Habitat Elevation Shapes Microbial Community Composition and Alter the Metabolic Functions in Wild Sable (Martes zibellina) Guts.

In recent decades, wild sable (Carnivora Mustelidae Martes zibellina) habitats, which are often natural forests, have been squeezed by anthropogenic disturbances such as clear-cutting, tilling and grazing. Sables tend to live in sloped areas with relatively harsh conditions. Here, we determine effects of environmental factors on wild sable gut microbial communities between high and low altitude habitats using Illumina Miseq sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Our results showed that despite wild sable gut microbial community diversity being resilient to many environmental factors, community composition was sensitive to altitude. Wild sable gut microbial communities were dominated by Firmicutes (relative abundance 38.23%), followed by Actinobacteria (30.29%), and Proteobacteria (28.15%). Altitude was negatively correlated with the abundance of Firmicutes, suggesting sable likely consume more vegetarian food in lower habitats where plant diversity, temperature and vegetation coverage were greater. In addition, our functional genes prediction and qPCR results demonstrated that energy/fat processing microorganisms and functional genes are enriched with increasing altitude, which likely enhanced metabolic functions and supported wild sables to survive in elevated habitats. Overall, our results improve the knowledge of the ecological impact of habitat change, providing insights into wild animal protection at the mountain area with hash climate conditions.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Daurian ground squirrel, Spermophilus dauricus.

The mitochondrial genome sequence of Daurian ground squirrel, Spermophilus dauricus, is determined and described for the first time in this study. The genome was a total of 16 512 bp in length and had a base composition of A (32.08%), G (12.53%), C (24.35%), and T (31.04%), indicating that the percentage of A + T (63.12%) is higher than G + C (36.88%). Similar to those reported from other animal mitochondrial genomes, it possessed a typically conserved structure, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 1 control region (D-loop). Most of these genes were found to locate on the H-strand except for the ND6 gene and 8 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis showed Spermophilus dauricus formed the sister group to the Pteromyini tribe. This mitochondrial genome sequence would supply useful genetic resources to uncover Sciuridae family evolution.

Preparation of lung-targeting, emodin-loaded polylactic acid microspheres and their properties.

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) has been identified to have the potential to improve lung fibrosis and lung cancer. To avoid the liver and kidney toxicities and the fast metabolism of emodin, emodin-loaded polylactic acid microspheres (ED-PLA-MS) were prepared and their characteristics were studied. ED-PLA-MS were prepared by the organic phase dispersion-solvent diffusion method. By applying an orthogonal design, our results indicated that the optimal formulation was 12 mg/mL PLA, 0.5% gelatin, and an organic phase:glycerol ratio of 1:20. Using the optimal experimental conditions, the drug loading and encapsulation efficiencies were (19.0±1.8)% and (62.2±2.6)%, respectively. The average particle size was 9.7±0.7 µm. In vitro studies indicated that the ED-PLA-MS demonstrated a well-sustained release efficacy. The microspheres delivered emodin, primarily to the lungs of mice, upon intravenous injection. It was also detected by microscopy that partial lung inflammation was observed in lung tissues and no pathological changes were found in other tissues of the ED-PLA-MS-treated animals. These results suggested that ED-PLA-MS are of potential value in treating lung diseases in animals.

[Research of differential expression of virulence-related proteins of T3SS in Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the difference of virulence-related protein concerned with type III secretion system (T3SS) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa during the changes of antibiotic sensitivity and interpret the clinical patient data to explore the relationship between the changes in resistance and variance of virulence. METHODS: The isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from the respiratory tract of a same patient with an altered sensitivity of antibiotics. It turned out to be one clone. The homolog of isolates was determined by ERIC-PCR. The Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing was employed to detect the sensitivity of antibiotics of isolates. PCR was used to detect the gene of T3SS and virulence of isolates and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to compare the whole-cell proteins. The mass spectrometry was employed to analyze a variety of protein spots. The relevant information was retrieved from protein databases. Clinical record was collected to study the relationship of clinical features, bacteria resistance and virulence-associated protein. RESULTS: One subject was diagnosed with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) complicated with pneumonia. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from his respiratory tract three times in one year. Sensitivity spectrum of isolates were as follows: sensitivity, multi-drug resistant (MDR) and pan-drug resistance (PDR). Virulence gene was exo U+/exo S-. Twenty-one differentially expressed proteins were revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in three isolates. The functions of 11 proteins were definite. Only 9 proteins were associated with basal bacterial metabolism. Disulfide oxidoreductase A (DsbA) corresponded to the variation of virulence and sensitivity spectrum. Clinical record revealed that the severe lung infection was caused by the PDR strain and the patient died within one month. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity spectrum and virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa may undergo changes when there is an alteration of eco-environment during colonization and infection over a long period of time. DsbA plays a key role in the variety of virulence.

[Blood biochemical indices of female red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) in Zhalong Nature Reserve of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China].

From November 2004 to October 2005, twenty blood biochemical indices, i. e., total protein, serum albumin, serum globulin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, blood glucose, serum urea nitrogen, serum creatine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, serum creatine kinase, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, lactic dehydrogenase, serum calcium ion, inorganic phosphate, and magnesium ion, of 10 female Grus japonensis adults in their wintering, reproduction, and migration periods in Zhalong Nature Reserve were analyzed by automatic biochemical analyzer. Significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) were observed in the test indices except serum total protein, serum globulin, and blood glucose among the three life periods, which suggested that the serum total protein, serum globulin, and blood glucose could be used as the reliable references of blood biochemical indices of female G. japonensis, while the year-round dynamics of the other 17 indices reflected the physiological characteristics and ecological adaptability of female G. japonensis in its different periods in one year. When using these 17 indices as the references of the blood biochemical indices of female G. japonensis, the physiological period should be considered.

Inhibitory effect of emodin on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

1. Currently, there is no satisfactory treatment for pulmonary fibrosis. Emodin, a component in Chinese herbs, has been shown to have an antifibrotic effect on pancreatic fibrosis and liver fibrosis. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that emodin may attenuate the development of pulmonary fibrosis. 2. Mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 16 in each). One group was a control group; the remaining four groups were treated with intratracheal instillation of 3 mg/kg bleomycin (BLM). The following day, emodin (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg per day, p.o.) treatment was started for three of the BLM-treated groups and was continued for 21 days. The fourth BLM-treated group (and the control group) received daily 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (placebo) by gavage over the same period. 3. Bleomycin challenge provoked severe pulmonary fibrosis, with marked increases in fibrosis fraction, hydroxyproline content and myeloperoxidase activity in lung tissue. Emodin treatment (10 and 20 mg/kg per day, p.o.) attenuated all these biochemical indices, as well as histopathological alterations induced by BLM. Furthermore, in mice injected with BLM, elevated levels of transforming growth factor-beta1, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 were found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These increases were significantly inhibited by 10 and 20 mg/kg per day emodin. 4. In cell culture, exposure of cells to 6.25, 12.5, 25 or 50 micromol/L emodin for 24 h decreased fibroblast proliferation. Treatment of cells with the same concentrations of emodin for 72 h decreased collagen production by fibroblasts. In addition, emodin (6.25, 12.5, 25 or 50 micromol/L) inhibited the steady state expression of alpha1 (I) procollagen and alpha2 (I) procollagen mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. 5. The results of the present study suggest that emodin may be effective in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.