Fig 1 -

Dynamics of woolly apple aphid populations on different parts of apples, in an apple orchard in Laiyang, Shandong Province, China, in (A) 2008 and (B) 2009.</p

Comparison of EPG parameters of woolly apple aphid <i>Eriosoma lanigerum</i> during phloem feeding on four different apple parts.

Comparison of EPG parameters of woolly apple aphid Eriosoma lanigerum during phloem feeding on four different apple parts.</p

The percentage of various waveforms’ (average duration) of per aphid (<i>Eriosoma lanigerum</i>) feeding on different parts of apple tree for eight hours.

The percentage of various waveforms’ (average duration) of per aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) feeding on different parts of apple tree for eight hours.</p

Comparison of EPG parameters of woolly apple aphid, <i>Eriosoma lanigerum</i>, during non-phloem feeding on four parts of apple trees (var. Starkrimson).

Comparison of EPG parameters of woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum, during non-phloem feeding on four parts of apple trees (var. Starkrimson).</p

Fig 2 -

(A) Numbers and (B) area (cm2) of aphid colonies per part on various plant parts on 15 apple varieties, in an apple orchard in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, in June 20, 2010.</p

Image_2_Xanthoceraside Could Ameliorate Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms of Rats by Affecting the Gut Microbiota Composition and Modulating the Endogenous Metabolite Levels.tif

Xanthoceraside (XAN) is a natural-derived compound with anti-Alzheimer activity from the husks of Xanthoceras sorbifolia. Although its therapeutic effect had been confirmed in previous studies, the mechanism was still unclear due to its poor solubility and low permeability. In this study, the pharmacological effect of XAN on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was confirmed by behavior experiments and H&E staining observation. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment also replicated the therapeutic effects, which indicates the potential targets of XAN on gut microbiota. The sequencing of 16S rRNA genes in fecal samples demonstrated that XAN reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis in AD animals. XAN could change the relative abundances of several phyla and genus of bacterial, particularly the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes. Among them, Clostridium IV, Desulfovibrio, Corynebacterium, and Enterorhabdus had been reported to be involved in the pathologic developments of AD and other central nervous system disease. In metabolomics study, a series of host endogenous metabolites were detected, including amino acids, lysophosphatidylcholine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine, which were all closely associated with the development of AD. Combined with the Spearman’s correlation analysis, it was confirmed that the increases of five bacterial strains and decreases of six bacterial strains were closely correlated with the increases of nine host metabolites and the decreases of another five host metabolites. Therefore, XAN can modulate the structure of gut microbiota in AD rats; the changes of gut microbiota were significantly correlated with endogenous metabolites, and symptom of AD was ultimately alleviated. Our findings suggest that XAN may be a potential therapeutic drug for AD, and the gut microbiota may be potential targeting territory of XAN via microbiome–gut–brain pathway.</p

Image_1_Xanthoceraside Could Ameliorate Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms of Rats by Affecting the Gut Microbiota Composition and Modulating the Endogenous Metabolite Levels.tif

Xanthoceraside (XAN) is a natural-derived compound with anti-Alzheimer activity from the husks of Xanthoceras sorbifolia. Although its therapeutic effect had been confirmed in previous studies, the mechanism was still unclear due to its poor solubility and low permeability. In this study, the pharmacological effect of XAN on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was confirmed by behavior experiments and H&E staining observation. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment also replicated the therapeutic effects, which indicates the potential targets of XAN on gut microbiota. The sequencing of 16S rRNA genes in fecal samples demonstrated that XAN reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis in AD animals. XAN could change the relative abundances of several phyla and genus of bacterial, particularly the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes. Among them, Clostridium IV, Desulfovibrio, Corynebacterium, and Enterorhabdus had been reported to be involved in the pathologic developments of AD and other central nervous system disease. In metabolomics study, a series of host endogenous metabolites were detected, including amino acids, lysophosphatidylcholine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine, which were all closely associated with the development of AD. Combined with the Spearman’s correlation analysis, it was confirmed that the increases of five bacterial strains and decreases of six bacterial strains were closely correlated with the increases of nine host metabolites and the decreases of another five host metabolites. Therefore, XAN can modulate the structure of gut microbiota in AD rats; the changes of gut microbiota were significantly correlated with endogenous metabolites, and symptom of AD was ultimately alleviated. Our findings suggest that XAN may be a potential therapeutic drug for AD, and the gut microbiota may be potential targeting territory of XAN via microbiome–gut–brain pathway.</p

The influence of chlorination timing and concentration on microbial communities in labyrinth channels: implications for biofilm removal

Chlorination is an effective method to control biofilm formation in enclosed pipelines. To date, very little is known about how to control biofilms at the mesoscale in complex pipelines through chlorination. In this study, the dynamic of microbial communities was examined under different residual chlorine concentrations on the biofilms attached to labyrinth channels for drip irrigation using reclaimed water. The results indicated that the microbial phospholipid fatty acids, extracellular polymeric substances, microbial dynamics, and the ace and Shannon microbial diversity indices showed a gradual decrease after chlorination. However, chlorination increased microbial activity by 0.5–19.2%. The increase in the relative abundances of chloride-resistant bacteria (Acinetobacter and Thermomonas) could lead to a potential risk of chlorine resistance. Thus, keeping a low chlorine concentration (0.83 mg l−1 for 3 h) is effective for controlling biofilm formation in the labyrinth channels.</p

The daily and total (within life stage) food consumption (as mg) of <i>A</i>. <i>lucorum</i> when fed green bean pods at 25 ± 1°C, with a 16:8 h L:D photoperiod and 70 ± 5% relative humidity.

<p>The daily and total (within life stage) food consumption (as mg) of <i>A</i>. <i>lucorum</i> when fed green bean pods at 25 ± 1°C, with a 16:8 h L:D photoperiod and 70 ± 5% relative humidity.</p

Levels of Salivary Enzymes of <i>Apolygus Lucorum</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae), From 1^st Instar Nymph to Adult, and Their Potential Relation to Bug Feeding

<div><p>In recent years, <i>Apolygus lucorum</i> has caused increasing damage to cotton and fruit trees in China. The salivary enzymes secreted by <i>A</i>. <i>lucorum</i> when sucking on host plants induce a series of biochemical reactions in plants, and the pre-oral digestion benefits the bug feeding. In this study, the food intake of <i>A</i>. <i>lucorum</i> from 1^st instar nymphs to adults was measured, and the corresponding salivary activity of pectinase, amylase, cellulase, protease, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase was determined. Daily food intake varied with developmental stage, peaking in 3^rd and 4^th instar nymphs. Pectinase, amylase, cellulase and protease were detected in both nymphal and adult saliva of <i>A</i>. <i>lucorum</i>, while neither polyphenol oxidase nor peroxidase was detected. Protease activity varied with food intake peaking at the 3^rd-4^th instar, and then slightly decreasing at the 5^th instar. Levels of pectinase, amylase and cellulase increased significantly with the daily feeding level until the 3^rd instar, corresponding with increasing damage to host plants. The activity of both cellulase and protease had a significant linear relationship with the average daily food intake. The increasing activity of enzymes in saliva explain stage-specific impacts of <i>A</i>. <i>lucorum</i> on the host plants, and suggest that optimal management of <i>A</i>. <i>lucorum</i> would be confined to its control threshold prior to the peak of daily feeding in the 3^rd instar.</p></div