Genetic Polymorphisms of Pneumocystis Jirovecii in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients in Northern China

Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic fungus that can cause severe and potentially fatal Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunodeficient patients. In this study, we investigated the genetic polymorphisms of P. jirovecii at eight different loci, including six nuclear genes (ITS, 26S rRNA, sod, dhps, dhfr and β-Tub) and two mitochondrial genes (mtLSU-rRNA and cyb) in three PCP cases, including two patients with HIV infection and one without HIV infection in Shanxi Province, P.R. China. The gene targets were amplified by PCR followed by sequencing of plasmid clones. The HIV-negative patient showed a coinfection with two genotypes of P. jirovecii at six of the eight loci sequenced. Of the two HIV-positive patients, one showed a coinfection with two genotypes of P. jirovecii at the same two of the six loci as in the HIV-negative patient, while the other showed a single infection at all eight loci sequenced. None of the three drug target genes (dhfr, dhps and cyb) showed mutations known to be potentially associated with drug resistance. This is the first report of genetic polymorphisms of P. jirovecii in PCP patients in Shanxi Province, China. Our findings expand our understanding of the genetic diversity of P. jirovecii in China. Open in a separate window     

PRD-Class Homeobox Genes in Bovine Early Embryos: Function,Evolution, and Overlapping Roles

Eutherian Totipotent Cell Homeobox (ETCHbox) genes are mammalian-specific PRD-class homeobox genes with conserved expression in the preimplantation embryo but fast-evolving and highly divergent sequences. Here, we exploit an ectopic expression approach to examine the role of bovine ETCHbox genes and show that ARGFX and LEUTX homeodomain proteins upregulate genes normally expressed in the blastocyst; the identities of the regulated genes suggest that, in vivo, the ETCHbox genes play a role in coordinating the physical formation of the blastocyst structure. Both genes also downregulate genes expressed earlier during development and genes associated with an undifferentiated cell state, possibly via the JAK/STAT pathway. We find evidence that bovine ARGFX and LEUTX have overlapping functions, in contrast to their antagonistic roles in humans. Finally, we characterize a mutant bovine ARGFX allele which eliminates the homeodomain and show that homozygous mutants are viable. These data support the hypothesis of functional overlap between ETCHbox genes within a species, roles for ETCHbox genes in blastocyst formation and the change of their functions over evolutionary time.     

Modifying mosquitoes to suppress disease transmission: Is the long wait over?

For more than 50 years it has been a dream of medical entomologists and public health workers to control diseases like malaria and dengue fever by modifying, through genetics and other methods, the arthropods that transmit them to humans. A brief synopsis of the history of these efforts as applied to mosquitoes is presented; none proved to be effective in reducing disease prevalence. Only in the last few years have novel approaches been developed or proposed that indicate the long wait may be over. Three recent developments are particularly promising: CRISPR-Cas9 driven genetic modification, shifting naturally occurring allele frequencies, and microbe-based modifications. The last is the furthest along in implementation. Dengue fever incidence has been reduced between 40% and 96% in 4 different regions of the world where Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti have been established in the field. It is not yet clear how sustainable such control programs will prove to be, but there is good reason for optimism. In light of this, the time is ripe for reinvigorated research on vectors, especially genetics. Vector-borne diseases primarily affect under-developed countries and thus have not received the attention they deserve from wealthier countries with well-developed and funded biomedical research establishments.     

茄子果实相关农艺性状全基因组关联分析研究进展与展望

茄子是重要的园艺作物,也是茄科植物中种植最广泛的蔬菜之一。茄子果实相关农艺性状是一种复杂的数量性状,传统育种选育效率低、周期长。高通量测序技术与生物信息学技术的快速发展,使得全基因组关联分析(genome-wide association study, GWAS)在解析茄子果实相关复杂农艺性状的遗传规律方面展现出巨大的应用前景。本文对全基因组关联分析在茄子的果形、果色等果实相关农艺性状中的研究进展进行了综述;针对茄子数量性状遗传研究中普遍存在的“丢失遗传力”(missing heritability)问题,从4个GWAS策略在茄子果实相关农艺性状研究中的应用热点出发,提出了未来茄子GWAS的发展对策;并结合当前茄子遗传改良的实践需求,展望了GWAS策略在茄子分子育种领域的广阔应用前景。本文为今后利用GWAS解析各种茄子果实相关性状的遗传基础以及选育符合消费者需求的果实材料提供了理论依据和参考。     

淀粉分支酶sbeIIb基因RNA干涉片段转化玉米自交系的研究

玉米高直链淀粉育种是玉米分子育种的一个重要研究方向.本实验中,首先研究了不同诱导愈伤培养基对再生体系的影响,确定了LS+2,4-D 2.0 mg/L+L-pro 700 mg/L+CH 500 mg/L+3 %蔗糖为诱导培养基.同时,构建并验证了含有淀粉分支酶sbeIIb基因双干涉片段载体和胚乳特异性启动子的表达载体pCAMBIA 1301+Glu+1620,并转入根癌农杆菌EHA105,以农杆菌转化法转化玉米自交系178.通过PCR检测,5株转化株表现阳性,初步证明了干涉片段已整合入玉米基因组中.     

影响动物模型MBLUP评定准确性的主要因素

标记辅助最佳线性无偏预测（marker-assisted best linear unbiased prediction,MBLUP）是对动物实施标记辅助选择（marker-assisted selection,MAS）的一种重要方法。通过计算机随机模拟研究了所选性状的遗传力、QTL方差和相邻两个标记间图距3个因素对动物模型MBLUP评定准确性的影响。结果表明,性状的遗传力越高、QTL方差和相邻两个标记间图距越小时,动物模型MBLUP评定的准确性越高;相反,当性状的遗传力较低、QTL方差和相邻两个标记间图距较大时,动物模型MBLUP评定的准确性则较低。     

Assessing seasonal changes in stock composition of Atlantic salmon catches in the Baltic Sea with genetic stock identification

The feasibility of using genetic stock identification to analyse seasonal changes in stock compositions of Atlantic salmon catches in the Baltic Sea was examined. The analysis employed seven variable allozyme loci from most of the potentially contributing stocks (16) from Finland and Sweden. Catch samples were collected from Finnish salmon fisheries in the eastern Bothnian Sea during the 1992 fishing season. Simulation studies were used to evaluate the feasibility of identifying Baltic salmon stocks with allozyme data. Special attention was paid to analysing the wild production of salmon stocks. Clear seasonal differences in stock composition were found. The estimates were compared with smolt production and Carlin-tag data. The proportions of the Neva and Oulujoki river stocks could be estimated as individual stocks, whereas the contributions of the remaining stocks were estimated as four composite stock groups. One of the groups consisted of wild stocks from the rivers Kalixälven and Simojoki. Identification of this group, which could be used as an index of wild production in the catches, requires catch sample sizes >300 salmon if <15% error is required.