Notch1 promotes renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in renal tissues of diabetic mice by inhibiting autophagy through Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

AIM: To observe the changes of Notch1 expression and autophagy in the renal tissues of diabetic mice, and to explore the regulatory effect of Notch1 on tubulointerstitial fibrosis by inhibiting autophagy in diabetic nephro-pathy. METHODS: The mice were randomly divided into normal control group (db/m mice) and diabetes group (db/db mice), with 8 rats in each group. After 12 weeks of feeding, the mice were sacrificed and the corresponding biochemical indexes were measured. The protein expression of Notch1 in the renal tubular epithelial cells was observed by immunohistochemical staining. The protein levels of Notch1, PTEN, p-Akt (Thr308), Akt, p-mTOR (Ser2448), mTOR, LC3, P62, collagen type Ⅰ (Col-Ⅰ) and collagen type Ⅲ (Col-Ⅲ) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the db/m mice, the blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum creatinine, triglyceride and total cholesterol were increased in the db/db mice (P<0.01). Renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolar degeneration, renal tubular expansion and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration in db/db mouse renal tissues with HE staining were observed. The images of Masson staining showed collagenous fiber-like substance deposition in the glomerular capillaries and renal interstitium, and disarrangement of tubular structure in the renal tissues of db/db mice. The protein expression levels of PTEN and LC3-Ⅱ were decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), while the protein levels of Notch1, P62, p-mTOR (Ser2448), p-Akt (Thr308), Col-I and Col-III were increased in the db/db mice as compared with the db/m mice (P<0.01). However, no significant change of total mTOR and Akt proteins between the 2 groups was found. CONCLUSION: Notch1 protein expression was increased, PTEN expression was significantly reduced, Akt/mTOR pathway was activated, autophagy was inhibited, and fibrosis was aggravated in the renal tissues of the diabetic mice.     

寨卡病毒SYBR GreenⅠreal-time PCR方法的建立及应用

为建立一种针对寨卡病毒的快速诊断方法,本研究根据寨卡病毒的3’端保守基因序列,设计合成1对引物,建立了检测寨卡病毒的荧光定量PCR方法。结果显示:所建立的检测方法的Ct值与标准品在1.41×10^1~1.41×10^10^ copies/μL具有良好的线性关系,相关性为1,斜率为-3.502;灵敏性结果显示,该方法的检测限度为1.41×10^1 copies/μL,是普通PCR的10000倍;特异性结果显示,对CHIKV、DENV和JEV无特异性扩增,特异性强;重复性试验结果显示,组内和组间变异系数均小于1%,重复性好。本研究建立的SYBR Green I real-time PCR检测方法,可用于寨卡病毒感染的快速诊断。     

农村电网配电台区智能化改造及系统建设

强调了加强农村电网配电台区智能化改造及系统建设的重要性，阐述了农村电网配电台区的构成情况。重点以某农村地区为例，提出并实施了相应改造措施，评价了改造效果。      

耕作方式及秸秆还田对土壤性质、微生物碳源代谢及小麦产量的影响

以小麦品种济麦22为试验材料,采用裂区试验设计,耕作方式为主区,分别设常规翻耕(C)、深松(S)、旋耕(R)处理,副区为秸秆还田量,分别设秸秆全还田(P)和秸秆不还田(A)处理,采用Biolog Eco技术测定土壤微生物碳源代谢功能,并分析土壤基本理化性质和作物产量。结果显示:深松与秸秆还田均有利于土壤含水量和有机碳含量的提高,0～15 cm土层分别提高了9.78%和24.00%,15～30 cm土层分别提高了7.08%和15.81%;深松提高了15～30 cm土层的pH值6.67%,秸秆还田提高了0～15 cm土层的pH值4.32%。深松和秸秆还田均有利于代谢多样性(丰富度指数、香浓多样性指数)、碳源代谢强度的提高,0～15 cm土层分别提高了26.84%、3.84%和38.02%,15～30 cm土层分别提高了11.87%、 3.63%和14.74%。主成分分析表明常规翻耕秸秆不还田和旋耕耕作秸秆不还田碳源代谢功能相近,15～30 cm层次内常规翻耕秸秆全还田碳源代谢功能和深松耕作秸秆全还田处理相近。深松和秸秆还田平均提高了小麦产量5.82%,微生物碳源代谢功能与小麦产量具有极显著的相关性。     

The M43 domain-containing metalloprotease RcMEP1 in Rhizoctonia cerealis is a pathogenicity factor during the fungus infection to wheat

Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) is an important staple crop for global human. The necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia cerealis is the causal pathogen of sharp eyespot, a devastating disease of wheat. Herein, we identified RcMEP1, a zinc metalloproteaseencoding gene from R. cerealis genomic sequences, and characterized its pathogenesis function. RcMEP1 expressed at markedly-high levels during R. cerealis infection process to wheat. The predicted protein RcMEP1 comprises of 287 amino acid residues and contains a signal peptide and a M43 metalloprotease domain harboring the active site motif(HEVGHWLGLYH). The assays of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves indicated that RcMEP1 is an apoplastic elicitor of cell death, and that the predicted signal peptide functions and is required for secretion and cell death-induction. The purified RcMEP1 protein and its M43 domain peptide were individually able to induce plant cell death and H2 O2 accumulation, and to inhibit expression of host chitinases when infiltrated into wheat and N. benthamiana leaves, while the M43 domain-deleting peptide and negative control lacked the capacity. Moreover, compared with the control pretreatment, the purified RcMEP1 protein or its M43-domain peptide resulted in enhanced pathogenesis in the inoculated wheat, whereas the M43 domain-deleting peptide failed. These results suggest that RcMEP1 acted as an important pathogenicity factor during R. cerealis infection to wheat and that its signal peptide and M43 domain are required for the secretion and pathogenesis of RcMEP1. This study provides insights into pathogenesis role of M43 domain-containing metalloproteases during R. cerealis infection to wheat.     

Protective efficacy of an H5/H7 trivalent inactivated vaccine produced from Re-11, Re-12, and H7-Re2 strains against challenge with different H5 and H7 viruses in chickens

We developed an H5/H7 trivalent inactivated vaccine by using Re-11, Re-12, and H7-Re2 vaccine seed viruses, which were generated by reverse genetics and derived their HA genes from A/duck/Guizhou/S4184/2017(H5 N6)(DK/GZ/S4184/17)(a clade 2.3.4.4 d virus), A/chicken/Liaoning/SD007/2017(H5 N1)(CK/LN/SD007/17)(a clade 2.3.2.1 d virus), and A/chicken/Guangxi/SD098/2017(H7 N9)(CK/GX/SD098/17), respectively. The protective efficacy of this novel vaccine and that of the recently used H5/H7 bivalent inactivated vaccine against different H5 and H7 N9 viruses was evaluated in chickens. We found that the H5/H7 bivalent vaccine provided solid protection against the H7 N9 virus CK/GX/SD098/17, but only 50–60% protection against different H5 viruses. In contrast, the novel H5/H7 trivalent vaccine provided complete protection against the H5 and H7 viruses tested. Our study underscores the importance of timely updating of vaccines for avian influenza control.     

Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

香蕉与B基因组相关的SCAR标记研究

香蕉(Musa L.)是由2个二倍体野生种Musa acuminata Colla(AA基因型)和Musa balbisiana Colla(BB基因型)种内或种间杂交进化而来,其B基因组中带有重要的优良基因。利用与香蕉B基因组相关的gypsy-IRAP分子标记,成功开发了一对SCAR引物,适用于鉴定尖叶蕉(AAw)、长梗蕉(BB)、香牙蕉(AAA)、贡蕉(AAcv)、大蕉、粉蕉(ABB)、粉大蕉(ABB)、龙牙蕉(AAB)以及四倍体香蕉(AAAB)等是否含有B基因组。     

纵横刀组协同式马铃薯种薯切块装置设计与试验

针对马铃薯种薯切块机械化程度低的问题,设计了一种纵横刀组协同式马铃薯种薯切块装置,对其关键部件进行设计,通过对马铃薯种薯切割过程的力学分析、运动学分析和能量学分析,建立了切种能量的数学模型,确定了影响马铃薯切种效果的主要因素。以切种效率、切种合格率为评价指标,以圆盘刀半径、输送辊与圆盘刀垂直中心距、圆盘刀轴转速和夹持辊轴转速为试验因素,进行了四因素四水平正交试验。对正交试验结果进行方差和极差分析,结果表明:当圆盘刀半径为180 mm、输送辊与圆盘刀垂直中心距为190 mm、圆盘刀轴转速为115 r/min、夹持辊轴转速为56 r/min时,切种效率为74.5 kg/min,切种合格率为98.8%,满足马铃薯切种作业要求。