FISH-FCM方法检测酵母-细菌二元体系中微生物数量

以废水生物处理系统和生物发酵系统出现的酵母-细菌二元体系作为研究对象,探讨了二元体系生物样品的最佳超声分散条件以及同时检测酵母和细菌数量时荧光原位杂交（FISH）-流式细胞术（FCM）技术的测量精度。染色-FCM检测表明：同时适用于混合酵母样品（酵母假菌丝）和混合细菌样品（活性污泥絮体）的最佳超声分散条件为100W、60～90s,但过强超声条件（120s）对酵母Candida tropicalis纯培养物（或细菌Escherichia coli纯培养物）的超声粉碎效果完全不同于混合酵母样品（或混合细菌样品）。在此基础上,以C．tropicalis和E．coli分别作为酵母和细菌的模式微生物,采用双探针杂交的FISH—FCM技术检测了背景微生物（C．tropicalis或Ecoll）浓度为10^7个／ml时二元体系中目标微生物（10^2～10^7个／ml）的数量。流式细胞仪能够明显区分噪音和二元体系中的酵母和细菌,因而一次进样时能够同时分析两种微生物数量,并且目标微生物浓度可以精确到10^4个／ml,此时微生物含量仅为0．1％,其中细菌浓度甚至可以精确到10^3个／ml（相应含量仅为0．01％）。然而,当二元体系中目标微生物浓度过低时（〈10^4个酵母／ml或〈10^4个细菌／ml）,背景微生物的存在会严重影响FISH—FCM技术的测量准确性。     

A high degree of aneuploidy in frozen-thawed human preimplantation embryos

We have studied the chromosomal content in 68 normally fertilised freeze-thawed human embryos of good morphology from 34 patients with an average maternal age of 32,6 years. Forty embryos showed post-thaw cellular division and twenty-eight post-thaw cleavage arrest. After spreading of the embryos on microscope slides, analysis of chromosomes X, Y, 15, 16, 17 and 18 was performed using two rounds of fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). According to the results, the embryos were divided into four groups: (I) normal, all nuclei uniformly diploid, (II) diploid mosaics, normal diploid blastomeres in combination with abnormal blastomeres, (III) abnormal, all nuclei abnormal, (IV) chaotic, the chromosome constitution varies randomly from cell to cell. Approximately 25% of the embryos had normal number of the chromosomes tested, while the majority of the embryos were abnormal. Most of the abnormal embryos were diploid mosaics (57%). This was true for the embryos showing cleavage division as well as the embryos showing cleavage arrest. Our data show a slightly higher incidence of abnormal embryos compared to those obtained with FISH in non-cryopreserved embryos and confirm that the majority of preimplantation embryos fertilised in vitro contain abnormal blastomeres. The results, mechanisms, significance and implications are discussed. Received: 19 November 1998 / Accepted: 4 March 1999     

Extraordinarily conserved chromosomal synteny of Citrus species revealed by chromosome‐specific painting

Reliable identification of individual chromosomes in eukaryotic species is the foundation for comparative chromosome synteny and evolutionary studies. Unfortunately, chromosome identification has been a major challenge for plants with small chromosomes, such as the Citrus species. We developed oligonucleotide‐based chromosome painting probes for all nine chromosomes in Citrus maxima (Pummelo). We were able to identify all C. maxima chromosomes in the same metaphase cells using multiple rounds of sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization with the painting probes. We conducted comparative chromosome painting analysis in six different Citrus and related species. We found that each painting probe hybridized to only a single chromosome in all other five species, suggesting that the six species have maintained a complete chromosomal synteny after more than 9 million years of divergence. No interchromosomal rearrangement was identified in any species. These results support the hypothesis that karyotypes of woody species are more stable than herbaceous plants because woody plants need a longer period to fix chromosome structural variants in natural populations.     

Karyotypic conservatism in five species of Prochilodus (Characiformes,Prochilodontidae) disclosed by cytogenetic markers

The family Prochilodontidae is considered a group with well conserved chromosomes characterized by their number, morphology and banding patterns. Thence, our study aimed at accomplishing a cytogenetic analysis with conventional methods (Giemsa staining, silver staining of the nucleolus organizer regions-AgNOR, and C-banding) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S and 5S ribosomal DNA probes in five species of the Prochilodus genus (Prochilodus argenteus, Prochilodus brevis, Prochilodus costatus, Prochilodus lineatus and Prochilodus nigricans) collected from different Brazilian hydrographic basins. The results revealed conservatism in chromosome number, morphology, AgNORs 18S and 5S rDNAs location and constitutive heterochromatin distribution patterns. The minor differences observed in this work, such as an Ag-NOR on a P. argenteus chromosome and a distinct C-banding pattern in P. lineatus, are not sufficient to question the conservatism described for this group. Future work using repetitive DNA sequences as probes for FISH will be interesting to further test the cytogenetic conservatism in Prochilodus.     

An assessment of the fish population of the lower reaches of the Sanyati River,Zimbabwe

The fish population of the lower reaches of the Sanyati River was studied using multifilament gillnets and monthly sampling was conducted over 13 consecutive months. A total of 15 fish species belonging to seven families were collected and variations in monthly catches and catch per unit effort and condition were observed. The five most common species exhibited a seasonal breeding pattern, with most breeding occurring in the rainy season. The exotic Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus was found to have established itself in the Sanyati River. The results of this study were compared with those of previous workers on Lake Kariba.     

The need for research and monitoring on the impacts of translocated sharptooth catfish,Clarias gariepinus,in South Africa

The sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), is a widespread African freshwater fish species which occurs naturally from the Nile to the Orange River. Through translocation aquaculturists, farmers, anglers and engineers have helped to extend its range into many South African rivers where it did not occur naturally and where it is now an alien invasive species. Being a very hardy fish species it will have a major impact on a range of aquatic, amphibian and avian biota, impacts that should not be under-estimated and which urgently require study. Ironically, the illegal introduction of catfish into some dams has impacted on sport fisheries for another alien: bass. There is also a serious potential impact from alien catfish on freshwater eels. Anglers and farmers need to be educated about the adverse consequences of introducing catfish and a serious look needs to be taken at interbasin transfers of biota by engineers.     

Exceptional complex chromosomal rearrangement and microdeletions at the 4q22.3q23 and 14q31.1q31.3 regions in a patient with azoospermia

In this report we describe the first patient ever found to have azoospermia in association with both exceptional complex chromosomal rearrangements and microdeletions at two translocation breakpoints. A 36-year-old male who had been suffering from male factor infertility was admitted to our clinic. The patient also displayed mild dysmorphia. An analysis of the patient's semen revealed azoospermia. GTG banding revealed the presence of an exceptional complex chromosomal rearrangement involving chromosomes 1, 4, 10 and 14. Using subtelomeric FISH analysis, the patient's karyotype was designated as 46,XY,t(1;10)(q43q44;q21q26.1)(CEB108/T7+,D1S3738-;10PTEL006+,D10S2290+, D1S3738+), ins(14;4) (q31.3;q23q33)(D14S1420+; D4S3359+, D4S2930+). Array-CGH analysis revealed two microdeletions at the 4q22.3q23 and 14q31.1q31.3 chromosomal regions. We suggest that microdeletions at the 4q22.3q23 and 14q31.1q31.3 chromosomal regions associated with both an exceptional complex chromosomal rearrangement and the Homo sapiens chromosome 4 open reading frame 37 (C4orf37) gene located at the 4q22.3q23 region might be associated with male factor infertility.     

Sizeable acquired subglottic cyst in a baby with Williams–Beuren syndrome: Association or coincidence?

We describe a case of an acquired subglottic cyst presented with persistent stridor and voice hoarsening in a baby diagnosed with Williams–Beuren syndrome that was born premature and required intubation during neonatal period. We also comment on whether this is a coincidence or there can be an association between impaired elastogenesis, a feature of patients with the syndrome and the formation of a subglottic cyst.