A novel plasmid-Escherichia coli system produces large batch dsRNAs for insect gene silencing.

Background: RNA interference (RNAi)-based pest management requires efficient delivery and large-batch production of double-stranded (ds)RNA. We previously developed a nanocarrier-mediated dsRNA delivery system that could penetrate an insect's body and efficiently silence gene expression. However, there is a great need to improve the plasmid-Escherichia coli system for the mass production of dsRNA.

Association between NOD2/CARD15 gene polymorphisms and Crohn's disease in Chinese Zhuang patients.

Aim: To assess the relationship between the P268S, JW1 and N852S polymorphisms and Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility in Zhuang patients in Guangxi, China.

Methods: Intestinal tissues from 102 Zhuang [48 CD and 54 ulcerative colitis (UC)] and 100 Han (50 CD and 50 UC) unrelated patients with inflammatory bowel disease and 72 Zhuang and 78 Han unrelated healthy individuals were collected in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2009 to March 2013. Genomic DNA was extracted using the phenol chloroform method.