Soil fungal community development in a high Arctic glacier foreland follows a directional replacement model, with a mid-successional diversity maximum.

Directional replacement and directional non-replacement models are two alternative paradigms for community development in primary successional environments. The first model emphasizes turnover in species between early and late successional niches. The second emphasizes accumulation of additional diversity over time.

Rainforest Conversion to Rubber Plantation May Not Result in Lower Soil Diversity of Bacteria, Fungi, and Nematodes.

Large areas of rainforest in Asia have been converted to plantations, with uncertain effects on soil biodiversity. Using standard metagenetic methods, we compared the soil biota of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes at three rainforest sites in Malaysia with two rubber plantation sites with similar soils and geology. We predicted the following: (1) that the rubber sites would have a lower α- and β-diversity than the rainforest sites, due to the monospecific canopy cover and intensive management with herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, and (2) that due to differences in the physical and biotic environment associated with cultivation, there would be distinct communities of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes.

Distinctive Tropical Forest Variants Have Unique Soil Microbial Communities, But Not Always Low Microbial Diversity.

There has been little study of whether different variants of tropical rainforest have distinct soil microbial communities and levels of diversity. We compared bacterial and fungal community composition and diversity between primary mixed dipterocarp, secondary mixed dipterocarp, white sand heath, inland heath, and peat swamp forests in Brunei Darussalam, Northwest Borneo by analyzing Illumina Miseq sequence data of 16S rRNA gene and ITS1 region. We hypothesized that white sand heath, inland heath and peat swamp forests would show lower microbial diversity and relatively distinct microbial communities (compared to MDF primary and secondary forests) due to their distinctive environments.

The impact of tropical forest logging and oil palm agriculture on the soil microbiome.

Selective logging and forest conversion to oil palm agriculture are rapidly altering tropical forests. However, functional responses of the soil microbiome to these land-use changes are poorly understood. Using 16S rRNA gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we compared composition and functional attributes of soil biota between unlogged, once-logged and twice-logged rainforest, and areas converted to oil palm plantations in Sabah, Borneo.

Insight into the Mode of Action of Haedoxan A from Phryma leptostachya.

Haedoxan A (HA) is a major active ingredient in the herbaceous perennial plant lopseed (Phryma leptostachya L.), which is used as a natural insecticide against insect pests in East Asia. Here, we report that HA delayed the decay rate of evoked excitatory junctional potentials (EJPs) and increased the frequency of miniature EJPs (mEJPs) on the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

Romk1 Knockout Mice Do Not Produce Bartter Phenotype but Exhibit Impaired K Excretion.

Romk knock-out mice show a similar phenotype to Bartter syndrome of salt wasting and dehydration due to reduced Na-K-2Cl-cotransporter activity. At least three ROMK isoforms have been identified in the kidney; however, unique functions of any of the isoforms in nephron segments are still poorly understood. We have generated a mouse deficient only in Romk1 by selective deletion of the Romk1-specific first exon using an ES cell Cre-LoxP strategy and examined the renal phenotypes, ion transporter expression, ROMK channel activity, and localization under normal and high K intake.

Microarray expression profile analysis of long non-coding RNAs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a variety of the human transcriptome that does not code for proteins and plays an important role in the development and progression of multiple solid malignant tumors. However, the roles of lncRNAs in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of lncRNAs in three PDAC tumor samples (T) relative to those of matched adjacent non-tumor tissues (N) via a microarray with 30,586 lncRNA probes and 26,109 mRNA probes.

Evidence for Dual Binding Sites for 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) in Insect Sodium Channels.

1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), the first organochlorine insecticide, and pyrethroid insecticides are sodium channel agonists. Although the use of DDT is banned in most of the world due to its detrimental impact on the ecosystem, indoor residual spraying of DDT is still recommended for malaria control in Africa. Development of resistance to DDT and pyrethroids is a serious global obstacle for managing disease vectors.

Enhanced Stability of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Encapsulated in Dissolving Microneedle Patches.

Purpose: This study tested the hypothesis that encapsulation of influenza vaccine in microneedle patches increases vaccine stability during storage at elevated temperature.

Methods: Whole inactivated influenza virus vaccine (A/Puerto Rico/8/34) was formulated into dissolving microneedle patches and vaccine stability was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays of antigenicity and immunogenicity after storage for up to 3 months at 4, 25, 37 and 45°C.

Results: While liquid vaccine completely lost potency as determined by hemagglutination (HA) activity within 1-2 weeks outside of refrigeration, vaccine in microneedle patches lost 40-50% HA activity during or shortly after fabrication, but then had no significant additional loss of activity over 3 months of storage, independent of temperature.

Distribution of Plasmids in Distinct Leptospira Pathogenic Species.

Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic Leptospira, is a worldwide zoonotic infection. The genus Leptospira includes at least 21 species clustered into three groups--pathogens, non-pathogens, and intermediates--based on 16S rRNA phylogeny. Research on Leptospira is difficult due to slow growth and poor transformability of the pathogens.

Molecular and functional characterization of a novel sodium channel TipE-like auxiliary subunit from the American cockroach Periplaneta americana.

In Drosophila melanogaster, the functions of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels are modulated by TipE and its orthologs. Here, we describe a novel TipE homolog of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, called PaTipE. Like DmTipE, PaTipE mRNAs are ubiquitously expressed.

Mutations in the transmembrane helix S6 of domain IV confer cockroach sodium channel resistance to sodium channel blocker insecticides and local anesthetics.

Indoxacarb and metaflumizone are two sodium channel blocker insecticides (SCBIs). They preferably bind to and trap sodium channels in the slow-inactivated non-conducting state, a mode of action similar to that of local anesthetics (LAs). Recently, two sodium channel mutations, F1845Y (F(4i15)Y) and V1848I (V(4i18)I), in the transmembrane segment 6 of domain IV (IVS6), were identified to be associated with indoxacarb resistance in Plutella xylostella.

The Drosophila Sodium Channel 1 (DSC1): The founding member of a new family of voltage-gated cation channels.

It has been nearly three decades since the identification of the Drosophila Sodium Channel 1 (DSC1) gene from Drosophila melanogaster. The orthologs of the DSC1 gene have now been identified in other insect species including BSC1 from Blattella germanica. Functional analyses of DSC1/BSC1 channels in Xenopus oocytes reveal that DSC1 and BSC1 encode voltage-gated cation channels that are more permeable to Ca(2+) than to Na(+).

Rotational Symmetry of Two Pyrethroid Receptor Sites in the Mosquito Sodium Channel.

Voltage-gated sodium channels are the primary target of pyrethroid insecticides. Although it is well known that specific mutations in insect sodium channels confer knockdown resistance (kdr) to pyrethroids, the atomic mechanisms of pyrethroid-sodium channel interactions are not clearly understood. Previously, computer modeling and mutational analysis predicted two pyrethroid receptors, pyrethroid receptor site 1 (PyR1) (initial) and pyrethroid receptor site 2 (PyR2), located in the domain interfaces II/III and I/II, respectively.

The Antibacterial Effects of an Antimicrobial Peptide Human β-Defensin 3 Fused with Carbohydrate-Binding Domain on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most opportunistic bacterial pathogens in human communities. Being a potential antibacterial agent, antimicrobial peptide human β-defensin 3-carbohydrate-binding domain (hBD3-CBD) was evaluated in this study by in vitro bactericidal test, special gene expressions, hBD3-CBD effects on biofilm formation assays, swimming, twitching, and swarming activities of P. aeruginosa PA14, and hBD3-CBD effects on the antibiotic 50 % minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC50) and 90 % minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) against clinical P.

Two novel sodium channel mutations associated with resistance to indoxacarb and metaflumizone in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

Indoxacarb and metaflumizone belong to a relatively new class of sodium channel blocker insecticides (SCBIs). Due to intensive use of indoxacarb, field-evolved indoxacarb resistance has been reported in several lepidopteran pests, including the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella, a serious pest of cruciferous crops. In particular, the BY12 population of P.

Distinct modulating effects of TipE-homologs 2-4 on Drosophila sodium channel splice variants.

The Drosophila melanogaster TipE protein is thought to be an insect sodium channel auxiliary subunit functionally analogous to the β subunits of mammalian sodium channels. Besides TipE, four TipE-homologous proteins (TEH1-4) have been identified. It has been reported that TipE and TEH1 have both common and distinct effects on the gating properties of splice variants of the Drosophila sodium channel, DmNav.

Early growth response gene 1, a TRBP binding protein, is involved in miRNA activity of miR-125a-3p in human cells.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of many cellular pathways. However, the picture for components or regulators involved in the process of miRNA biogenesis and function remains to be further elucidated. Early growth response gene 1 (Egr1) has long been considered as tumor suppressor and transcriptional factor involved in cell proliferation and regulation of apoptosis.

Distinct roles of the DmNav and DSC1 channels in the action of DDT and pyrethroids.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav channels) are critical for electrical signaling in the nervous system and are the primary targets of the insecticides DDT and pyrethroids. In Drosophila melanogaster, besides the canonical Nav channel, Para (also called DmNav), there is a sodium channel-like cation channel called DSC1 (Drosophila sodium channel 1). Temperature-sensitive paralytic mutations in DmNav (para(ts)) confer resistance to DDT and pyrethroids, whereas DSC1 knockout flies exhibit enhanced sensitivity to pyrethroids.

A mutation in the intracellular loop III/IV of mosquito sodium channel synergizes the effect of mutations in helix IIS6 on pyrethroid resistance.

Activation and inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels are critical for proper electrical signaling in excitable cells. Pyrethroid insecticides promote activation and inhibit inactivation of sodium channels, resulting in prolonged opening of sodium channels. They preferably bind to the open state of the sodium channel by interacting with two distinct receptor sites, pyrethroid receptor sites PyR1 and PyR2, formed by the interfaces of domains II/III and I/II, respectively.

Tumor suppressor miR-34a targets PD-L1 and functions as a potential immunotherapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia.

miRNA (miR) 34a has been shown to modulate critical gene transcripts involved in tumorigenesis, but its role in tumor-mediated immunosuppression is largely unknown. PD-L1 plays an important role in immune responses, however, presently its transcriptional regulatory mechanisms are not well understood. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of PD-L1 and miR-34a in 44 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples, and observed an inverse correlation between PD-L1 and miR-34a expression.

Generalized soil Thaumarchaeota community in weathering rock and saprolite.

Relatively little is known of the archaeal communities associated with endolithic environments, compared to other microbial groups such as bacteria and fungi. Analyzing the pyrosequenced archaeal 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene V1-V3 region, we investigated the archaeal community associated with aboveground-exfoliated weathering layers of a granite gneiss, and of the saprolite derived from this rock at 1 m depth below the soil surface, in a forested hilly area south of Seoul, South Korea. In both these sites, an archaeal community dominated by the phylum Thaumarchaeota was identified.

Altered trafficking and stability of polycystins underlie polycystic kidney disease.

The most severe form of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease occurs in patients with mutations in the gene (PKD1) encoding polycystin-1 (PC1). PC1 is a complex polytopic membrane protein expressed in cilia that undergoes autoproteolytic cleavage at a G protein-coupled receptor proteolytic site (GPS). A quarter of PKD1 mutations are missense variants, though it is not clear how these mutations promote disease.

Comparative subproteome analysis of three representative Leptospira interrogans vaccine strains reveals cross-reactive antigens and novel virulence determinants.

Unlabelled: Pathogenic Leptospira spp. causes leptospirosis in China and throughout the world. Here, we have sequenced two L.

Kir1.1 (ROMK) and Kv7.1 (KCNQ1/KvLQT1) are essential for normal gastric acid secretion: importance of functional Kir1.1.

Potassium channels comprise the apical leak pathway supplying extracellular K(+) for exchange with protons by the gastric H(+), K(+)-ATPase and provide potential therapeutic targets for inhibiting gastric acid secretion. The Kir1.1 (ROMK) potassium channel mediates the high capacity K(+) recycling necessary for NaCl reabsorption in the thick ascending limb of the kidney, and this channel exhibits functional and regulatory characteristic well suited for K(+) recycling by gastric parietal cells.