Highly efficient genome editing in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae through repurposing the endogenous type I-C CRISPR-Cas system

Efficient and modular genome editing technologies that manipulate the genome of bacterial pathogens will facilitate the study of pathogenesis mechanisms. However, such methods are yet to be established for Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal agent of rice bacterial blight. We identified a single type I-C CRISPR-Cas system in the Xoo genome and leveraged this endogenous defence system for high-efficiency genome editing in Xoo. Specifically, we developed plasmid components carrying a mini-CRISPR array, donor DNA, and a phage-derived recombination system to enable the efficient and programmable genome editing of precise deletions, insertions, base substitutions, and gene replacements. Furthermore, the type I-C CRISPR-Cas system of Xoo cleaves target DNA unidirectionally, and this can be harnessed to generate large genomic deletions up to 212 kb efficiently. Therefore, the genome-editing strategy we have developed can serve as an excellent tool for functional genomics of Xoo, and should also be applicable to other CRISPR-harbouring bacterial plant pathogens.     

One-Pot Purification and Immobilization of Phenylalanine Dehydrogenase from Bacillus nanhaiensi by Functional Reduced Graphene Oxide

Marine Biotechnology - The one-pot immobilization of halophilic phenylalanine dehydrogenase from marine microorganism with metal ions modified reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) material was studied....     

The Chinese species of skipper butterflies in the tribe Tagiadini Mabille, 1878 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae): insights from phylogeny,hostplants, and biogeography

Organisms Diversity & Evolution - The butterfly tribe Tagiadini Mabille, 1878 is a large group of skippers. Although there are a few species which are limited in distribution to some countries...     

A prostate cancer tissue specific spectral library for targeted proteomic analysis

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males worldwide. Mass spectrometry-based targeted proteomics has demonstrated great potential in quantifying proteins from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and (fresh) frozen biopsy tissues. Here we provide a comprehensive tissue-specific spectral library for targeted proteomic analysis of prostate tissue samples. Benign and malignant FFPE prostate tissue samples were processed into peptide samples by pressure cycling technology (PCT)-assisted sample preparation, and fractionated with high-pH reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Based on data-dependent acquisition (DDA) MS analysis using a TripleTOF 6600, we built a library containing 108,533 precursors, 84,198 peptides and 9384 unique proteins (1% FDR). The applicability of the library was demonstrated in prostate specimens.     

亚热带苔藓结皮对土壤-微生物-胞外酶化学计量特征的影响

生物结皮的形成和发育显著影响土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)循环及其化学计量特征,土壤微生物如何适应环境资源的化学计量变化仍不明确。本研究以三峡库区苔藓结皮为对象,分析结皮盖度(0、1%～20%、20%～40%、40%～60%、60%～80%和80%～100%)对土壤理化性质(0～5和5～10 cm土层)、微生物生物量和胞外酶活性[(β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、β-1,4-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)、酸性磷酸酶(AP)]的影响,探索土壤-微生物-胞外酶C∶N∶P化学计量特征间的协变性。结果表明: 生物结皮发育显著提高了土壤黏粒、水稳性团聚体和土壤C、N、P含量,显著降低了土壤容重和砂粒含量;微生物生物量C、N、P和胞外酶活性均随结皮盖度的增大而显著增加;土层深度对土壤理化性质及C∶N∶P均无显著影响,但显著影响微生物生物量、胞外酶活性及BG∶AP和NAG∶AP。相关分析显示,土壤C、N、P含量与微生物生物量和胞外酶活性呈显著正相关,与BG∶NAG呈显著负相关,与NAG∶AP呈显著正相关,但与微生物生物量C∶N∶P无显著相关性;土壤-微生物、微生物-胞外酶C∶N∶P相关性均不显著,BG∶NAG∶AP随着微生物与土壤间C∶N∶P化学计量不平衡性的增加而逐渐降低。表明微生物养分代谢同时受N和P的限制,且P的限制较强烈,微生物可以通过调整自身生物量以及胞外酶C∶N∶P适应生物结皮发育驱动的土壤化学计量变化,从而维持内稳态。     

典型黑土区农田土壤线虫群落的纬度分布格局及其驱动机制

东北黑土区是保障我国粮食安全的重要土壤资源, 了解该区域内农田土壤线虫的群落组成及其对环境驱动因子的响应机制, 对于研究黑土区农田土壤生态系统的生物多样性分布格局具有重要意义。2018年9月, 我们在42°50°‒49°08° N的典型黑土区采集了93个农田土壤样品, 利用形态学鉴定技术分析了土壤线虫群落的组成与结构。共鉴定出47个线虫属(相对丰度 > 1%), 其中食细菌线虫中的拟丽突属(Acrobeloides)是典型黑土区农田土壤中的优势属(相对丰度 > 5%)。土壤线虫总丰富度和总多度均随纬度增加而显著增加, 然而类似的变化趋势只出现在食细菌和杂食/捕食线虫中。土壤有机碳是影响土壤线虫丰富度和多度最为重要的环境因子, 其次是月平均温度。典型黑土区农田土壤线虫群落结构以47° N为分界线分为南部和北部两类, 主要归因于线虫群落中植物寄生和杂食/捕食线虫的相对多度在南、北特征属中存在差异。土壤pH值和容重分别是影响南部与北部黑土区线虫群落最重要的环境因子。本研究明确了典型黑土区农田土壤线虫群落的纬度分布格局及其与环境因素的关系, 可为揭示农业活动干扰下土壤生物对环境因子的响应机制提供基础数据和理论参考。