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Background: GATA gene family is a transcription factor in eukaryotes, which plays an important role in plant growth and development, cell differentiation, decomposition and apoptosis, and plant response to environmental changes. However, no genome-wide analysis of this gene family has been reported in wheat.Results: In this study, 79 members of wheat GATA family were identified based on wheat genome information and named TaGATA01 ~ TaGATA79. The gene structure, phylogeny, chromosome distribution, physical and chemical properties, conserved motifs and cis-acting elements of TaGATA family members were systematically analyzed by bioinformatics methods. The results showed that TaGATA family members encoded 146 ~ 499 amino acids, with isoelectric points ranging from 4.76 to 10.12 and instability index ranging from 41.99 to 86.02, which were all unstable proteins; Phylogenetic tree results showed that 79 TaGATA transcription factors were divided into six subfamilies, and members of the same subfamily had highly similar gene structure; MG2C was used to analyze the chromosomes, and it was found that TaGATA family members were unevenly distributed on 21 chromosomes; Plant CARE was used to identify 10 Plant hormone-related elements and 4 stress-related elements, among which TaGATA12 contained the most cis-acting elements and TaGATA55 contained the least cis-acting elements. qRT-PCR was used to analyze the expression levels of 23 TaGATA genes in different tissues and different abiotic stresses. It was found that most of the genes were highly expressed in stem, but few in panicle; Most genes were up-regulated under ABA stress and some genes were down-regulated under low temperature stress.Conclusions: It was found that GATA transcription factors may be involved in the regulation of low temperature, drought and other stress responses of wheat, and play an important role in plant response to abiotic stress. This study analyzed the bioinformatics characteristics of each member of wheat GATA family and laid a theoretical foundation for the subsequent research on its functions.

Background: In eukaryotes, LIM protein plays the role of development regulator in regulating basic cellular processes such as transcription or tissue cytoskeleton, and participates in plant stress response. Although it is found in many plants, the study of LIM gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has not been reported yet.Results: In this study, we analyzed the gene structure, conserved motifs and other bioinformatics and expression patterns of LIM gene family in wheat, and identified 29 LIM gene family members from the whole wheat genome. All TaLIMs proteins contain at least one LIM domain, 5-12 exons, 196-1278 encoded amino acids and 4.47-9.05 theoretical isoelectric points. Chromosome mapping analysis showed that 28 members of TaLIMs were distributed on 18 chromosomes of wheat except 3A, 3B and 3D, and TaLIM29 could not be located on a definite chromosome. TaLIMs is divided into three subfamilies by phylogenetic analysis, which have highly similar gene structures with members of the same phylogenetic tree in subfamilies. Twelve members of LIM family in wheat were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The results showed that these members had different tissue expression patterns, among which two genes were significantly expressed in pollen, and the others had different expressions in different tissues. Under different stress conditions, TaLIMs showed different expression patterns. Six genes were upregulated after ABA treatment and salt stress, and two genes were upregulated after drought stress. TaLIM02 was significantly upregulated compared with the control under four stress conditions. TaLIM07 and TaLIM16 were significantly down-regulated compared with the control under four stresses.Conclusions: Through genome-wide analysis, 29 LIM gene family members were identified in the wheat genome. It is found that TaLIMs may be involved in the regulation of stress response processes such as low temperature and drought in wheat, and play an important role in plant response to abiotic stress. It may also play a role in the process of light induction in some periods.

Moraxella catarrhalis is one of the major otopathogens of otitis media (OM) in childhood. M. catarrhalis tends to form biofilm, which contributes to the chronicity and recurrence of infections, as well as resistance to antibiotic treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of antimicrobial blue light (aBL; 405 nm), an innovative nonpharmacological approach, for the inactivation of M. catarrhalis OM. M. catarrhalis either in planktonic suspensions or 24-h old biofilms were exposed to aBL at the irradiance of 60 mW cm(−2). Under an aBL exposure of 216 J cm(−2), a >4-log(10) colony-forming units (CFU) reduction in planktonic suspensions and a >3-log(10) CFU reduction in biofilms were observed. Both transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed aBL-induced morphological damage in M. catarrhalis. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography results indicated that protoporphyrin IX and coproporphyrin were the two most abundant species of endogenous photosensitizing porphyrins. No statistically significant reduction in the viability of HaCaT cells was observed after an aBL exposure of up to 216 J cm(−2). Collectively, our results suggest that aBL is potentially an effective and safe alternative therapy for OM caused byM. catarrhalis. Further in vivo studies are warranted before this optical approach can be moved to the clinics.

Otopathogens such as Moraxella Catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae are the major causes of pediatric chronic and recurrent otitis media (OM). This pilot study showed that both M. catarrhalis and H. influenzae were highly susceptible to antimicrobial blue light (aBL) inactivation at 405 nm, either in suspensions and biofilms. Transmission electron microscopy showed aBL-induced damage of cell membrane in M. catarrhalis cells. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography results revealed that protoporphyrin IX and coproporphyrin are the most abundant species of endogenous porphyrins in M. catarrhalis. Our findings suggest that aBL is potentially an effective alternative antimicrobial therapy for OM.