Inhibitory effects of different quantitative compositions of Hymenaea leaf resins on a generalist herbivore Spodoptera exigua

The hypotheses that quantitative variation in leaf resins in the leguminous genus Hymenaea may partially be a response to insect predation was tested in feeding experiments with the generalist herbivore, the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hübn (Noctuidae). Leaf resins of all Hymenaea species are comprised of essentially the same suite of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, but discrete quantitative patterns have been classified as Compositional Types based on the amounts of major components. In this work pure extracts of leaf resins of Type I (high - and β-selinene), Type II (intermediate amounts of -and β-selinene and caryophyllene) and Type III (high caryophyllene) were incorporated into an artificial diet for the insects at 1 and 3.2% (dry wt). Resin Type treatments produced differential dose-dependent effects on growth rate (lower larval weights and increased time to pupation) and in mortality. More significant inhibitory effects occurred in Compositional Types with a predominance of a single compared (i.e. Types I and III). Significantly higher mortality occurring in Type III treatments suggests that caryophllene may have higher potential toxicity than - and β-selinene for S. exigua. These experiments indicate that feeding by generalist herbivores could be a factor determining quantitative compositional variation: (a) among populations; (b) during the development of leaves; (c) in the spatial distribution within the leaves; and (d) between parent tree and seedling progeny.     

Complex Genetic Effects on Early Vegetative Development Shape Resource Allocation Differences Between Arabidopsis lyrata Populations

Costs of reproduction due to resource allocation trade-offs have long been recognized as key forces in life history evolution, but little is known about their functional or genetic basis. Arabidopsis lyrata, a perennial relative of the annual model plant A. thaliana with a wide climatic distribution, has populations that are strongly diverged in resource allocation. In this study, we evaluated the genetic and functional basis for variation in resource allocation in a reciprocal transplant experiment, using four A. lyrata populations and F₂ progeny from a cross between North Carolina (NC) and Norway parents, which had the most divergent resource allocation patterns. Local alleles at quantitative trait loci (QTL) at a North Carolina field site increased reproductive output while reducing vegetative growth. These QTL had little overlap with flowering date QTL. Structural equation models incorporating QTL genotypes and traits indicated that resource allocation differences result primarily from QTL effects on early vegetative growth patterns, with cascading effects on later vegetative and reproductive development. At a Norway field site, North Carolina alleles at some of the same QTL regions reduced survival and reproductive output components, but these effects were not associated with resource allocation trade-offs in the Norway environment. Our results indicate that resource allocation in perennial plants may involve important adaptive mechanisms largely independent of flowering time. Moreover, the contributions of resource allocation QTL to local adaptation appear to result from their effects on developmental timing and its interaction with environmental constraints, and not from simple models of reproductive costs.     

Identification of chalcone synthase genes and their expression patterns reveal pollen abortion in cotton

Chalcone synthase (CHS) is a key enzyme and producing flavonoid derivatives as well play a vital roles in sustaining plant growth and development. However, the systematic and comprehensive analysis of CHS genes in island cotton (G. barbadense) has not been reported yet especially response to cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). To fill this knowledge gap, a genome-wide investigation of CHS genes were studied in island cotton. A total of 20 GbCHS genes were identified and grouped into five GbCHSs. The gene structure analysis revealed that most of GbCHS genes consisted of two exons and one intron, and 20 motifs were identified. Twenty five pairs duplicated events (12 GbCHS genes) were identified including 23 segmental duplication pairs and two tandem duplication events, representing that GbCHS gene family amplification mainly owned to segmental duplication events and evolving slowly. Gene expression analysis exhibited that the GbCHS family genes presented a diversity expression patterns in various organs of cotton. Coupled with functional predictions and gene expression, the abnormal expression of GbCHS06, 10, 16 and 19 might be associated with pollen abortion of CMS line in island cotton. Conclusively, GbCHS genes exhibited diversity and conservation in many aspects, which will help to better understand functional studies and a reference for CHS research in island cotton and other plants.     

Claustral Neurons Projecting to Frontal Cortex Mediate Contextual Association of Reward

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基于Taqman-MGB探针的亚稀褶红菇实时荧光定量PCR检测方法

本研究建立了一种基于Taqman-MGB探针的亚稀褶红菇Russula subnigricans实时荧光定量PCR检测方法。根据亚稀褶红菇与其近似种的内转录间隔区（internal transcribed spacers,ITS）序列差异,设计合成1对引物和1条特异性Taqman-MGB探针,并用常见有毒红菇种类进行验证。结果显示,引物特异性良好,仅亚稀褶红菇出现荧光信号,完成整个检测过程只需2h。该法能够为毒蘑菇中毒的快速检测提供技术支持。     

基于纳米颗粒的赭曲霉毒素A高灵敏酶联免疫检测方法的建立及应用

赭曲霉毒素(ochratoxins)主要是由青霉菌Penicillium和曲霉菌Aspergillus产生的有毒次级代谢产物,常见于发霉或发酵的农产品中,其中赭曲霉毒素A(ochratoxin A,OTA)毒性最强且最为普遍。OTA是粮食作物和饲料的重要污染物,在加工、储存或运输过程中均可产生,具有肾毒性和免疫毒性,可通过蓄积作用发挥毒性效应,对人类和动物健康造成严重威胁。本研究通过将OTA单克隆抗体包被于纳米磁珠(magnetic nanoparticles,MNPs)表面,获得具有免疫活性的磁珠抗体复合物(MNPs-Anti OTA),并制备生物素标记的偶联抗原OTA-BSA-Bio,后续采用链酶亲和素标记的纳米金颗粒(Strep-HRP-AuNPs)催化底物进行信号检测,最终建立了OTA高灵敏检测方法(MNPs-bs-AuNPs-ELISA)。在最优条件下,经计算该方法检测下限(IC10)为0.01ng/mL,检测区间(IC20-IC80)为0.02-0.73ng/mL,半数抑制率(IC50)为0.13ng/mL。与OTA类似物OTB、OTC交叉反应性为4.3%和8.1%,对其他常见真菌毒素AFB1、ZEN、FB1、DON、CIT和PAT均无交叉反应。玉米、面粉和大豆样本中的加标回收率可达85.6%-115.7%,对天然样本中OTA含量的检测结果表明,该方法与LC-MS/MS相关性良好。本研究建立的MNPs-bs-AuNPs-ELISA可满足谷物及饲料样本中OTA的快速、高灵敏度定量检测,成本较低,具有很好的应用前景。     

Computer‐aided assessment of the chemokine receptors CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression in gallbladder carcinoma

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a vicious and invasive disease. The major challenge in the clinical treatment of GBC is the lack of a suitable prognosis method. Chemokine receptors such as CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 play vital roles in the process of tumour progression and metastasis. Their expression levels and distribution are proven to be indicative of the progression of GBC, but are hard to be decoded by conventional pathological methods, and therefore, not commonly used in the prognosis of GBC. In this study, we developed a computer‐aided image analysis method, which we used to quantitatively measure the expression levels of CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 in the nuclei and cytoplasm of glandular and interstitial cells from a cohort of 55 GBC patients. We found that CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 expressions are associated with the clinicopathological variables of GBC. Cytoplasmic CXCR3, nuclear CXCR7 and cytoplasmic CXCR7 were significant predictive factors of histology invasion, whereas cytoplasmic CXCR4 and nuclear CXCR4 were significantly correlated with T and N stage and were associated with the overall survival and disease‐free survival. These results suggest that the quantification and localisation of CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 expressions in different cell types should be considered using computer‐aided assessment to improve the accuracy of prognosis in GBC.     

Effects of different sources of nitrogen on performance,relative population of rumen microorganisms,ruminal fermentation and blood parameters in male feedlotting lambs

Slow-release urea (SRU) can substitute dietary protein sources in the diet of feedlotting ruminant species. However, different SRU structures show varying results of productive performance. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different sources of nitrogen on performance, blood parameter, ruminal fermentation and relative population of rumen microorganisms in male Mehraban lambs. Thirty-five male lambs with an average initial BW of 34.7 ± 1.8 kg were assigned randomly to five treatments. Diets consisted of concentrate mixture and mineral and vitamin supplements plus (1) alfalfa and soybean meal, (2) wheat straw and soybean meal, (3) wheat straw and urea, (4) wheat straw and Optigen® (a commercial SRU supplement) and (5) wheat straw and SRU produced in the laboratory. No statistical difference was observed in animal performance and DM intake among treatments. The mean value of ruminal pH and ammonia was higher (P < 0.05) for the SRU diet compared with WU diet. The difference in pH is likely to be due to the higher ammonia level as VFAs concentrations were unchanged. The level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was different among treatments (P = 0.065). The highest concentration of BUN was recorded in Optigen diet (183.1 mg/l), whereas the lowest value was recorded in wheat straw-soybean meal diet (147 mg/l). The amount of albumin and total protein was not affected by the treatments. The relative population of total protozoa, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Ruminococcus albus in the SRU treatment was higher (P < 0.01) than that in urea treatment at 3 h post-feeding. During the period of lack of high-quality forage and in order to reduce dietary costs, low-quality forage with urea sources can be used in the diet. Results of microbial populations revealed that SRU can be used as a nitrogen source which can sustainably provide nitrogen for rumen microorganism without negative effects on the performance of feedlotting lambs.     

Relationship between body condition score loss and mRNA of genes related to fatty acid metabolism and the endocannabinoid system in adipose tissue of periparturient cows

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) controls feed intake and energy balance in nonruminants. Recent studies suggested that dietary management alters the expression of members of the ECS in the liver and endometrium of dairy cows. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between body condition score (BCS) loss and the mRNA abundance of genes related to fatty acid metabolism and the ECS in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) of dairy cows. The BCS was determined in multiparous (3.2 ± 0.5 lactations) Holstein cows at −21 and 42 days relative to calving (designated as d = 0). Cows were grouped into three categories according to BCS loss between both assessments as follows: (1) lost ≤0.25 unit (n = 8, low BCS loss (LBL)), (2) lost between 0.5 and 0.75 units (n = 8, moderate BCS loss (MBL)) and (3) lost ≥1 unit (n = 8, high BCS loss (HBL)). Concentrations of haptoglobin and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were determined in plasma. Real-time PCR was used to determine mRNA abundance of key genes related to fatty acid metabolism, inflammation and ECS in AT. Milk yield (kg/day) between week 2 and 6 post-calving was greater in the LBL group (49.4 ± 0.75) compared to MBL (47.9 ± 0.56) and HBL (47.4 ± 0.62) groups (P < 0.05). The overall mean plasma haptoglobin and NEFA concentrations were greater in MBL and HBL groups compared with the LBL group (P < 0.05). The mRNA abundance of TNF-α, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β was greatest at 21 and 42 days post-calving in HBL, intermediate in MBL and lowest in LBL groups, respectively. Cows in the HBL group had the greatest AT gene expression for carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, hormone sensitive lipase and adipose triglyceride lipase at 21 and 42 days post-calving (P < 0.05). Overall, mRNA abundance for very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, which are related to NEFA oxidation, were greater in MBL and HBL groups compared to the LBL group at 42 days post-calving. However, mRNA abundance of fatty acid amide hydrolase was lower at 21 and 42 days post-calving in HBL cows than in LBL cows (P < 0.05). In summary, results showed a positive association between increased degree of BCS loss, inflammation and activation of the ECS network in AT of dairy cows. Findings suggest that the ECS might play an important role in fatty acid metabolism, development of inflammation and cow’s adaptation to onset of lactation.