Chemoreceptor function and metabolism of the carotid body in the rat

Using fluorimetric and polarographic determination of cell respiration, metabolic reactions of the carotid body of rats to adequate stimulation have been revealed. Functional relationships of the dose--effect type, which were found for these reactions, may be approximated by equations which are similar to those describing the unconditioned reflexes from the carotid chemoreceptors. However, reactions of the metabolics systems of the carotid body account for the perception of not all chemical stimuli, but only of acids and some alkaloids. These data reveal the heteregeneity of the carotid chemosensory system not only in the amphibians (which was known earlier), but in mammals as well.     

Analysis of Human RSV Immunity at the Molecular Level: Learning from the Past and Present

Human RSV is one of the most prevalent viral pathogens of early childhood for which no vaccine is available. Herein we provide an analysis of RSV epitope data to examine its application to vaccine design and development. Our objective was to provide an overview of antigenic coverage, identify critical antibody and T cell determinants, and then analyze the cumulative RSV epitope data from the standpoint of functional responses using a combinational approach to characterize antigenic structure and epitope location. A review of the cumulative data revealed, not surprisingly, that the vast majority of epitopes have been defined for the two major surface antigens, F and G. Antibody and T cell determinants have been reported from multiple hosts, including those from human subjects following natural infection, however human data represent a minority of the data. A structural analysis of the major surface antigen, F, showed that the majority of epitopes defined for functional antibodies (neutralizing and/or protective) were either shown to bind pre-F or to be accessible in both pre- and post-F forms. This finding may have has implications for on-going vaccine design and development. These interpretations are in agreement with previous work and can be applied in the larger context of functional epitopes on the F protein. It is our hope that this work will provide the basis for further RSV-specific epitope discovery and investigation into the nature of antigen conformation in immunogenicity.     

Production of DON-related trichothecenes byFusarium graminearum Schw from Krasnodarski krai of the USSR

34Fusarium graminearum Schw isolates produced 4-deoxynivalenol to form significant amounts of 4, 7 — dideoxynivalenol and lesser amounts of 4 — deoxynivalenol monoacetates on grain substratesin vitro. This is the first report on the capability a large group of naturally occurring isolates to produce 4,7-dideoxynivalenol. The average levels of 4,7-dideoxynivalenol on rice, corn, barley, and wheat as a substrate were respectively 26.8, 14.0, 12.8, and 10.5% of the level of 4-deoxynivalenol. 4, 7 — dideoxynivalenol was present in all examined naturally contaminated wheat kernel samples at levels of 1.7 to 7.9% of the level of 4-deoxynivalenol. These findings suggest that more attention should be given to the occurrence of 4,7-dideoxynivalenol in cereals.     

Variation in the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) among eight taxa of the Mimulus guttatus species complex

The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1 and ITS2) of the 18S-25S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence and the intervening 5.8S region were sequenced from three individuals in each of eight taxa of the Mimulus guttatus species complex. Three discrete variants, or "types," of ITS sequences were found, among which 30%-40% of sites differed, compared with 1%-2% within types. Dot plots indicate that these types were not related by conspicuous rearrangements or inversions. More than one ITS type was often found in the same taxon, and two of three ITS types span species boundaries, indicating their presence prior to speciation. These ITS sequences showed essentially no positional homology with the nearest sequenced relative, tomato. In contrast, the 5.8S region was relatively unvaried, with 8 of 162 sites varied in the sample among all eight taxa. The phylogeny inferred by the most common ITS sequence type, rooted by the two other ITS types, agreed with isozymes in showing the distinctness of M. nudatus, M. laciniatus, and M. tilingii from the other five taxa.      

内蒙古草原人类福祉与生态系统服务及其动态变化——以锡林郭勒草原为例

以锡林郭勒盟为研究区域,建立人类福祉评价指标体系,通过牧户问卷调查了解牧户对草原生态系统服务和福祉变化的认识,结合当地的自然环境、生态环境和社会经济等多方面的多年统计数据,采用专家打分法对牧民各福祉指标打分,对2001年和2010年牧民福祉变化进行了评估和分析。结果表明:收入、道路覆盖率、农村合作医疗保险和文化教育方面对牧民福祉变化贡献最大;生产资料持续供给能力下降是导致收入减少的主要方面;旗县的犯罪率,环境空气质量,饮食结构,离婚率等是导致牧民福祉下降的主要方面。有关研究结果为提高锡林郭勒盟人类福祉、生态保护和区域可持续发展政策制定提供科学依据。     

EV71灭活疫苗（人二倍体细胞）在恒河猴婴猴模型中的免疫保护性分析

肠道病毒71型作为引起儿童群体常见传染性手足口病（HFMD）的主要病原,具有导致少量感染个体出现脑炎等神经系统病变以及相关心肺功能衰竭的病理学特性．因此其预防性疫苗的研发具有重要的公共卫生意义．在前期工作的基础上,一种EV71灭活病毒疫苗（人二倍体细胞）在本研究中基于恒河猴婴猴模型进行了相应的免疫保护性分析．以160EU剂量对2～3月龄婴猴进行0,4周免疫后,动物在第4周接受了剂量为10。～CCID50的病毒经呼吸道的攻击．对病毒攻击后动物在14天内的临床症状、血液生物学、器官病原学分布以及病理学检测的动态观察表明,经疫苗免疫的动物未出现对照动物所具有的特征性临床表现,其血液生物学及病理学检测均无异常．同时,器官病原学分布亦呈阴性．结合动物中和抗体的明确增长及对照动物的综合表现分析,本文的工作证实了该EV71灭活病毒疫苗（人二倍体细胞）在恒河猴婴猴体内的免疫保护性．     

不同种源中间锦鸡儿碳氮磷化学计量特征研究

中间锦鸡儿(Caragana liouana)是中国毛乌素沙地的主要灌木建群种,在其主要分布区采集9个不同地理种源的种子,栽种至同质园,并测定不同器官(根、茎、叶)碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量,比较种源和器官间碳氮磷化学计量特征的差异及元素之间的相关性。结果显示:(1)不同种源中间锦鸡儿根、茎、叶的C含量差异显著,分别为361.12~426.30mg·g~(-1)、412.32~463.13mg·g~(-1)、419.21~478.94mg·g~(-1);N含量种源间差异显著,分别为20.52~33.67mg·g~(-1)、15.77~23.92mg·g~(-1)、27.60~36.44mg·g~(-1);P含量种源间差异显著,分别为1.52~3.73mg·g~(-1)、1.24~2.14mg·g~(-1)、1.44~2.38mg·g~(-1);不同器官的C/N、C/P、N/P也表现出种源间显著差异。(2)种源和器官对中间锦鸡儿碳氮磷化学计量特征的影响程度存在差异,种源对P、C/P、N/P影响较大,器官对C、N、C/N影响较大。(3)相关性分析表明,N、P分别对C/N和C/P的变异起主导作用,并共同影响N/P的变异。研究表明,中间锦鸡儿的碳氮磷化学计量特征在长期的适应进化过程中已产生遗传分化,并形成了自身的养分利用策略。     

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。