Stable Isotope Probing:Linking Functional Activity to Specific Members of Microbial Communities

Linking organisms or groups of organisms to specific functions within natural environments is a fundamental challenge in microbial ecology. Advances in technology for manipulating and analyzing nucleic acids have made it possible to characterize the members of microbial communities without the intervention of laboratory culturing. Results from such studies have shown that the vast majority of soil organisms have never been cultured, highlighting the risks of culture-based approaches in community analysis. The development of culture-independent techniques for following the flow of substrates through microbial communities therefore represents an important advance. These techniques, collectively known as stable isotope probing (SIP), involve introducing a stable isotope-labeled substrate into a microbial community and following the fate of the substrate by extracting diagnostic molecular species such as fatty acids and nucleic acids from the community and determining which specific molecules have incorporated the isotope. The molecules in which the isotope label appears provide identifying information about the organism that incorporated the substrate. Stable isotope probing allows direct observations of substrate assimilation in minimally disturbed communities, and thus represents an exciting new tool for linking microbial identity and function. The use of lipids or nucleic acids as the diagnostic molecule brings different strengths and weaknesses to the experimental approach, and necessitates the use of significantly different instrumentation and analytical techniques. This short review provides an overview of the lipid and nucleic acid approaches, discusses their strengths and weaknesses, gives examples of applications in various settings, and looks at prospects for the future of SIP technology.

Concentrations of alkyphenol polyethoxylates entering UK estuaries

Concentrations of the weakly oestrogenic degradation products of alkylphenol polyethoxylate (APE) surfactants (nonylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol monoethoxylate and nonylphenol diethoxylate) were measured in water and sediments from British rivers and estuaries collected during 1994 and 1995. In addition, a series of samples of tissues of wild fish from the River Aire, and from a laboratory dosing experiment were analysed for alkylphenols, to assess the degree of bioaccumulation of these compounds. Measurable concentrations of APE residues were recorded in the River Aire (15–76 μg/l total extractable alkylphenols), the River Mersey (6–11 μg/l) and the Tees estuary (up to 76 μg/l). These levels exceed, or are close to, the no observed effect concentration for the induction of vitellogenesis in caged trout (5–20 μg/l total extractable alkylphenols), and may be sufficient to exert an oestrogenic effect on fish populations in these areas. A sediment sample from Bingley on the River Aire contained 15 μg/g (dry weight) nonylphenol, and concentrations in sediments from the Tees and Mersey estuaries exceeded 1 μg/g. These rivers receive a variety of trade waters via sewage treatment works (STW) effluents containing significant concentrations of APE. Elsewhere, concentrations in water and sediments were near or below limits of detection and biological effects are unlikely, suggesting that any oestrogenic effects observed in sewage outfalls and rivers not directly impacted by APE-containing trade-waters may be caused by other chemicals. Analysis of samples of trout muscle taken from a tank dosed at 65 μg/l nonylphenol indicated a bioaccumulation factor of between 90 and 125 after 3 weeks exposure. Samples of wild fish from the River Aire contained up to 0.8 μg/g nonylphenol in the muscle, a tissue bioaccumulation factor of approximately 50 relative to measured concentrations in water samples. A series of fish samples taken from offshore for food quality assurance purposes contained no detectable levels of APE residues (0.05–0.1 μg/g nonylphenol).

黄土高原典型土壤全氮和微生物氮剖面分布特征研究

为阐明黄土高原典型土壤全氮和微生物氮含量随土壤类型、土层和土地利用方式变化规律,研究了从北向南依次分布的干润砂质新成土(神木)、黄土正常新成土(延安)和土垫旱耕人为土(杨陵)等典型土壤的全氮和微生物氮含量的变化特征。结果表明,不同土壤类型、不同土层全氮和微生物氮含量存在显著差异。从南到北,全氮和微生物氮含量显著下降(P<0.05)。对同一土壤类型,全氮和微生物氮含量在0—60 cm随土层深度增加下降很明显,60—120 cm有轻微下降,120 cm以下低而稳定。微生物氮含量随土壤类型的变化趋势与全氮完全相同,其与土壤全氮、有机碳及微生物碳含量均存在极显著正相关关系(P<0.01)。土壤微生物氮与全氮比值变化在0.42%9~.44%之间。虽然土地利用对土壤全氮和C/N比影响不显著,但却显著影响微生物氮含量和微生物氮与全氮的比值;与农田土壤相比,草地土壤微生物氮含量和微生物氮与全氮比值均明显增加。这一结果说明微生物氮含量和微生物氮与全氮比值更能有效、快速地反映土壤质量的变化。

辽东山区长白落叶松叶面积指数和林冠开阔度的月动态

利用外带鱼眼镜头的数码相机获得长白落叶松(Larix olgensis)林型的半球面影像,用Gap Light Analyzer软件处理分析后获得叶面积指数、林冠开阔度和林下光照因子等一系列参数,揭示了辽东山区长白落叶松的叶面积指数和林冠开阔度的月动态特征。结果表明,长白落叶松随着生长季的到来叶面积指数呈快速增长的趋势,最大值出现在6月份,7—9月份开始缓慢下降,10月份下降显著,最小值在春季4月份;林冠开阔度随着生长季的到来而下降,其最小值出现在6月份,之后开始缓慢增加,10月份骤然增加,最大值在春季4月份。叶面积指数和林冠开阔度相关显著,并且呈现指数回归的关系。

辽东山区人工阔叶红松林植物多样性与生产力研究

根据对人工营造20年生阔叶红松林典型样地的调查,分析了人工阔叶红松林的生产力、植物多样性及其相互关系.结果表明,人工营造的20年生红松-白桦、红松-色赤杨、红松-水曲柳混交林林地生产力分别达6.529、4.966和5.682t.hm-2.yr-1,高于同龄人工红松纯林(3.812t.hm-2.yr-1);而红松-刺楸、红松-紫椴混交林分别为2.945和2.84t.hm-2.yr-1,低于人工红松纯林.人工阔叶红松林乔木层、灌木层、草本层植物多样性均高于红松纯林;红松纯林内的植物种数仅为人工阔叶红松混交林的42%～52%,植物总数量也只有混交林的11%～37%.人工营造阔叶红松林是迅速恢复、发展顶极阔叶红松林的一种有效措施,但要经历相当长的时间和人为的不断调控.

黄土丘陵区油松人工林和白桦天然林细根垂直分布及其与土壤养分的关系

在黄土高原子午岭林区,对油松人工林、白桦天然林细根生物量、比根长、根长密度和细根表面积的垂直分布特征,以及这些根系指标与土壤水分、土壤容重、氮素和有机质的关系进行了研究。结果表明,油松人工林细根生物量随土壤深度增加呈单峰曲线,白桦林细根生物量随土壤深度增加呈减少趋势;油松林大部分根系生物量集中分布在0—40 cm土层中,其中0—20 cm土层占37%以上,20—40 cm集中了41%以上;表层土壤(0—20 cm)具有较高的比根长、根长密度和细根表面积,而底层(40—60 cm)的比根长、根长密度和细根表面积最低。油松林土壤全氮和有机质含量垂直变化趋势相似,随土壤深度的增加而降低;硝态氮(NO3--N)均随土壤深度的增加呈单峰曲线变化趋势,而铵态氮(NH4+-N)随土壤深度增加呈先降低后增加的抛物线趋势。白桦林75%的细根生物量集中在0—20 cm土层,比根长、根长密度和细根表面积的垂直分布规律与油松林相似,表层土壤白桦林细根表面积是油松人工林的3.91倍,而20—40 cm土层白桦林细根表面积比油松人工林降低了33%。白桦林土壤全氮、有机质含量、NO3--N和NH4+-N垂直变化趋势与油松林相似。土壤水分、...

施用农用化学品及生防制剂对土壤线虫群落动态影响的研究

Dynamics of soil nematode communities amended with agrochemicals and bio control preparations were investigated in a soybean field. The results showed that the frequency of plant non parasitic nematodes were obviously higher in soil amended with bio control preparations (Doufeng 1) than with urea and herbicide, however, that of plant parasitic nematodes exhibited an inverse trend.

土壤中Frankia菌RNA提取

土壤中Ｆｒａｎｋｉａ菌ＲＮＡ提取王育英，林建群，郭秀荣，李彤，张忠泽（中国科学院沈阳应用生态研究所，１１００１５）Ｆｒａｎｋｉａ非亚科共生固氮是一类重要的固氮资源。对Ｆｒａｎｋｉａ共生生物学、生态学等特性曾进行过广泛的研究。８ｔ０年代末，Ｆｒａｎｋｉ...

文冠果壳提取物对β-淀粉样蛋白致动物学习记忆障碍的改善作用

目的研究文冠果壳乙醇提取物对动物学习记忆障碍的改善作用并探讨其可能的作用机制。方法采用水迷宫法、避暗法测定小鼠的学习记忆能力;用Y迷宫法及Morris水迷宫法测试大鼠的学习记忆能力,显微镜下观察海马组织形态学改变。结果文冠果壳乙醇提取物显著减少侧脑室注射β-淀粉样蛋白(25-35)(Aβ(25-35))致记忆障碍小鼠水迷宫实验的逃避潜伏期和避暗实验的错误次数,延长避暗潜伏期;文冠果壳乙醇提取物显著提高D-半乳糖合用Aβ(25-35)致记忆障碍大鼠Y迷宫测试中正确反应率,显著缩短Morris水迷宫测试中的潜伏期及游泳路程;抑制海马神经元的变性及脱落。结论文冠果壳乙醇提取物对Aβ(25-35)致鼠学习记忆障碍有显著的改善作用,其作用机制可能与对抗Aβ(25-35)的毒性有关。

Synthesis and luminescence properties of monodisperse spherical Y2O3 : Eu3+@SiO2 particles with core-shell structure

Y2O3: Eu3+ phosphor layers were deposited on monodisperse SiO2 particles with different sizes ( 300, 500, 900, and 1200 nm) via a sol-gel process, resulting in the formation of Y2O3: Eu3+@SiO2 core-shell particles. X-ray diffraction ( XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy ( TEM), time-resolved photoluminescence ( PL) spectra, and lifetimes were employed to characterize the Y2O3: Eu3+@SiO2 core-shell samples. The results of XRD indicated that the Y2O3: Eu3+ layers began to crystallize on the silica surfaces at 600 degrees C and the crystallinity increased with the elevation of annealing temperature until 900 degrees C. The obtained core-shell particles have perfect spherical shape with narrow size distribution and non-agglomeration. The thickness of the shells could be easily controlled by changing the number of deposition cycles ( 60 nm for three deposition cycles). Under the excitation of ultraviolet ( 250 nm), the Eu3+ ion mainly shows its characteristic red ( 611 nm, D-5(0)-F-7(2)) emissions in the core-shell particles from Y2O3: Eu3+ shells.

Controlled organization of silver nanoparticles into network assemblies by tuning pH values

We demonstrate the pH-induced assembly of 2-mercaptosuccinic acid-functionalized silver nanoparticles (MSA-Ag NPs) in the absence of hard or soft template. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) networks of silver NPs were achieved by tuning pH of the medium. The assembly process was monitored using atomic forces microscopy. The key factor affects the formation of network of silver NPs may be intermolecular hydrogen bonding between two carboxylic acid groups of MSA on two adjacent silver NPs.