Southwest University

About: Southwest University is a education organization based out in Chongqing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Gene & Population. The organization has 29772 authors who have published 27755 publications receiving 409441 citations. The organization is also known as: Southwest University in Chongqing & SWU.

A genome-wide survey for host response of silkworm, Bombyx mori during pathogen Bacillus bombyseptieus infection.

Abstract: Host-pathogen interactions are complex relationships, and a central challenge is to reveal the interactions between pathogens and their hosts. Bacillus bombysepticus (Bb) which can produces spores and parasporal crystals was firstly separated from the corpses of the infected silkworms (Bombyx mori). Bb naturally infects the silkworm can cause an acute fuliginosa septicaemia and kill the silkworm larvae generally within one day in the hot and humid season. Bb pathogen of the silkworm can be used for investigating the host responses after the infection. Gene expression profiling during four time-points of silkworm whole larvae after Bb infection was performed to gain insight into the mechanism of Bb-associated host whole body effect. Genome-wide survey of the host genes demonstrated many genes and pathways modulated after the infection. GO analysis of the induced genes indicated that their functions could be divided into 14 categories. KEGG pathway analysis identified that six types of basal metabolic pathway were regulated, including genetic information processing and transcription, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, and xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism. Similar to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), Bb can also induce a silkworm poisoning-related response. In this process, genes encoding midgut peritrophic membrane proteins, aminopeptidase N receptors and sodium/calcium exchange protein showed modulation. For the first time, we found that Bb induced a lot of genes involved in juvenile hormone synthesis and metabolism pathway upregulated. Bb also triggered the host immune responses, including cellular immune response and serine protease cascade melanization response. Real time PCR analysis showed that Bb can induce the silkworm systemic immune response, mainly by the Toll pathway. Anti-microorganism peptides (AMPs), including of Attacin, Lebocin, Enbocin, Gloverin and Moricin families, were upregulated at 24 hours post the infection.

A simple one-pot synthesis of highly fluorescent nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots for the detection of Cr(VI) in aqueous media

Abstract: A new method for selective determination of Cr(VI) in environmental water samples was developed based on its quenching effect on the fluorescent N-doping graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs). The N-GQDs were synthesized by a simple one-step method using citric acid as the carbon source and ammonia as the nitrogen source with a 65% yield, showing that mass production of the N-GQDs is possible. The obtained N-GQDs with oxygen-rich functional groups exhibited a strong blue emission with a quantum yield of 18.6%, which was 7 times greater than that of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Due to the selective coordination to Cr(VI), the N-GQDs can be used as a green and facile sensing platform for label-free sensitive and selective detection of Cr(VI) ions in aqueous solution and real water samples. Compared to GQDs, the N-GQDs as a fluorescent probe promises much improved selectivity for sensing of Cr(VI). The N-GQDs fluorescence probe shows a sensitive response to Cr(VI) in a wide concentration range of 0–140 μM with a detection limit of 40 nM. The N-GQDs-based fluorescence method was successfully used to selectively detect Cr(VI), and discriminate it and Cr(III) as well in aqueous samples.