Characterization and expression profiling of ATP-binding cassette transporter genes in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.).

BACKGROUND: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are one of the major transmembrane protein families found in all organisms and play important roles in transporting a variety of compounds across intra and extra cellular membranes. In some species, ABC transporters may be involved in the detoxification of substances such as insecticides. The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), a destructive pest of cruciferous crops worldwide, is an important species to study as it is resistant to many types of insecticides as well as biological control Bacillus thuringiensis toxins. RESULTS: A total of 82 ABC genes were identified from our published P. xylostella genome, and grouped into eight subfamilies (ABCA-H) based on phylogenetic analysis. Genes of subfamilies ABCA, ABCC and ABCH were found to be expanded in P. xylostella compared with those in Bombyx mori, Manduca sexta, Heliconius melpomene, Danaus plexippus, Drosophila melanogaster, Tetranychus urticae and Homo sapiens. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that many of the ABC transporters in P. xylostella are orthologous to the well-studied ABC transporter genes in the seven other species. Transcriptome- and qRT-PCR-based analysis elucidated physiological effects of ABC gene expressions of P. xylostella which were developmental stage- and tissue-specific as well as being affected by whether or not the insects were from an insecticide-resistant strain. Two ABCC and one ABCA genes were preferentially expressed in midgut of the 4th-instar larvae of a susceptible strain (Fuzhou-S) suggesting their potential roles in metabolizing plant defensive chemicals. Most of the highly expressed genes in insecticide-resistant strains were also predominantly expressed in the tissues of Malpighian tubules and midgut. CONCLUSIONS: This is the most comprehensive study on identification, characterization and expression profiling of ABC transporter genes in P. xylostella to date. The diversified features and expression patterns of this gene family may be associated with the evolutionary capacity of this species to develop resistance to a wide range of insecticides and biological toxins. Our findings provide a solid foundation for future functional studies on specific ABC transporter genes in P. xylostella, and for further understanding of their physiological roles and regulatory pathways in insecticide resistance.

Effects of Age on Recovery of Olfactory Function After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and Related Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of age on the olfactory function recovery of chronic rhinosinusitis patients after endoscopic sinus surgery and related risk factors. METHODS: A total of 176 chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients enrolled from February 2017 to October 2019 were divided into child, youth, middle-aged, and elderly groups. Their baseline data, T&T olfactory test score, visual analogue scale (VAS) olfactory score, sinus computed tomography (CT) Lund-Mackay score, and Lund-Kennedy score were compared. Based on postoperative olfactory function, they were divided into good and poor improvement groups. RESULTS: Complication with nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis history, and sinus surgery history had significant differences among patients of different ages (P < .05). Three months after surgery, T&T olfactory, VAS olfactory, Lund-Mackay, and Lund-Kennedy scores all rose with increasing age, with significant differences between any 2 groups (P < .05). The improvement of postoperative olfactory function became poorer with aging (P < .05). T&T and VAS olfactory scores had significant positive correlations with Lund-Mackay and Lund-Kennedy scores (P < .001). Age, preoperative Lund-Mackay and Lund-Kennedy scores, complication with nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis history, sinus surgery history, and postoperative complications were risk factors for the poor improvement of postoperative olfactory function. Doctor-directed treatment was a protective factor for good improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement of olfactory function of CRS patients after endoscopic sinus surgery declines with aging. Age, preoperative Lund-Mackay and Lund-Kennedy scores, complication with nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis history, sinus surgery history, and postoperative complications are risk factors for the poor improvement of postoperative olfactory function. Doctor-directed treatment is a protective factor for good improvement.

[Association of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and its prognosis with the brain white matter hyperintensity].

Objective:To explore the relationship between white matter hyperintensity（WMH） and sudden sensorineural hearing loss（SSHL） and evaluate the influence of WMH on the prognosis of SSHL. Methods:Fifty hospitalized unilateral SSHL patients and 50 age and gender matched routine physical examination individuals without SSHL history from June 2019 to June 2020 were included for a case-control study. All included subjects underwent 3.0 Tesla cranial magnetic resonance examination, and the Fazekas scale was applied to evaluate periventricular white matter hyperintense（PVWMH） and deep white matter hyperintense（DWMH）. Fazekas score and distribution proportions of Fazekas score was compared between SSHL and control. Ordered logistic regression was used to study the relationship between prognosis of SSHL and WMH. Results:The Fazekas score of WMH in SSHL group was significantly higher than that of control group（PVWMH: P=0.004, DWMH: P=0.010）; There was a significant difference in the distribution proportions of Fazekas scores between SSHL and control（PVWMH: P=0.036, DWMH: P=0.047）; The results of ordered logistic regression showed that patients without WMH（Fazekas=0） is an independent predictor of good prognosis in SSHL（P=0.025, OR=12.779）. Conclusion:The prevalence of WMH in SSHL patients was higher than that of control. SSHL patients without WMH has a better prognosis than those with WMH.

Expression of silent information regulator 1 in chronic rhinosinusitis and regulatory effects of inflammatory factors.

We aimed to investigate the expression of silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and the regulatory effects of inflammatory factors. The mucosal epithelial tissues of the nasal ethmoid sinus were collected from 30 patients with CRS from March 2017 to March 2019, and tissues from patients undergoing functional rhinoplasty were included as a control group. H&E staining and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the histopathologic changes in the nasal mucosa and the expression of Sirt1. Epithelial cells in the control group were extracted from the ethmoid sinus mucosa and cultured in vitro. After the cells were treated with 0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL interleukin-5 (IL-5) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) for 24 h, qRT-PCR and western blotting were carried out to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Sirt1. Nasal mucosal tissues of the control group were complete in structure, whereas large quantities of inflammatory cells infiltrated in nasal mucosa of the CRS group. Compared with the control group, the CRS group had significantly decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of Sirt1 (P<0.05), which significantly declined with increasing concentrations of IL-5 and IFN-γ (P<0.05). Thus, expression of Sirt1 in the nasal mucosa tissues of CRS patients is decreased, and inflammatory factors can reduce such expression in a dose-dependent manner. Sirt1 may participate in the inflammatory stress process of CRS.

Structure and expression of sulfatase and sulfatase modifying factor genes in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), uses sulfatases (SULF) to counteract the glucosinolate-myrosinase defensive system that cruciferous plants have evolved to deter insect feeding. Sulfatase activity is regulated by post-translational modification of a cysteine residue by sulfatase modifying factor 1 (SUMF1). We identified 12 SULF genes (PxylSulfs) and two SUMF1 genes (PxylSumf1s) in the P. xylostella genome. Phylogenetic analysis of SULFs and SUMFs from P. xylostella, Bombyx mori, Manduca sexta, Heliconius melpomene, Danaus plexippus, Drosophila melanogaster, Tetranychus urticae and Homo sapiens showed that the SULFs were clustered into five groups, and the SUMFs could be divided into two groups. Profiling of the expression of PxylSulfs and PxylSumfs by RNA-seq and by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that two glucosinolate sulfatase genes (GSS), PxylSulf2 and PxylSulf3, were primarily expressed in the midgut of 3rd- and 4th-instar larvae. Moreover, expression of sulfatases PxylSulf2, PxylSulf3 and PxylSulf4 were correlated with expression of the sulfatases modifying factor PxylSumf1a. The findings from this study provide new insights into the structure and expression of SUMF1 and PxylSulf genes that are considered to be key factors for the evolutionary success of P. xylostella as a specialist herbivore of cruciferous plants.