Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) promote water and mineral nutrients uptake by plant roots, which can reduce the chemical fertilizer inputs in crop production. To gain better insight into the ...comparative effect of different strains of AMF in improving tomato performance at morphological and physiological levels, seedlings of two tomato cultivars (i.e., Better Boy and Roma) were inoculated with four strains of
Glomus mosseae
(i.e.,
HS 1–2
,
BEG 12
,
BEG 55
, and
BEG 54
) under greenhouse conditions. Results showed that tomato growth and yield varied largely depending on the mycorrhizal strain and tomato cultivar, with wide variations in root colonization ranging from 5.30 to 78.63%. Overall, mycorrhization with
BEG 54
showed significantly better tomato performance when compared to the
BEG 55, HS 1–2
and
BEG 12
strains. In the case of cultivars, Better Boy performed better than Roma cultivar in terms of growth, physiological traits, yield, and fruit quality. The highest plant height, dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, AMF colonization, yield, fruit juice, ascorbic acid, and titratable acidity contents were recorded in Better Boy cultivar while the highest stem diameter was found in Roma cultivar. Taken together, AMF colonization suggested a promising approach for large-scale tomato production by efficient absorption and utilization of nutrients, and encouraging plants’ symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms.
In view of palladium contaminants and their adverse effects on human health, it is valuable to develop an effective probe for palladium. In this work, a coumarin-based colorimetric and turn-on ...fluorescent probe, Cou-1, for highly selective and sensitive detection of palladium was designed based on the Tsuji–Trost allylic reaction. Upon the addition of palladium to the solution of probe, the probe gave an emission peak at around 498 nm as well as displayed a selective chromogenic behavior toward palladium from colorless to yellow-green, which could be easily observed by the naked eye. Moreover, compared with typical transition metal cations and other common cations used, Cou-1 showed great selectivity toward palladium. Further, the detection limit toward palladium was calculated to be as low as 17.4 nM.
Display omitted A coumarin-based colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent probe, for highly selective and sensitive detection of palladium was designed based on the Tsuji–Trost allylic reaction. The detection limit toward palladium is calculated to be as low as 17.4 nM.
Approximately 10% of monogenic diseases are caused by nonsense point mutations that generate premature termination codons (PTCs), resulting in a truncated protein and nonsense-mediated decay of the ...mutant mRNAs. Here, we demonstrate a mini-dCas13X-mediated RNA adenine base editing (mxABE) strategy to treat nonsense mutation-related monogenic diseases via A-to-G editing in a genetically humanized mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Initially, we identified a nonsense point mutation (c.4174C>T, p.Gln1392*) in the DMD gene of a patient and validated its pathogenicity in humanized mice. In this model, mxABE packaged in a single adeno-associated virus (AAV) reached A-to-G editing rates up to 84% in vivo, at least 20-fold greater than rates reported in previous studies using other RNA editing modalities. Furthermore, mxABE restored robust expression of dystrophin protein to over 50% of WT levels by enabling PTC read-through in multiple muscle tissues. Importantly, systemic delivery of mxABE by AAV also rescued dystrophin expression to averages of 37%, 6%, and 54% of WT levels in the diaphragm, tibialis anterior, and heart muscle, respectively, as well as rescued muscle function. Our data strongly suggest that mxABE-based strategies may be a viable new treatment modality for DMD and other monogenic diseases.
To assess the effects of a novel mass media intervention in increasing media reports on salt and health by involving media reporters in a scientifically well designed salt reduction trial. We ...recruited and trained 66 media reporters in Changzhi, Shanxi province, China to conduct a randomized controlled trial on blood pressure lowering effect of salt substitute in Dec, 2012 and Jan 2013 among their own relatives or friends (253 from 129 families in the salt substitute arm and 263 from 133 families in the control arm for two months). We shared trial results and other information on salt and health with the reporters within a month after the trial. We monitored all local newspapers for the number of relevant articles in 3 months before, 3 months during and 3 months after the intervention and at the 6.sup.th, 12.sup.th, 18.sup.th, 24.sup.th and 48.sup.th months after the intervention. Additionally, we conducted two independent surveys on knowledge, belief and behaviours of salt and health among local citizens before and after the intervention. As expected, systolic blood pressure was reduced significantly more in the salt substitute than the control group (-4.7±11.0 mmHg vs -2.6±10.3 mmHg, p<0.001) in the randomized trial. The monthly mean number of relevant articles increased from 0.7 before to 1.7 during (p = 0.263), and further to 6.0 after the intervention (p<0.001), and varied from 2 (p = 0.170) to 4 (p = 0.008) from the 6.sup.th to 48.sup.th month; the awareness of knowledge on salt and health among local citizens improved significantly after the intervention. Media reporters' participation in a well-designed salt reduction trial significantly increased the number of relevant media reports, and the effect was sustained for a prolonged period. Future mass media public health education programs should consider this innovative strategy for better and sustained impacts.
Phytohormone ABA regulates the expression of numerous genes to significantly affect seed dormancy, seed germination and early seedling responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the function ...of many ABA-responsive genes remains largely unknown. In order to improve the ABA-related signaling network, we conducted a large-scale ABA phenotype screening. LSH, an important transcription factor family, extensively participates in seedling development and floral organogenesis in plants, but whether its family genes are involved in the ABA signaling pathway has not been reported. Here we describe a new function of the transcription factor LSH8 in an ABA signaling pathway. In this study, we found that LSH8 was localized in the nucleus, and the expression level of LSH8 was significantly induced by exogenous ABA at the transcription level and protein level. Meanwhile, seed germination and root length measurements revealed that lsh8 mutant lines were ABA insensitive, whereas LSH8 overexpression lines showed an ABA-hypersensitive phenotype. With further TMT labeling quantitative proteomic analysis, we found that under ABA treatment, ABA-responsive proteins (ARPs) in the lsh8 mutant presented different changing patterns with those in wild-type Col4. Additionally, the number of ARPs contained in the lsh8 mutant was 397, six times the number in wild-type Col4. In addition, qPCR analysis found that under ABA treatment, LSH8 positively mediated the expression of downstream ABA-related genes of ABI3, ABI5, RD29B and RAB18. These results indicate that in Arabidopsis, LSH8 is a novel ABA regulator that could specifically change the expression pattern of APRs to positively mediate ABA responses.
In China, a rapid expansion of Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks has occurred since 2004 and HFMD has become an important issue for China. However, people are still only concerned with ...human enterovirus 71(HEV-71) and coxsackie virus A16 (CV-A16). Much of what is known about the other enterovirus infections relies on fractional evidence and old epidemic data, with little knowledge concerning their distribution. To alert potential threatens of the other enteroviruses, our study genetically characterized specimens from different regions of China and yielded novel information concerning the circulating and phylogenetic characteristics of enteroviral strains from HFMD cases.
A total of 301 clinical throat swabs were randomly obtained from patients suffering from HFMD from the southern, northern and central regions of China during outbreaks in 2009. 266 of 301 (88.4%) HFMD cases were found positive for HEV and seven genotypes, HEV-71, CV-A16, -B5, -A4, -A6, -A10, and -A12, were detected.
The HFMD pathogen compositions in the different regions of China were significantly different. HFMD epidemics might persist for a long time in China due to the multiple pathogen compositions, the enteroviral characteristic of recombination and co-infection, the ever-increasing travel and migration and the deficiency of effective vaccine. Our study deserves the attention on HFMD control and vaccine development.
The FokI catalytic domain can be fused to various DNA binding architectures to improve the precision of genome editing tools. However, evaluation of off-target effects is essential for developing ...these tools. We use Genome-wide Off-target analysis by Two-cell embryo Injection (GOTI) to detect low-frequency off-target editing events in mouse embryos injected with FokI-based architectures. Specifically, we test FokI-heterodimers fused with TALENs, FokI homodimers fused with RYdCas9, or FokI catalytic domains alone resulting in no significant off-target effects. These FokI genome editing systems exhibit undetectable off-target effects in mouse embryos, supporting the further development of these systems for clinical applications.
Background Mammographic density (MD) is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. We aimed to evaluate the association between MD and breast cancer related risk factors among average-risk women in ...rural China. Methods This is a population-based screening study. 12518 women aged 45-64 years with complete MD data from three maternal and childcare hospitals in China were included in the final analysis. ORs and 95%CIs were estimated using generalized logit model by comparing each higher MD (BI-RADS b, c, d) to the lowest group (BI-RADS a). The cumulative logistic regression model was used to estimate the OR.sub.trend (95%CI) and P.sub.trend by treating MD as an ordinal variable. Results Older age (OR.sub.trend = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.79-0.81, per 2-year increase), higher BMI (OR.sub.trend = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.71-0.75, per 2 kg/m2), more births (OR.sub.trend = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.41-0.54, 3 + vs. 0-1), postmenopausal status (OR.sub.trend = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.38-0.46) were associated with lower MD. For parous women, longer duration of breastfeeding was found to be associated with higher MD when adjusting for study site, age, BMI, and age of first full-term birth (OR.sub.trend = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.27-1.85, 25 + months vs. no breastfeeding; OR.sub.trend = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.20-1.75, 19-24 months vs. no breastfeeding), however, the association became non-significant when adjusting all covariates. Associations between examined risk factors and MD were similar in premenopausal and postmenopausal women except for level of education and oral hormone drug usage. Higher education was only found to be associated with an increased proportion of dense breasts in postmenopausal women (OR.sub.trend = 1.08, 95%CI: 1.02-1.15). Premenopausal women who ever used oral hormone drug were less likely to have dense breasts, though the difference was marginally significant (OR = 0.54, P = 0.045). In postmenopausal women, we also found the proportion of dense breasts increased with age at menopause (OR.sub.trend = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.21-1.43). Conclusions In Chinese women with average risk for breast cancer, we found MD was associated with age, BMI, menopausal status, lactation, and age at menopausal. This finding may help to understand the etiology of breast cancer and have implications for breast cancer prevention in China. Keywords: Mammographic density, Risk factor, Breast cancer
Abstract Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affecting 1 in 3500–5000 live male newborns is the frequently fatal genetic disease resulted from various mutations in DMD gene encoding dystrophin protein. ...About 70% of DMD-causing mutations are exon deletion leading to frameshift of open reading frame and dystrophin deficiency. To facilitate translating human DMD-targeting CRISPR therapeutics into patients, we herein establish a genetically humanized mouse model of DMD by replacing exon 50 and 51 of mouse Dmd gene with human exon 50 sequence. This humanized mouse model recapitulats patient’s DMD phenotypes of dystrophin deficiency and muscle dysfunction. Furthermore, we target splicing sites in human exon 50 with adenine base editor to induce exon skipping and robustly restored dystrophin expression in heart, tibialis anterior and diaphragm muscles. Importantly, systemic delivery of base editor via adeno-associated virus in the humanized male mouse model improves the muscle function of DMD mice to the similar level of wildtype ones, indicating the therapeutic efficacy of base editing strategy in treating most of DMD types with exon deletion or point mutations via exon-skipping induction.
Pannexin 2 (Panx2) is a large-pore ATP-permeable channel with critical roles in various physiological processes, such as the inflammatory response, energy production and apoptosis. Its dysfunction is ...related to numerous pathological conditions including ischemic brain injury, glioma and glioblastoma multiforme. However, the working mechanism of Panx2 remains unclear. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of human Panx2 at a resolution of 3.4 Å. Panx2 structure assembles as a heptamer, forming an exceptionally wide channel pore across the transmembrane and intracellular domains, which is compatible with ATP permeation. Comparing Panx2 with Panx1 structures in different states reveals that the Panx2 structure corresponds to an open channel state. A ring of seven arginine residues located at the extracellular entrance forms the narrowest site of the channel, which serves as the critical molecular filter controlling the permeation of substrate molecules. This is further verified by molecular dynamics simulations and ATP release assays. Our studies reveal the architecture of the Panx2 channel and provide insights into the molecular mechanism of its channel gating.
PDF
