Protothecosis is an unusual cutaneous soft tissue infection caused by the Prototheca, which is a genus of the unicelluar, achloric algae. We report a case of cutaneous protothecosis in a 66-year-old female, who showed erythematous, purulent patches and plaques with ulcerations on the right forearm for 2 months. Biopsy specimen revealed the characteristic thick-walled morulalike sporangia in the dermis. Prototheca wickerhamii was isolated in the culture and the biochemical study. Electron microscopic examination showed the thick-walled spores containing dark dense bodies and amyloplasts. After two months of oral itraconazole 200mg/day, skin lesions were improved.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Plastids ; Prototheca ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Sporangia ; Spores ; Ulcer

Cutaneous protothecosis sometimes poses diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Isolation of the causative organism may not be successful and spores may be mistaken for other skin diseases unless the characteristic sporangia are detected in tissue sections. Because there are few cases, the optimal therapy is still being debated. On Liebs crystal violet staining we found charateristic purplish dots in Prototheca spores; these correspond to the amyloplasts or dense bodies found under electron microscopy. The isolated organisms were inhibited in vitro by itraconazole, amphotericin B, ketoconazole, and amorolfine and we were able to successfully treat two patients with itraconazole.
Amphotericin B ; Gentian Violet* ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Itraconazole* ; Ketoconazole ; Microscopy, Electron ; Plastids ; Prototheca ; Skin Diseases ; Sporangia ; Spores

Protothecosis is a rare cutaneous soft tissue infection caused by the genus prototheca, most commonly Prototheca wickerhatmii. An 80-year-old woman has had a painful or tender, non-healing, eczematous plaque on the extensor surface of the left forearm for 4 years. A biopsy specimen revealed the characteristic thick-walled morulalike sporangia in the dermis. P. wickerha mili was isolated in the culture and the biochemical studies. Electron microscopic examination showed the thick-walled spores containing dark dense bodies and amyloplasts. Oral itraconazole therapy for 4 weeks resulted-in a marked improvement of the skin lesion.
Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Plastids ; Prototheca ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Sporangia ; Spores

To identify Salvia shandongensis and its relatives at molecular level, the psbA-trnH intergenic region of three species including Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were amplified and sequenced. Sequences were assembled with CodonCode Aligner. The K2P genetic distances between Salvia shandongensis and its relatives were calculated and UPGMA tree was performed by MEGA5.0. The results indicated that the lengths of psbA-trnH regions of Salvia shandongensis were about 391 bp, while the lengths of psbA-trnH regions of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were about 386 bp. The psbA-trnH sequences showed considerable variations between species and thus were revealed as a promising candidate for barcoding of Salvia shandongensis and its relatives. The intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia shandongensis were 0, while the intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were 0.002 and 0.001 respectively. Additionally, the genetic distance of Salvia shandongensis and Salvia miltiorrhiza ranged from 0.034 to 0.04, and the genetic distance of Salvia shandongensis and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba ranged from 0.005 to 0.008, the intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia shandongensis were much smaller than that of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba; clustering results showed that there were obvious differences between Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, which was consistent with morphological characteristics. This study not only firstly provides the scientific basis for establishing the taxonomy position in molecular level and revealing their genetic relationships of S. shandongensis, S. miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba; but also provides DNA molecular identification scientific basis for the development of new medicinal plant resources of Salvia shandongensis. Our results suggest that the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region can be used as a barcoding to identify Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba.
Base Sequence ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Plastids ; genetics ; Salvia ; classification ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

Curcuma drugs have been used discriminatingly for invigorating blood circulation, promoting digestion, and as a cholagogic in China. However, there is confusion about the drug's botanical origins and clinical uses because of morphological similarity of Curcuma plants and drugs. Comparative sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene in nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and trnK gene in chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) was carried out in order to examine interspecies phylogeny and to identify ultimately Curcuma species. A total of a hundred of accessions of eighteen species were analyzed. This resulted in an aligned matrix of 1810 bp for 18S rDNA and 2 800 bp for trnK. 18S rDNA sequence divergence within the ingroup ranged from 0-0.05%, trnK ranged from 0-0.19%. One base transversion-substituted site (from cytosine to thymine) was observed from the upstream of 18S rDNA at nucleotide position 234 in C. kwangsiensis and Japanese population of C. zedoaria which have separated genetic distance to other Curcuma taxa. Two noncoding regions embedded in trnK intron showed higher variability, including nucleotide substitutions, repeat insertion and deletions. Based on consensus of relationship, eighteen major lineages within Curcuma are recognized at the species level. The results suggest that Curcuma is monophyletic with 100% bootstrap support and sister to the genera Hedychium and Zingiber. The trnK sequences showed considerable variations between Curcuma species and thus were revealed as a promising candidate for barcoding of Curcuma species, which provide valuable characters for inferring relationship within species but are insufficient to resolve relationships among closely related taxa.
China ; Curcuma ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Chloroplast ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Introns ; Japan ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Plastids ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

The dried succulent stems of Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma and Cistanche tubulosa Wight.) are one of the most widely used components of traditional Chinese medicines. However, it is often confused and substituted with the roots of Orobanche pycnostachya, Boschniakia rossica (Cham. & Schltdl.) Standl., Cistanche sinensis Beck, and Cistanche salsa (C. A. Mey.) Beck. In this study, we identified psbA-trnH regions from species and tested their suitable for the identification of the above mentioned taxa. The psbA-trnH sequences showed considerable variations between species and thus were revealed as a promising candidate for barcoding of Cistanche species. Additionally, the average genetic distance of psbA-trnH ranging from 0.077% to 0.743%. In contrast, the intra-specific variation among Cistanche species was found to be significantly different from those of other species, with percentages of variation studied ranged from 0% to 0.007%. The sequence difference between the psbA-trnH sequences of Cistanche species and Orobanche pycnostachya ranged from 0.979% to 1.149%. The distance between the Cistanche species and Boschniakia rossica ranged from 1.066% to 1.224%. Our results suggest that the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region represent a barcode that can be used to identify Cistanche species and other morphologically undistinguishable species.
Base Sequence ; Cistanche ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Orobanche ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Stems ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Plastids ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; methods ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo study the hemiparasitic mechanism of Thesium chinense.

METHODThe anatomical structure of T. chinense was studied by using paraffin slice and electron microscope slice. Chlorophyll content was measured by UV spectrometry. Foliar photosynthesis (P(n)) and gas exchange were measured by using a LI-6400 photosynthesis system.

RESULTChloroplast possesses intact granal thylakoid system, lamella was strong. Vascular tissue of T. chinense was strong. Vessel aperture and its transport power were strong both in root and stem. There were many global haustoriums on lateral roots. Vascular tissues were strong inside haustorium, haustorial stylet penetrated epidermis and cortex of host root, and reached pith place, haustorial vessel was integrated with host root vessel. The maximum of P(n) of T. chinense reached 7.06 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1), its water use efficiency was lower, about 0.735 mmol x mol(-1), its transpiration varied notable in daytime and was relatively invariant at nighttime, and the value of daytime was greatly exceed that of nighttime.

CONCLUSIONT. chinense despoils water and nutrition from its host by haustorium. T. chinense can mostly be independent as for C supply by photosynthesis.

Carotenoids ; metabolism ; Cell Respiration ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; Santalaceae ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; metabolism ; Thylakoids ; metabolism ; Water ; metabolism

The present study aimed to investigate the composition of the terpene synthase(TPS) gene family in Gynostemma pentaphyllum and its role in abiotic stresses. The G. pentaphyllum TPS gene family was identified and analyzed at the genome-wide level using bioinformatics analysis, and the expression patterns of these family members were analyzed in different tissues of G. pentaphyllum as well as under various abiotic stresses. The results showed that there were 24 TPS gene family members in G. pentaphyllum with protein lengths ranging from 294 to 842 aa. All of them were localized in the cytoplasm or chloroplasts and unevenly distributed on the 11 chromosomes of G. pentaphyllum. The results of the phylogenetic tree showed that the G. pentaphyllum TPS gene family members could be divided into five subfamilies. As revealed by the analysis of promoter cis-acting elements, TPS gene family members in G. pentaphyllum were predicted to respond to a variety of abiotic stresses such as salt, low temperature, and dark stress. The analysis of gene expression patterns in different tissues of G. pentaphyllum revealed that nine TPS genes were tissue-specific in expression. The qPCR results showed that GpTPS16, GpTPS17, and GpTPS21 responded to a variety of abiotic stresses. This study is expected to provide references in guiding the further exploration of the biological functions of G. pentaphyllum TPS genes under abiotic stresses.
Gynostemma ; Phylogeny ; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; Chloroplasts

OBJECTIVETo study leaf ultrastructure in varieties of Chrysanthemum morifolium.

METHODThe ultrastructure of leaves was observed through the transmission electron microscope.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONChloroplast, mitochondria, starch grains and peroxide were observed in the ultrastructure of leaves, but the organelle, ultrastructure and their quantity showed differences in various cultivars. The results may explain, why hangju'has a better resistance to the adversity and is planted in large scale.

Chloroplasts ; ultrastructure ; Chrysanthemum ; ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Plant Leaves ; ultrastructure

The study is aimed to investigate the effects of light intensities on growth,photosynthetic physiology,antioxidant systems and chemical composition of Viola yedoensis and provide cultivation references for V.yedoensis.Five groups of V.yedoensis were planted under five light intensities conditions,namely 100%,80%,50%,35%,5%of full sunlight,and then morphological index,growth,chlorophyll fluorescence parameters,photosynthetic parameters and antioxidant enzyme system indexes were measured during harvest.The results showed that there was no significant difference in the biomass of V.yedoensis among 35% -100%full sunlight,but the biomass of those were significantly higher than that in the 5%full sunlight treatment(P<0.05).The net photosynthetic rate,transpiration rate,stomatal conductance,intercellular CO_2 concentration and water use efficiency increased firstly and then decreased with the decrease of light intensity;F_m,F_v/F_mand Yield in 5% full sunlight treatment were significantly lower than those in the other four groups(P<0.05).The structure of chloroplast was normal under light intensity ranged from 50%to 100% full sunlight.The lamellar concentration of chloroplast matrix decreased and the starch granules decreased in 35% full sunlight treatment,and the margin of lamellar layer of chloroplast and substrate were blurred,and the starch granules were small and the number of starch granules decreased significantly under 5% full sunlight.MDA content in 5%full sunlight treatment was significantly higher than those in the other four groups(P<0.05).The total coumarin content and total flavonoid content decreased with the decrease of light intensity.In summary,the light in-tensity range suitable for the growth of V.yedoensis is wide(ranging from 35% to 100% full sunlight).The content of flavonoids and coumarins is positively correlated with light intensity.
Biomass ; Chlorophyll ; Chloroplasts ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; Sunlight ; Viola