Draft genome of the filarial nematode parasite Brugia malayi

Parasitic nematodes that cause elephantiasis and river blindness threaten hundreds of millions of people in the developing world. We have sequenced the approximately 90 megabase (Mb) genome of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi and predict approximately 11,500 protein coding genes in 71 Mb of robustly assembled sequence. Comparative analysis with the free-living, model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans revealed that, despite these genes having maintained little conservation of local synteny during approximately 350 million years of evolution, they largely remain in linkage on chromosomal units. More than 100 conserved operons were identified. Analysis of the predicted proteome provides evidence for adaptations of B. malayi to niches in its human and vector hosts and insights into the molecular basis of a mutualistic relationship with its Wolbachia endosymbiont. These findings offer a foundation for rational drug design.     

The genomic sequence of the accidental pathogen Legionella pneumophila

We present the genomic sequence of Legionella pneumophila, the bacterial agent of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal pneumonia acquired from aerosolized contaminated fresh water. The genome includes a 45-kilobase pair element that can exist in chromosomal and episomal forms, selective expansions of important gene families, genes for unexpected metabolic pathways, and previously unknown candidate virulence determinants. We highlight the genes that may account for Legionella's ability to survive in protozoa, mammalian macrophages, and inhospitable environmental niches and that may define new therapeutic targets.     

The genome sequence of Drosophila melanogaster

The fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most intensively studied organisms in biology and serves as a model system for the investigation of many developmental and cellular processes common to higher eukaryotes, including humans. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of nearly all of the approximately 120-megabase euchromatic portion of the Drosophila genome using a whole-genome shotgun sequencing strategy supported by extensive clone-based sequence and a high-quality bacterial artificial chromosome physical map. Efforts are under way to close the remaining gaps; however, the sequence is of sufficient accuracy and contiguity to be declared substantially complete and to support an initial analysis of genome structure and preliminary gene annotation and interpretation. The genome encodes approximately 13,600 genes, somewhat fewer than the smaller Caenorhabditis elegans genome, but with comparable functional diversity.     

水稻种质资源萌发期与孕穗期耐冷性鉴定

目的筛选耐寒性水稻品种。方法以广泛代表性的14个亚洲国家187个水稻核心种质为研究对象,根据种内群体关系和地理位置将其分为4个平行组;分别对4个平行组的三叶期幼苗进行4 ℃低温处理,时间梯度设为24、36、48和60 h,7 d缓苗期后统计其秧苗黄叶率并鉴定耐寒等级。结果根据黄叶率百分比可以精准鉴定水稻的5个耐寒等级,且粳稻的耐寒性普遍比籼稻强。11个强耐寒品种主要分布于高纬度或高海拔地区。4 ℃处理24和36 h后的黄叶率在不同品种间呈现丰富多样性,该耐寒处理方式获得的表型性状适合全基因组关联分析。结论品种之间耐寒性的差异不仅由遗传因素决定,还与其地理分布和当地种植策略相关。本研究初步筛选出11个苗期耐寒水稻品种,可为耐寒种质资源的遗传改良和分子育种提供参考。     

Complete genome sequence of the apicomplexan, Cryptosporidium parvum

The apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parvum is an intestinal parasite that affects healthy humans and animals, and causes an unrelenting infection in immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients. We report the complete genome sequence of C. parvum, type II isolate. Genome analysis identifies extremely streamlined metabolic pathways and a reliance on the host for nutrients. In contrast to Plasmodium and Toxoplasma, the parasite lacks an apicoplast and its genome, and possesses a degenerate mitochondrion that has lost its genome. Several novel classes of cell-surface and secreted proteins with a potential role in host interactions and pathogenesis were also detected. Elucidation of the core metabolism, including enzymes with high similarities to bacterial and plant counterparts, opens new avenues for drug development.     

The 1.2-megabase genome sequence of Mimivirus

We recently reported the discovery and preliminary characterization of Mimivirus, the largest known virus, with a 400-nanometer particle size comparable to mycoplasma. Mimivirus is a double-stranded DNA virus growing in amoebae. We now present its 1,181,404-base pair genome sequence, consisting of 1262 putative open reading frames, 10% of which exhibit a similarity to proteins of known functions. In addition to exceptional genome size, Mimivirus exhibits many features that distinguish it from other nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses. The most unexpected is the presence of numerous genes encoding central protein-translation components, including four amino-acyl transfer RNA synthetases, peptide release factor 1, translation elongation factor EF-TU, and translation initiation factor 1. The genome also exhibits six tRNAs. Other notable features include the presence of both type I and type II topoisomerases, components of all DNA repair pathways, many polysaccharide synthesis enzymes, and one intein-containing gene. The size and complexity of the Mimivirus genome challenge the established frontier between viruses and parasitic cellular organisms. This new sequence data might help shed a new light on the origin of DNA viruses and their role in the early evolution of eukaryotes.     

辣椒炭疽病3病原核糖体基因ITS区的序列测定及分析

辣椒炭疽病(pepper anthracnose)是辣椒生产中的主要病害之一。利用真菌核糖体内转录间隔区(internal transcribed spac-er,ITS)序列通用引物对辣椒炭疽病3病原进行扩增,分别获得其rDNA-ITS序列,序列分析结果表明,病菌的5.8S rDNA序列高度保守,而ITS区的可变性则相对较高,其中ITS1区的差异大于ITS2区的差异,说明ITS1区的变异较丰富,可考虑将该区域作为病原鉴定的PCR检测特异引物的靶序列,为今后各病菌的特异性分子鉴定提供可靠的靶标。     

A high-resolution radiation hybrid map of the human genome draft sequence

We have constructed a physical map of the human genome by using a panel of 90 whole-genome radiation hybrids (the TNG panel) in conjunction with 40,322 sequence-tagged sites (STSs) derived from random genomic sequences as well as expressed sequences. Of 36,678 STSs on the TNG radiation hybrid map, only 3604 (9.8%) were absent from the unassembled draft sequence of the human genome. Of 20,030 STSs ordered on the TNG map as well as the assembled human genome draft sequence and the Celera assembled human genome sequence, 36% of the STSs had a discrepant order between the working draft sequence and the Celera sequence. The TNG map order was identical to one of the two sequence orders in 60% of these discrepant cases.     

Complete nucleotide sequence and organization of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus genome

The complete nucleotide sequence of a mammalian transforming retrovirus. Moloney murine sarcoma virus, has been determined. MSV, recombinant virus derived of helper viral and cellular sequences, possesses termini resembling prokaryotic transposable elements. The viral genome has the coding capacity for the Moloney murine leukemia virus gag gene product and contains large deletions in pol and env genes. A large open reading frame encompassing its cell-derived sequences codes for its putative transforming protein. The nature of some of the important domains in the viral genome has been established, and their structure is discussed in relation to their function.     

野生玫瑰多态性cpDNA和ITS引物的筛选与验证

为了筛选出具有高多态性的cpDNA 和ITS序列引物,用于研究野生玫瑰自然种群的分子谱系地理,以野生玫瑰8个种群为试材,通过12对叶绿体基因组引物和4对核基因组ITS引物的PCR扩增和PCR产物测序,筛选出trnL-trnF、rpl20-rps12、rbcl、ITS1四对具有高多态性的引物。序列变异计算与系统发育树结果显示,8个野生玫瑰种群变异较低,可划分为2支。筛选出高多态性的cpDNA引物3对和ITS引物1对,适用于研究野生玫瑰系统发育和谱系地理结构,能够进一步探究濒危物种野生玫瑰的谱系地理。     

芦笋枯萎病菌的鉴定及rDNA ITS序列分析

为准确鉴定芦笋枯萎病致病菌并确定其分类地位,通过形态学观察和核糖体DNA内转录间区(rDNA ITS)序列比对方法,对该病菌进行形态学和分子生物学鉴定,比较其与近缘真菌rDNA ITS序列的差异,并进行系统发育分析。鉴定结果表明,芦笋枯萎病的致病菌为尖孢镰刀菌天门冬专化型Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.asparagi。芦笋枯萎病菌F.oxysporumf.sp.asparagi及其同属近缘种木贼镰刀菌F.equiseti和变红镰刀菌F.incarnatum的rDNA ITS序列比对结果表明,其序列在76~80、104~115、129~138、151~158、175~178、382~402、438~445和473~479bp等rDNA ITS区段上存在差异性碱基。芦笋枯萎病菌及其近缘真菌系统发育分析结果表明,6属真菌大致聚为2个组群2个亚群,芦笋枯萎病菌F.oxysporum f.sp.asparagi与木贼镰刀菌F.equiseti和变红镰刀菌F.incarnatum亲缘关系最近。     

A draft sequence for the genome of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori)

We report a draft sequence for the genome of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori), covering 90.9% of all known silkworm genes. Our estimated gene count is 18,510, which exceeds the 13,379 genes reported for Drosophila melanogaster. Comparative analyses to fruitfly, mosquito, spider, and butterfly reveal both similarities and differences in gene content.     

黄瓜霜霉病和白粉病病原菌的rDNA-ITS序列分析

为了应用分子特征确定黄瓜霜霉病和白粉病的病原菌种类,扩增、测定了上海地区黄瓜霜霉病菌和白粉病菌的核糖体DNA内转录间隔区(rDNA-ITS)序列,依据rDNA-ITS序列特征分析了两种病原菌种类,以及与近缘种的差异性。结果显示,黄瓜霜霉病菌的rDNA-ITS1和rDNA-ITS2长度分别为141和406 bp,rDNA-ITS1 GC含量为41.13%,rDNA-ITS2 GC含量为46.80%(闵行区株和金山区株)或46.55%(浦东新区株),rDNA-ITS序列在种内保守性很高,种间差异性与亲缘关系呈正相关,分子特征证实研究的黄瓜霜霉病病原菌为古巴拟霜霉菌;黄瓜白粉病菌的rDNA-ITS1和rDNA-ITS2长度分别为136和89 bp,GC含量分别为59.56%和66.29%,rDNA-ITS序列在研究材料中保守,与瓜类单囊壳(Sphaerotheca cucurbitae)完全相同,但与形态鉴别的结果Sphaerotheca fuliginea差异高达4.5%,提示黄瓜白粉病病原菌的种类需进一步澄清和确定。     

高羊茅炭疽病病菌的生物学特性及其ITS序列分析

通过2006—2008年6～8月份的观察发现,上海地区高羊茅的炭疽病症状为叶片上形成梭形病斑,中央灰白色．边缘黄褐色或者黑褐色,中后期在病斑中央形成黑色小点即分生孢子盘。分生孢子为单胞、香蕉形、无色、3～0μm×20～28μm。高羊茅炭疽病病菌在PSA上菌落灰褐色。病菌菌丝生长适宜温度24～28℃,单糖和双糖、硝态氮有利于病菌菌丝的生长。通过病菌核糖体DNAITS序列的测定及GenBank的BLAST比对．与禾生炭疽病菌（Colletotrichum graminicola）相似性最高,达98％。形态和分子鉴定表明：上海地区高羊茅炭疽病病原菌为禾生炭疽病菌。室内药剂筛选试验表明：咪鲜胺、苯醚甲环唑等5种药剂对高羊茅禾生刺盘孢菌菌丝生长有强烈的抑制作用。     

Genome sequence of Theileria parva, a bovine pathogen that transforms lymphocytes

We report the genome sequence of Theileria parva, an apicomplexan pathogen causing economic losses to smallholder farmers in Africa. The parasite chromosomes exhibit limited conservation of gene synteny with Plasmodium falciparum, and its plastid-like genome represents the first example where all apicoplast genes are encoded on one DNA strand. We tentatively identify proteins that facilitate parasite segregation during host cell cytokinesis and contribute to persistent infection of transformed host cells. Several biosynthetic pathways are incomplete or absent, suggesting substantial metabolic dependence on the host cell. One protein family that may generate parasite antigenic diversity is not telomere-associated.