Investigating the effects of species niche shifts on the potential distribution of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) by using global occurrence data.

Invasive species may occupy quite different environments in their invaded areas to native ones, which may intensively interfere with predicting potential distribution through ecological niche modeling (ENM). Here, we take the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a tomato pest, as an example to investigate this topic. We analyzed niche expansion, stability, unfilling, and Schoener's D by principal component analysis (PCA) ordination method to examine its realized niche shifts and to explore how ENM approaches are affected by niche shifts. We used 5 datasets: Asian, African, European, South American, and global occurrence records in this study. Results showed that high niche unfilling for the species' invaded areas in Asia (20%), Africa (12%), and Europe (37%), possibly due to T. absoluta being in the early stages of invasion. High niche expansion was observed in Asia (38%) and Europe (19%), implying that some European and Asian populations had reached new climatic areas. African niche had the most niche stability (94%) and was equivalent to the native one in climate space (PCA ordination method), but the n-dimensional climate space framework showed that they were different. When projecting the native model to Asia and Europe, the native model performed poorly, implying that the niche shifts affected the transferability of the native model. ENM based on global data outperformed than other models, and our results suggested that T. absoluta has a large potential distribution in Asia, Mexico, South Europe, the United States, and Australia. Meanwhile, we recommend updating ENMs based on the species' invasion stage.

CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology: a precise and efficient tool for crop quality improvement.

MAIN CONCLUSION: This review provides a direction for crop quality improvement and ideas for further research on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology for crop improvement. Various important crops, such as wheat, rice, soybean and tomato, are among the main sources of food and energy for humans. Breeders have long attempted to improve crop yield and quality through traditional breeding methods such as crossbreeding. However, crop breeding progress has been slow due to the limitations of traditional breeding methods. In recent years, clustered regularly spaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 gene editing technology has been continuously developed. And with the refinement of crop genome data, CRISPR/Cas9 technology has enabled significant breakthroughs in editing specific genes of crops due to its accuracy and efficiency. Precise editing of certain key genes in crops by means of CRISPR/Cas9 technology has improved crop quality and yield and has become a popular strategy for many breeders to focus on and adopt. In this paper, the present status and achievements of CRISPR/Cas9 gene technology as applied to the improvement of quality in several crops are reviewed. In addition, the shortcomings, challenges and development prospects of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology are discussed.

Preventing acute liver injury via hepatocyte-targeting nano-antioxidants.

Acute liver injury (ALI) is a severe liver disease that is characterized by sudden and massive hepatocyte necrosis and deterioration of liver functions. Oxidative stress is increasingly recognized as a key factor in the induction and progression of ALI. Scavenging excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) with antioxidants has become a promising therapeutic option, but intrinsically hepatocyte-targeting antioxidants with excellent bioavailability and biocompatibility are yet to be developed. Herein, self-assembling nanoparticles (NPs) composed of amphiphilic polymers are introduced to encapsulate organic Selenium compound L-Se-methylselenocysteine (SeMC) and form SeMC NPs, which protect the viabilities and functions of cultured hepatocytes in drug- or chemical-induced acute hepatotoxicity models via efficient ROS removal. After further functionalization with the hepatocyte-targeting ligand glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), the resultant GA-SeMC NPs exhibit enhanced hepatocyte uptake and liver accumulation. In mouse models of ALI induced by acetaminophen (APAP) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ), treatment with GA-SeMC NPs significantly decrease the levels of hepatic lipid peroxidation, tissue vacuolization and serum liver transaminases, while prominently increase that of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. Our study therefore presents a liver-targeting drug delivery strategy for the prevention and treatment of hepatic diseases.

Analysis of therapeutic effect of subliminal cognition combined with hypnotherapy on anxiety disorder via neural network.

Hypnotherapy combined with cognitive therapy is an effective way to intervene anxiety problems, which also responds to the call that using hypnotherapy to treat somatic disorders should become a trend in the future. This paper constructs an evaluation index of the intervention effect of cognitive hypnotherapy on anxiety patients, and then uses neural network to evaluate its effect. At last, we have completed the following work: 1) This paper constructs the theoretical basis related to this topic after searching and sorting out the related literature on anxiety disorders and hypnotherapy at home and abroad. 2) This paper constructs the evaluation index system of the intervention effect of cognitive hypnotherapy on anxiety patients, and then introduces the basic principle and structure of DBN model. 3) Experiments are used to determine the best values for the DBN model's parameters. To accomplish this, you will need to input the experimental data into the trained model and compare the evaluation results from experts with the model's predictions. The experimental findings of this study demonstrate the great accuracy of the DBN model presented in this work for assessing the effectiveness of cognitive combination hypnotherapy for anxiety disorders.

Mapping the potential distribution of the schistosomiasis intermediate host Biomphalaria straminea in China.

Biomphalaria straminea is native to Brazil but has established a population in Guangdong Province, China. Its potential of expanding and transmitting Schistosoma mansoni is of great concern. We seek to map S. mansoni transmission potential by predicting ecological dimensions and potential distributions of B. straminea using state-of-the-art ecological niche model approaches. Two environmental datasets were selected to fit individual and ensemble niche models, together with the evaluation of niche conservatism during B. straminea invasion in China. A small area is still occupied by the introduced population compared to that in Brazil. A vast space with suitable climate remains unfilled and might be available to B. straminea. Contrasting results of niche conservatism evaluation were attained based on the two environmental datasets. The coastal areas in southern China, together with south-western Yunnan and southern Hainan and Taiwan were consistent supported by multiple model approaches, showing high climate suitability for B. straminea. Attention should be paid to the possibility of S. mansoni epidemic in these identified areas, as high pressure due to propagation and future climate change may further complicate conditions. Our results call for rigorous monitoring and supervising along these areas in China.

Insights into the evolution of pathogenicity of Escherichia coli from genomic analysis of intestinal E. coli of Marmota himalayana in Qinghai-Tibet plateau of China.

Escherichia coli is both of a widespread harmless gut commensal and a versatile pathogen of humans. Domestic animals are a well-known reservoir for pathogenic E. coli. However, studies of E. coli populations from wild animals that have been separated from human activities had been very limited. Here we obtained 580 isolates from intestinal contents of 116 wild Marmot Marmota himalayana from Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China, with five isolates per animal. We selected 125 (hereinafter referred to as strains) from the 580 isolates for genome sequencing, based on unique pulse field gel electrophoresis patterns and at least one isolate per animal. Whole genome sequence analysis revealed that all 125 strains carried at least one and the majority (79.2%) carried multiple virulence genes based on the analysis of 22 selected virulence genes. In particular, the majority of the strains carried virulence genes from different pathovars as potential 'hybrid pathogens'. The alleles of eight virulence genes from the Marmot E. coli were found to have diverged earlier than all known alleles from human and other animal E. coli. Phylogenetic analysis of the 125 Marmot E. coli genomes and 355 genomes selected from 1622 human and other E. coli strains identified two new phylogroups, G and H, both of which diverged earlier than the other phylogroups. Eight of the 12 well-known pathogenic E. coli lineages were found to share a most recent common ancestor with one or more Marmot E. coli strains. Our results suggested that the intestinal E. coli of the Marmots contained a diverse virulence gene pool and is potentially pathogenic to humans. These findings provided a new understanding of the evolutionary origin of pathogenic E. coli.

Multiple Endonuclease Restriction Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification: A Novel Analytically Rapid, Sensitive, Multiplex Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Detection Technique.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is restricted to detecting a single target, limiting the usefulness of this method. To achieve multiplex LAMP-based detection, we developed a novel approach we called the multiple endonuclease restriction real-time-LAMP assay. In this system, the LAMP forward or backward inner primers contain 5' end short sequences that are recognized by the restriction endonuclease Nb.BsrDI, and the new forward or backward inner primers were modified at the 5' end with a fluorophore and in the middle with a dark quencher. Nb.BsrDI digests the newly synthesized double-stranded terminal sequences (5' end short sequences and their complementary sequences), which releases the quenching, resulting in a gain of signal. The assay permitted real-time detection of single or multiple target sequences in a single tube, and the positive results can be obtained in as short as 12 minutes. The novel methodology is highly efficient and specific, detecting down to 250 fg of DNA per reaction of Listeria DNA tested, and was successful in evaluating raw meat samples. The multiple endonuclease restriction real-time-LAMP technology, which is an extension of LAMP to accommodate robust, target-specific, and multiplex detection, provides a molecular diagnostic tool with less detection time and high sensitivity and specificity compared with those of LAMP and quantitative real-time PCR.

Characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from healthy pigs in China.

BACKGROUND: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is recognized as an important human diarrheal pathogen. Swine plays an important role as a carrier of this pathogen. In this study we determined the prevalence and characteristics of STEC from healthy swine collected between May 2011 and August 2012 from 3 cities/provinces in China. RESULTS: A total of 1003 samples, including 326 fecal, 351 small intestinal contents and 326 colon contents samples, was analyzed. Two hundred and fifty five samples were stx-positive by PCR and 93 STEC isolates were recovered from 62 stx-positive samples. Twelve O serogroups and 19 O:H serotypes including 6 serotypes (O100:H20/[H20], O143:H38/[H38], O87:H10, O172:H30/[H30], O159:H16, O9:H30/[H30]) rarely found in swine and ruminants were identified. All 93 STEC isolates harbored stx2 only, all of which were stx2e subtype including 1 isolate being a new variant of stx2e. 53.76%, 15.05% and 2.15% STEC isolates carried astA, hlyA and ehxA respectively. Four STEC isolates harbored the high-pathogenicity island. Of the 15 adherence-associated genes tested, 13 (eae, efa1, iha, lpfAO113, lpfAO157/OI-154, lpfAO157/OI-141, toxB, saa, F4, F5, F6, F17 or F41) were all absent while 2 (paa and F18) were present in 7 and 4 STEC isolates respectively. The majority of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline (79.57%), nalidixic acid (78.49%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (73.12%) and kanamycin (55.91%). The STEC isolates were divided into 63 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns and 21 sequence types (STs). Isolates of the same STs generally showed the same or similar drug resistance patterns. A higher proportion of STEC isolates from Chongqing showed multidrug resistance with one ST (ST3628) resistant to 14 antimicrobials. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that swine is a significant reservoir of STEC strains in China. Based on comparison by serotypes and sequence types with human strains and presence of virulence genes, the swine STEC may have a low potential to cause human disease.

[Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing on non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a database and to understand the molecular epidemiological features of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from different animal reservoirs and patients. METHODS: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed according to the PulseNet protocol with minor modifications. A dendrogram was constructed using the BioNumerics. RESULTS: Under the PulseNet protocol, 62 PFGE patterns were obtained from 76 non-O157 STEC isolates and then divided into A to M groups. Isolates from different sources were widely distributed in different groups, but were predominant seen in certain groups. CONCLUSION: The non-O157 STEC isolates in China were highly polymorphic. PulseNet protocol seemed to be suitable for the typing of Chinese non-O157 STEC isolates.

SNP genotyping of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates from China and genomic identity of the 1999 Xuzhou outbreak.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a well-known pathogen as a cause of diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis (HC), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been widely used to determine genetic relatedness and epidemiological relationship of O157:H7. Little is known of genetic diversity of Chinese O157:H7 isolates and their relationships with global isolates. The minimum sets of 32 SNPs each from Manning et al. and Clawson et al. were used to type 325 Chinese O157:H7 isolates. The 64 SNPs divided the Chinese O157:H7 isolates into 5 SNP genotypes (SG-1-SG-5). The most common SGs were SG-5 (79.69%) and SG-1 (14.46%). Human isolates concentrated in SG-1 and SG-5, and there is only 1 human isolates in SG-3. The 47 isolates in SG-1 were further divided by an additional SNP sourced from Xuzhou21 genome into 2 subtypes (SG-1.1 and SG-1.2). Strains in SG-1.1 caused the 1999 Xuzhou deadly outbreak. Our Chinese isolates have been found to belong to a limited number of SNP genotypes and are represented by distantly related clades in Manning et al. and lineages in Claswon et al., suggesting parallel spread of these SNP genotypes in China.

Emergence of a novel Shigella flexneri serotype 1d in China.

We report on the isolation of 5 Shigella flexneri strains displaying a novel serotype, 1d, that shares serologic features from both S. flexneri serotypes 1a and X. The 1d strains contained serotype-converting bacteriophages SfI and SfX in tandem on the chromosome. These strains were likely originated from serotype X strains through SfI infection.

Urinary rubidium in breast cancers.

BACKGROUND: Rubidium is a putative anticancer agent, but no studies have been performed on the association of rubidium levels in biospecimen with breast cancer risk and the potential as a biomarker of the risk assessment. METHODS: Survey data and urine specimens were collected from 240 women with incident invasive breast cancer before their treatments and 246 age-matched female controls between October 2009 and July 2010. Urinary concentrations of rubidium were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Creatinine-adjusted levels [median (25th, 75th) ug/g] of rubidium in cases [2253.01(1606.81, 3110.46)] were significantly lower than that in the controls [2921.85 (2367.94, 4142.04)]. After adjustment for potential risk factors of breast cancer, women in the second and highest tertile decreased risk of breast cancer in a dose-dependent manner as compared with those in the lowest tertile [ORs and 95% CIs were 0.45 (0.27-0.73) and 0.22 (0.13-0.38), respectively]. The area under the receive-operating-characteristic curve for urinary rubidium level was 0.697 (95% CI: 0.650-0.743). CONCLUSIONS: The urinary levels of rubidium were significantly and inversely associated with risk of breast cancer and had potential to be a biomarker for breast cancer risk assessment.