Inhibition of CYP2E1 attenuates myocardial dysfunction in a murine model of insulin resistance through NLRP3-mediated regulation of mitophagy

Insulin resistance leads to myocardial contractile dysfunction and deranged autophagy although the underlying mechanism or targeted therapeutic strategy is still lacking. This study was designed to examine the impact of inhibition of the cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) enzyme on myocardial function and mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) in an Akt2 knockout model of insulin resistance. Adult wild-type (WT) and Akt2^?/? mice were treated with the CYP2E1 inhibitor diallyl sulfide (100?mg/kg/d, i.p.) for 4?weeks. Cardiac geometry and function were assessed using echocardiographic and IonOptix systems. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate autophagy, mitophagy, inducible NOS (iNOS), and the NLRP3 inflammasome, a multi-protein intracellular pattern recognition receptor complex. Akt2 deletion triggered insulin resistance, compromised cardiac contractile and intracellular Ca²⁺ property, mitochondrial ultrastructural damage, elevated O2^– production, as well as suppressed autophagy and mitophagy, accompanied with elevated levels of NLRP3 and iNOS, the effects of which were significantly attenuated or ablated by diallyl sulfide. In vitro studies revealed that the NLRP3 activator nigericin nullified diallyl sulfide-offered benefit against Akt2 knockout on cardiomyocyte mechanical function and mitophagy (using Western blot and colocalization of GFP-LC3 and MitoTracker Red). Moreover, inhibition of iNOS but not mitochondrial ROS production attenuated Akt2 deletion-induced activation of NLRP3, substantiating a role for iNOS-mediated NLRP3 in insulin resistance-induced changes in mitophagy and cardiac dysfunction. In conclusion, these data depict that insulin resistance through CYP2E1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of myopathic changes including myocardial contractile dysfunction, oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury, possibly through activation of iNOS and NLRP3 signaling.     

Biogeography of body size in terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Oniscidea)

This study tries to unveil the contribution of climatic shift in shaping the extreme body size diversity in terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea). Trying to explain size variation at an interspecific level, we test five hypotheses: (1) Bergmann's Rule and the temperature‐size rule postulate large size in cold areas; (2) The metabolic cold adaptation theory postulates small animal sizes in cold environments; (3) The primary productivity hypothesis predicts size increase in resource‐rich areas; (4) The aridity resistance hypothesis predicts large size in arid regions; and (5). The acidosis hypothesis predicts smaller size with decreasing soil pH. Globally, Bergmann's rule and the aridity hypothesis are weakly supported. Among families and genera, results are variable and idiosyncratic. Conglobating species sizes provide weak support for the acidosis hypothesis. Overall, size is strongly affected by familial affiliation. Isopod size evolution seems to be mainly affected by phylogenetically constrained life‐history traits.     

Effects of antibiotic resistance alleles on bacterial evolutionary responses to viral parasites

Antibiotic resistance has wide-ranging effects on bacterial phenotypes and evolution. However, the influence of antibiotic resistance on bacterial responses to parasitic viruses remains unclear, despite the ubiquity of such viruses in nature and current interest in therapeutic applications. We experimentally investigated this by exposing various Escherichia coli genotypes, including eight antibiotic-resistant genotypes and a mutator, to different viruses (lytic bacteriophages). Across 960 populations, we measured changes in population density and sensitivity to viruses, and tested whether variation among bacterial genotypes was explained by their relative growth in the absence of parasites, or mutation rate towards phage resistance measured by fluctuation tests for each phage. We found that antibiotic resistance had relatively weak effects on adaptation to phages, although some antibiotic-resistance alleles impeded the evolution of resistance to phages via growth costs. By contrast, a mutator allele, often found in antibiotic-resistant lineages in pathogenic populations, had a relatively large positive effect on phage-resistance evolution and population density under parasitism. This suggests costs of antibiotic resistance may modify the outcome of phage therapy against pathogenic populations previously exposed to antibiotics, but the effects of any co-occurring mutator alleles are likely to be stronger.     

Trichoderma aureoviride URM 5158 and Trichoderma hamatum URM 6656 are Biocontrol Agents that act against Cassava Root rot through different Mechanisms

Trichoderma has been used to manage a large number of pathogens, but there is a gap in the mechanisms used by these biocontrol agents regarding the physiological response of cassava plants (Manihot esculenta) when it is subjected to cassava root rot. The aims of this study were to investigate the antagonist activity of ten Trichoderma isolates against Fusarium solani on potato dextrose Agar (PDA), to quantify the chitinase production, to select and test in vivo the best isolate from each experiment and to assess the physiological response of cassava to the production of oxidative enzyme complex production (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase). All Trichoderma isolates have shown competitive capability against F. solani, and Trichoderma hamatum URM 6656 showed the highest inhibition of pathogen growth (88.91%). All isolates have shown chitinase activity, but Trichoderma aureoviride URM 5158 produced the highest amount of chitinase. T. hamatum URM 6656 and T. aureoviride URM 5158 were selected to be applied in vivo. The two Trichoderma strains reduced 64 and 60% of the disease severity in the shoot and 82 and 84% in the root. Cassava plants infected with Trichoderma have shown the highest peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase production. Our results have indicated that T. aureoviride URM 5158 is an effective biocontrol agent against cassava root rot caused by F. solani, because it presented competitive antagonist capability in vitro, the highest chitinase production, and reduced the cassava root rot severity. The application of T. aureoviride has led to the maximum enzyme activity of reactive oxygen species group in cassava plants.     

Evidence for different,host‐dependent functioning of Rx against both wild‐type and recombinant Pepino mosaic virus

The potato Rx gene provides resistance against Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) in tomato; however, recent work has suggested that the resistance conferred may not be durable. Resistance breaking can probably be attributed to multiple mutations observed to accumulate in the capsid protein (CP) region of resistance‐breaking isolates, but this has not been confirmed through directed manipulation of an infectious PepMV clone. The present work describes the introduction of two specific mutations, A‐T78 and A‐T114, into the coat protein minimal elicitor region of an Rx‐controlled PepMV isolate of the EU genotype. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and phenotypic evaluation were conducted in three Rx‐expressing and wild‐type solanaceous hosts: Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum and Solanum lycopersicum. Mutation A‐T78 alone was sufficient to confer Rx‐breaking activity in N. benthamiana and S. lycopersicum, whereas mutation A‐T114 was found to be associated, in most cases, with a secondary A‐D100 mutation to break Rx‐mediated resistance in S. lycopersicum. These results suggest that the need for a second, fitness‐restoring mutation may be dependent on the PepMV mutant under consideration. Both mutations conferred Rx breaking in S. lycopersicum, whereas neither conferred Rx breaking in N. tabacum and only A‐T78 allowed Rx breaking in N. benthamiana, suggesting that Rx may function in a different manner depending on the genetic background in which it is present.     

Intensive resistance by females before copulation induces insemination failure in the West Indian sweet potato weevil <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euscepes postfasciatus</Emphasis>

Persistent mating attempts by males (sexual harassment) are frequently observed among animals. For females, resisting persistent males can be costly because vigorous resistance increases both energy expenditure and the possibility of injury. Although one tactic for coping with male harassment is to cease resistance and mate with the persistent partner, the females of several species are able to prevent the fertilization of their egg(s) despite copulation. In this study, we used three different sex ratios to investigate whether a male’s mating persistence affects his mating success in the West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus, in which males mount females both before and after copulation. Consistent with our predictions, we found that female weevils resist and manipulate sperm transfer either before or during copulation according to their preferences. Female weevils were able to reject the sperm of persistent males despite having copulated with them. However, neither copulation and/or post-copulatory mounting affected insemination success. We speculate that the intensive resistance shown by females before copulation may induce mechanical sterility in E. postfasciatus.     

水稻褐飞虱综合治理研究与示范——农业公益性行业专项“水稻褐飞虱综合防控技术研究”进展

针对我国褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens(Stl)近年来严重为害及其对当家农药品种抗性急剧上升的现状,本项目在华中、华南、华东地区等代表性地区开展褐飞虱灾变规律、抗虫品种培育、抗药性监测及复配农药新剂型开发、生态治理新技术研究、预测预报技术、可持续治理技术集成与示范研究。结果表明:越南、老挝等境外虫源地及我国华南、长江中下游等地田间褐飞虱种群仍以2型为主,3型次之。田间小气候是褐飞虱逃避高温的关键因素,褐飞虱在上午气温升高时大量向温度较低的水稻基部20cm范围内转移以逃避高温,将高温天气造成的不利影响降至最低。不同栽插方式对褐飞虱发生量有明显影响,手栽稻田褐飞虱发生最重,机插稻次之,直播稻最轻。不同水稻品种、N肥施用水平对褐飞虱的发生有明显的影响:超级杂交稻褐飞虱虫口密度明显高于常规杂交稻,高N肥施用量促进褐飞虱的发生,且水稻品种与N肥施用量对褐飞虱发生量的影响有明显交互作用。抗药性监测结果表明:我国褐飞虱对吡虫啉有极高水平抗性(168.1～561.5倍),对噻嗪酮为低到中等水平抗性(4.2～33.1倍),对氟虫腈为敏感性降低到高水平抗性(2.7～67.7倍),对烯啶虫胺与毒死蜱为低水平抗性。筛选出噻虫嗪、吡蚜酮、唏啶虫胺和仲丁威4种高效低毒的防治单剂。研制出3种农药复配新制剂,其中1种新制剂已获得农业部药检所正式登记,且规模化生产,2种新制剂已进入农药登记程序。精细定位水稻抗褐飞虱基因Bph6、Bph7、Bph9、Bph15、BG1222,并找到了它们的近距离共分离分子标记。培育出高产、优质、熟期适宜、含有抗稻飞虱基因Bph14的水稻新品种广两优476。储备了一批聚合多抗稻飞虱基因的水稻亲本材料。研发出在田埂种植芝麻、大豆等天敌诱集植物,增加褐飞虱卵期寄生蜂和捕食性天敌蜘蛛的种群数量的轻简化生态调控技术;研发出对褐飞虱成、若虫取食及雌成虫产卵均有驱避作用的植物提取物混配剂3种;研发出显著提高稻虱缨小蜂对田间褐飞虱卵寄生率的引诱剂1种。建立了褐飞虱环境友好防控技术集成体系,并在湖南、湖北、广东、广西、浙江、江西6省区示范应用,取得了良好的经济、生态、社会效益。     

The impact of Bt maize as a natal host on adult head capsule width in field populations of western corn rootworm

The success of the current resistance management plan for transgenic maize, Zea mays L. (Poaceae), targeting the rootworm complex hinges upon high rates of mating between resistant and susceptible beetles. However, differences in the fitness of adult beetles could result in assortative mating, which could, in turn, change the rate of resistance evolution. Adult head capsule widths of naturally occurring populations of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), were examined in a variety of refuge configurations. Beetles were classified into treatments based on the hybrid – non‐Bt refuge or Bt maize targeting larval rootworms (hereafter Bt‐RW maize) – and location – proximity to other Bt‐RW or refuge plants – of the natal host plant. Treatments included the following: a refuge plant surrounded by other refuge plants, a refuge plant located near a Bt‐RW plant, a Bt‐RW plant surrounded by Bt‐RW plants, and a Bt‐RW plant located near a refuge plant. The mean head capsule width of males emerging from Bt‐RW plants was significantly smaller than the mean head capsule width of males emerging from refuge plants. These results indicate that males emerging from Bt‐RW maize plants may be exposed to sublethal doses of the Bt toxin as larvae. No differences were detected between females emerging from refuge plants compared with Bt‐RW plants. Overall mean head capsule width decreased as the season progressed, regardless of treatment. The diminished head capsule width of western corn rootworm males emerging from Bt‐RW maize may act to enhance resistance management, particularly in a seed mix refuge system.     

The aminoglycoside resistance methyltransferases from the ArmA/Rmt family operate late in the 30S ribosomal biogenesis pathway

Bacterial resistance to 4,6-type aminoglycoside antibiotics, which target the ribosome, has been traced to the ArmA/RmtA family of rRNA methyltransferases. These plasmid-encoded enzymes transfer a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to N7 of the buried G1405 in the aminoglycoside binding site of 16S rRNA of the 30S ribosomal subunit. ArmA methylates mature 30S subunits but not 16S rRNA, 50S, or 70S ribosomal subunits or isolated Helix 44 of the 30S subunit. To more fully characterize this family of enzymes, we have investigated the substrate requirements of ArmA and to a lesser extent its ortholog RmtA. We determined the Mg+2 dependence of ArmA activity toward the 30S ribosomal subunits and found that the enzyme recognizes both low Mg+2 (translationally inactive) and high Mg+2 (translationally active) forms of this substrate. We tested the effects of LiCl pretreatment of the 30S subunits, initiation factor 3 (IF3), and gentamicin/kasugamycin resistance methyltransferase (KsgA) on ArmA activity and determined whether in vivo derived pre-30S ribosomal subunits are ArmA methylation substrates. ArmA failed to methylate the 30S subunits generated from LiCl washes above 0.75 M, despite the apparent retention of ribosomal proteins and a fully mature 16S rRNA. From our experiments, we conclude that ArmA is most active toward the 30S ribosomal subunits that are at or very near full maturity, but that it can also recognize more than one form of the 30S subunit.     

我国韭菜主产区韭菜迟眼蕈蚊田间种群的抗药性监测

【目的】建立韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang对10种常用药剂的敏感基线,并对4省7个主要韭菜产区的田间种群进行6种常用杀虫剂的抗药性水平监测。【方法】采用胃毒触杀联合毒力法对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊3龄幼虫进行室内生物测定。【结果】建立了敏感品系对新烟碱类、有机磷类、菊酯类、昆虫生长调节剂类、吡咯类药剂的敏感基线。对7个地区的田间韭菜迟眼蕈蚊种群监测结果表明:其对有机磷类药剂均产生了抗药性,其中河南郑州种群对毒死蜱和辛硫磷产生了极高水平抗性;河南郑州种群对高效氯氰菊酯产生了中等水平抗性,其他各地区均处于敏感状态;大部分种群对新烟碱类药剂处于低等或中等水平抗性,但山东李坡种群对噻虫嗪产生了高水平抗性。【结论】本文建立的韭菜迟眼蕈蚊对10种杀虫剂的敏感基线及抗药性监测数据为抗性治理提供一定参考。