生物炭对Bt Cry1Ac蛋白抗紫外能力影响

为了研究生物炭对紫外线的防护作用，以豆壳烧制的生物炭作为载体，研究生物炭对Bt Cry1Ac蛋白的吸附行为以及生物炭对Cry1Ac蛋白的紫外保护作用。使用扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X-射线粉末衍射以及傅立叶红外光谱等手段对生物炭的形貌和结构进行表征。结果表明，生物炭是典型的多孔结构材料，表面具有丰富的官能团。Cry1Ac蛋白与生物炭吸附平衡时间为50 min，最合适的吸附浓度比（生物炭：蛋白）为1：100，二者吸附符合准二级动力学模型和Langmuir模型。在UVB紫外照射4 h后，生物炭与Cry1Ac蛋白复合物对棉铃虫的生物活性是单纯蛋白的4.93倍，显示生物炭具有较好的紫外抵抗效果。研究结果初步表明，制备得到的生物炭能够显著提高Cry1Ac蛋白的抗紫外能力，为后续研发耐受紫外线的农药剂型提供新材料。     

Movement and survival of corn rootworm in seed mixtures of SmartStax® insect-protected corn

SmartStax^® insect-protected corn (Zea mays L.) contains genes for six Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins controlling both lepidopteran pests and the corn rootworm complex (Diabrotica spp.). The properties of SmartStax, particularly the multiple effective modes of action (i.e., each Bt protein provides a high level of control of the target pests with a low probability of cross-resistance among the proteins), have provided the opportunity to add to previously approved structured refuge options by combining the non-Bt refuge seed with SmartStax seed in a seed mix. Seed mixes ensure that a refuge is present in every Bt field, remove concerns about grower compliance with refuge requirements, and provide grower convenience. However, seed mixes could increase the likelihood that larval insects move between Bt and non-Bt plants and vice versa. Assessing the insect resistance management (IRM) value of a seed mix refuge requires an assessment of the amount of larval movement, and the consequences of that movement, for the key target pests. The studies here present such data for control of corn rootworm by SmartStax corn, which contains the rootworm-active protein Cry3Bb1 and the binary protein Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1. In a growth chamber experiment, SmartStax was most effective against first instars and significantly effective against second instars, but did not control third instars. In a field study of movement from a heavily infested non-Bt plant onto surrounding plants, a larger percentage of insects successfully dispersed from the infested plant when the surrounding plants were non-Bt plants than when they were SmartStax plants. A paired-plant study showed that few larvae migrated from infested SmartStax plants and survived on nearby non-Bt plants; larvae that migrated from infested non-Bt plants had low survival if the adjacent plants were SmartStax. Replicated field studies of plant-to-plant movement indicated that the non-Bt plants in a 5% or 10% seed mix consistently supported large populations of susceptible insects and represented a productive refuge, whereas the SmartStax plants had few or no survivors. The timing of emergence from seed mix plots containing 5% or 10% non-Bt plants was more similar to that of the non-Bt plots than that of the SmartStax plots. Thus, the available growth chamber and field data indicate that a seed mix of 5% or more will provide an effective refuge for corn rootworm in SmartStax corn.     

对草地贪夜蛾高毒力的苏云金芽胞杆菌菌株筛选与杀虫活性研究

草地贪夜蛾是一种世界性重大农业害虫，给玉米等多种主要粮食和经济作物造成严重危害。为实现对草地贪夜蛾的高效、绿色、持续防控，亟需筛选高毒力苏云金芽胞杆菌菌株资源。本研究以前期实验室储备的对斜纹夜蛾、小地老虎具有杀虫活性的363株野生菌株库为候选菌株，基于菌株杀虫基因差异及进化关系，去除冗余菌株后获得172株候选菌株。通过培养获取这些菌株胞晶混合物，进行杀虫蛋白定量后，测定杀虫活性，获得27株对草地贪夜蛾初孵幼虫具有较高杀虫活性的菌株，其中菌株B14-D2的杀虫活性最高，LC₅₀为0.155 μg/g。克隆了该菌株中的cry1Ea3基因并在HD73^-无晶体突变株中表达，Cry1Ea3蛋白对草地贪夜蛾初孵幼虫LC₅₀为1.789 μg/g。本研究为新的Bt产品和杀虫基因的开发利用提供了丰富资源。     

棉铃虫 JNKs 基因的克隆及表达分析

c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK)是MAPK家族(mitogen-activated protein kinases, 丝裂原活化蛋白激酶)的重要成员, 具有参与昆虫抗逆反应等多种功能。为明确JNK在棉铃虫 Helicoverpa armigera 中的表达特性及其对Bt杀虫蛋白的应激与免疫反应, 本研究通过PCR克隆得到2个棉铃虫 JNK 基因 HaJNK1 和 HaJNK2; 生物信息学分析结果显示: HaJNK1和 HaJNK2基因开放阅读框分别为1 191、1 143 bp, 分别编码397、381个氨基酸。系统进化树分析结果表明棉铃虫 HaJNK1 与黏虫 Mythimna separata 聚为一支, 亲缘关系较近, HaJNK2与 家蚕 Bombyx mori 聚为一支, 同源性较高。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析 HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 在棉铃虫不同发育时期、不同组织中的表达量, 发现 HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 在卵中表达量最高, 其次是雌成虫; HaJNK1 在性腺中表达量最高, 其次是唾液腺; HaJNK2 在头部表达量最高, 其次是性腺。取食Cry1Ac的4龄棉铃虫幼虫的中肠组织中, HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 的表达量均显著升高。推测 HaJNKs 基因可能参与棉铃虫抵御Bt杀虫蛋白伤害的应激和抗逆反应。     

The protoxin Cry1Ac of Bacillus thuringiensis improves the protection conferred by intranasal immunization with Brucella abortus RB51 in a mouse model

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease affecting many people and animals worldwide. Preventing this infection requires improving vaccination strategies. The protoxin Cry1Ac of Bacillus thuringiensis is an adjuvant that, in addition to increasing the immunogenicity of different antigens, has shown to be protective in different models of parasitic infections. The objective of the present study was to test whether the intranasal co-administration of pCry1Ac with the RB51 vaccine strain of Brucella abortus confers protection against an intranasal challenge with the virulent strain B. abortus 2308 in BALB/c mice. The results showed that co-administration of pCry1Ac and RB51, increased the immunoprotection conferred by the vaccine as evidenced by the following: (1) decrease of the splenic bacterial load when challenged intranasally with the virulent strain; (2) greater in vivo cytotoxic activity in response to the transference of previously infected cells; (3) further proliferation of cytotoxic TCD8+ cells in response to stimulation with heat-inactivated bacteria; (4) increased production of TNF-α and IFN-γ; and (5) significant IgG2a response. These results indicate that the use of the Cry1Ac protein as a mucosal adjuvant via the intranasal route can be a promising alternative for improving current RB51 vaccine against brucellosis.     

Dynamics of Bt cotton Cry1Ac protein content under an alternating high temperature regime and effects on nitrogen metabolism

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of alternating high temperature on Cry1Ac protein content on Bt cotton cultivars Sikang 1(SK-1,a conventional cultivar)and Sikang 3(SK-3,a hybrid cultivar).In 2011 and 2012,cotton plants were subjected to high temperature treatments ranging from 32 to 40℃ in climate chambers to investigate the effects of high temperature on boll shell insecticidal protein expression.The experiments showed that significant decline of the boll shell insecticidal protein was detected at temperatures higher than 38℃ after 24 h.Based on the results,the cotton plants were treated with the threshold temperature of 38℃ from 6:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m.followed by a normal temperature of 27℃ during the remaining night hours(DH/NN)in 2012 and 2013.These treatments were conducted at peak boll growth stage for both cultivars in study periods of 0,4,7,and 10 d.Temperature treatment of 32℃ from 6:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m.and 27℃ in the remaining hours was set as control.The results showed that,compared with the control,after the DH/NN stress treatment applied for 7 d,the boll shell Cry1Ac protein content level was significantly decreased by 19.1 and 17.5% for SK-1 and by 15.3 and 13.7% for SK-3 in 2012 and 2013,respectively.Further analysis of nitrogen metabolic physiology under DH/NN showed that the soluble protein content and the glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT)activities decreased slightly after 4 d,and then decreased sharply after 7 d.The free amino acid content and the protease content increased sharply after 7 d.The changes in SK-1 were greater than those in SK-3.These results suggest that under DH/NN stress,boll shell Cry1Ac protein content decline was delayed.Reduced protein synthesis and increased protein degradation in the boll shell decreased protein content,including Bt protein,which may reduce resistance to the cotton bollworm.     

Field evaluation of insect-resistant transgenic Populus nigra trees

The performance of insect-resistant transgenic poplar trees (Populusnigra) expressing a Cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki HD-1 against poplar defoliators was evaluated in the field at the Manas Forest Station in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region during1994–1997. The results showed that the average percentage of highly damaged leaves on the transgenic trees was 10% while that on the control trees in nearby plantations reached 80–90%. The average number of pupae per m² of soil at 20cm depth in transgenic poplar plantation was 18 which was only 20% of that found in the non-transgenic control field. The number of pupae and the leaf-damage on transgenic trees described above are all far below the threshold set for chemical protection measures. The non-transformed poplar trees grown in the same plantation with the transgenic trees were also protected indicating that cross protection occurred between these two kinds of trees. Insect-resistant transgenic poplar trees have a potential application value in afforestation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.