Lysis of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (Cyanobacterium) by a bacterium Bacillus cereus

A phytoplankton-lytic (PL) bacterium, Bacillus cereus, capable of lysing the bloom-forming cyanobacterium. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae was isolated from Lake Dianchi of Yunnan province, China. This bacterium showed lytic activities against a wide range of cyanobacteria/algae, including A. flos-aquae, Microcystis viridis, Microcystis wesenbergi, Microcystis aeruginosa, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Oscillatoria tenuis, Nostoc punctiforme, Anabaena flos-aquae, Spirulina maxima, and Selenastrum capricornutum. Chlorophyll a contents, phycocyanin contents, and photosynthetic activities of the A. flos-aquae decreased evidently in an infected culture for a period. Bacterium B. cereus attacked rapidly A. flos-aquae cells by cell-to-cell contact mechanism. It was shown that the lysis of A. flos-aquae began with the breach of the cyanobacterial cell wall, and the cyanobacterial cell appeared abnormal in the presence of the PL bacterium. Moreover, transmission electron microscope examinations revealed that a close contact between the bacterium and the cyanobacterium was necessary for lysis. Some slime extrusions produced from B. cereus assisted the bacterial cells to be in close association with and lyse the cyanobacterial cells. These findings suggested that this bacterium could play an important role in controlling the Aphanizomenon blooms in freshwaters. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Garra rotundinasus, a new species of cyprinid fish (Pisces : Teleostei) from the upper Irrawaddy River basin, China

Garra rotundinasus, a new cyprinid species from the upper Irrawaddy River basin in Yunnan, China, is herein described. It shares with G. gravelyi the presence of a snout having a poorly developed proboscis represented by a truncate area in front of the nostrils, a character distinguishing both from all other Southeast Asian and Chinese congeners. The two species are distinct in coloration, morphometric and meristic characters. The sympatrically occurring G. tengchongensis is very similar to G. rotundinasus in possessing 36-37 perforated lateral line scales, 5 or 6 scales between the anus and anal-fin origin, and an anterior position of the anus (anus to anal distance 32.1-51.8% of pelvic to anal distance). Garra rotundinasus can be differentiated from G. tengehongensis in having a more slender caudal peduncle, a larger disc and no dark central band on the dorsal fin.

Potamothrix scleropenis sp nov (Oligochaeta : Tubificidae) from Fuxian Lake, the deepest lake in southwest China

Potamothrix scleropenis sp. nov. (Tubificidae: Tubificinae) is described from the profundal zone (74 m) of Fuxian Lake, the deepest lake (up to 155 m) on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in China. The new species is assigned to Potamothrix because of its short vasa deferentia. and its tubular atria without ejaculatory ducts and prostate glands. It differs from congeners by its cuticularized penis sheaths; bifurcated, strongly curved spermathecal chaetae; bifurcated lower prongs of bifids; and feathered hairs. P scleropenis appears closely related to P cekanovskajae Finogenova, 1972 and P tudoranceai porka, 1994, since all the three species have homogeneous atria without prostate glands.

Revised diagnosis of the genus Bangana Hamilton, 1822 (Pisces : Cyprinidae), with taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on the Chinese species

Most morphological characters diagnostic of the 13 Chinese species of the cyprinid genus Sinilabeo Rendahl, 1932, are identical to those of the genus Bangana Hamilton, 1822. Consequently, these 13 species are transferred to Bangana. A revised diagnosis is provided for the now-expanded genus Bangana, and a dichotomous key and taxonomic and nomenclatural notes are included for the following valid Chinese species: B. decora, B. dero, B. devdevi, B. discognathoides, B. lemassoni, B. lippa, B. rendahli, B. tonkinensis, B. tungting, B. wui, B. xanthogenys, B. yunnanensis, and B. zhui. Literature reports, by Chinese authors, of Sinilabeo dero from the upper Irrawady River basin, in Yunnan, are based on misidentifcations of B. devdevi. Sinilabeo cirrhinoides Wu and Lin in Wu, Lin, Chen, Chen and He, 1977, and S. laticeps Wu and Lin in Wu, Lin, Chen, Chen and He, 1977, are junior subjective synonyms of B. devdevi and B. lippa, respectively. Sinilabeo yunnanensis Wu, Lin, Chen, Chen and He, 1977, is an available name, and a lectotype is designated for the species. Bangana zhui ( Zheng and Chen, 1983) is a valid species distinct from B. yunnanensis.

Akrokolioplax, a new genus of Southeast Asian labeonine fishes (Teleostei : Cyprinidae)

Akrokolioplax, new genus, is erected for the reception of Epalzeorhynchos bicornis Wu, 1977. It shares with the remaining species of Epalzeorhynchos what have usually been called "rostral lateral lobes" on the snout, which are non-homologous structures used to distinguish the two genera from all other Labeoninae genera. Akrokolioplax and Epalzeorhynchos differ in the position and structure of these lobes, and also in the morphology of the oromandibular structures. A detailed redescription is also provided for the type species of this monotypic genus, A. bicornis. It is presently known from the upper Salween River (=Nu Jiang in Chinese) basin in Yunnan (South China), Myanmar and Thailand.

Analysis of paralytic shellfish toxins in Aphanizomenon DC-1 from Lake Dianchi, China

Lake Dianchi is in Yunnan Province in southwestern China. In recent years, significant cyanobacterial blooms have occurred in this lake nearly every year because of eutrophication. Monitoring data for the past 5 years acquired by our research group showed that phytoplankton composition alternated between species of Microcystis sp. during warm seasons and those of Aphanizomenon sp. during cool seasons. In March 2003, when phytoplankton composition was highly dominated by Aphanizomenon sp., samples were taken from the lake for toxin detection and immediate strain isolation. A mouse bioassay with extracts from the lyophilized field material showed obvious intoxication from paralytic shellfish poisons (PSPs), and all mice died within 30 min. Further analysis of both field and isolated algal strain Aphanizomenon DC-1 by the postcolumn HPLC-FLD method confirmed its PSP-producing ability The analogues found in the extracts from the field material were neoSTX, dcSTX, and dcGTX3, with contents of 2.279, 1.135, and 0.547 ng/mg DW, respectively. Under laboratory culture condition, toxin content in the Aphanizomenon strain DC-1 varied greatly during different growth phases, with two peaks: in the early-exponential and late-stationary growth phases. When the culture grew at a relatively high rate during the mid- to late-exponential growth phase, toxin content declined gradually. Moreover, the types of toxin in the DC-1 strain varied greatly during a single culture cycle. The HPLC results showed that dcSTX was the only toxin isomer detected throughout the culture period, and its level remained stable. On the other hand, dcGTX2 and GTX4 were the major toxins during the early-exponential and stationary phases, respectively. This article presents the first data on the identification and detection of paralytic shellfish toxins from cyanobacteria in Lake Dianchi. As far as we know, this is also the first report of this type of toxin in inland water bodies in China. Our study indicates the threat associated with PSP toxins in Lake Dianchi and suggests that necessary measures and programs for control are urgently needed to prevent the spread of toxic cyanobacterial blooms. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The algae-lytic ability of bacterium DC10 and the influence of environmental factors on the ability

A lysing-bacterium DC10, isolated from Dianchi Lake of Yunnan Province, was characterized to be Pseudomonas sp. It was able to lyse some algae well, such as Microcystis viridis, Selenastrum capricomutum, and so on. In this study, it was shown that the bacterium lysed the algae by releasing a substance; the best lytic effects were achieved at low temperatures and in the dark. Different concentrations of CaCl2 and NaNO3 influenced the lytic effects; the ability to lyse algae decreased in the following order: pH 4 > pH 9 > pH 7 > pH 5.5. It was significant to develop a special technology with this kind of bacterium for controlling the bloom-forming planktonic microalgae.

Hydrogenated p-type nanocrystalline silicon in amorphous silicon solar cells

A wide bandgap and highly conductive p-type hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) window layer was prepared with a conventional RF-PECVD system under large H dilution condition, moderate power density, high pressure and low substrate temperature. The optoelectrical and structural properties of this novel material have been investigated by Raman and UV-VIS transmission spectroscopy measurements indicating that these films are composed of nanocrystallites embedded in amorphous SiHx matrix and with a widened bandgap. The observed downshift of the optical phonon Raman spectra (514.4 cm(-1)) from crystalline Si peak (521 cm(-1)) and the widening of the bandgap indicate a quantum confinement effect from the Si nanocrystallites. By using this kind of p-layer, a-Si:H solar cells on bare stainless steel foil in nip sequence have been successfully prepared with a V c of 0.90 V, a fill factor of 0.70 and an efficiency of 9.0%, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heterojunction solar cells with n-type nanocrystalline silicon emitters on p-type c-Si wafers

Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) n-layers have been used to prepare heterojunction solar cells on flat p-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafers. The nc-Si:H n-layers were deposited by radio-frequency (RF) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and characterized using Raman spectroscopy, optical transmittance and activation energy of dark-conductivity. The nc-Si:H n-layers obtained comprise fine grained nanocrystallites embedded in amorphous matrix, which have a wider bandgap and a smaller activation energy. Heterojunction solar cells incorporated with the nc-Si n-layer were fabricated using configuration of Ag (100 nm)/1T0 (80 nm)/n-nc-Si:H (15 nm)/buffer a-Si:H/p-c-Si (300 mu m)/Al (200 nm), where a very thin intrinsic a-Si:H buffer layer was used to passivate the p-c-Si surface, followed by a hydrogen plasma treatment prior to the deposition of the thin nanocrystalline layer. The results show that heterojunction solar cells subjected to these surface treatments exhibit a remarkable increase in the efficiency, up to 14.1% on an area of 2.43 cm(2). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

滇金丝猴细菌人工染色体文库构建及Neurotrypsin基因的分子进化研究

本文包括两方面有关灵长类的研究工作。一是构建了一个非人灵长类（滇金丝猴）的人工染色体文库（BAC文库），为进一步研究灵长类的基因组进化奠定了一定的基础，二是对一个认知相关基因neuotrypsin在灵长类中的分子进化进行了详尽的研究，以期从分子进化角度认识该基因在灵长类高级认知功能发展中所起的作用。滇金丝猴（Rhinopithecusbieti），一个处于严重濒危状态的旧大陆猴，中国特产灵长类之一。在系统发育上它占据着旧大陆猴与小猿的中间地位，是研究灵长类进化的一个重要物种。，在本研究中，我们构建了一个滇金丝猴的细菌人工染色体文库（BAC文库）。该文库含有136320个BAC克隆，平均插入片段大小为148kb，小片段（50-100kb）所占的比例为2.74％，非重组克隆仅占2.67％。假定金丝猴与亲缘关系较近的灵长类有着相似的基因组大小，该文库至少有6倍的基因组覆盖率。对随机选取的BAC克隆进行末端测序，我们获得了201个序列标签（STS）。通过荧光原位杂交（FISH）技术，139个经末端测序的BAC克隆被精确定位到滇金丝猴的染色体上。荧光杂交实验还表明了人和金丝猴染色体产存在着高度的同线保守性。在人类基因组数据库中的Blast搜寻的结果显示染色体上的克隆数目与染色体大小呈很好的相关性，表明该文库克隆比较均匀地覆盖了滇金丝猴的基因组。该金丝猴文库及所定位的克隆将会成为非人灵长类的比较基因组研究和大规模基因组测序的一个宝贵的资源。Neurotrypsin是与个主要在脑中表达的，同神经发育和认知功能相关的胞外丝氨酸蛋白酶。它在人体中发生的突变与常染色体上隐性的非综合性精神发育迟缓（MR）紧密相关。我们通过对n个非人灵长类，包括大猿、小猿、旧大陆猴和新大陆猴neurotrypsin的编码区的测序，研究了neurotrypsin在灵长类中的分子进化。结果显示出，在灵长类进化过程中，neurotrypsin保持着由纯化性选择（负沟选择）所致的强烈的功能限制，这暗示着neurotrypsin在灵长类的认知发展中起着关键的功能性作用。进一步的分析表明，纯化性选择实际上只作用于neurotrypsin的介导其结合到其它细胞表面或胞外蛋白质的SRCR功能结构域上。另外，通过灵长类和其它哺乳动物目的比较，我们还发现，在鼠neuotrypsin中，一个人SRCR结构域（外显子2和3）的缺失是由于在鼠科动物中所发生的片段丢失事件所致。

川金丝猴与滇金丝猴的群体遗传学研究

川金丝猴（RhinoPithecusroxellana）是我国著名的珍稀濒危保护动物，但是，现有的群体遗传学研究成果并不能满足科学合理的制定其遗传保护策略的要求。这主要是因为前人研究的遗传标记均是相对比较保守的功能基因，因此无法检测到足够的变异，进而也无法进行精细的分析。有鉴于此，我们选取了进化速率较快的线粒体控制区作为遗传标记，并对来自于三个主要栖息地的川金丝猴样本进行了群体遗传学研究。我们在线粒体控制区中观察到了大量的变异，这和前人的工作结果形成了强烈的反差。通过基于溯祖理论的最大似然法估算，我们得到现存川金丝猴群体的总的有效群体大小在700一2，300只以内，同时其最近共同祖先的年代在19，000-62，700年前左右。线粒体控制区的结果表明现存川金丝猴群体可能起源于眠山群体，我们称之为单起源假说，但是由于样本限制，多起源的可能性仍然存在。整个川金丝猴群体表现出显著的内部分化的信号，甚至氓山群体内部还存在一个序列分歧非常大的分枝，这可能是由其特殊的社群结构以及较弱的基因交流造成的，并且由于群体结构和分化信息的拮抗作用，我们并没有直接检测到瓶颈效应。通过和相关濒危与非濒危物种的比较，我们认为川金丝猴群体的遗传多样性水平并不低，提示其濒危的状态主要是由随机因素造成的而非遗传因素的结果。虽然我们在线粒体控制区中发现了大量的变异，但是前人在蛋白质电泳的研究中并未检出多态，同时，川金丝猴特殊的社群结构是否会影响其在核基因水平上的群体遗传结构也是十分有趣的问题，因此，为了从核基因组的角度进一步研究川金丝猴的遗传多样性，并实现对核基因和核外基因的比较，我们对样本的14个微卫星座位做了检测。我们发现这些微卫星座位均存在多态，所有地方群体的平均杂合度均大于0.5；地方群体间存在着显著的分化；地方群体间有效群体大小比率的估计值和群体大小比率的野外观测值非常接近。通过对比线粒体数据，我们认为川金丝猴的社群结构对其群体的遗传结构有着重要的影响，首先表现在核基因有更大的基因流水平，其次还表现在我们可以检测到眠山群体和秦岭群体在近期均经历了瓶颈效应，说明在核基因水平上群体结构信号的影响要弱于线粒体基因。但是，通过和其它物种比较，微卫星的数据却表明川金丝猴的遗传多样性水平并不高于其它的濒危动物，这和线粒体控制区的结果相反。这主要是当以微卫星为标记时，群体的历史动态对于当前群体的多态程度的影响力有限所致。微卫星的结果表明了保护川金丝猴群体的紧迫性。我们还通过细胞色素b基因证明了线粒体控制区中的巨大分歧不是由核假基因的造成的。巧合的是前人也在川金丝猴群体中对该基因进行过研究，但是结果却相反，即我们发现的变异水平远远高于他们的结果。为此，我们比较了两项工作的数据，我们推测在前人的工作中可能存在着潜在的测序错误。不过，如果没有出现污染的话，这两项工作的综合结果可以直接支持我们前面提到的单起源假说。此外，通过细胞色素b基因的分析，我们还估算出川金丝猴和滇金丝猴（R.bieti）的分歧时间大致在0.7-2.3百万年之间。镇金丝猴（R．biti）也是我国著名的濒危保护动物，它是川金丝猴的近缘种，其濒危等级甚至还要高于川金丝猴。迄今为止，关于滇金丝猴并基于DNA序列的的群体遗传学研究还没有见诸于报道。我们测定了来自于云南省维西县镇金丝猴群体样本的线粒体控制区全序列以及部分个体的细胞色素b全序列。在排除了核线粒体假基因存在的可能性之后，我们确认滇金丝猴维西群体内部也存在着两个序列分歧较大的分枝，但是，这可能是邻近群体迁移而来的产物。因此，如果考虑到群体结构和迁移的影响，我们认为维西群体的遗传多样性水平可能并不高。在以上的研究中，我们使用了大量的群体遗传学方法，但遗憾的是，目前还没有一套令人满意的侧重于群体遗传学分析的程序工具库。为了简化今后工作的复杂度和难度，我使用OCAAML语言编制了一套程序工具集（Pan'sToolKit，PTK）。OCAML是一门优秀的计算机语言，它既支持快速开发，又支持高速运行，是理想的算法实现语言。基于OCAML的PTK库集成了许多实用工具以及群体遗传学算法，尤其是溯祖理论的算法。PTK库不仅可以用于处理常规的实验数据，而且还可以用于辅助理论和算法的研究。

Immune Responses to Six Synthetic Peptides of Capsid Protein Immune Responses to Six Synthetic Peptides of Capsid Protein

Many B cell epitopes within p24 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were identified, while most of them were determined by using murine monoclonal antibodies reacting with overlapping peptides of p24. Therefore these epitopes may not represent the actual epitopes recognized by the HIV-1 infected individuals. In the present study, immune responses of 67 HIV-1 positive sera from Yunnan Province, China to five peptides on p24 of HIV-1 and one of HIV-2 were analyzed. All of 67 sera did not recognize peptide GA-12 on HIV-1 and peptide AG-23 on HIV-2, which indicated that GA-12 was not human B cell epitope and AG-23 did not cross-react with HIV-1 positive serum. Except 13 sera (19.4%), all remaining sera did not recognize peptides NI-15, DR-16, DC-22 and PS-18, which indicated that these four peptides represented B cell linear epitopes of HIV-1 p24 in some HIV-1 infected individuals but not the immuno-dominant epitopes in most individuals. Cellular & Molecular Immunology. 2005;2(4):289-293.

云南西北部四县林地的分布和受威胁程度评价以及该地区鸡形目鸟类的保护状况分析

横断山区拥有独特的生物区系和丰富的生物多样性，成为研究生物和地学许 多重大理论问题的关键性区域。然而该地区复杂的高山峡谷地形不利于大范围实 地考察工作的开展，而传统的调查方法也较难直接地获取野生动物及其生境的一 些量化数据，如某种或某类生物元素的分布、变化情况以及保护状况等，因此长 期以来对于该地区保护网络的规划和管理效果一直缺乏系统地评价，保护工作的 进一步开展依然面临很多难题。近年来地理信息系统（Geographic Information System, GIS）和遥感技术（Remote Sensing, RS）已经广泛应用于野生动物及其 生境保护的各个方面，为横断山区的保护工作拓展了新的研究思路和方法借鉴。 本研究以位于云南西北部横断山区的四个县（德钦、维西、丽江、香格里拉） 作为核心研究地区，以野生动物的主要栖息地——林地为对象，借助RS 和GIS 手段研究该地区内林地的分布、变化以及受威胁程度；并针对鸡形目鸟类的保护 状况进行了分析，为该地区林地和鸡形目鸟类的保护及评价提供科学的方法指导 和建议。具体如下： （1）林地分布以及针叶林的进一步细分。在地面真实数据的辅助下，通过 对Landsat TM/TM+影像的预处理、分类、分类后处理等过程，将研究地区中的 林地与非林地进行划分；针对暖温性针叶林和寒温性针叶林这两种较难区分的类 别，采用导引聚类（guided clustering）的分类方法，进一步对针叶林进行细分。 精度评估的结果显示，林地与非林地的划分总体精度为94.3%，而针叶林细分为 暖温性针叶林和寒温性针叶林的总体精度为74.8%。该方法可以较为准确地划分 该地区不同的生境类型，为野生动物及其生境的保护奠定基础。（2）林地的受威胁程度评价。通过分析研究地区中的林地在40 多年时间跨 度里（1958-2001 年）的变化情况和保护现状，从而评价其受威胁程度，结果反 映出每个县的林地面积都有不同程度的减少，丽江和香格里拉这两个县的林地受 威胁程度相对较高。进一步对丽江和香格里拉两县在不同海拔带的林地分布和变 化情况进行分析，结果表明，丽江的林地主要分布于2000-3500 米的海拔范围内 （占该县全部林地面积的89.7%），而在香格里拉则主要分布于2500 米以上（占 该县全部林地面积的95.2%）；在这两个林地分布较为集中的区域内，都是低海 拔地区林地面积减少程度较高，意味着在开展保护工作时应重点关注这两个县的 低海拔林地。本研究方法可供整个横断山区乃至其他高山峡谷地区借鉴，为保护 网络的完善提供快速的量化参考。 （3）鸡形目鸟类的保护状况分析。借助RS 和GIS 手段描绘研究地区中当 前林地（2001 年左右）以及早期林地（1958 年前后）的分布，针对那些主要以 林地为生境的鸡形目鸟类，在相应限制因子（例如海拔数据）的辅助下对它们当 前和过去的潜在生境进行预测，从而分析它们的保护现状和生境的变化情况。结 果表明研究地区中现有的保护区对这些鸟类的保护尚不完善，并且在过去40 多 年的时间跨度里它们的潜在生境都有不同程度的退化。建议将来的保护工作优先 考虑那些在当前未被充分保护的物种以及潜在生境退化程度相对较高的物种。针 对这些物种，提出在将来的进一步保护工作中的一些建议，为整个横断山区鸡形 目鸟类乃至其他野生动物类群的保护提供参考。

间隙分析方法在滇西北及其邻近地区的应用

1993 年以来，在生物局的协调和推动下，美国各州相继开展间隙分析项目。随 后，间隙分析项目在加拿大、意大利、埃及等多个国家广泛开展。经过多年的发展， 其经验和方法可为我国所借鉴。植被与动物分布制图，以及保护优先地区评估，是 间隙分析项目的几项主要任务。本研究将探讨在高山峡谷地区完成这些任务的方法。 山区植被制图一直是遥感制图领域的难点。在发展中国家，由于缺乏高质量的 数字地形图，问题显得尤为突出。为提高山区林地制图效率与准确度，我们提出一 种基于Landsat 卫星影像的准自动化分类方法。按WRS-2 (the World Reference System-2)分幅系统和地形，将大面积的项目区划分为若干子区域。通过对Landsat 影像进行光谱增强处理，使用ISODATA 分类方法，依次将各个子区域划分为林地 和非林地。接着，集成粗分辨率地形数据和Landsat ETM+ 影像，使用基于原型的 最大似然分类方法，将林地划分为不同的林型。在云南西北部地区应用这种分类方 法，滇西北四县的林地覆盖图总体准确率高达96.8％，两个实验子区域的林地分类 图的总体制图准确度也分别达80.0％和82.9％。结果证明，我们提出的分层分类方 法，能提高山区林地制图的效率与准确度，可向整个横断山地区推广。 动物生境研究在生物多样性保护研究和实践中具有重要作用和意义。2007 年5 月，我们在西藏芒康小昌都村进行雉类生境研究考察。其间，我们初步分析了白马 鸡觅食生境特征。按不同坡向和地貌，分别调查了15 条沟谷和3 条山脊的白马鸡刨 食痕迹。结果显示，白马鸡春季偏好于东坡、西坡3800－4000 m 海拔范围的冷杉 林沟谷觅食，但回避北坡。结果暗示，水热条件是影响白马鸡觅食地选择的重要因 子。 为了使有限的保护资源发挥最大的作用，我们使用层次分析法建立了一个保护 优先地区评估模型。此模型综合不同评价标准，既考虑了珍稀濒危物种，也关注了 普通物种，可定量评估各地理单元的保护优先度。通过输入鸟、兽分布历史资料（标 本和文献），使用本模型评价了滇西北15 县的动物保护优先度，结果显示，贡山、 丽江、泸水、香格里拉、福贡、德钦和维西等县市具有较高的动物保护优先度。