Four Pathogenic Candida Species Differ in Salt Tolerance

The virulence of Candida species depends on many environmental conditions, including extracellular pH and concentration of alkali metal cations. Tests of the tolerance/sensitivity of four pathogenic Candida species (C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis) to alkali metal cations under various growth conditions revealed significant differences among these species. Though all of them can be classified as rather osmotolerant yeast species, they exhibit different levels of tolerance to different salts. C. parapsilosis and C. albicans are the most salt-tolerant in general; C. dubliniensis is the least tolerant on rich YPD media and C. glabrata on acidic (pH 3.5) minimal YNB medium. C. dubliniensis is relatively salt-sensitive in spite of its ability to maintain as high intracellular K⁺/Na⁺ ratio as its highly salt-tolerant relative C. albicans. On the other hand, C. parapsilosis can grow in the presence of very high external NaCl concentrations in spite of its high intracellular Na⁺ concentrations (and thus lower K⁺/Na⁺ ratio) and thus resembles salt-tolerant (halophilic) Debaryomyces hansenii.     

Genome-Wide Analyses of Recombination Suggest That Giardia intestinalis Assemblages Represent Different Species

Giardia intestinalis is a major cause of waterborne enteric disease in humans. The species is divided into eight assemblages suggested to represent separate Giardia species based on host specificities and the genetic divergence of marker genes. We have investigated whether genome-wide recombination occurs between assemblages using the three available G. intestinalis genomes. First, the relative nonsynonymous substitution rates of the homologs were compared for 4,009 positional homologs. The vast majority of these comparisons indicate genetic isolation without interassemblage recombinations. Only a region of 6 kbp suggests genetic exchange between assemblages A and E, followed by gene conversion events. Second, recombination-detecting software fails to identify within-gene recombination between the different assemblages for most of the homologs. Our results indicate very low frequency of recombination between the syntenic core genes, suggesting that G. intestinalis assemblages are genetically isolated lineages and thus should be viewed as separated Giardia species.     

Genome-Wide Identification,Biochemical Characterization,and Expression Analyses of the YTH Domain-Containing RNA-Binding Protein Family in Arabidopsis and Rice

RNA-binding proteins are critical to RNA metabolism in cells and, thus, play important roles in diverse biological processes. In the present study, we identified the YTH domain-containing RNA-binding protein (RBP) family in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice at the molecular and biochemical levels. A total of 13 and 12 genes were found to encode YTH domain-containing RBPs in Arabidopsis and rice and named as AtYTH01–13 and OsYTH01–12, respectively. The phylogeny, chromosomal location, and structures of genes and proteins were analyzed. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that recombinant AtYTH05 protein could bind to single-stranded RNA in vitro, demonstrating that the YTH proteins have RNA-binding activity. Analyses of publicly available microarray data, gene expression by qRT-PCR, and AtYTH05 promoter activity indicate that the Arabidopsis AtYTHs and rice OsYTHs genes have distinct and diverse expression patterns in different tissues and developmental stages, showing tissue- and developmental-specific expression patterns. Furthermore, analyses of publicly available microarray data also indicate that many of the Arabidopsis AtYTHs and rice OsYTHs genes might be involved in responses to various abiotic and biotic stresses as well as in response to hormones. Our data demonstrate that the YTH family proteins are a novel group of RBPs and provide useful clues to define their biological functions of this RBP family in plants.     

Identification of Sources of Resistance to Four Species of Root-knot Nematodes in Tobacco

Resistance to the southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita races 1 and 3, has been identified, incorporated, and deployed into commercial cultivars of tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum. Cultivars with resistance to other economically important root-knot nematode species attacking tobacco, M. arenaria, M. hapla, M. javanica, and other host-specific races of M. incognita, are not available in the United States. Twenty-eight tobacco genotypes of diverse origin and two standard cultivars, NC 2326 (susceptible) and Speight G 28 (resistant to M. incognita races 1 and 3), were screened for resistance to eight root-knot nematode populations of North Carolina origin. Based on root gall indices at 8 to 12 weeks after inoculation, all genotypes except NC 2326 and Okinawa were resistant to M. arenaria race 1, and races 1 and 3 of M. incognita. Except for slight root galling, genotypes resistant to M. arenaria race 1 responded similarly to races 1 and 3 of M. incognita. All genotypes except NC 2326, Okinawa, and Speight G 28 showed resistance to M. javanica. Okinawa, while supporting lower reproduction of M. javanica than NC 2326, was rated as moderately susceptible. Tobacco breeding lines 81-R-617A, 81-RL- 2K, SA 1213, SA 1214, SA 1223, and SA 1224 were resistant to M. arenaria race 2, and thus may be used as sources of resistance to this pathogen. No resistance to M. hapla and only moderate resistance to races 2 and 4 of M. incognita were found in any of the tobacco genotypes. Under natural field infestations of M. arenaria race 2, nematode development on resistant tobacco breeding lines 81-RL-2K, SA 1214, and SA 1215 was similar to a susceptible cultivar with some nematicide treatments; however, quantity and quality of yield were inferior compared to K 326 plus nematicides.     

nrDNA ITS和cpDNA rpl16基因测序法对六种鼠尾草的检测

为从鼠尾草属植物中鉴别丹参品种,采用基因测序方法,用核糖体核酸内转录间隔区基因(nrDNA ITS),编码核蛋白体大亚基多肽L16的基因(rpl16)及叶绿体DNA上包含trnL以及trnL和trnF间隔区的区域基因(trnL-trnF)的序列,检测六种鼠尾草属新鲜植物.由于nrDNA ITS和rpl16突变率较高,可以做为6种鼠尾草的基源鉴定标记,依此设计了两对特异引物,从6种鼠尾草中鉴定出丹参(Salvia miltiorrhiza)和云南鼠尾草(S.yunnanensis).但trnL-trnF突变率太低,未能用于鉴别.商品干燥中药材因加工和储藏的方式致使DNA降解严重,基因测序法难于应用.     

Multi-probe Real-Time PCR Identification of Four Common Candida Species in Blood Culture Broth

We developed a single-tube real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with multiple hybridization probes for detecting Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis. Primers were designed to amplify 18S rRNA gene of the genus Candida, and DNA probes were designed to hybridize two areas of the amplicons. The amplification curves and specific melting peaks of the probes hybridized with PCR product were used for definite species identifications. The reaction specificity was 100 % when evaluating the assay using DNA samples from 21 isolates of fungal and bacterial species. The assay was further evaluated in 129 fungal blood culture broth samples which were culture positive for fungus. Of the 129 samples, 119 were positively identified as: C. albicans (39), C. tropicalis (30), C. parapsilosis (23), C. glabrata (20), Candida spp. (5), and two samples containing mixed C. glabrata/C. albicans and C. glabrata/C. tropicalis. The five Candida spp. were identified by sequencing analysis as C. krusei, C. dubliniensis, C. aquaetextoris, and two isolates of C. athensensis. Of the ten samples which showed negative PCR results, six were Cryptococcus neoformans, and the others were Trichosporon sp., Rhodotorula sp., Fusarium sp., and Penicillium marneffei. Our findings show that the assay was highly effective in identifying the four medically important Candida species. The results can be available within 3 h after positivity of a blood culture broth sample.     

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the TIFY Gene Family in Grape

Background

The TIFY gene family constitutes a plant-specific group of genes with a broad range of functions. This family encodes four subfamilies of proteins, including ZML, TIFY, PPD and JASMONATE ZIM-Domain (JAZ) proteins. JAZ proteins are targets of the SCF^COI1 complex, and function as negative regulators in the JA signaling pathway. Recently, it has been reported in both Arabidopsis and rice that TIFY genes, and especially JAZ genes, may be involved in plant defense against insect feeding, wounding, pathogens and abiotic stresses. Nonetheless, knowledge concerning the specific expression patterns and evolutionary history of plant TIFY family members is limited, especially in a woody species such as grape.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of two TIFY, four ZML, two PPD and 11 JAZ genes were identified in the Vitis vinifera genome. Phylogenetic analysis of TIFY protein sequences from grape, Arabidopsis and rice indicated that the grape TIFY proteins are more closely related to those of Arabidopsis than those of rice. Both segmental and tandem duplication events have been major contributors to the expansion of the grape TIFY family. In addition, synteny analysis between grape and Arabidopsis demonstrated that homologues of several grape TIFY genes were found in the corresponding syntenic blocks of Arabidopsis, suggesting that these genes arose before the divergence of lineages that led to grape and Arabidopsis. Analyses of microarray and quantitative real-time RT-PCR expression data revealed that grape TIFY genes are not a major player in the defense against biotrophic pathogens or viruses. However, many of these genes were responsive to JA and ABA, but not SA or ET.

Conclusion

The genome-wide identification, evolutionary and expression analyses of grape TIFY genes should facilitate further research of this gene family and provide new insights regarding their evolutionary history and regulatory control.     

Genome-Wide Diet-Gene Interaction Analyses for Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Dietary factors, including meat, fruits, vegetables and fiber, are associated with colorectal cancer; however, there is limited information as to whether these dietary factors interact with genetic variants to modify risk of colorectal cancer. We tested interactions between these dietary factors and approximately 2.7 million genetic variants for colorectal cancer risk among 9,287 cases and 9,117 controls from ten studies. We used logistic regression to investigate multiplicative gene-diet interactions, as well as our recently developed Cocktail method that involves a screening step based on marginal associations and gene-diet correlations and a testing step for multiplicative interactions, while correcting for multiple testing using weighted hypothesis testing. Per quartile increment in the intake of red and processed meat were associated with statistically significant increased risks of colorectal cancer and vegetable, fruit and fiber intake with lower risks. From the case-control analysis, we detected a significant interaction between rs4143094 (10p14/near GATA3) and processed meat consumption (OR = 1.17; p = 8.7E-09), which was consistently observed across studies (p heterogeneity = 0.78). The risk of colorectal cancer associated with processed meat was increased among individuals with the rs4143094-TG and -TT genotypes (OR = 1.20 and OR = 1.39, respectively) and null among those with the GG genotype (OR = 1.03). Our results identify a novel gene-diet interaction with processed meat for colorectal cancer, highlighting that diet may modify the effect of genetic variants on disease risk, which may have important implications for prevention.     

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Aquaporins in Tomato

The family of aquaporins, also called water channels or major intrinsic proteins, is characterized by six transmembrane domains that together facilitate the transport of water and a variety of low molecular weight solutes. They are found in all domains of life, but show their highest diversity in plants. Numerous studies identified aquaporins as important targets for improving plant performance under drought stress. The phylogeny of aquaporins is well established based on model species like Arabidopsis thaliana, which can be used as a template to investigate aquaporins in other species. In this study we comprehensively identified aquaporin encoding genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), which is an important vegetable crop and also serves as a model for fleshy fruit development. We found 47 aquaporin genes in the tomato genome and analyzed their structural features. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences the aquaporin genes were assigned to five subfamilies (PIPs, TIPs, NIPs, SIPs and XIPs) and their substrate specificity was assessed on the basis of key amino acid residues. As ESTs were available for 32 genes, expression of these genes was analyzed in 13 different tissues and developmental stages of tomato. We detected tissue-specific and development-specific expression of tomato aquaporin genes, which is a first step towards revealing the contribution of aquaporins to water and solute transport in leaves and during fruit development.     

PCR Amplification and Species Determination of Microsporidia in Formalin-Fixed Feces after Immunomagnetic Separation

The term microsporidia is used to describe several species of opportunistic protozoan parasites. Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi have been found in stools of more than 40% of AIDS patients with diarrhea. Diagnosis of infection with these small protozoans has been difficult, and until recently their occurrence has not been well documented. Formalin is widely used to preserve clinical specimens, but due to the nature of the fixation process, subsequent analysis, especially analysis by the PCR, is difficult. This study evaluated methods used to prepare formalin-fixed fecal specimens for PCR amplification of microsporidial DNA. Two methods were devised to allow PCR detection and subsequent identification of microsporidia in formalin-fixed fecal specimens to the species level. One method involved immunomagnetic separation to concentrate microsporidial spores from fecal specimens. In the second method Chelex resin (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.) was used to remove inhibitory substances, followed by a DNA concentration step. Both methods resulted in reproducible, confirmed detection of microsporidia in formalinized fecal specimens and subsequent species determination by PCR sequencing. The detection sensitivity was two in vitro culture-derived spores (Encephalitozoon intestinalis) for the direct PCR. The reproducible detection sensitivity for DNA amplification from formalin-fixed fecal samples was 200 spores for either the Chelex method or the immunomagnetic bead separation method. Thus, we developed two methods for rapid, inexpensive detection of microsporidial spores in formalin-fixed fecal specimens.     

四种棋楠沉香的FTIR鉴定

目的:探讨四种棋楠沉香(Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum Qinan)黑棋、绿棋、黄棋、紫棋的红外鉴别特征和鉴定方法,为商品棋楠的质量评价提供科学依据。方法:采用傅里叶红外光谱法(FTIR)和二阶导数光谱法。结果:四种棋楠沉香的特征吸收峰为:2929、1735、1659、1512、1454、1377、1329、1267、1160、1055、897、700、561cm-1。其中,1244cm-1是黄棋特征峰;1650、1384、1246、1122、849、781、759cm-1是绿棋特征峰;1602、1103、10034、861、750cm-1是黑棋特征峰;1638、1601、1388、1272、1246、1122、1032、965、847、780、758cm-1是紫棋特征峰。在二阶导数谱中,1658、1512、1454、1377、1317、1163、1128、895、780、700cm-1处的吸收峰经二阶导后强度增强,在谱图上特征性更明显。经比较,绿棋和紫棋之间的相似度比较高。结论:红外光谱鉴定法简便易行,可用于棋楠沉香的定性鉴别。     

Genome-Wide Microsatellite Characterization and Marker Development in the Sequenced Brassica Crop Species

Although much research has been conducted, the pattern of microsatellite distribution has remained ambiguous, and the development/utilization of microsatellite markers has still been limited/inefficient in Brassica, due to the lack of genome sequences. In view of this, we conducted genome-wide microsatellite characterization and marker development in three recently sequenced Brassica crops: Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus. The analysed microsatellite characteristics of these Brassica species were highly similar or almost identical, which suggests that the pattern of microsatellite distribution is likely conservative in Brassica. The genomic distribution of microsatellites was highly non-uniform and positively or negatively correlated with genes or transposable elements, respectively. Of the total of 115 869, 185 662 and 356 522 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed with high frequencies (408.2, 343.8 and 356.2 per Mb or one every 2.45, 2.91 and 2.81 kb, respectively), most represented new SSR markers, the majority had determined physical positions, and a large number were genic or putative single-locus SSR markers. We also constructed a comprehensive database for the newly developed SSR markers, which was integrated with public Brassica SSR markers and annotated genome components. The genome-wide SSR markers developed in this study provide a useful tool to extend the annotated genome resources of sequenced Brassica species to genetic study/breeding in different Brassica species.