Detection of ARV-Resistant Mutants in HIV-1-Infected Individuals in a Context of Systematic Switching to an Association Based on Dolutegravir in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

The emergence of antiretroviral resistance mutations represents a major threat to the achievement of national and global goals for the elimination of HIV-1 infection. The global strategy in 2019 in Cte d'Ivoire is a new national policy for the management of people living with HIV with the administration of dolutegravir (DTG)-based fixed-dose combination. The aim of our study was to evaluate HIV-1 resistance to antiretrovirals (ARVs) in infected adult subjects in Cte d’Ivoire in the context of a systematic switch to a DTG-based combination. Between February 2022 and October 2023, a cross-sectional survey with random sampling was conducted in 06 services caring for people living with HIV. A total of 139 participants were included in the study. Adults with a viral load ≥ 1000 copies/mL were tested for HIV-1 ARV resistance mutations. Molecular analyses were performed using protocol of ANRS-MIE (National Agency for Research on AIDS and emerging infectious diseases). The interpretation is performed by HIVGRAD (https://www.hiv-grade.de/cms/grade/). The frequencies of HIV-1 resistance to non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), integrase inhibitors (IINTs) and protease inhibitors (PIs) were 82%, 73%, 19% and 11% respectively. The main mutations observed in the different classes were K103N (45%), M184V (64%), E157Q (19%) and L10V/M46I/A71V/I54V (6%) respectively. This study reveals the emergence of resistance to DTG-based fixed-dose combinations, favored by high rates of resistance to NRTIs and NNRTIs. This finding underlines the need for enhanced viral load monitoring and HIV-1 genotyping tests to guide the choice of NRTIs for combination therapy. In addition, monitoring for mutations to second-generation NRTIs is essential, given the scale-up of DTG-based regimens currently underway in Cte d’Ivoire.

Mutant Selection Windows of Azalomycin F5a in Combination with Vitamin K3 against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Azalomycin F5a, a 36-membered macrocyclic lactone isolated from several streptomyces strains, presented remarkable anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activities. To improve its anti-MRSA potential and to evaluate the probability of MRSA resistant to it before development, the anti-MRSA activities of azalomycin F5a in combination with vitamin K3 were first evaluated using checkerboard assay. Then the minimal concentration inhibiting colony formation by 99% (MIC99) and mutant prevention concentration (MPC) of azalomycin F5a alone and in combination with vitamin K3 against MRSA were determined using agar plates with linear antimicrobial concentration decrease. The fractional inhibitory concentration indexes (FICIs) of 0.25 - 0.50 showed the synergistic activity of azalomycin F5a in combination with vitamin K3. The mutant selection windows (MSWs, MIC99-MPC) of azalomycin F5a alone against MRSA tested were 2.07 - 6.40 μg/mL, and the MPCs of azalomycin F5a in combination with vitamin K3 against MRSA tested were 1.60 - 3.20 μg/mL. These indicated that the MPCs of azalomycin F5a in combination could drop down to below its MIC99 alone. According to the hypothesis of MSW, the narrower MSWs of azalomycin F5a alone, even closed MSWs in combination with vitamin K3, together with their synergistic anti-MRSA activities, indicated that azalomycin F5a had a good potential to develop as a new antimicrobial agent.

Responses of Drought-Resistant Mutant vem1 to Stress and Cloning of VEM1 Gene in Arabidopsis

[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate the responses of drought-resistant mutant veml to stress and clone VEM1 gene in Arabidopsis. [ Method] A drought-resistant mutant veml was isolated from the Arabidops/s mutant pool. The germination rates of wild-type （WT） and mutant veml were detected to investigate the responses of mutant veml to mannitol, NaCl and ABA stress. [ Result] The mutant veml was resistant to mannitol and NaC1 stress but sensitive to ABA stress. VEM1 gene was cloned by Tail-PCR technology and sequenced. The sequencing result was submitted to NCBI for sequence alignment and gene mapping using BLAST. Database analysis suggested that VEM1 gene was a transposable clement gene. [ Conclusion] This study laid the foundation for functional analysis of drought-resistant gene VEM1.

Chemical mutagenesis and soybean mutants potential for identification of novel genes conferring resistance to soybean cyst nematode

The resistance of soybean(Glycine max(L.) Merr.) to soybean cyst nematode(SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe), which is a devastating pathogen in soybean production and causes a large quantity of annual yield loss worldwide, can shift during the long-term interaction and domestication. It is vital to identify more new resistance genetic sources for identification of novel genes underlying resistance to SCN for management of this pathogen. In the present study, first, two ethane methylsulfonate-mutagenesis soybean M2 populations of PI 437654, which shows a broad resistance to almost all of SCN races, and Zhonghuang 13, which is a soybean cultivar in China conferring strong resistance to lodging, were developed. Many types of morphological phenotypes such as four-and five-leaflet leaves were observed from these two soybean M2 populations. Second, 13 mutants were identified and confirmed to exhibit alteration of resistance to SCN race 4 through the forward genetic screening of 400 mutants of the PI 437654 M2 population, the rate of mutants with alteration of SCNinfection phenotype is 3.25%. Third, these identified mutants were further verified not to show any changes in the genomic sequences of the three known SCN-resistant genes, GmSHMT08, GmSNAP18 and GmSANP11, compared to the wildtype soybean; and all of them were still resistant to SCN race 3 similar to the wild-type soybean. Taken together, we can conclude that the 13 mutants identified in the present study carry the mutations of the new gene(s) which contribute(s) to the resistance to SCN race 4 in PI 437654 and can be potentially used as the genetic soybean sources to further identify the novel SCN-resistant gene(s).

Identification and Genetic Analysis of a Novel Rice Spotted-Leaf Mutant with Broad-Spectrum Resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

A spotted-leaf mutant of rice HM143 was isolated from an EMS-induced IR64 mutant bank. Brown lesions randomly distributed on leaf blades were observed about 3 wk after sowing. The symptom lasted for the whole plant growth duration. Histochemical analysis indicated that cell death occurred in and around the site of necrotic lesions accompanied with accumulation of hydrogen hyperoxide. Agronomic traits were largely similar to the wild type IR64 except seed setting rate and 1 000-grain weight which were significantly decreased in the mutant. Disease resistance of the mutant to multiple races of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae was significantly enhanced. Genetic analysis showed that the mutation was controlled by a single recessive gene, tentatively termed splHM143. In addition, using molecular markers and 1023 mutant type individuals from an F2 segregating population derived from the cross HM143/R9308, the spotted-leaf gene was finally delimited to an interval of 149 kb between markers XX25 and ID40 on the long arm of chromosome 4. splHM143 is likely a novel rice spotted-leaf gene since no other similar genes have been identified near the chromosomal region.

Transferring Translucent Endosperm Mutant Gene Wx-mq and Rice Stripe Disease Resistance Gene Stv-bi by Marker-Assisted Selection in Rice (Oryza sativa)

A high-yielding japonica rice variety, Wuyunjing 7, bred in Jiangsu Province, China as a female parent was crossed with a Japanese rice variety Kantou 194, which carries a rice stripe disease resistance gene Stv-b＇ and a translucent endosperm mutant gene Wx-mq. From F2 generations, a sequence characterized amplified region （SCAR） marker tightly linked with Stv-b＇ and a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence （CAPS） marker for Wx-mq were used for marker-assisted selection. Finally, a new japonica rice line, Ning 9108, with excellent agronomic traits was obtained by multi-generational selection on stripe disease resistance and endosperm appearance. The utilization of the markers from genes related to rice quality and disease resistance was helpful not only for establishing a marker-assisted selection system of high-quality and disease resistance for rice but also for providing important intermediate materials and rapid selection method for good quality, disease resistance and high yield in rice breeding.

Characterization of salt tolerance and Fusarium wilt resistance of a sweetpotato mutant

The variant LM1 was previously obtained using embryogenic cell suspension cultures of sweetpotato variety Lizixiang by gamma-ray induced mutation, and then its characteristics were stably inherited through six clonal generations, thus this mutant was named LM1. In this study, systematic characterization of salt tolerance and Fusarium wilt resistance were performed between Lizixiang and mutant LM1. LM1 exhibited significantly higher salt tolerance compared to Lizixiang. The content of proline and activities of superoxide dismutase（SOD） and photosynthesis were significantly increased, while malonaldehyde（MDA） and H_2O_2 contents were significantly decreased compared to that of Lizixiang under salt stress. The inoculation test with Fusarium wilt showed that its Fusarium wilt resistance was also improved. The lignin, total phenolic, jasmonic acid（JA） contents and SOD activity were significantly higher, while H_2O_2 content was significantly lower in LM1 than that in Lizixiang. The expression level of salt stress-responsive and disease resistance-related genes was significantly higher in LM1 than that in Lizixiang under salt and Fusarium wilt stresses, respectively. This result provides a novel and valuable material for improving the salt tolerance and Fusarium wilt resistance of sweetpotato.

Outcome of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus is generally benign except in cirrhotics

AIM： We set to determine factors that determine clinical severity after the development of resistance.METHODS： Thirty-five Asian patients with genotypic lamivudine resistance were analyzed in three groups： 13/35 （37%） were non-cirrhotics with normal pre-treatment ALT （Group IA）, 12/35 （34%） were non-cirrhotics with elevated pre-treatment ALT （Group IB）, and 10/35 （29%） were cirrhotics （Group II）. Patients were followed for a median of 98 wk （range 26-220） after the emergence of genotypic resistance.RESULTS： Group IA patients tended to retain normal ALT. Group IB patients showed initial improvement of ALT with lamivudine but 9/12 patients （75%） developed abnormal ALT subsequently. On follow-up however, this persisted in only 33%. Group II patients also showed improvement while on treatment, but they deteriorated with the emergence of resistance with 30% death from decompensated liver disease. Pretreatment ALT levels and CPT score （in the cirrhotic group） were predictive of clinical resistance and correlated with peak ALT levels and CPT score.CONCLUSION： The phenotype of lamivudine-resistant HBV correlated with the pretreatment phenotype. The clinical course was generally benign in non-cirrhotics. However, cirrhotics had a high risk of progression and death （30%） with the development of lamivudine resistance.

Resistance to Bacterial Leaf Blight in a Somaclonal Rice Mutant HX-3 at Cellular Level

The interaction between rice host and its pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) at cellular level was studied by using a resistant somaclonal mutant HX-3 and its susceptable donor Minghui 63. After inoculation with Xoo strain Zhe 173 (Chinese pathotype Ⅳ), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in the callus of Minghui 63 was increased dramatically, and the active oxygen(O2 ) was produced at a higher rate; Meanwhile, the callus grew slowly with the reduction of protein content Compared to the activity of SOD and POD, the production rate of Oa and the fresh weight in HX-3 callus varied little after the inoculation It could be proposed that there were great differences between the resistance of HX-3 and Mighui 63 at cellular level. There was no difference detected concerning resistance to bacterial leaf blight in HX-3 between the plant and the callus.

抗枯萎病宝岛蕉早花突变体的筛选与鉴定

【目的】筛选鉴定抗枯萎病香蕉品种宝岛蕉的早花突变体,为进一步利用突变体株系选育适应性更广的香蕉新品种提供参考依据。【方法】利用多代组织培养繁育结合田间种植对比试验,依据生育期短、抗病性强、株高矮、株产高和遗传稳定筛选目标,从宝岛蕉早花突变后代中筛选优良株系,以宝岛蕉为对照,按照香蕉种质资源描述规范对优良突变株系的形态特征和生物学特性等进行观察鉴定,测定分析植株球茎生长点部位碳、氮营养累积以及成花相关激素吲哚乙酸(IAA)、玉米素(ZR)、赤霉素(GA)和脱落酸(ABA)含量差异,通过ISSR分子标记检测突变体及其野生型之间的遗传变异和亲缘关系。以宝岛蕉和主栽品种(桂蕉6号及巴西蕉)为对照,利用伤根浸菌法进行苗期抗病性鉴定,并在广西和海南开展区域种植试验及田间抗病性鉴定。【结果】筛选获得优良突变株系0523(简称0523),其新植蕉平均株高280.0 cm,假茎基围80.5 cm、中围60.0 cm,较宝岛蕉分别减小14.0%、5.8%和11.8%,新抽总叶片数26~29片;果实营养品质和单株产量与宝岛蕉无显著差异(P>0.05,下同)。0523球茎生长点碳氮比较宝岛蕉显著提高19.0%(P<0.05,下同),GA和IAA含量显著降低24.8%和22.6%,ABA和ZR含量与宝岛蕉相比略有增加,差异不显著。抗病性苗期鉴定结果显示0523为中抗且偏强,抗性水平与宝岛蕉相比略有提高,桂蕉6号为高感。突变株系0523与宝岛蕉的多态性比率为8.8%,遗传相似系数为0.95,二者存在差异。0523在广西和海南各试验点第1、2造蕉平均发病率分别为4.5%和3.5%,较主栽品种降低87.8%和94.1%,各试验点发病率均显著低于主栽品种。0523第1、2造蕉的生育期较宝岛蕉显著缩短,与主栽品种无显著差异。【结论】突变株系0523具有抗枯萎病、早熟、矮化、适应性广等优良性状,可用来培育大面积推广的香蕉新品种,或作为亲本育种材料应用于香蕉育种研究。

苜蓿抗寒突变体生理生化及性状指标分析

为选育在黑龙江省可越冬的理想紫花苜蓿品种。以‘龙牧806’零磁空间诱变处理后二代群体中获得的lm1609、lm1625、lm1704三个抗寒突变体为实验材料,通过测定发芽指标、越冬率、产量特性指标及根系生理生化指标,进行抗寒性能鉴定。3个突变体发芽指数与对照差异不显著;发芽势、简化活力指数lm1609显著高于lm1625、lm1704,分别为82.05%、469.82(P<0.05);3个突变体的越冬率都显著低于对照组;突变体和对照6月6日起始株高差异不显著,随着植株生长,7月6日和8月6日lm1609、lm1704显著高于lm1625和对照;突变体lm1609、lm1625、lm1704三者鲜草产量差异不显著,但显著高于对照(P<0.05);三个苜蓿突变体植株根系过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶均显著高于对照,并且突变体lm1609 POD、SOD最高,分别达到304.85 OD470/(min·g)、208.41 U/g(P<0.05)。lm1609突变体具有较高的抗寒特性及产量特性,是为理想的抗寒突变体材料。

华法林耐药突变体减弱人维生素K环氧化物还原酶与华法林的结合能力

目的探讨人维生素K环氧化物还原酶(VKORC1)耐药突变体对华法林耐药的机制。方法利用与华法林结合导致VKORC1电泳迁移率变化的原理进行电泳迁移实验,并通过酶联免疫吸附实验检测VKORC1的活性和华法林抑制VKORC1的半抑制浓度(IC_(50)),评价VKORC1耐药突变体与华法林的结合能力。结果华法林与VKORC1结合后,保护其柔性跨膜螺旋1(TM1)中的一个半胱氨酸免受N-乙基马来酰亚胺(NEM)的修饰,从而增加VKORC1的电泳迁移率。增加华法林浓度可以增加具有快速迁移效应的VKORC1。与野生型VKORC1相比,华法林耐药突变体的快速迁移效应减弱或消失,表明华法林与耐药突变体的结合能力减弱;且突变体快速迁移效应越弱,其对华法林的耐药性越强。结论VKORC1耐药突变体与华法林的结合能力减弱是华法林耐药的主要原因。

两种冷季型草坪草的EMS诱变及突变体筛选

为确定甲基磺酸乙酯(EMS)诱变多年生黑麦草‘爱神特’(Lolium perenne‘Accent’)和高羊茅‘赤道’(Festuca arundinacea‘Equator’)种子的最佳条件,获得性状稳定的突变材料和后代。利用不同浓度EMS在不同时间下诱变两个草坪草种,根据半致死浓度确定诱变组合。通过形态学、SCoT分子标记和生理指标测定筛选M1和M2代突变苗。结果表明:使用0.8%EMS溶液处理两个草坪草种36 h后播种,发芽率接近50%,诱变效果最佳。以该参数大规模诱变后,M1代两个草坪草种诱变株移栽成活933株,再经短期干旱胁迫,共筛选出18株耐旱单株。对M2代诱变株形态学分析发现,有叶面狭窄型和根长增长型两种突变类型。利用SCoT分子标记技术验证M2代诱变株发现,筛选的5条SCoT标记引物对20份草坪草样品扩增后,多态性比率为84.09%。其中SCoT-35引物扩增产物条带最为清晰稳定,诱变株与野生型差异明显。M2代三叶期变异单株经干旱、高温胁迫处理后,丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量及相对电导率呈升高趋势,叶绿素含量呈下降趋势。最终得到两株多年生黑麦草耐旱突变体A5和A8,1株高羊茅耐旱突变体B9;两株多年生黑麦草耐热突变体A8和B9,1株高羊茅耐旱耐热突变体B9。本研究结果为草坪草抗性品种选育提供了帮助。

EMS诱变的水稻不同位点突变体对ALS抑制剂类除草剂抗性差异

稻田杂草严重威胁水稻生长,培育抗除草剂水稻新品种,是高效解决稻田杂草危害的重要途径之一。本研究利用甲基磺酸乙酯(EMS)对华占水稻进行化学诱变,创建突变体,利用乙酰乳酸合成酶(ALS)抑制剂类除草剂甲咪唑烟酸(20 g/hm 2,有效成分)对突变体进行筛选,获得抗甲咪唑烟酸突变体材料,并对上述突变体的OsALS基因序列进行分析,明确其突变类型。最后对不同突变类型对甲氧咪草烟和甲基二磺隆的交互抗性进行分析。结果表明,华占水稻经EMS诱变和甲咪唑烟酸筛选后共获得11株抗甲咪唑烟酸突变体材料,其突变类型为Pro171Leu、Ser627Cys、Ser627Asn和Gly628Glu 4种。其中,Ser627Cys为首次发现的突变类型。4种突变类型对甲咪唑烟酸的抗性水平存在一定的差异,Ser627Asn、Ser627Cys、Pro171Leu、Gly628Glu突变类型的抗性指数分别为8.71、5.16、3.28和3.69。4种突变类型对甲氧咪草烟和甲基二磺隆的抗性亦存在显著差异。其中,Ser627Asn突变类型对甲氧咪草烟的抗性最高,抗性指数为20.57,Gly628Glu对甲基二磺隆抗性最高,抗性指数为5.11。综上,本研究通过EMS诱变获得了4种抗ALS抑制剂类除草剂的华占水稻突变类型,并鉴定了其对甲咪唑烟酸的抗性差异及对甲氧咪草烟和甲基二磺隆的交互抗性,为进一步的抗除草剂水稻品种培育和除草剂轮换使用提供依据。

基于EMS诱变的济麦22抗旱节水突变体创制与鉴定

干旱和水资源匮乏是北方麦区小麦生产中存在的主要问题之一,培育抗旱型和节水型小麦新品种是解决这一问题的有效途径,创制抗旱节水新种质是培育小麦品种的重要物质基础。本研究用甲基磺酸乙酯(EMS)诱变小麦品种济麦22,获得济麦22遗传稳定突变体223份,采用旱地增产和聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱胁迫方法,筛选出18份抗旱增产突变体;经旱作胁迫和节水性鉴定,12份突变体具有极强抗旱性(抗旱指数DI≥1.300)、10份突变体具有极强节水性(节水指数WSI≥1.400),其中7份突变体同时具有极强抗旱性和极强节水性,编号分别为22-3、22-4、22-5、22-9、22-13、22-16和22-17,可以作为抗旱型和节水型优异种质加以利用;此外,突变体22-1、22-10、22-11、22-12和22-14可以作为抗旱种质,22-2、22-7和22-18可以作为节水种质。经相关性分析,突变体在雨养生境下的产量相关性状可作为小麦抗旱种质的筛选指标,突变体穗粒数以及在节水生境下的单位产量可作为小麦节水种质筛选指标。

去甲基化酶JMJD6影响BRAF突变型黑色素瘤耐药性形成的机制研究

目的探究去甲基化酶JMJD6影响BRAF突变型黑色素瘤耐药性形成的可能机制。方法利用荷瘤小鼠腹腔给药的方式建立针对BRAF抑制剂(达拉非尼)和MEK抑制剂(曲美替尼)具有稳定耐药表型的BRAF突变型黑色素瘤体内模型,使用TCGA、Oncomine、OSskcm等数据库分析、Western blot和免疫组化研究JMJD6在黑色素瘤中的表达情况及预后价值,同时在下调其表达水平后通过TUNEL凋亡试剂盒与体内成瘤实验检测耐药表型在体内外的逆转情况,最后通过生物信息学分析、shRNA干扰、Western blot和免疫荧光实验验证转录因子E2F2是否为JMJD6潜在靶点。结果在依次建立3代耐药体内模型后,成功获得具有稳定耐药表型的BRAF突变型黑色素瘤体内模型A375-R和SK-Mel-28-R,TCGA、Oncomine、OSskcm等数据库均显示JMJD6在黑色素瘤中的表达较正常健康者明显升高且具有更差的预后(P<0.05)。Western blot和免疫组化结果显示,JMJD6在耐药型BRAF突变型黑色素瘤中出现高表达;利用shRNA下调JMJD6表达水平后,A375-R和SK-Mel-28-R在药物压力下凋亡水平和成瘤能力显著降低(P<0.05),呈现体内外耐药表型逆转现象;通过GeneMANIA、GEPIA数据库分析发现JMJD6与E2F2存在表达相关性(P<0.05),同时Western blot和免疫荧光验证下调JMJD6可以抑制E2F2表达以及RNA聚合酶Ⅱ的结合,并在shRNA下调E2F2表达水平的基础上验证其位于JMJD6分子机制下游。结论JMJD6通过调控E2F2表达进而影响BRAF突变型黑色素瘤对BRAF和MEK抑制剂耐药性的形成。

Characterization and mapping of a novel light-dependent lesion mimic mutant lmm6 in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

A novel rice lesion mimic mutant (LMM) was isolated from an ethane methyl sulfonate (EMS)-induced 02428 mutant bank. The mutant, tentatively designated as lmm6, develops necrotic lesions in the whole growth period along with changes in several important agronomic traits. We found that the initiation of the lesions was induced by light and cel death occurred in lmm6 accompanied with accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The lower chlorophyl content, soluble protein content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected in lmm6 than in the wild type (WT). Moreover, the observation by transmission electronic microscope (TEM) demonstrated that some organel es were damaged and the stroma lamel a of chloroplast was irregular and loose in mesophyl cel of lmm6. In addition, lmm6 was more resistant than WT to rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea infection, which was consistent with increased expression of four genes involved in the defense-related reaction. Genetic analysis showed that mutant trait of lmm6 is inherited as a monogenic recessive nuclear gene located on the long arm of chromosome 6. Using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, the target gene was ifnal y delimited to an interval of 80.8 kb between markers MM2359 and MM2370, containing 7 annotated genes. Taken together, our results provide the information to identify a new gene involved in rice lesion mimic, which wil be helpful in clarifying the mechanism of cel death and disease resistance in rice.

Efflux pump gene hefA of Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in multidrug resistance

AIM: To determine whether efflux systems contribute to multidrug resistance of H pylori. METHODS: A chloramphenicol-induced multidrug resistance model of six susceptible H pylori strains (5 isolates and H pylori NCTC11637) was developed. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains were selected and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of eryth-romycin, metronidazole, penicillin G, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin in multidrug resistant strains and their parent strains was determined by agar dilution tests. The level of mRNA expression of hefA was assessed by fluorescence real-time quantitative PCR. A H pylori LZ1026 knockout mutant (ΔH pylori LZ1026) for (puta-tive) efflux protein was constructed by inserting the kanamycin resistance cassette from pEGFP-N2 into hefA, and its susceptibility profiles to 10 antibiotics were evaluated. RESULTS: The MIC of six multidrug-resistant strains (including 5 clinical isolates and H pylori NCTC11637) increased signifi cantly (≥ 4-fold) compared with their parent strains. The expression level of hefA gene was significantly higher in the MDR strains than in their parent strains (P = 0.033). A H pylori LZ1026 mutant was successfully constructed and the ΔH pylori LZ1026 was more susceptible to four of the 10 antibiotics. All the 20 strains displayed transcripts for hefA that con-fi rmed the in vitro expression of these genes.CONCLUSION: The efflux pump gene hefA plays an important role in multidrug resistance of H pylori.

Development of herbicide resistance genes and their application in rice

Rice is one of the most important food crops in the world.Weeds seriously affect the rice yield and grain quality.In recent years,there are tremendous progresses in the research and application of herbicideresistant genes in rice worldwide.This article reviews the working mechanisms of six herbicides(glyphosate,glufosinate,acetolactate synthase inhibitor herbicides,acetyl-Co A carboxylase inhibitor herbicides,hydroxyhenylpyruvate dioxygenase(HPPD)inhibitor herbicides and dinitroaniline herbicides),the resistance mutations of the corresponding herbicide-target genes,and the herbicide detoxification mechanisms by non-target genes.Examples are provided on herbicide-resistant rice materials obtained by transformation of exogenous resistance genes,by artificial mutagenesis and mutant screening,and by modifying the target genes through gene editing.This paper also introduces the current application of herbicide-resistant rice,points out problems that may be caused by utilization of herbicide resistant rice and solutions to the problems,and discusses the future prospects for the development of herbicideresistant rice.

Field identification of morphological and physiological traits in two special mutants with strong tolerance and high sensitivity to drought stress in upland rice(Oryza sativa L.)

The two mutants idr1-1 and 297-28, which were obtained from the radiation mutation of HD297 and IAPAR9, were used as experimental materials in this study for a 2-year(2012 and 2013) experiment about field drought resistance identification in Beijing, China. Key agronomic traits and water-related physiological indexes were observed and measured, including the leaf anti-dead level(LADL), days to heading, plant height, setting percentage, aboveground biomass, leaf water potential(LWP), net photosynthetic rate(Pn) and transpiration rate. The results showed that the mutant idr1-1 that was under drought stress(DS) conditions for 2 years had the highest LADL grades(1.3 and 2.0) among all the materials, and they were 2–3 grades stronger than the wild-type IAPAR9 with an average that was 21.4% higher for the setting percentage than the wild type. Compared with the IAPAR9 for the 2-year average delay in the days to heading and the reduction rates in the plant height, setting percentage, and aboveground biomass under DS compared with the well-watered(WW) treatment, idr1-1 showed 3.2% less delay and 19.1, 16.4, and 6.1% less reduction, respectively. The idr1-1 in the LWP always exhibited the highest performance among all the materials. The Pn of idr1-1 under severe and mild DS comparing with that under WW was slightly decreased and even slightly increased, respectively, leading to an average reduction rate of only 0.92%, which was 26.93% less than that of IAPAR9. Under the severe DS, idr1-1 still showed the highest value of 16.88 μmol CO2 m–2 s–1 among all the materials and was significantly higher than that of IAPAR9(11.66 μmol CO2 m–2 s–1). Furthermore, only idr1-1 had the increased and the highest transpiration rate values(7.6 and 6.04 mmol H2 O m–2 s–1) under both mild and severe DS compared with the values under WW, when the transpiration rate of all the other materials significantly decreased. By contrast, the 297-28 in terms of the LADL grade under DS was the lowest(7.0), and it was four grades weaker than its wildtype HD297 and even one grade weaker than the drought-sensitive paddy rice SN265. For the 2-year average reduction rates in aboveground biomass and plant heights under DS compared with those under the WW, 297-28 was 31.6 and 31.8% higher than HD297, respectively. Meanwhile, 297-28 showed the worst performance for the LWP, Pn, and transpiration rate. These results suggest that idr1-1 might be a superior drought tolerant mutant of upland rice found in China. It has a strong ability to maintain and even enhance leaf transpiration while maintaining a high plant water potential under DS, thus supporting a high Pn and alleviating the delay in agronomic trait development and yield loss effectively. 297-28 is a much more highly drought-sensitive mutant that is even more sensitive than paddy rice varieties. The two mutants could be used as drought tolerance controls for rice germplasm identification and the drought resistant mechanism studies in the future. idr1-1 is also suitable for breeding drought-tolerant and lodging-resistant high-yield rice varieties.