Construction of recombinant Lactococcus expressing thymosin and interferon fusion protein and its application as an immune adjuvant.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, biosafety and green food safety standards have increased the demand for immune enhancers and adjuvants. In the present study, recombinant food-grade Lactococcus lactis (r-L. lactis-Tα1-IFN) expressing thymosin Tα1 and chicken interferon fusion protein was constructed. RESULTS: The in vitro interactions with macrophages revealed a mixture of recombinant r-L. lactis-Tα1-IFN could significantly activate both macrophage J774-Dual™ NF-κB and interferon regulator (IRF) signaling pathways. In vitro interactions with chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) demonstrated that a mixture of recombinant r-L. lactis-Tα1-IFN significantly enhanced the expression levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, CD80, and CD86 proteins in chicken PBMCs. Animal experiments displayed that injecting a lysis mixture of recombinant r-L. lactis-Tα1-IFN could significantly activate the proliferation of T cells and antigen-presenting cells in chicken PBMCs. Moreover, 16S analysis of intestinal microbiota demonstrated that injection of the lysis mixture of recombinant r-L. lactis-Tα1-IFN could significantly improve the structure and composition of chicken intestinal microbiota, with a significant increase in probiotic genera, such as Lactobacillus spp. Results of animal experiments using the lysis mixture of recombinant r-L. lactis-Tα1-IFN as an immune adjuvant for inactivated chicken Newcastle disease vaccine showed that the serum antibody titers of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the vaccine control group, and the expression levels of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 were significantly higher than those of the vaccine control group. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that food-safe recombinant r-L. lactis-Tα1-IFN has potential as a vaccine immune booster and immune adjuvant. This study lays the foundation for the development of natural green novel animal immune booster or immune adjuvant.

Asymmetric pre-growing season warming may jeopardize seed reproduction of the sand-stabilizing shrub Caragana microphylla.

Our current understanding of the processes and mechanisms by which seasonal asymmetric warming affects seed reproduction in semiarid regions, which are essential in preserving the stability of both vegetation ecosystem structure and function, remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted a field warming experiment, including pre-growing season warming (W1), in-growing season warming (W2), and combined pre- and in-growing season warming (W3) treatments, to investigate the seed reproductive strategy of Caragana microphylla, an important sand-stabilizing shrub, from the perspective of reproductive phenology, reproductive effort, and reproductive success. Results show that the warming treatments advanced the initial stages of reproductive phenology, prolonged its duration, and decreased its synchrony (magnitude = W3 > W2 > W1). Additionally, flowering phenology was more sensitive to warming than podding phenology. The W1 treatment inclined seed reproduction towards the conservative strategy with low reproductive effort and success. The W3 treatment tended to increase seed reproductive effort and success. While the W2 treatment did not affect reproductive success, it did increase reproductive effort. Changes in reproductive phenology explained 20 % of the variation in reproductive effort and 38 % of the variation in reproductive success. However, these changes also directly hindered reproductive success (direct effect = -0.57) while indirectly promoting reproductive success (indirect effect = 0.27) by increasing reproductive efforts. Our results reveal that the seasonal asymmetry of warming altered the seed reproduction strategy of sand-stabilizing shrubs, with warmer winters and springs before the growing season decreasing seed fecundity.

Simultaneous determination of multiple perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aquatic products by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with automated solid-phase extraction.

Diet is an important route of human exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and aquatic products are the main dietary source of PFASs. This study aimed to establish a method for the analysis of 52 PFASs in typical aquatic products, such as crucian carp, large yellow croaker, shrimp, and clam, by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) after automated solid phase extraction (SPE). After optimization of the conditions of SPE, the recovery and precision of the method is within an acceptable range. The intra-day and inter-day average recoveries of spiked samples ranged from 66.5% to 122.3% and 64.5%-128.0% for crucian carp, large yellow croaker, shrimp, and clam, with intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.78%-11.4%, and 2.54%-24.2%. The ranges of method detection limits (MDLs) and quantification limits (MQLs) of PFASs were 0.003-0.60 ng/g and 0.005-2.0 ng/g, respectively. The accuracy of the method was also verified by standard reference material (SRM), and the measured values of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were in the allowable range. The method was applied to analyze aquatic products from the local supermarket. The concentrations of ∑PFASs ranged from 13.9 ng/g ww to 75.5 ng/g ww. PFOS was the dominant pollutant, accounting for 79.6% of ∑PFASs. The branch-chain isomers, perfluoro-3-methylheptane sulfonate (P3MHpS) and perfluoro-6-methylheptane sulfonate (P6MHpS) accounted for one-quarter of PFOS. Long-chain perfluoro carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were also detected in most samples. The estimated daily intake of PFOS was over the recommended tolerable intake by several organizations such as the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the New Jersey Drinking Water Quality Institute (NJDWQI), and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). PFOS would have posed health risks to consumers through dietary exposure.

Annual Herbaceous Plants Exhibit Altered Morphological Traits in Response to Altered Precipitation and Drought Patterns in Semiarid Sandy Grassland, Northern China.

The frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events and severe drought are predicted to increase in semiarid areas due to global climate change. Plant morphological traits can reflect plant responses to a changing environment, such as altered precipitation or drought patterns. In this study, we examined the response of morphological traits of root, stem, leaf and reproduction meristems of annual herbaceous species to altered precipitation and drought patterns in a semiarid sandy grassland. The study involved a control treatment (100% of background precipitation) and the following six altered precipitation treatments: (1) P(+): precipitation increased by 30%, (2) P(++): precipitation increased by 60%, (3) P(-): precipitation decreased by 30%, (4) P(--): precipitation decreased by 60%, (5) drought 1 (D1): 46-day drought from May 1st to June 15th, and (6) drought 2 (D2): 46-day drought from July 1st to August 15th. P(++) significantly increased root length, flower length-to-width ratio, both P(+) and P(++) significantly increased stem length and flower number in the plant growing seasons, while all of them decreased under P(-) and P(--). The annual herbaceous plants marginally increased the number of second-level stem branches and stem diameter in order to better resist the severe drought stress under P(--). P(+) and P(++) increased the root, stem, leaf, and flower dry weight, with the flower dry weight accounting for a larger proportion than the other aboveground parts. Under D2, the plants used the limited water resources more efficiently by increasing the root-to-shoot ratio compared with P(-), P(--) and D1, which reflects biomass allocation to belowground increased. The linear mixed-effects models and redundancy analysis showed that the root-to-shoot ratio and the dry weight of various plant components were significantly affected by morphological traits and altered precipitation magnitude. Our results showed that the herbaceous species have evolved morphological trait responses that allow them to adapt to climate change. Such differences in morphological traits may ultimately affect the growing patterns of annual herbaceous species, enhancing their drought-tolerant capacity in semiarid sandy grassland during the ongoing climate change.

Effect of Root and Mycelia on Fine Root Decomposition and Release of Carbon and Nitrogen Under Artemisia halodendron in a Semi-arid Sandy Grassland in China.

Plant fine root turnover is a continuous process both spatially and temporally, and fine root decomposition is affected by many biotic and abiotic factors. However, the effect of the living roots and the associated mycorrhizal fungal mycelia on fine root decomposition remains unclear. The objective of this study is to explore the influence of these biotic factors on fine root decomposition in a semi-arid ecosystem. In this study, we investigated the effect of fine roots and mycelia on fine root decomposition of a pioneer shrub (Artemisia halodendron) in Horqin sandy land, northeast China, by the ingrowth core method combined with the litterbag method. Litterbags were installed in cores. Results showed that core a allowed the growth of both fine roots and mycelia (treatment R + M), core b only allowed the growth of mycelia (treatment M), and in core c the fine root and mycelia growth were restricted and only bulk soil was present (treatment S). These findings suggest that the process of root decomposition was significantly affected by the living roots and mycelia, and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentration dynamics during root decomposition differed among treatments. Mycelia significantly stimulated the mass loss and C and N release during root decomposition. Treatment R + M significantly stimulated the accumulation of soil total C, total N, and organic N under litterbags. The mycelia significantly stimulated the accumulation of the inorganic N (ammonium-N and nitrate-N) but the presence of fine roots weakened nitrate-N accumulation. The presence of living roots and associated mycelia strongly affected the process of root decomposition and matter release in the litter-soil system. The results of this study should strengthen the understanding of root-soil interactions.

First report of Cedecea neteri Causing Yellow rot Disease in Pleurotus pulmonarius in China.

Pleurotus pulmonarius is a popular edible fungus and widely cultivated in many areas of China. In June 2018, yellow rot (more than 10% incidence) was found on the first crop of P. pulmonarius fruiting bodies in a mushroom factory in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China. At first, yellow water-soaked lesions appeared in the infected fruiting bodies. Lesions then spread and purulent tissues were formed. Severe rot induced production of deformed fruiting bodies and offensive odor. Internal sections of the diseased tissue (approximately 0.5 × 0.5 cm) were sterilized in 75% alcohol for 30 s, rinsed three times with sterilized and deionized water, crushed and suspended in sterilized and deionized water. The suspension was spread on the Luria-Bertani (LB) medium. After incubation at 30°C for 2 days, dominant bacterial colonies were oyster white, smooth, convex, and circular. Individual colonies were transferred two times to LB medium using the conventional streak plate techniques to obtain the pure cultures. The cells were gram-negative, short rods, motile, and no capsules or endospores were observed. Using a BoJian Gram-negative bacteria biochemical analysis kit (5 CARDS, Hopebio, Qingdao, China), data were obtained and analyzed, showing that the isolated strain belongs to the Cedecea genus (positive for ß-galactosidase, citric acid, arginine, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, D-glucose, gelatin hydrolysis and VP test but negative for H2S, urease, oxidase, indole, rhamnose, melibiose, amygdalin, lysine, ornithine, lactose, inositol and arabinose). Amplified 16S rDNA gene sequences (1,424 bp, GenBank accession No. MT925570) of the isolate using the universal primers 27f and 1492r (Lane 1991) exhibited 99.86% identity with Cedecea neteri M006 (CP009458.1). Based on its morphological characteristics, 16S rDNA sequences, and biochemical test results, the strain was identified as C. neteri. Pathogenicity tests for this strain were performed with bacterial suspensions (approximately 1 × 108 CFU/ml) after growing for 24 h in LB medium at 30°C. Mycelia of P. pulmonarius were cultivated for 60 days in plastic bags. Then young fruiting bodies were formed after induced with low temperature stimulation to serve as a host source. The prepared bacterial suspensions were directly sprayed onto the surface of three bags of fruiting bodies; another three bags were sprayed with sterilized and deionized water as negative control. All inoculated fruiting bodies were then incubated at 20°C with 90 to 95% relative humidity. All experiments were repeated three times. After 2 days, all the fruiting bodies inoculated with the bacterial suspensions showed yellow water-soaked lesions, and the normal growth of the fruiting bodies was inhibited. An offensive odor then developed along with a severe soft rot that was similar to the disease symptoms observed under natural conditions. The fruiting bodies of negative control were growing healthily with no symptoms. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by isolating bacteria from lesions on artificially inoculated fruiting bodies that were identical to the original isolates based on morphological characteristics, 16S rDNA sequences and biochemical test results. C. neteri was formally reported as a pathogen to humans that could cause bacteremia (Farmer et al. 1982). Recently, it has also been reported causing soft rot disease on mushrooms of Pholiota nameko (Yan et al. 2018) and yellow sticky disease on mushrooms of Flammulina velutipes (Yan et al. 2019). However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. neteri-induced yellow rot disease of P. pulmonarius in China.