Threat and management strategies of potentially invasive insects in China

The Global Invasive Species Database, GISD, comprises 27 species of the most significant invasive alien insects in the world (through November, 2005), 6 of which are originally native to China, 11 are established in China, and 10 have a potential invasion

表达lac和glk基因的蓝藻的异养生长

将来自Brucellaabortus的葡萄糖激酶基因glk和大肠杆菌乳糖操纵子基因lacZYA装置于蓝藻glnA启动子下游 ,以广宿主质粒导入 3种蓝藻。基因的表达通过 β 半乳糖苷酶和葡糖激酶活性测定得到确证。基因工程藻株均获得了利用乳糖异养生长的能力。集胞藻 6 80 3转基因株可在光照加DCMU的条件下利用乳糖生长 ,而鱼腥藻转基因株依赖乳糖可在完全黑暗条件下生长 ,并可在黑暗或加DCMU条件下诱导产生异形胞

Theoretical Investigation of LaC~n and La_2C~n(n=-1,0,+1)Clusters

用密度泛函方法研究了ＬａＣｎ及Ｌａ２Ｃｎ（ｎ＝－１，０，＋１）分子簇的结构和稳定性．对Ｌａ２Ｃｎ体系，提出了两种可能构型，其中一种具有Ｃ２ｖ对称性，另一种具有Ｄ∞ｈ对称性．计算结果表明，对Ｌａ２Ｃｎ，当ｎ＝＋１，－１时，线状结构最稳定，并且在ｎ＝＋１时，Ｃ２ｖ结构极不稳定有收敛向线状结构的趋势．而当ｎ＝０时，Ｃ２ｖ结构最稳定．最后还计算了ＬａＣ和Ｌａ２Ｃ分子簇的电子亲和势和离化能.

Bio-inspired mechanics of reversible adhesion: Orientation-dependent adhesion strength for non-slipping adhesive contact with transversely isotropic elastic materials

Geckos and many insects have evolved elastically anisotropic adhesive tissues with hierarchical structures that allow these animals not only to adhere robustly to rough surfaces but also to detach easily upon movement. In order to improve Our understanding of the role of elastic anisotropy in reversible adhesion, here we extend the classical JKR model of adhesive contact mechanics to anisotropic materials. In particular, we consider the plane strain problem of a rigid cylinder in non-slipping adhesive contact with a transversely isotropic elastic half space with the axis of symmetry oriented at an angle inclined to the surface. The cylinder is then subjected to an arbitrarily oriented pulling force. The critical force and contact width at pull-off are calculated as a function of the pulling angle. The analysis shows that elastic anisotropy leads to an orientation-dependent adhesion strength which can vary strongly with the direction of pulling. This study may suggest possible mechanisms by which reversible adhesion devices can be designed for engineering applications. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The mastoparanogen from wasp

Mastoparans are a family of small peptides identified from the venom of hymenopteroid insects. Although they have been characterized as early as 1979, and so far are recognized as a leading biomolecule in potential drug therapy, their precursors, mastopar

A horsefly saliva antigen 5-like protein containing RTS motif is an angiogenesis inhibitor

The Ag5 proteins are the most abundant and immunogenic proteins in the venom secretory ducts of stinging insects. An antigen 5-like protein (named tabRTS) composed of 221 amino acid residues was purified and characterized from the salivary glands of the horsefly, Tabanus yao (Diptera, Tabanidae). Its cDNA was cloned from the cDNA library of the horsefly's salivary gland. TabRTS containing the SCP domain (Sc7 family of extracellular protein domain) was found in insect antigen 5 proteins. More interestingly, there is an Arg-Thr-Ser (RTS) disintegrin motif at the C-terminus of tabRTS. The RTS motif is positioned in a loop bracketed by cysteine residues as those found in RTS-disintegrins of Crotalidae and Viperidae snake venoms, which act as angiogenesis inhibitors. Endothelial Cell Tube formation assay in vitro and chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis assay in vivo were performed as to investigate the effect of tabRTS on angiogenesis. It was found that tabRTS could significantly inhibit angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Anti-alpha(1)beta(1) monoclonal antibody could dose-dependently inhibit the anti-angiogenic activity of tabRTS. This result indicated that tabRTS possibly targets the alpha(1)beta(1) integrin to exert the anti-angiogenic activity as snake venom RTS-/KTS-disintegrins do. The current work revealed the first angiogenesis inhibitor protein containing RTS motif from invertebrates, a possible novel type of RTS-disintegrin. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences variation of Protura and molecular systematics of Apterygota

Mitochondrial cytochrome b genes of about 450 bp fragments from 3 proturan species, 5 collembolan species and 2 dipluran species have been sequenced. The number of nucleotide substitutions and Kimura 2-parameter distances have also been calculated, and a series of molecular phylogenetic trees reconstructed by using parsimony and distance methods. The proturan, collembolan and dipluran species have evolved monophyletic groups. The results suggest that Protura and Collembola are sister groups, while Diplura is more or less demonstrating a closer phylogenetic relationship to the pterygotan insects. The phylogeny and their systematic position of protura and other groups are also discussed.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for the endangered Taxus yunnanensis

Eleven polymorphic microsatellite loci were characterized for the endangered conifer Taxus yunnanensis. Eight loci were isolated through SSR-anchored PCR, one locus was developed by cross-species amplification tests, while the last two loci were obtained

Identification and characterization of insect-specific proteins by genome data analysis

Background: Insects constitute the vast majority of known species with their importance including biodiversity, agricultural, and human health concerns. It is likely that the successful adaptation of the Insecta clade depends on specific components in its

Single base-resolution methylome of the silkworm reveals a sparse epigenomic map

Epigenetic regulation in insects may have effects on diverse biological processes. Here we survey the methylome of a model insect, the silkworm Bombyx mori, at single-base resolution using Illumina high-throughput bisulfite sequencing (MethylC-Seq). We conservatively estimate that 0.11% of genomic cytosines are methylcytosines, all of which probably occur in CG dinucleotides. CG methylation is substantially enriched in gene bodies and is positively correlated with gene expression levels, suggesting it has a positive role in gene transcription. We find that transposable elements, promoters and ribosomal DNAs are hypomethylated, but in contrast, genomic loci matching small RNAs in gene bodies are densely methylated. This work contributes to our understanding of epigenetics in insects, and in contrast to previous studies of the highly methylated genomes of Arabidopsis(1) and human(2), demonstrates a strategy for sequencing the epigenomes of organisms such as insects that have low levels of methylation.

紫茎泽兰精油各馏份对4种仓库害虫的杀虫活性

：用紫撬泽兰精油的20℃～150。C，150℃一200℃，20．0℃，230℃．230屯。300℃和300℃以上馏协，分剐以 稚．簦嘴，L的熏蒸浓爰楚理米象、玉采象、簿豆象牵蚕熹象，螬幕表磷凄5争犍静中，娃15。℃～200℃馏傍转荣虫活性 最高，其洗是20℃一150℃和200℃～230气馏份，而300℃以上馏份的杀虫活性靛低。进一步的生测结装表明．150屯一 200℃增傍对米象、玉来氧、绿黛象和善豆象24h的l(葡分莉为15 5li4，17．8124，培．0302和16．2671mg／Lo

Response of macrozoobenthos communities to ecological engineering remediation in a hypertrophic urban lake

The relationship of macrozoobenthos communities with some environmental variables, and their response to the ongoing restoration measures were studied in a small hypertrophic urban lake near the Yangzte River, China. Twenty taxa including 9 oligochaetes, 7 insects, 2 mollusks and two other animals were found during March 2005 to May 2006. The reappearance of some indigenous macrozoobenthos species showed that the ecological engineering remediation carried out was helpful for the recovery of the macrozoobenthos communities. Through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), it was detected that temperature (T), conductivity (COND), Secchi depth/deep (SD/Deep), TN, total suspended solids (SS) and chemical oxygen demand (CODcr) were significant environmental factors that influenced the pattern of macrozoobenthos. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Tanypus sp. and Alocinma longicornis could be used as potential bio-indicators in monitoring the development of ecological restoration.

Macrozoobenthic community of Fuxian Lake, the deepest lake of southwest China

Located in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in southwest China, Fuxian Lake covers an area of 211 km(2), with maximum depth of 155 m. It is known to have a unique fauna, including 14 described endemic species. In order to describe the zoobenthic community of the lake more completely, the present study was conducted from August 2002 to August 2003. Altogether 62 benthic taxa, including 22 oligochaetes, 21 molluscs and 18 insects were identified, of which the dominant taxa belonged to Potamothrix, Procladius and Paraprososthenia. The standing stocks of benthos were much higher in the littoral (824 ind/m(2) in density, 3.72 g/m(2) in biomass) than in the profundal region (23 ind/m(2) in density, 0.10 g/m(2) in biomass). Species richness was greatest in summer and standing stocks were larger in spring and summer than in other seasons. Analyses of functional feeding groups indicated that collector-gatherers and scrapers were predominant in entire lake. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the water depth is the most important factor affecting the distribution of macrozoobenthos. (C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.