A novel approach to studying the effects of temperature on soil biogeochemistry using a thermal gradient bar

The temperature dependence of chemical reaction rates and microbial metabolism mean that temperature is a key factor regulating soil trace gas emissions and hydrochemistry. Here we evaluated a novel approach for studying the thermal response of soils, by examining the effects of temperature on gas emissions and hydrochemistry in (a) peat and (b) soil from a Sitka spruce plantation. A thermal gradient was applied along an aluminium bar, allowing soil to be incubated contemporaneously from 2 to 18 °C. The approach demonstrated clear differences in the biogeochemical responses of the two soil types to warming. The peat showed no significant emission of CH₄ at temperatures below 6 °C, while above 6 °C, a marked increase in the rate of release was apparent up to 15 °C (Q₁₀ = 2.5) with emissions being similar between 15 and 18 °C. Conversely, CH₄ emissions from the forest soil did not respond to warming. Nitrate availability in the peat decreased by 90% between 2 and 18 °C (P < 0.01), whereas concentrations in the forest soil did not respond. Sulphate availability in the peat decreased significantly with warming (60%, P < 0.01), while the forest soil showed the opposite response (a 30% increase, P < 0.01). Conventionally, thermal responses are studied by incubating individual soil samples at different temperatures, involving lengthy preparation and facilities to incubate samples at different temperatures simultaneously. Data collected on a given thermal response is usually limited and thus interpolated or extrapolated. The thermal gradient method overcomes these problems, is simple and flexible, and can be adapted for a wide range of sample types (not confined to soil). Such apparatus may prove useful in the optimization of management practices to mitigate the effects of climate change, as thermal responses will differ depending on land use and soil type.     

真菌中药——乌灵参

目的对分离于西藏黑耳中的上升炭角菌进行生物学特性研究。方法对野外采集的黑耳进行组织分离获得菌种,对得到的菌种进行形态和分子生物学鉴定,并进行生物学平板特性培养和木屑菌包驯化栽培。结果鉴定结果显示：所获得的菌株为珍稀药用菌上升炭角菌(Xylaria hypoxylon),其菌丝最适生长因子为果糖、酵母浸膏、pH 6.0和23 ℃。驯化栽培显示：上升炭角菌可在多数阔叶树木屑中生长,菌包A菌丝生长速率为0.87 cm/d,明显高于菌包B。菌包A和菌包B长满菌丝分别需要15和25 d,菌包长满菌丝15~20 d后菌丝体由白变黑,菌包变黑25~35 d后开始出现原基,原基出现10 d后可采收第一潮子实体。结论本研究首次纯人工不覆土驯化栽培出分离于黑耳中的上升炭角菌,并初步探明了其生物学特性,为进一步研究、开发和利用该菌奠定了基础。     

Utilization of protein-A in immuno-histochemical techniques for detection of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) virus antigens in tissues of experimentally infected goats

This paper constitutes the first record of utilizing the S. aureus protein-A (PA), conjugated to peroxidase enzyme, for the detection of the Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) virus antigens in tissues of experimentally infected goats. The goats were experimentally infected with a virulent PPR virus, which was previously isolated from a severe natural disease outbreak in gazelles, during 2002 in Saudi Arabia. The technique is rapid, and has the superiority over the peroxidase –anti-peroxidase (PAP) test in that, inactivation of the indigenous peroxidase in the tissues is not required and that it can be used against a wide range of animal species. An advantage over the other immunolabelled conjugates is that PA attaches specifically to the crystalizable fraction (Fc) of the IgG molecule, thus allowing the antigen binding fraction (Fab) of the molecule, free to interact specifically with the antigen. So, it doesn't actually compete with the antigen for the Fab portion of the IgG molecule. In the present study, PA conjugate detected the PPR virus antigens in various tissues of the experimentally infected goats.     

Identification of lactic acid bacteria in the feces of dairy cows fed whole crop maize silage to assess the survival of silage bacteria in the gut

In order to assess the survival of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in whole crop maize silage in the gut of dairy cows, one representative silage sample and three different feces samples were collected from dairy cows on three dairy farms in Hua Bei, China and three dairy farms in Kyushu, Japan. The composition of the bacterial community was examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Lactobacillus acetotolerans was detected in all bunker‐made maize silage samples, regardless of the dairy farm or sampling region from which they were sourced. A total of eight LAB species were detected in the maize silage samples, of which three (L. acetotolerans, L. pontis and L. casei) appeared to survive digestion. The populations of L. acetotolerans in silage and feces were 10^6–7 and 10^3–4 copies/g, respectively, indicating that, even for the LAB species showing potential survival in the gut, competition in this niche may be harsh and the population may substantially decrease during the digestion process. It may be difficult for silage LAB to survive in the gut of silage‐fed dairy cows, because marked decrease in population can take place during the digestion process, even for surviving species.     

石房蛤毒素单克隆抗体的制备及其特性研究

将石房蛤毒素（Saxitoxin,STX）与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)偶联构建完全抗原STX-BSA,免疫BALB/c小鼠,通过杂交瘤技术获得1株稳定分泌抗STX单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,单抗亚类为IgM。体内诱生法收集腹水单抗,间接ELISA方法测定抗体效价为1∶102400,抗体亲和常数为3.71×106 L/mol。     

Reestablishment of transzonal projections and growth of bovine oocytes in vitro

Transzonal projections (TZPs) that maintain bidirectional communication between oocytes and granulosa cells or cumulus cells are important structures for oocyte growth. However, whether TZPs develop between TZP-free oocytes and granulosa cells, and whether reestablished TZPs support oocyte growth, is unknown. We first examined changes in TZPs after denudation of bovine oocytes collected from early antral follicles (0.5–0.7 mm). Twenty-four hours after denudation, almost all the TZPs disappeared. We also examined the reestablishment of TZPs by coculturing TZP-free denuded oocytes (DOs) with mural granulosa cells (MGCs) collected from early antral follicles. In addition, to confirm if the reestablished TZPs were functional, the reconstructed complexes (DO+MGCs) were subjected to in vitro growth culture and found that the MGCs adhered to TZP-free DOs and TZPs were reestablished. During in vitro growth culture, DO+MGCs developed and formed antrum-like structures. After culture, the number of TZPs in DO+MGCs increased, and the oocytes grew fully and acquired meiotic competence. These results suggest that reestablished TZPs are able to support oocyte growth.     

鸽毛滴虫感染Dot-ELISA检测方法的建立

为了制备兔抗鸽IgG抗体-HRP,建立斑点酶联免疫吸附试验定性检测鸽毛滴虫抗原的检测方法,将纯化的鸽IgG加入佐剂免疫兔子,获取纯化的兔抗鸽IgG抗体;采用简易过碘酸钠法标记兔抗鸽IgG,获取兔抗鸽IgG抗体-HRP;同时将鸽毛滴虫用超声波粉碎加入佐剂后多次免疫健康鸽获取鸽抗鸽毛滴虫高免血清(一抗);然后在2×106个/mL的鸽毛滴虫抗原量下,用不同浓度的一抗抗体、兔抗鸽IgG抗体-HRP进行试验;并对70个临床样品进行检测。结果显示,在2×106个/mL的鸽毛滴虫抗原量下,一抗与兔抗鸽IgG-HRP最佳工作浓度分别为1∶100和1∶500;70个样品中,48个镜检为阳性的样品用Dot-ELISA检测有44个呈阳性,阳性符合率为91.7%;22个镜检为阴性的样品用Dot-ELISA检测有12个呈阴性,阴性符合率为54.5%;Dot-ELISA检测与镜检结果的总符合率为80%。结果表明,本试验成功地建立了鸽毛滴虫感染的Dot-ELISA检测方法。     

鄱阳湖湿地灰化苔草群落物种多度分布格局沿水分梯度的变化

为揭示鄱阳湖湿地苔草群落的构建机制,选择灰化苔草(Carex cinerascens)群落作为研究对象,通过设立3条样带调查不同水分梯度的群落物种多度,选用断棍模型(BSM)、生态位优先占领模型(NPM)、优势优先模型(DPM)、随机分配模型(RAM)和生态位重叠模型(ONM)5个生态位模型对群落种-多度关系进行拟合,结果表明,1)灰化苔草群落可按土壤水分划分为高湿度、中湿度和低湿度3组,分别对应从湖边、湿地中间和湿地边缘的梯度分布;2)从高到低的水分梯度上,灰化苔草群落的物种数先增加后降低,优势种多度逐渐增加,物种多度分布曲线由相对平缓变为陡峭;3)高湿度灰化苔草群落物种多度分布格局的最佳拟合模型为BSM,中、低湿度的理想模型转变为NPM。研究认为,水分条件的变化是灰化苔草群落物种多度分布格局改变的主因,随着水分梯度降低,群落构建的生态学过程由随机生态位变为生态位优先占领。研究为鄱阳湖湿地多样性保育和生态功能管理提供了理论参考。     

Influences of quorum‐quenching probiotic bacteria on the gut microbial community and immune function in weaning pigs

The aim of this study is to investigate the dynamic gut microbial diversity in weaning swine after administering feed supplemented with probiotic bacteria that specifically inhibit the activity of quorum molecules. Initially, the universal quorum molecule autoinducer‐2 (AI‐2) bioassay results indicated that AI‐2 activity was profoundly inhibited in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 in the presence of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain 30SC cell extract, although the growth of EHEC was not affected. Based on plate counting results, bacterial community analysis revealed a specific reduction in coliforms compared to the control, whereas the population of lactobacilli increased in weaning swine in in vivo trials. Supplementation with L. acidophilus strain 30SC did not affect the counts of other communities, such as total aerobes and yeast/mold. In addition, PCR‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed a significant difference in the 16S rRNA gene products after administering L. acidophilus strain 30SC. Selected bands were sequenced, and most of them were identified as uncultured bacterium clones or a Lactobacillus‐ and Bifidobacterium‐specific community. Therefore, our results indicate that quorum‐quenching probiotic bacteria can significantly modulate the gut microbiota of swine and these beneficial effects can contribute to the improvement of performance and health in the gastrointestinal tract of weaning pigs.