Identification of differentially expressed immunity‐related genes in Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae parasitized by Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae)

Xiao‐Juan Li,Guang-Ping DONG,Jian-Min FANG,Hong-Jian LIU,Wan-Lin GUO 한국곤충학회 2018 Entomological Research Vol.48 No.4

The pine sawyer Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a serious pest of several Pinus species, and the ectoparasitoid larvae of Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) is an important natural enemy of this pest. The transcriptome of M. alternatus larvae was sequenced using the Illumina platform and immunity‐related genes were specifically analyzed. De novo assembly resulted in the identification of 24 241 unigenes, with a mean length of 1122 bp, in unparasitized M. alternatus larvae and 23 807 unigenes, with a mean length of 1140 bp, for parasitized larvae. Removal of redundant unigenes resulted in 26 095 all‐unigenes, of which 16 959 (64.99%) showed clear homology with some of the known genes in the National Center for Biotechnology Information nr database. Parasitization had notable effects on the transcriptome profile of M. alternatus larvae. In all, 2702 genes were differentially expressed in M. alternatus larvae after parasitization, with 1491 (55.18%) upregulated and 1211 (44.82%) downregulated. Moreover, expression levels of immunity‐related genes in M. alternatus larvae were markedly altered in response to parasitization by D. helophoroides. In conclusion, the transcriptome profiling data, especially the discovered of immunity‐related genes, help illustrate the molecular mechanisms of parasitism between D. helophoroides and M. alternatus and provide new insights into developing immunity regulation‐mediated control methods of M. alternatus.

Comparison of volatile organic compounds from uninfested and Monochamus alternatus Hope infested Pinus massoniana Lamb.

Xiao‐Juan Li,Guang-Ping DONG,Jian-Min FANG,Hong-Jian LIU,Wan-Lin GUO 한국곤충학회 2017 Entomological Research Vol.47 No.3

Monochamus alternatus is a destructive stem‐boring herbivore of Pinus massoniana, and the principal vector of pine wood nematode. To investigate the impacts of boring by M. alternatus larvae on the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from their host trees, the VOCs from uninfested and M. alternatus larvae infested P. massoniana trees were observed using a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer. We detected 12, 9, 18 and 14 volatile organic compounds from infested xylem, infested phloem, uninfested xylem and uninfested phloem, respectively. In P. massoniana xylem, the boring of M. alternatus larvae induced cyclosativene, and inhibited 4‐carene, humulene, styrene, α‐phellandrene, β‐myrcene, β‐phellandrene and γ‐terpinene. The relative amounts of camphene, copacamphene, longicyclene, longifolene, tricyclene and α‐longipinene were significantly increased, and the relative amounts of α‐pinene and β‐pinene were significantly decreased by the boring behaviors of M. alternatus larvae. In P. massoniana phloem, the boring of M. alternatus larvae induced 2‐bornanone, copacamphene, longicyclene and α‐longipinene, and inhibited 2‐carene, 4‐carene, styrene, α‐phellandrene, β‐myrcene, β‐phellandrene, β‐pinene, γ‐terpinene and ο‐cymene. The relative amounts of camphene, caryophyllene and longifolene were significantly increased by the boring behaviors of M. alternatus larvae. The results indicate that the boring behaviors of M. alternatus larvae changed both the sorts and contents of the VOCs from P. massoniana trees.

Specific Expression of Interferon-γ Induced by Synergistic Activation Mediator-Derived Systems Activates Innate Immunity and Inhibits Tumorigenesis

( Shuai Liu ),( Xiao Yu ),( Qiankun Wang ),( Zhepeng Liu ),( Qiaoqiao Xiao ),( Panpan Hou ),( Ying Hu ),( Wei Hou ),( Zhanqiu Yang ),( Deyin Guo ),( Shuliang Chen ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2017 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.27 No.10

The synergistic activation mediator (SAM) system can robustly activate endogenous gene expression by a single-guide RNA. This transcriptional modulation has been shown to enhance gene promoter activity and leads to epigenetic changes. Human interferon-γ is a common natural glycoprotein involved in antiviral effects and inhibition of cancer cell growth. Large quantities of high-purity interferon-γ are important for medical research and clinical therapy. To investigate the possibility of employing the SAM system to enhance endogenous human interferon-γ with normal function in innate immunity, we designed 10 single-guide RNAs that target 200 bp upstream of the transcription start sites of the interferon-γ genome, which could significantly activate the interferon-γ promoter reporter. We confirmed that the system can effectively and highly activate interferon-γ expression in several humanized cell lines. Moreover, we found that the interferon-γ induced by the SAM system could inhibit tumorigenesis. Taken together, our results reveal that the SAM system can modulate epigenetic traits of non-immune cells through activating interferon-γ expression and triggering JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Thus, this strategy could offer a novel approach to inhibit tumorigenesis without using exogenous interferon-γ.

Formation and Characterization of Two-Dimensional Arrays of Silver Oxide Nanoparticles under Langmuir Monolayers of n-Hexadecyl Dihydrogen Phosphate

Hong-Guo Liu,Fei Xiao,Hong-Guo Liu 대한화학회 2008 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.29 No.12

Two-dimensional arrays of silver oxide nanoparticles were prepared by oxidation of silver nanoparticle arrays in air. The silver nanoparticle arrays were formed by illuminating the composite Langmuir monolayers of nhexadecyl dihydrogen phosphate (n-HDP)/ethyl stearate (ES)/Ag+ at the air-water interface by daylight. The average diameters of the nanoclusters is found to be 2.32 ± 0.89, 2.97 ± 0.78, and 4.94 ± 0.57 nm, respectively, depending on the experimental conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigations indicate the formation of silver oxide nanoparticles. The possible formation mechanism of the 2D arrays should be attributed to the templating effect of parallel aligned linear supramolecular rows of n-HDP formed at the air-water interface.

Physical properties and chemical composition of the cores in the California molecular cloud

Zhang, Guo-Yin,Xu, Jin-Long,Vasyunin, A. I.,Semenov, D. A.,Wang, Jun-Jie,Dib, Sami,Liu, Tie,Liu, Sheng-Yuan,Zhang, Chuan-Peng,Liu, Xiao-Lan,Wang, Ke,Li, Di,Wu, Zhong-Zu,Yuan, Jing-Hua,Li, Da-Lei,Gao, Springer-Verlag 2018 Astronomy and astrophysics Vol.620 No.-

<P><I>Aims.</I> We aim to reveal the physical properties and chemical composition of the cores in the California molecular cloud (CMC), so as to better understand the initial conditions of star formation.</P><P><I>Methods.</I> We made a high-resolution column density map (18.2′′) with <I>Herschel</I> data, and extracted a complete sample of the cores in the CMC with the fellwalker algorithm. We performed new single-pointing observations of molecular lines near 90 GHz with the IRAM 30m telescope along the main filament of the CMC. In addition, we also performed a numerical modeling of chemical evolution for the cores under the physical conditions.</P><P><I>Results.</I> We extracted 300 cores, of which 33 are protostellar and 267 are starless cores. About 51% (137 of 267) of the starless cores are prestellar cores. Three cores have the potential to evolve into high-mass stars. The prestellar core mass function (CMF) can be well fit by a log-normal form. The high-mass end of the prestellar CMF shows a power-law form with an index <I>α</I> = −0.9 ± 0.1 that is shallower than that of the Galactic field stellar mass function. Combining the mass transformation efficiency (<I>ε</I>) from the prestellar core to the star of 15 ± 1% and the core formation efficiency (CFE) of 5.5%, we suggest an overall star formation efficiency of about 1% in the CMC. In the single-pointing observations with the IRAM 30m telescope, we find that 6 cores show blue-skewed profile, while 4 cores show red-skewed profile. [HCO<SUP>+</SUP>]/[HNC] and [HCO<SUP>+</SUP>]/[N2H<SUP>+</SUP>] in protostellar cores are higher than those in prestellar cores; this can be used as chemical clocks. The best-fit chemical age of the cores with line observations is ~5 × 10<SUP>4</SUP> yr.</P>

An Aqueous Extract of Yunnan Baiyao Inhibits the Quorum-Sensing-Related Virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Zu-Guo Zhao,Shuang-Shuang Yan,Yun-Mei Yu,Na Mi,La-Xi Zhang,Jun Liu,Xiao-Ling Li,Fang Liu,Jun-Fa Xu,Wei-Qing Yang,Guo-Ming Li 한국미생물학회 2013 The journal of microbiology Vol.51 No.2

Yunnan Baiyao is a famous Chinese medicine that has long been directly applied to wounds to reduce bleeding, pain, and swelling without causing infection. However, little is known about its ability to prevent infection. The present study aimed to assess in vitro the anti-virulence activity of an aqueous extract of Yunnan Baiyao (YBX) using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a pathogenic model. We found that a sub-MIC (2.5 mg/ml) of YBX can efficiently interfere with the quorum-sensing (QS) signaling circuit. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that a sub-MIC of YBX downregulated the transcriptions of lasR, lasI, rhlR, and rhlI,which resulted in global attenuation of QS-regulated virulence activities, such as biofilm formation, and secretion of LasA protease, LasB elastase and pyocyanin. Further, YBX reduced the motility of P. aeruginosa related to QS, and impaired the formation of biofilms. These results suggest that YBX may possess global inhibitory activity against the virulence of P. aeruginosa and that YBX may also exhibit antimicrobial activity in vivo. The present study suggests that Yunnan Baiyao represents a potential source for isolating novel, safe, and efficacious antimicrobial agents.

Fumigaclavine C attenuates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and ameliorates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Wan-Guo Yu,Yun He,Yun-Fang Chen,Xiao-Yao Gao,Wan-E Ning,Chun-You Liu,Ting-Fan Tang,Quan Liu,Xiao-Cheng Huang 대한약리학회 2019 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.23 No.3

Fumigaclavine C (FC), an active indole alkaloid, is obtained from endophytic Aspergillus terreus (strain No. FC118) by the root of Rhizophora stylosa (Rhizophoraceae). This study is designed to evaluate whether FC has anti-adipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and whether it ameliorates lipid accumulation in highfat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. FC notably increased the levels of glycerol in the culture supernatants and markedly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. FC differentially inhibited the expressions of adipogenesis-related genes, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor proteins, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins, and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins. FC markedly reduced the expressions of lipid synthesis-related genes, such as the fatty acid binding protein, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid synthase. Furthermore, FC significantly increased the expressions of lipolysis-related genes, such as the hormone-sensitive lipase, Aquaporin- 7, and adipose triglyceride lipase. In HFD-induced obese mice, intraperitoneal injections of FC decreased both the body weight and visceral adipose tissue weight. FC administration significantly reduced lipid accumulation. Moreover, FC could dosedependently and differentially regulate the expressions of lipid metabolism-related transcription factors. All these data indicated that FC exhibited anti-obesity effects through modulating adipogenesis and lipolysis.

Fumigaclavine C attenuates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and ameliorates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Yu, Wan-Guo,He, Yun,Chen, Yun-Fang,Gao, Xiao-Yao,Ning, Wan-E,Liu, Chun-You,Tang, Ting-Fan,Liu, Quan,Huang, Xiao-Cheng The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2019 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.23 No.3

Fumigaclavine C (FC), an active indole alkaloid, is obtained from endophytic Aspergillus terreus (strain No. FC118) by the root of Rhizophora stylosa (Rhizophoraceae). This study is designed to evaluate whether FC has anti-adipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and whether it ameliorates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. FC notably increased the levels of glycerol in the culture supernatants and markedly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. FC differentially inhibited the expressions of adipogenesis-related genes, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor proteins, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins, and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins. FC markedly reduced the expressions of lipid synthesis-related genes, such as the fatty acid binding protein, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid synthase. Furthermore, FC significantly increased the expressions of lipolysis-related genes, such as the hormone-sensitive lipase, Aquaporin-7, and adipose triglyceride lipase. In HFD-induced obese mice, intraperitoneal injections of FC decreased both the body weight and visceral adipose tissue weight. FC administration significantly reduced lipid accumulation. Moreover, FC could dose-dependently and differentially regulate the expressions of lipid metabolism-related transcription factors. All these data indicated that FC exhibited anti-obesity effects through modulating adipogenesis and lipolysis.

Effect of qigong exercise and acupressure rehabilitation program on pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19: A randomized controlled trial

Shu-ting Liu,Chao Zhan,Yun-jing Ma,Chao-yang Guo,Wei Chen,Xiao-ming Fang,Lei Fang 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.-

Background There are several effective complementary and integrative therapies for patients with severe COVID-19. The trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and advantages of the qigong exercise and acupressure rehabilitation program (QARP) for treating patients with severe COVID-19. Methods A total of 128 patients with COVID-19 aged 20 to 80 years were recruited and randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive QARP plus standard therapies or standard therapies alone. QARP consisted of acupressure therapy and qigong exercise (Liu Zi Jue). The primary outcome was measured with the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and the secondary outcomes included the modified Borg dyspnea scale (MBS), fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14), patient health questionnaire-9 scale (PHQ-9), duration of respiratory symptoms, and vital signs. Results In total, 128 patients completed the clinical trial. The QARP group and standard therapies group showed significant improvements in vital signs (except blood pressure) and clinical scales compared with baseline (p<0.05). The QARP group also showed more significant improvement in the mMRC dyspnea scale (-1.8 [-2.1, -1.6], p=0.018) and modified Borg dyspnea scale (-3.7 [95% confidence intervals (CI) -4.3, -3.1], p=0.045). The duration of cough was 14.3 days (95% CI 12.6, 16.1, p=0.046), and the length of hospital stay was 18.5 days (95% CI 17.0, 20.0, p=0.042) in the QARP group, both of which were significantly reduced compared with the standard therapies group (p<0.05). Conclusion QARP plus standard therapies improved lung function and symptoms such as dyspnea and cough in patients with severe COVID-19 and shortened the length of hospital stay. Therefore, QARP may be considered an effective treatment option for patients with severe COVID-19. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: ChiCTR2000029994 Background There are several effective complementary and integrative therapies for patients with severe COVID-19. The trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and advantages of the qigong exercise and acupressure rehabilitation program (QARP) for treating patients with severe COVID-19. Methods A total of 128 patients with COVID-19 aged 20 to 80 years were recruited and randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive QARP plus standard therapies or standard therapies alone. QARP consisted of acupressure therapy and qigong exercise (Liu Zi Jue). The primary outcome was measured with the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and the secondary outcomes included the modified Borg dyspnea scale (MBS), fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14), patient health questionnaire-9 scale (PHQ-9), duration of respiratory symptoms, and vital signs. Results In total, 128 patients completed the clinical trial. The QARP group and standard therapies group showed significant improvements in vital signs (except blood pressure) and clinical scales compared with baseline (p<0.05). The QARP group also showed more significant improvement in the mMRC dyspnea scale (-1.8 [-2.1, -1.6], p=0.018) and modified Borg dyspnea scale (-3.7 [95% confidence intervals (CI) -4.3, -3.1], p=0.045). The duration of cough was 14.3 days (95% CI 12.6, 16.1, p=0.046), and the length of hospital stay was 18.5 days (95% CI 17.0, 20.0, p=0.042) in the QARP group, both of which were significantly reduced compared with the standard therapies group (p<0.05). Conclusion QARP plus standard therapies improved lung function and symptoms such as dyspnea and cough in patients with severe COVID-19 and shortened the length of hospital stay. Therefore, QARP may be considered an effective treatment option for patients with severe COVID-19. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: ChiCTR2000029994

D-Galactose Induces a Mitochondrial Complex I Deficiency in Mouse Skeletal Muscle: Potential Benefits of Nutrient Combination in Ameliorating Muscle Impairment

Liao Chang,Xin Liu,Jing Liu,Hua Li,Yanshen Yang,Jia Liu,Zihao Guo,Ke Xiao,Chen Zhang,Jiankang Liu,Xi Zhao-Wilson,Jiangang Long 한국식품영양과학회 2014 Journal of medicinal food Vol.17 No.3

Accumulating research has shown that chronic D-galactose (D-gal) exposure induces symptoms similar to natural aging in animals. Therefore, rodents chronically exposed to D-gal are increasingly used as a model for aging and delay-of-aging pharmacological research. Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to play a vital role in aging and age-related diseases; however, whether mitochondrial dysfunction plays a significant role in mice exposed to D-gal remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated cognitive dysfunction, locomotor activity, and mitochondrial dysfunction involved in D-gal exposure in mice. We found that D-gal exposure (125 mg/kg/day, 8 weeks) resulted in a serious impairment in grip strength in mice, whereas spatial memory and locomotor coordination remained intact. Interestingly, muscular mitochondrial complex I deficiency occurred in the skeletal muscle of mice exposed to D-gal. Mitochondrial ultrastructure abnormality was implicated as a contributing factor in D-gal-induced muscular impairment. Moreover, three combinations (A, B, and C) of nutrients applied in this study effectively reversed D-gal-induced muscular impairment. Nutrient formulas B and C were especially effective in reversing complex I dysfunction in both skeletal muscle and heart muscle. These findings suggest the following: (1) chronic exposure to D-gal first results in specific muscular impairment in mice, rather than causing general, premature aging; (2) poor skeletal muscle strength induced by D-gal might be due to the mitochondrial dysfunction caused by complex I deficiency; and (3) the nutrient complexes applied in the study attenuated the skeletal muscle impairment, most likely by improving mitochondrial function.