Screening for Resistance Resources against Bacterial Wilt in Wild Potato.

Potato is an important crop, used not only for food production but also for various industrial applications. With the introduction of the potato as a staple food strategy, the potato industry in China has grown rapidly. However, issues related to bacterial wilt, exacerbated by factors such as seed potato transportation and continuous cropping, have become increasingly severe in the primary potato cultivation regions of China, leading to significant economic losses. The extensive genetic diversity of Ralstonia solanacearum (R. solanacearum), which is the pathogen of bacterial wilt, has led to a lack of highly resistant potato genetic resources. There is a need to identify and cultivate potato varieties with enhanced resistance to reduce the adverse impact of this disease on the industry. We screened 55 accessions of nine different wild potato species against the bacterial wilt pathogen R. solanacearum PO2-1, which was isolated from native potato plants and belongs to phylotype II. Three accessions of two species (ACL24-2, PNT880-3, and PNT204-23) were identified with high resistance phenotypes to the tested strains. We found these accessions also showed high resistance to different phylotype strains. Among them, only PNT880-3 was capable of flowering and possessed viable pollen, and it was diploid. Consistent with the high resistance, decreased growth of R. solanacearum was detected in PNT880-3. All these findings in our study reveal that the wild potato PNT880-3 was a valuable resistance source to bacterial wilt with breeding potential.

Recent advances and future perspective on lignocellulose-based materials as adsorbents in diverse water treatment applications.

The growing shortage of non-renewable resources and the burden of toxic pollutants in water have gradually become stumbling blocks in the path of sustainable human development. To this end, there has been great interest in finding renewable and environmentally friendly materials to promote environmental sustainability and combat harmful pollutants in wastewater. Of the many options, lignocellulose, as an abundant, biocompatible and renewable material, is the most attractive candidate for water remediation due to the unique physical and chemical properties of its constituents. Herein, we review the latest research advances in lignocellulose-based adsorbents, focusing on lignocellulosic composition, material modification, application of adsorbents. The modification and preparation methods of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose and their applications in the treatment of diverse contaminated water are systematically and comprehensively presented. Also, the detailed description of the adsorption model, the adsorption mechanism and the adsorbent regeneration technique provides an excellent reference for understanding the underlying adsorption mechanism and the adsorbent recycling. Finally, the challenges and limitations of lignocellulosic adsorbents are evaluated from a practical application perspective, and future developments in the related field are discussed. In summary, this review offers rational insights to develop lignocellulose-based environmentally-friendly reactive materials for the removal of hazardous aquatic contaminants.

Ralstonia solanacearum type III effector RipAS associates with potato type one protein phosphatase StTOPP6 to promote bacterial wilt.

The bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum (R. solanacearum) delivered type III secretion effectors to inhibit the immune system and cause bacterial wilt on potato. Protein phosphatases are key regulators in plant immunity, which pathogens can manipulate to alter host processes. Here, we show that a type III effector RipAS can reduce the nucleolar accumulation of a type one protein phosphatase (PP1) StTOPP6 to promote bacterial wilt. StTOPP6 was used as bait in the Yeast two-Hybrid (Y2H) assay and acquired an effector RipAS that interacts with it. RipAS was characterized as a virulence effector to contribute to R. solanacearum infection, and stable expression of RipAS in potato impaired plant resistance against R. solanacearum. Overexpression of StTOPP6 showed enhanced disease symptoms when inoculated with wild strain UW551 but not the ripAS deletion mutant, indicating that the expression of StTOPP6 facilitates the virulence of RipAS. RipAS reduced the nucleolar accumulation of StTOPP6, which occurred during R. solanacearum infection. Moreover, the association also widely existed between other PP1s and RipAS. We argue that RipAS is a virulence effector associated with PP1s to promote bacterial wilt.

Protein phosphatase StTOPP6 negatively regulates potato bacterial wilt resistance by modulating MAPK signaling.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an important crop globally and is grown across many regions in China, where it ranks fourth in the list of staple foods. However, its production and quality are severely affected by bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. In this study, we identified StTOPP6, which belongs to the type one protein phosphatase (TOPP) family, and found that transient knock down of StTOPP6 in potato increased resistance against R. solanacearum. RNA-seq analysis showed that knock down of StTOPP6 activated immune responses, and this defense activation partly depended on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway. StTOPP6 inhibited the expression of StMAPK3, while overexpression of StMAPK3 enhanced resistance to R. solanacearum, supporting the negative role of StTOPP6 in plant immunity. Consistent with the results of knock down of StTOPP6, overexpressing the phosphatase-dead mutation StTOPP6m also attenuated infection and up-regulated MAPK3, showing that StTOPP6 activity is required for disease. Furthermore, we found that StTOPP6 affected the StMAPK3-mediated downstream defense pathway, eventually suppressing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Consistent with these findings, plants with knock down of StTOPP6, overexpression of StTOPP6m, and overexpression of StMAPK3 all displayed ROS accumulation and enhanced resistance to R. solanacearum. Taken together, the findings of our study demonstrate that StTOPP6 negatively regulates resistance to bacterial wilt by affecting the MAPK3-mediated pathway.

LncRNA-MALAT1: A Key Participant in the Occurrence and Development of Cancer.

LncRNAs are a group of non-coding RNA transcripts with lengths of over 200 nucleotides and can interact with DNA, RNA, and proteins to regulate gene expression of malignant tumors in human tissues. LncRNAs participate in vital processes, such as chromosomal nuclear transport in the cancerous site of human tissue, activation, and the regulation of proto-oncogenes, the differentiation of immune cells, and the regulation of the cellular immune system. The lncRNA metastasis-associated lung cancer transcript 1 (MALAT1) is reportedly involved in the occurrence and development of many cancers and serves as a biomarker and therapeutic target. These findings highlight its promising role in cancer treatment. In this article, we comprehensively summarized the structure and functions of lncRNA, notably the discoveries of lncRNA-MALAT1 in different cancers, the action mechanisms, and the ongoing research on new drug development. We believe our review would serve as a basis for further research on the pathological mechanism of lncRNA-MALAT1 in cancer and provide evidence and novel insights into its application in clinical diagnoses and treatments.

Mitigation Effect of Dense "Water Network" on Heavy PM2.5 Pollution: A Case Model of the Twain-Hu Basin, Central China.

The influence of the underlying surface on the atmospheric environment over rivers and lakes is not fully understood. To improve our understanding, this study targeted the Twain-Hu Basin (THB) in central China, with a unique underlying surface comprising a dense "water network" over rivers and lakes. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting Model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) was used to simulate the impact of this dense "water network" on a wintertime heavy PM2.5 pollution event in the THB. On this basis, the regulating effects of density and area of the lake groups, with centralized big lakes (CBLs) and discrete small lakes (DSLs), on PM2.5 concentrations over the underlying surface of the dense "water network" in the THB were clarified, and the relative contributions of thermal factors and water vapor factors in the atmospheric boundary layer to the variation of PM2.5 concentrations were evaluated. The results show that the underlying surface of dense "water networks" in the THB generally decreases the PM2.5 concentrations, but the influences of different lake-group types are not uniform in spatial distribution. The CBLs can reduce the PM2.5 concentrations over the lake and its surroundings by 4.90-17.68% during the day and night. The ability of DSLs in reducing PM2.5 pollution is relatively weak, with the reversed contribution between -5.63% and 1.56%. Thermal factors and water vapor-related factors are the key meteorological drivers affecting the variation of PM2.5 concentrations over the underlying surface of dense "water networks". The warming and humidification effects of such underlying surfaces contribute positively and negatively to the "purification" of air pollution, respectively. The relative contributions of thermal factors and water vapor-related factors are 52.48% and 43.91% for CBLs and 65.96% and 27.31% for DSLs, respectively. The "purification" effect of the underlying surface with a dense "water network" in the THB on regional air pollution highlights the importance of environmental protection of inland rivers and lakes in regional environmental governance. In further studies on the atmospheric environment, long-term studies are necessary, including fine measurements in terms of meteorology and the environment and more comprehensive simulations under different scenarios.

Quantification of lectin in soybeans and soy products by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Lectin is one of the major anti-nutritional factors in soybeans and inhibits digestion of dietary protein. Here, an absolute quantification method was developed to detect lectin using synthetic peptide 183TTSWDLANNK192 as reference standard and corresponding isotope labeled peptide TTSWDLANNK (Alanine-13C3,15N) as internal standard to normalize results. After the ground soybeans and soy products were defatted with n-hexane and extracted with extraction buffer, the crude protein extract was digested on filter membrane by trypsin. Further, the enzymatic hydrolysis peptides were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The synthetic reference peptide showed a detection limit of 0.27 ng/mL and a linear relationship in the range of 3.2-1000 ng/mL (r2 > 0.997). Correspondingly, the detect limit of lectin in soybean samples was 35.5 µg/g. The results showed that the recoveries of the lectin in spiked samples ranged from 80.9% to 108.7% with intra-day precisions (% CV) less than 9%. The method was successfully used to evaluate lectin levels in hundreds of soybean seeds from different varieties and soy products from different soybean processing techniques. Furthermore, the method may provide a potential application as a general method for the ultrasensitive detection of various protein anti-nutritional factors in food.

Short-Term Effect of Temperature Change on Non-Accidental Mortality in Shenzhen, China.

Temperature change is an important meteorological indicator reflecting weather stability. This study aimed to examine the effects of ambient temperature change on non-accidental mortality using diurnal temperature change (DTR) and temperature change between neighboring days (TCN) from two perspectives, intra-day and inter-day temperature change, and further, to explore seasonal variations of mortality, identify the susceptible population and investigate the interaction between temperature change and apparent temperature (AT). We collected daily data on cause-specific mortality, air pollutants and meteorological indicators in Shenzhen, China, from 1 January 2013 to 29 December 2017. A Quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression combined with distributed lag non-linear models (DLNMs) were conducted to estimate the effects of season on temperature change-related mortality. In addition, a non-parametric bivariate response surface model was used to explore the interaction between temperature change and AT. The cumulative effect of DTR was a U-shaped curve for non-accidental mortality, whereas the curve for TCN was nearly monotonic. The overall relative risks (RRs) of non-accidental, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality were 1.407 (95% CI: 1.233-1.606), 1.470 (95% CI: 1.220-1.771) and 1.741 (95% CI: 1.157-2.620) from exposure to extreme large DTR (99th) in cold seasons. However, no statistically significant effects were observed in warm seasons. As for TCN, the effects were higher in cold seasons than warm seasons, with the largest RR of 1.611 (95% CI: 1.384-1.876). The elderly and females were more sensitive, and low apparent temperature had a higher effect on temperature change-related non-accidental mortality. Temperature change was positively correlated with an increased risk of non-accidental mortality in Shenzhen. Both female and elderly people are more vulnerable to the potential adverse effects, especially in cold seasons. Low AT may enhance the effects of temperature change.

Hyperosmolarity Deserves More Attention in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients with Diabetes: A Cohort-Based Study.

PURPOSE: Recently, a cluster of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 were identified in Wuhan and spread throughout the world. More information about risk factors for mortality of critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 remain to be evaluated. METHODS: We included adult patients confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection who were critically ill and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Tongji Hospital in Wuhan from Feb 4, 2020 to Feb 20, 2020. Data were collected and compared between patients who died and improved. Logistic regression was used to explore the risk factors for death of SARS-CoV-2-infected critically ill patients. RESULTS: A total of 160 critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, of which 146 patients with appeared outcomes were included into the final analysis. The random blood glucose, serum sodium and effective plasma osmolarity were higher in deceased patients, especially in patients with diabetes. There were 7 patients with diabetes with hyperosmolar status and all of them were deceased. Multivariable regression revealed that older age (odds ratio 4.28, 95% CI 1.01-18.20; p = 0.049), higher C-reactive protein (odds ratio 1.01, 1.00-1.03; p = 0.024), higher interleukin-6 (odds ratio 1.01, 1.00-1.03; p = 0.0323), and d-dimer greater than 1 µg/mL (odds ratio 1.10, 1.01-1.20; p = 0.032) at admission were associated with increased odds of death. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, hyperosmolarity needs more attention and may contribute to mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19, especially in those with diabetes. Older age, inflammatory response, and thrombosis may be risk factors for death of critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Effect of Cold Spells and Their Different Definitions on Mortality in Shenzhen, China.

A high premium has been put on researching the effects of cold spells because of their adverse influence on people's daily lives and health. The study aimed to find the most appropriate definition of the cold spell in Shenzhen and quantify the impact of cold spells on mortality. Based on the daily mortality data in Shenzhen from 2013 to 2017 and the meteorological and pollutant data from the same period, we quantified the effect of cold spells using eight different definitions in the framework of a distributed lag non-linear model with a quasi-Poisson distribution. In Shenzhen, low temperatures increase the risk of death more significantly than high temperatures (using the optimal temperature as the cut-off value). Comparing the quasi-Akaike information criterion value, attribution fraction (b-AF), and attribution number (b-AN) for all causes of deaths and non-accidental deaths, the optimal definition of the cold spell was defined as the threshold was 3rd percentile of the daily average temperature and duration for 3 or more consecutive days (all causes: b-AF = 2.31% [1.01-3.50%], b-AN = 650; non-accidental: b-AF = 1.92% [0.57-3.17%], b-AN = 471). For cardiovascular deaths, the best definition was the temperature threshold as the 3rd percentile of the daily average temperature with a duration of 4 consecutive days (cardiovascular: b-AF = 1.37% [0.05-2.51%], b-AN = 142). Based on the best definition in the model, mortality risk increased in cold spells, with a statistically significant lag effect occurring as early as the 4th day and the effect of a single day lasting for 6 days. The maximum cumulative effect occurred on the 14th day (all-cause: RR = 1.54 [95% CI, 1.20-1.98]; non-accidental: RR = 1.43 [95% CI, 1.11-1.84]; cardiovascular: RR = 1.58 [95% CI, 1.00-2.48]). The elderly and females were more susceptible to cold spells. Cold spells and their definitions were associated with an increased risk of death. The findings of this research provide information for establishing an early warning system, developing preventive measures, and protecting susceptible populations.

Different Sources of Copper Effect on Intestinal Epithelial Cell: Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Metabolism.

Copper (Cu) is widely used in the swine industry to improve the growth performance of pigs. However, high doses of copper will induce cell damage and toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate toxicity, bioavailability, and effects on metabolic processes of varying copper sources using porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) as a model. The IPEC-J2 were treated with two doses (30 and 120 µM) of CuSO4, Cu Glycine (Cu-Gly), and Cu proteinate (Cu-Pro) for 10 h, respectively. Cell damage and cellular copper metabolism were measured by the changes in cell viability, copper uptake, oxidative stress biomarkers, and gene/protein expression levels. The results showed that cell viability and ratio of reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) decreased significantly in all treatment groups; intracellular copper content increased significantly in all treatment groups; total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased significantly in the 120 µM exposed groups; SOD1 protein expression levels were significantly upregulated in 30 µM Cu-Pro, 120 µM Cu-Gly, and 120 µM Cu-Pro treatment groups; intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased significantly in 30 µM treatment groups and 120 µM CuSO4 treatment group. CTR1 and ATP7A gene expression were significantly downregulated in the 120 µM exposed groups. While upregulation of ATOX1 expression was observed in the presence of 120 µM Cu-Gly and Cu-Pro. ASCT2 gene expression was significantly upregulated after 120 µM Cu-Glycine and CuSO4 exposure, and PepT1 gene expression was significantly upregulated after Cu-Pro exposure. In addition, CTR1 protein expression level decreased after 120 µM CuSO4 and Cu-Gly exposure. PepT1 protein expression level was only upregulated after 120 µM Cu-Pro exposure. These findings indicated that extra copper supplementation can induce intestinal epithelial cell injury, and different forms of copper may have differing effects on cell metabolism.

Fluorometric lateral flow immunoassay for simultaneous determination of three mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol) using quantum dot microbeads.

A fluorometric lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) is described for the simultaneous determination of the mycotoxins aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON). The method is based on the use of CdSe/SiO2 quantum dot microbeads (QBs) with a mean diameter of 106 nm. These have strong red luminescence (with excitation/emission peaks at 365/622 nm) which results in enhanced sensitivity. The QBs binding with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as the signal probes can react specifically with AFB1, ZEN and DON, respectively. There is an inverse correlation between the fluorescence signal intensity of test line and the analyte content, which can realize the quantitative analysis of analytes within 15 min. The limits of detection in solution are 10, 80 and 500 pg mL-1 for AFB1, ZEN and DON, respectively. Besides, the average recoveries from spiked feed range from 85.5 to 119.0%, and the relative standard deviations are less than 16.4% for both intra- and inter-day assays. The method was used to analyze naturally contaminated feedstuff, and this resulted in a good agreement with data obtained by LC-MS/MS. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of a fluorometric method for the simultaneous determination of three mycotoxins. Quantum dot microbeads (QBs) binding with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are signal probes. There is an inverse correlation between the fluorescence intensity of test line and the analyte concentration.

Soy Isoflavones and their Effects on Xenobiotic Metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Soy isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein, are bioflavonoids found in soy products that are able to interact with various hormones such as estrogen. Epidemiological studies reveal a proper level of isoflavones in diet can prevent many diseases like cancers or diabetes. Therefore, it is important to study the biotransformation and xenobiotic metabolism of soy isoflavones. METHODS: A systematic review of published studies was carried out to investigate the characterization of isoflavones and their metabolites, sample pretreatment and quantitative analysis of isoflavones, and the influence of soy isoflavones on drug and xenobiotic metabolism. RESULTS: Aglycones with weak estrogen-like activities are the biologically active forms of the soy isoflavones in mammals. The most recent advances including extraction, purification and detection of isoflavones in soybean and soy products are discussed. The effects of soy isoflavones on drug and xenobiotic metabolism involve in regulation of phase I cytochrome P450 (CYPs) enzyme and phase I detoxifying enzymes expression and activity. At the molecular level, soy isoflavones have proved capable of estrogenic/antiestrogenic with tissue-selective, anti-cancer, antiobesity, anti-oxidation, and tyrosine kinase inhibition activities. CONCLUSION: This review summarized different aspects of soy isoflavones and their molecular mechanisms of pharmacological action on xenobiotic, which demonstrated that soy isoflavones can decrease the incidence of many diseases and benefit for human health. However, since the lack of clinical research for evaluation of the proper dosage of intake of soy isoflavones in diet or adjunctive therapy, there is a need for further studies on the selection of doses, biomedical applications and adverse effects of isoflavones for human health.

Preparation and Magnetic Properties of Nd/FM (FM=Fe, Co, Ni)/PA66 Three-Layer Coaxial Nanocables.

A new preparation method of three-layer coaxial nanocables has been developed in this work. Nd/FM (FM=Fe, Co, Ni)/PA66 three-layer coaxial nanocables were assembled successfully from outer to inner layer by layer. PA66 nanotubes which served as the outer shell were prepared by polymer solution wetting AAO template. Ferromagnetic metals and Nd were deposited into pre-prepared PA66 nanotubes to be served as the middle layer and inner core, respectively. The results show that the structure has effects on the magnetic properties, and the nanocable preparation allows each layer, length, and thickness of the nanocables to be tuned.