Kongming Wu - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kongming Wu

Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research, Jan 18, 2016

Modified radical mastectomy is the standard surgery for breast cancer in developing countries. Ho... more Modified radical mastectomy is the standard surgery for breast cancer in developing countries. However, seroma formation regarded as the most frequent postoperative complication limits the therapeutic benefit of mastectomy and axillary surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of OK-432 in reducing seroma formation after axillary dissection. This prospective cohort study included 80 patients with advanced breast cancer who underwent modified radical mastectomy. Patients were randomized into two groups, which differed with the OK-432 administration. N = 40 patients per group were treated with either OK-432 plus closed suction drainage or drainage-only. In comparison with the drainage-only group, we found that patients in the OK-432 group had a lower drainage volume (p = .030) and a shorter duration of axillary drainage (p < .01). Besides, the use of OK-432 could reduce the incidence of seroma formation (p < .01) and the volume of seroma (p = .040). There w...

Journal of Economic Entomology, 2016

Insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used widely in sprays and transgenic p... more Insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used widely in sprays and transgenic plants to control insect pests. Although much research has elucidated the effects of Bt toxins on larvae, relatively little is known about their effects on adults. Here, we evaluated the effects of exposing adults to Bt toxin Cry1Ac on the life span and reproduction of two strains of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)). In larval diet bioassays, the concentration of Cry1Ac killing 50% of larvae (LC50) was 640 times higher for the laboratory-selected resistant strain (AZP-R) than the susceptible strain (APHIS-S). In experiments with adults, the highest concentrations of Cry1Ac tested (160 and 640 µg Cry1Ac per ml of 5% honey water) reduced life span for both strains. Treatments with 10, 40, and 160 µg Cry1Ac per ml reduced the duration of the oviposition period as well as the number of eggs laid by both strains, but did not affect the percentage of pairs producing eggs, the duration of the preoviposition period, or the percentage of eggs hatching for either strain. Adult life span did not differ between strains at low to moderate concentrations of Cry1Ac, but it was significantly greater for the resistant strain than the susceptible strain at the two highest concentrations of Cry1Ac tested. The reduced susceptibility to high concentrations of Cry1Ac in adults of the AZP-R strain relative to the APHIS-S strain provides the first evidence of expression of resistance to a Bt toxin in adult Lepidoptera.

Stem cell investigation, 2015

As a fundamental event in the generation of tissues and organs during embryogenesis, the epitheli... more As a fundamental event in the generation of tissues and organs during embryogenesis, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has also been implicated in cancer progression by its ability to alter the plasticity of epithelial cells to acquire invasive properties. Evidence is mounting that ectopic activation of transforming growth factors β (TGF-β)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) superfamily members to enhance tumorigenesis and metastasis. In this respect, the Retinal Determination Gene Network (RDGN), which was identified to govern the normal initiation of the morphogenetic furrow in Drosophila, has now been found to be de-regulated in various types of cancers, and the key members of this network, DACH, SIX, and EYA, have emerged as novel co-regulators of TGF- signaling during EMT. Understanding the molecular mechanism by which RDGN regulates TGF-β/BMP signaling to influence EMT may lead to novel strategies for targeted therapies.

Thrombosis research, Jan 20, 2016

Information about the incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after thyroid op... more Information about the incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after thyroid operation is limited. This study aimed to analyze the incidence and risk factors of postoperative VTE in patients who had undergone thyroid surgery. A prospective, multi-center cohort study was performed from June 2013 to June 2015 in 3 hospitals throughout South Central China. We analyzed 5029 patients who had undergone thyroid operation and received no VTE prophylaxis postoperatively. For the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), bilateral whole-leg ultrasound was conducted in patients with a high pretest probability of DVT. Lung ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy, pulmonary angiography, or helical computed tomography was implemented in patients suspected to have pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT was diagnosed in 18 patients (0.36%). No patient was diagnosed with PE. Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that age and left lower limb intraoperative venous access (IVA) were signific...

PloS one, 2016

Crystalline (Cry) proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used extensively for insect contr... more Crystalline (Cry) proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used extensively for insect control in sprays and transgenic plants, but their efficacy is reduced by evolution of resistance in pests. Here we evaluated reduced activation of Cry1Ac protoxin as a potential mechanism of resistance in the invasive pest Helicoverpa armigera. Based on the concentration killing 50% of larvae (LC50) for a laboratory-selected resistant strain (LF120) divided by the LC50 for its susceptible parent strain (LF), the resistance ratio was 1600 for Cry1Ac protoxin and 1200 for trypsin-activated Cry1Ac toxin. The high level of resistance to activated toxin as well as to protoxin indicates reduced activation of protoxin is not a major mechanism of resistance to Cry1Ac in LF120. For both insect strains, treatment with either the trypsin inhibitor N-a-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) or the chymotrypsin inhibitor N-a-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) did not significantly affect...

Oncotarget, Jan 17, 2016

Although originally identified for its function in Drosophila melanogaster eye specification, the... more Although originally identified for its function in Drosophila melanogaster eye specification, the Retinal Determination Gene Network (RDGN) is essential for the development of multiple organs in mammals. The RDGN regulates proliferation, differentiation and autocrine signaling, and interacts with other key signaling pathways. Aberrant expression of RDGN members such as DACH, EYA and SIX contributes to tumor initiation and progression; indeed, the levels of RDGN members are clinically prognostic factors in various cancer types. Stimulation or suppression of the activities of these crucial components can block cancer cell proliferation, prevent cancer stem cell expansion and even reverse the EMT process, thereby attenuating malignant phenotypes. Thus, cancer therapeutic interventions targeting RDGN members should be pursued in future studies.

Journal of Economic Entomology, 2016

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) play important roles in the cellular biology of vertebrate and inverteb... more Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) play important roles in the cellular biology of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms, such as cell differentiation, tumor metastasis, and cell coordination. GSLs also serve as receptors for different bacterial toxins. For example, in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, GSLs function as receptors of the insecticidal Cry toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and mutations in bre genes involved in GSLs synthesis resulted in resistance to Cry5 toxin in this organism. However, the information of GSLs function in insects is still limited. In this study, three genes for glycosyltransferases, bre2, bre3, and bre4, from Helicoverpa armigera were identified and cloned. The previously reported bre5 gene from H. armigera was also analyzed. Protein sequence alignments revealed that proteins codified by H. armigera Bre shared high identity with homologous proteins from other organisms. Expression profile analysis revealed that the expressions of bre genes varied in the different tissues and also in the different developmental stages of H. armigera. Finally, the heterologous expression of bre genes in Trichoplusia ni Hi5 cell line showed that the corresponding translated proteins were localized in the cytoplasm of Hi5 cells. These results provide the bases for further functional studies of bre genes and analyzing potential roles of GSLs in mode of action of Cry1A toxin in H. armigera.

Scientific reports, 2016

Planting Bt cotton in China since 1997 has led to important changes in the natural enemy communit... more Planting Bt cotton in China since 1997 has led to important changes in the natural enemy communities occurring in cotton, however their specific effect on suppressing the cotton aphids (being notorious in conventional cotton ecosystem) has not been fully documented yet. We observed strong evidence for top-down control of the aphid population, e.g. the control efficiency of natural enemies on cotton aphid increased significantly in open field cages compared to exclusion cages, accounted for 60.2, 87.2 and 76.7% in 2011, 2012 and 2013 season, respectively. The cotton aphid populations peaked in early June to late July (early and middle growth stages) in open field cotton survey from 2011 to 2013. The population densities of cotton aphids and natural enemies were highest on middle growth stage while lowest densities were recorded on late stage for aphids and on early plant stage for natural enemies. Aphid parasitoids (Trioxys spp., Aphidius gifuensis), coccinellids and spiders were key...

OncoTargets and therapy, 2016

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as the receptor ... more Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as the receptor for the extracellular matrix component hyaluronic acid. CD44 has been reported to play key roles in cell proliferation, motility, and survival, but its role in breast cancer remains controversial. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis. A total of 23 published Gene Expression Omnibus databases were included to evaluate the association between CD44 mRNA expression and clinicopathological characteristics or prognosis of the patients with breast cancer. Our analysis revealed that CD44 expression was associated with clinicopathological features, including the histological grade, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 status. Higher levels of CD44 expression were observed in the basal subtype of breast cancer both at the mRNA and protein levels (odds ratio [OR] =2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72-2.52; OR =2.11, 95% CI: ...

PLOS Pathogens, 2016

Evolution of pest resistance reduces the efficacy of insecticidal proteins from the gram-positive... more Evolution of pest resistance reduces the efficacy of insecticidal proteins from the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) used widely in sprays and transgenic crops. Recent efforts to delay pest adaptation to Bt crops focus primarily on combinations of two or more Bt toxins that kill the same pest, but this approach is often compromised because resistance to one Bt toxin causes cross-resistance to others. Thus, integration of Bt toxins with alternative controls that do not exhibit such cross-resistance is urgently needed. The ideal scenario of negative cross-resistance, where selection for resistance to a Bt toxin increases susceptibility to alternative controls, has been elusive. Here we discovered that selection of the global crop pest, Helicoverpa armigera, for &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;1000-fold resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac increased susceptibility to abamectin and spineotram, insecticides derived from the soil bacteria Streptomyces avermitilis and Saccharopolyspora spinosa, respectively. Resistance to Cry1Ac did not affect susceptibility to the cyclodiene, organophospate, or pyrethroid insecticides tested. Whereas previous work demonstrated that the resistance to Cry1Ac in the strain analyzed here is conferred by a mutation disrupting an ATP-binding cassette protein named ABCC2, the new results show that increased susceptibility to abamectin is genetically linked with the same mutation. Moreover, RNAi silencing of HaABCC2 not only decreased susceptibility to Cry1Ac, it also increased susceptibility to abamectin. The mutation disrupting ABCC2 reduced removal of abamectin in live larvae and in transfected Hi5 cells. The results imply that negative cross-resistance occurs because the wild type ABCC2 protein plays a key role in conferring susceptibility to Cry1Ac and in decreasing susceptibility to abamectin. The negative cross-resistance between a Bt toxin and other bacterial insecticides reported here may facilitate more sustainable pest control.

OncoTargets and therapy, 2015

CD44, a multi-structural and multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein, was initially identified... more CD44, a multi-structural and multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein, was initially identified as a receptor for hyaluronan that participates in both physiological and pathological processes. CD44 is found to be closely linked to the development of various solid tumors. Molecular studies have revealed that high CD44 expression was correlated with the phenotypes of cancer stem cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thereby contributing to tumor invasion, metastasis, recurrence, and chemoresistance. Correspondingly, blockade of CD44 has been demonstrated to be capable of attenuating the malignant phenotype, slowing cancer progression, and reversing therapy resistance. Clinical analyses showed that high CD44 expression is associated with poor survival of various cancer patients, indicating that CD44 can be a potential prognostic marker. In this review, we summarize recent research progress of CD44 on tumor biology and the clinical significance of CD44.

Cancer Letters, 2015

The Notch pathway is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. The Notch sign... more The Notch pathway is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. The Notch signaling pathway is one of the most commonly activated signaling pathways in cancer. Alterations include activating mutations and amplification of the Notch pathway, which play key roles in the progression of cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that the pharmacological inhibition of this pathway can overcome chemoresistance. Efforts have been taken to develop Notch inhibitors as a single agent or in combination with clinically used chemotherapeutics to treat cancer. Some Notch inhibitors have been demonstrated to have therapeutic efficacy in preclinical studies. This review summarizes the recent studies and clinical evaluations of the Notch inhibitors in cancer.

Crop Protection, 2011

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of cotton and many other... more Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of cotton and many other crops in northern China. To evaluate the contribution of alternative hosts as an effective refuge for transgenic cotton expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ac toxin, the susceptibility to this toxin was measured in progeny derived from field-collected H. armigera larvae and pupae from different hosts in the

PloS one, 2015

Various studies have evaluated the significance of Notch1 expression in breast cancer, but the re... more Various studies have evaluated the significance of Notch1 expression in breast cancer, but the results have ever been disputed. By using 21 studies involving 3867 patients, this meta-analysis revealed that the expression of Notch1 was significantly higher in breast cancer than in normal tissues (OR=7.21; 95%CI, 4.7-11.07) and that higher Notch1 expression was associated with transition from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive cancer (OR=3.75; 95% CI, 1.8-7.78). Higher Notch1 activity was observed in the basal subtype of breast cancer (OR=2.53; 95% CI, 1.18-5.43). Moreover, patients with Notch1 overexpression exhibited significantly worse overall and recurrence-free survival. Our meta-analysis suggests that Notch inhibitors may be useful in blocking the early progression of DCIS and that the outcomes of clinical trials for Notch1-targeting therapeutics could be improved by the molecular stratification of breast cancer patients.

Journal of Pest Science, 2014

ABSTRACT Recently, Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) has become an important insect pest of B... more ABSTRACT Recently, Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) has become an important insect pest of Bt cotton and fruit trees in China. At present, the application of chemical insecticides is the main control option for this pest. We investigated the lethal effect of seven neonicotinoid insecticides on A. lucorum adults, including six commercialized neonicotinoids and a novel one, cycloxaprid, which is developed in China. In addition, we assessed the sublethal physiological (longevity, fecundity) and behavioral (preoviposition and oviposition periods) effects of LD10 (low lethal dose) and LD40 (moderate lethal dose) of cycloxaprid on the mirid bug. Lethal effect of the insecticides was determined using a topical exposure method; contact toxicity against the adults was ranked as follows: cycloxaprid, nitenpyram &gt; clothianidin &gt; acetamiprid, imidacloprid &gt; thiamethoxam &gt; dinotefuran. Among these insecticides, the toxicity of cycloxaprid against the adults was the highest; its LD50 value was 2.54 ng a.i .(active ingredient)/adult. Both LD10 (0.74 ng a. i./adult) and LD40 (1.98 ng a. i./ adult) of cycloxaprid induced sublethal effects in the adults; we observed a reduced longevity in males and the LD40 also shortened the longevity of females. In addition, the LD40 prolonged the pre-oviposition period and shortened the oviposition period of females, and it decreased their fecundity. The hatching rate of eggs laid by the females exposed to LD10 and LD40 greatly decreased (two-fold lower when exposed to LD40). Our results demonstrate that cycloxaprid is among the best candidate insecticides for controlling A. lucorum, and it showed significant lethal and sublethal effects on this mirid bug.

Scientific reports, 2015

Various studies have assessed the clinicopathological and prognostic value of Notch1 and Notch3 e... more Various studies have assessed the clinicopathological and prognostic value of Notch1 and Notch3 expression in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but their results remain controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to address the above issues by using a total of 19 studies involving 3663 patients. The correlations between Notch1 and Notch3 expression and clinicopathological features and NSCLC prognosis were analyzed. The meta-analysis indicated that higher expression of Notch1 was associated with greater possibility of lymph node metastasis and higher TNM stages. Moreover, patients with Notch1 overexpression and Notch3 overexpression showed significantly poor overall survival (Notch1: HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.06-1.57, p = 0.468 and I(2) = 0.0%; Notch3: HR, 1.57; 95%CI, 1.04-2.36, p = 0.445 and I(2) = 0.0%). Furthermore, there are statistically significant association between overall survival of NSCLC patients and the expression of Notch signaling ligand DLL3 and target gene HES1. Our...

Oncotarget, Jan 20, 2015

Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) identified that D... more Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) identified that DACH1, is a human homolog of drosophila gene dac, is involved in NSCLC. Here we showed that expression of DACH1 was significantly decreased in human NSCLC tissues and DACH1 abundance was inversely correlated with tumor stages and grades. Restoration of DACH1 expression in NSCLC cells significantly reduced cellular proliferation, clone formation, migration and invasion in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo. Unbiased screen and functional study suggested that DACH1 mediated effects were dependent in part on suppression of CXCL5. There was an inverse correlation between DACH1 mRNA levels and CXCL5 in both lung cancer cell lines and human NSCLC tissues. Kaplan-Mier analysis of human NSCLC samples demonstrated that high DACH1 mRNA levels predicted favorable prognosis for relapse-free and overall survival. In agreement, high CXCL5 expression predicted a worse prognosis for survival.

Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research, Jan 18, 2016

Modified radical mastectomy is the standard surgery for breast cancer in developing countries. Ho... more Modified radical mastectomy is the standard surgery for breast cancer in developing countries. However, seroma formation regarded as the most frequent postoperative complication limits the therapeutic benefit of mastectomy and axillary surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of OK-432 in reducing seroma formation after axillary dissection. This prospective cohort study included 80 patients with advanced breast cancer who underwent modified radical mastectomy. Patients were randomized into two groups, which differed with the OK-432 administration. N = 40 patients per group were treated with either OK-432 plus closed suction drainage or drainage-only. In comparison with the drainage-only group, we found that patients in the OK-432 group had a lower drainage volume (p = .030) and a shorter duration of axillary drainage (p < .01). Besides, the use of OK-432 could reduce the incidence of seroma formation (p < .01) and the volume of seroma (p = .040). There w...

Journal of Economic Entomology, 2016

Insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used widely in sprays and transgenic p... more Insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used widely in sprays and transgenic plants to control insect pests. Although much research has elucidated the effects of Bt toxins on larvae, relatively little is known about their effects on adults. Here, we evaluated the effects of exposing adults to Bt toxin Cry1Ac on the life span and reproduction of two strains of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)). In larval diet bioassays, the concentration of Cry1Ac killing 50% of larvae (LC50) was 640 times higher for the laboratory-selected resistant strain (AZP-R) than the susceptible strain (APHIS-S). In experiments with adults, the highest concentrations of Cry1Ac tested (160 and 640 µg Cry1Ac per ml of 5% honey water) reduced life span for both strains. Treatments with 10, 40, and 160 µg Cry1Ac per ml reduced the duration of the oviposition period as well as the number of eggs laid by both strains, but did not affect the percentage of pairs producing eggs, the duration of the preoviposition period, or the percentage of eggs hatching for either strain. Adult life span did not differ between strains at low to moderate concentrations of Cry1Ac, but it was significantly greater for the resistant strain than the susceptible strain at the two highest concentrations of Cry1Ac tested. The reduced susceptibility to high concentrations of Cry1Ac in adults of the AZP-R strain relative to the APHIS-S strain provides the first evidence of expression of resistance to a Bt toxin in adult Lepidoptera.

Stem cell investigation, 2015

As a fundamental event in the generation of tissues and organs during embryogenesis, the epitheli... more As a fundamental event in the generation of tissues and organs during embryogenesis, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has also been implicated in cancer progression by its ability to alter the plasticity of epithelial cells to acquire invasive properties. Evidence is mounting that ectopic activation of transforming growth factors β (TGF-β)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) superfamily members to enhance tumorigenesis and metastasis. In this respect, the Retinal Determination Gene Network (RDGN), which was identified to govern the normal initiation of the morphogenetic furrow in Drosophila, has now been found to be de-regulated in various types of cancers, and the key members of this network, DACH, SIX, and EYA, have emerged as novel co-regulators of TGF- signaling during EMT. Understanding the molecular mechanism by which RDGN regulates TGF-β/BMP signaling to influence EMT may lead to novel strategies for targeted therapies.

Thrombosis research, Jan 20, 2016

Information about the incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after thyroid op... more Information about the incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after thyroid operation is limited. This study aimed to analyze the incidence and risk factors of postoperative VTE in patients who had undergone thyroid surgery. A prospective, multi-center cohort study was performed from June 2013 to June 2015 in 3 hospitals throughout South Central China. We analyzed 5029 patients who had undergone thyroid operation and received no VTE prophylaxis postoperatively. For the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), bilateral whole-leg ultrasound was conducted in patients with a high pretest probability of DVT. Lung ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy, pulmonary angiography, or helical computed tomography was implemented in patients suspected to have pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT was diagnosed in 18 patients (0.36%). No patient was diagnosed with PE. Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that age and left lower limb intraoperative venous access (IVA) were signific...

PloS one, 2016

Crystalline (Cry) proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used extensively for insect contr... more Crystalline (Cry) proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used extensively for insect control in sprays and transgenic plants, but their efficacy is reduced by evolution of resistance in pests. Here we evaluated reduced activation of Cry1Ac protoxin as a potential mechanism of resistance in the invasive pest Helicoverpa armigera. Based on the concentration killing 50% of larvae (LC50) for a laboratory-selected resistant strain (LF120) divided by the LC50 for its susceptible parent strain (LF), the resistance ratio was 1600 for Cry1Ac protoxin and 1200 for trypsin-activated Cry1Ac toxin. The high level of resistance to activated toxin as well as to protoxin indicates reduced activation of protoxin is not a major mechanism of resistance to Cry1Ac in LF120. For both insect strains, treatment with either the trypsin inhibitor N-a-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) or the chymotrypsin inhibitor N-a-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) did not significantly affect...

Oncotarget, Jan 17, 2016

Although originally identified for its function in Drosophila melanogaster eye specification, the... more Although originally identified for its function in Drosophila melanogaster eye specification, the Retinal Determination Gene Network (RDGN) is essential for the development of multiple organs in mammals. The RDGN regulates proliferation, differentiation and autocrine signaling, and interacts with other key signaling pathways. Aberrant expression of RDGN members such as DACH, EYA and SIX contributes to tumor initiation and progression; indeed, the levels of RDGN members are clinically prognostic factors in various cancer types. Stimulation or suppression of the activities of these crucial components can block cancer cell proliferation, prevent cancer stem cell expansion and even reverse the EMT process, thereby attenuating malignant phenotypes. Thus, cancer therapeutic interventions targeting RDGN members should be pursued in future studies.

Journal of Economic Entomology, 2016

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) play important roles in the cellular biology of vertebrate and inverteb... more Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) play important roles in the cellular biology of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms, such as cell differentiation, tumor metastasis, and cell coordination. GSLs also serve as receptors for different bacterial toxins. For example, in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, GSLs function as receptors of the insecticidal Cry toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and mutations in bre genes involved in GSLs synthesis resulted in resistance to Cry5 toxin in this organism. However, the information of GSLs function in insects is still limited. In this study, three genes for glycosyltransferases, bre2, bre3, and bre4, from Helicoverpa armigera were identified and cloned. The previously reported bre5 gene from H. armigera was also analyzed. Protein sequence alignments revealed that proteins codified by H. armigera Bre shared high identity with homologous proteins from other organisms. Expression profile analysis revealed that the expressions of bre genes varied in the different tissues and also in the different developmental stages of H. armigera. Finally, the heterologous expression of bre genes in Trichoplusia ni Hi5 cell line showed that the corresponding translated proteins were localized in the cytoplasm of Hi5 cells. These results provide the bases for further functional studies of bre genes and analyzing potential roles of GSLs in mode of action of Cry1A toxin in H. armigera.

Scientific reports, 2016

Planting Bt cotton in China since 1997 has led to important changes in the natural enemy communit... more Planting Bt cotton in China since 1997 has led to important changes in the natural enemy communities occurring in cotton, however their specific effect on suppressing the cotton aphids (being notorious in conventional cotton ecosystem) has not been fully documented yet. We observed strong evidence for top-down control of the aphid population, e.g. the control efficiency of natural enemies on cotton aphid increased significantly in open field cages compared to exclusion cages, accounted for 60.2, 87.2 and 76.7% in 2011, 2012 and 2013 season, respectively. The cotton aphid populations peaked in early June to late July (early and middle growth stages) in open field cotton survey from 2011 to 2013. The population densities of cotton aphids and natural enemies were highest on middle growth stage while lowest densities were recorded on late stage for aphids and on early plant stage for natural enemies. Aphid parasitoids (Trioxys spp., Aphidius gifuensis), coccinellids and spiders were key...

OncoTargets and therapy, 2016

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as the receptor ... more Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as the receptor for the extracellular matrix component hyaluronic acid. CD44 has been reported to play key roles in cell proliferation, motility, and survival, but its role in breast cancer remains controversial. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis. A total of 23 published Gene Expression Omnibus databases were included to evaluate the association between CD44 mRNA expression and clinicopathological characteristics or prognosis of the patients with breast cancer. Our analysis revealed that CD44 expression was associated with clinicopathological features, including the histological grade, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 status. Higher levels of CD44 expression were observed in the basal subtype of breast cancer both at the mRNA and protein levels (odds ratio [OR] =2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72-2.52; OR =2.11, 95% CI: ...

PLOS Pathogens, 2016

Evolution of pest resistance reduces the efficacy of insecticidal proteins from the gram-positive... more Evolution of pest resistance reduces the efficacy of insecticidal proteins from the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) used widely in sprays and transgenic crops. Recent efforts to delay pest adaptation to Bt crops focus primarily on combinations of two or more Bt toxins that kill the same pest, but this approach is often compromised because resistance to one Bt toxin causes cross-resistance to others. Thus, integration of Bt toxins with alternative controls that do not exhibit such cross-resistance is urgently needed. The ideal scenario of negative cross-resistance, where selection for resistance to a Bt toxin increases susceptibility to alternative controls, has been elusive. Here we discovered that selection of the global crop pest, Helicoverpa armigera, for &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;1000-fold resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac increased susceptibility to abamectin and spineotram, insecticides derived from the soil bacteria Streptomyces avermitilis and Saccharopolyspora spinosa, respectively. Resistance to Cry1Ac did not affect susceptibility to the cyclodiene, organophospate, or pyrethroid insecticides tested. Whereas previous work demonstrated that the resistance to Cry1Ac in the strain analyzed here is conferred by a mutation disrupting an ATP-binding cassette protein named ABCC2, the new results show that increased susceptibility to abamectin is genetically linked with the same mutation. Moreover, RNAi silencing of HaABCC2 not only decreased susceptibility to Cry1Ac, it also increased susceptibility to abamectin. The mutation disrupting ABCC2 reduced removal of abamectin in live larvae and in transfected Hi5 cells. The results imply that negative cross-resistance occurs because the wild type ABCC2 protein plays a key role in conferring susceptibility to Cry1Ac and in decreasing susceptibility to abamectin. The negative cross-resistance between a Bt toxin and other bacterial insecticides reported here may facilitate more sustainable pest control.

OncoTargets and therapy, 2015

CD44, a multi-structural and multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein, was initially identified... more CD44, a multi-structural and multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein, was initially identified as a receptor for hyaluronan that participates in both physiological and pathological processes. CD44 is found to be closely linked to the development of various solid tumors. Molecular studies have revealed that high CD44 expression was correlated with the phenotypes of cancer stem cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thereby contributing to tumor invasion, metastasis, recurrence, and chemoresistance. Correspondingly, blockade of CD44 has been demonstrated to be capable of attenuating the malignant phenotype, slowing cancer progression, and reversing therapy resistance. Clinical analyses showed that high CD44 expression is associated with poor survival of various cancer patients, indicating that CD44 can be a potential prognostic marker. In this review, we summarize recent research progress of CD44 on tumor biology and the clinical significance of CD44.

Cancer Letters, 2015

The Notch pathway is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. The Notch sign... more The Notch pathway is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. The Notch signaling pathway is one of the most commonly activated signaling pathways in cancer. Alterations include activating mutations and amplification of the Notch pathway, which play key roles in the progression of cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that the pharmacological inhibition of this pathway can overcome chemoresistance. Efforts have been taken to develop Notch inhibitors as a single agent or in combination with clinically used chemotherapeutics to treat cancer. Some Notch inhibitors have been demonstrated to have therapeutic efficacy in preclinical studies. This review summarizes the recent studies and clinical evaluations of the Notch inhibitors in cancer.

Crop Protection, 2011

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of cotton and many other... more Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of cotton and many other crops in northern China. To evaluate the contribution of alternative hosts as an effective refuge for transgenic cotton expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ac toxin, the susceptibility to this toxin was measured in progeny derived from field-collected H. armigera larvae and pupae from different hosts in the

PloS one, 2015

Various studies have evaluated the significance of Notch1 expression in breast cancer, but the re... more Various studies have evaluated the significance of Notch1 expression in breast cancer, but the results have ever been disputed. By using 21 studies involving 3867 patients, this meta-analysis revealed that the expression of Notch1 was significantly higher in breast cancer than in normal tissues (OR=7.21; 95%CI, 4.7-11.07) and that higher Notch1 expression was associated with transition from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive cancer (OR=3.75; 95% CI, 1.8-7.78). Higher Notch1 activity was observed in the basal subtype of breast cancer (OR=2.53; 95% CI, 1.18-5.43). Moreover, patients with Notch1 overexpression exhibited significantly worse overall and recurrence-free survival. Our meta-analysis suggests that Notch inhibitors may be useful in blocking the early progression of DCIS and that the outcomes of clinical trials for Notch1-targeting therapeutics could be improved by the molecular stratification of breast cancer patients.

Journal of Pest Science, 2014

ABSTRACT Recently, Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) has become an important insect pest of B... more ABSTRACT Recently, Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) has become an important insect pest of Bt cotton and fruit trees in China. At present, the application of chemical insecticides is the main control option for this pest. We investigated the lethal effect of seven neonicotinoid insecticides on A. lucorum adults, including six commercialized neonicotinoids and a novel one, cycloxaprid, which is developed in China. In addition, we assessed the sublethal physiological (longevity, fecundity) and behavioral (preoviposition and oviposition periods) effects of LD10 (low lethal dose) and LD40 (moderate lethal dose) of cycloxaprid on the mirid bug. Lethal effect of the insecticides was determined using a topical exposure method; contact toxicity against the adults was ranked as follows: cycloxaprid, nitenpyram &gt; clothianidin &gt; acetamiprid, imidacloprid &gt; thiamethoxam &gt; dinotefuran. Among these insecticides, the toxicity of cycloxaprid against the adults was the highest; its LD50 value was 2.54 ng a.i .(active ingredient)/adult. Both LD10 (0.74 ng a. i./adult) and LD40 (1.98 ng a. i./ adult) of cycloxaprid induced sublethal effects in the adults; we observed a reduced longevity in males and the LD40 also shortened the longevity of females. In addition, the LD40 prolonged the pre-oviposition period and shortened the oviposition period of females, and it decreased their fecundity. The hatching rate of eggs laid by the females exposed to LD10 and LD40 greatly decreased (two-fold lower when exposed to LD40). Our results demonstrate that cycloxaprid is among the best candidate insecticides for controlling A. lucorum, and it showed significant lethal and sublethal effects on this mirid bug.

Scientific reports, 2015

Various studies have assessed the clinicopathological and prognostic value of Notch1 and Notch3 e... more Various studies have assessed the clinicopathological and prognostic value of Notch1 and Notch3 expression in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but their results remain controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to address the above issues by using a total of 19 studies involving 3663 patients. The correlations between Notch1 and Notch3 expression and clinicopathological features and NSCLC prognosis were analyzed. The meta-analysis indicated that higher expression of Notch1 was associated with greater possibility of lymph node metastasis and higher TNM stages. Moreover, patients with Notch1 overexpression and Notch3 overexpression showed significantly poor overall survival (Notch1: HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.06-1.57, p = 0.468 and I(2) = 0.0%; Notch3: HR, 1.57; 95%CI, 1.04-2.36, p = 0.445 and I(2) = 0.0%). Furthermore, there are statistically significant association between overall survival of NSCLC patients and the expression of Notch signaling ligand DLL3 and target gene HES1. Our...

Oncotarget, Jan 20, 2015

Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) identified that D... more Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) identified that DACH1, is a human homolog of drosophila gene dac, is involved in NSCLC. Here we showed that expression of DACH1 was significantly decreased in human NSCLC tissues and DACH1 abundance was inversely correlated with tumor stages and grades. Restoration of DACH1 expression in NSCLC cells significantly reduced cellular proliferation, clone formation, migration and invasion in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo. Unbiased screen and functional study suggested that DACH1 mediated effects were dependent in part on suppression of CXCL5. There was an inverse correlation between DACH1 mRNA levels and CXCL5 in both lung cancer cell lines and human NSCLC tissues. Kaplan-Mier analysis of human NSCLC samples demonstrated that high DACH1 mRNA levels predicted favorable prognosis for relapse-free and overall survival. In agreement, high CXCL5 expression predicted a worse prognosis for survival.