Diet drives convergent evolution of gut microbiomes in bamboo-eating species

Gut microbiota plays a critical role in host physiology and health. The coevolution between the host and its gut microbes facilitates animal adaptation to its specific ecological niche. Multiple factors such as host diet and phylogeny modulate the structure and function of gut microbiota. However, the relative contribution of each factor in shaping the structure of gut microbiota remains unclear. The giant(Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and red(Ailurus styani) pandas belong to different families of order Carnivora. They have evolved as obligate bamboo-feeders and can be used as a model system for studying the gut microbiome convergent evolution. Here, we compare the structure and function of gut microbiota of the two pandas with their carnivorous relatives using 16S rRNA and metagenome sequencing. We found that both panda species share more similarities in their gut microbiota structure with each other than each species shares with its carnivorous relatives. This indicates that the specialized herbivorous diet rather than host phylogeny is the dominant driver of gut microbiome convergence within Arctoidea.Metagenomic analysis revealed that the symbiotic gut microbiota of both pandas possesses a high level of starch and sucrose metabolism and vitamin B12 biosynthesis. These findings suggest a diet-driven convergence of gut microbiomes and provide new insight into host-microbiota coevolution of these endangered species.     

The novel peptide NbPPI1 identified from Nicotiana benthamiana triggers immune responses and enhances resistance against Phytophthora pathogens

In plants, recognition of small secreted peptides, such as damage/danger‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), regulates diverse processes, including stress and immune responses. Here, we identified an SGPS (Ser‐Gly‐Pro‐Ser) motif‐containing peptide, Nicotiana tabacum NtPROPPI, and its two homologs in Nicotiana benthamiana, NbPROPPI1 and NbPROPPI2. Phytophthora parasitica infection and salicylic acid (SA) treatment induced NbPROPPI1/2 expression. Moreover, SignalP predicted that the 89‐amino acid NtPROPPI includes a 24‐amino acid N‐terminal signal peptide and NbPROPPI1/2‐GFP fusion proteins were mainly localized to the periplasm. Transient expression of NbPROPPI1/2 inhibited P. parasitica colonization, and NbPROPPI1/2 knockdown rendered plants more susceptible to P. parasitica. An eight‐amino‐acid segment in the NbPROPPI1 C‐terminus was essential for its immune function and a synthetic 20‐residue peptide, NbPPI1, derived from the C‐terminus of NbPROPPI1 provoked significant immune responses in N. benthamiana. These responses led to enhanced accumulation of reactive oxygen species, activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases, and up‐regulation of the defense genes Flg22‐induced receptor‐like kinase (FRK) and WRKY DNA‐binding protein 33 (WRKY33). The NbPPI1‐induced defense responses require Brassinosteroid insensitive 1‐associated receptor kinase 1 (BAK1). These results suggest that NbPPI1 functions as a DAMP in N. benthamiana; this novel DAMP provides a potentially useful target for improving plant resistance to Pytophthora pathogens.     

Effective methods for isolation and purification of extracellular vesicles from plants

Plant extracellular vesicles (EVs) play critical roles in the cross-kingdom trafficking of molecules from hosts to interacting microbes, most notably in plant defense responses. However, the isolation of pure, intact EVs from plants remains challenging. A variety of methods have been utilized to isolate plant EVs from apoplastic washing fluid (AWF). Here, we compare published plant EV isolation methods, and provide our recommended method for the isolation and purification of plant EVs. This method includes a detailed protocol for clean AWF collection from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, followed by EV isolation via differential centrifugation. To further separate and purify specific subclasses of EVs from heterogeneous vesicle populations, density gradient ultracentrifugation and immunoaffinity capture are then utilized. We found that immunoaffinity capture is the most precise method for specific EV subclass isolation when suitable specific EV biomarkers and their corresponding antibodies are available. Overall, this study provides a guide for the selection and optimization of EV isolation methods for desired downstream applications.     

Genomes of 12 fig wasps provide insights into the adaptation of pollinators to fig syconia

Figs and fig pollinators are one of the few classic textbook examples of obligate pollination mutualism. The specific dependence of fig pollinators on the relatively safe living environment with sufficient food sources in the enclosed fig syconia implies that they are vulnerable to habitat changes. However, there is still no extensive genomic evidence to reveal the evolutionary footprint of this long-term mutually beneficial symbiosis in fig pollinators. In fig syconia, there are also non-pollinator species. The non-pollinator species differ in their evolutionary and life histories from pollinators. We conducted comparative analyses on 11 newly sequenced fig wasp genomes and one previously published genome. The pollinators colonized the figs approximately 66.9 million years ago, consistent with the origin of host figs. Compared with nonpollinators, many more genes in pollinators were subject to relaxed selection. Seven genes were absent in pollinators in response to environmental stress and immune activation. Pollinators had more streamlined gene repertoires in the innate immune system, chemosensory toolbox, and detoxification system. Our results provide genomic evidence for the differentiation between pollinators and nonpollinators. The data suggest that owing to the long-term adaptation to the fig, some genes related to functions no longer required are absent in pollinators.     

南美蟛蜞菊内参基因Actin的克隆及其分析

看家基因Actin常被用作定量、半定量PCR试验的内参基因.为研究其他基因在南美蟛蜞菊响应环境变化的表达调控机制,根据GenBank上已登录的肌动蛋白基因(Actin)的同源核苷酸保守序列,设计特异性引物,利用RT-PCR的方法克隆获得了南美蟛蜞菊Actin基因的全长序列,并将该序列命名为WtAct.序列分析结果表明WtAct基因全长为1 134 bp,编码377个氨基酸,且与已发表的蓖麻、麻风树、青葙、向日葵等植物的核苷酸序列同源性分别在82.9％～93.6％,与这些植物的氨基酸序列相似度在94.0％～99.7％,其中南美蟛蜞菊WtAct与向日葵Actin基因的氨基酸序列相似度最高,达到了 99.7％.进化树分析也表明,两者的同源性最高.采用RT-qPCR方法检测以WtAct为内参基因时南美蟛蜞菊热休克蛋白基因HSP70在不同处理条件下的表达情况,表明HSP70的确受到不同环境变化的诱导表达,说明WtAct可以作为有效的内参基因.这些结果为深入研究南美蟛蜞菊相关功能基因的表达提供了理论基础,也为其他非模式植物Actin基因的克隆提供了借鉴.     

基于GEO数据库的肝癌相关基因的筛选及验证

肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)是中国高发的恶性肿瘤之一,识别肝细胞癌发生发展相关基因,对于深入研究肝癌发病机制和开发诊疗靶点均具有重要意义.本研究利用GEO2R工具从基因表达汇编数据库(Gene Expression Omnibus Database,GEO)筛选5个数据集中共有的差异表达基因作为潜在的肝癌相关基因.利用Metascape网站,对差异表达基因进行功能富集及信号通路分析.结合GEPIA(Gene Expres-sion Profiling Interaction Analysis)网站筛选具有临床意义的基因.利用荧光定量PCR技术验证与肝癌预后相关的差异表达基因,候选肝癌相关基因,为后续的深入研究奠定扎实的基础.结果显示,从5个数据集中共发现94个共有的差异表达基因.文献检索后发现24个基因与肝癌发生发展的关系少见文献报道,属于肝癌中未知功能基因.利用GEPIA分析癌症基因组图谱(the cancer genome atlas,TCGA)中数据后发现,GINS1在肝癌组织中高表达,与肝癌患者生存期呈负相关;CFHR4和DNASE1L3在肝癌组织中显著低表达,与肝癌患者生存期呈正相关.荧光定量PCR技术证实GINS1在81.3％的肝癌组织中呈现高表达,CFHR4和DNAS-E1L3分别在71.9％和93.8％肝癌组织中低表达.因此,本研究发现GINS1、CFHR4和DNASE 1L3在肝癌组织中显著差异表达,与肝癌患者的预后密切相关,可能作为潜在的判断肝癌患者预后的分子标志物和研发肝癌治疗的潜在靶标.     

Adult-repopulating lymphoid potential of yolk sac blood vessels is not confined to arterial endothelial cells

Science China Life Sciences - During embryogenesis, hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) are believed to be derived from hemogenic endothelial cells (HECs). Moreover, arterial feature is...     

An inducible model for specific neutrophil depletion by diphtheria toxin in mice

Science China Life Sciences - Neutrophils are crucial for immunity and play important roles in inflammatory diseases; however, mouse models selectively deficient in neutrophils are limited, and...     

Molecular deconvolution of the neutralizing antibodies induced by an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine

Dear Editor, The rapid emergence and persistence of the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) has had enormous impacts on global health and the economy.Effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed to control the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic,and multiple vaccines have been found to be efficacious in preventing symptomatic COVID-19(Polack et al.,2020;Wu et al.,2020;Jones and Roy,2021).We have developed a traditional beta-propiolactone-inacti-vated aluminum hydroxide-adjuvanted whole-virion SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV),which elicited protective immune responses in clinical trials (Wang et al.,2020;Xia et al.,2021).The vaccine has been granted conditional approvals or emergency use authorizations (EUAs) in China and other countries.