Preservation affects the vegetative growth and fruiting body production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cordyceps militaris</Emphasis>

Cordyceps militaris is a model species of Cordyceps fungi, and has been traditionally used as an edible and medicinal fungus due to its richness of bioactive and pharmacological metabolites. The fruiting bodies of this fungus are widely used as healthy food and nutrition supply. In industrial production, fruiting bodies are cultivated on artificial media, but their yield and quality are usually affected by the quality of fungal strains. In this study, the effect of colony growth rate of the fungal strains, fungal age and repeated subculturing on the fungal biomass accumulation was investigated. The results indicated that the fungal biomass was positively correlated with the colony growth rate and not affected by fungal age and the repeated subculturing. The preservation conditions for stock cultures, including choice of cultures, lyophilization, temperature and protective agents were optimized based on the mycelial formation and conidia production in artificial inoculum. The development of fruiting bodies from the fungal strains stored under the optimized preservation conditions were further analyzed to determine the ideal time period of preservation. Results indicated that storing the fungus at 4 °C could maintain the fungal vitality and fruiting body producing capacity for at least 12 months. This study established practical criteria of fungal inoculum for artificial cultivation of fruiting body and provided a simple and efficient preservation method for C. militaris. The results may shed light on preservation for other Cordyceps species and other edible fungi.     

蛹虫草表型多态性对子实体产生及虫草菌素的影响

为选育高产子实体和虫草菌素的蛹虫草菌株,从野生蛹虫草中分离单孢子并进行分型,之后进行产子实体实验;同时对蛹虫草子实体进行了产孢结构的观察,并用高效液相色谱仪检测了子实体和培养基中的虫草菌素。结果表明,菌落背面颜色为橙铬色的菌株容易产生子实体;出发(原代)菌株所产子实体在形态上更接近野生蛹虫草,而角变株的子实体畸形;出发菌株产子实体能力要比该菌株未发生角变部分分离株和角变部分分离株都强。在虫草菌素的产量上也以出发菌株为高,表明表型多态性对蛹虫草产子实体和虫草菌素有很大的影响。这对于优势菌种的筛选和生产实践有借鉴意义。     

沈阳地区北虫草野生与市售菌株人工培育子实体的蛋白质组学比较

【背景】北虫草作为冬虫夏草的代用品,具有与冬虫夏草类似的药理活性,其富含的蛋白质和氨基酸通常作为衡量真菌营养价值的重要指标,从中分离纯化具有潜在临床应用价值的蛋白质或多肽,已成为一个研究热点。【目的】检测沈阳北虫草野生与市售菌株人工培育子实体的蛋白质组成,分析相同培育条件下获得的蛋白种类、数量及其功能的差异,为深入研究鉴定沈阳地区北虫草药用蛋白和针对性驯化提供了蛋白质组学数据基础。【方法】采集沈阳棋盘山野生北虫草菌株,与市售人工栽培北虫草菌株同期分别经组织分离、液体发酵后培育获得子实体,通过蛋白提取、胰酶酶解后,采用非标定量技术液相色谱-质谱联用方法,对野生和市售来源培育的子实体样本进行定量蛋白组的研究。【结果】共鉴定到9 233条特异性肽段和1 923个蛋白,其中含有1 163个可定量蛋白,野生来源培育子实体有214个蛋白表达发生上调,181个蛋白表达发生下调,对这些差异蛋白进行功能富集分析发现,其主要参与能量生产/转换、氨基酸转运/代谢、抗氧化功能。在相同的营养摄取条件下,野生来源培育菌种在各个能量代谢、氨基酸代谢功能中的相关蛋白表达量高于市售来源培育的菌种。野生来源培育菌种的一种抗氧化重要蛋白(Gene Name:ISF_02112)表达量远远高于(Fold Change9)市售来源培育菌种。同时与抗氧化和代谢功能相关的差异蛋白有22个。【结论】沈阳地区北虫草野生菌株经适当人工培育会保留部分优良的生物学特性,2种来源菌株培育的子实体具有丰富及优异抗氧化功能的蛋白,子实体蛋白的抗氧化能力与其整体代谢能力相关。本研究结果为深入研究鉴定北虫草药用蛋白和针对性驯化提供蛋白质组学数据基础。     

野生蛹虫草菌株培养特性及子实体多糖含量比较分析

蛹虫草(Cordyceps militaris)是一种药食两用真菌,为获得高产优质的菌种资源,以采集分离的5株蛹虫草野生菌株(XY002、XY008、XY011、XY029、XY032)为研究对象,通过对5株菌株的分子鉴定、交配型基因分子检测、培养特性及子实体多糖含量测定,确定5株菌株皆为蛹虫草菌株,除XY008只含有MAT1-1-1交配型基因外,其他菌株都含有两种交配型基因MAT1-1-1和MAT1-2-1,5株菌株在菌丝生长速度、分生孢子数量、子实体形态、产量及子实体多糖含量均存在较大差异。综合培养特性及多糖含量分析的结果表明,菌株XY011子实体产量较高达29.60 g/瓶,多糖含量最高达100.79 mg/g,子实体长度最长达11.41 cm,而且子实体粗壮,发育周期短,确定为优势菌株,具有较好的开发价值。     

不同组织分离期对大圆头蛹虫草菌种性能的影响

为明确大圆头蛹虫草组织分离最佳分离时期,以大圆头蛹虫草优良母种为母本,采用组织分离法制备子代母种,以优良母种为对照,通过对不同组织分离期（35、40、45、50 d）子代母种平板培养、液体培养及栽培实验,考察不同组织分离期对子代母种培养性状及子实体形成能力的影响。结果表明,不同组织分离期大圆头蛹虫草子代母种培养性状存在较大的差异,其子实体形成能力与子代母种培养性状具有显著相关性,以组织分离期为40 d的子代母种性能表现最优,优良菌种筛选率最高（48%）,45 d次之（44%）,50 d最低（32%）。 明确大圆头蛹虫草优良菌种选育组织分离最佳时期为40 d,试验结果为大圆头蛹虫草优质菌种选育、复壮提供参考。     

影响紫云英根瘤菌入侵和根瘤发育的exo基因的克隆及分析

紫云英根瘤菌菌株107的3个胞外多糖缺陷突变株NA－01、02、04不具备诱导宿主植物紫云英结瘤的能力。以NA-01突变位点的DNA片段为探针,从可互补这3个变种的exoR′－11质粒上亚克隆到2．6kb的DNA片段。互补试验表明,2．6kb的片段不仅可纠正突变株的胞外多糖缺陷表型,而且使变种恢复诱导宿主植物形成有效根瘤的能力。2．6kb片段经Tn5定位突变后丧失这种恢复能力,表明该片段带有对应于3个变种的野生型基因。     

Genotypic analysis of degenerative Cordyceps militaris cultured in the pupa of Bombyx mori

The chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Cordyceps militaris are similar to those of Cordyceps sinensis, with the former undergoing greater development and utilization. Strain degeneration is a common phenomenon that occurs with high frequency during the subculturing of C. militaris, however, and the mechanism underlying strain degeneration remains unclear. In this study, we used touch‐down PCR to compare the ITS1 + 5.8S + ITS2, 18S, 28S and mating‐type (MAT) regions sequence of wild‐type and degenerated strains of C. militaris. We also used quantitative real‐time PCR to analyze expression levels of the CmMAT gene. Sequence analysis showed that the ITS1 + 5.8S + ITS2 and 28S regions of degenerated and wild‐type strains were completely identical, the 18S region of the degenerated strain contained seven single‐base mutations, including six base substitutions and one single‐base insertion. Compared with the wild‐type strain, the degenerated strain contained a deletion of the MAT1–2‐1 region, three base substitutions in the MAT1–1‐1 region, and a base substitution in the MAT1–1‐2 region that causes a glycine‐to‐valine amino acid substitution. Quantitative real‐time PCR analysis detected no CmMAT1–2‐1 gene expression in the degenerated strain, confirming the deletion of the CmMAT1–2‐1 gene. Expression levels of the CmMAT1–1‐1 and CmMAT1–1‐2 genes were significantly down‐regulated to only 7.5 % and 4.4 %, respectively, that of the wild‐type strain. These results indicate that 18S and MAT region mutations, as well as down‐regulated of CmMAT gene expression levels, may play important roles in C. militaris degeneration. This study provides a theoretical basis for further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of C. militaris degeneration.     

An imbalance in antioxidant defense affects cellular function: the pathophysiological consequences of a reduction in antioxidant defense in the glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx1) knockout mouse

Abstract

Aerobic cells are subjected to damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a consequence of oxidative metabolism and/or exposure to environmental toxins. Antioxidants limit this damage, yet peroxidative events occur when oxidant stress increases. This arises due to increased radical formation or decreased antioxidative defenses. The two-step enzymatic antioxidant pathway limits damage to important biomolecules by neutralising superoxides to water. However, an imbalance in this pathway (increased first-step antioxidants relative to second-step antioxidants) has been proposed as etiological in numerous pathologies. This review presents evidence that a shift in favor of hydrogen peroxide and/or lipid peroxides has pathophysiological consequences. The involvement of antioxidant genes in the regulation of redox status, and ultimately cellular homeostasis, is explored in murine transgenic and knockout models. The investigations of Sod1 transgenic cell-lines and mice, as well as Gpx1 knockout mice (both models favor H₂O₂ accumulation), are presented. Although in most instances accumulation of H₂O₂ affects cellular function and leads to exacerbated pathology, this is not always the case. This review highlights those instances where, for example, increased Sod1 levels are beneficial, and indicates a role for superoxide radicals in pathogenesis. Studies of Gpx1 knockout mice (an important second-step antioxidant) lead us to conclude that Gpx1 functions as the primary protection against acute oxidative stress, particularly in neuropathological situations such as stroke and cold-induced head trauma, where high levels of ROS occur during reperfusion or in response to injury. In summary, these studies clearly highlight the importance of limiting ROS-induced cellular damage by maintaining a balanced enzymatic antioxidant pathway.     

ROS accumulation and oxidative damage to cell structures in Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine strains during fermentation of high-sugar-containing medium

To further elucidate the impact of fermentative stress on Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine strains, we have here evaluated markers of oxidative stress, oxidative damage and antioxidant response in four oenological strains of S. cerevisiae, relating these to membrane integrity, ethanol production and cell viability during fermentation in high-sugar-containing medium. The cells were sampled at different fermentation stages and analysed by flow cytometry to evaluate membrane integrity and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the same time, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, trehalose accumulation, and protein carbonylation and degradation were measured. The results indicate that the stress conditions occurring during hypoxic fermentation in high-sugar-containing medium result in the production of ROS and trigger an antioxidant response. This involves superoxide dismutase and trehalose for the protection of cell structures from oxidative damage, and protein catabolism for the removal of damaged proteins. Cell viability, membrane integrity and ethanol production depend on the extent of oxidative damage to cellular components. This is, in turn, related to the ‘fitness’ of each strain, which depends on the contribution of individual cells to ROS accumulation and scavenging. These findings highlight that the differences in individual cell resistances to ROS contribute to the persistence of wine strains during growth under unfavourable culture conditions, and they provide further insights into our understanding of yeast behaviour during industrial fermentation.     

An imbalance in antioxidant defense affects cellular function: the pathophysiological consequences of a reduction in antioxidant defense in the glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx1) knockout mouse

Aerobic cells are subjected to damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a consequence of oxidative metabolism and/or exposure to environmental toxins. Antioxidants limit this damage, yet peroxidative events occur when oxidant stress increases. This arises due to increased radical formation or decreased antioxidative defenses. The two-step enzymatic antioxidant pathway limits damage to important biomolecules by neutralising superoxides to water. However, an imbalance in this pathway (increased first-step antioxidants relative to second-step antioxidants) has been proposed as etiological in numerous pathologies. This review presents evidence that a shift in favor of hydrogen peroxide and/or lipid peroxides has pathophysiological consequences. The involvement of antioxidant genes in the regulation of redox status, and ultimately cellular homeostasis, is explored in murine transgenic and knockout models. The investigations of Sod1 transgenic cell-lines and mice, as well as Gpx1 knockout mice (both models favor H(2)O(2) accumulation), are presented. Although in most instances accumulation of H(2)O(2) affects cellular function and leads to exacerbated pathology, this is not always the case. This review highlights those instances where, for example, increased Sod1 levels are beneficial, and indicates a role for superoxide radicals in pathogenesis. Studies of Gpx1 knockout mice (an important second-step antioxidant) lead us to conclude that Gpx1 functions as the primary protection against acute oxidative stress, particularly in neuropathological situations such as stroke and cold-induced head trauma, where high levels of ROS occur during reperfusion or in response to injury. In summary, these studies clearly highlight the importance of limiting ROS-induced cellular damage by maintaining a balanced enzymatic antioxidant pathway.     

球孢白僵菌野生及转基因菌株的退化

球孢白僵菌在人工培养基上继代培养容易发生退化变异,表现为菌丝徒长以及产孢量减少和毒力的逐渐下降,给真菌杀虫剂的生产和使用造成较大的损失.没有丢失被插入的外源毒力基因的工程株同样出现退化.培养基成分和含水量以及培养温度和光照等环境因子皆可不同程度地诱发退化的发生,但退化主要由其遗传机制决定,包括线粒体基因突变、异核现象、准性生殖、核基因突变以及有性重组等;菌落局变实质上也是菌种老化的征兆.真菌杀虫剂生产中防止退化的对策除减少传代次数外,还要根据具体菌株确定适宜的环境控制细则.     

The influence of a single-spore isolate and repeated subculturing on the pathogenicity of conidia of the entomophagous fungus Beauveria bassiana

The potential of monospore isolations for detecting strains of the entomophagous fungus Beauveria bassiana with increased virulence was investigated as well as the effect of repeated subculturing of both multispore parent strains and 28 newly obtained single-spore isolates on virulence. The use of the singlespore method enabled the disclosure of six spontaneous mutants surpassing the mother strain in pathogenicity, i.e., in a quicker effect and a higher virulence. The use of an optimal medium enabled an enhancement of virulence of all types of isolates. Differences among spontaneous mutants were indicated by the slope of the probit line. Our newly formed positive mutants retained their high pathogenicity both in repeated subculturing and in materials subcultured after a 12-month storage.     

Mating System and Basidiospore Formation in the Lignin-Degrading Basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Prototrophic strains recovered from crosses between auxotrophic strains of the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium were induced to fruit. The progeny of most of these self-crosses were prototrophic, indicating that the nuclei of the original prototroph were wild-type recombinants rather than complementary heterokaryons and that the binucleate basidiospores of this organism are homokaryotic. Various wild-type strains were shown to have multinucleate cells lacking clamp connections and to possess a variable number of sterigmata per basidium. Colonies arising from single conidia of various wild-type strains were all capable of producing fruit bodies and basidiospores. In addition, single basidiospores from three wild-type strains all produced fruit bodies and basidiospores. Nonfruiting as well as fruiting isolates were obtained from single basidiospores of five other wild-type strains. Basidiospores from these fruiting isolates always yielded colonies that fruited, again indicating that the spores are homokaryotic. Nonfruiting isolates from the same strain did not produce basidiospores when allowed to form a heterokaryon, implying that these isolates do not represent mating types. All this evidence indicates that P. chrysosporium has a primary homothallic mating system. In addition to fruiting and nonfruiting phenotypes, basidiospores from strain OGC101, a derivative of ME-446, gave rise to colonies which did not grow on cellulose (Cel⁻). The fruiting, nonfruiting, and Cel⁻ phenotypes differed from each other and from the parental wild-type strain in a variety of characteristics, including growth, conidiation, and evolution of ¹⁴CO₂ from ¹⁴C-side chain-labeled lignin, indicating that strain OCG101 is a heterokaryon.     

Effect of repeated subculturing on agar and passaging through an insect host on pathogenicity,morphology, and growth rate of Verticillium lecanii

Repeated subculturing on different agars of single- and multispore isolates of a strain of Verticillium lecanii resulted in physiological and gross morphological changes but no significant attenuation of virulence. Furthermore, passaging through an aphid host, Macrosiphoniella sanborni, did not enhance virulence. Precautions are suggested to avoid any changes in characteristics of fungal strains in axenic culture.     

Ablation of the Ferroptosis Inhibitor Glutathione Peroxidase 4 in Neurons Results in Rapid Motor Neuron Degeneration and Paralysis

Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), an antioxidant defense enzyme active in repairing oxidative damage to lipids, is a key inhibitor of ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of cell death involving lipid reactive oxygen species. Here we show that GPX4 is essential for motor neuron health and survival in vivo. Conditional ablation of Gpx4 in neurons of adult mice resulted in rapid onset and progression of paralysis and death. Pathological inspection revealed that the paralyzed mice had a dramatic degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord but had no overt neuron degeneration in the cerebral cortex. Consistent with the role of GPX4 as a ferroptosis inhibitor, spinal motor neuron degeneration induced by Gpx4 ablation exhibited features of ferroptosis, including no caspase-3 activation, no TUNEL staining, activation of ERKs, and elevated spinal inflammation. Supplementation with vitamin E, another inhibitor of ferroptosis, delayed the onset of paralysis and death induced by Gpx4 ablation. Also, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction appeared to be involved in ferroptosis of motor neurons induced by Gpx4 ablation. Taken together, the dramatic motor neuron degeneration and paralysis induced by Gpx4 ablation suggest that ferroptosis inhibition by GPX4 is essential for motor neuron health and survival in vivo.     

Virulence of mutants and revertants of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae toward Rhodnius prolixus

The derivation of mutants of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae which had lost or showed reduced ability to produce extracellular amylases, lipases, and proteases was studied by the enzymatic index. Reversion induced by ultraviolet light was also studied. The virulence of mutants and revertant strains was evaluated in bioassays against third-instar nymphs of Rhodnius prolixus. The mutant strains for amylase and lipase showed enzymatic indices equal to one, but this was not the case for the proteolytic mutants. The revertant strains were phenotypically similar to the parental strains. The virulence of amylolytic and lipolytic mutants was reduced in relation to the parental strain, whereas the proteolytic mutants did not show any significant reduction. Virulence was restored in all revertant strains.     

Deletion of the mating-type sequences in Podospora anserina abolishes mating without affecting vegetative functions and sexual differentiation

The mating-type locus of Podospora anserina controls fusion of sexual cells as well as subsequent stages of development of the fruiting bodies. The two alleles at the locus are defined by specific DNA regions comprising 3.8 kb for mat+ and 4.7 kb for mat?, which have identical flanking sequences. Here we present the characterization of several mutants that have lost mat+-specific sequences. One mutant was obtained fortuitously and the other two were constructed by gene replacement. The mutants are deficient in mating with strains of either mat genotype but are still able to differentiate sexual reproductive structures. The loss of the mating type does not lead to any discernible phenotype during vegetative growth: in particular it does not change the life span of the strain. The mutants can recover mating ability if they are transformed with DNA containing the complete mat+ or mat? information. The transformants behave in crosses as do the reference mat+ or mat? strains, thus indicating that the transgenic mat+ and mat? are fully functional even when they have integrated at ectopic sites.     

Two rhizobacterial strains,individually and in interactions with Rhizobium sp., enhance fusarial wilt control,growth, and yield in pigeon pea

A Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain, RRLJ 04, and a Bacillus cereus strain, BS 03, were tested both individually and in combination with a Rhizobium strain, RH 2, for their ability to enhance plant growth and nodulation in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) under gnotobiotic, greenhouse and field conditions. Both of the rhizobacterial strains exhibited a positive effect on growth in terms of shoot height, root length, fresh and dry weight, nodulation and yield over the non-treated control. Co-inoculation of seeds with these strains and Rhizobium RH 2 also reduced the number of wilted plants, when grown in soil infested with Fusarium udum. Gnotobiotic studies confirmed that the suppression of wilt disease was due to the presence of the respective PGPR strains. Seed bacterization with drug-marked mutants of RRLJ 04 and BS 03 confirmed their ability to colonize and multiply along the roots. The results suggest that co-inoculation of these strains with Rhizobium strain RH 2 can be further exploited for enhanced growth, nodulation and yield in addition to control of fusarial wilt in pigeon pea.