt, nickel, and Cd, while the leaf highly bioaccumulated Cd and lowly accumulated zinc, selenium and mercury. The transport from the tobacco stem to the leaf plays a critical role in the accumulation of these elements. The ratios of Cd concentration in the leaves at lower, middle and upper positions were comparatively stable. The high Cd-extracting cultivars were “Hongda”, “NC89” and “Zhongyan 100” when grown in normal soils, “CuiBi 1” and “Hongda” in moderately contaminated soils, and “YuYan 87”, “LongJiang 851” and “K326” in severely contaminated soils. Tobacco leaves could accumulate about 80% of the total Cd extracted from the soil by the plant. Considering the Cd-extraction limitations exhibited by leading tobacco cultivars, screening of germplasm resources for high or low levels of Cd-accumulation is still an important target for the future.     

Skin graft survival in genetically identical cloned pigs

Nuclear transfer technology allows for the reprogramming of somatic cells, and the production of embryonic stem cells and animals that are genetically identical in terms of nuclear DNA to the parental somatic cell. It is assumed that these products of nuclear transfer technology will be immunologically compatible to each other in spite of the fact that there are data that show differences in the expression patterns and phenotypes between animals produced by nuclear transfer. We have produced a series of cloned pigs from embryonic fibroblasts. Microsatellite analysis was used to confirm that the clones were genetically identical. Skin transplants were performed to assess immunological reactivity. Skin transplants between genetically identical cloned pigs were accepted, whereas third party grafts were rejected. Histological analysis of the grafts showed edema and mononuclear cell infiltrates in the recipient's skin in rejected grafts and not in grafts that were accepted. Our data supports the notion that genetically identical cloned pigs are immunologically compatible.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of dimethyltin (IV) derivatives with 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid

A novel cyclic dimethyltin complex [Me₂Sn(2,6-pdc)]₃ (1) (2,6-pdc = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate) was synthesized by the reaction of dimethyltin (IV) dichloride and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate acid in methanol under solvothermal conditions (150 °C). However, under room temperature (25 °C), we obtained a ladder complex [Me₂Sn(2,6-pdc)]₂(MeOH)₂ (2). Characterization of complexes 1 and 2 was achieved using elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra and X-ray diffraction. X-ray data of 1 revealed that it was an unusual cyclic complex with a discrete cyclotrinuclear unit, in which the 12-membered cyclic cavity is almost completely planar. X-ray data of 2 showed that it was a ladder complex, in which a crystallizing methanol molecule is found in each formula unit.     

Authentication of animal signatures in traditional Chinese medicine of Lingyang Qingfei Wan using routine molecular diagnostic assays

Lingyang Qingfei Wan produced by Beijing TongRenTang is a long-standing and popular medicine in China and international pharmaceutical markets. Concerns continue to be raised about the legality of usage of saiga antelope, which was defined as endangered species by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora legislation and internal legislation in China. Therefore, the alternative pill in which substitutes saiga antelope with goat in the formula of Lingyang Qingfei Wan was developed. In order to authenticate the origin of animal contents in Lingyang Qingfei Wan and its alternative pill, molecular diagnostic assay was utilized by mtDNA polymorphism analysis. Four universal primer pairs containing mtDNA 12SrRNA, 16SrRNA, cytochrome b gene and cytochrome oxidase I were employed to obtain species-specific sequences of saiga antelope and goat, and multiple species-specific primer pairs for saiga antelope and goat were used to identify the animal origin in patent pills according to nucleotide polymorphisms between the two species. In additions, alternative techniques were attempted surrounding dilemmas of low concentration of target DNAs and presence of PCR-inhibitory substances in organic ingredients within complex pill. Results revealed that all species-specific primers could be successfully used for authentication of animal origin within complex pill, and sample preprocessing was critical during experimental manipulation. Internal positive control was an efficient and cost-effective way to assist in monitoring the potential interference from inhibitory substances which existed in the highly processed pills.     

猪链球菌2型Orf207基因缺失菌株的构建及其生物学特性检测

【背景】猪链球菌2型(streptococcus suis type 2, SS2)可引起人、猪的脑膜炎、关节炎及败血症等,不仅给养猪业带来巨大的经济损失,同时严重威胁公共卫生安全。本团队前期通过噬菌体展示文库技术发现Orf207编码蛋白可能参与SS2诱导的脑膜炎发生,然而其在SS2致病过程中的具体作用尚不清楚。【目的】探究Orf207基因对SS2致病性的影响。【方法】采用温敏性自杀质粒介导的同源重组系统,构建SC19 Orf207基因缺失菌株ΔOrf207及其回补菌株CΔOrf207,系统比较缺失菌株与野生株间在生长特性、形态、组织定殖能力、毒力情况、细胞黏附与侵袭及抗巨噬细胞吞噬能力等生物学特性方面的差异。【结果】与野生株相比,缺失菌株链长变短,生长速度略慢;而且Orf207缺失显著增加了小鼠的存活率,降低了细菌在血液、心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏、脑组织的定殖能力和对肺组织的病理损伤并显著减弱SS2对HeLa细胞的黏附与侵袭能力及抗巨噬细胞吞噬能力。【结论】Orf207基因可以显著降低SS2对宿主的致病能力,本研究结果不仅丰富了SS2的致病机制,也为SS2疫苗等研发提供了新靶点。     

Long- and Short-Term Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure: A Cohort Study from China

Pesticides are extensively used by farmers in China. However, the effects of pesticides on farmers’ health have not yet been systematically studied. This study evaluated the effects of pesticides exposure on hematological and neurological indicators over 3 years and 10 days respectively. A cohort of 246 farmers was randomly selected from 3 provinces (Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Hebei) in China. Two rounds of health investigations, including blood tests and neurological examinations, were conducted by medical doctors before and after the crop season in 2012. The data on pesticide use in 2009–2011 were collected retrospectively via face-to-face interviews and the 2012 data were collected from personal records maintained by participants prospectively. Ordinary least square (OLS), Probit, and fixed effect models were used to evaluate the relationship between pesticides exposure frequency and the health indicators. Long-term pesticide exposure was found to be associated with increased abnormality of nerve conductions, especially in sensory nerves. It also affected a wide spectrum of health indicators based on blood tests and decreased the tibial nerve compound muscle action potential amplitudes. Short-term health effects included alterations in complete blood count, hepatic and renal functions, and nerve conduction velocities and amplitudes. However, these effects could not be detected after 3 days following pesticide exposure. Overall, our results demonstrate that pesticide exposure adversely affects blood cells, the liver, and the peripheral nervous system. Future studies are needed to elucidate the specific effects of each pesticide and the mechanisms of these effects.