SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE FAMILY GENES IN WATERMELON AND THEIR RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT ABIOTIC STRESSES

• A total of 8 SOD genes from watermelon were identified and bioinformatically analyzed. • The SOD proteins from watermelon and other different plant species can be classified into five groups consistent with their metal cofactors. • ClSOD genes exhibited distinctive tissue-specific and abiotic stress responsive expression patterns. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an important enzyme in the antioxidant system of plants and plays a vital role in stress responses by maintaining the dynamic balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations. Genome-wide analysis of the SOD gene family in various plant species has been conducted but little is known about this gene family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Here, eight SOD genes were identified in the watermelon genome and are designated ClCSD1-5, ClFSD1-2 and ClMSD according to their metal cofactors. Phylogenetic analysis shows that SOD proteins from various plant species can be classified into five groups and members in the same group possess the same metal cofactor and similar subcellular localizations. Expression analysis of the ClSOD genes indicates that they had tissue-specific expression patterns with high expression in different tissues including the leaves, flowers and fruit. In addition, the expression of ClSOD genes differed appreciably under salinity, drought and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments, indicating that they may be involved in ROS scavenging under different abiotic stresses via an ABA-dependent signaling pathway. These results lay the foundation for elucidating the function of ClSOD genes in stress tolerance and fruit development in watermelon.     

Two Complete Mitochondrial Genomes From Leuctridae (Plecoptera: Nemouroidea): Implications for the Phylogenetic Relationships Among Stoneflies

The family-level relationships within Plecoptera have been a focused area of research for a long time. Its higher classification remains unstable, and the phylogenetic relationships within Plecoptera should be re-examined. Here, we sequenced and analyzed two complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of Paraleuctra cercia and Perlomyia isobeae of the family Leuctridae. We reconstructed the phylogeny of Plecoptera based on 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) from published stoneflies. Our results showed that the Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood tree had similar topological structures except for the positions of two families, Peltoperlidae and Scopuridae. The Plecoptera is divided into two clades, the suborder Antarctoperlaria and the suborder Arctoperlaria. The two suborders subsequently formed two groups, Eusthenioidea and Gripopterygoidea, and Euholognatha and Systellognatha, which is consistent with the results of morphological studies. In addition, the Leuctridae is the earliest branch within the superfamily Nemouroidea. But the monophyly of Perloidea and Pteronarcyoidea are still not well supported.     

Life cycle inference and phylogeny of Ortholinea labracis n. sp. (Myxosporea: Ortholineidae), a parasite of the European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax (Teleostei: Moronidae), in a Portuguese fish farm

Ortholinea labracis n. sp. is described and its life cycle is inferred from a Southern Portuguese fish farm, with basis on microscopic and molecular procedures. This myxosporean parasite infects the urinary bladder of the European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax and the intestinal epithelium of a marine oligochaete of the genus Tectidrilus. Myxospores subspherical in valvular view and ellipsoidal in sutural view measuring 7.6 ± 0.3 (6.8–8.7) μm in length, 7.2 ± 0.2 (6.7–7.7) μm in width and 6.5 ± 0.4 (5.8–7.7) μm in thickness. Two polar capsules, 3.0 ± 0.2 (2.6–3.4) μm long and 2.4 ± 0.1 (2.0–2.9) μm wide, located at the same level, but with divergent orientation and opening to opposite sides of the suture line. Sequencing of the SSU rRNA gene revealed a similarity of 100% between the analysed myxospores and triactinomyxon actinospores. The phylogenetic setting of O. labracis n. sp. shows subgrouping in correlation with tissue tropism, but identifies this parasite as another exception to the main division of Myxosporea into the main freshwater and marine lineages.     

Hepatitis E virus in Cuba: A cross-sectional serological and virological study in pigs and people occupationally exposed to pigs

Surveillance of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in risk groups is an important strategy to monitor its circulation pattern and to timely detect changes thereof. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of HEV infections in pigs and humans from different regions of the country, to identify risk factors for increasing anti-HEV IgG prevalence and to characterize HEV strains. The presence of anti-HEV antibodies was assessed by commercial ELISA in serum samples from the general population, farm and slaughterhouse employees, as well as pigs sampled in the three regions of Cuba from February to September 2016. Overall, individuals with occupational exposure to swine or swine products (70/248, 28.2%) were 4 times more likely to be seropositive compared to the general population (25/285, 8.7%; OR: 4.18; p < .001). Within the risk group, risk factors included age, number of years working in a professional activity with direct exposure to swine, geographic region and distance between residence and closest professional swine setting, while wearing gloves had a protective effect. Prevalence of total anti-HEV antibodies in swine was 88.2% (165/187) and HEV RNA was detected by real-time RT-PCR in 9.2% (16/173) swine stools. All HEV strains sequenced clustered within genotype 3. Some strains clearly belonged to subtype 3a, while another group of strains was related with subtypes 3b and 3 k but partial HEV sequences did not allow unequivocal subtype assignment. These findings suggest that the high HEV exposure in Cuban individuals with swine-related occupations could be due to enzootic HEV in certain regions, direct contact with infectious animals or their products as well as environmental contamination.     

Presence and genetic variability of Piscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV‐1) in wild salmonids in Northern Europe and North Atlantic Ocean

Piscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV‐1) is widespread in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) populations in northern Europe, Canada and Chile. PRV‐1 occurs in wild fish in Norway and Canada; however, little information of its geographical distribution in wild populations is currently available, and the effect of PRV‐1 infection in wild populations is currently unknown. In this study, we present the findings of a survey conducted on 1,130 wild salmonids sampled in Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Faroe Islands, France, Belgium and Greenland between 2008 and 2017. PRV‐1 is reported for the first time in wild salmonids in Denmark, Sweden, Faroe Island and Ireland. The annual PRV‐1 prevalence ranged from 0% in France, Belgium and Greenland to 43% in Faroe Islands. In total, 66 samples tested positive for PRV‐1, including Atlantic salmon broodfish returning to spawn and Atlantic salmon collected at the feeding ground north of Faroe Islands. The phylogenetic analysis of S1 sequences of the PRV‐1 isolates obtained in this survey did not show systematic geographical distribution. This study sheds light on the spread and genetic diversity of the virus identified in populations of free‐living fish and provides rationale for screening wild broodfish used in restocking programmes.     

辣椒GRAS家族全基因组鉴定与表达分析

基于辣椒全基因组数据信息,利用生物信息学方法对CaGRAS基因家族进行了系统鉴定和进化分析,并通过Real-time PCR方法检测了CaGRAS家族组织表达模式和对PEG6000、盐胁迫的应答。结果表明:在辣椒中存在54个CaGRAS基因,除11号染色体外其余染色体均有分布,外显子数1~3,等电点4.97~9.13;系统进化分析显示CaGRAS基因可分为8个进化群;CaGRAS基因具有不同的表达模式,在根、茎、叶片和茎尖中优势表达的基因分别有34、8、3和8个;多数CaGRAS基因能响应PEG6000和盐胁迫,其中CaGRAS11、CaGRAS30、CaGRAS40、CaGRAS44和CaGRAS50受到PEG6000和盐胁迫的强烈诱导。本研究为深入解析CaGRAS家族基因的功能奠定了一定基础。     

Papaya yellow leaf curl virus: A newly identified begomovirus infecting Carica papaya L. from the Indian Subcontinent

India is one of the world’s largest producers of papaya. Viruses, mainly begomoviruses and potyviruses, cause a significant loss in papaya production. The study described here has identified a new species of begomovirus and a new species of betasatellite infecting Carica papaya in India. The sequences of the begomovirus and betasatellite show 90.03% nucleotide sequence identity to an isolate of Radish leaf curl virus and 92.25% identity to an isolate of Tomato leaf curl betasatellite, respectively. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of begomovirus sequence of isolate DP2 (KX353622) showed distant relationships with previously characterised begomoviruses. Recombination analysis proposed six recombination breakpoints in begomovirus genome with other geographical begomovirus isolates.     

波叶大黄白粉病病原菌的鉴定

正波叶大黄Rheum rhabarbarum L.隶属于蓼科Polygonaceae大黄属Rheum,是一种重要的药用植物。白粉病多发生在波叶大黄的叶部,会影响其光合作用进而降低其药用价值。据笔者统计,目前关于蓼白粉菌Erysiphe polygoni DC.在世界范围内的报道有很多~([1~9]),但其中关于蓼科Polygonaceae波叶大黄白粉病病原菌的报道较少,目前仅有1个     

牡丹5个管家基因的克隆及其在系统进化分析中的应用

利用RT-PCR技术从牡丹组7个野生种和1个栽培种中分别克隆得到泛素延伸蛋白基因(ubiquitin,UBI)、素环蛋白基因(cyclophilin,CYP)、肌动蛋白基因(Actin)、葡萄糖六磷酸脱氢酶基因(glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase,G6PD)和β–微管蛋白基因(beta-tubulin,TUB)等5个管家基因的编码序列(coding sequence,CDS)。序列比对分析发现,5个管家基因序列均相对保守,其在牡丹7个野生种和1个栽培种中的保守性在99.04%~99.69%。利用5个管家基因分别构建了其在牡丹组8份材料中的系统进化树。5个系统进化树均将8份材料分成两组,即革质花盘亚组和肉质花盘亚组;由于5个管家基因核苷酸序列各自的保守性不同,在区分亚组成员间略有差异。综合分析5个管家基因构建的系统进化树可知,杨山牡丹(Paeonia ostii)和栽培牡丹(P.suffruticosa‘Luoyanghong’)常聚为一支,二者亲缘关系较近,因而推测杨山牡丹可能参与了栽培牡丹的形成;紫斑牡丹(P.rockii)和四川牡丹(P.decomposita)一直聚为一支,推测二者亲缘关系较近;黄牡丹(P.lutea)和紫牡丹(P.delavayi)一直聚为一支,推测这二者亲缘关系较近。狭叶牡丹(P.potaninii)与黄牡丹和紫牡丹分化较早,结合前人研究结果建议将狭叶牡丹作为一个独立的种。     

Mitochondrial DNA Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms in Malus Species

Three apple (Malus×domestica) cultivars and 11 Malus accessions have been investigated by the probe hybridization method on their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The gene probes used were: coxI, coxII, atpA, atp6, and atp9. Our results revealed enough variation to characterize ten mtDNA haplotypes among the Malus genotypes examined. The taxonomic and phylogenetic implications of mtDNA polymorphism are also discussed.