A secreted ribonuclease effector from Verticillium dahliae localizes in the plant nucleus to modulate host immunity

The arms race between fungal pathogens and plant hosts involves recognition of fungal effectors to induce host immunity. Although various fungal effectors have been identified, the effector functions of ribonucleases are largely unknown. Herein, we identified a ribonuclease secreted by Verticillium dahliae (VdRTX1) that translocates into the plant nucleus to modulate immunity. The activity of VdRTX1 causes hypersensitive response (HR)‐related cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana and cotton. VdRTX1 possesses a signal peptide but is unlikely to be an apoplastic effector because its nuclear localization in the plant is necessary for cell death induction. Knockout of VdRTX1 significantly enhanced V. dahliae virulence on tobacco while V. dahliae employs the known suppressor VdCBM1 to escape the immunity induced by VdRTX1. VdRTX1 homologs are widely distributed in fungi but transient expression of 24 homologs from other fungi did not yield cell death induction, suggesting that this function is specific to the VdRTX1 in V. dahliae. Expression of site‐directed mutants of VdRTX1 in N. benthamiana leaves revealed conserved ligand‐binding sites that are important for VdRTX1 function in inducing cell death. Thus, VdRTX1 functions as a unique HR‐inducing effector in V. dahliae that contributes to the activation of plant immunity.     

Lithocholic acid inhibits dendritic cell activation by reducing intracellular glutathione via TGR5 signaling

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the major antigen-presenting cells and play an important role in autoimmune uveitis. Emerging evidence suggests that bile acids (BAs) regulate DCs maturation. However, the underlying mechanisms by which BAs regulate the function of DCs still need to be clarified. Here, we demonstrate that lithocholic acid (LCA) inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression of surface molecules in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). LCA attenuates the severity of EAU by modulating the maturation of splenic CD11C⁺MHCII^high DCs. Notably, Takeda G-protein coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) deficiency partially reverses the inhibitory effect of LCA on DCs in vitro and in vivo. TGR5 activation also downregulates the NF-κB and MAPK pathways by inhibiting glutathione production and inducing oxidative stress in DCs, which leads to apoptosis and autophagy in DCs. In addition, LCA or INT-777 treatment increases the TGR5 expression in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MD-DCs) of patients with active BD, whereas both LCA and TGR5 agonists inhibit the activation of MD-DCs. These results suggest that LCA and TGR5 agonists might be potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of autoimmune uveitis.     

三种回归分析方法在Hyperion影像LAI反演中的比较

借助GPS进行地面精确定位,利用LAI-2000冠层分析仅在攸县黄丰桥林场开展130个样地(60m×60m)的叶面积指数(Leaf Area Index,LAI)测量.采用FLAASH模块对Hyperion数据进行大气校正并与地面同步冠层观测数据进行拟合,通过研究地面实测LAI与Hyperion影像波段及其衍生的系列植被指数(NDVI、RVI等)的相关性,筛选出估算叶面积指数的植被指数因子.应用曲线估计、逐步回归及偏最小二乘三种回归分析技术分别建立叶面积指数的最优估算模型.结果表明:参与建模的因子中,比值植被指数(RVI)与LAI的相关性最大,敏感性最高,其次是SARVI0.1,NDVI705,NDVI,SARVI0.1,SARVI0.25;曲线估计、逐步回归分析和偏最小二乘回归三种分析方法所建的6个回归模型中,偏最小二乘回归的拟合效果最好,预测值与实测值的决定系数R2为0.84、曲线估计的拟合效果最低,预测值与实测值的决定系数R2为0.64;建模精度分析表明,选用5-6个自变量因子进行LAI建模是可靠的,以6个植被因子建立的偏最小二乘回归模型预测精度最高.     

叶脉结构与功能及其对叶片经济谱的影响

叶脉由贯穿于叶肉内部的维管组织及其外围机械组织构成,多样化的脉序及网络结构使叶脉系统发生变异和功能分化。该文综述了叶脉系统结构与功能的最新研究进展。通过聚焦叶脉分级系统的结构与功能及其在叶片经济谱(LES)中的重要性,解释叶脉性状与其它叶片功能性状之间的关系及机制。不同等级叶脉在机械支撑与水分运输方面存在功能分化,其中1–3级粗脉在维持叶片形状和叶表面积以及物理支撑方面发挥重要作用,有利于维持叶片最大受光面积;4级及以上细脉具有水分调节功能,它们与气孔相互协调,影响叶片水分运输、蒸腾散热和光合作用速率。叶片生长过程与叶脉发育的动态变化模式决定叶脉密度,并影响叶脉密度与叶片大小之间的关系:叶面积与粗脉密度呈显著负相关,与粗脉直径呈显著正相关,而与细脉密度无关。与叶脉性状相关的叶片经济谱框架模型预测,叶脉密度较高的叶片寿命短、比叶重较小,叶片最大碳同化速率、代谢速率以及资源获取策略潜力较高。     

全球降水格局变化下土壤氮循环研究进展

自然和人为因素导致全球降水格局发生改变,降水变化势必影响土壤氮循环,从而影响陆地生态系统生产力和多样性,然而不同降水变化类型对土壤氮循环的影响仍然缺乏足够的认识。因此,本文综合分析了全球和我国降水格局变化特征,简要介绍了6种降水格局变化下土壤氮循环的研究方法（长期降水固定观测、野外降水控制实验、自然降水梯度、室内培养、模型和遥感）,系统综述了3种降水变化类型（降水波动、干旱、干湿交替）,以及降水与温度、氮沉降等交互作用对土壤氮循环影响的研究进展与存在的问题,并展望了未来研究方向,为评估和预测未来降水变化对陆地生态系统功能的影响提供理论依据。     

西双版纳热带山地常绿阔叶林蕨类植物的组成及生态特征

根据4个50m×50m样地(400个5m×5m小样方,共计1hm2取样面积)的详细调查及对各样地外蕨类植物区系的采集调查,研究了西双版纳热带山地常绿阔叶林蕨类组成特点及其数量特征等。结果表明:在所调查的5hm2滇南热带山地常绿阔叶林里记录有蕨类植物64种;在生活型组成上,以地面芽和地下芽为主;在叶特征上,以革质和纸质叶居多,叶形以一回羽状和二回羽状叶占优势;在森林群落中蕨类植物有明显的季相变化;在重要值上,狗脊、疏叶蹄盖蕨、苏铁蕨、光叶鳞盖蕨、清秀复叶耳蕨和假稀羽鳞毛蕨的重要值之和占重要值总和的84.02%,其中,狗脊的重要值占重要值总和的1/3以上,它们是该森林群落中占优势的蕨类种类,在生态分布上为该森林群落的"适宜种";研究还发现,勐腊凤尾蕨为该森林群落的确限种。     

生防放线菌Ahn75的荧光标记及其在水稻中的定殖

【背景】目前gfp标记基因已成为研究靶标微生物与宿主之间互作的一种重要工具。利用gfp基因标记生防菌株,可以对生防菌株的生存及定殖能力进行有效追踪。【目的】对生防放线菌Ahn75进行荧光标记,探讨其在水稻中的定殖规律,为研究Ahn75的稻瘟病防治机制奠定基础。【方法】首先通过电激转化将含绿色荧光标记基因(gfp)的质粒pIJ8655导入大肠杆菌ET12567中,然后采用接合转移的方法将gfp整合到Ahn75基因组上;通过平板对峙试验检验Ahn75-GFP在标记绿色荧光后对稻瘟病病原菌的抑菌活性;采用喷施孢子液的方式将带荧光标记的Ahn75-GFP定殖水稻,并利用荧光显微镜观察生防菌在水稻中的定殖情况;对定殖水稻中的内生菌进行重分离,探究菌株在水稻组织中的分布规律。【结果】PCR扩增和荧光观察表明,绿色荧光标记基因成功整合到生防放线菌Ahn75中。通过平板对峙试验,发现Ahn75-GFP对稻瘟病病原菌抑菌活性与原始菌株没有显著差别。在荧光显微镜下,可以观察到Ahn75-GFP能稳定定殖于水稻的根、茎、叶等组织中,而水稻内生菌重分离试验表明该菌株在茎中的定殖力最强。【结论】获得一株绿色荧光标记生防菌株Ahn75-GFP,结果显示该菌株定殖水稻效果良好,这对于研究Ahn75的稻瘟病防治具有重要意义。     

Age‐related memory vulnerability to interfering stimuli is caused by gradual loss of MAPK‐dependent protection in Drosophila

Age‐related memory impairment (AMI) is a common phenomenon across species. Vulnerability to interfering stimuli has been proposed to be an important cause of AMI. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this vulnerability‐related AMI remain unknown. Here we show that learning‐activated MAPK signals are gradually lost with age, leading to vulnerability‐related AMI in Drosophila. Young flies (2‐ or 3‐day‐old) exhibited a significant increase in phosphorylated MAPK levels within 15 min after learning, whereas aged flies (25‐day‐old) did not. Compared to 3‐day‐old flies, significant 1 h memory impairments were observed in 15‐, 20‐, and 30‐day‐old flies, but not in 10‐day‐old flies. However, with post‐learning interfering stimuli such as cooling or electric stimuli, 10‐day‐old flies had worse memory performance at 1 h than 3‐day‐old flies, showing a premature AMI phenomenon. Increasing learning‐activated MAPK signals through acute transgene expression in mushroom body (MB) neurons restored physiological trace of 1 h memory in a pair of MB output neurons in aged flies. Decreasing such signals in young flies mimicked the impairment of 1 h memory trace in aged flies. Restoring learning‐activated MAPK signals in MB neurons in aged flies significantly suppressed AMI even with interfering stimuli. Thus, our data suggest that age‐related loss of learning‐activated neuronal MAPK signals causes memory vulnerability to interfering stimuli, thereby leading to AMI.     

水稻化感品种对土壤微生物的影响

通过盆栽实验研究三叶期水稻化感品种对土壤微生物种群数量的影响。结果显示,土壤细菌、放线菌、真菌、氨化细菌和好气性自生固氮菌数量在水稻化感品种P1312777和水稻非化感品种“辽粳九”、“秋光”的土壤中存在显著差异,土壤中大多数微生物被水稻化感品种所抑制,但化感品种土壤中的放线菌和好气性纤维素分解菌数量则介于两种非化感品种之间。这一研究表明,水稻化感品种能显著地影响土壤微生物种群数量。