Comparative analysis of genetic diversity in Indian bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) using RAPD and ISSR markers for developing crop improvement strategies

A genetic analysis of 38 diverse Indian bitter gourd (Momordicacharantia var. charantia, and var. muricata) accessions was performed using 29 RAPD and 15 ISSR markers. RAPD primers yielded 208 amplicons of which 76 (36.5%) were polymorphic providing an average of 2.6 amplicons per primer. RAPD amplicons per primer ranged from 3 (OPE-19, OPW-09) to 15 (OPW-05), and varied in size from 200 bp to 3000 bp. Fifteen ISSR primers provided a total of 125 bands of which 94 (74.7%) were polymorphic. Polymorphic ISSR markers ranged from 0 (UBC-841) to 12 (UBC-890) providing a mean of 6.3 amplicons per primer that ranged in size from 150 bp to 2700 bp. Nevertheless, the concordance among bitter gourd accession groupings after cluster analysis was relatively high (r = 0.77), indicating that RAPD- and ISSR-based diversity assessments in this germplasm array were generally consistent. The M.charantia var. charantia (domesticated) and var. muricata (wild, free-living) accessions examined were genetically distinct, and these differences provided for the development of strategies for genetic analyses and crop improvement in this species.     

A comparative analysis of the genetic diversity between inbred lines of Zinnia elegans using morphological traits and RAPD and ISSR markers

Genetic diversity within Zinnia elegans is key to the genetic improvement of this important ornamental species. Here, morphological traits and RAPD and ISSR molecular markers were used to assess levels of polymorphism across 20 inbred lines. Thirty-four morphological traits were scored and also 147 RAPD marker-fragments, as amplified by 12 arbitrary primers, and 128 ISSR marker-fragments as generated by 9 primers. The number of polymorphic loci, the percentage of polymorphic loci, Shannon's Information index (I) and the effective number of alleles (Ne) were calculated from the RAPD data as 100, 68.03%, 0.3559 and 1.4169, respectively. From the ISSR data, these respective statistics were calculated as 97, 76.38%, 0.4013 and 1.4728. Thus, ISSR markers were considered slightly superior to RAPD markers for assessing genetic diversity between the accessions; however, Mantel's test indicated significant correlation (R = 0.733) of the RAPD and ISSR results. By contrast, the morphological matrix showed low correlation with both RAPD and ISSR data matrices (R = 0.3814 and 0.3765, respectively). Cluster analysis showed that groupings of the accessions according to all three methods correlated well with their geographic region of origin, but flower color was not strongly associated with the genetic classification of these inbred lines of Z. elegans.     

Feline vaccine‐associated sarcomagenesis: Is there an inflammation‐independent role for aluminium?

Aluminium has been found in feline vaccine‐associated sarcomas. In this study, we investigated the potential for aluminium to contribute directly to tumourigenesis. Our results indicated that an aluminium hydroxide adjuvant preparation was cytotoxic and mutagenic in human‐Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) hybrid cells in vitro. Moreover, CHO cells deficient in DNA double strand break (DSB), but not single‐strand break (SSB), repair, were particularly sensitive to aluminium exposure compared with repair proficient cells, suggesting that aluminium is associated with DSBs. In contrast to CHO cells, primary feline skin fibroblasts were resistant to the cytotoxic effects of aluminium compounds and exposure to an aluminium chloride salt promoted cell growth and cell cycle progression at concentrations much less than those measured in particular feline rabies vaccines. These findings suggest that aluminium exposure may contribute, theoretically, to both initiation and promotion of tumours in the absence of an inflammatory response.     

Genetic structure of the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) population: Are tigers in Sikhote‐Alin and southwest Primorye truly isolated?

We used molecular genetic analyses to noninvasively identify individual Amur tigers and define subpopulations of tigers in the Russian Far East. We identified 63 individuals after genotyping 256 feces, 7 hair and 11 blood samples collected within southern, central and northern Sikhote‐Alin, as well as Southwest Primorye. Analysis of nuclear DNA at 9 microsatellite loci demonstrated greater genetic similarity between animals from southern and northern Sikhote‐Alin (some 500 km apart) than between animals from Ussuriskii State Nature Reserve and Southwest Primorye (less than 10 km apart at their nearest point), suggesting that a true barrier exists preventing movements of tigers between Southwest Primorye and the southern Sikhote‐Alin Mountains.     

Unrecognized diversity in New Guinean crayfish species (Decapoda,Parastacidae): The evidence from molecular data

The phylogenetic relationships among imported ornamental crayfish belonging to the genus Cherax were inferred from a combined dataset of 3 mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S and 12S) and by comparison with available GenBank sequences of 14 Cherax species. Furthermore, the concordance of previously described species obtained from a wholesaler (Cherax boesemani, C. holthuisi and C. peknyi) with available GenBank sequences was verified based on COI with special respect to comparison with sequences assigned as Cherax species. Recently described species C. gherardiae, C. pulcher and C. subterigneus belong to the northern group of Cherax species. Comparison and analysis with other GenBank COI sequences show previously unreported diversity of New Guinean species, suggesting 5 putative new species. Surprisingly, species assigned to the subgenus Astaconephrops do not form a monophyletic clade; this subgenus should be reappraised relative to the purported typical morphological characteristic of the uncalcified patch on male chelae. Increasing importation of crayfish underscores the importance of accurate species identification. Use of basic molecular methods is a necessary requisite for documenting occurrence, abundance and population trends of target species. Consequently, it helps to support eventual conservation decision‐making by stakeholders.     

禾本科8种牧草DNA条形码通用序列筛选

DNA条形码技术是利用DNA保守片段对物种进行快速准确鉴定的新兴技术。本研究根据GenBank中禾本科牧草matK和rbcL基因的核苷酸序列,设计4对通用引物,建立并优化了针对禾本科7个主要牧草属8种牧草11个样品[高丹草(Sorghum bicolor×S.sudanense)、玉米(Zea mays)、针茅(Stipa capillata)、"贝克"多年生黑麦草(Lolium perenne‘Plxie)、"凯帝莎"多年生黑麦草(L.perenne‘Caddieshack’)、甘肃羊茅(Festuca kansuensis)、"百琪"紫羊茅(F.rubra‘Bargena’)、"梦神"紫羊茅(F.rubra‘Maxima’)、"百胜"草地早熟禾(Poa pratensis‘Barvictor’)、"钻石"草地早熟禾(P.pratensis‘Diamond’)和芨芨草(Achnatherum splendens)]的目的片段的扩增条件。对扩增产物进行测序和分析,经分别比对,筛选出8种牧草的4个标记位点5’端和3’端保守序列。对各标记位点保守区内的核苷酸进行单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)的单倍型分析。结果表明,matK1、matK2、matK3分别有6个单倍型(H1~A、H1~B、H1~C、H1~D、H1~E和H1~F)、7个单倍型(H2~A、H2~B、H2~C、H2~D、H2~E、H2~F和H2~G)和3个单倍型(H3~A、H3~B和H3~C),rbcL基因有5个单倍型(H4~A、H4~B、H4~C、H4~D和H4~E)。根据matK(matK1、matK2、matK3)和rbcL基因筛选的4个标记位点为8种牧草建立了相对应的特异DNA识别码。本研究可为混合禾本科牧草饲料中的高粱属、玉蜀黍属、芨芨草属、针茅属、黑麦草属、羊茅属和早熟禾属的8种牧草准确识别提供分子水平上的科学依据。     

不同浓度镉胁迫对孔雀草DNA甲基化的影响

随着人类活动、工业化发展进程的加快,重金属污染对环境造成了严重危害。本研究通过盆栽试验,利用甲基化敏感扩增多态性(MSAP)技术,对不同浓度镉(Cd)胁迫下孔雀草(Tagetes patula)基因组DNA甲基化变化情况进行了分析研究。结果表明,经0、50、250和500mg·kg-1浓度Cd~(2+)处理后,基因组MSAP比率分别为24%、30%、35%和41%,全甲基化率分别为20%、23%、25%和27%,这表明重金属胁迫处理后,DNA总甲基化水平随Cd~(2+)浓度升高而呈上升趋势;在DNA甲基化模式变化方面,50、250和500 mg·kg-1浓度胁迫下重新甲基化率分别为10%、10%和11%,重新甲基化为主要的甲基化变化模式。本研究可以为揭示重金属胁迫对植物DNA甲基化变化规律及植物对重金属胁迫耐受性机制提供理论参考。     

禽用DNA疫苗免疫效果增强的策略

对于人和动物的传染病来说,DNA疫苗免疫是一种很有希望的免疫方式。经过25年的发展,已经上市的核酸疫苗仍屈指可数。禽用核酸疫苗一直是禽类疫苗的研究热点,文中描述提高核酸疫苗免疫效果的方式：接种途径,疫苗剂量及首免时间,增加宿主细胞对质粒的摄入,添加免疫增强分子,优化质粒骨架和密码子,疫苗抗原的选择,异源性的首免-加强免疫策略。     

家蚕地方品种线粒体基因组A+T丰富区的序列及分子进化分析

为了研究家蚕线粒体基因组A+T丰富区的结构和家蚕品种的进化,用PCR方法扩增了12个家蚕(Bombyxmori)地方品种线粒体基因组A+T丰富区及其侧翼序列,分离纯化后克隆到pMD18-T载体进行测序。序列分析表明,克隆片段长度约1.1 kb,基因排列顺序与C108线粒体相同,依次为12S rRNA基因3′端、A+T丰富区、tRNAMet、tRNAIle、tRNAGln和ND2基因5′端,在tRNAGln和ND2基因之间有47 bp的非编码区。以日本野桑蚕(Bombyxmandarina)为外群,用Phylip软件包构建了基于12个家蚕品种线粒体基因组A+T丰富区序列的NJ进化树。结果显示,甘肃种单独聚为一群,其进化早于其它11个品种聚成的类群,说明甘肃种是供试家蚕品种中进化最早的品种。这一结果在分子水平上为黄河流域是家蚕品种的发祥地之一提供了证据,也进一步支持了家蚕品种的中国起源说。对A+T丰富区及其侧翼基因的结构分析表明,家蚕线粒体12S rRNA和ND2基因都十分保守,14个品种统计只分别发生1个和2个碱基转换;A+T丰富区中(A+T)比例高达94.9%以上,第27 nt开始有1个T-串结构,长度为16~19 bp不等;同时还根据3个tRNA基因的核苷酸序列推定了其二级结构。