Many species of the genus Camellia are native to China, and several species such as C. japonica have been cultivated as garden plants for over 1,000 years. Virus-like symptoms have been recorded for years. In this study, C. japonica plants with various leaf symptoms were observed in Jiangxi and Chongqing provinces. The species composition of potential viruses in the symptomatic plants was analyzed by next-generation sequencing of six libraries prepared from total RNAs of specimens from 10 trees. Five new viruses were discovered, and their genome sequences were determined. These viruses were tentatively named Camellia chlorotic ringspot viruses (CaCRSVs), Camellia yellow ringspot virus (CaYRSV), Camellia-associated badnavirus (CaBaV), and Camellia-associated marafivirus (CaMaV) based on comprehensive analyses. Among these viruses, CaYRSV, CaBaV, and CaMaV share similar genome organizations and clear sequence homology with known viruses in databases and could potentially be classified as new species of the genera Badnavirus, Idaeovirus, and Marafivirus, respectively. CaCRSVs comprise two distinct viruses, and each likely contains five genomic RNA segments that were found to be distantly related to viral RNAs of members in the genus Emaravirus (family Fimoviridae). The RNAs of CaCRSVs show conserved terminal sequences that differ markedly from those of emaraviral RNAs. These data, together with the phylogenetic analysis, suggest that the evolutionary status of CaCRSVs may represent a novel genus in the family Fimoviridae. In addition, two known viruses (geminivirus and blunervirus) and a mass of betaflexiviruses existing as heterogeneous mixtures were detected, and their roles in symptom formation were studied. Collectively, the information of the viral species and detection protocols that were developed can serve as a basis for better management of these viruses. Distinguishing the virus-related symptoms from genetic characteristics of C. japonica is also significant for breeding efforts.

Asymptomatic/subclinical gonococcal infections in females continue to be prevalent within the general population, thus emerging as a global health problem. However, the reasons for these clinical manifestations are unknown. Our group had previously found out that in females, asymptomatic gonococcal infections correlate with higher serum progesterone (P4) levels and lower IL-1β levels in cervical secretions. We used murine infection model and THP-1 cells to determine whether P4 exerts anti-inflammatory effects on gonococcal infections. In the murine infection model, P4 (1 mg/day) inhibited the inflammatory effects induced by gonococcal infections which led to decreased neutrophil infiltration, reduced polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) numbers, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in vaginal secretions. In addition, P4 down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, associated with lower mRNA levels of pro-IL-1β, repressed caspase-1 activity in genital tissues and THP-1 cells. Moreover, P4 suppressed the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB and attenuated Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae, gonococci or GC)-induced ROS generation. This is consistent with the two signals required for activation of the NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) inflammasome. In conclusion, our result shows that P4 suppresses the gonococci induced-inflammation, especially through the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, and partially explains the pathogenesis of asymptomatic GC infection in women.

Because of the increased incidence and prevalence, ulcerative colitis (UC) has become a global health issue in the world. Current therapies for UC are not totally effective which result in persistent and recurrent symptom of many patients. Lactobacillus with anti-inflammatory effects might be beneficial to the prevention or treatment for UC. Here, we examined the ameliorative effects of the metabolites of Lactobacillus fermentum F-B9-1 (MLF) in Caco-2 cells and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC model mice. MLF displayed intestinal barrier-protective activities in Caco-2 cells by increasing the expression of Occludin and ZO-1. They also showed anti-inflammatory potential in interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. In order to further examine the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of MLF, the MLF was gavaged in the DSS-induced UC model mice. The intragastric administration of MLF effectively alleviated colitis symptoms of weight loss, diarrhea, colon shortening, and histopathological scores, protected intestinal barrier function by increasing Occludin and ZO-1, and attenuated colonic and systemic inflammation by suppressing production of IL-1β and IL-6. Finally, the use of MLF remodeled the diversity of the gut microbiota and increased the number of beneficial microorganisms. Overall, the results demonstrated that MLF relieved DSS-induced UC in mice. And MLF might be an effective therapy method to UC in the clinic in the future.

A previously unreported disease affecting jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) trees was observed in China (Liaoning province) in 2015 and named jujube yellow mottle disease (JYMD), due to prevalent symptoms on the leaves. Diseased plants produced also malformed and discolored fruits. In an attempt to identify the possible causal agent of JYMD, high-throughput sequencing of small RNA libraries was performed and a novel virus, tentatively named jujube yellow mottle-associated virus (JYMaV), was identified and characterized. Six genomic RNA segments of JYMaV were completely sequenced. Each one contains a single open reading frame in the viral complementary strand and two untranslated regions with complementary 5' and 3' terminal ends, thus showing typical features of other negative-stranded RNA viruses. RNA1 (7.1 kb), RNA2 (2.2 kb) and RNA3 (1.2 kb) encode putative proteins that, based on their conserved motifs, have been identified as the RNA dependent RNA polymerase, the glycoprotein and the nucleocapsid protein, respectively. These proteins share significant sequence identity (52.1-70.4%) with proteins encoded by raspberry leaf blotch virus (RLBV). RNA4 (1.5 kb) and RNA5 (1.2 kb) code for two putative 30 K movement proteins also related to the homologous RLBV protein. The functional role of the protein encoded by JYMaV RNA6 remains unknown. These data together with the phylogenetic relationships of JYMaV with other recognized emaraviruses support the proposal that JYMaV is the representative member of a novel species in the genus Emaravirus. In agreement with this proposal, virus-like particles and double-membrane-bound bodies, similar to those previously reported for other emaraviruses, were observed by transmission electron microscopy in extracts and tissues from symptomatic leaves, respectively. A specific RT-PCR-based detection method has been developed and used in a preliminary field survey that provided results strongly supporting the close association of JYMaV with the novel disease.

A new wheat viral disease was found in China. Bullet-shaped viral particles within the nucleus of the infected wheat leave cells, which possessed 180-210 nm length and 35-40 nm width, were observed under transmission electron microscopy. A putative wheat-infecting rhabdovirus vectored by the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus was identified and tentatively named wheat yellow striate virus (WYSV). The full-length nucleotide sequence of WYSV was determined using transcriptome sequencing and RACE analysis of both wheat samples and leafhoppers P. alienus. The negative-sense RNA genome of WYSV contains 14,486 nucleotides (nt) and seven open reading frames (ORFs) encode deduced proteins in the order N-P-P3-M-P6-G-L on the antisense strand. In addition, WYSV genome has a 76-nt 3' leader RNA and a 258-nt 5' trailer, and the ORFs are separated by conserved intergenic sequences. The entire genome sequence shares 58.1 and 57.7% nucleotide sequence identity with two strains of rice yellow stunt virus (RYSV-A and RYSV-B) genomes, respectively. The highest amino acid sequence identity was 63.8% between the L proteins of the WYSV and RYSV-B, but the lowest was 29.5% between the P6 proteins of these viruses. Phylogenetic analysis firmly established WYSV as a new member of the genus Nucleorhabdovirus. Collectively, this study provided evidence that WYSV is likely the first nucleorhabdovirus described infecting wheat via leafhopper P. alienus transmission.

Zanthoxylum armatum is an important woody crop with multiple applications in pharmaceutics, cosmetics, and food industries. With continuous increases in the plantation area, integrated pest management is required for scale production when diseases caused by biotic factors such as pests and pathogens have become new problems, one of which is the infectious flower yellowing disease (FYD). Here, isolates of a new illarvirus (3) and a new nepovirus-associated subviral satellite RNA (12) were identified in Z. armatum, in addition to 38 new isolates of four previously reported RNA viruses. Sequence variation can be observed in viral/subviral quasispecies and among predominant isolates from the same or different samples and geographic origins. Intriguingly, RNA sequencing of different diseased trees invariably showed an extraordinary pattern of particularly high reads accumulation of the green Sichuan pepper-nepovirus (GSPNeV) and the satellite RNA in symptomatic tissues. In addition, we also examined small RNAs of the satellite RNA, which show similar patterns to those of coinfecting viruses. This study provides further evidence to support association of the FYD with viral/subviral infections and deepens our understanding of the diversity and molecular characteristics of the viruses and satellite, as well as their interactions with the host.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory lesion of the colon from various causes. As current therapeutic drugs have adverse effects on patients with UC, there is a growing demand for alternative medicines from natural and functional foods. Locust bean gum, as a dietary fiber, has a variety of physiological effects.

The fermentation of food materials with suitable probiotic strains is an effective way to improve biological activities. In this study, seaweed extracts were fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and the hypolipidemic effects of the fermentation products were investigated. In vitro experiments suggested that fermented seaweed extracts have a high capacity for bile acid-binding. Additionally, a significant inhibitory effect against pancreatic lipase was observed. Furthermore, effects in hyperlipidemic mice were determined. Fermented seaweed extracts can alleviate lipid metabolism disorder. The administration of fermented seaweed extracts to mice showed decreased total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Combined, these results suggest that fermented seaweed extracts perform a potent hypolipidemic action, thus providing an effective method for the preparation of functional foods to combat cardiovascular diseases.