Chemotactic assay for biological effects of silver nanoparticles

A method is proposed for assessing the biocidal efficacy of water-dispersed nanoparticles of silver. It is based on negative chemotaxis of the plasmodia of the slime mold Physarum polycephalum. Biocidal and repellent effects were compared for silver nanoparticles, Ag⁺ ions, and AOT in solution and in the agar gel. In such characteristics as increasing the period of auto-oscillations of contractile activity, decreasing the area of spreading on substrate, and substrate preference in spatial tests, silver nanoparticles proved to be substantially more effective than Ag⁺ and AOT. The lethal concentrations of the nanoparticles were close to those found earlier for bacteria and viruses. The chemotactic tests allow quantitative assessment of the biological reaction and monitoring its dynamics; in resolution, they are superior to the tests based on the lethal action of biocidal agents.     

Mapping of the silver fox genes: assignments of the genes for ME1, ADK, PP, PEPA, GSR, MPI, and GOT1

Evidence is presented for the assignment of seven fox genes on the basis of the segregation data for chromosomes and enzymes of fox x Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids. The chromosomal loci of the following enzyme genes were determined: ME1, VFU1; ADK and PP, VFU4; PEPA, VFU5; GSR, VFU7; and MPI and GOT1, VFU15. The localization of these genes now extends the fox genetic map to 22 mapped genes. Based on comparative analysis of mammalian genetic maps, karyotype evolution in Carnivora is discussed.     

Localization of the α2-macroglobulin gene and Lpm gene family on mink chromosome 9

Summary Using cloned cDNA for human ₂-macroglobulin (A2M) as a probe, mink-Chinese hamster hybrid cells were analysed. The results allowed us to assign a gene for A2M to mink chromosome 9. Breeding tests demonstrated that the Lpm-locus coding for other related -macroglobulin protein and the gene for peptidase B (PEPB) are linked 11±3 cm apart. The PEPB gene is located on mink chromosome 9, and hence, the Lpw-locus is on the same mink chromosome. The relationship of the genetic systems controlling the isotypically different -macroglobulins in mink serum are discussed.     

Effect of gangliosides on the cytotoxic activity of natural killers from Syrian hamsters

The ability of various gangliosides to inhibit the cytotoxic activity of natural killers (NK-cells) from Syrian hamsters towards human lymphoma MOLT-4 cells was studied. The inhibitory effect was found to depend on the structure and concentration of the gangliosides. At concentrations corresponding to those in the blood of tumour-bearing hosts, SiaLacCer and Sia2LacCer inhibited the NK-activity. A significant inhibition was also found for (NeuAc)2GgOse3Cer, whereas NeuGcGgOse3Cer and NeuAcGgOse4Cer were practically inactive. Previously it was shown that Sia2LacCer which is either absent or very low in normal blood, is produced by a number of tumours and that tumour cells "shed" considerable amounts of gangliosides. On this ground, it was proposed that elevated concentrations of SiaLacCer and Sia2LacCer in the blood of tumour-bearing animals may inhibit the NK-activity and thus contribute to the "escape" of tumour cells from host immune surveillance.     

Catabolism of naphthalene and salicylate byPseudomonas fluorescens

Analysis of spent naphthalene growth media ofPseudomonas fluorescens by GC-MS revealed the presence of salicylate. Gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase and pyrocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase were induced by growth on naphthalene, whereas only pyrocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase was induced during growth on salicylate. These results suggest the existence of alternative degradative routes of salicylate,via gentisate and pyrocatechol, which are involved in the catabolism of naphthalene.     

Relaxation phenomena in systems of protein-containing reverse micelles of surfactants in organic solvents

The research was aimed to establish the equilibrium processes in protein-containing systems of AOT reverse micelles in octane. As chromophore label for tracing the kinetics of the process, the acid-base indicator, p-nitrophenol, was used. The establishing of the equilibrium in the reverse micelle system notably decelerated in the presence of a solubilized protein (native and stearoylated alpha-chymotrypsin). During the establishing of the equilibrium, the solubilized enzyme can be irreversibly inactivated. The level of the residual activity of the enzyme in the equilibrium system depended on the procedure of micellar system preparation. The methods have been offered to set up the equilibrium in the reverse micelle system without inactivation of the solubilized enzyme.     

非生物胁迫下植物表观遗传变异的研究进展

植物在整个生命过程中固着生长,不能主动躲避外界不良环境的危害,需要通过自身的防御机制来抵御和适应外界胁迫,而表观遗传修饰在调控植物应对不良环境胁迫中起重要作用。该文从DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、染色质重塑和非编码RNA等方面进行了综述,主要阐述了近年来国内外有关非生物胁迫下植物的表观遗传变化,以期为利用表观遗传变异提高植物的抗胁迫能力提供参考。     

若尔盖人-狼冲突现状与管理研究

大中型食肉动物肇事事件导致人类与野生动物关系恶化,给生物多样性保护工作带来巨大的挑战。若尔盖湿地是我国三大湿地之一,湿地、草原分布广泛,生物多样性丰富,畜牧业发达,但近年来狼(Canis lupus)捕杀牲畜的肇事事件时有发生。为了解若尔盖野生狼肇事件的空间分布以及牧民对人-狼冲突管理的看法,本研究于2022年对若尔盖县13个乡镇83个行政村进行走访调查。结果表明：(1)多数受访者(66.0%)认为在过去5年内,若尔盖县野生狼数量有所增加;(2)狼肇事事件具有明显的空间分异性,最严重的是包座乡。包座乡临近山区,该区域牧场面积广阔、牧民饲养牲畜数量多等原因导致该镇发生狼肇事事件较多;(3)对于狼肇事,绝大多数牧民(85.0%)更希望采取经济补偿或者驱赶措施,只有少数牧民(9.4%)希望采取捕杀的措施;(4)影响牧民对狼肇事管理措施的偏好因子中,受教育程度、年龄、民族以及被杀牲畜数量有显著影响。建议加强狼种群监测管理,采取措施减少狼捕杀牲畜,优化补偿机制,缓解当地牧民与狼之间的矛盾。本研究为当前若尔盖县野生动物保护和管理决策提供了依据,对其他地区大型食肉动物与当地居民冲突管理具有借鉴意义。