Morphological and phylogenetic identification of Botrytis sinoviticola, a novel cryptic species causing gray mold disease of table grapes (Vitis vinifera) in China.

Seventy-five isolates of Botrytis collected from table grapes (Vitis vinifera) with gray mold symptoms in China were identified based on morpho-cultural characteristics on potato dextrose agar (20 C) and/or phylogenetic analysis using the sequences of three nuclear genes (G3PDH, HSP60, RPB2). Isolates of different species of Botrytis were compared with fenhexamid sensitivity, Bc-hch gene-RFLP haplotyping and pathogenicity to V. vinifera.

In vivo antibacterial activity of MRX-I, a new oxazolidinone.

MRX-I is a potent oxazolidinone antibiotic against Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP), penicillin-intermediate S. pneumoniae (PISP), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). In this study, the in vivo efficacy of orally administered MRX-I was evaluated using linezolid as a comparator.

Gallic acid protects against endothelial injury by restoring the depletion of DNA methyltransferase 1 and inhibiting proteasome activities.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of gallic acid, a common phenolic compound naturally present in food and nutraceuticals, on endothelial cell death and the mechanisms involved.

Methods: Endothelial cell death was induced by the combination of homocysteine, adenosine and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in human vascular endothelial cells (EAhy926 and HBEC-5i cells). The protective effects of gallic acid were evaluated against cytotoxicity, apoptosis and microparticle release.

Antiviral activity of polymethoxylated flavones from "Guangchenpi", the edible and medicinal pericarps of citrus reticulata 'Chachi'.

The present study found that the supercritical fluid extract of "Guangchenpi" possessed in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of this extract led to obtain five active polymethoxylated flavones (1-5). Cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay exhibited that tangeretin (2) and nobiletin (3), two major polymethoxylated flavones in the extract, possessed better anti-RSV effect comparable to the positive control ribavirin.

Cloning of ubiquitin-activating enzyme and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme genes from Gracilaria lemaneiformis and their activity under heat shock.

To study the response of Gracilaria lemaneiformis to heat stress, two key enzymes - ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1) and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) - of the Ubiquitin/26S proteasome pathway (UPP) were studied in three strains of G. lemaneiformis-wild type, heat-tolerant cultivar 981 and heat-tolerant cultivar 07-2. The full length DNA sequence of E1 contained only one exon.

Constructing the major biosynthesis pathways for amino acids in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), based on the transcriptome data.

Nilaparvata lugens is a serious phloem-feeding pest of rice throughout Asia. Rice phloem sap can meet its nutrition requirement for sugars but not for some essential amino acids such as isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, lysine, arginine and histidine. N.

Polyhydroxylated steroids from the South China Sea soft coral Sarcophyton sp. and their cytotoxic and antiviral activities.

Chemical investigation on the soft coral Sarcophyton sp. collected from the South China Sea yielded three new polyhydroxylated steroids, compounds (1-3), together with seven known ones (4-10). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic methods and comparison of their data with those of the related known compounds.

Pharmacokinetics of plantamajoside and acteoside from Plantago asiatica in rats by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Plantago asiatica is a medicinal and dietary plant rich in polyphenolic compounds such as phenylpropanoid glycosides plantamajoside and acteoside. The aims of the present study were to develop a new and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of plantamajoside and acteoside and investigate their pharmacokinetic properties in rats. A sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method with multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was employed for quantification of two analytes in rat plasma.

RNA interference-mediated silencing of a Halloween gene spookier affects nymph performance in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus.

Post-embryonic development of insects is highly dependent on ecdysteroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. Halloween gene spookier (spok, cyp307a2) has been documented to be involved in ecdysteroidogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster and Bombyx mori. We describe here the cloning and characterization of Halloween gene spookier (Lsspok, Lscyp307a2) in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus, a hemipteran insect species.

Molecular identification of hookworms in stray and shelter dogs from Guangzhou city, China using ITS sequences.

Canine hookworm infections are endemic worldwide, with zoonotic transmission representing a potentially significant public health concern. This study aimed to investigate hookworm infection and identify the prevalent species from stray and shelter dogs in Guangzhou city, southern China by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. From March 2011 to July 2012, fresh faecal samples from a total of 254 dogs were obtained from five locations, namely Conghua, Baiyun, Liwan, Haizhu and Panyu, in Guangzhou.

Interaction between 14-3-3β and PrP influences the dimerization of 14-3-3 and fibrillization of PrP106-126.

Proteins of the 14-3-3 family are universal participate in multiple cellular processes. However, their exact role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases remains unclear. In this study, we proposed that human PrP was able to form molecular complex with 14-3-3β.

Identification of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes and their expression profiles in cyhalothrin-treated Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata.

Based on a Leptinotarsa decemlineata transcriptome dataset and the GenBank sequences, a total of 74 cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes (Cyps) were identified. These genes fell into CYP2 clan, mitochondrial clan, CYP3 clan and CYP4 clan, and were classified into 19 families and 35 subfamilies according to standard nomenclature. Two new families were discovered in CYP4 clan, and were named CYP412 and CYP413 respectively.

Assessment of toxicity and potential risk of butene-fipronil using Drosophila melanogaster, in comparison to nine conventional insecticides.

The toxicities of butene-fipronil to Drosophila melanogaster were evaluated, in comparison to nine conventional insecticides. According to the mean LD50 values of the larvae from CS, w(1118) and Oregan strains, butene-fipronil,abamectin, spinosad and chlorpyrifos exhibited high levels of toxicity. Imidacloprid, α-cypermethrin and clothianidin showed middle levels of toxicity.

Diode-pumped continuous wave tunable and graphene Q-switched Tm:LSO lasers.

We have investigated the lasing characteristics of Tm:LSO crystal in three operation regimes: continuous wave (CW), wavelength tunable and passive Q-switching based on graphene. In CW regime, a maximum output power of 0.65 W at 2054.

Anti-invasive effects of celastrol in hypoxia-induced fibroblast-like synoviocyte through suppressing of HIF-1α/CXCR4 signaling pathway.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joints are in a hypoxic condition. Hypoxia-induced migration and invasion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are considered to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of RA. Among the key genes upregulated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) plays an important role in FLS migration and invasion.

Infection of prions and treatment of PrP106-126 alter the endogenous status of protein 14-3-3 and trigger the mitochondrial apoptosis possibly via activating Bax pathway.

The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of highly homologous and ubiquitously expressed isoforms that are involved in a wide variety of physiological processes. 14-3-3 have showed actively molecular interaction with PrP and positive 14-3-3 is frequently observed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of the patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, the alterations of 14-3-3 in the brain tissues of patients with prion diseases remain little addressed.

[Study on the incidence and risk factors of HCV infection among heroin addicts who were on methadone maintenance treatment in Dehong prefecture,Yunnan province].

Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors of HCV infection among heroin addicts who were receiving methadone maintenance treatment(MMT)in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province.

Methods: All heroin addicts who were HCV negative at the initiation of MMT in June 2005 through March 2012, in Dehong prefecture, were included in this cohort analysis. HCV incidence was calculated and related risk factors determined by using Cox proportional hazard regression model.

Expressions of Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase and its clinical significance in laryngeal carcinoma.

We investigated the expression of Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase (SHP-2) in laryngeal carcinoma and its clinical significance. Expression of SHP-2 was detected by immunohistochemical staining in normal mucosal tissues and various grades of laryngeal carcinoma. We looked for possible correlations between expression of SHP-2 in laryngeal carcinoma and clinical staging and lymph node metastasis.

Optimization of nutrient component for diesel oil degradation by Acinetobacter beijerinckii ZRS.

A new bacterial strain that is capable of using diesel as the sole carbon source was isolated from the petroleum-contaminated soil of Xinjiang oil field, Northwest China. This bacterium was identified on the basis of its morphological and physiological characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and it showed the greatest similarity with Acinetobacter beijerinckii 302-PWB-OH1 (99.86%).

Knockdown of a putative Halloween gene Shade reveals its role in ecdysteroidogenesis in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus.

Ecdysteroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) plays fundamental roles in insect development and reproduction, whereas the primary role of ecdysone (E) is the precursor for 20E. A cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP), encoded by a Halloween gene Shade (Shd, cyp314a1), catalyzes the conversion of E into 20E in representative insect species in Diptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera. We describe here the cloning and characterization of LsShd in a hemipteran insect species, the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus.

Gallstone ileus: case report and literature review.

Gallstone ileus (GI) is characterized by occlusion of the intestinal lumen as a result of one or more gallstones. GI is a rare complication of gallstones that occurs in 1%-4% of all cases of bowel obstruction. The mortality associated with GI ranges between 12% and 27%.

[Chemical constituents from the twigs and leaves of Melodinus suaveolens].

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents from the twigs and leaves of Melodinus suaveolens.

Methods: The chemical consituents were separated and purified by column chromatographies with silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and RP-HPLC. Their structures were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.

[Effect of aspirin on function of human umbilical cord blood-derived late endothelial progenitor cells].

This study was aimed to investigate whether aspirin has effect on function of late endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). Cord blood CD34(+) cells were purified using the ficoll density gradient centrifugation and human CD34 positive selection kit, then the cells were inoculated on fibronectin-coated culture plate. After culture for 2 weeks, adherent cells were identified as EPC by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, uptake of Dil-Ac-LDL and matrigel tube formation assay.

First Report of Peach Brown Rot Caused by Monilinia fructicola in Central and Western China.

Brown rot of peach (Prunus persica) in China has been reported to be caused by at least three Monilinia species (1). In the present study, peaches with symptoms resembling brown rot caused by Monilinia species were collected from commercial orchards in the northwestern province of Gansu in August 2010, the southwestern province of Yunnan in July 2011, and in the central province of Hubei in July 2012. Affected fruit showed the typical symptoms of brown rot with zones of sporulation.