Identification and Pathogenicity of Fungal Pathogens Causing Black Point in Wheat on the North China Plain.

Fungi associated with black point were isolated from three highly susceptible wheat genotypes in the North China Plain. The 21 isolates represented 11 fungal genera. The most prevalent genera were Alternaria (isolation frequency of 56.7%), Bipolaris (16.1%), and Fusarium (6.0%). The other eight genera were Curvularia, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Exserohilum, Epicoccum, Nigrospora, Penicillium, and Ulocladium; their isolation frequencies ranged from 0.8 to 4.8%. The pathogenicity of the isolates was individually assessed in the greenhouse by inoculating wheat plants with spore suspensions. Ten of the 21 isolates caused significantly higher incidences of black point than that the controls. These isolates belonged to eight fungal species (A. alternata, B. sorokiniana, B. crotonis, B. cynodontis, C. spicifera, F. equiseti, E. rostratum, and E. sorghinum) based on morphological traits and phylogenetic analysis. The average incidences of black point in the eight fungal species were 32.4, 54.3, 43.0, 41.9, 37.2, 38.8, 50.1, and 34.1%, respectively. B. sorokiniana and A. alternata were determined to be the most important pathogens in the North China Plain based on fungal prevalence and symptom severity. This study is the first to identify E. rostratum as a major pathogen causing black point in wheat.

Insufficient Dose of ERCC8 Protein Caused by a Frameshift Mutation Is Associated With Keratoconus With Congenital Cataracts.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify a new candidate gene for keratoconus and congenital cataracts and further investigate its underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Methods: This study, using a Chinese family with keratoconus and congenital cataracts, 262 patients with sporadic keratoconus, and 20 patients with sporadic congenital cataract as subjects, used clinical and genetic analysis and in vitro cell experiments to detect genetic mutations and further investigate the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Results: We found that a novel frameshift mutation of ERCC8 (NM_000082.3: c.394-398del, p. L132Nfs*6) is responsible for familial keratoconus with congenital cataracts. This mutation showed co-segregation with the phenotype in the family. This was revealed in another patient with sporadic keratoconus, absent in the 210 unrelated health controls, and considered to be "disease-causing." ERCC8 was expressed both in the cornea and lens. Through an in vitro cell experiment, we further demonstrated that the mutant proteins of ERCC8 were degraded and could lead to an insufficient dose of the ERCC8 protein. An insufficient dose reduced the DNA damage repair ability of human corneal fibroblast (HTK) and lens epithelial cells (HLEC) treated with hydrogen peroxide, leading to both cells showing higher DNA damage levels. In addition, it decreased cell viability, resulting in decreased collagen expression in HTK and increased apoptosis in HLEC via aberrant activation of the unfolded protein response. All these results suggested that ERCC8 plays an important role in the normal function of corneal stromal and lens epithelial cells. Conclusions: Our study showed that ERCC8 is a new gene associated with keratoconus and congenital cataracts.Chinese Abstract.