Comparative Metabolomics Analysis between Red- and White-Flowered Common Buckwheat Cultivars

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), a specialty crop in southwest China, is not only used as a supplement to primary grain crops but also to produce beverages, such as tea and wine. To fully exploit the products made from common buckwheat flower, ultra-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization– tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–ESI–MS/MS) was conducted to analyze the metabolites in red- (‘Guihong 2’) and white-flowered (‘Fengtian 1’) buckwheat cultivars. A total of 784 metabolites were identified of which flavonoids were the largest group with 191 components, followed by organic acids and derivatives (126), and amino acids and derivatives (95). Besides, dozens of phenylpropanoids, nucleotides and derivates, lipids, alkaloids as well as several kinds of indole derivatives and sterides were detected. Among these rich varieties of metabolites, 24 metabolites were only detected in the red flower that mainly included 8 anthocyanins and 6 flavones, while 22 metabolites were only detected in the white flower, which mainly contained 5 lipids, 5 flavonoids, and 5 organic acids and derivatives. Our results enrich the metabolites’ information of buckwheat and may be helpful for the exploitation of products from common buckwheat flowers.     

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous extract of Scutellaria barbata and coating on the cotton fabric for antimicrobial applications and wound healing activity in fibroblast cells (L929)

Scutellaria barbata is a perennial herb which was vastly prescribed in Chinese medicine to treat inflammations, infections and it is also used a detoxifying agent. We synthesized silver nanoparticles with Scutellaria barbata extract and characterized the nanoparticles with UV–Vis spectroscopic analysis, TEM, AFM, FTIR and XRD. The biofilm inhibiting property of synthesized silver nanoparticles were examined with XTT reduction assay and the antimicrobial property was examined with well diffusion method. The silver nanoparticles were also coated with cotton fabrics and their efficacy against antimicrobials was analyzed to prove its application. The cytotoxic property of synthesized silver nanoparticles was examined with L929 fibroblast cells using MTT assay. Finally we analyzed the wound healing property of synthesized silver nanoparticles with wound scratch assay. The result of our UV–Vis spectroscopic analysis confirms Scutellaria barbata aqueous extract reduced silver ions and synthesized silver nanoparticles. The characterization studies TEM, AFM, FTIR and XRD confirms the synthesized silver nanoparticles are in ideal shape and size to be utilized as a drug. The XTT reduction assay proves silver nanoparticles effectively inhibits the biofilm formation in both resistant and sensitive strains. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests confirms synthesized silver nanoparticles and cotton coated synthesized silver nanoparticles both are effective against gram positive, gram negative and fungal species. Further the results of MTT assay confirms the synthesized silver nanoparticles are non toxic and finally the wound healing potency of the nanoparticles was confirmed with wound scratch assay. Over all our results authentically confirms the silver nanoparticles synthesized with Scutellaria barbata aqueous extract is potent wound healing drug.     

A large‐scale genomic association analysis identifies the candidate causal genes conferring stripe rust resistance under multiple field environments

The incorporation of resistance genes into wheat commercial varieties is the ideal strategy to combat stripe or yellow rust (YR). In a search for novel resistance genes, we performed a large‐scale genomic association analysis with high‐density 660K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays to determine the genetic components of YR resistance in 411 spring wheat lines. Following quality control, 371 972 SNPs were screened, covering over 50% of the high‐confidence annotated gene space. Nineteen stable genomic regions harbouring 292 significant SNPs were associated with adult‐plant YR resistance across nine environments. Of these, 14 SNPs were localized in the proximity of known loci widely used in breeding. Obvious candidate SNP variants were identified in certain confidence intervals, such as the cloned gene Yr18 and the major locus on chromosome 2BL, despite a large extent of linkage disequilibrium. The number of causal SNP variants was refined using an independent validation panel and consideration of the estimated functional importance of each nucleotide polymorphism. Interestingly, four natural polymorphisms causing amino acid changes in the gene TraesCS2B01G513100 that encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase (STPK) were significantly involved in YR responses. Gene expression and mutation analysis confirmed that STPK played an important role in YR resistance. PCR markers were developed to identify the favourable TraesCS2B01G513100 haplotype for marker‐assisted breeding. These results demonstrate that high‐resolution SNP‐based GWAS enables the rapid identification of putative resistance genes and can be used to improve the efficiency of marker‐assisted selection in wheat disease resistance breeding.     

Advances on liver cell-derived exosomes in liver diseases

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with diameters ranging from 30 to 150 nm, which contain several donor cell-associated proteins as well as mRNA, miRNA, and lipids and coordinate multiple physiological and pathological functions through horizontal communication between cells. Almost all types of liver cells, such as hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, are exosome-releasing and/or exosome-targeted cells. Exosomes secreted by liver cells play an important role in regulating general physiological functions and also participate in the onset and development of liver diseases, including liver cancer, liver injury, liver fibrosis and viral hepatitis. Liver cell-derived exosomes carry liver cell-specific proteins and miRNAs, which can be used as diagnostic biomarkers and treatment targets of liver disease. This review discusses the functions of exosomes derived from different liver cells and provides novel insights based on the latest developments regarding the roles of exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases.     

Sertoli cell-derived exosomal MicroRNA-486-5p regulates differentiation of spermatogonial stem cell through PTEN in mice

Self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) are critical for male fertility and reproduction, both of which are highly regulated by testicular microenvironment. Exosomal miRNAs have emerged as new components in intercellular communication. However, their roles in the differentiation of SSC remain unclear. Here, we observed miR-486-5p enriched in Sertoli cell and Sertoli cell-derived exosomes. The exosomes mediate the transfer of miR-486-5p from Sertoli cells to SSCs. Exosomes release miR-486-5p, thus up-regulate expression of Stra8 (stimulated by retinoic acid 8) and promote differentiation of SSC. And PTEN was identified as a target of miR-486-5p. Overexpression of miR-486-5p in SSCs down-regulates PTEN expression, which up-regulates the expression of STRA8 and SYCP3, promotes SSCs differentiation. In addition, blocking the exosome-mediated transfer of miR-486-5p inhibits differentiation of SSC. Our findings demonstrate that miR-486-5p acts as a communication molecule between Sertoli cells and SSCs in modulating differentiation of SSCs. This provides a new insight on molecular mechanisms that regulates SSC differentiation and a basis for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of male infertility.     

苦荞NAC转录因子FtNAC17的鉴定及表达分析

植物特有的NAC转录因子参与植物生长发育和逆境响应。研究苦荞中NAC转录因子在非生物胁迫中的应答,为阐明基因功能提供理论依据。以苦荞为试验材料,克隆一个NAC家族基因,对其进行生物信息学分析。通过荧光定量PCR技术检测该基因在干旱、低温、盐、茉莉酸甲酯、脱落酸和赤霉素胁迫时的响应情况。该基因编码272个氨基酸,将其命名为FtNAC17,GenBank登录号为MT641452。基因结构分析表明,FtNAC17由2个外显子和1个内含子组成。氨基酸序列多重比对和进化关系分析表明,FtNAC17蛋白与拟南芥ANAC002亲缘关系最近,属于NAC转录因子家族中同一亚组。FtNAC17对干旱、低温、盐等非生物胁迫均有不同程度的响应。     

人体菌群与类风湿性关节炎相关性的研究进展

类风湿性关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)是一种慢性炎症性自身免疫性疾病,严重影响患者生理以及心理健康。尽管过去20多年RA的治疗进展迅速,但我们对RA的病因学仍知之甚少。研究表明,RA的发病与遗传、环境以及免疫这三大因素息息相关。众所周知,人体菌群与这三大因素亦有着密切的联系。越来越多的临床试验及动物实验指出,人体菌群失调在RA病程的发生发展中起着至关重要的作用。本综述整理近年来人体菌群与类风湿性关节炎相关性的研究进展,通过循证人体菌群,为类风湿性关节炎的诊断、预防和治疗提供新思路。     

妇科疾病患者PICC置管后感染者病原菌分布及T淋巴细胞亚群变化

目的研究妇科疾病患者外周静脉植进中心静脉导管(PICC)后感染者病原菌分布及T淋巴细胞亚群水平变化。方法选取2017年3月至2019年5月在我院接受PICC置管治疗的63例妇科疾病患者为观察组,另外选取同期我院健康体检女性50例为对照组,采用菌种分离鉴定法分析观察组患者病原菌分布,并比较观察组和对照组对象T淋巴细胞亚群和白细胞介素6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)水平。结果共分离出102株细菌,其中以大肠埃希菌(19.61%)、肺炎克雷伯菌(14.71%)、铜绿假单胞菌(9.80%)为主的革兰阴性菌占比最高(50.98%);其次是革兰阳性菌,占34.31%;真菌数量最少,占14.71%。感染前后观察组患者CD3~+细胞、CD4~+细胞及CD4~+/CD8~+水平显著低于对照组(均P0.05),而CD8~+细胞及IL-6、TNF-α水平显著高于对照组对象(均P0.05)。感染后,观察组患者CD3~+细胞、CD4~+细胞及CD4~+/CD8~+水平显著低于感染前,CD8~+细胞及IL-6、TNF-α水平显著高于感染前(均P0.05)。结论妇科疾病患者PICC置管后感染者病原菌以大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌等革兰阴性菌为主,感染后患者T淋巴细胞亚群及炎性因子水平严重失调,患者免疫功能减弱。     

Genome Structural Variation Landscape and Its Selection Signatures in the Fast-growing Strains of the Pacific Oyster,Crassostrea gigas

Marine Biotechnology - The Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) genome is highly polymorphic and affluent in structural variations (SVs), a significant source of genetic variation underlying...     

Regulation of root secondary metabolites by partial root-associated microbiotas under the shaping of licorice ecotypic differentiation in northwest China

Interactions between plant hosts and their microbiotas are becoming increasingly evident, while the effects of plant communities on microbial communities in different geographic environments are poorly understood. Here, the differentiation of licorice plant ecotypes and the distribution of root-associated microbiotas were investigated across five sampling sites in northwest China. The interactions between the environment, plant and microbial communities, and their effects on licorice root secondary metabolites, were elucidated. The plant community was clearly differentiated into distinct ecotypes based on genotyping-by-sequencing and was primarily driven by geographic distance and available soil nitrogen. The bulk soil and root-associated microbiotas (rhizosphere soil and root endosphere) partially correlated with plant community, but all were significantly discriminated by plant clade. Moreover, these microbiotas were explained to different extents by distinct combinations of environment, geography, and plant community. Similarly, three structural equation models showed that licorice root secondary metabolites were complicatedly modulated by multiple abiotic and biotic factors, and were mostly explained by these factors in the rhizosphere model. Collectively, the results provide novel insights into the role of environment–plant–microbiota interactions in regulating root secondary metabolites. That should be accounted for when selecting appropriate licorice planting sites and management measures.