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Objective: As the world's food safety and environmental safety problems become increasingly severe, the agricultural sectors of various countries are also paying closer attention to the use of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. Rhizosphere bacteria are a significant source of commonly used biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. This study aims to describe the genome and genomic traits of a biocontrol agent in the genus Bacillus.Results: In this paper, a strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IBFCBF-5 was isolated and identified to have an inhibitory effect on several common oomycete and fungal pathogens Phytophthora capsica, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum. The genome of strain IBFCB-5 was sequenced, and the assembled genome was 4,338,658bp, with a G+C content of 46.05%. The IBFCBF-5 genome contains abundant GH, GT, CE, PL, AA, and CBM gene families, potentially degrading cellulose and hemicellulose, chitin, starch, xylan, peptidoglycan, etc. In addition, 14 lipopeptide and polypeptide antibiotic gene clusters were found in IBFCBF-5, including those coding for the synthesis of several known antifungal and antibacterial compounds Fengycin, Bacilysin, Bacillibactin, and plantazolicin.Conclusion: Our results show that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IBFCBF-5 has a broad-spectrum antifungal ability and that its genome contains many genes coding for antimicrobial metabolites.

Evolution of the spread strategies of plant pathogens may be described using the vector manipulation hypothesis (VMH), which posits that pathogens can enhance their transmission to new host plants through their effects on mobile vectors. Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) transmitted by aphid vectors in wheat has become increasingly important as a model pathosystem. However, the role of alate aphids in virus spread has attracted little attention although the migratory morph is a key vector for the long-distance dispersal of plant pathogens. Herein, we first examined the selection preferences of alate or aptera morphs of the vector Schizaphis graminum for healthy/mock-inoculated/BYDV-infected wheat plants and then identified possible volatile components that influenced alate S. graminum selection behavior. The results showed that noninfective S. graminum (either alate or aptera) mainly tended to select BYDV-infected wheat while infective S. graminum (only aptera) preferentially selected noninfected wheat. In addition, we found that the BYDV-infected plants showed significant differences in the content and quantity of volatiles compared with healthy or mock-inoculated wheat plants and that the increased volatiles (trans-2-hexen-1-al or decanal) released by BYDV-infected plants may play a critical role in attracting noninfective alate aphids in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings describe a novel mechanism by which the volatile profiles released by virus-infected plants may influence alate aphid colonization preference, providing further or new evidences for the VMH. This study extends our knowledge base on plant virus transmission to new host plants with potential ramifications for the integrated management of both the vector and disease.

The cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum suffered a severe attack by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), causing damage to leaves by feeding as well as transmitting the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), while the wild tomato S. habrochaites is considerably less appealing to this insect species. It is reported that B. tabaci shows innate avoidance to R-curcumene, which is produced naturally by S. habrochaites. However, the mechanisms involved in the avoidance behavior of B. tabaci in response to this chiral compound are still unclear yet. In this study, the functional and binding characterization of odorant-binding protein 1 of B. tabaci (BtOBP1) were examined in vivo and in vitro against R-curcumene. The obtained results showed that BtOBP1 exhibits specific binding activity to R-curcumene, which acts as repellents to B. tabaci. By using a fluorescence-based binding assay, the difference of binding-affinity for R-curcumene between wild type BtOBP1 and the mutant BtOBP1 to R-curcumene was performed, which resulted in a single amino acid mutation (ASN108 > SER); moreover, BtOBP1-N108 displays significantly decreased binding affinities to R-curcumene. Most interestingly, a knock-down experiment with the BtOBP1 showed that the whitefly responses to R-curcumene are impaired. This study illustrated that BtOBP1 is a crucial protein involved in the perception and discrimination of R-curcumene. Our findings may provide an excellent chance of finding a suitable antagonist of eco-friendly features that can block the perception of chemosensory signals in insects, preventing behaviors like food-finding.

The olfactory system of insects is crucial in modulating behaviors such as host seeking, mating, and oviposition. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are involved in semiochemical recognition. OBPs recognize and bind odorants and transport them to odorant receptors located in olfactory neurons. Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a widely used predacious biological control agent for many agricultural and forestry pests. This study identified 19 OBPs in H. axyridis based on the antennal and whole-body transcriptomes of adults and obtained all the full-length open reading frames, including 11 ‘Classic’ OBPs, 7 ‘Minus-C’ OBPs and 1 ‘Plus-C’ OBP. They encoded 125 to 241 amino acid proteins with molecular weights ranging from 13.75 to 27.75 kDa and isoelectric points ranging from 4.15 to 8.80. Phylogenetic analyses were used to study the relationships between H. axyridis OBPs and OBPs from other species of Coleoptera. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis showed that HaxyOBP2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15 were highly expressed in antennae of both adult females and males. Moreover, HaxyOBP2, 3, 5, 12, and 15 were more abundantly expressed in antennae than other body parts, while HaxyOBP13 and HaxyOBP14 were expressed predominantly, and at similar levels, in the head and antennae. The other OBP genes were highly expressed in non-olfactory tissues including the thorax, abdomen, legs, and wings. These results provide valuable information for further study of H. axyridis olfaction, which may ultimately enhance its use as a biocontrol agent.

Background Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a major damaging agricultural pest that exhibits high resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. L925I (TTA to ATA) and T929V (ACT to GTT) mutations in the para-type voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) are associated with resistance of B. tabaci to pyrethroids. Amplicon sequencing is a reliable and highly efficient method to detect the frequency of mutations linked with insecticide resistance. Results Similar frequencies of L925I and T929V mutations were obtained by amplicon sequencing and Sanger sequencing (L925I: 0.3548 vs 0.3619; T929V: 0.6140 vs 0.6381) with overlap of 95% confidence interval in the SX population of B. tabaci. In five populations of B. tabaci from China, the maximum and minimum frequencies of the two mutations were found in the LN (L925I: 0.1126; T929V: 0.8834) and JS (L925I: 0.8776; T929V: 0.1166) populations by amplicon sequencing. However, there was no significant difference in frequencies between the L925I and T929V mutations. The sum frequency of L925I and T929V exceeded 0.9688 in all populations. In addition, a combining mutation, L925 + T929V (L925I and T929V located in same allele), was found in five populations by amplicon sequencing even though its highest frequency was only 0.0157. Conclusion We established an efficient approach for detecting frequency of mutation by amplicon sequencing. The frequencies of L925I and T929V in VGSC associated with pyrethroid resistance were detected in this study, which could provide foundational data for resistance management of B. tabaci. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Aims/Introduction Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a type of myocardial disease. It causes left ventricular hypertrophy, followed by diastolic and systolic dysfunction, eventually leading to congestive heart failure. However, the underlying mechanism still requires further elucidation. Materials and Methods A high‐glucose zebrafish model was constructed by administering streptozocin intraperitoneally to enhance the development of cardiomyopathy and then treated with adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator. Cardiac structure and function, and protein and gene expression were then analyzed. Cardiomyocytes (CMs) culture in vitro using lentivirus were used for detection of AMPK, p53 and Krüppel‐like factor 2a (klf2a) gene expression. Results In the hyperglycemia group, electrocardiogram findings showed arrhythmia, echocardiography results showed heart enlargement and dysfunction, and many differences, such as increased apoptosis and myocardial fiber loss, were observed. The phospho‐AMPK and klf2a expression were downregulated, and p53 expression was upregulated. Activation of phospho‐AMPK reduced p53 and increased klf2a expression, alleviated apoptosis in CMs and improved cardiac function in the hyperglycemic zebrafish. In vitro knockdown system of AMPK, p53 and klf2a using lentivirus illustrated an increased p53 expression and decreased klf2a expression in CMs by inhibiting AMPK. Repression of p53 and upregulation of klf2a expression were observed, but no changes in the expression of AMPK and its phosphorylated type. Conclusions In the model of streptozocin‐induced hyperglycemia zebrafish, the reduction of phosphorylated AMPK increased p53, which led to KLF2a decrease to facilitate apoptosis of CMs, inducing the cardiac remodeling and cardiac dysfunction. These results can be reversed by AMPK activator, which means the AMPK–p53–klf2a pathway might be a potential target for diabetic cardiomyopathy intervention., The adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase–p53–Krüppel‐like factor 2a signaling pathway was involved in hyperglycemia, induced cardiomyopathy in adult zebrafish and it might be a potential target for diabetic cardiomyopathy intervention.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common disorder with significant hospital admission and mortality. Due to the unclarified pathological mechanism, there is still no effective and specific treatment for AP. Recently, autophagy has been found to be closely related with occurrence and development of AP, which is crucial in determining its severity and outcomes. Emerging evidence indicates that autophagy can be regulated and influenced by microRNAs and organelles, including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and lysosome, through various ways in AP. Of note, the complex interplays and close relationships among autophagy, microRNA and organelles in AP are vital for figuring out pathogenesis but not clear yet. Thus, this review summarizes the role of autophagy in the pathological mechanism of AP, especially the relationship between impaired autophagy and organelles, and discusses the regulatory mechanism of microRNA on autophagy, which could offer new insights into understanding the pathogenesis of AP and developing new potential therapeutic targets against AP.

Complement component 1 Q subcomponent-binding protein (C1QBP) has been shown to interact with the porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) Cap protein. Here, using yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and co-immunoprecipitation assays, as well as laser confocal microscopy, the interaction between C1QBP and Cap was confirmed. Furthermore, overexpression of C1QBP in cells altered the intracellular location of Cap, which was observed using confocal microscopy and verified by detection of Cap in nuclear protein extracts in a Western blot assay. By inhibiting nuclear transport of Cap, overexpression of C1QBP downregulated PCV2 proliferation in PK-15 cells, as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). As C1QBP plays a similar role in a fusion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) with the Cap nuclear localisation signal (NLS) sequence, (CapNLS-GFP), we propose that the target site for C1QBP in Cap is possibly located in the NLS region. Considering all the results together, this study demonstrated that C1QBP interacts with the Cap NLS region, resulting in changes in the intracellular localisation of the Cap protein. We confirmed that overexpression of C1QBP inhibits the proliferation of PCV2, and this is possibly related to the function of C1QBP in controlling nuclear transport of Cap.

In the present study, the influence of lipid emulsion on the allergenicity of digestion products of fish parvalbumin (PV) was investigated, which was initially subjected to simulated gastric/intestinal digestion both under emulsified and non-emulsified conditions. The release of β-hexosaminidase (β-hex), histamine (His), tryptase (TPS), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and IL-13 in RBL cells was decreased by 79.32, 26.19, 41.67, 53.95 and 54.40%, respectively, following stimulation with the gastric digestion products of PV. Whereas, lipid emulsified digestion products of PV (e-PV) significantly enhanced the release of active mediators and cytokines. The digestion products of emulsified PV at 180 min resulted in a higher release of β-hex (197.60%), His (12.18%), TPS (38.85%), IL-4 (48.19%) and IL-13 (59.40%), as compared to that of PV. However, no obvious differences in the release of active substances and cytokines were noted between intestinal digestion products of PV and intestinal digestion products of emulsified PV. In the mouse model studies, digested PV products reduced the anaphylactic scores, whereas e-PV manifested a higher level of allergic symptoms. Moreover, mice treated with 50% e-PV had significantly higher levels of specific IgE (32.56%), total IgE (16.67%) and total IgG1 (5.15%) than those treated with 50% PV. Mice treated with 50% e-PV had significantly higher levels of His (8.50%) and TPS (10.07%) compared with mice treated with 50% PV. Lipid emulsions altered the digestibility of PV in gastrointestinal digestion and enhanced the allergenicity of PV digestion products at the cellular levels, subsequently posing a higher risk of allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.

Aphids are one of the most challenging agricultural pests because they feed on many economic crops, and transmit pathogens including some plant viruses. The intimate associations between aphid and secondary bacterial symbionts are increasingly being recognised by significantly influencing host biology. However, related evidences, e.g., the relationship between the infected frequencies of symbionts and natural environments, have been gathered only from model pea aphids. Here, we screened for six secondary symbionts, Regiella insecticola, Hamiltonella defensa, Serratia symbiotica, Spiroplasma, Rickettsia and Arsenophonus , by using polymerase chain reaction among natural populations of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae . Of 510 individuals from 21 localities covering the main Chinese wheat farming region have demonstrated that: i) Rickettsia was detected in all individuals, ii) R. insecticola and H. defensa showed infection frequencies of 54.7% and 7.2%, respectively, iii) S. symbiotica, Arsenophonus and Spiroplasma were not detected at all. There were different secondary endosymbionts in the same aphid populations, and multiple infections with the secondary endosymbionts: 6.7% with triple infections, 48.4% with double infections and 44.9% with single infection. Notably, the secondary endosymbionts exhibited characteristic geographical distribution patterns: Rickettsia exhibited high frequencies in the main Chinese wheat farming regions, but R. insecticola and H. defensa exhibited a remarkable infection cline. Geographic localities exhibited differences in various environmental factors that can affect the infection frequency of secondary symbionts. In the study, we found there was a statistically significant positive correlation between R. insecticola infection and environmental factors (i.e. mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation).

Background The GINS complex has been implicated in the prognosis of various cancers. It comprises four subunits, encoded by GINS1, GINS2, GINS3, and GINS4 genes. Based on the current understanding, no report exists on the role of the GINS complex in pancreatic cancer. Methods We employed various bioinformatics databases including GEPIA, UALCAN, GEPIA2, and Kaplan Meier Plotter to identify the expression profile of the four genes (GINS1, GINS2, GINS3, and GINS4), their correlation with pancreatic cancer grade as well as their prognostic value of in pancreatic cancer. Western blotting and qRT-PCR analyses were conducted to verify the expression profiles of the four genes in pancreatic cancer. CCK8 and EdU cell experiments were conducted to reveal the role played by the four genes in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Results Based on GEPIA, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR analyses, all the four genes in the GINS complex were overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. Notably, the expression of each member was significantly associated with pancreatic cancer grade. The prognostic analysis revealed that not only the whole GINS complex but also each individual were prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. CCK8 and EdU experiments demonstrated that inhibition of the expression of each GINS member lowered pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Conclusion This work implicated GINS1, GINS2, GINS3, and GINS4 genes as critical prognostic markers for pancreatic cancer.

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal malignancies and the incidence of CRC has been on the rise. Herein, we aimed to identify effective biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer via bioinformatic tools. Methods To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CRC, we downloaded CRC gene expression data from GSE24514 and GSE110223 datasets in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and employed R to analyze the data. We further performed functional enrichment analysis of the DEGs on the DAVID gene ontology analysis tool. STRING database and Cytoscape visualization tool were employed to construct a PPI (protein-protein interaction) network and establish intensive intervals in the network. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to identify the expression level of GINS1 in CRC. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to assess the impact of GINS1 in the pathogenesis of CRC in terms of proliferation, migration and metastasis. Results Among the two datasets, 389 DEGs were identified and used to construct a PPI network. These genes were mainly involved in cell proliferation and cell cycle. Among them, 15 genes including GINS1 were found to be strongly associated with the PPI network. We further performed immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blotting to identify that GINS1 expression was higher in CRC than in paired normal tissues. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated GINS1 could promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells. Conclusions GINS1 could be considered as a potential biomarker for CRC patients.

Background Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are thought to play essential roles in insect chemical communication, but their exact physiological functions remain unclear. Results In this study, we investigated the functions of the CSP2 gene in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci using protein expression and the binding affinity spectrum of CSP2 to different types of odor molecules. Moreover, the evolutionary characteristics of the CSP2 gene were studied. The data obtained using binding assay showed that the CSP2 protein can bind to a broad range of plant volatiles including the homoterpene (E)-3,8-dimethyl-1,4,7-nonatriene (DMNT) and its analogs. In addition, using a behavioral experimental approach we identified that DMNT can repel the selection and oviposition of B. tabaci. Furthermore, protein structure modeling, molecular docking analyses and a functional mutation experiment were carried out resulting in the final identification of key amino acid residue Y11, which displayed important roles in the binding of CSP2 to DMNT. The results also showed that Y11 is located in the pocket region where CSP2 has a pi-alkyl interaction with DMNT. Meanwhile, comparative and evolutionary analyses indicated that CSP2 shared a high sequence similarity with CSPs of other insect family members such as Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha including aphids, whiteflies and planthoppers. Conclusion These results suggested that CSP2 likely contributes to mediating responses of B. tabaci to plant volatiles, which may play a pivotal role in its feeding and oviposition preferences. Moreover, these findings could provide key information for exploring efficiency monitoring and integrated pest management strategies of B. tabaci.

Increasing evidence suggests long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are distinctively expressed in several cancers. However, the functions of these lncRNAs in cancer development remain unknown. In the current study, we report high expression of a novel lncRNA, RP11-59H7.3, and its association with prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Functional analyses of this lncRNA revealed its role in promoting proliferation and progression of the cell cycle, as well as enhancement of cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, our results revealed that knockdown of RP11-59H7.3 promoted cell apoptosis, with luciferase reporter assays showing that it directly binds to miR-139-5p. Knockdown of this lncRNA significantly reduced expression of NOTCH1, a direct target of miR-139-5p. Additionally, we show that suppression NOTCH1 by miR-139-5p could be partially rescued by overexpressing RP11-59H7.3. Analysis of the relationship between RP11-59H7.3 and miR-139-5p, in CRC tissues, showed a negative correlation while a positive association was observed between the RP11-59H7.3 expression and levels of NOTCH1. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the RP11-59H7.3/miR-139-5p/NOTCH1 axis functions as a key regulator in CRC metastasis. RP11-59H7.3 represents a potential biomarker for CRC diagnosis and could be an important target for development of novel therapies to manage the disease.

Emerging evidence indicates that DJ-1 is highly expressed in different cancers. It modulates cancer progression, including cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly defined. The current study noted increased DJ-1 expression in CRC tumor tissue and found that its expression was closely related to clinical-pathological features. Similarly, DJ-1 increased in CRC cells (SW480, HT-29, Caco-2, LoVo, HCT116, and SW620), and especially in SW480 and HCT116 cells. Functional analyses indicated that overexpression of DJ-1 promoted CRC cell invasion, migration, and proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies indicated that DJ-1 increased in CRC cell lines, activated specific protein cyclin-D1, and modulated the MDM2/p53 signaling pathway by regulating the levels of the downstream factors Bax, Caspase-3, and Bcl-2, which are related to the cell cycle and apoptosis. Conversely, knockdown of DJ-1 upregulated p53 expression by disrupting the interaction between p53 and MDM2 and inhibiting CRC cell proliferation, revealing the pro-oncogenic mechanism of DJ-1 in CRC. In conclusion, the current findings provide compelling evidence that DJ-1 might be a promoter of CRC cell invasion, proliferation, and migration via the cyclin-D1/MDM2-p53 signaling pathway. Findings also suggest its potential role as a postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with CRC.

Our previous studies have shown that abdominal paracentesis drainage (APD) is a safe and effective strategy for patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, the underlying mechanisms behind APD treatment remain poorly understood. Given that apoptosis is a critical pathological response of SAP, we here aim to investigate the effect of APD on cell apoptosis in pancreatic tissues during SAP and to explore its potential molecular mechanism. SAP was induced by 5% sodium-taurocholate retrograde while APD group was inserted a drainage tube into the right lower abdomen of rats immediately after SAP induction. Histopathological staining, serum amylase, endotoxin and inflammatory mediators were measured. Cell apoptosis, apoptosis-related proteins and signaling pathway were also evaluated. Our results demonstrated that APD treatment significantly attenuated pancreatic damage and decreased the serum levels of amylase, endotoxin, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 in rats with SAP. Notably, APD treatment enhanced cell apoptosis and reduced necrosis in pancreatic tissues, as evidenced by Tunnel staining, the increased pro-apoptosis proteins (Cleaved-caspase-3 and bax) and decreased anti-apoptosis protein (Bcl-2). Moreover, the effect of APD on cell apoptosis was further confirmed by the regulatory pathway of PI3K/AKT and NF-kB signaling pathway. These results suggest that APD attenuates the severity of SAP by enhancing cell apoptosis via suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our findings provide new insights for understanding the effectiveness of APD in patients with SAP.

Bemisia tabaci is one of notorious agricultural insect pests in China, and the strategies of management largely depend on application of insecticides. In order to assess levels of resistance in field populations of B. tabaci to six insecticides including abamectin, cyantraniliprole, pymetrozine, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin, we monitored the susceptibility to all tested insecticides in five field populations across China and the results indicated that field populations of B. tabaci have developed various levels of resistance to each chemical agent. Furthermore, para-type voltage gated sodium channel mutations (L925I and T929V) and acetylcholinesterase ace1 mutation (F331W) were confirmed, and expression levels of CYP6CM1, CYP4C64, GSTd7 and ABCG3 were detected for investigating mechanisms of imidacloprid resistance in the five field-collected populations. The results showed that, in all tested populations, frequencies of F331W were 100%, and the frequencies of the L925I and T929V were in the range of 28.5 to 47.0% and 11.0 to 53.5%, respectively. Moreover, CYP6CM1 and CYP4C64 were significantly overexpressed in two tested populations, respectively, and GSTd7 was significantly overexpressed in one population. No overexpression of ABCG3 was observed in all the populations. Above results provided valuable insight into the current status of insecticide resistance and could be contributed to design strategies of management for B. tabaci.

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) is associated with cancer development. Proto-oncogene c-myc can promote tumor proliferation. However, collections of IFITM3 and c-myc in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the potential role and mechanisms of IFITM3 in c-myc-mediated tumor proliferation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated a positive correlation between the expression of IFITM3 and c-myc in HCC. The down-regulation of IFITM3 significantly reduced c-myc expression and inhibited the proliferation of HCC in vitro and in vivo. In addition, upregulated c-myc expression restored the decrease in cell proliferation caused by the downregulation of IFITM3, while downregulation of c-myc reduced the proliferation of HCC enhanced by IFITM3. Mechanistically, IFITM3 regulates c-myc expression via the ERK1/2 signalling pathway. In conclusion, a novel path of IFITM3-ERK1/2-c-myc regulatory circuitry was identified, and its dysfunction may lead to HCC tumorigenesis.

Cyantraniliprole is a novel anthranilic diamide insecticide with significant efficacy against Bemisia tabaci, an important pest insect worldwide. In this study, we conducted reversion and selection work and genetic analysis, and determined cross-resistance spectrum and synergism of cyantraniliprole resistance based on the reported population, SX population, of B. tabaci collected from Shanxi Province, China. Compared with a susceptible strain (MED-S), SX population, the field-evolved cyantraniliprole-resistant population exhibited 26.4-fold higher resistance to cyantraniliprole. In SX, a sharp decline of cyantraniliprole resistance was shown in the absence of selection. Another tested strain, SX-R, was established from SX population after successive selection with cyantraniliprole and recently developed 138.4-fold high resistance to cyantraniliprole. SX-R had no cross-resistance to abamectin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, sulfoxaflor, or bifenthrin. Genetic analysis illustrated that cyantraniliprole resistance in SX-R was autosomally inherited and incompletely dominant. Additionally, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) significantly inhibited cyantraniliprole resistance in the SX-R strain. In conclusion, the selection of SX with cyantraniliprole led to high resistance to cyantraniliprole which is incompletely dominant and no cross-resistance to several common types of insecticides. Enhanced oxidative metabolism is possibly involved in the resistance of SX-R, yet target-site resistance could not be excluded.

Crop resistance plays a role in preventing aphid damage, benefiting food production industries, but its effects are limited due to aphid adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. Therefore, furthering understanding of aphid–crop interactions will improve our ability to protect crops from aphids. To determine how aphids adapt to resistant varieties of wheat, Triticum aestivum L. over time, we performed a laboratory experiment to assess the multi-generational effects of three wheat varieties, Batis, Ww2730, and Xiaoyan22, with different resistance levels on the fitness of Sitobion avenae (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The results showed that Ww2730 and Xiaoyan22 were more resistant than Batis to S. avenae, regardless of whether the aphids were newly introduced or had been acclimated before being introduced to the three wheat varieties. However, the effect of resistance on aphid life-history traits was time dependent. Aphid weigh gain increased and they development faster of the acclimated generation compared to the newly introduced generation on all three varieties. And the fecundity on the three varieties and net reproduction rates on Batis and Xiaoyan22 significantly decreased. Aphid fitness in terms of individual life-history parameters improved, whereas aphid fitness in terms of reproductive decreased, and a convergence effect, the difference gaps and standard errors of all life-history traits among the three acclimated populations had narrowed and were less than those in the three first-generation populations, was observed during the 3-mo experimental period. We suggested that S. avenae could rapidly respond to wheat resistance through life-history plasticity.

Background: Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a key enzyme for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin in the extracellular matrix. This study evaluated the prognostic role of LOX in gastric cancer (GC) by analyzing the data of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset.Methods: The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to calculate the expression difference of LOX gene in gastric cancer and normal tissues. Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate the expression level of LOX protein in gastric cancer. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the survival difference between the high expression group and the low expression group in gastric cancer. The relationship between statistical clinicopathological characteristics and LOX gene expression was analyzed by Wilcoxon or Kruskal-Wallis test and logistic regression. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to find independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of GC patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to screen the possible mechanisms of LOX and GC. The CIBERSORT calculation method was used to evaluate the distribution of tumor-infiltrating immune cell (TIC) abundance.Results: LOX is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and is significantly related to poor overall survival. Wilcoxon or Kruskal-Wallis test and Logistic regression analysis showed, LOX overexpression is significantly correlated with T-stage progression in gastric cancer. Multivariate Cox regression analysis on TCGA and GEO data found that LOX (all p < 0.05) is an independent factor for poor GC prognosis. GSEA showed that high LOX expression is related to ECM receptor interaction, cancer, Hedgehog, TGF-beta, JAK-STAT, MAPK, Wnt, and mTOR signaling pathways. The expression level of LOX affects the immune activity of the tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer.Conclusion: High expression of LOX is a potential molecular indicator for poor prognosis of gastric cancer.

Leaf size and flatness directly affect photosynthesis and are closely related to agricultural yield. The final leaf size and shape are coordinately determined by cell proliferation, differentiation, and expansion during leaf development. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most important leafy vegetables worldwide, and lettuce leaves vary in shape and size. However, the molecular mechanisms of leaf development in lettuce are largely unknown. In this study, we showed that the lettuce APETALA2 (LsAP2) gene regulates leaf morphology. LsAP2 encodes a transcriptional repressor that contains the conserved EAR motif, which mediates interactions with the TOPLESS/TOPLESS-RELATED (TPL/TPR) corepressors. Overexpression of LsAP2 led to small and crinkly leaves, and many bulges were seen on the surface of the leaf blade. LsAP2 physically interacted with the CINCINNATA (CIN)-like TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) transcription factors and inhibited their transcriptional activation activity. RNA sequencing analysis showed that LsAP2 affected the expression of auxin- and polarity-related genes. In addition, LsAP2 directly repressed the abaxial identity gene KANADI2 (LsKAN2). Together, these results indicate that LsAP2 regulates leaf morphology by inhibiting CIN-like TCP transcription factors and repressing LsKAN2, and our work provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms of leaf development in lettuce.

Whiteflies are Hemipterans that typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. They cause severe damage by direct feeding as well as transmitting plant viruses to a wide range of plants. However, it remains largely unknown which genes play a key role in development and host selection. In this study, weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to construct gene co-expression networks in whitefly. Nineteen gene co-expression modules were detected from 15560 expressed genes of whitefly. Combined with the transcriptome data of salivary glands and midgut, we identified three gene co-expression modules related to host plant selection. These three modules contain genes related to host-plant recognition, such as detoxification genes, chemosensory genes and some salivary gland-associated genes. Results of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses elucidated the following pathways involved in these modules: lysosome, metabolic and detoxification pathways. The modules related to the development contain two co-expression modules; moreover, the genes were annotated to the development of chitin-based cuticle. This analysis provides a basis for future functional analysis of genes involved in host-plant recognition.

Myocardial hypertrophy is an important cause of heart failure and sudden death. Studies have shown that Mitofusin-2 (MFN2) is downregulated in myocardial hypertrophy, but the upstream regulation mechanism underlying its downexpression in cardiomyocytes is still unclear. This study aims to identify the expression profile of microRNAs (miRNAs) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and explore the function of miRNA-20 in inducing cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through regulating MFN2. Through miRNA + mRNA microarray analysis, 1451 miRNAs were identified, 367 miRNAs expressed differently between groups. Meanwhile, a number of 24,718 mRNAs were identified, among which 5850 mRNAs were upregulated and 3005 mRNAs were downregulated in HCM group compared with the control group. Expression of hsa-miRNA-20a-5p was 2.26 times higher in the HCM group compared with the control group and 7 target gene prediction programs predicted MFN2 as a target of miRNA-20. In vitro model of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes displayed high expression level of miRNA-20, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA, and protein, accompanying low expression level of Mfn2 mRNA and protein, which meant miRNA-20 played a role in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and might interact with MFN2 to function. Thereafter, overexpression of miRNA-20 led to cell hypertrophy accompanied with lowly expressed Mfn2 mRNA and protein. When transfected with miRNA-20 inhibitors, the expression of miRNA-20 and ANP gene was attenuated and MFN2 was the other way around. The cell surface area of Ang II group and mimic group was significantly larger compared with the control group, and in the inhibitor+Ang II group, the area was significantly decreased compared with the Ang II group. Dual-luciferase assays showed that miRNA-20 bound to 3' untranslated region of MFN2 and inhibited its expression. In conclusion, hypertrophic myocardium and normal myocardium have different miRNA expression profiles and the effect of miRNA-20 reducing the expression of MFN2 plays a role in promoting cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

The London Planetree (Platanus acerifolia) are present throughout the world. The tree is considered a greening plant and is commonly planted in streets, parks, and courtyards. The Sycamore lace bug (Corythucha ciliata) is a serious pest of this tree. To determine the molecular mechanism behind the interaction between the London Planetree and the Sycamore lace bug, we generated a comprehensive RNA-seq dataset (630,835,762 clean reads) for P. acerifolia by sequencing both infected and non-infected leaves of C. ciliata using the Illumina Hiseq 4000 system. We assembled the transcriptomes using the Trinity De Novo assembly followed by annotation. In total, 121,136 unigenes were obtained, and 80,559 unigenes were successfully annotated. From the 121,136 unigenes, we identified 3,010,256 SNPs, 39,097 microsatellites locus, and 1,916 transcription factors. The transcriptomic dataset we present are the first reports of transcriptome information in Platanus species and will be incredibly useful in future studies with P. acerifolia and other Platanus species, especially in the areas of genomics, molecular biology, physiology, and population genetics., Design Type(s)transcription profiling design • sequence assembly objective • sequence annotation objectiveMeasurement Type(s)transcription profiling assayTechnology Type(s)RNA sequencingFactor Type(s)experimental condition • temporal_intervalSample Characteristic(s)Platanus × hispanica • leaf Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data (ISA-Tab format)

Background:Regenerating islet-derived gene family member 4 (Reg4), a well-investigated growth factor in the regenerative pancreas, has recently been reported to be highly associated with a majority of gastrointestinal cancers. Pathological hyper-expression or artificial over-expression of Reg4 causes acceleration of tumor growth, migration, and resistance to chemotherapeutic 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Until now, no method has been successfully established for eliminating the effects of Reg4 protein.Methods:This study reports the production of an engineered immunoglobin, a single-chain variable fragment (scFv-Reg4), to specifically bind Reg4 and block the bioactivity. The complementary-determining regions (CDRs) against Reg4 were assigned using MOE and ZDOCK servers. The binding affinity (KD) was determined by bio-layer interferometry (BLI). MKN45 and AGS cell proliferation was determined by Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry assay.Results:The KD of scFv-Reg4 to Reg4 was determined to be 1.91×10-8. In MKN45 and AGS cell lines, scFv- Reg4 depressed Reg4-stimulated cell proliferation and the inhibitory rates were 27.7±1.5% and 17.3±2.6%, respectively. Furthermore, scFv significantly enhanced 5-FU-induced cell death, from 23.0±1.0% to 28.4±1.2% in MKN45 and 28.2±0.7% to 36.6±0.6% in AGS cells. Treatment with scFv alone could lyse cancer cells to a certain extent, but no significance has been observed.Conclusion:The single-chain antibody (scFv-Reg4) significantly inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation and synergistically enhanced the lethal effect of 5-FU. Thus, traditional chemo-/radio- therapeutics supplemented with scFv-Reg4 may provide advances in the strategy for gastrointestinal cancer treatment.

In recent decades, man-made electric fields have greatly increased the intensity of electrostatic fields that are pervasively present in the environment. To better understand the physiological alterations exhibited by herbivorous insects in response to changing electric environments, we determined the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes and the metabolic rate of Sitobion avenae Fabricius (Hemiptera: Aphididae) over multiple generations in response to direct and host-seed exposure to a high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) of varying strength for different durations. Under controlled greenhouse conditions, 20-min direct exposure of S. avenae and wheat seeds to a 2- or 4-kV/cm HVEF resulted in significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the sixth, 11th, 16th, and 21st generations relative to the control activities, whereas significantly decreased SOD activity was detected in the second generation. In addition, the activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in S. avenae showed significant decreases over multiple generations. We also examined the suppressive effects of the duration of 4-kV/cm treatment on aphid physiology. The results showed that exposure to the 4-kV/cm HVEF for 20 min exerted adverse effects on CAT and POD activities and significantly decreased the metabolic rates of S. avenae, as demonstrated through evaluations of CO2 production rate, and these parameters were not significantly affected by higher HVEF durations. Overall, these findings increase our understanding of plant-pest interactions under novel HVEF environments and provide information that can improve integrated management strategies for S. avenae. Bioelectromagnetics. 40:52-61, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pyridalyl is an insecticide that shows significant efficacy against Plutella xylostella, a notorious pest insect worldwide. In this study, we monitored resistance of P. xylostella to pyridalyl in China from 2016 to 2017, determined cross-resistance, inheritance, and synergism of pyridalyl resistance in two pyridalyl-resistant populations, one field-evolved resistant population (ZL-PR) and one laboratory-selected resistant population (XY-PR). We found that variation in susceptibility among 15 field populations in China from 2016 to 2017 was high, with mean LC50 values ranging from 1.839 to 1,652 mg/liter. The laboratory-selected XY-PR strain showed 31.3-fold resistance to pyridalyl and moderate cross-resistance to fipronil. The ZL-PR displayed 1,050.2-fold resistance to pyridalyl and high resistance to all tested insecticides. Genetic analysis illustrated that pyridalyl resistance in ZL-PR was autosomally inherited and incompletely recessive. However, pyridalyl resistance in the XY-PR strain was autosomally inherited but incompletely dominant. Moreover, piperonyl butoxide significantly inhibited pyridalyl resistance in the XY-PR strain. In conclusion, P. xylostella field populations from South China have high levels of resistance to pyridalyl and different modes of inheritance of resistance were found in XY-PR and ZL-PR. Moreover, enhanced oxidative metabolism is possibly involved in resistance of the XY-PR strain but not in the ZL-PR strain.

Advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis and is frequently resistant to numerous therapeutics; thus, safe and effective drugs are needed to combat this disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that triptolide (TPL) exhibits anticancer and sensitization effects against cisplatin (DDP)-resistant ovarian cancer both in vitro and in vivo by inducing apoptosis; however, the involvement of autophagy induced by TPL in resistant ovarian carcinoma remains unclear. In the present study, the results revealed that TPL induced autophagy to facilitate SKOV3/DDP ovarian cancer cell death. The xenograft experiment revealed that the autophagy inhibitor CQ significantly reduced TPL-mediated chemosensitization and tumor growth inhibition. Mechanically, TPL-induced autophagy in SKOV3/DDP cells was associated with the induction of ROS generation and inhibition of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway. The inhibitory effect of TPL on the JAK2/STAT3 pathway could be restored in the presence of the antioxidant NAC. Furthermore, it was further determined that TPL disrupted the interaction between Mcl-1 and Beclin1, which was prevented by the JAK2/STAT3 signaling activator IL-6. Overall, the present results revealed a novel molecular mechanism whereby TPL induced lethal autophagy through the ROS-JAK2/STAT3 signaling cascade in SKOV3/DDP cells. The present study has provided the groundwork for future application of TPL in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been characterized by playing a crucial role in tumorigenesis. However, the detail biological function and clinical importance of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear and have attracted different levels of in-depth research. In this context, we explored the differentially expressed profiles of lncRNAs in six CRC tissues and three adjacent non-tumor tissues from RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) study and noted a lncRNA, RP11-51O6.1, which is markedly overexpressed in CRC tissues, particularly in aggressive cases. Impressively, an elevated RP11-51O6.1 level was highly correlated with poor prognosis in clinical patients. Functional analyses revealed that RP11-51O6.1 could promote cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we reported that RP11-51O6.1 enhances cell migration and invasion in vitro. Mechanistic studies (Bioinformatics binding site analyses, the Luciferase reporter, Ago2 immunoprecipitation, the RNA pull-down, immunofluorescence colocalization, rescued assays and western blotting) implicated that RP11-51O6.1 could regulate YAP1 expression by competitively sponging miR-206 and blocking its activity in promoting CRC progression. Conclusively, our findings identify a novel RP11-51O6.1/miR-206/YAP1 regulatory axis that participates in CRC progression and development, suggesting RP11-51O6.1 is an exploitable biomarker and appealing therapeutic target in treating CRC.

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) causes severe damage to cultivated tomato in many regions of the world through direct feeding and indirectly through transmission of plant viruses. Field observations show that B. tabaci is rarely infested the non-host plants such as the wild tomato Solanum habrochaites; however, the molecular mechanism involved in the recognition of wild plant odors is still unclear. In this study, we assessed the effects of S. habrochaites on the survival, fecundity, and egg hatchability of the Mediterranean (MED) species of B. tabaci. Expression and splicing of stress-response genes in whitefly exposed to S. habrochaites was analyzed using RNA-sequencing data and alternative splicing analysis. These results indicated that the S. habrochaites treatment can induce the expression of environmental stress genes in B. tabaci. This study may help us to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the olfactory recognition of non-host volatiles particularly wild tomato relative. Furthermore, the findings of this study may provide excellent chances of finding a suitable antagonist of eco-friendly properties which can block the perception of chemosensory signals. Thereby, the feeding behavior and food preferences of B. tabaci can be manipulated and thus insect populations can eventually be controlled.

A new compound, α-siamenoside I (α-SI), with a glucose unit selectively bound to the 6-hydroxyl group of the 24-O-β-glucosyl moiety of mogroside IIIE by α-1,6-glucosidic bond, was bio-created by two screened cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases with a maximum yield of 59.3%. Compared to mogroside IIIE, α-SI showed a significantly increased sweetness intensity (508 times sweeter than 5% sucrose), which is superior to siamenoside I (SI), the sweetest triterpenoid saponin isolated from Siraitia grosvenorii to date. Sensory evaluation showed that the taste quality of α-SI also was obviously better than mogroside IIIE. In addition to α-SI possessing a good stability similar to that of SI, it also did not cause a significant decrease in cell viability at a concentration of 200 μg/mL and had a negative influence on islets function at 1 μM. All of these preliminarily results pave the way for promoting α-SI as a potential low-calorie sweetener.

Polyphyllin II (PII) and polyphyllin VII (PVII) were the main active ingredients in Paris Polyphylla with an excellent antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo. In this study, a rapid and precise LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the separation and simultaneous determination of PII and PVII in rat plasma, tissues, feces and urine using ginsenoside Rg3 as the internal standard. A positive linearity ranged from 1 to 1000 ng/mL in samples. At the same time, intra- and inter-day precision were in range of 1.8% to 12.0%. The accuracy was ranged from 95.9% to 100.8%. Mean extraction recovery of PII and PVII were ranged from 86.6% to 96.4%. The analytical method has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic studies of PII and PVII in rats after their intravenous administration. After entering systemic circulation, PII and PVII were rapidly distributed in organs, mainly including liver, lung and spleen. Their elimination rate was slow. All these data provided a theoretical basis for the application of PII and PVII in the treatment of liver and lung related diseases.

Background COVID-19 has caused a global pandemic and the death toll is increasing. However, there is no definitive information regarding the type of clinical specimens that is the best for SARS-CoV-2 detection, the antibody levels in patients with different duration of disease, and the relationship between antibody level and viral load. Methods Nasopharyngeal swabs, anal swabs, saliva, blood, and urine specimens were collected from patients with a course of disease ranging from 7 to 69 days. Viral load in different specimen types was measured using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Meanwhile, anti-nucleocapsid protein (anti-N) IgM and IgG antibodies and anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain (anti-S-RBD) IgG antibody in all serum samples were tested using ELISA. Results The positive detection rate in nasopharyngeal swab was the highest (54.05%), followed by anal swab (24.32%), and the positive detection rate in saliva, blood, and urine was 16.22%, 10.81%, and 5.41%, respectively. However, some patients with negative nasopharyngeal swabs had other specimens tested positive. There was no significant correlation between antibody level and days after symptoms onset or viral load. Conclusions Other specimens could be positive in patients with negative nasopharyngeal swabs, suggesting that for patients in the recovery period, specimens other than nasopharyngeal swabs should also be tested to avoid false negative results, and anal swabs are recommended. The antibody level had no correlation with days after symptoms onset or the viral load of nasopharyngeal swabs, suggesting that the antibody level may also be affected by other factors.

International audience; In agmecosystems, plant-pest interactions are at the basis of complex food webs, which can be affected by both biotic and abiotic factors. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of the insecticide beta-cypermethrin on interspecific interactions between the specialist aphid Aphis glycines and the generalist aphid Aulacorthum solani on soybean. Aphis glycines showed higher fecundity than A. solani on soybean and the aphids caused unbalanced reduction in population growth on each other. A sublethal concentration of beta-cypermethrin (LC5 for A. glycines) stimulated the reproduction of A. glycines but it did not impact the fecundity of A. solani. However, the LC5 of beta-cypermethrin enhanced the interspecific inhibition of fecundity between the two aphid species. Moreover, the two species showed different spatial distribution on soybean seedlings. Aphis glycines mainly aggregated on the stem of soybean plant while A. solani colonized soybean leaves. The LC5 of beta-cypermethrin drove A. solani migrating from soybean leaves to stems independently of interspecific competition. Aphis glycines facilitated A. solani colonization on soybean plant through impacting host susceptibility, and vice versa. Nevertheless, such facilitated colonization-induced susceptibility could be modulated through exposure to the LC5 of betacypermethrin. These findings hinted that the pyrethroid insecticide beta-cypermethrin has the potential to mediate the interspecific competition between specialist and generalist aphids (at the sublethal concentration of LC5), and that it could influence aphid population growth and community structure in soybean crops. This knowledge could contribute to rationalize application of insecticides and to optimize Integrated Pest Management in soybean.

Seeds are major vehicles of propagation and dispersal in plants. A number of transcription factors, including APETALA2 (AP2), play crucial roles during the seed development process in various plant species. However, genes essential for seed development and the regulatory networks during seed development remain unclear in lettuce. Here, we identified a lettuceAP2(LsAP2) gene that was highly expressed at the early stages of seed development.LsAP2knockout plants obtained by the CRISPR/Cas9 system were used to explore the biological function ofLsAP2. Compared with wild-type, the seeds of theLsap2mutant plants had increased length and decreased width, and developed an extended tip at the seed top. After further investigating the seed structural characteristics ofLsap2mutant plants, we proposed a new function ofLsAP2in seed dispersal. Moreover, we identified several interactors of LsAP2. Our results showed that LsAP2 directly interacted with the lettuce homolog of BREVIPEDICELLUS (LsBP) and promoted the expression ofLsBP. Transcriptome analysis revealed that LsAP2 might also be involved in brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signaling pathways. Taken together, our data indicate that LsAP2 has a significant function in regulating seed shape in lettuce.

Background Accumulating evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) acting as crucial regulators in tumorigenesis. However, its biological functions of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been systematically clarified. Methods An unbiased screening was performed to identify disregulated lncRNAs revealed to be implicated in CRC carcinogenesis according to an online-available data dataset. In situ hybridization (ISH), RT-qPCR and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA-FISH) were applied to detect RP11-757G1.5 expression in CRC tissues and cell lines. The associations of RP11-757G1.5 with clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Their effects on prognosis were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier analysis, Log-rank test, Univariate and Multivariate Cox regression analysis. The potential biological function of RP11-757G1.5 in CRC was investigated by Colony formation, Edu cell proliferation, Flow cytometry, Wound healing and Transwell assays. Bioinformatics binding site analysis, Luciferase reporter assay, Ago2 immunoprecipitation assays, RNA pull-down assay, RT-qPCR and Western blotting were utilized to demonstrate the mechanism of RP11-757G1.5 acts as a molecular sponge of miR-139-5p to regulate the expression of YAP1. Finally, we further explore the potential role of RP11-757G1.5 in CRC orthotopic xenografts in vivo. Results We discovered a novel oncogenic lncRNA RP11-757G1.5, that was overexpressed in CRC tissues, especially in aggressive cases. Moreover, up-regulation of RP11-757G1.5 strongly correlated with poor clinical outcomes of patients with CRC. Functional analyses revealed that RP11-757G1.5 promoted cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, RP11-757G1.5 stimulated cell migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies illustrated that RP11-757G1.5 regulated the expression of YAP1 through sponging miR-139-5p and inhibiting its activity thereby promoting CRC progression and development. Conclusions Altogether, these results reveal a novel RP11-757G1.5/miR-139-5p/YAP1 regulatory axis that participates in CRC carcinogenesis and progression.

Flonicamid (N-cyanomethyl-4-trifluoromethylnicotinamide) is a novel systemic insecticide that shows high insecticidal toxicity against sap-sucking pests. However, little is known about the sublethal effects of flonicamid on melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, a serious insect pest of many vegetables. Herein, the toxicity of flonicamid to A. gossypii was determined using the leaf-dipping method, and the sublethal and low lethal effects of this insecticide on biological traits of A. gossypii were evaluated using age-stage, two-sex life table method. The results showed that the LC50 value of flonicamid to A. gossypii adults was 7.177 mg L−1. The sublethal (LC5) and low lethal (LC15) concentrations of flonicamid reduced the fecundity of the F0 generation aphids. Moreover, the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) of F1 generation were also significantly decreased in the flonicamid treatment groups, while the mean generation time (T) of the F1 generation was significantly prolonged compared to the control. In addition, the expression levels of juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH), vitellogenin (Vg), and ultraspiracle protein (USP) significantly increased in surviving adult aphids that were exposed to LC5 and LC15 of flonicamid in the F0 generation. The data demonstrate that sublethal and low lethal concentrations of flonicamid could suppress the growth of A. gossypii, and the differential expression of development- and reproduction-related genes might be involved in the sublethal effects of flonicamid on A. gossypii.

Feline coronavirus (FCoV), the pathogen for feline infectious peritonitis, is a lethal infectious agent that can cause effusions in the pleural and abdominal cavities in domestic cats. To study the epidemiology of FCoV in Taiwan, 81 FIP-suspected sick cats with effusive specimens were recruited to test for FCoV infection using immunofluorescence staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction as detection methods, and viral RNAs were recovered from the specimens to conduct genotyping and phylogenetic analysis based on the spike (S) protein gene. The results revealed that a total of 47 (47/81, 58%) of the sick cats were positive for FCoV in the effusion samples, of which 39 were successfully sequenced and comprised of 21 type I strains, 9 type II strains, and 9 co-infections. The signalment analysis of these sick cats revealed that only the sex of cats showed a significant association (odds ratio = 2.74, 95% confidence interval = 1.06&ndash, 7.07, p = 0.03) with the infection of FCoV, while age and breed showed no association. FCoV-positive cats demonstrated a significantly lower albumin to globulin ratio than negative individuals (p = 0.0004). The partial S gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the type I strains demonstrated genetic diversity forming several clades, while the type II strains were more conserved. This study demonstrates the latest epidemiological status of FCoV infection in the northern part of Taiwan among sick cats and presents comparisons of Taiwan and other countries.

BACKGROUND Plutella xylostella has developed resistance to a variety of pesticides in the field. Selection, inheritance, a near-isogenic line, cross-resistance and biochemical mechanisms of pyridalyl resistance were characterized in a field-collected resistant population of P. xylostella from China. RESULTS Compared with a susceptible IVF-S strain, the field-collected FZ population showed ~ 350-fold resistance to pyridalyl. The FZ-PY strain, selected from the FZ population using pyridalyl, developed ~ 640-fold resistance to pyridalyl. Inheritance tests indicated that pyridalyl resistance in the FZ-PY strain was autosomal and incompletely recessive. Through successive backcrossing to IVF-S, a near-isogenic strain (NIL-PY) was established that exhibited 191.21-fold resistance to pyridalyl and no cross-resistance to other tested popular insecticides. No significant effects of synergists and higher activities of metabolic enzymes were observed in NIL-PY compared with IVF-S. Furthermore, the survival rate of NIL-PY larvae, and female oviposition, fecundity and egg viability were markedly reduced in NIL-PY compared with IVF-S. The fitness of NIL-PY was found to be 0.56 compared with IVF-S. CONCLUSION Considering that no relevant effects of synergists or oxidative metabolism were observed in NIL-PY, and that pyridalyl resistance results in significant fitness costs compared with IVF-S, further research will be conducted on the mechanism of target-site resistance. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Over the past 10 years, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis has emerged as a new serovar and a frequent cause of foodborne diseases in Taiwan. We used two molecular subtyping methods to investigate the development of the infections by S. enterica Enteritidis in Taiwan. Twenty-eight strains of S. enterica Enteritidis isolated from Taiwan during the period of 1992 to 1998 were collected. The primer pairs, MseⅠ+C/EcoRⅠ+0 and MseⅠ+G/PstⅠ+C, were used in amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses, and the restriction enzyme, AvrⅡ, was used in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Twenty-two AFLP profiles with 53~59 fragments in each profile were found by using the primer pair, MseⅠ+G/PstⅠ+C. In the PFGE analysis, 7 PFGE types were identified. Some of the collected strains, especially the imported strains, had closer relationships with the SE 02 strain isolated from Taipei County. As our results indicate, AFLP analysis was time-saving, easy to perform, and highly discriminative. In this study, AFLP and PFGE were used to analyze the S. enterica Enteritidis isolated from patients in Taiwan. These results provide the epidemiological distribution of these isolated strains and additional evidence to illustrate the sources of the food-borne pathogens.

Tumor invasion, metastasis, and recrudesce remain a considerable challenge in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC). Herein, we first identified that RBFOX3 (RNA binding protein fox-1 homolog 3) was significantly up-regulated in GC tissues and negatively linked to the survival rate of GC patients. RBFOX3 promoted cell division and cell cycle progression in vitro as well as in vivo. Furthermore, RBFOX3 increased cell invasion and migration ability. Interestingly, both the suppression of GC cell multiplication and invasion moderated by the silencing of RBFOX3 was rescued by HTERT up-regulation. Additionally, RBFOX3 augmented the resistance of GC cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) by repressing RBFOX3. Mechanistically, exogenous up-regulation of RBFOX3 triggered promoter activity and HTERT expression thereby enhancing the division and development of GC cells. Importantly, our findings revealed that RBFOX3 interacted with AP-2β to modulate the HTERT expression as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation analysis. In conclusion, our study indicates that high expression of RBFOX3 promotes GC progression and development but predicts worse prognosis by stimulating HTERT signaling. Moreover, the results suggest that the RBFOX3/AP-2β/HTERT pathway is a novel target for the development of therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of GC reappearance and metastasis.

Bemisia tabaci, sweetpotato whitefly, is one notorious insect pest on a series of crops worldwide, and many populations show high resistance to various insecticides. The cyantraniliprole-resistant strain of B. tabaci SX-R (138.4-fold) was obtained by selections with an outdoor-collected cyantraniliprole resistant population. By crossing and repeated backcrossing to a susceptible MED-S strain, the trait of cyantraniliprole resistance from SX-R was moved into MED-S to establish one near-isogenic line (CYAN-R). MED-S and CYAN-R were utilized to build patterns of cross-resistance, CYAN-R strain exhibited 63.317-fold resistance to cyantraniliprole, but no cross-resistance to several other successfully commercialized chemical agents. After that significant inhibition of cyantraniliprole resistance by piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and increased cytochrome P450 (3.4-fold) were observed in CYAN-R strain, indicating putative involvement of P450 in detoxification. Furthermore, five published detoxification-related P450 genes in B. tabaci, CYP4C64, CYP6CM1, CYP6CX1, CYP6CX4, and CYP6DZ7 were selected and expression levels of them were measured for exploring mechanisms of cyantraniliprole resistance. Compare with MED-S, no significant overexpression of the five P450 genes was observed in the CYAN-R strain. Above results could be conductive to study on mechanism of cyantraniliprole resistance and will be very helpful for the management of whitefly.

International audience; Previous data showed that the parasitoid wasp Aphelinus asychis was more successful on Sitobion avenae clones artificially infected with different strains of Regiella insecticola compared to the same clones lacking facultative symbionts. To test whether this resulted from a specific interaction between the aphid and symbiont genotype, we used new clonal lines from a different genotype of S. avenae (Linyi) infected with the same R. insecticola strains. The parasitism rate of A. asychis was higher on the two Linyi lines infected with R. insecticola than on the uninfected control line, while the emergence rate was lower due to higher mortality during development. However, a different wasp species, Aphidius gifuensis, showed no difference in the parasitism rate and emergence rate between the three Linyi lines, suggesting that the increase in parasitism rate could be wasp species-dependent. The mortality of A. asychis during development in the presence of R. insecticola may be linked to (i) a direct toxic or metabolic effect since the weight of the emerged wasps was also reduced and (ii) a general effect on the aphid fitness since the survival and fecundity of infected aphids having survived A. asychis attack were clearly reduced compared to the control, while those surviving A. gifuensis attack had only a slight increase in their survival rate. Our data therefore enriched the panel of phenotypic effects that R. insecticola could contribute to the aphid and emphasized the potential implications of symbionts on biological pest control.

The sycamore lace bug, Corythucha ciliata (Say) is an invasive pest infesting trees of the genus Platanus. Both adults and nymphs damage the foliage of sycamore trees. Nymphs cannot survive in low temperatures; however, the sycamore lace bug overwinters as adults. In this study, we analyzed the metabolite profiles of this pest to determine significantly regulated metabolites during paurometabolous development from nymphs to adults. The identification of metabolites is essential to convert analytical data into meaningful biological knowledge. A total of 62 metabolites were identified using GC-MS. Among them, 29 different metabolites showed differences in content among nymphs, adult females (AF), and adult males (AM). Five of the 29 metabolites, including caffeic acid, D-glucose, D-mannose, glycerol and aminooxyacetic acid, were significantly increased and nine of them were significantly decreased during the developmental stages from nymph to adult. In addition, we identified three novel aldo-keto reductase (AKR) genes that may play a significant role in the control of glycerol biosynthesis. Moreover, the characteristics and expression levels of these genes were analyzed. This study will provide us with the necessary information to improve our understanding of the changes in metabolites in C. ciliata during paurometabolous development.

The tobacco whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is an important crop pest which threatens agriculture worldwide. It has evolved resistance to various classes of insecticides. Cycloxaprid is a new-generation neonicotinoid which is a (nitromethylene) imidazole analogue of imidacloprid which is highly efficient for the control of various Hemipteran pests in China. Studies were conducted to determine the baseline susceptibility to cycloxaprid of 18 field samples of B. tabaci collected from 9 geographical locations in China and the possibility of cross-resistance between cycloxaprid and other important neonicotinoids of one laboratory-selected resistant strain. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC50) of cycloxaprid to these 18 samples ranged from 0.84 to 12.17 mg/L. Furthermore, compared with the susceptible laboratory strain, the imidacloprid-resistant strain exhibited a 27.9-fold resistance to imidacloprid and lower level of cross-resistance to acetamiprid (16.3-fold), thiacloprid (13.7-fold) and nitenpyram (16.6-fold), but no cross-resistance to cycloxaprid (1.9-fold). These results demonstrate that cycloxaprid could be one effective alternative insecticide for whitefly management that could reduce imidacloprid selection pressure.

Background The plant homeodomain (PHD) finger protein 14 (PHF14) is a vital member of PHD finger protein families. Abnormal expression of PHF14 has been identified in various cancers and is known to be implicated in the pathogenesis of tumors. This study investigates the role and the underlying mechanisms of PHF14 in GBM (glioblastoma multiforme). Methods Tissue microarrays and public databases interrogation were used to explore the relationship between the expression of PHF14 and GBM. Three stable PHF14-silenced cell lines (U251, U87MG and A172) were constructed to assess the biological functions changes of GBM cells in vitro. In addition, tumorigenicity in vivo was also performed using U87MG cell line. To understand the mechanism of action of PHF14, RNA-Seq, qRT-PCR, Western blot, IC50 assay and subsequent pathway analysis were performed. Results Our results showed that the expression of PHF14 was upregulated in glioma, especially in GBM. Overexpression of PHF14 translated to poor prognosis in glioma patients. In vitro assays revealed that silencing expression of PHF14 in glioma cells inhibited migration, invasiveness and proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. Animal assay further confirmed that over-expression of PHF14 was a dismal prognostic factor. Analysis based on RNA-Seq suggested a PHF14-dependent regulation of Wnt signaling networks, which was further validated by qRT-PCR, Western blot and IC50 analysis. In addition, the mRNA expression of several key markers of EMT (epithelial–mesenchymal transition) and angiogenesis was found to change upon PHF14 silencing. Conclusions Our data provide a new insight into the biological significance of PHF14 in glioma and its potential application in therapy and diagnosis.

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is an important invasive economic pest of agricultural crops worldwide. &beta, ionone has a significant oviposition repellent effect against B. tabaci, but the olfactory molecular mechanism of this insect for recognizing &beta, ionone is unclear. To clarify the binding properties of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) with &beta, ionone, we performed gene cloning, evolution analysis, bacterial expression, fluorescence competitive binding assay, and molecular docking to study the binding function of OBP1 and OBP4 on &beta, ionone. The results showed that after the OBP1 and OBP4 proteins were recombined, the compound &beta, ionone exhibited a reduction in the fluorescence binding affinity to &lt, 50%, with a dissociation constant of 5.15 and 3.62 &mu, M for OBP1 and OBP4, respectively. Our data indicate that &beta, ionone has high affinity for OBP1 and OBP4, which play a crucial role in the identification of oviposition sites in B. tabaci. The findings of this study suggest that whiteflies employ &beta, ionone compound in the selection of the suitable egg-laying sites on host plants during the oviposition behavior.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most economically important vegetables. The floral transition in lettuce is accelerated under high temperatures, which can significantly decrease yields. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the floral transition in lettuce is poorly known. Using laser capture microdissection coupled with RNA sequencing, we isolated shoot apical meristem cells from the bolting-sensitive lettuce line S39 at four critical stages of development. Subsequently, we screened specifically for the flowering-related gene LsSOC1 during the floral transition through comparative transcriptomic analysis. Molecular biology, developmental biology, and biochemical tools were combined to investigate the biological function of LsSOC1 in lettuce. LsSOC1 knockdown by RNA interference resulted in a significant delay in the timing of bolting and insensitivity to high temperature, which indicated that LsSOC1 functions as an activator during heat-promoted bolting in lettuce. We determined that two heat shock transcription factors, HsfA1e and HsfA4c, bound to the promoter of LsSOC1 to confirm that LsSOC1 played an important role in heat-promoted bolting. This study indicates that LsSOC1 plays a crucial role in the heat-promoted bolting process in lettuce. Further investigation of LsSOC1 may be useful for clarification of the bolting mechanism in lettuce.