Identification and transcriptome analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in Haloxylon ammodendron

The MYB transcription factor family is widespread in plants and plays an important role in plant growth and development as well as in plant responses to stress. The MYB transcription factor family has been identified in a variety of organisms; however, it has not been identified and analysed in the desert plant Haloxylon ammodendron. In this study, R2R3-MYB genes were identified and analysed using a bioinformatic approach. A total of 78 R2R3-MYB genes were identified and named according to their position on the chromosome. The R2R3-MYB genes were unevenly distributed on nine chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the HaMYB genes were all divided into 31 subfamilies. Covariance analysis revealed the presence of three pairs of fragmentary duplicated genes in H. ammodendron (HaMYB54 and HaMYB17, HaMYB44 and HaMYB36, HaMYB42 and HaMYB27). Gene structure and conserved structural domain analysis revealed different subgroups with different orders of magnitude of variation in gene structures and conserved structural domains. Analysis of cis-elements showed that the cis-acting elements of HaMYBs were mainly associated with hormone and abiotic stress responses. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of HaR2R3-MYB genes, and six HaR2R3-MYB genes were found to respond to salt stress and six HaR2R3-MYB genes to drought stress, with HaMYB22 and HaMYB27 showing upregulated expression under both stresses. Transcriptome analysis showed that HaMYB63 was significantly differentially expressed in the assimilated branches of H. ammodendron, and the subcellular localization of this protein showed that it was located in the nucleus and had transcriptional self-activating activity. These results provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the functions of the R2R3-MYB gene family and the molecular mechanisms of resistance in H. ammodendron

<i>PhoD</i> Harboring Microbial Community and Alkaline Phosphatase as Affected by Long Term Fertilization Regimes on a Calcareous Soil

Organic phosphorus (Po) may play a vital role in phosphorus availability via its mineralization by alkaline phosphatase (ALP), being encoded by phoD gene, in calcareous soil. Understanding the effects of long-term fertilization on the community of phoD harboring bacteria and the related alteration of the P availability owing to the changes in ALP secretion may offer a chance to elucidate the Po contribution to soil available P. Based on a long-term experiment, we analyzed the phoD gene harboring microbial diversity, abundance and composition, ALP and Po forms, and their relationship. The treatments involved were control without any fertilizers (CK), synthetic nitrogen and potassium (NK), synthetic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), NPK and crop stalk return (SNPK), and NPK plus organic manure (MNPK). Fertilization increased the abundance and diversity of phoD gene harboring microbial over CK. Those receiving NPK and NPK treatments integrated with organic supplements significantly improved the relative abundance of Proteobacteria but decreased Gemmatimonadetes at the phylum level, while all fertilized treatments appreciably increased the relative abundance of Lysobacter but decreased that of Gemmatirosa and Afipia, at the genus level. SNPK and MNPK treatments noticeably increased the relative abundance of Methylobacter but reduced Pseudomonas and Streptomyces relative to those receiving synthetic fertilizer treatments. Long-term fertilization markedly raised ALP activity, which was significantly and positively correlated with the relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria as represented by the genera Methylobacterium and Lysobacter. ALP was closely associated with moderately labile Po, followed by enzyme P, recalcitrant Po, and labile Po. The changes in phoD bacteria and ALP were mainly driven by soil organic carbon, Olsen P and pH. We concluded that the long-term fertilization, especially the addition of organic supplements, profoundly modified the soil properties and subsequently changed the diversity and relative abundance of phoD gene harboring bacteria, which promoted the activity of ALP, and thus the mineralization of various forms of Po (mainly moderately labile Po) to enhance the P availability

PhoD Harboring Microbial Community and Alkaline Phosphatase as Affected by Long Term Fertilization Regimes on a Calcareous Soil

Organic phosphorus (Po) may play a vital role in phosphorus availability via its mineralization by alkaline phosphatase (ALP), being encoded by phoD gene, in calcareous soil. Understanding the effects of long-term fertilization on the community of phoD harboring bacteria and the related alteration of the P availability owing to the changes in ALP secretion may offer a chance to elucidate the Po contribution to soil available P. Based on a long-term experiment, we analyzed the phoD gene harboring microbial diversity, abundance and composition, ALP and Po forms, and their relationship. The treatments involved were control without any fertilizers (CK), synthetic nitrogen and potassium (NK), synthetic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), NPK and crop stalk return (SNPK), and NPK plus organic manure (MNPK). Fertilization increased the abundance and diversity of phoD gene harboring microbial over CK. Those receiving NPK and NPK treatments integrated with organic supplements significantly improved the relative abundance of Proteobacteria but decreased Gemmatimonadetes at the phylum level, while all fertilized treatments appreciably increased the relative abundance of Lysobacter but decreased that of Gemmatirosa and Afipia, at the genus level. SNPK and MNPK treatments noticeably increased the relative abundance of Methylobacter but reduced Pseudomonas and Streptomyces relative to those receiving synthetic fertilizer treatments. Long-term fertilization markedly raised ALP activity, which was significantly and positively correlated with the relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria as represented by the genera Methylobacterium and Lysobacter. ALP was closely associated with moderately labile Po, followed by enzyme P, recalcitrant Po, and labile Po. The changes in phoD bacteria and ALP were mainly driven by soil organic carbon, Olsen P and pH. We concluded that the long-term fertilization, especially the addition of organic supplements, profoundly modified the soil properties and subsequently changed the diversity and relative abundance of phoD gene harboring bacteria, which promoted the activity of ALP, and thus the mineralization of various forms of Po (mainly moderately labile Po) to enhance the P availability

Abnormal Ribosome Biogenesis Partly Induced p53-Dependent Aortic Medial Smooth Muscle Cell Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress

Ribosome biogenesis is a crucial biological process related to cell proliferation, redox balance, and muscle contractility. Aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) show inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis, along with high levels of oxidative stress in aortic dissection (AD). Theoretically, ribosome biogenesis should be enhanced in the ASMCs at its proliferative state but suppressed during apoptosis and oxidative stress. However, the exact status and role of ribosome biogenesis in AD are unknown. We therefore analyzed the expression levels of BOP1, a component of the PeBoW complex which is crucial to ribosome biogenesis, in AD patients and a murine AD model and its influence on the ASMCs. BOP1 was downregulated in the aortic tissues of AD patients compared to healthy donors. In addition, overexpression of BOP1 in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) inhibited apoptosis and accumulation of p53 under hypoxic conditions, while knockdown of BOP1 decreased the protein synthesis rate and motility of HASMCs. The RNA polymerase I inhibitor cx-5461 induced apoptosis, ROS production, and proliferative inhibition in the HASMCs, which was partly attenuated by p53 knockout. Furthermore, cx-5461 aggravated the severity of AD in vivo, but a p53-/- background extended the life-span and lowered AD incidence in the mice. Taken together, decreased ribosome biogenesis in ASMCs resulting in p53-dependent proliferative inhibition, oxidative stress, and apoptosis is one of the underlying mechanisms of AD

Choroidal vascular changes in silicone oil-filled eyes after vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments

Abstract Introduction The tamponade of silicone oil (SO) can affect both the structure and blood flow of the retina. However, there are few studies on the effect of SO tamponade on choroidal blood flow. Our study aimed to compare the effects of SO tamponade on the choroidal vascular index (CVI) and choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with unilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with operated eyes and fellow healthy eyes. Methods We retrospectively collected demographic and clinical data from 36 patients who underwent 23G pars plana vitrectomy and SO tamponade for unilateral complicated RRD. Enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) scans were performed both within 1 week before SO removal and at the last follow-up visit after SO removal. Using ImageJ software, images were binarized to segment the total choroidal area, luminal area, and stromal area, respectively. The CVI was calculated as CVI=(luminal area)/(total choroidal area), and CT was also evaluated. Results During SO tamponade, the CVI and luminal area in operated eyes were significantly lower compared to fellow eyes (57.616 ± 0.030 vs. 60.042 ± 0.019, P < 0.0001; 0.909 [0.694; 1.185] vs. 1.091 [0.785; 1.296], P = 0.007). Even after SO removal, the CVI remained lower in operated eyes than in fellow eyes (59.530 ± 0.018 vs. 60.319 ± 0.020, P = 0.031). Both CVI and luminal area were lower in operated eyes before SO removal than after SO removal (57.616 ± 0.030 vs. 59.530 ± 0.018, P = 0.0003; 0.909 [0.694; 1.185] vs. 0.994 [0.712; 1.348], P = 0.028). The duration of SO tamponade was positively correlated with the difference in CVI between fellow eyes and operated eyes during SO tamponade (P = 0.035). Total choroidal area, stromal area, and CT did not differ significantly between fellow eyes and operated eyes or between pre- and post-SO removal. Conclusions SO tamponade reduces CVI and decreases choroidal blood circulation in patients with retinal detachments required vitrectomy combined with SO tamponade. The longer the SO tamponade time, the more CVI reduction. In future work, we will aim to reduce these side effects by shortening the duration of silicone oil filling

Influence of Temperature, Photoperiod, and Supplementary Nutrition on the Development and Reproduction of <i>Scutellista caerulea</i> Fonscolombe (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Scutellista ciruela Fonscolombe has a significant controlling effect on the rubber tree pest, Parasaissetia nigra Nietner. To identify the optimal conditions for the population growth of S. caerulea, we assessed how temperature, photoperiod, and supplementary nutrition affected its development and reproduction. The results demonstrated that the number of eggs laid and parasitism rates of S. caerulea were the highest at 33 °C. The developmental rate of S. caerulea was the fastest and the number of emerged adults the highest. The number of eggs laid and the parasitism rates increased when the light duration increased within a day. Females did not lay any eggs when the whole day was dark. At a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D), the developmental duration was the shortest and the number of emerged adults was the highest. Adult life span was the longest under a 12:12 (L:D) photoperiod. During the adult stage, supplementary nutrition, such as sucrose, fructose, honey, and glucose, increased the life span of S. caerulea. The life span of S. caerulea was longer when provided with a supplementary diet of sucrose or honey, compared to other tested diets. The results suggested that the most suitable conditions for S. caerulea’s population growth were the following: 30 to 33 °C, with 12 to 14 h of daylight, and the provision of sucrose or honey as supplemental diet for the adults

3D Visualization System-Assisted Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: Leave Out the Perfluorocarbon Liquid

Abstract Introduction Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is a primary strategy to restore vision for patients who have rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) is frequently used during PPV surgery. However, the unintended intraocular retention of PFCL may cause retina toxicity and thus lead to possible postoperative complications. In this paper, the experiences and surgical outcomes of a NGENUITY 3D Visualization System-assisted PPV are shown to evaluate the possibility of excluding the application of PFCL. Methods A consecutive series of 60 cases with RRD were presented, all of whom had undergone 23-gauge PPV with the assistance of a three-dimensional (3D) visualization system. Among them, 30 cases used PFCL to assist the drainage of subretinal fluid (SRF), while the other 30 cases did not. Parameters including retinal reattachment rate (RRR), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), operation time, and SRF residual were compared between the two groups. Results Baseline data showed no statistical significance between the two groups. At the last postoperative follow-up, the RRR of all the 60 cases reached 100% and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gained significant improvement. The BCVA (logMAR) increased from 1.293 ± 0.881 to 0.479 ± 0.316 in the PFCL-excluded group, exhibiting better results than the PFCL included group, whose final BCVA was 0.650 ± 0.371. More importantly, excluding PFCL greatly reduced the operation time (decrease of 20%), therefore, avoiding possible complications caused by both the use of PFCL and the operation process. Conclusion With the assistance of the 3D visualization system, it is feasible to treat RRD and perform PPV without using PFCL. The 3D visualization system is highly recommendable, as not only can it achieve the same surgical effect without the assistance of PFCL, but also simplify the operation procedure, shorten the operation time, save costs, and avoid complications related to PFCL