Process and mechanism of termite impact on soil and plant.

Termites, as a kind of nesting social insects, are often confused as worldwide "pests" because some of their groups have great destructive effects. The vast majority of termites can regulate ecosystem functions and ser-vices by participating in biogeochemical cycles, known as "ecosystem engineers". We reviewed studies on the effects of termites on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of mound soil ecosystems and the composition and diversity of plant communities.

Response of N, P, and metal ions in deep soil layers to long-term cultivation of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems.

The growing demand for natural rubber products has driven the expansion of rubber plantations in recent decades. While much attention has been given to studying the long-term effects of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems on surface soil properties, there has been a tendency to overlook changes in soil properties in deeper layers. Our study addresses this gap by examining alterations in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and metal ion levels in deep soil layers resulting from the prolonged cultivation of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems.

Discovery of P450-Modified Sesquiterpenoids Levinoids A-D through Global Genome Mining.

Cytochrome P450-modified bacterial terpenoids remain in a vast chemical space to be explored. In the present study, we conducted global genome mining of 223,829 bacterial genomes and identified 2892 bacterial terpenoid biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) with cytochrome P450 genes. Among these, we selected 562 with multiple P450 enzymes, which were further clustered as 355 gene cluster families by sequence similarity analysis.

Discovery of Natural Potent HMG-CoA Reductase Degraders for Lowering Cholesterol.

Exploitation of key protected wild plant resources makes great sense, but their limited populations become the major barrier. A particular strategy for breaking this barrier was inspired by the exploration of a resource-saving fungal endophyte Penicillium sp. DG23, which inhabits the key protected wild plant Schisandra macrocarpa.

Mechanistic Insight into the Inhibitory Activity of Elasnin-Based Coating against Early Marine Biofilms.

Marine biofilms are multispecies microbial communities on surfaces that are crucial to the marine environment. They cause marine corrosion, biofouling, and transmission of marine pathogens and thus pose a great threat to public health and the maritime industry. To control marine biofilms, effective and environmentally friendly antibiofilm compounds are highly needed.

Aspcandine: A Pyrrolobenzazepine Alkaloid Synthesized by a Fungal Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase-Polyketide Synthase Hybrid.

Characterization of an orphan biosynthetic gene cluster found in the fungus CBS 102.13 resulted in the discovery of a pyrrolobenzazepine alkaloid, aspcandine (). The unique molecular scaffold of is synthesized by the nonribosomal peptide synthetase-polyketide synthase hybrid AcdB, which unusually incorporates 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine as a building block.

Cytochalasans from the Endophytic Fungus sp. shj2 and Their Antimigratory Activities.

Cytochalasans from the endophytic fungi featured structure diversity. Our previous study has disclosed that cytochalasans from the endophytic fungus sp. shj2 exhibited an antimigratory effect.

Biosynthesis and bioactivities of microbial genotoxin colibactins.

Covering: up to 2021Colibactin(s), a group of secondary metabolites produced by the island ( cluster) of , shows genotoxicity relevant to colorectal cancer and thus significantly affects human health. Over the last 15 years, substantial efforts have been exerted to reveal the molecular structure of colibactin, but progress is slow owing to its instability, low titer, and elusive and complex biosynthesis logic. Fortunately, benefiting from the discovery of the prodrug mechanism, over 40 precursors of colibactin have been reported.

Discovery of ent-kaurane diterpenoids, characteristic metabolites of Isodon species, from an endophytic fungal strain Geopyxis sp. XY93 inhabiting Isodon parvifolia.

Isogeopyxins A-C (1-3), three new diterpenoids with ent-kaurane, ent-pimarane, and ent-abietane scaffolds, respectively, along with six known ent-kauranoids, were isolated from the fermentation culture of Geopyxis sp. XY93 inhabiting the leaves of Isodon parvifolia. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data, and single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Challenges of the establishment of rubber-based agroforestry systems: Decreases in the diversity and abundance of ground arthropods.

The global land area devoted to rubber plantations has now reached 13 million hectares, and the further expansion of these rubber plantations at the expense of tropical forests will have significant adverse effects on the ecological environment. Rubber-based agroforestry systems are considered a preferable approach for ameliorating the ecological environment. Many researchers have focused on the positive effects of rubber-based agroforestry systems on the ecological environment, while ignoring the risks involved in the establishment of rubber-based agroforestry systems.

3-Hydroxy-4-methyldecanoic Acid-Containing Cyclotetradepsipeptides from an Endolichenic sp.

An investigation of an endolichenic sp. led to the discovery of seven new cyclotetradepsipeptides, beauveamides A-G (-), along with the known beauverolide Ka (). All incorporate a 3-hydroxy-4-methyldecanoic acid (HMDA) moiety in their structures.

Chaetolactam A, an Azaphilone Derivative from the Endophytic Fungus sp. g1.

Chaetolactam A (), an unprecedented azaphilone derivative bearing a unique 9-oxa-7-azabicyclo[4.2.1]octan-8-onering system, together with two new compounds, 11--chaetomugilide B () and chaetomugilide D () was isolated from an endophytic fungus, sp.

Nomograms for predicting survival in early-onset esophageal cancer.

: This study aimed to develop nomograms predicting the overall survival (OS) of patients younger than 50 years old with esophageal cancer.: We selected patients included 2004-2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Nomograms were constructed using significant variables from multivariable Cox analyses.

Discovery of Pyranoviolin A and Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster in .

A new polyketide-non-ribosomal peptide hybrid molecule, pyranoviolin A (), was discovered from the genome-sequenced fungus CBS 115571 and was characterized to be the first pyranonigrin analog harboring the C-3 methoxy group. Examination of the genome sequence of the fungus identified a putative biosynthetic gene cluster of , which was designated as the cluster. The gene deletion experiment of the polyketide synthase (PKS)-non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) hybrid gene in the cluster confirmed the involvement of the cluster in the pyranoviolin A biosynthesis.

Serum microRNA expression profiling revealing potential diagnostic biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood circulation can serve as promising diagnostic markers for cancers. This four-stage study aimed at finding serum miRNAs as potential biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma (LA) diagnosis.

Methods: The study was carried out between 2016 and 2017.

Arthrinins E-G, Three Botryane Sesquiterpenoids from the Plant Endophytic Fungus Arthrinium sp. HS66.

Arthrinins E-G (1-3), three new sesquiterpenoids possessing non-isoprenoid botryane skeleton, were isolated from the fermentation of an endophytic fungus named Arthrinium sp. HS66 which colonized in the stems of Isodon xerophilus. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods.

Discovery of isopenicin A, a meroterpenoid as a novel inhibitor of tubulin polymerization.

Microtubules are involved in celluar processes of movement, intracellular trafficking and mitosis, thus microtubule-targeting agents have been widely used in cancer therapy. Herein, we report isopenicin A, a novel meroterpenoid isolated from the plant endophytic fungus of Penicillium sp. sh18, as a novel microtubule binding molecule that efficiently depolymerizes microtubule polymerization to evoke G2/M cell cycle arrest and subsequent cell apoptosis, contributing to proliferation inhibition of human tumor cell lines.

Structural determination of eleven new preschisanartane-type schinortriterpenoids from two Schisandra species and structural revision of preschisanartanin J using NMR computation method.

Nineteen preschisanartane-type schinortriterpenoids (SNTs), among which eleven ones were previously undescribed, were isolated from two Schisandra species, S. sphaerandra and S. rubriflora.

(+)- and (-)-Alternarilactone A: Enantiomers with a Diepoxy-Cage-like Scaffold from an Endophytic Alternaria sp.

The enantiomers (+)- and (-)-alternarilactone A (1), the first examples of dibenzo-α-pyrones bearing a diepoxy-cage-like moiety, were isolated from the endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. hh930. The deficiency in H-H COSY and HMBC correlations caused by the highly oxidized caged system of 1 and the deceptive and ambiguous signals such as "W" couplings in NMR data increased the risk of structure misassignment of 1.

The microRNA-375 as a potentially promising biomarker to predict the prognosis of patients with head and neck or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Background: The prognostic value of microRNA-375 (miR-375) expression in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) had been reported in the previous studies; however, the results remain inconsistent. This study was performed to investigate the prognostic significance of miR-375 expression in SCC based on all eligible evidences.

Methods: Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embace, Medline, Cochrane Library, and China Biology Medicine disk.

Isopenicins A-C: Two Types of Antitumor Meroterpenoids from the Plant Endophytic Fungus Penicillium sp. sh18.

Isopenicins A-C (1-3), three novel meroterpenoids possessing two types of unprecedented terpenoid-polyketide hybrid skeletons, were isolated from the cultures of Penicillium sp. sh18. Their structures were determined through synergetic use of extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum-chemical calculation with ANN-PRA analysis, and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Introduction of a leguminous shrub to a rubber plantation changed the soil carbon and nitrogen fractions and ameliorated soil environments.

The conversion of monoculture rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations into rubber-based agroforestry systems has become a common trend in forestry management in the past few decades. Rubber-Flemingia macrophylla (a leguminous shrub) systems are popular in southwestern China's Xishuangbanna region. The biogeochemical cycles of soil carbon and nitrogen in forests are mainly affected by their fractions.

Secondary Metabolites from the Endophytic Fungus Xylaria sp. hg1009.

A detailed chemical investigation of the secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. isolated from the stems of Isodon sculponeatus afforded six new compounds, xylariahgins A-F (1-6), two new natural products (7 and 8), along with two known compounds (9 and 10) (Fig. 1).

Gypmacrophin A, a Rare Pentacyclic Sesterterpenoid, Together with Three Depsides, Functioned as New Chemical Evidence for Gypsoplaca macrophylla (Zahlbr.) Timdal Identification.

The phytochemical investigation on 1 g of materials from (Zahlbr.) Timdal resulted in the discovery of gypmacrophin A, a rare pentacyclic sesterterpenoid; brialmontin III, a new polysubstituted depside and two known ones, brialmontins I and II. The structure and absolute configurations of gypmacrophin A were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and computational methods.