Generation, Maintenance, and Identification of Germ-Free Zebrafish Models from Larvae to Juvenile Stages.

Zebrafish serve as valuable models for research on growth, immunity, and gut microbiota due to their genomic similarities with mammals, transparent embryos developed in a relatively clean chorion environment, and extremely rapid development of larvae compared to rodent models. Germ-free (GF) zebrafish (Danio rerio) are crucial for evaluating pollutant toxicity and establishing human-like disease models related to microbial functions. In comparison to conventionally raised (CR) models (fish in common husbandry), GF zebrafish allow for more accurate manipulation of the host microbiota, aiding in determining the causal relationship between microorganisms and hosts. Consequently, they play a critical role in advancing our understanding of these relationships. However, GF zebrafish models are typically generated and researched during the early life stages (from embryos to larvae) due to limitations in immune function and nutrient absorption. This study optimizes the generation, maintenance, and identification of early GF zebrafish models without feeding and with long-term feeding using GF food (such as Artemia sp., brine shrimp). Throughout the process, daily sampling and culture were performed and identified through multiple detections, including plates and 16S rRNA sequencing. The aseptic rate, survival, and developmental indexes of GF zebrafish were recorded to ensure the quality and quantity of the generated models. Importantly, this study provides details on bacterial isolation and infection techniques for GF fish, enabling the efficient creation of GF fish models from larvae to juvenile stages with GF food support. By applying these procedures in biomedical research, scientists can better understand the relationships between intestinal bacterial functions and host health.

Integrative Dissection of Lignin Composition in Tartary Buckwheat Seed Hulls for Enhanced Dehulling Efficiency.

The rigid hull encasing Tartary buckwheat seeds necessitates a laborious dehulling process before flour milling, resulting in considerable nutrient loss. Investigation of lignin composition is pivotal in understanding the structural properties of tartary buckwheat seeds hulls, as lignin is key determinant of rigidity in plant cell walls, thus directly impacting the dehulling process. Here, the lignin composition of seed hulls from 274 Tartary buckwheat accessions is analyzed, unveiling a unique lignin chemotype primarily consisting of G lignin, a common feature in gymnosperms. Furthermore, the hardness of the seed hull showed a strong negative correlation with the S lignin content. Genome-wide detection of selective sweeps uncovered that genes governing the biosynthesis of S lignin, specifically two caffeic acid O-methyltransferases (COMTs) and one ferulate 5-hydroxylases, are selected during domestication. This likely contributed to the increased S lignin content and decreased hardness of seed hulls from more domesticated varieties. Genome-wide association studies identified robust associations between FtCOMT1 and the accumulation of S lignin in seed hull. Transgenic Arabidopsis comt1 plants expressing FtCOMT1 successfully reinstated S lignin content, confirming its conserved function across plant species. These findings provide valuable metabolic and genetic insights for the potential redesign of Tartary buckwheat seed hulls.

Metabolome evidence of CKDu risks after chronic exposure to simulated Sri Lanka drinking water in zebrafish.

It is still a serious public health issue that chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka poses challenges in identification, prevention, and treatment. What environmental factors in drinking water cause kidney damage remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the risks of various environmental factors that may induce CKDu, including water hardness, fluoride (HF), heavy metals (HM), microcystin-LR (MC-LR), and their combined exposure (HFMM). The research focused on comprehensive metabolome analysis, and correlation with transcriptomic and gut microbiota changes. Results revealed that chronic exposure led to kidney damage and pancreatic toxicity in adult zebrafish. Metabolomics profiling showed significant alterations in biochemical processes, with enriched metabolic pathways of oxidative phosphorylation, folate biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, FoxO signaling pathway, lysosome, pyruvate metabolism, and purine metabolism. The network analysis revealed significant changes in metabolites associated with renal function and diseases, including 20-Hydroxy-LTE4, PS(18:0/22:2(13Z,16Z)), Neuromedin N, 20-Oxo-Leukotriene E4, and phenol sulfate, which are involved in the fatty acyls and glycerophospholipids class. These metabolites were closely associated with the disrupted gut bacteria of g_ZOR0006, g_Pseudomonas, g_Tsukamurella, g_Cetobacterium, g_Flavobacterium, which belonged to dominant phyla of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, etc., and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) such as egln3, ca2, jun, slc2a1b, and gls2b in zebrafish. Exploratory omics analyses revealed the shared significantly changed pathways in transcriptome and metabolome like calcium signaling and necroptosis, suggesting potential biomarkers for assessing kidney disease.

High-quality chromosome-level genome assembly and multi-omics analysis of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) reveals new insights into the environmental and genome adaptation.

High-quality genome of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) represents a valuable resource and tool for understanding genome evolution and environmental adaptation as well as its genetic improvement. However, the existing rosemary genome did not provide insights into the relationship between antioxidant components and environmental adaptability. In this study, by employing Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technologies, a total of 1.17 Gb (97.96%) genome sequences were mapped to 12 chromosomes with 46 121 protein-coding genes and 1265 non-coding RNA genes. Comparative genome analysis reveals that rosemary had a closely genetic relationship with Salvia splendens and Salvia miltiorrhiza, and it diverged from them approximately 33.7 million years ago (MYA), and one whole-genome duplication occurred around 28.3 MYA in rosemary genome. Among all identified rosemary genes, 1918 gene families were expanded, 35 of which are involved in the biosynthesis of antioxidant components. These expanded gene families enhance the ability of rosemary adaptation to adverse environments. Multi-omics (integrated transcriptome and metabolome) analysis showed the tissue-specific distribution of antioxidant components related to environmental adaptation. During the drought, heat and salt stress treatments, 36 genes in the biosynthesis pathways of carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid and flavonoids were up-regulated, illustrating the important role of these antioxidant components in responding to abiotic stresses by adjusting ROS homeostasis. Moreover, cooperating with the photosynthesis, substance and energy metabolism, protein and ion balance, the collaborative system maintained cell stability and improved the ability of rosemary against harsh environment. This study provides a genomic data platform for gene discovery and precision breeding in rosemary. Our results also provide new insights into the adaptive evolution of rosemary and the contribution of antioxidant components in resistance to harsh environments.

Serum trough concentration threshold and risk factors of cefoperazone-induced coagulopathy in critically ill patients: A retrospective case-control study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the risk factors influencing the development of cefoperazone-induced coagulopathy in critically ill patients and determine the threshold of serum trough concentration. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in the intensive care unit patients treated with cefoperazone, and it was approved by the Ethical Committee of Drum Tower Hospital affiliated with the Medical School of Nanjing University (NO.2023-158-01). Patients were divided into the normal group and coagulopathy group based on prothrombin time. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared using univariate analysis. The serum concentration threshold and influencing factors of cefoperazone-induced coagulopathy in critically ill patients were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were included, and cefoperazone-induced coagulopathy occurred in 39 patients, with an incidence of 34.5%. These patients experienced significant prothrombin time prolongation around day 6 (median) after cefoperazone application. The serum trough concentration threshold of cefoperazone-induced coagulopathy in critically ill patients was 87.765 mg/l. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the APACHE II score (p = 0.034), prophylactic use of vitamin K1 (p < 0.001), hepatic impairment (p = 0.014), and Cmin ≥ 87.765 mg/l (p = 0.005) were associated with cefoperazone-induced coagulopathy. CONCLUSION: Cefoperazone-induced coagulopathy usually occurs on the 6th day of cefoperazone use in critically ill patients. The risk will increase in patients with an APACHE II score > 25, hepatic impairment, and cefoperazone Cmin ≥ 87.765 mg/l. Vitamin K1 is effective in preventing this adverse reaction.

Development and Validation of a Dynamic Nomogram for Predicting 3-Month Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) carries a substantial risk of mortality, emphasizing the need for effective risk assessment and timely interventions. This study aimed to develop and validate a practical dynamic nomogram for predicting 3-month mortality in AIS patients with AF. Methods: AIS patients with AF were enrolled and randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. The nomogram was developed based on independent risk factors identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The prediction performance of the nomogram was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC), calibration plots, decision curve analysis (DCA), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: A total of 412 patients with AIS and AF entered final analysis, 288 patients in the training cohort and 124 patients in the validation cohort. The nomogram was developed using age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, early introduction of novel oral anticoagulants, and pneumonia as independent risk factors. The nomogram exhibited good discrimination both in the training cohort (AUC, 0.851; 95% CI, 0.802-0.899) and the validation cohort (AUC, 0.811; 95% CI, 0.706-0.916). The calibration plots, DCA and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was well calibrated and clinically useful, effectively distinguishing the 3-month survival status of patients with AIS and AF, respectively. The dynamic nomogram can be obtained at the website: https://yanxiaodi.shinyapps.io/3-monthmortality/. Conclusion: The dynamic nomogram represents the first predictive model for 3-month mortality and may contribute to managing the mortality risk of patients with AIS and AF.

Post-exercise left atrial conduit strain predicted hemodynamic change in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVES: Left ventricle function directly impacts left atrial (LA) conduit function, and LA conduit strain is associated with exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) before and during exercise is the current gold standard for diagnosing HFpEF. Post-exercise ΔPCWP can lead to worse long-term outcomes. This study examined the correlation between LA strain and post-exercise ΔPCWP in patients with HFpEF. METHODS: We enrolled 100 subjects, including 74 with HFpEF and 26 with non-cardiac dyspnea, from November 2017 to December 2020. Subjects underwent echocardiography, invasive cardiac catheterization, and expired gas analysis at rest and during exercise. Arterial blood pressure, right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and PCWP were recorded during cardiac catheterization. Cardiac output, stroke volume, pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary artery compliance, systemic vascular resistance, and LV stroke work were calculated using standard formulas. RESULTS: Exercise LA conduit strain significantly correlated with both post-exercise ΔPCWP (r = - 0.707, p < 0.001) and exercise PCWP (r = - 0.659; p < 0.001). Exercise LA conduit strain differentiated patients who did and did not meet the 2016 European Society of Cardiology HFpEF criteria with an area under the curve of 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.548-0.831) using a cutoff value of 14.25, with a sensitivity of 0.64 and a specificity of 0.68. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise LA conduit strain significantly correlates with post-exercise ΔPCWP and has a comparable power to identify patients with HFpEF. Additional studies are warranted to confirm the ability of LA conduit strain to predict long-term outcomes among patients with HFpEF. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Exercise left atrial conduit strain was highly associated with the difference of post-exercise pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and may indicate increased mortality risk in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and also has comparable diagnostic ability. KEY POINTS: • Left atrial conduit strain is associated with exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. • Left atrial conduit strain during exercise can identify patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. • Exercise left atrial conduit strain significantly correlates with the difference of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure during and before exercise which might predict the long-term outcomes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients.

The use of sertraline to treat an adolescent of dystonia comorbid with major depressive disorder with psychotic features.

Dystonia is characterized by sustained or intermittent involuntary muscle contractions. Psychiatric symptoms are essential non-motor features of dystonia, and higher risks of depressive and anxiety disorders have been reported. The precedence of psychiatric to motor symptoms in some patients and the dopaminergic and serotonergic system involvement in both the motor and psychiatric aspects suggest these psychiatric disorders may be intrinsic to the neurobiology of dystonia. Nevertheless, psychiatric comorbidities are often construed as secondary reactions to motor disabilities and the negative bio-psycho-social impacts of dystonia, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment. Research on antidepressant use in dystonia is scarce, especially in children and adolescents. This report presents a 17-year-old female with dystonia comorbid with depression with psychotic features, whose motor symptoms improved but psychiatric symptoms persisted with dopaminergic pharmacotherapy. Sertraline was finally added 5 years after the onset and successfully managed her psychotic depression without worsening motor symptoms. Early detection, prompt diagnosis, and timely holistic treatment with dopaminergic agents, antidepressants, and psychosocial interventions are critical for the mental health of dystonia patients.

Development and application of in vitro intestinal absorption model based on microfluidic chips / 药学实践杂志

The intestine is the main site of oral drug absorption, and the epithelial cells of the intestine contain villi and microvilli, which promote secretion, cell adhesion, and absorption by increasing surface area and other factors. Traditional two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) cell culture models and animal models have played an important role in studying drug absorption, but their application is limited due to the lack of sufficient predictability of human pharmacokinetics or ethical issues, etc. Therefore, mimicking the core structure and key functions of the human intestine based on in vitro live cells has been the focus of research on constructing a microfluidic chip-based intestinal model. The model is a microfluidic chip bionic system that simulates the complex microstructure, microenvironment, and physiological functions of the human intestine using microfabrication technology. Compared with 2D cell culture and animal experiments, the intestinal microarray model can effectively simulate the human in vivo environment and is more specific in drug screening. The research progress and applications in disease modeling, drug absorption and transport of intestinal microarray models and intestine-related multi-organ coupled microarray models at home and abroad were reviewed in this paper. The current challenges of intestinal chip simulating intestinal homeostasis and diseases were summarized，in order to provide reference for the further establishment of a more reliable in vitro intestinal chip model.

Effects of HMGB1 on phenotypes, phagocytosis and ERK/JNK/P38 MAPK signaling pathway in dendritic cells / 中国药理学通报

Aim To explore the impacts of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on the phenotypes, endocy-tosis and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/ Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK)/P38 mitogen-ac-tivated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in indoxyl sulfate (IS) -induced dendritic cells (DCs). Methods After treatment with 30, 300 and 600 (xmol · L

Design and baseline characteristics of a population-based birth cohort in Shanghai / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo introduce the basic design， development plan and objectives of a population-based birth cohort in Shanghai， and further present the main data and baseline characteristics of enrolled participants in the cohort， and to provide key information for reproductive health-related studies. MethodsThe Shanghai population-based birth cohort initiated on January 1， 2005， included newborns born in Shanghai every year and their parents， and collected information on reproductive health， reproductive treatment， birth characteristics， growth and development status， as well as the incidence， treatment and death of diseases by employing data linkage technology and investigations. This formed a birth cohort spanning the entire life cycle. ResultsAs of October 2022， a total of 2 978 538 newborns and their parents were included in the cohort. Among them， 2 905 135 （97.54%） were naturally conceived （NC）， and 73 403 （2.46%） were born through assisted reproductive technologies （ART）. The average age of parents was （32.56±4.12） years old for females and （34.62±5.34） years old for males in the ART group， which was higher than （28.02±4.71） years and （30.07±5.54） years for parents in the NC group. Among parents， females and males aged 30 and above accounted for 77.12% and 85.08%， respectively， which were higher than that of parents （35.28% for females and 49.66% for males） in the NC group. Furthermore， the percentage of parents with a college degree or above in the ART group was 73.23% for females and 73.66% for males， which were higher than those in the NC group （49.98% and 50.91%， respectively）. The multiple births rate in the ART group was 33.81%， which was higher than that in the NC group （1.88%）. The incidence of premature birth and low birth weight in the ART group were 24.47% and 19.08%， respectively， which was higher than that in the NC group （5.47% and 3.73%）. ConclusionThe comprehensive collection of reproductive health-related information in the birth cohort in Shanghai can provide essential resources to determine the influence of genetics， environment， reproductive treatment and other related factors on the health of offspring after birth.

Exploring fNIRS-Based Brain State Recognition and Visualization through the use of Explainable Convolutional Neural Networks.

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a neuroimaging technique that has grown vigorously in recent years. With noticeable attention, machine learning methods have also been applied to fNIRS. However, the current approach lacks interpretability of the results. In recent years, the utilization and investigation of fNIRS have experienced significant growth and are now being utilized in clinical research. However, the collection of clinical fNIRS data is limited in sample size. Therefore, our aim is to utilize the collected fNIRS data from all channels and achieve interpretable analysis results with minimal human manipulation, channel selection or feature extraction. We developed an fNIRS-based interpretable model and used class-specific gradient information to visualize the biomarkers captured by the model via locating the important region. The accuracy of our model's classification was 6% higher than that of the conventional SVM method under within-subject classification. The model focuses on signals from the left brain in the classification of right-hand finger tapping task, while in the task of classifying left-handed movements, the model relies on signals from the right brain. These results were consistent with current understanding of physiology.Clinical Relevance- The machine learning-based fNIRS model has the potential to be used for the diagnosis and prediction of therapeutic efficacy in clinical settings.

Efficacy and Safety of Anticoagulant Therapy Versus Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

The efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) remain uncertain. This study enrolled 431 AIS and AF patients from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January 2019 and December 2021 and followed for 365 days to determine the associations between anticoagulants and clinical outcomes by assessing modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, recurrent ischemic stroke/systemic embolism (IS/SE), all-cause mortality, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and major bleeding. Final analysis included 400 eligible patients and divided them into antiplatelet group (n = 191) and anticoagulant group (n = 209). Anticoagulant therapy was associated with excellent (mRS 0-1; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.63; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.61-4.30) and favorable functional outcomes (mRS 0-2; aOR, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.69-4.70) and lower risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 0.35; 95% CI, 0.21-0.57), ICH (aHR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23-0.87) and major bleeding (aHR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28-0.94), without increasing the risk of recurrent IS/SE (aHR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.45-1.24). In conclusion, anticoagulant therapy may be a more effective and safer option than antiplatelet therapy for AIS patients with AF.

[Association of SLC6A4 gene c.*670T>G polymorphism with the risk for asthma and peripheral blood cytological characteristics among ethnic Zhuang Chinese population].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of SLC6A4 gene c.*670T>G polymorphism with the risk for asthma and peripheral blood cytological characteristics among ethnic Zhuang Chinese from Guangxi, China. METHODS: From May 2017 to March 2020, 258 patients diagnosed with asthma and 244 healthy controls were recruited from the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Minzhu Medical College and the People's Hospital of Hechi. Genotypes of the c.*670T>G polymorphism were determined by Sanger sequencing. Flow cytometry was used in combination with an electrical impedance method for the counting and classification of peripheral blood cells. RESULTS: Compared with the T allele, the G allele of the c.*670T>G polymorphism was associated with the risk for asthma in the population (OR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.15-2.06; P = 0.004). Compared with the GT and TT genotypes, homozygous GG genotype also comprised a risk factor (OR = 1.66, 95%CI = 1.16-2.38; P = 0.005). Stratification of the risk factors showed that the homozygous GG genotype has increased the risk of asthma in males and urban residents (P < 0.01). The erythrocyte, hemoglobin and platelet counts of the asthma group were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001). The GG, GT and TT genotypes have respectively accounted for 82.35%, 17.65% and 0% of the samples with platelets exceeding the normal value. The overall platelet level of GG genotype was higher than GT+TT genotype (P < 0.05). The significant association was verified by the false positive report probability, and at a prior probability level of 0.1, G vs. T false positive probability was 0.071, and GG vs. GT+TT false positive probability was 0.153. CONCLUSION: The GG genotype of the c.*670T>G polymorphism is associated with the risk for asthma among ethnic Zhuang Chinese from northwest Guangxi. Above finding has also enriched the genotypic data and peripheral blood phenotype for this polymorphism.

VAMP726 from maize and Arabidopsis confers pollen resistance to heat and UV radiation by influencing lignin content of sporopollenin.

Sporopollenin in the pollen cell wall protects male gametophytes from stresses. Phenylpropanoid derivatives, including guaiacyl (G) lignin units, are known to be structural components of sporopollenin, but the exact composition of sporopollenin remains to be fully resolved. We analyzed the phenylpropanoid derivatives in sporopollenin from maize and Arabidopsis by thioacidolysis coupled with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The NMR and GC-MS results confirmed the presence of p-hydroxyphenyl (H), G, and syringyl (S) lignin units in sporopollenin from maize and Arabidopsis. Strikingly, H units account for the majority of lignin monomers in sporopollenin from these species. We next performed a genome-wide association study to explore the genetic basis of maize sporopollenin composition and identified a vesicle-associated membrane protein (ZmVAMP726) that is strongly associated with lignin monomer composition of maize sporopollenin. Genetic manipulation of VAMP726 affected not only lignin monomer composition in sporopollenin but also pollen resistance to heat and UV radiation in maize and Arabidopsis, indicating that VAMP726 is functionally conserved in monocot and dicot plants. Our work provides new insight into the lignin monomers that serve as structural components of sporopollenin and characterizes VAMP726, which affects sporopollenin composition and stress resistance in pollen.

Differentiating the Prognostic Determinants of Myocardial Steatosis for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background Myocardial steatosis and fibrosis may play a role in the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We therefore investigated the prognostic significance of epicardial fat (epicardial adipose tissue [EAT]) and myocardial diffuse fibrosis. Methods and Results Myocardial fibrosis, estimated as extracellular volume (ECV), and EAT were measured using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in 163 subjects with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We also evaluated cardiac structure and diastolic and systolic function by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. After 24 months' follow-up, 39 (24%) subjects had experienced cardiovascular events, including hospitalization for heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, and cardiovascular death. Median EAT and mean ECV were significantly higher in subjects with cardiovascular events than survivors (EAT, 35 [25-45] versus 31 [21-38], P=0.006 and ECV, 28.9±3.16% versus 27.2±3.56%, P=0.04). Subjects with high EAT (≥42 g) had increased risk of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR], 2.528 [95% CI, 1.704-4.981]; P=0.032). High ECV (>29%) was also significantly associated with poorer outcomes (HR, 1.647 [95% CI, 1.263-2.548]; P=0.013). With respect to secondary end points, high EAT and high ECV were associated with increased risk of the incident acute coronary syndrome (HR, 1.982 [95% CI, 1.008-4.123]; P=0.049) and hospitalization for heart failure (HR, 1.789 [95% CI, 1.102-6.987]; P=0.033), respectively. Conclusions Our study suggested that increased epicardial fat and ECV detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have an impact on cardiovascular prognosis, in particular acute coronary syndrome and hospitalization for heart failure, respectively.

A maize epimerase modulates cell wall synthesis and glycosylation during stomatal morphogenesis.

The unique dumbbell-shape of grass guard cells (GCs) is controlled by their cell walls which enable their rapid responses to the environment. The molecular mechanisms regulating the synthesis and assembly of GC walls are as yet unknown. Here we have identified BZU3, a maize gene encoding UDP-glucose 4-epimerase that regulates the supply of UDP-glucose during GC wall synthesis. The BZU3 mutation leads to significant decreases in cellular UDP-glucose levels. Immunofluorescence intensities reporting levels of cellulose and mixed-linkage glucans are reduced in the GCs, resulting in impaired local wall thickening. BZU3 also catalyzes the epimerization of UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine to UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, and the BZU3 mutation affects N-glycosylation of proteins that may be involved in cell wall synthesis and signaling. Our results suggest that the spatiotemporal modulation of BZU3 plays a dual role in controlling cell wall synthesis and glycosylation via controlling UDP-glucose/N-acetylglucosamine homeostasis during stomatal morphogenesis. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms controlling formation of the unique morphology of grass stomata.

ZmXYL modulates auxin-induced maize growth.

Plant architecture, lodging resistance, and yield are closely associated with height. In this paper, we report the identification and characterization of two allelic EMS-induced mutants of Zea mays, xyl-1, and xyl-2 that display dwarf phenotypes. The mutated gene, ZmXYL, encodes an α-xylosidase which functions in releasing xylosyl residue from a ß-1,4-linked glucan chain. Total α-xylosidase activity in the two alleles is significantly decreased compared to wild-type plants. Loss-of-function mutants of ZmXYL resulted in a decreased xylose content, an increased XXXG content in xyloglucan (XyG), and a reduced auxin content. We show that auxin has an antagonistic effect with XXXG in promoting cell divisions within mesocotyl tissue. xyl-1 and xyl-2 were less sensitive to IAA compared to B73. Based on our study, a model is proposed that places XXXG, an oligosaccharide derived from XyG and the substrate of ZmXYL, as having a negative impact on auxin homeostasis resulting in the dwarf phenotypes of the xyl mutants. Our results provide a insight into the roles of oligosaccharides released from plant cell walls as signals in mediating plant growth and development.

Sitobion miscanthi L type symbiont enhances the fitness and feeding behavior of the host grain aphid.

BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria affect physiology and ecology of insect hosts. The Sitobion miscanthi L type symbiont (SMLS) is a recently discovered and widely distributed secondary symbiont in the grain aphid Sitobion miscanthi Takahashi in China. RESULTS: In this study, SMLS-infected (SI) and SMLS-uninfected (SU) aphid strains were obtained from field population. The artificially SMLS-re-infected (SRI) strain was established by injecting SU aphids with the SI strain hemolymph containing SMLS. The SRI and SU strains had identical genetic backgrounds and similar microbial community structures. Compared with the SU strain, adult longevity, survival rate, and fecundity were significantly greater in the SRI strain (biological fitness of 1.48). Moreover, the SRI strain spent more time ingesting phloem than the SU strain. A comparative transcriptome analysis indicated that reproduction- and longevity-related genes were more highly expressed in the SRI strain than in the SU strain. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that the infection with SMLS enhanced the Sitobion miscanthi fitness and feeding behavior. The beneficial effect of the SMLS on hosts could explain why it frequently infects the field populations in the grain aphid Sitobion miscanthi Takahashi in China. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chemical and nutrient differences between medicinal material, residues, and residue compost of Moutan Cortex / 中国中药杂志

Moutan Cortex(MC) residues produced after the extraction of MC can be re-extracted for active components and used to produce organic fertilizer and animal feed. However, they are currently disposed as domestic waste, which pollutes the environment. This study analyzed the chemical composition of the medicinal material, residues, and residue compost of MC by UPLC-UV-Q-TOF-MS. Furthermore, the nutrient composition of MC residues and the residue compost was analyzed. The results showed that:(1)MC residues had lower content of chemicals than the medicinal material, and content of paeonol, gallic acid, and galloylglucose in MC residues were about 1/3 of that in the medicinal material. The content of chemicals were further reduced after residue composting, and the quantitative compounds were all below the limits of detection.(2)Compared with MC residues, the residue compost showed the total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, and organic matter content increasing by 122.67%, 31.32%, 120.39%, and 32.06%, respectively. Therefore, we concluded that the MC residues can be used to re-extract active compounds such as paeonol, gallic acid, and galloylglucose. The MC residue compost is a high-quality organic fertilizer containing minimal content of chemicals and can be widely used in the cultivation of Chinese medicinal herbs.