分子生物学技术在环境微生物研究中的应用

随分子生物学和遗传工程技术的迅速发展，已存在对微生物进行遗传操作而促进微生物在环境生物技术中的应用。本文较系统地概述了与环境微生物密切相关的分子生物学技术，如核酸探针检测技术，利用引物的PCR技术，基因重组技术，基因芯片技术，以及这些相关技术在环境监测、环境污染的防治和环境基因工程菌的稳定性和安全性评估中的应用。结果表明，分子生物学技术在研究环境微生物中发挥了重要的作用。     

分子电子学

作为纳米电子学的一个重要分支，分子电子学在近年来得到了巨大的发展，并成为国际上研究的热点。本文介绍了各种分子器件的制作技术及基本工作原理，回顾了近年来分子电子学的最新进展，展望了分子电子学的未来发展。     

生态恢复研究进展与展望

文章首先简单概述了生态恢复的概念，对国内外生态恢复研究的进展进行了综述，总结了国际、国内生态恢复研究的特点，在此基础上，从理论构建、恢复机理、技术方法、模型建构、全球变化等展望了未来生态恢复研究的发展趋势。     

单分子化学与物理

单分子科学的概念是在扫描探针显微镜、激光镊子和其他相关光谱法在纳米级或分子级研究中的应用中发展起来的。我们在此对近来单分子化学和物理的进展作一评论性的回顾，并主要介绍单分子化学和物理的概念以及单分子表面研究、单分子光谱检测、单原子和/蜮分子操纵、单分子荧光法、激光摄子、生物分子的力学研究，以及所谓单电子效应和单电子器件的进展情况。本文最后强调了单分子科学和技术的重要性。     

酸雨对植物影响的研究进展

本文综述了当前从种群和群落自然生态系统水平上、个体水平上、细胞水平上、生理生化水平上对酸雨对植物的影响研究，指出在分子遗传水平上研究酸雨生态效应及机理还有待进一步完善和发展。     

分子水平的仿生科学

本文讲座了在分子水平进行的模仿生物大分子生物功能的研究现状，研究技术，及其在基础研究和生物制品生产中的应用。     

嗜热蛋白稳定机理研究进展

嗜热蛋白是一类主要来源于嗜热微生物的热稳定蛋白，能够在高温下长时间保持活性而不变性．通过对嗜热蛋白耐热机理的深入研究，对于人们深入理解蛋白质的折叠、结构与功能、进化以及在蛋白质加工中对蛋白质分子的定向设计和改造有着重要的意义。本文主要介绍了目前对嗜热蛋白的研究概况和主要进展。     

燕山中元古界大红峪组微生物席碎片的发现及初步研究

元古代碳酸盐岩沉积孕育了大量与微生物活动有关的沉积构造，但是对于相同时期的碎屑岩沉积环境中微生物引起的沉积构造的研究却很少。在元古代碎屑岩沉积环境中发现的最常晃的与微生物活动有关的沉积构造是皱饰构造和变余波痕，前人研究结果已经证明它们为微生物引起的沉积构造。在华北地台中元古界长城系大红峪组砂岩层面上发育一些与变余波痕和皱饰构造共生的一种特殊的沉积现象，即纺锤状砂质碎片。通过研究证实这些砂质碎片是微生物与物理营力相互作用形成的，也就是微生物席碎片。其发现有益于以后对类似沉积构造的研究；也有助于认识和了解中元古代生物群演化、古生命环境。     

厌氧氨氧化微生物学机制及其在污水脱氮工艺中的应用进展

厌氧氨氧化反应(Anammox)是指将NH_4~+-N和NO_2~--N直接转变为N_2去除的生物氧化过程,近年来成为新型生物脱氮技术研究的热点。在厌氧氨氧化反应中起关键作用的厌氧氨氧化细菌是一类对生态环境要求极为苛刻的微生物类群。目前,对于厌氧氨氧化生物转化过程的生物学理论与机制研究虽取得一定的突破,但有关厌氧氨氧化微生物代谢与调控机制的关键科学问题研究还不够深入,严重制约了该技术的工程化应用与推广。本文着重阐述了厌氧氨氧化菌的微生物学原理、生理特性,以及参与中心代谢途径的关键酶基因等,进而讨论了典型的厌氧氨氧化反应的化学与生化反应模型、影响厌氧氨氧化生物代谢过程的主要生态因子。最后,针对厌氧氨氧化技术在国内外典型的污水脱氮工艺中的应用现状与运行效果,深入剖析了产业化工程应用与推广的瓶颈,并对厌氧氨氧化技术未来的理论机制研究与产业化工程应用进行了前景展望。     

污水生态处理技术体系与展望

对污水的生态处理原理进行扼要论述，对污水的生态处理技术体系进行较为全面地概括，并就目前的应用条件与适用范围进行了阐述，在简要回顾污水的生态处理技术发展历史的基础上对该领域今后的发展趋势进行了展望，以推进污水生态处理系统的技术创新和在我国各地区的广泛应用，为全面实施污水处理与水资源综合利用相结合的污水无害化与资源化战略提供科学依据与技术支撑。     

Genetic ecology: A new interdisciplinary science,fundamental for evolution,biodiversity and biosafety evaluations

Genetic ecology is the extension of our modern knowledge in molecular genetics to studies of viability, gene expression and gene movements in natural environments like soils, aquifers and digestive tracts. In such milieux, the horizontal transfer of plasmid-borne genes between phylogenetically distant species has already been found to be much more frequent than had been expected from laboratory experience. For the study of exchanges involving chromosomally-located genes, more has to be learned about the behaviour of transposons in such environments. The results expected from studies in genetic ecology are relevant for considerations of evolution, biodiversity and biosafety. The role of this new field of research in restoring popular confidence in science and in its biotechnological applications is stressed.     

Microbes,mathematics, and models

Microbial model systems have a long history of fruitful use in fields that include evolution and ecology. In order to develop further insight into modelling practice, we examine how the competitive exclusion and coexistence of competing species have been modelled mathematically and materially over the course of a long research history. In particular, we investigate how microbial models of these dynamics interact with mathematical or computational models of the same phenomena. Our cases illuminate the ways in which microbial systems and equations work as models, and what happens when they generate inconsistent findings about shared targets. We reveal an iterative strategy of comparative modelling in different media, and suggest reasons why microbial models have a special degree of epistemic tractability in multimodel inquiry.     

Light perception in higher plants

Photosynthetic plants depend on sunlight as their energy source. Thus, they need to detect the intensity, quality and direction of this critical environmental factor and to respond properly by optimizing their growth and development. Perception of light is accomplished by several photoreceptors including phytochromes, blue/ultraviolet (UV)-A and UV-B light photoreceptors. In recent years, genetic, molecular genetic and cell biological approaches have significantly increased our knowledge about the structure and function of the photoreceptors, and allowed the identification of several light signal transduction components. Furthermore, this research led to fruitful interaction between different disciplines, such as molecular biology and ecology. It is safe to assume that we can expect more milestones in this research field in the upcoming years.     

Antibiotic resistance in microbes

The treatment of infectious disease is compromised by the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of microbial pathogens. A variety of biochemical processes are involved that may keep antibiotics out of the cell, alter the target of the drug, or disable the antibiotic. Studies have shown that resistance determinants arise by either of two genetic mechanisms: mutation and acquisition. Antibiotic resistance genes can be disseminated among bacterial populations by several processes, but principally by conjugation. Thus the overall problem of antibiotic resistance is one of genetic ecology and a better understanding of the contributing parameters is necessary to devise rational approaches to reduce the development and spread of antibiotic resistance and so avoid a critical situation in therapy--a return to a pre-antibiotic era.     

Molecular recognition of microbial lipid-based antigens by T cells

The immune system has evolved to protect hosts from pathogens. T cells represent a critical component of the immune system by their engagement in host defence mechanisms against microbial infections. Our knowledge of the molecular recognition by T cells of pathogen-derived peptidic antigens that are presented by the major histocompatibility complex glycoproteins is now well established. However, lipids represent an additional, distinct chemical class of molecules that when presented by the family of CD1 antigen-presenting molecules can serve as antigens, and be recognized by specialized subsets of T cells leading to antigen-specific activation. Over the past decades, numerous CD1-presented self- and bacterial lipid-based antigens have been isolated and characterized. However, our understanding at the molecular level of T cell immunity to CD1 molecules presenting microbial lipid-based antigens is still largely unexplored. Here, we review the insights and the molecular basis underpinning the recognition of microbial lipid-based antigens by T cells.     

Notes on toxinology

Conclusions Some of the papers to follow in the present series of communications on toxinology will show that in the field of chemistry, physiology, pharmacology and immunology, as well as molecular biology, animal venoms provide us with some particularly useful models. Obviously, this is one of the main reasons for the growing interest shown by numerous scientists in animal toxins.With reference to medicine, more research is needed in the field just mentioned with the aim of improving medical care. In addition, however, it is postulated that research on the behaviour of venomous animals towards man, and research into the quantities of venom actually applied to man, be intensified. Also, on the basis of results in this context, people most exposed could be provided with more and better information about prevention.Work of this sort requests the collaboration of biologists, who observe toxic animals in their natural habitat and who investigate in particular when, and under what prerogatives, the animals make use of toxins in their natural surroundings. Thus we end up with what has been said in the introduction to these notes: toxic animals are to be studied as entities and toxicity has to be looked at from all aspects essential for life, possibly including parasite and population control.Should the very last point prove valid, fascinating links could be established between toxinology and ecology and in turn migt become important for nature conservation. Thus, toxinology is but a budding field, the limits of which, can yet only be assumed.     

Intestinal epithelial barrier and mucosal immunity

Both innate immunity and mucosal surfaces provide the first line of defence against mucosal infections. Innate immunity is a universal and evolutionarily conserved form of host defence that senses microbial organisms. Recent advances in the field of immunology are due mainly to the discovery of the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize conserved microbial molecules. TLR stimulation induces specific patterns of gene expression that lead to the shaping of innate and adaptive immunity. Since mucosal tissues are colonized by innocuous microflora and challenged by infectious pathogens, activation of TLRs in epithelial and lamina propria cells must be tightly controlled to avoid inappropriate signalling that might lead to mucosal inflammation. This review aims to highlight novel insight on the molecules, pathways and gene expression networks associated with microbial recognition by TLRs and mucosal immunity.     

Consideration of microbiology in modelling the near field of a L/ILW repository

Summary The long-term safety of proposed repositories for nuclear waste is demonstrated by the use of chains of mathematical models describing the performance of the various barriers to radionuclide mobilisation, transport, release into the biosphere and eventual uptake by man. Microbial contamination of such repositories is to be expected, and hence the extent and consequences of microbial activity must also be quantified. This paper describes a modelling approach to determine the maximum microbial activity in the near field of a repository, which can thus be related to maximum possible degradation of performance. The approach is illustrated by application to a proposed Swiss repository for low- and intermediate-level waste (L/ILW), which is immobilised in concrete and emplaced in a marl host rock.     

The microbiology programme for UK Nirex

Summary The Nirex Safety Assessment Research Programme (NSARP) considers the effect of microbial action on the repository near field. The upper limit of growth for natural soil organisms appears to be pH 12.25. Environmental conditions in the repository will probably allow slow growth particularly on damp wastes. Experiments using packed columns of waste and concrete have shown that an extremely high pH is not conducive to rapid microbial growth. However, viable populations can exist within regions adjacent to the concrete, e.g. where a surface film coats the concrete. Carbon dioxide and methane will be produced by microbial action within the repository but actual rates of production will be lower than that in a domestic landfill. The cellulosic fraction of waste is the main determinant of cell growth. It appears to be the sugar acids arising from alkaline degradation of cellulose which cause enhanced plutonium solubility. The potentially beneficial reduction of chemically derived polyhydroxy acids by the microorganisms is possible. A mathematical model has been constructed to describe the main features of biological action in the repository.     

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin (LF) is a member of the transferrin family that is expressed and secreted by glandular epithelial cells and is found in the secondary granules of neutrophils. Originally viewed as an iron-binding protein in milk, with bacteriostatic properties, it is becoming increasingly evident that LF is a multifunctional protein to which several physiological roles have been attributed. These include regulation of iron homeostasis, host defense against a broad range of microbial infections, anti-inflammatory activity, regulation of cellular growth and differentiation and protection against cancer development and metastasis. While iron binding is likely central to some of the biological roles of LF, other activities, including specific interactions with mammalian receptors and microbial components, also contribute to the pleoitropic functional nature of this protein. In this article, recent advances in the understanding of these functions at the cellular and molecular level are discussed.