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Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic respiratory disease with high incidence rate, morbidity and mortality. Jinshui Huanxian formula (JHF) is an empirical formula for the pathogenesis of lung-kidney qi deficiency and phlegm-blood stasis in pulmonary fibrosis. The purpose of this study is to explore the pharmacological mechanism of JHF action in IPF therapy by network interaction analysis. Methods The main active components and corresponding target genes of JHF were predicted using various databases. Two sets of IPF disease genes were obtained from the DisGeNET database and GEO database. Two sets of drug targets for IPF treatment were collected and the overlapping genes between disease genes and drug targets were analyzed. The target genes of JHF were intersected with the differentially expressed genes of IPF to obtain the predicted targets of JHF acting on IPF. The functions and pathways of predicted targets acting on IPF were analyzed by using DAVID and KEGG pathway database. Finally, the resulting drug target mechanisms were validated in a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis. Results 494 active compounds and 1304 corresponding targets were screened. Intersection analysis showed that 4 genes were common genes of JHF targets, IPF disease genes and anti-IPF drugs in KEGG database, and these genes were targeted by several compounds of JHF respectively. 72 JHF targets were closely related with IPF, and were thus considered therapeutically relevant. The targets were screened and participated in the regulation of IPF through 18 pathways. The molecular functions of targets included regulation of oxidoreductase activity, kinase regulator activity, phosphotransferase activity and transmembrane receptor protein kinase activity. In vivo experiments showed that JHF could alleviate the degree of pulmonary fibrosis, including the decrease of collagen deposition and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Conclusions This study explored the mechanisms of JHF from a systematic point of view, trying to identify the specific target pathways acing on IPF. Pharmacological network with in vivo validation explained the potential roles and mechanisms of JHF in IPF therapy.

Antiviral immunity in insects is mediated by the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. Viruses evade antiviral RNAi by expressing virulence factors known as viral suppressors of RNAi (VSR). Here, we report the identification of VINR, a Drosophila VSR-interacting long non-coding (lnc) RNA that activates non-canonical innate immune signaling upon detection of the dsRNA-binding VSR of Drosophila C virus (DCV). VINR is required for the induction of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes but dispensable for antiviral RNAi. VINR functions by preventing the ubiquitin proteasome-dependent degradation of Cactin, a coiled-coil and arginine-serine-rich domain-containing protein that regulates a non-cannonical antimicrobial pathway for AMP induction. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of VINR in Drosophila cells enhances DCV replication independently of antiviral RNAi, and VINR-knockout adult flies exhibit enhanced disease susceptibility to DCV and bacteria. Our findings reveal a counter counter-defense strategy activated by a lncRNA in response to the viral suppression of the primary antiviral RNAi immunity.

The complete genome sequence of a novel virus, provisionally named tobacco virus 1 (TV1), was determined, and this virus was identified in leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) exhibiting leaf mosaic and yellowing symptoms in Anhui Province, China. The genome sequence of TV1 consists of 15,395 nucleotides with 61.6 % nucleotide sequence identity to mint virus 1 (MV1). Its genome organization is similar to that of MV1, containing nine open reading frames (ORFs) that potentially encode proteins with putative functions in virion assembly, cell-to-cell movement and suppression of RNA silencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the heat shock protein 70 homolog (HSP70h) placed TV1 alongside members of the genus Closterovirus in the family Closteroviridae. To our knowledge, this study is the first report of the complete genome sequence of a closterovirus identified in tobacco.

Disconnected Interacting Protein 1 (DIP1) is a dsRNA-binding protein that participates in a wide range of cellular processes. Whether DIP1 is involved in innate immunity remains unclear. Here, DIP1 was found to play an antiviral role in S2 cells. Its antiviral action is specific for DCV infection and not for DXV infection. dip1 mutant flies are hypersensitive to DCV infection. The increased mortality in dip1 mutant flies is associated with the accumulation of DCV positive-stranded RNAs in vivo. This study demonstrated that dip1 is a novel antiviral gene that restricts DCV replication in vitro and in vivo.

21 and 24Â nt peak distribution of the libraries. Figure S2 (a,b,c). Length distribution of total sRNAs (18 to 30Â nt) in the nine libraries. Figure S3. Distribution of siRNA Reads on Reference Genome shows coverage across the reference. Figure S4. Phylogenetic analyses of isolates of the genus Potyvirus and some selected group members based on complete genome sequences, generated using the neighbor-joining method and MEGA6 software. The percentage of replicate trees in which the associated taxa clustered together in the bootstrap test (1000 replicates) is shown next to the branches. Figure S5. Phylogenetic analyses of CMV Isolates and selected cucumoviruses based on complete genome sequences, generated using the neighbor-joining method and MEGA6 software. The percentage of replicate trees in which the associated taxa clustered together in the bootstrap test (1000 replicates) is shown next to the branches. Figure S6. Phylogenetic analyses of isolates of the genus Poleroviruss (A) and Tobamovirus (B) based on complete genome sequences, generated using the neighbor-joining method and MEGA6 software. The percentage of replicate trees in which the associated taxa clustered together in the bootstrap test (1000 replicates) is shown next to the branches. Figure S7a and b. Putative recombination event involving (a) Potato virus Y and (b) Cucumber mosaic virus isolates from Tobacco calculated by Recombination Detection Program v. 4.16. (PPTX 466Â kb)

Primer sets used in this study for RT-PCR to bridge the gaps between the assembled contigs of each isolates. Table S2. Strain, accession numbers and origin of reported Cucumber mosaic virus isolates used for phylogenetic comparison of sequence in this study. Table S3. Strain, accession numbers and origin of reported Potato virus Y isolates used for phylogenetic comparison of sequence in this study. Table S4. Strain, accession numbers and origin of reported TMV isolates retrieved from Genbank used for phylogenetic comparison and recombination analysis of sequence in this study. (DOCX 25Â kb)

The complete genome of a novel virus, provisionally named areca palm velarivirus 1 (APV1), was identified in areca palm exhibiting leaf yellowing symptoms in Hainan province, China. The genome of APV1 consists of 16,080 nucleotides and possesses 11 open reading frames (ORFs), sharing 56.4 % nucleotide sequence identity with little cherry virus 1 (NC_001836.1). The genome organization of APV1 is highly similar to that of members of the genus Velarivirus (family Closteroviridae). Phylogenetic analysis placed APV1 together with members of the genus Velarivirus.

Background The invasion of plant by viruses cause major damage to plants and reduces crop yield and integrity. Devastating plant virus infection has been experienced at different times all over the world, which are attributed to different events of mutation, re-assortment and recombination occurring in the viruses. Strategies for proper virus management has been mostly limited to eradicating the vectors that spreads the plant viruses. However, development of prompt and effective diagnostic methods are required to monitor emerging and re-emerging diseases that may be symptomatic or asymptomatic in the plant as well as the genetic variation and evolution in the plant viruses. A survey of plant viruses infecting field-grown Tobacco crop was conducted in Anhui Province of China by the deep sequencing of sRNAs. Methods Survey of plant viruses infecting Tobacco was carried based on 104 samples collected across the province. Nine different sRNA libraries was prepared and custom-made bioinformatics pipeline coupled with molecular techniques was developed to sequence, assemble and analyze the siRNAs for plant virus discovery. We also carried out phylogenetic and recombination analysis of the identified viruses. Results Twenty two isolates from eight different virus species including Cucumber mosaic virus, Potato virus Y, Tobacco mosaic virus, Tobacco vein banding Mosaic virus, Pepper mottle virus, Brassica yellow virus, Chilli venial mottle virus, Broad bean wilt virus 2 were identified in tobacco across the survey area. The near-complete genome sequence of the 22 new isolates were determined and analyzed. The isolates were grouped together with known strains in the phylogenetic tree. Molecular variation in the isolates indicated the conserved coding regions have majorly a nucleotide sequence identity of 80-94 % with previously identified isolates. Various events of recombination were discovered among some of the isolates indicating that two or more viruses or different isolates of one virus infect the same host cell. Conclusion This study describes the discovery of a consortium of plant viruses infecting Tobacco that are broadly distributed in Anhui province of China. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of NGS in identifying plant viruses without a prior knowledge of the virus and the genetic diversity that enhanced mixed infection. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12985-016-0639-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.