Molecular and proteomic response of Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm cultured on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) after ultrasound treatment at different intensity levels.

Ultrasonic treatment is widely used for surface cleaning of vegetables in the processing of agricultural products. In the present study, the molecular and proteomic response of Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm cultured on lettuce was investigated after ultrasound treatment at different intensity levels. The results show that the biofilm was efficiently removed after ultrasound treatment with intensity higher than 21.06 W/cm2. However, at an intensity of less than 18.42 W/cm2, P. fluorescens was stimulated by ultrasound leading to promoted bacterial growth, extracellular protease activity, extracellular polysaccharide secretion (EPS), and synthesis of acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as quorum-sensing signaling molecules. The expression of biofilm-related genes, stress response, and dual quorum sensing system was upregulated during post-treatment ultrasound. Proteomic analysis showed that ultrasound activated proteins in the flagellar system, which led to changes in bacterial tendency; meanwhile, a large number of proteins in the dual-component system began to be regulated. ABC transporters accelerated the membrane transport of substances inside and outside the cell membrane and equalized the permeability conditions of the cell membrane. In addition, the expression of proteins related to DNA repair was upregulated, suggesting that bacteria repair damaged DNA after ultrasound exposure.

Converting Hybrid Potato Breeding Science into Practice.

Research on diploid hybrid potato has made fast advances in recent years. In this review we give an overview of the most recent and relevant research outcomes. We define different components needed for a complete hybrid program: inbred line development, hybrid evaluation, cropping systems and variety registration. For each of these components the important research results are discussed and the outcomes and issues that merit further study are identified. We connect fundamental and applied research to application in a breeding program, based on the experiences at the breeding company Solynta. In the concluding remarks, we set hybrid breeding in a societal perspective, and we identify bottlenecks that need to be overcome to allow successful adoption of hybrid potato.

Genetic variations associated with telomere length affect the risk of gastric carcinoma.

This study aimed to further understand the role of relative telomere length (RTL) in susceptibility to gastric carcinoma (GC) and investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms in the telomere length related genes and GC risk.RTL was measured using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction from 1000 patients and 1100 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using the Agena MassARRAY platform. The statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square/ Welch T tests, Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis.The association analysis of telomere length and GC showed that the RTL in the case group was shorter than in the controls, and the shorter RTL was associated with an increased risk of GC. The association analysis between telomere length related genes polymorphisms and genetic susceptibility to GC indicated that: In the allele models and genetic models, TERT (rs10069690, rs2242652 and rs2853676) and TN1F1 (rs7708392 and rs10036748) were significantly associated with an increased risk of GC. In addition, the haplotype 'Grs10069690Crs2242652" of TERT and the haplotype 'Grs7708392Trs10036748" of TNIP1 were associated with an increased risk of GCOur results suggested that shorter RTL was associated with an increased risk of GC; The association analysis have identified that the TERT (rs10069690, rs2242652 and rs2853676) and TN1P1 (rs7708392 and rs10036748) were associated with GC risk.

Treatment of anaerobically digested effluent from kitchen waste using combined processes of anaerobic digestion-complete nitritation-ANAMMOX based on reflux dilution.

In this study, an anaerobically digested effluent from kitchen waste with high concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen was treated using combined processes of anaerobic digestion (AD), complete nitritation (CN), and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX). The COD and nitrogen removal efficiency of each treatment unit were investigated. The feasibility of using the final treatment effluent to dilute the original wastewater was also discussed. Findings showed that as a pretreatment step, AD resulted in the decline in biodegradability and increase in NH 4 + - N concentration. CN was successfully and stably achieved for 106 days with an average nitritation rate of 95% by maintaining the dissolved oxygen at 2-3 mg/L and hydraulic retention time of 24 hr under 30 ± 1°C. High NH 4 + - N and NO 2 - - N . removal efficiencies of over 88% and 96% were attained in the following ANAMMOX reactor. The reflux of ANAMMOX-treated effluent for the dilution of raw wastewater or an influent of CN and ANAMMOX ensured the stable operation of the combined system. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Anaerobic digestion effluent of kitchen waste had low COD/ NH 4 + - N ratio and poor biodegradability. Stable and efficient nitritation was realized by controlling DO, HRT and TEMP. High NH 4 + - N and NO 2 - -N removal efficiency were obtained by ANAMMOX process. Average nitrogen removal rate of 0.94 kg N/m3 /day were obtained by ANAMMOX. Reflux dilution with the effluent guaranteed the system's successful operation.

Effect of vacancies on the structural and electronic properties of Ti2CO2.

Ti2CO2 MXene is widely considered as a potential candidate material for sensors and optical devices. In this paper, first-principles calculations are performed to investigate the structural and electronic properties of pristine and vacancy defect Ti2CO2 monolayer. The results indicate that C-vacancy is energetically more favorable than Ti-vacancy and O-vacancy because of the smaller formation energy of C vacancy. The introduction of vacancy defects results in the transition from semiconductor to metal, and improves the electronic conductivities of Ti2CO2 monolayer. The introduction of C and O vacancies causes the Ti-d state to split into several peaks in the energy range of 0 to 2 eV, while the introduction of Ti vacancy makes the Ti-d state weaker and the C-p state stronger. Furthermore, the work function can be effectively engineered by vacancy defects.

Analysis of Tomato spotted wilt virus NSs protein indicates the importance of the N-terminal domain for avirulence and RNA silencing suppression.

Recently, Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) nonstructural protein NSs has been identified unambiguously as an avirulence (Avr) determinant for Tomato spotted wilt (Tsw)-based resistance. The observation that NSs from two natural resistance-breaking isolates had lost RNA silencing suppressor (RSS) activity and Avr suggested a link between the two functions. To test this, a large set of NSs mutants was generated by alanine substitutions in NSs from resistance-inducing wild-type strains (NSs(RI) ), amino acid reversions in NSs from resistance-breaking strains (NSs(RB)), domain deletions and swapping. Testing these mutants for their ability to suppress green fluorescent protein (GFP) silencing and to trigger a Tsw-mediated hypersensitive response (HR) revealed that the two functions can be separated. Changes in the N-terminal domain were found to be detrimental for both activities and indicated the importance of this domain, additionally supported by domain swapping between NSs(RI) and NSs(RB). Swapping domains between the closely related Tospovirus Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) NSs and TSWV NSs(RI) showed that Avr functionality could not simply be transferred between species. Although deletion of the C-terminal domain rendered NSs completely dysfunctional, only a few single-amino-acid mutations in the C-terminus affected both functions. Mutation of a GW/WG motif (position 17/18) rendered NSs completely dysfunctional for RSS and Avr activity, and indicated a putative interaction between NSs and Argonaute 1 (AGO1), and its importance in TSWV virulence and viral counter defence against RNA interference.

Correlation between phospholipase of Candida albicans and resistance to fluconazole.

The objective of this study was to compare phospholipase production between fluconazole-resistant and fluconazole-susceptible strains of Candida albicans in order to explore the relationship between resistance to antifungal drugs and virulence of C. albicans. Fifteen each of fluconazole-resistant (MIC ≥ 64 µg ml(-1)) and fluconazole-susceptible (MIC ≤ 8 µg ml(-1)) strains of C. albicans were incubated on egg yolk agar to detect phospholipase activity. Virulence of C. albicans was assessed by the average survival time of infected mice. Expression of phospholipase B1 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot method. Significant differences between the two groups of Candida strains were observed in phospholipase activity and average survival time of infected mice. The expression of phospholipase B1 mRNA and protein (both of secreted and intracellular forms) were higher in resistant strains than in susceptible strains. The results indicate that the phospholipase activity of C. albicans may be related to its resistance to antifungal drugs.

The effect of gentian violet on virulent properties of Candida albicans.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gentian violet (GV) on phospholipase activity, proteinase activity and germ tube formation rate of Candida albicans. Both 12 phospholipase-positive and 12 proteinase-positive C. albicans isolates with Pz values

Genetic polymorphism c.1438A>G of the 5-HT(2A) receptor is associated with abdominal obesity in Chinese Northern Han population.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the potential impact of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT(2A)R) c.1438A>G promoter polymorphism on obesity and estimates of insulin, glucose as well as lipid metabolism. METHODS: The genotypes and allelic frequencies of the 5-HT(2A)R c.1438A>G were examined with polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 210 patients with overweight/obesity and 216 unrelated healthy subjects. RESULTS: The genotype (AA, AG, and GG) distribution of c.1438A>G polymorphism of the 5-HT(2A)R gene promoter was 35%, 46%, and 19% in patients, and 32%, 56%, 12% in controls, respectively, no significant difference was found between two groups. Association of genetic diversity of 5-HT(2A)R c.1438A>G with the total body fat, fat distribution and clinical characteristics revealed that overweight/obese men carrying G allele were associated with increased body mass index (P = 0.043), waist circumference (P = 0.038), waist-to-hip ratio (P = 0.045), in comparison with patients who carrying A allele, but there were no significant difference between the c.1438A>G genotype groups in overweight/obese women. CONCLUSION: No significant associations were detected. However, the present study suggests the possibility that an abnormal production rate of the 5-HT(2A)R c.1438A>G gene product might lead to the development of abdominal obesity in men but not in women.

Effect of ScrF I polymorphism in the 2nd intron of the HMGCR gene on lipid-lowering response to simvastatin in Chinese diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ScrF I polymorphism in the 2nd intron of the HMG-COA reductase gene (HMGCR) influences serum lipid levels and whether this polymorphism affects the efficiency of the cholesterol lowering HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, simvastatin. METHODS: One hundred sixty-eight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prospectively received simvastatin as a single-agent therapy (20mg day-1 p.o.) for 12 weeks. Serum lipid levels were determined before and after simvastatin treatment. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: Subjects with the AA homozygotes had significantly higher serum very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels than those with the aa homozygotes. In addition, in 168 patients with T2DM who took 20mg simvastatin, the VLDL-C lowering effect by simvastatin in subjects with the aa homozygotes was significantly lower than in those with the Aa heterozygotes and AA homozygotes. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin treatment significantly decreased plasma lipids in all patients (P<0.01). Importantly, we demonstrate that ScrF I polymorphism of the HMGCR gene in patients with T2DM groups is associated with significant elevation of serum VLDL-C levels. Subjects with the AA homozygotes had significantly higher serum high VLDL-C levels than those with the Aa heterozygotes and aa homozygotes (AA: 2.18+/-0.51; Aa: 2.04+/-0.59, aa: 1.86+/-0.43, P<0.05 for comparison among three genotypes and P<0.01 for difference between AA and aa). Furthermore, this polymorphism tends to show an enhanced response to an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in terms of the cholesterol-lowering effect. In 168 patients with T2DM who took 20mg simvastatin, the VLDL-C lowering effect by simvastatin in subjects with the AA homozygotes was significantly lower than in those with the Aa heterozygotes and aa homozygotes (the reduction in serum VLDL-C levels; 37.03+/-5.67 versus 28.97+/-4.96, P<0.01; 34.62+/-5.87 versus 28.97+/-4.96, P<0.05). These results suggest that the HMGCR gene may serve as a modifier gene for hypercholesterolemia in Chinese diabetic patients.

Novel role and regulation of the interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase (IRAK) family proteins.

The interleukin-1 receptor associated kinases (IRAKs) sit at the bottle neck for the Toll-like-receptor (TLR) mediated signal transduction process controlling host innate immune response. However, the exact role and regulation of IRAKs are still in the early stage and not fully understood. This review intends to summarize the recent advancement in this important topic and point out areas that need further intensive investigation.

Melatonin enhances lymphocyte proliferation and decreases the release of pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides in surgically traumatized rats.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of melatonin (MT) on spleen lymphocyte proliferation and release of pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides in surgically traumatized rats. MT prevented the depression of lymphocyte proliferation induced by trauma in vivo and in vitro, and prevented the decrease of beta-endorphin and adrenocorticotropin in the pituitary in vivo, but dose-dependently inhibited the release of POMC-derived peptides from the pituitary in vitro. The culture media of the pituitaries derived from the traumatized rats inhibited lymphocyte proliferation of normal rats. These results suggest that MT can improve the trauma-induced depression of lymphocyte proliferation and inhibit the release of POMC-derived peptides. The neuroimmunomodulatory role of MT and POMC-derived peptides deserves further study.

Effect of melatonin and electroacupuncture (EA) on NK cell activity, interleukin-2 production and POMC-derived peptides in traumatic rats.

The present study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin (MT) and EA on the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells, the dynamic changes of the induction of interleukin-2(IL-2) and the content of POMC-derived peptides, beta-endorphins (betaE) and ACTH in spleen lymphocytes and in plasma of traumatic rats. The results showed that intraperitioneal (i.p.) injection of MT was able to recover the lower levels of NK cell activity and the induction of IL-2 production; MT could also decrease the higher betaE and ACTH levels induced by trauma in spleen lymphocytes and plasma. EA needling of Zusanli (St.36) and Lanwei (Extra.37) points obviously improved the immunosuppression produced by trauma and antagonized the elevation of betaE and ACTH contents induced by trauma stress in spleen lymphocytes and plasma. MT + EA could further modulate the depressed immune function, and there was a significant difference compared with MT (i.p.) or EA alone. MT + EA group further decreased the betaE and ACTH contents in immune cells and plasma. Yet, the mechanisms of the attenuation of MT and EA on immunosuppression induced by trauma need further study.