Twenty-Five Year Trend Change in the Etiology of Pediatric Invasive Bacterial Infections in Korea, 1996-2020.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to the change in the epidemiology of many infectious diseases. This study aimed to establish the pre-pandemic epidemiology of pediatric invasive bacterial infection (IBI). METHODS: A retrospective multicenter-based surveillance for pediatric IBIs has been maintained from 1996 to 2020 in Korea. IBIs caused by eight bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella species) in immunocompetent children > 3 months of age were collected at 29 centers. The annual trend in the proportion of IBIs by each pathogen was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2,195 episodes were identified during the 25-year period between 1996 and 2020. S. pneumoniae (42.4%), S. aureus (22.1%), and Salmonella species (21.0%) were common in children 3 to 59 months of age. In children ≥ 5 years of age, S. aureus (58.1%), followed by Salmonella species (14.8%) and S. pneumoniae (12.2%) were common. Excluding the year 2020, there was a trend toward a decrease in the relative proportions of S. pneumoniae (rs = -0.430, P = 0.036), H. influenzae (rs = -0.922, P < 0.001), while trend toward an increase in the relative proportion of S. aureus (rs = 0.850, P < 0.001), S. agalactiae (rs = 0.615, P = 0.001), and S. pyogenes (rs = 0.554, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: In the proportion of IBIs over a 24-year period between 1996 and 2019, we observed a decreasing trend for S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae and an increasing trend for S. aureus, S. agalactiae, and S. pyogenes in children > 3 months of age. These findings can be used as the baseline data to navigate the trend in the epidemiology of pediatric IBI in the post COVID-19 era.

Insights into cell wall changes during fruit softening from transgenic and naturally occurring mutants.

Excessive softening during fleshy fruit ripening leads to physical damage and infection that reduce quality and cause massive supply chain losses. Changes in cell wall (CW) metabolism, involving loosening and disassembly of the constituent macromolecules, are the main cause of softening. Several genes encoding CW metabolizing enzymes have been targeted for genetic modification to attenuate softening. At least 9 genes encoding CW-modifying proteins have increased expression during ripening. Any alteration of these genes could modify CW structure and properties and contribute to softening, but evidence for their relative importance is sparse. The results of studies with transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), the model for fleshy fruit ripening, investigations with strawberry (Fragaria spp.) and apple (Malus domestica), and results from naturally occurring textural mutants provide direct evidence of gene function and the contribution of CW biochemical modifications to fruit softening. Here we review the revised CW structure model and biochemical and structural changes in CW components during fruit softening and then focus on and integrate the results of changes in CW characteristics derived from studies on transgenic fruits and mutants. Potential strategies and future research directions to understand and control the rate of fruit softening are also discussed.

Abscisic acid mediated strawberry receptacle ripening involves the interplay of multiple phytohormone signaling networks.

As a canonical non-climacteric fruit, strawberry (Fragaria spp.) ripening is mainly mediated by abscisic acid (ABA), which involves multiple other phytohormone signalings. Many details of these complex associations are not well understood. We present an coexpression network, involving ABA and other phytohormone signalings, based on weighted gene coexpression network analysis of spatiotemporally resolved transcriptome data and phenotypic changes of strawberry receptacles during development and following various treatments. This coexpression network consists of 18,998 transcripts and includes transcripts related to phytohormone signaling pathways, MADS and NAC family transcription factors and biosynthetic pathways associated with fruit quality. Members of eight phytohormone signaling pathways are predicted to participate in ripening and fruit quality attributes mediated by ABA, of which 43 transcripts were screened to consist of the hub phytohormone signalings. In addition to using several genes reported from previous studies to verify the reliability and accuracy of this network, we explored the role of two hub signalings, small auxin up-regulated RNA 1 and 2 in receptacle ripening mediated by ABA, which are also predicted to contribute to fruit quality. These results and publicly accessible datasets provide a valuable resource to elucidate ripening and quality formation mediated by ABA and involves multiple other phytohormone signalings in strawberry receptacle and serve as a model for other non-climacteric fruits.

Twenty-Five Year Trend Change in the Etiology of Pediatric Invasive Bacterial Infections in Korea, 1996–2020

Background@#The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to the change in the epidemiology of many infectious diseases. This study aimed to establish the pre-pandemic epidemiology of pediatric invasive bacterial infection (IBI). @*Methods@#A retrospective multicenter-based surveillance for pediatric IBIs has been maintained from 1996 to 2020 in Korea. IBIs caused by eight bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella species) in immunocompetent children > 3 months of age were collected at 29 centers. The annual trend in the proportion of IBIs by each pathogen was analyzed. @*Results@#A total of 2,195 episodes were identified during the 25-year period between 1996 and 2020. S. pneumoniae (42.4%), S. aureus (22.1%), and Salmonella species (21.0%) were common in children 3 to 59 months of age. In children ≥ 5 years of age, S. aureus (58.1%), followed by Salmonella species (14.8%) and S. pneumoniae (12.2%) were common. Excluding the year 2020, there was a trend toward a decrease in the relative proportions of S. pneumoniae (rs = −0.430, P = 0.036), H. influenzae (rs = −0.922, P 3 months of age. These findings can be used as the baseline data to navigate the trend in the epidemiology of pediatric IBI in the post COVID-19 era.

Adjuvant chemotherapy versus adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy after radical surgery for early-stage cervical cancer: a randomized, non-inferiority, multicenter trial / 医学前沿

We conducted a prospective study to assess the non-inferiority of adjuvant chemotherapy alone versus adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) as an alternative strategy for patients with early-stage (FIGO 2009 stage IB-IIA) cervical cancer having risk factors after surgery. The condition was assessed in terms of prognosis, adverse effects, and quality of life. This randomized trial involved nine centers across China. Eligible patients were randomized to receive adjuvant chemotherapy or CCRT after surgery. The primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS). From December 2012 to December 2014, 337 patients were subjected to randomization. Final analysis included 329 patients, including 165 in the adjuvant chemotherapy group and 164 in the adjuvant CCRT group. The median follow-up was 72.1 months. The three-year PFS rates were both 91.9%, and the five-year OS was 90.6% versus 90.0% in adjuvant chemotherapy and CCRT groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the PFS or OS between groups. The adjusted HR for PFS was 0.854 (95% confidence interval 0.415-1.757; P = 0.667) favoring adjuvant chemotherapy, excluding the predefined non-inferiority boundary of 1.9. The chemotherapy group showed a tendency toward good quality of life. In comparison with post-operative adjuvant CCRT, adjuvant chemotherapy treatment showed non-inferior efficacy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer having pathological risk factors. Adjuvant chemotherapy alone is a favorable alternative post-operative treatment.

Changes in Etiology of Invasive Bacterial Infections in Infants Under 3 Months of Age in Korea, 2006-2020.

OBJECTIVES: Invasive bacterial infection (IBI) causes a significant burden in infants. In this study, we analyzed changes in epidemiology of IBI among infants in Korea. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter-based surveillance for IBIs in infants <3 months of age was performed during 2006-2020. Cases were classified as an early-onset disease (EOD) (0-6 days) or late-onset disease (LOD) (7-89 days). The temporal trend change in proportion of pathogens was analyzed. RESULTS: Among 1545 cases, the median age was 28 days (IQR: 12, 53) and EOD accounted for 17.7%. Among pathogens, S. agalactiae (40.4%), E. coli (38.5%), and S. aureus (17.8%) were the most common and attributed for 96.7%. Among EOD (n = 274), S. agalactiae (45.6%), S. aureus (31.4%), E. coli (17.2%) and L. monocytogenes (2.9%) were most common. Among LOD (n = 1274), E. coli (43.1%), S. agalactiae (39.3%), S. aureus (14.9%) and S. pneumoniae (1.3%) were most common. In the trend analysis, the proportion of S. aureus (r s = -0.850, P < 0.01) decreased significantly, while that of S. agalactiae increased (r s = 0.781, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: During 2006-2020, among IBI in infants <3 months of age, S. agalactiae, E. coli, and S. aureus were most common and an increasing trend of S. agalactiae was observed.

LINC01089 blocks malignant progression of thyroid cancer by binding miR-27b-3p to enhance the FBLN5 protein level.

LINC01089 suppresses the malignant progression of breast, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers. However, the function of LINC01089 in thyroid cancer has not yet been elucidated. Here, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database showed that LINC01089 expression is remarkably reduced in thyroid cancer tissues. Lower LINC01089 expression was correlated with higher tumor stage and regional lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, LINC01089 overexpression effectively blocked thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. LINC01089 acted as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-27b-3p, thus inhibiting miR-27b-3p expression. miR-27b-3p overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of thyroid cancer, reversing the effect of LINC01089 overexpression on thyroid cancer. Fibulin-5 (FBLN5) was discovered as a target of miR-27b-3p in thyroid cancer. FBLN5 expression was found to be underexpressed in thyroid cancer and was enhanced and reduced by LINC00987 overexpression and miR-27b-3p overexpression, respectively. Furthermore, FBLN5 knockdown promoted the malignant progression of thyroid cancer cells by counteracting the effect of LINC00987. In conclusion, LINC01089 plays a tumor-suppressive role by binding miR-27b-3p to increase FBLN5 expression, confirming that LINC01089 has tremendous potential to become a therapeutic target for thyroid cancer treatment.

Roles of abscisic acid in regulating ripening and quality of strawberry, a model non-climacteric fruit.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a dominant regulator of ripening and quality in non-climacteric fruits. Strawberry is regarded as a model non-climacteric fruit due to its extensive genetic studies and proven suitability for transgenic approaches to understanding gene function. Strawberry research has contributed to studies on color, flavor development, and fruit softening, and in recent years ABA has been established as a core regulator of strawberry fruit ripening, whereas ethylene plays this role in climacteric fruits. Despite this major difference, several components of the interacting genetic regulatory network in strawberry, such as MADS-box and NAC transcription factors, are similar to those that operate in climacteric fruit. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the role of ABA biosynthesis and signaling and the regulatory network of transcription factors and other phytohormones in strawberry fruit ripening. In addition to providing an update on its ripening, we discuss how strawberry research has helped generate a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of non-climacteric fruit ripening and focus attention on the use of strawberry as a model platform for ripening studies.

Transcriptional regulation of fleshy fruit texture.

Fleshy fruit texture is a critically important quality characteristic of ripe fruit. Softening is an irreversible process which operates in most fleshy fruits during ripening which, together with changes in color and taste, contributes to improvements in mouthfeel and general attractiveness. Softening results mainly from the expression of genes encoding enzymes responsible for cell wall modifications but starch degradation and high levels of flavonoids can also contribute to texture change. Some fleshy fruit undergo lignification during development and post-harvest, which negatively affects eating quality. Excessive softening can also lead to physical damage and infection, particularly during transport and storage which causes severe supply chain losses. Many transcription factors (TFs) that regulate fruit texture by controlling the expression of genes involved in cell wall and starch metabolism have been characterized. Some TFs directly regulate cell wall targets, while others act as part of a broader regulatory program governing several aspects of the ripening process. In this review, we focus on advances in our understanding of the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms governing fruit textural change during fruit development, ripening and post-harvest. Potential targets for breeding and future research directions for the control of texture and quality improvement are discussed.

Citrus heat shock transcription factor CitHsfA7-mediated citric acid degradation in response to heat stress.

Heat stress is a major abiotic stress for plants, which can generate a range of biochemical and genetic responses. In 'Ponkan' mandarin fruit, hot air treatment (HAT) accelerates the degradation of citric acid. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of citrate degradation in response to HAT remain to be elucidated. Here, 17 heat shock transcription factor sequences were isolated, and dual-luciferase assays were employed to investigate whether the encoded proteins that could trans-activate the promoters of key genes in the GABA shunt, involved in citrate metabolism. We identified four heat shock transcription factors (CitHsfA7, CitHsfA3, CitHsfA4b and CitHsfA8) that showed trans-activation effects on CitAco3, CitIDH3 and CitGAD4, respectively. Transient expression of the CitHsfs in citrus fruits indicated that CitHsfA7 was the only factor that resulted in a significant lowering of the citric acid content, and these results were confirmed by a virus-induced gene silencing system (VIGS). Sub-cellar localization showed that CitHsfA7 is located in the nucleus and is capable of binding directly to a putative HSE in the CitAco3 promoter and enhance its expression. We proposed that the induction of CitHsfA7 transcript level contributes to citric acid degradation in citrus fruit, via modulation of CitAco3 in response to HAT.

Targeting a cryptic allosteric site of SIRT6 with small-molecule inhibitors that inhibit the migration of pancreatic cancer cells

SIRT6 belongs to the conserved NAD+-dependent deacetylase superfamily and mediates multiple biological and pathological processes. Targeting SIRT6 by allosteric modulators represents a novel direction for therapeutics, which can overcome the selectivity problem caused by the structural similarity of orthosteric sites among deacetylases. Here, developing a reversed allosteric strategy AlloReverse, we identified a cryptic allosteric site, Pocket Z, which was only induced by the bi-directional allosteric signal triggered upon orthosteric binding of NAD+. Based on Pocket Z, we discovered an SIRT6 allosteric inhibitor named JYQ-42. JYQ-42 selectively targets SIRT6 among other histone deacetylases and effectively inhibits SIRT6 deacetylation, with an IC50 of 2.33 μmol/L. JYQ-42 significantly suppresses SIRT6-mediated cancer cell migration and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. JYQ-42, to our knowledge, is the most potent and selective allosteric SIRT6 inhibitor. This study provides a novel strategy for allosteric drug design and will help in the challenging development of therapeutic agents that can selectively bind SIRT6.

The effect of NH4+ on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression, metabolic flux and citrate content of citrus juice sacs.

Citrate is one of the most important metabolites determining the flavour of citrus fruit. It has been reported that nitrogen supply may have an impact on acid level of fruit. Here, the relationship between nitrogen metabolism and citrate catabolism was studied in pumelo juice sacs. Differences in metabolites, gene expression and flux distributions were analyzed in juice sacs incubated in medium with and without NH4+. Compared with those incubated with NH4+, juice sacs under nitrogen deficiency exhibited enhanced flux through phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and accelerated consumption of citrate, while the other two TCA cycle efflux points, through malic enzyme (ME) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), were both repressed. Consistent with the estimated fluxes, the expression of PEPCK1 was upregulated under nitrogen deficiency, while that of GDH1, GDH2, NAD-ME1 and NADP-ME2 were all repressed. Thus, we propose that PEPCK1 contributes to citrate degradation under nitrogen limitation.

The MADS-Box Transcription Factor EjAGL65 Controls Loquat Flesh Lignification via Direct Transcriptional Inhibition of EjMYB8.

Loquat fruit accumulates lignin in its flesh when undergoing chilling injury during postharvest storage, making it a suitable model for the study of flesh lignification. Transcriptional regulation of lignin biosynthesis is principally controlled by the NAC-MYB transcriptional cascade in model plants. Previous research has demonstrated that EjMYB8 activates lignin biosynthesis through direct interaction with the promoter of Ej4CL1. However, the classic NAC-MYB gene regulation network has not been established. Here, the MADS-box gene EjAGL65 was discovered by screening a cDNA library using the EjMYB8 promoter as bait in yeast. A phylogenetic analysis and structural comparisons revealed that EjAGL65 belongs to the Mδ subgroup of the MADS-box family, whose members have not been reported as being involved in the regulation of lignin deposition. EjAGL65 transcription was downregulated at 0°C compared to 5°C, indicating a negative correlation with the change of lignin content. A dual-luciferase assay indicated that EjAGL65 is capable of inhibiting the promoter activity of EjMYB8 in vivo. These results showed that the Mδ MADS-box gene EjAGL65 transcriptionally regulates EjMYB8 during postharvest chilling induced flesh lignification, which differs from the classical regulation model of lignin biosynthesis that has been illustrated for developmental lignin accumulation.

Malnutrition in Relation with Dietary, Geographical, and Socioeconomic Factors among Older Chinese / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Objective@#Nutrition is closely related to the health of the elderly population. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive picture of the nutrition status of elderly Chinese and its related dietary, geographical, and socioeconomic factors.@*Methods@#A total of 13,987 ≥ 60-year-old persons from the 2010-2013 Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey were included to evaluate various aspects of malnutrition, including underweight, overweight or obesity, and micronutrient inadequacy.@*Results@#Overall, the prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight was 12.4%, 34.8%, and 5.7%, respectively, with disparities both geographically and socioeconomically. The prevalence of underweight was higher among the older old (≥ 75 years), rural residents and those with low income, with low education status, and residing in undeveloped West areas. More than 75% of the elderly do not meet the Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamins A, B @*Conclusions@#Obesity epidemic, inadequacy of micronutrient intake, and high prevalence of underweight and anemia in susceptible older people are the major nutrition challenges for the rapidly aging population in China.

Association between Baseline SBP/DBP and All-Cause Mortality in Residents of Shanxi, China: A Population-based Cohort Study from 2002 to 2015 / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Objective@#To investigate the association between blood pressure and all-cause mortality in Shanxi, China.@*Methods@#The '2002 China Nutrition and Health Survey' baseline data in Shanxi province was used. A retrospective investigation was performed in 2015. The effects of SBP and DBP on the all-cause mortality were analyzed using the Cox regression model. The hazard ratio ( @*Results@#The follow-up rate was 76.52% over 13 years, while the cumulative mortality rate for all participants was 917.12/100,000 person-years. The mortality rose with an increasing SBP ( @*Conclusion@#Adults with SBP > 160 mmHg and DBP > 100 mmHg had a higher mortality risk. Sex and age difference was noted in both DBP and mortality risk.

Characteristics of Self-esteem and Life Position of Children with Mild Intellectual Disability / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To study the characteristics of self-esteem and life position of children with mild intellectual disability and the effects of adaptive behavior on self-esteem and life position. Methods From November, 2019 to January, 2020, 162 children with mild intellectual disabilities in Shanghai were investigated and evaluated with Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-Second version (ABAS-Ⅱ), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (SES) and Life Position Scale (LPS). Structural equation model was used to explore the specific effects of adaptive behavior on self-esteem and life position. Results The score of SES was (23.52±5.49), which was slightly lower than the norm (28.75±4.86) (t = -12.140, P < 0.001). The score of LPS was (50.76±11.85). Structural equation model showed that conceptual skill in adaptive behavior negatively affected life position (B = -0.450, P < 0.05); social skill (B = 0.480, B = 0.331, P < 0.05) and practical skill (B = 0.490, B = 0.294, P < 0.05) positively affected both life position and self-esteem. Conclusion Self-esteem decreases in children with mild intellectual disability, and the life position reached the theoretical median level. Among adaptive behavior, both social skill and practical skill positively affect self-esteem and life position, while conceptual skill negatively affects life position.

Characteristics of Self-esteem and Life Position of Children with Mild Intellectual Disability / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To study the characteristics of self-esteem and life position of children with mild intellectual disability and the effects of adaptive behavior on self-esteem and life position. Methods From November, 2019 to January, 2020, 162 children with mild intellectual disabilities in Shanghai were investigated and evaluated with Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-Second version (ABAS-Ⅱ), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (SES) and Life Position Scale (LPS). Structural equation model was used to explore the specific effects of adaptive behavior on self-esteem and life position. Results The score of SES was (23.52±5.49), which was slightly lower than the norm (28.75±4.86) (t = -12.140, P < 0.001). The score of LPS was (50.76±11.85). Structural equation model showed that conceptual skill in adaptive behavior negatively affected life position (B = -0.450, P < 0.05); social skill (B = 0.480, B = 0.331, P < 0.05) and practical skill (B = 0.490, B = 0.294, P < 0.05) positively affected both life position and self-esteem. Conclusion Self-esteem decreases in children with mild intellectual disability, and the life position reached the theoretical median level. Among adaptive behavior, both social skill and practical skill positively affect self-esteem and life position, while conceptual skill negatively affects life position.

Construction and Practice of Experimental System for Undergraduate Teaching Based on CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Technology / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

CRISP R/Cas9 is an emerging gene editing technique, which plays an important role in life science research.It is of great significance to introduce this cutting-edge scientific technique into the experimental teaching for undergraduates.Therefore, we established an undergraduate experiment system based on CRISPR/Cas9 technology.This experiment system focuses on the application of CRISPR/Cas9- mediating gene editing in mammalian cells.An engineered mouse embryonic fibroblast which genome were inserted with fluorescein mCherry gene was selected as the experimental model, and called STO-82.Firstly, sgRNAs targeting mCherry gene were designed to construct CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA co-expression plasmids.After being confirmed by sequencing, they were transfected into STO-82 cells.Two groups of cells with mCherry negative and positive signals were detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting.Single cells with negative fluorescence were separated and then cultivated to become monoclonal cells.The mutation status of mCherry gene in monoclonal cell lines was detected by sequence analysis.The result showed that there were mutations of insertion or deletion at target sites, indicating that the experimental system was successfully established.Therefore, this comprehensive experiment is comprised of sgRNA design, construction of CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA co-expression plasmids, cell transfection, cell sorting, monoclonal cell cultivation and sequence analysis.This experiment system is used for experimental teaching for senior undergraduates.Teaching practice can either be decomposed into content modules or be taken as a whole program in light of actual situation.In the teaching practice at 3 classes (13 groups in total, two students every group), which adopted the model of small-class teaching (about 10 students per class), the majority completed the content modules and the expected outcomes were achieved.Through the design and teaching practice of this experiment system, the students acquire a deeper understanding for the principle and experimental procedure of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, an enhanced experimental ability and rigorous scientific thinking and also some knowledge in the risk of its medical application.

Co-infection of influenza A virus enhances SARS-CoV-2 infectivity

The upcoming flu season in the northern hemisphere merging with the current COVID-19 pandemic raises a potentially severe threat to public health. Through experimental co-infection of IAV with either pseudotyped or SARS-CoV-2 live virus, we found that IAV pre-infection significantly promoted the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in a broad range of cell types. Remarkably, increased SARS-CoV-2 viral load and more severe lung damage were observed in mice co-infected with IAV in vivo. Moreover, such enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity was not seen with several other viruses probably due to a unique IAV segment as an inducer to elevate ACE2 expression. This study illustrates that IAV has a special nature to aggravate SARS-CoV-2 infection, and prevention of IAV is of great significance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citrus CitERF6 Contributes to Citric Acid Degradation via Upregulation of CitAclα1, Encoding ATP-Citrate Lyase Subunit α.

Citric acid is the most abundant organic acid in citrus fruit, and the acetyl-CoA pathway potentially plays an important role in citric acid degradation, which occurs during fruit ripening. Analysis of transcripts during fruit development of key genes in the acetyl-CoA pathway and transient overexpression assay in citrus leaves indicated that CitAclα1 could be a potential target gene involved in citrate degradation. In order to understand more about CitAclα1, 23 transcription factors coexpressed with CitAclα1 in citrus fruit were identified by RNA-seq. Using dual-luciferase assays, CitERF6 was shown to trans-activate the promoter of CitAclα1 and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) showed that CitERF6 directly bound to a 5'-CAACA-3' motif in the CitAclα1 promoter. Furthermore, citric acid content was significantly reduced when CitERF6 was overexpressed in transgenic tobacco leaves. Taken together, these results indicate an important role for CitERF6 in transcriptional regulation of CitAclα1 and control of citrate degradation.