Identification of antimicrobial peptide genes from transcriptomes in Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) and their response to infection with Aeromonas hydrophila.

Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) is a valuable freshwater fish species widely cultured in China. Its aquaculture production is challenged by bacterial septicaemia, which is one of the most common bacterial diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a critical role in the innate immune system of fish, exhibiting defensive and inhibitory effects against a wide range of pathogens. This study aimed to identify the antimicrobial peptide genes in mandarin fish using transcriptomes data obtained from 17 tissue in our laboratory. Through nucleotide sequence alignment and protein structural domain analysis, 15 antimicrobial peptide genes (moronecidin, pleurocidin, lysozyme g, thymosin ß12, hepcidin, leap 2, ß-defensin, galectin 8, galectin 9, apoB, apoD, apoE, apoF, apoM, and nk-lysin) were identified, of which 9 antimicrobial peptide genes were identified for the first time. In addition, 15 AMPs were subjected to sequence characterization and protein structure analysis. After injection with Aeromonas hydrophila, the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet counts in mandarin fish showed a decreasing trend, indicating partial hemolysis. The expression change patterns of 15 AMP genes in the intestine after A. hydrophila infection were examined by using qRT-PCR. The results revealed, marked up-regulation (approximately 116.04) of the hepcidin gene, down-regulation of the piscidin family genes expression. Moreover, most AMP genes were responded in the early stages after A. hydrophila challenge. This study provides fundamental information for investigating the role of the different antimicrobial peptide genes in mandarin fish in defense against A. hydrophila infection.

Chromosome-scale genome assembly and insights into the metabolome and gene regulation of leaf color transition in an important oak species, Quercus dentata.

Quercus dentata Thunb., a dominant forest tree species in northern China, has significant ecological and ornamental value due to its adaptability and beautiful autumn coloration, with color changes from green to yellow into red resulting from the autumnal shifts in leaf pigmentation. However, the key genes and molecular regulatory mechanisms for leaf color transition remain to be investigated. First, we presented a high-quality chromosome-scale assembly for Q. dentata. This 893.54 Mb sized genome (contig N50 = 4.21 Mb, scaffold N50 = 75.55 Mb; 2n = 24) harbors 31 584 protein-coding genes. Second, our metabolome analyses uncovered pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside, and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside as the main pigments involved in leaf color transition. Third, gene co-expression further identified the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) transcription activation complex as central to anthocyanin biosynthesis regulation. Notably, transcription factor (TF) QdNAC (QD08G038820) was highly co-expressed with this MBW complex and may regulate anthocyanin accumulation and chlorophyll degradation during leaf senescence through direct interaction with another TF, QdMYB (QD01G020890), as revealed by our further protein-protein and DNA-protein interaction assays. Our high-quality genome assembly, metabolome, and transcriptome resources further enrich Quercus genomics and will facilitate upcoming exploration of ornamental values and environmental adaptability in this important genus.

Long noncoding RNA CDKN2B-AS1 silencing protects against esophageal cancer cell invasion and migration by inactivating the TFAP2A/FSCN1 axis.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the most aggressive malignancy in the gastrointestinal tract. Long noncoding RNA cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2 B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1) is implicated in EC development. However, the specific mechanisms involved remain poorly defined. Therefore, this research aimed to explore the mechanism of action of CDKN2B-AS1 in EC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to measure CDKN2B-AS1 expression in EC cells and western blotting was utilized to evaluate transcription factor AP-2 alpha (TFAP2A) and fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) expression. After gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and apoptosis-related protein expression were assessed using cell counting kit-8, scratch tests, Transwell assays, flow cytometry, and western blotting, respectively. The binding relationship between CDKN2B-AS1 and TFAP2A was assessed by RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays. The binding relationship between TFAP2A and FSCN1 was evaluated using dual-luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Tumor xenografts from nude mice were used for in vivo verification. CDKN2B-AS1, TFAP2A, and FSCN1 were upregulated in EC cells. Mechanistically, CDKN2B-AS1 transcriptionally activated FSCN1 by recruiting TFAP2A to the FSCN1 promoter. Silencing CDKN2B-AS1 or TFAP2A suppressed EC cell proliferative, migrating, and invasive properties and augmented apoptosis. TFAP2A was bound to CDKN2B-AS1 and the FSCN1 promoter. Overexpression of TFAP2A or FSCN1 abolished the effects of CDKN2B-AS1-silencing on EC cell function. CDKN2B-AS1 silencing curtailed tumorigenesis in nude mice, which was nullified by the upregulation of TFAP2A or FSCN1. Our findings demonstrated the antioncogenic effects of silencing CDKN2B-AS1 in EC through inactivation of the TFAP2A/FSCN1 axis.

Lilac (Syringa oblata) genome provides insights into its evolution and molecular mechanism of petal color change.

Color change during flower opening is common; however, little is understood on the biochemical and molecular basis related. Lilac (Syringa oblata), a well-known woody ornamental plant with obvious petal color changes, is an ideal model. Here, we presented chromosome-scale genome assembly for lilac, resolved the flavonoids metabolism, and identified key genes and potential regulatory networks related to petal color change. The genome assembly is 1.05 Gb anchored onto 23 chromosomes, with a BUSCO score of 96.6%. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) event shared within Oleaceae was revealed. Metabolome quantification identified delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside (Dp3Ru) and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (Cy3Ru) as the major pigments; gene co-expression networks indicated WRKY an essential regulation factor at the early flowering stage, ERF more important in the color transition period (from violet to light nearly white), while the MBW complex participated in the entire process. Our results provide a foundation for functional study and molecular breeding in lilac.

[Impacts of Meteorology and Emission Variations on PM2.5 Concentration Throughout the Country During the 2020 Epidemic Period].

This study analyzed the impacts of meteorological conditions and changes in air pollutant emissions on PM2.5 across the country during the first quarter of 2020 based on the WRF-CMAQ model. Results showed that the variations in meteorological conditions led to a national PM2.5 concentration decreased of 1.7% from 2020-01 to 2020-03, whereas it increased by 1.6% in January and decreased by 1.3% and 7.9% in February and March, respectively. The reduction of pollutants emissions led to a decrease of 14.1% in national PM2.5 concentration during the first quarter of 2020 and a decrease of 4.0%, 25.7%, and 15.0% in January, February, and March, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, the PM2.5 concentration measured in Wuhan City decreased more than in the entire country. This was caused by improved meteorological conditions and a higher reduction of pollutant emissions in Wuhan City. PM2.5 in Beijing increased annually before the epidemic outbreak and during the strict control period, mainly due to unfavorable meteorological conditions. However, the decrease in PM2.5 in Beijing compared to March 2019 was closely related to the substantial reduction of emissions. The measured PM2.5 in the "2+26" cities, the Fenwei Plain and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) decreased during the first quarter of 2020, with the largest drop occurring in the Yangtze River Delta due to higher YRD emissions reductions. The meteorological conditions of "2+26" cities and Fenwei Plain were unfavorable before the epidemic outbreak and greatly improved during the strict control period, whereas the Yangtze River Delta had the most favorable meteorological conditions in March. The decrease in PM2.5 concentration caused by the reduction of pollutant emissions in the three key areas was highest during the strict control period.

[Contributors to Air Pollutant Emission Changes in Autumn and Winter in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Surrounding Areas].

Based on the air pollution emission inventory technical methodology, this study conducted a quantitative analysis on the changes in major air pollutant emissions in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surrounding areas from the 'New Year Haze' in the autumn and winter of 2016-2017 to the 'Pandemic Haze' in the autumn and winter of 2019-2020. The contributions of the implementation of air pollution prevention and control policies and the COVID-19 pandemic to major air pollutant emission reductions were studied, and their impacts on the regional air quality under adverse meteorological conditions were simulated using an air quality model. The results showed that from the 'New Year Haze' in Dec 2016-Jan 2017 to the 'Pandemic Haze' in Jan-Feb 2020, the major air pollutant emissions in the region had dropped by approximately 50%, and the average concentration of PM2.5 was potentially reduced by more than 40% under adverse meteorological conditions. The most effective emission reduction measures included the clean heating project and raising the standards in key industrial sectors, such as the iron and steel industry, coal-fired boilers, and power plants, which contributed 67.1% and 53.4% of the emission reductions in SO2 and PM2.5, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic predominantly affected the mobile sources and light industry, which contributed 71.9% and 68.2% of the emission reductions in NOx and VOCs, respectively. The implementation of air pollution prevention and control policies contributed substantially to the improvement of regional air quality, which effectively reduced the intensity and extent of the heavy pollution process under unfavorable meteorological conditions. The regional average PM2.5 concentration was reduced by 26%, and the number of days experiencing heavy pollution decreased by 44%. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the average PM2.5 concentration in the region was reduced by an additional 24%, and the duration and extent of heavy pollution decreased even further.

[Modeling Studies of Source Contributions to PM2.5 in Chengdu, China].

This study establishes eight emission scenarios in the air pollutant emissions inventory of Chengdu City, China. We use the Weather Research and Forecasting and Community Multiscale Air Quality (WRF-CMAQ) models and a "zero-out" approach to investigate contributions of air pollution transport and sources to aerosol fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in Chengdu City during January, April, July, and October 2015. The results showed that PM2.5 pollution in Chengdu City was serious during these months and reached >130 µg·m-3 in January. Highest concentrations were measured in the city center. PM2.5 pollution in Chengdu and the surrounding cities was found to exhibit regional characteristics. Since the air mass was stable during the monitoring periods, the interregional transmission capability of air pollution was poor, and thus local sources were the main contributors (61% of the annual average concentration) to PM2.5 pollution in Chengdu City. The contributions of local sources in April and July were higher than of those in January and October. We found that the main sources of PM2.5 pollution in Chengdu City were automobile emission (29% of the total), dust (26%), and domestic pollution (24%), and should be further controlled in the future.

[Health Benefit Evaluation for Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan in China].

To quantitatively assess the health benefits brought by the implementation of the Action Plan of Air Pollution Prevention and Control, we firstly analyzed the spatial and temporal changes of PM2.5 population-weighted concentrations over China from 2013 to 2017. The BenMAP model was used to analyze the differences in premature death between the PM2.5 baseline scenario in 2013 and the control scenario in 2017 in 338 prefecture-level cities nationwide, so as to quantitatively analyze the number of premature deaths in 31 provinces. The results show that compared with other provinces, the largest reduction in premature deaths due to the significant decrease of PM2.5 concentration occurred in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and its surrounding regions, and the environmental health benefits from air quality have been greatly improved. The results show that from 2013 to 2017 the population weighted PM2.5 concentration was decreasing year by year due to the significant decrease in PM2.5 concentration; Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and the surrounding areas witnessed the largest reduction in premature deaths. In 2017, the number of avoided premature deaths in 280 prefecture-level cities nationwide increased, but declined in 58 cities. Taking the target value of the first phase of the WHO transition period (an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 35 µg·m-3) as the control scenario, it is estimated that the number of premature deaths in 2013 was approximately 101293, and in 2017 was approximately 41080. The implementation of the Action Plan helped to avoid approximately 60213 premature deaths. According to the method of 'willingness to pay', the monetary benefits are estimated to be approximately 54.97 billion yuan.

[Regional Transport Matrix Study of PM2.5 in Jingjinji Region, 2015].

By coupling particle source apportionment technology (PSAT) with a comprehensive air quality model with extensions (CAMx), the regional transport matrix of PM2.5 was built for 13 cities in the Jingjinji Region in 2015. Results showed that the major contributor to PM2.5 was local source emissions, contributing 21.49%-68.74%, The internal transport from in-region sources contributed 13.31%-54.62% and the external transport from out-region sources contributing 13.32%-45.02% were also significant. The spatio-temporal distribution of the PM2.5 transport matrix was characterized by geographical, meteorological, and source patterns. Local emissions exerted the most significant impact on the central part of Jingjinji in winter, while regional transport contributed more to the southern region in other seasons. By assessing the input/output and activity of PM2.5 transport, Langfang, Hengshui, Chengde, Qinhuangdao, and Xingtai were receptors; Tianjin, Cangzhou, Tangshan, Beijing, Shijiazhuang, and Handan were sources, and Zhangjiakou and Baoding had a balanced transportation mode. The seasonal matrix of PM2.5 showed significant transport between Beijing and Langfang, Baoding, Chengde, Tianjin, Cangzhou, while the city list for Tianjin and Shijiazhuang differed slightly.

[Application of Satellite Remote Sensing in NOx Emission Control].

Tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities (VCDs) from ozone monitoring instrument(OMI) were analyzed to evaluate the decrease in NOx emissions during two special events, 70th anniversary of the end of World War Ⅱ in 2015 and the G20 summit in 2016. Results showed a positive correlation between NO2 VCDs and near ground NOx emissions and verified that the NOx emission control policy during "12th five-year plan" were remarkably effective, with a 24.98% drop in VCDs in five years. At the early stage of "13th five-year plan", in 2016, NO2 VCDs decreased by 3.18% year-on-year, showing a consistent drop in NOx.

[Satellite retrieval of a heavy pollution process in January 2013 in China].

By simulating vertical stratification data of PM2.5 with the third-generation air quality model CMAQ and high resolution relative humidity data with mesoscale meteorological model WRF, MODIS AOD data were revised by vertical and humidity correcting method, respectively. A linear regression model between revised AOD and PM2.5 was built, and the linear correlation coefficient was r = 0.77 (n = 57, P < 0.01). Based on this model, the average monthly concentrations of PM2.5 in 10 km resolution in January 2013 were firstly retrieved in the country, and the population exposure level was analyzed. The results showed that the areas where average monthly concentrations of PM2.5 was greater than 100 µg x m(-3) and 200 µg x m(-3) in January 2013 were 10.99% and 1.34% of the national terrestrial area, respectively, and the ratios of exposed population were as high as 45.01% and 6.31%, respectively.

[Assessment of haze-related human health risks for four Chinese cities during extreme haze in January 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the human health risks (premature death risk as an indicator) in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an during extreme haze in January 2013. METHODS: The daily average particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) concentrations of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an in January 2013 were collected and their characteristics explored. The populations and mortality rate of four cities in 2010 were collected from the statistical yearbook, the exposure-response relationships selected from the reference and then the premature death calculated according to the proportion risk model of Poisson regression. RESULTS: In January 2013, the 24 h mean concentrations of PM2.5 in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an were (240 ± 165) , (83 ± 27), (94 ± 49) and (210 ± 98) µg/m(3) respectively and they were all above the secondary level of Ambient Air Quality Standards (GB 3095-2012). The 24 h mean concentrations of PM2.5 in Beijing and Xi'an were much higher than those in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Approximately 86.4% (19/22) , 58.1% (18/31), 54.8% (17/31) and 93.5% (29/31) of 24 h mean PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an respectively exceeded the secondary level of Ambient Air Quality Standards (GB 3095-2012). The number of premature death due to the exposure to haze were 725 (95%CI: 457-977) for Beijing, 296 (95%CI: 96-502) for Shanghai, 310 (95%CI: 189-434) for Guangzhou and 85 (95%CI: 21-141) for Xi'an respectively in January 2013. CONCLUSION: The PM2.5 pollutions of four cities in January 2013 were serious enough to pose elevated risks of human health.

[Simulation of air pollution characteristics and estimates of environmental capacity in Zibo City].

To develop a new pattern of air pollution control that is based on the integration of "concentration control, total amount control, and quality control", and in the context of developing national (2011-2015 air pollution control plan for key areas) and (Environmental protection plan of Zibo municipality for the "12th Five-Year Plan" period), a simulation of atmospheric dispersion of air pollutants in Zibo City and its peripheral areas is carried out by employing CALPUFF model, and the atmospheric environmental capacity of SO2, NO(x) and PM10 is estimated based on the results of model simulation and using multi-objective linear programming optimization. The results indicates that the air pollution in Zibo City is significantly related to the pollution sources outside of Zibo City, which contributes to the annual average concentration of SO2, NO2 and PM10 in Zibo City by 26.34%, 21.23%, and 14.58% respectively. There is a notable interaction between districts and counties of Zibo municipality, in which the contribution of SO2, NO(x) and PM10 emissions in surrounding counties and districts to the annual average concentrations of SO2, NO2 and PM10 in downtown area are 35.96%, 43.17%, and 17.69% respectively. There is a great variation in spatial sensitivity of air pollutant emission, and the environmental impact of unit pollutant emissions from Zhoucun, Huantai, Zhangdian and Zichuan is greater than that released from other districts/counties. To meet the requirement of (Ambient air quality standard) (GB 3095-2012), the environmental capacities of SO2, NO(x) and PM10 of Zibo City are only 8.03 x 10(4) t, 19.16 x 10(4) t and 3.21 x 10(4) t, respectively. Therefore, it is imperative to implement regional air pollution joint control in Shandong peninsula in order to ensure the achievement of air quality standard in Zibo City.