Mealybug beta-proteobacterial endosymbionts contain gamma-proteobacterial symbionts

Some insects have cultivated intimate relationships with mutualistic bacteria since their early evolutionary history. Most ancient 'primary' endosymbionts live within the cytoplasm of large, polyploid host cells of a specialized organ (bacteriome). Within their large, ovoid bacteriomes, mealybugs (Pseudococcidae) package the intracellular endosymbionts into 'mucus-filled' spheres, which surround the host cell nucleus and occupy most of the cytoplasm. The genesis of symbiotic spheres has not been determined, and they are structurally unlike eukaryotic cell vesicles. Recent molecular phylogenetic and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) studies suggested that two unrelated bacterial species may share individual host cells, and that bacteria within spheres comprise these two species. Here we show that mealybug host cells do indeed harbour both beta- and gamma-subdivision Proteobacteria, but they are not co-inhabitants of the spheres. Rather, we show that the symbiotic spheres themselves are beta-proteobacterial cells. Thus, gamma-Proteobacteria live symbiotically inside beta-Proteobacteria. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of an intracellular symbiosis involving two species of bacteria.     

Endosymbiotic sulphate-reducing and sulphide-oxidizing bacteria in an oligochaete worm

Stable associations of more than one species of symbiont within a single host cell or tissue are assumed to be rare in metazoans because competition for space and resources between symbionts can be detrimental to the host. In animals with multiple endosymbionts, such as mussels from deep-sea hydrothermal vents and reef-building corals, the costs of competition between the symbionts are outweighed by the ecological and physiological flexibility gained by the hosts. A further option for the coexistence of multiple symbionts within a host is if these benefit directly from one another, but such symbioses have not been previously described. Here we show that in the gutless marine oligochaete Olavius algarvensis, endosymbiotic sulphate-reducing bacteria produce sulphide that can serve as an energy source for sulphide-oxidizing symbionts of the host. Thus, these symbionts do not compete for resources but rather share a mutalistic relationship with each other in an endosymbiotic sulphur cycle, in addition to their symbiotic relationship with the oligochaete host.     

Molecular Identification of a Wolbachia endosymbiont in Trichogramma dendrolimi

Wolbachia is a common and widespread group of bacteria found in arthropods. These bacteria have evolved various mechanisms for manipulating reproduction of their host. The presence of Wolbachia in a lab strain of the arrhenotokous species Trichogramma dendrolimi was observed by the amplification and sequencing of part of the wsp gene. Aligning the resulting sequences with already published ones, the phylogenetic relationships between Wolbachia found in Trichogramma dendrolimi and in other Trichogramma wasps was established, and the phylogenetic relationships of Wolbachia in Trichogramma were not congruent with their hosts Trichogramma. Some factors contributing to this uncongruence are discussed here.     

Origin of the eukaryotic nucleus determined by rate-invariant analysis of rRNA sequences

The origin of the eukaryotic nucleus is difficult to reconstruct. Eukaryotic organelles (chloroplast, mitochondrion) are eubacterial endosymbionts, but the source of nuclear genes has been obscured by multiple nucleotide substitutions. Using evolutionary parsimony, a newly developed rate-invariant treeing algorithm, the eukaryotic ribosomal rRNA genes are shown to have evolved from the eocytes, a group of extremely thermophilic, sulphur-metabolizing, anucleate cells. The deepest bifurcation yet found separates the reconstructed tree into two taxonomic divisions. These are a proto-eukaryotic group (karyotes) and an essentially bacterial one (parkaryotes). Within the precision of the rooting procedure, the tree is not consistent with either the prokaryotic-eukaryotic or the archaebacterial-eubacterial-eukaryotic groupings. It implies that the last common ancestor of extant life, and the early ancestors of eukaryotes, probably lacked nuclei, metabolized sulphur and lived at near-boiling temperatures.     

一株富含类胡萝卜素光合细菌的分离鉴定

从不同生物环境中分离紫色非硫菌,测定其类胡萝卜素含量,筛选出富含类胡萝卜素的菌株.对该菌株的形态学特征、碳氮源利用情况、最适生长pH值及盐度等生物学特征进行研究;利用PCR技术扩增其16S rRNA基因,测序后进行16S rRNA基因序列分析,研究其分类地位.结果:分离自暨南大学明湖底泥的菌株R2,在所分离的8株紫色非硫菌中,类胡萝卜素质量分数最高,为4.83 mg/g(干菌体),该菌株符合红游动菌属(Rhodoplanes)的生物学特性,其最适生长pH为7.0,盐度为0.2%;16S rRNA基因的分子系统学分析表明,该菌株与红游动菌属的Rhodoplanessp.HA17相似性为99.4%.可确定筛选出一株高产类胡萝卜素的菌株,该菌株属于红游动菌属(Rhodoplanes).     

Phylogenetic relationships of host insects of Cordyceps sinensis inferred from mitochondrial Cytochrome b sequences

This study used the sequence of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b(Cytb)to estimate phylogenetic relationships among host Hepialidae insects of Cordyceps sinensis.Genome DNA of host insect was extracted from the dead larva head part of 18 cordyceps populations and 2 species of Hepialus,and the Cytb fragment of host insect was amplified with PCR technique.The nucleotide sequence alignments and their homologous sequences of 24 species host Hepialidae insects of Cordyceps sinensis were obtained from GenBank and were used to construct phylogenetic trees based on neighbor-joining method.The results showed that genus Bipectilus diverged earlier than genus Hepialus and Hepialiscus.Hepialus host insects of Cordyceps sinensis have multitudinous species with different morphological characteristics and geographical distributions.The interspecific genetic differentiations are obvious in Hepialus.Thus,the genus Hepialus might be considered as polyphyletic origin.Cytb sequences have abundant variations among the host insects of Cordyceps sinensis on spe- cific and generic level.The divergence rate of Cytb sequences among the species in Hepialus ranged from 0.23% to 9.24%,except that Hepialus pratensis and Hepialus jinshaensis have the same sequence.Cytb sequence can be used for species identification of host insects of Cordyceps sinensis,but further confirmation in more host insect species is needed.To obtain the Cytb sequence of host insect by ampli- fying DNA extracted from the head part of dead larva in cordyceps turns out to be an effective and accurate approach,which will be useful for studies on phylogeny and genetic structure of host insects of cordyceps populations,especially for analyzing relationships between C. sinensis and its host insects.     

Phylogenetic relationships of host insects of Cordyceps sinensis inferred from mitochondrial Cytochrome b sequences

This study used the sequence of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cytb) to estimate phylogenetic relationships among host Hepialidae insects of Cordyceps sinensis. Genome DNA of host insect was extracted from the dead larva head part of 18 cordyceps populations and 2 species of Hepialus, and the Cytb fragment of host insect was amplified with PCR technique. The nucleotide sequence alignments and their homologous sequences of 24 species host Hepialidae insects of Cordyceps sinensis were obtained from GenBank and were used to construct phylogenetic trees based on neighbor-joining method. The results showed that genus Bipectilus diverged earlier than genus Hepialus and Hepialiscus. Hepialus host insects of Cordyceps sinensis have multitudinous species with different morphological characteristics and geographical distributions. The interspecific genetic differentiations are obvious in Hepialus. Thus, the genus Hepialus might be considered as polyphyletic origin. Cytb sequences have abundant variations among the host insects of Cordyceps sinensis on specific and generic level. The divergence rate of Cytb sequences among the species in Hepialus ranged from 0.23% to 9.24%, except that Hepialus pratensis and Hepialus jinshaensis have the same sequence. Cytb sequence can be used for species identification of host insects of Cordyceps sinensis, but further confirmation in more host insect species is needed. To obtain the Cytb sequence of host insect by amplifying DNA extracted from the head part of dead larva in cordyceps turns out to be an effective and accurate approach, which will be useful for studies on phylogeny and genetic structure of host insects of cordyceps populations, especially for analyzing relationships between C. sinensis and its host insects.     

青岛海域固氮细菌的系统发育多样性研究

采用严格人工无氮海水培养基富集、分离培养方法及用3对固氮基因(nifH)引物进行PCR检测,从青岛近海沉积物和海水中分离到16株异养型可培养海洋固氮细菌,经16S rDNA全序列测定分析了它们的系统发育多样性。结果显示,16株菌分布于Alphaproteobacteria、Gammaproteobacteria、Flavobacteria的3个纲中,分别代表着6个属、10个种,其中有50%归于Pseudoalteromonas属;海底沉积物中固氮菌的多样性要远高于海水,并在其中发现2个潜在新种。研究表明,青岛近海海域的固氮菌具有一定程度的多样性,它们大部分在系统发育关系上与分离自韩国、南极洲、新喀里多尼岛等海水的标准菌高度同源,但也存在少量潜在新物种。结果可为其他不同海域异养固氮菌的多样性及其生态功能研究提供有益参考。     

Analysis of RAPD and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences from Trichiurus lepturus and Eupleurogrammus muticus in the Yellow Sea

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique is applied to 12 individuals from each species of the hairtail fishes Trichiurus lepturus and Eupleurogrammus muticus in the Yellow Sea. The percentage of polymorphic sites, degree of genetic polymorphism and genetic distance are compared and the phylogenetic tree is constructed by Neighbor-joining method. The partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene is amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the PCR products are directly sequenced after being purified. These sequences, together with the homologous sequences of another Trichiuridae species Lepidopus caudatus obtained from GenBank, are used to analyze nucleotide difference and to construct a UPGMA phylogenetic tree by means of biological informatics. Analysis shows: (1) the RAPD technique is a highly sensitive method for investigating genetic diversity in T. lepturus, and E. muticus. T. lepturus exhibits a lower polymorphism and genetic diversity than E. muticus; (2) according to the analysis of the partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences, a very low intraspecific variation and considerably high divergence among species were found, which reveals a dual nature of conservatism and variability in mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene; (3) five primers generate the species-specific RAPD sites and these sites can be served as the molecular markers for species identification and (4) it can be proved at DNA variation level that T. lepturus and E. muticus are of two species respectively pertaining to different genera, which supports the Nelson taxonomic conclusion.     

仁扇舟蛾幼虫肠道可培养细菌群落结构分析

[目的]了解仁扇舟蛾(Clostera restitura)肠道共生细菌的主要类群及其群落结构特征,明确仁扇舟蛾幼虫前、中和后肠可培养细菌的种类及群落结构组成,为进一步研究特异功能细菌的生理生化特征和功能提供基础.[方法]选取仁扇舟蛾5龄幼虫进行肠道解剖,分离前、中和后肠不同肠段,研磨稀释10-1～10-6,分别涂布于...     

海绵Pseudoceratina sp.共栖细菌多样性及其抑制甘蔗鞭黑粉菌活性研究

【目的】探讨广西斜阳岛附近海域海绵共附生细菌的多样性,并筛选对甘蔗鞭黑粉菌有抑制作用的活性物质,为发现潜在的细菌新物种及开发农用生防菌肥奠定基础。【方法】采用稀释涂布法,通过6种复合营养分离培养基,从海绵Pseudoceratina sp.中分离可培养的共附生细菌。采取细菌形态学观察去除冗余,通过PCR扩增菌株的16SrRNA基因序列,并通过构建系统发育树分析物种多样性。采用牛津杯法进行抑制甘蔗鞭黑粉菌活性筛选实验。【结果】从海绵Pseudoceratina sp.中共分离到可培养细菌54株,经16SrRNA基因序列对比后,获得24株细菌,隶属于13科14属。其中,菌株BGMRC 2118与已发表有效菌株的16SrRNA基因序列的最高相似率为96.46%,可能为潜在新种。抑菌筛选实验结果显示,有8株细菌的发酵粗提物对甘蔗鞭黑粉菌具有很强的抑菌活性。【结论】广西斜阳岛附近海域中海绵共附生细菌具有较高的物种多样性,蕴藏着丰富的新物种资源,富含生物活性菌株。     

Phylogenetic positions of some genera and species of the family Buccinidae (Gastropoda: Mollusca) from China based on ribosomal RNA and COI sequences

A phylogenetic analysis of members of the family Buccinidae was conducted using 18S rRNA gene, 28S rRNA gene and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase Ⅰ gene. We studied 18 species of Buccinidae that belong to eight different genera and inhabit the China coastal seas. We analyzed the patterns of divergence between an outgroup and basal ingroup taxa, the monophyly of the genus Neptunea, and the position of one unnamed species within the Buccinidae. A phylogenetic tree (neighbor-joining (NJ) method) was reconstructed based on the sequences of 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and COI, with Rapana venosa as outgroup. The NJ tree indicated that the 18 species could be divided into five groups. The genus Buccinum was monophyletic, whereas Neptunea was shown to be paraphyletic since it included Siphonalia subdilatata and Neptunea sp., a new species. This novel species otherwise clustered consistently with Neptunea cumingi in three other phylogenetic trees, showing a low genetic distance and divergence percentage of sequences belonging to the genus Neptunea. A smaller genetic distance and a smaller difference of 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and COI sequences between Neptunea cumingii and Neptunea arthritica cumingii confirmed them to be the same species.     

广西北部湾海域表层海水细菌多样性及其潜在生物合成基因研究

本研究选取广西北部湾3处近海海域,以其表层海水作为研究对象进行细菌多样性分析,旨在挖掘潜在抗生素生物合成的菌株.选用传统稀释涂布法和基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育树分析海水中可培养细菌多样性,并对其基因组DNA进行抗生素生物合成基因聚酮合酶(PKS)基因、非核糖体肽合成酶(NRPS)基因及卤化酶(Halo)基因...     

A single genetic locus encoded by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis permits invasion of cultured animal cells by Escherichia coli K-12

For many species of pathogenic bacteria, invasion and survival within animal cells is central to establishing a successful host-parasite relationship. Localization within host cells protects the microorganism from host defences, or permits it to cross epithelial barriers and subsequently become systemically distributed. The precise mechanisms that permit entry of bacteria into host tissues are unclear, therefore we have been studying the invasion of epithelial cells by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. As a first step towards identifying the factors required for this process, we report here the identification of a single genetic locus from this organism that is sufficient to convert the innocuous Escherichia coli K-12 strain into an organism capable of invading cultured animal cells.     

云台山白云岩表层土可培养细菌多样性

运用纯培养法和基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析贵州云台山白云岩表层土可培养细菌的多样性.稀释涂布平板分离共获得131株细菌,限制性内切酶HhaⅠ和HaeⅢ对扩增的16S rRNA基因片段进行酶切分型,根据ARDRA酶切图谱划分为40个操作分类单元.16S rRNA基因序列测定和系统发育分析结果显示,这些菌株隶属于包括厚壁菌门(Firmicutes,64.89%)、β-变形菌纲(β-Proterbacteria,3.82%)、γ-变形菌纲(γ-Proterbacteria,17.56%)、放线细菌门(Actinobacteria,11.45%)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes,3.82%)等5大类群,共13个属.优势菌群为芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus,53.44%),亚优势菌群为寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas,9.16%)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas,8.40%)和微小杆菌属(Exiguobacterium,8.40%).15.00%的有效序列与GeneBank已知序列相似性小于等于97%,可能为潜在新类群.研究表明,云台山白云岩喀斯特地区不仅含有较为丰富的细菌物种多样性,且潜藏着许多新的微生物资源.     

滇西二高温温泉中Thermus高温菌的16S rRNA

 通过对滇西二温泉纯培养和免培养法获得的Thermus菌株序列进行16SrDNA系统发育及16SrRNA二级结构比较,发现二温泉中至少存在Thermus属的2个潜在新种,它们在系统发育树上形成1个独立的地理簇群分支,它们的16SrRNAhelix10二级结构也与其它地区的Thermus属菌株不同,形成明显的地域进化特征.     

一株耐高温纤维素降解菌的分离筛选及鉴定

为了分离筛选耐高温的纤维素高效降解菌,从鸡粪蘑菇渣高温堆肥中取样,采用滤纸富集培养基进行富集培养、刚果红纤维素培养基进行分离纯化培养、滤纸条培养基和刚果红纤维素培养基进行初筛培养、液体发酵测定纤维素酶活法进行复筛培养,利用形态特征观察、生理生化特征检测和基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析法进行初步鉴定,结果分离筛选到1株耐高温纤维素降解菌XD-3.该菌株在50 ℃生长良好、羧甲基纤维素酶(CMCase)活力达6.14±0.37 U/mL.综合形态特征、生理生化特性、基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析,菌株XD-3初步鉴定为解淀粉芽孢杆菌（Bacillus amyloliquefaciens）.     

新疆酸奶子中乳酸菌多样性分析

从15份采自新疆伊犁牧民家庭传统方法制作的酸奶子中分离出71株乳酸菌,并进行了生理生化表型特征鉴定。对其中的28株菌测定了16S rRNA基因全序列,构建系统发生树,结合生理生化结果,鉴定结果为,该酸奶子中乳酸菌涉及5个属、11个种及亚种,有些菌株对生长温度适应性较强。乳杆菌为新疆酸奶子中的优势菌属,以瑞士乳杆菌(Lb. helveticus)为最优势。     

冰期天文理论的演变

冰期天文理论是运用地球轨道偏心率、地轴倾角和地转轴进动的3种参数的变化幅度与周期来解释上新世——第四纪期间冰期——间冰期交替变化的一种理论．该理论1842年由Adhemar提出, 经过Croll发展到Milankovitch最终完成,经历了整100年的时间。上世纪60年代开始,深海、黄土、冰芯等大量的地质记录都揭示出３种周期变化,从而证实冰期天文理论的正确性,同时也对冰期天文理论带来了一些概念上的修正．但是,Berger计算的天文曲线至少从6 Ma以来展示同一规律的变化,然而地质记录却显示清晰的分段响应模式:41 kyr的地轴倾角周期在5.3～1.4 Ma期间一直是记录曲线的主要特征;北半球冰川作用只是在2.7 Ma BP才开始大规模出现;0.8 Ma开始100 Ka周期转变为主要周期,称之为中更新世转型（MPT）．还有:11阶段和全新世是2个偏心率很低的时期,但记录中却是冰期——间冰期振幅最大的时期,即大的间冰期为何出现于低偏心时期;由间冰期进入冰期比由冰期进入间冰期时来的快,意味大冰盖建造需要很长的时间,而消融则比较迅速．这些都是冰期天文理论本身不能解释的问题,正在由地球响应系统的研究来探索答案．     

Phylogenetic position of three Condylostoma species （Protozoa,Ciliophora, Heterotrichea） inferred from the small subunit rRNA gene sequence

The systematically poorly known ciliate genus Condylostoma was erected by Vincent in 1826. About 10 morphotypes have been reported, but any molecular investigations concerning this group so far are lacking. In this work, the small subunit ribosomal RNA （SS rRNA） gene of three marine Condylostoma species was sequenced, by which the phylogenetic trees were constructed by distancematrix, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The results show that （1） all the trees have similar topologies with high supports; （2） Condylostoma is mostly related to the genus Condylostentor; and （3） three Condylostoma species as well as Condylostentor auriculatus cluster together and form a sister group with other heterotrichs. This is moderately consistent with the assessment of phylogenetic relationships of Condylostoma-related heterotrichs from the morphological information. The phylogenetic relationship of some other related heterotrichs, Peritromus, Folliculina, Stentor and Blepharisma, has been also discussed.