Mitogenomics, Phylogeny and Morphology Reveal Ophiocordyceps pingbianensis Sp. Nov., an Entomopathogenic Fungus from China

The new entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps pingbianensis, collected from Southeast China, was described by mitogenomic, morphological, and phylogenetic evidence. The systematic position of O. pingbianensis was determined by phylogenetic analyses based on six nuclear gene (ITS, tef1-α, nrSSU, nrLSU, rpb1 and rpb2) and 14 mitochondrial protein-coding gene (PCGs) (cox1, cox2, cox3, atp6, atp8, atp9, cob, nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad5, nad6 and nad4L) data. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that O. pingbianensis was belonged to the Hirsutella nodulosa clade in the genus Ophiocordyceps of Ophiocordycipiaceae. This fungus exhibits distinctive characteristics which differed from other related Ophiocordyceps species with slender and geminate stromata, monophialidic conidiogenous cells with an inflated awl-shaped base, a twisty and warty phialide neck and a fusiform or oval conidia, as well as being found on a tiger beetle of Coleoptera buried in moss at the cave. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. pingbianensis was a circular DNA molecule 80,359 bp in length, containing 15 PCGs, 24 open reading frames genes (ORFs), 25 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and 27 introns. Ophiocordyceps pingbianensis, containing 27 introns, has the second largest mitogenome in Ophiocordycipiaceae and was next to O. sinensis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the mitogenome from a new entomopathogenic fungus, and thus provides an important foundation for future studies on taxonomy, genetics and evolutionary biology of Ophiocordycipiaceae

Research on the Technological Innovation Efficiency of China’s Strategic Emerging Industries Based on SBM: NDEA Model and Big Data

Characterized by large scale, variety, fast generation, and extremely high value but low density, big data can be used to mine effective information, provide users with auxiliary decision-making, and realize its own value. Based on the nonoriented SBM and the network DEA model, this paper systematically and objectively evaluates the technological innovation efficiency of strategic emerging industries in all provinces of China in 2002–2013. The study found the following. (1) The overall technological efficiency of China’s strategic emerging industries is low. The average of comprehensive efficiency is 0.278; of 26 provinces, only 8 are above the average level. (2) The efficiency in the commercialization stage of scientific and technological achievements of strategic emerging industries in the whole country and most of the provinces is higher than that in the stage of knowledge innovation. The inefficiency of the knowledge innovation stage restricts the efficiency promotion of China’s strategic emerging industries. (3) The overall innovation efficiency of strategic emerging industries has been increasing from 2002 to 2013. In comparison, the growth rate of pure technical efficiency is larger than that of scale efficiency. (4) The overall efficiency, the efficiency in the knowledge innovation stage, and the efficiency in the commercialization stage of scientific and technological achievements of the eastern region are higher than those of the central and western regions

Cinnamaldehyde regulates mitochondrial quality against hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis in mouse lung mesenchymal stem cells via the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway

Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal respiratory disease without effective treatments. Mitochondrial dysfunction weakens the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to repair the distal lung epithelium, which is a probable pathogenesis of IPF. In previous research, we found that cinnamaldehyde (CA) can maintain the mitochondrial morphology of MSCs. Methods This present study evaluated the effect and mechanism of CA on murine lung MSCs using the hydrogen peroxide model. Antioxidant effects and mitochondrial function were determined using flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of mitochondrial dynamics and the expressions of autophagy-related proteins were also detected. Results CA can increase the levels of SOD, MMP and ATP, decrease the rate of ROS and apoptosis, and restore the mitochondrial structure. CA can also improve the mRNA expression of MFN1, MFN2, FIS1, DRP1, OPA1, and PGC-1α, increase the expression of LC3 II and p62 and promote the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway. Our results demonstrated that CA can control mitochondrial quality and avoid apoptosis, which may be associated with the regulation of the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway

The Mutual Inhibition of FoxO1 and SREBP-1c Regulated the Progression of Hepatoblastoma by Regulating Fatty Acid Metabolism

Background. Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common liver malignancy in pediatrics, but the treatment for this disease is minimal. This study is aimed at exploring the effect of FoxO1 and SREBP-1c on HB and their mechanism. Methods. FoxO1, SREBP-1c, FASN, ACLY, ACC, and MAGL expressions in tissue samples were detected by RT-qPCR and WB. IHC was utilized to measure FASN content. Overexpression and knockdown of FoxO1 and sSREBP-1c were performed on Huh-6 cells. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were examined by CCK8, scratch, and transwell assay. ELISA was performed to test the ATP, FAO, NEFA, and Acetyl-CoA contents. ChIP was used to detect the interaction between SREBP-1c protein and the FoxO1 gene. In vivo tumorigenesis was conducted on mice. The morphology of tumor tissue sections was observed by HE staining. Results. FoxO1 expression was downregulated in HB tissue, while the expressions of SREBP-1c, FASN, ACLY, ACC, and MAGL were upregulated. In Huh-6 cells and mouse tumor tissues, FoxO1 knockdown resulted in increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and active fatty acid metabolism. On the contrary, after the knockdown of SREBP-1c, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were weakened, and fatty acid metabolism was significantly reduced. SREBP-1c interacted with the promoter of the FoxO1 gene. When FoxO1 was knocked down, the tumor tissue was more closely packed. After the knockdown of the SREBP-1c gene, the structure of tumor cells was deformed. Conclusion. FoxO1 and SREBP-1c inhibited each other in HB, leading to the increase of intracellular fatty acid metabolism, and ultimately facilitated the development of HB

Acanthopanax senticosus Polysaccharide Enhances the Pathogen Resistance of Radiation-Damaged Caenorhabditis elegans through Intestinal p38 MAPK-SKN-1/ATF-7 Pathway and Stress Response

With the advancement of science and technology, humans are chronically exposed to ionizing radiation. It is crucial to look for efficient and low-toxic anti-radiation agents. Through preliminary screening, we found that Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS) played a major role in regulating immune damage caused by radiation. The objective of this study was to apply the Caenorhabditis elegans—P. aeruginosa (PA14) infection model to illuminate the mechanism of ASPS increasing the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes. Results indicated that ASPS (1 mg/mL) significantly enhanced the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes by directly elevating the immune response of nematodes rather than by affecting the bacterial activity. Through further research on the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and related mutants, we found that ASPS functioned by the p38 MAPK pathway in the intestine, and SKN-1, ATF-7 as the downstream targets of PMK-1 participated the regulation of ASPS. In addition, ASPS markedly alleviated the stress status of damaged nematodes by regulating oxidative stress. Collectively, our findings suggest that ASPS enhances the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes through the intestinal p38MAPK-SKN-1/ATF-7 pathway and stress response

Complete mitochondrial genome of Cladosporium cladosporioides YFCC 8621 isolated from a salt mine in Yunnan, southwestern China

Cladosporium cladosporioides is one of the most isolated species in the genus Cladosporium and has a wide medical and industrial usage. Here, we first report the complete mitogenome of C. cladosporioides based on the Illumina sequencing data. The circular mitogenome is 36,768 bp in length, containing 14 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA (rns and rnl) genes, 2 ORFs (ORF214 and ORF240), and a set of 28 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. The overall base composition is 35.7% A, 34.0% T(U), 15.3% C, 15.0% G, with a GC content of 30.3%. Phylogenetic analysis shows that C. cladosporioides is clustered in the order Capnodiales and is closely related to the congeneric species Cladosporium zixishanense of Cladosporiaceae

Complete mitochondrial genome of Cladosporium zixishanense sp. nov. YFCC 8620 isolated from the spider in Yunnan, southwestern China

The genus Cladosporium is one of the largest and most heterogeneous genera of hyphomycetes. However, little is known about its mitogenome. Here, we first report the complete mitogenome of Cladosporium based on the Illumina sequencing data of Cladosporium zixishanense sp. nov., which was isolated from the spider. The mitogenome of C. zixishanense is composed of a circular DNA molecule with the total length of 37,197 bp, which includes 14 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA (rns and rnl) genes, 2 ORFs (ORF199 and ORF138), and 26 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. The overall base composition is 34.7% A, 34.2% T(U), 15.6% C, 15.5% G, with a GC content of 31.1%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that C. zixishanense is located in the order Capnodiales (Dothideomycetes) and forms a separate clade with strong statistical support

Electrical and dielectric properties of polyaniline-Al2O 3 nanocomposites derived from various Al2O3 nanostructures

Four Al2O3 nanostructures (i.e. nanofiber, nanoplatelet, nanorod and nanoflake) have been successfully synthesized via hydrothermal procedures followed by a dehydration process. Subsequently, polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites incorporating these four Al2O 3 nanostructures have been fabricated using a surface initialized polymerization (SIP) method. Both TEM and SEM are used to characterize the morphologies of the Al2O3 nanostructures and PANI/Al 2O3 nanocomposites. X-Ray diffraction results reveal that the morphology of the nanofiller has a significant effect on the crystallization behavior of the PANI during polymerization. The electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of these nanocomposites are strongly related to both the morphology of the filler and the dispersion quality. Temperature-dependent- conductivity measurements from 50-290 K show that the electron transportation of the nanocomposites follows a quasi 3-d variable range hopping (VRH) conduction mechanism. The extent of charge carrier delocalization calculated from VRH is well correlated to the dielectric response of these nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results reveal an enhanced thermal stability of the PANI/Al2O 3 nanocomposites as compared to that of pure PANI due to the strong interaction between the nanofillers and polymer matrix. The mechanism of the SIP method is also elaborated in this work. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011