互花米草入侵对广西北海光滩大型底栖动物群落的影响

为探讨互花米草入侵对广西北部湾光滩的生态影响,于2012年7月—2013年9月对北海市青山头地区的互花米草群丛和光滩2种生境分别连续进行5次大型底栖动物群落采样,分析不同采样时间和生境下大型底栖动物的物种组成、生物量、总栖息密度、群落生物多样性、群落结构等群落特征. 结果表明:①该区域内大型底栖动物共15种,隶属于4门5纲11科,其中中国绿螂(Glauconome chinensis)占互花米草群丛大型底栖动物个体总数的86.7%,为绝对优势物种;短指和尚蟹(Mictyris brevidactylus)为光滩的优势物种. ②双因素方差分析(two-way ANOVA)结果显示,互花米草入侵光滩后大型底栖动物物种数量显著增加,并且互花米草群丛中中国绿螂个体数量的剧增也显著增加了大型底栖动物的生物量和总栖息密度,而采样时间对大型底栖动物物种数、生物量和总栖息密度的影响不显著;不同生境和采样时间均未对大型底栖动物的多样性指数产生显著影响. ③非度量多维度分析(non-metric multidimensional scaling,NMDS)结果表明,互花米草群丛与光滩的大型底栖动物物种群落相似度较高,但与2012年10月相比,2013年9月互花米草和光滩大型底栖动物群落相似度降低,因此可能随着互花米草入侵时间的增加,其对大型底栖动物群落的影响也不同.      

Using mRNA to investigate the effect of low-pressure ultraviolet disinfection on the viability of E. coli

UV can induce damages on mRNA consistently among different genes. SOS response was more active after UV treatment. Programmed cell death was not found to be more active after UV treatment. The efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection has been analyzed and validated by numerous studies using culture-based methods, yet the discovery of the viable but nonculturable state necessitates the investigation of UV disinfection based on viability parameters. Paired regulators of the SOS response system, recA-lexA, and the programmed cell death system, mazEF, in Escherichia coli were chosen as the target genes, and the effect of UV irradiation on the mRNAs of the four genes was studied. This research showed that, after UV irradiation, the responses of the mRNAs were highly consistent, with reduction percentages of approximately 60% at 20 mJ/cm², 70% at 40 mJ/cm², and 90% at 80 mJ/cm², and these reductions were believed to be the result of direct UV damage to nucleic acids. After 24 h of dark incubation, recA and lexA were both upregulated but to a lesser extent for repressor lexA; and mazE and mazF were both downregulated. This result implies that UV irradiation induces the dark repair system more actively, and the cells will proceed to death at a rate similar to that associated with natural decay.     

磷酸三苯酯(TPP)和磷酸三(2-氯异丙基)酯(TCPP)诱导人胚肾细胞HEK293凋亡的机制研究

磷系阻燃剂对人体的潜在毒性作用引起了国内外研究者的广泛关注。肾脏是机体重要的排毒器官,若肾脏细胞受损,可能影响肾脏功能的正常发挥。本研究以人胚肾细胞HEK293为研究对象,结合传统毒理学实验,筛选出磷酸三苯酯(TPP)及磷酸三(2-氯异丙基)酯(TCPP)诱导人胚肾细胞HEK293凋亡的关键靶标基因p53。在此基础上采用分子对接模拟和光谱法分析发现,TPP和TCPP分别以嵌插方式和沟槽方式结合p53-DNA,改变基因片段的框架结构,启动分子起始事件,通过影响相关基因(Bax、Hrk、Bcl-2和Bad)的表达量,导致线粒体途径释放cyt c,最终激活Caspase 7实现细胞凋亡。研究结果阐明了此类污染物诱导凋亡的作用机制,为毒害化学品的污染防控提供理论依据。     

Quantifying the global threat to native birds from predation by non-native birds on small islands

Although invasive non-native species can adversely affect biodiversity in many ways, predation of native species by non-native species on islands can be severely damaging. Results of numerous studies document non-native birds preying on birds on islands, but our understanding of the number and type of species affected has been limited by the lack of a global review of these impacts. I identified the non-native bird species that have been recorded preying on birds, the locations where this predation occurred, and the bird species affected. Because the impacts of non-native birds can be particularly severe on small islands, I then identified the islands <500 km² around the world that are occupied by predatory non-native birds. By taking into account their life-history traits and predation history, I also identified the near-threatened and threatened bird species on these islands that they may prey on. The results indicated that predation by non-native birds was primarily a concern for threatened bird conservation on small islands; almost all predation impacts (91%) on near-threatened and threatened birds were recorded on islands, and median island size was 106 km². I also found non-native bird predation was a poorly known and widespread potential threat to avian biodiversity; worldwide, 194 islands of <500 km² were occupied by predatory non-native birds, but information on their impacts was unavailable for most of these islands. On them, where the impacts of non-native species can be severe, non-native birds may be preying on approximately 6% of the world's near-threatened and threatened bird species. Four non-native bird species I identified have been successfully eradicated from islands. If they were eradicated from the small islands they occupy, 70% of the near-threatened and threatened bird species I identified would no longer be affected by nest predation by non-native birds on small islands.     

Comparison of the removal of monovalent and divalent cations in the microbial desalination cell

Microbial desalination cell (MDC) is a promising technology to desalinate water and generate electrical power simultaneously. The objectives of this study were to investigate the desalination performance of monovalent and divalent cations in the MDC, and discuss the effect of ion characteristics, ion concentrations, and electrical characteristics. Mixed salt solutions of NaCl, MgCl₂, KCl, and CaCl₂ with the same concentration were used in the desalination chamber to study removal of cations. Results showed that in the mixed salt solutions, the electrodialysis desalination rates of cations were: Ca²⁺ >Mg²⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. Higher ionic charges and smaller hydrated ionic radii resulted in higher desalination rates of the cations, in which the ionic charge was more important than the hydrated ionic radius. Mixed solutions of NaCl and MgCl₂ with different concentrations were used in the desalination chamber to study the effect of ion concentrations. Results showed that when ion concentrations of Na⁺ were one-fifth to five times of Mg²⁺, ion concentration influenced the dialysis more profoundly than electrodialysis. With the current densities below a certain value, charge transfer efficiencies became very low and the dialysis was the main process responsible for the desalination. And the phosphate transfer from the anode chamber and potassium transfer from the cathode chamber could balance 1%–3% of the charge transfer in the MDC.     

一株苯酚降解菌的分离鉴定及响应面法优化其固定化

从太原市焦化厂废水活性污泥中分离、筛选出一株苯酚降解细菌,经生理生化反应和16S rRNA鉴定,该菌株为Diaphorobacter属细菌,命名为PD-07.代谢机制研究表明,苯酚可诱导该菌合成邻苯二酚2,3-加氧酶降解苯酚.为了提高该菌株对苯酚的降解率,以海藻酸钙为材料,对该菌株进行包埋固定化研究.首先采用Plackett–Burman实验设计筛选出影响固定化菌株苯酚降解率的关键因素,然后采用最陡爬坡实验逼近最大苯酚降解率响应区域.最后用Box–Behnken实验设计及响应面回归分析,应用二次方程对实验数据进行拟合得,拟合曲线与实验实测值相关性良好,最佳条件为海藻酸钠浓度3.83%(m/V)、CaCl2 0.3mol/L、菌胶比1:26.73、固定化时间2h、摇床转速180r/min、培养温度30℃、初始pH值7.2、液固比4.86:1,在此条件下苯酚降解率可达96.89%.     

桉树叶水浸出液对2种海洋微藻生长和叶绿素荧光特性的影响

运用水样叶绿素荧光仪(Water-PAM)研究了桉树叶水浸出液胁迫下湛江叉鞭金藻(Dicrateria zhanjiangensis)和纤细角毛藻(Chaetoceros gracilis)2种海洋微藻叶绿素荧光特性〔包括PS(光系统)Ⅱ的F_v/F₀(潜在活性)、F_v/F_m(最大光能转化效率)、Yield(实际光能转化效率)、ETR(电子传递效率),其中F_m和F₀分别为最大荧光和基础荧光〕的变化,同时监测微藻的生长情况,以研究桉树叶水浸出液对海洋微藻的影响,从而为探讨华南沿海大量种植桉树所造成潜在的海洋生态问题提供一些依据. 结果表明:①低浓度(以φ计,0.4、0.8、1.2mL/L)胁迫在96h内对湛江叉鞭金藻的上述4项荧光参数均无显著影响(P>0.05);高浓度(2.0mL/L)胁迫下,24h时湛江叉鞭金藻的4项荧光参数都处于最低值,48h时处于次低值. 表明高浓度在胁迫早期(48h内)对湛江叉鞭金藻4项荧光参数有抑制作用,而后期(72、96h)这4项荧光参数又恢复到正常水平,抑制作用解除. ②低浓度(0.4、0.8mL/L)胁迫下纤细角毛藻的4项荧光参数在24、48h内均得到促进,而高浓度(2.0mL/L)胁迫下F_v/F_m在24h时为最小值,表现抑制作用;另外3项荧光参数则未受显著影响. 在胁迫后期(72、96h),纤细角毛藻的4项荧光参数均随着胁迫浓度的增大而增加,表现为促进作用. ③就生长情况而言,随着胁迫浓度的增大,2种海洋微藻细胞密度的增长明显变缓. 表明桉树叶水浸出液对2种海洋微藻的生长以及叶绿素荧光特性都有影响,从而将会对整个海洋生态系统产生影响.      

Protective effect of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta) extract against DNA damage induced by mercury chloride in marine fish

Marine organisms are continuously exposed to agents, both exogenous and endogenous, that damage DNA. Consequently, it is important to determine the ability of compounds to provide protection against damaging chemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-genotoxic activity of crude aqueous extracts of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyceae), collected from the Southeast coast of India. This study focused on possible anti-genotoxic potential of aqueous extract of K. alverazii to interfere with clastogenicity induced by mercury chloride (HgCl₂) in marine fish, Therapon jarbua as measured by cytogenetic endpoints such as cell viability and comet assay. In the first set of experiments, fish were exposed to a single treatment of Hg at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2?ppm along with controls. Mercury exposure produced significant DNA damage in all comet classes, maximum as >79% (Class 4) at 0.5, 1, and 2?ppm exposure in a time dependent manner. Algal extract did not induce genotoxicity when given alone and prevented Hg-induced genotoxicity. The algal extract reduction in genotoxicity was significant but not time- and concentration-dependent. Results suggested that under present experimental conditions, K. alvarezii extract exhibit potent anti-genotoxicity effects in this fish model; and thus these extracts may be recommended as a supplement in fish meal and may benefit humans ingesting Hg-contaminated fish.     

Detection of polychlorinated biphenyls employing chemical dechlorination followed by biphenyl whole cell sensing system

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a mixture of 209 individual chlorinated compounds commonly known as PCB congeners. These compounds are hydrophobic and are persistent in the environment. Their use was banned in the US a few decades ago because of harmful health effects. Therefore, detection of PCBs in environmental samples is increasingly important. To that end, we have developed a two-step simple and sensitive method for the detection of total PCBs. Specifically, our method involves dechlorination of PCBs to biphenyl followed by detection of biphenyl using a whole cell sensing system as the detection system. The whole cell sensing system consists of cells of the strain Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 harboring plasmid pSD7000. Plasmid pSD7000 contains the gene of lacZ, a reporter protein under the control of the bph operon. The detection is achieved through the emission of light afforded by the expression of reporter protein triggered by the presence of biphenyl. Due to the fact that this operon is activated only by few PCB congeners, a chemical dechlorination method was employed to convert all PCBs to biphenyl, and thus all the PCBs present in a given sample are able to be detected. The results showed that PCB congeners were rapidly (30?min) and efficiently (>98.5%) dechlorinated to biphenyl using a Mg/K₂PdCl₆ catalyst, and the biphenyl could be subsequently quantified using the whole cell sensing system. This hybrid analytical method that combines classical dechlorination with novel biosensing methods may find applications in the on-site monitoring of PCBs contamination levels.     

Early murine immune responses from endotracheal exposures to biotechnology-related Bacillus strains

An immunology-based in vivo screening regime was used to assess the potential pathogenicity of biotechnology-related microbes. Strains of Bacillus cereus (Bc), Bacillus subtilis (Bs), Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and Bt commercial products (CPs) were tested. Balb/c mice were endotracheally instilled with purified spores, diluted CP, or vegetative cells (VC) (live or dead). Exposed mice were evaluated for changes in behavioral and physical symptoms, bacterial clearance, pulmonary granulocytes, and pulmonary and circulatory pyrogenic cytokines (interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α), as well as acute phase biomarkers (fibrinogen and serum amyloid A). Except for some differences in clearance rates, no marked effects were observed in mice exposed to any spore at 10⁶ or 10⁷ colony forming units (cfu). In contrast, live Bc or Bt VCs (10⁵ or 10⁶?cfu) produced shock-like symptoms (lethargy, hunched appearance, ruffled fur, and respiratory distress), and 11–200-fold elevations in pyrogenic cytokines at 2-h post-exposure. In the study, 4-h effects included increased lethargy, ocular discharge, and 1.5–4-fold rise in circulatory acute phase markers, but no indications of recovery. Bs VC did not produce any changes in symptoms or biomarkers. After 2 or 4?h of exposure to dead VC, increases of only plasma IL-1β and TNF-α (4.6- and 12.4-fold, respectively) were observed. These findings demonstrate that purified spores produced no marked effects in mice compared to that of metabolically active bacteria. This early screening regime was successful in distinguishing the pathogenicity of the different Bacillus species, and might be useful for assessing the relative hazard potential of other biotechnology-related candidate strains.