Significance Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is an AIDS-defining cancer. It is associated with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. To date, no sequencing studies have been conducted for this cancer. We used X chromosome-targeted next-generation sequencing to identify 33 genes with coding region mutations in 100% of cases, including in interleukin 1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1). IRAK1 kinase modulates toll-like receptor signaling-mediated immune signaling. It binds to MyD88 adapter protein, which is mutated in a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. IRAK1, however, had not been linked to cancer. This IRAK1 mutant is constitutively active and essential for PEL survival. This highlights the importance of innate immunity signaling as drivers for cancer, particularly those caused by viruses. It also suggests IRAK1 kinase may be a potential target for therapy.

No abstract

The pathogenicity of a new China variety of Metarhizium anisopliae (M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium) against the subterranean termite Odontotermes formosanus and the effect of the fungal fermented solution on hemolymph intracellular calcium were studied in laboratory. Conidia from the M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium were highly virulent for O. formosanus causing approximately 100% mortality 3 days post-inoculation in the concentration of 3x10(8) conidia/ml. The conidial clumps with conidial chains distributed on the cadavers of termite. When the termite was treated with 3x10(5) conidia/ml for 2 days, two constitutive proteins (91 and 105kDa) disappeared and a new specific protein (40kDa) appeared in the hemolymph of survivors relative to the controls. Hemolymph cells treated by the fungal fermented solution had a significantly higher level of intracellular calcium than controls 30min after treatment (x1.7). When the termite O. formosanus was infected by the entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium, hyphae invaded the integument and body cavity of the termite; well-developed muscles and fat tissue in the thorax of termite were decomposed and absorbed by hyphae, and formed the net structure; Hyphae seriously destroyed hemolymph, various tissues, pipelines and produced large number of conidia in the body of termite.

Genomic characterization of Heliothis armigera cypovirus (HaCPV) isolated from China showed that insects were co-infected with several cypoviruses (CPVs). One of the CPVs (HaCPV-5) could be separated from the others by changing the rearing conditions of the Heliothis armigera larvae. This finding was further confirmed by nucleotide sequencing analysis. Genomic sequences of segments S10-S7 from HaCPV-14, S10 and S7 from HaCPV-5, and S10 from Heliothis assulta CPV-14 were compared. Results from database searches showed that the nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences of the newly identified CPVs had high levels of identity with those of reported CPVs of the same type, but not with CPVs of different types. Putative amino acid sequences of HaCPV-5 S7 were similar to that of the protein from Rice ragged stunt virus (genus Oryzavirus, family Reoviridae), suggesting that CPVs and oryzaviruses are related more closely than other genera of the family Reoviridae. Conserved motifs were also identified at the ends of each RNA segment of the same virus type: type 14, 59-AGAAUUU...CAGCU-39; and type 5, 59-AGUU...UUGC-39. Our results are consistent with classification of CPV types based on the electrophoretic patterns of CPV double-stranded RNA.

The efficacy of a new virulent Metarhizium anisopliae variety (M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium, DQ288247) obtained from Odontotermes formosanus in China was evaluated against the subterranean termite, O. formosanus, in the laboratory. The new variety was compared with four other virulent M. anisopliae isolates and was found to be highly infectious and virulent against termites. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium could cause approximately 100% mortality of termites 3 days post-inoculation in the concentration of 3x10(8) conidia/ml. There were also differences in relative hyhal growth and isoenzymes. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium showed a different isoenzyme band pattern from the four isolates of M. anisopliae (AB027337, AB099510, AB099941 and AF280631). The phylogenetic tree of the 18S rDNA sequences revealed the taxonomic and evolutionary position of M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium and four isolates of M. anisopliae formed a monophyletic group, supported by a 99% bootstrap value. M. anisopliae var. dcjhyium formed a distinct variety, which had a special characterization of unique bands of isoenzyme, high virulence and low repellency against termites when compared with four other isolates of M. anisopliae.