The complete mitochondrial genome of Crematogaster matsumurai (Forel 1901) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and its phylogenetic relationship.

Crematogaster matsumurai (Forel 1901) is an important arboreal ant species commonly found on Phyllostachys heterocycla (Carr.) in Lishui, Zhejiang, China. This study analyzed the mitochondrial genome sequence of C. matsumurai and discussed its phylogenetic relationship in Hymenoptera. The circular mitochondrial genome was 16,028 bp long, including a standard set of 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), which showed the typical insect mitochondrial genome arrangement. The AT and GC contents of the mitochondrial genome sequence were 76.92% and 23.08%, respectively. The maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis based on whole mitochondrial genome sequences showed that C. matsumurai is closest to Crematogaster teranishii.

Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses of biochar-induced pathways in response to Fusarium wilt infestation in pepper.

The present study used soils contaminated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici (CCS) and CCS amended with bamboo biochar (CCS + BC) to grow the pepper variety Qujiao No.1. The physiological performance, and transcriptome and metabolome profiling in leaf (L) and fruit (F) of Qujiao No.1 were conducted. Application of biochar improved soil properties, pepper plant nutrition and increased activities of enzymes related to pest/disease resistance, leading to superior physiological performance and lesser F. wilt disease incidence than plants from CCS. Most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were involved in protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum (fruit), plant pathogen interaction (fruit), photosynthesis (leaf), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (both tissues) and metabolic pathways (both tissues). Biochar improved plant photosynthesis, enhanced the immune system, energy production and increased stress signaling pathways. Overall, our results provide evidence of a number of pathways induced by biochar in pepper regulating its response to F. wilt disease.

[Effect of adding different amounts of wheat straw and phosphorus on soil microorganism community].

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of adding different amounts of wheat straw (0 g x kg(-1), N0; 2.08 g x kg(-1), N1) and phosphorus (0 mg x kg(-1), P0; 100 mg x kg(-1), P1; 200 mg x kg(-1), P2; 400 mg x kg(-1), P3) on microorganism community in a soil of low-phosphorus. Adding straw and phosphorus had significant effects on the soil microbial total biomass (MTB), bacterial biomass (MB), fungal biomass (FB), and fungi to bacteria ratio (F/B), which all decreased in order of N1P1>N1P0>N1P2>N1P3>N0P1>N0P2>N0P3. MTB, MB, FB and F/B ratio of the wheat straw addition treatments were all significantly higher than in the non-straw addition treatments under the same level of phosphorus addition. As for the same wheat straw addition, MTB, MB, FB and F/B ratio increased firstly and then decreased with increasing the level of phosphorus addition, and the combinations of P1 level were optimal.

Effective therapy of metastatic ovarian cancer with an oncolytic herpes simplex virus incorporating two membrane fusion mechanisms.

PURPOSE AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Replication-competent herpes simplex virus [HSV (oncolytic HSV)] holds considerable promise for treating malignant solid tumors, although the potency of the virus needs improvement if its full clinical potential is to be realized. Incorporation of membrane fusion capability into an oncolytic HSV, either by screening for a syncytial HSV mutant after random mutagenesis or by inserting a hyperfusogenic glycoprotein from gibbon ape leukemia virus into the viral genome, can significantly enhance the antitumor effects of the virus (X. Fu and X. Zhang, Cancer Res., 62: 2306-2312, 2002; X. Fu et al., Mol. Ther., in press, 2003). We reasoned that both fusogenic strategies, incorporated into a single oncolytic HSV, might significantly improve virotherapy for ovarian cancer. RESULTS: In vitro characterization of a doubly fusogenic oncolytic HSV (Synco-2D) showed that this virus produces a distinctive syncytial phenotype, leading to a significantly increased tumor cell killing ability, compared with that of a nonfusogenic virus. When injected directly into the abdominal cavity of mice bearing human ovarian cancer xenografts, Synco-2D eradicated all tumor masses in 75% of the animals, whereas no animals in the conventional oncolytic HSV-treated group were tumor free. CONCLUSIONS: This newly generated fusogenic oncolytic HSV is a promising candidate for clinical testing against advanced ovarian cancer.

Expression of a fusogenic membrane glycoprotein by an oncolytic herpes simplex virus potentiates the viral antitumor effect.

Oncolytic viruses have shown considerable promise in the treatment of solid tumors, but their potency must be improved if their full clinical potential is to be realized. We inserted the gene encoding a truncated form of the gibbon ape leukemia virus envelope fusogenic membrane glycoprotein (GALV.fus) into an oncolytic herpes simplex virus, using an enforced ligation procedure. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies showed that expression of GALV.fus in the context of an oncolytic virus significantly enhances the antitumor effect of the virus. Furthermore, by controlling GALV.fus expression through a strict late viral promoter, whose activity depends on the initiation of viral DNA replication, we were able to express this glycoprotein in tumor cells but not in normal nondividing cells. It will be of interest to confirm whether functional expression of a strong fusogenic gene by an oncolytic herpes simplex virus enhances viral antitumor activity without increasing its toxicity.