Characterization and analysis of complete chloroplast genome of Clausena anisum-olens (Blanco) Merrill.

In this study, the chloroplast genome (Cp) of Clausena anisum-olens ((Blanco) Merrill) was sequenced by high-throughput sequencing technology. We found that the length of the chloroplast genome of Clausena anisum-olens was 159,753 bp, and the total GC content was 38.7%, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,623 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,986 bp, and 27,072 bp pairs of reverse repeats (IRS). The Cp genome encoded 129 genes, containing 86 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and 6 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome sequence showed that Clausena anisum-olens was closely related to Micromelum minutum and Glycosmis mauritiana.

Complete chloroplast genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis of Ilex pernyi Franch.

Ilex pernyi Franch. is a Chinese unique medicinal plant with high value for decoration, human consumption, and as a medicine. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of I. pernyi Franch. and established its phylogenetic relationship in the Aquifoliaceae family. The total length of the chloroplast genome of I. pernyi Franch. was found to be 157,220 bp, with an overall GC content of 37.7% and a typical quadripartite structure with a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 29,092 bp), which was separated by a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,427 bp and a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,609 bp. The cp genome contained 132 genes: 87 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that I. pernyi Franch. was closely related to Ilex cornuta.

The complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Sida szechuensis matsuda (Malvaceae).

Sida szechuensis Matsuda is an economically and medicinally important plant. Here, we report the first chloroplast (cp) genome of the genus Sida (S. szechuensis). The complete cp genome is 159,878 bp in length with an overall GC content of 36.9% and consists of a large single copy region (LSC, 89,426 bp), a small single copy region (SSC, 114,715 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb, 25,288 bp). The genome encodes 111 unique genes, including 78 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, 4 rRNA genes, and 1 pseudogene. Phylogenetic analysis constructed using the maximum likelihood (ML) method showed that Sida was closely related to Malvastrum and Malva.

[Adsorption Properties of Oiltea Camellia Shell-Modified Biochar and Effects of Coupled Waterlogging on Soil Cd Morphology].

Using oiltea camellia shells, a typical agricultural waste, in Hunan as feedstock, Na2SiO3 solution was used to impregnate oiltea camellia shells and modified biochar was prepared under oxygen-limited conditions. We have studied the adsorption efficiencies of Cd in solution by different biochars and the resistance efficiencies of Cd activity in soil by biochars coupled with flooding. Scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to reveal the physicochemical properties of the biochars. The results showed that compared with the camellia oil shell biochar, the modified camellia oil shell biochar (MBC) obtained more special surface areas and functional groups, which showed stronger adsorptive capacities for Cd. A waterlogging soil incubation experiment showed that flooding could simultaneously increase the soil pH values and decrease the acid-soluble Cd component. More available Cd was transformed into the residual state as the flooding time increased, and biochar addition coupled with flooding could lead to further improvement of acid-soluble Cd transformation to the residual state and reduce the acid-soluble Cd content. The concentration of acid-soluble Cd was significantly negatively correlated with the increase in biochar dosage. At 60 d of flooding, the acid-soluble Cd content was 0.33 mg·kg-1 (a decreased amplitude of approximately 45.0%) in 5.0% additional of MBC disposal. Thus, sodium silicate-modified biochar is a novel and effective material for the remediation of Cd-contaminated water and soil, and the research results provide a reference for the resource recovery of Camellia oleracea organic waste.

[Isolation and identification of phosphatolytic bacteria in Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis].

The wild resources of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, a secondary endangered medicinal plant, are severely scarce. Introduction and cultivation can alleviate market demand. To screen phosphatolytic bacteria in the rhizosphere soil of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and provide data support for the development of high-efficiency microbial fertilizer, in this study, the dilution plate coating method was used to isolate and screen the phosphorus solubilizing bacteria with the ability of mineralizing organic phosphorus from the rhizosphere soil of wild and transplanted varieties of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis in 10 different locations in Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou. After separation and purification, the phosphatolytic capacity was analyzed by qualitative and quantitative analysis. Combined with physiological and biochemical experiments, the strains were identified using 16 S rDNA sequencing analysis. Forty one strains were selected from the rhizosphere soil of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis from 10 different habitats. Among them, 21 strains were obtained from the rhizosphere soil of the wild variety P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and 20 strains were obtained from the rhizosphere soil of the transplanted variety. And significance analysis found that 41 organophosphate solubilizing strains had significant differences in their ability to solubilize phosphorus. The amount of phosphate solubilizing was 0.08-67.61 mg·L~(-1), the pH value was between 4.27 and 6.82. The phosphatolytic amount of strain Y3-5 was 67.61 mg·L~(-1), and the phosphorus increase amount was 57.57 mg·L~(-1). All 41 strains were identified as Gram-positive Bacillus. Combining physiological characteristic and phylogenetic trees, Bacillus mobilis Y3-5 was finally selected as the candidate rhizosphere phosphatolytic bacteria of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. The distribution of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria in the rhizosphere soil of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis was different, and there were significant diffe-rences in phosphorus solubility. Organophosphate-dissolving strain Y3-5 is expected to be a candidate strain of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis microbial fertilizer.

[Screening and identification of potassium-dissolving bacteria from different rhizosphere soil of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis].

The study aiming at exploring the potassium-dissolving capacity of rhizosphere potassium-dissolving bacteria from diffe-rent sources and screen the strains with high potassium-dissolving ability, so as to lay a theoretical foundation for cultivation and quality improvement of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis sources. The rhizosphere soil of 10 wild and transplanted species from Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces was used as the research object. Potassium-dissolving bacteria were isolated and purified, and their potassium-dissolving capacity was determined by flame spectrophotometry, and identified by physiological, biochemical and molecular biological methods. Twenty-six potassium-dissolving bacteria were purified and 13 were obtained from wild and transplanted strains respectively. It was found through the determination of potassium-dissolving capacity that the potassium-dissolving capacity of 26 strains was significantly different, and the mass concentration of K~+ in the fermentation broth were 1.04-2.75 mg·L~(-1), the mcentration of potassium were 0.01-1.82 mg·L~(-1). The strains were identified as Bacillus, Agrobacterium rhizome and Staphylococcus by physiological, biochemical and 16 S rDNA molecular methods, among them Bacillus amylolyticus(4 strains) was the dominant bacterium of Bacillus. The physiology and biochemistry of rhizosphere potassium-dissolving bacteria in P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis rhizosphere were diffe-rent, and the living environment were different, so the potassium-dissolving capacity also changed. Strain Y4-1 with the highest potassium decomposability was Bacillus amylolytic with a potassium increase of 1.82 mg·L~(-1). The potassium-dissolving ability and the distribution of potassium-dissolving bacteria were different in various habitats. The screening of potassium-dissolving bacteria provided a new strain for the preparation of microbial fertilizer. It is expected that B. amyloidococcus Y4-1 can be used as an ideal strain to cultivate mycorrhizal seedlings of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

Enrichment of cadmium in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown under different exogenous pollution sources.

In order to unravel the cadmium (Cd) enrichment patterns in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown under different exogenous exposure pathways, the pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. Cd was added to the soil-rice system via mixing soil with Cd-containing solution, irrigating the pots with Cd-containing water and leaf-spraying with Cd solution to simulate soil pollution (SPS), irrigation water pollution (IPS), and atmospheric deposit pollution sources (APS), respectively. No significant (p > 0.05) differences in plant height and rice grain yield were observed among all treatments including three different Cd pollution sources and control. The contents of Cd in rice plants significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increase in Cd concentrations in three pollution sources. The distribution pattern of Cd in the rice plant organs treated with SPS and IPS followed the order: roots > stems > leaves > husk > brown rice, while it was leaves > roots > stems > husk > brown rice treated with APS. At the same level of treatment, the highest concentration of Cd was observed in rice organs (except for middle and high concentrations treatment roots) grown under APS, followed by IPS and SPS, suggesting that the Cd bioavailability from different pollution sources followed the order of APS > IPS > SPS. It is concluded that the atmospheric pollution contributed more enrichment of rice with Cd. Therefore, in field environment, air deposits should also be analyzed for toxic metals during assessment of food chain contamination and health risk.

PamulDB: a comprehensive genomic resource for the study of human- and animal-pathogenic Pasteurella multocida.

Pasteurella multocida can infect a wide range of host, including humans and animals of economic importance. Genomics studies on the pathogen have produced a large amount of omics data, which are deposited in GenBank but lacks a dedicated and comprehensive resource for further analysis and integration so that need to be brought together centrally in a coherent and systematic manner. Here we have collected the genomic data for 176 P. multocida strains that are categorized into 11 host groups and 9 serotype groups, and developed the open-access P. multocida Database (PamulDB) to make this resource readily available. The PamulDB implements and integrates Chado for genome data management, Drupal for web content management, and bioinformatics tools like NCBI BLAST, HMMER, PSORTb and OrthoMCL for data analysis. All the P. multocida genomes have been further annotated for search and analysis of homologous sequence, phylogeny, gene ontology, transposon, protein subcellular localization and secreted protein. Transcriptomic data of P. multocida are also selectively adopted for gene expression analysis. The PamulDB has been developing and improving to better aid researchers with identifying and classifying of pathogens, dissecting mechanisms of the pathogen infection and host response.

Naturally occurring nanotube with surface modification as biocompatible, target-specific nanocarrier for cancer phototherapy.

Phototherapy has drawn increasing attention including the use of nanocarriers with high drug loading capacity and delivery efficacy for target-specific therapy. We have made use of naturally-occurring halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to build a biomimetic nanocarrier platform for target-specific delivery of phototherapeutic agents. The HNTs were decorated with poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) to enhance the biocompatibility, and were further functionalized by lumen loading the type-II photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG). The HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier, without further tethering targeting groups, was shown to associate with the membrane of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) via Pickering effects. Application of HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier to human breast cancer cells gave rise to a cell mortality as high as 95%. The HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier was further coated with MDA-MB-436 cell membranes to endow it with targeting therapy performance against breast cancer, which was confirmed by in vivo experiments using breast cancer tumors in mice. The membrane-coated and biocompatible nanocarrier preferentially concentrated in the tumor tissue, and efficiently decreased the tumor volume by a combination of photodynamic and photothermal effects upon near-infrared light exposure. Our results demonstrate that the HNT-based nanocarrier by virtue of facial preparation and high loading capacity can be a promising candidate for membrane-targeting nanocarriers.

Integrity of Membrane Structures in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles as Assay for Antioxidants and Prooxidants.

We have attempted to evaluate, on the basis of optical microscopy for a single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV), the potency of antioxidants in protecting GUV membranes from oxidative destruction. Photosensitized membrane budding of GUVs prepared from soybean phosphatidylcholine with chlorophyll a (Chl a) and ß-carotene (ß-Car) as photosensitizer and protector, respectively, were followed by microscopic imaging. A dimensionless entropy parameter, ΔE, as derived from the time-resolved microscopic images, was employed to describe the evolution of morphological variation of GUVs. As an indication of membrane instability, the budding process showed three successive temporal regimes as a common feature: a lag phase prior to the initiation of budding characterized by LP (in s), a budding phase when ΔE increased with a rate of kΔE (in s-1), and an ending phase with morphology stabilized at a constant ΔEend (dimensionless). We show that the phase-associated parameters can be objectively obtained by fitting the ΔE-t kinetics curves to a Boltzmann function and that all of the parameters are rather sensitive to ß-Car concentration. As for the efficacy of these parameters in quantifying the protection potency of ß-Car, kΔE is shown to be most sensitive for ß-Car in a concentration regime of biological significance of <1 × 10-7 M, whereas LP and ΔEend are more sensitive for ß-Car concentrations exceeding 1 × 10-7 M. Furthermore, based on the results of GUV imaging and fluorescence and Raman spectroscopies, we have revealed for different phases the mechanistic interplay among 1O2* diffusion, PC-OOH accumulation, Chl a and/or ß-Car consumption, and the morphological variation. The developed assay should be valuable for characterizing the potency of antioxidants or prooxidants in the protection or destruction of the membrane integrity of GUVs.

Clinicopathological and prognostic value of CD24 expression in breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have been conducted to explore the relationship between CD24 expression and the prognosis of breast cancer; however, the results remain inconsistent. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to clarify the impact of CD24 expression on clinicopathological features and prognosis of breast cancer. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search for relevant studies was performed, and statistical analysis was conducted using Stata software. RESULTS: Twenty studies, including 5,179 cases, were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis indicated that CD24 expression was associated with lymph node invasion (odds ratio [OR] = 0.68, for negative vs. positive, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.53-0.87, p = 0.002) and TNM stage (OR = 0.63, for I + II vs. III + IV, 95% CI, 0.49-0.81, p<0.001). The prognosis analysis also suggested CD24 overexpression indicated a poorer 5-year overall survival (OS) rate (relative risk ratio [RR] = 0.93, 95% CI, 0.86-0.99, p = 0.03) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate (RR = 0.90, 95% CI, 0.83-0.98, p = 0.02). However, CD24 expression had no correlation with tumor size, tumor grade, distance metastasis, estrogen receptor (ER) status, progesterone receptor (PR) status, or HER2 status. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that higher CD24 expression is significantly associated with lower OS rate, lower DFS rate and some clinicopathological factors such as lymph node invasion and TNM stage. This meta-analysis suggested that CD24 is an efficient prognostic factor in breast cancer.

Astaxanthin Protecting Membrane Integrity against Photosensitized Oxidation through Synergism with Other Carotenoids.

Incorporation of astaxanthin or zeaxanthin in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) of phosphatidylcholine resulted in a longer lag phase than incorporation of ß-carotene or lycopene for the onset of budding induced by chlorophyll a photosensitization and quantified by a dimensionless entropy parameter using optical microscopy and digital image heterogeneity analysis. The lowest initial rate of GUV budding after the lag phase was seen for GUVs with astaxanthin as the least reducing carotenoid, while the lowest final level of entropy appeared for those with lycopene or ß-carotene as a more reducing carotenoid. The combination of astaxanthin and lycopene gave optimal protection against budding with respect to both a longer lag phase and lower final level of entropy by combining good electron acceptance and good electron donation. Quenching of singlet oxygen by carotenoids close to chlorophyll a in the membrane interior in parallel with scavenging of superoxide radicals by astaxanthin anchored in the surface may explain the synergism between carotenoids involving both type I and type II photosensitization by chlorophyll a.

[Correlation study of estrogen receptor with peripheral blood cytokines and serum markers in primary biliary cirrhosis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between ER-a in the liver and cytokines of T lymphocytes subsets and serum signatures in PBC patients. METHODS: The research is performed with cross-sectional study. 80 PBC women patients without treatment were enrolled in PBC group, 10 healthy women as baseline-matched in healthy-control group, and 20 patients with non-autoimmune liver disease in non-PBC control group. The expression of IL-6, IL-8, IL-22, TNFa, IFNgamma, AMA-M2, Sp100 and gp210 were analyzed in Peripheral Blood using ELISA in all groups, and ER-a of patients were performed on tissues from liver biopsies in PBC group and non-PBC control group with immunohistochemistry. Spearman correlation test were performed on the indices to identified the association of all Parameters. numerical data were compared with Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: Compared with healthy-control group, expression of serum cytokines are significantly higher in PBC and non-PBC groups (P less than 0.01), while no significant difference were observed between PBC and non-PBC groups. The positive rate of ER-a in PBC patients liver tissues in PBC group is higher than that in non-PBC group (Z=4.82, P less than 0.01). Expression of ER-a is positively correlated with positive rates of AMA-M2 antibody, Sp100 and gP210 of tissues of PBC patients ( r=0.898, 0.819, 0.814, P less than 0.01). ER-a is positive correlated with the expression of cytokines, among which the coefficient of correlation of IL-22, TNFa, IFNgamma is more than 0.7 (r=0.71, 0.89, 0.82, P less than 0.01), AMA-M2, Sp100, gp210 is negative in serum of non-PBC control group. No obviously correlations were indicated between the expression of ER-a and cytokines. CONCLUSION: A high level of expression of cytokines in the serum might be one of the factors of etiopathogenesis of PBC.