Host plant-mediated effects on Buchnera symbiont: implications for biological characteristics and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum).

Introduction: The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is a typical sap-feeding insect and an important worldwide pest. There is a primary symbiont-Buchnera aphidicola, which can synthesize and provide some essential nutrients for its host. At the same time, the hosts also can actively adjust the density of bacterial symbiosis to cope with the changes in environmental and physiological factors. However, it is still unclear how symbionts mediate the interaction between herbivorous insects' nutrient metabolism and host plants. Methods: The current study has studied the effects of different host plants on the biological characteristics, Buchnera titer, and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids. This study investigated the influence of different host plants on biological characteristics, Buchnera titer, and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids. Results and discussion: The titer of Buchnera was significantly higher on T. Pretense and M. officinalis, and the relative expression levels were 1.966±0.104 and 1.621±0.167, respectively. The content of soluble sugar (53.46±1.97µg/mg), glycogen (1.12±0.07µg/mg) and total energy (1341.51±39.37µg/mg) of the pea aphid on V. faba were significantly higher and showed high fecundity (143.86±11.31) and weight (10.46±0.77µg/mg). The content of total lipids was higher on P. sativum and T. pretense, which were 2.82±0.03µg/mg and 2.92±0.07µg/mg, respectively. Correlation analysis found that the difference in Buchnera titer was positively correlated with the protein content in M. officinalis and the content of total energy in T. pratense (P < 0.05). This study confirmed that host plants not only affected the biological characteristics and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids but also regulated the symbiotic density, thus interfering with the nutritional function of Buchnera. The results can provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the influence of different host plants on the development of pea aphids and other insects.

Non-Negative Low-Rank Representation With Similarity Correction for Cell Type Identification in scRNA-Seq Data.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) technology has emerged as a powerful tool to investigate cellular heterogeneity within tissues, organs, and organisms. One fundamental question pertaining to single-cell gene expression data analysis revolves around the identification of cell types, which constitutes a critical step within the data processing workflow. However, existing methods for cell type identification through learning low-dimensional latent embeddings often overlook the intercellular structural relationships. In this paper, we present a novel non-negative low-rank similarity correction model (NLRSIM) that leverages subspace clustering to preserve the global structure among cells. This model introduces a novel manifold learning process to address the issue of imbalanced neighbourhood spatial density in cells, thereby effectively preserving local geometric structures. This procedure utilizes a position-sensitive hashing algorithm to construct the graph structure of the data. The experimental results demonstrate that the NLRSIM surpasses other advanced models in terms of clustering effects and visualization experiments. The validated effectiveness of gene expression information after calibration by the NLRSIM model has been duly ascertained in the realm of relevant biological studies. The NLRSIM model offers unprecedented insights into gene expression, states, and structures at the individual cellular level, thereby contributing novel perspectives to the field.

[Application of modified plaster material and device in acupoint plaster therapy].

Through the analysis on the methods of medicinal paste preparation, the irritation of skin to medicine and the plaster materials adopted in acupoint plaster therapy for the prevention of winter-attacked disease in summer, the acupoint plaster materials and devices were improved. According to the differences in age, illness condition, acupoint and medicinal irritation of patients, the high-dosage, moderate-dosage and low-dosage series of medicine were prepared in proportion; 2. 5 mL and 5 mL syringes were manually reconstructed as the pushers for the delivery of the medicine paste of different specifications. The new-type materials such as spun-bonded non-woven fabrics, transparent dressing film and spun-laced non-woven skin-color stick plaster were adopted. In the operation, the medicine was classified and prepared more specifically. The dedicated acupoint plaster was characterized as less in skin irritation, breathable in property, convenient in practice and proper in stickiness. The plastic anti-seepage film in the middle and the medicine storage pool for stabilizing medicinal paste could avoid drug leakage. The medicinal paste pusher could achieve the even size, proper thickness and precise dosage of the paste. The new-type plaster material and the self-prepared innovated plaster device contribute to the development of acupoint plaster therapy in clinical application.

[Correlation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase to radiation sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) to radiation sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Eighty randomly selected NPC patients were divided into high (+/++, n=62) and low (-/+/+, n=18) MGMT groups according to the results of MGMT detection using immunohistochemistry. All the patients received irradiation with external beam radiotherapy, and the radiation sensitivity of NPC was analyzed after the irradiation. RESULTS: The rates of high and low radiation sensitivity were 83.3% and 16.7% in low MGMT group, respectively, showing significant differences from those of the high MGMT group (45.2% and 54.8%, respectively, chi(2)=4.393, P=0.036). CONCLUSION: The content of MGMT correlates to the radiation sensitivity of NPC and may serve as valuable indicators for predicting the radiation sensitivity of NPC.

Characterization of the cheY genes from Leptospira interrogans and their effects on the behavior of Escherichia coli.

The motility and chemotaxis system are critical for the virulence of pathogenic leptospire, which enable them to penetrate host tissue barriers during infection. The completed genome sequence of a representative virulent serovar type strain (Lai) of Leptospira interrogans serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae (L. interrogans strain Lai) suggested that there were multiple copies of putative chemotaxis homologues located at its large chromosome. In order to verify the function of these proteins, the putative cheY genes were cloned into pQE31 vector and then expressed, respectively, in wild-type Escherichia coli strain RP437 and cheY defective strain RP5232. The results showed that all the five cheYs could restore the swarming of RP5232 strain to some extend. Overexpression of CheYs in RP437 showed inhibited swarming of RP437. To investigate the mechanism of chemotaxis signaling in L. interrogans strain Lai, certain aspartates (Asp-53, Asp-61, Asp-70, Asp-62, and Asp-66 for L. interrogans strain Lai CheY1, CheY2, CheY3, CheY4, and CheY5, respectively) were mutated. Expression of these mutated cheYs manifested neither restoration of the swarming ability of RP5232 nor inhibition on swarming ability of RP437. Multiple amino acid sequence alignment predicted ternary structures and the result of mutation experiment suggested that these conserved aspartate residues of L. interrogans were analogous to that in E. coli CheY in function and structure. So, L. interrogans and E. coli may have similar mechanisms of activation of the chemotaxis phosphorelay pathway, but there are differences in their control by signal terminator.

Characterization of cheW genes of Leptospira interrogans and their effects in Escherichia coli.

The motility and chemotaxis systems are critical for the virulence of leptospires. In this study, the phylogenetic profiles method was used to predict the interaction of chemotaxis proteins. It was shown that CheW1 links to CheA1, CheY, CheB and CheW2; CheW3 links to CheA2, MCP (LA2426), CheB3 and CheD1; and CheW2 links only to CheW1. The similarity analysis demonstrated that CheW2 of Leptospira interrogans strain Lai had poor homology with CheW of Escherichia coli in the region of residues 30-50. In order to verify the function of these proteins, the putative cheW genes were cloned into pQE31 vector and expressed in wild-type E. coli strain RP437 or cheW defective strain RP4606. The swarming results indicated that CheW1 and CheW3 could restore swarming of RP4606 while CheW2 could not. Overexpression of CheW1 and CheW3 in RP437 inhibited the swarming of RP437, whereas the inhibitory effect of CheW2 was much lower. Therefore, we presumed that CheW1 and CheW3 might have the function of CheW while CheW2 does not. The existence of multiple copies of chemotaxis homologue genes suggested that L. interrogans strain Lai might have a more complex chemosensory pathway.

[Cytoplasmic expression of VP1 gene of coxsackievirus B3].

OBJECTIVE: To increase the immune effect of gene vaccine, T7 RNA polymerase was used to establish a system of cytoplasmic expression. METHODS: (1) The plasmid pT7 EMCVP1, including T7 promoter sequence, 5'-untranslated sequence of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus, VP1 sequence of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), was cotransfected with the plasmid pAR 3132, which codes for the T7 RNA polymerase, into HeLa cells and murine peritoneal macrophages. (2) The plasmid pT7 EMCVP1 and pAR 3132 were respectively transformed into the attenuated Salmonella typhimurium SL 7207. The two kinds of transformed bacteria were coinfected into murine peritoneal macrophages. RESULTS: (1) The target antigen VP1 in the cytoplasm was about 2-4-fold higher than that of pcDNA3 VP1 singly transfected. (2) After the murine peritoneal macrophages were coinfected by two kinds of transformed bacteria, the target antigen VP1 could also be detected. CONCLUSION: The pT7 EMCVP1 and pAR 3132 could be expressed in the cytoplasm of HeLa cells and murine peritoneal macrophages and the amount of the antigen VP1 increased remarkably as compared with that of pcDNA3 VP1 singly transfected.

In vitro anti-coxsackievirus B(3) effect of ethyl acetate extract of Tian-hua-fen.

AIM: To investigation the anti-coxsackievirus B(3) (CVB(3m)) effect of the ethyl acetate extract of Tian-hua-fen on HeLa cells infected with CVB(3m). METHODS: HeLa cells were infected with CVB(3m) and the cytopathic effects (CPE) were observed through light microscope and crystal violet staining on 96-well plate and A(600) was detected using spectrophotometer. The protective effect of the extract to HeLa cells and the mechanism of the effect were also evaluated through the change of CPE and value of A(600). RESULTS: The extract had some toxicity to HeLa cells at a higher concentration while had a marked inhibitory effect on cell pathological changes at a lower concentration. Consistent results were got through these two methods. We also investigated the mechanism of its anti-CVB(3m) effect and the results indicated that the extract represented an inhibitory effect through all the processes of CVB(3m) attachment, entry, biosynthesis and assemble in cells. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the ethyl acetate extract of Tian-hua-fen has a significant protective effect on HeLa cells infected with CVB(3m) in a dose-dependent manner and this effect exists through the process of CVB(3m) attachment, entry, biosynthesis and assemble in cells, suggesting that the ethyl acetate extract of Tian-hua-fen can be developed as an anti-virus agent.

[Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium as DNA delivery vehicle for DNA-mediated immunization].

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the live attenuated AroA-auxotrophic mutant of Salmonella (S.) typhimurium (SL7207) could be used as DNA delivery vehicle to induce more efficient immune response by using the eukaryotic expression plasmid pCMV-beta as report gene. METHODS: Murine peritoneal macrophages were infected with SL7207(pCMV-beta) in vitro, then the expression of the beta-gal were detected by X-gal staining or RT-PCR. After mice were orally immunized with SL7207(pCMV-beta), the expression of beta-gal in the lymphoid tissue were tested by RT-PCR, humoral responses were tested by ELISA, splenic lymphocyte proliferation were tested by 3H-TdR incorporation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte reaction were tested by JAM test. RESULTS: The results indicated that the plasmid pCMV-beta could be delivered by SL7207 into the nucleus of the murine macrophages efficiently and expressed well in vitro; after mice received oral immunizations with attenuated S.typhimurium SL7207 harboring plasmid pCMV-beta mice, the expression of beta-gal could be detected in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyers patches of the mice. Furthermore, the experiments demonstrated that specific humoral immune responses and cell-mediated immune responses were successfully induced in these immunized mice. Compared with the naked DNA vaccination, SL7207 (pCMV-beta) oral immunization were more efficient in inducing cellular immune responses. CONCLUSIONS: Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium SL7207 could be used as DNA delivery vehicle for oral immunization, which have the ability to deliver the antigen-encoding DNA specifically to APC directly for inducing the specific immune response being dominant with cellular immune response.