Potassium and phosphorus transport and signaling in plants

Nitrogen(N), potassium(K), and phosphorus(P) are essential macronutrients for plant growth and development, and their availability affects crop yield. Compared with N, the relatively low availability of K and P in soils limits crop production and thus threatens food security and agricultural sustainability. Improvement of plant nutrient utilization efficiency provides a potential route to overcome the effects of K and P deficiencies. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying how plants sense, absorb, transport, and use K and P is an important prerequisite to improve crop nutrient utilization efficiency. In this review, we summarize current understanding of K and P transport and signaling in plants, mainly taking Arabidopsis thaliana and rice(Oryza sativa) as examples. We also discuss the mechanisms coordinating transport of N and K, as well as P and N.     

Protein kinases in plant responses to drought,salt, and cold stress

Protein kinases are major players in various signal transduction pathways. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses has become critical for developing and breeding climate-resilient crops. In this review,we summarize recent progress on understanding plant drought, salt, and cold stress responses, with a focus on signal perception and transduction by different protein kinases, especially sucrose nonfermenting1(SNF1)-related protein kinases(Sn RKs),mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) cascades,calcium-dependent protein kinases(CDPKs/CPKs),and receptor-like kinases(RLKs). We also discuss future challenges in these research fields.     

3例婴儿脑膜炎败血伊丽莎白菌脑膜炎临床分析

总结脑膜炎败血伊丽莎白菌感染患儿的临床特点,以期提高临床诊治水平。收集中山市博爱医院2010年1月至2020年12月收治的3例脑膜炎败血伊丽莎白菌引起的脑膜炎患儿临床资料,结合相关文献进行总结分析。结果显示,3例患儿脑脊液中培养出脑膜炎败血伊丽莎白菌,其中2例血培养为同种细菌。3例患儿均为足月顺产,2例为新生儿期发病,1例为出生后35天发病,起病前均未发现致病高危因素。患儿以发热为主要起病表现,无抽搐及脑膜刺激征表现。3例患儿外周血常规白细胞总数、C反应蛋白、降钙素原均升高;脑脊液潘氏试验均为阳性,伴脑脊液白细胞数增高,脑脊液蛋白明显增高,脑脊液葡萄糖降低。头颅磁共振成像(magnetic resonance imaging,MRI)或电子计算机断层扫描术(computer tomography,CT)可见脑膜强化、软脑膜增厚、脑外间隙增宽,均无脑实质受累。3例检出菌株的药敏结果表现出高度一致性,均提示对环丙沙星、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、左氧氟沙星、复方新诺明敏感。2例患儿以环丙沙星治疗,1例患儿以美罗培南联合万古霉素治疗。其中1例治愈,2例临床症状好转后出院。经电话随访,3例患儿一般情况尚可,无生长发育异常。本病例报道提示,脑膜炎败血伊丽莎白菌脑膜炎主要见于新生儿期,以发热起病为主要表现,该菌对儿科常用抗菌药物多显示体外耐药,对喹诺酮类药物敏感。     

Genomes of 12 fig wasps provide insights into the adaptation of pollinators to fig syconia

Figs and fig pollinators are one of the few classic textbook examples of obligate pollination mutualism. The specific dependence of fig pollinators on the relatively safe living environment with sufficient food sources in the enclosed fig syconia implies that they are vulnerable to habitat changes. However, there is still no extensive genomic evidence to reveal the evolutionary footprint of this long-term mutually beneficial symbiosis in fig pollinators. In fig syconia, there are also non-pollinator species. The non-pollinator species differ in their evolutionary and life histories from pollinators. We conducted comparative analyses on 11 newly sequenced fig wasp genomes and one previously published genome. The pollinators colonized the figs approximately 66.9 million years ago, consistent with the origin of host figs. Compared with nonpollinators, many more genes in pollinators were subject to relaxed selection. Seven genes were absent in pollinators in response to environmental stress and immune activation. Pollinators had more streamlined gene repertoires in the innate immune system, chemosensory toolbox, and detoxification system. Our results provide genomic evidence for the differentiation between pollinators and nonpollinators. The data suggest that owing to the long-term adaptation to the fig, some genes related to functions no longer required are absent in pollinators.     

短梗长尾啮小蜂的生物学特性

短梗长尾啮小蜂Aprostocetus brevipedicellus是林业害虫的一种重要卵寄生蜂,目前国内外对其生物学特性尚没有报道.本研究在温度25±1℃、相对湿度70％ ±5％、光周期14 L:10 D条件下对该蜂的生物学特性进行了观察.结果表明,以柞蚕卵为寄主,该蜂的发育历期为23.58 d,其中卵期、幼虫期、预蛹-蛹期分别为2.73 d、8.96 d、11.50 d;在无营养补充条件下,雌、雄蜂平均寿命分别为2.92 d和1.96 d;单卵平均出蜂量为7.04头,后代雌蜂比为87.49％.该蜂羽化主要发生在白天,日羽化最高峰在10:00-12:00,占全天羽化总数的33.33％.此外,成蜂交配行为均发生在寄主卵外,且雄蜂可多次交配,但雌蜂一般只交配1次,平均交配时间为43.60 s.本研究基本明确了短梗长尾啮小蜂的生物学特性,为进一步开发和利用该蜂防治林业害虫提供了理论依据.     

用于白蚁防治的联苯菊酯微胶囊的制备及性能研究

针对白蚁防治药剂联苯菊酯传统加工剂型存在的安全性差、持效期短等缺点,采用溶剂蒸发法制备联苯菊酯微胶囊.通过粒径大小、外观形貌、包封率以及载药量筛选出最佳芯壁比、乳化剂用量和剪切时间,并对微胶囊理化特性及释放性能进行表征,同时考察微胶囊对白蚁的杀灭效果和持效性.研究结果表明,芯壁比为1:1.5,乳化剂用量为7％,剪切时间为6 min时制备的联苯菊酯微胶囊粒径适中(97.6μm),包封率高达70.5％,缓释性能良好,与市售乳油相比,对白蚁的杀灭效果相当,但持效性能优异.该研究获得的联苯菊酯微胶囊为安全、高效防治白蚁提供了技术手段.     

家蝇Phormicin A多克隆抗体的制备及效价检测

家蝇Phormicin作为防御素家族的成员,是一类具有广普抗菌活性的抗菌肽.本研究采用原核表达法表达并纯化获得了家蝇PhormicinA蛋白.将家蝇Phormicin A原核表达蛋白与完全佐剂和不完全佐剂乳化混匀,先后免疫新西兰白兔获得其多克隆抗体.通过原核表达蛋白中和吸附实验,以及Western blot实验验证了抗体的特异性.进一步用金黄色葡萄球菌刺激家蝇三龄幼虫样品,进行内源性验证并测定抗体的效价.结果 显示,该多克隆抗体既可以识别家蝇Phormicin A原核表达蛋白,也可以识别金黄色葡萄球菌刺激家蝇三龄幼虫产生的内源性Phormicin A蛋白.本研究为进一步探索Phormicin在家蝇天然免疫和防御中的机制等后续工作打下基础.     

一株中温淀粉酶菌株的分离鉴定及其产酶条件分析

利用固体淀粉筛选培养基,从安阳市郊区面粉厂附近的土壤里分离筛选出1株产淀粉酶的菌株,编号为MF-3-2.经过菌株形态、革兰氏染色、16S rDNA鉴定及系统进化树分析,初步确定其为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis).摇瓶培养后对其酶学性质研究发现,该菌株淀粉酶的最适温度为65℃,最适pH值为6.0,在pH值4.8～6.0范围内仍能残余70％以上的酶活力.该菌株的最适生长温度为40℃,最适生长pH值为6.5.产酶条件优化结果表明:最适碳源为马铃薯淀粉,最适氮源为豆粕粉,最适碳氮比为1∶15,发酵温度30℃,发酵pH值6.0,装液量10％,种龄10h,接种量5％,转速200 r/min,48 h达到产酶高峰.通过发酵产酶条件优化,其淀粉酶活性达到86.8 U/mL,是优化前的35倍.另外,在酸性条件下还具有较好的活性.因此,该菌株的淀粉酶具有潜在的工业应用前景.     

昆虫病原菌(Isaria fumosorosea)查尔酮异构酶基因CHI克隆及生物信息学分析

本研究旨在对昆虫病原菌玫烟色棒束孢(Isaria fumosorosea)查尔酮异构酶基因CHI进行克隆、测序及相关生物信息学分析.序列分析结果显示:IfCHI基因编码区全长为1152bp,编码383个氨基酸,理论等电点(pI)D为9.72,属不稳定水溶性蛋白,其二级结构为混合型,蛋白质溶剂可及性主要分为三类,三级结构由α-螺旋、β-折叠、β-转角和无规则卷曲组成,同源序列分析及多重序列比对分析存在明显的差异.该昆虫病原菌玫烟色棒束孢IfCHI编码基因的成功克隆及生物信息学分析,为进一步研究病原菌CHI基因的遗传特性和表达机制以及为寻找更多的查尔酮类化合物提供了理论基础.     

β-1,6葡聚糖酶前体编码基因Ss4p对甘蔗黑穗病菌分泌蛋白组的影响

甘蔗(Saccharum spp.)是世界也是中国主要的糖料作物.由甘蔗黑穗病菌(Sporisorium scitamineum)引起的甘蔗黑穗病是中国甘蔗生产上最主要的病害,每年造成重大损失.分泌蛋白在真菌侵染寄主植物与获取营养及病理过程起重要作用.本实验室在分析甘蔗黑穗病菌基因组与转录组数据时,发现1个与真菌细胞壁降解有关的β-1,6葡聚糖酶前体的基因Ssa4p.为了揭示Ssa4p对甘蔗黑穗病菌致病性和分泌蛋白组的影响,本研究利用CRISPR/Cas9和T-DNA双元载体所构建的甘蔗黑穗菌基因敲除系统,成功获得了Ssa4p基因的失活突变株.ΔSsa4p突变株(Δ35-Ssa4p)与野生型菌株JG36的配合能力降低且致病性减弱.用iTRAQ方法对Δ35-Ssa4p和野生型菌株的分泌蛋白组进行比较分析,共鉴定到蛋白质1430个,其中上调差异表达蛋白质685个,下调差异表达蛋白质745个.GO功能富集分析及KEGG分析表明,差异蛋白主要定位于无膜细胞器和核糖体,其功能包括参与核糖体、氨基糖和核苷酸糖代谢等生物学过程.本研究发现β-1,6葡聚糖前体影响植物病原真菌的分泌蛋白,加深了对真菌致病性调控机制的认识.