Primers to block the amplification of symbiotic apostome ciliate 18S rRNA gene in a PCR-based copepod diet study

Pelagic copepods play an important role in the marine food web. However, a full understanding of the ecological status of this zooplankton group depends on the careful study of their natural diets. In previous PCR-based copepod diet studies, we found many apostome ciliates that live symbiotically under the exoskeleton of the copepods, and their sequences were often over-represented in the 18S rRNA gene （18S rDNA） libraries. As a first step to address this issue, we designed three apostome ciliate 18S rDNA blocking primers, and tested their blocking efficiency against apostome ciliate 18S rDNA under various PCR conditions. Using a semi-quantitative PCR method, we optimized the conditions to efficiently amplify the 18S rDNA of the prey while simultaneously excluding the symbiotic apostome ciliates. This technique will facilitate PCR-based diet studies of copepods and other zooplankton in their natural environments.     

Use of species-specific PCR for the identification of 10 sea cucumber species

We developed a species-specific PCR method to identify species among dehydrated products of 10 sea cucumber species. Ten reverse species-specific primers designed from the 16S rRNA gene, in combination with one forward universal primer, generated PCR fragments of ca. 270 bp length for each species. The specificity of the PCR assay was tested with DNA of samples of 21 sea cucumber species. Amplification was observed in specific species only. The species-specific PCR method we developed was successfully applied to authenticate species of commercial products of dehydrated sea cucumber, and was proven to be a useful, rapid, and low-cost technique to identify the origin of the sea cucumber product.     

Comparative analysis of different uni- and multi-variate methods for estimation of vegetation water content using hyper-spectral measurements

Assessment of vegetation water content is critical for monitoring vegetation condition, detecting plant water stress, assessing the risk of forest fires and evaluating water status for irrigation. The main objective of this study was to investigate the performance of various mono- and multi-variate statistical methods for estimating vegetation water content (VWC) from hyper-spectral data. Hyper-spectral data is influenced by multi-collinearity because of a large number of (independent) spectral bands being modeled by a small number of (dependent) biophysical variables. Therefore, some full spectrum methods that are known to be suitable for analyzing multi-collinear data set were chosen. Canopy spectral reflectance was obtained with a GER 3700 spectro-radiometer (400–2400 nm) in a laboratory setting and VWC was measured by calculating wet/dry weight difference per unit of ground area (g/m²) of each plant canopy (n = 95). Three multivariate statistical methods were applied to estimate VWC: (1) partial least square regression, (2) artificial neural network and (3) principal component regression. They were selected to minimize the problem related to multi-collinearity. For comparison, uni-variate techniques including narrow band ratio water index (RWI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), second soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI2) and transferred soil adjusted vegetation index (TSAVI) were applied. For each type of vegetation index, all two-band combinations were evaluated to determine the best band combination. Validation of the methods was based on the cross validation procedure and using three statistical indicators: R², RMSE and relative RMSE. The cross-validated results identified PLSR as the regression model providing the most accurate estimates of VWC among the various methods. The result revealed that this model is highly recommended for use with multi-collinear datasets ($R_{\text{CV}}^2=0.94$, RRMSE_CV = 0.23). Principal component regression exhibited the lowest accuracy among the multivariate models ($R_{\text{CV}}^2=0.78$, RRMSE_CV = 0.41).     

Comparison of Enterococcus density estimates in marine beach and bay samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction, membrane filtration and defined substrate testing

Currently, densities of Enterococcus in marine bathing beach samples are performed using conventional methods which require 24 h to obtain results. Real-time PCR methods are available which can measure results in as little as 3 h. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a more rapid test method for the determination of bacterial contamination in marine bathing beaches to better protect human health. The geometric mean of Enterococcus densities using Enterolert® defined substrate testing and membrane filtration ranged from 5.2 to 150 MPN or CFU/100 mL and corresponding qPCR results ranged from 6.6 to 1785 CCE/100 mL. The regression analysis of these results showed a positive correlation between qPCR and conventional tests with an overall correlation (r) of 0.71. qPCR was found to provide accurate and sensitive estimate of Enterococcus densities and has the potential to be used as a rapid test method for the quantification of Enterococcus in marine waters.     

Identification of genes expressed in juvenile Haliotis rufescens in response to different copper concentrations in the north of Chile under controlled conditions

This study reports molecular markers potentially associated with resistance or sensitivity to the impact of copper in juvenile red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, in the north of Chile under experimental conditions. Genomic analysis was made applying subtractive hybridization libraries (SSH) to identify genes up-and down regulated during cooper exposure in abalone over periods of 12 and 168 h exposed to 2.5 and 10 μg/L of Cu⁺². Results obtained from the SSH library revealed 368 different sequences regulated by copper, that correspond to eight major physiological functions. The validation of these sequences obtained by SSH as well as their expression kinetics were made by PCR in real time on 14 potential genes regulated by metal stress. This study provides information for the characterization of potential genomic markers that may be used in future environmental monitoring and to investigate new mechanisms of stress to copper in this commercially important marine species.     

南移养殖仿刺参（StichopusjaponicusSelenka）铁蛋白基因的克隆及表达特征分析

采用cDNA文库、RACE、荧光定量PCR和Westernblot技术,克隆了南移养殖仿刺参铁蛋白基因的全长序列,并对其表达特征进行了研究。结果表明,南移养殖仿刺参铁蛋白cDNA全长1222bp,包括187bp的5’UTR;513bp的3’UTR和编码173个氨基酸残基的522bp的开放阅读框。诸如铁结合序列标签和铁调...     

2011年夏季北极王湾细菌群落结构分析及浮游细菌丰度检测

采用PCR-DGGE方法,对2011年夏季北极王湾表层海水及沉积物细菌的群落分析结果表明,沉积物中的细菌多样性指数高于海水。深水站位(S1和S3)的沉积物细菌群落不但与浮游细菌群落存在差异,并且与浅水站位(S5)也存在差异。位于湾口、湾内的浮游细菌群落组成也存在一定差异。测序结果显示,王湾海洋细菌的多样性组成包括α-变形细菌、γ-变形细菌、δ-变形细菌、放线菌、拟杆菌及厚壁菌等类群。基于定量PCR方法的检测结果表明,位于湾口、湾内的浮游细菌丰度相似,但湾内玫瑰杆菌支系的丰度明显低于湾口。研究结果表明,与湾口相比,王湾湾内的细菌群落受陆源性淡水输入的影响明显,不但表现在细菌群落的多样性组成上,也表现在某些特定细菌类群的数量分布上。     

青岛崂山湾近海扇贝养殖区细菌多样性及环境因子分析

为研究日本囊对虾(Marsupenaeusjaponicus)耐高亚硝酸盐的分子调控机制,利用新一代高通量Illumina测序技术,对日本囊对虾在高亚硝酸盐胁迫下的肝胰腺进行转录组测序,通过对高质量序列的拼接组装以及功能基因的注释和分类,发掘与耐高亚硝酸盐相关性状的候选基因。实验结果表明:①10个文库共获得920785608个净读本,数据量为6.48G~7.34G。②Q30>93.07%。利用 Trinity软件组装后获得 46308条单基因簇,N50为1833bp。③与对照组相比,高亚硝酸盐组分别识别出593、606、1089、497和988个差异表达基因。④对 DEGs进行功能注释,得到与免疫和代谢相关的通路和基因。⑤采用 qPCR 对随机选择的9个差异基因(DPD、ABCH、ProPOb、ACADL、CYP2J、PAT4、BHMT、CLEC 和PEPCK)在高亚硝酸盐胁迫下的表达情况进行检测,其表达量与转录组测序技术(RNASequencing,RNA-seq)趋势一致。本研究结果丰富了对虾cDNA 数据库的信息,为日本囊对虾在高亚硝酸盐胁迫下的分子机制研究奠定了基础。     

浙江枝吻纽虫(Dendrorhynchus zhejiangensis) 热休克蛋白70基因克隆与表达特征研究

采用同源克隆和cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE)克隆了浙江枝吻纽虫热休克蛋白70(DzHSP70)基因全长cDNA序列,并利用荧光定量PCR方法,分析了该基因在重金属胁迫下的表达特征。结果表明,DzHSP70cDNA全长2827bp,包括294bp的5’UTR、628bp的3’UTR和编码634个氨基酸残基的1905bp的开放阅读框。HSP70家族的3个签名序列以及细胞质特异性调控基序EEVD等特征元件在DzHSP70中高度保守。重金属离子Fe3+、Pb2+和Cd2+均可上调该基因的表达,其中Pb2+的毒理效应最强。研究结果表明DzHSP70可能参与了机体对于重金属的解毒过程。     

应用实时荧光定量PCR技术研究九龙江口水域米氏凯伦藻的分布

为快速精确监测九龙江口小型有毒赤潮藻的分布,本工作应用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测了2009年春(5月)、夏(8月)、秋(11月)3个季节九龙江口18个站位水样中米氏凯伦藻(Kareniamikimotoi)的密度.这3个季节分别对应九龙江口水域的丰水期、平水期、枯水期.结果表明,在九龙江口水中米氏凯伦藻的检出范围为未检出至2.3×104cells/dm3;其空间分布差异比较大,主要分布在厦门西港海域,其次是在高潮时的海门岛附近海域;海门岛以西水域几乎未监测到该藻的存在,仅5号站位有1个航次检出.米氏凯伦藻密度的季节分布差异也很明显,春、夏季的密度(最高检出值都达到了2.3×104cells/dm3)明显高于秋季的密度(最高检出值仅为5.4×103cells/dm3).本研究结果可为厦门西港以及九龙江口水域赤潮的研究与监测提供参考.同步进行的显微镜镜检技术没有观测到米氏凯伦藻的存在,可见在藻密度较低(低于103cells/dm3)的情况下,实时荧光定量PCR技术较传统镜检技术(检出限一般在103cells/dm3以上)可能更灵敏.该技术特异性好且操作简便,使对大样本的检测具有可行性,为实现沿岸海域赤潮的动态监测和深入研究奠定了基础.