Insecticidal Activity and Molecular Target by Morphological Analysis, RNAseq, and Molecular Docking of the Aryltetralin Lignan Lactone Helioxanthin, Isolated from Taiwania flousiana Gaussen.

Botanical insecticides are considered an environmentally friendly approach to insect control because they are easily biodegraded and cause less environmental pollution compared to traditional chemical pesticides. In this study, we reported the insecticidal activities of the ingredients from Taiwania flousiana Gaussen (T. flousiana). Five compounds, namely helioxanthin (C1), taiwanin E (C2), taiwanin H (C3), 7,4'-dimethylamentoflavone (C4), and 7,7″-di-O-methylamentoflavone (C5), were isolated and tested against the second, third, and fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Our results indicated that all five compounds showed insecticidal activities, and helioxanthin, which is an aryltetralin lignan lactone, was the most effective with LC50 values of 0.60, 2.82, and 3.12 mg/L, respectively, 48 h after application, with its activity against the second instar larvae similar to that of pyrethrin and better than that of rotenone. Further studies found that helioxanthin accumulated in the gastric cecum and the midgut and caused swelling of mitochondria with shallow matrices and fewer or disappeared crista. Additionally, our molecular mechanisms studies indicated that the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly associated with mitochondria and the cuticle, among which the voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) gene was the most down-regulated by helioxanthin, and VDAC is the potential target of helioxanthin by binding to specific amino acid residues (His 122 and Glu 147) via hydrogen bonds. We conclude that aryltetralin lignan lactone is a potential class of novel insecticides by targeting VDAC.

Adsorption performance of ammonium molybdate modified Salix wood flour biochar for the treatment of monosodium glutamate wastewater.

ABSTRACTThe problem of wastewater pollution in the production of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is becoming more and more serious. A novel type of chemically modified Salix psammophila powder charcoal (SPPCAM) was synthesized to address the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in MSG wastewater. SPPCAM was prepared by carbonization method, in which inorganic ammonium molybdate (AM) was used as modifier and Salix psammophila powder (SPP) was used as raw material. Under optimal treatment conditions, maximum removal rates (removal capacities) of 45.9% (3313.2 mg·L-1) for COD and 29.4% (23.2 mg·L-1) for NH3-N in MSG wastewater were achieved. The treatment results significantly outperforming the unmodified Salix psammophila powder charcoal (SPPC), which only achieved removal rates (removal capacities) of 10.6% (763.9 mg·L-1) for COD and 12.9% (10 mg·L-1) for NH3-N. SPPC and SPPCAM before and after preparation were analysed by FT-IR and XRD, and Mo ions in the form of Mo2C within SPPCAM were successfully loaded. SEM, EDS-Mapping, BET, and other methods were used to analyse SPPCAM before and after MSG wastewater treatment, demonstrating that SPPCAM effectively treated organic pollutants in monosodium glutamate wastewater. The NH3-N in the treated MSG wastewater has reached the standard of safe discharge.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicines combined with conventional Western medicines in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aims/hypothesis: Through a comprehensive analysis of the clinical randomized controlled trials of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with conventional western medicine (CWM) in treating type 2 diabetes(T2DM) in the past ten years, the clinical efficacy and safety of different TCMs combined with CWM were explored. This study aimed to provide specific suggestions for clinical guidance on treating T2DM. Methods: A literature search was conducted in CNKI, WanFang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The search time was limited from 2010 to the present time. The literature type was a controlled clinical trial study of TCM combined with CWM intervention in treating T2DM. The outcome indices of the efficacy evaluation included fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), adverse reactions, and clinical efficacy. Stata 15 and RevMan 5.4 software were used to conduct a network meta-analysis and a traditional meta-analysis. Results: The results showed that shenqi jiangtang granule combined with sulfonylurea, shenqi jiangtang granules combined with metformin and jinlida granules combined with insulin had significant effects on reductions in FBG, 2hPG and clinical efficacy compared with western medicines alone, which included fasting blood glucose [MD=-2.17, 95%CI=(-2.50, -1.85)], blood sugar at 2 hours after a meal [MD=-1.94, 95%CI=(-2.23, -1.65)], and clinical curative effect [OR= 1.73, 95%CI=(0.59, 2.87)]. Conclusions: TCM combined with CWM has a very significant effect on treating T2DM compared with CWM alone. According to the network meta-analysis, the best intervention measures of different TCMs for different outcome indicators were obtained. Systematic review registration: identifier 42022350372.

Pharmaceutical and pharmacological studies of Shen Ma Yi Zhi granule for prevention of vascular dementia: A review.

Background: With dementia significantly increasing hospitalization and disability rates, worldwide aging of the population presents major challenges to public health. The majority of cases of cognitive dysfunction among the elderly, however, are characterized by an identifiable, preventable and treatable vascular component. As such, increased study of preventative methods in the context of dementia is warranted. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds have been reported to be neuroprotective and improve cognitive function via a variety of mechanisms. Shen Ma Yi Zhi granule (SMYZG) is one such collection of compounds that has been proven clinically effective. Pharmacological mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics and clinical applications of SMYZG have been previously studied using a variety of vascular dementia animal models. SMYZG activates and regulates four main signaling pathways relevant to vascular dementia including the AMPK/PPARα/PGC-1α/UCP2, Nrf2/HO-1, HIF-1/VEGF/Notch, and VEGF/Flk-1/p8 MAPK pathways. Furthermore, SMYZG influences anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant stress responses, reverses demyelination of brain white matter and vascular endothelium, regulates pericyte function and normalizes mitochondrial metabolism. Neuroprotective effects of SMYZG, as well as those promoting regeneration of vascular endothelium, have also been reported in studies of rat models of vascular dementia. Future research concerning SMYG is warranted for development of vascular dementia preventative management strategies.

Clinical effect of Xuebijing combined with thymosinα1 on patients with severe pneumonia complicated with sepsis and its effect on serum inflammatory factors.

This study aimed to research the clinical effect of Xuebijing combined with thymosin α1 on patients with severe pneumonia complicated with sepsis, and its effect on serum inflammatory factors. For this purpose, 81 cases of severe pneumonia complicated with sepsis were collected. All patients were given early treatments. 41 cases who received Xuebijing injection by intravenous drip were selected as the control group. 40 cases who were treated through subcutaneous injection of thymosin α1 based on Xuebijing injection by intravenous drip were selected as the study group. The body temperature, respiration, heart rate, leukocytes, other general conditions, blood gas indexes, serum IL-6, TNF-α and CRP levels, bacterial clearance rate and therapy effect were recorded and compared before and after treatment. Results showed that after treatment, the body temperature, respiration, heart rate, leukocytes and other general conditions of the study group were lower than those in the control group (all p<0.05). The blood gas indexes pH and PaCO2 levels of the study group were lower than those of the control group. The levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the study group were lower than those in the control group (all p<0.05). The bacterial clearance rate of the study group was lower than that of the control group (all p<0.05). The total effective rate of treatment of patients in the study group was higher than that of patients in the control group (all p<0.05). In general, Thymosin α1 and Xuebijing injection can improve the therapy effect of severe pneumonia complicated with sepsis, improve the hemorheology condition of patients, effectively remove bacteria and reduce the expression level of serum CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and other inflammatory factors in patients, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Insecticidal Triterpenes in Meliaceae: Plant Species, Molecules and Activities: Part â (Aphanamixis-Chukrasia).

Plant-originated triterpenes are important insecticidal molecules. The research on insecticidal activity of molecules from Meliaceae plants has always received attention due to the molecules from this family showing a variety of insecticidal activities with diverse mechanisms of action. In this paper, we discuss 102 triterpenoid molecules with insecticidal activity of plants of eight genera (Aglaia, Aphanamixis, Azadirachta, Cabralea, Carapa, Cedrela, Chisocheton, and Chukrasia) in Meliaceae. In total, 19 insecticidal plant species are presented. Among these species, Azadirachta indica A. Juss is the most well-known insecticidal plant and azadirachtin is the active molecule most widely recognized and highly effective botanical insecticide. However, it is noteworthy that six species from Cedrela were reported to show insecticidal activity and deserve future study. In this paper, a total of 102 insecticidal molecules are summarized, including 96 nortriterpenes, 4 tetracyclic triterpenes, and 2 pentacyclic triterpenes. Results showed antifeedant activity, growth inhibition activity, poisonous activity, or other activities. Among them, 43 molecules from 15 plant species showed antifeedant activity against 16 insect species, 49 molecules from 14 plant species exhibited poisonous activity on 10 insect species, and 19 molecules from 11 plant species possessed growth regulatory activity on 12 insect species. Among these molecules, azadirachtins were found to be the most successful botanical insecticides. Still, other molecules possessed more than one type of obvious activity, including 7-deacetylgedunin, salannin, gedunin, azadirone, salannol, azadiradione, and methyl angolensate. Most of these molecules are only in the primary stage of study activity; their mechanism of action and structure-activity relationship warrant further study.

Chinese herbal injections for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A narrative review.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused more than 180 million infections and 3.9 million deaths. To date, emerging clinical evidence has shown the synergetic benefits of Chinese herbal injections in treating this contagious respiratory disease. This review aims to summarize and analyze the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal injections in the therapy of COVID-19. METHODS: The literature from 3 electronic databases, PubMed, CNKI, and Web of Science, were searched using the search terms "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2", "traditional Chinese medicine", "herb", "herbal", and "injection". Then the identified articles were comprehensively evaluated. RESULTS: Limited data demonstrated that Chinese herbal injections could significantly improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients, especially in combination with conventional treatment strategies. The benefits of which were mainly associated with the relief of symptoms, prevention of secondary infection, regulation of inflammation and immune function. There was also evidence showing the inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Nevertheless, available real-world data suggested the increased risk of adverse event. Furthermore, the defects of existing researches and the insights for discovering novel antiviral drugs were prospectively discussed. CONCLUSION: Evidence-based advances revealed that Chinese herbal injections such as XueBiJing injection and ShenMai injection, exerted potent effects against COVID-19. Further laboratory researches and clinical evaluation are needed to gather scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety.

Ursolic acid: A systematic review of its pharmacology, toxicity and rethink on its pharmacokinetics based on PK-PD model.

Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid compound existing in various traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, and it possesses diverse pharmacological actions and some undesirable adverse effects, even toxicological activities. Due to UA's low solubility and poor bioavailability, and its interaction with gut microbiota after oral administration, the pharmacokinetics of UA remain elusive, leading to obscurity in the pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) profile and relationship for UA. Based on literatures from PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Web of Science and Wiley Online Library, with keywords of "pharmacology", "toxicology", "pharmacokinetics", "PK-PD" and "ursolic acid", herein we systematically review the pharmacology and toxicity of UA, and rethink on its pharmacokinetics on the basis of PK-PD model, and seek to delineate the underlying mechanisms for the characteristics of pharmacology and toxicology of UA, and for the pharmacokinetic features of UA particularly from the organ tropism and the interactions between UA and gut microbiota, and lay a solid foundation for development of UA-derived therapeutic agents in clinical settings.

[Inhibition of scutellarin on differentiation of colonic cancer stem cells via hedgehog signaling pathway].

The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of scutellarin on the differentiation of colonic cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo and to explore its underlying hedgehog signaling-based mechanism. The effect of scutellarin on the growth in vitro of HT-29 cells-derived cancer stem-like cells(HT-29 CSC) was observed with 3 D cell culture. The effect of scutellarin on the transformation of HT-29 CSC cells was assessed by soft agar colony formation assay. Fetal calf serum was used to induce differentiation of stem cells and observe the effect of scutellarin on HT-29 CSC cells differentiation in vitro. The effects of scutellarin on mRNA expressions of Lgr5, c-Myc, CK20 and Nanog in HT-29 CSC cells were determined by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR). The effects of scutellarin on protein expressions of c-Myc, Gli1 and Lgr5 in HT-29 CSC cells were examined by Western blot. After subcutaneous implantation of HT-29 CSC cells in nude mice, the effect of scutellarin on the mouse body weight and the growth of HT-29 CSC-derived tumor were explored. qRT-PCR was used for evaluating the effect of scutellarin on mRNA levels of CD133, Lgr5, Gli1, Ptch1, c-Myc, Ki-67, CK20 and Nanog in tumor. Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis were used to detect the effect of scutellarin on protein expressions of c-Myc, Gli1, Lgr5, CD133 and Ki-67 in tumor. The in vitro experiments showed that scutellarin inhibited the growth, transformation and differentiation of HT-29 CSC cells, significantly down-regulated the mRNA levels of Lgr5, c-Myc, CK20 and Nanog in HT-29 CSC cells as well as the protein expression levels of c-Myc, Gli1 and Lgr5 in HT-29 CSC cells. Additionally, animal experiments showed that scutellarin significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice, and down-regulated the mRNA expressions of CD133, Lgr5, Gli1, Ptch1, c-Myc, Ki-67, CK20 and Nanog as well as the protein levels of c-Myc, Gli1, Lgr5, CD133 and Ki-67 of xenografts in nude mice. Taken together, scutellarin could inhibit the differentiation of colo-nic cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo, potentially by down regulation of hedgehog signaling pathway activity.

Licochalcone A restrains microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression and growth by activating autophagy in melanoma cells via miR-142-3p/Rheb/mTOR pathway.

Licochalcone A (LCA) was found to possess anticancer effects. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects and mechanisms of LCA in melanoma. A375 and B16 melanoma cells were stimulated with LCA, MTT assay was used to assess cell proliferation. Expression of miR-142-3p, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF, which regulates melanin production) and autophagy-related genes was determined by Real-time PCR or western blot. The apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity. The roles of miR-142-3p and Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) in LCA-affected cells were investigated by gain- and loss-of functions. LCA inhibited proliferation and MITF expression, but increased apoptosis and autophagy of melanoma cells. Moreover, LCA elevated miR-142-3p expression, but decreased its target gene Rheb expression. The effects of LCA on melanoma cells were abrogated by miR-142-3p inhibitor or Rheb overexpression. LCA suppressed mTOR signaling activation via Rheb. Additionally, rapamycin (a mTOR antagonist) notably attenuated the effects of Rheb on the autophagy, proliferation, apoptosis, and MITF expression in LCA-treated melanoma cells. In conclusion, LCA restrained MITF expression and growth by activating autophagy in melanoma cells via miR-142-3p/Rheb/mTOR pathway. This study suggested that LCA might be a potential therapeutic candidate for prevention and treatment of melanoma.

Herbicidal Spectrum, Absorption and Transportation, and Physiological Effect on Bidens pilosa of the Natural Alkaloid Berberine.

Berberine is a natural herbicidal alkaloid from Coptis chinensis Franch. Here we characterized its herbicidal spectrum and absorption and transportation in the plant, along with the possible mechanism. Berberine showed no effect on the germination of the 10 tested plants. The IC50 values of berberine on the primary root length and fresh weight of the 10 tested plants ranged from 2.91 to 9.79 mg L-1 and 5.76 to 35.07 mg L-1, respectively. Berberine showed a similar herbicidal effect on Bidens pilosa as the commercial naturally derived herbicide cinmethylin. HPLC and fluorescence analysis revealed that berberine was mainly absorbed by B. pilosa root and transported through vascular bundle acropetally. Enzyme activity studies, GC-MS analysis, and SEM and TEM observations indicated that berberine might first function on the cell membrane indicated by variation of the IUFA percent and then cause POD, PPO, and SOD activity changes and cellular structure deformity, which was eventually expressed as the decrease of cell adaptation ability and abnormal cell function and may even result in cell death. Environmental safety evaluation tests revealed that berberine was low in toxicity to Brachydanio rerio. These indicate that berberine has the potential to be a bioherbicide and/or a lead molecule for new herbicides.

Size-Tunable Gd2O3@Albumin Nanoparticles Conjugating Chlorin e6 for Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Photo-Induced Therapy.

Protein nanoparticles as nanocarriers are of particular interest in the field of cancer therapy. Nevertheless, so far a facile fabrication of theranostic protein nanoparticles have been explored with limited success for cancer imaging and therapy. In this work, we demonstrate the controllable synthesis of size-tunable Gd2O3@albumin conjugating photosensitizer (PS) (GA-NPs) using hollow albumin as the nanoreactor for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided photo-induced therapy. The growth of Gd2O3 nanocrystals within the hollow nanoreactors is well regulated through reaction time, and a typical PS (e.g. chlorin e6) is further conjugated with the protein corona of the nanoreactor through facile chemical coupling, followed by the formation of theranostic GA-NPs. GA-NPs exhibit good longitudinal relaxivity, ideal photostability, enhanced cellular uptakes, and preferable size-dependent tumor accumulation. Moreover, GA-NPs effectively generate remarkable photothermal effect, intracellular reactive oxygen species from Ce6, and subsequent cytoplasmic drug translocation, thereby leading to severe synergistic photothermal and photodynamic cell damages. Consequently, GA-NPs exhibit an in vivo size-dependent MRI capacity with enhanced imaging contrast for effective tumor localization, and also generate a potent synergistic photodynamic therapy/photothermal therapy efficacy under irradiation owing to their enhanced tumor accumulation and strong photo-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that GA-NPs can act as a promising theranostic protein nanoplatform for cancer imaging and photo-induced therapy.

Near-infrared photoactivatable control of Ca(2+) signaling and optogenetic immunomodulation.

The application of current channelrhodopsin-based optogenetic tools is limited by the lack of strict ion selectivity and the inability to extend the spectra sensitivity into the near-infrared (NIR) tissue transmissible range. Here we present an NIR-stimulable optogenetic platform (termed 'Opto-CRAC') that selectively and remotely controls Ca(2+) oscillations and Ca(2+)-responsive gene expression to regulate the function of non-excitable cells, including T lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. When coupled to upconversion nanoparticles, the optogenetic operation window is shifted from the visible range to NIR wavelengths to enable wireless photoactivation of Ca(2+)-dependent signaling and optogenetic modulation of immunoinflammatory responses. In a mouse model of melanoma by using ovalbumin as surrogate tumor antigen, Opto-CRAC has been shown to act as a genetically-encoded 'photoactivatable adjuvant' to improve antigen-specific immune responses to specifically destruct tumor cells. Our study represents a solid step forward towards the goal of achieving remote and wireless control of Ca(2+)-modulated activities with tailored function.

Insecticidal activity of Torricellia tiliifolia extracts against Musca domestica and Aedes albopictus.

Insecticidal toxicity of extracts from leaves, stems, and bark of Torricellia tiliifolia de Candolle against adult Musca domestica L. and larval Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was evaluated in this study. Bark extract proved to be the most toxic to these two species with the chloroform fraction the most active with LC50 values of 306.15 microg/g and 23.05 microg/ml for the house fly and mosquito, respectively. At the same time, water fractions against M. domestica and petroleum ether against Ae. albopictus were comparatively less toxic. Two compounds from T. tiliifolia extracts, torrilliolide and torricelline, were highly toxic to both species. The LC50 values of torrilliolide and torricelline in adult M. domestica 48 h after topical application were 0.40 and 0.33 microg per adult, respectively, and equal to the commercially available, plant-derived insecticide, rotenone. These results showed that T. tiliifolia possess compounds with considerable bioactivity and worthy of further research.

Highly efficient hierarchical micelles integrating photothermal therapy and singlet oxygen-synergized chemotherapy for cancer eradication.

It is highly desirable to develop theranostic nanoparticles for achieving cancer imaging with enhanced contrast and simultaneously multimodal synergistic therapy. Herein, we report a theranostic micelle system hierarchically assembling cyanine dye (indocyanine green) and chemotherapeutic compound (doxorubicin) (I/D-Micelles) as a novel theranostic platform with high drug loading, good stability and enhanced cellular uptake via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. I/D-Micelles exhibit the multiple functionalities including near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF), hyperthermia and intracellular singlet oxygen from indocyanine green, and simultaneous cytotoxicity from doxorubicin. Upon photoirradiation, I/D-Micelles can induce NIRF imaging, acute photothermal therapy via hyperthermia and simultaneous synergistic chemotherapy via singlet oxygen-triggered disruption of lysosomal membranes, eventually leading to enhanced NIRF imaging and superior tumor eradication without any re-growth. Our results suggest that the hierarchical micelles can act as a superior theranostic platform for cancer imaging and multimodal synergistic therapy.

Study on the antiviral activity of San Huang Yi Gan Capsule against hepatitis B virus with seropharmacological method.

BACKGROUND: Seropharmacology arising recently is a novel method of in vitro pharmacological study on Chinese herb using drug-containing animal serum. As seropharmacology possesses the advantages of experiments in vitro and in vivo, it is increasingly applied in pharmacological research on Chinese medicine. However, some issues of seropharmacology remain controversial and need to be clearly defined. San Huang Yi Gan Capsule (SHYGC) is a Chinese herbal formula with antiviral property against hepatitis B virus (HBV), but little is known about the mechanism underlying its anti-HBV activity. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the action mechanism of SHYGC using seropharmacological method and systematically address the methodology of preparing drug-containing serum. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were orally administrated SHYGC with various regimens, followed by preparation of SHYGC-containing rabbit sera with a variety of methods. After HBV-producing HepG2 2.2.15 cells were treated with SHYGC-containing sera or entecavir for 9 days, the levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA and the activity of DNA Polymerase were determined in HepG2 2.2.15 cells-conditioned media. RESULTS: An optimally standardized method of preparing drug-containing serum was raised for seropharmacology, with which SHYGC was demonstrated to suppress HBsAg expression, HBV DNA replication and DNA Polymerase activity in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSIONS: This seropharmacological study shows SHYGC is a potentially powerful anti-HBV agent. Additionally, seropharmacology is a promising pharmacological method with a broad range of advantages, and it can be widely used in biomedical research, if combined with pharmacokinetics.

The complete genome sequence of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum', the bacterium associated with potato zebra chip disease.

Zebra Chip (ZC) is an emerging plant disease that causes aboveground decline of potato shoots and generally results in unusable tubers. This disease has led to multi-million dollar losses for growers in the central and western United States over the past decade and impacts the livelihood of potato farmers in Mexico and New Zealand. ZC is associated with 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum', a fastidious alpha-proteobacterium that is transmitted by a phloem-feeding psyllid vector, Bactericera cockerelli Sulc. Research on this disease has been hampered by a lack of robust culture methods and paucity of genome sequence information for 'Ca. L. solanacearum'. Here we present the sequence of the 1.26 Mbp metagenome of 'Ca. L. solanacearum', based on DNA isolated from potato psyllids. The coding inventory of the 'Ca. L. solanacearum' genome was analyzed and compared to related Rhizobiaceae to better understand 'Ca. L. solanacearum' physiology and identify potential targets to develop improved treatment strategies. This analysis revealed a number of unique transporters and pathways, all potentially contributing to ZC pathogenesis. Some of these factors may have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer. Taxonomically, 'Ca. L. solanacearum' is related to 'Ca. L. asiaticus', a suspected causative agent of citrus huanglongbing, yet many genome rearrangements and several gene gains/losses are evident when comparing these two Liberibacter. species. Relative to 'Ca. L. asiaticus', 'Ca. L. solanacearum' probably has reduced capacity for nucleic acid modification, increased amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis functionalities, and gained a high-affinity iron transport system characteristic of several pathogenic microbes.

[PCR, clone and sequence analysis of rDNA-ITS of Nelumbo nucifera from different geographical origins in China].

OBJECTIVE: To provide DNA molecular marker for identification of Nelumbo nucifera by exploring the differences of nrDNA-ITS sequence of N. nucifera originated from different habitats. METHOD: To compare nrDNA-ITS base sequence using specific PCR-ITS. RESULT: The completed sequence of ITS and 5.8 S rDNA, and the partial sequences of 18S rDNA and 26S rDNA, totally 750 bp, from N. nucifera were obtained. The differences among N. nucifera from different habitats and from different cultivars were found. CONCLUSION: The method can be used to identify N. nucifera among different species and to distinguish their fakes. It provided the basis for identifying N. nucifera from different geographical regions by comparison of their ITS sequences.

[Clinical study and electron microscope observation of tapeworm scolices on 548 cases of taeniasis treated with Binlang Chengqi Decoction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and mechanism of Chinese herbs in the treatment of taeniasis. METHODS: Five hundred and forty-eight cases of taeniasis were treated with Binlang Chengqi Decoction (BLCQD). The tapeworm scolices of ten cases were observed by electron microscope (EM). RESULTS: Among the 548 cases, 521 cases were cured and 27 cases were improved. The total effective rate was 100%. Foam-like secretion in the sucker of the tapeworm scolices and erosion of the epithelium in the cervical part were observed by scanning electron microscope. Observed by transmission electron microscope, the cortex was seriously damaged. The microvilli were exfoliated. The cells in the muscle layer and parenchyma layer were injured in various degrees. The mitochondria were tumefied or caved. And the nerve cord was damaged. CONCLUSION: BLCQD can not only paralyze the tapeworm scolex, but also injury the cells of the tapeworm scolex.