Fish oil-induced yellow fat disease in rats. II. Enzyme histochemistry of adipose tissue

Adipose tissue in various stages of fish oil-induced yellow fat disease in the rat had the same acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase activity pattern as similar stages of the disorder in mink and pig. A weak acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase activity was seen in interstitial lipofuscin-laden macrophages in "stage M" yellow fat disease without fat cell degeneration. Activity of these macrophagic enzymes increased when there was fat cell degeneration ("stage S" and "stage E" yellow fat disease). This different phosphatase activity in the same cell type may result from phagocytosis of substrates with variable digestibility. Macrophages directly surrounding affected fat cells in steatitis areas ("stage S" and "stage E") had strong acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase activity. As in the pig, increased 5-nucleotidase activity was found in affected fat cells, which probably indicates plasma membrane damage. Increased nonspecific esterase activity occurred around affected fat cells. Only a small part of this esterase activity originated from inflammatory cells. This indicates that an increase of esterase activity in degenerating adipose tissue may be an endogeneous process in this tissue.     

Preliminary investigation of the causal agent(s) of a disease causing leaf curl of tobacco in South Africa

A high incidence (86%) of potyvirus infection was noted in tobacco plants exhibiting a form of leaf curl in South Africa. Despite leaf curl being reported in the literature to be of geminiviral aetiology, no geminiviruses were detected. Furthermore, no other virus particles were detected by virus purification, TEM and serology. Twelve species of dsRNA were consistently isolated from these tobacco plants, but were absent from other forms of leaf curl-affected and healthy tobacco. Aphid and mechanical inoculation demonstrated that the purified potyvirus(es) did not cause leaf curl symptoms, but rather mild mottle and mosaic symptoms in tobacco. Partial characterization of the potyvirus preparation showed a possible relationship to a South African strain of potato virus Y. Because potyvirus-inoculated plants did not manifest leaf curl symptoms, and because leaf curl symptoms were noted in some plants not infected with a potyvirus, it was concluded that the potyvirus is not involved in the leaf curl aetiology, but causes a latent infection, the symptoms of which are masked. The pattern of the dsRNA banding, induction of enations and lack of mechanical and seed transmission are common to plant reoviruses. The possibility of a phytoreovirus involvement in this form of leaf curl is currently being investigated. The results from this study suggest that tobacco leaf curl disease worldwide, with regard to geminiviruses, be re-evaluated.     

新一代植酸酶的经济效益

现已证明，在酵母中产生的一种新型的6-植酸酶比其他在市场上供应的植酸酶的效率至少高20％。因为6-植酸酶与其他商品化的植酸酶相比，可进一步减少无机磷源的使用，从而降低生产成本以及磷的污染。     

粪肥施用对土壤团聚体的影响——Meta分析

粪肥施用为土壤输入大量有机质与养分,能影响土壤团聚体的形成和稳定性,大部分研究主要认为粪肥施用促进土壤大粒径团聚体的形成(marcoaggregate,≥0.25 mm),但进一步细分是对大团聚体(large marcoaggregate,>2 mm)还是小团聚体(small marcoaggregate,2 ~ 0.25 mm)的影响更大,研究存在较大差异。本文使用Meta分析收集了36篇相关文献,共267个团聚体数据,发现施用粪肥能显著增加土壤大团聚体和小团聚体含量,分别增加了95% 和17%,同时减少了土壤微团聚体(microaggregates,0.25 ~ 0.053 mm)和土壤粉黏颗粒(silt-plus and clay-size particles,<0.053 mm)含量,分别减少了14% 和20%。本文还从土壤因素、粪肥因素、气候因素3个角度的解释变量来分析粪肥施用对土壤团聚体影响不同的原因,结果发现土壤类型、土壤pH、粪肥种类和年均气温、年均降水量是造成不同研究结果差异的主要原因。     

真菌对东北白桦木材化学成分的影响

为分析真菌对东北白桦木材化学成分的影响,有效的防治白桦木材变色,本研究对2种变色真菌引起的变色白桦木材A、B、C的化学成分进行了分析,结果表明,变色木材中的木素、a-纤维素含量基本未变,半纤维素含量降低。而聚戊糖由16.83%,分别降低到15.31%、15.31%及15.51%,通过冷热水、1%氢氧化钠、苯醇抽提物分析可见,4种抽提物含量增加明显,表明低分子化合物及糖类、可溶性无机盐等是变色真菌的营养源。对真菌间作用的分析结果表明,2种变色真菌间存在竞争关系,由此可以寻求防治变色的一条新途——生物防变色。