Rubellicoccus peritrichatus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from crustose coralline algae in a coral aquarium.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, aerobic, non-spore-forming coccus, designated strain CR14T, was isolated from crustose coralline algae. Cells grew at 20-30 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 6-9 (optimum, pH 7.6) and with NaCl concentrations of 0.5-9 % (w/v; optimum, 2-4 %). Global alignment based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated strain CR14T is closest to Ruficoccus amylovorans JCM 31066T with an identity of 92 %. The average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity values between CR14T and R. amylovorans JCM 31066T were 68.4 and 59.9 %, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CR14T forms an independent branch within the family Cerasicoccaeae, which was consistent with the phylogenomic results. The sole isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were C14 : 0, C18 : 1 ω9c, C19 : 0 cyc 9,10 DMA, C16 : 0, and C18 : 2 ω6c. The major cellular polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and two unidentified lipids. The genome DNA G+C content was 48.7 mol%. Based on morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain CR14T is suggested to represent a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Rubellicoccus peritrichatus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CR14T (=MCCC 1K03845T=KCTC 72139T).

Molecular characterization, antibacterial and immunoregulatory activities of liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 in black rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii.

LEAP2 (liver expression antimicrobial peptide 2), is an antimicrobial peptide widely found in vertebrates and mainly expressed in liver. LEAP2 plays a vital role in host innate immunity. In teleosts, a number of LEAP2 homologs have been reported, but their in vivo effects on host defense are still limited. In this study, a LEAP2 homolog (SsLEAP2) was identified from black rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii, and its structure, expression as well as biological functions were analyzed. The results showed that the open reading frame of SsLEAP2 is 300 bp, with a 5'- untranslated region (UTR) of 375 bp and a 3' - UTR of 238 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence of SsLEAP2 shares the highest overall identity (96.97%) with LEAP2 of Sebastes umbrosus. SsLEAP2 possesses conserved LEAP2 features, including a signal peptide sequence, a prodomain and a mature peptide, in which four well-conserved cysteines formed two intrachain disulphide domain. The expression of SsLEAP2 was highest in liver and could be induced by experimental infection with Listonella anguillarum, Edwardsiealla piscicida and Rock bream iridovirus C1 (RBIV-C1). Recombinant SsLEAP2 (rSsLEAP2) purified from Escherichia coli was able to bind with various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Further analysis showed that rSsLEAP2 could enhance the respiratory burst activity, and induce the expression of immune genes including interleukin 1-ß (IL-1ß) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in macrophages; additionally, rSsLEAP2 could also promote the proliferation and chemotactic of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). In vivo experiments indicated that overexpression of SsLEAP2 could inhibit bacterial infection, and increase the expression level of immune genes including IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13B (TNF13B) and haptoglobin (HP); conversely, knock down of SsLEAP2 promoted bacterial infection and decreased the expression level of above genes. Taken together, these results suggest that SsLEAP2 is a novel LEAP2 homolog that possesses apparent antibacterial activity and immunoregulatory property, thus plays a critical role in host defense against pathogens invasion.

Soil pH and carbon quality index regulate the biogeochemical cycle couplings of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the profiles of Isohumosols.

Soil biogeochemical cycles are essential for regulating ecosystem functions and services. However, little knowledge has been revealed on microbe-driven biogeochemical processes and their coupling mechanisms in soil profiles. This study investigated the vertical distribution of soil functional composition and their contribution to carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling in the humus horizons (A-horizons) and parent material horizons (C-horizons) in Udic and Ustic Isohumosols using shotgun sequencing. Results showed that the diversity and relative abundance of microbial functional genes was influenced by soil horizons and soil types. In A-horizons, the relative abundances of N mineralization and liable C decomposition genes were significantly greater, but the P cycle-related genes, recalcitrant C decomposition and denitrification genes were lower compared to C-horizons. While, Ustic Isohumosols had lower relative abundances of C decomposition genes but higher relative abundances of N mineralization and P cycling-related pathways compared to Udic Isohumosols. The network analysis revealed that C-horizons had more interactions and stronger stability of functional gene networks than in A-horizons. Importantly, our results provide new insights into the potential mechanisms for the coupling processes of soil biogeochemical cycles among C, N and P, which is mediated by specific microbial taxa. Soil pH and carbon quality index (CQI) were two sensitive indicators for regulating the relative abundances and the relationships of functional genes in biogeochemical cycles. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the ecological functions of soil microorganisms, thus providing a theoretical basis for the exploration and utilization of soil microbial resources and the development of soil ecological control strategies.

Molecular Identification of Babesia and Theileria Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area, China.

The northwestern region of China, known as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Area (QTPA), is characterized by unique climate conditions that support the breeding of various highly-adapted livestock species. Tick vectors play a significant role in transmitting Babesia and Theileria species, posing serious risks to animal health as well as the economy of animal husbandry in QTPA. A total of 366 blood samples were collected from Tibetan sheep (n = 51), goats (n = 67), yaks (n = 43), cattle (n = 49), Bactrian camels (n = 50), horses (n = 65), and donkeys (n = 40). These samples were examined using conventional and nested PCR techniques to detect Theileria and Babesia species. The overall infection rates were 0.3% (1/366) for Babesia spp. and 38.2% (140/366) for Theileria spp. Notably, neither Babesia nor Theileria species were detected in donkeys and yaks. The infection rates of Babesia and Theileria species among animals in different prefectures were significantly different (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi, and B. ovis were not detected in the current study. To our knowledge, this is the first documented detection of Theileria luwenshuni infection in Bactrian camels and goats, as well as T. sinesis in cattle and T. equi in horses on the Qinghai plateau. These novel findings shed light on the distribution of Babesia and Theileria species among livestock species in QTPA.

Epidemiological Investigation of Tick-Borne Bacterial Pathogens in Domestic Animals from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area, China.

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area (QTPA) features a unique environment that has witnessed the selective breeding of diverse breeds of domestic livestock exhibiting remarkable adaptability. Nevertheless, Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella spp., and Borrelia spp. represent tick-borne bacterial pathogens that pose a global threat and have substantial impacts on both human and animal health, as well as on the economy of animal husbandry within the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau area. In this study, a total of 428 samples were systematically collected from 20 distinct areas within the Qinghai Plateau. The samples included 62 ticks and 366 blood samples obtained from diverse animal species to detect the presence of Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella spp., and Borrelia spp. The prevalence of infection in this study was determined as follows: Anaplasma bovis accounted for 16.4% (70/428), A. capra for 4.7% (20/428), A. ovis for 5.8% (25/428), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato for 6.3% (27/428), Coxiella burnetii for 0.7% (3/428), and Rickettsia spp. for 0.5% (2/428). Notably, no cases of A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum infections were observed in this study. The findings revealed an elevated presence of these pathogens in Tibetan sheep and goats, with no infections detected in yaks, Bactrian camels, donkeys, and horses. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first investigation of tick-borne bacterial pathogens infecting goats, cattle, horses, and donkeys within the Qinghai Plateau of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area. Consequently, our findings contribute valuable insights into the distribution and genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella spp., and Borrelia spp. within China.

Paenibacillus polygoni sp. nov., an endophytic bacterium isolated from Polygonum lapathifolium L. in wetland.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, yellowish and glossy strain, C31T, was isolated from a wetland plant Polygonum lapathifolium L. located south of Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, PR China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain C31T showed similarity values of lower than 97.0 % to other type species belonging to the genus Paenibacillus. The genomic average nucleotide identity values between strain C31T and its reference type species ranged from 68.9-70.9 % and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were lower than 27.8 %. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain C31T was 41.9 mol%. The optimal growth temperature, pH and NaCl concentration were 37 °C, pH 7 and 0.5 %, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids (>5.0 %) of strain C31T were anteiso-C15 : 0 (73.7 %), anteiso-C17 : 0 (8.4 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (5.2 %). The polar lipids of strain C31T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified phospholipids. The respiratory quinone was MK-7. Based on these phylogenetic and phenotypic characterizations, strain C31T represents a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus. Therefore, the proposed name for this newly identified species is Paenibacillus polygoni sp. nov. and the type strain is C31T (=CCTCC AB 2022349T=KCTC 43565T).

Agricultural diversification promotes sustainable and resilient global rice production.

Rice is a staple food for half of the human population, but the effects of diversification on yields, economy, biodiversity and ecosystem services have not been synthesized. Here we quantify diversification effects on environmental and socio-economic aspects of global rice production. We performed a second-order meta-analysis based on 25 first-order meta-analyses covering four decades of research, showing that diversification can maintain soil fertility, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and yield. We used three individual first-order meta-analyses based on 39 articles to close major research gaps on the effects of diversification on economy, biodiversity and pest control, showing that agricultural diversification can increase biodiversity by 40%, improve economy by 26% and reduce crop damage by 31%. Trade-off analysis showed that agricultural diversification in rice production promotes win-win scenarios between yield and other ecosystem services in 81% of all cases. Knowledge gaps remain in understanding the spatial and temporal effects of specific diversification practices and trade-offs.

First report on the molecular detection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in livestock and wildlife around Qinghai Lake in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area, China.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is considered to be a microsporidial species of humans and animals in the worldwide. Limited data have been reported on the prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi in livestock and wild animals around Qinghai Lake in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area, which shares water sources, grasslands, and harsh climate with high altitudes. In this study, fecal samples from 110 Tibetan sheep, 128 yaks, 227 wild birds, 96 blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and 268 Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) around Qinghai Lake were collected, and then tested for E. bieneusi by PCR and sequencing analysis based on the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer. Among them, ten (9.09%) samples from Tibetan sheep, five (3.91%) from yaks, five (2.20%) from wild birds, one (1.04%) from wild blue sheep and two (0.75%) from Przewalski's gazelle were positive for E. bieneusi. Among sheep, there were nine E. bieneusi genotypes, including two known genotypes (BEB6 and J), and seven novel genotypes (named CHS18-CHS24). From yaks, four genotypes were identified, including two known ones (BEB4 and J) and two novel genotypes (named CHN15 and CHN16). While in wild animals, eight genotypes were found, including five different genotypes from wild bids, with three known genotypes (EbpC, J and NCF2), two novel genotypes (named CHWB1 and CHS24), and two genotypes from Przewalski's gazelle, with one known genotype J and one novel genotype CHWPG1, and one novel genotype CHWBS1 from blue sheep. According to the phylogenetic analysis, five isolates belonged to group 1, and the others were clustered into group 2. This study provides unique data on the epidemiological reports and potential risk factors for E. bieneusi in both domesticated livestock and wild animals around Qinghai Lake in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area; it is important to better understand the molecular epidemiology and zoonotic potential of E. bieneusi in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area.

Vaginal homeostasis features of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis through vaginal metabolic profiling.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an inflammatory disease primarily infected by Candida albicans. The condition has good short-term treatment effects, high recurrence, and seriously affects the quality of life of women. Metabolomics has been applied to research a variety of inflammatory diseases. In the present study, the vaginal metabolic profiles of VVC patients and healthy populations (Cnotrol (CTL)) were explored by a non-targeted metabolomics approach. In total, 211 differential metabolites were identified, with the VVC group having 128 over-expressed and 83 under-expressed metabolites compared with healthy individuals. Functional analysis showed that these metabolites were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. In addition, network software analysis indicated that the differential metabolites were associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and NF-κB signaling. Further molecular docking suggested that linoleic acid can bind to the acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACSL1) protein, which has been shown to be associated with multiple inflammatory diseases and is an upstream regulator of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways that mediate inflammation. Therefore, our preliminary analysis results suggest that VVC has a unique metabolic profile. Linoleic acid, a significantly elevated unsaturated fatty acid in the VVC group, may promote VVC development through the ACSL1/MAPK and ACSL1/NF-κB signaling pathways. This study's findings contribute to further exploring the mechanism of VVC infection and providing new perspectives for the treatment of Candida albicans vaginal infection.

Candida albicans is the main pathogen that causes VVC. Through non-targeted metabolomics, this study shows that VVC caused by C. albicans has unique vaginal metabolic characteristics, the changed metabolites might provide useful diagnostic and therapeutic methods for VVC.

Conversion of steppe to cropland increases spatial heterogeneity of soil functional genes.

The microbiome function responses to land use change are important for the long-term prediction and management of soil ecological functions under human influence. However, it has remains uncertain how the biogeographic patterns of soil functional composition change when transitioning from natural steppe soils (NS) to agricultural soils (AS). We collected soil samples from adjacent pairs of AS and NS across 900 km of Mollisol areas in northeast China, and the soil functional composition was characterized using shotgun sequencing. AS had higher functional alpha-diversity indices with respect to KO trait richness and a higher Shannon index than NS. The distance-decay slopes of functional gene composition were steeper in AS than in NS along both spatial and environmental gradients. Land-use conversion from steppe to farmland diversified functional gene profiles both locally and spatially; it increased the abundances of functional genes related to labile carbon, but decreased those related to recalcitrant substrate mobilization (e.g., lignin), P cycling, and S cycling. The composition of gene functional traits was strongly driven by stochastic processes, while the degree of stochasticity was higher in NS than in AS, as revealed by the neutral community model and normalized stochasticity ratio analysis. Alpha-diversity of core functional genes was strongly related to multi-nutrient cycling in AS, suggesting a key relationship to soil fertility. The results of this study challenge the paradigm that the conversion of natural to agricultural habitat will homogenize soil properties and biology while reducing local and regional gene functional diversity.

The construction of Fe-porphyrin nanozymes with peroxidase-like activity for colorimetric detection of glucose.

As a type of nanomaterials with enzyme-mimetic catalytic properties, nanozymes have attracted wide concern in biological detection. H2O2 was the characteristic product of diverse biological reactions, and the quantitative analysis for H2O2 was an important way to detect disease biomarkers, such as acetylcholine, cholesterol, uric acid and glucose. Therefore, there is of great significance for developing a simple and sensitive nanozyme to detect H2O2 and disease biomarkers by combining with corresponding enzyme. In this work, Fe-TCPP MOFs were successfully prepared by the coordination between iron ions and porphyrin ligands (TCPP). In addition, the peroxidase (POD) activity of Fe-TCPP was proved, in detail, Fe-TCPP could catalyze H2O2 to produce ·OH. Herein, glucose oxidase (GOx) was chosen as the model to build cascade reaction by combining Fe-TCPP to detect glucose. The results indicated glucose could be detected by this cascade system selectively and sensitively, and the limit of detection of glucose was achieved to 0.12 µM. Furthermore, a portable hydrogel (Fe-TCPP@GEL) was further established, which encapsulated Fe-TCPP MOFs, GOx and TMB in one system. This functional hydrogel could be applied for colorimetric detection of glucose by coupling with a smartphone easily.

Stimulation of primed carbon under climate change corresponds with phosphorus mineralization in the rhizosphere of soybean.

Elevated CO2 and temperature likely alter photosynthetic carbon inputs to soils, which may stimulate soil microbial activity to accelerate the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC), liberating more phosphorus (P) into the soil solution. However, this hypothesis on the association of SOC decomposition and P transformation in the plant rhizosphere requires robust soil biochemical evidence, which is critical to nutrient management for the mitigation of soil quality against climate change. This study investigated the microbial functional genes relevant to P mineralization together with priming processes of SOC in the rhizosphere of soybean grown under climate change. Soybean plants were grown under elevated CO2 (eCO2, 700 ppm) combined with warming (+ 2 °C above ambient temperature) in open-top chambers. Photosynthetic carbon flow in the plant-soil continuum was traced with 13CO2 labeling. The eCO2 plus warming treatment increased the primed carbon (C) by 43 % but decreased the NaHCO3-extratable organic P by 33 %. Furthermore, NaHCO3-Po was negatively correlated with phosphatase activity and microbial biomass C. Elevated CO2 increased the abundances of C degradation genes, such as abfA and ManB, and P mineralization genes, such as gcd, phoC and phnK. The results suggested that increased photosynthetic carbon inputs to the rhizosphere of plants under eCO2 plus warming stimulated the microbial population and metabolic functions of both SOC and organic P mineralization. There is a positive relationship between the rhizosphere priming effect and P mineralization. The response of microorganisms to plant-C flow is decisive for coupled C and P cycles, which are likely accelerated under climate change.

Identification, expression pattern and functional characterization of IFN-γ involved in activating JAK-STAT pathway in Sebastes schlegeli.

IFN-γ (interferon gamma) is a critical cytokine in the immune system involved both directly and indirectly in antiviral activity, stimulation of bactericidal activity, antigen presentation and activation of macrophages via the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway. The IFN-γ function is best described in cell defense against intracellular pathogens in mammals, but IFN-γ cytokine-induced metabolic change and its role in anti-infection remain unknown in teleost fish. In this study, a novel IFN-γ (SsIFN-γ) was identified from black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The open reading frame (ORF) of SsIFN-γ encoded a putative protein of 215 amino acids and shares 60.2%-93.5% overall sequence identities with other teleost IFN-γ. SsIFN-γ was distributed ubiquitously in all the detected tissues and immune cells, which was highly expressed in the spleen, gills, head kidney by quantitative real-time PCR. The mRNA expression of SsIFN-γ was significantly upregulated in the spleen, head kidney, head kidney (HK) macrophages and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) during pathogen infection. Meanwhile, the recombinant protein (rSsIFN-γ) exhibited an immunomodulatory function to enhance respiratory burst activity and nitric oxide response of HK macrophages. Furthermore, rSsIFN-γ could effectively upregulate the expression of macrophage proinflammatory cytokine, the expression of JAK-STAT signaling pathway related genes and interferon-related downstream genes in the head kidney and spleen. Luciferase assays showed ISRE and GAS activity were obviously enhanced after rSsIFN-γ treatment. These results indicated that SsIFN-γ possessed apparent immunoregulatory properties and played a role in fighting pathogen infection which will be helpful to further understanding of the immunologic mechanism of teleosts IFN-γ in innate immunity.

ScAlN Film-Based Piezoelectric Micromechanical Ultrasonic Transducers with Dual-Ring Structure for Distance Sensing.

Piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) are new types of distance sensors with great potential for applications in automotive, unmanned aerial vehicle, robotics, and smart homes. However, previously reported pMUTs are limited by a short sensing distance due to lower output sound pressure. In this work, a pMUT with a special dual-ring structure based on scandium-doped aluminum nitride (ScAlN) is proposed. The combination of a dual-ring structure with pinned boundary conditions and a high piezoelectric performance ScAlN film allows the pMUT to achieve a large dynamic displacement of 2.87 µm/V and a high electromechanical coupling coefficient (kt2) of 8.92%. The results of ranging experiments show that a single pMUT achieves a distance sensing of 6 m at a resonant frequency of 91 kHz, the farthest distance sensing registered to date. This pMUT provides surprisingly fertile ground for various distance sensing applications.

NKHs27, a sevenband grouper NK-Lysin peptide that possesses immunoregulatory and antimicrobial activity.

As an effective and broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide, NK-Lysin is attracted more and more attention at present. However, the functions and action mechanism of NK-Lysin peptides are still not comprehensive enough at present. In this study, a sevenband grouper (Hyporthodus septemfasciatus) NK-Lysin peptide, NKHs27, was identified and synthesized, and its biological functions were studied. The results indicated that NKHs27 shares 44.44%∼88.89% overall sequence identities with other teleost NK-Lysin peptides. The following antibacterial activity assay exhibited that NKHs27 was active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Listonella anguillarum, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus. Additionally, NKHs27 showed a synergistic effect when it was combined with rifampicin or erythromycin. In the process of interaction with the L. anguillarum cells, NKHs27 changed the cell membrane permeability and retained its morphological integrity, then penetrated into the cytoplasm to act on genomic DNA or total RNA. Then, in vitro studies showed that NKHs27 could enhance the respiratory burst ability of macrophages and upregulate immune-related genes expression in it. Moreover, NKHs27 incubation improved the proliferation of peripheral blood leukocytes significantly. Finally, in vivo studies showed that administration of NKHs27 prior to bacterial infection significantly reduced pathogen dissemination and replication in tissues. In summary, these results provide new insights into the function of NK-Lysin peptides in teleost and support that NKHs27, as a novel broad-spectrum antibacterial peptide, has potential applications in aquaculture against pathogenic infections.

Distinct influence of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on microbe-driving nitrogen cycling processes in soils and plastispheres as evaluated by metagenomic analysis.

Plastic mulching is one of the large contributors to microplastic (MP) accumulation in agricultural landscapes. However, the effects of conventional (PE-MPs) and biodegradable MPs (BMPs) on microbial functional and genomic information encoding nitrogen (N) cycling have yet to be addressed. Here, a soil microcosmic experiment was conducted by adding PE-MPs and BMPs to a Mollisol at dosage of 5% (w/w) followed by incubation for 90 days. The soils and MPs were examined by metagenomics and genome binning methods. The results revealed that BMPs harbored rougher surfaces and induced stronger alterations in microbial functional and taxonomic profiles in the soil and plastisphere than PE-MPs. In comparison to their respective soils, the plastispheres of PE-MPs and BMPs stimulated the processes of N fixation, N degradation and assimilatory nitrate reduction (ANRA) and reduced the gene abundances encoding nitrification and denitrification, in which BMPs induced stronger influences than PE-MPs. Ramlibacter mainly drove the differences in N cycling processes between the soils containing two types of MPs and was further enriched in the BMP plastisphere. Three high-quality genomes were identified as Ramlibacter stains with higher abundances in the plastisphere of BMP than that of PE-MP. These Ramlibacter strains had the metabolic capacities of N fixation, N degradation, ANRA and ammonium transport, which were potentially attributed to their biosynthesis and the accumulation of soil NH4+-N. Taken together, our results highlight the genetic mechanisms of soil N bioavailability in the presence of biodegradable MPs, which have important implications for maintaining sustainable agriculture and controlling microplastic risk.

Co-elevation of atmospheric [CO2] and temperature alters photosynthetic capacity and instantaneous water use efficiency in rice cultivars in a cold-temperate region.

Crop photosynthetic capacity in response to climate change likely constrains crop productivity and adaptability to changing environments, which requests the investigation on the dynamics of photosynthetic parameters over growth season among varieties, especially in cold-temperate regions. Three Japonica rice cultivars i.e., Shoubaimao (SH), Hejiang 19 (HJ); Longjing 31, (LJ). were planted under the control, e[CO2] (700 µmol mol-1), warming (2°C above the air temperature) and the co-elevation of [CO2] and temperature in open-top chambers (OTC). The objective of this study is to examine the rice photosynthetic parameters, water use efficiency (WUE) and yield formation in responses to the co-elevation of [CO2] and temperature which is the main predicted features of future climate. e[CO2] significantly increased An of SH, HJ and LJ by 37%, 39% and 23% in comparison to 34%, 34% and 27% under elevated [CO2] plus warming, respectively. However, An had a weak response to warming for three cultivars. [CO2] and temperature co-elevation significantly decreased the stomatal conductance, resulting in a significant increase of the WUE. e[CO2] significantly increased Vc, max , Jmax and Jmax /Vc, max . e[CO2] significantly increased grain yield and grain number of all cultivars. The positive effect of co-elevation of [CO2] and temperature on grain yield was less than e[CO2]. Warming is likely to partially offset the increased photosynthetic rate caused by e[CO2]. The [CO2] and temperature co-elevation may be favorable to rice crop with increasing the photosynthetic ability of rice crop and improving water use efficiency. The present study provided evidence that the rice genotypic difference in photosynthetic potential under [CO2] and temperature co-elevation. Therefore, it is crucial to explore a broader range of phenotypes and cultivars to be applied to climate change response research, advancing the knowledge that climate change impacts rice crop under the cold-temperate climate region.

Chitin amendments eliminate the negative impacts of continuous cropping obstacles on soil properties and microbial assemblage.

Continuous cropping of soybean leads to soil environment deterioration and soil-borne disease exacerbation, which in turn limits the sustainability of agricultural production. Chitin amendments are considered promising methods for alleviating soybean continuous cropping obstacles; however, the underlying mechanisms of soil sickness reduction remain unclear. In this study, soil amendments with pure and crude chitin at different addition dosages were employed to treat diseased soil induced by continuous cropping of soybean for five years. Chitin amendments, especially crude chitin, remarkably increased soil pH, available phosphorus (AP), potassium (AK) and nitrate nitrogen ( NO 3 - -N) contents, and improved soybean plant growth and soil microbial activities (FDA). Additionally, chitin application significantly enriched the relative abundances of the potential biocontrol bacteria Sphingomonas, Streptomyces, and Bacillus and the fungi Mortierella, Purpureocillium, and Metarhizium while depleted those of the potential plant pathogens Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon and Paraphoma. Moreover, chitin amendments induced looser pathogenic subnetwork structures and less pathogenic cooperation with other connected microbial taxa in the rhizosphere soils. The structural equation model (SEM) revealed that pure and crude chitin amendments promoted soybean plant growth by indirectly regulating soil pH-mediated soil microbial activities and potentially beneficial microbes, respectively. Therefore, the reduction strategies for continuous cropping obstacles by adding pure and crude chitin were distinct; pure chitin amendments showed general disease suppression, while crude chitin exhibited specific disease suppression. Overall, chitin amendments could suppress potential plant pathogens and improve soil health, thereby promoting soybean growth, which provides new prospects for cultivation practices to control soybean continuous cropping obstacles.

The effect of varied exercise intensity on antioxidant function, aortic endothelial function, and serum lipids in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease / El efecto del ejercicio de intensidad variada sobre la función antioxidante, la función endotelial aórtica y los lípidos séricos en ratas con enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico

Abstract This study aimed to compare the effects of diet and exercise of different intensities on antioxidant function, aortic endothelial cell function and serum lipids in NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) rats. Fifty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (180-220g) were randomly divided into two experimental groups and fed either a standard rodent chow diet (CON; n=10) or a high-fat diet (HFD; n=40). After 16 weeks, the animals that received the HFD were randomly separated into a high-fat control group (HFC; n=10) or three exercise training groups: HFD and low-intensity exercise (LE; n=10), HFD and moderate-intensity exercise (ME; n=10), and HFD and incremental intensity exercise (IE; n=10). These experimental rats keep sedentary or trained for the next six weeks. A detection kit was used to detect nitric oxide synthase (NOs), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and other markers of aortic oxidative stress. The expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were detected by immunohistochemistry. TC, TG, and other lipid metabolism parameters were detected by an automatic analyzer. Exercise with different intensities could improve lipid metabolism, enhance antioxidant function, reduce MDA (P<0.01), increase NO (P<0.01), and improve the expression of e-NOS and ET-1 (P<0.01) protein levels in NAFLD rats. Decreased blood lipids were exhibited in all exercise groups. Notably, the moderate-intensity exercise demonstrated more effect on increasing glutathione (GSH) contents (P<0.01) and decreased the expression of ET-1 protein levels (P<0.01). The results showed that exercise at different intensities improved lipid metabolism and enhanced anti-oxidation function. Moderate exercise could improve the function of aortic endothelial cells.

Resumen Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comparar los efectos de la dieta y el ejercicio a diferentes intensidades sobre la función antioxidante, la función de las células endoteliales aórticas y los lípidos séricos en ratas NAFLD (con enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico) y alimentados con una dieta estándar para roedores (CON; n = 10) o con una dieta alta en grasas (HFD; n = 40). Después de 16 semanas, los animales que recibieron HFD se separaron aleatoriamente en un grupo de control alto en grasas (HFC; n=10) o tres grupos de entrenamiento físico: HFD y ejercicio de baja intensidad (LE; n=10), HFD y ejercicio de intensidad moderada (ME; n=10), y HFD y ejercicio de intensidad incremental (IE; n=10). Estas ratas experimentales se mantuvieron sedentarias o entrenadas durante las próximas seis semanas. Se utilizó un kit de detección para determinar óxido nítrico sintetasa (NO), óxido nítrico (NO), malondialdehído (MDA) y otros marcadores de estrés oxidativo aórtico. Los niveles de expresión de la óxido nítrico sintetasa endotelial (e-NOS) y endotelina-1 (ET-1) se detectaron mediante inmunohistoquímica. El analizador automático detectó TC, TG y otros parámetros del metabolismo de los lípidos. El ejercicio con diferente intensidad mejoró el metabolismo de los lípidos, mejoró la función antioxidante, redujo la MDA (P <0,01), aumentó el NO (P <0,01) y mejoró la expresión de los niveles de proteína e-NOS y ET-1 (P <0,01) en ratas NAFLD. Se observó una disminución de los lípidos en sangre en todos los grupos de ejercicio. En particular, el ejercicio de intensidad moderada demostró un mayor efecto en el aumento del contenido de glutatión (GSH) (P<0,01) y disminuyó la expresión de los niveles de proteína ET-1 (P<0,01). Los resultados mostraron que el ejercicio a diferentes intensidades mejoró el metabolismo de los lípidos y mejoró función antioxidante. El ejercicio moderado podría mejorar la función de las células endoteliales aórticas.

Sublethal Effects of Thiamethoxam on Biological Traits and Detoxification Enzyme Activities in the Small Brown Planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén).

The small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén), Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is an important agricultural pest of rice, and neonicotinoid insecticides are commonly used for controlling L. striatellus. However, the sublethal effects of thiamethoxam on L. striatellus remain relatively unknown. In this study, an age-stage life table procedure was used to evaluate the sublethal effects of thiamethoxam on the biological parameters of L. striatellus. Additionally, activities of carboxylesterase, glutathione S-transferase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in the third instar nymphs were analyzed. The results indicated that the survival time of F0 adults and the fecundity of female adults decreased significantly after the third instar nymphs were treated with sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam (LC15 0.428 mg/liter and LC30 0.820 mg/liter). The developmental duration, adult preoviposition period, total preoviposition period, and mean generation time of the F1 generation increased significantly, whereas the fecundity of the female adults, intrinsic rate of increase (ri), and finite rate of increase (λ) decreased significantly. The oviposition period was significantly shorter for the insects treated with LC30 than for the control insects. Neither sublethal concentrations had significant effects on the adult longevity, net reproduction rate (R0), or gross reproduction rate (GRR) of the F1 generation. The activities of carboxylesterase, glutathione-S-transferase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase increased significantly after the thiamethoxam treatments. These results indicate that sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam can inhibit L. striatellus population growth and enhance detoxification enzyme activities.