SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

Direct adenylation from 5′-OH-terminated oligonucleotides by a fusion enzyme containing Pfu RNA ligase and T4 polynucleotide kinase

5′-Adenylated oligonucleotides (AppOligos) are widely used for single-stranded DNA/RNA ligation in next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications such as microRNA (miRNA) profiling. The ligation between an AppOligo adapter and target molecules (such as miRNA) no longer requires ATP, thereby minimizing potential self-ligations and simplifying library preparation procedures. AppOligos can be produced by chemical synthesis or enzymatic modification. However, adenylation via chemical synthesis is inefficient and expensive, while enzymatic modification requires pre-phosphorylated substrate and additional purification. Here we cloned and characterized the Pfu RNA ligase encoded by the PF0353 gene in the hyperthermophilic archaea Pyrococcus furiosus. We further engineered fusion enzymes containing both Pfu RNA ligase and T4 polynucleotide kinase. One fusion enzyme, 8H-AP, was thermostable and can directly catalyze 5′-OH-terminated DNA substrates to adenylated products. The newly discovered Pfu RNA ligase and the engineered fusion enzyme may be useful tools for applications using AppOligos.     

生态系统生态学研究的关键问题及趋势——从“整体论与还原论的争论”看

在生态学领域中,存在着生态系统整体论与还原论的争论。Tansley A.G.提出,生态系统是"准有机体"。Odum兄弟提出的"生态系统能量说"被广泛接受,但也受到质疑,称其为"还原论者的整体论"。基于对上述质疑的回应以及对生态系统整体论的追求,Patten B.C.等提出"生态网络理论",运用"网络‘环境子’分析"方法,试图从物理层面分析解决生物层面的"涌现性"问题。不过,这一理论也受到批判,认为其在探究符号化的现象对生态系统的动态影响时,陷入了还原论困境。Jrgensen S.E.等更进一步,提出"系统论"的生态系统生态学,试图从系统科学的角度研究生态系统的"物质-能量-信息-网络"系统。这一理论受到生态学界高度重视,但是也存在着在具体研究过程中如何平衡能量视角和生物地球化学视角的问题。由上述争论可见,生态系统生态学研究的趋势是从"物质实体"到"能量流动",再到"网络信息",最后到"开放系统"层层递进。目前面临的关键问题是:如何在更好地定义生态系统整体性的基础上,采取相应的能够体现生态系统整体性的方法,去获得更多、更好的生态系统整体性的认识。     

西双版纳尚勇亚洲象的食物组成与取食生态

于1998—2000在西双版纳国家级自然保护区尚勇子保护区的自然生境中,通过对亚洲象取食植物调查和粪便分析,了解亚洲象的食物组成与取食习性。结果显示,野外跟踪调查共记录有106种植物被亚洲象所取食。其中有83种出现在象的粪便中,这些种类分别属于：禾本科8种（10．0％）、桑科7种（9．9％）、蝶形花科4种（8．4％）、五加科3种（6．6％）、葡萄科3种（5．7％）、夹竹桃科3种（4．6％）、芭蕉科1种（4．2％）、姜科3种（3．7％）、紫金牛科3种（3．6％）、蔷薇科3种（3．6％）、大戟科5种（3．3％）、榆科2种（3．O％）、含羞草科4种（2．9％）13个植物科。根据食物中所占的比率,桑科的榕属（Ficus）、禾本科的竹类（Bambusoideae）、小果野芭蕉（Musa acuminate）和莠竹（Microstegium ciliatum）是亚洲象的主要食物资源。在觅食过程中,亚洲象取食包括乔木、藤本灌木和草本等各种生活型的植物,其中先锋种所占比率（59％）高于后续种;选择性啃食枝条的植物种类（77种）高于牧草式取食的种类（6种）。亚洲象取食植物种类的月变化与月平均温度和月降雨量成负相关,旱季取食植物种类高于雨季。本研究对制定保护区野生动物管理策略,以及解决保护区周边日趋恶化的人象矛盾,具有一定的参考价值。     

谭清苏铁性别相关的RAPD标记研究

以谭清苏铁(Cycas tanqingii D.Y.Wang)雌雄植株半年生羽叶为材料,用优化的CTAB法分别提取其全基因组DNA,进行RAPD单因子梯度实验和正交实验以优化扩增条件。应用160个RAPD随机引物检测基因组DNA,雌雄植株均扩增出1450多条带,其中引物S0465扩增出与谭清苏铁雌株高度相关的RAPD标记,其大小约为500bp,该标记与雄株没有关联。     

Response of physiologic metabolism and cell structures in mango fruit to exogenous methyl salicylate under low-temperature stress

We explored the effects of exogenous methyl salicylate (MeSA) on the development of chilling injury symptom, and the structure and composition of the pericarp, in mango ( Mangifera indica L. cv. 'Red 6') fruit under low-temperature stress using histochemical analysis and scanning electron microscopy together with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The results indicated that chilling injury symptom was remarkably limited in the fruit treated with MeSA at 0.1 m M as compared to the 5°C control, demonstrating the positive effects of MeSA in reducing chilling injury of mango fruit in low-temperature storage. In MeSA-treated fruit, the pericarp wax surface showed many cracks, and exocarp cells exhibited normal separation. The cell wall of exocarp contained lower amounts of pectic substances, aliphatics and phenolics in MeSA-treated fruit. In addition, MeSA-treated fruit contained more esterified substances and less carboxylate and carboxyl substances. Our work revealed the importance of MeSA in enhancing fruit tolerance to low-temperature stress and suggested a contribution of cellular structure and composition to this effect, which has not been reported previously.     

Association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of interleukin-10 and susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease

The aim of this study was to assess the association of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene with the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Fifteen studies (3,693 cases and 4,574 controls) were included in a meta-analysis of association between IL-10 ?1082G/A, ?819C/T and ?592C/A polymorphisms, and IBD, CD and UC using allele contrast and the recessive, dominant, and additive models. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was confirmed for each study. Heterogeneity and study quality were investigated using stratification analyses and sensitivity analyses. Polymorphism ?1082G/A showed significant association with CD, with odds ratios (ORs) for the GG + GA genotype and GG versus AA genotype of 1.278 (1.004–1.627) and 1.238 (1.027–1.492) in all subjects. Significant associations were found in the Caucasian subgroup using the allele contrast, dominant, and additive models. C-allele carriers of the ?819C/T polymorphism were at increased risk of IBD (OR 1.093, 95 % CI 1.004–1.190). Association with the ?819C/T polymorphism was also found in Caucasians with CD (C vs. T: OR 1.104, 95 % CI 1.010–1.206; CC + CT vs. TT: OR 1.328, 95 % CI 1.006–1.754; CC vs. TT: OR 1.339, 95 % CI 1.008–1.778), and with UC (CC vs. CT + TT: OR 1.188, 95 % CI 1.019–1.385). No significant association was found between the ?592C/A polymorphism and IBD, CD or UC. In conclusion, the meta-analysis demonstrated clear association between the IL-10 polymorphisms ?1082G/A and ?819C/T and the risk of IBD.     

稻田生态系统中3种蜘蛛对白背飞虱的捕食效应研究

应用 二次正交旋转组合设计方法,对稻田生态系统中３种捕食性天敌（三突花蛛Ｍｉｓｕｍｅｎｏｐｓ ｔｒｉｃｕｓｐｉｄａｔａ（Ｔａｂｒｉｃｉｕｓ）、草间钻头蛛Ｈｙｌｙｐｈａｎｔｅｓ ｇｒａｍｉｎｉｃｏｒａ（Ｓｕｎｄｅｖａｌｌ）、真水狼蛛Ｐｉｒａｔａ ｐｉｒａｔｉｃｕｓ（Ｃｌｅｒｋ）和１种害虫（白背飞虱Ｓｏｇａｔｅｌｌａ ｆｕｒｃｉｆｅｒａ（Ｈｏｒｖａｔｈ）的共存系统进行研究,获得了天敌对害虫控制作用的数