Identification of novel juvenile-hormone signaling activators via high-throughput screening with a chemical library

Juvenile hormone (JH) is an insect-specific hormone that regulates molting and metamorphosis. Hence, JH signaling inhibitors (JHSIs) and activators (JHSAs) can be used as effective insect growth regulators (IGRs) for pest management. In our previous study, we established a high-throughput screening (HTS) system for exploration of novel JHSIs and JHSAs using a Bombyx mori cell line (BmN_JF&AR cells) and succeeded in identifying novel JHSIs from a chemical library. Here, we searched for novel JHSAs using this system. The four-step HTS yielded 10 compounds as candidate JHSAs; some of these compounds showed novel basic structures, whereas the others were composed of a 4-phenoxyphenoxymethyl skeleton, the basic structure of several existing JH analogs (pyriproxyfen and fenoxycarb). Topical application of seven compounds to B. mori larvae significantly prolonged the larval period, suggesting that the identified JHSAs may be promising IGRs targeting the JH signaling pathway.     

桉树不同成熟度叶片营养元素内循环特征

揭示桉树人工林不同成熟度的叶片器官所需营养元素变化以及土壤肥力对其影响,对于桉树营林和科学施肥具有重要的生产指导意义。选取广西隆安县小林镇和田东县思林镇的桉树2代萌芽林作为研究对象,测定两个人工林嫩叶、成熟叶、黄叶的C、N、P、K、B、Ca、Mg以及土壤C、N、P、K、Ca、Mg元素含量,并进行相关分析。结果表明,植物叶片的N、P、K、Mg营养元素转移规律是黄叶向成熟叶和嫩叶转移,但C、Ca、B营养元素则是随着叶片的生长发育逐渐积累,黄叶中含量最高,说明施肥时应关注Ca、B元素的持续和有效供给。两片人工林都表现出类似的规律,说明土壤肥力的差异不影响桉树人工林叶片营养元素的内循环规律。桉树嫩叶营养元素含量及其生态化学计量比学特征具有与成熟叶和黄叶不同的表征,在营养物质研究中应予以足够重视。     

New ways and new hopes for IGR development

Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) represent advanced, bio-rational insecticides. This Special Issue reflects progress in IGR development that has been enabled by insight into the molecular principles of biosynthetic or hormone signaling pathways. The unifying principle is aiming at processes and molecular targets that are unique to arthropods and ideally to narrower insect taxa representing pests or disease vectors. While some strategies of obtaining the desired compounds for chemical intervention rely on rational, structure-based design or computational power, others exploit technologies allowing automated, high-throughput screening of large chemical libraries. All avenues leading to selective and environmentally safe pest control are valid as we face the imminent threat of the declining world insect population.     

Met基因在黏虫生殖中的功能分析

保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)是由咽侧体分泌的倍半萜类化合物,可以调控昆虫的很多生理过程,如发育、变态、生殖等。作为bHLH-PAS(helix-loop-helix-Per-ARNT-Sim)转录因子家族成员之一的methoprene-tolerant (Met)是JH的受体,在JH的信号传导过程中有非常重要的作用。本研究通过实时荧光定量PCR结合RNAi技术测定了沉默Met基因后黏虫Mythimna separata的Vg基因表达、卵巢发育和生殖行为,旨在探究Met基因在黏虫生殖过程中的功能。结果表明当Met基因沉默后,与卵巢发育密切相关的卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, Vg)基因表达量下调了50%,从而显著抑制了卵巢发育,并导致产卵显著延迟、产卵历期显著缩短,产卵量显著下降。结果表明Met基因是黏虫生殖发育过程中的关键受体基因,它通过调节后续Vg的表达和沉积,来达到控制卵巢发育,从而调控生殖作用。     

Differences in the effectiveness of reproduction among ten breeding strains of the common carp Cyprinus carpio L. after stimulation of ovulation with carp pituitary homogenate or [(D‐Ala6, Pro9NEt) mGnRH‐a + metoclopramide] (Ovopel)

This study focused on the reproduction effectiveness of 10 breeding strains of common carp (Polish strains 2, 3, 6; Hungarian strains 0, W, 7; Lithuanian strain B; French strain F; Israeli strain D and Yugoslavian strain J) after stimulation of ovulation with carp pituitary homogenate or Ovopel. The percentage of females with recorded ovulation became higher after Ovopel treatment in as many as eight breeding strains (2, 3, 6, 0, W, B, F, D). The interaction between the spawning agent and the breeding strain was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) for the mass of spawn and non‐significant for traits determining the quality of eggs. Among the 10 breeding strains, in 4 (3, 7, B, J) the least‐squares means (LSM) for the weight of egg (g) were higher for fish stimulated with Ovopel. Among the strains tested, in seven (3, W, F, J, 2, 7, B), the LSM for the percentage of living embryos after 36 h incubation were higher for fish treated with Ovopel. The evaluation of reproduction effects based on the values of such parameters as the percentage of ovulating females, weight of eggs (g) and the percentage of live embryos (36 h) showed that after Ovopel treatment the poorer effects were obtained only for strains 6, 0 and D.     

Isolation of infectious microalga Prototheca wickerhamii from a carp (Cyprinus carpio) – a first confirmed case report of protothecosis in a fish

Protothecosis is a rare infection caused by environmentally ubiquitous achlorophyllic microalgae of the genus Prototheca. Here, we describe a first case of protothecosis in a carp (Cyprinus carpio), which is at the same time the first case of protothecosis in a fish, confirmed by phenotype‐ and molecular‐based methods, including PCR sequencing of the rDNA cluster and protein profiling using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry.     

射流式鱼泵输送草鱼的性能研究

为了分析射流式鱼泵输送草鱼的性能及其损伤因素,文章设计了一台喉管直径为60 mm的射流式鱼泵,开展了草鱼输送实验,并采用高速摄影和计算流体力学方法进行了研究。结果显示,该射流式鱼泵在扬程2.24m时最高草鱼输送能力达918 kg·h~(-1),其所需水功率为2.83 k W。进一步的检测表明,部分实验鱼有鳞片脱落的情况,但未出现游泳异常,解剖后也未发现内脏受损等情况;实验鱼在过泵后呼吸频率及部分血液指标存在明显变化,但在24 h内基本可以恢复。数值模拟和高速摄影方法分析得出,剪切层是造成实验鱼泵内鳞片脱落的主要原因,撞击伤是由内流偏转诱导实验鱼撞击泵内壁面产生的,包含压力梯度在内的水力因素都可能使实验鱼产生应激反应。但由于鱼类在泵内时间极短,上述因素都不会致实验鱼死亡。     

Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 as a potential biological control agent for carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Australia: susceptibility of non‐target species

Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) is a pest species in Australian waterways, and cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV‐3) is being considered as a potential biological control (biocontrol) agent. An important consideration for any such agent is its target specificity. In this study, the susceptibility to CyHV‐3 of a range of non‐target species (NTS) was tested. The NTS were as follows: 13 native Australian, and one introduced, fish species; a lamprey species; a crustacean; two native amphibian species (tadpole and mature stages); two native reptilian species; chickens; and laboratory mice. Animals were exposed to 100–1000 times the approximate minimum amount of CyHV‐3 required to cause disease in carp by intraperitoneal and/or bath challenge, and then examined clinically each day over the course of 28 days post‐challenge. There were no clinical signs, mortalities or histological evidence consistent with a viral infection in a wide taxonomic range of NTS. Furthermore, there was no molecular evidence of infection with CyHV‐3, and, in particular, all RT‐PCRs for viral mRNA were negative. As a consequence, the results encourage further investigation of CyHV‐3 as a potential biocontrol agent that is specific for carp.     

Effect of dietary phosphorus levels on growth and body composition of crucian carp,Carassius auratus under indoor and outdoor experiments

Indoor and outdoor experiments were carried out simultaneously to evaluate the effects of dietary phosphorus levels on growth performance and body composition of crucian carp. Monocalcium was used to formulate extruded feed containing available phosphorus (AP) of 1.5 (D1), 4.7 (D2), 6.3 (D3) and 9.0 (D4) g kg^?1. Twelve 500‐L recirculating tanks were assigned to four triplicate groups with each tank stocked with 15 juveniles (39.88 ± 0.14 g) for indoor experiment. Twelve polyethylene enclosures were assigned to four groups with each one stocked with 120 juveniles (44.08 ± 1.36 g). After 8 weeks of feeding, survival ranged from 96% to 100%. Weight gain, special growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion rate did not show significant differences among dietary treatments in both experiments. Fish cultured in the enclosures grew better, although D1 and D2 treatments did not reach significant level. Crude protein and phosphorus content of the fish were not significantly affected by dietary phosphorus level. Moisture, crude lipid, crude ash and vertebrae phosphorus were significantly affected by different phosphorus levels. Based on vertebrae phosphorus, crucian carp cultured in the tanks and in the enclosures showed phosphorus deficiency under 4.7 g kg^?1 and 6.3 g kg^?1 AP, respectively.     

幼龄期压砂地枸杞产量和品质多指标耦合灌溉制度优化

为提高宁夏中部干旱带幼龄期压砂地枸杞灌水效率,保障枸杞产量和品质,进行了3水平灌水定额(300、225 m~3·hm~(-2)和150 m~3·hm~(-2))的田间对比试验,采用综合指标增量最优方法对灌溉制度进行了优化。研究发现:枸杞5月上旬萌芽期耗水以土壤蒸发为主,日耗水量0.6～1.2 mm,6月中旬进入夏果花期耗水量增大,日耗水量2.5～3.7 mm,7月中旬枸杞夏果期耗水量继续增大,达2.4～4.3 mm,7月下旬日耗水量最大,为3.2～4.7 mm,8月中旬耗水量下降,日耗水量3.0～4.2 mm。灌水定额对枸杞产量影响显著(P0.05),灌水定额300 m~3·hm~(-2)时产量最高,为1 402.65 kg·hm~(-2);灌水定额225 m~3·hm~(-2)时枸杞多糖、β-胡萝卜素和黄酮较高,含量分别为4.56%、0.15%和0.41%;灌水定额150 m~3·hm~(-2)时枸杞甜菜碱含量较高,为0.77%。进一步通过综合指标增量最优方法进行优化,结果表明β-胡萝卜素含量最高时得到综合指标增量最大,为-5.4%,总耗水量为450 mm。枸杞夏果花期进入需水关键期,阶段耗水量达70 mm以上,进入6月中旬枸杞需水量增大,旬耗水量达29 mm以上。可见,幼龄期压砂地枸杞产量及品质指标均达到最优的耗水量较难获得,但是在β-胡萝卜素含量最高时可以获得产量和品质多指标耦合的最优耗水量,据此进行灌溉制度优化,可以一定程度上实现幼龄期压砂地枸杞优质高产。