新旧创伤诱导的不同挥发物对寄生蜂选择性的影响

植物在植食性昆虫危害的压力下会释放出化合物,而寄生蜂却可以利用这些诱导出的植物挥发物定位寄主。植物叶表面受到创伤都会释放出最常见的绿叶挥发物（green leaf volatiles）,而植食性昆虫取食引诱的挥发物会因害虫和受害植物的不同而异。植物在受到害虫造成的创伤后会马上挥发出绿叶性化合物,而一些萜稀类化合物（terpenoids）只有在旧的创伤部位才会大量挥放。那么不同的寄生蜂可以识别这些化合物吗？     

光肩星天牛对4种不同槭树科寄主植物的选择机制

用动态顶空采集法、TCT-GC-MS分析鉴定了复叶槭、五角枫、华北五角枫、挪威槭等4种槭树科植物挥发物的种类和相对含量,测定结果显示：4种植物的化学指纹图谱明显不同。“Y”型嗅觉行为测定结果表明,不同植物的挥发物对光肩星天牛的引诱效果不同：复叶槭对光肩星天牛的引诱效果最好,其次为五角枫,均达到了差异显著的程度,华北五角枫对光肩星天牛有引诱作用,但未达到显著程度,挪威槭对光肩星天牛既无引诱作用又无驱避作用。数据分析发现,五角枫、华北五角枫和挪威槭较复叶槭引诱作用差的原因可能与五角枫、华北五角枫中含有对光肩星天牛的驱避组分罗勒烯和反-2-己烯醇、挪威槭中含有对光肩星天牛的驱避组分（E）-1-戊烯-3-醇、反-2-己烯醇和trans-香叶基丙酮有关;在4种植物中醇类化合物、酮类和醛类化合物相对含量的排列顺序与植物的抗性顺序相同,而烷烃类和酯类化合物含量的排列顺序与植物的抗性顺序相反;复叶槭咬食程度轻的原因可能与其叶表面具有较少的表皮毛有关。     

MeJA处理和蚧虫危害对枣树挥发物的影响

枣树(Ziziphus jujube Mill)是中国北方的一种重要经济林木。日本龟蜡蚧(Ceroplastes japonicus Green)是枣园的一种破坏性天敌。研究了外源茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)处理和日本龟蜡蚧雌成虫危害后与对照健康枣树相比挥发物的变化。枣树挥发物的收集采用顶空收集法,并使用气相色谱/质谱联用仪(GC/MS)来分析收集到的挥发物的化学成分。结果显示:MeJA处理的和蚧虫危害的枣树挥发物的化学组分在种类和含量上与对照相比都有所改变。其中MeJA处理的枣树样本中检测到22种挥发物,总挥发量为37347 ng/h;蚧虫危害的枣树样本中检测到24种挥发物,总挥发量为54292 ng/h;而健康的对照枣树挥发物中只检测到14种化合物,总挥发量也仅为18611 ng/h。经SPSS软件分析,MeJA处理部分和对照部分,日本龟蜡蚧危害部分和对照部分这两组之间都达到差异显著水平。在上述挥发物成分中,萜烯类、醇类、酯类的增加量在植物诱导化学防御方面具有重要意义,这些化合物通常被认为是与吸引天敌昆虫相关的组分。     

虫害诱导植物挥发物（HIPVs）：从诱导到生态功能

植物被植食性昆虫危害后,其地上和地下部分均能释放虫害诱导植物挥发物(HIPVs).HIPVs不仅能招引植食性昆虫的天敌,而且还可对植食性昆虫和临近植物产生影响,从而调节植物、植食性昆虫、天敌三者之间的相互关系.根据最近的研究结果,主要就HIPVs的诱导物类型、虫害后植物体内的早期信号和信号传导、HIPVs的合成、释放、组成,以及其生态功能等进行了系统性的综述,并提出了今后该领域的研究方向.     

茉莉酸在植物诱导防御中的作用

茉莉酸(JA)和茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)作为与损伤相关的植物激素和信号分子,广泛地存在于植物体中,外源应用能够激发防御植物基因的表达,诱导植物的化学防御,产生与机械损伤和昆虫取食相似的效果。大量研究表明,用茉莉酸类化合物处理植物可系统诱导蛋白酶抑制剂(PI)和多酚氧化酶(PPO),从而影响植食动物对营养物质的吸收,还能增加过氧化物酶、壳聚糖酶和脂氧合酶等防御蛋白的活性水平,导致生物碱和酚酸类次生物质的积累,增加并改变挥发性信号化合物的释放,甚至形成防御结构,如毛状体和树脂导管。经茉莉酸处理的植物提高了植食动物的死亡率,变得更加吸引捕食性和寄生性天敌。挥发性化合物——茉莉酸甲酯可以从植物的气孔进入植物体内,在细胞质中被酯酶水解为茉莉酸,实现长距离的信号传导和植物间的交流,诱导邻近植物产生诱导防御反应。茉莉酸和茉莉酸甲酯分别具有4种立体异构,其中具有活性的是顺式结构,但顺式结构不稳定,会差向异构化为反式结构。茉莉酸的代谢物(Z)-茉莉酮(cis-Jasmone)具电生理活性,在植物诱导防御中起作用,并且在防御信号的作用上不同于茉莉酸和茉莉酸甲酯。     

虫害诱导的植物挥发物代谢调控机制研究进展

长期受自然界的非生物/生物侵害,植物逐步形成了复杂的防御机制,为防御植食性昆虫的为害,植物释放虫害诱导产生的挥发性化合物(herbivore-induced plant volatiles,HIPVs)。HIPVs是植物-植食性昆虫-天敌三级营养关系之间协同进化的结果。HIPVs的化学组分因植物、植食性昆虫种类的不同而有差异。生态系统中,HIPVs可在植物与节肢动物、植物与微生物、虫害植物与邻近的健康植物、或同一植株的受害和未受害部位间起作用,介导防御性反应。HIPVs作为寄主定位信号,在吸引捕食性、寄生性天敌过程中起着重要作用。HIPVs还可以作为植物间信息交流的工具,启动植株的防御反应而增强抗虫性。不论从生态学还是经济学角度来看,HIPVs对于农林生态系中害虫综合治理策略的完善具有重要意义。前期的研究在虫害诱导植物防御的化学生态学方面奠定了良好基础,目前更多的研究转向阐述虫害诱导植物抗性的分子机制。为了深入了解HIPVs的代谢调控机制,主要从以下几个方面进行了综述。因为植食性昆虫取食造成的植物损伤是与昆虫口腔分泌物共同作用的结果,所以首先阐述口腔分泌物在防御反应中的作用。挥发物诱导素volicitin和β-葡萄糖苷酶作为口腔分泌物的组分,是产生HIPVs的激发子,通过调节伤信号诱发HIPVs的释放。接着阐述了信号转导途径对HIPVs释放的调节作用,并讨论了不同信号途径之间的交互作用。就HIPVs的代谢过程而言,其过程受信号转导途径(包括茉莉酸、水杨酸、乙烯、过氧化氢信号途径)的调控,其中茉莉酸信号途径是诱发HIPVs释放的重要途径。基于前人的研究,综述了HIPVs的主要代谢过程及其过程中关键酶类的调控作用。文中的HIPVs主要包括萜烯类化合物、绿叶挥发物和莽草酸途径产生的芳香族化合物,如水杨酸甲酯和吲哚等。作为化学信号分子,这些化合物中的一部分还能激活邻近植物防御基因的表达。萜烯合酶是各种萜烯类化合物合成的关键酶类,脂氧合酶、过氧化氢裂解酶也是绿叶挥发物代谢途径中的研究热点,而苯丙氨酸裂解酶和水杨酸羧基甲基转移酶分别是合成水杨酸及其衍生物水杨酸甲酯的关键酶类。这些酶类的基因在转录水平上调控着HIPVs代谢途径。最后展望了HIPVs的研究前景。     

昆虫取食诱导的植物防御反应

植物被昆虫取食后可产生直接防御或间接防御。直接防御通过增加有毒的次生代谢产物或防御蛋白对昆虫生理代谢产生不利的影响,但对植物的消耗较大。间接防御通过释放挥发性化合物吸引天敌昆虫,并以此控制植食性昆虫。特异性的昆虫激发子(insect specific elicitors)能够诱导挥发性化合物的释放。多种信号途径参与昆虫取食诱导的植物防御反应,它们之间的相互作用协同或拮抗。了解昆虫取食诱导的植物防御反应,对于害虫综合治理策略的完善具有重要的意义。     

昆虫取食和人工损伤处理对五种榕树挥发物释放的影响

比较了昆虫取食与人工损伤对五种生活型相同但来自不同演替阶段的榕树挥发物释放的影响。在叶片无损伤情况下,先锋种对叶榕(Ficushispida)释放挥发物最多,顶级种高榕(F.altissima)释放最少,中间种木瓜榕(F.auriculata)、苹果榕(F.oligodon)和聚果榕(F.racemosa)居中。人工损伤处理后五种植物挥发物的释放均显著增加,挥发物释放量的大小顺序和无损伤情况下相一致。一点拟灯蛾幼虫取食后,先锋树种对叶榕的挥发物的释放被明显抑制,木瓜榕和苹果榕挥发物释放量释放显著增加,并同时释放一种广谱杀虫物质——桉油精。一点拟灯蛾幼虫不取食高榕叶片因而没有高榕被昆虫取食挥发物释放量释放数据。本研究表明来自不同演替阶段的榕树对昆虫取食与人工损伤对挥发物释放的影响确存在明显的差异。     

虫害诱导蔬菜作物挥发物的研究进展

蔬菜作物释放的虫害诱导植物挥发物(Herbivore-induced plant volatiles,HIPVs)是蔬菜作物受害虫胁迫后产生的一类启动防御反应的化合物,可以作为蔬菜作物的对外重要信息交流媒介和防御措施实施前体.蔬菜作物通过释放HIPVs来增强自身防御反应、调节昆虫行为和向邻近作物发出"预警信号",从而直接或间接地抵御植食性昆虫危害.近年来,有关HIPVs的研究已成为昆虫行为学与化学生态学的关注热点.本文系统综述了虫害诱导蔬菜作物挥发物类别、释放特性、生态功能及应用等方面,以期梳理和阐释HIPVs在蔬菜-害虫二级营养结构以及蔬菜-害虫-害虫天敌三级营养结构的化学生态网络中的重要化学信号功能,并对未来该方向的研究进行展望.     

广聚萤叶甲取食对豚草挥发物组分的影响

植物在遭受植食性昆虫为害后,会系统性地释放虫害诱导挥发物(HIPVs).为探明广聚萤叶甲取食对豚草挥发物组分的影响,本研究采用动态顶空吸附法和气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS),收集并分析了豚草在受机械损伤和受广聚萤叶甲取食损伤前后挥发物组分及相对含量的变化.结果表明,豚草健康植株与损伤植株的挥发物组分和相对含量具有明显的差异.与健康植株相比,受机械损伤后的豚草挥发物中新出现了乙酸芳樟酯、桉树醇、十二醛、γ-木罗烯、植物醇、β-波旁烯,这些化合物在受损后立即释放,表明它们是组成型豚草挥发性有机化合物(VOCs);受取食损伤后,挥发物中大根香叶烯D的相对含量显著增加,表明大根香叶烯D为诱发型VOCs;而较于健康植株和机械损伤植株,取食损伤后的豚草VOCs中增加了桧烯、辛醛、β-罗勒烯、香茅醇,表明这些化合物为HIPVs.此外,机械损伤与取食损伤对豚草VOCs组分的影响有所不同.受机械损伤后,挥发物的种类减少后(损伤后第3天)很快又恢复到健康水平,而受取食损伤后,VOCs的种类逐渐减少(损伤后3d内).受损后不同时期挥发物的种类和相对含量亦有显著差异.受损后的早期(1 d),释放的多为一些豚草绿叶性物质,而在后期有一些诱导物释放.本研究结果为利用豚草VOCs和HIPVs组分提高广聚萤叶甲对豚草的防控效果奠定了重要基础.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.