Development and application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method for simple and rapid identification of the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense and Alexandrium catenella in cultured and natural seawater

ABSTRACT:   The toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech and A. catenella (Whedon and Kofoid) Balech produce potent neurotoxins, such as saxitoxin and gonyautoxin and have been mainly responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in Japan. To prevent a negative effect on the fishery industry, it is necessary to identify these toxic species precisely and rapidly before and during the bloom. In this paper, a rapid and simple protocol of a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method using ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-targeted probes has been established for identifying the cultured strains and natural cells of A. tamarense and A. catenella . Using the FISH method established in this study, it was possible to identify these toxic species species-specifically and rapidly, within 30 min. The procedure of detection constituted three steps: (i) fixation/dehydration; (ii) hybridization; and (iii) washing; this made the identification simple. Moreover, this method did not require either special techniques or equipment, and the cost for detection was low. The specificity, rapidity, and simplicity of the developed method suggest that it might be useful for routine monitoring of these toxic microalgae.     

Zinc exposure has differential effects on uptake and metabolism of sulfur and nitrogen in Chinese cabbage

Zinc (Zn) is a plant nutrient; however, at elevated levels it rapidly becomes phytotoxic. In order to obtain insight into the physiological background of its toxicity, the impact of elevated Zn²⁺ concentrations (1 to 10 μM) in the root environment on physiological functioning of Chinese cabbage was studied. Exposure of Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis) to elevated Zn²⁺ concentrations (≥ 5 μM) in the root environment resulted in leaf chlorosis and decreased biomass production. The Zn concentrations of the root and shoot increased with the Zn²⁺ concentration up to 68‐fold and 14‐fold, respectively, at 10 μM compared to the control. The concentrations of the other mineral nutrients of the shoot were hardly affected by elevated Zn²⁺ exposure, although in the root both the Cu and Fe concentrations were increased at ≥ 5 µM, whereas the Mn concentration was decreased and the Ca concentration strongly decreased at 10 µM Zn²⁺. The uptake and metabolism of sulfur and nitrogen were differentially affected at ≥ 5 µM Zn²⁺. Zn²⁺ exposure resulted in an increase of sulfate uptake and the activity of the sulfate transporters in the root, and in enhanced total sulfur concentration of the shoot, which could be ascribed partially to an accumulation of sulfate. Moreover, Zn²⁺ exposure resulted in an up to 6.5‐fold increase in water‐soluble non‐protein thiol (and cysteine) concentration of the root. However, nitrate uptake by the root and the nitrate and total nitrogen concentrations of the shoot were decreased upon Zn²⁺ exposure, demonstrating the absence of a mutual regulation of the uptake and metabolism of sulfur and nitrogen at toxic Zn levels. Evidently, elevated Zn²⁺ concentrations in the root environment did not only disturb the uptake, distribution and assimilation of sulfate, it also affected the uptake and metabolism of nitrate in Chinese cabbage.     

Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn、As复合污染对灯心草的生理毒性效应

通过盆栽试验,以现行土壤环境质量标准为浓度设置依据并结合实际污染土壤研究了不同处理水平的Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn、As5种重金属复合污染对灯心草生长、叶绿素含量及保护酶系统的影响。实验结果表明:5种重金属复合污染对灯心草地上部生长有一定程度的抑制作用,在土壤环境质量二级标准上限值处灯心草地上部生物量减产9.15%,<10%,但地下部生物量减产趋势不明显。复合重金属污染抑制灯心草的光合作用使叶绿素含量减少、叶绿素a/b值降低。在接近土壤环境质量标准低浓度设计范围内,灯心草3种保护酶有逐渐被激活的趋势,表现出一定的协调性共同抵制重金属的毒害。但在高浓度处理水平下,酶活性遭到抑制。生长在矿毒水和铅锌尾矿污染土壤中的灯心草地上部生物量分别下降28.23%和37.1%,但POD、SOD和CAT3种酶活性均高于对照。通过应用综合生态环境效益法,以灯心草为指示植物可以将土壤环境质量二级标准上限值设定为土壤中5种重金属的临界毒性效应值。     

3种污水对小麦和黄瓜幼苗生长发育的影响

通过水培试验,研究了天津市3个主要污水处理厂的进水在不同清污比例处理下对小麦和黄瓜幼苗发芽率、生物量、根质量和根长的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,3种污水对小麦和黄瓜的发芽率影响不大,但是对根长有明显的抑制作用,各个处理间根长差异显著(P0.05),小麦和黄瓜的根长抑制率变化范围分别为20%~64%和6%~48%。3种污水对黄瓜的生物量均表现为不同程度的促进作用,但Ⅲ号污水对小麦的生物量和根质量表现为抑制作用。根对污水中污染物响应最敏感,根据污水对根长的影响程度得出3个污水处理厂的进水对小麦和黄瓜的毒害作用依次为:Ⅲ号Ⅱ号Ⅰ号。     

2016—2020年环境土壤学研究进展与热点分析

为了形象客观地了解国内外2016—2020年环境土壤学相关研究的发展特点,本文收集了发表在Web of Science和中国知网上土壤环境领域的相关文章,利用Web of Science自带分析工具和文献计量学软件CiteSpace,分析了该领域的研究现状、发展方向和热点。结果显示,2016—2020年间土壤环境领域研究成果丰硕,发展平稳,中美两国发文占比超过国际领域发文的50%。国际环境科学类刊物Science of the Total Environment、Environmental Science and Pollution Research和Chemosphere发文量最高,土壤科学类期刊Geoderma、Catena、Plant and Soil和Soil Biology Biochemistry也在发文前十行列。从国际上看,土壤环境领域共有微生物群落、有机碳、生物炭改良、N2O排放、重金属、土壤侵蚀、机器学习、保护性农业8个重要研究方向及相关热点;国内研究紧跟国际发展,侧重于土壤有机质、养分和微生物等研究热点,也围绕土壤水分、生物炭、土壤侵蚀和作物产量等热点开展了大量研究。     

聚苯乙烯微球对菜心种子及幼苗的毒性效应

为查明微塑料对蔬菜等农作物种子发芽的生态毒性效应,研究了不同粒径(0.07、1μm和20μm)、不同浓度(125、250、500、750、1 000、1 500 mg·L~(-1)和2 000 mg·L~(-1))的聚苯乙烯微球(PS-MPs)对菜心种子发芽和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,不同粒径PS-MPs均对菜心种子发芽产生一定毒害作用。其中,0.07μm PS-MPs的毒性敏感性最强,20μm PS-MPs产生的毒性效应最大。菜心幼苗通过调节体内可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量来提高对PS-MPs的抗胁迫能力。此外,PS-MPs对菜心幼苗超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力整体呈现抑制作用,特别是在高浓度处理时均显著降低其活力(P0.05)。研究表明聚苯乙烯微球对菜心种子发芽和幼苗生长存在显著的毒性作用和粒径效应,其毒性作用机理涉及菜心对体内可溶性糖和蛋白质含量调节以及自身的氧化应激系统。     

番茄青枯菌分泌物中热稳定成分的毒性研究

研究了青枯细菌毒性菌株平板培养滤液中热稳定性成分对番茄组织培养物的影响。结果表明;ＰＣＦ中含有一类非酶,非胞外多糖的热稳定毒性物质,它对番茄叶片脱分化过程有抑制作用,抗病材料较感病材料敏感,另外,它对番茄试管生根也起抑制作用;ＥＰＳ没有上述抑制作用。     

低毒脲醛树脂的合成

采用了不同的改性剂与不同的合成工艺 ,研制用于胶合板制造的低毒脲醛树脂胶。结果表明 :利用三聚氰胺和聚乙稀醇作为改性剂 ,结合特定的合成工艺 ,制得低毒脲醛 (UF)树脂胶 (游离甲醛含量≤ 3g·kg-1) ,三层胶合板甲醛释放量为 1 36mg·L-1。既讨论了影响树脂中游离甲醛含量的因素及制胶中出现的问题 ,又提出了解决的方法 :树脂的摩尔比控制在 1 3左右 ,聚乙烯醇和三聚氰胺的加入量分别为尿素总量的 1 6%和 2 5 % ;在加成反应阶段 ,树脂的pH值不应低于 7 0 ;在缩聚反应阶段 ,温度控制在 80～ 85℃ ,pH控制在 4 0～4 2。表 4参 7     

大豆异黄酮的药理和毒理效应研究进展

综述了大豆异黄酮主要的药理和毒理效应,分析了作用机理,对未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

镰刀菌属真菌毒素的研究进展

镰刀菌是最重要的动植物病原真菌之一,可引起100多种动植物发生病害.在致病过程中,该类真菌能产生多种毒素而加强其致病力、加快寄主的发病速度.另外,在动植物体内积累的毒素,不仅污染农产品品质,还通过不同的毒性机制对人类和动植物产生毒性,给动物和人类的食物安全带来严重隐患.简述了镰刀菌分泌的几种重要的真菌毒素的理化性质、生物合成的相关基因、对动植物毒性机制以及与病菌致病力的相关性等领域的研究.