Isolation and characterization of cyromazine degrading Acinetobacter sp. ZX01 from a Chinese ginger cultivated soil.

Cyromazine, a symmetrical triazine insecticide, is used to control dipteran larvae in chicken manure by feeding to the poultry, flies on animals, and leafminers in vegetables. Its extensive use has resulted in the widespread contamination in the environment. In the current study, a cyromazine degrading bacterium (designated strain ZX01) was isolated and characterized from a Chinese ginger cultivated soil by selective enrichment culture method. On the basis of morphological, biochemical characteristics, and 16S rRNA gene sequence, this bacterium showed strong similarity to the Pseudomonadales members and was closely related to the Acinetobacter baumannii group. Spectrophotometric and HPLC analyses revealed that strain ZX01 degraded cyromazine and utilized it as the sole carbon source for its growth. This process hydrolyzes cyromazine to melamine. Strain ZX01 degraded most of the cyromazine in 60 h. Besides, its substrate specificity against four symmetrical triazine herbicides, one triazinone herbicide, as well as 10 insecticides and its antibiotic sensitivity towards eight commercial antibiotics were also tested. At the concentration of 100 µg/mL for 60 h, it could effectively degrade a variety of different pesticides, including atrazine, prometon, simazine, prometryn, enitrothion, diazinon, cypermethrin, and acetamiprid, and the degradation was in the range of 71-87%. In particular, melamine, the main degradation product of cyromazine, was degraded by 47.3%. This microorganism was sensitive to chloramphenicol and tetracycline and intermediate to amoxicillin and trimethoprim. These results highlight that strain ZX01 can be used as a potential biological agent for the remediation of soil, water, or crop contaminated with cyromazine and other symmetrical triazine insecticides.

Genetic polymorphisms of the drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 2A6 in a Tibetan Chinese population.

Detection of CYP2A6 variant alleles, and knowledge about their allelic frequency in Tibetan ethnic groups, is important to establish the clinical relevance of screening for these polymorphisms to optimize pharmacotherapy. We used DNA sequencing to investigate the promoter, exons and surrounding introns, and untranslated region of the CYP2A6 gene in 100 unrelated healthy Tibetan individuals. We also used SIFT and PolyPhen-2 to predict the protein function of the novel non-synonymous mutation in CYP2A6 coding regions. We found 33 different CYP2A6 polymorphisms in the Tibetan population, five of which were novel: -98T > G in promoter region, 1886C > A, 5640C > A, 5827G > T in intron and missense mutation 5011G > A in exon 7. We identified six CYP2A6 alleles (*1, *10, *11, *14, *15 and *18), with a wide frequency range from 1.00% to 86.50% in the population. We also detected six CYP2A6 genotypes, with a wide frequency range from 2.00% to 73.00%. Three of which (*1/*10, *1/*11 and *1/*18) lead to decreased enzyme activity. This study provided new information regarding CYP2A6genetic polymorphisms in Tibetan individuals, which will greatly facilitate studies on the relevance of pharmacogenetics for CYP2A6 with respect to disease risk and to the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many drugs.

Association of IFNGR1 and IFNG genetic polymorphisms with the risk for pulmonary tuberculosis in the Chinese Tibetan population.

Interferon-gamma (IFNG) and its receptor (IFNGR1) are principal genes that associated with tuberculosis. In the current study we aimed to explore the genetic association of polymorphisms of IFNG and IFNGR1 with the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the Chinese Tibetan population. We selected 467 PTB patients and 503 healthy controls to genotype 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The unconditional logistic regression analysis was applied for assessing the associations, and the risk of PTB were evaluated by calculating the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The results showed that mutants of rs9376268, rs1327475 and rs1327474 in IFNGR1 played a protective role in the PTB risk under genotype, dominant and additive model (P<0.05). On the contrary, minor allele "A" of rs2069705 in IFNG significantly increased the risk of PTB under genotype, dominant and additive model (P<0.05). However, after Bonferroni's multiple adjustment was applied to our data, which level of significant was set at P<0.0011 (0.05/45). Only variant of rs9376268 was significantly associated decrease the PTB susceptibility under additive model (OR=0.73, 95%CI=0.61-0.88, P<0.001). Furthermore, in the haplotype analysis, we found that the haplotypes "C-G-G-A-C", "C-G-A-G-T" and "T-A-G-G-T" of rs9376267-rs9376268-rs1327475-rs7749390-rs1327474 block were extremely decreased the PTB risk (P<0.01), however, the haplotypes "C-G-G-A-T", "T-G-G-G-T" and "C-G-G-G-T" of the block were extremely increased the PTB risk (P<0.01). These results suggested that variants of IFNGR1 may have a close relation with the PTB risk in Chinese Tibetan population.

Association between regulator of telomere elongation helicase1 (RTEL1) gene and HAPE risk: A case-control study.

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a paradigm of pulmonary edema. Mutations in regulator of telomere elongation helicase1 (RTEL1) represent an important contributor to risk for pulmonary fibrosis. However, little information is found about the association between RTEL1 and HAPE risk. The present study was undertaken to tentatively explore the potential relation between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RTEL1 and HAPE risk in Chinese Han population. A total of 265 HAPE patients and 303 healthy controls were included in our case-control study. Four SNPs in RTEL1 were selected and genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY method. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression with adjustment for gender and age. All P values were Bonferroni corrected, and statistical significance was set at P < .0025 (.05/20). In allelic model analysis, we found that the allele "G" of rs6089953 and rs6010621 and the allele "A" of rs2297441 were associated with decreased risk of HAPE. In the genetic model analysis, we found that rs6010621, rs6089953, and rs2297441 were relevant to decreased HAPE risk under dominant model (rs6010621: OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.39-0.78; P = .001; rs6089953: OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.48-0.96; P = .027; rs2297441: OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.45-0.89; P = .008, respectively) and additive model (rs6010621: OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.46-0.81; P < .001; rs6089953: OR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.55-0.95; P = .022; rs2297441: OR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.57-0.95; P = .019, respectively). SNPs rs6010621 remained significant after Bonferroni correction (P < .0025). In addition, haplotype "GG, GT, AT" of rs6089953-rs6010621 were detected significantly associated with HAPE risk (P < .05), haplotype "GG" remained significant after Bonferroni correction (P < .0025). Our findings provide new evidence for the association between SNPs in RTEL1 and a decreased risk HAPE in the Chinese population. The results need further confirmation.

TCF7L2 polymorphisms and the risk of schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TCF7L2 (Transcription Factor 7-Like 2) reportedly affect susceptibility to schizophrenia (SCZ). We examined the association between TCF7L2 polymorphisms and SCZ susceptibility in a Chinese Han population. Six SNPs were genotyped in 499 SCZ patients and 500 healthy individuals, after which their associations with SCZ were evaluated using the Chi-squared test and genetic model analyses. We observed that the allele A of rs12573128 is associated with an increased SCZ risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.63, P = 0.006, adjusted P = 0.030). The AA genotype of rs12573128 was associated with a higher SCZ risk than the GG genotype, before and after adjustment for sex and age (adjusted OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.49-5.92, P = 0.002). In addition, SNP rs12573128 was associated with 1.47-fold, 2.64-fold and 1.50-fold increases in SCZ risk of in dominant, recessive and additive model, respectively (adjusted OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.09-1.99, P = 0.012; Bonferroni adjusted P = 0.030). adjusted OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.34-5.18, P = 0.005 and adjusted OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.17-1.93, P = 0.002, respectively). These results suggest rs12573128 is significantly associated with an increased risk of SCZ in the Chinese Han population.

The relationship between polymorphisms of XRCC5 genes with astrocytoma prognosis in the Han Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Gliomas are highly malignant with a poor prognosis. Studies have reported that DNA repair genes influence risk for glioma, but its relationship with prognosis is unclear. In this study, we want to explore the relationship between DNA repair genes (XRCC3, XRCC4 and XRCC5) and prognosis of astrocytoma in the Chinese Han population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 160 astrocytoma cases were recruited in our study. Survival probabilities were estimated by using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and significant differences were analyzed by using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the associations between genotypes with astrocytoma survival. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable models. All tests were two-sided and p < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: The SNP (rs9288516) in XRCC5 (HR: 1.69, 95%CI: 1.04 - 2.77, p = 0.049), surgical approach (HR: 0.61, 95%CI: 0.43 - 0.88, p = 0.003) and chemotherapy (HR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.50 - 0.99, p = 0.029) were associated with astrocytoma prognosis. Further, the "A/A" genotype of rs9288516 in XRCC5 (HR: 1.67, 95%CI: 1.02 - 2.72, p = 0.042) had significantly outcomes after adjusting for potential confounders, patients with poor tumor differentiation and the coexistence of the unfavorable genotypes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that polymorphisms of XRCC5 play an important role in astrocytoma prognosis in the Chinese Han population which could be used in the determination of astrocytoma prognosis in clinical researches.

Angiotensin II receptor 1 gene variants are associated with high-altitude pulmonary edema risk.

Previous studies demonstrated that Angiotensin II Receptor 1 (AGTR1) may play an important role in the development of high-altitude pulmonary edema. We envisaged a role for AGTR1 gene variants in the pathogenesis of HAPE and investigated their potential associations with HAPE in a Han Chinese population. We genotyped seven AGTR1 polymorphisms in 267 patients with diagnosed HAPE and 304 controls and evaluated their association with risk of HAPE. Statistically significant associations were found for the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs275651 (p = 0.017; odds ratio [OR] = 0.65) and rs275652 (p = 0.016; OR = 0.64). Another SNP rs10941679 showed a marginally significant association after adjusting for age and sex in the additive genetic model (adjusted OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.01-2.04, p = 0.040). Haplotype analysis confirmed that the haplotype "AG" was associated with a 35% reduction in the risk of developing HAPE, while the haplotype "AA" increased the risk of developing HAPE by 44%. These results provide the first evidence linking genetic variations in AGTR1 with HAPE risk in Han Chinese individuals.

TERT rs2853676 polymorphisms correlate with glioma prognosis in Chinese population.

High rates of recurrence and the lack of effective treatments contribute to the poor prognosis of patients with glioma. There is therefore an urgent need for an easily detectable biomarker to facilitate early detection. In this study, we explored the association between TERT rs2853676 genetic polymorphisms and the prognosis of Chinese glioma patients. A total of 481 glioma patients at the Tangdu Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University in China were included in this study. The overall survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were determined through multivariate Cox regression analysis. The overall survival (OS) rates of one, two, and three years were 31%, 10.3%, and 7.5%, respectively. The progress-free survival (PFS) rates of one, two, and three years were 15.7%, 7.3%, and 4.7%, respectively. The genotype "A/G" of TERT rs2857676 decreased the PFS rate (hazard ratios [HR] = 0.824; P = 0.059). The genotype "A/G (HR = 0.803; 95% CI, 0.656 - 0.982; P = 0.032)" and "A/A + A/G" decreased the recurrence rate compared to the genotype G/G (HR = 0.818; 95% CI, 0.675-0.99; P = 0.040). Our study indicates that TERT rs2853676 polymorphisms correlate with glioma survival and recurrence rates in a Chinese population, which suggests that they could potentially serve as prognostic markers in glioma patients.

P2X7R Gene Polymorphisms are Associated with Increased Risk of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the Tibetan Chinese Population.

In this study, we aim to explore the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the P2X7R gene and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) susceptibility in the Tibetan Chinese population in China. We examined 467 patients with active PTB and 504 healthy controls living in Xi'an and the surrounding area. Eight P2X7R SNPs were genotyped, and association analysis was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were tested by unconditional logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of the polymorphisms on PTB risk. P2X7R SNP association analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 statistical packages and Microsoft Excel, SNP statistics software, Haploview software package (version 4.2), and SHEsis software platform. The results show that the "C" allele of rs656612 in the P2X7R gene was associated with an increased PTB risk by the additive model (OR = 1.307, 95% CI = 1.088-1.570, P = 0.004) and dominant model (rs656612, OR = 1.490, 95% CI = 1.153-1.926, P = 0.002). The "A" allele of rs208290 showed an increased PTB risk by the additive model (OR = 1.418, 95% CI = 1.179-1.706, P < 0.001) and dominant model (OR = 1.680, 95% CI = 1.297-2.177, P < 0.001), whereas the "A" allele of rs7958311 showed an increased risk by the additive model (rs7958311, OR = 1.260, 95% CI = 1.055-1.505, P = 0.011) and recessive model (OR = 1.609, 95% CI = 1.200-2.158, P = 0.001). After Bonferroni correction, rs208290 was found to be associated with PTB in the allele, dominant, and genotype models. In conclusion, our study revealed a significant association between three P2X7R gene polymorphisms (rs656612, rs208290, and rs7958311) and PTB in a Tibetan Chinese population.

Polymorphisms of the TCF4 gene are associated with the risk of schizophrenia in the Han Chinese.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex and severe mental disorder with highly heritability (80%). Several large genome-wide association studies have identified that the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) polymorphisms were strongly associated with SCZ. Therefore, the present study was to replicate the potential relationships between the TCF4 polymorphisms and SCZ. Furthermore, the study also investigated whether other variants were associated with SCZ in the Han Chinese. We conducted a case-control study including 499 patients and 500 healthy controls. Five SNPs were successfully genotyped and evaluated the association with SCZ by using χ2 test and genetic model analysis. We found that the genotype "AG" of rs9320010 and "GA" of rs7235757 decreased SCZ risk (OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.50-0.99, P = 0.041; OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.49-0.97, P = 0.034, respectively). In the genetic model analysis, we also observed that the allele "A" of rs9320010 and "G" of rs7235757 were inversely related with the risk of SCZ in the dominant model (OR = 0.72, 95%CI = 0.52-0.98, P = 0.039; OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.50-0.96, P = 0.025, respectively). Further interaction and stratification analysis suggested that rs1452787 was notably correlated with increased SCZ risk in males (OR = 2.77, 95%CI = 1.43-5.35, P = 0.002). Our study indicated that rs9320010, rs7235757, and rs1452787 were prominently associated with SCZ. Further studies are required to verify our findings and focus on determining the biological functions of the SNPs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.