The molecular genetic background leading to the formation of the human erythroid-specific Xga/CD99 blood groups.

The Xga and CD99 antigens of the human Xg blood group system show a unique and sex-specific phenotypic relationship. The phenotypic relationship is believed to result from transcriptional coregulation of the XG and CD99 genes, which span the pseudoautosomal boundary of the X and Y chromosomes. However, the molecular genetic background responsible for these blood groups has remained undetermined. During the present investigation, we initially conducted a pilot study aimed at individuals with different Xga/CD99 phenotypes; this used targeted next-generation sequencing of the genomic areas relevant to XG and CD99 This was followed by a large-scale association study that demonstrated a definite association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs311103 and the Xga/CD99 blood groups. The G and C genotypes of SNP rs311103 were associated with the Xg(a+)/CD99H and Xg(a-)/CD99L phenotypes, respectively. The rs311103 genomic region with the G genotype was found to have stronger transcription-enhancing activity by reporter assay, and this occurred specifically with erythroid-lineage cells. Such activity was absent when the same region with the C genotype was investigated. In silico analysis of the polymorphic rs311103 genomic regions revealed that a binding motif for members of the GATA transcription factor family was present in the rs311103[G] region. Follow-up investigations showed that the erythroid GATA1 factor is able to bind specifically to the rs311103[G] region and markedly stimulates the transcriptional activity of the rs311103[G] segment. The present findings identify the genetic basis of the erythroid-specific Xga/CD99 blood group phenotypes and reveal the molecular background of their formation.

The differential expression of the blood group P1 -A4GALT and P2 -A4GALT alleles is stimulated by the transcription factor early growth response 1.

BACKGROUND: The P1 /P2 phenotypic polymorphism is one of the earliest blood groups discovered in humans. These blood groups have been connected to different levels of expression of the A4GALT gene in P1 and P2 red blood cells; however, the detailed molecular genetic mechanism that leads to these two phenotypes has not been established. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: After our previous identification of an association between the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2143918 and rs5751348 in A4GALT gene and the P1 /P2 phenotype, we conduct a survey of transcription factors that might connect these SNPs with the differential expression of the P1 -A4GALT and P2 -A4GALT alleles. An in silico analysis of potential transcription factor binding motifs within the polymorphic SNPs rs2143918 and rs5751348 genomic regions was performed, and this was followed by reporter assays examining the candidate transcription factors, gene expression profiling, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and P1 -A4GALT and P2 -A4GALT allelic expression analysis. RESULTS: The results revealed that the differential binding of transcription factor early growth response 1 to the SNP rs5751348 genomic region with the different genotypes in the A4GALT gene leads to differential activation of P1 -A4GALT and P2 -A4GALT expression. CONCLUSION: The present investigation, together with our previous study (Lai et al., Transfusion 2014;54:3222-31), have elucidated the molecular genetic details associated with the P1 /P2 blood groups.

Demography and Consumption of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Reared on Cabbage and Taro.

Spodoptera litura (F.) causes considerable economic damage to multiple agro-crops annually in many countries. In this study, the demography of S. litura reared on cabbage and taro was investigated using the age-stage, two-sex life table at 25±1°C, 60±10% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 12: 12 (L:D) h. Our results showed that the net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate, and finite rate of population increase on cabbage (1893.1 offspring, 0.2374 d(−1), and 1.2679 d(−1)) were all not significantly different from those on taro (1361.0 offspring, 0.2298 d(−1), and 1.2584 d(−1)). The net consumption rate on cabbage (439.1 cm2) was, however, three times higher than that on taro (141.7 cm2). According to the population parameters, both cabbage and taro are suitable host plants for S. litura. When both the population growth rate and the consumption rate were taken into consideration, the finite consumption rate on cabbage (ω=3.8054) was significantly higher than that on taro (ω=1.3184). In Taiwan, taro and cabbage are commonly planted in adjacent farm plots, with taro being grown from March to November and cabbage from October to April. Because of the overlapping growth periods of the two crops, S. litura can easily propagate throughout the year by switching between the adjacent crops during the overlap periods. Pest management strategies for controlling S. litura must be thoroughly reevaluated based on ecological characteristics, including its life table and consumption rate on its major host plants.

Linking Life Table and Predation Rate for Biological Control: A Comparative Study of Eocanthecona furcellata (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Fed on Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).

To better understand the predator-prey relationship and to compare predation rates, we studied the life table and predation rate of the predator Eocanthecona furcellata Wolff (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) when reared on two major crucifer pests, Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). The net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate, and net predation rates of E. furcellata reared on P. xylostella were 292.4 offspring, 0.1389 d(-1), 1.1490 d(-1), and 644.1 third instars of P. xylostella, respectively. These values are significantly higher than those reared on S. litura, i.e., 272.3 offspring, 0.1220 d(-1), 1.1298 d(-1), and 863.1 third instars of S. litura. To evaluate the predation potential of E. furcellata fed on P. xylostella and S. litura, we combined both the growth rate and predation rate to calculate the finite predation rate (ω); our results showed that E. furcellata is an effective predator of both S. litura (ω = 1.6029) and P. xylostella (ω = 1.4277).

Growth Performance and Biometric Characteristics of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Reared on Different Host Plants.

Spodoptera litura (F.), an important polyphagous insect pest, attacks ca. 300 economic crops in dozens of countries. Investigations into its growth and development performance on different host plants can provide an understanding of the potential for increase of S. litura population in the field. We measured the development time, body weight, and head capsule width of S. litura larvae reared on cabbage, taro, peanut, and sesbania, a green manure. Larvae reared on cabbage ingested a significantly higher amount of protein and completed the immature stages in a shorter period than those reared on the other three plants. The relationship between head capsule width and larval instars on these four crops fitted well with Dyar's rule, and the Dyar's ratios ranged from 1.4554 to 1.6786, although a few supernumerary instar individuals on sesbania, peanut, and taro showed lower ratios (1.0103 to 1.1330). The head capsule width among cohorts fed on different host plants varied significantly and overlapped between late instars, which could lead to a misjudgment of instar stage in the field. The growth index of S. litura on cabbage was significantly higher than on the other host plants. Larvae fed on sesbania showed the highest feeding index and a better growth index than on taro and peanut. We therefore suggest that the area-wide pest management against S. litura should take into consideration its occurrence on sesbania in intercropping seasons. Additionally, the effective management of this pest during cropping windows between all these four plants should not be ignored.

Effects of green manure cover crops on Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations.

Spodoptera litura (F.) is an important pest of numerous agro-economic crops, including green manure cover crops. In Taiwan, sesbania (Sesbanin roxburghii Merr.), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), and rapeseed (Brassicae campestris L. variety chinensis) are the most popular green manure crops; sesbania and sunn hemp are commonly planted in warm seasons, whereas rapeseed is grown in the winter. In this study, life-table data for S. litura reared on these three green manures were collected to evaluate their roles as refuges of this pest. The net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, and finite rate of increase of S. litura were the highest when reared on sesbania (1428.1 offspring, 0.2327 d(-1), 1.2621 d(-1)), followed by sunn hemp (778.4 offspring, 0.2070 d(-1), 1.2300 d(-1)) and rapeseed (737.6 offspring, 0.2040 d(-1), 1.2263 d(-1)). The high growth rates on these green manure crops show that they can serve as potential breeding sites for S. litura. Population projection demonstrated the rapid growth of S. litura on sesbania, sunn hemp, and rapeseed as well. Because most growers have traditionally ignored pest management in green manure fields, the mass emergence of S. litura in these fields may cause unexpected infestations in nearby vegetable, corn, and peanut crops. This study shows that the use of green manures as sources of nutrients should be critically reassessed and an area-wide pest management program should be instituted by taking the population of S. litura in green manure fields into consideration.