Inhibition study of red rice polyphenols on pancreatic α-amylase activity by kinetic analysis and molecular docking

This study sought to investigate the possible inhibition mechanism of red rice polyphenols (RRP) on pancreatic α-amylase (PA) activity. RRP showed strong inhibition against PA activity and the half-inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value was 3.61 μg/mL. The fluorescence quenching of PA by RRP was a combination of static quenching and dynamic quenching. RRP could aggregate with PA and the physiochemical properties of the aggregates were closely related to the concentration of RRP. Kinetic analysis suggested that the inhibition mode of RRP on PA was reversible inhibition, which was a mixing of competitive inhibition and noncompetitive inhibition. Molecular docking speculated that RRP could form hydrogen bonds with PA by binding to the catalytic active sites (ASP197, GLU233 and ASP300) and the microenvironments of TRP58 and TRP59 were altered, thus inhibiting PA activity.     

Exploring connectivity between spawning and nursery areas of Mullus barbatus (L., 1758) in the Mediterranean through a dispersal model

Connectivity between spawning and nursery areas plays a major role in determining the spatial structure of fish populations and the boundaries of stock units. Here, the potential effects of surface current on a red mullet population in the Central Mediterranean were simulated using a physical oceanographic model. Red mullet larvae were represented as Lagrangian drifters released in known spawning areas of the Strait of Sicily (SoS), which represents one of the most productive demersal fishing‐grounds of the Mediterranean. To consider the effect of inter‐annual variability of oceanographic patterns, numerical simulations were performed for the spawning seasons from 1999 to 2012. The main goal was to explore connectivity between population subunits, in terms of spawning and nursery areas, inhabiting the northern (Sicilian‐Maltese) and southern (African) continental shelves of the SoS. The numerical simulations revealed a certain degree of connectivity between the Sicilian–Maltese and the African sides of the SoS. Connectivity is present in both directions, but it is stronger from the Sicilian–Maltese spawning areas to the African nurseries owing to the marine circulation features of the region. However, because the majority of the larvae are transported to areas unsuitable for settlement or outside the SoS, the dispersal process is characterized by a strong loss of potential settlers born in the spawning areas. These results are in agreement with the low genetic heterogeneity reported for this species in the Mediterranean Sea and support the existence of a metapopulation structure of red mullet in the SoS and the adjacent areas.     

Cloning and expression analysis of innate immune genes from red sea bream to assess different susceptibility to megalocytivirus infection

As suggested by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), fishes belonging to the genus Oplegnathus are more sensitive to megalocytivirus infection than other fish species including red sea bream (Pagrus major). To assess the roles of the innate immune response to these different susceptibilities, we cloned the genes encoding inflammatory factors including IL‐8 and COX‐2, and the antiviral factor like Mx from red sea bream for the first time and performed phylogenetic and structural analysis. Analysed expression levels of IL‐1β, IL‐8 and COX‐2 and the antiviral factor like Mx genes performed with in vivo challenge experiment showed no difference in inflammatory gene expression or respiratory burst activity between red sea bream and rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). However, the Mx gene expression levels in red sea bream were markedly higher than those in rock bream, suggesting the importance of type I interferon (IFN)‐induced proteins, particularly Mx, during megalocytivirus infection, rather than inflammation‐related genes. The in vitro challenge experiments using embryonic primary cultures derived from both fish species showed no difference in cytopathic effects (CPE), viral replication profiles, and inflammatory and Mx gene expression pattern between the two fish species.     

Conservation implications of establishment success of the Critically Endangered Twee River redfin ‘Pseudobarbus’ erubescens (Skelton, ) in an artificial impoundment in South Africa

1. This study reports the first known record of breeding of the Critically Endangered Twee River redfin ‘Pseudobarbus’ erubescens in an artificial impoundment. This followed an introduction of 48 individuals into a 10 ha impoundment within the species' native range more than a decade ago.
2. Sampling the impoundment using three fyke nets set overnight yielded 2838 P. erubescens, which included both juveniles and adults capable of spawning. Fork length measurements of a subsample of 250 individuals ranged from 29 to 125 mm with length cohorts indicating multiple spawning events.
3. This demonstrates that this species can successfully reproduce in lentic environments and suggests that artificial impoundments could be stocked to provide refugia for P. erubescens and other highly threatened small cyprinids while conservation strategies are developed to mitigate against habitat loss resulting from alien fish invasions, increased human use of water, and from climate change in rivers.

     

红壤旱地一株自生固氮菌的筛选鉴定及其固氮能力评估

为了鉴定从红壤中分离得到的一株自生固氮菌,并探讨其固氮能力。采用形态观察、生理生化测定和16S rDNA基因序列分析的方法研究了菌株的分类地位,采用乙炔还原法测定其固氮酶活性,并在室内培养条件下,通过花生、玉米的幼苗盆栽试验研究菌株对土壤MBN、矿化氮和植株氮素积累量的影响。结果表明：从种植于红壤的玉米根际,筛选出15株自生固氮菌,以菌株CM12固氮能力最强,初步鉴定CM12为伯霍尔德杆菌属(Burkholderia sp.),固氮酶活性达C₂H₄ 39.1 nmol/(h·mL)。室内培养试验结果表明,接种CM12菌株的处理,花生和玉米土壤MBN含量较CK处理分别提高了2.38和2.37倍,其中种植花生体系中,接菌处理与施用化学氮肥处理土壤MBN含量无显著差异。接种固氮菌影响了旱地红壤NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N比例,降低了土壤中NO₃^--N含量,且种植玉米体系中土壤NO₃^--N含量降低较明显。固氮菌短期接种增加了花生根系和玉米地上植株的氮素积累量。研究结果为该菌株在红壤旱地实际生产中的应用提供了理论基础。     

禽致病性大肠杆菌luxS和rbsC双基因缺失株的构建及其生物特性分析

禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)能引起家禽严重的呼吸系统和全身性疾病,由于APEC耐药菌株的不断出现迫使新型抗菌方式的研发迫在眉睫。本研究旨在评价APEC的luxS和rbsC双缺失的突变株作为减毒疫苗候选株的潜力,通过在APEC分离株DE17的单基因缺失株DE17ΔluxS的基础上,利用Red重组系统构建双基因缺失株DE17ΔluxSΔrbsC,并对其生物学特性进行了分析。结果显示:rbsC的缺失不影响DE17ΔluxS的生长特性和生物被膜形成能力,但运动性显著降低;与DE17ΔluxS相比,DE17ΔluxSΔrbsC的黏附能力和入侵能力分别降至46.92%和28.78%;半数致死量(LD50)结果显示,毒力下降了115.5倍;肝脏、脾脏和血液中的载菌量分别下降了3.63倍、79.20倍和2124.41倍。根据以上结果推测,rbsC基因的缺失会进一步降低DE17ΔluxS的毒力,本文为评价DE17ΔluxSΔrbsC株减毒机制提供参考。     

Preliminary Study on the Activity of Phycobiliproteins against Botrytis cinerea

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are proteins of cyanobacteria and some algae such as rhodophytes. They have antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activity at the human level, but there is a lack of knowledge on their antifungal activity against plant pathogens. We studied the activity of PBPs extracted from Arthrospira platensis and Hydropuntia cornea against Botrytis cinerea, one of the most important worldwide plant-pathogenic fungi. PBPs were characterized by using FT-IR and FT-Raman in order to investigate their structures. Their spectra differed in the relative composition in the amide bands, which were particularly strong in A. platensis. PBP activity was tested on tomato fruits against gray mold disease, fungal growth, and spore germination at different concentrations (0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 mg/mL). Both PBPs reduced fruit gray mold disease. A linear dose–response relationship was observed for both PBPs against disease incidence and H. cornea against disease severity. Pathogen mycelial growth and spore germination were reduced significantly by both PBPs. In conclusion, PBPs have the potential for being also considered as natural compounds for the control of fungal plant pathogens in sustainable agriculture.     

氢氧化镁对水质、底质改良的研究与应用

近年,沿海各地区水产养殖业发展迅速。由于内湾海区海水循环交换能力较弱,黑臭底泥的长期堆积,导致养殖水体水质和底质进一步恶化,然而这种问题普遍存在于封闭式或半封闭式水域环境中。对此,氢氧化镁作为水质、底质改良剂被应用于水环境的治理。本文概述了氢氧化镁的作用机理,包括氢氧化镁与悬浮颗粒物的静电、对氮磷的降解及对硫化氢的降解等作用;同时介绍了氢氧化镁在海水养殖场、淡水湖泊和水库、水华防控、赤潮防控及废水处理中的研究与应用;展望了氢氧化镁和纳米级氢氧化镁在水体环境领域的应用前景。     

Implications of piscine predator control on the federally listed fountain darter

One strategy for protecting the federally listed fountain darter, Etheostoma fonticola (Jordan & Gilbert), during low flow conditions is the removal of piscine carnivores [in this case, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède)]. However, headwater spring communities of the Comal and San Marcos rivers include another potential predator [red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard)]. Removal of piscine carnivores could produce cascading effects by increasing crayfish consumption of benthic fish. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if piscine carnivore removal will lessen predatory pressure or induce a trophic cascade with crayfish increasing and causing declines in fountain darter. The numbers of fountain darter consumed were quantified among three predator treatments (red swamp crayfish only, largemouth bass only and red swamp crayfish and largemouth bass combined) and vegetation treatments (vegetated and non‐vegetated) at three temperature regimes (18, 22, 27°C). Vegetation had no effect on fountain darter predation. Among temperature trials, largemouth bass only and red swamp crayfish and largemouth bass combined consumed similar numbers of fountain darter, and red swamp crayfish only consumed the least numbers of fountain darter, except at 22°C. Largemouth bass did not consume more red swamp crayfish than fountain darter. Therefore, largemouth bass removal appears to be a viable option for reducing fountain darter predation during periods of low flow.