Prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis using linked DNA probes

This paper presents data collected in Europe on 107 prenatal diagnoses of cystic fibrosis (CF) using linked DNA markers. To date, 38 children have been born without CF, as predicted, demonstrating the present rapid move from research to clinical genetic service.     

Archaeological Evidence of Validity of Fish Populations on Unexploited Reefs as Proxy Targets for Modern Populations

Reef‐fish management and conservation is hindered by a lack of information on fish populations prior to large‐scale contemporary human impacts. As a result, relatively pristine sites are often used as conservation baselines for populations near sites affected by humans. This space‐for‐time approach can only be validated by sampling assemblages through time. We used archaeological remains to evaluate whether the remote, uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) might provide a reasonable proxy for a lightly exploited baseline in the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). We used molecular and morphological techniques to describe the taxonomic and size composition of the scarine parrotfish catches present in 2 archaeological assemblages from the MHI, compared metrics of these catches with modern estimates of reproductive parameters to evaluate whether catches represented by the archaeological material were consistent with sustainable fishing, and evaluated overlap between size structures represented by the archaeological material and modern survey data from the MHI and the NWHI to assess whether a space‐for‐time substitution is reasonable. The parrotfish catches represented by archaeological remains were consistent with sustainable fishing because they were dominated by large, mature individuals whose average size remained stable from prehistoric (AD approximately 1400–1700) through historic (AD 1700–1960) periods. The ancient catches were unlike populations in the MHI today. Overlap between the size structure of ancient MHI catches and modern survey data from the NWHI or the MHI was an order of magnitude greater for the NWHI comparison, a result that supports the validity of using the NWHI parrotfish data as a proxy for the MHI before accelerated, heavy human impacts in modern times. Evidencia Arqueológica de la Validez de Poblaciones de Peces en Arrecifes Sin Explotar como Objetivos de Apoderamiento para Poblaciones Actuales     

Level of environmental threat posed by horticultural trade in Cactaceae

Ornamental horticulture has been identified as an important threat to plant biodiversity and is a major pathway for plant invasions worldwide. In this context, the family Cactaceae is particularly challenging because it is considered the fifth most threatened large taxonomic group in the world; several species are among the most widespread and damaging invasive species; and Cactaceae is one of the most popular horticultural plant groups. Based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and the 11 largest online auction sites selling cacti, we documented the international cactus trade. To provide an in‐depth look at the dynamics of the industry, we surveyed the businesses involved in the cactus trade in South Africa (a hotspot of cactus trade and invasions). We purchased seeds of every available species and used DNA barcoding to identify species to the genus level. Although <20% of this trade involved threatened species and <3% involved known invasive species, many species were identified by a common name. However, only 0.02% of the globally traded cacti were collected from wild populations. Despite a large commercial network, all South African imports (of which 15% and 1.5% were of species listed as threatened and invasive, respectively) came from the same source. With DNA barcoding, we identified 24% of the species to genus level. Based on our results, we believe that if trade restrictions are placed on the small proportion of cacti that are invasive and there is no major increase in harvesting of native populations, then the commercial trade in cactus poses a negligible environmental threat. However, there are currently no effective methods for easily identifying which cacti are traded, and both the illicit harvesting of cacti from the wild and the informal trade in invasive taxa pose on‐going conservation challenges.     

两相一体式污泥浓缩消化(TISTD)反应器微生物多样性研究

针对课题组开发的两相一体式污泥浓缩消化反应器(TISTD),采用16S rDNA、PCR-TGGE等分子生物学技术,对反应器在不同阶段稳态下的内、外反应室中微生物的多样性和种群结构进行了研究.结果表明:TISTD反应器内外反应室中微生物群落均呈现高度的多样性分布,优势菌群明显,群落结构差异性很大,且外反应室较内反应室具有更多的微生物种群数量,外室是水解酸化的场所,污泥在外室经过微生物的水解酸化后进入内室,内室是严格厌氧的产甲烷场所;从反应器运行的不同时期来看,反应器中微生物优势种群呈现一定的差异,随着反应器负荷的改变,微生物的群落结构和种群数量也呈现出明显的演替过程,优势种群的功能地位处在动态变化中.微生物种群之间通过协同和竞争作用,形成了特定生态位的群落结构.研究结果解释了TISTD反应器同时浓缩和消化的工作机理,并为其推广、应用及优化调控提供了理论基础.     

铜胁迫对不同基因型谷子幼苗基因组DNA多态性的影响

采用室内盆栽土培法,以4种基因型谷子(D2-8、安06、黄米、朝谷)为供试材料,研究了不同浓度Cu2+胁迫对谷子幼苗体内可溶性糖、脯氨酸、丙二醛(MDA)含量和基因组DNA多态性的影响.结果表明,经50~400 mg·kg-1Cu2+处理30 d后,4种谷子幼苗体内可溶性糖含量与对照相比呈现先上升后下降的趋势,在50 mg·kg-1时达到最大值.当浓度为200mg·kg-1以上时,4种谷子的可溶性糖含量的平均降幅为对照的32.44%~56.5%.脯氨酸则表现为低含量(≤50 mg·kg-1)的促进和高含量(≥100 mg·kg-1)的抑制效应,MDA含量均有增加且与对照差异显著(P<0.05).Cu2+胁迫下不同基因型谷子幼苗基因组DNA的RAPD图谱发生明显变化,表现为单条或多条RAPD谱带的增加和缺失或者荧光强度的改变,细胞中基因组模板DNA的稳定性下降,DNA多态性变化与Cu2+浓度之间存在剂量-效应关系.不同基因型谷子对Cu2+胁迫的生理和遗传损伤响应存在差异.利用RAPD技术获得的DNA多态性变化可作为检测Cu2+遗传毒性效应的生物标记物.     

秸秆沼气干发酵基质中微生物DNA提取方法筛选

比较了4种处理方法对从秸秆沼气干发酵基质中提取微生物总DNA纯度和产量的影响,以及添加PVP和使用试剂盒对DNA粗提液的纯化效果,试图寻找一种适用于从秸秆沼气干发酵基质中提取微生物总DNA的有效方法。结果表明:采用冻融处理和酶处理相结合的方法得到DNA提取液的A260/A230和A260/A280相对较高,与其它3种方法有显著性差异(P≤0.05);提取液中添加PVP对去除DNA粗提液中的腐殖酸有一定效果,但添加量1%⁶%的效果差异不显著;经细菌DNA纯化试剂盒纯化后A260/A230和A260/A280分别达到(1.223±0.156)和(1.737±0.120)。对吸附了磷酸盐的氢氧化钽进行解吸,当pH=12时解吸率为52.45%。研究结果表明,氢氧化钽能够有效地去除水溶液中磷酸盐的吸附剂。     

DNA提取方法对活性污泥微生物多样性PCR-DGGE检测的影响

评价超声波法、2种基于SDS的裂解法、改进的化学裂解法、微波法和冻融 玻璃珠 溶菌酶 SDS等6种DNA提取方法对活性污泥微生物多样性PCR-DGGE检测的影响.结果表明,2种不同的DNA纯化方式(溶液和胶纯化)及PCR扩增方式(直接和巢式PCR)对DGGE结果没有明显的影响,但不同的DNA提取方法对DGGE结果有明显的影响,其中2种基于SDS裂解法的DGGE条带较多,其提取的DNA产量(14.85μg/g湿重)和纯度(OD260:OD280＞1.80)也最高;改进的化学裂解法和微波法次之;超声波法、冻融 玻璃珠 溶菌酶 SDS法较少.研究表明,DNA提取方法是影响活性污泥微生物多样性PCR-DGGE检测结果的关键因素,基于SDS的裂解法是用于活性污泥微生物多样性PCR-DGGE研究的一种简便、可靠的总DNA提取方法.     

骨炭修复重金属污染土壤和降低基因毒性的研究

采用分级提取的方法研究了施加骨炭对污染土壤重金属的固定效果,结果表明,土壤施加10 mg·kg^-1骨炭后水溶态、交换态、碳酸盐结合态和铁锰氧化物结合态Pb的浓度都显著下降;而加入骨炭后土壤有机结合态Pb的浓度显著上升,表明骨炭可以吸附、固定土壤中的Pb,改变Pb的化学形态,降低Pb的生物可利用性.加入骨炭后土壤中水溶态和交换态Cd的浓度都显著下降,残渣态Cd的浓度明显上升.骨炭处理对土壤中Cu化学形态的影响和Pb相似,表明骨炭可以吸附固定土壤中的Cu.骨炭处理对Zn也有一定的固定效果,降低了土壤中水溶态的Zn.采用植物彗星实验研究了施加骨炭对土壤基因毒性的影响,表明加入骨炭后减轻了污染土壤对洋葱根尖细胞的DNA的损伤,降低了土壤污染对植物的基因毒性.生物评价和化学评价的结果均表明骨炭是重金属污染土壤的有效修复剂,能有效降低污染土壤中重金属的生物有效性和对植物的毒性.     

Oxidative stress and DNA damages induced by cadmium accumulation

Experimental evidence shows that cadmium （Cd） could induce oxidative stress and then causes DNA damage in animal cells, however, whether such effect exists in plants is still unclear. In the present study, Vicia faba plants was exposed to 5 and 10 mg/L Cd for 4 d to investigate the distribution of Cd in plant, the metal effects on the cell lipids, antioxidative enzymes and DNA damages in leaves. Cd induced an increase in Cd concentrations in plants. An enhanced level of lipid peroxidation in leaves and an enhanced concentration of H2O2 in root tissues suggested that Cd caused oxidative stress in Vicia faba. Compared with control, Cd-induced enhancement in superoxide dismutase activity was significant at 5 mg/L than at 10 mg/kg in leaves, by contrast, catalase and peroxidaseactivities were significantly suppressed by Cd addition. DNA damage was detected by neutral/neutral, alkaline/neutral and alkaline/alkaline Comet assay. Increased levels of DNA damages induced by Cd occurred with reference to oxidative stress in leaves, therefore, oxidative stress induced by Cd accumulation in plants contributed to DNA damages and was possibly an important mechanism of Cd-phytotoxicity in Vicia faba plants.     

涕灭威、灭多威的遗传毒性研究

研究了涕灭威与灭多威的遗传毒性.在去离子水中分别加入涕灭威与灭多威标准品,涕灭威设计0.002、0.02、0.2、2、20μg/L共5个剂量组,灭多威设计0.02、0.2、2、20、200μg/L共5个剂量组.用微核试验检测其对鲤鱼血红细胞微核的诱发效应,采用Ames试验检测2种农药的致突变性,采用彗星试验检测其对人外周血淋巴细胞DNA的损伤效应,根据3种毒理学试验结果综合分析涕灭威与灭多威的遗传毒性.结果表明,所有剂量组这2种农药未诱导鲤鱼血红细胞微核率的明显上升(p0.05);2种农药各剂量组回变菌落数均未超过自发回变组的2倍,但在非代谢活化条件下,涕灭威2～20μg/L与灭多威20～200μg/L剂量组的TA97菌株回变菌落数分别达到(129.17±17.00)、(129.50±18.28)、(109.83±10.80)和(114.17±9.37)个/皿,明显高于自发回变组(p0.05,p0.01).在代谢活化条件下,灭多威200μg/L组的TA100与TA102菌株的回变菌落数为(147.83±23.29)、(275.83±20.63)个/皿,均高于自发回变组(p0.05);在彗星试验中发现,高浓度的涕灭威与灭多威均可导致人外周血淋巴细胞的DNA损伤,涕灭威20μg/L组,灭多威200μg/L组的尾部DNA(%)、尾长、Olive尾距3个指标经统计学分析,高于去离子水对照组(p0.01).研究未见涕灭威与灭多威对鲤鱼血红细胞产生明显的染色体损伤效应,虽未见其明显的致突变性,但在高浓度下存在一定的致突变的风险,并且这2种农药可能导致人外周血淋巴细胞的DNA损伤,因此涕灭威与灭多威污染对水环境和人体健康可能存在一定的远期危害.