Melanin processing by keratinocytes: A non‐microbial type of host‐pathogen interaction?

The mechanisms that regulate skin pigmentation have been the subject of intense research in recent decades. In contrast with melanin biogenesis and transport within melanocytes, little is known about how melanin is transferred and processed within keratinocytes. Several models have been proposed for how melanin is transferred, with strong evidence supporting coupled exo/endocytosis. Recently, two reports suggest that upon internalization, melanin is stored within keratinocytes in an arrested compartment, allowing the pigment to persist for long periods. In this commentary, we identify a striking parallelism between melanin processing within keratinocytes and the host‐pathogen interaction with Plasmodium, opening new avenues to understand the complex molecular mechanisms that ensure skin pigmentation and photoprotection.      

Risks of Biological Invasion on the Belt and Road

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丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆城镇建设用地扩展的时空演变特征及影响机理

将丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆城镇建设用地扩展作为一个时空变化系统进行分析,提取1980—2015年7个年份用地演变信息,结合10 km×10 km方格网构建,从总量趋势、分地州市级区域、分用地类型及特殊性全面认知扩展的时空演变特征,采用地理探测器模型,在县域尺度定量诊断城镇建设用地扩展的人文要素和自然要素的影响程度及各要素间的交互影响作用,进而识别其主控要素并探讨其作用机理,对比分析天山北坡城市群和喀什都市圈两个重点发展区域的分异性。研究结果表明:近35年以来,丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆城镇建设用地扩展约2.9倍,扩展强度波动增长且以分散小斑块为主,各地州市扩展规模和强度的时空差异性显著,次一级城镇建设用地类型扩展呈现动态变化特征,用地扩展受自然本底胁迫条件和经济社会发展过程多重影响有其特殊性;全域城镇建设用地在县域尺度以低水平扩展与各级人文要素和自然要素水平的耦合匹配关系为主;综合地理探测器因子分析模块和交互作用模块的探测结果,判定地形位指数、城镇化率、地形起伏度、二三产业比重为影响丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆县域城镇建设用地扩展的主控要素,并探寻各主控要素的作用机理;在重点发展区域天山北坡城市群和喀什都市圈的驱动要素有共性也有明显分异性。该研究为丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆城镇建设用地因地因城因类的差别化调控及区域可持续发展提供科学支撑和决策依据。     

Community structure,spatial distribution,diversity and functional characterization of culturable endophytic fungi associated with Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

A total of 266 endophytic fungal isolates were recovered from 1019 tissue segments of Glycyrrhiza glabra collected from four different locations in the North-Western Himalayas. The endophytes grouped into 21 genera and 38 different taxa. The host had strong affinity for the genus Phoma, followed by Fusarium. The species richness was highest at the sub-tropical location, followed by the sub-temperate location and the temperate locations, respectively. The tissue specificity of endophytes was also evident. Some endophytes showed potential antimicrobial activity against phyto-pathogens indicating that they may be helpful to the host in evading pathogens. All the endophytic taxa produced the plant growth promoting hormone, indole acetic acid (IAA), though in varying concentrations. None of these endophytes caused any symptoms of disease in co-cultivation with the tissue cultured plants. Further, all the endophytes had a positive influence on the phenolic and flavonoid content of the host. Three endophytes, Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum, Bionectria sp. and Aspergillus terreus also increased the host root (rhizome) and shoot growth visibly. Such endophytes are potential candidates for developing endophyte-based technologies for sustainable cultivation and enhanced productivity of G. glabra. This is the first report of community structure and biological properties of fungal endophytes associated with G. glabra.     

Highly heterogeneous residual malaria risk in western Thailand

Over the past decades, the malaria burden in Thailand has substantially declined. Most infections now originate from the national border regions. In these areas, the prevalence of asymptomatic infections is still substantial and poses a challenge for the national malaria elimination program. To determine epidemiological parameters as well as risk factors for malaria infection in western Thailand, we carried out a cohort study in Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Blood samples from 999 local participants were examined for malaria infection every 4 weeks between May 2013 and Jun 2014. Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and showed a seasonal variation with values fluctuating from 1.7% to 4.2% for P. vivax and 0% to 1.3% for P. falciparum. Ninety percent of infections were asymptomatic. The annual molecular force of blood-stage infection (_molFOB) was estimated by microsatellite genotyping to be 0.24 new infections per person-year for P. vivax and 0.02 new infections per person-year for P. falciparum. The distribution of infections was heterogenous, that is, the vast majority of infections (>80%) were found in a small number of individuals (<8% of the study population) who tested positive at multiple timepoints. Significant risk factors were detected for P. vivax infections, including previous clinical malaria, occupation in agriculture and travel to Myanmar. In contrast, indoor residual spraying was associated with a protection from infection. These findings provide a recent landscape of malaria epidemiology and emphasize the importance of novel strategies to target asymptomatic and imported infections.     

Breakpoint mapping of a novel de novo translocation t(X;20)(q11.1;p13) by positional cloning and long read sequencing

Disease associated chromosomal rearrangements often have break points located within disease causing genes or in their vicinity. The purpose of this study is to characterize a balanced reciprocal translocation in a girl with intellectual disability and seizures by positional cloning and whole genome sequencing. The translocation was identification by G- banding and confirmed by WCP FISH. Fine mapping using BAC clones and whole genome sequencing using Oxford nanopore long read sequencing technology for a 1.46 X coverage of the genome was done. The positional cloning showed split signals with BAC RP11-943 J20. Long read sequencing analysis of chimeric reads carrying parts of chromosomes X and 20 helped to identify the breakpoints to be in intron 2 of ARHGEF9 gene on Xp11.1 and on 20p13 between RASSF2 and SLC23A2 genes. This is the first report of translocation which successfully delineated to single base resolution using Nanopore sequencing. The genotype-phenotype correlation is discussed.     

Production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources using engineered Escherichia coli

Biotechnological production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources is an appealing way to move from the current petroleum-based economy to a biomass-based green economy. Recently, the feedstocks that can be used for bioconversion or fermentation have been expanded to plant biomass, microbial biomass, and industrial waste. Several microbes have been engineered to produce chemicals from renewable resources, among which Escherichia coli is one of the best studied. Much effort has been made to engineer E. coli to produce fuels and chemicals from different renewable resources. In this paper, we focused on E. coli and systematically reviewed a range of fuels and chemicals that can be produced from renewable resources by engineered E. coli. Moreover, we proposed how can we further improve the efficiency for utilizing renewable resources by engineered E. coli, and how can we engineer E. coli for utilizing alternative renewable feedstocks. e.g. C1 gases and methanol. This review will help the readers better understand the current progress in this field and provide insights for further metabolic engineering efforts in E. coli.     

RhoJ Regulates α5β1 Integrin Trafficking to Control Fibronectin Remodeling during Angiogenesis

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