Dual trypan-aniline blue fluorescence staining methods for studying fungus-plant interactions

Abstract

Understanding the infection biology of fungi is the key step in devising suitable control strategies for plant diseases. Recently, the Arabidopsis-Colletotrichum higginsianum (causal agent of anthracnose) system has emerged as a seminal paradigm for deciphering the infection biology underlying fungus-plant interactions. We describe here three staining methods coupled with confocal microscopy: trypan blue, aniline blue and dual trypan blue-aniline blue fluorescence staining. Trypan blue and aniline blue staining were employed to scan the infection structures of the hemibiotrophic fungus C. higginsianum and host response in A. thaliana leaf tissues. The two techniques then were combined to observe the contrast between in planta fungal infection structures, i.e., infection vesicles, primary hyphae and secondary hyphae, and the host plant defense responses, i.e., papilla formation and hypersensitive response. These staining techniques also were applied to the lentil–C. truncatum pathosystem to demonstrate their applicability for multiple pathosystems.     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌B15抑菌物质对葡萄灰霉病灰葡萄孢的抑菌机理

【目的】利用荧光显微镜和激光共聚焦扫描显微镜技术初步探讨解淀粉芽孢杆菌(Bacillus amyloquefaciens)B15菌株发酵液中的抑菌混合物质伊枯草菌素A(iturin A)和芬芥素(fengycin)对葡萄灰霉病病原菌灰葡萄孢(Botrytis cinerea)的抑菌机理。【方法】采用琼脂稀释法讨论解淀粉芽孢杆菌B15发酵液对灰葡萄孢的抑菌活性。利用台盼蓝(trypan blue)染色、4′,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)、双氢罗丹明123(DHR123)、钙离子探针fluo-3/am和Annexin V-PI探针染色来观察解淀粉芽孢杆菌B15发酵液对灰葡萄孢细胞膜和菌丝形态、细胞核、活性氧、钙离子和磷脂酰丝氨酸层的影响。【结果】抑菌活性实验发现解淀粉芽孢杆菌B15发酵液对灰葡萄孢具有良好抑菌效果。荧光显微镜台盼蓝染色观察发现,经B15发酵液处理过的灰葡萄孢出现菌丝畸形、菌丝体粗大、尖端肿胀并被染成蓝色和明显的液泡化现象。同时未在处理组中观察到细胞内容物泄漏,说明处理组菌丝细胞膜未发生破损。该结果表明在此次试验中,B15发酵液中的抑菌有效物质不以破损细胞膜的方式直接导致灰葡萄孢的死亡。激光共聚焦显微镜观察结果发现,处理组的灰葡萄孢菌丝出现典型的细胞凋亡现象、染色质固缩、细胞核裂解、磷脂酰丝氨酸层外翻、活性氧和钙离子积累。【结论】该实验表明解淀粉芽孢杆菌B15发酵液以诱导细胞凋亡的形式来抑制灰葡萄孢菌丝的生长。     

Raman imaging of cell wall polymers in Arabidopsis thaliana

We present chemical images of Arabidopsis thaliana stem cross-sections acquired by confocal Raman microscopy. Using green light (532 nm) from a continuous wave laser, the spatial distributions of cell wall polymers in Arabidopsis are visualized for the first time with lateral resolution that is sub-μm. Our results facilitate the label-free in situ characterization and screening of cell wall composition in this plant biology and genetics model organism, contributing ultimately towards an understanding of the molecular biology of many plant traits.     

Multiple microscopic approaches demonstrate linkage between chromoplast architecture and carotenoid composition in diverse Capsicum annuum fruit

Increased accumulation of specific carotenoids in plastids through plant breeding or genetic engineering requires an understanding of the limitations that storage sites for these compounds may impose on that accumulation. Here, using Capsicum annuum L. fruit, we demonstrate directly the unique sub‐organellar accumulation sites of specific carotenoids using live cell hyperspectral confocal Raman microscopy. Further, we show that chromoplasts from specific cultivars vary in shape and size, and these structural variations are associated with carotenoid compositional differences. Live‐cell imaging utilizing laser scanning confocal (LSCM) and confocal Raman microscopy, as well as fixed tissue imaging by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), all demonstrated morphological differences with high concordance for the measurements across the multiple imaging modalities. These results reveal additional opportunities for genetic controls on fruit color and carotenoid‐based phenotypes.     

Plant material features responsible for bamboo's excellent mechanical performance: a comparison of tensile properties of bamboo and spruce at the tissue,fibre and cell wall levels

MethodsThe mechanical properties of single fibres and tissue slices of stems of mature moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and spruce (Picea abies) latewood were investigated in microtensile tests. Cell parameters, cellulose microfibril angles and chemical composition were determined using light and electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering and confocal Raman microscopy.ConclusionsThe superior tensile properties of bamboo fibres and fibre bundles are mainly a result of amplified cell wall formation, leading to a densely packed tissue, rather than being based on specific cell wall properties. The material optimization towards extremely compact fibres with a multi-lamellar cell wall in bamboo might be a result of a plant growth strategy that compensates for the lack of secondary thickening growth at the tissue level, which is not only favourable for the biomechanics of the plant but is also increasingly utilized in terms of engineering products made from bamboo culms.     

Application of YO-PRO-1 as an Epifluorescent Dye for in situ Detection of Small Amount DNA in Plant Cells

i.e. plastid and mitochondrial DNA in the plant cells such as the sperm cell of Jasminum nudiflorum, the generative cell of Pharbitis lim-bata, the cultured cell of Nicotiana tabacum and the root cell of Vicia faba with epifluorescence microscopy and laser confocal microscopy using YO-PRO-1 as a fluorescent dye. The excitation for YO-PRO-1 was blue light in epifluorescence microscopy and 488 nm Kr/Ar ion laser in confocal microscopy. Dimorphic epifluorescent spots that corresponded plastid DNA and mitochondrial DNA were distinctly detected in the cells of each species examined. In this report, we introduce YO-PRO-1 as a new epifluorescent dye for successful in situ detection of small amount DNA in plant live cells and cell sections with perticular emphasis on the importance of sample preparation. Received 10 November 1998/ Accepted in revised form 13 January 1999     

ANALYSIS OF LIGAND–RECEPTOR INTERACTIONS IN CELLS BY ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY

ABSTRACT

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) increasingly has been used to analyse “receptor” function, either by using purified proteins (“molecular recognition microscopy”) or, more recently, in situ in living cells. The latter approach has been enabled by the use of a modified commercial AFM, linked to a confocal microscope, which has allowed adhesion forces between ligands and receptors in cells to be measured and mapped, and downstream cellular responses analysed. We review the application of AFM to cell biology and, in particular, to the study of ligand–receptor interactions and draw examples from our own work and that of others to show the utility of AFM, including for the exploration of cell surface functionalities. We also identify shortcomings of AFM in comparison to “standard” methods, such as receptor auto-radiography or immuno-detection, that are widely applied in cell biology and pharmacological analysis.     

Establishment of compatibility in the Ustilago maydis/maize pathosystem

The fungus Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic pathogen parasitizing on maize. The most prominent symptoms of the disease are large tumors in which fungal proliferation and spore differentiation occur. In this study, we have analyzed early and late tumor stages by confocal microscopy. We show that fungal differentiation occurs both within plant cells as well as in cavities where huge aggregates of fungal mycelium develop. U. maydis is poorly equipped with plant CWDEs and we demonstrate by array analysis that the respective genes follow distinct expression profiles at early and late stages of tumor development. For the set of three genes coding for pectinolytic enzymes, deletion mutants were generated by gene replacement. Neither single nor triple mutants were affected in pathogenic development. Based on our studies, we consider it unlikely that U. maydis feeds on carbohydrates derived from the digestion of plant cell wall material, but uses its set of plant CWDEs for softening the cell wall structure as a prerequisite for in planta growth.     

In vitro model systems for exploring oral biofilms: From single-species populations to complex multi-species communities

Numerous in vitro biofilm model systems are available to study oral biofilms. Over the past several decades, increased understanding of oral biology and advances in technology have facilitated more accurate simulation of intraoral conditions and have allowed for the increased generalizability of in vitro oral biofilm studies. The integration of contemporary systems with confocal microscopy and 16S rRNA community profiling has enhanced the capabilities of in vitro biofilm model systems to quantify biofilm architecture and analyse microbial community composition. In this review, we describe several model systems relevant to modern in vitro oral biofilm studies: the constant depth film fermenter, Sorbarod perfusion system, drip–flow reactor, modified Robbins device, flowcells and microfluidic systems. We highlight how combining these systems with confocal microscopy and community composition analysis tools aids exploration of oral biofilm development under different conditions and in response to antimicrobial/anti-biofilm agents. The review closes with a discussion of future directions for the field of in vitro oral biofilm imaging and analysis.     

Fluorescent 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone hexadentate iron chelators: intracellular distribution and the relevance to antimycobacterial properties

Abstract  

We report the synthesis and characterization of a fluorescent iron chelator (4), shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium avium in macrophages, together with the synthesis and characterization of two unsuccessful analogues selected to facilitate identification of the molecular properties responsible for the antimicrobial activity. Partition of the chelators in liposomes was investigated and the compounds were assessed with respect to uptake by macrophages, responsiveness to iron overload/iron deprivation and intracellular distribution by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The synthesis of the hexadentate chelators is based on a tetrahedral structure to which three bidentate 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone chelating units are linked via amide bonds. The structure is synthetically versatile, allowing further addition of functional groups such as fluorophores. Here, we analyse the non-functionalized hexadentate unit (3) and the corresponding rhodamine B (4) and fluorescein (5) labelled chelators. The iron(III) stability constant was determined for 3 and the values log β = 34.4 and pFe³⁺ = 29.8 indicate an affinity for iron of the same order of magnitude as that of mycobacteria siderophores. Fluorescence properties in the presence of liposomes show that 4 strongly interacts with the lipid phase, whereas 5 does not. Such different behaviour may explain their distinct intracellular localization as revealed by confocal microscopy. The flow cytometry and confocal microscopy studies indicate that 4 is readily engulfed by macrophages and targeted to cytosol and vesicles of the endolysosomal continuum, whereas 5 is differentially distributed and only partially colocalizes with 4 after prolonged incubation. Differential distribution of the compounds is likely to account for their different efficacy against mycobacteria.     

Palmitoylated Proteins in Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes: Investigation with Click Chemistry and Metabolic Labeling

The examination of the complex cell biology of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum usually relies on the time-consuming generation of transgenic parasites. Here, metabolic labeling and click chemistry are employed as a fast transfection-independent method for the microscopic examination of protein S-palmitoylation, an important post-translational modification during the asexual intraerythrocytic replication of P. falciparum. Applying various microscopy approaches such as confocal, single-molecule switching, and electron microscopy, differences in the extent of labeling within the different asexual developmental stages of P. falciparum and the host erythrocytes over time are observed.     

Quantification of carotenoids in cells of Phaffia rhodozyma by autofluorescence

The distribution and intensity of autofluorescence caused by carotenoids in the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma was examined by laser confocal fluorescence microscopy. Carotenoid contents of individual yeast cells could be calculated from the value of autofluorescence/unit volume of yeast cell. The average level of fluorescence in highly fluorescing yeast cells was 15 mg carotenoid g^–1 yeast which was accepted as the maximum yield of carotenoid in P. rhodozyma. The method developed in this study is useful for the research of cell biology associated with the biological functions of carotenoids in individual cells.     

Visualisation of transglutaminase-mediated cross-linking activity in germinating pollen by laser confocal microscopy

Abstract

Transglutaminases (TGs) are a multigenic family of calcium-dependent protein cross-linking enzymes, which are present in animal and plant cells. We have previously reported the presence of TGs in the cytosol and, more recently, in the cell wall of Malus domestica pollen, where it may be involved in pollen germination and pollen–stylar interactions. In this report we describe a simple method for the in situ visualisation of TG activity in germinating pollen. The method is based on the incorporation, mediated by pollen TG, of a fluorescently labelled exogenous diamine substrate of TG (fluorescein-cadaverine) into endogenous pollen substrates. Following the in situ TG activity reaction, the presence of cross-linked pollen proteins was visualised in fixed specimens of germinated pollen by laser confocal microscopy. Our data indicate the presence of TG cross-linking activity mainly at the apical part of the pollen tube, in the region proximal to the grain, and in the pollen grain itself. In planta, the products of this activity may provide strength to the pollen tube migrating through the style.     

Integrating biotechnology into a non-majors biology curriculum

A general education biology course entitled ‘Biotechnology Transforms Our World’ has been developed to illustrate biological concepts with advances from biotechnology. The contributions of molecular biology to understanding human genetics, evolution, plant and animal (including human) biology and ecology are illustrated with specific case studies. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 308–309. Received 02 April 1999/ Accepted in revised form 11 November 1999     

植物发酵液提取物对铜绿假单胞菌生物膜的作用

【目的】探讨植物发酵液提取物(plant fermentation extract,PFE)对铜绿假单胞菌生物膜的抑制作用,为临床上铜绿假单胞菌感染相关疾病的治疗提供参考。【方法】通过划线法分离临床标本中的铜绿假单胞菌并进行鉴定,通过报告菌株测定铜绿假单胞菌的毒力因子,采用试管法和激光共聚焦扫描显微镜测定生物膜的形成。【结果】在分离出的16株铜绿假单胞菌中,PFE对PA007菌株的作用效果最好,1%PFE显著降低PA007菌株生物膜、绿脓菌素和N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-HSL(3-oxo-C12-HSL)的产量(P0.05)。同时,也显著降低Las A蛋白酶的活性以及持留菌存活率(P0.05)。荧光定量PCR实验结果表明PFE能显著抑制las I和pqs A基因的表达(P0.05)。【结论】PFE具有抗铜绿假单胞菌感染能力,在临床上铜绿假单胞菌感染疾病的治疗中具有巨大的潜在价值。     

In situ observation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cardinium</Emphasis> symbionts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevipalpus</Emphasis> (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) by electron microscopy

Brevipalpus (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) mites are important pests on a variety of host plant species. The mites damage their hosts directly by feeding and some species also serve as vectors of plant viruses. Among more than 200 described Brevipalpus species, three are recognized as vectors of plant viruses: B. phoenicis, B. californicus and B. obovatus. These species occur worldwide in subtropical and tropical regions. Brevipalpus mites reproduce mostly by thelytokous parthenogenesis and this condition was attributed to a bacterial endosymbiont, recently characterized as a member of the genus Cardinium. The same symbiont infects many other arthropods and is capable of manipulating their host reproduction in various ways. Generally the presence of Cardinium is determined by molecular, PCR based, techniques. In the current work we present visual evidence for the presence of these bacteria by transmission electron microscopy as a complement of previous detection by PCR. Cardinium is easily identified by the presence of a unique array of microtubule-like structures (ML) in the cell. Symbionts have been observed in several organs and eggs from different populations of all three Brevipalpus species known as vector of plant viruses. Cardinium cells were always immersed directly within the cytoplasm of infected cells. Bacteria were observed in all females of all instars, but were absent from all males examined. Females from some Brevipalpus populations were observed to be uninfected by Cardinium. This observation confirmed previous PCR-based results that these populations were aposymbiotic. The observed distribution of the bacteria suggests that these bacteria could have other functions in the mite biology beside feminization.     

pSAT vectors: a modular series of plasmids for autofluorescent protein tagging and expression of multiple genes in plants

Autofluorescent protein tags represent one of the major and, perhaps, most powerful tools in modern cell biology for visualization of various cellular processes in vivo. In addition, advances in confocal microscopy and the development of autofluorescent proteins with different excitation and emission spectra allowed their simultaneous use for detection of multiple events in the same cell. Nevertheless, while autofluorescent tags are widely used in plant research, the need for a versatile and comprehensive set of vectors specifically designed for fluorescent tagging and transient and stable expression of multiple proteins in plant cells from a single plasmid has not been met by either the industrial or the academic communities. Here, we describe a new modular satellite (SAT) vector system that supports N- and C-terminal fusions to five different autofluorescent tags, EGFP, EYFP, Citrine-YFP, ECFP, and DsRed2. These vectors carry an expanded multiple cloning site that allows easy exchange of the target genes between different autofluorescence tags, and expression of the tagged proteins is controlled by constitutive promoters, which can be easily replaced with virtually any other promoter of interest. In addition, a series of SAT vectors has been adapted for high throughput Gateway recombination cloning. Furthermore, individual expression cassettes can be assembled into Agrobacterium binary plasmids, allowing efficient transient and stable expression of multiple autofluorescently tagged proteins from a single vector following its biolistic delivery or Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

Confocal measurement of the three-dimensional size and shape of plant parenchyma cells in a developing fruit tissue

Parenchyma cells from the inner mesocarp of a grape berry (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay) were visualised in three-dimensions within a whole mount of cleared, stained tissue using confocal laser scanning microscopy and digital image reconstruction. The whole berry was fixed, bisected longitudinally, cleared in methyl salicylate, stained with safranin O and mounted in methyl salicylate. Optical slices were collected at 1.0 μm intervals to a depth of 150 μm. Neighbouring z-series were joined post-collection to double the field-of-view. Attenuation at depth of the fluorescent signal from cell walls was quantified and corrected. Axial distortion due to refractive index mismatch between the immersion and mounting media was calibrated using yellow-green fluorescent microspheres and corrected. Transmission electron microscopy was used to correct fluorescent measurements of cell wall thickness. Digital image reconstructions of wall-enclosed spaces enabled cells to be rendered as geometric solids of measurable surface area and volume. Cell volumes within the inner mesocarp tissue of a single grape berry exhibited a 14-fold range, with polysigmoidal distribution and groupings around specific size classes. Cell shape was irregular and the planes of contact were rarely flat or simple. Variability in cell shape was indicated by the range in surface area to volume ratios, from 0.080 to 0.198 μm^–1. Structural detail at the internal surface of the cell wall was apparent. The technique is applicable to a wide range of morphometric analyses in plant cell biology, particularly developmental studies, and reveals details of cell size and shape that were previously unattainable.     

十字花科黑腐病菌III型效应物XopXccR1植物亚细胞定位

[目的] 植物病原细菌通过III型分泌系统（type III secretion system,T3SS）将III型效应物（type III secreted effectors,T3SEs）分泌转运到宿主细胞的不同位点上,进而行使不同的致病功能。本研究旨在确定Xcc 8004 III型效应物中分子量最大的蛋白XopXccR1在植物中的亚细胞定位。[方法] 利用生物信息学方法分析XopXccR1的跨膜信息。通过同源重组方法将XopXccR1全长、N端（1–1220 aa）和C端（1221–2030 aa）分别克隆到植物表达载体pCAMBIA-2300-35S：：EGFP上,利用根癌农杆菌介导的瞬时表达浸染本生烟,通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察亚细胞定位结果。[结果] XopXccR1全长和N端定位在本生烟细胞膜上,而C端定位在细胞质中。[结论] XopXccR1的N端与C端可能分别存在定位信号,N端信号主导全长蛋白的最终定位。     

Engineering and characterization of carbohydrate-binding modules for imaging cellulose fibrils biosynthesis in plant protoplasts

Carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) are noncatalytic domains that assist tethered catalytic domains in substrate targeting. CBMs have therefore been used to visualize distinct polysaccharides present in the cell wall of plant cells and tissues. However, most previous studies provide a qualitative analysis of CBM-polysaccharide interactions, with limited characterization of engineered tandem CBM designs for recognizing polysaccharides like cellulose and limited application of CBM-based probes to visualize cellulose fibrils synthesis in model plant protoplasts with regenerating cell walls. Here, we examine the dynamic interactions of engineered type-A CBMs from families 3a and 64 with crystalline cellulose-I and phosphoric acid swollen cellulose. We generated tandem CBM designs to determine various characteristic properties including binding reversibility toward cellulose-I using equilibrium binding assays. To compute the adsorption (nk_on) and desorption (k_off) rate constants of single versus tandem CBM designs toward nanocrystalline cellulose, we employed dynamic kinetic binding assays using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. Our results indicate that tandem CBM3a exhibited the highest adsorption rate to cellulose and displayed reversible binding to both crystalline/amorphous cellulose, unlike other CBM designs, making tandem CBM3a better suited for live plant cell wall biosynthesis imaging applications. We used several engineered CBMs to visualize Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts with regenerated cell walls using confocal laser scanning microscopy and wide-field fluorescence microscopy. Lastly, we also demonstrated how CBMs as probe reagents can enable in situ visualization of cellulose fibrils during cell wall regeneration in Arabidopsis protoplasts.