Contact toxicity and transcriptomic analysis of terpinen-4-ol exposure in Tribolium castaneum

Shan-shan Gao,Yong-lei Zhang,Kun-peng Zhang,Wang Xing-yun,Qing-bo Tang,Yuan-chen Zhang 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.3

The terpene, terpinen-4-ol (T4ol), exhibits contact toxicity in Tribolium castaneum. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this toxicity have not been elucidated. This study examined changes in the expression of four classic enzymes after exposure of T. castaneum to T4ol. Acetylcholinesterase and glutathione S-transferase activities were markedly inhibited after exposure to T4ol, while that of the detoxifying enzyme cytochrome oxidase P450 increased markedly. Carboxylesterase activity did not show significant changes. Furthermore, RNA sequencing revealed 260 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the T4ol-treated and control samples, and qRT-PCR was used to validate the RNA-Seq data. The Gene Ontology analysis classified the DEGs into 36 functional groups, including the immune system processes, response to stimulus, and developmental processes. T4ol altered the response to stimulus and the immune system process of beetles by inducing the expression of the genes Stabilin-1, Attacin 1, and Defensin 1. Furthermore, the DEGs receptor tyrosine kinase Torso-like protein (RTKTsl), Frizzled 4 (Fz4), Protein Wnt-5b, Ecdysone-induced protein 78C (E78), Zinc finger protein GLIS1 (ZFPGLIS1) were classified as participating in beetle development, and Fz4 and Protein Wnt-5b also mapped to the Wnt signaling pathway. This indicated that pathways associated with development are inhibited after exposure to T4ol. T4ol also induced CYP9Z6/GSTs7 overexpression, and RNAi targeting these genes significantly increased larvae mortality on T4ol exposure, supporting the participation of CYP9Z6/GSTs7 in the response to T4ol in T. castaneum. The results of this study will facilitate understanding of the toxic mechanisms of T4ol and provide a basis for controlling the pests of stored products.

Antifibrotic Effect of Curcumin in TGF-β1-Induced Myofibroblasts from Human Oral Mucosa

Zhang, Shan-Shan,Gong, Zhao-Jian,Li, Wen-Hui,Wang, Xiao,Ling, Tian-You Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.1

Background: Myofibroblasts play an important role in the development of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). In the current study, we investigate the effect of curcumin on growth and apoptosis of myofibroblasts derived from human oral mucosa. Methods: Myofibroblasts were generated by incubating fibroblasts, obtained from human oral mucosa, with transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$). MTT, PI staining, and FACS assays were used to investigate curcumin's effect on proliferation and cell cycle of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Annexin V/PI binding and FACS assays were used to examine apoptosis of myofibroblasts, Western blotting to determine the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was employed to examine the levels of collagen type I and III in the supernatants of myofibroblasts. Results: Curcumin inhibits proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts; it also disturbs the cell cycle, induces apoptosis and decreases the generation of collagen type I and III in myofibroblasts, which are more sensitive to its effects than fibroblasts. Curcumin induces apoptosis in myofibroblasts by down-regulating the Bcl-2/ Bax ratio. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the antifibrotic effect of curcumin in vitro. It may therefore be a candidate for the treatment of OSF.

A sigma class glutathione S-transferase gene regulated by the CncC pathway is required for phytochemical tolerance in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Gao Shan-shan,Li Dong-yu,Huo Zhuang-kun,Zhang Yong-lei,Cao Yi-zhuo,Tan Yue-yao,Guo Xin-long,Zhang Jia-hao,Zhang Kun-peng,Li Rui-min 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.4

Insect glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play a crucial role in the detoxification of exogenous compounds, especially insecticides and plant allelochemicals. A sigma class GST gene, TcGSTS7, mediates the response to eugenol in Tribolium castaneum. However, the mechanism underlying this effect remains largely unknown. In this study, TcGSTS7, which exhibits a structural motif and domain organization characteristic of GSTs, was cloned from the T. castaneum genome. Spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that TcGSTS7 was most highly expressed at the late larva stage and was mainly expressed in the fat body and epidermis of larvae and adults, suggesting that TcGSTS7 may play a potential role in the protection against toxic xenobiotics in T. castaneum. Furthermore, the expression of TcGSTS7 was significantly induced after exposure to eugenol, while RNA inter ference (RNAi) targeting TcGSTS7 enhanced the sensitivity of the beetle to eugenol, indicating that TcGSTS7 is involved in the tolerance of T. castaneum to this insecticide. Interestingly, the depletion of TcCncC, which encodes a transcription factor of the CncC pathway that has been associated with the regulation of detoxification-related genes in insects, led to a reduction in the TcGSTS7 transcript level following exposure to eugenol, which suggests that TcGSTS7 acts downstream of the CncC pathway. Combined, these results indicated that TcGSTS7 partici pates in the tolerance of T. castaneum to phytochemicals in a CncC pathway-dependent manner. These findings have implications for the development of novel drugs for use in pest control.

Semi-continuous and Continuous Cultivation of Microalgae-sludge for Artificial Digested Food Wastes Leachate Treatment

( Shan Zhang ),( Hyeon Jeong Hwang ),( Sun-jin Hwang ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2015 한국폐기물자원순환학회 춘계학술발표논문집 Vol.2015 No.-

This study investigated the semi-continuous and continuous cultivation of microalgae-sludge for artificial digested food wastes leachate treatment, and the effect of hydraulic retention times(HRT) on microalgae growth and nutrient removal. In this study, two reactors were examined the HRTs from 4 to 1 day, the Chlorella vulgaris cell density of semi-continuous and continuous cultivation reached a maximum value at HRT 3 day, then decreasing HRT to 2 day and 1 day the Chlorella vulgaris cell density was decreased. The maximum Chlorella vulgaris cell density in semi-continuous cultivation was 1.4 times higher than continuous cultivation. The maximum NH_4-N, PO_4-P removal efficiency was 100%, 75.7% with HRT of 3 day in semi-continuous cultivation, while 96.5%, 65.7% with HRT of 4 day in continuous cultivation. These results indicate that semi-continuous cultivation is more suitable than continuous cultivation. And the effect of increased light intensity from 100 μmol/m²/s to 400 μmol/m²/s was also evaluated, as the result, increased light intensity improved Chlorella vulgaris cell growth and nutrient removal.

Local well-posedness for the nonlinear Schr[문자]dinger equation with harmonic potential in H^s

Shan Zhang,Zuhan Liu,Zhongxue Lu 대한수학회 2011 대한수학회보 Vol.48 No.6

We establish the local well-posedness for the Cauchy problem of the nonlinear Schr[문자]dinger equation with harmonic potential in H^s(R^n), where s∈R, s>0.

Cough Inhibition Activity of Schisandra chinensis in Guinea Pigs

Shan Zhong,Li-Ping Bai,Xiao-Dong Liu,Die-Yi Cai,Lee-Fong Yau,Chu-Qin Huang,Jia-Qi Zhang,Ke-Fang Lai,Nan-Shan Zhong 한국식품영양과학회 2021 Journal of medicinal food Vol.24 No.4

Chronic cough is very common in respiratory clinics, and no effective drugs are available. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis), an important traditional Chinese medicine, has been extensively prescribed for patients with a persistent cough. Preliminary research indicated that 95% ethanol extracts (EE) of S. chinensis showed remarkable antitussive activity in guinea pigs exposed to cigarette smoke (CS). To find out the antitussive ingredients of S. chinensis, EE was divided into four fractions according to the polarity: petroleum ether extract (PEE), ethyl acetate extract (ECE), n-butyl alcohol extract, and residue extract. The antitussive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of the four fractions were evaluated in a guinea pig model of cough hypersensitivity induced by CS exposure. Eighteen main constituents of the two effective fractions, PEE and ECE, were identified using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography electronic spray ion time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The cough inhibition activities of compound 1, 3, 9, 10, 17 were evaluated on citric acid induced acute cough guinea pigs. The results showed that the antitussive activity of EE was almost all contained in PEE and ECE. The 16 major peaks in PEE were identified as 15 lignans (1–12 and 14–16) and 1 triterpene (compound 13), and 3 major peaks (1, 17, and 18) in ECE were also identified as lignans. Three doses of five compounds brought about a significant decrease in number of cough efforts (P < .01), and the cough inhibition rates were between 40.9% and 85.1%. Therefore, lignans are the antitussive ingredients of S. chinensis.

LOCAL WELL-POSEDNESS FOR THE NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION WITH HARMONIC POTENTIAL IN H^s

Zhang, Shan,Liu, Zuhan,Lu, Zhongxue Korean Mathematical Society 2011 대한수학회보 Vol.48 No.6

We establish the local well-posedness for the Cauchy problem of the nonlinear Schr$\ddot{o}$odinger equation with harmonic potential in $H^s(\mathbb{R}^n)$, where $s{\in}\mathbb{R}$, s > 0.

Semi-continuous and Continuous Cultivation of Microalgae-sludge for Artificial Digested Food Wastes Leachate Treatment

Shan Zhang,Hyeon Jeong Hwang,Sun-Jin Hwang 한국폐기물자원순환학회 2015 한국폐기물자원순환학회 학술대회 Vol.2015 No.05

This study investigated the semi-continuous and continuous cultivation of microalgae-sludge for artificial digested food wastes leachate treatment, and the effect of hydraulic retention times(HRT) on microalgae growth and nutrient removal. In this study, two reactors were examined the HRTs from 4 to 1 day, the Chlorella vulgaris cell density of semi-continuous and continuous cultivation reached a maximum value at HRT 3 day, then decreasing HRT to 2 day and 1 day the Chlorella vulgaris cell density was decreased. The maximum Chlorella vulgaris cell density in semi-continuous cultivation was 1.4 times higher than continuous cultivation. The maximum NH4-N, PO4-P removal efficiency was 100%, 75.7% with HRT of 3 day in semi-continuous cultivation, while 96.5%, 65.7% with HRT of 4 day in continuous cultivation. These results indicate that semi-continuous cultivation is more suitable than continuous cultivation. And the effect of increased light intensity from 100 μmol/m²/s to 400 μmol/m²/s was also evaluated, as the result, increased light intensity improved Chlorella vulgaris cell growth and nutrient removal.

Effect of Pitting Corrosion on the Stress Intensity Factor Magnitude and Distribution

Shan-Hua Xu,Haijiang Zhang,Biao Nie,Zhexun Zhang 한국강구조학회 2021 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.21 No.4

The fracture and fatigue performance of corroded steel components show signifi cant degradation in both the crack initiation and propagation stage. This study is aimed to research the fracture behavior degradation mechanism of corroded steel members through investigating the eff ects of pits on stress intensity factor magnitude and distribution. The numerical simulation method was adopted, and a series of specimens with diff erent sizes and shapes of corrosion pits were modeled. It was found that the pitting-degradation models would show a more intense displacement and stress fi eld. A greater value of stress intensity factor SIF could be observed in model interior when the specimens were attacked by corrosion pits. The SIF distribution characteristic along thickness direction was aff ected by ratios of pit depth to radius. According to SIF numerical results, the premature fracture and shorter fatigue life induced by corrosion pits could be attributed to the higher SIF value compared with non-corrosion one.

Influence of Light Conditions of a Mixture of Red and Blue Light Sources on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal in Advanced Wastewater Treatment Using Scenedesmus dimorphus

Shan Zhang,김태형,Thi Hiep Han,황선진 한국생물공학회 2015 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.20 No.4

The effects of several light conditions (various light/dark cycles, light intensities, and light frequencies) of a mixture of intermittent red and blue light on nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater using Scenedesmus dimorphus were evaluated. The nitrogen removal rates were almost the same (~ 10 mg/L/day) during light/dark cycles of 16:8, 20:4, and 24:0, and were two-fold higher than those observed during light/dark cycles of 12:12 and 8:16. The phosphorous removal rate also reached its highest value (~ 1.5 mg/L/day) during the light/dark cycles of 20:4 and 24:0. These results suggest that microalgae should be illuminated for at least 16 and 20 h for the efficient removal of nitrogen and phosphorous, respectively. Moreover, both the nitrogen and phosphorous removal rates were significantly enhanced when the light intensity was raised from 50 to 400 μmol/m2/sec. Increasing the light intensity above 400 μmol/m2/sec caused photo-inhibition, such that microalgae production decreased. Besides the light/dark cycle and light intensity, flashing frequency also controls the growth and nutrient removal rate of Scenedesmus dimorphus. It was found that the most appropriate flashing frequency was 2,500 Hz.