The Impact of High-Temperature Stress on the Growth and Development of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick).

Insect life processes and reproductive behaviors are significantly affected by extremely high temperatures. This study focused on Tuta absoluta, which poses a severe threat to tomato cultivars. The effects of intense heat stress on the growth, development, oviposition, and longevity of T. absoluta were investigated. This investigation encompassed various developmental stages, including eggs, pupae, and adults. This study revealed that egg hatching and pupa emergence rates were significantly reduced at a temperature of 44 °C maintained for 6 h. The longevity of adults that emerged after the egg and pupal stages were exposed to 44 °C for 6 h was significantly reduced compared to the control. Notably, there was no significant variation in adult fecundity after egg-stage exposure to high temperatures. However, all treatments exhibited significantly reduced fecundity compared to the control after exposure to high temperatures during the pupal stage. Adult survival rates after exposure to 40 °C and 44 °C for 3 h were 74.29% and 22.40%, respectively, dramatically less than that of the control, which was 100%. However, no significant differences were noted in terms of longevity and egg production. These results offer a better understanding of the complex interactions between extreme temperatures and the life history traits of T. absoluta, thereby offering valuable insights for implementing management strategies to alleviate its impact on tomato crops in response to climate change.

Pectobacterium carotovorum Subsp. brasiliense Causing Soft Rot in Eggplant in Xinjiang, China.

An outbreak of stem rot in eggplants was observed in Heshuo County, Xinjiang, during winter 2021-2022 in about 12-35% of the eggplants in the region (about 40 hm2). The infected tissues yielded a total of four bacterial strains, which were subsequently subjected to physiological and biochemical assays as well as molecular identification. Based on these analyses, the pathogen was identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense. The pathogenicity was confirmed through the fulfillment of Koch's postulates. The host range test confirmed the broad spectrum of species susceptible to infection by the strains. This study represents the first case of infection caused by P. carotovorum subsp. brasiliense resulting in stem rot in eggplant.

Anti-Vibrio potential of natural products from marine microorganisms.

The emergence of drug-resistant Vibrio poses a serious threat to aquaculture and human health, thus there is an urgent need for the discovery of new related antibiotics. Given that marine microorganisms (MMs) are evidenced as important sources of antibacterial natural products (NPs), great attention has been gained to the exploration of potential anti-Vibrio agents from MMs. This review summarizes the occurrence, structural diversity, and biological activities of 214 anti-Vibrio NPs isolated from MMs (from 1999 to July 2022), including 108 new compounds. They were predominantly originated from marine fungi (63%) and bacteria (30%) with great structural diversity, including polyketides, nitrogenous compounds, terpenoids, and steroids, among which polyketides account for nearly half (51%) of them. This review will shed light on the development of MMs derived NPs as potential anti-Vibrio lead compounds with promising applications in agriculture and human health.

Herbicidal secondary metabolites from Bacillus velezensis JTB8-2 against Orobanche aegyptiaca.

Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca) is a parasitic plants that cause significant losses to important crops. The effective methods for controlling this weed are rare. Biological control could be one of the possible strategies to tackle these weeds efficiently. In this work, a bacteria strain Bacillus velezensis JTB8-2 was proven to possesse biological control functions against broomrapes in both pot and field experiments. Four secondary metabolites (1-4) were isolated from the B. velezensis JTB8-2 crude extracts, and all of them could inhibit the germination of O. aegyptiaca seeds at concentrations from 0.5 mM to 4 mM. Their structures were further elucidated by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis. Among the isolated compounds, 1 and 2 exhibited the strongest herbicidal activity with 100% inhibition rate against the germination of O. aegyptiaca seeds at 4 mM, and thus had great potential in the development of new herbicidal products to control O. aegyptiaca in the future.

[Vascular anatomy and clinical application of type â ¢ perforator flap based on the oblique branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the vascular anatomy and the clinical application of type Ⅲ perforator flap based on the oblique branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery on skin soft tissue defect at the limbs. METHODS: Vascular anatomy of anterolateral thigh flap was performed on a 43-year-old male cadaver perfused with red latex, and the travel and perforating distribution of the oblique branches of lateral circumflex femoral artery were observed. A retrospective case series study was used to analyze the clinical data of 12 patients with skin soft tissue defects of the extremities admitted between January 2018 and September 2019, including 9 males and 3 females; aged from 18 to 65 years, with a median age of 32 years. The injury site included 7 cases of foot and ankle, 3 cases of calf, and 2 cases of hand. The wound size was ranged from 9 cm×7 cm to 28 cm×10 cm. The time from injury to operation was 1-2 weeks, with an average of 10 days. All patients were repaired with type Ⅲ perforator flap based on the oblique branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery, including 3 cases of single-leaf flap, 6 cases of double-leaf flaps, and 3 cases of tri-leaf flaps. The flap ranged from 15 cm×5 cm to 28 cm×10 cm. The donor site was directly sutured or repaired with local flap. The flap survival and complications were observed after operation. RESULTS: The results of vascular anatomy showed that the lateral femoral circumflex artery sent out transverse branches, oblique branches, and descending branches. The oblique branches sent out multiple muscle perforating branches along the way, the perforating branches passed through the anterolateral femoral muscle, and the blood supply scope was the skin of the anterolateral femoral region. The clinical results showed that all flaps survived completely and the incisions healed by first intension. There was no complication such as vascular crisis. All 12 patients were followed up 3-12 months, with an average of 7 months. The appearance and texture of the flap were good. At last follow-up, according to the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) Society for neurological trauma standard, the sensory of the flap reached S 2 in 9 cases and S 3 in 3 cases. Linear scar remained in the donor area, without pain, pruritus, tactile allergy, and other discomfort. The patients and their families were satisfied. CONCLUSION: Type Ⅲ perforator flap based on the oblique branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery is a reliable method for repairing the soft tissue defect of the limbs, with reliable blood supply, large cutting area, various types of perforator flaps.

Arctigenin inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation, migratory and invasive abilities and epithelial to mesenchymal transition by targeting 4EBP1.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common types of cancer with the highest morbidity rate amongst all cancers in women worldwide. Arctigenin is isolated from the seeds of Asteraceae lappa and exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of arctigenin on BC cells and to explore the regulation of arctigenin on eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1) expression. To do so, MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells were treated with arctigenin at various concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 µM). Cells treated with 40 µM arctigenin were transfected with pcDNA3.1-4EBP1 or NC control. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to determine cell proliferation, reverse transcription quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the transfection efficiency, western blotting was used to detect relative protein expression and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the migratory and invasive abilities of BC cells. The results demonstrated that arctigenin could inhibit the proliferation, migratory and invasive abilities, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells. Furthermore, arctigenin downregulated the expression of 4EBP1 in MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells, whereas 4EBP1 overexpression could reverse the inhibiting effect of arctigenin on proliferation, migratory and invasive abilities, and EMT in MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells. The findings suggested that arctigenin may inhibit human BC cell proliferation, migratory and invasive abilities, and EMT by targeting 4EBP1.

Industrial kinetic resolution of d,l-pantolactone by an immobilized whole-cell biocatalyst.

Immobilized whole-cells of Pichia pastoris harboring recombinant d-lactonase were entrapped in calcium alginate gels and used as an efficient biocatalyst for catalytic kinetic resolution of d,l-pantolactone. The immobilized whole-cell biocatalyst exhibited good catalytic stability, which was applied for stereospecific hydrolysis of d-pantolactone for up to 56 repeated batch reactions without obvious loss in the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity.

Biocatalytic kinetic resolution of d,l-pantolactone by using a novel recombinant d-lactonase.

d-Pantolactone is a key chiral intermediate for the synthesis of d-pantothenic acid and its derivatives. Biocatalytic kinetic resolution of d,l-pantoyl lactone using d-lactonase is an efficient route to synthesize d-pantolactone. In this study, we report the expression of a novel d-lactonase TSDL in Escherichia coli host. The recombinant TSDL exhibited high hydrolysis activity and enantioselectivity toward d-pantolactone. The reaction conditions of the recombinant TSDL-catalyzed kinetic resolution of d,l-pantolactone was systematically investigated by whole cell biocatalysis. In addition, a preparative-scale reaction for bioproduction of d-pantoic acid was examined under optimized reaction conditions. This study presented an alternative enzymatic process for kinetic resolution of d,l-pantolactone.

[Effects of Xiehuo Bushen Decoction on survival and differentiation of transplanted neural stem cells in brains of rats with intracerebral hemorrhage].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Xiehuo Bushen Decoction (XHBSD), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on the survival and differentiation of transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) in brains of rats with intracerebral hemorrhage, and to explore the mechanism of Xiehuo Bushen formula in promoting the survival of transplanted NSCs. METHODS: NSCs separated from hippocampuses of neonatal SD rats were cultured. Sixty-five panel reactive antibody (PRA) positive SD rats were selected by lymphocytotoxicity methods. The PRA positive rats were made into intracerebral hemorrhagic model and divided into three groups: cerebral hemorrhage group (n=15), NSCs transplanted group (n=25) and XHBSD group (n=25). XHBSD was orally administered after 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-marked NSCs were transplanted in brains of rats with intracerebral hemorrhage in the XHBSD group. Rats in the other two groups were administered distilled water. The expressions of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNAs were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); the numbers of BrdU and 200 kD neurofilament (NF200) positive cells were detected by double-labeling immunofluorescence method. RESULTS: The expression of IFN-gamma mRNA was down-regulated significantly in the XHBSD group, but the expression of IL-4 mRNA was up-regulated significantly (P<0.05). The numbers of BrdU and NF200 positive cells were also increased remarkably in the XHBSD group. CONCLUSION: XHBSD can promote the survival and differentiation of transplanted NSCs, which may be related to inducing the expression of IL-4 mRNA and inhibiting the expression of IFN-gamma mRNA.

Expression of Angiopoietin-1 and the receptor Tie-2 mRNA in rat brains following intracerebral hemorrhage.

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) belongs to a novel family of endothelial growth factors that function as ligands for an endothelialspecific receptor tyrosine kinase (Tie-2). The Ang-/Tie-2 system may contribute to angiogenesis and vascular remodeling by mediating interactions of endothelial cells with smooth muscle cells and pericytes. The spatial distribution and temporal expression of Ang-1 and Tie-2 in the rat brain were studied following collagenase-induced intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain (RT-PCR) analysis, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that some Ang-1 or Tie-2-positive dilated vessels resided around the hematoma and extended into the clot. RT-PCR analysis showed that Ang-1 and Tie-2 mRNA signal was detected at 2 days and persisted for 28 days after ICH. These findings suggest that ICH could lead to upregulation of Ang-1 and the receptor Tie-2 mRNA.