EXPRESSION AND EFFECTS OF MUTANT Bombyx mori ACETYLCHOLINESTRASE1 IN BmN CELLS

The main mechanism of toxicity of organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) insecticides is their irreversible binding and inhibition of acetylcholinestrase (AChE), encoded by ace1 (acetylcholinestrase gene 1), leading to eventual death of insects. Mutations in AChE may significantly reduce insects susceptibility to these pesticides. Bombyx mori is an important beneficial insect, and no OP‐ or CB‐resistant strains have been generated. In this study, wild‐type ace1 (wace1) and mutant ace1 (mace1) were introduced into BmN cells, confirmed by screening and identification. The expression of wace1 and mace1 in the cells was confirmed by Western blot and their expression levels were about 21‐fold higher than the endogenous ace1 level. The activities of AChE in wace1 and mace1 transgenic cells were 10.6 and 20.2% higher compared to control cells, respectively. mace1 transgenic cells had higher remaining activity than wace1 transgenic cells under the treatment of physostigmine (a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor) and phoxim (an OP acaricide). The results showed that ace1 transgene can significantly improve ace1 expression, and ace1 mutation at a specific site can reduce the sensitivity to AChE inhibitors. Our study provides a new direction for the exploration of the relationship between AChE mutations and drug resistance.     

Performance of trichlorfon degradation by a novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus tequilensis</Emphasis> strain PA F-3 and its proposed biodegradation pathway

The novel trichlorfon (TCF)-degrading bacterium PA F-3, identified as Bacillus tequilensis, was isolated from pesticide-polluted soils by using an effective screening and domesticating procedure. The TCF biodegradation pathways of PA F-3 were also systematically elucidated. As revealed by high-performance liquid chromatography, the TCF residues in the mineral salt medium demonstrated that PA F-3 can utilize TCF as its sole carbon source and reach the highest degradation of 71.1 % at an initial TCF concentration of 200 mg/L within 5 days. The TCF degradation conditions were optimized using response surface methodology as follows: temperature, 28 °C; inoculum amount, 4 %; and initial TCF concentration, 125 mg/L. Biodegradation treatments supplemented with exogenous carbon sources and yeast extract markedly increased the microbial dry weights and TCF-degrading performance of PA F-3, respectively. Meanwhile, five metabolic products of TCF were identified through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and a biodegradation pathway was proposed. Results indicated that deoxidation and dehydration (including the cleavage of the P–C phosphonate bond and the C–O bond) were the preferred metabolic reactions of TCF in this TCF-degrading bacterium.     

不同生态烟区烤烟δ~(13)C值与生理及品质特征的比较研究

以烤烟品种K326为试验材料,在云南、福建和河南三个生态烟区大田种植,自烟叶生理成熟期起至工艺成熟期,分4次采集中部(第11叶位)烟样,对烟叶的δ13 C值、总碳、全氮、光合色素等进行测定,比较不同生态烟区烤烟δ13 C值的分布、生理生态适应性及品质特征。结果表明:(1)三个生态烟区烟叶δ13 C值、总碳、碳氮比、比叶重、叶绿素a、总叶绿素含量均表现为云南福建河南,全氮含量则为河南云南福建,叶绿素b含量为云南河南福建,类胡萝卜素含量为河南福建云南,其中的δ13 C值、总碳、碳氮比、类胡萝卜素含量在福建和云南烟区间较为接近。(2)烟叶δ13 C值与总碳含量在云南呈正相关,在福建、河南呈负相关关系;三个生态烟区烟叶δ13 C值与全氮含量均呈负相关关系;δ13 C值与光合色素含量在云南、河南烟区均呈正相关关系,在福建烟区均呈负相关关系;δ13 C值与烟碱、氮、钾、氯呈负相关关系,与总糖、还原糖呈正相关关系。(3)云南烤烟香韵丰富,刺激性中等,化学成分协调性最好;河南烤烟香气量较高,刺激性较大;福建烤烟在香气量和化学成分协调性方面表现较差。研究发现,烟叶δ13 C值与烟叶的生理特征、品质特征存在紧密联系,用烟叶的δ13 C值、生理指标、化学品质可区分不同生态烟区烤烟香气风格和品质特征。     

Spatial patterns and effects of air pollution and meteorological factors on hospitalization for chronic lung diseases in Beijing,China

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), lung cancer(LC) and tuberculosis(TB) are common chronic lung diseases that generate a large disease burden and significant health care resource use in China. The aim of this study was to quantify spatial patterns and effects of air pollution and meteorological factors on hospitalization of COPD, LC and TB in Beijing. Daily counts of hospitalization for 2010 were obtained from the Beijing Urban Employees Basic Medical Insurance(UEBMI) system.Bayesian hierarchical Poisson regression models were applied to identify spatial patterns of hospitalization for COPD, LC and TB at the district level and explore associations with inhalable particulate matter(aerodynamic diameter 10 μm, PM_(10)), sulfur dioxide(SO_2), nitrogen dioxide(NO_2), mean temperature and relative humidity. There were 18,882, 14,295 and 2,940 counts of hospitalizations for COPD, LC and TB respectively, in Beijing in 2010. Clusters of high relative risk were in different locations for the three diseases. The effect of relative humidity on COPD hospitalization was most significant with a relative risk(RR) of 1.070(95%CI: 1.054, 1.086) per one percent increase. For lung cancer hospitalization, exposure to ambient SO_2 was associated with a RR of 1.034(95%CI: 1.011, 1.058) per μg m~(–3) increase. For tuberculosis, the effect of mean temperature was significant with a RR of 1.107(95%CI: 1.038, 1.180) per °C increase. Risk factors and spatial patterns were different for hospitalization of non-infectious and infectious chronic lung disease in Beijing. Even over a short time period(one year), associations were apparent with air pollution and meteorological factors.     

Epichlo? festucae var. lolii endophyte affects host response to fungal disease progression in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

正Dear Editor,Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is a globally important forage and turf grass species that commonly forms symbiotic associations with the asexual fungal endophyte—Epichlo? festucae var. lolii. Epichlo? endophytes mutualistically interact with host plants by providing major fitness enhancements and protection from both biotic and abiotic stresses