Harnessing tetrahedral framework nucleic acids for enhanced delivery of microRNA-149-3p: A new frontier in oral squamous cell carcinoma therapy

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a type of malignant tumour that primarily occurs in the oral mucosa, has drawn considerable attention owing to its aggressive growth and potentially high metastatic rate. Surgical resection is the primary treatment method for OSCC and is typically combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. microRNA-149-3p (miR-149) is a negative regulator of the Pi3k/Akt pathway and can effectively inhibit the proliferation of tumour cells. However, the application of miR-149 is limited owing to its relatively low efficiency of cellular uptake and poor stability when used alone. To overcome these challenges, this study adopted a novel nucleic acid nanostructured material, tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs). The use of tFNAs as carriers to assemble the T-miR-149 complex reduced the expression of Pi3k and Akt involved in tumorigenesis and alterations in proteins related to cell apoptosis. The results indicated that the bionic drug delivery system has an effective tumour suppressive effect on OSCC in mice, revealing its potential clinical value in the treatment of OSCC.

Constructing 2D Polyphenols-Based Crosslinked Networks for Ultrafast and Selective Uranium Extraction from Seawater

The role of tannins (TA), a well-known abundant and ecologically friendly chelating ligand, in metal capture has long been studied. Different kinds of TA-containing adsorbents are synthesized for uranium capture, while most adsorbents suffer from unfavorable adsorption kinetics. Herein, the design and preparation of a TA-containing 2D crosslinked network adsorbent (TANP) is reported. The ≈1.8-nanometer-thick TANP films curl up into micrometer-scale pores, which contribute to fast mass transfer and full exposure of active sites. The coordination environment of uranyl (UO2 2+) ions is explored by integrated analysis of U L3-edge XANES and EXAFS. Density functional theory calculations indicate the energetically favorable UO2 2+ binding. Consequently, TANP with excellent adsorption kinetics presents a high uranium capture capacity (14.62 mg-U g-Ads-1) and a high adsorption rate (0.97 mg g-1 day-1) together with excellent selectivity and biofouling resistance. Life cycle assessment and cost analysis demonstrate that TANP has tremendous potential for application in industrial-scale uranium extraction from seawater.

Nanofiber Peptides for Bacterial Trapping: A Novel Approach to Antibiotic Alternatives in Wound Infections

The pervasive employment of antibiotics has engendered the advent of drug-resistant bacteria, imperiling the well-being and health of both humans and animals. Infections precipitated by such multi-resistant bacteria, especially those induced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pervade hospital settings, constituting a grave menace to patient vitality. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have garnered considerable attention as a potent countermeasure against multidrug resistant bacteria. In preceding research endeavors, an insect-derived antimicrobial peptide is identified that, while possessing antimicrobial attributes, manifested suboptimal efficacy against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. To ameliorate this issue, this work enhances the antimicrobial capabilities of the initial β-hairpin AMPs by substituting the structural sequence of the original AMPs with variant lengths of hydrophobic amino acid-hydrophilic amino acid repeat units. Throughout this endeavor, this work has identified a number of peptides that possess highly effective antibacterial characteristics against a wide range of bacteria. Additionally, some of these peptides have the ability to self-assemble into nanofibers, which then build networks in a distinctive manner to capture bacteria. Consequently, they represent prospective antibiotic alternatives for addressing wound infections engendered by drug-resistant bacteria.

The oviposition preference and offspring performance of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Given the rapid spread and potential harm caused by the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in China, it has become imperative to comprehend the developmental biology of this invasive species. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of A. tumida female oviposition site preference on larval growth and development. To examine this, we investigated the ovipositional preference of adult female A. tumida on bee pupae, beebread, banana, and honey through a free choice test. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of these food resources on offspring performance, which included larval development time, survival, wandering larvae weight, emerged adult body mass, reproduction, and juvenile hormone titer. Our results showed that A. tumida females exhibited a strong preference for ovipositing on bee pupae compared to other diets, while showing reluctance toward honey. Moreover, A. tumida larvae that were fed on bee pupae displayed accelerated growth compared to those fed on other diets. Furthermore, A. tumida fed on bee pupae exhibited higher weights for wandering larvae, and emerged adult, increased pupation rates, enhanced fecundity and fertility, as well as a larger number of unilateral ovarioles during the larval stage when compared to those fed on other diets. Overall, the results indicate that the oviposition preferences of A. tumida females are adaptive, as their choices can enhance the fitness of their offspring. This finding aligns broadly with the hypothesis of oviposition preference and larval performance. This study can provide a foundation for the development of attractants aimed at promoting the oviposition of the A. tumida adults.

Germination Requirement and Suitable Storage Method of Hydrocharis dubia Seeds

Understanding of seed germination requirements and storage methods is very important to successfully conserve and restore aquatic vegetation. The main question addressed by the research was germination requirements and suitable seed storage methods of Hydrocharis dubia seeds. Furthermore, the water content and respiration rate of H. dubia seeds were studied under different storage conditions. The study found that light and high seed clustering density had a positive effect on germination, while burial had a negative effect. Germination percentages were 60.67 ± 6.11% and 28.40 ± 6.79% in light and dark conditions, respectively. Under clustering densities of 1 and 50, germination percentages were 6.00 ± 2.00% and 59.33 ± 0.67%, respectively. Germination percentages were 50.40 ± 5.00%, 3.20 ± 3.20%, and 0.80 ± 0.80% at depths of 0, 2, and 3 cm, respectively. Oxygen, water level, and substratum had no significant effect on seed germination. Storage method had a significant effect on seed germination, moisture content, and respiration rate. The germination percentages were 64.00 ± 1.67%, 85.20 ± 5.04%, and 92.80 ± 4.27% under the storage conditions of 4 °C-Dry, 4 °C-Wet, and Ambient water temperature-Wet for 2 years, respectively. The seeds had no germination under the storage conditions of Ambient air temperature-Wet and Ambient air temperature-Dry. Overall, the study indicates that seed germination of H. dubia is restricted by light, burial depth, and seed clustering density. Additionally, it was found that H. dubia seeds can be stored in wet environmental conditions at ambient water temperature, similar to seed banks. Specifically, the seeds can be stored in sand and submerged underwater at ambient water temperatures ranging from 4 °C to 25 °C. This study will help with the conservation and restoration of aquatic plants, such as H. dubia.

Immune protection of three serine protease inhibitors vaccine in mice against Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Bioactive molecules in tick saliva are considered to be key to successful feeding and further the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. Problems such as pathogen transmission and animal weight loss result in tick infestation can cause tremendous economic losses to the livestock industry. Therefore, the development of a universal tick vaccine is urgently needed. In this paper, three serine protease inhibitor (serpin) proteins RMS-3, L7LRK7 and L7LTU1 were analyzed with bioinformatics methods. Subsequently the proteins were expressed and purified, and inoculated into Kunming mice for immune protection analysis. The amino acid sequence similarities between RMS-3, L7LRK7 and L7LTU1 were up to 90% in Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The recombinant RMS-3 + L7LRK7 + L7LTU1 showed anticoagulant reaction function and could inhibit the activity of CD4+ lymphocytes, when inoculated into Kunming mice. Additionally, After the immunized mice were challenged with Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the percentage of larvae and nymphs that were fully engorged dropped to 40.87% (P < 0.05) and 87.68% (P > 0.05) in the RmS-3 + L7LRK7 immune group, 49.57% (P < 0.01) and 52.06% (P < 0.05) in the RmS-3 + L7LTU1 group, and 45.22% (P < 0.05) and 60.28% (P < 0.05) in the RmS-3 + L7LRK7 + L7LTU1 immune group, in comparison with the control group. These data indicate that RmS-3 + L7LRK7 + L7LTU1 has good immune protection and has the potential to be developed into a vaccine against the larvae and nymphs of R. sanguineus.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1-mediated iron metabolism in macrophages contributes to lipid deposition in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a rapidly progressing chronic liver disease of global significance. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for NASH remain unknown. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) has been recognized as essential factor in immune response and metabolic regulation. Here we aimed to investigate the functions and mechanisms of the IDO1 in macrophages on hepatic lipid deposition and iron metabolism in NASH.

METHODS

The effect of IDO1 in NASH was evaluated by WT and IDO1-/- mice model fed with methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet in vivo. Macrophages scavenger clodronate liposomes (CL) and overexpressing of IDO1 in macrophages by virus were employed as well. Lipid deposition was assessed through pathological examination and lipid droplet staining, while iron levels were measured using an iron assay kit and western blotting. Primary hepatocytes and bone marrow-derived macrophages were treated with oleic acid/palmitic acid (OA/PA) to assess IDO1 expression via Oil Red O staining and immunofluorescence staining in vitro.

RESULTS

Pathological images demonstrated that the increase of IDO1 exacerbated lipid accumulation in the livers of mice with MCD diet, while reduction of iron accumulation was observed in the liver and the serum of MCD-fed mice. Scavenging of macrophages effectively mitigated both lipid and iron accumulation. In addition, the deficiency of IDO1 in macrophages significantly mitigated lipid accumulation and iron overload in hepatic parenchymal cells. Finally, lentivirus-mediated overexpression of IDO1 in liver macrophages exacerbated hepatic steatosis and iron deposition in NASH.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that effective inhibition of IDO1 expression in macrophages in NASH alleviated hepatic parenchymal cell lipid accumulation and iron deposition, which provided new insights for the future treatment of NASH.

Roxadustat ameliorates vascular calcification in CKD rats by regulating HIF-2α/HIF-1α

Vascular calcification (VC) is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). VC is a gene-regulated process similar to osteogenic differentiation. There are still no convincing schemes to prevent and reduce the development of VC. It has been reported that hypoxia-inducing factor 1α (HIF-1α) and endothelin-1(ET-1) are related to VC. In this study, we found that the expression of ET-1 and HIF-1α was enhanced after VC, the interaction between HIF-1α and ET-1 was confirmed by CO-IP and luciferase experiments. We found that ET-1 was an upregulated differential gene of calcified vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through gene sequencing. However, hypoxia-inducing factor 2α (HIF-2α) and HIF-1α have antagonistic effects on each other. HIF-1α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and HIF-2α can improve inflammation and fibrosis. Roxadustat, as a selective PHD3 inhibitor, preferentially activates HIF-2α. It is still unclear whether roxadustat improves VC in CKD by regulating the expression of HIF-2α/HIF-1α. Alizarin red staining and western blot as well as immunohistochemical results showed that roxadustat could significantly reduce the degree of vascular and VSMCs calcification in CKD rats. Serum HIF-1α and ET-1 were significantly decreased after roxadustat treatment. In addition, western blot results showed that roxadustat could decrease the expression of HIF-1α and ET-1 in vascular tissues and calcified VSMC, but HIF-2α expression significantly increased. Interestingly, our study confirmed that activation of HIF-1α or inhibition of HIF-2α reversed the ameliorating effect of roxadustat on VC, proving that the effect mediated by roxadustat is HIF-2α/HIF-1α dependent. We have demonstrated for the first time that roxadustat improves VC in CKD rats by regulating HIF-2α/HIF-1α, thus providing a new idea for the application of roxadustat in VC of CKD.

EgMADS3 directly regulates EgLPAAT to mediate medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) anabolism in the mesocarp of oil palm

KEY MESSAGE

EgMADS3, a pivotal transcription factor, positively regulates MCFA accumulation via binding to the EgLPAAT promoter, advancing lipid content in mesocarp of oil palm. Lipids function as the structural components of cell membranes, which serve as permeable barriers to the external environment of cells. The medium-chain fatty acid in the stored lipids of plants is an important renewable energy. Most research on MCFA production in plant lipid synthesis is based on biochemical methods, and the importance of transcriptional regulation in MCFA synthesis and its incorporation into TAGs needs further research. Oil palm is the most productive oil crop in the world and has the highest productivity among the main oil crops. In this study, the MADS transcription factor (EgMADS3) in the mesocarp of oil palm was characterized. Through the VIGS-virus induced gene silencing, it was determined that the potential target gene of EgMADS3 was related to the biosynthesis of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA). Transient transformation in protoplasts and qRT-PCR analysis showed that EgMADS3 positively regulated the expression of EgLPAAT. The results of the yeast one-hybrid assays and EMSA indicated the interaction between EgMADS3 and EgLPAAT promoter. Through genetic transformation and fatty acid analysis, it is concluded that EgMADS3 directly regulates the mid-chain fatty acid synthesis pathway of the potential target gene EgLPAAT, thus promotes the accumulation of MCFA and improves the total lipid content. This study is innovative in the functional analysis of the MADS family transcription factor in the metabolism of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) of oil palm, provides a certain research basis for improving the metabolic pathway of chain fatty acids in oil palm, and improves the synthesis of MCFA in plants. Our results will provide a reference direction for further research on improving the oil quality through biotechnology of oil palm.

Caffeic acid attenuates tissue damage and inflammatory response in Klebsiella pneumonia by modulating AhR-Src-STAT3-IL-10 signaling pathway

CA is a plant derivative with antibacterial and antiviral pharmacological effects, however, the therapeutic effect of CA on Klebsiella pneumonia and its mechanism study is still unclear. A rat KP model was established in vitro, a pneumonia cell model was established in vivo, the histopathological changes in the lungs were observed by HE staining after CA treatment, the expression of relevant inflammatory factors was detected by ELISA, the changes in the expression of proteins related to the AhR-Src-STAT3-IL-10 signaling pathway were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence in the lungs, and the interactions between the proteins were verified by COIP relationship. The results showed that CA was able to attenuate the injury and inflammatory response of lung tissues, and molecular docking showed that there were binding sites between CA and AhR, and COIP demonstrated that AhR interacted with both STAT3 and Ser. In addition, CA was able to up-regulate the expression levels of pathway-related proteins of AhR, IL-10, p-Src, and p-STAT3, and AhR knockdown was able to reduce LPS-induced inflammatory responses and up-regulate pathway-related proteins, whereas CA treatment of AhR-knockdown-treated A549 cells did not show any statistically significant difference compared with the AhR knockdown group, demonstrating that CA exerts its pharmacological effects. These findings elucidated the mechanism of CA in the treatment of KP and demonstrated that CA is a potential therapeutic agent for KP.

An Investigation of Quorum Sensing Inhibitors against Bacillus cereus in The Endophytic Fungus Pithomyces sacchari of the Laurencia sp

Bacillus cereus, a common food-borne pathogen, forms biofilms and generates virulence factors through a quorum sensing (QS) mechanism. In this study, six compounds (dankasterone A, demethylincisterol A3, zinnimidine, cyclo-(L-Val-L-Pro), cyclo-(L-Ile-L-Pro), and cyclo-(L-Leu-L-Pro)) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Pithomyces sacchari of the Laurencia sp. in the South China Sea. Among them, demethylincisterol A3, a sterol derivative, exhibited strong QS inhibitory activity against B. cereus. The QS inhibitory activity of demethylincisterol A3 was evaluated through experiments. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of demethylincisterol A3 against B. cereus was 6.25 μg/mL. At sub-MIC concentrations, it significantly decreased biofilm formation, hindered mobility, and diminished the production of protease and hemolysin activity. Moreover, RT-qPCR results demonstrated that demethylincisterol A3 markedly inhibited the expression of QS-related genes (plcR and papR) in B. cereus. The exposure to demethylincisterol A3 resulted in the downregulation of genes (comER, tasA, rpoN, sinR, codY, nheA, hblD, and cytK) associated with biofilm formation, mobility, and virulence factors. Hence, demethylincisterol A3 is a potentially effective compound in the pipeline of innovative antimicrobial therapies.

The Vertical Metabolic Activity and Community Structure of Prokaryotes along Different Water Depths in the Kermadec and Diamantina Trenches

Prokaryotes play a key role in particulate organic matter's decomposition and remineralization processes in the vertical scale of seawater, and prokaryotes contribute to more than 70% of the estimated remineralization. However, little is known about the microbial community and metabolic activity of the vertical distribution in the trenches. The composition and distribution of prokaryotes in the water columns and benthic boundary layers of the Kermadec Trench and the Diamantina Trench were investigated using high-throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR, together with the Biolog EcoplateTM microplates culture to analyze the microbial metabolic activity. Microbial communities in both trenches were dominated by Nitrososphaera and Halobacteria in archaea, and by Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria in bacteria, and the microbial community structure was significantly different between the water column and the benthic boundary layer. At the surface water, amino acids and polymers were used preferentially; at the benthic boundary layers, amino acids and amines were used preferentially. Cooperative relationships among different microbial groups and their carbon utilization capabilities could help to make better use of various carbon sources along the water depths, reflected by the predominantly positive relationships based on the co-occurrence network analysis. In addition, the distinct microbial metabolic activity detected at 800 m, which was the lower boundary of the twilight zone, had the lowest salinity and might have had higher proportions of refractory carbon sources than the shallower water depths and benthic boundary layers. This study reflected the initial preference of the carbon source by the natural microbes in the vertical scale of different trenches and should be complemented with stable isotopic tracing experiments in future studies to enhance the understanding of the complex carbon utilization pathways along the vertical scale by prokaryotes among different trenches.

Dalbergia odorifera undergoes massive molecular shifts in response to waterlogging combined with salinity

Field and greenhouse studies attempting to describe the molecular responses of plant species under waterlogging (WL) combined with salinity (ST) are almost nonexistent. We integrated transcriptional, metabolic, and physiological responses involving several crucial transcripts and common differentially expressed genes and metabolites in fragrant rosewood (Dalbergia odorifera) leaflets to dissect plant-specific molecular responses and patterns under WL combined with ST (SWL). We discovered that the synergistic pattern of the transcriptional response of fragrant rosewood under SWL was exclusively characterized by the number of regulated transcripts. The response patterns under SWL based on transcriptome and metabolome regulation statuses revealed different patterns (additive, dominant, neutral, minor, unilateral, and antagonistic) of transcripts or metabolites that were commonly regulated or expressed uniquely under SWL. Under SWL, the synergistic transcriptional response of several functional gene subsets was positively associated with several metabolomic and physiological responses related to the shutdown of the photosynthetic apparatus and the extensive degradation of starch into saccharides through α-amylase, β-amylase, and α-glucosidase or plastoglobuli accumulation. The dissimilarity between the regulation status and number of transcripts in plants under combined stresses led to nonsynergistic responses in several physiological and phytohormonal traits. As inferred from the impressive synergistic transcriptional response to morpho-physiological changes, combined stresses exhibited a gradually decreasing effect on the changes observed at the molecular level compared to those in the morphological one. Here, by characterizing the molecular responses and patterns of plant species under SWL, our study considerably improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying combined stress.

Cassava phosphatase PP2C1 modulates thermotolerance via fine-tuning dephosphorylation of antioxidant enzymes

Global warming is an adverse environmental factor that threatens crop yields and food security. 2C-type protein phosphatases (PP2Cs), as core protein phosphatase components, play important roles in plant hormone signaling to cope with various environmental stresses. However, the function and underlying mechanism of PP2Cs in the heat stress response remain elusive in tropical crops. Here, we report that MePP2C1 negatively regulated thermotolerance in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), accompanied by the modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and the underlying antioxidant enzyme activities of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Further investigation found that MePP2C1 directly interacted with and dephosphorylated MeCAT1 and MeAPX2 at serine (S) 112 and S160 residues, respectively. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo assays showed that protein phosphorylation of MeCAT1S112 and MeAPX2S160 was essential for their enzyme activities, and MePP2C1 negatively regulated thermotolerance and redox homeostasis by dephosphorylating MeCAT1S112 and MeAPX2S160. Taken together, this study illustrates the direct relationship between MePP2C1-mediated protein dephosphorylation of MeCAT1 and MeAPX2 and ROS accumulation in thermotolerance to provide insights for adapting to global warming via fine-tuning thermotolerance of the tropical crop cassava.

Pulse Feature-Enhanced Classification of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria Using Polarized Light Scattering and Fluorescence Signals

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a global threat to the biodiversity and stability of local aquatic ecosystems. Rapid and accurate classification of microalgae and cyanobacteria in water is increasingly desired for monitoring complex water environments. In this paper, we propose a pulse feature-enhanced classification (PFEC) method as a potential solution. Equipped with a rapid measurement prototype that simultaneously detects polarized light scattering and fluorescence signals of individual particles, PFEC allows for the extraction of 38 pulse features to improve the classification accuracy of microalgae, cyanobacteria, and other suspended particulate matter (SPM) to 89.03%. Compared with microscopic observation, PFEC reveals three phyla proportions in aquaculture samples with an average error of less than 14%. In this paper, PFEC is found to be more accurate than the pulse-average classification method, which is interpreted as pulse features carrying more detailed information about particles. The high consistency of the dominant and common species between PFEC and microscopy in all field samples also demonstrates the flexibility and robustness of the former. Moreover, the high Pearson correlation coefficient accounting for 0.958 between the cyanobacterial proportion obtained by PFEC and the cyanobacterial density given by microscopy implies that PFEC serves as a promising early warning tool for cyanobacterial blooms. The results of this work suggest that PFEC holds great potential for the rapid and accurate classification of microalgae and cyanobacteria in aquatic environment monitoring.

Optimization of seeding density of OP9 cells to improve hematopoietic differentiation efficiency

BACKGROUND

OP9 mouse stromal cell line has been widely used to induce differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). However, the whole co-culture procedure usually needs 14-18 days, including preparing OP9 cells at least 4 days. Therefore, the inefficient differentiation system is not appreciated. We aimed to optimize the culture conditions to improve differentiation efficiency.

METHODS

In the experimental group, we set six different densities of OP9 cells and just cultured them for 24 h before co-culture, and in the control group, OP9 cells were cultured for 4 days to reach an overgrown state before co-culture. Then we compared the hematopoietic differentiation efficiency among them.

RESULTS

OP9 cells were randomly assigned into two groups. In the experimental group, six different plated numbers of OP9 cells were cultured for 1 day before co-culture with hESCs. In contrast, in the control group, OP9 cells were cultured for 4 days at a total number of 3.1 × 104 cells/cm2 in a 6-well plate to reach an overgrown state before co-culture. Hematopoietic differentiation was evaluated with CD34 immunostaining, and compared between these two groups. We could not influence the differentiation efficiency of OP9 cells with a total number of 10.4 × 104 cells/cm2 in a 6-well plate which was cultured just for 1 day, followed by co-culture with hESCs. It reached the same differentiation efficiency 5 days earlier than the control group.

CONCLUSION

The peak of CD34 + cells appeared 2 days earlier compared to the control group. A total number of 1.0 × 106 cells in a 6-well plate for OP9 cells was appropriate to have high differentiation efficiency.

Optimized Tribological Performance of Nitrogen-Doped Diamond-like Carbon Films on NBR: Influence of Bias Voltage of DC Magnetron Sputtering

In this research, nitrogen-doped diamond-like carbon (N-DLC) coatings were deposited on Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) substrates using direct current magnetron sputtering (DC-MS) under varying bias voltages. This study aimed to explore environmentally friendly, low-wear, and non-lubricating seal coatings to enhance the durability of rubber sealing products, which predominantly operate under dynamic sliding conditions. By reducing the coefficient of friction (CoF), the friction and wear on rubber products can be significantly minimized, extending their lifespan. This investigation thoroughly examined the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of the N-DLC films. Among the coatings, the one produced at a bias voltage of -50 V demonstrated superior hardness, elastic modulus, and the lowest CoF in comparison to those prepared with 0, -100, and -200 bias voltages. This optimal combination of properties resulted in an exceptionally low wear rate of 10-9 for the film deposited at -50 V, indicating its outstanding wear resistance.

Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation analysis reveal the molecular mechanism of halociline against gastric cancer

Halociline, a derivative of alkaloids, was isolated from the marine fungus Penicillium griseofulvum by our group. This remarkable compound exhibits promising antineoplastic activity, yet the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer properties remain enigmatic. To unravel these mechanisms, we employed an integrated approach of network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking simulations, and molecular dynamics simulations to explore halociline therapeutic targets for gastric cancer. The data from network pharmacology indicate that halociline targets MAPK1, MMP-9, and PIK3CA in gastric cancer cells, potentially mediated by diverse pathways including cancer, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance. Notably, molecular docking and dynamics simulations revealed a high affinity between halociline and these targets, with free binding energies (ΔEtotal) of - 20.28, - 27.94, and - 25.97 kcal/mol for MAPK1, MMP-9, and PIK3CA, respectively. This study offers valuable insights into the potential molecular mechanism of halociline's inhibition of gastric cancer cells and serves as a valuable reference for future basic research efforts.

Investigation into the optoelectrowetting droplet transport mechanism

To explore the optoelectronic wetting droplet transport mechanism, a transient numerical model of optoelectrowetting (OEW) under the coupling of flow and electric fields is established. The study investigates the impact of externally applied voltage, dielectric constant of the dielectric layer, and interfacial tension between the two phases on the dynamic behavior of droplets during transport. The proposed model employs an improved Young's equation to calculate the instantaneous voltage and contact angle of the droplet on the dielectric layer. Results indicate that, under the influence of OEW, significant variations in the interface contact angle of droplets occur in bright and dark regions, inducing droplet movement. Moreover, the dynamic behavior of droplet transport is closely associated with various parameters, including externally applied voltage, dielectric layer material, and interfacial tension between the two phases, all of which impact the contact angle and, consequently, the transport process. By summarizing the influence patterns of the three key parameters studied, the optimization of droplet transport performance is achieved. The study employs two-dimensional simulation models to emulate the droplet motion under the influence of the electric field, investigating the OEW droplet transport mechanism. The continuous movement of droplets involves three stages: initial wetting, continuous transport, and reaching a steady position. The findings contribute theoretical support for the efficient design of digital microfluidic devices for OEW droplet movement and the selection of key parameters for droplet manipulation.

Fully Integrated Microfluidic Platform for Multiplexed Detection of Hunov by a Dynamic Confined-Space-Implemented One-Pot Rpa-Lamp System

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the leading cause of nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis, which is highly infectious, rapidly evolving, and easily transmitted through feces. The accurate and early detection of HuNoV subtypes is essential for effective treatment, early surveillance, risk assessment, and disease prevention. In this study, a portable multiplex HuNoV detection platform that combines integrated microfluidics and cascade isothermal amplification, using a streamlined protocol for clinical fecal-based diagnosis is presented. To overcome the problems of carryover contamination and the incompatibility between recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a Dynamic confined-space-implemented One-pot RPA-LAMP colorimetric detection system (DORLA) is developed by creating a hydrogen bond network. The DORLA system exhibits excellent sensitivity, with detection limits of 10 copies µL-1 and 1 copy µL-1 for HuNoV GI and GII, respectively. In addition, a portable diagnostic platform consisting of a thermostatic control module and an integrated 3D-printed microfluidic chip for specific HuNoV capture, nucleic acid pretreatment, and DORLA detection, which enables simultaneous diagnosis of HuNoV GI and GII is developed. A DORLA-based microfluidic platform exhibits satisfactory performance with high sensitivity and portability, and has high potential for the rapid point-of-care detection of HuNoV in clinical fecal samples, particularly in resource-limited settings.

OsBCAT2, a gene responsible for the degradation of branched-chain amino acids, positively regulates salt tolerance by promoting the synthesis of vitamin B5

Salt stress negatively affects rice growth, development and yield. Metabolic adjustments contribute to the adaptation of rice under salt stress. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are three essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized by humans or animals. However, little is known about the role of BCAA in response to salt stress in plants. Here, we showed that BCAAs may function as scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to provide protection against damage caused by salinity. We determined that branched-chain aminotransferase 2 (OsBCAT2), a protein responsible for the degradation of BCAA, positively regulates salt tolerance. Salt significantly induces the expression of OsBCAT2 rather than BCAA synthesis genes, which indicated that salt mainly promotes BCAA degradation and not de novo synthesis. Metabolomics analysis revealed that vitamin B5 (VB5) biosynthesis pathway intermediates were higher in the OsBCAT2-overexpressing plants but lower in osbcat2 mutants under salt stress. The salt stress-sensitive phenotypes of the osbcat2 mutants are rescued by exogenous VB5, indicating that OsBCAT2 affects rice salt tolerance by regulating VB5 synthesis. Our work provides new insights into the enzymes involved in BCAAs degradation and VB5 biosynthesis and sheds light on the molecular mechanism of BCAAs in response to salt stress.

Calcitriol combined with high-calcium and high-phosphorus diet induces vascular calcification model in chronic kidney disease rats

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases represent a significant complication arising from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vascular calcification is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Reducing vascular calcification is therefore critical to reducing mortality in CKD patients.

HYPOTHESIS

This study aims to establish a vascular calcification model in rats with CKD by administering subcutaneous injections of calcitriol in combination with a high-calcium and high-phosphorus diet.

METHODS

The rats were divided into the CKD vascular calcification model group (subtotal nephrectomy+ [SNx+]) and the sham-operated control group (subtotal nephrectomy- [SNx-]). The rats in the SNx(+) group were administered high-calcium and high-phosphorus feeds following a 5/6 nephrectomy. Calcitriol (1 μg/kg, three times a week) was injected subcutaneously at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 after the operation. Measurements of body weight, urine, serum biochemical indicators and vascular calcification level were conducted in rats.

RESULTS

(1) Compared with the SNx(-) group, rats in the SNx(+) group experienced an increase in 24-h urine output, urinary phosphorus, and urinary microprotein excretion, along with the development of severe anemia. Additionally, there was a notable elevation in serum phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), and intact parathyroid hormone levels, accompanied by severe hypoproteinemia at week 12. (2) The results of micro-compuyed tomography (μCT) and alizarin S staining of the thoracic aorta demonstrated an increase in vascular calcification in the SNx(+) group. (3) The expression levels of vascular calcification-related proteins were increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of calcitriol combined with a high-calcium and high-phosphorus diet was found to induce vascular calcification in CKD rats, leading to a disturbance in mineral metabolism. Vascular calcification was effectively induced in CKD rats after 12 weeks of modeling, thereby presenting a novel approach for establishing a vascular calcification model in CKD rats, helping to elucidate this clinical condition and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

SARS-CoV-2 infection negatively impacts on the quality of embryos by delaying early embryonic development

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis that has affected in vitro fertilization practices globally. Previous studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 impacts the quality of embryos by inducing an immunological response in infertile patients. In this study, the early embryonic development of SARS-CoV-2-infected infertile patients was investigated.

METHODS

Sixty-five SARS-CoV-2 infected infertile patients and 258 controls were involved in this study. The major outcome parameters for the cycle were analyzed, including the number of oocytes, maturation oocytes, available embryos per cycle, and embryo morpho kinetic characteristics.

RESULTS

From SARS-CoV-2 infection until oocyte retrieval, it took an average of 6.63 days. The results revealed that the number of oocytes and high-quality embryos on day 3 dramatically reduced in SARS-CoV-2-infected infertile patients. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the follicular fluid of three infertile patients. SARS-CoV-2 infection had negatively impacted the number of oocytes in multivariate linear regression models. The early embryonic development in the SARS-CoV-2 infection group had a noticeable delay from the six-cell stage to blastocyst stage.

CONCLUSIONS

SARS-CoV-2 infection reduced the number of oocytes and high-quality embryos on day 3. It delays the early embryonic development from the six-cell stage to blastocyst stage and has a negative impact on the quality of embryos.

LncRNA GAS5 regulated by FTO-mediated m6A demethylation promotes autophagic cell death in NSCLC by targeting UPF1/BRD4 axis

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been shown to be a regulator for many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, its role and mechanism in the process of NSCLC deserve to be further revealed. The expression levels of GAS5, fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot analysis was used to examine the protein expression of FTO, BRD4, up-frameshift protein 1 (UPF1) and autophagy-related markers. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation was used to assess the m6A level of GAS5 regulated by FTO. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined using MTT assay, EdU assay and flow cytometry. Autophagy ability was assessed by immunofluorescence staining and transmission electron microscope. Xenograft tumor model was constructed to explore the effects of FTO and GAS5 on NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. The interaction between UPF1 and GAS5 or BRD4 was confirmed by pull-down assay, RIP assay, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was used to analyze the co-localization of GAS5 and UPF1. Actinomycin D treatment was employed to evaluate BRD4 mRNA stability. GAS5 was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and was associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. FTO was highly expressed in NSCLC, and it inhibited GAS5 expression by reducing GAS5 m6A methylation level. GAS5 suppressed by FTO could promote the autophagic death of NSCLC cells in vitro and inhibit NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. In addition, GAS5 was able to interact with UPF1 to reduce the mRNA stability of BRD4. Knockdown of BRD4 reversed the inhibition of GAS5 or UPF1 silencing on the autophagic cell death of NSCLC. The findings of the study showed that lncRNA GAS5 mediated by FTO could contribute to the autophagic cell death of NSCLC by interacting with UPF1 to reduce BRD4 mRNA stability, suggesting that GAS5 might be a vital therapy target for NSCLC progression.

Selection Signal Analysis Reveals Hainan Yellow Cattle Are Being Selectively Bred for Heat Tolerance

Hainan yellow cattle are indigenous Zebu cattle from southern China known for their tolerance of heat and strong resistance to disease. Generations of adaptation to the tropical environment of southern China and decades of artificial breeding have left identifiable selection signals in their genomic makeup. However, information on the selection signatures of Hainan yellow cattle is scarce. Herein, we compared the genomes of Hainan yellow cattle with those of Zebu, Qinchuan, Nanyang, and Yanbian cattle breeds by the composite likelihood ratio method (CLR), Tajima's D method, and identifying runs of homozygosity (ROHs), each of which may provide evidence of the genes responsible for heat tolerance in Hainan yellow cattle. The results showed that 5210, 1972, and 1290 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were screened by the CLR method, Tajima's D method, and ROH method, respectively. A total of 453, 450, and 325 genes, respectively, were identified near these SNPs. These genes were significantly enriched in 65 Gene Ontology (GO) functional terms and 11 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways (corrected p < 0.05). Five genes-Adenosylhomocysteinase-like 2, DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member C3, heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 1A, CD53 molecule, and zinc finger and BTB domain containing 12-were recognized as candidate genes associated with heat tolerance. After further functional verification of these genes, the research results may benefit the understanding of the genetic mechanism of the heat tolerance in Hainan yellow cattle, which lay the foundation for subsequent studies on heat stress in this breed.

Matched Redox Kinetics on Triazine-Based Carbon Nitride/Ni(OH)2 for Stoichiometric Overall Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion

Mismatched reaction kinetics of CO2 reduction and H2 O oxidation is the main obstacle limiting the overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion. Here, a molten salt strategy is used to construct tubular triazine-based carbon nitride (TCN) with more adsorption sites and stronger activation capability. Ni(OH)2 nanosheets are then grown over the TCN to trigger a proton-coupled electron transfer for a stoichiometric overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion via "3CO2 + 2H2 O = CH4 + 2CO + 3O2 ." TCN reduces the energy barrier of H2 O dissociation to promote H2 O oxidation to O2 and supply sufficient protons to Ni(OH)2 , whereby the CO2 conversion is accelerated due to the enhanced proton-coupled electron transfer process enabled by the sufficient proton supply from TCN. This work highlights the importance of matching the reaction kinetics of CO2 reduction and H2 O oxidation by proton-coupled electron transfer on stoichiometric overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion.

Antibacterial Activity of Modified Sesbania Gum Composite Film and Its Preservation Effect on Wampee Fruit (Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels)

The primary challenges in fruit and vegetable preservation include extending storage duration while preserving sensory quality and nutritional value. In this study, sesbania gum (SG) was oxidized to prepare oxidized sesbania gum (OSG). An OSG/ZnO composite film was subsequently prepared, combining OSG, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO). The preparation technology was determined via a response surface optimization experiment. When the addition amount of nano-ZnO exceeded 0.3 mg/mL, the composite films exhibited an antibacterial rate of over 90% against E. coli and S. aureus. For wampee (Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels) preservation, a OSG/ZnO-0.3 film was directly applied as a coating. The findings demonstrated favorable results in terms of the rate of rotting, soluble solids, and titrable acidity, effectively prolonging wampee fruit storage. This suggests the potential of an OSG composite film with nano-ZnO as a promising fruit packaging material, thereby expanding the application of SG and wampee fruit preservation.

Austin-Type Meroterpenoids from Fungi Reported in the Last Five Decades: A Review

Austin was first isolated as a novel polyisoprenoid mycotoxin from Aspergillus ustus in 1976. Subsequently, some new austin-type meroterpenoids (ATMTs) have been continually found. This review attempts to give a comprehensive summary of progress on the isolation, chemical structural features, biological activities, and fungal biodiversity of 104 novel ATMTs from 5 genera of terrestrial- and marine-derived fungi reported from October 1976 to January 2023. The genera of Penicillium and Aspergillus are the two dominant producers, producing 63.5% and 30.8% of ATMTs, respectively. Moreover, about 26.9% of ATMTs display various pronounced bioactivities, including insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and PTP1B inhibitory activities. The chemical diversity and potential activities of these novel fungal ATMTs are reviewed for a better understanding, and a relevant summary focusing on the source fungi and their taxonomy is provided to shed light on the future development and research of austin-type meroterpenoids.

A New Biocontrol Agent Bacillus velezensis SF334 against Rubber Tree Fungal Leaf Anthracnose and Its Genome Analysis of Versatile Plant Probiotic Traits

Natural rubber is an important national strategic and industrial raw material. The leaf anthracnose of rubber trees caused by the Colletotrichum species is one of the important factors restricting the yields of natural rubber. In this study, we isolated and identified strain Bacillus velezensis SF334, which exhibited significant antagonistic activity against both C. australisinense and C. siamense, the dominant species of Colletotrichum causing rubber tree leaf anthracnose in the Hainan province of China, from a pool of 223 bacterial strains. The cell suspensions of SF334 had a significant prevention effect for the leaf anthracnose of rubber trees, with an efficacy of 79.67% against C. siamense and 71.8% against C. australisinense. We demonstrated that SF334 can lead to the lysis of C. australisinense and C. siamense mycelia by causing mycelial expansion, resulting in mycelial rupture and subsequent death. B. velezensis SF334 also harbors some plant probiotic traits, such as secreting siderophore, protease, cellulase, pectinase, and the auxin of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and it has broad-spectrum antifungal activity against some important plant pathogenic fungi. The genome combined with comparative genomic analyses indicated that SF334 possesses most genes of the central metabolic and gene clusters of secondary metabolites in B. velezensis strains. To our knowledge, this is the first time a Bacillus velezensis strain has been reported as a promising biocontrol agent against the leaf anthracnose of rubber trees caused by C. siamense and C. australisinense. The results suggest that B. velezensis could be a potential candidate agent for the leaf anthracnose of rubber trees.

OsbZIP18 Is a Positive Regulator of Phenylpropanoid and Flavonoid Biosynthesis under UV-B Radiation in Rice

In plants exposed to ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B; 280-315 nm), metabolic responses are activated, which reduce the damage caused by UV-B. Although several metabolites responding to UV-B stress have been identified in plants, the accumulation of these metabolites at different time points under UV-B stress remains largely unclear, and the transcription factors regulating these metabolites have not been well characterized. Here, we explored the changes in metabolites in rice after UV-B treatment for 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h and identified six patterns of metabolic change. We show that the rice transcription factor OsbZIP18 plays an important role in regulating phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis under UV-B stress in rice. Metabolic profiling revealed that the contents of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid were significantly reduced in osbzip18 mutants compared with the wild-type plants (WT) under UV-B stress. Further analysis showed that the expression of many genes involved in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways was lower in osbzip18 mutants than in WT plants, including OsPAL5, OsC4H, Os4CL, OsCHS, OsCHIL2, and OsF3H. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) revealed that OsbZIP18 bind to the promoters of these genes, suggesting that OsbZIP18 function is an important positive regulator of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis under UV-B stress. In conclusion, our findings revealed that OsbZIP18 is an essential regulator for phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis and plays a crucial role in regulating UV-B stress responses in rice.

Antimicrobial resistance survey and whole-genome analysis of nosocomial P. Aeruginosa isolated from eastern Province of China in 2016-2021

BACKGROUND

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major Gram-negative pathogen that can exacerbate lung infections in the patients with cystic fibrosis, which can ultimately lead to death.

METHODS

From 2016 to 2021, 103 strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated from hospitals and 20 antibiotics were used for antimicrobial susceptibility determination. Using next-generation genome sequencing technology, these strains were sequenced and analyzed in terms of serotypes, ST types, and resistance genes for epidemiological investigation.

RESULTS

The age distribution of patients ranged from 10 days to 94 years with a median age of 69 years old. The strains were mainly isolated from sputum (72 strains, 69.9%) and blood (14 strains, 13.6%). The size of these genomes ranged from 6.2 Mb to 7.4 Mb, with a mean value of 6.5 Mb. In addition to eight antibiotics that show inherent resistance to P. aeruginosa, the sensitivity rates for colistin, amikacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, aztreonam, imipenem, cefepime and levofloxacin were 100%, 95.15%, 86.41%, 72.82%, 71.84%, 69.90%, 55.34%, 52.43%, 50.49%, 50.49%, 49.51% and 47.57% respectively, and the carriage rate of MDR strains was 30.69% (31/101). Whole-genome analysis showed that a total of 50 ST types were identified, with ST244 (5/103) and ST1076 (4/103) having a more pronounced distribution advantage. Serotype predictions showed that O6 accounted for 29.13% (30/103), O11 for 23.30% (24/103), O2 for 18.45% (19/103), and O1 for 11.65% (12/103) of the highest proportions. Notably, we found a significantly higher proportion of ExoU in P. aeruginosa strains of serotype O11 than in other cytotoxic exoenzyme positive strains. In addition to this, a total of 47 crpP genes that mediate resistance to fluoroquinolones antibiotics were found distributed on 43 P. aeruginosa strains, and 10 new variants of CrpP were identified, named 1.33, 1.34, 1.35, 1.36, 1.37, 1.38, 1.39, 1.40, 1.41 and 7.1.

CONCLUSIONS

We investigated the antibiotic susceptibility of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and genomically enriched the diversity of P. aeruginosa for its prophylactic and therapeutic value.

ABA functions in low phosphate-induced anthocyanin accumulation through the transcription factor ABI5 in Arabidopsis

KEY MESSAGE

ABI5 functions in ABA-mediated anthocyanin accumulation in plant response to low phosphate. Low phosphate (LP)-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation play an important role in plant adaptive response to phosphate starvation conditions. However, whether and how the stress phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) participates in LP-induced anthocyanin accumulation remain elusive. Here, we report that ABA is required for LP-induced anthocyanin accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Disrupting ABA DEFICIENT2 (ABA2), a key ABA-biosynthetic gene, or BETA-GLUCOSIDASE1 (BG1), a major gene implicated in converting conjugated ABA to active ABA, significantly impairs LP-induced anthocyanin accumulation, as LP-induced expression of the anthocyanin-biosynthetic genes Chalcone Synthase (CHS) is dampened in the aba2 and bg1 mutant. In addition, LP-induced anthocyanin accumulation is defective in the mutants of ABA signaling pathway, including ABA receptors, ABA Insensitive2, and the transcription factors ABA Insensitive5 (ABI5), suggesting a role of ABI5 in ABA-mediated upregulation of anthocyanin-biosynthetic genes in plant response to LP. Indeed, LP-induced expression of CHS is repressed in the abi5-7 mutant but further promoted in the ABI5-overexpressing plants compared to the wild-type. Moreover, ABI5 can bind to and transcriptionally activate CHS, and the defectiveness of LP-induced anthocyanin accumulation in abi5-7 can be restored by overexpressing CHS. Collectively, our findings illustrates that ABI5 functions in ABA-mediated LP-induced anthocyanin accumulation in Arabidopsis.

Interleukin-37 ameliorates periodontitis development by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and modulating M1/M2 macrophage polarization

OBJECTIVE

Our study was designed to explore the role of IL-37 in M1/M2 macrophage polarization imbalance in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease featured by gingival inflammation and alveolar bone resorption. Recent research has revealed that regulating macrophage polarization is a viable method to ameliorate periodontal inflammation. IL-37 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine, which has been reported to inhibit innate and adaptive immunity.

METHODS

For in vitro experiment, mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with 0.1 ng/mL recombinant human IL-37. M1 and M2 polarizations of RAW264.7 cells were induced by 100 ng/mL LPS and 20 ng/mL IL-4, respectively. The expression of M1 (iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6) and M2 (CD206, Arg1, and IL-10) phenotype markers in RAW264.7 cells was detected by RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. For in vivo experiment, experimental periodontitis mouse models were established by sterile silk ligation (5-0) around the bilateral maxillary second molar of mice for 1 week. H&E staining of the maxillary alveolar bone was used to show the resorption of root cementum and dentin. Alveolar bone loss in mouse models was evaluated through micro-CT analysis. The expression of iNOS and CD206 in gingival tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry staining. NLRP3 inflammasome activation was confirmed by western blotting.

RESULTS

IL-37 pretreatment reduced iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells but increased CD206, Arg1, and IL-10 in IL-4-treated RAW264.7 cells. LPS-induced upregulation in NLRP3, GSDMD, cleaved-IL-1β, and cleaved-caspase-1 expression was antagonized by IL-37 treatment. In addition, IL-37 administration ameliorated the resorption of root cementum and dentin in periodontitis mouse models. IL-37 prominently decreased iNOS+ cell population but increased CD206+ cell population in gingival tissues of periodontitis mice. The enhancement in NLRP3, GSDMD, cleaved-IL-1β, and cleaved-caspase-1 expression in the gingival tissues of periodontitis mice was offset by IL-37 administration.

CONCLUSION

IL-37 prevents the progression of periodontitis by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and mediating M1/M2 macrophage polarization.

Effects of substrate roughening on the swimming performance of Schizothorax wangchiachii (Fang, 1936) in the Heishui River: Implications for vertical slot fishway design

Re-establishing the natural connectivity of rivers using fishways may mitigate the unfavourable effects of dam construction on riverine biodiversity and freshwater fish populations. Knowledge of the swimming performance of target species in specific regions is critical for designing fishways with a high passage efficiency. Substrate roughening with river stones of fishways is considered to improve fish swimming capacity by benefiting from reduced-velocity zones with lower energetic costs. However, the effectiveness of rough substrates in energy metabolism is rarely tested. We investigated the effect of substrate roughening on the swimming capacity, oxygen consumption and behaviour of Schizothorax wangchiachii from the Heishui River in a flume-type swimming respirometer. The results showed that substrate roughening improved critical and burst swimming speed by ~12.9% and ~15.0%, respectively, compared to the smooth substrate. Our results demonstrate that increased reduced-velocity zones, lowered metabolic rate and tail-beat frequency support our hypothesis that lower energetic costs improve fish swimming performance in rough substrate compared to smooth treatment. The traversable flow velocity model predicted that maximum traversable flow velocity and maximum ascent distance were higher over rough compared to smooth substrate fishways. Fishway substrate roughening may be a practical approach to improve fish swimming upstream for demersal riverine fish.

S-induced Phase Change Forming In2 O3 /In2 S3 Heterostructure for Photoelectrochemical Glucose Sensor

In the past several decades, Photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing still remains a great challenge to design highly-efficient semiconductor photocatalysts via a facile method. It is of much importance to design and synthesize various novel nanostructured sensing materials for further improving the response performance. Herein, we present an In2 O3 /In2 S3 heterostructure obtained by combining microwave assisted hydrothermal method with S-induced phase change, whose energy band and electronic structure could be adjusted by changing the S content. Combining theoretical calculation and spectroscopic techniques, the introduction of sulfur was proved to produce multifunctional interfaces, inducing the change of phase, oxygen vacancies and band gap, which accelerates the separation of photoexcited carriers and reduces their recombination, improving the electronic injection efficiency around the interface of In2 O3 /In2 S3 . As anticipated, an enhanced glucose response performance with a photocurrent of 0.6 mA cm-2 , a linear range of 0.1-1 mM and a detection limit as low as 14.5 μM has been achieved based on the In2 O3 /In2 S3 heterostructure, which is significant superior over its pure In2 O3 and S-doped In2 O3 counterparts. This efficient interfacial strategy may open a new route to manipulate the electrical structure, and energy band structure regulation of sensing material to improve the performance of photoelectrodes for PEC.

DataColor: unveiling biological data relationships through distinctive color mapping

In the era of rapid advancements in high-throughput omics technologies, the visualization of diverse data types with varying orders of magnitude presents a pressing challenge. To bridge this gap, we introduce DataColor, an all-encompassing software solution meticulously crafted to address this challenge. Our aim is to empower users with the ability to handle a wide array of data types through an assortment of tools, while simultaneously streamlining parameter selection for rapid insights and detailed enhancements. DataColor stands as a robust toolkit, encompassing 23 distinct tools coupled with over 600 parameters. The defining characteristic of this toolkit is its adept utilization of the color spectrum, allowing for the representation of data spanning diverse types and magnitudes. Through the integration of advanced algorithms encompassing data clustering, normalization, squarified layouts, and customizable parameters, DataColor unveils an abundance of insights that lay hidden within the intricate relationships embedded in the data. Whether you find yourself navigating the analysis of expansive datasets or embarking on the quest to visualize intricate patterns, DataColor stands as the comprehensive and potent solution. We extend the availability of DataColor to all users at no cost, accessible through the following link: https://github.com/frankgenome/DataColor.

Capsaicin Enhanced the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy Against Osteosarcoma via a Pro-Death Strategy by Inducing Ferroptosis and Alleviating Hypoxia

Ferroptosis, a novel form of nonapoptotic cell death, can effectively enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT) performance by disrupting intracellular redox homeostasis and promoting apoptosis. However, the extremely hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) together with highly expressed hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) presents a considerable challenge for clinical PDT against osteosarcoma (OS). Hence, an innovative nanoplatform that enhances antitumor PDT by inducing ferroptosis and alleviating hypoxia is fabricated. Capsaicin (CAP) is widely reported to specifically activate transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel, trigger an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which is closely linked with ferroptosis, and participate in decreased oxygen consumption by inhibiting HIF-1α in tumor cells, potentiating PDT antitumor efficiency. Thus, CAP and the photosensitizer IR780 are coencapsulated into highly biocompatible human serum albumin (HSA) to construct a nanoplatform (CI@HSA NPs) for synergistic tumor treatment under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Furthermore, the potential underlying signaling pathways of the combination therapy are investigated. CI@HSA NPs achieve real-time dynamic distribution monitoring and exhibit excellent antitumor efficacy with superior biosafety in vivo. Overall, this work highlights a promising NIR imaging-guided "pro-death" strategy to overcome the limitations of PDT for OS by promoting ferroptosis and alleviating hypoxia, providing inspiration and support for future innovative tumor therapy approaches.

Capsaicin Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting Inflammation and Autophagy Through Regulation of the TRPV1/AKT Pathway

Purpose

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe pulmonary disease characterized by damage to the alveoli and pulmonary blood vessels, leading to severe impairment of lung function. Studies on the effect of capsaicin (8-methyl-N-geranyl-6-nonamide, CAP) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in bronchial epithelial cells transformed with Ad12-SV40 2B (BEAS-2B) are still limited. This study aimed to investigate the effect and specific mechanism by which CAP improves LPS-induced ALI.

Methods

The present study investigated the effect of CAP and the potential underlying mechanisms in LPS-induced ALI in vitro and vivo via RNA sequencing, Western blotting (WB), quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT‒PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TRPV1 inhibitor AMG9810 and the AKT agonist SC79 were used to confirm the protective effect of the TRPV1/AKT axis against ALI. The autophagy agonist rapamycin (Rapa) and the autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and bafilomycin A1 (Baf-A1) were used to clarify the characteristics of LPS-induced autophagy.

Results

Our findings demonstrated that CAP effectively suppressed inflammation and autophagy in LPS-induced ALI, both in vivo and in vitro. This mechanism involves regulation by the TRPV1/AKT signaling pathway. By activating TRPV1, CAP reduces the expression of P-AKT, thereby exerting its anti-inflammatory and inhibitory effects on pro-death autophagy. Furthermore, prior administration of CAP provided substantial protection to mice against ALI induced by LPS, reduced the lung wet/dry ratio, decreased proinflammatory cytokine expression, and downregulated LC3 expression.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results indicate that CAP protects against LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting inflammatory responses and autophagic death through the TRPV1/AKT signaling pathway, presenting a novel strategy for ALI therapy.

Host-pathogen interaction between pitaya and Neoscytalidium dimidiatum reveals the mechanisms of immune response associated with defense regulators and metabolic pathways

BACKGROUND

Understanding how plants and pathogens regulate each other's gene expression during their interactions is key to revealing the mechanisms of disease resistance and controlling the development of pathogens. Despite extensive studies on the molecular and genetic basis of plant immunity against pathogens, the influence of pitaya immunity on N. dimidiatum metabolism to restrict pathogen growth is poorly understood, and how N. dimidiatum breaks through pitaya defenses. In this study, we used the RNA-seq method to assess the expression profiles of pitaya and N. dimidiatum at 4 time periods after interactions to capture the early effects of N. dimidiatum on pitaya processes.

RESULTS

The study defined the establishment of an effective method for analyzing transcriptome interactions between pitaya and N. dimidiatum and to obtain global expression profiles. We identified gene expression clusters in both the host pitaya and the pathogen N. dimidiatum. The analysis showed that numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the recognition and defense of pitaya against N. dimidiatum, as well as N. dimidiatum's evasion of recognition and inhibition of pitaya. The major functional groups identified by GO and KEGG enrichment were responsible for plant and pathogen recognition, phytohormone signaling (such as salicylic acid, abscisic acid). Furthermore, the gene expression of 13 candidate genes involved in phytopathogen recognition, phytohormone receptors, and the plant resistance gene (PG), as well as 7 effector genes of N. dimidiatum, including glycoside hydrolases, pectinase, and putative genes, were validated by qPCR. By focusing on gene expression changes during interactions between pitaya and N. dimidiatum, we were able to observe the infection of N. dimidiatum and its effects on the expression of various defense components and host immune receptors.

CONCLUSION

Our data show that various regulators of the immune response are modified during interactions between pitaya and N. dimidiatum. Furthermore, the activation and repression of these genes are temporally coordinated. These findings provide a framework for better understanding the pathogenicity of N. dimidiatum and its role as an opportunistic pathogen. This offers the potential for a more effective defense against N. dimidiatum.

Experimental study on the effect and mechanism of adipose stem cell-derived exosomes combined with botulinum toxin A on skin trauma in rats

BACKGROUND

Adipose stem cell-derived exosomes (ADSC-EXO) and botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) individually showed a therapeutic effect on skin wound repair.

AIMS

This study investigated their synergistic effect on promoting skin wound healing in vitro and in vivo and the underlying molecular events.

METHODS

ADSCs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to obtain ADSC-EXO by ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation and were confirmed using nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Human skin fibroblasts (HSF) were cultured and treated with or without ADSC-EXO, BTX-A, or their combination. Changes in cell phenotypes and protein expression were analyzed using different in vitro assays, and a rat skin wound model was used to assess their in vivo effects.

RESULTS

The isolated ADSC-EXO from primarily cultured ADSCs had a circular vesicle shape with a 30-180 nm diameter. Treatment of HSF with ADSC-EXO and/or BTX-A significantly accelerated HSF migration in vitro and skin wound healing in a rat model. Moreover, ADSC-EXO plus BTX-A treatment dramatically induced VEGFA expression but reduced COL III and COL I levels in vivo. ADSC-EXO and/or BTX-A treatment significantly upregulated TGF-β3 expression on Day 16 after surgery but downregulated TGF-β1 expression, suggesting that ADSC-EXO plus BTX-A promoted skin wound healing and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS

The ADSC-EXO plus BTX-A treatment demonstrated a synergistic effect on skin wound healing through upregulation of VEGF expression and the TGF-β3/TGF-β1 and COL III/COL I ratio.

OsNAC3 regulates seed germination involving abscisic acid pathway and cell elongation in rice

Seed germination is a critical trait for the success of direct seeding in rice cultivation. However, the underlying mechanism determining seed germination is largely unknown in rice. Here, we report that NAC transcription factor OsNAC3 positively regulates seed germination of rice. OsNAC3 regulates seed germination involving abscisic acid (ABA) pathway and cell elongation. OsNAC3 can directly bind to the promoter of ABA catabolic gene OsABA8ox1 and cell expansion gene OsEXP4, which consequently activates their expressions during seed germination. We also find that the expression of OsEXP4 is reduced by ABA during seed germination in rice. OsNAC3 regulates seed germination by influencing cell elongation of the embryo through directly affecting OsEXP4 expression and indirectly ABA-medicated OsEXP4 expression. The OsNAC3 elite haplotype is useful for genetic improvement of seed germination, and overexpression of OsNAC3 can significantly increase seed germination. We therefore propose that OsNAC3 is a potential target in breeding of rice varieties with high seed germination for direct seeding cultivation.

Diabetes prediction model for unbalanced community follow-up data set based on optimal feature selection and scorecard

Objectives

Diabetes is a metabolic disease and early detection is crucial to ensuring a healthy life for people with prediabetes. Community care plays an important role in public health, but the association between community follow-up of key life characteristics and diabetes risk remains unclear. Based on the method of optimal feature selection and risk scorecard, follow-up data of diabetes patients are modeled to assess diabetes risk.

Methods

We conducted a study on the diabetes risk assessment model and risk scorecard using follow-up data from diabetes patients in Haizhu District, Guangzhou, from 2016 to 2023. The raw data underwent preprocessing and imbalance handling. Subsequently, features relevant to diabetes were selected and optimized to determine the optimal subset of features associated with community follow-up and diabetes risk. We established the diabetes risk assessment model. Furthermore, for a comprehensible and interpretable risk expression, the Weight of Evidence transformation method was applied to features. The transformed features were discretized using the quantile binning method to design the risk scorecard, mapping the model's output to five risk levels.

Results

In constructing the diabetes risk assessment model, the Random Forest classifier achieved the highest accuracy. The risk scorecard obtained an accuracy of 85.16%, precision of 87.30%, recall of 80.26%, and an F1 score of 83.27% on the unbalanced research dataset. The performance loss compared to the diabetes risk assessment model was minimal, suggesting that the binning method used for constructing the diabetes risk scorecard is reasonable, with very low feature information loss.

Conclusion

The methods provided in this article demonstrate effectiveness and reliability in the assessment of diabetes risk. The assessment model and scorecard can be directly applied to community doctors for large-scale risk identification and early warning and can also be used for individual self-examination to reduce risk factor levels.

ALDH2 mitigates LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction, inflammation, and apoptosis through the cGAS/STING pathway

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a severe syndrome of organ dysfunction that often leads to cardiac dysfunction and endangers life. The role of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) in LPS-induced myocardial injury is unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of ALDH2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced myocardial injury and the regulatory mechanism and to identify potential therapeutic strategies for treating this condition.

METHODS

An in vivo model was established by 12 h of LPS (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) stimulation, and an in vitro model was generated by stimulating H9C2 cells with LPS (10 μg/ml) for 12 h. We then used the ALDH2 activator Alda-1 and the ALDH2 inhibitor daidzin to assess their effects on LPS-induced cardiac injury. Cardiac function in mice was evaluated by using cardiac ultrasound. We used various methods to evaluate inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress, including ELISA, flow cytometry, JC-1 staining, Western blotting, and DCFH-DA staining. Additionally, we used a small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knock down cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) to further investigate the relationship between ALDH2 and cGAS in LPS-induced cardiac injury.

RESULTS

LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction and increased the levels of the cardiac injury markers creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in vivo. This change was accompanied by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which exacerbated the oxidative stress response and regulated apoptosis through cleaved caspase-3, BAX, BCL-2. The expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6/IL-1β/TNF-α was also upregulated. However, these effects were reversed by pretreatment with Alda-1 via the inhibition of cGAS/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway. Interestingly, LPS, Alda-1 and daidzin altered the activity of ALDH2 but did not regulate its protein expression. Knocking down cGAS in H9C2 cardiomyocytes alleviated LPS-induced cardiac inflammation, apoptosis, and ROS production and weakened the synergistic effect of daidzin.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that ALDH2 alleviated LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction, inflammation, and apoptosis through the cGAS/STING signaling pathway, thereby protecting against LPS-induced cardiac injury. This study identifies a novel therapeutic approach for treating sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC).

MOF@Au NPs/aptamer fluorescent probe for the selective and sensitive detection of thiamethoxam

The luminescence performance of fluorescent reagents plays a crucial role in fluorescence analysis. Therefore, in this study, a novel bi-ligand Zn-based metal-organic framework, Au nanoparticle (NP) fluorescent material was synthesized using a hydrothermal method with Zn as the metal source. Simultaneously, a DNA aptamer was introduced as a molecular recognition element to develop a Zn-based MOF@Au NPs/DNA aptamer fluorescent probe for the ultra-trace detection of thiamethoxam residues in agricultural products. The probe captured different concentrations of the target molecule, thiamethoxam, through the DNA aptamer, causing a conformational change in the DNA aptamer and bursting the fluorescence of the probe, therefore establishing a fluorometric method for thiamethoxam detection. This method is highly sensitive due to the excellent luminescence properties of the Zn-based MOF@Au NPs, and the DNA aptamer can specifically recognize thiamethoxam, offering high selectivity. The linear range of the method was 2.5-6000 × 10-11  mol L-1 , with a detection limit of 8.33 × 10-12  mol L-1 . This method was applied to the determination of actual samples, such as bananas, and the spiked recovery rate was found to be in the range 84.05-109.07%. Overall, the proposed probe has high sensitivity, high selectivity, and easy operation for the detection of thiamethoxam residues in actual samples.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Sweet Potato Ammonium Transporter (AMT): Influence on Nitrogen Utilization, Storage Root Development and Yield

Ammonium, as a major inorganic source of nitrogen (N) for sweet potato N utilization and growth, is specifically transported by ammonium transporters (AMTs). However, the activities of AMT family members in sweet potatoes have not been analyzed. In the present study, the sweet potato cultivar 'Pushu 32', which is planted in a large area in China, was used in field experiments at the Agricultural Base of Hainan University (20°06' N, 110°33' E) in 2021, and Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University (18°30' N, 109°60' E) in 2022. Four N levels were tested: 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha-1. The results are as follows. Twelve IbAMT genes were identified in the sweet potato genome, which were classified into three distinct subgroups based on phylogeny; the same subgroup genes had similar properties and structures. IbAMT1.3 and IbAMT1.5 were mostly expressed in the storage roots under N deficiency. Compared with the NN and HN groups, IbAMT1.3 and IbAMT1.5 expressions, N content in storage roots, N uptake efficiency at the canopy closure, N fertilization contribution rates, number of storage roots per plant, storage root weight, and yield were all increased in the MN group. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the expressions of IbAMT1.3 and IbAMT1.5 with N content in the storage roots of sweet potato. In a word, IbAMT1.3 and IbAMT1.5 may regulate N utilization, affect the development of the storage root. and determine the yield of sweet potato. The results provide valuable insights into the AMT gene family's role in the use of N and effects on storage root development and yield in sweet potatoes.

Active pathways of anaerobic methane oxidization in deep-sea cold seeps of the South China Sea

IMPORTANCE

Cold seeps occur in continental margins worldwide and are deep-sea oases. Anaerobic oxidation of methane is an important microbial process in the cold seeps and plays an important role in regulating methane content. This study elucidates the diversity and potential activities of major microbial groups in dependent anaerobic methane oxidation and sulfate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation processes and provides direct evidence for the occurrence of nitrate-/nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (Nr-/N-DAMO) as a previously overlooked microbial methane sink in the hydrate-bearing sediments of the South China Sea. This study provides direct evidence for occurrence of Nr-/N-DAMO as an important methane sink in the deep-sea cold seeps.

CYP4V2 rs56413992 C > T was associated with the risk of coronary heart disease in the Chinese Han population: a case-control study

PURPOSE

The research aimed to detect the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP4V2 gene and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.

METHODS

This case-control study included 487 CHD subjects and 487 healthy individuals. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the connection between five SNPs in CYP4V2 (rs1398007, rs13146272, rs3736455, rs1053094, and rs56413992) and CHD risk, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the connection.

RESULTS

As a result, we found that rs56413992 T allele (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.09-1.70, p = 0.007) and CT genotype (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.06-1.83, p = 0.017) were significantly associated with an increased risk of CHD in the overall analysis. Precisely, rs56413992 was linked to an elevated risk of CHD in people aged > 60, males, smokers and drinkers. The study also indicated that rs1398007 was linked to an increased CHD risk in drinkers. In addition, rs1053094 was correlated with a decreased risk of CHD complicated with diabetes mellitus (DM), and rs1398007 was correlated with a decreased risk of CHD complicated with hypertension (HTN).

CONCLUSION

This study was the first to experimentally demonstrate that CYP4V2 rs56413992 was associated with the risk of CHD, which will provide a certain reference for revealing the pathogenesis of CHD.

Allosteric inhibition of myosin by phenamacril: a synergistic mechanism revealed by computational and experimental approaches

BACKGROUND

Myosin plays a crucial role in cellular processes, while its dysfunction can lead to organismal malfunction. Phenamacril (PHA), a highly species-specific and non-competitive inhibitor of myosin I (FgMyoI) from Fusarium graminearum, has been identified as an effective fungicide for controlling plant diseases caused by partial Fusarium pathogens, such as wheat scab and rice bakanae. However, the molecular basis of its action is still unclear.

RESULTS

This study used multiple computational approaches first to elucidate the allosteric inhibition mechanism of FgMyoI by PHA at the atomistic level. The results indicated the increase of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding affinity upon PHA binding, which might impede the release of hydrolysis products. Furthermore, simulations revealed a broadened outer cleft and a significantly more flexible interface for actin binding, accompanied by a decrease in signaling transduction from the catalytic center to the actin-binding interface. These various effects might work together to disrupt the actomyosin cycle and hinder the ability of motor to generate force. Our experimental results further confirmed that PHA reduces the enzymatic activity of myosin and its binding with actin.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, our findings demonstrated that PHA might suppress the function of myosin through a synergistic mechanism, providing new insights into myosin allostery and offering new avenues for drug/fungicide discovery targeting myosin. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of vonoprazan-based with rabeprazole-based dual therapy for treatment-naive patients of Helicobacter pylori infection: a prospective, multi-center, randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

The application of vonoprazan significantly improved the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This study aimed to compare efficacy and safety of the 10-day vonoprazan-amoxicillin (VA) and 14-day rabeprazole-amoxicillin (RA) dual therapy, and to provide a more efficient, safer, and convenient dual regimen for H. pylori infection.

METHODS

This was a prospective, open-label, multi-center, randomized controlled study of treatment-naive patients with H. pylori infection. The participants were randomly assigned to the 10-day VA group with vonoprazan 20 mg Bid plus amoxicillin 1 g Tid or the 14-day RA group with rabeprazole 10 mg Tid plus amoxicillin 1 g Tid. The effectiveness, the adverse events, and the patient compliance of the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 690 patients were enrolled. The eradication rates of 10-day VA and 14-day RA dual therapy were 89.3% and 84.9% in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (P = 0.088); 90.6% and 85.9% by modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis (P = 0.059); 91.4% and 86.6% by per-protocol (PP) analysis (P = 0.047). Non-inferiority was confirmed between the two groups (all P < 0.001). No discernible differences were observed in adverse effects and compliance between groups. Poor compliance reduced the eradication efficacy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The 10-day VA dual therapy was non-inferior to the 14-day RA dual therapy for H. pylori treatment-naive patients, which should be given priority in the first-line treatment. The application of vonoprazan reduced treatment course and antibiotic use. Patients' adherence was crucial for the success of eradication.