Establishing an RNA fusions panel in soft tissue sarcoma with clinical validation.

The diagnosis and classification of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) remain challenging because of the rarity and overlapping morphologic manifestations of diverse STS subtypes. Characteristic gene fusions are commonly detected in STS and represent useful diagnostic markers. This study established and validated a custom-designed RNA sequencing panel that identified 64 gene fusions in STS. The analytical performance validation yielded excellent accuracy, with 100% (95% CI, 94.40%-100%) sensitivity and 93.33% (95% CI, 68.05%-99.83%) specificity. Clinical performances were further confirmed with 145 clinical formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from STS patients. Fusions were detected in 40% of samples (58/145). The common fusions SS18-SSX family, EWSR1-related fusions, COL1A1-PDGFB, FOXO1-associated fusions, and FUS-associated fusions were identified in corresponding STS subtypes. The RNA panel detected specific fusions in several cases where no conclusive diagnosis can be made based on the morphology and immunohistochemistry results. Data collected in this study demonstrate that the RNA fusions panel can better classify STS subtypes and serve as a good supplement for histopathology, exhibiting a great potential for the STS precise diagnosis.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of Cydia pomonella provides insights into chemical ecology and insecticide resistance.

The codling moth Cydia pomonella, a major invasive pest of pome fruit, has spread around the globe in the last half century. We generated a chromosome-level scaffold assembly including the Z chromosome and a portion of the W chromosome. This assembly reveals the duplication of an olfactory receptor gene (OR3), which we demonstrate enhances the ability of C. pomonella to exploit kairomones and pheromones in locating both host plants and mates. Genome-wide association studies contrasting insecticide-resistant and susceptible strains identify hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) potentially associated with insecticide resistance, including three SNPs found in the promoter of CYP6B2. RNAi knockdown of CYP6B2 increases C. pomonella sensitivity to two insecticides, deltamethrin and azinphos methyl. The high-quality genome assembly of C. pomonella informs the genetic basis of its invasiveness, suggesting the codling moth has distinctive capabilities and adaptive potential that may explain its worldwide expansion.

[Extraction and antihypertensive activity analysis of chondroitin sulfate from different animals].

OBJECTIVE: Chondroitin Sulfate (CS) from different animals were extracted, which antihypertensive activities were compared. METHODS: CS from the bovine and chicken cartilages were extracted by diluted alkali-enzyme hydrolysis method, with removed free protein by Sevag method, separated and purified by quaternary ammonium complex. Their antihypertensive activities were tested by the modal of SPF rat. RESULTS: The extracted CS didn't have peptide, amino acid or other acid mucopolysaccharides determined by electrophoresis and chromatography, the results of IR was consisted with that of chondroitin sulfate supplied by Sigma Both BCCS and CCCS indicated the antihypertensive activities in the low dosage. Besides, BCCS had faster efficacy but shorter duration than that of CCCS. CONCLUSION: Both BCCS and CCCS had high purity. Animal experiments showed that BCCS and CCCS have the effect of the antihypertensive, which activity of CCCS was more significant than that of BCCS.

Structure characterization and antioxidant activity of a novel polysaccharide isolated from Ginkgo biloba.

A novel polysaccharide (GBP50S2) with antioxidant activity was isolated from Ginkgo biloba. The structure of GBP50S2 was elucidated on the basis of physico-chemical and instrumental analyses, and its average molecular weight (Mw=2.30x10(5)) was determined by gel permeation chromatography. The backbone of GBP50S2 was composed of (1-->4)-linked alpha-d-mannopyranosyl residues which branched at O-3. The three branches consisted of beta-l-rhamnopyranosyl residues, (1-->4)-linked alpha-d-galactopyranosyl terminated with beta-l-rhamnopyranosyl residues, and (1-->3,4)-linked alpha-d-mannopyranosyl terminated with beta-l-rhamnopyranosyl residues, respectively. In the in vitro antioxidant assay, GBP50S2 was found to possess DPPH radical-scavenging activity and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity with an IC(50) value of 0.412 mg/mL and 0.482 mg/mL, respectively.

[Research advances in the effects of host plant volatiles on Cydia pomonella behaviors and the application of the volatiles in pest control].

Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a worldwide pest of stone fruit trees, and an important quarantine target in China. Its occurrence, damage, and potential expansion in this country should be seriously concerned. Host plant volatiles, the species-specific attractants of C. pomonella, have attracted extensive attention. This paper reviewed the researches on the interactions between host plant source volatiles and C. pomonella, with the focus on the effects of the volatiles on the behaviors of C. pomonella, e.g., host orientation, courting and mating, and spawning, etc., the changes of the volatile components released by the host plants after fed by C. pomonella larvae, and the impacts of the volatiles on the sex pheromone of C. pomonella. The research progress and field application of plant source pear ester were also introduced, aimed to provide a reference for the prevention and control of C. pomonella in China.

[Identification and cloning of vip3A genes from isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis and their bioactivity analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To survey the distribution of vip3A-type genes from isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis in China and to clone novel vip3A genes encoding Vip3A proteins with high insecticidal activity against Lepidopteran insect larvae. METHODS: We applied PCR-RFLP method to identify vip3A-type genes from 171 isolates and cloned novel vip3Aa genes. RESULTS: The vip3A-type genes appeared in 63 of 117 B. thuringiensis isolates. We cloned 2 novel vip3Aa genes from isolates of TF9 and Bt16. Then, we subcloned vip3Aa26 and vip3Aa27 into vector pQE30 and transformed into Escherichi coli M15, respectively. The results of SDS-PAGE and Western blot analyses showed that an 88 kDa peptide was expressed in E. coli M15 with 1 mmol/L of IPTG induction at 37 degrees C, respectively. The International Nomenclature Committee of Bt nominated these two genes as the novel vip genes of vip3Aa26 and vip3Aa27, respectively. The bioassay results indicated that the Vip3Aa27 proteins were highly toxic to Trichoplusia ni, Spodoptera exigua and Helicoverpa armigera larvae and the LC50 values were 0.1251 microg/mL, 0.238 microg/mL and 9.238 microg/mL, respectively. However, the Vip3Aa26 protein only possessed toxicity to T. ni larvae. CONCLUSIONS: The novel Vip3Aa27 protein had higher activity to Lepidopteran insect larvae compared with that for Vip3Aa26 protein. The results demonstrated that some amino acid changes had remarkable effect on the insecticidal activity.