Establishment of dual reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for detection system for Areca palm velarivirus 1.

Areca palm velarivirus 1 (APV1) is one of the main pathogen causing yellow leaf disease, and leading to considerable losses in the Areca palm industry. The detection methods for APV1 are primarily based on phenotype determination and molecular techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, a single PCR has limitations in accuracy and sensitivity. Therefore, in the present study, we established a dual RT-PCR APV1-detection system with enhanced accuracy and sensitivity using two pairs of specific primers, YLDV2-F/YLDV2-R and YLDV4-F/YLDV4-R. Moreover, two cDNA fragments covering different regions of the viral genome were simultaneously amplified, with PCR amplicon of 311 and 499 bp, respectively. The dual RT-PCR detection system successfully amplified the two target regions of the APV1, demonstrating high specificity and sensitivity and compensating for the limitations of single-primer detection methods. We tested 60 Areca palm samples from different geographical regions, highlighting its advantages in that the dual RT-PCR system efficiently and accurately detected APV1 in samples across diverse areas. The dual RT-PCR APV1 detection system provides a rapid, accurate, and sensitive method for detecting the virus and offers valuable technical support for research in preventing and managing yellow leaf diseases caused by APV1 in Areca palms. Moreover, the findings of this study can serve as a reference for establishing similar plants viral detection systems in the future.

Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses of the effects of bagging treatment on carotenoid biosynthesis and regulation of Areca catechu L.

Introduction: Fresh Aareca nut fruit for fresh fruit chewing commonly found in green or dark green hues. Despite its economic significance, there is currently insufficient research on the study of color and luster of areca. And the areca nut fruits after bagging showed obvious color change from green to tender yellow. In the study, we tried to explain this interesting variation in exocarp color. Methods: Fruits were bagged (with a double-layered black interior and yellow exterior) 45 days after pollination and subsequently harvested 120 days after pollination. In this study, we examined the the chlorophyll and carotenoid content of pericarp exocarp, integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics to study the effects of bagging on the carotenoid pathway at the molecular level. Results: It was found that the chlorophyll and carotenoid content of bagged areca nut (YP) exocarp was significantly reduced. A total of 21 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) and 1784 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by transcriptomics and metabolomics. Three key genes in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway as candidate genes for qPCR validation by co-analysis, which suggested their role in the regulation of pathways related to crtB, crtZ and CYP707A. Discussion: We described that light intensity may appear as a main factor influencing the noted shift from green to yellow and the ensuing reduction in carotenoid content after bagging.

A metabolomics study of Qianliexin capsule treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia induced by testosterone propionate in the rat model.

A metabolomics investigation of the treatment effect of Qianliexin (QLX) capsules was conducted on rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) induced by testosterone propionate. Establishment of the BPH model was confirmed using the prostatic index. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining for TGF-ß, EGFR, collagen, IL-1 ß, TNF-α was performed and changes in urine volume were measured. Urine and serum samples were collected from three groups, including a control group, a BPH model group and a QLX-treated group and subjected to metabolomics profiling based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pharmacodynamics analysis showed that the QLX group had significantly lower histopathological damage, fibrosis damage, and inflammation and higher urine output compared with the model group. Twenty-two potential biomarkers were identified in urine samples and 23 metabolites were identified in plasma samples. Alterations in metabolic patterns were evident in all sample types. The treatment effects of QLX appear to involve various metabolic pathways including lipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and purine generation and significantly reduced the pathological symptoms and related biochemical indicators of BPH and improved the level of potential marker metabolites. This comprehensive study suggested that differential markers provided insights into the metabolic pathways involved in BPH and the treatment effects of QLX.

3D object reassembly using region-pair-relation and balanced cluster tree.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Object reassembly is a key technology in scenarios such as surgical planning and broken object restoration. Based on previous research, this work intends to explore the general tasks of 3D object reassembly, including conventional object reconstruction and bone fracture reduction. METHODS: We introduce an efficient and robust region-pair-relation descriptor, which incorporates strong geometric constraints and remains invariant to rotation and translation. We segment the fractured objects using balanced cluster tree, and develop a coarse-to-fine method for object reassembly. The matching quality of potential region contact pairs at different depths is estimated recursively from the root of the tree. Once the best contact pairs are determined, the least squares method is implemented to obtain the matching results. In addition, we also provide a semi-interactive manipulation to deal with the complex objects. RESULTS: For most types of broken objects, our approach can generate high accuracy matching results within 10 s, with the cluster tree depth equals to 11. It allows the automatic reassembly of different-sized fragments. For bone fracture blocks with cancellous structures, a semi-interactive operation is integrated so that the precise matching can also be achieved in 30 s. CONCLUSION: The proposed framework can be expanded to various object reassembly tasks in either automated or semi-automated manner, including the fracture reduction problem which used to be an intensive manual process. Therefore, our work shows significant advantages in medical applications.

Postharvest benzothiazole treatment enhances healing in mechanically damaged sweet potato by activating the phenylpropanoid metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Sweet potato often suffers mechanical damage during harvest, handling, and transportation. Infections, water loss, and quality changes of sweet potato caused by mechanical damage pose great financial losses. Wound healing is an effective method to alleviate such problems. In this study, the effects of postharvest treatment with benzothiazole (BTH) on wound healing of sweet potato was investigated. RESULTS: Postharvest BTH treatment of sweet potatoes promoted lignin accumulation in wounded tissues, and 100 mg L-1 BTH exhibited better effects than 50 mg L-1 or 150 mg L-1 BTH. The biosynthesis of lignin in wounded tissues significantly decreased the weight loss of sweet potatoes. An increase in respiration intensity after BTH treatment was observed. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase were increased in BTH-treated sweet potatoes. This suggests that BTH increases phenylpropanoid metabolism. CONCLUSION: Postharvest 100 mg L-1 BTH treatment could promote wound healing in mechanically damaged sweet potatoes. The activation of the phenylpropanoid metabolism might be the mechanism of action of BTH in wound healing. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Study on the relationship of the haplotypes of programmed cell death 1 gene and ultraviolet history with systemic lupus erythematosus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of gene polymorphisms of programmed cell death 1 gene (PDCD1) and ultraviolet history with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among the Han population in the southern region of yangtze river in China. METHODS: With a case control design, a total of 159 SLE cases and 159 controls were enrolled in this study, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PDCD1 gene were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). With the aid of the logistic regression model, the effect of gene polymorphism, environmental factor and the interaction between gene and environment were fitted under the recessive, dominant, additive and codominant mode, respectively. RESULTS: Three models were screened as the optimal models under the additive mode and one model under the dominant mode, according to the lowest value of Akaike's Information Criteria (AIC). After the control of age and gender, it was found that the frequency of ultraviolet exposure was higher in cases than in controls with significant difference under all models (P<0.05). For the haplotypes composed of the alleles of PD1.2, PD1.5 and PD1.6, there was significantly higher frequency of G-T-A haplotype (0.1196 vs 0.0363) and lower frequency of A-C-A haplotype (0.4746 vs 0.5399) in cases than that in controls (P<0.05) under the additive mode, and the G-T-A haplotype was associated with an increased risk for SLE (OR=4.319), while A-C-A haplotype was shown as a protective factor for SLE (OR=0.571). Moreover, interaction between A-C-G haplotype and ultraviolet exposure, which was related to an increased risk for SLE (beta5=1.182, Z=2.2898, P<0.05, OR=3.261), was also found under this mode. Additionally, the frequency of G-C-G haplotype was higher in cases than that in controls (0.1287 vs 0.0361) under the dominant mode with statistically significant difference (P<0.05, OR=4.332). CONCLUSION: Authors' results indicate that ultraviolet exposure, G-T-A or G-C-G haplotype and interaction between A-C-G and ultraviolet exposure may be associated with genetic susceptibility to SLE in Han population in the southern region of yangtze river in China under certain genetic modes.

[Interactions between susceptible genes and risk environmental factors in Chinese females with systemic lupus erythematosus].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the interactions of gene polymorphisms of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death 1 (PDCD-1) with risk environmental factors in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from Han nationality female population in South of Changjiang River region of China. METHODS: With a case-only design, a total of 258 cases were enrolled in this study, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PDCD-1 and CTLA-4 genes were determined by means of PCR-RFLP. With the aid of Poisson loglinear mode, interactions between gene-gene and gene-environment were fitted under the dominant, recessive, additive and multiple models, respectively. RESULTS: It was found that interaction existed between GG genotype of PD1.6 and UV history under separate inherent models of the recessive mode (OR = 3.714, 95%CI: 1.235 - 11.179) and additive mode (OR = 3.199, 95%CI: 1.023 - 10.004). For CTLA-4 locus, there existed interactions between TT/TC genotype of -1722T-->C and UV history under the dominant model (OR = 4.874, 95%CI: 1.119 - 21.242), and interaction between T allele and UV history was also found under the multiple model (OR = 1.470, 95%CI: 1.047 - 2.065). While, under the additive mode for CTLA-4, it was found that interactions existed between TT genotype of -1722T-->C and UV history (OR = 4.744, 95%CI: 1.037 - 21.737), as well as between TC genotype of -1722T-->C and UV history (OR = 4.973, 95%CI: 1.110 - 22.287). CONCLUSION: The interactions between UV history and polymorphisms of CTLA-4 and PDCD-1 gene for SLE were observed, which indicates that there may be association of their interactions with the development of SLE in Han nationality females population in the south regions of Changjiang River in China.