The distribution of monogenean parasites on aquatic vertebrates inhabiting Chinese inland waters

The general distribution of monogenean parasites of aquatic vertebrates inhabiting Chinese inland waters is summarised. Five hundred and seventy-two out of a total of 581 species of monogeneans were discovered on fish, while only nine species were found on Amphibia and Reptilia. Most dactylogyrids and diplozoids parasitise cyprinids, while ancyrocephalids occur on silurids and cyprinids, and gyrodactylids are found mainly on cyprinids and cobitids. Analyses of host-specificity and host-diversity suggests that the family Ancyrocephalidae should be divided into several families parallel with the Dactylogyridae. Of 12 subfamilies of the Cyprinidae, only the Gobiobotinae was found to be free of infection with monogeneans, and the genus Dactylogyrus has more species than any other monogenean genus associated with every cyprinid subfamily.     

Specific and Functional Diversity of Endophytic Bacteria from Pine Wood Nematode Bursaphelenchus Xylophilus with Different Virulence

Pine wilt disease (PWD) caused by the pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is one of the most devastating diseases of Pinus spp. The PWN was therefore listed as one of the most dangerous forest pests in China meriting quarantine. Virulence of the PWN is closely linked with the spread of PWD. However, main factors responsible for the virulence of PWNs are still unclear. Recently epiphytic bacteria carried by PWNs have drawn much attention. But little is known about the relationship between endophytic bacteria and virulence of B. xylophilus. In this research, virulence of ten strains of B. xylophilus from different geographical areas in six provinces of China and four pine species were tested with 2-year-old seedlings of Pinus thunbergii. Endophytic bacteria were isolated from PWNs with different virulence to investigate the relationship between the bacteria and PWN virulence. Meanwhile, the carbon metabolism of endophytic bacteria from highly and low virulent B. xylophilus was analyzed using Biolog plates (ECO). The results indicated that ten strains of PWNs showed a wide range of virulence. Simultaneously, endophytic bacteria were isolated from 90% of the B. xylophilus strains. The dominant endophytic bacteria in the nematodes were identified as species of Stenotrophomonas, Achromobacter, Ewingella, Leifsonia, Rhizobium, and Pseudomonas using molecular and biochemical methods. Moreover, S. maltophilia, and A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans were the predominant strains. Most of the strains (80%) from P. massoniana contained either S. maltophilia, A. xylosoxidans, or both species. There was a difference between the abilities of the endophytic bacteria to utilize carbon sources. Endophytic bacteria from highly virulent B. xylophilus had a relatively high utilization rate of carbohydrate and carboxylic acids, while bacteria from low virulent B. xylophilus made better use of amino acids. In conclusion, endophytic bacteria widely exist in B. xylophilus from different pines and areas; and B. xylophilus strains with different virulence possessed various endophytic bacteria and diverse carbon metabolism which suggested that the endophytic bacteria species and carbon metabolism might be related with the B. xylophilus virulence.     

Small compound 6-O-angeloylplenolin induces mitotic arrest and exhibits therapeutic potentials in multiple myeloma

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a disease of cell cycle dysregulation while cell cycle modulation can be a target for MM therapy. In this study we investigated the effects and mechanisms of action of a sesquiterpene lactone 6-O-angeloylplenolin (6-OAP) on MM cells.

Methodology/Principal Findings

MM cells were exposed to 6-OAP and cell cycle distribution were analyzed. The role for cyclin B1 to play in 6-OAP-caused mitotic arrest was tested by specific siRNA analyses in U266 cells. MM.1S cells co-incubated with interleukin-6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), or bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were treated with 6-OAP. The effects of 6-OAP plus other drugs on MM.1S cells were evaluated. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetic features of 6-OAP were tested in nude mice bearing U266 cells and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. We found that 6-OAP suppressed the proliferation of dexamethasone-sensitive and dexamethasone-resistant cell lines and primary CD138+ MM cells. 6-OAP caused mitotic arrest, accompanied by activation of spindle assembly checkpoint and blockage of ubiquitiniation and subsequent proteasomal degradation of cyclin B1. Combined use of 6-OAP and bortezomib induced potentiated cytotoxicity with inactivation of ERK1/2 and activation of JNK1/2 and Casp-8/-3. 6-OAP overcame the protective effects of IL-6 and IGF-I on MM cells through inhibition of Jak2/Stat3 and Akt, respectively. 6-OAP inhibited BMSCs-facilitated MM cell expansion and TNF-α-induced NF-κB signal. Moreover, 6-OAP exhibited potent anti-MM activity in nude mice and favorable pharmacokinetics in rats.

Conclusions/Significance

These results indicate that 6-OAP is a new cell cycle inhibitor which shows therapeutic potentials for MM.     

关于iFlora核心数据建设中的一些思考

物种是iFlora数据采集的基本对象,但我们面临的植物是一个庞大、复杂的体系,没有正确的分类认识和物种鉴定方法,就不能保证iFlora的准确构建。目前植物中存在着不少数量的疑难种、争议种．已定种分类界限的准确性以及复杂的种下分类单位,都给iFlora的构建带来了较大的问题。本文以作者近年来研究的薯蓣科（Dioscoreaceae）薯蓣属（DioscoreaL．）、蓼科（Polygonaceae）何首乌（PolygonummM虹orumThuna．）、唇形科（Lamiaceae）夏枯草属（PrunellaL．）等为主要例子．对iFlora核心数据中的DNA条形码信息及基础数据中形态学分类信息的建设提出几点思考。重点提出,关注物种尤其是广布种。由于其分布范围广泛,在不同分布区个体常表现出连续变化特征,而实际工作中往往会出现忽略连续变化特征而把1个种在分布区端点的居群鉴定为不同种的问题;因此应关注种的居群DNA条形码的变异幅度。     

激活大鼠前额叶下边缘区GABA_A受体对被动回避记忆巩固的影响

该研究采用一次性步入法测试大鼠被动回避行为,以局部EEG功率变化作为蝇蕈醇失活前额叶下边缘区的效果指标,观察训练期和24 h后重测试时大鼠进入暗箱的潜伏期,旨在探讨激活前额叶下边缘区GABAA受体,可逆性失活该区神经元对大鼠被动回避记忆巩固过程的影响。结果发现,蝇蕈醇可显著降低大鼠前额叶下边缘区EEG总功率,但其被动回避作业重测试潜伏期与对照组无明显差异;即大鼠前额叶下边缘区GABAA受体被激活,导致该区神经兴奋性可逆性降低,但不影响被动回避记忆的巩固过程。     

Molecular characterization of the flightin gene in the wing-dimorphic planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens,and its evolution in Pancrustacea

Flightin was initially identified in Drosophila melanogaster. Previous work has shown that Drosophila flightin plays a key role in indirect flight muscle (IFM) function and has limited expression in the IFM. In this study, we demonstrated that flightin is conserved across the Pancrustacea species, including winged insects, non-winged insects, non-insect hexapods and several crustaceans. The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), a long-distance migration insect with wing dimorphism, is the most destructive rice pest in Asia. We showed that flightin was one of the most differentially expressed genes in macropterous and brachypterous BPH adults. In female BPHs, flightin was expressed in the IFM of macropterous adults, no expression was detected in brachypterous ones; while in male BPHs, flightin was not only expressed in the IFM of macropterous adults, but also in the dorsal longitudinal muscle (DLM) in the basal two abdominal segments of both macropterous and brachypterous ones. RNAi and transmission electron microscopy results showed that flightin played key roles in maintaining IFM and male DLM structure, which drive wing movements in macropterous adults and the vibration of the male-specific tymbal, respectively. Using Daphnia magna as an example of a crustacean species, we observed that flightin was expressed in juvenile instars and adults, and was localized in the antenna muscles. These results illustrate the functional variations of flightin in insects and other arthropod species and provide clues as to how insects with flight apparatuses evolved from ancient pancrustaceans.     

毒力基因调控蛋白PrfA促进单核细胞增生李斯特菌生物被膜的形成

单核细胞增生李斯特菌(Listeria monocytogenes,LM)是重要的革兰氏阳性食源性致病菌,易在食品以及各种食品加工、运输和保藏设备的接触面形成生物被膜,从而具有更强的抗逆性而难以彻底清除,因此成为食品卫生安全的重要隐患.PrfA是LM毒力基因转录表达的重要调控因子,通过比较研究LM野生株(EGD和EGDe)、PrfA缺失株(EGDAprfA和EGDeAprfA)、无害李斯特菌(Listeria innocua,LI),携带组成性表达PrfA蛋白的重组无害李斯特菌(LI-pERL3-prfA*)以及重组单核细胞增生李斯特菌(EGDeΔprfA-pERL3-prfA*)生物被膜形成能力的差异,探讨LM重要的毒力调控蛋白PrfA对生物被膜形成的影响.实验结果显示:LM野生株具有较强的生物被膜形成能力,而LI形成生物被膜的能力最弱;PrfA的缺失能降低LM生物被膜的形成能力;组成性高量表达PrfA蛋白可以回复EGDeΔprfA的生物被膜形成能力,但对LI没有增强作用.以上实验结果表明:PrfA在LM生物被膜形成中具有重要的促进作用.     

不同群体中ATXN2基因编码区CAG重复的变异研究

在中国6个生活环境差异较大的少数民族群体中进行ATXN2基因编码区CAG重复的变异研究,以衡量其是否受到正选择的作用以及寻找推动选择作用的因素。采集6个民族群体共291个健康无关个体,对其进行STR分型,直接计数其等位基因及等位基因型频率,计算其线性Fst值,构建针对该基因的系统进化树,并对各群体进行MDS分析。线性Fst值结果显示:回族和彝族群体间ATXN2基因STR位点进化的差异具有显著性,其他4个群体相互间无显著性差异。结合已报道的其他群体进一步分析,回族、哈尼族、云南蒙古族以及内蒙古自治区蒙古族每个人群都与日本人群有显著性差异;回族、内蒙古自治区蒙古族与汉族具有显著性差异。6个群体中ATXN2基因STR的等位基因频率有各自的分布特点,稀有等位基因频率变化产生的原因可能是选择作用的结果。     

New 3D graphical representation of DNA sequence based on dual nucleotides

We introduce a 3D graphical representation of DNA sequences based on the pairs of dual nucleotides (DNs). Based on this representation, we consider some mathematical invariants and construct two 16-component vectors associated with these invariants. The vectors are used to characterize and compare the complete coding sequence part of beta globin gene of nine different species. The examination of similarities/dissimilarities illustrates the utility of the approach.