Vegetation of a coastal sand dune system in southern New Zealand

The introduction of vigorous exotic species has destroyed much of the native sand dune vegetation along the coasts of South Island, New Zealand. However, some dunes built by the native cyperad Desmoschoenus spiralis still remain in the southwest. The dunes at Cole Creek, on the West coast of South Island, were chosen as a relatively pristine study area. 15 transects were laid through semi-fixed dunes into dwarf forest. Environmental measurements were taken at regular intervals through the dunes: pH, soil moisture, organic matter, conductivity, nutrient status and elevation. Classification and ordination of these data demonstrated that two major environmental areas were present - open dune and dwarf forest - with an abrupt ecotone between them. Vegetation analyses revealed a loosely-banded pattern, parallel to the sea. Vegetation types with few but constant species such as Desmoschoenus spiralis and Calystegia soldanella, predominated in the open dune. Forest species were rarely found seaward of the dune/forest boundary, though there was evidence the Spatial Mass Effect was operating. Multiple regression and canonical correlation of the vegetation and environmental factors showed that the main factors affecting vegetation patterns were the environmental complex related to distance from the sea, elevation above mean tide, soil alkalinity and moisture.     

建立适用于旋毛虫抗肿瘤相关基因筛选的动物模型

目的为利用抑制消减杂交（SSH）法筛选旋毛虫抗肿瘤相关基因,建立理想的动物模型获取可靠的实验样本。方法Balb／c小鼠随机分为检测组（Tester）和驱动组（Driver）,Tester为经口服感染旋毛虫250条、400条和550条组,Driver为不接种组,在感染后11d,两组同时在皮下分别接种SP^2/0细胞2×10^6个,只,检测组和驱动组小鼠荷瘤后,于20d后处死,采集两组肿瘤组织和脾脏组织,用天平称量肿瘤块的重量,游标卡尺测量肿瘤块3个互相垂直直径进行体积比较;为了检测两组小鼠免疫情况,又采用流式细胞术检测体内T淋巴细胞的动态变化,以便评估所需样本的可靠性。结果将肿瘤组织与正常组织分离后,经统计分析比较两组肿瘤块重量和体积大小的差异均极为显著（P〈0．01）通过检测T淋巴细胞亚类,FACS共检测1×10^5个细胞,分别得到脾细胞中CD3^＋、CD4^＋和CD8^＋T淋巴细胞的数量,感染组小鼠机体的CD3^＋、CD4^＋、CD8^＋和CD4^＋／CD8^＋显著增高,在接种不同剂量的旋毛虫后荷瘤,小鼠脾脏特异的T淋巴细胞亚类：CD3^＋差异显著（P〈0．05）;CD4^＋差异显著（P〈0．05）;CD8^＋差异显著（P〈0．05）;CD4^＋／CD8^＋差异显著（P〈0．05）。通过以上指标的测定,我们认为所建立的动物模符合SSH的实验要求。结论建立的旋毛虫抗实体瘤动物模型,可用于旋毛虫抗肿瘤差异基因筛选的实验起始材料,为进一步研究旋毛虫抗肿瘤分子机制创造条件。     

Trichinella spiralis: inhibition of sheep hemagglutinins in mice

One hundred and twenty-four mice were injected intraperitoneally with sheep red blood cells. The mice had been previously either orally inoculated with T. spiralis (16 mice), or injected intraperitoneally during 7 consecutive days with normal saline (12 mice), normal mouse serum (6 mice), or infected mouse serum (6 mice), normal rabbit serum (6 mice), sera from lightly (36 mice) or heavily infected rabbits (36 mice), and rabbit anti-lymphocyte serum (6 mice). The homologous serum clearly demonstrated an immunosuppressive effect on the production of sheep hemagglutinins; however, it was impossible to conclude that heterologous serum has such an activity since the normal rabbit serum used as control demonstrated the same activity. The inhibition of hemagglutinin production has also been observed in mice infected with T. spiralis. The presence of a suppressive agent released by the parasite or antigenic competition is discussed as the possible mediator of immunological unresponsiveness.     

Glycosylation changes in different developmental stages of Trichinella

The in situ identification of carbohydrate structures in Trichinella spiralis intestinal larvae, adults and L1 muscular larvae was carried out by lectin histochemistry, with emphasis on the O-linked glycans. The absence of reactivity with two lectins-TML and MAL indicated that Trichinella spiralis does not synthesize sialic acid. Reactivity with HPA, VVL-B4, PNA and UEA-I staining suggested that T. spiralis synthesizes and expresses on its cuticle O-linked glycans analogous to Tn-antigen (GalNAc-α-Ser/Thr), T-antigen (Gal-β1,3-GalNAc-α-Ser/Thr) and also structures analogous to A-blood group antigens (GalNAc-α1,3-Gal-β1,3(4)-(Fuc-α1,2-)-R). Expression of the saccharidic moieties is stage-specific. Blood group-A and T-antigen structures were identified on the cuticle of the intestinal and muscular larvae. The Tn-antigen structure was missing in the intestinal larvae. Appropriate ligands for WGA were not identified in the adult individuals. The obtained results may contribute to a better understanding of the glycobiology of this parasitic nematode in relation to occupation of its intracellular niche. The presence of saccharidic structures analogous to some of those expressed on the intestinal epithelial cells may serve as a protective shield on the surface of the parasite.     

Book review

Fucoid macroalgae are important primary producers and habitat modifiers on North Atlantic intertidal rocky shores. With decreasing latitude, western European fucoid populations display reduced levels of abundance, biomass and recruitment, while experiencing higher levels of physical environmental stress during summer months. We hypothesized that such reduction in the south is accompanied by a detectable decline in fucoid reproductive capacity. To test this hypothesis, morphological and reproductive traits of core (Welsh) and marginal (Portuguese) populations of two common fucoid species, Fucus vesiculosus and F. spiralis (Ochrophyta, Fucales), were examined. Morphological measurements showed that for a given thallus length, both fucoid species had smaller thallus volume and lower biomass in the southerly marginal part of the range. Significantly lower biomass of reproductive tissue of F. vesiculosus and a smaller number of receptacles per individual on specimens of both species indicate that levels of reproductive output are probably lower in southern populations. Despite the differences in reproductive traits observed between regions, reproductive effort (measured as the percentage of total dry biomass represented by reproductive tissue) of both species remained similar, as algae from both regions made similar investments in reproduction. The results indicate that stressful conditions reduced growth and number of receptacles of both species and amount of reproductive biomass of F. vesiculosus in the south but do not seem to change the way these algal species invest their energy. The decline in mass and reproductive biomass of specimens from southern shores found in this study, when combined with the lower abundance of adults and lower recruitment levels previously observed, is a strong indication of fucoid populations with lower levels of propagule output. This is an important factor when considering responses of these populations to a changing environment.     

大型沉水植物苦草的光谱特征识别

地物特征与其光谱特征的关系是解译遥感影像的关键.利用地物光谱仪在实验室和上海“梦清园”人工湿地中,分别实测了不同盖度沉水植物苦草的反射光谱特征.结果表明随着苦草盖度的增加,其光谱反射率也相应增加,不同盖度苦草的光谱反射率差异主要表现在500～650 nm和700～900 nm 波段范围.受水体环境影响,实验室模拟试验与室外控制试验测得的苦草光谱反射率差异主要表现在近红外波段（700～900 nm）.分别将苦草的不同盖度与其在QuickBird多光谱遥感影像4个波段与盖度相关性最大波段处的光谱反射率进行回归分析,得到了较好的线性关系.应用回归分析得到的线性方程,可以根据测定的光谱反射率定量反演水体中的苦草盖度.研究结果可为监测沉水植物的高光谱遥感影像判读和解译分类提供技术支撑,为大尺度遥感监测沉水植物的分布和动态变化提供科学依据.     

Experimental Trichinella infection in seals

The susceptibility of seals to infection with Trichinella nativa and the cold tolerant characteristics of muscle larvae in seal meat were evaluated. Two grey seals, Halichoerus grypus, were inoculated with 5000 (100 larvae/kg) T. nativa larvae and two grey seals with 50000 (1000 larvae/kg). One seal from each dose group and two control seals were killed at 5 and 10 weeks post-inoculation (p.i.). At 5 weeks p.i., infection was established in both low and high dose seals with mean larval densities of 68 and 472 larvae per gram (lpg), respectively, using eight different muscles for analyses. At 10 weeks p.i., mean larval densities were 531 and 2649 lpg, respectively, suggesting an extended persistence of intestinal worms. In seals with high larval density infections, the distribution of larvae in various muscles was uniform, but in one seal with a low larval density infection, predilection sites of larvae included muscle groups with a relative high blood flow, i.e. diaphragm, intercostal and rear flipper muscles. Trichinella-specific antibody levels, as measured by ELISA, increased during the 10 week experimental period. Infected seal muscle was stored at 5, -5 and -18 degrees C for 1, 4 and 8 weeks. Muscle larvae released from stored seal muscle by artificial digestion were inoculated into mice to assess viability and infectivity. Larvae from seal muscle 10 weeks p.i. tolerated -18 degrees C for 8 weeks but larvae from seal muscle 5 weeks p.i. tolerated only 1 week at -18 degrees C, supporting the hypothesis that freeze tolerance increases with the age of the host-parasite tissue complex. The expressed susceptibility to infection, extended production of larvae, antibody response and freeze tolerance of T. nativa in seals are new findings from the first experimental Trichinella infection in any marine mammal and suggest that pinnipeds (phocids, otariiids or walrus) may acquire Trichinella infection by scavenging even small amounts of infected tissue left by hunters or predators.     

Vitamin B6-deficient diet plus 4-deoxypyridoxine (4-DPD) reduces the inflammatory response induced by T. spiralis in diaphragm,masseter and heart muscle tissue of mice

Animals fed diets deficient in vitamin B6 develop microcytic anemia, alterations of growth, and other pathologies. 4-deoxypirydoxine is a potent antagonist of vitamin B6 coenzyme which depresses IL-1, TNF and IL-6 and has anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to show the anti-infl ammatory effects of 4-DPD on chronic inflammation caused by the nematode parasite T. spiralis, specifically on the recruitment and the activation of inflammatory cells. Two groups of mice, 6 weeks of age, were used: one was maintained on a vitamin B6-deficient synthetic pellet diet for 15 days before injection of the nematode, and administered an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 4-DPD (250 g/mouse) for 15 days (the first, 5 days before infection), and the second group was maintained on a normal diet for the total duration of the experiment. These two groups were then injected with 150 larvae (L1-T. spiralis) per os.Chronic inflammation was caused by infection of treated or untreated mice with T. spiralis parasite. After 14 days post-infection all mice developed a chronic inflammatory response. Mice fed with a B6-deficient diet showed a significant decrease in the number of cysts found in the diaphragm when compared to mice treated with normal diet. In addition, in all mice treated with vitamin B6-deficient diet plus 4-DPD the average body weight was significantly lower, compared to the mice on normal diet in all weeks examined. Moreover, in sections of the diaphragm, masseter and miocardium muscles, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, such as macrophages, lymphocytes, and eosinophils were more intense in untreated mice compared to those fed a vitamin B6-deficient diet.These results show that BALB/c mice infected with T. spiralis and fed a vitamin B6-deficient diet plus the vitamin B6 antagonist, 4-DPD, prolong the time of invasion of the larvae in the muscle cells, influence the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the intensity of the inflammatory reaction compared to infected untreated mice (control)     

Cyclic AMP signaling contributes to neural plasticity and hyperexcitability in AH sensory neurons following intestinal Trichinella spiralis-induced inflammation

Trichinella spiralis infection causes hyperexcitability in enteric after-hyperpolarising (AH) sensory neurons that is mimicked by neural, immune or inflammatory mediators known to stimulate adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling. The hypothesis was tested that ongoing modulation and sustained amplification in the AC/cAMP/phosphorylated cAMP related element binding protrein (pCREB) signaling pathway contributes to hyperexcitability and neuronal plasticity in gut sensory neurons after nematode infection. Electrophysiological, immunological, molecular biological or immunochemical studies were done in T. spiralis-infected guinea-pigs (8000 larvae or saline) after acute-inflammation (7 days) or 35 days p.i., after intestinal clearance. Acute-inflammation caused AH-cell hyperexcitability and elevated mucosal and neural tissue levels of myeloperoxidase, mast cell tryptase, prostaglandin E2, leukotrine B4, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and gelatinase; lower level inflammation persisted 35 days p.i. Acute exposure to blockers of AC, histamine, cyclooxygenase or leukotriene pathways suppressed AH-cell hyperexcitability in a reversible manner. Basal cAMP responses or those evoked by forskolin (FSK), Ro-20-1724, histamine or substance P in isolated myenteric ganglia were augmented after T. spiralis infection; up-regulation also occurred in AC expression and AC-immunoreactivity in calbindin (AH) neurons. The cAMP-dependent slow excitatory synaptic transmission-like responses to histamine (mast cell mediator) or substance P (neurotransmitter) acting via G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) in AH neurons were augmented by up to 2.5-fold after T. spiralis infection. FSK, histamine, substance P or T. spiralis acute infection caused a 5- to 30-fold increase in cAMP-dependent nuclear CREB phosphorylation in isolated ganglia or calbindin (AH) neurons. AC and CREB phosphorylation remained elevated 35 days p.i.. Ongoing immune activation, AC up-regulation, enhanced phosphodiesterase IV activity and facilitation of the GPCR-AC/cAMP/pCREB signaling pathway contributes to T. spiralis-induced neuronal plasticity and AH-cell hyperexcitability. This may be relevant in gut nematode infections and inflammatory bowel diseases, and is a potential therapeutic target.     

Investigation on a focus of human trichinellosis revealed by an atypical clinical case: after wild-boar (Sus scrofa) pork consumption in northern Italy

Trichinellosis is one of the most serious foodborne parasitic zoonoses in Europe. Wild carnivorous and omnivorous hosts are the main reservoirs of Trichinella spp. nematodes in nature. In the winter of 2008-2009, an atypical clinical case of trichinellosis occurred for the consumption of pork from a wild boar (Sus scrofa) hunted in southwestern Alps in Italy. The symptomatic individual showed delayed development of oedemas in the lower limbs and eosinophilia, which appeared three months after infection. Muscle samples harboured 3.8 larvae/g, which were identified as Trichinella britovi. During the epidemiological investigation, anti-Trichinella IgG were detected in five hunters.