Quantifying chemical correlations between fruits and processed fruit products: A non-targeted analysis approach.

Juices and beverages are produced by industry for long-distance distribution and shelf-stability, providing valuable nutrients. However, their nutritional value is often underestimated due to insufficient analytical methods. We have employed non-targeted analysis through a standardized analytical protocol, taking advantage of Data Independent Acquisition (DIA) technique and a novel Chromatographic Retention Behavior (CRB) data deconvolution algorithm. After analyzing 9 fruits and their products, correlations between fruits and their juices are accurately digitalized by similarities of their LC-MS fingerprints. We also specify non-targeted molecules primarily associate with nutrient loss in these analyzed juice products, including nitrogenous nutrients, flavonoids, glycosides, and vitamins. Moreover, we unveiled previously unreported fruit-characteristic metabolites, of which reconstituted-from-concentrate (RFC) juices contain over 40% of the content found in their fresh counterparts. Conclusively, our method establishes a quantitative benchmark for rational selection of RFC juices to substitute natural fruits.

AaLaeA targets AaFla1 to mediate the production of antitumor compound in Alternaria alstroemeria.

Endophytic fungi are an important source of novel antitumor substances. Previously, we isolated an endophytic fungus, Alternaria alstroemeria, from the medicinal plant Artemisia artemisia, whose crude extracts strongly inhibited A549 tumor cells. We obtained a transformant, namely AaLaeAOE26 , which completely loses its antitumor activity due to overexpression of the global regulator AaLaeA. Re-sequencing analysis of the genome revealed that the insertion site was in the noncoding region and did not destroy any other genes. Metabolomics analysis revealed that the level of secondary antitumor metabolic substances was significantly lower in AaLaeAOE26 compared with the wild strain, in particular flavonoids were more downregulated according to the metabolomics analysis. A further comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that a gene encoding FAD-binding domain protein (Fla1) was significantly downregulated. On the other hand, overexpression of AaFla1 led to significant enhancement of antitumor activity against A549 with a sevenfold higher inhibition ratio than the wild strain. At the same time, we also found a significant increase in the accumulation of antitumor metabolites including quercetin, gitogenin, rhodioloside, liensinine, ginsenoside Rg2 and cinobufagin. Our data suggest that the global regulator AaLaeA negatively affects the production of antitumor compounds via controlling the transcription of AaFla1 in endophytic A. alstroemeria.

A novel method to detect bacterial resistance to disinfectants.

In clinical practice, the important hygienic prevention of bacterial pathogen spread is disinfection of potentially contaminated area. Benzalkonium bromide and chlorhexidine acetate are commonly used disinfectants with a broad spectrum of anti-microbial effect. It is vital to inhibit the spread of pathogen in hospital. However, a large number of pathogens with the decreased antiseptic susceptibility have been isolated from clinical samples which showed an increased minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against those antiseptics. These resistant pathogens are the major causes for nosocomial cross-infections in hospital. The present study demonstrated the utility of Oxford plate assay system in determining the potential disinfectant resistance of bacteria. The microbiological assay is based on the inhibitory effect of tested disinfectants upon the strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Statistical analysis of the bioassay results indicated the linear correlation (r = 0.87-0.99, P < 0.01) between the diameter of growth inhibition zone and the log dosage of the tested disinfectants. Moreover, comparison of inhibitory efficacy of benzalkonium bromide upon 29 S. aureus strains isolated from clinical samples by both Oxford plate method and broth dilution method showed that the diameter of growth inhibition zone has significantly negative correlation with the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (r = -0.574, P < 0.001). These results suggest that the Oxford plate is a simple and time-saving method in detecting potential clinical disinfectant resistance and its usefulness for routine surveillance of pathogenic resistance to disinfectants warrants further investigation.

[Application of ICP-MS in assessing the pollution of seldom monitored trace elements in city roadside dusts].

Seldom monitored trace element concentrations in road dusts colleted from Shihezi City were studied. A total of 32 sampling stations were selected. The concentration of 10 seldom monitored trace elements (B, Be, Bi, Co, Ga, Li, Sb, Sn, T1, V) were determined. Their pollution degree and source identification were analyzed by using Geoaccumulation Index, correlation coefficient and principal factor analysis. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of Li, Be, B, V, Co, Ga, Sn, Sb, T1 and Bi were 24. 91, 1.68, 41. 11, 72. 66, 13. 58, 36. 26, 3.64, 3.37, 0. 42 and 0.52 mgkg-1, respectively. The mean concentrations of Li, T1, Co, Be, B, and V were lower than or similar to the soil background values of Xinjiang province. However, the mean concentrations of Ga, Sn, Sb and Bi were higher than the background values of Xijiang province and world soil. The results of Geoaccumulation Index indicated that the pollution degrees of Li, Be, B, V, Co, Ga and T1 were zero, and belonged to the category of non-pollution. However the pollution of Sb, Bi and Sn were considerably serious, and their pollution grades were 2, 1 and 1 respectively. The source of SMTEs in road dusts of Shihezi City was identified by multivariate statistics (principal component analysis and correlation analysis). The results showed that Sb, Co, T1 and Bi mainly originated from human activities, Li, Be, B, V represented natural sources, while Sn and Ga have the mixed sources of nature and human activities.

Quantitative trait loci mapping of resistance to Laodelphax striatellus (Homoptera: Delphacidae) in rice using recombinant inbred lines.

Laodelphax striatellus Fallén (Homoptera: Delphacidae), is a serious pest in rice, Oryza sativa L., production. A mapping population consisting of 81 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from a cross between japonica' Kinmaze' and indica' DV85' rice, was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the resistance to L. striatellus. Seedbox screening test (SST), antixenosis test, and antibiosis test were used to evaluate the resistance response of the two parents and 81 RILs to L. striatellus at the seedling stage, and composite interval mapping was used for QTL analysis. When the resistance was measured by SST method, two QTLs conferring resistance to L. striatellus were mapped on chromosome 11, namely, Qsbph11a and Qsbph11b, with log of odds scores 2.51 and 4.38, respectively. The two QTLs explained 16.62 and 27.78% of the phenotypic variance in this population, respectively. In total, three QTLs controlling antixenosis against L. striatellus were detected on chromosomes 3, 4, and 11, respectively, accounting for 37.5% of the total phenotypic variance. Two QTLs expressing antibiosis to L. striatellus were mapped on chromosomes 3 and 11, respectively, explaining 25.9% of the total phenotypic variance. The identified QTL located between markers XNpb202 and C1172 on chromosome 11 was detected repeatedly by three different screening methods; therefore, it may be important to confer the resistance to L. striatellus. Once confirmed in other mapping populations, these QTLs should be useful in breeding for resistance to L. striatellus by marker-assisted selection of different resistance genes in rice varieties.

[Analysis on the major gene and multigene mixed inheritance of wide compatibility gene in rice].

The intersubspecific hybrids between Indica and Japanica varieties are generally semi sterile, which limits the use of Indica-Japanica heterosis. Genetic study of wide compatibility gene (WCG) in rice helps to understand the mechanism of semi sterility and make it possible to overcome this phenomenon. In this study, the P1,P2,F1,B1,B2,and F2 of Indica-Japanica hybrid of 3037/02428 were analyzed by the major gene and minor gene mixed inheritance model. The research showed that Apart from single major gene, the WCG inheritance is also affected by minor genes. Not only major gene's effect on fertility but also minor gene's effect should be considered when utilize WCG to overcome semisterile between subspecies.