Olfactory Cues Used in Host Selection by Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Relation to Host Suitability

Olfactory responses of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) to odors from six vegetable host plants-cabbage (Brassica oleracea), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), eggplant (Solanum melongena), celery (Apium graveolens) and garlic (Allium sativum) - were measured in choice tests in a Y-tube olfactometer, while host suitability of these same plants was assessed based on life table parameters-development time, survival rates, fertility, offspring sex ratio, female longevity, and an index of population change (I) - measured on leaf disks. Olfactory response was measured on both undamaged and mechanically-damaged plants. Regardless of plant damaged, female F. occidentalis responded positively to the odors of cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, and eggplant, but showed negative responses to celery and garlic, when offered a choice of plant odor or clean air. When female thrips were offered choices between each possible pairing of undamaged plants, or pairings of mechanically-damaged plants, the order of preference was cabbage = lettuce = cucumber > eggplant > celery = garlic. Male thrips responded differently, males responded positively only to undamaged lettuce and eggplant compared to clean air, while among mechanically-damaged plants only cucumber elicited a positive response. Given a choice between all possible pairings of undamaged plants, male thrips preferred lettuce to celery, and eggplant to garlic, whereas among pairings of mechanically-damaged plants male thrips preferred lettuce to celery, and cucumber to eggplant. The order of suitability of the six host plants based on life table parameters for F. occidentalis was essentially the same as the order of preference by female thrips. These results indicate that host plant odor is an important cue for female F. occidentalis in recognizing hosts suitable for oviposition. Information on plant attraction and repellency may be useful in thrips pest management. In addition, the correspondence of preference and performance that we found suggests that evolution of local host adaptation and, perhaps, host specialization, is possible.     

Characterization of a glutamine synthetase gene DvGS2 from Dunaliella viridis and biochemical identification of DvGS2-transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

The salt-tolerant green alga Dunaliella has remarkable capability to survive in some extreme environments such as nitrogen starvation, which makes Dunaliella be a proper model for mining novel genes on nitrogen uptake or assimilation. In this study, a glutamine synthetase (GS) gene DvGS2 with amino acid identity of 72% to other homologous GS proteins, was isolated and characterized from Dunaliella viridis. Phylogenetic comparison with other GSs revealed that DvGS2 occupied an independent phylogenetic position. Expressional analysis in D. viridis cells under nitrogen starvation confirmed that DvGS2 increased its mRNA level in 12 h. Subcellular localization study and functional analysis in a GS-deficient Escherichia coli mutant proved that DvGS2 was a chloroplastic and functional GS enzyme. In order to investigate the potential application of DvGS2 in higher plants, the transgenic studies of DvGS2 in Arabidopsis thaliana were carried out. Results showed that the transgenic lines expressed the DvGS2 gene and demonstrated obviously enhanced root length (29%), fresh weight (40%–48% at two concentrations of nitrate supplies), stem length (21%), leaf size (39%) and silique number (44%) in contrast with the wild-type Arabidopsis. Furthermore, the transgenic lines had higher total nitrogen content (35%–43%), total GS activity (39%–45%) and soluble protein concentration (23%–24%) than the wild type. These results indicated that the overexpression of DvGS2 in A. thaliana resulted in higher biomass and the improvement of the host's nitrogen use efficiency.     

The Puccinia striiformis effector Hasp98 facilitates pathogenicity by blocking the kinase activity of wheat TaMAPK4

The obligate biotrophic fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) employs virulence effectors to disturb host immunity and causes devastating stripe rust disease. However, our understanding of how Pst effectors regulate host defense responses remains limited. In this study, we determined that the Pst effector Hasp98, which is highly expressed in Pst haustoria, inhibits plant immune responses triggered by flg22 or nonpathogenic bacteria. Overexpression of Hasp98 in wheat (Triticum aestivum) suppressed avirulent Pst-triggered immunity, leading to decreased H₂O₂ accumulation and promoting P. striiformis infection, whereas stable silencing of Hasp98 impaired P. striiformis pathogenicity. Hasp98 interacts with the wheat mitogen-activated protein kinase TaMAPK4, a positive regulator of plant resistance to stripe rust. The conserved TEY motif of TaMAPK4 is important for its kinase activity, which is required for the resistance function. We demonstrate that Hasp98 inhibits the kinase activity of TaMAPK4 and that the stable silencing of TaMAPK4 compromises wheat resistance against P. striiformis. These results suggest that Hasp98 acts as a virulence effector to interfere with the MAPK signaling pathway in wheat, thereby promoting P. striiformis infection.     

Functional polymorphisms of the TET1 gene increase the risk of neuroblastoma in Chinese children

Common genetic mutations are absent in neuroblastoma, one of the most common childhood tumours. As a demethylase of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modification, TET1 plays an important role in tumourigenesis and differentiation. However, the association between TET1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to neuroblastoma has not been reported. Three TET1 gene polymorphisms (rs16925541 A > G, rs3998860 G > A and rs12781492 A > C) in 402 Chinese patients with neuroblastoma and 473 cancer-free controls were assessed using TaqMan. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between TET1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to neuroblastoma. The GTEx database was used to analyse the impact of these polymorphisms on peripheral gene expression. The relationship between gene expression and prognosis was analysed using Kaplan–Meier analysis with the R2 platform. We found that both rs3998860 G > A and rs12781492 A > C were significantly associated with increased neuroblastoma risk. Stratified analysis further showed that rs3998860 G > A and rs12781492 A > C significantly increased neuroblastoma risk in certain subgroups. In the combined risk genotype model, 1–3 risk genotypes significantly increased risk of neuroblastoma compared with the 0 risk genotype. rs3998860 G > A and rs12781492 A > C were significantly associated with increased STOX1 mRNA expression in adrenal and whole blood, and high expression of STOX1 mRNA in adrenal and whole blood was significantly associated with worse prognosis. In summary, TET1 gene polymorphisms are significantly associated with increased neuroblastoma risk; further research is required for the potential mechanism and therapeutic prospects in neuroblastoma.     

The extraction process optimization and physicochemical properties of polysaccharides from the roots of Euphorbia fischeriana

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimum extraction conditions for polysaccharides (EFP) from the roots of Euphorbia fischeriana. A Box-Behnken design (BBD) with four independent variables was investigated, such as extraction temperature (°C), water/solid ratio, extraction number (n), and extraction time (h). The results indicated optimum extraction conditions were extraction temperature of 97 °C, water/solid ratio of 9:1, extraction number of 2 and extraction time of 2.4 h, respectively. Under these conditions, the experimental value was 24.6 ± 0.62, which was well in close agreement with value predicted by the model. The preliminary chemical analysis of EFP revealed the EFP contained 25.43% polysaccharides, 20.42% uronic acids, 2.54% sulfate radical and 23.41% proteins. And the neutral polysaccharides were mainly composed of glucose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, xylose, mannose in the ratio of 21:8:5:3:1:1.     

基于单碱基延伸标签反应的常见食源性致病菌基因芯片检测方法的建立

针对8种常见的食源性致病菌(金黄色葡萄球菌、副溶血弧菌、单核细胞增生李斯特菌、沙门氏菌、阪崎肠杆菌、志贺氏菌、肠出血性大肠杆菌O157:H7和空肠弯曲杆菌),建立了基于单碱基延伸标签反应原理的基因芯片检测方法。筛选和整合8种食源性致病菌基因组中的特异性序列和相应PCR引物,致病菌靶DNA片段被扩增和纯化作为单碱基延伸标签反应的模板,反应产物在DNA芯片上与探针进行杂交反应,然后通过扫描基片的荧光强度进行判断。实验结果表明,可采用基于单碱基延伸标签反应的基因芯片方法同时特异性检测8种食源性致病菌,基因组DNA多重检测灵敏度可达到0.1pg,以鼠伤寒沙门氏菌为单一检测对象的细菌纯培养物灵敏度可达到5×102CFU/mL。本方法可以快速灵敏地检测食源性致病菌,为食源性疾病的诊断和防治提供了一个有效的方法。     

循环水养殖系统中凡纳滨对虾肠道微生物对三种复合益生菌制剂的响应

【目的】在循环养殖系统中应用不同的复合益生菌制剂,探讨凡纳滨对虾肠道菌群结构特征及免疫水平发生的变化。【方法】30 d养殖周期结束后,通过平板计数法分析肠道细菌总数和弧菌总数;基于高通量测序技术分析肠道样品V3+V4区菌群特征;采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析免疫相关因子TLR1和Dorsal基因表达水平,阐述益生菌制剂应用的意义。【结果】益生菌制剂的应用降低了凡纳滨对虾肠道中细菌总数,抑制弧菌的生长,间接预防疾病的发生。不同益生菌制剂从不同程度上优化了凡纳滨对虾肠道菌群结构,提高高质量序列和有效OTU数量,Chao1、Simpson、Shannon指数显示了丰富度和多样性变化,复合益生菌制剂3效果较好。同时,菌群结构得到优化,其中益生菌制剂1组对拟杆菌门含量百分比产生显著影响。Toll受体TLR1和Toll通路中的Dorsal基因m RNA表达受到益生菌制剂的影响,1、3组促进了TLR 1表达,1、2、3组都促进了Dorsal基因表达。【结论】在循环水养殖系统中添加益生菌制剂可优化凡纳滨对虾肠道菌群特征,提高免疫水平,为病害防控和健康养殖提供理论依据。     

红腹锦鸡和白腹锦鸡卵壳的超微结构

本文报道了锦鸡属——白腹锦鸡和红腹锦鸡卵壳的气孔、外壳膜、锥体层、木栅层的超微结构。并对两者的卵壳进行了比较。