CBS-derived H2S facilitates host colonization of Vibrio cholerae by promoting the iron-dependent catalase activity of KatB

Sensing and resisting oxidative stress is critical for Vibrio cholerae to survive in either the aquatic environment or the gastrointestinal tract. Previous studies mainly focused on the mechanisms of oxidative stress response regulation that rely on enzymatic antioxidant systems, while functions of non-enzymatic antioxidants are rarely discussed in V. cholerae. For the first time, we investigated the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the simplest thiol compound, in protecting V. cholerae against oxidative stress. We found that degradation of L-cysteine by putative cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is the major source of endogenous H2S in V. cholerae. Our results indicate that intracellular H2S level has a positive correlation with cbs expression, while the enhanced H2S production can render V. cholerae cells less susceptible to H2O2 in vitro. Using proteome analysis and real-time qPCR assay, we found that cbs expression could stimulate the expression of several enzymatic antioxidants, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxifying enzymes SodB, KatG and AhpC, the DNA protective protein DPS and the protein redox regulator Trx1. Assays of ROS detoxification capacities revealed that CBS-derived H2S could promote catalase activity at the post-translational level, especially for KatB, which serves as an important way that endogenous H2S participates in H2O2 detoxification. The enhancement of catalase activity by H2S is achieved through facilitating the uptake of iron. Adult mice experiments showed that cbs mutant has colonization defect, while either complementation of cbs or exogenous supplement of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine restores its fitness in the host environment. Herein, we proposed that V. cholerae regulates CBS-dependent H2S production for better survival and proliferation under ROS stress.

Clinical Efficacy of Temozolomide and Its Predictors in Aggressive Pituitary Tumors and Pituitary Carcinomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: A growing number of evidences suggest that TMZ applications can generate impressive benefits for APT and PC patients. However, the definite role of TMZ for individuals remains unclarified due to the variation between studies. And the predictive factors to alter its efficacy remain debatable.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety profile of TMZ in the treatment of pituitary malignancies, and delineate the predictors during its clinical employment.

Results: A literature retrieval was conducted from online databases for studies published up to December 31, 2020. Twenty one studies involving 429 patients were identified. TMZ exhibited 41% radiological overall response rate (rORR). The biochemical response rate was determinate in 53% of the functioning subset. Two-year and 4-year survival rate were 79 and 61%, respectively. TMZ prolonged the median PFS and OS as 20.18 and 40.24 months. TMZ-related adverse events occurred in 19% of patients. Regarding predictors of TMZ response, rORR was dramatically improved in patients with low/intermediate MGMT expression than those with high-MGMT (>50%) (p < 0.001). The benefit of TMZ varied according to functioning subtype of patients, with greater antitumor activities in functioning subgroups and fewer activities in non-functioning sets (p < 0.001). Notably, the concomitant therapy of radiotherapy and TMZ significantly increased the rORR (p = 0.007).

Conclusion: TMZ elicits clinical benefits with moderate adverse events in APT and PC patients. MGMT expression and clinical subtype of secreting function might be vital predictors of TMZ efficacy. In the future, the combination of radiotherapy with TMZ may further improve the clinical outcomes than TMZ monotherapy.

Efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide in systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study systematically compares the efficacy and adverse events of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) in patients with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).

METHODS

The EMBASE and PubMed databases were systematically searched to find all relevant studies. Quality assessment, study selection, and data extraction were independently conducted by two reviewers. The mean changes in forced vital capacity (FVC)% and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco)% of the patients were selected to be primary outcome measures. Stata software was used for the pooled analysis.

RESULTS

Among 284 titles screened from multiple databases, six studies met the inclusion criteria (one randomized controlled trial, three prospective observational studies, and two retrospective observational studies). The summary weighted mean difference (WMD) of FVC change in the MMF group compared with the CYC group was - 1.17 (95% CI: - 2.713, 0.373; P = 0.137), and the summary WMD of DLco change in the MMF group compared with the CYC group was 2.245 (95% CI: 0.258, 4.232; P = 0.027). Studies enrolled showed that adverse events were less common in the MMF group.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of MMF with respect to FVC and DLco improvement is comparable to that of CYC, and MMF is preferred on the basis of the occurrence of adverse events. Key Points • A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy and adverse events of mycophenolate mofetil and cyclophosphamide in patients with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease. • The efficacy of MMF with respect to FVC and DLco improvement is comparable to that of CYC, and MMF is preferred on the basis of the occurrence of adverse events.

Development of a multi-channel 320 GHz interferometer for high density plasma measurement in Heliotron J

We report the development of a new interferometer with two stable, high-power, 320 GHz solid-state sources in Heliotron J. A heterodyne Michelson interferometer optical scheme is employed. Two solid-state oscillators are utilized as sources with a fixed frequency at 320 GHz and frequency tunable of 312-324 GHz. Quasi-optical techniques are used for beam transmission. The beam is elongated in the vertical direction with two off-axis parabolic mirrors and injected into the plasma as a sheet beam for the multi-channel measurement (>5 ch.). Passing through the plasma, the beam is reflected at a retroreflector-array installed at the vacuum chamber wall. The retroreflector-array is a bunch of retroreflector structures, which can suppress the beam refraction caused by plasma without much space inside a vacuum chamber unlike a single retroreflector and can facilitate the system design. The source, detectors, and the retroreflector-array are tested to evaluate their basic performance on a tabletop experiment.

An efficient primary screening of COVID-19 by serum Raman spectroscopy

The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus disease around the end of 2019 has become a pandemic. The preferred method for COVID-19 detection is the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based technique; however, it also has certain limitations, such as sample-dependent procedures with a relatively high false negative ratio. We propose a safe and efficient method for screening COVID-19 based on Raman spectroscopy. A total of 177 serum samples are collected from 63 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 59 suspected cases, and 55 healthy individuals as a control group. Raman spectroscopy is adopted to analyze these samples, and a machine learning support-vector machine (SVM) method is applied to the spectrum dataset to build a diagnostic algorithm. Furthermore, 20 independent individuals, including 5 asymptomatic COVID-19 patients and 5 symptomatic COVID-19 patients, 5 suspected patients, and 5 healthy patients, were sampled for external validation. In these three groups-confirmed COVID-19, suspected, and healthy individuals-the distribution of statistically significant points of difference showed highly consistency for intergroups after repeated sampling processes. The classification accuracy between the COVID-19 cases and the suspected cases is 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85-0.88), and the accuracy between the COVID-19 and the healthy controls is 0.90 (95% CI: 0.89-0.91), while the accuracy between the suspected cases and the healthy control group is 0.68 (95% CI: 0.67-0.73). For the independent test dataset, we apply the obtained SVM model to the classification of the independent test dataset to have all the results correctly classified. Our model showed that the serum-level classification results were all correct for independent test dataset. Our results suggest that Raman spectroscopy could be a safe and efficient technique for COVID-19 screening.

[Pilot study of genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in androgen insensitivity syndrome: with 3 families reports]

Objective: To explore genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis strategies for women who have androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) family history or pregnancy history of AIS proband. Methods: Three families of complete AIS (CAIS) were retrospectively reported and summarized. The subsequent pregnancies and processes of prenatal diagnosis were followed up. Results: Among three CAIS families, one family had androgen receptors (AR) gene mutation diagnosis; the other two families were diagnosed clinically without gene diagnosis. All three mothers of CAIS probands were in pregnant again when they sought counseling, with gestational weeks between 7－13 weeks. They underwent chorionic villi sampling or amniocentesis in their second trimester (at 12, 16, 17 weeks respectively). Chromosome gender of all three fetuses were 46,XY, which was inconsistent with the ultrasonographic phenotype of external genitalia. All patients chose selective abortion in their second trimester. The external genitalia of all aborted fetuses were female phenotype, which supported the diagnosis of CAIS. Conclusion: Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis should be provided to high-risk patients with family history of AIS or proband pregnancy history, so as to achieve the goal of good childbearing and sound childrearing.

Whole Genome Sequence Resource for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici 14003, the Causative Agent of Pepper Wilt

Pepper wilt, caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici, is one of the main diseases on pepper. In this study, we obtained the whole genome sequence of the highly virulent F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici strain 14003 sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. In total, 3.87 million paired-end reads were obtained and assembled into 796 scaffolds with a genome-wide length of 47.6 Mb. In addition, we filtered genes that may be related to specific virulence factors and performed a comparative analysis between the genome of strain 14003 and the sequenced genomes of 36 isolates. The genome-sequencing results for strain 14003 will enhance the theoretical basis for pepper wilt prevention and control.

Bloom helicase explicitly unwinds 3'-tailed G4DNA structure in prostate cancer cells

G-quadruplex DNA (G4DNA) structure, which widely exists in the chromosomal telomeric regions and oncogenic promoter regions, plays a pivotal role in extending telomeric DNA with the help of telomerase in human cells. Bloom (BLM) helicase, a crucial member of the family of genome surveillance proteins, plays an essential role in DNA metabolic and repair pathways, including DNA replication, repair, transcription, recombination during chromosome segregation, and assuring telomere stability. The unwinding of G4DNA requires the participation of DNA helicase, which is crucial for maintaining chromosomal stability in cancer cells. Using fluorescence polarization and the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), this study aimed to investigate the DNA-binding and unwinding properties of BLM helicase, cloned and purified from prostate cancer cells, toward G4DNA. The results revealed that BLM helicase derived from prostate cancer cells could bind and unwind G4DNA. The molecular affinity of bond between G4DNA and the helicase was dependent on the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) terminals in G4DNA; the helicase was effectively bound to the G4DNA when the helicase monomer sufficiently covered approximately 10 nucleotides at the 3' or 5' ssDNA tail of G4DNA. For the unwinding of G4DNA, there was an apparent requirement of a 3' ssDNA tail and ATP; a G4DNA with only a 3' ssDNA tail was identified to be the most suitable substrate to be unwound by BLM helicase and required 3' ssDNA tails of at least 10 nt in length for efficient unwinding. Besides, BLM helicase was loosely bound and partly unwound the blunt-ended G4DNA. Although further mechanistic studies are warranted, the experimental results presented in this study are beneficial to further our understanding of the functional implication of BLM helicase in prostate cancer cells.

PADI4, negatively regulated by miR-335-5p, participates in regulating the proliferation, migration, invasion and radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PADI4), an enzyme that converts arginine residues to citrulline residues in the presence of calcium ions, affects the biochemical activities of proteins. The biological function of PADI4 as well as its mechanism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) necessitates further investigation. PADI4 expression in NPC tissues and cells was detected using Western blot. qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression of miR-335-5p and PADI4 mRNA in NPC tissues and cells. BrdU assay and CCK-8 assay were employed to detect cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated using Transwell assay. NPC cells were exposed to different doses of radiation in vitro, and then colony formation assays were used to detect colony survival. The target relationship between miR-335-5p and PADI4 was verified using Western blot, qRT-PCR, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. Compared with normal mucosal epithelial tissues and cell lines, the expression level of PADI4 in NPC tissues and cells was significantly up-regulated. PADI4 overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NPC cells. Under radiation, NPC cell survival was significantly promoted by the up-regulation of PADI4. Conversely, knock-down of PADI4 suppressed the above-mentioned malignant phenotypes. MiR-335-5p could bind with the 3' UTR of PADI4 mRNA, and suppressed the expression of PADI4. PADI4 down-regulated the expression of p21 and activated the mTOR signaling pathway. PADI4, which is negatively regulated by miR-335-5p, promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion and radioresistance of NPC cells by regulating the p21 and mTOR signaling pathways.

S-Trimer, a COVID-19 subunit vaccine candidate, induces protective immunity in nonhuman primates

SARS-CoV-2 is the underlying cause for the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most enveloped RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 uses a homotrimeric surface antigen to gain entry into host cells. Here we describe S-Trimer, a native-like trimeric subunit vaccine candidate for COVID-19 based on Trimer-Tag technology. Immunization of S-Trimer with either AS03 (oil-in-water emulsion) or CpG 1018 (TLR9 agonist) plus alum adjuvants induced high-level of neutralizing antibodies and Th1-biased cellular immune responses in animal models. Moreover, rhesus macaques immunized with adjuvanted S-Trimer were protected from SARS-CoV-2 challenge compared to vehicle controls, based on clinical observations and reduction of viral loads in lungs. Trimer-Tag may be an important platform technology for scalable production and rapid development of safe and effective subunit vaccines against current and future emerging RNA viruses.

S-Trimer, a COVID-19 subunit vaccine candidate, induces protective immunity in nonhuman primates

SARS-CoV-2 is the underlying cause for the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most enveloped RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 uses a homotrimeric surface antigen to gain entry into host cells. Here we describe S-Trimer, a native-like trimeric subunit vaccine candidate for COVID-19 based on Trimer-Tag technology. Immunization of S-Trimer with either AS03 (oil-in-water emulsion) or CpG 1018 (TLR9 agonist) plus alum adjuvants induced high-level of neutralizing antibodies and Th1-biased cellular immune responses in animal models. Moreover, rhesus macaques immunized with adjuvanted S-Trimer were protected from SARS-CoV-2 challenge compared to vehicle controls, based on clinical observations and reduction of viral loads in lungs. Trimer-Tag may be an important platform technology for scalable production and rapid development of safe and effective subunit vaccines against current and future emerging RNA viruses.

Endophytic Diaporthe Associated With Citrus grandis cv. Tomentosa in China

Diaporthe species are associated with Citrus as endophytes, pathogens, and saprobes worldwide. However, little is known about Diaporthe as endophytes in Citrus grandis in China. In this study, 24 endophytic Diaporthe isolates were obtained from cultivated C. grandis cv. "Tomentosa" in Huazhou, Guangdong Province in 2019. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1), β-tubulin (tub2), and partial calmodulin (cal) gene regions were sequenced and employed to construct phylogenetic trees. Based on morphology and combined multigene phylogeny, eleven Diaporthe species were identified including two new species, Diaporthe endocitricola and D. guangdongensis. These are the first report of D. apiculata, D. aquatica, D. arecae, D. biconispora, D. limonicola, D. masirevicii, D. passifloricola, D. perseae, and D. sennae on C. grandis. This study provides the first intensive study of endophytic Diaporthe species on C. grandis cv. tomentosa in China. These results will improve the current knowledge of Diaporthe species associated with C. grandis. The results obtained in this study will also help to understand the potential pathogens and biocontrol agents and to develop a platform in disease management.

Synthesis of Four Pentacyclic Triterpene-Sialylglycopeptide Conjugates and Their Affinity Assays with Hemagglutinin

Influenza outbreaks pose a serious threat to human health. Hemagglutinin (HA) is an important target for influenza virus entry inhibitors. In this study, we synthesized four pentacyclic triterpene conjugates with a sialylglycopeptide scaffold through the Cu(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) and prepared affinity assays of these conjugates with two HAs, namely H1N1 (A/WSN/1933) and H5N1 (A/Hong Kong/483/97), respectively. With a dissociation constant (KD) of 6.89 μM, SCT-Asn-betulinic acid exhibited the strongest affinity with the H1N1 protein. Furthermore, with a KD value of 9.10 μM, SCT-Asn-oleanolic acid exhibited the strongest affinity with the H5N1 protein. The conjugates considerably enhanced antiviral activity, which indicates that pentacyclic triterpenes can be used as a ligand to improve the anti-influenza ability of the sialylglycopeptide molecule by acting on the HA protein.

Peri-prostatic adipose tissue measurements using MRI predict prostate cancer aggressiveness in men undergoing radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of peri-prostatic adipose tissue (PPAT) measurements using preoperative MRI on the prediction of prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness in men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study on 179 consecutive patients receiving RP from June 2016 to October 2018. Clinical characteristics were collected. PPAT measurements including peri-prostatic fat area (PPFA) and peri-prostatic fat area to prostate area (PA) ratio (PPFA/PA) were calculated by MRI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of PCa lymph node metastasis (LNM). The predictive performance was estimated through ROC curves. Nomograms were created based on the predictors.

RESULTS

Pathologic Gleason score positively correlated with digital rectal examination (DRE), PSA, PPFA/PA, P504S, and Ki-67 (all P < 0.05). ROC curves revealed that high PPFA and high PPFA/PA were associated with LNM (both P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that high PPFA/PA, pathologic Gleason score, pT stage, and Ki-67 were independently predictive of LNM. The nomograms were created and the C-index was 0.945.

CONCLUSIONS

PPFA/PA is an independent predictor for LNM along with Gleason score, pT stage, and Ki-67. PPFA/PA may help predict LNM in men undergoing RP, thus providing adjunctive information for therapeutic strategy and prognosis.

A novel magnetic fluorescent molecularly imprinted sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of 4-nitrophenol in food samples through a dual-recognition mechanism

In this study, surface imprinting, magnetic separation, and fluorescent detection were integrated to develop a dual-recognition sensor (MF-MIPs), which was used for highly selective and sensitive detection of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in food samples. Silane-functionalized carbon dots (Si-CDs) participated in the imprinting process and were uniformly distributed into the MIPs layers. MF-MIPs sensor exhibited a high fluorescence response and selectivity based on the dual-recognition mechanism of imprinting recognition and fluorescence identification. The relative fluorescence intensity of MF-MIPs sensor presented a good linear relationship in the range of 0.08-10 μmol·L^-1 with a low limit of detection (23.45 nmol·L¹) for 4NP. MF-MIPs sensor showed high anti-interference, as well as excellent stability and reusability. The 4-NP recovery from spiked food samples ranged from 93.20 to 102.15%, and the relative standard deviation was lower than 5.0%. Therefore, MF-MIPs sensor may be a promising method for 4-NP detection in food samples.

Alterations in short-chain fatty acids and serotonin in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) may be associated with the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are some reports of alterations in SCFAs and 5-HT in IBS, but their results are inconsistent. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis to assess alterations in SCFAs and 5-HT in IBS patients and their potential role in the abnormal brain-gut-microbiota (BGM) axis.

METHODS

Case-control studies detecting SCFAs and 5-HT in IBS patients were identified from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases to identify relevant articles up to September 2018. The standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of SCFAs and 5-HT were calculated by REVIEW MANAGER 5.3 to evaluate the alterations of 5-HT and SCFAs in IBS.

RESULTS

Five studies on SCFAs and 5 on 5-HT in IBS patients were included. As compared to healthy controls (HCs), the SMDs of 5-HT in IBS patients was 2.35 (95% CI 0.46-4.24) and the SMDs of total SCFAs, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid in IBS patients were - 0.01 (95% CI - 0.57-0.55), - 0.04 (95% CI - 0.55-0.47), 0.07 (95% CI - 0.45-0.60), and - 0.00 (95% CI - 0.49-0.49), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

There was an increase in 5-HT in blood of IBS patients, indicating the increased 5-HT in blood may be involved in IBS pathogenesis. However, there were no significant differences in SCFAs in feces between IBS patients and HCs. But the study did not differentiate between subgroups of IBS. These findings might provide insight for future studies of the BGM axis in the pathogenesis of IBS. Mei Luo and Xiaojun Zhuang contributed equally to the writing of this article.

CAR-T Cell Therapy: Challenges and Optimization

Immunotherapy has emerged as a potent and effective treatment for multiple cancer types. For example, the engineering of T cells through the expression of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against tumors has shown remarkable potential. This review outlines clinical applications of CAR-T cell therapy in hematological malignancies and solid tumors, with a focus on the main challenges related to the safety and efficacy of the current CAR-T cell therapy and the promising strategies to maximize antitumor efficacy while minimizing adverse events. Finally, we present the future outlook of CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment against malignancies. We believe that potential problems can be overcome by strategies to further facilitate effective clinical translation and improve the efficacy, especially through the combination of different approaches.

Plasma Alarin Level and Its Influencing Factors in Obese Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the plasma alarin level in newly diagnosed obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its correlation with glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin resistance.

METHODS

From October 2018 to June 2020, 239 newly diagnosed T2DM patients were collected. According to obesity, patients were divided into T2DM obese group (n=135) and T2DM non-obese group (n =104). Gender, age, body mass index (BMI), blood lipids, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting insulin (FINS), plasma alarin concentration, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment for β-cell function (HOMA-β) and other clinical data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

BMI, triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FPG), HbA1c, FINS, plasma alarin levels and HOMA-IR in the control group, T2DM non-obese group and T2DM obese group increased sequentially, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-L) and HOMA-β decreased sequentially (P<0.05). Correlation analysis results showed that plasma alarin levels in T2DM patients were positively correlated with waistline, BMI, TC, LDL-C, FPG, HbA1c, FINS and HOMA-IR (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with HDL-C and HOMA-β (P <0.05), and the correlation coefficient of T2DM obese group was significantly higher than that of T2DM non-obese group (P<0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that BMI, FPG, HbA1c, HOMA-β, and HOMA-IR were independent factors related to plasma alarin levels in T2DM non-obese and T2DM obese patients, and the correlation coefficient of the T2DM obese group was significantly higher than that of the T2DM non-obese group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Plasma alarin levels increase in newly diagnosed T2DM and obese T2DM patients, which are affected by TC, BMI, FPG, HbA1c, HOMA-β and HOMA-IR, and may be involved in development of T2DM.

Recombinase Polymerase Amplification/Cas12a-Based Identification of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni on Peach

Peach bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap) is a devastating disease worldwide and frequently causes massive economic losses. In recent years, it has become a pandemic outbreak in most peach production areas of China, especially on precocious peaches in the middle reach of the Yangtze River. Rapid, user-friendly detection is extremely important to make the correct diagnosis and develop suitable control strategies. In this study, we described a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)/Cas12a-based system that combines RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a for Xap identification. A total of three crRNAs were designed to target a highly conserved ABC transporter ATP-binding protein-encoding gene ftsX to make specific detection of Xap. Results showed that crRNA 2 and crRNA 3 could get consistent detection for Xap. To realize the visualization of detection results, we additionally introduced FQ-reporter and FB-reporter. The developed method was highly sensitive and could detect as low as 10^-18 M Xap gDNA with a mini-UV torch, corresponding to 1.63 copies/μl or 8.855 fg/μl gDNA of Xap, while with lateral flow strips, the sensitivity was 10^-17 M. In addition, this method could specifically detect Xap from other closely related bacteria or pathogens associated with peach diseases. Furthermore, this method could make correct identification for Xap with crude DNA using NaOH-based extraction (3 min) directly from diseased peach samples. Considering that the developed method could get results within 2 h and could be performed at 37°C (body temperature), it is promising to be applied for Xap diagnosis and monitoring in fields.

Energy value of rice, broken rice, and rice bran for broiler chickens by the regression method

The objective of this study was to determine the ileal digestible energy (IDE), ME, and ME_n of rice, broken rice, and rice bran. The birds were fed a standard starter diet from day 0 to 14 and experimental diets from day 15 to 21 after hatching. A total of 336 birds were grouped by BW and assigned to 7 diets, each diet comprised 8 replicates with 6 birds per replicate. The diets comprised a reference diet (RD) and 6 test diets (TD). The TD contained 2 levels of rice, broken rice or rice bran that partly replaced the energy sources in the RD at 120 or 240 g/kg (rice and broken rice) or 150 or 300 g/kg (rice bran). Addition of rice or broken rice to RD linearly increased (P < 0.01) ileal digestibility of DM, energy, as well as total tract metabolizability of DM, energy, and N-corrected energy in the TD. The inclusion of rice bran in the TD linearly decreased (P < 0.01) energy digestibility and utilization in the test diet. Regressions of rice-associated, broken rice-associated, or rice bran-associated IDE, ME, or ME_n intake in kcal against rice, broken rice, or rice bran intake were as follows: IDE = Y = 2 (6) + 3,185 (73) × Rice + 3,199 (72) × Broken Rice + 2,562 (61) × Rice Bran, r2 = 0.98; ME = Y = 8 (6) + 3,103 (72) × Rice + 3,190 (71) × Broken Rice + 2,709 (60) × Rice Bran, r2 = 0.98; ME_n = Y = 4 (5) + 3,014 (68) × Rice + 3,092 (101) × Broken Rice + 2,624 (57) × Rice Bran, r2 = 0.98; Based on the regression equations, the IDE, ME, ME_n values (kcal/kg of DM) of rice were 3,185, 3,103 and 3,014, respectively, while for broken rice, the values were 3,199, 3,190, and 3,092 and for rice bran, the values were 2,562, 2,709, and 2,624, respectively.

The expression and clinical significance of three lncRNAs in patients with a missed abortion

Missed abortions are common complications that occur in early pregnancy, and impaired trophoblast functions have been indicated to be associated with their pathogenesis. The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) Metastasis Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1 (MALAT1), HOX Transcript Antisense RNA (HOTAIR) and Maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) have been demonstrated to serve a crucial regulatory role in the mobility of trophoblast cells and embryo implantation. However, the expression profile and role of each of these three lncRNAs in patients with a missed abortion remain unclear. The expression of MALAT1, HOTAIR, and MEG3 in decidual and villous tissues from 26 patient exhibiting a missed abortion and 26 healthy controls was detected using reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were measured using ELISA, and serum estradiol and progesterone levels were measured with electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Additionally, the correlations between lncRNA expression and the levels of cytokines and hormones were further analyzed. MALAT1, HOTAIR and MEG3 expression was significantly higher in villous tissues of patients exhibiting a missed abortion compared with healthy controls. MALAT1 expression was higher in decidual tissues of patients exhibiting a missed abortion compared with healthy controls. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly lower in patients exhibiting a missed abortion compared with healthy controls. Serum estradiol and progesterone levels were significantly lower in the group of patients exhibiting a missed abortion compared with the control group. Furthermore, MALAT1 expression in villous tissue was inversely related to serum progesterone levels. The results of the current study suggest that MALAT1 may be associated with the pathogenesis of missed abortions.

The evolution of insect metallothioneins

Metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins that are important in the chelating and detoxification of toxic heavy metals. Until now, the short length and the low sequence complexity of MTs have hindered the inference of robust phylogenies, hampering the study of their evolution. To address this longstanding question, we applied an iterative BLAST search pipeline that allowed us to build a unique dataset of more than 300 MT sequences in insects. By combining phylogenetics and synteny analysis, we reconstructed the evolutionary history of MTs in insects. We show that the MT content in insects has been shaped by lineage-specific tandem duplications from a single ancestral MT. Strikingly, we also uncovered a sixth MT, MtnF, in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. MtnF evolves faster than other MTs and is characterized by a non-canonical length and higher cysteine content. Our methodological framework not only paves the way for future studies on heavy metal detoxification but can also allow us to identify other previously unidentified genes and other low complexity genomic features.