Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of MYB gene family in Cajanus cajan and CcMYB107 improves plant drought tolerance.

MYB transcription factor (TF) is one of the largest superfamilies that play a vital role in multiple plant biological processes. However, the MYB family has not been comprehensively identified and functionally verified in Cajanus cajan, which is the sixth most important legume crop. Here, 170 CcR2R3-MYBs were identified and divided into 43 functional subgroups. Segmental and tandem duplications and alternative splicing events were found and promoted the expansion of the CcR2R3-MYB gene family. Functional prediction results showed that CcR2R3-MYBs were mainly involved in secondary metabolism, cell fate and identity, developmental processes, and responses to abiotic stress. Cis-acting element analysis of promoters revealed that stress response elements were widespread in the above four functional branches, further suggesting CcR2R3-MYBs were extensively involved in abiotic stress response. The transcriptome data and qRT-PCR results indicated that most of the CcR2R3-MYB genes responded to various stresses, of which the expression of CcMYB107 was significantly induced by drought stress. Overexpression of CcMYB107 enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased proline and lignin accumulation, thus improving the drought resistance of C. cajan. Furthermore, Overexpression of CcMYB107 up-regulated the expression of stress-related genes and lignin biosynthesis genes after drought stress. Our findings established a strong foundation for the investigation of biological function of CcR2R3-MYB TFs in C. cajan.

Andrographolide-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles enhance anti-cancer activity against head and neck cancer and precancerous cells.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence indicates that andrographolide (ADG) exhibits anti-cancer activity against various cancer cell lines. However, its high hydrophobicity and poor bioavailability restrict its clinical application as a chemopreventative agent. Previously, we have shown that ADG-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) significantly enhanced the bioavailability and anti-hyperlipidemic activity of ADG. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate whether ADG-SLN enhanced the bioavailability and anti-cancer efficacy of ADG in the human immortalized oral epithelial (HIOEC), precancerous leukoplakia (Leuk1), HN6, and HN30 cells that represented an in vitro model of stepwise head and neck squamous cell carcinoma development. RESULTS: The 50% inhibitive concentration (IC50) of ADG-SLN was significantly lower than that of free ADG against HIOEC, Leuk1, and HN6 and HN30 cells. Moreover, ADG-SLN was more effective than free ADG in promoting cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Importantly, intracellular absorption of ADG was significantly higher in HN6 cells treated with ADG-SLN compared with free ADG-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary study demonstrates that ADG-SLN exhibits superior inhibitory activity against head and neck cancer and precancerous cells compared with free ADG. This effect is due to the higher efficiency of cellular uptake and intracellular absorption by ADG-SLN.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of maxillae using spiral computed tomography and its application in postoperative adult patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.

PURPOSE: To establish a method to analyze malformed maxillae of postoperative adult patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate in 3 dimensions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 35 landmarks were defined and used to reconstruct 3-dimensional maxillary images of healthy Chinese Han subjects and 30 postoperative Chinese Han adult patients (17 men and 13 women, with mean age of 19.07 years) with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. This was done using spiral computed tomography, and their corresponding parameters were analyzed using SimPlant software, version 11.04, and compared by t test using SAS software, version 6.12. RESULTS: Of the 7 centered landmarks, A and ANS in the patients were obviously deviated to the nonoperative side (P < .01) and the symmetrical landmark pairs INM'-INM, SNM'-SNM and SPr'-SPr, but not MA'-MA, SoF'-SoF, and LPAC-LPA in the infraorbital region and piriform aperture peritreme in healthy subjects were shifted toward the coordinate sagittal plane S. The data also showed that the maxillae in the patients' operative side were hypoplastic, especially in the posteroanterior direction compared with the nonoperative side and healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method can precisely measure the distances of the maxillary landmarks to 3-dimensional coordinates and has application potential in evaluating maxillary deformity in patients with postoperative unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.

A microfluidic platform for highly parallel bite by bite profiling of mosquito-borne pathogen transmission.

Mosquito bites transmit a number of pathogens via salivary droplets deposited during blood-feeding, resulting in potentially fatal diseases. Little is known about the genomic content of these nanodroplets, including the transmission dynamics of live pathogens. Here we introduce Vectorchip, a low-cost, scalable microfluidic platform enabling high-throughput molecular interrogation of individual mosquito bites. We introduce an ultra-thin PDMS membrane which acts as a biting interface to arrays of micro-wells. Freely-behaving mosquitoes deposit saliva droplets by biting into these micro-wells. By modulating membrane thickness, we observe species-dependent differences in mosquito biting capacity, utilizable for selective sample collection. We demonstrate RT-PCR and focus-forming assays on-chip to detect mosquito DNA, Zika virus RNA, as well as quantify infectious Mayaro virus particles transmitted from single mosquito bites. The Vectorchip presents a promising approach for single-bite-resolution laboratory and field characterization of vector-pathogen communities, and could serve as a powerful early warning sentinel for mosquito-borne diseases.