Insecticidal and insect growth regulatory activities of secondary metabolites from entomopathogenic fungi,Lecanicillium attenuatum

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are effective alternatives to chemical insecticides because of their specificity and low environmental toxicity. Entomopathogenic fungi are an important natural pathogen of insects and have been developed as biological control agents. They produce a wide range of secondary metabolites such as antibiotics, pesticides, growth-promoting or inhibiting compounds and insect attracting agents. In this study, to explore novel IGR substances from entomopathogenic fungi, culture extracts of 189 entomopathogenic fungi isolated from Korean soil samples were investigated for their juvenile hormone (JH)-based IGR activities. Whereas none of the culture extracts exhibited JH agonist (JHA) activity, 14 extracts showed high levels of JH antagonist (JHAN) activity. Among them, culture extract of JEF-145 strain, which was identified as Lecanicillium attenuatum, showed the highest insecticidal against Aedes albopictus and Plutella xylostella. At liquid culture condition, JHAN activity was observed in culture soup rather than mycelial cake, indicating that substances with JHAN activity are released from the JEF-145 strain during culture. Furthermore, while extract from solid cultured JEF-145 strain showed insecticidal activities against both A. albopictus and P. xylostella, that from liquid cultured fungi showed insecticidal activity only against A. albopictus, indicating that L. attenuatum JEF-145 strain produces different kinds of secondary metabolites with JHAN activity depending on culture conditions. These results suggested that JHAN substances derived from entomopathogenic fungi could be usefully exploited to develop novel eco-friendly IGR insecticides.     

Active interfacial dynamic transport of fluid in a network of fibrous connective tissues throughout the whole body

Fluid in interstitial spaces accounts for ~20% of an adult body weight and flows diffusively for a short range. Does it circulate around the body like vascular circulations? This bold conjecture has been debated for decades. As a conventional physiological concept, interstitial space is a micron‐sized space between cells and vasculature. Fluid in interstitial spaces is thought to be entrapped within interstitial matrix. However, our serial data have further defined a second space in interstitium that is a nanosized interfacial transport zone on a solid surface. Within this fine space, fluid along a solid fibre can be transported under a driving power and identically, interstitial fluid transport can be visualized by tracking the oriented fibres. Since 2006, our data from volunteers and cadavers have revealed a long‐distance extravascular pathway for interstitial fluid flow, comprising at least four types of anatomic distributions. The framework of each extravascular pathway contains the longitudinally assembled and oriented fibres, working as a fibrorail for fluid flow. Interestingly, our data showed that the movement of fluid in a fibrous pathway is in response to a dynamic driving source and named as dynamotaxis. By analysis of previous studies and our experimental results, a hypothesis of interstitial fluid circulatory system is proposed.     

Coordinated regulation of anthranilate metabolism and bacterial virulence by the GntR family regulator MpaR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The GntR family regulators are widely distributed in bacteria and play critical roles in metabolic processes and bacterial pathogenicity. In this study, we describe a GntR family protein encoded by PA4132 that we named MpaR (M vfR-mediated P QS and a nthranilate r egulator) for its regulation of Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) production and anthranilate metabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The deletion of mpaR increased biofilm formation and reduced pyocyanin production. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the mRNA levels of antABC encoding enzymes for the synthesis of catechol from anthranilate, a precursor of the PQS, were most affected by mpaR deletion. Data showed that MpaR directly activates the expression of mvfR, a master regulator of pqs system, and subsequently promotes PQS production. Accordingly, deletion of mpaR activates the expression of antABC genes, and thus, increases catechol production. We also demonstrated that MpaR represses the rhl quorum-sensing (QS) system, which has been shown to control antABC activity. These results suggested that MpaR function is integrated into the QS regulatory network. Moreover, mutation of mpaR promotes bacterial survival in a mouse model of acute pneumonia infection. Collectively, this study identified a novel regulator of pqs system, which coordinately controls anthranilate metabolism and bacterial virulence in P. aeruginosa.     

Flexible chromosome painting based on multiplex PCR of oligonucleotides and its application for comparative chromosome analyses in Cucumis

Chromosome painting is a powerful technique for chromosome and genome studies. We developed a flexible chromosome painting technique based on multiplex PCR of a synthetic oligonucleotide (oligo) library in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., 2n = 14). Each oligo in the library was associated with a universal as well as nested specific primers for amplification, which allow the generation of different probes from the same oligo library. We were also able to generate double‐stranded labelled oligos, which produced much stronger signals than single‐stranded labelled oligos, by amplification using fluorophore‐conjugated primer pairs. Oligos covering cucumber chromosome 1 (Chr1) and chromosome 4 (Chr4) consisting of eight segments were synthesized in one library. Different oligo probes generated from the library painted the corresponding chromosomes/segments unambiguously, especially on pachytene chromosomes. This technique was then applied to study the homoeologous relationships among cucumber, C. hystrix and C. melo chromosomes based on cross‐species chromosome painting using Chr4 probes. We demonstrated that the probe was feasible to detect interspecies chromosome homoeologous relationships and chromosomal rearrangement events. Based on its advantages and great convenience, we anticipate that this flexible oligo‐painting technique has great potential for the studies of the structure, organization, and evolution of chromosomes in any species with a sequenced genome.     

Potential role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression

The regulation of insulin on depression and depression‐like behaviour has been widely reported. Insulin and activation of its receptor can promote learning and memory, affect the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) balance, regulate the secretion of neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters, interact with gastrointestinal microbiome, exert neuroprotective effects and have an impact on depression. However, the role of insulin on depression remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the potential role of insulin on depression. It may provide new insight for clarifying role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression.     

甘菊3个ClSCL6基因的克隆及表达分析

GRAS家族HAM亚家族基因是维持植物茎端分生组织(shoot apical meristem,SAM)未分化状态的重要因子,并影响着植物的成花转化进程。该研究基于转录组数据中甘菊(Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium)HAM亚家族基因同源序列设计引物,利用RT PCR技术从甘菊中克隆得到3个HAM类基因。序列分析结果表明,所克隆的3个基因开放阅读框长度分别为1 845、1 479和1 881 bp,分别编码614、492和626个氨基酸。Blastp分析显示,3个基因的编码蛋白均含有典型HAM亚家族蛋白特征,并与菊科植物黄花蒿(Artemisia annua)SCL6蛋白具有较高的一致性,分别达到了94.39%、91.90%和94.27%。进一步分析表明,3个基因的编码蛋白与所有拟南芥GRAS家族中的SCL6蛋白进化关系最近,故将其分别命名为ClSCL6a、ClSCL6b和ClSCL6c。荧光定量分析显示,3个ClSCL6基因均在甘菊茎中表达量最高,而在根和花中表达量普遍较低。在不同发育时期的花器官中,3个ClSCL6基因均有表达,其中ClSCL6a在管状花花粉散开前达到表达高峰,ClSCL6b和ClSCL6c则在小花蕾时期表达量最高,在其他时期表达水平差异不大。该研究结果为进一步研究ClSCL6在菊花成花转化过程中的功能奠定了基础。     

宫颈病变患者阴道微生态与高危型HPV感染及宫颈癌相关增殖基因表达的相关性

目的探讨宫颈病变患者阴道微生态与高危型HPV感染及宫颈癌相关增殖基因表达的相关性。方法选择2018年1月至2019年1月间在我院确诊为原发性宫颈癌的患者50例作为宫颈癌组,在我院诊断为宫颈糜烂的患者78例作为宫颈糜烂组,同期在我院进行体检的健康女性100例作为正常对照组。对比3组研究对象的阴道微生态失调率、高危型HPV感染率以及宫颈癌组、宫颈糜烂组患者宫颈病灶组织中宫颈癌相关增殖基因(Prdx4、Nek2、Fhit、BLCAP)mRNA表达量的差异。采用Pearson检验分析宫颈癌患者阴道微生态失调率与高危型HPV感染及宫颈癌相关增殖基因表达的相关性。结果宫颈癌组、宫颈糜烂组患者的阴道微生态失调率、高危型HPV感染率高于正常对照组,其中宫颈癌组患者这两项指标水平高于宫颈糜烂组(均P0.05)。宫颈癌组患者宫颈病灶组织中Prdx4、Nek2 mRNA表达量高于宫颈糜烂组,Fhit、BLCAP mRNA表达量低于宫颈糜烂组(均P0.05)。相关性分析发现,宫颈癌患者阴道微生态失调率与高危型HPV感染率呈正相关,与癌基因(Prdx4、Nek2)mRNA表达量呈正相关,与抑癌基因(Fhit、BLCAP)mRNA表达量呈负相关(均P0.05)。结论宫颈癌患者阴道微生态失调率较高,可能与高危型HPV感染及癌细胞增殖旺盛密切相关。     

Migration sources and pathways of the pest species Sogatella furcifera in Yunnan,China, and across the border inferred from DNA and wind analyses

The migration sources and pathways of Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) in topologically complex regions like Yunnan, China, and adjacent montane areas have long been a challenging task and a bottleneck in effective pest forecast and control. The present research reinvestigated this issue using a combination of mtDNA and long‐term historical wind field data in an attempt to provide new insights. Genetic analyses showed that the 60 populations of S. furcufera collected across Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan lack genetic structure and geographic isolation, while spatial analysis of haplotype and diversity indices discovered geographic relevance between populations. Migration rate analysis combined with high‐resolution 10‐year wind field analysis detected the following migration sources, pathways, and impacted areas which could explain the outbreak pattern in Yunnan. (a) Dominating stepwise northward migrations originated from northern Indochina, southern Yunnan, and central‐eastern Yunnan, impacting their northern areas. (b) Concurring summer–autumn southward (return) migration originated from nearly all latitude belts of Sichuan and Yunnan mainly impacting central and southern Yunnan. (c) Regular eastward and summer–autumn westward migrations across Yunnan. The northward migration reflects the temporal rhythm of gradual outbreaks from the south to the north in a year, while the return migration may explain the repeated or very severe outbreaks in the impacted areas. To form a better pest forecast and control network, attention must also be paid to the northern part of Yunnan to suppress the impact of return migration in summers and autumns.