Genetic Interaction of Global Regulators AflatfA and AflatfB Mediating Development, Stress Response and Aflatoxins B1 Production in .

produces carcinogenic and mutagenic aflatoxins, which cause economic losses and risk of food safety by contaminating grains, food and feed. In this study, we characterized two bZIP transcription factors, AflatfA and AflatfB, and their genetic interaction. Compared to the wild type (WT), deletion and and double deletion both caused retarded vegetative growth of mycelia.

The Association Between Physical Activity and Mathematical Achievement Among Chinese Fourth Graders: A Moderated Moderated-Mediation Model.

This study explored the association between out-of-school physical activity (PA) and mathematical achievement in relation to mathematical anxiety (MA), as well as the influence of parents' support for their children's physical activity on this association, to examine whether parental support for physical activity affects mental health and academic performance. Data were collected from the responses of 22,509 (52.9% boys) children in Grade 4 from six provinces across eastern, central, and western China who completed the mathematics component and the physical education and health component of the national-level education quality assessment.

The Regulatory Functions of σ Factor in Phytopathogenic Bacteria.

σ factor (RpoN), a type of transcriptional regulatory factor, is widely found in pathogenic bacteria. It binds to core RNA polymerase (RNAP) and regulates the transcription of many functional genes in an enhancer-binding protein (EBP)-dependent manner. σ has two conserved functional domains: the activator-interacting domain located at the N-terminal and the DNA-binding domain located at the C-terminal.

The Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II With Middle School Teachers.

As previous researchers have found, like other parts of the world, depression is prevalent among middle school teachers in China. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) has been widely used to detect depression among workers in different careers all over the world and has shown good scale properties but inconsistent factor structures. To examine the psychometric properties of the BDI-II among middle school teachers, a nationally representative sample of 4,672 valid cases from 688 middle schools were included.

Fine-Tuning by Triple Bond of Carbazole Derivative Dyes to Obtain High Efficiency for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Copper Electrolyte.

Three novel dyes consisting of a 5,8,15-(2-ethylhexyl)-8,15-dihydro-5-benzo[1,2-:3,4-':6,5-″]tricarbazole (BTC) electron-donating group and a 4,7-(4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)benzo[][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BTBT) π-bridge with an anchoring group of phenyl carboxyl acid were synthesized and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs).The AJ202 did not contain any triple bonds, the AJ201's ethynyl group was inserted between the BTC and BTBT units, and the AJ206's ethynyl group was introduced between the BTBT moiety and the anchor group. The inclusion and position of the ethynyl linkage in the sensitizer molecules significantly altered the electrochemical properties of these dyes, which can fine-tune the energy levels of the dyes.

Effect of fluorine substituents on benzothiadiazole-based D-π-A'-π-A photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Two D-π-A'-π-A organic dyes with triazatruxene (TAT) as the electron donor, thiophene as the π-spacer, benzoic acid as the anchor group, and benzothiadiazole (BT) or difluorobenzo[][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DFBT) as the additional acceptor, namely LS101 and LS102, respectively, were applied to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). As fluorine substituents are usually strong electron-withdrawing groups, introducing two fluorine atoms into BT was expected to strengthen the electron-withdrawing ability of the auxiliary acceptor, resulting in DSSCs with a broader light capture region and further improved power conversion efficiency (PCE). Fluorine is the smallest electron-withdrawing group with an induction effect, but can also act as an electron-donating group owing to its conjugation effect.

Molecular and structural basis of nucleoside diphosphate kinase-mediated regulation of spore and sclerotia development in the fungus .

The fundamental biological function of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK) is to catalyze the reversible exchange of the γ-phosphate between nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) and nucleoside diphosphate (NDP). This kinase also has functions that extend beyond its canonically defined enzymatic role as a phosphotransferase. However, the role of NDK in filamentous fungi, especially in (), is not yet known.

The Phosphatase CDC14 Regulates Development, Aflatoxin Biosynthesis and Pathogenicity.

Reversible protein phosphorylation is known to play important roles in the regulation of various cellular processes in eukaryotes. Phosphatase-mediated dephosphorylation are integral components of cellular signal pathways by counteracting the phosphorylation action of kinases. In this study, we characterized the functions of CDC14, a dual-specificity phosphatase in the development, secondary metabolism and crop infection of .

Essential APSES Transcription Factors for Mycotoxin Synthesis, Fungal Development, and Pathogenicity in .

Aflatoxins are a potent carcinogenic mycotoxin and has become a research model of fungal secondary metabolism (SM). Via systematically investigating the APSES transcription factors (TFs), two APSES proteins were identified: AfRafA and AfStuA. These play central roles in the synthesis of mycotoxins including aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid, and fungal development and are consequently central to the pathogenicity of the aflatoxigenic .

The Putative Histone Methyltransferase DOT1 Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity Attributes in Aspergillus flavus.

Lysine methyltransferases transfer methyl groups in specific lysine sites, which regulates a variety of important biological processes in eukaryotes. In this study, we characterized a novel homolog of the yeast methyltransferase DOT1 in . , and observed the roles of in .

COP9 signalosome subunit PfCsnE regulates secondary metabolism and conidial formation in Pestalotiopsis fici.

The COP9 signalosome (CSN) is a highly conserved multiprotein complex in all eukaryotes and involved in regulation of organism development. In filamentous fungi, several lines of evidence indicate that fungal development and secondary metabolism (SM) are mediated by the fifth subunit of CSN, called CsnE. Here we uncover a connection with CsnE and conidial formation as well as SM regulation in the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici.

A cryptic pigment biosynthetic pathway uncovered by heterologous expression is essential for conidial development in Pestalotiopsis fici.

Spore pigmentation is very common in the fungal kingdom. The best studied pigment in fungi is melanin which coats the surface of single cell spores. What and how pigments function in a fungal species with multiple cell conidia is poorly understood.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici: features and evolution.

Endophytic fungi (EF) live within plants and have profound impacts on plant communities. They are astonishingly diverse but poorly studied at the genome level. Herein, we assembled the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the EF Pestalotiopsis fici, annotated and compared it with those of other relatives to better understand the evolution of the EF lineage.

Complex dissemination of the diversified mcr-1-harbouring plasmids in Escherichia coli of different sequence types.

The emergence of the mobilized colistin resistance gene, representing a novel mechanism for bacterial drug resistance, challenges the last resort against the severe infections by Gram-negative bacteria with multi-drug resistances. Very recently, we showed the diversity in the mcr-1-carrying plasmid reservoirs from the gut microbiota. Here, we reported that a similar but more complex scenario is present in the healthy swine populations, Southern China, 2016.

Aspergillus flavus SUMO Contributes to Fungal Virulence and Toxin Attributes.

Small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMOs) can be reversibly attached to target proteins in a process known as SUMOylation, and this process influences several important eukaryotic cell events. However, little is known regarding SUMO or SUMOylation in Aspergillus flavus. Here, we identified a novel member of the SUMO family in A.

Polyketide Production of Pestaloficiols and Macrodiolide Ficiolides Revealed by Manipulations of Epigenetic Regulators in an Endophytic Fungus.

Regarding targeted disruption of epigenetic regulators, histone methyltransferase and deacetylase in a plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici have been uncovered as an unexplored chemical repertoire. Manipulation of epigenetic regulators led to the isolation of 15 new polyketides, including pestaloficiols T-W (1-3 and 5), as well as 11 macrodiolide ficiolides A-K (6-16). Ficiolide K (16) was found to contain a very rare 1,6-anhydro-pyranose moiety.

The bZIP transcription factor PfZipA regulates secondary metabolism and oxidative stress response in the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici.

The bZIP transcription factors are conserved in all eukaryotes and play critical roles in organismal responses to environmental challenges. In filamentous fungi, several lines of evidence indicate that secondary metabolism (SM) is associated with oxidative stress mediated by bZIP proteins. Here we uncover a connection with a bZIP protein and oxidative stress induction of SM in the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici.

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots decorated on graphene: a novel all-carbon hybrid electrocatalyst for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction.

An all-carbon hybrid, composed of coal-based nitrogen-doped carbon dots decorated on graphene, was prepared via hydrothermal treatment. The hybrid possesses comparable electrocatalytic activity, better durability and methanol tolerance than those of the commercial Pt-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, indicative of its great potential in fuel cells.

Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici reveals its lifestyle and high potential for synthesis of natural products.

Background: In recent years, the genus Pestalotiopsis is receiving increasing attention, not only because of its economic impact as a plant pathogen but also as a commonly isolated endophyte which is an important source of bioactive natural products. Pestalotiopsis fici Steyaert W106-1/CGMCC3.15140 as an endophyte of tea produces numerous novel secondary metabolites, including chloropupukeananin, a derivative of chlorinated pupukeanane that is first discovered in fungi.

Magnetically recoverable Ni/C catalysts with hierarchical structure and high-stability for selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes.

Here we report that magnetic Ni/C catalysts with hierarchical structure can be fabricated from a mixture of nickel acetate, polyethylene glycol-200 and furfural by a one-step hydrothermal method, followed by calcination. It has been found that the calcination temperature is the key factor affecting the structure, morphology and the catalytic performance of the Ni/C catalysts. Of the as-made catalysts, the Ni/C sample calcined at 300 °C features small-size metallic Ni particles with high dispersion in the carbon matrix and a unique hierarchical structure, and has the highest rate of conversion of o-chloronitrobenzene with high selectivity to o-chloroanilines.

Efficient organic sensitizers with pyridine-N-oxide as an anchor group for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Five organic dyes with pyridine-N-oxide as the anchor group and electron acceptor have been synthesized and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Benzothiadiazole was introduced in the conjugation system to increase the electron withdrawing properties, FTIR spectra showed that the coordination was between the pyridine-N-oxide and the Brønsted acid site on the TiO2 surface. The relationship between different dye structures and the performance of the DSSCs was investigated systematically.

Chemically tailoring coal to fluorescent carbon dots with tuned size and their capacity for Cu(II) detection.

The desired control of size, structure, and optical properties of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) is critical for understanding the fluorescence mechanism and exploring their potential application. Herein, a top-down strategy to chemically tailor the inexpensive coal to fluorescent CDs by a combined method of carbonization and acidic oxidation etching is reported. The size and optical properties of the as-made CDs are tuned by controlling the structures of graphitic crystallites in the starting precursor.

Drechslerella stenobrocha genome illustrates the mechanism of constricting rings and the origin of nematode predation in fungi.

Background: Nematode-trapping fungi are a unique group of organisms that can capture nematodes using sophisticated trapping structures. The genome of Drechslerella stenobrocha, a constricting-ring-forming fungus, has been sequenced and reported, and provided new insights into the evolutionary origins of nematode predation in fungi, the trapping mechanisms, and the dual lifestyles of saprophagy and predation.

Results: The genome of the fungus Drechslerella stenobrocha, which mechanically traps nematodes using a constricting ring, was sequenced.

Nickel-catalyzed C-H direct amination of benzoxazoles with secondary amines.

In this article, a facile, efficient and practical method for Ni-catalyzed direct C-H amination of benzoxazole with secondary amines has been developed. This procedure requires Ni(OAc)(2)·4H(2)O as catalyst, TBHP as oxidant and acid as the additive. A variety of substituted benzoxazol-2-amines were synthesized in moderate to good yields.

Photocatalytic water reduction and study of the formation of Fe(i)Fe(0) species in diiron catalyst systems.

Noble-metal-free systems with bio-inspired diiron dithiolate mimics of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase active site, namely, [(μ-pdt)Fe(2) (CO)(5) L] [pdt=propanedithiolate; L=P(CH(2) OH)(3) (1), P(CH(3) )(3) (2)], as water reduction catalysts with xanthene dyes as photosensitizers and triethylamine as a sacrificial electron donor were studied for visible-light-driven water reduction to hydrogen. These systems display good catalytic activities with the efficiencies in hydrogen evolution of up to 226 turnovers for 1, if Eosin Y was used as the photosensitizer in an environmentally benign solvent (EtOH/H(2) O) after 15 h of irradiation (λ>450 nm) under optimal conditions. Under all of the conditions adopted, 1 that has a water soluble phosphine ligand, P(CH(2) OH)(3) displayed a higher efficiency than 2, which bears a PMe(3) ligand.