Multi-omics analysis reveals regime shifts in the gastrointestinal ecosystem in chickens following anticoccidial vaccination and Eimeria tenella challenge

Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria parasites, significantly impacts poultry farm economics and animal welfare. Beyond its direct impact on health, Eimeria infection disrupts enteric microbial populations leading to dysbiosis and increases vulnerability to secondary diseases such as necrotic enteritis, caused by Clostridium perfringens. The impact of Eimeria infection or anticoccidial vaccination on host gastrointestinal phenotypes and enteric microbiota remains understudied. In this study, the metabolomic profiles and microbiota composition of chicken caecal tissue and contents were evaluated concurrently during a controlled experimental vaccination and challenge trial. Cobb500 broilers were vaccinated with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae-vectored anticoccidial vaccine and challenged with 15,000 Eimeria tenella oocysts. Assessment of caecal pathology and quantification of parasite load revealed correlations with alterations to caecal microbiota and caecal metabolome linked to infection and vaccination status. Infection heightened microbiota richness with increases in potentially pathogenic species, while vaccination elevated beneficial Bifidobacterium. Using a multi-omics factor analysis, data on caecal microbiota and metabolome were integrated and distinct profiles for healthy, infected, and recovering chickens were identified. Healthy and recovering chickens exhibited higher vitamin B metabolism linked to short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, whereas essential amino acid and cell membrane lipid metabolisms were prominent in infected and vaccinated chickens. Notably, vaccinated chickens showed distinct metabolites related to the enrichment of sphingolipids, important components of nerve cells and cell membranes. Our integrated multi-omics model revealed latent biomarkers indicative of vaccination and infection status, offering potential tools for diagnosing infection, monitoring vaccination efficacy, and guiding the development of novel treatments or controls.IMPORTANCEAdvances in anticoccidial vaccines have garnered significant attention in poultry health management. However, the intricacies of vaccine-induced alterations in the chicken gut microbiome and its subsequent impact on host metabolism remain inadequately explored. This study delves into the metabolic and microbiotic shifts in chickens post-vaccination, employing a multi-omics integration analysis. Our findings highlight a notable synergy between the microbiome composition and host-microbe interacted metabolic pathways in vaccinated chickens, differentiating them from infected or non-vaccinated cohorts. These insights pave the way for more targeted and efficient approaches in poultry disease control, enhancing both the efficacy of vaccines and the overall health of poultry populations.

Comparison of soil quality assessment methods for different vegetation eco-restoration techniques at engineering disturbed areas

Scientific assessment of soil quality is the foundation of sustainable vegetation eco-restoration in engineering disturbed areas. This study aimed to find a qualitative and comprehensive method for assessing soil quality after vegetation eco-restoration in engineering disturbed areas. Sixteen soil indicators were used at six vegetation eco-restoration sites as the potential soil indicators. A minimum data set (MDS) and revised minimum data set (RMDS) were determined by principal component analysis. Six soil quality indices (SQIs) of varying scoring functions based on different data sets were employed in this study. Significant positive correlations were observed among all six SQIs, indicating that the effects of different vegetation eco-restoration measures on soil quality could be quantified by all six SQIs. The SQI values of the vegetation concrete eco-restoration slope (VC), frame beam filling soil slope (FB), thick layer base material spraying slope (TB), and external-soil spray seeding slope (SS) were all significantly higher than the SQI value of the abandoned slag slope (AS). It is noteworthy that the SQIs of the VC and TB sites were also significantly higher than the SQI of the natural forest (NF) site. These results indicate that the application of artificial remediation measures can significantly improve the soil quality of the disturbed area at the Xiangjiaba hydropower station. The results of this study also indicate that the SQI-NLRM method is a practical and accurate quantitative tool for soil quality assessment and is recommended for evaluating soil quality under various vegetation eco-restoration techniques in disturbance areas at the Xiangjiaba hydropower station and in other areas with similar habitat characteristics.

Unravelling High Water Vapor-Induced Inhibitory Effects on Pt/Co3O4 Catalysts toward Benzene Oxidation

Water vapor inevitably exists in the environment, which causes adverse impacts on many crucial chemical reactions. However, high water vapor of up to 10 vol %─relevant to a broad spectrum of industrial practices-for catalytic implications has been less investigated or neglected. As such, we explored an industry-relevant, humidity-highly sensitive benzene oxidation only in the presence of 10 vol % water vapor using the well-established Pt/Co3O4 catalysts, to bring such an important yet ignored topic to the forefront. Results revealed that Pt/Co3O4 catalysts possessing higher contents of Pt nanoparticles exhibited marked tolerance to water vapor interference. Under an incomplete benzene conversion condition, the input of 10 vol % water vapor indeed impaired the catalytic performance of Pt/Co3O4 catalyst significantly, which, in fact, was caused by the unfavorable formation of carboxylate species covering the catalyst's surface engendering irrecoverable activity loss, instead of the well-accepted water competitive adsorption. While such activity loss can be restored by elevating the reaction to a higher temperature. This study helps us to understand the compromised catalytic activity caused by high humidity, urging the systematic evaluation of well-established catalyst systems in high water vapor-contained conditions and pressing the development of water-tolerant catalysts for real-life application consideration.

Genome-wide variation study and inter-tissue communication analysis unveil regulatory mechanisms of egg-laying performance in chickens

Egg-laying performance is of great economic importance in poultry, but the underlying genetic mechanisms are still elusive. In this work, we conduct a multi-omics and multi-tissue integrative study in hens with distinct egg production, to detect the hub candidate genes and construct hub molecular networks contributing to egg-laying phenotypic differences. We identifiy three hub candidate genes as egg-laying facilitators: TFPI2, which promotes the GnRH secretion in hypothalamic neuron cells; CAMK2D, which promotes the FSHβ and LHβ secretion in pituitary cells; and OSTN, which promotes granulosa cell proliferation and the synthesis of sex steroid hormones. We reveal key endocrine factors involving egg production by inter-tissue crosstalk analysis, and demonstrate that both a hepatokine, APOA4, and an adipokine, ANGPTL2, could increase egg production by inter-tissue communication with hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Together, These results reveal the molecular mechanisms of multi-tissue coordinative regulation of chicken egg-laying performance and provide key insights to avian reproductive regulation.

GBA-AAV mitigates sleep disruptions and motor deficits in mice with REM sleep behavior disorder

Sleep disturbances, including rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia, are common non-motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD). Little is known about the underlying mechanisms, partly due to the inability of current rodent models to adequately mimic the human PD sleep phenotype. Clinically, increasing studies have reported that variants of the glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA) increase the risk of PD. Here, we developed a mouse model characterized by sleep-wakefulness by injecting α-synuclein preformed fibronectin (PFF) into the sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus (SLD) of GBA L444P mutant mice and investigated the role of the GBA L444P variant in the transition from rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder to PD. Initially, we analyzed spectral correlates of REM and NREM sleep in GBA L444P mutant mice. Importantly, EEG power spectral analysis revealed that GBA L444P mutation mice exhibited reduced delta power during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and increased theta power (8.2-10 Hz) in active rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phases. Our study revealed that GBA L444P-mutant mice, after receiving PFF injections, exhibited increased sleep fragmentation, significant motor and cognitive dysfunctions, and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Furthermore, the over-expression of GBA-AAV partially improved these sleep disturbances and motor and cognitive impairments. In conclusion, we present the initial evidence that the GBA L444P mutant mouse serves as an essential tool in understanding the complex sleep disturbances associated with PD. This model further provides insights into potential therapeutic approaches, particularly concerning α-synuclein accumulation and its subsequent pathological consequences.

Drivers and Pathways for the Recovery of Critical Metals from Waste-Printed Circuit Boards

The ever-increasing importance of critical metals (CMs) in modern society underscores their resource security and circularity. Waste-printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are particularly attractive reservoirs of CMs due to their gamut CM embedding and ubiquitous presence. However, the recovery of most CMs is out of reach from current metal-centric recycling industries, resulting in a flood loss of refined CMs. Here, 41 types of such spent CMs are identified. To deliver a higher level of CM sustainability, this work provides an insightful overview of paradigm-shifting pathways for CM recovery from WPCBs that have been developed in recent years. As a crucial starting entropy-decreasing step, various strategies of metal enrichment are compared, and the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperspectral sensing is highlighted. Then, tailored metal recycling schemes are presented for the platinum group, rare earth, and refractory metals, with emphasis on greener metallurgical methods contributing to transforming CMs into marketable products. In addition, due to the vital nexus of CMs between the environment and energy sectors, the upcycling of CMs into electro-/photo-chemical catalysts for green fuel synthesis is proposed to extend the recycling chain. Finally, the challenges and outlook on this all-round upgrading of WPCB recycling are outlined.

Remodeling of intestinal bacterial community and metabolome of Dezhou donkey induced by corn silage

Corn silage can usually improve the growth performance and the meat quality of ruminants, and subsequently increase the economic benefits of farming. However, little is known about the effects of corn silage on donkeys. This experiment investigated the effects of corn silage on the weight gain, gut microbiota and metabolites of Dezhou donkeys. A total of 24 Dezhou donkeys, sourced from the same farm and exhibiting similar age and average body weight, were utilized in this experiment. The donkeys were allocated into two groups: a control group receiving a basic diet and a test group receiving a basic diet supplemented with 30% corn silage. Each group comprised 12 donkeys, evenly distributed by sex (6 males and 6 females). The experiment lasted for 100 days. Results showed that dietary supplementation with corn silage significantly (P < 0.05) improved the weight gain of Dezhou donkeys at the end of the experiment. And the supplementation of corn silage in the diet significantly altered the bacterial community composition and metabolome in the feces of the donkeys. Notably, the relative abundance ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes was 0.76 in the control group compared to 0.96 in the test group. Furthermore, members of the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla were associated with differentiated metabolites enriched in the arachidonic acid metabolism and pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathways, both of which have been reported to be related to animal growth. Specifically, Bacteroidia exhibited statistically (P < 0.05) positive correlations with 15S-HpETE, while Bacilli demonstrated statistically (P < 0.05) negative correlations with D-Xylulose. The findings of this study can advance our mechanistic understanding of the remodeling of intestinal microbiota and metabolome induced by corn silage, as well as their relationships with the growth performance of Dezhou donkeys, which in turn favor the improvement in nutrition of Dezhou donkeys.

Recent advances in the radical cascade reaction for constructing nitrogen heterocycles using azides as radical acceptors

Due to the high conversion properties, azide compounds are widely utilized in organic synthesis. For instance, azide compounds readily release nitrogen to form a new N-C bond when they function as radical acceptors for the active intermediates in the reaction. Over the past decade, strategies employing azides as radical acceptors to construct nitrogen heterocycles have been extensively developed. This approach has emerged as a crucial method for synthesizing nitrogen heterocycles. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the research advancements in tandem cyclization reactions using azides as radical acceptors, summarizing the process of reaction design, exploration, reasoning of the mechanism, and prospects for further research of these reactions.

Classification of Behaviour in Conventional and Slow-Growing Strains of Broiler Chickens Using Tri-Axial Accelerometers

Behavioural states such as walking, sitting and standing are important in indicating welfare, including lameness in broiler chickens. However, manual behavioural observations of individuals are often limited by time constraints and small sample sizes. Three-dimensional accelerometers have the potential to collect information on animal behaviour. We applied a random forest algorithm to process accelerometer data from broiler chickens. Data from three broiler strains at a range of ages (from 25 to 49 days old) were used to train and test the algorithm, and unlike other studies, the algorithm was further tested on an unseen broiler strain. When tested on unseen birds from the three training broiler strains, the random forest model classified behaviours with very good accuracy (92%) and specificity (94%) and good sensitivity (88%) and precision (88%). With the new, unseen strain, the model classified behaviours with very good accuracy (94%), sensitivity (91%), specificity (96%) and precision (91%). We therefore successfully used a random forest model to automatically detect three broiler behaviours across four different strains and different ages using accelerometers. These findings demonstrated that accelerometers can be used to automatically record behaviours to supplement biomechanical and behavioural research and support in the reduction principle of the 3Rs.

Influence of Immersion Time on the Frequency Domain Characteristics of Acoustic Emission Signals in Clayey Mineral Rocks

The frequency domain characteristics of acoustic emission can reflect issues such as rock structure and stress conditions that are difficult to analyze in time domain parameters. Studying the influence of immersion time on the mechanical properties and acoustic emission frequency domain characteristics of muddy mineral rocks is of great significance for comprehensively analyzing rock changes under water-rock coupling conditions. In this study, uniaxial compression tests and acoustic emission tests were conducted on sandstones containing montmorillonite under dry, saturated, and different immersion time conditions, with a focus on analyzing the effect of immersion time on the dominant frequency of rock acoustic emission. The results indicated that immersion time had varying degrees of influence on compressive strength, the distribution characteristics of dominant acoustic emission frequencies, the frequency range of dominant frequencies, and precursor information of instability failure for sandstones. After initial saturation, the strength of the rock sample decreased from 53.52 MPa in the dry state to 49.51 MPa, and it stabilized after 30 days of immersion. Both dry and initially saturated rock samples exhibited three dominant frequency bands. After different immersion days, a dominant frequency band appeared between 95 kHz and 110 kHz. After 5 days of immersion, the dominant frequency band near 0 kHz gradually disappeared. After 60 days of immersion, the dominant frequency band between 35 kHz and 40 kHz gradually disappeared, and with increasing immersion time, the dominant frequency of the acoustic emission signals increased. During the loading process of dry rock samples, the dominant frequency of acoustic emission signals was mainly concentrated between 0 kHz and 310 kHz, while after saturation, the dominant frequencies were all below 180 kHz. The most significant feature before the rupture of dry rock samples was the frequent occurrence of high frequencies and sudden changes in dominant frequencies. Before rupture, the characteristics of precursor events for initially saturated and immersed samples for 5, 10, and 30 days were the appearance and rapid increase in sudden changes in dominant frequencies, as well as an enlargement of the frequency range of dominant frequencies. After 60 days of immersion, the precursor characteristics of rock sample rupture gradually disappeared, and sudden changes in dominant frequencies frequently occurred at various stages of sample loading, making it difficult to accurately predict the rupture of specimens based on these sudden changes.

Enhancing plant resilience: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi's role in alleviating drought stress in vegetation concrete

Introduction

Drought stress usually inhibits plant growth, which may increase the difficulty of greening slopes.

Methods

In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the growth and drought tolerance of two plant species, Festuca elata and Cassia glauca, in a vegetation concrete environment by exogenously inoculating AM fungi and setting three drought levels: well water, moderate drought and severe drought. The results showed that plant growth was significantly inhibited under drought stress; however, AM fungi inoculation significantly promoted plant height, root length, and above- and belowground biomass in these two plant species.

Results

Compared with, those in the CK treatment, the greatest increases in the net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in the AM treatment group were 36.72%, 210.08%, and 66.41%, respectively. Moreover, inoculation with AM fungi increased plant superoxide dismutase and catalase activities by 4.70-150.73% and 9.10-95.70%, respectively, and reduced leaf malondialdehyde content by 2.79-55.01%, which alleviated the damage caused by oxidative stress. These effects alleviated the damage caused by oxidative stress and increased the content of soluble sugars and soluble proteins in plant leaves by 1.52-65.44% and 4.67-97.54%, respectively, which further increased the drought adaptability of plants. However, inoculation with AM fungi had different effects on different plants.

Conclusion

In summary, this study demonstrated that the inoculation of AM fungi in vegetation concrete environments can significantly increase plant growth and drought tolerance. The plants that formed a symbiotic structure with AM fungi had a larger root uptake area, greater water uptake capacity, and greater photosynthesis and gas exchange efficiency. In addition, AM fungi inoculation further increased the drought adaptability of the plants by increasing their antioxidant enzyme activity and regulating their metabolite content. These findings are highly important for promoting plant growth and increasing drought tolerance under drought conditions, especially for potential practical applications in areas such as slope protection, and provide useful references for future ecological engineering and sustainable development.

A cross-linked macropore hydrogel based on M1 macrophage lysate and alginate regulates tumor-associated macrophages for the treatment of melanoma

Pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages possess the ability to change the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by releasing various inflammatory factors simultaneously, which can effectively inhibit tumor progression and relapse. Promoting macrophage polarization towards M1 may be an effective way to treat Melanoma. However, the risk of cytokine storm caused by the proliferation and excessive activation of M1 macrophages greatly limits it as a biosafety therapeutic strategy in anti-tumor immunotherapy. Therefore, how to engineer natural M1 macrophage to a biocompatible biomaterial that maintains the duration time of tumor suppressive property duration time still remains a huge challenge. To achieve this goal, we developed an injectable macroporous hydrogel (M1LMHA) using natural M1 macrophage lysates and alginate as raw materials. M1LMHA had excellent biocompatibility, adjustable degradation rate and could sustainably release varieties of natural inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin-12 (IL-12), etc. M1LMHA could repolarize anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages to M1 macrophages by the synergistic effect of released tiny inflammatory factors via the NF-κB pathway. This study supported that M1LMHA might be an effective and safe tool to activate tumor-associated immune cells, improving the efficiency of anti-tumor immunotherapy.

Large-scale statistical analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome sequences identifies compensatory mutations associated with multi-drug resistance

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has a significant impact on global health worldwide. The development of multi-drug resistant strains that are resistant to the first-line drugs isoniazid and rifampicin threatens public health security. Rifampicin and isoniazid resistance are largely underpinned by mutations in rpoB and katG respectively and are associated with fitness costs. Compensatory mutations are considered to alleviate these fitness costs and have been observed in rpoC/rpoA (rifampicin) and oxyR'-ahpC (isoniazid). We developed a framework (CompMut-TB) to detect compensatory mutations from whole genome sequences from a large dataset comprised of 18,396 M. tuberculosis samples. We performed association analysis (Fisher's exact tests) to identify pairs of mutations that are associated with drug-resistance, followed by mediation analysis to identify complementary or full mediators of drug-resistance. The analyses revealed several potential mutations in rpoC (N = 47), rpoA (N = 4), and oxyR'-ahpC (N = 7) that were considered either 'highly likely' or 'likely' to confer compensatory effects on drug-resistance, including mutations that have previously been reported and validated. Overall, we have developed the CompMut-TB framework which can assist with identifying compensatory mutations which is important for more precise genome-based profiling of drug-resistant TB strains and to further understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms that underpin drug-resistance.

The role of preoperative FPR and FAR in prognostic evaluation of stages II and III radical colorectal cancer: A single-center retrospective study

The inflammatory and nutritional states of body are 2 important causes associated with the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic evaluation value of preoperative fibrinogen-to-prealbumin ratio (FPR) and preoperative fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) in CRC. The clinical data of 350 stages II and III patients with CRC who received radical resection were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed up for 5 years to observe the overall survival and disease-free survival of 5 years and analyze the relationship between preoperative FPR and FAR and prognosis of all enrolled patients. In addition, we analyzed the diagnostic and application value of combined biomarkers. This study showed high-level preoperative FPR and FAR were significantly associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival of stages II and III patients with CRC. The elevated preoperative FPR and FAR level was significantly related to age, tumor differentiation level, TNM stage, vascular infiltration, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen199, etc. The combination of FPR, FAR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and carbohydrate antigen199 had the maximum area under curve (AUC = 0.856, 95% CI: 0.814-0.897, Sen = 78.20%, Spe = 82.49%, P < .05) under the receiver-operating characteristics curve. The preoperative FPR and FAR have important prognostic value and they can be used as independent prognostic marker for patients with stages II and III CRC undergoing radical resection. Moreover, the combination of biomarkers could further enhance the diagnostic and prognostic efficacy of CRC.

Precious Metal Free Hydrogen Evolution Catalyst Design and Application

The quest to identify precious metal free hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts has received unprecedented attention in the past decade. In this Review, we focus our attention to recent developments in precious metal free hydrogen evolution reactions in acidic and alkaline electrolyte owing to their relevance to commercial and near-commercial low-temperature electrolyzers. We provide a detailed review and critical analysis of catalyst activity and stability performance measurements and metrics commonly deployed in the literature, as well as review best practices for experimental measurements (both in half-cell three-electrode configurations and in two-electrode device testing). In particular, we discuss the transition from laboratory-scale hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst measurements to those in single cells, which is a critical aspect crucial for scaling up from laboratory to industrial settings but often overlooked. Furthermore, we review the numerous catalyst design strategies deployed across the precious metal free HER literature. Subsequently, we showcase some of the most commonly investigated families of precious metal free HER catalysts; molybdenum disulfide-based, transition metal phosphides, and transition metal carbides for acidic electrolyte; nickel molybdenum and transition metal phosphides for alkaline. This includes a comprehensive analysis comparing the HER activity between several families of materials highlighting the recent stagnation with regards to enhancing the intrinsic activity of precious metal free hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts. Finally, we summarize future directions and provide recommendations for the field in this area of electrocatalysis.

UiO-66/AgNPs Coating for Dental Implants in Preventing Bacterial Infections

Titanium (Ti)-based biomaterials lack inherent antimicrobial activities, and the dental plaque formed on the implant surface is one of the main risk factors for implant infections. Construction of an antibacterial surface can effectively prevent implant infections and enhance implant success. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit broad antibacterial activity and a low tendency to induce drug resistance, but AgNPs easily self-aggregate in the aqueous environment, which significantly impairs their antibacterial activity. In this study, UiO-66/AgNP (U/A) nanocomposite was prepared, where zirconium metal-organic frameworks (UiO-66) were employed as the confinement matrix to control the particle size and prevent aggregation of AgNPs. The bactericidal activity of U/A against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli increased nearly 75.51 and 484.50 times compared with individually synthesized Ag. The antibacterial mechanism can be attributed to the enhanced membrane rupture caused by the ultrafine AgNPs on UiO-66, leading to protein leakage and generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Then, U/A was loaded onto Ti substrates (Ti-U/A) by using self-assembly deposition methods to construct an antibacterial surface coating. Ti-U/A exhibited excellent antibacterial activities and desired biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. The U/A nanocomposite coating technique is thus expected to be used as a promising surface modification strategy for Ti-based dental implants for preventing dental implant infections.

Seasonal human coronavirus NL63 epidemics in children in Guilin, China, reveal the emergence of a new subgenotype of HCoV-NL63

Introduction

Seasonal human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) is a frequently encountered virus linked to mild upper respiratory infections. However, its potential to cause more severe or widespread disease remains an area of concern. This study aimed to investigate a rare localized epidemic of HCoV-NL63-induced respiratory infections among pediatric patients in Guilin, China, and to understand the viral subtype distribution and genetic characteristics.

Methods

In this study, 83 pediatric patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections and positive for HCoV-NL63 were enrolled. Molecular analysis was conducted to identify the viral subgenotypes and to assess genetic variations in the receptor-binding domain of the spiking protein.

Results

Among the 83 HCoV-NL63-positive children, three subgenotypes were identified: C4, C3, and B. Notably, 21 cases exhibited a previously unreported subtype, C4. Analysis of the C4 subtype revealed a unique amino acid mutation (I507L) in the receptor-binding domain of the spiking protein, which was also observed in the previously reported C3 genotype. This mutation may suggest potential increases in viral transmissibility and pathogenicity.

Discussion

The findings of this study highlight the rapid mutation dynamics of HCoV-NL63 and its potential for increased virulence and epidemic transmission. The presence of a unique mutation in the C4 subtype, shared with the C3 genotype, raises concerns about the virus's evolving nature and its potential public health implications. This research contributes valuable insights into the understanding of HCoV-NL63's epidemiology and pathogenesis, which is crucial for effective disease prevention and control strategies. Future studies are needed to further investigate the biological significance of the observed mutation and its potential impact on the virus's transmissibility and pathogenicity.

[The identification of a novel reassortant H3N2 avian influenza virus based on nanopore sequencing technology and genetic characterization]

Objective: To identify a novel reassortant H3N2 avian influenza virus using nanopore sequencing technology and analyze its genetic characteristics. Methods: The positive samples of the H3N2 avian influenza virus, collected from the external environment in the farmers' market of Guangzhou, were cultured in chicken embryos. The whole genome was sequenced by targeted amplification and nanopore sequencing technology. The genetic characteristics were analyzed using bioinformatics software. Results: The phylogenetic trees showed that each gene fragment of the strain belonged to the Eurasian evolutionary branch, and the host source was of avian origin. The HA gene was closely related to the origin of the H3N6 virus. The NA gene was closely related to the H3N2 avian influenza virus from 2017 to 2020. The PB1 gene was closely related to the H5N6 avian influenza virus in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Fujian Province from 2016 to 2022 and was not related to the PB1 gene of the H5N6 avian influenza epidemic strain in Guangzhou. The other internal gene fragments had complex sources with significant genetic diversity. Molecular characteristics indicated that the strain exhibited the molecular characteristics of a typical low pathogenic avian influenza virus and tended to bind to the receptors of avian origin. On important protein sites related to biological characteristics, this strain had mutations of PB2-L89V, PB1-L473V, NP-A184K, M1-N30D/T215A, and NS1-P42S/N205S. Conclusions: This study identified a novel reassortant H3N2 avian influenza virus by nanopore sequencing, with the PB1 gene derived from the H5N6 avian influenza virus. The virus had a low ability to spread across species, but further exploration was needed to determine whether its pathogenicity to the host was affected.

Abdominopelvic desmoplastic small round cell tumor with metastasis: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare and rapidly metastasizing soft tissue sarcoma, distinguished by its unique cell morphology and pleomorphic differentiation.

PATIENT CONCERNS

This report describes the case of an 18-year-old male diagnosed with abdominopelvic DSRCT exhibiting metastases to the peritoneum, liver, pleura, bone, and muscle. The patient primarily presented with symptoms of incomplete intestinal obstruction and an abdominal mass.

DIAGNOSES

Colonoscopy revealed lumen stenosis caused by external compression mass. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed multiple lesions in the abdominopelvic cavity. A needle biopsy of an abdominal wall lesion established it as a malignant tumor, origin unknown. Immunohistochemical staining post-surgery showed positive results for Cytokeratin (CK), CK7, Desmin, Vimentin, Caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2), and Ki-67. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed an Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1/EWS RNA binding protein 1 (EWSR1) rearrangement, and next-generation sequencing identified an EWSR1-Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1) gene fusion.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent laparoscopic exploratory surgery, which encompassed biopsy, ascites drainage, adhesion lysis, reinforcement of weakened sections of the small intestinal walls, and repositioning of twisted intestines. Postoperatively, the treatment protocol included fasting, rehydration, gastrointestinal decompression, and parenteral nutrition. However, the patient did not received chemotherapy.

OUTCOMES

The patient declined further treatment and deceased in early November.

LESSONS

This case highlights the nonspecific nature of DSRCT symptoms. In clinical practice, it is crucial to meticulously evaluate unexplained intestinal obstruction in young patients, considering DSRCT as a differential diagnosis to avoid delays in diagnosis.

Drug-regulated CD33-targeted CAR T cells control AML using clinically optimized rapamycin dosing

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) designs that incorporate pharmacologic control are desirable; however, designs suitable for clinical translation are needed. We designed a fully human, rapamycin-regulated drug product for targeting CD33+ tumors called dimerizaing agent-regulated immunoreceptor complex (DARIC33). T cell products demonstrated target-specific and rapamycin-dependent cytokine release, transcriptional responses, cytotoxicity, and in vivo antileukemic activity in the presence of as little as 1 nM rapamycin. Rapamycin withdrawal paused DARIC33-stimulated T cell effector functions, which were restored following reexposure to rapamycin, demonstrating reversible effector function control. While rapamycin-regulated DARIC33 T cells were highly sensitive to target antigen, CD34+ stem cell colony-forming capacity was not impacted. We benchmarked DARIC33 potency relative to CD19 CAR T cells to estimate a T cell dose for clinical testing. In addition, we integrated in vitro and preclinical in vivo drug concentration thresholds for off-on state transitions, as well as murine and human rapamycin pharmacokinetics, to estimate a clinically applicable rapamycin dosing schedule. A phase I DARIC33 trial has been initiated (PLAT-08, NCT05105152), with initial evidence of rapamycin-regulated T cell activation and antitumor impact. Our findings provide evidence that the DARIC platform exhibits sensitive regulation and potency needed for clinical application to other important immunotherapy targets.

Ultrathin LayCoOx Nanosheets with High Porosity Featuring Boosted Catalytic Oxidation of Benzene: Mechanism Elucidation via an Experiment-Theory Combined Paradigm

Designing transition-metal oxides for catalytically removing the highly toxic benzene holds significance in addressing indoor/outdoor environmental pollution issues. Herein, we successfully synthesized ultrathin LayCoOx nanosheets (thickness of ∼1.8 nm) with high porosity, using a straightforward coprecipitation method. Comprehensive characterization techniques were employed to analyze the synthesized LayCoOx catalysts, revealing their low crystallinity, high surface area, and abundant porosity. Catalytic benzene oxidation tests demonstrated that the La0.029CoOx-300 nanosheet exhibited the most optimal performance. This catalyst enabled complete benzene degradation at a relatively low temperature of 220 °C, even under a high space velocity (SV) of 20,000 h-1, and displayed remarkable durability throughout various catalytic assessments, including SV variations, exposure to water vapor, recycling, and long time-on-stream tests. Characterization analyses confirmed the enhanced interactions between Co and doped La, the presence of abundant adsorbed oxygen, and the extensive exposure of Co3+ species in La0.029CoOx-300 nanosheets. Theoretical calculations further revealed that La doping was beneficial for the formation of oxygen vacancies and the adsorption of more hydroxyl groups. These features strongly promoted the adsorption and activation of oxygen, thereby accelerating the benzene oxidation processes. This work underscores the advantages of doping rare-earth elements into transition-metal oxides as a cost-effective yet efficient strategy for purifying industrial exhausts.

Electrothermal Transformations within Graphene-Based Aerogels through High-Temperature Flash Joule Heating

Flash Joule heating of highly porous graphene oxide (GO) aerogel monoliths to ultrahigh temperatures is exploited as a low carbon footprint technology to engineer functional aerogel materials. Aerogel Joule heating to up to 3000 K is demonstrated for the first time, with fast heating kinetics (∼300 K·min-1), enabling rapid and energy-efficient flash heating treatments. The wide applicability of ultrahigh-temperature flash Joule heating is exploited in a range of material fabrication challenges. Ultrahigh-temperature Joule heating is used for rapid graphitic annealing of hydrothermal GO aerogels at fast time scales (30-300 s) and substantially reduced energy costs. Flash aerogel heating to ultrahigh temperatures is exploited for the in situ synthesis of ultrafine nanoparticles (Pt, Cu, and MoO2) embedded within the hybrid aerogel structure. The shockwave heating approach enables high through-volume uniformity of the formed nanoparticles, while nanoparticle size can be readily tuned through controlling Joule-heating durations between 1 and 10 s. As such, the ultrahigh-temperature Joule-heating approach introduced here has important implications for a wide variety of applications for graphene-based aerogels, including 3D thermoelectric materials, extreme temperature sensors, and aerogel catalysts in flow (electro)chemistry.

Characteristics and time points to inhibit ferroptosis in human osteoarthritis

Ferroptosis is a form of cell death that is triggered by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and is closely associated with osteoarthritis. The primary interventions for inhibiting ferroptosis in osteoarthritis are anti-lipid peroxidation and iron chelation. The objective of our study is to investigate the characteristics of ferroptosis in osteoarthritis and identify the optimal time points for inhibiting ferroptosis to alleviate disease progression. Ferroptosis-related alterations and markers of OA were analyzed in paired intact and damaged cartilages from OA patients by immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, mitochondrial membrane potential and immunohistochemistry. We also compared Ferroptosis-related alterations in cartilage of mild, moderate, and severe OA (according to the modified Mankin score). In addition, we compared the effect of Fer-1 on ferroptosis and the protection of chondrocytes by detecting markers of both ferroptosis and OA by immunofluorescence, CCK8 and qRT-PCR. Ferroptosis-related alterations (GPX4 downregulation, ACSL4 upregulation, MDA, LPO accumulation, Mitochondrial membrane potential decreased) in the damaged area cartilage were more severe than those in the intact area and increased with the progression of OA. Compared with mild OA group, the activity of chondrocytes treated with Fer-1 (a ferroptosis inhibitor) was increased, mitochondrial function was improved, and ferroptosis was reduced (GPX4 upregulation, SLC7A11 upregulation, ACSL4 downregulation,), and promoted the expression of COL2A1 and inhibited the expression of MMP13. However, these changes were not observed in moderate and severe OA chondrocytes. Ferroptosis occurs in a region-specific manner and is exacerbated with the progression of human OA cartilage degeneration. Inhibition of ferroptosis might had a therapeutic effect on chondrocytes with mild OA but had no significant therapeutic effect on chondrocytes with moderate to severe OA.

Fecal microbial composition associated with testosterone in the development of Meishan male pigs

Introduction

The gut microbiota closely relates to host health, whereas the relationship between gut microbiota and testosterone during the development of Meishan male pigs remains unclear. This study investigated the fecal microbiota composition and testosterone level during development in Meishan male pigs.

Methods

Fresh fecal samples of 20 healthy Meishan male pigs were individually collected at 10 and 22 weeks (wk) of age for testosterone content detection and bacteria pyrosequencing analysis. Anaerobic culture experiment of fecal bacteria in vitro was performed for bacteria pyrosequencing analysis.

Results

The fecal testosterone content increased significantly from 10 weeks (wk) to 22 wk of age (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the boars at 22 wk had a lower abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, and genus Alloprevotella, Prevotella_1, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, and Streptococcus in the fecal microbiota composition (P < 0.05). but higher proportions of the phylum Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Kiritimatiellaeota, and Tenericutes, and genus Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Muribaculaceae and Terrisporobacter than that at 10 wk (P < 0.05), and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was higher at 22 wk than 10 wk (P < 0.05). Moreover, the fecal testosterone level significantly correlated with the relative abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Tencuteseri, and genus Alloprevotella, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Muribaculaceae, Prevotella_1 and Streptococcus. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments indicated that the abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria and genus Escherichia-Shigella reduced with the increase of supplemental testosterone level. In contrast, the proportion of Firmicutes phylum increased with additional testosterone levels.

Discussion

Testosterone could modulate the microflora structure. Meanwhile, the bacteria could degrade the testosterone in a dose testosterone-dependent manner. These results provide us with new insights into the relationship between the gut microbiome and testosterone and the contributions of the gut microbiome in physiological regulation in response to gonad development.

Immune-mediated hematological disease in dogs is associated with alterations of the fecal microbiota: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

The dog is the most popular companion animal and is a valuable large animal model for several human diseases. Canine immune-mediated hematological diseases, including immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), share many features in common with autoimmune hematological diseases of humans. The gut microbiome has been linked to systemic illness, but few studies have evaluated its association with immune-mediated hematological disease. To address this knowledge gap, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to profile the fecal microbiota of dogs with spontaneous IMHA and ITP at presentation and following successful treatment. In total, 21 affected and 13 healthy control dogs were included in the study.

RESULTS

IMHA/ITP is associated with remodeling of fecal microbiota, marked by decreased relative abundance of the spirochete Treponema spp., increased relative abundance of the pathobionts Clostridium septicum and Escherichia coli, and increased overall microbial diversity. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Treponema spp. were associated with decreased risk of IMHA/ITP (odds ratio [OR] 0.24-0.34), while Ruminococcaceae UCG-009 and Christensenellaceae R-7 group were associated with increased risk of disease (OR = 6.84 [95% CI 2-32.74] and 8.36 [95% CI 1.85-71.88] respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates an association of immune-mediated hematological diseases in dogs with fecal dysbiosis, and points to specific bacterial genera as biomarkers of disease. Microbes identified as positive or negative risk factors for IMHA/ITP represent an area for future research as potential targets for new diagnostic assays and/or therapeutic applications.