Most phloem-feeding insects secrete gelling and watery saliva during the feeding process. However, the functions of salivary proteins are poorly understood. In this study, our purpose was to reveal the components and functions of saliva in a rice sap-sucking insect pest, Nilaparvata lugens. The accomplishment of the whole genome and transcriptome sequencing in N. lugens would be helpful for elucidating the gene information and expression specificity of the salivary proteins. In this study, we have, for the first time, identified the abundant protein components from gelling and watery saliva in a monophagous sap-sucking insect species through shotgun proteomic detection combined with the genomic and transcriptomic analysis. Eight unknown secreted proteins were limited to N. lugens, indicating species-specific saliva components. A group of annexin-like proteins first identified in the secreted saliva displayed different domain structure and expression specificity with typical insect annexins. Nineteen genes encoding five annexin-like proteins, six salivaps (salivary glands-specific proteins with unknown function), seven putative enzymes, and a mucin-like protein showed salivary gland-specific expression pattern, suggesting their importance in the physiological mechanisms of salivary gland and saliva in this insect species. RNA interference revealed that salivap-3 is a key protein factor in forming the salivary sheath, while annexin-like5 and carbonic anhydrase are indispensable for N. lugens survival. These novel findings will greatly help to clarify the detailed functions of salivary proteins in the physiological process of N. lugens and elucidate the interaction mechanisms between N. lugens and the rice plant, which could provide important targets for the future management of rice pests.

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Component-resolved diagnosis of Chinese Artemisia pollen-allergic patients helps assess the potential risk of mugwort-associated allergic asthma.

Accumulating evidence has indicated that lncRNA NEAT1 exerts critical roles in cancers. So far, the detailed biological role and mechanisms of NEAT1 which are responsible for human gastric cancer (GC) is still largely unknown. Here, we observed that NEAT1 and STAT3 expression were significantly upregulated in human gastric cancer cells including BGC823, SGC-7901, AGS, MGC803 and MKN28 cells compared to normal gastric epithelial cells GES-1 while miR-506 was downregulated. We inhibited NEAT1 and observed that NEAT1 inhibition was able to repress the growth, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Reversely, overexpression of NEAT1 exhibited an increase ability of gastric cancer progression in BGC823 and SGC-7901 cells. Bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter assays, RIP assays and RNA pull-down tests validated the negative binding correlation between NEAT1 and miR-506. In addition, it was found that miR-506 can modulate expression of NEAT1 in vitro. STAT3 was predicted as an mRNA target of miR-506 and miR-506 mimics can suppress STAT3 mRNA expression. Subsequently, it was observed that downregulation of NEAT1 can restrain gastric cancer development by decreasing STAT3 which can be reversed by miR-506 inhibitors. Therefore, it was hypothesized in our study that NEAT1 can be recognized as a ceRNA to modulate STAT3 by sponging miR-506 in gastric cancer. In conclusion, we implied that NEAT1 can serve as an important biomarker in gastric cancer diagnosis and treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Genetic variation in the FAM13A (Family with Sequence Similarity 13 Member A) locus has been associated with several glycemic and metabolic traits in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Here, we demonstrate that in humans, FAM13A alleles are associated with increased FAM13A expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and an insulin resistance-related phenotype (e.g. higher waist-to-hip ratio and fasting insulin levels, but lower body fat). In human adipocyte models, knockdown of FAM13A in preadipocytes accelerates adipocyte differentiation. In mice, Fam13a knockout (KO) have a lower visceral to subcutaneous fat (VAT/SAT) ratio after high-fat diet challenge, in comparison to their wildtype counterparts. Subcutaneous adipocytes in KO mice show a size distribution shift toward an increased number of smaller adipocytes, along with an improved adipogenic potential. Our results indicate that GWAS-associated variants within the FAM13A locus alter adipose FAM13A expression, which in turn, regulates adipocyte differentiation and contribute to changes in body fat distribution.

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BACKGROUND: Emamectin benzoate (EB) has recently been successfully applied as a trunk injection for preventative control of the pine wilt disease (PWD) caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle. Here, a whole-organism transcriptomic analysis provides comprehensive insights into the adverse effects of EB on B. xylophilus.RESULTS: A large set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found, demonstrating the antagonistic effects of EB on B. xylophilus embryonic and larval development, reproduction, nervous and motor systems, and pathogenesis. In toxicity assays with EB, the number of eggs laid, hatching rate, thrashing frequency, and developmental rate of B. xylophilus were significantly suppressed at low concentrations (0.1 g mL −1 ). Moreover, the transcriptional changes validated by real-time quantitative PCR showed downregulated transcript levels of the genes encoding pectate lyases, -1,4-endoglucanases, and upregulated the genes encoding glutamate-gated chloride channel, -aminobutyric acid type receptor, uridine 5 ′ -diphospho-glucuronosyl transferase, ATP-binding cassette transporter. The potential responses of B. xylophilus to EB included the upregulation of several genes putatively contributing to oocyte protection, stem cell renewal, and xenobiotic degradation, implying the potential for drug resistance to develop. CONCLUSION: Our findings further our understanding of the effects of EB for managing the PWD and may help to improve the pesticide-use strategies for controlling B. xylophilus.