昆虫性别决定级联的研究进展

性别决定是发育和进化生物学研究的一个重大问题。已知大多数昆虫的性别决定级联为：初级信号因子→性别决定关键基因→双性基因→性别分化基因。尽管遵循这样的模式,但不同昆虫的性别决定基因和调控机制各不相同,特别是性别决定初级信号因子存在较大分歧。自黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster的初级信号被发现以来,人们陆续确定了蚊子、蜜蜂、丽蝇蛹集金小蜂Nasonia vitripennis、家蚕Bombyx mori等模式昆虫的初级信号。初级信号的种类复杂多样,包括性染色体的剂量、雄性化因子(male-determining factors, M factors)、等位基因的杂合度、母代印记等,这在一定程度上增加了非模式昆虫的研究难度。尽管如此,昆虫性别决定级联的下游调控机制仍相对保守,特别是transformer(tra)+transformer2(tra2)→doublesex(dsx)/fruitless(fru)的调控模式在大多数昆虫中存在共性。tra通过感知初级信号而发生选择性可变剪接,并在tra2的帮助下实现其对自身及下游dsx和fru的剪接调控,从而维持性别发育。dsx...     

昆虫性别决定机制研究进展

阐述昆虫的性别决定机制是理解昆虫性别分化调控的理论基础,也为人类有效控制害虫开辟了新方向。昆虫性别决定机制存在复杂性和多样性,但主要是内因即性别决定基因级联互作调控的结果。本文对近年来基于性别决定基因级联互作的昆虫性别决定机制研究进行了综述,主要包括性别决定基因概况和重要性别决定相关基因的分子级联互作关系。目前发现昆虫重要性别决定相关基因主要集中在常染色体上,且部分基因之间存在紧密的级联互作,如Sxl,tra,dsx,csd和fem等。在这些基因中,tra/fem→dsx的调控模式在已报道的昆虫中存在共性,即tra和dsx相对较保守且tra通过性特异剪切来调控下游dsx的转录形式。目前大多数昆虫的性别决定机制还不清楚,但近年来模式昆虫性别决定机制取得了一定进展,对非模式昆虫的研究还处于起步阶段但却越来越受到重视。     

双翅目害虫性别分离技术的研究进展及展望

在过去的几十年中,昆虫不育技术(sterile insect technique, SIT)已被用于防治农业害虫和人类健康相关的病媒害虫。相较于传统的农药控制策略,昆虫不育技术具有物种特异性和环境友好型等特点。通过释放不育雄虫的昆虫不育技术的主要障碍是在大规模饲养阶段将雄性与雌性分离,从而提高这些防治方法的成本效率,并防止释放携带和传播疾病的雌性群体。目前大多数针对双翅目害虫的遗传防治策略没有进行性别分离,少数害虫性别分离方法是基于蛹的大小或者雌雄蛹羽化时间差异进行人工识别和机械识别分离。双翅目昆虫性别决定及分化分子机制多种多样,其性别决定主要信号差异巨大,其多种性别决定基因已用于性别分离系统的开发。性比失衡性别分离策略通过破坏性别决定途径关键基因的表达获得雄性偏向后代,雌性条件性致死分离策略利用性别决定关键基因的雌雄选择性剪接差异实现性别分离,这两种性别分离策略目前正在害虫不育防治中接受大规模饲养应用评估,而基于双翅目昆虫雌雄性二态和基因标记发展的可视化性别分离策略也已成功实现多种害虫的性别分离。我们对性比失衡分离策略、雌性条件性致死分离策略和可视化性别分离策略在双翅目害虫中的研究进展进行了综述,重点评估了这些方法在雄虫大规模饲养和释放的应用潜力,以期在更完善的性别分离技术支持下为害虫防治研究取得更多突破性进展。     

双翅目害虫性别分离技术的研究进展及展望

在过去的几十年中,昆虫不育技术(sterile insect technique, SIT)已被用于防治农业害虫和人类健康相关的病媒害虫。相较于传统的农药控制策略,昆虫不育技术具有物种特异性和环境友好型等特点。通过释放不育雄虫的昆虫不育技术的主要障碍是在大规模饲养阶段将雄性与雌性分离,从而提高这些防治方法的成本效率,并防止释放携带和传播疾病的雌性群体。目前大多数针对双翅目害虫的遗传防治策略没有进行性别分离,少数害虫性别分离方法是基于蛹的大小或者雌雄蛹羽化时间差异进行人工识别和机械识别分离。双翅目昆虫性别决定及分化分子机制多种多样,其性别决定主要信号差异巨大,其多种性别决定基因已用于性别分离系统的开发。性比失衡性别分离策略通过破坏性别决定途径关键基因的表达获得雄性偏向后代,雌性条件性致死分离策略利用性别决定关键基因的雌雄选择性剪接差异实现性别分离,这两种性别分离策略目前正在害虫不育防治中接受大规模饲养应用评估,而基于双翅目昆虫雌雄性二态和基因标记发展的可视化性别分离策略也已成功实现多种害虫的性别分离。我们对性比失衡分离策略、雌性条件性致死分离策略和可视化性别分离策略在双翅目害虫中的研究进展进行了综述,重点评估了这些方法在雄虫大规模饲养和释放的应用潜力,以期在更完善的性别分离技术支持下为害虫防治研究取得更多突破性进展。     

乳草长蝽Ubx基因克隆及多转录本分析

针对非完全变态类昆虫发育关键基因的研究相对匮乏, 尤其缺少Hox基因家族的基因结构和序列信息。为了研究Hox基因家族成员之一的Ubx基因在非完全变态类昆虫中的结构特点, 本实验选取乳草长蝽Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas, 1852)为代表, 应用RACE和RT-PCR技术, 对其Ubx基因的全长开放阅读框进行克隆。结果显示: 乳草长蝽Ubx基因（Of-Ubx）开放阅读框全长888 bp, 推测的完整蛋白含有295个氨基酸。Southern blot证实Ubx基因以单拷贝形式存在且含有内含子。在Of-Ubx的YPWM基序和同源异型结构域之间存在选择性剪接位点, 可产生3种不同转录本。分析以上实验结果, 发现乳草长蝽与黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen, 1830)的Ubx基因拥有相似的剪接位置、剪接体组合和边界序列, 提示它们很可能具有相似的剪接机理。这是Ubx基因的多转录本现象在昆虫纲中果蝇属以外类群中的首次详尽报道。
     

性别决定基因

在个体发育过程中,动物的种类不同,性别决定的方式亦有差异。这取决于胚胎早期不同的性别初级信号对性别决定基因的启动和活化,活化的性别决定基因启动性别分化基因的表达,使个体的性别表现出来。本文略述与线虫、果蝇等的性别决定有关的基因。线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)体长约1mm,雌雄同体,自体受精。有两条 X 染色体(XX);XO型线虫为雄性。线虫(C.elegans)性别决定的初级信号是 X 染色体与常染色体的比率(X∶     

家蚕雄dsx~(M3)异位表达对下游靶基因表达的影响

家蚕双性基因dsx通过雌雄特异选择性剪接并表达影响体细胞性别发育。在对Bmdsx的表达情况进行深入分析时发现了一个新的雄特异剪接体dsx~(M3),但其功能未知。为揭示Bmdsx~(M3)的生物学功能,首次通过转基因在雌蚕中异位表达Bmdsx~(M3),成功获得两个转基因品系T1和T2。在T1和T2中虽未出现发育异常和性反转事件,但在转基因雌性个体中,SP1和Vg的表达量都出现明显下调,而PBP的表达量也出现明显上调,表明新剪接体Bmdsx~(M3)能够调控Bmdsx下游靶基因的表达,暗示Bmdsx~(M3)同样参与家蚕体细胞性别发育。     

高等植物性别分化研究进展

高等植物性别分化研究主要包括三个方面：性别分化特异大分子标记物的鉴定(分化程序)；诱导信号(如植物激素)的分析和性决定基因的分离与分析。近年来，植物性别分化研究取得了较大进展，本文主要介绍这一研究在分化程序、诱导信号和性决定基因等方面的研究进展。     

害虫遗传不育技术中致死基因的研究与应用

基于遗传修饰手段的昆虫不育技术(SIT)作为一类物种特异、环境友好、科学高效的新兴策略,在害虫防治中具有广阔的应用前景。释放携带显性致死基因昆虫的技术(RIDL)是改进传统SIT的重要手段之一,主要包括四环素调控系统、特异性启动子、性别特异剪接系统和特异性致死基因等重要元件,其中根据不同昆虫的特点选择合适的特异性致死基因对于构建遗传不育品系至关重要。这些致死基因或受到阻遏调控系统的控制、或特异的在雌虫中表达、亦或直接作用于X染色体,导致后代在特定发育阶段或特定性别中条件致死。本文综述了RHG家族(reapr、hid、grim、michelob_x)细胞凋亡基因、转录激活因子t TA及Nipp1Dm、归巢内切酶基因等在害虫遗传不育技术中的研究和应用,讨论了特定致死基因的效应机理和应用特点,并对其可能的发展方向进行了展望。由于不同效应基因的致死作用和调控机理尚未完全明晰,因此深入研究特异致死基因的凋亡机制和在不同物种中的兼容作用,将为害虫遗传防控提供更多的研究思路和手段。     

SOX、DMRT性别决定基因家族及其应用研究进展

SOX基因家族是在动物中发现的一类新的编码转录因子的基因家族,其产物具有一个HMG基序保守区,参与诸如性别决定等多种早期胚胎发育过程。到目前为止,在XXXY染色体性别决定系统中,只发现了两个性别决定基因:一个是SRY,它主要在哺乳动物性别决定中起作用;一个是DMY,它是在青鳉(Oryziaslatipes)中发现的。SRY属于SOX基因家族,而DMY则属于另一个普遍参与脊椎动物性别决定过程的DMTR基因家族。本文综述了这两大性别决定基因的研究进展,并探讨了它们在水产养殖动物性别决定基因研究中的意义和价值。     

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.