半导体激光对果蝇的控制效果

为研究半导体激光对水果的主要虫害———果蝇(drosophila melanogaster)的控制效果,采用响应曲面法设计,实验研究了激光功率和照射时间对果蝇的生物学效应。结果表明,用波长为650 nm的半导体激光照射果蝇幼虫,在功率60 mW,照射1282 s条件下,果蝇幼虫的致死率可达到99%以上,且体重降低、羽化延续时间缩短,激光对果蝇幼虫具有较强生物学致死效应。但当功率低于40 mW时,激光对果蝇产生激励作用,促使果蝇的生长发育。继续用原剂量照射第三代果蝇的幼虫,对比发现在连续多代照射后,果蝇后代并没有产生对激光的抗逆性。为半导体激光在水果病虫害控制中的应用提供了实验依据。     

不同时点果蝇七氟醚麻醉相关基因的筛选与分析

目的:在不同时点筛选七氟醚麻酚相关基因,为阐明其作用的分子机制提供有益的线索.方法:以野生品系黑腹果蝇为实验材料,将果蝇分为两组:(1)七氟醚5min组:①空气小组(H5):通入空气5分钟:②七氟醚小组(1H5):七氟醚麻醉5分钟.(1)七氟醚20min组:①空气小组(H20):通入空气20分钟;②七氟醚小组(1H20):七氟醚麻醉20分钟.采用基因表达谱芯片方法,以每组的空气小组为对照分别筛选其七氟醚麻醉小组的差异表达基因.结果:七氟醚5min组筛选出差异表达基因156个,七氟醚20min组13个.对这些差异表达基因进行功能分析发现七氟醚5min组中一些基因的功能为钠:氢反向转运体活性、GTP结合等.七氟醚20min组中一些基因的功能为核酸结合,mRNA结合等,其中功能与钙离了通道、ATP活性、锌离子结合等有关的基因在两组都有改变.结论:许多基因在麻醉初期都活跃表达,还有一些基因表达贯穿麻醉过程,说明麻醉是一个连续的动态过程.     

In Vivo and In Vitro Assays Evaluating the Biological Activity of Taurine,Glucose and Energetic Beverages

Taurine is one of the main ingredients used in energy drinks which are highly consumed in adolescents for their sugary taste and stimulating effect. With energy drinks becoming a worldwide phenomenon, the biological effects of these beverages must be evaluated in order to fully comprehend the potential impact of these products on the health due to the fact nutrition is closely related to science since the population consumes food to prevent certain diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of taurine, glucose, classic Red Bull^® and sugar-free Red Bull^® in order to check the food safety and the nutraceutical potential of these compounds, characterising different endpoints: (i) Toxicology, antitoxicology, genotoxicology and life expectancy assays were performed in the Drosophila melanogaster model organism; (ii) The in vitro chemopreventive activity of testing compounds was determined by assessing their cytotoxicity, the proapoptotic DNA-damage capability to induce internucleosomal fragmentation, the strand breaks activity and the modulator role on the methylation status of genomic repetitive sequences of HL-60 promyelocytic cells. Whereas none tested compounds showed toxic or genotoxic effect, all tested compounds exerted antitoxic and antigenotoxic activity in Drosophila. Glucose, classic Red Bull^® and sugar-free Red Bull^® were cytotoxic in HL-60 cell line. Classic Red Bull^® induced DNA internucleosomal fragmentation although none of them exhibited DNA damage on human leukaemia cells. In conclusion, the tested compounds are safe on Drosophila melanogaster and classic Red Bull^® could overall possess nutraceutical potential in the in vivo and in vitro model used in this study. Besides, taurine could holistically be one of the bioactive compounds responsible for the biological activity of classic Red Bull^®.     

酵母促反应合成穆勒果蝇聚集信息素

酶促还原反应;酵母促反应合成穆勒果蝇聚集信息素     

果蝇的透射电镜制样方法研究

果蝇作为一种模式生物，被广泛应用于遗传学、发育的基因调控、人类疾病机制等研究。透射电镜能够观察细胞的超微结构及其变化，是研究果蝇细胞生物学的重要方法之一。本实验研究发现，果蝇样本固定前用双面刀片快速切下头部，固定液能快速有效地固定其体内组织成分，防止内部组织溶解；使用琼脂预包埋果蝇样本，将其修整为长方体，增加其自重，固定其包埋方向，为后续目标位置的超薄切片起到定位作用。     

果蝇细胞系中反转录病毒样粒子的电镜观察

反转录病毒样粒子是反转录病毒样转座子ｃｏｐｉａ的表达产物。完整的ｃｏｐｉａＤＮＡ能在无ｃｏｐｉａ的细胞系中表达,并能启动外源基因表达,因而可作为基因工程载体使用。为迅速鉴定出的细胞系中ｃｏｐｉａ和确定其表达时期,本研究用电子为微镜对黑腹果蝇黑条体型细胞系中的反转录病毒样粒子进行了观察。反转录病毒样粒子为圆形,直径约０．０５μｍ,主要存在于稳定期细胞的细胞核中,偶尔也能在细胞质中观察到,而在细胞分裂     

Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior

Light-based phenomena in insects have long attracted researchers’ attention. Surface color distribution patterns are commonly used for taxonomical purposes, while optically-active structures from Coleoptera cuticle or Lepidoptera wings have inspired technological applications, such as biosensors and energy accumulation devices. In Diptera, besides optically-based phenomena, biomolecules able to fluoresce can act as markers of bio-metabolic, structural and behavioral features. Resilin or chitinous compounds, with their respective blue or green-to-red autofluorescence (AF), are commonly related to biomechanical and structural properties, helpful to clarify the mechanisms underlying substrate adhesion of ectoparasites’ leg appendages, or the antennal abilities in tuning sound detection. Metarhodopsin, a red fluorescing photoproduct of rhodopsin, allows to investigate visual mechanisms, whereas NAD(P)H and flavins, commonly relatable to energy metabolism, favor the investigation of sperm vitality. Lipofuscins are AF biomarkers of aging, as well as pteridines, which, similarly to kynurenines, are also exploited in metabolic investigations. Beside the knowledge available in Drosophila melanogaster, a widely used model to study also human disorder and disease mechanisms, here we review optically-based studies in other dipteran species, including mosquitoes and fruit flies, discussing future perspectives for targeted studies with various practical applications, including pest and vector control.     

Effect of Iron Complex Source on MWWTP Effluent Treatment by Solar Photo-Fenton: Micropollutant Degradation,Toxicity Removal and Operating Costs

Benzophenone-3, fipronil and propylparaben are micropollutants that are potential threats to ecosystems and have been detected in aquatic environments. However, studies involving the investigation of new technologies aiming at their elimination from these matrices, such as advanced oxidation processes, remain scarce. In this study, different iron complexes (FeCit, FeEDTA, FeEDDS and FeNTA) were evaluated for the degradation of a mixture of these micropollutants (100 µg L⁻¹ each) spiked in municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP) effluent at pH 6.9 by solar photo-Fenton. Operational parameters (iron and H₂O₂ concentration and Fe/L molar ratio) were optimized for each complex. Degradation efficiencies improved significantly by increasing the concentration of iron complexes (1:1 Fe/L) from 12.5 to 100 µmol L⁻¹ for FeEDDS, FeEDTA and FeNTA. The maximum degradation reached with FeCit for all iron concentrations was limited to 30%. Different Fe/L molar ratios were required to maximize the degradation efficiency for each ligand: 1:1 for FeNTA and FeEDTA, 1:3 for FeEDDS and 1:5 for FeCit. Considering the best Fe/L molar ratios, higher degradation rates were reached using 5.9 mmol L⁻¹ H₂O₂ for FeNTA and FeEDTA compared to 1.5 and 2.9 mmol L⁻¹ H₂O₂ for FeEDDS and FeCit, respectively. Acute toxicity to Canton S. strain D. melanogaster flies reduced significantly after treatment for all iron complexes, indicating the formation of low-toxicity by-products. FeNTA was considered the best iron complex source in terms of the kinetic constant (0.10 > 0.063 > 0.051 > 0.036 min⁻¹ for FeCit, FeNTA, FeEDTA and FeEDDS, respectively), organic carbon input and cost-benefit (USD 327 m⁻³ > USD 20 m⁻³ > USD 16 m⁻³ > USD 13 m⁻³ for FeEDDS, FeCit, FeEDTA and FeNTA, respectively) when compared to the other tested complexes.     

Copper(II) Complex Containing 4-Fluorophenoxyacetic Acid Hydrazide and 1,10-Phenanthroline: A Prostate Cancer Cell-Selective and Low-Toxic Copper(II) Compound

Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide. The treatment of advanced cases is based on chemotherapy, which lacks specificity and efficacy, due to severe side effects and resistance to the traditional drugs. Copper complexes have shown antitumoral efficacy and low toxicity, being considered a promising class of metal-based drugs for the treatment of malignant neoplasms. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the cellular effects of a copper(II) complex with 4-fluorophenoxyacetic acid hydrazide and 1,10-phenanthroline (1) on PCa cell lines, as well as the mutagenic/recombinogenic and anticarcinogenic potential of 1 in Drosophila melanogaster. PNT-2 (non-tumorigenic), LNCaP (hormone-responsive PCa) and PC-3 (androgen-independent PCa) cells were cultured, and cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay. The expression levels of the proliferation markers Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 were analyzed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) and the Epithelial Tumor Test (ETT) were performed. Complex 1 was selective to LNCaP cells, significantly reducing Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 expression levels. Sub-toxic concentrations of complex 1 were defined by the toxicity test in D. melanogaster, and no mutagenic/recombinogenic/carcinogenic effects were observed. Anticarcinogenic potential was observed in D. melanogaster, suggesting modulating activity of the complex 1 against Doxorubicin, a drug used as control by its carcinogenic properties. Therefore, complex 1 is a possible starting point for the development of new antitumor agents for the treatment of PCa.