Pleurotus ostreatus as a model mushroom in genetics, cell biology, and material sciences.

Pleurotus ostreatus, also known as the oyster mushroom, is a popular edible mushroom cultivated worldwide. This review aims to survey recent progress in the molecular genetics of this fungus and demonstrate its potential as a model mushroom for future research. The development of modern molecular genetic techniques and genome sequencing technologies has resulted in breakthroughs in mushroom science. With efficient transformation protocols and multiple selection markers, a powerful toolbox, including techniques such as gene knockout and genome editing, has been developed, and numerous new findings are accumulating in P. ostreatus. These include molecular mechanisms of wood component degradation, sexual development, protein secretion systems, and cell wall structure. Furthermore, these techniques enable the identification of new horizons in enzymology, biochemistry, cell biology, and material science through protein engineering, fluorescence microscopy, and molecular breeding. KEY POINTS: • Various genetic techniques are available in Pleurotus ostreatus. • P. ostreatus can be used as an alternative model mushroom in genetic analyses. • New frontiers in mushroom science are being developed using the fungus.

Physiological function of hydrophobin Vmh3 in lignin degradation by white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus.

Hydrophobins are small-secreted proteins comprising both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts, that can self-assemble into an amphiphilic film at the air-liquid interface. More than 20 hydrophobin genes have been estimated in the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. In our previous studies, three hydrophobin genes were shown to be predominantly expressed under ligninolytic conditions, and only vmh3 was downregulated in both the delignification-deficient mutant Δgat1 and Δhir1 strains. Here, we focused on the function of the hydrophobin Vmh3 to clarify its physiological role in lignin degradation. When the hyphae were observed by transmission electron microscopy, deletion of vmh3 resulted in the disappearance of black aggregates at the interface between the cell wall and outer environment. Deletion of vmh3 resulted in reduced hydrophobicity when 0.2% sodium dodecyl sulfate was dropped onto the mycelial surface. These results suggest that Vmh3 functions on the cell surface and plays a major role in mycelial hydrophobization. Furthermore, the Δvmh3 strain showed a marked delay in lignin degradation on beech wood sawdust medium, while the production of lignin-modifying enzymes was not reduced. This study demonstrated, for the first time, the possible effect of hydrophobin on lignin degradation by a white-rot fungus.

Features of disruption mutants of genes encoding for hydrophobin Vmh2 and Vmh3 in mycelial formation and resistance to environmental stress in Pleurotus ostreatus.

Hydrophobins, which are small-secreted proteins with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts, can self-assemble into an amphiphilic film at the air-water interface, helping the fungus to form aerial hyphae. In the agaricomycete Pleurotus ostreatus, more than 20 putative hydrophobin genes have been predicted. Of these, two hydrophobin genes, vmh2 and vmh3, are predominantly expressed in the vegetative mycelium. In this study, we focused on the functions of Vmh2 and Vmh3 in vegetative mycelia. Based on the observation of the mycelial cross-section by transmission electron microscopy and the disappearance time of water droplets on the mycelial surface, Vmh2 and Vmh3 were considered essential for the maintenance of the surface hydrophobicity of the mycelium. The Δvmh3 and Δvmh2Δvmh3 strains exhibited relatively slower aerial mycelia formation on a liquid medium, and no significant alteration was observed in Δvmh2 strains. Only the Δvmh3 and Δvmh2Δvmh3 strains grew slower than the wild-type strain under stress conditions involving SDS and H2O2 on agar plates. This study revealed possible distinct roles for these hydrophobins in stress resistance. These results suggest that Agaricomycetes, including P. ostreatus, have evolved to possess multiple different hydrophobins as a means of adapting to various environments.

Intravenous diltiazem versus metoprolol for atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous diltiazem and metoprolol are both commonly used to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular rate (RVR) in the emergency department (ED), but the advantages and disadvantages of these drugs cannot be verified. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous diltiazem versus metoprolol for AF with RVR. METHOD: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM) and the WeiPu (VIP). Meta-analysis was performed using weighted mean difference (WMD), relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4.1. RESULTS: Seventeen studies involving 1214 patients in nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and eight cohort studies were included in meta-analysis, including 643 patients in the intravenous diltiazem group and 571 patients group in the intravenous metoprolol. The results of the meta-analysis showed that compared with intravenous metoprolol, intravenous diltiazem was found higher efficacy (RR =1.11; 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.16, p < 0.00001), shorter average onset time (RR = -1.13; 95% CI = -1.97 to -0.28, p = 0.009), lower ventricular rate (RR = -9.48; 95% CI = -12.13 to -6.82, p<0.00001), less impact on systolic blood pressure (WMD = 3.76; 95% CI: 0.20 to 7.33, P = 0.04), and no significant difference in adverse events (RR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.55 to 1.14, P = 0.22) and diastolic blood pressure (WMD = -1.20; 95% CI: -3.43 to 1.04, P = 0.29) was found between intravenous diltiazem and metoprolol. CONCLUSION: Intravenous diltiazem has higher efficacy, shorter average onset time, lower ventricular rate, less impact on blood pressure, and with no increase in adverse events compared to intravenous metoprolol.

Trends and distribution of coronary heart disease mortality rate in Hexi Corridor, Gansu, China from 2006 to 2015.

This study described the trend and distribution of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Hexi Corridor region of Gansu. The CHD mortality rates from 2006-2015 were obtained through the Death Reporting System of Gansu Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for 2006-2015. The overall mortality rate of CHD in the Hexi Corridor showed a decreasing trend, increasing in winter and spring and lowest in summer. The CHD mortality rate was higher in men than in women (P < 0.05) and increased with age (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was higher in rural areas than in urban areas (P < 0.05). A ten-year mortality rate trend analysis showed that CHD mortality rate in women has significantly decreased. Specifically, women aged 18-39 years experienced increased There was little change in CHD mortality among women aged 40-59 years, and a declined in CHD mortality among women 60 years and older and women in urban areas. Further analysis showed that in the 18-39-year-old and 40-59-year-old groups and in urban areas, CHD mortality rate was higher in men than in women (P < 0.05). From 2006 to 2015, the mortality rate of CHD in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu was lower than in the national average, but in certain populations such as men, young and middle-aged group and rural areas, the CHD mortality rate was gradually increased. There has been a gradual and progressive decline in CHD mortality rate compared to the rising trend in China. This is due to fewer risk factors in the region, effective drug treatment and improvements in environmental pollution. However, there is still a need to enhance the experience of effective prevention and control for specific subgroups such as men, young people and rural residents, and to take appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence of CHD.

Life Span and Motility Effects of Ethanolic Extracts from Sophora moorcroftiana Seeds on Caenorhabditis elegans.

BACKGROUND: Sophora moorcroftiana is an endemic shrub species with a great value in folk medicine in Tibet, China. In this study, relatively little is known about whether S. moorcroftiana is beneficial in animals' nervous system and life span or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address this question, under survival normal temperature (25°C), S. moorcroftiana seeds were extracted with 95% ethanol, and Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to three different extract concentrations (100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 400 mg/mL) from S. moorcroftiana seeds. RESULTS: The 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could increase life span and slow aging-related increase in C. elegans and could not obviously influence the motility of C. elegans. CONCLUSION: Given these results by our experiment for life span and motility with 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds in C. elegans, the question whether S. moorcroftiana acts as an anti-aging substance in vivo arises. SUMMARY: The 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds have no effect on the life span in C. elegans when extract concentrations from S. moorcroftiana seeds <400 mg/LThe 400 mg/L 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could increase life span in C. elegansThe 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could not obviously influence the motility in C. elegans. Abbreviation used: S. moorcroftiana: Sophora moorcroftiana; C. elegan: Caenorhabditis elegan; E. coli OP50: Escherichia coli OP50; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.