Biodegradation of 4-nitrotoluene with biosurfactant production by Rhodococcus pyridinivorans NT2: metabolic pathway, cell surface properties and toxicological characterization

A novel 4-nitrotoluene-degrading bacterial strain was isolated from pesticides contaminated effluent-sediment and identified as Rhodococcus pyridinivorans NT2 based on morphological and biochemical properties and 16S rDNA sequencing. The strain NT2 degraded 4-NT (400 mg l^?1) with rapid growth at the end of 120 h, reduced surface tension of the media from 71 to 29 mN m^?1 and produced glycolipidic biosurfactants (45 mg l^?1). The biosurfactant was purified and characterized as trehalose lipids. The biosurfactant was stable in high salinity (10 % w/v NaCl), elevated temperatures (120 °C for 15 min) and a wide pH range (2.0–10.0). The noticeable changes during biodegradation were decreased hydrophobicity; an increase in degree of fatty acid saturation, saturated/unsaturated ratio and cyclopropane fatty acid. Biodegradation of 4-NT was accompanied by the accumulation of ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and negligible amount of nitrite ion (NO₂ ^?). Product stoichiometry showed a carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mass balance of 37 and 35 %, respectively. Biodegradation of 4-NT proceeded by oxidation at the methyl group to form 4-nitrobenzoate, followed by reduction and hydrolytic deamination yielding protocatechuate, which was metabolized through β-ketoadipate pathway. In vitro and in vivo acute toxicity assays in adult rat (Rattus norvegicus) showed sequential detoxification and the order of toxicity was 4-NT >4-nitrobenzyl alcohol >4-nitrobenzaldehyde >4-nitrobenzoate >> protocatechuate. Taken together, the strain NT2 could be used as a potential bioaugmentation candidate for the bioremediation of contaminated sites.     

Archaeal biogeography and interactions with microbial community across complex subtropical coastal waters

Marine Archaea are crucial in biogeochemical cycles, but their horizontal spatial variability, assembly processes, and microbial associations across complex coastal waters still lack characterizations at high coverage. Using a dense sampling strategy, we investigated horizontal variability in total archaeal, Thaumarchaeota Marine Group (MG) I, and Euryarchaeota MGII communities and associations of MGI/MGII with other microbes in surface waters with contrasting environmental characteristics across ~200 km by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Total archaeal communities were extremely dominated by MGI and/or MGII (98.9% in average relative abundance). Niche partitioning between MGI and MGII or within each group was found across multiple environmental gradients. “Selection” was more important than “dispersal limitation” in governing biogeographic patterns of total archaeal, MGI, and MGII communities, and basic abiotic parameters (such as salinity) and inorganic/organic resources as a whole could be the main driver of “selection”. While “homogenizing dispersal” also considerably governed their biogeography. MGI‐Nitrospira assemblages were speculatively responsible for complete nitrification. MGI taxa commonly had negative correlations with members of Synechococcus but positive correlations with members of eukaryotic phytoplankton, suggesting that competition or synergy between MGI and phytoplankton depends on specific MGI‐phytoplankton assemblages. MGII taxa showed common associations with presumed (photo)heterotrophs including members of SAR11, SAR86, SAR406, and Candidatus Actinomarina. This study sheds light on ecological processes and drivers shaping archaeal biogeography and many strong MGI/MGII‐bacterial associations across complex subtropical coastal waters. Future efforts should be made on seasonality of archaeal biogeography and biological, environmental, or ecological mechanisms underlying these statistical microbial associations.     

Genome-Wide Identification of the Dicer-Like,Argonaute, and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Gene Families in Cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> L.)

Dicer, Argonaute (AGO), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) comprise the core components of RNA-induced silencing complexes, which trigger RNA silencing. Here, we performed a complete analysis of the cucumber Dicer-like, AGO, and RDR gene families including the gene structure, genomic localization, and phylogenetic relationships among family members. We identified seven CsAGO genes, five CsDCL genes, and eight CsRDR genes in cucumber. Based on phylogenetic analysis, each of these genes families was categorized into three or four clades. The orthologs of CsAGOs, CsDCLs, and CsRDRs were identified in apple, peach, wild strawberry, foxtail millet, and maize, and the evolutionary relationships among the orthologous gene pairs were investigated. We also investigated the expression levels of CsAGOs, CsDCLs, and CsRDRs in various cucumber tissues. All CsAGOs were relatively higher upregulated in leaves and tendrils than in other organs, especially CsAGO1c, CsAGO1d, and CsAGO7. All CsDCL genes were relatively higher upregulated in tendrils, with almost no expression detected for CsDCL1, CsDCL4a, or CsDCL4b in other organs. In addition, CsRDR1a, CsRDR2, CsRDR3, and CsRDR6 had relatively higher upregulation in tendrils, whereas almost all CsRDRs were downregulation in other organs. The results of this study will facilitate further studies of gene silencing pathways in cucumber.     

从兰州急性腹泻儿童中检出人博卡病毒4型

为了解兰州地区病毒性腹泻患儿中人博卡病毒4(HBoV4)的流行情况,收集兰州大学第一医院2012年7月至2013年6月5岁以下腹泻患儿的粪便标本331份,采用巢式PCR方法检测HBoV。将HBoV阳性序列与GenBank中相关序列进行比较分析,发现1例罕见HBoV4。该株与泰国株(GenBank登录号:JQ267789)核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性为98.9%、98.7%,与美国株(GenBank登录号:GQ506568)核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性为97.6%、97.4%,为典型的HBoV4,是我国首次在腹泻患儿粪便中发现。由进化树及同源性推测HBoV4可能存在两种不同的亚型。上述结果表明,我国首次在腹泻患儿粪便中检出HBoV4,且属于HBoV4两种可能亚型中的一种亚型。     

Reversing microtubule‐directed chemotherapeutic drug resistance by co‐delivering α2β1 inhibitor and paclitaxel with nanoparticles in ovarian cancer

Previous reports indicated that integrins associated signals are tightly related to tumor progression. Here, we observed elevated expression of integrin α2β1 in tumor tissues from microtubule‐directed chemotherapeutic drugs (MDCDs) resistant patients compared with the samples from chemosensitive patients. More importantly, we sorted the integrin α2β1⁺ tumor cells and found those cells revealed high MDCDs resistance, whereas MDCDs shows effective cytotoxicity to those integrin α2β1^? tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that integrin α2β1 could induce MDCDs resistance through the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Applying MPEG‐PLA to co‐encapsulate the integrin α2β1 inhibitor E7820 and MDCDs could effectively reverse MDCDs resistance, resulting in enhanced anticancer effects while avoiding potential systemic toxicity in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the expression of integrin α2β1 contributes to MDCDs resistance, while applying E7820 combination treatment by MPEG‐PLA nanoparticles could reverse the resistance.     

环梅山岛海域春季浮游古菌群落空间分布特征研究

【目的】海洋浮游古菌是生物地球化学循环的关键驱动者,但其在近岸海域的水平空间分布特征还未被充分了解。本研究以与陆地紧密相连的环梅山岛海域为例研究浮游古菌在海陆过渡带的水平分布模式。【方法】利用16S rRNA基因扩增子测序,以期从优势类群分布、群落组成变化和物种共现模式3个层面揭示梅山湾潟湖区和临近海域春季浮游古菌的空间分布特征。【结果】该海域浮游古菌在原核生物群落中的相对丰度为0.6%–26.5%,向海侧古菌丰度显著高于潟湖区。浮游古菌群落由奇古菌门Marine Group(MG)I和广古菌门MGII主导,MGI的物种组成较为单一,而MGII的系统发育多样性较高。古菌群落的空间分布受同质扩散、环境选择和非主导过程(包括生态漂变)的共同塑造,其中环境选择主要由悬浮颗粒物、硝酸盐、溶解氧、水温和铵盐驱动。通过网络分析发现MGI与红杆菌科细菌呈广泛的负相关,MGII则普遍与SAR11、SAR116和SAR86等异养细菌类群呈正相关。【结论】本研究初步揭示了环梅山岛海域春季浮游古菌群落的空间分布特征及其调控因子,拓展了对古菌在海陆过渡带分布规律的认识。     

Structural Basis of Glycan Recognition in Globally Predominant Human P[8] Rotavirus

Rotavirus(RV)causes acute gastroenteritis in infants and children worldwide.Recent studies showed that glycans such as histo-blood group antigens(HBGAs)function as cell attachment factors affecting RV host susceptibility and prevalence.P[8]is the predominant RV genotype in humans,but the structural basis of how P[8]RVs interact with glycan ligands remains elusive.In this study,we characterized the interactions between P[8]VP8~*s and glycans which showed that VP8~*,the RV glycan binding domain,recognized both mucin core 2 and H type 1 antigens according to the ELISA-based oligosaccharide binding assays.Importantly,we determined the structural basis of P[8]RV-glycans interaction from the crystal structures of a Rotateq P[8]VP8~*in complex with core 2 and H type 1 glycans at 1.82.3 ?,respectively,revealing a common binding pocket and similar binding mode.Structural and sequence analysis demonstrated that the glycan binding site is conserved among RVs in the P[Ⅱ]genogroup,while genotype-specific amino acid variations determined different glycan binding preference.Our data elucidated the detailed structural basis of the interactions between human P[8]RVs and different host glycan factors,shedding light on RV infection,epidemiology,and development of anti-viral agents.     

轮状病毒感染患者外周血单个核细胞的转录组学分析

轮状病毒(Rotavirus,RV)是引起急性肠胃炎的主要病原体,分析RV感染患者的人外周血单个核细胞(Peripheral blood mononuclear cell,PBMC)中差异表达基因(Differentially expressed genes,DEGs)有利于探讨人PBMC在清除RV中的作用。为此,本研究采集2019年2月-2019年6月长春儿童医院中RV感染患者和健康儿童血液,分离PBMC,通过转录组测序(RNA sequencing,RNA-seq)技术比较RV感染患者与健康儿童之间的RNA表达图谱,借助基因本体论(Gene Ontology,GO)数据库功能富集分析、京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes,KEGG)、Reactome通路富集分析DEGs,使用实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time quantitative PCR,qPCR)技术进行验证。结果显示,与健康对照组相比,RV感染轻症患者PBMC中有1619个DEGs;重症患者PBMC中有2816个DEGs,主要与干扰素(Interferon,IFN)反应、中性粒细胞、溶酶体、核小体、染色质等相关。qPCR验证轻症患者干扰素刺激基因(IFN-stimulated genes,ISGs)15表达上调,白介素(Interleukin,IL)1β表达下调;重症患者IL15、ISG15表达上调,IL1β表达下调,与转录组结果相一致。本研究提示,RV感染可能激活人I型和II型IFNs反应抵御病毒感染,但也会抑制溶酶体相关基因,对细胞自噬过程产生影响。     

The Functional Characterization of Bat and Human P[3] Rotavirus VP8*s

Virologica Sinica - P[3] rotavirus (RV) has been identified in many species, including human, simian, dog, and bat. Several glycans, including sialic acid, histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) are...