Integrative hormone and transcriptome analysis underline the role of abscisic acid in seed shattering of weedy rice

Plant Growth Regulation - Weedy rice is one of the most severe weeds in paddy fields, characterized by its high degree of seed shattering. Abscisic acid (ABA) serves as an abscission-accelerating...     

GeSUT4 mediates sucrose import at the symbiotic interface for carbon allocation of heterotrophic Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae)

Gastrodia elata, a fully mycoheterotrophic orchid without photosynthetic ability, only grows symbiotically with the fungus Armillaria. The mechanism of carbon distribution in this mycoheterotrophy is unknown. We detected high sucrose concentrations in all stages of Gastrodia tubers, suggesting sucrose may be the major sugar transported between fungus and orchid. Thick symplasm‐isolated wall interfaces in colonized and adjacent large cells implied involvement of sucrose importers. Two sucrose transporter (SUT)‐like genes, GeSUT4 and GeSUT3, were identified that were highly expressed in young Armillaria‐colonized tubers. Yeast complementation and isotope tracer experiments confirmed that GeSUT4 functioned as a high‐affinity sucrose‐specific proton‐dependent importer. Plasma‐membrane/tonoplast localization of GeSUT4‐GFP fusions and high RNA expression of GeSUT4 in symbiotic and large cells indicated that GeSUT4 likely functions in active sucrose transport for intercellular allocation and intracellular homeostasis. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing GeSUT4 had larger leaves but were sensitive to excess sucrose and roots were colonized with fewer mutualistic Bacillus, supporting the role of GeSUT4 in regulating sugar allocation. This is not only the first documented carbon import system in a mycoheterotrophic interaction but also highlights the evolutionary importance of sucrose transporters for regulation of carbon flow in all types of plant‐microbe interactions.     

Reliable Method for Fabricating Tissue‐Mimicking Materials With Designated Relative Permittivity and Conductivity at 128 MHz

Artificial materials that can simultaneously mimic the relative permittivity and conductivity of various human tissues are usually used in medical applications. However, the method of precisely designing these materials with designated values of both relative permittivity and conductivity at 3 T MRI resonance frequency is lacking. In this study, a reliable method is established to determine the compositions of artificial dielectric materials with designated relative permittivity and conductivity at 128 MHz. Sixty dielectric materials were produced using oil, sodium chloride, gelatin, and deionized water as the main raw materials. The dielectric properties of these dielectric materials were measured using the open‐ended coaxial line method at 128 MHz. Nonlinear least‐squares Marquardt–Levenberg algorithm was used to obtain the formula, establishing the relationship between the compositions of the dielectric materials and their dielectric properties at 128 MHz. The dielectric properties of the blood, gall bladder, muscle, skin, lung, and bone at 128 MHz were selected to verify the reliability of the obtained formula. For the obtained formula, the coefficient of determination and the expanded uncertainties with a coverage factor of k = 2 were 0.991% and 4.9% for relative permittivity and 0.992% and 6.4% for conductivity. For the obtained artificial materials measured using the open‐ended coaxial line method, the maximal difference of relative permittivity and conductivity were 1.0 and 0.02 S/m, respectively, with respect to the designated values. In conclusion, the compositions of tissue‐mimicking material can be quickly determined after the establishment of the formulas with the expanded uncertainties of less than 10%. Bioelectromagnetics. 2021;42:86–94. © 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.     

稳定表达禽β防御素6的DF-1细胞系的建立及其抑菌活性

【背景】禽β防御素6是禽体内分泌的一类抗菌肽,在抵抗病原入侵和免疫调节中发挥着重要作用,但其常规表达方式效率较低,难以在产业化生产中加以应用。【目的】建立稳定表达AvBD6的细胞系,并检测其表达产物对耐药大肠杆菌的抗菌活性,为其他防御素表达提供参考。【方法】利用显微镜观察构建真核重组表达载体pLOV-eGFP-AvBD6转染至293T细胞后的转染效率;收集293T细胞上清液并感染DF-1细胞,通过嘌呤霉素加压筛选稳定表达株;利用RT-PCR和Western Blot分别检测目的基因在转录水平和蛋白水平的表达情况;利用扫描电镜观察细胞培养上清液对耐药大肠杆菌的抗菌效果及其对菌体的损伤。【结果】成功构建重组表达载体pLOV-eGFP-AvBD6,筛选出稳定表达AvBD6的DF-1细胞系,而且目的基因在转录水平和蛋白水平均有表达;细胞培养上清显著降低大肠杆菌和副伤寒沙门菌存活率,对金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌活性较低。【结论】建立了稳定表达AvBD6的DF-1细胞系,其表达产物对耐药大肠杆菌具有良好的抗菌效果,对推动防御素的应用提供技术支持。     

雏鸡源致病性粪肠球菌的分离鉴定及其耐药性分析

【背景】粪肠球菌(Enterococcus faecalis)是人和动物肠道正常菌群之一,也是一种条件性致病菌。近年来,粪肠球菌引起人和动物感染的报道越来越多。【目的】探明引起某养鸡场雏鸡发病死亡的病原及其致病性和有效治疗药物。【方法】结合临床症状和病理剖检,开展病原菌分离、生理生化特性检测和16S rRNA基因序列分析、致病性试验、耐药分析和对患病鸡群的药物治疗。【结果】患病鸡有昏睡、瘫痪或共济失调等临床症状;肝、脾肿大,肝脏发黄、少量出血点、质脆易碎,肠道粘膜增厚、出血,脑轻微水肿;从肝脏组织分离得到一株革兰氏阳性球菌,经纯化培养后命名为CJ517;依据该菌株形态特征、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列分析鉴定为粪肠球菌;致病性试验显示CJ517菌株能致死小鼠,致死率为66.67%;该菌对头孢噻肟、磷霉素、丁胺卡那等药物敏感,对多西环素、卡那霉素、新霉素、氟苯尼考等药物耐药;经用敏感药物和提高免疫力结合治疗后,鸡群病情得到控制。【结论】研究结果可为临床诊断和治疗动物粪肠球菌感染提供参考。