Project description:We seek to determine the effects of foliar endophytes on soybean physiological traits, and their effect on plant responses to elevated carbon dioxide. We are using three dominant endophytes extracted from the SoyFACE facility at UIUC.
Project description:Fairy rings are zones of stimulated grass growth by the interaction between the fungi and the plant. In the previous research, we reported the identification of the “fairy”, ICAproduced by the fairy ring-forming fungus and the mechanism of its growth-inhibiting activity using DNA microarray. We invetigate expression profiling of rice seedlings treated with ICA for the mechanism of its growth-inhibiting activity.
Project description:Fairy rings are zones of stimulated grass growth by the interaction between the fungi and the plant. In the previous research, we reported the identification of the M-bM-^@M-^\fairyM-bM-^@M-^], 2-azahypoxanthine (AHX), produced by the fairy ring-forming fungus and the mechanism of its growth-promoting activity using DNA microarray. We discovered AOH, a common metabolite of AHX in plants. We investigate expression profiling of rice seedlings treated with AHX or AOH for the mechanism of their growth-promoting activity. Three-condition experiment, control vs. AHX-treated rice (50 and 200 mM) and AOH-treated rice (50 and 200 mM).
Project description:Background and study aims
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commoncancers among humans worldwide. Recent studies demonstrated that the composition of the bacterial community in the human gut, as well as inflammation occurring in the gut, are some of the factors that modify the risk of an individual to develop CRC. The human gut is home to more than 1000 bacterial species, including health-promoting species and disease-causing species.
The consumption of rice bran, a by-product of rice milling, was previously shown to positively modify bacterial composition in the gut among healthy adults. The protective effect of a long-term rice bran consumption against CRC among individuals known to have higher risk of CRC, such as older individuals who are regular smokers and having a family history of CRC, needs to be established.
This study aims to investigate whether the implementation of a 24-week dietary programme involving rice bran consumption among adults at high risk of CRC is feasible, and whether it has any effect in inducing a health-promoting modification of the bacterial community, as well as a reduction of inflammation, in the gut of these individuals.
Who can participate?
Chinese adults of either gender, who are aged 50 or above and are categorised to be in the high risk CRC group by the Asian-Pacific Colorectal Screening tool, in which classification is based on age, smoking status and family history of CRC.
What does the study involve?
After the recruited subjects were screened for eligibility of study participation and written informed consent had been obtained from them, they were randomly assigned into either Group A or Group B. Participants in Group A were given packets of rice bran and were asked to consume 30 grams of the rice bran at 24-hour intervals for 24 weeks. Participants in Group B were given packets of rice powder that has similar appearance and colour as the rice bran, and were asked to consume 30 grams of the rice powder, also at 24-hour intervals for 24 weeks. All participants were asked to provide a stool sample and blood sample at various time points during the study, namely just before rice bran consumption, as well as 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the start of rice bran consumption. Laboratory tests were conducted on these samples. All participants were also instructed to complete a log book, detailing the date and time of rice bran or rice powder intake each day, and the amount consumed. The participants also completed a faecal diary where they documented the frequency of egestion, and the shape and amount of stool egested each day, as well as the occurrence of any abdominal discomfort or pain.
Project description:Fairy rings are zones of stimulated grass growth by the interaction between the fungi and the plant. In the previous research, we reported the identification of the “fairy”, 2-azahypoxanthine (AHX), produced by the fairy ring-forming fungus and the mechanism of its growth-promoting activity using DNA microarray. We discovered AOH, a common metabolite of AHX in plants. We investigate expression profiling of rice seedlings treated with AHX or AOH for the mechanism of their growth-promoting activity.
Project description:Because antibiotics have been widely used to prevent severe losses due to infectious fishery diseases, the liberal application and overuse of antibiotics has led to the spread and evolution of bacterial resistance, food safety hazards, and environmental issues. The use of some antibiotics, including florfenicol and enrofloxacin, is allowed in aquaculture in China. Accordingly, to better address the concerns and questions associated with the impact of administered enrofloxacin and florfenicol to grass carp, here we investigated the immune response, bacterial diversity, and transcriptome of the intestine of C. idella treated with these oral antibiotics. The aim of this study was to provide an in-depth evaluation of the antibiotic-induced patterns and dynamics of the microbiota grass carp and the potential mechanism involved.
Project description:Few studies reported for obtaining the grass carp resistant to hemorrhagic disease via gene editing in commercial fish. Here, we demonstrate that the expression and activity of grass carp PI4KB (gcPI4KB) are vital for GCRV-I and GCRV-II replication. Due that obvious cytopathic effect (CPE) in the present available cell lines is only caused by GCRV-I, but GCRV-II is the current popular and fatal strain in grass carp, GCRV-I and GCRV-II are used in cell lines and in grass carp, respectively. The in vitro studies in CIK cells revealed that gcPI4KB interacted with NS80 and VP3 of GCRV-I, and that gcPI4KB was recruited by NS80 for promoting the generation of GCRV VIBs. Since the negative regulatory role of gcPI4KB in GCRV infection was confirmed by in vitro data,we performed gene editing of gcPI4KB in grass carp. We found that PI4KB F0 crispants juvenile grass carp have obvious advantages in promoting growth and in resisting GCRV-II infection. Compared with uninfected WT grass carp, the uninfected PI4KB F0 crispants juvenile grass carp exhibit a higher expression level of many genes involved in growth- and development-related metabolic pathways such as the FoxO signaling pathway and insulin signaling pathway. Compared with WT grass carp without infection, PI4KB F0 crispants juvenile grass carp without infection or WT grass carp infected with GCRV-II, higher expression levels for many genes involved in metabolic diseases and viral infection were observed in the liver from PI4KB F0 crispants juvenile grass carp infected with GCRV-II. Altogether, the present study suggests the mechanism of gcPI4KB in facilitating GCRV replication, the signaling pathways regulated by gcPI4KB, and the possibility to obtain the grass carp resistant to hemorrhagic disease via gene editing of PI4KB.
Project description:Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the most cultivated cool-season grass worldwide with crucial roles in carbon fixation and fodder for livestock. Protection of these grasses from biotic and abiotic factors are dictated through a mutually-beneficial relationship with endophytes that confer bioprotective properties. Common endophytes of the genus Epichloë promote the health and survival of cool-season forages greases and protect the plants from fluctuating environmental conditions. Climate change, and specifically, a steady increase in atmospheric CO2 levels, presents a dramatic and imminent threat faced by our ecosystem, which poses substantial pressures on plant health and survival. Defining the relationships between endophytes and the host plant may uncover mechanisms of bioprotection, which can be exploited to promote adaptable plant systems in rising CO2 conditions. In this study, we quantify changes in biomass and seed production of L. perenne L. at 400 and 800 ppm CO2 and identify endophyte-specific changes in metabolite production. Additionally, we discover protein-level changes from both the endophyte and plant perspectives, which underscore the compatible relationship between a common, natural endophyte and L. perenne L., compared to an incompatible and detrimental relationship the epichloid strain, AR1. Taken together, our data set provides new understanding into the intricacy of compatibility between endophyte and host from multiple molecular levels and suggests opportunity to promote plant robustness and survivability in rising CO2 environmental conditions through application of bioprotective epichloid strains.