Discovery of Genes that Modulate Flavivirus Replication in an Interferon-Dependent Manner

Establishment of the interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral state provides a crucial initial line of defense against viral infection. Numerous genes that contribute to this antiviral state remain to be identified. Using a loss-of-function strategy, we screened an original library of 1156 siRNAs targeting 386 individual curated human genes in stimulated microglial cells infected with Zika virus (ZIKV), an emerging RNA virus that belongs to the flavivirus genus. The screen recovered twenty-one potential host proteins that modulate ZIKV replication in an IFN-dependent manner, including the previously known IFITM3 and LY6E. Further characterization contributed to delineate the spectrum of action of these genes towards other pathogenic RNA viruses, including Hepatitis C virus and SARS-CoV-2. Our data revealed that APOL3 acts as a proviral factor for ZIKV and several other related and unrelated RNA viruses. In addition, we showed that MTA2, a chromatin remodeling factor, possesses potent flavivirus-specific antiviral functions induced by IFN. Our work identified previously unrecognized genes that modulate the replication of RNA viruses in an IFN-dependent manner, opening new perspectives to target weakness points in the life cycle of these viruses.     

台风利奇马对城市淡水系统中微生物群落和抗生素耐药性基因的影响

【背景】极端天气事件(如台风)带来的强风和降水,会给水生生态系统造成短暂和持久的影响。然而,很少有研究关注台风对水生微生物群落和抗生素耐药性基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)的影响。【目的】对台风前后城市淡水水域的微生物群落和抗性基因组成进行研究分析,更好地认识极端天气对淡水生态系统的干扰。【方法】在台风前后从4个地点采集了水样,通过宏基因组分析,检测了台风利奇马对温州休闲水域微生物群落和抗性基因的影响。除水生微生物群落和抗性基因外,还分析了每个采样点的物理、化学参数,包括温度、pH、溶解氧、叶绿素a、可溶性活性磷、硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐和铵。【结果】台风登陆后,大多数地点的pH、溶解氧和叶绿素a都有所增加。然而,台风对九山湖的影响要弱于对三垟湿地的影响。台风登陆后,变形菌门、蓝菌门和拟杆菌门的相对丰度增加,而放线菌门的相对丰度下降。在属水平上,栖湖菌的微生物多样性和相对丰度显著增加。在所有的环境因子中,铵是影响微生物群落结构的最重要的环境因子。另外,在所有样本中均检测到35个机会性致病菌类群。台风后,铜绿假单胞菌的相对丰度增加。ARGs显示了空间(采样点间)和时间(台风前后)的变化。冗余分析表明,水总无机氮是影响抗性基因分布的主要环境因子。【结论】这些发现为极端天气(如台风)如何影响淡水系统中的微生物群落和抗性基因提供了新的见解。台风登陆增加了城市淡水系统的公共安全风险,因此,检验检疫方法和手段应该前移,加强对环境健康安全的评价和分析,这将有助于减轻抗生素耐药性和致病菌扩散的风险。     

西伯利亚蝗卵发育过程的比较转录组分析及滞育关联基因筛选

【目的】通过筛选西伯利亚蝗Gomphocerus sibiricus卵滞育基因及代谢通路,初步明确西伯利亚蝗卵滞育分子机理。【方法】利用Illumina NovaSeq 6000测序平台对西伯利亚蝗早期发育(ES)、滞育(DS)和滞育后发育阶段(PS)的卵进行转录组测序;采用GO和KEGG富集分析并结合文献,预测滞育相关通路并聚类热图分析,筛选蝗卵滞育关联基因,并选取其中6个重要基因进行qRT-PCR验证。【结果】DSvs ES和PS vs DS两比较组分别富集到12 419和4 789个差异表达基因,且多上调表达;两比较组共表达差异基因为2 206个,主要与糖代谢、环境胁迫和生长发育相关。DS vs ES组富集最显著的GO条目为蛋白结合,PS vs DS组GO条目主要包含酶活性、细胞骨架构建及蛋白结合等过程。滞育关联基因主要集中在Wnt信号通路、胰岛素信号通路、细胞周期通路以及昆虫激素生物合成等通路。6个重要的滞育关联基因的表达量变化趋势与转录组数据结果基本一致。【结论】本研究初步明确了西伯利亚蝗卵滞育调控的重要代谢途径,并筛选出20个滞育关联基因,为后续深入研究该物种的适应机理奠定了基础。     

外源保幼激素对异色瓢虫卵巢发育及生殖相关基因转录水平的影响

【目的】本研究旨在明确外源保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)对异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis成虫卵巢发育以及生殖信号通路中关键基因转录水平的影响。【方法】以萝卜蚜Lipaphis erysimi饲喂的异色瓢虫雌成虫为空白对照组,以点滴同体积丙酮的雌成虫为溶剂对照组,对人工饲料饲喂的羽化后第2天的雌成虫点滴不同剂量(80, 120和160 ng/头)JHⅢ 1, 3, 5, 7和9 d后,解剖成虫卵巢,拍照并测量卵巢长度及其第一卵室的长度和宽度。利用qPCR分析在最适JHⅢ剂量(120 ng/头)处理后1, 5和9 d的异色瓢虫雌成虫生殖信号通路中关键基因JH受体methoprene-tolerant (Met)基因、krüppel homolog 1(Kr-h1)基因、卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, Vg)基因(Vg1和Vg2)和卵黄原蛋白受体(vitellogeninreceptor, VgR)基因表达水平。【结果】与溶剂对照组相比,点滴80和120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ可促进异色瓢虫成虫卵巢发育,其中120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理羽化后第2天雌成虫后7 d卵巢中出现大量卵黄沉积,与萝卜蚜饲喂的空白对照组卵巢发育状态一致,卵巢长度以及第一卵室的长度和宽度均显著高于溶剂对照组的;160 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理则抑制卵巢发育。qPCR结果表明,120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理后5和9 d雌成虫中HaMet, HaKr-h1, HaVg1, HaVg2和HaVgR基因表达量较对照组(丙酮处理组)均增加,其中处理后5 dHaMet, HaVg1和HaVgR基因表达量分别为对照组的2.78, 13.14和8.28倍,处理后9 d分别为对照组的2.36,1.85和2.01倍,差异极显著。【结论】120 ng/头JHⅢ可促进异色瓢虫成虫卵巢发育,上调处理后5和9 d时雌成虫HaMet, HaKr-h1, HaVg和HaVgR基因表达量;推测这些关键基因在保幼激素调控异色瓢虫卵巢发育及卵黄形成过程发挥重要作用。     

叉角厉蝽触角转录组及嗅觉相关基因分析

叉角厉蝽Eocanthecona furcellata是一种在生物防治方面有重要作用和潜力的捕食性天敌昆虫,触角是昆虫进行信息交换的重要器官,而嗅觉相关基因则是调控天敌昆虫捕食行为的重要分子基础。为获得叉角厉蝽触角转录组数据库,挖掘叉角厉蝽嗅觉相关基因,本研究利用Illumina高通量测序平台对叉角厉蝽雌雄成虫与5龄若虫触角进行转录组测序。成功构建了叉角厉蝽触角转录组,获得了67 843条unigenes,N50长度为2 300 bp。与七大公共数据库比对注释到27 686条unigenes,其中NR数据库注释最多(33.33%),且与茶翅蝽Halyomorpha halys相似度最高(64.20%)。14 258条注释到GO数据库中,分为生物过程、细胞组分和分子功能3个大类42个亚类;KEGG代谢途径分析表明,7 703条形成282条代谢通路,其中被注释在信号传导通路中的unigenes最多(11.50%)。进一步基因注释分析,鉴定得到134个候选嗅觉相关基因,32个化学感应蛋白基因(Chemosensory protein genes,CSP),10个气味结合蛋白基因(Odorant binding protein genes,OBP),21个气味受体基因(Gustatory receptor genes,GR),48个嗅觉受体基因(Olfactory receptor genes,OR),17个离子型受体基因(Ionotropic receptor genes,IR),6个感觉神经元膜蛋白基因(Sensory neuron membrane protein genes,SNMP)。通过比较叉角厉蝽5龄若虫、雌雄成虫触角转录组,共筛选出7 324个差异表达基因,分析发现5龄若虫与成虫间的差异表达基因较多,雌雄成虫之间差异表达基因较少;利用FPKM值对OBP与CSP基因进行表达量分析发现,大部分OBP与CSP的表达量在雌雄间差异不大,而若虫与成虫相比基因表达量差异较大,除少部分基因在5龄若虫中高表达外,其余大部分基因均在雌雄成虫间高表达。本研究获得了叉角厉蝽触角转录组数据,并鉴定出候选嗅觉相关基因,结果为进一步研究叉角厉蝽的嗅觉感受机制及昆虫化学生态奠定分子基础。     

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Welwitschia mirabilis,a unique Namib Desert species

Welwitschia mirabilis, which is endemic to the Namib Desert, is the only living species within the family Welwitschiaceae. This species has an extremely long lifespan of up to 2,000 years and bears a single pair of opposite leaves that persist whilst alive. However, the underlying genetic mechanisms and evolution of the species remain poorly elucidated. Here, we report on a chromosome-level genome assembly for W. mirabilis, with a 6.30-Gb genome sequence and contig N50 of 27.50 Mb. In total, 39,019 protein-coding genes were predicted from the genome. Two brassinosteroid-related genes (BRI1 and CYCD3), key regulators of cell division and elongation, were strongly selected in W. mirabilis and may contribute to their long ever-growing leaves. Furthermore, 29 gene families in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathway showed significant expansion, which may contribute to the desert adaptations of the plant. Three positively selected genes (EHMT1, EIF4E, SOD2) may be involved in the mechanisms leading to long lifespan. Based on molecular clock dating and fossil calibrations, the divergence time of W. mirabilis and Gnetum montanum was estimated at ~123.5 million years ago. Reconstruction of population dynamics from genome data coincided well with the aridification of the Namib Desert. The genome sequence detailed in the current study provides insight into the evolution of W. mirabilis and should be an important resource for further study on gnetophyte and gymnosperm evolution.     

Identification and validation of stage-specific reference genes for gene expression analysis in Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

In light of a number of recent studies highlighting the increasing research interest in bruchids, it is crucial to validate suitable reference genes that could be used in quantitative gene expression studies. Callosobruchus maculatus is a serious pest of stored grains and field legumes in which reference genes have not been assessed and validated to date. The present study aimed to identify and validate reference genes in different developmental stages of C. maculatus shortlisted from commonly used reference genes such as VATPase, TRIP12, TBP, TF11D, ACTIN, GST, ANNEXIN, PTCD3, RPL32, and β -Tub in various insects. Dedicated algorithms like GeNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper were used to analyze the stability of these candidate genes, which revealed GST for third instar, ANNEXIN and PTCD3 for the fourth instar, TF11D and VATPase for male pupa, RPL32 and β-tub for female pupa, β-tub and TBP for adult male and VATPase and GST for adult females as suitable reference genes for expression studies in C. maculatus. The final comprehensive ranking using RefFinder identified GST and TBP as the best reference genes for all the developmental stages of C. maculatus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report which evaluates and validates stable reference genes in C. maculatus. The information of stage-specific gene expression, generated in this study will be useful for future molecular, physiological, and biochemical studies on C. maculatus and other closely related bruchids.     

Gene microarray analysis of expression profiles in Suberoyllanilide hyroxamic acid-treated Dendritic cells

Objective

The purpose of this study is to provide a further theoretical basis for the role of Suberoyllanilide hyroxamic acid (SAHA) affect on Dendritic cells (DCs).

Examining the behavior of crop-derived antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic sludge batch reactors under thermophilic conditions

The consumption of transgenic crops and their by-products has become increasingly common in the United States. Yet, uncertainty remains regarding the fate and behavior of DNA within food matrices once it exits the digestive track and enters into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Because many transgenic crops have historically contained antibiotic resistance genes as selection markers, understanding the behavior and uptake of these transgenes by environmental microbes is of critical importance. To investigate the behavior of free transgenic crop DNA, thermophilic anaerobic batch reactors were amended with varying concentrations of transgenic crop genes (i.e., LUG, nptII, and bla) and the persistence of those genes was monitored over 60 days using quantitative PCR. Significant levels of nptII and bla were detected in extracellular DNA (eDNA). Furthermore, LUG maize marker genes were also detected in the control reactors, suggesting that other crop-derived transgenes contained within digested transgenic foods may also enter WWTPs. Possible bacterial transformation events were detected within the highest dose treatments at Days 30 and 60 of incubation. These findings suggest that within the average conventional digester residence times in the United States (30 days), there is a potential for bacterial transformation events to occur with crop-derived transgenes found in eDNA.