Fine Structure of Oocyst Transformation and the Sporozoites of Leucocytozoon dubreuili*

SYNOPSIS. The sporogonic stages of Leucocytozoon dubreuili in the midgut and salivary glands of the simuliid vectors was studied by electron microscopy. Young uninucleate oocysts have a pellicle that initially resembles that of the ookinetc. Numerous electron-dense bodies and microtubules in the peripheral cytoplasm may be involved in the formation of the cyst wall. The dense bodies appear to give rise to the amorphous material of the wall. The tubules which run circumferentially beneath the oocyst's boundary probably serve as a skeletal support for the cell surface during deposition of the wall material. A subcapsular “space” which provides area for expansion of the developing sporozoites is formed in early multinucleate oocysts. The subcapsular “space” appears to be formed through a condensation of the peripheral cytoplasm, resulting in an osmotic gradient across the oocyst's limiting membrane. Consequently water diffuses out, creating a fluid-filled space. Sporozoite formation begins with localized thickenings on the oocyst's limiting membrane. Subsequent extension of the thickened regions into the subcapsular “space” marks the onset of sporozoite budding. The process is highly synchronized, and culminates with the production of up to 150 sporozoites about the sporoblastoid body. The structure of sporozoites from mature oocysts and of the salivary glands of the vector is basically similar, although salivary gland sporozoites are more elongate and have numerous electron-dense micronemes. The paired rhoptries in the latter sporozoites are more elongate and uniformly electron-dense than in oocyst sporozoites.     

Apobec-1 Increases Cyclooxygenase-2 and Aggravates Injury in Oxygen-Deprived Neurogenic Cells and Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Rats

Given that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a crucial role during cerebral ischemia and Apobec-1 is a critical regulator of COX-2 mRNA stabilization in gastrointestinal settings, the correlation of COX-2 and Apobec-1 was investigated in neurogenic cells and rat model of cerebral ischemia. After neurogenic SH-SY5Y, NG108-15 and PC12 cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation, cell viability, LDH leakage and Apobec-1 expression were determined. The effect of Apobec-1 overexpression on injury severity of oxygen-glucose deprivation, COX-2 expression, C-to-U editing of COX-2 mRNA were measured in vitro. Then the correlation of Apobec-1 level and injury severity was analyzed in cells with oxygen-glucose deprivation and in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion. Apobec-1 expression was elevated along with upregulation of COX-2 and injury severity of oxygen-glucose deprivation in the three cell lines. Apobec-1 overexpression aggravated injury of oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro and could be correlated to injury severity in vivo. Meanwhile, Apobec-1 increased COX-2 expression and COX-2 mRNA stabilization in neurogenic cells, and failed to catalyze C-to-U editing of COX-2 mRNA. Apobec-1 could upregulate COX-2 expression in neurogenic cells by stabilizing COX-2 mRNA, and might aggravate injury of oxygen-glucose deprivation in neurogenic cells as well as in rats with cerebral ischemia.     

蛋白质功能预测方法概述

蛋白质是生物体内最必需也是最通用的大分子,对它们功能的认识对于科学领域和农业领域的发展有着至关重要的作用。随着后基因组时代的发展,NCBI数据库中迅速涌现出大量不明结构与功能的蛋白质序列,这些蛋白质序列甚至一跃成了研究的热点。近几十年来蛋白质功能预测的方法不断被完善。由最初的仅基于蛋白质序列或3D结构信息的方法衍生出更多的基于序列相似性、基于结构基序、基于相互作用网络等新方法,这些新型方法采用新的算法、新的研究思路和技术手段,力求得到准确性与普遍性并存,能够被广泛应用的蛋白质功能预测方法。本文综述了近年来蛋白质功能预测的方法,并将这些研究方法分类归纳,各自阐明了每类方法的优缺点。     

宫颈癌患者核糖核酸酶抑制因子基因突变的分析

目的通过对宫颈癌患者血液核糖核酸酶抑制因子(ribonuclease inhibitor,RI)基因RNH的突变分析,探讨RNH基因与肿瘤生长的关系。方法针对RNH全基因序列设计21对引物,PCR扩增后采用SSCP对突变进行检测。结果正常人和宫颈癌患者均扩增出相应的21个条带,未发现异常;经过SSCP分析未发现所收集的18例宫颈癌患者血液中的RNH基因有突变发生。结论尚不能肯定RNH基因的突变是否与肿瘤无关,也不能肯定其他肿瘤没有发生突变。需缩小检测片段进一步实验。     

γ-转角的研究进展

γ-转角是所有转角中数量位居第二的结构,约占整个蛋白质结构的3.4%。γ-转角有助于球形结构的形成,帮助肽链改变折叠方向,因此就更加有必要研究γ-转角的预测方法,从而提高蛋白质二级结构的预测精度。近几十年来关于γ-转角的预测方法越来越成熟,预测精度越来越高。本文综述了近年来对γ-转角研究进展,包括它的研究方法以及预测的准确度等。     

恒河猴群微卫星DNA多态性的分析

目的　确立一种对恒河猴群个体的遗传物质进行准确可靠、快速简便的遗传检测方法。方法　利用聚合酶链反应 (PCR)扩增技术对 2 0只恒河猴群个体间进行了DNA多态性的分析。结果　筛选出 9个微卫星DNA位点具有显著多态性 ,4个微卫星DNA位点没有多态性 ,还有 2个位点等位基因数目较少。结论　利用这些多态性微卫星位点建立一种对恒河猴群个体进行有效、准备可靠、快捷简便的遗传背景监测方法。     

配施磷细菌肥对复垦土壤细菌多样性及磷有效性的影响

为了解磷细菌肥对复垦土壤微生物群落结构变化特征和磷有效性的影响,本研究以连续配施磷细菌肥5年的定位试验为背景,利用16S rDNA基因序列测序方法对土壤细菌群落多样性进行分析,探讨土壤细菌群落与土壤Olsen-P、碱性磷酸酶的关系.试验共设对照、单施化肥、有机肥、有机肥化肥、化肥磷细菌肥、有机肥磷细菌肥和有机肥化肥磷细菌肥7个处理.结果表明: 复垦土壤中放线菌门和变形菌门菌群的相对丰度最大,分别为21.6％～32.2％和13.8％～28.9％.有机肥化肥磷细菌肥处理的OTU数和Chao1指数分别为809和26190,均属最高.磷细菌肥处理能提高土壤中放线菌门和变形菌门菌群的相对丰度,降低土壤中酸杆菌门、热袍菌门和硝化螺旋菌门菌群的相对丰度,对诺卡氏菌属、屈挠杆菌属有一定的促进作用.有机肥化肥磷细菌肥处理能够提高复垦土壤Olsen-P及碱性磷酸酶活性.复垦土壤变形菌门与Olsen-P、碱性磷酸酶的相关系数最高(0.900、0.955),在一定程度上可以作为土壤磷有效性的灵敏性指标.     

辣椒温和斑点病毒(PMMV)外壳蛋白基因的克隆和序列测定

从本院分离的辣椒温和斑点病毒株系PMMV-QD中提取RNA.根据已有报道的外壳蛋白(CP)自行设计引物P1、P2,用RT-PCR扩增PMMV-QD的CP基因的cDNA,插入pMD 18-T载体,转化感受态受体菌XL1-B1ue,以蓝白菌落筛选转化株,用PCR检测白色菌落,确认获得了含cDNA的阳性重组子.序列测定和比较的结果表明该片段确含有PMMV的CP基因编码区,此种cDNA与国外报道的PMMV病毒株系核苷酸序列的同源性达到97.7%.     

药用两栖动物资源及对辽宁省的调查

目的通过研究论述两栖动物药用价值及辽宁省的资源调查,为资源保护和可持续利用提供依据。方法根据多年来的野外调查,结合已有研究文献进行总结分析。结果辽宁省的药用两栖动物资源丰富,多达11种。11种药用两栖动物占该省所有两栖动物的68.7%,其中东北小鲵、中华蟾蜍、东北林蛙和黑斑蛙的分布广泛、种群数量大,东北林蛙已成为该省主要的野生动物产业。结论两栖动物具有重要的药用价值,是传统中医药的重要组成部分,应加强保护、监测、栖息地恢复和可持续利用管理与研究。     

陕西马家山自然保护区大中型兽类的资源及区系与生态分布

马家山自然保护区(105°28′~105°40′E,32°50′~32°56′N)属秦岭西段的南坡山地。采用样线调查法和访问调查法,于2004年10~11月,对该保护区大中型兽类(包括灵长类、食肉动物和偶蹄动物)的资源、区系和生态分布进行了研究。该保护区共有23种大中型兽类,其中属我国Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级重点保护动物的兽类分别有5种和9种。它是秦岭物种多样性保护的关键地区之一。金丝猴和猕猴在此同域分布,大熊猫和羚牛四川亚种也分布于此地,该保护区是这4个珍稀濒危物种的一个新分布区。区内的23种兽类中没有古北界的区系成分,而属于东洋界成分的兽类有17种,占73.9%;其余6种为广布种,占26.1%。分析该区域23种兽类的生态分布发现,常绿落叶阔叶混交林、落叶阔叶林和针阔叶混交林中分别有16种、20种和12种动物活动。这些物种的垂直分布幅度有很大的差异。垂直分布幅度在海拔高差1000 m以上、500~1000 m、500 m以下的物种分别有5种、13种和5种。区内不同海拔带的兽类物种数随海拔升高的变化比较平稳,没有表现出明显上升或下降的规律性变化。