Understanding the Genetics of Clubroot Resistance for Effectively Controlling this Disease in Brassica Species

Clubroot disease is one of the most serious diseases of Brassica species, which is caused by soil-borne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin. Clubroot disease has a long history on vegetable crops belonging to the Brassica species; most recently, this disease is also invading rapeseed/canola crop around the globe. The clubroot disease causes significant yield and quality losses in highly infected fields. Clubroot pathogens invade into the host plant roots and infect root tissues with the formation of abnormal clubs, named as galls, which results in incompetent plant roots to intake water and nutrients and eventually dead plants. As it is a soil-borne disease and accomplishes its disease cycle in two different phases and both phases are highly efficient to damage root system as well as to release more inoculum, there are many challenges to control this disease through chemical and other cultural practices. In general, clubroot disease can be effectively managed by developing resistant cultivars. In this chapter, various resistance sources of clubroot disease in different Brassica species have been discussed with potential applications in canola/rapeseed breeding programs worldwide. Importance of gene mapping and molecular marker development efforts by different research studies for clubroot in B. rapa, B. oleracea, and B. napus has been stressed. Transcriptomic and metabolomic changes occurring during host–pathogen interactions are also covered in this chapter, which would enhance our understanding and utilization of clubroot resistance in Brassica species

The role of tumor-associated macrophages in the progression, prognosis and treatment of endometrial cancer

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the main immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of endometrial cancer (EC). TAMs recruitment and polarization in EC is regulated by the TME of EC, culminating in a predominantly M2-like macrophage infiltration. TAMs promote lymphatic angiogenesis through cytokine secretion, aid immune escape of EC cells by synergizing with other immune cells, and contribute to the development of EC through secretion of exosomes so as to promoting EC development. EC is a hormone- and metabolism-dependent cancer, and TAMs promote EC through interactions on estrogen receptor (ER) and metabolic factors such as the metabolism of glucose, lipids, and amino acids. In addition, we have explored the predictive significance of some TAM-related indicators for EC prognosis, and TAMs show remarkable promise as a target for EC immunotherapy

Combinations of Independent Dominant Loci Conferring Clubroot Resistance in All Four Turnip Accessions (Brassica rapa) From the European Clubroot Differential Set

Clubroot disease is devastating to Brassica crop production when susceptible cultivars are planted in infected fields. European turnips are the most resistant sources and their resistance genes have been introduced into other crops such oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), Chinese cabbage and other Brassica vegetables. The European clubroot differential (ECD) set contains four turnip accessions (ECD1–4). These ECD turnips exhibited high levels of resistance to clubroot when they were tested under controlled environmental conditions with Canadian field isolates. Gene mapping of the clubroot resistance genes in ECD1–4 were performed and three independent dominant resistance loci were identified. Two resistance loci were mapped on chromosome A03 and the third on chromosome A08. Each ECD turnip accession contained two of these three resistance loci. Some resistance loci were homozygous in ECD accessions while others showed heterozygosity based on the segregation of clubroot resistance in 20 BC1 families derived from ECD1 to 4. Molecular markers were developed linked to each clubroot resistance loci for the resistance gene introgression in different germplasm

Integration of Solexa sequences on an ultradense genetic map in Brassica rapa L.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sequence related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) is commonly used to construct high density genetic maps, map genes and QTL of important agronomic traits in crops and perform genetic diversity analysis without knowing sequence information. To combine next generation sequencing technology with SRAP, Illumina's Solexa sequencing was used to sequence tagged SRAP PCR products.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three sets of SRAP primers and three sets of tagging primers were used in 77,568 SRAP PCR reactions and the same number of tagging PCR reactions respectively to produce a pooled sample for Illumina's Solexa sequencing. After sequencing, 1.28 GB of sequence with over 13 million paired-end sequences was obtained and used to match Solexa sequences with their corresponding SRAP markers and to integrate Solexa sequences on an ultradense genetic map. The ultradense genetic bin map with 465 bins was constructed using a recombinant inbred (RI) line mapping population in <it>B. rapa</it>. For this ultradense genetic bin map, 9,177 SRAP markers, 1,737 integrated unique Solexa paired-end sequences and 46 SSR markers representing 10,960 independent genetic loci were assembled and 141 unique Solexa paired-end sequences were matched with their corresponding SRAP markers. The genetic map in <it>B. rapa </it>was aligned with the previous ultradense genetic map in <it>B. napus </it>through common SRAP markers in these two species. Additionally, SSR markers were used to perform alignment of the current genetic map with other five genetic maps in <it>B. rapa </it>and <it>B. napus</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We used SRAP to construct an ultradense genetic map with 10,960 independent genetic loci in <it>B. rapa </it>that is the most saturated genetic map ever constructed in this species. Using next generation sequencing, we integrated 1,878 Solexa sequences on the genetic map. These integrated sequences will be used to assemble the scaffolds in the <it>B. rapa </it>genome. Additionally, this genetic map may be used for gene cloning and marker development in <it>B. rapa </it>and <it>B. napus</it>.</p

Torularhodin Alleviates Hepatic Dyslipidemia and Inflammations in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice via PPAR&alpha; Signaling Pathway

Torularhodin is a &beta;-carotene-like compound from Sporidiobolus pararoseus, and its protective effect against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic dyslipidemia and inflammation was investigated. Compared to mice of C57BL/6J fed on HFD, the addition of Torularhodin into the HFD (HFD-T) significantly reduced body weight, serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and the inflammatory mediators of TNF-&alpha;, IL-6, IL-1&beta;, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A significant increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), which is beneficial to cholesterol clearance, was also observed in HFD-T group. Proteomic analysis showed HDL-C-c is highly correlated with proteins (e.g., CPT1A and CYP7A1) involved in lipid &beta;-oxidation and bile acid synthesis, whereas the other phenotypic parameters (TC, TG, LDL, and inflammatory cytokines) are highly associated with proteins (e.g., SLC27A4) involved in lipid-uptake. The up-regulated anti-inflammation proteins FAS, BAX, ICAM1, OCLN, GSTP1, FAF1, LRP1, APEX1, ROCK1, MANF, STAT3, and INSR and down-regulated pro-inflammatory proteins OPTN, PTK2B, FADD, MIF, CASP3, YAP1, DNM1L, and NAMPT not only demonstrate the occurrence of HFD-induced hepatic inflammation, but also prove the anti-inflammatory property of Torularhodin. KEGG signaling pathway analysis revealed that the PPAR&alpha; signaling pathway is likely fundamental to the health function of Torularhodin through up-regulating genes related to fatty acid &beta;-oxidation, cholesterol excretion, HDL-Cc formation, and anti-inflammation. Torularhodin, as a new food resource, may act as a therapeutic agent to prevent hepatic dyslipidemia and related inflammation for improved health

Comparative sequence analysis for Brassica oleracea with similar sequences in B. rapa and Arabidopsis thaliana

We sequenced five BAC clones of Brassica oleracea doubled haploid ‘Early Big' broccoli containing major genes in the aliphatic glucosinolate pathway, and comparatively analyzed them with similar sequences in A. thaliana and B. rapa. Additionally, we included in the analysis published sequences from three other B. oleracea BAC clones and a contig of this species corresponding to segments in A. thaliana chromosomes IV and V. A total of 2,946&nbsp;kb of B. oleracea, 1,069&nbsp;kb of B. rapa sequence and 2,607&nbsp;kb of A. thaliana sequence were compared and analyzed. We found conserved collinearity for gene order and content restricted to specific chromosomal segments, but breaks in collinearity were frequent resulting in gene absence likely not due to gene loss but rearrangements. B. oleracea has the lowest gene density of the three species, followed by B. rapa. The genome expansion of the Brassica species, B. oleracea in particular, is due to larger introns and gene spacers resulting from frequent insertion of DNA transposons and retrotransposons. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible origin and evolution of the Brassica genomes

Comparative sequence analysis for Brassica oleracea with similar sequences in B. rapa and Arabidopsis thaliana

We sequenced five BAC clones of Brassica oleracea doubled haploid ‘Early Big' broccoli containing major genes in the aliphatic glucosinolate pathway, and comparatively analyzed them with similar sequences in A. thaliana and B. rapa. Additionally, we included in the analysis published sequences from three other B. oleracea BAC clones and a contig of this species corresponding to segments in A. thaliana chromosomes IV and V. A total of 2,946&nbsp;kb of B. oleracea, 1,069&nbsp;kb of B. rapa sequence and 2,607&nbsp;kb of A. thaliana sequence were compared and analyzed. We found conserved collinearity for gene order and content restricted to specific chromosomal segments, but breaks in collinearity were frequent resulting in gene absence likely not due to gene loss but rearrangements. B. oleracea has the lowest gene density of the three species, followed by B. rapa. The genome expansion of the Brassica species, B. oleracea in particular, is due to larger introns and gene spacers resulting from frequent insertion of DNA transposons and retrotransposons. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible origin and evolution of the Brassica genomes