A morphological analysis of the skull size and shape of Kerivoulinae (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Vietnam

Southeast Asia is a region of high biodiversity, containing species of plants and animals that are yet to be discovered. In this region, bats of the subfamily Kerivoulinae are widespread and diverse with six species recorded in Vietnam. However, the taxonomy of the Kerivoulinae in Asia is complicated. In our study, we used diagnostic characters and multivariate analysis to determine morphological differences between the genera Kerivoula and Phoniscus. We showed that the two genera are distinguishable by the size of second upper incisors, the shape of skull, nasal sinus, canines, second upper and lower premolars. In addition, the two genera can be osteometrically separated by measurements of the braincase height, interorbital width and shape of anterior palatal emargination. Our data clearly revealed the morphological variations in the skull shape of Kerivoula hardwickii in Vietnam. This suggests a possible separation into three morphotypes, representing cryptic species supported by statistical differences with wide variation in skull shape, size and teeth. These results demonstrated Kerivoula hardwickii can be separated three subspecies, and the result will serve as the basis for the future assessment and classification of this group in Southeast Asia.     

Prior infection with antigenically heterologous low pathogenic avian influenza viruses interferes with the lethality of the H5 highly pathogenic strain in domestic ducks

Low and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs and HPAIVs, respectively) have been co-circulating in poultry populations in Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries. In our avian-flu surveillance in Vietnamese domestic ducks, viral genes of LPAIV and HPAIV have been frequently detected in the same individual. To assess the influence of LPAIV on the pathogenicity of H5 HPAIV in domestic ducks, an experimental co-infection study was performed. One-week-old domestic ducks were inoculated intranasally and orally with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (control) or 10⁶ EID₅₀ of LPAIVs (A/duck/Vietnam/LBM678/2014 (H6N6) or A/Muscovy duck/Vietnam/LBM694/2014 (H9N2)). Seven days later, these ducks were inoculated with HPAIV (A/Muscovy duck/Vietnam/LBM808/2015 (H5N6)) in the same manner. The respective survival rates were 100% and 50% in ducks pre-infected with LBM694 or LBM678 strains and both higher than the survival of the control group (25%). The virus titers in oral/cloacal swabs of each LPAIV pre-inoculation group were significantly lower at 3–5 days post-HPAIV inoculation. Notably, almost no virus was detected in swabs from surviving individuals of the LBM678 pre-inoculation group. Antigenic cross-reactivity among the viruses was not observed in the neutralization test. These results suggest that pre-infection with LPAIV attenuates the pathogenicity of HPAIV in domestic ducks, which might be explained by innate and/or cell-mediated immunity induced by the initial infection with LPAIV.     

Neuroprotective Metabolites from Vietnamese Marine Derived Fungi of Aspergillus and Penicillium Genera

Low molecular weight secondary metabolites of marine fungi Aspergillus flocculosus, Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium sp. from Van Phong and Nha Trang Bays (Vietnam) were studied and a number of polyketides, bis-indole quinones and terpenoids were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. Stereochemistry of some compounds was established based on ECD data. A chemical structure of asterriquinone F (6) was thoroughly described for the first time. Anthraquinone (13) was firstly obtained from a natural source. Neuroprotective influences of the isolated compounds against 6-OHDA, paraquat and rotenone toxicity were investigated. 4-Hydroxyscytalone (1), 4-hydroxy-6-dehydroxyscytalone (2) and demethylcitreoviranol (3) have shown significant increasing of paraquat- and rotenone-treated Neuro-2a cell viability and anti-ROS activity.     

Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Vietnamese Soil Amended with Different Compost Types at High Temperature

This study aims to determine the effects of compost additions and high temperature on N₂O and CO₂ emissions from a Vietnamese agricultural soil. Soil samples amended with two compost types (commercial compost, SH and chicken compost, CC) at three rates of 1%, 2% and 4% w/w were aerobically incubated at 25°C, 30°C and 35°C for 28 days in the laboratory. N₂O and CO₂ emissions were determined on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Our results showed that N₂O and CO₂ emissions were significantly affected by temperature, compost additions, and their interactions. Greater N₂O and CO₂ emissions were seen in CC treatments than SH treatments. Higher application rates of CC led to greater N₂O and CO₂ emissions. In SH treatments, higher temperature lowered N₂O emissions but did not affect CO₂ emissions. N₂O and CO₂ emissions were enhanced with CC addition while they showed different responses to increasing temperature.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the CrDAT gene and selection of transgenic periwinkle lines with a high vincristine accumulation

Catharanthus roseus contains vincristine and vinblastine, which are outstanding drugs for cancer. In the biosynthetic pathways of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) in C. roseus, deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT) is a key enzyme that catalyses the last reaction of vindoline biosynthesis to form vinblastine and vincristine. In this study, the CrDAT transgene was transferred into the periwinkle by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and generated transgenic periwinkle lines with an increase in vincristine accumulation. The C. roseus DAT gene was introduced into C. roseus plants and it was confirmed that CrDAT was successfully transferred into the genome of periwinkle plants and efficiently translated to synthesise recombinant DAT protein. Four transgenic periwinkle lines in T1 generation, T1-1, T1-3, T1-6, and T1-7, expressed recombinant DAT protein with the total protein content in the range of 2.86 μg.mg^?1 to 5.12 μg.mg^?1. Moreover, the vincristine contents of four transgenic lines increased by 1.63?2.48-fold compared to non-transgenic plants, ranging from 6.91 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight) to 10.53 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight). The T1-1 line had the highest vincristine content. Hence, the overexpression of the recombinant DAT protein can improve the vincristine accumulation of transgenic C. roseus plants.

Abbreviation: CrDAT - Catharanthus roseus Deacetylvindoline-4-O-Acetyl Transferase; D4H - Deacetoxyvindoline 4-hydroxylase; ELISA - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Monoterpene indole alkaloid; T0, T1 - Generations of transgenic plants; TIAs - Terpenoid indole alkaloids; WT- The wild-type tobacco plants (non transgenic plant); 35S - Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter     

甜瓜属野生种Cucumis hystrix Chakr.胞质葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶基因的克隆与启动子结构分析

根据植物葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶(G6PDH,EC1.1.1.49)氨基酸保守区域,设计简并引物,采用RT-PCR技术克隆得到甜瓜属野生种Cucumis hystrix Chakr.(2n=24)G6PDH基因cDNA片段;随后基于该序列设计特异引物,PCR方法筛选野生种BAC文库,获得2个BAC阳性单克隆。测序后获得了G6PDH基因全序列及其上游启动子序列,GenBank登录号:JQ771576。序列分析显示:G6PDH基因全长约6.5 kb,由15个外显子和14个内含子组成;内含子序列均符合5’-gt-ag-3’结构。外显子拼接后获得了G6PDH基因的开放阅读框(ORF)序列,序列全长1 551 bp,编码516个氨基酸,与黄瓜基因组网站公布的G6PDH基因核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列同源性分别为98.71%和99.03%。野生种G6PDH氨基酸序列N端缺少转运肽序列,确定为野生种胞质G6PDH。氨基酸序列与烟草、马铃薯、荷兰芹、猕猴桃、拟南芥、大豆、小麦、玉米、葡萄、杨树等植物胞质G6PDH同源性高达77%以上。系统发育树分析发现,甜瓜属胞质G6PDH与茄科植物最先聚类,植物胞质G6PDH在分子进化水平上与物种进化相符。启动子结构分析表明:序列含有启动子基本元件TATA-box、CAAT-box,还含有丰富的光响应元件,与环境胁迫响应相关的不同顺式作用元件,促进高水平转录的5UTR Py-rich stretch元件和提高表达的CAT-box元件等。     

Quantification of DNA of citrus huanglongbing pathogen in diseased leaves using competitive PCR

A quantification system for huanglongbing pathogen using a competitive polymerase chain reaction method and image-analyzing software were developed to obtain precise results. Significant differences in the quantity of pathogen were thus determined in leaves of two citrus cultivars commonly cultivated in southern Vietnam. Less pathogen-related DNA was detected from the tissue of citrus cultivars that are believed to be more tolerant than susceptible cultivars. The quantification system will be used in studies on pathogen proliferation and movement inside citrus tissue.     

Isolation and characterization of some antioxidative compounds from the rhizomes of smaller galanga (Alpinia officinarum Hance)

Antioxidative compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of fresh rhizome of smaller galanga (Alpinia officinarum Hance). Seven phenylpropanoids (1-7) were finally obtained by reversed-phase HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR analyses. They comprised the two known compounds, (E)-p-coumaryl alcohol gamma-O-methyl ether (1) and (E)-p-coumaryl alcohol (6), and the five novel compounds, stereoisomers of (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (2a and 2b), stereoisomers of (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-ethoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (3a and 3b), (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-[(2E)-3-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-2-propenoxy]-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (4), (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-penten-1-ol (5), and (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-penten-1-ol (7). Compounds 1-7 were detected for the first time as constituents of galanga rhizomes and exhibited antioxidative activities against the autoxidation of methyl linoleate in bulk phase.     

Forming electrical networks in three dimensions by self-assembly

Self-assembly of millimeter-scale polyhedra, with surfaces patterned with solder dots, wires, and light-emitting diodes, generated electrically functional, three-dimensional networks. The patterns of dots and wires controlled the structure of the networks formed; both parallel and serial connections were generated.     

Population changes in Phytophthora infestans in Taiwan associated with the appearance of resistance to metalaxyl

In recent years, late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont) De Bary, has increased in severity in many parts of the world, and this has been associated with migrations which have introduced new, arguably more aggressive, populations of the pathogen. In Taiwan, late blight has been endemic on outdoor tomato crops grown in the highlands since the early 1900s, but recent epidemics have been more damaging. To ascertain the present status of the Taiwanese population of P infestans, 139 isolates of the pathogen collected and maintained by the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) were characterized using mating type, metalaxyl sensitivity, allozyme genotype, mitochondrial haplotype and RFLP fingerprinting. Up to 1997, all isolates were found to belong to the old clonal lineage of P infestans (US-1 and variants), but in isolates from 1998 a new genotype appeared, and by 2000 this had apparently completely displaced the old population. This new genotype was an A1 mating type and has the dilocus allozyme genotype 100/100/111, 100/100 for the loci coding for glucose-6-phosphate isomerase and peptidase, respectively. These characters, together with RG57 fingerprinting, indicated that these isolates belonged to the US-11 clonal lineage, a minority (11%) being a previously unreported variant of US-11. Whereas metalaxyl-resistant isolates were not detected in the old population, 96% of the new genotypes proved resistant, with the remainder being intermediate in sensitivity. It may be inferred from this sudden, marked change in the characteristics of the Taiwanese P infestans that a new population of the pathogen was introduced around 1997-98 and that this may well have already been metalaxyl-resistant when it arrived, although a role for in situ selection cannot be excluded.