秸秆带状覆盖对半干旱雨养区冬小麦田地温和产量的影响

为了明确秸秆带状覆盖对西北半干旱雨养区冬小麦田地温和产量形成的影响,于2013-2015年连续进行2年定位试验,设不覆盖露地(CK)、全膜覆土穴播(PM)、秸秆带状覆盖(覆盖带和种植带各30 cm,播种3行,SM₁)、(覆盖带和种植带各40 cm,播种4行,SM₂)、(覆盖带和种植带各50 cm,播种5行,SM₃)5个处理.结果表明: 各处理在不同生育时期、不同土层土壤温度存在显著差异.与CK相比,SM₁、SM₂和SM₃处理全生育期0～25 cm土层土壤温度分别比CK显著降低1.0～1.3 ℃、0.7～0.9 ℃和0.7～1.1 ℃.不同时期比较,覆盖处理存在增温和降温的双重效应,秸秆覆盖在苗期-越冬期具有提高地温的作用,返青期-成熟期具有降温效应,增温效应覆膜>秸秆覆盖,而降温效应秸秆覆盖>覆膜.同时,秸秆覆盖降低了全生育期土壤有效积温和日变化幅度,全生育期有效积温较CK降低3.4～33.5 ℃·d,土壤温差较CK降低0.6～2.0 ℃;秸秆覆盖在越冬期平均温度比CK高0.2～0.3 ℃、负积温比CK高0.4～17.0 ℃·d.秸秆覆盖较CK增产11.9％～19.5％,处理间单位面积穗数的差异是引起产量差异的主要结构因素.因此,秸秆带状覆盖适宜在西北雨养区旱地冬小麦产区推广应用.     

温室白粉虱取食行为的刺探电位(EPG)研究

该文揭示了温室白粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood成虫及幼虫的刺探电位波形与其刺探、取食、产卵行为之间的对应关系,并讨论了这项技术在研究植物抗虫机理方面的应用价值。在成虫,A波、C波分别代表刺探的开始和进行过程;F波代表刺探过程中遇到机械障碍;G波表示吸食木质部导管汁液;E(pd)的(1)和(2)分别表示与取食韧皮部筛管汁液有关的两种行为;粉虱的产卵波形分为两种亚波,分别由Ovi-I和Ovi-II表示,各自代表产卵时的两种行为：产卵器接触并划破叶表皮及卵柄插入叶组织。在幼虫,H波代表吸食筛管液,而L波则表示在筛管细胞内的一种非吸食行为。幼虫蜕皮时先拔出口针,新龄期的幼虫将其口针重新刺入叶组织。     

DNA fragments from regions involved in surface antigen expression specifically identify Listeria monocytogenes serovar 4 and a subset thereof: cluster IIB (serotypes 4b, 4d, and 4e).

Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b has frequently been implicated in sporadic as well as epidemic listeriosis. On the basis of pulsed-field fingerprinting, serotype 4b strains, along with strains of serotypes 4d and 4e, constitute one genomic cluster (IIB). We have identified two genomic regions essential for the expression of surface antigens which previously were shown to be specific to cluster IIB strains. A DNA probe of 1.1 kb derived from one of the regions (probe 1) hybridized only with strains of serotypes 4b, 4d, and 4e in Southern blots and dot blots. A different DNA probe of 0.3 kb (probe 2), derived from the other region, hybridized with all serovar 4 strains (serotypes 4b, 4a, 4c, 4d, and 4e). All other L. monocytogenes serotypes were negative with probe 1 or 2. Use of probe 1 in Southern blots of EcoRI-digested genomic DNA revealed a restriction fragment length polymorphism in serotype 4b strains, with the hybridizing EcoRI fragments being 4.5 kb (strains of the epidemic clone) and either 4.5 or 5.0 kb (all other serotype 4b strains). Although the probes hybridized with a special group of Listeria innocua strains which also expressed the surface antigens, the latter could be readily distinguished by the size of the hybridizing EcoRI fragment with probe 1 (ca. 2.2 kb). These data suggest that the combined use of these probes with L. monocytogenes can readily and specifically identify cluster IIB strains as well as the entire serovar 4 complex.     

Association between variants of EXT2 and type 2 diabetes: a replication and meta-analysis

Recent publications have found an association between variants of exostosin 2 (EXT2) gene and the risk of type 2 diabetes in some population but not in others. In an attempt to address these inconsistencies, we investigated EXT2 variants in two independent cohorts, and conducted a literature-based meta-analysis. Through regression model, we assessed the relationship between the EXT2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3740878, rs11037909 and rs1113132) and the risk of type 2 diabetes in Han Chinese population, including a total of 2,533 cases and 2,643 controls. We combined our data with that from previously published studies and performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect size of the gene. Consistent with some studies, we found marginal association for the rs3740878 (OR = 1.07, 95 % CI = 0.99, 1.16, p = 0.09), rs11037909 (OR = 1.07, 95 % CI = 0.99, 1.16, p = 0.08), and rs1113132 (OR = 1.08, 95 % CI = 1.00, 1.17, p = 0.06) in our 2 cohorts. Meta-analysis, comprising 9,224 type 2 diabetes and 10,484 controls, revealed that three SNPs (rs3740878, rs11037909 and rs1113132) in EXT2 were significantly associated with type 2 diabetes (ORs range from 1.06 to 1.07, p = 0.038, p = 0.008 and p = 0.005, respectively). Variation in the EXT2 locus appears to be associated with a small increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, well-designed prospective studies with larger sample size and more ethnic groups are needed to further validate the results.     

Protein Kinase LTRPK1 Influences Cold Adaptation and Microtubule Stability in Rice

Rice LTRPK1, which encodes a member of the casein kinase I family, has been reported to be involved in root development, hormone response, and metabolic processes. Here we further show that LTRPK1 participates in stress resistance by regulating cytoskeleton rearrangement and formation of cold tolerance and adaptation. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed enhanced expression of LTRPK1 in plants subject to low-temperature stress at 4 °C, suggesting a role in low-temperature-related cell responses and signal transduction pathways. Further analysis of LTRPK1-deficient transgenic plants showed that under low-temperature treatment, the growth rate of transgenic plant primary roots, which is commonly used as an indicator for cold stress response abilities, was less inhibited than that of control plants. Moreover, damage to the plasma membrane of root cells in LTRPK1-deficient plants was greater than that of controls as measured by relative electrical conductivity (REC). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content of LTRPK1-deficient plants also increased over that of the control, indicating increased plasma membrane permeability. Further immunofluorescence localization observations indicated that microtubules of transgenic plants subject to low temperature disassembled more rapidly, whereas the control plant microtubules in most cells of the root elongation zone kept their normal habitus, which suggested that LTRPK1-deficient plants had reduced capacity to resist low-temperature stress through regulation of microtubule assembly. These results demonstrate involvement of LTRPK1 in low-temperature stress and provide new insight for rice breeding and germplasm innovation to improve crop cold tolerance.     

A core functional region of the RFP1 promoter from Chinese wild grapevine is activated by powdery mildew pathogen and heat stress

RING-finger proteins (RFP) function as ubiquitin ligases and play key roles in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, little information is available on the regulation of RFP expression. Here, we isolate and characterize the RFP promoter sequence from the disease-resistant Chinese wild grape Vitis pseudoreticulata accession Baihe-35-1. Promoter-GUS fusion assays revealed that defense signaling molecules, powdery mildew infection, and heat stress induce VpRFP1 promoter activity. By contrast, the RFP1 promoter isolated from Vitis vinifera was only slightly induced by pathogen infection and heat treatment. By promoter deletion analysis, we found that the ?148 bp region of the VpRFP1 promoter was the core functional promoter region. We also found that, in Arabidopsis, VpRFP1 expressed under its own promoter activated defense-related gene expression and improved disease resistance, but the same construct using the VvRFP1 promoter slightly improve disease resistance. Our results demonstrated that the ?148 bp region of the VpRFP1 promoter plays a key role in response to pathogen and heat stress, and suggested that expression differences between VpRFP1 and VvRFP1 may be key for the differing disease resistance phenotypes of the two Vitis genotypes.     

Interleukin-22 Mediates Early Host Defense against Rhizomucor pusilluscan Pathogens

Background

In recent years, the fungal infectious disease zygomycosis has increased in incidence worldwide, especially among the immunodeficient population. Despite the rates of zygomycosis-related death and deformation being very high, the mechanism(s) by which the fungal pathogens cause these severe manifestations remain unknown.

Methods

Using the associated Rhizomucor variabilis species, which can selectively induce cutaneous zygomycosis in otherwise healthy individuals, we investigated the host mechanisms of infection-related responses, including cytokine and chemokine expression as well as contributions of particular T cell subsets. siRNA specifically targeting IL-22,IL-17 and IFN-γ were used to down-regulate expression of those molecules.

Results

In mouse models of infection, IL-22 was implicated in development of Rhizomucor spp.-induced skin lesions. In cultured human peripheral blood monocytes, R. pusilluscan, which is often found in immunodeficient patients, induced the production of IL-22, while R. variabilis did not. Moreover, Rhizomucor spp.-induced secretion of Il-22 from CCR6⁺CCR4⁺CCR10⁺ cells was down-regulated by knockdown of IL-22 related signaling receptors, RORC and ARH.

Conclusion

Our data strongly suggest that avoidance of IL-22 may be one mechanism by which mucor species produce morbidity and mortality in infected individuals.     

Gut microbiota in patients after surgical treatment for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common disease worldwide that is strongly associated with the gut microbiota. However, little is known regarding the gut microbiota after surgical treatment. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to evaluate differences in gut microbiota among colorectal adenoma patients, CRC patients, CRC postoperative patients and healthy controls by comparing gut microbiota diversity, overall composition and taxonomic signature abundance. The gut microbiota of CRC patients, adenoma patients and healthy controls developed in accordance with the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, with impressive shifts in the gut microbiota before or during the development of CRC. The gut microbiota of postoperative patients and CRC patients differed significantly. Subdividing CRC postoperative patients according to the presence or absence of newly developed adenoma which based on the colonoscopy findings revealed that the gut microbiota of newly developed adenoma patients differed significantly from that of clean intestine patients and was more similar to the gut microbiota of carcinoma patients than to the gut microbiota of healthy controls. The alterations of the gut microbiota between the two groups of postoperative patients corresponded to CRC prognosis. More importantly, we used the different gut microbiota as biomarkers to distinguish postoperative patients with or without newly developed adenoma, achieving an AUC value of 0.72. These insights on the changes in the gut microbiota of CRC patients after surgical treatment may allow the use of the microbiota as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of newly developed adenomas and to help prevent cancer recurrence in postoperative patients.