[Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment in 278 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Guangzhou].

Objective: To retrospective analyze the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: A total of 278 patients with COVID-19 admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital from January 20 to February 10, 2020 were selected. The general demographic data, epidemiological data, clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, lung CT imaging, treatment and prognosis were analyzed. Results: There were 130 male patients (46.8%) and 148 females (53.2%) with age (48.1±17.0) years and 88.8% patients between 20-69 years. Two hundred and thirty-six (84.9%) patients had comorbidities. Two hundred and eleven cases (75.9%) were common type. The in-hospital mortality was 0.4% (1/278). The majority (201, 72.3%) were imported cases mainly from Wuhan (89, 44.3%). The most common clinical manifestations were fever (70.9%) and dry cough (61.5%). In some patients, hemoglobin (10.4%), platelets (12.6%) and albumin (55.4%) were lower than the normal range. Other biochemical tests according to liver and function were normal, while lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was elevated in 61 patients (21.9%), creatine kinase increased in 26 patients (9.4%). Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was seen in 52 patients (18.7%), D-dimer higher than normal in 140 patients (50.4%), while 117 patients (42.1%) had elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Typical CT manifestations included single or multiple ground glass shadows especially in lung periphery in early disease which infiltrated and enlarged during progressive stage. Diffuse consolidation with multiple patchy density in severe/critical cases and even "white lung" presented in a few patients. Two hundred and forty-two patients (87.1%) received one or more antiviral agents, 242 (87.1%) combined with antibacterials, 191 (68.7%) with oxygen therapy. There were 198 patients (71.2%) treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Conclusions: COVID-19 could attack patients in all ages with majority of common type and low mortality rate. Clinical manifestations involve multiple organs or systems. Progression of the disease results in critical status which should be paid much attention.

Influence of green light illumination at night on biological characteristics of the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata is an important crop pest in eastern Asia. Nocturnal insects, including nocturnal moths, have phototactic behavior to an artificial light source. Phototactic behavior in insects is species-specific in response to different wavelengths of light sources. Our previous study showed that green (520 nm) light emitting diode (LED) light resulted in a significantly higher phototactic behavior in M. separata moths compared to the other wavelength LED lights. The goal of the present study is to investigate the influence of green light illumination on biological characteristics of different developmental stages in M. separata. Our results revealed that when different developmental stages of M. separata were exposed to the green light illumination in a dark period, several biological characteristics in all developmental stages except for egg stage were positively changed, but those of F1 generation M. separata which are next generation of the adults exposed to the green light did not significantly change compared with the control level. These findings suggest that green light illumination at night (or dark period) has a positive effect on the development and longevity of M. separata.

Absence of juvenile hormone signalling regulates the dynamic expression profiles of nutritional metabolism genes during diapause preparation in the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi.

Temperate insects have evolved diapause, a period of programmed developmental arrest during specific life stages, to survive unfavourable conditions. During the diapause preparation phase (DPP), diapause-destined individuals generally store large amounts of fat by regulating nutrition distribution for the energy requirement during diapause maintenance and postdiapause development. Although nutritional patterns during the DPP have been investigated at physiological and biochemical levels in many insects, it remains largely unknown how nutritional metabolism is regulated during the DPP at molecular levels. We used RNA sequencing to compare gene expression profiles of adult female cabbage beetles Colaphellus bowringi during the preoviposition phase (POP) and the DPP. Most differentially expressed genes were involved in specific metabolic pathways during the DPP. Genes related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolic pathways were clearly highly expressed during the DPP, whereas genes related to protein metabolic pathways were highly expressed during the POP. Hormone challenge and RNA interference experiments revealed that juvenile hormone via its nuclear receptor methoprene-tolerant mediated the expression of genes associated with nutritional metabolism during the DPP. This work not only sheds light on the mechanisms of diapause preparation, but also provides new insights into the molecular basis of environmental plasticity in insects.

Response of antioxidant enzymes in Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) exposed to thermal stress.

The oriental army worm Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a migratory pest in Eastern Asia and China. Seasonal high temperatures in Southern China and low temperatures in Northern China are pressures favouring the annual migration of this species, while cold tolerance determines the northern limit of its overwintering range. A number of physiological stress responses occur in insects as a result of variations in temperature. One reaction to thermal stress is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can be harmful by causing oxidative damage. The time-related effects (durations of 1, 4 and 7 h) of thermal stress treatments of M. separata at comparatively low (5, 10, 15 and 20°C) and high (30, 35, 40 and 45°C) temperatures on the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were determined. Thermal stress resulted in significant elevation of the activities of SOD, CAT and GSTs, indicating that these enzymes contribute to defence mechanisms counteracting oxidative damage caused by an increase in ROS. However, at high-temperatures, POX and T-AOC were also found to contribute to scavenging ROS. Our results also indicate that extreme temperatures lead to elevated ROS production in M. separata. The present study confirms that thermal stress can be responsible for oxidative damage. To overcome such stress, antioxidant enzymes play key roles in diminishing oxidative damage in M. separata.

A garlic substance disrupts odorant-binding protein recognition of insect pheromones released from adults of the angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

The angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, is one of the most serious stored-grain pests worldwide. Control of this moth may be achieved by interfering with olfactory pathways to disrupt male-female communication with sex pheromones, using plant volatiles like garlic or its active substances. Here, three odorant-binding protein (OBP) genes [namely Si. cerealella general OBP 1 (ScerGOBP1), ScerGOBP2 and Si. cerealella pheromone-binding protein (ScerPBP)] were cloned from Si. cerealella antennae, and quantitative real-time PCR showed that these genes were predominantly expressed in adult antennae. ScerPBP expression was male-biased, but ScerGOBP1 and ScerGOBP2 were similar between sexes. The results of competitive binding assays indicated that a garlic substance, diallyl trisulphide (DATS), had similar or even higher binding affinity to ScerPBP than Si. cerealella sex pheromone, 7Z, 11E-hexadecadien-1-ol acetate (HDA). In olfactometer bioassays, DATS significantly reduced the response of adults to HDA when they were exposed to air filled with HDA and DATS. Surprisingly, ScerGOBP2, which is postulated to be involved in the detection of general odours, displayed higher affinity with HDA than did ScerPBP, indicating that ScerGOBP2 may also have a role in pheromone perception. These data suggest that DATS may interfere with recognition of female-produced sex pheromone, disrupting female and male mating behaviour and resulting in a new idea for controlling stored grain pests.

Description of a New Species of the Genus Macromotettixoides Zheng (Orthoptera: Tetrigoidea: Metrodorinae) from China.

A new species, Macromotettixoides lativertex Deng et al n. sp. is described with detailed illustrations of external morphology. Comparison between the species M. lativertex n. sp. and allied species is compiled into a table for identification. The distribution and an updated identification key to all known species of the genus is given.

Evaluation of monoterpenes for the control of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Sitophilus zeamaise Motschulsky.

The effects of the monoterpenes of 3-carene, 1,8-cineole, beta-pinene, terpinene and terpinolene on the repellent, contact toxicity of Tribolium castaneum adults and sustaining fumigant toxicity of Sitophilus zeamaise adults were examined. Monoterpene of 1,8-cineole in 20 microL mL(-1) and beta-pinene in 20 microL mL(-1) exhibited the highest percentage repellency, whereas 3-carene in concentration of 4 microL mL(-1) exhibited the significantly lower percentage repellency. Topical application and fumigant assays were used across a range of concentrations to develop dosage-mortality regressions. Among the monoterpenes tested, the most contact toxic compound was beta-pinene (with LC(50) values ranging between 31.44 and 62.07 microg mg(-1)), whereas 3-carene was the least (with LC(50) values ranging between 66.58 and 93.68 microg mg(-1)). All five monoterpenes were fumigant toxic to S. zeamaise adults, and the fumigant effect varied, along with the exposure time and the dosage. Terpinene and terpinolene were consistently the most fumigant toxic compounds on S. zeamaise, and the trend of high-to-low toxicity based on LC(50) values was not changed when treated for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h; the lethal concentration causing 50% mortality (LC(50)) with terpinolene was reduced by 71.5% after a 96 h treatment time, compared to beta-pinene and 3-carene, where only 35.0 and 31.4% reduction were observed, respectively. The data presented here indicated that the monoterpenes had repellent or toxic effects and could be screened for the control of storage pests.

Evaluation of sticky ovitraps for the surveillance of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) and the screening of oviposition attractants from organic infusions.

The performance of sticky ovitraps for investigation of a container-breeding mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has been assessed for the first time, in the field, in Wuhan, China. Almost all (90.0%) of the mosquitoes collected in the ovitraps were Ae. albopictus and, in 2006, the seasonal abundance of this species as measured using the sticky ovitraps was significantly correlated with that measured using standard red ovitraps. The baiting with a Bermuda-grass (Cynodon dactylon) infusion of oviposition cups in the laboratory or standard red ovitraps in the field increased the numbers of Ae. albopictus eggs collected (compared with the numbers seen with a tap-water control). In an adult-counting assay, however, the use of such an infusion significantly increased the numbers of female Ae. albopictus coming to sticky oviposition cups only in the laboratory, not in the field. Under field conditions, when the sticky ovitraps were used, female Ae. albopictus showed no oviposition 'preference' for infusions made from the leaves of the camphorwood tree, box, green bristle grass, Bermuda grass, lotus magnolia or bamboo. In terms of the attractancy of the sticky ovitraps to female Ae. albopictus in the field, the red colour of the ovitraps appeared to contribute more than a Bermuda-grass infusion. It appears that sticky ovitraps could be used to monitor Ae. albopictus in the field effectively. Since mosquitoes that are attracted to organic infusions but lay no eggs cannot be detected using a standard ovitrap but can be collected and counted in sticky ovitraps, the latter may be a better choice when screening for mosquito attractants (rather than oviposition stimulants) in such infusions.

QTL analysis for rice grain length and fine mapping of an identified QTL with stable and major effects.

Grain length in rice plays an important role in determining rice appearance, milling, cooking and eating quality. In this study, the genetic basis of grain length was dissected into six main-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and twelve pairs of epistatic QTLs. The stability of these QTLs was evaluated in four environments using an F7 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross between a Japonica variety, Asominori, and an Indica variety, IR24. Moreover, chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) harboring each of the six main-effect QTLs were used to evaluate gene action of QTLs across eight environments. A major QTL denoted as qGL-3a, was found to express stably not only in the isogenic background of Asominori but also in the recombinant background of Asominori and IR24 under multiple environments. The IR24 allele at qGL-3a has a positive effect on grain length. Based on the test of advanced backcross progenies, qGL-3a was dissected as a single Mendelian factor, i.e., long rice grain was controlled by a recessive gene gl-3. High-resolution genetic and physical maps were further constructed for fine mapping gl-3 by using 11 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers designed using sequence information from seven BAC/PAC clones and a BC4F2 population consisting of 2,068 individuals. Consequently, the gl-3 gene was narrowed down to a candidate genomic region of 87.5 kb long defined by SSR markers RMw357 and RMw353 on chromosome 3, which provides a basis for map-based cloning of this gene and for marker-aided QTL pyramiding in rice quality breeding.

Genetic dissection of silicon uptake ability in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The adequate presence of silicon (Si) in rice plants can enhance their yield and improve their tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study Si uptake abilities were compared between the japonica rice cultivar (cv.) Kinmaze and the indica rice cv. DV85 under three Si concentrations (0.16, 0.4, and 1.6mM) at different time points from 1 to 12h. The results showed that the phenotypic values of two traits-Si uptake by individual plants (SP, Si uptake by all roots of a plant) and Si uptake per unit root dry weight (SR=SP/root dry weight)-of Kinmaze were significantly higher than those of DV85 (P<0.01). Meanwhile, a kinetic study indicated that the Si transporters in Kinmaze and DV85 had the same affinity for silicic acid, but with different Vmax values, indicating that Kinmaze had more Si transporters in the roots than DV85. This may be the main reason for the difference in Si uptake ability between Kinmaze and DV85. In addition, a mapping population consisting of 81 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross between Kinmaze and DV85 was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying SP and SR. The RILs follow a continuous one-peak distribution and show transgressive segregation in both directions for SP, SR, and root dry weight (RDW). Three QTLs for SP, four for SR, and three for RDW were detected. This can explain 7.16-17.15% of the phenotypic variation (PVE). Thus, the results obtained in this study provide a better understanding of the mechanism of rice Si uptake ability and the basis for fine-mapping the genes involved.

[Genetic studies of blast resistance of indica variety Zhefu 802].

One indica variety, Zhefu 802, was studied for its inheritance of blast resistance by inoculation of two strains Ken54-04 and 95-t2. The B1F1 and F2 populations from cross of Zhefu 802(R) x Lijiangxintuanheigu (S) and related parents were inoculated by spray inoculation method with the two above mentioned strains to determine R:S ratio of segregating populations of this cross. The results indicated that Zhefu 802 has two dominant resistance genes to strain Ken 54-04. One of the two genes showed resistant reaction and the other is susceptible to strain 95-t2. The allelism test indicated that one gene in Zhefu 802, which showed resistant reaction to strain 95-t2, is allelic to Pi-i gene locus and non-allelic to loci of Pi-a, Pi-sh, Pi-k, Pi-z, Pi-ta, Pi-b, Pi-t. The other gene in this variety was also estimated to be different from all of the known genes. So it may be an unknown gene. But this point needs to be confirmed further.