Plastid genomes of the Rhodophyta and Chromophyta constitute a distinct lineage which differs from that of the Chlorophyta and have a composite phylogenetic origin,perhaps like that of the Euglenophyta

Summary A phylogenetic tree has been constructed from comparisons of entire 16S rRNA gene sequences from different prokaryotes and from several algal plastids. According to this study, and to previous work on the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) large and small subunit genes, we postulate that: (1) rhodophyte and chromophyte plastid genomes have a common, composite phylogenetic origin which implies at least two different ancestors, a cyanobacterial and a -proteobacterial ancestor; (2) chlorophyte (green algae and land plants) plastids have a cyanobacterial ancestor which probably differs from that of rhodophyte and chromophyte plastids, and in any case constitute a different lineage; (3) euglenophyte plastid genomes also seem to have a composite phylogenetic origin which involves two different lineages.     

Physical mapping of the plastid genome from the chlorophyll c-containing alga,Cryptomonas Φ

Summary A physical map of the circular plastid genome of Cryptomonas has been constructed using the enzymes SacI, BamHI, SmaI, SalI, PstI and XhoI. In addition, fine-structural mapping of the inverted repeat region has been performed using AvaI, BglII, EcoRI and XbaI. The inverted repeat is very small, encompassing no more than 6 kb and containing only genes for the rRNAs. It divides the plastid genome into a small singlecopy region of 12–13 kb which contains genes for phycoerythrin and the 32 kd photosystem II polypeptide, and a large single-copy region of 93–94 kb, giving a total size of 118 kb. The genes for the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) and the beta subunit of ATP synthase CF₁ are encoded in the large single-copy region. The evolutionary significance of the organization of this plastid genome, the first presented from the chlorophyll c-, phycobiliprotein-containing group of algae, is discussed.     

巢湖取水口浮游藻类污染调查

目的 了解合肥市以巢湖为水源的水厂取水口浮游藻类污染情况。方法 于1999年2、5、8、11月份（分别代表冬、春、夏、秋季）分别距以巢湖为水源的水厂岸边1.5km（A点）和3.0km（B点）水域采集水样进行藻类鉴定和计数。结果 以巢湖为水源的水厂取水口处水样检出浮游藻类83种,分属于8门49属;A点浮游藻种类多于B点。藻类计数年均值A点为7.024X108个/L,B点为8.205X108个/L。A、B两点水样藻类计数的变化趋势均为夏季>秋季>春季>冬季。藻类优势种为铜绿微囊藻、螺旋鱼腥藻和水华鱼腥藻。水样总氮、总磷、叶绿素α年均值分别为4.30mg/L、0.09mg/L和0.015mg/L,均超过我国暂行标准。结论 巢湖水源已严重富营养化。     

Evaluation of calcium supplementation with algae (Lithothamnion muelleri) on metabolic and inflammatory parameters in mice fed a high refined carbohydrate-containing diet

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of calcium supplementation from Lithothamnium muelleri algae on metabolic and inflammatory parameters in mice with increased adiposity. Male mice were fed and divided during 8 weeks in: control (C), a high refined carbohydrate-containing diet (HC), HC diet supplemented with 1% of Lithothamnion muelleri algae (HC?+?A) and HC diet supplemented with 0.9% calcium carbonate (HC?+?C). Animals fed HC diet had increased body weight gain and adiposity, serum glucose and cholesterol, glucose intolerance and decreased insulin sensitivity, compared to control diet. However, the HC?+?A and HC?+?C groups did not prevent these aspects and were not able to change the CD14?+?cells population in adipose tissue of animals fed HC diet. Calcium supplementation with Lithothamnium muelleri algae and calcium carbonate had no protective effect against the development of adiposity, metabolic and inflammatory alterations induced by HC diet.     

Isolation and structure elucidation of halymeniaol,a new antimalarial sterol derivative from the red alga Halymenia floresii

A new mono-hydroxy acetylated sterol derivative: 12β-hydroxy-3β, 15α, 16β-triacetoxy-cholest-5-en-7-one (halymeniaol) (1), and cholesterol (2) were isolated from the marine red alga Halymenia floresii. The structure of the compound 1 (halymeniaol) was established from its spectral data, derived from HRMS/MS and 2D NMR. Compound 1 exhibited growth inhibitory activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain with an IC₅₀ of 3.0 μM.     

从太湖饮用水源污染再论突发性公共卫生事件的处理

2007年5月,太湖蓝藻暴发致使江苏省无锡市至少100万市民饮用水出现危机。巧合的是,新任中国卫生部长认为"13亿人的健康,不可能光靠看病吃药解决,加强预防和环境保护是根本"。无锡水危机的处理是环境污染造成的突发公共卫生事件预防控制的典型,为我们今后处理此类事件提供巨大的参考价值。     

The effect bathing in a thermal lagoon in Iceland has on psoriasis. A preliminary study

Objective To investigate if bathing in a unique thermal lagoon in Iceland has a therapeutic effect on psoriasis. Design An open study where twenty-seven psoriasis patients bathed for three weeks in the lagoon. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to evaluate the severity of the disease before during and after bathing. Results The mean PASI score decreased from 16.1 to 8.1 (p= 0.01). The PASI score decreased most in the first week. The area of the lesions did not diminish but scaling erythema and infiltration decreased. Only very limited UV-radiation was observed during the bathing period. Conclusions Bathing in the lagoon has a favourable effect on psoriasis although in some cases it may not be sufficient as a single treatment. Further studies over longer period are needed.     

Effect of Glyphosate on Growth of Four Freshwater Species of Phytoplankton: A Microplate Bioassay

The acute toxicity of glyphosate herbicide was tested on the four species of freshwater phytoplankton, Scenedesmus acutus, Scenedesmus subspicatus, Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella saccharophila. Herbicide concentrations eliciting a 50% growth reduction over 72 h (EC₅₀) ranged from 24.5 to 41.7 mg L⁻¹, whilst a 10% growth inhibition is achieved by herbicide concentrations ranging from 1.6 to 3.0 mg L⁻¹, difficult to find neither in paddy fields (it is not used in rice) nor in the lake of the Albufera Natural Park. Chorella species are less sensitive to the herbicide than Scenedesmus species. It can be concluded that glyphosate has a low potential risk for the tested organisms.     

Heparinoids algal and their anticoagulant, hemorrhagic activities and platelet aggregation

Polysaccharides extracted from brown marine algae represent a source of marine compounds with potential applications in medicine. Heparin-like compounds, fucoidans, have been proposed as alternatives to the anticoagulant heparin, which is prepared from mucous membrane of mammals. In this study, the activity of anticoagulant in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) tests was assessed in the fucoidan (TF), from seaweed Fucus vesiculosus, partially desulfated fucoidans (PDF), desulfated fucoidans (DF) and purified fractions F1, F2 and F3 in acetone. Studies were also conducted to assess these polysaccharides for platelet aggregation and hemorrhagic activity. The APTT test showed high activity at 5 μg (≥240 s) for TF, F1 and F2 (P < 0.001). PT test showed high anticoagulant activity at 50 μg (≥120 s) for F1 (P < 0.001). Fraction F3, with low MW (15.2 kDa) and sulfate content (26.1%), had little effect in these two in vitro tests (P < 0.001). These compounds demonstrated a two-phase response to platelet aggregation at 50 μg/mL. However, at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, a hypoaggregate profile was observed for all fractions tested (P < 0.001). The analysis showed that fucoidans irreversibly induced platelet aggregation in high concentration. These polymers have low hemorrhagic effect when compared to heparin.     

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TOXINS AND LIVER CANCER

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