Population changes of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on different colored poinsettia leaves with different trichome densities and chemical compositions.

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a destructive and invasive pest of many horticultural plants including poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). Outbreaks of B. tabaci cause serious damage by direct feeding on phloem sap, and spreading 100+ plant viruses to crops. Bemisia tabaci were observed more frequently on green than red poinsettia leaves, and the factors responsible for this are unknown. Here, we investigated the development rate, survivorship, fecundity of B. tabaci feeding on green versus red leaves, as well as the leaves' volatiles, trichome density, anthocyanin content, soluble sugars, and free amino acids. Compared to red leaves, B. tabaci on green leaves showed increased fecundity, a higher female sex ratio, and survival rate. The green color alone was more attractive to B. tabaci than red. Red leaves of poinsettia contained more phenol, and panaginsene in their volatiles. Alpha-copaene and caryophyllene were more abundant in the volatiles of poinsettia green leaves. Leaf trichome density, soluble sugars and free amino acids were higher in green than red leaves of poinsettia, anthocyanin was lower in green than red leaves. Overall, green leaves of poinsettia were more susceptible and attractive to B. tabaci. The morphological and chemical variation between red and green leaves also differed; further investigation may reveal how these traits affect B. tabaci's responses.

Tumor Cell-Secreted ISG15 Promotes Tumor Cell Migration and Immune Suppression by Inducing the Macrophage M2-Like Phenotype.

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is known to be involved in tumor progression. We previously reported that ISG15 expressed on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and related to poor prognosis of patients with NPC. We further observed that ISG15 can be secreted by NPC cell and expressed on the macrophages in situ. However, the role of ISG15 in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) remains poorly understood. In the present study, we found that ISG15 treatment induces macrophages with M2-like phenotype, and the enhancement of NPC cell migration and tumorigenicity. Mechanically, ISG15-induced M2-like phenotype is dependent on the interaction with its receptor, LFA-1, and engagement of SRC family kinase (SFK) signal, and the subsequent secretion of CCL18. Blocking LFA-1, or SRC signal with small molecular inhibitors, or neutralizing with anti-CCL18 antibody can impede the activation of LFA-1-SFK-CCL18 axis in ISG15-treated macrophages. Clinically, ISG15+ CD163+ TAMs related to impaired survival of patients and advanced tumor stage of NPC. Furthermore, we found ISG15+ CD163+ macrophages inhibited antitumor CD8+ cells responses in NPC. Together, our findings suggested tumor cell-secreted ISG15, which acted as a tumor microenvironmental factor, induces M2-like phenotype, promoting tumor progression and suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte response.

Enhancement of the field modulation of light transmission through films of binary ferrofluids.

CoFe2O4 nanoparticles are ferrimagnetic and p-MgFe2O4 nanoparticles are paramagnetic. Binary ferrofluids can be synthesized by mixing CoFe2O4 ferrofluids and p-MgFe2O4 fluids in such a way that the magnetic interaction of the CoFe2O4 particles is large enough to form field-induced chainlike aggregates. The field modulation of light transmission through films of CoFe{2}O{4}-p-MgFe2O4 binary ferrofluids with different values of applied magnetic field is compared with pure CoFe2O4 ferrofluids. The experimental results revealed that the light transmission coefficient of binary ferrofluids can be more intensely modulated by an external magnetic field than pure CoFe2O4 ferrofluids. These show that in the binary ferrofluids, the field-induced structure mainly arises from the CoFe2O4 nanoparticle system and the p-MgFe2O4 nanoparticles introduce a nonlinear modulation effect, even though the microstructure of p-MgFe2O4 fluids is not affected by an applied magnetic field. Using a model of magnetic bidispersal, the enhanced field modulation of the light transmission through binary ferrofluids is explained by the coupling of geometric shadowing effects from both the CoFe2O4 and p-MgFe2O4 particle systems.