A Lymphoid Organ Specific Anti-Lipopolysaccharide Factor from Litopenaeus vannamei Exhibits Strong Antimicrobial Activities

Different shrimp species are known to possess apparent distinct resistance to different pathogens in aquaculture. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this finding still remains unknown. One kind of important antimicrobial peptides, anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALF), exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. Here, we reported a newly identified ALF from the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and compared the immune function with its counterpart in the shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis. The ALF, designated as LvALF8, was specifically expressed in the lymphoid organ of L. vannamei. The expression level of LvALF8 was apparently changed after white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) or Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenges. The synthetic LBD peptide of LvALF8 (LvALF8-LBD) showed strong antibacterial activities against most tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. LvALF8-LBD could also inhibit the in vivo propagation of WSSV similar as FcALF8-LBD, the LBD of LvALF8 counterpart in F. chinensis. However, LvALF8-LBD and FcALF8-LBD exhibited apparently different antibacterial activity against V. parahaemolyticus, the main pathogen causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) of affected shrimp. A structural analysis showed that the positive net charge and amphipathicity characteristics of LvALF8-LBD peptide were speculated as two important components for its enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to those of FcALF8-LBD. These new findings may not only provide some evidence to explain the distinct disease resistance among different shrimp species, but also lay out new research ground for the testing and development of LBD-originated antimicrobial peptides to control of shrimp diseases.     

不同生育期成龄灰枣树茎流速率与气象因子的关系

【目的】在微喷灌的灌溉方式下,研究不同天气和不同气象因子条件下成龄灰枣树的茎流速率,精准测定出成龄枣树的耗水量,为优化枣树的土壤水分管理提供生产指导。【方法】采用针式茎流计,连续监测灰枣树茎流速率,分析枣树的茎流速率受不同天气和气象因子的影响程度。【结果】晴天和阴天茎流速率的波动变化过程呈倒“U”型的单峰曲线,而多云天气下呈“M”型的双峰曲线。1 d中枣树的茎流累积趋势呈“S”变化,各生育期耗水量大小排序为果实膨大期>成熟期>花期>萌芽展叶期。只有成熟期枣树的茎流速率与空气温度相关程度最高,其余都是太阳辐射。各生育期太阳辐射与枣树茎流速率的相关系数R_D1=0.964^**、R_D2=0.969^**、R_D3=0.957^**和R_D4=0.886^**。利用多元线性回归在枣树的各生育期内对茎流速率和气象因子进行输入回归,建立不同天气条件下,各生育期枣树茎流速率和气象因子的多元线性回归模型,经过回归系数和相关系数检验,各生育期的多元线性回归方程均达到了显著水平。【结论】各生育期内,典型天气的茎流速率排序为晴天>多云>阴天,整个生育期中的需水关键期是果实膨大期,对枣树的茎流速率产生最大影响的气象因子是太阳辐射和空气温度。     

刺梨果实发育过程中糖和黄酮的积累及其与光照强度变化的相关性

【目的】研究不同光照强度对刺梨（Rosa roxburghii Tratt.）果实发育过程中糖和总黄酮的积累规律及其对光照强度变化的生理关联性,为刺梨果实的品质调控提供科学依据。【方法】以4年生的‘贵农5号’刺梨结果树为材料,以自然光照强度为对照,设置光照强度减弱20%、40%、60%的3个处理（分别用R0（CK）、R20、R40、R60表示）,分析测定不同发育时期刺梨果实中可溶性糖和总黄酮的积累量、相关合成代谢酶活性及其与光照强度变化的相互关系。【结果】在刺梨果实生长发育过程中,糖和总黄酮类物质不断积累,但不同发育时期的积累量有明显差异。在果实缓慢生长期之后,果实中的糖分开始快速积累,到成熟期可溶性总糖和蔗糖的积累量达到最高,其中蔗糖的积累量占可溶性总糖的36.97%。刺梨果实中葡萄糖和果糖的积累量至快速膨大期达到最大,但仅占果实成熟期可溶性总糖最大积累量的10.50%和18.18%。刺梨果实属于蔗糖积累型。刺梨果实中的总黄酮从幼果期开始就快速积累,一直持续到果实快速膨大期,之后总黄酮的积累量增加不明显。刺梨果实发育过程中,不同光照强度下的果实中糖和总黄酮的积累量差异显著,光照强度减弱不利于果实中糖和总黄酮的积累。蔗糖合成酶（SS）、蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）、转化酶（IVR）和丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）、肉桂酸-4-羟基化酶（C4H）、4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶（4CL）、查尔酮合成酶（CHS）分别是影响果实中糖和黄酮类物质合成代谢的关键酶,光照强度变化与刺梨果实中糖、总黄酮的积累量以及相关合成代谢酶的活性变化密切关联。光照强度减弱会明显抑制SS、SPS、IVR、PAL、C4H、4CL、CHS的活性。在刺梨果实整个发育过程中,SS和SPS对光照强度减弱的反应敏感。刺梨果实中糖与总黄酮的积累量呈极显著正相关,果实中糖和总黄酮的积累量以及SS、SPS、IVR、PAL、C4H、4CL、CHS的活性均与光照强度变化呈显著或极显著正相关。【结论】刺梨果实为蔗糖积累型,果实缓慢生长期之后,果实中的糖分开始快速积累,果实中总黄酮的积累量从幼果期开始迅速增长,一直持续到快速膨大期。光照强度减弱不利于刺梨果实中糖和黄酮类物质的积累。生产中可以通过改善光照条件,增加刺梨果实中糖和黄酮类物质的含量,提高刺梨果实的品质。     

混播比例对三江源人工草地植被和土壤养分特征的影响

建植混播人工草地是修复三江源黑土滩退化草地的有效措施，但不同混播比例下植被和土壤养分特征的变化尚不明确。以垂穗披碱草、中华羊茅和青海草地早熟禾分别按1∶1∶1（M₄），2∶1∶1（M₅），1∶2∶1（M₆），1∶1∶2（M₇），2∶2∶1（M₈），2∶1∶2（M₉）和1∶2∶2（M₁₀）建植混播人工草地，并以各组分单播为对照，研究生产力、物种多样性、超产效应、多样性净效应（包括互补效应和选择效应）和土壤养分特征的变化，并采用多准则决策模型-TOPSIS进行综合评价，以筛选最佳混播比例，以期为三江源退化草地生态修复提供科学依据。结果表明：混播处理地上生物量显著高于中华羊茅和青海草地早熟禾单播的生物量，但显著低于垂穗披碱草单播处理，混播处理地上生物量在M₅、M₈、M₉和M₁₀处理较高。而地下生物量在混播处理间无显著差异。混播处理中，仅M₅、M₈、M₉和M₁₀处理存在超产，达40.4~71.1 g·m^-2。M₄和M₆处理的多样性净效应均小于0，说明由于物种竞争导致群落减产。而M₇~M₁₀混播处理的多样性净效应均大于0，说明物种生态位的互补使得群落高产。M₈和M₉处理中互补效应和选择效应共同主导了超产效应，而M₅和M₁₀处理中主要由互补作用主导超产效应。表层土壤的有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷和速效钾含量在M₆、M₇和M₁₀混播处理中较高。TOPSIS模型综合评价表明，M₁₀混播处理不但可保持较高的生产力，还可显著提高土壤的养分含量，是三江源区人工草地建植的理想混播比例。     

基于径向基网络的含缺陷管道安全系数修正

安全系数是管道完整性评价方法的重要参数之一,传统评价方法仅考虑了管道所处地区等级对其影响,未能全面评价管道的真实安全状态。提取管道相关风险因素,比较各因素间相对重要程度并建立表征不同风险状态的分值体系,根据所得风险分值对安全系数进行修正,使得修正后的安全系数能够反映含缺陷管段实际风险状态;结合径向基网络方法的自学习特点,将各风险因素作为输入,修正后的安全系数作为输出,建立基于径向基网络的管道安全系数计算模型。由模型训练得出的修正安全系数与测试样本吻合度较好,验证了模型的准确性。结果表明:修正安全系数在考虑地区等级的基础上同时引入了其他重要风险因素的影响,为管道完整性评价中的安全系数取值提供了新的思路。     

不同种源多穗柯主要生物活性成分与矿质元素含量变异分析

【目的】阐明多穗柯主要药用活性成分与矿质元素的种源遗传变异规律。【方法】对设置在江西省分宜县多穗柯全分布区的5个种源试验林植株叶部根皮苷、三叶苷、总黄酮、有机碳、氮、磷和钾元素含量进行测定、分析。【结果】不同种源多穗柯叶部根皮苷、三叶苷、总黄酮、有机碳、全氮、全磷含量差异均存在极显著差异(P <0.01)。不同种源根皮苷含量变异范围为16.03~64.35 mg·g-1,三叶苷含量变异范围分别为4.76~29.97 mg·g-1,根皮苷含量变异范围为61.59~81.05 mg·g-1,其中重庆北碚为根皮苷、有机碳、全磷和全氮含量高的种源,与其他种源相比根皮苷含量最高,四川米易三叶苷含量最高,江西分宜总黄酮含量最高。多穗柯根皮苷含量随日照时数增加呈显著降低趋势(P <0.05),三叶苷含量随无霜期增加呈显著降低趋势,总黄酮含量随经度增加呈极显著增加的趋势,随降水量增加呈显著增加的趋势;根皮苷与全氮含量呈极显著正相关关系,有机碳与全钾含量呈显著负相关关系;聚类分析表明,5个多穗柯种源可划分为2个类群,高根皮苷、高总黄酮、低三叶苷类群和低根皮苷、低总黄酮和高三叶苷类群。【结论】多穗柯根皮苷、三叶苷、总黄酮和主要矿质元素含量具明显种源变异,重庆北碚、四川米易和江西分宜的多穗柯为优良种源。     

Body shape variation in two species of darters (Etheostoma,Percidae) and its relation to the environment

Environmental variation can shape phenotypic variation in organisms, but most evidence for trait differentiation comes from analyses of dichotomous habitat types that differ in only one or few key environmental factors. In reality, environmental variation is often more subtle, gradual and multifarious. Here, we investigated geographic variation in body shape of two darter species (Etheostoma spectabile and Etheostoma flabellare; Percidae) that occur along river gradients. This study addressed three specific questions: Is there intraspecific geographic variation in the two species across different sites in the Ozark Highlands of Oklahoma (USA)? Is phenotypic variation across sites correlated with abiotic environmental conditions? Do the two species share site‐specific (i.e. convergent) phenotypic variation in areas where they occur together? Our results indicated significant body shape variation in both species. Population differences in body shape were particularly correlated with variation in substrate composition. The combined analysis of both species indicated a small but significant effect of convergence on body shape wherever they are sympatric; shared variation, however, was not related to any environmental variables included in the analysis. While it remains unclear whether phenotypic variation in these species is due to heritable differentiation or environmentally induced plasticity, our results indicate that even subtle and gradual environmental variation can induce substantial variation in phenotypes on a relatively small spatial scale.     

Seasonal Changes in Quality and Fatty Acid Composition of Black Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

The study was designed to assess the seasonal variations in the quality and lipid profile of mussel meat (Mytilus galloprovincialis) harvested along the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea. The trial period lasted from June to October, and the sampling was carried out in the area of Varna Bay. Technological quality of the mussels was determined by measuring the water holding capacity (WHC) and cooking and roasting losses. Proximate composition, total aerobic plate count, and fatty acid analysis were carried out. Technological parameters and nutritional quality of the mussel meat were strongly affected by the season. During the summer, the mussels had higher mass, meat content, and meat yield (p < 0.001) compared to the early autumn, which corresponds to the lowest protein content during this season. Lipid profile showed seasonal variations in both individual and total fatty acid amounts (p < 0.001). Saturated fatty acids (SFA) had the highest content in summer, while monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) decreased gradually until the autumn. The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) reached its peak in October, contributing to the most favorable values of the nutritional indices of lipids in the early autumn.     

A comparison of changes in stable isotope ratios in the epidermal mucus and muscle tissue of slow‐growing adult catfish

Although stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool for determining diet, migration patterns and the structure of food webs in aquatic systems, the slow response of isotopic ratios in the widely used muscle tissue often hampers this approach, particularly in slow‐growing or adult fishes. We conducted a diet‐switch experiment to compare the changes in the stable carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C values) in the epidermal mucus and muscle tissue of five‐year‐old catfish (Silurus asotus). The isotope ratios in noninvasively sampled mucus changed more rapidly than those in the muscle tissue. As isotopic change in mucus was relatively rapid, this technique can be used over a finer timescale than traditional isotopic analyses using the muscle tissue. The isotopic change half‐life in our experimental condition was 200 days, which would not be short enough for some research purposes. Examining mucus along with the muscle would enable food habits of slow‐growing fishes to be determined over different timescales. However, the rate of isotopic change in the mucus was negatively affected by the size of fish and was slower than the previously reported rates in juvenile steelhead. These findings suggest that mucus turnover rates need to be determined prior to the field data interpretation.     

Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.