RXLR-mediated entry of Phytophthora sojae effector Avr1b into soybean cells does not require pathogen-encoded machinery

Effector proteins secreted by oomycete and fungal pathogens have been inferred to enter host cells, where they interact with host resistance gene products. Using the effector protein Avr1b of Phytophthora sojae, an oomycete pathogen of soybean (Glycine max), we show that a pair of sequence motifs, RXLR and dEER, plus surrounding sequences, are both necessary and sufficient to deliver the protein into plant cells. Particle bombardment experiments demonstrate that these motifs function in the absence of the pathogen, indicating that no additional pathogen-encoded machinery is required for effector protein entry into host cells. Furthermore, fusion of the Avr1b RXLR-dEER domain to green fluorescent protein (GFP) allows GFP to enter soybean root cells autonomously. The conclusion that RXLR and dEER serve to transduce oomycete effectors into host cells indicates that the >370 RXLR-dEER-containing proteins encoded in the genome sequence of P. sojae are candidate effectors. We further show that the RXLR and dEER motifs can be replaced by the closely related erythrocyte targeting signals found in effector proteins of Plasmodium, the protozoan that causes malaria in humans. Mutational analysis of the RXLR motif shows that the required residues are very similar in the motifs of Plasmodium and Phytophthora. Thus, the machinery of the hosts (soybean and human) targeted by the effectors may be very ancient.     

LATE JURASSIC PALAEONTINIDS (HOMOPTERA: AUCHENOR-RHYNCHA) FROM HEBEI AND LIAONING PROVINCES IN CHINA*

Abstract Two new genera and six new species of Palaeontinidae are named and described: Liaocossus hui gen. et sp. nov., L. beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov., L. exiguus gen. et sp. nov., L. fengningensis gen. et sp. nov., L. pingquanensis gen. et sp. nov., and Miracossus ingentius gen. et sp. nov., The entire body of these new fossils are perfectly preserved and enable us to fix accurately the body characteristics of primitive palaeontinids. All the specimens were collected from Late Jurassic Yixian Formation of Northern Hebei and Western Liaoning Provinces in China.     

Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Kaohsiung City Located at Southern Taiwan, 2000-2008

Background

We present the first comprehensive analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates circulating in southern Taiwan. In this 9-year population-based study, the TB situation in the Kaohsiung region was characterized by genotypic analysis of 421 MTB isolates.

Methods

All 421 isolates of MTB were analyzed by spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing. Drug-resistance patterns were also analyzed.

Results

The percentage of EAI (East African-Indian) strains increased across sampling years (2000–2008) in southern Taiwan, whereas the proportion of Beijing lineages remained unchanged. Clustering was more frequent with EAI genotype infections (odds ratio = 3.6, p<0.0001) when compared to Beijing genotypes. Notably, MTB resistance to streptomycin (STR) had significantly increased over time, but resistance to other antibiotics, including multidrug resistance, had not. Three major genes (gidB, rpsL and rrs) implicated in STR resistance were sequenced and specific mutations identified.

Conclusions

This study revealed that EAI strains were highly transmissible and that STR resistance has increased between 2000 and 2008 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.     

Halofuginone: a potent inhibitor of critical steps in angiogenesis progression.

We have previously demonstrated that halofuginone, a low molecular weight quinazolinone alkaloid, is a potent inhibitor of collagen alpha1(I) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) gene expression. Halofuginone also effectively suppresses tumor progression and metastasis in mice. These results together with the well-documented role of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and matrix degrading enzymes in formation of new blood vessels led us to investigate the effect of halofuginone on the angiogenic process. In a variety of experimental system, representing sequential events in the angiogenic cascade, halofuginone treatment resulted in profound inhibitory effect. Among these are the abrogation of endothelial cell MMP-2 expression and basement membrane invasion, capillary tube formation, and vascular sprouting, as well as deposition of subendothelial ECM. The most conclusive anti-angiogenic activity of halofuginone was demonstrated in vivo (mouse corneal micropocket assay) by showing a marked inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) -induced neovascularization in response to systemic administration of halofuginone, either i.p. or in the diet. The ability of halofuginone to interfere with key events in neovascularization, together with its oral bioavailability and safe use as an anti-parasitic agent, make it a promising drug for further evaluation in the treatment of a wide range of diseases associated with pathological angiogenesis.     

影响牛胚胎干细胞分离克隆因素的研究

采用与同源胎儿成纤维细胞共同培养及传统饲养层培养方式,以高糖DMEM,添加0.1mM2-巯基乙醇,犊牛血清,细胞因子为培养基,以4-13周龄屠宰牛胎儿为实验材料,探讨影响牛原始生殖细胞分离克隆胚胎干细胞的相关因素,结果发现：当犊牛血清为15%时效果最好;细胞因子添加与否对胚胎干细胞的分离及同源牛胎儿成纤维细胞的贴壁与生长影响并不显著,而在传代过程中中有一定影响;以0.2%胰酶 0.04?TA为细胞消化液效果最佳;以同源胎儿成纤维细胞共培养的方式分离克隆牛胚胎干细胞,本研究观察到效果最好。     

Notch signaling in ocular vasculature development and diseases

Ocular angiogenesis, characterized by the formation of new blood vessels in the avascular area in eyes, is a highly coordinated process involved in retinal vasculature formation and several ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, proliferative diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. This process is orchestrated by complicated cellular interactions and vascular growth factors, during which endothelial cells acquire heterogeneous phenotypes and distinct cellular destinations. To date, while the vascular endothelial growth factor has been identified as the most critical angiogenic agent with a remarkable therapeutic value, the Notch signaling pathway appears to be a similarly important regulator in several angiogenic steps. Recent progress has highlighted the involvement, mechanisms and therapeutic potential of Notch signaling in retinal vasculature development and pathological angiogenesis-related eye disorders, which may cause irreversible blindness.     

Study on the interaction between nitroxide free radical and conjugated polyelectrolytes by fluorimetry

In this work, we studied the fluorescence quenching of the anionic conjugated polyelectrolyte PPE–SO₃ by the paramagnetic species 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxide free radical (TEMPO) in aqueous solution. At low quencher concentration the Stern–Volmer constant is 94 mol/L; as the quencher concentration increases the Stern–Volmer plots become superlinear. Ascorbic acid is used to reduce TEMPO to the corresponding hydroxylamine and the PPE–SO₃ fluorescence is fully recovered. Under a large excess of ascorbic acid over TEMPO, the rise of fluorescence followed pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. The second‐order rate constant calculated from this time course is 0.7 mol/L/s. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

人工油松林中不同植物叶片非结构性碳水化合物含量对氮添加的响应

全球氮沉降通过影响树木叶片的生理过程影响森林生态系统的结构与组成,但目前关于氮沉降对森林生态系统中不同植物叶片非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量的影响还不十分清楚.本研究选取黄土丘陵区人工油松林中油松、辽东栎、忍冬、绣线菊、黄刺玫、茜草、披针苔草7种主要高等植物,比较了3年氮添加(0、3、6、9 g N·m^-2·a^-1,分别用N₀、N₃、N₆、N₉表示)对7种植物叶片中NSC的影响.结果表明: 不同植物叶片可溶性糖、淀粉含量变异很大,二者变异最高的均为黄刺玫,最低的分别为绣线菊和披针苔草;不同植物可溶性糖、淀粉对氮添加的响应存在明显差异.N₆处理下茜草的可溶性糖和淀粉的变异高于其他物种,N₃和N₉处理下绣线菊的变异高于其他物种,可溶性糖和淀粉含量变异最小的物种在不同氮添加水平下不同.随着氮添加水平的增加,油松和披针苔草的可溶性糖含量持续升高,绣线菊持续降低,辽东栎、忍冬和黄刺玫的可溶性糖含量先降低后增加,在N₆处理达到最小,而茜草的可溶性糖含量呈现较复杂的变化趋势.氮添加对植物叶片中淀粉含量的影响表现为油松、忍冬和披针苔草的淀粉含量持续增加,绣线菊先降低后增加,在N₃处理达到最小,而黄刺玫和茜草则呈现较复杂的变化趋势,辽东栎淀粉含量变化趋势平缓.在氮添加后,土壤pH、有机碳、全氮、全磷与植物叶片NSC含量无相关关系,仅N₀和N₃水平下上述土壤理化指标会显著影响可溶性糖/淀粉.表明林地不同植物叶片中NSC含量对氮添加的响应明显不同,研究全球氮沉降或氮添加对林地生态系统的影响需要考虑不同植物,尤其不同生活型植物的不同响应.