任何生物包括人类面临的最大挑战在于如何适应环境，并在不同的有害因素（物理,化学，微生物等）刺激下保持自身的稳态。两栖类动物是从水生的鱼类演化到真正陆生动物之间的过渡类群，在脊椎动物的系统进化中占有非常关键的位置。两栖动物分布广泛，在平原、丘陵、高山的各种复杂生态环境中均可发现它们的踪影。一方面，两栖动物皮肤须担负呼吸，保持水分和体温调节等生理功能，其裸露的皮肤也成为微生物入侵的薄弱区域；另一方面，许多物种又可以生存在非常“恶劣”的环境中，如充满各种微生物的泥水塘。而这些动物如何适应各种恶劣环境并生存繁衍一直是困扰人们的疑问。

　　中国科学院昆明动物研究所动物模型与人类疾病机理重点实验室生物毒素与人类疾病课题组在张云研究员带领下利用产自云南山区的大蹼铃蟾(Bombina maxima)为研究对象，博士研究生赵锋和向阳博士等首先开展了大蹼铃蟾皮肤和血液转录组的深度测序和免疫系统分析，进一步进行了两栖动物自身模型天然免疫应答功能性实验，揭示了大蹼铃蟾健全和强大的天然免疫和获得性免疫系统，初步揭示了两栖类环境适应性的遗传机制，并首次阐明两栖动物炎症小体（inflammasome）的存在及其在宿主抵御微生物感染中的重要功能。

　　该研究成果已在线发表于英国牛津大学出版社DNA Research杂志。上述研究对揭示动物环境适应的策略和物质基础，阐明哺乳动物和人的环境适应机制和疾病发生机理具有很好地科学意义。

　　该研究获得国家“973”计划项目、国家基金委－云南省联合基金以及中科院重点部署项目的资助。

   论文全文链接：http://dnaresearch.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/08/12/dnares.dst035.full  

Abstract

Amphibians occupy a key phylogenetic position in vertebrates and evolution of the immune system. But, the resources of its transcriptome or genome are still little now. Bombina maxima possess strong ability to survival in very harsh environment with a more mature immune system. We obtained a comprehensive transcriptome by RNA-sequencing technology. 14.3% of transcripts were identified to be skin-specific genes, most of which were not isolated from skin secretion in previous works or novel non-coding RNAs. 27.9% of transcripts were mapped into 242 predicted KEGG pathways and 6.16% of transcripts related to human disease and cancer. Of 39 448 transcripts with the coding sequence, at least 1501 transcripts (570 genes) related to the immune system process. The molecules of immune signalling pathway were almost presented, several transcripts with high expression in skin and stomach. Experiments showed that lipopolysaccharide or bacteria challenge stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production and activation of pro-inflammatory caspase-1. These frog's data can remarkably expand the existing genome or transcriptome resources of amphibians, especially immunity data. The entity of the data provides a valuable platform for further investigation on more detailed immune response in B. maxima and a comparative study with other amphibians.