Enhancing soil petrochemical contaminant remediation through nutrient addition and exogenous bacterial introduction.

Biostimulation (providing favorable environmental conditions for microbial growth) and bioaugmentation (introducing exogenous microorganisms) are effective approaches in the bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil. However, uncertainty remains in the effectiveness of these two approaches in practical application. In this study, we constructed mesocosms using petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. We compared the effects of adding nutrients, introducing exogenous bacterial degraders, and their combination on remediating petroleum contamination in the soil. Adding nutrients more effectively accelerated total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation than other treatments in the initial 60 days' incubation. Despite both approaches stimulating bacterial richness, the community turnover caused by nutrient addition was gentler than bacterial degrader introduction. As TPH concentrations decreased, we observed a succession in microbial communities characterized by a decline in copiotrophic, fast-growing bacterial r-strategists with high rRNA operon (rrn) copy numbers. Ecological network analysis indicated that both nutrient addition and bacterial degrader introduction enhanced the complexity and stability of bacterial networks. Compared to the other treatment, the bacterial network with nutrient addition had more keystone species and a higher proportion of negative associations, factors that may enhance microbial community stability. Our study demonstrated that nutrient addition effectively regulates community succession and ecological interaction to accelerate the soil TPH degradation.

Potential and application of abortive transcripts as a novel molecular marker of cancers.

Abortive transcript (AT) is a 2-19 nt long non-coding RNA that is produced in the abortive initiation stage. Abortive initiation was found to be closely related to RNA polymerase through in vitro experiments. Therefore, the distribution of AT length and the scale of abortive initiation are correlated to the promoter, discriminator, and transcription initiation sequence, and can be affected by transcription elongation factors. AT plays an important role in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Here we summarize the discovery of AT, the factors responsible for AT formation, the detection methods and biological functions of AT, to provide new clues for finding potential targets in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

Characterization and identification of major flavonoids of bamboo leaf extract by HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS.

Bamboo leaf extract (BLE) is a pale brown powder extracted from bamboo leaves, and it is listed in the Chinese Standard GB-2760 as a legal and safe food additive. The present study aims to identify and characterize the major flavonoids in BLE. The identification of major flavonoids was carried out using ultra performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). A total of 31 flavonoid compounds were identified and tentatively characterized base on reference standards and MS dissociation mechanisms. HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS can serve as an important analytical platform to identification structure of bamboo leaf flavonoids (BLF).

Confinement of ZIF-67-derived N, Co-doped C@Si on a 2D MXene for enhanced lithium storage.

A heterostructure composed of ZIF-67-derived nitrogen and cobalt-doped carbon enfolded silicon (C@Si) nanoparticles anchored on 2D MXene layers was constructed for boosting the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The heterostructure anode demonstrated a high initial discharge capacity of 3021 mA h g-1 at 0.2 A g-1, retaining outstanding cycling stability with a reversible capacity of 520 mA h g-1 at 2000 mA g-1, and the coulombic efficiency remained above 97% after 500 cycles. The introduced Ti3C2 nanosheets and the cobalt-doped carbon can not only contribute to the interfacial transfer of Li+ and electrons but also buffer the volume expansion of Si.

Checkpoint Kinase 1 Stimulates Endogenous Cardiomyocyte Renewal and Cardiac Repair by Binding to Pyruvate Kinase Isoform M2 C-Domain and Activating Cardiac Metabolic Reprogramming in a Porcine Model of Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

BACKGROUND: The regenerative capacity of the adult mammalian hearts is limited. Numerous studies have explored mechanisms of adult cardiomyocyte cell-cycle withdrawal. This translational study evaluated the effects and underlying mechanism of rhCHK1 (recombinant human checkpoint kinase 1) on the survival and proliferation of cardiomyocyte and myocardial repair after ischemia/reperfusion injury in swine. METHODS AND RESULTS: Intramyocardial injection of rhCHK1 protein (1 mg/kg) encapsulated in hydrogel stimulated cardiomyocyte proliferation and reduced cardiac inflammation response at 3 days after ischemia/reperfusion injury, improved cardiac function and attenuated ventricular remodeling, and reduced the infarct area at 28 days after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Mechanistically, multiomics sequencing analysis demonstrated enrichment of glycolysis and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathways after rhCHK1 treatment. Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments and protein docking prediction showed that CHK1 (checkpoint kinase 1) directly bound to and activated the Serine 37 (S37) and Tyrosine 105 (Y105) sites of PKM2 (pyruvate kinase isoform M2) to promote metabolic reprogramming. We further constructed plasmids that knocked out different CHK1 and PKM2 amino acid domains and transfected them into Human Embryonic Kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells for CO-IP experiments. Results showed that the 1-265 domain of CHK1 directly binds to the 157-400 amino acids of PKM2. Furthermore, hiPSC-CM (human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocyte) in vitro and in vivo experiments both demonstrated that CHK1 stimulated cardiomyocytes renewal and cardiac repair by activating PKM2 C-domain-mediated cardiac metabolic reprogramming. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the 1-265 amino acid domain of CHK1 binds to the 157-400 domain of PKM2 and activates PKM2-mediated metabolic reprogramming to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and myocardial repair after ischemia/reperfusion injury in adult pigs.

BNT12, a novel hybrid peptide of opioid and neurotensin pharmacophores, produces potent central antinociception with limited side effects.

The development of multitarget opioid drugs has emerged as an attractive approach for innovative pain management with reduced side effects. In the present study, a novel hybrid peptide BNT12 containing the opioid and neurotensin (NT)-like fragments was synthesized and pharmacologically characterized. In acute radiant heat paw withdrawal test, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of BNT12 produced potent antinociception in mice. The central antinociceptive activity of BNT12 was mainly mediated by µ-, δ-opioid receptor, neurotensin receptor type 1 (NTSR1) and 2 (NTSR2), supporting a multifunctional agonism of BNT12 in the functional assays. BNT12 also exhibited significant antinociceptive effects in spared nerve injury (SNI)-neuropathic pain, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain, acetic acid-induced visceral and formalin-induced pain after i.c.v. administration. Furthermore, BNT12 exhibited substantial reduction of acute antinociceptive tolerance, shifted the dose-response curve to the right by only 1.3-fold. It is noteworthy that BNT12 showed insignificant chronic antinociceptive tolerance at the supraspinal level. In addition, BNT12 exhibited reduced or no opioid-like side effects on conditioned place preference (CPP) response, naloxone-precipitated withdrawal response, acute hyperlocomotion, motor coordination, gastrointestinal transit, and cardiovascular responses. The present investigation demonstrated that the novel hybrid peptide BNT12 might serve as a promising analgesic candidate with limited opioid-like side effects.

The Microbiome Protocols eBook initiative: Building a bridge to microbiome research.

The Microbiome Protocols eBook (MPB) serves as a crucial bridge, filling gaps in microbiome protocols for both wet experiments and data analysis. The first edition, launched in 2020, featured 152 meticulously curated protocols, garnering widespread acclaim. We now extend a sincere invitation to researchers to participate in the upcoming 2nd version of MPB, contributing their valuable protocols to advance microbiome research.

Comparison of 1 Versus 2 Doses of Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine in 3-8-Year-Old Children with Different Immunological States - Jiangsu Province, China, 2021.

What is already known about this topic?: The quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) provides protection against a broader range of influenza strains by including strains of influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria. What is added by this report?: This study aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of administering a single dose compared to two doses of QIV in children, taking into consideration their previous influenza vaccination history. What are the implications for public health practice?: This study provides evidence supporting the use of a single dose of the QIV in children aged 3-8 years who have previously received two or more doses of influenza vaccine. However, children who have not been previously vaccinated with influenza vaccine should still adhere to the recommended schedule of receiving two doses.

Squamous cell carcinoma of ear and temporal bone: A retrospective study on clinicopathological predictors.

BACKGROUND: Ear and temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (ETBSCC) is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor with minimal clinicopathological studies. The object of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the predictive effect of clinicopathological variables on the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of ETBSCC patients in a single tertiary medical center in Tianjin, China. METHODS: A cohort of 44 patients with diagnosed ETBSCC from December 2012 to August 2022 were retrospectively studied. Univariate and multivariate analysis were, respectively, performed for the assessment of clinicopathological predictors, including sex, age, history of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), lesion side, diameter, the choice of surgical approach, parotidectomy, neck dissection, adjuvant therapies, T stage, lymph node metastasis, tumor grade, margin, perineural invasion (PNI), and Ki-67 index. RESULTS: Seventeen females and 27 males were included, with the mean age of 65 years old, ranging from 36 to 89 years. The 5-year OS rate was 43% (mean 51 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 39-64). Significant prediction of a worse prognosis for 5-year OS rate was observed under univariate analysis for advanced T stage, positive margin, identified PNI, and higher Ki-67 index, respectively. Advanced T stage was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor strongly affecting 5-year OS rate among this cohort of patients using a multivariate cox proportional hazard model. CONCLUSION: We found that clinicopathological parameters, especially postoperative pathological parameters, play a critical role in predicting the prognosis of ETBSCC patients.

Structure optimization of Cmpd-15 as negative allosteric modulators for the ß2-adrenergic receptor.

19 derivatives of 1-benzyl-3-arylpyrazole-5-carboxamides (H1-H19) and 5 derivatives of 1-benzyl-5-arylpyrazole-3-carboxamides (J1-J5) have been designed and synthesized as potential negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) for the ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2AR). The new pyrazole derivatives were screened on the classic G-protein dependent signaling pathway at ß2AR. The majority of 1-benzyl-3-aryl-pyrazole-5-carboxamide derivatives show more potent allosteric antagonistic activity against ß2AR than Cmpd-15, the first reported ß2AR NAM. However, the 1-benzyl-5-arylpyrazole-3-carboxamide derivatives exhibit very poor or even no allosteric antagonistic activity for ß2AR. Furthermore, the active pyrazole derivatives have relative better drug-like profiles than Cmpd-15. Taken together, we discovered a series of derivatives of 1-benzyl-3-arylpyrazole-5-carboxamides as a novel scaffold of ß2AR NAM.

Dissecting the abilities of murine Siglecs to interact with gangliosides.

Siglecs are cell surface receptors whose functions are tied to the binding of their sialoglycan ligands. Recently, we developed an optimized liposome formulation and used it to investigate the binding of human Siglecs (hSiglec) against a panel of gangliosides. Animal models, more specifically murine models, are used to understand human biology, however, species-specific differences can complicate the interpretation of the results. Herein, we used our optimized liposome formulation to dissect the interactions between murine Siglecs (mSiglecs) and gangliosides to assess the appropriateness of mSiglecs as a proxy to better understand the biological roles of hSiglec-ganglioside interactions. Using our optimized liposome formulation, we found that ganglioside binding is generally conserved between mice and humans with mSiglec-1, -E, -F, and -15 binding multiple gangliosides like their human counterparts. However, in contrast to the hSiglecs, we observed little to no binding between the mSiglecs and ganglioside GM1a. Detailed analysis of mSiglec-1 interacting with GM1a and its structural isomer, GM1b, suggests that mSiglec-1 preferentially binds α2-3-linked sialic acids presented from the terminal galactose residue. The ability of mSiglecs to interact or not interact with gangliosides, particularly GM1a, has implications for using mice to study neurodegenerative diseases, infections, and cancer, where interactions between Siglecs and glycolipids have been proposed to modulate these human diseases.

Warming effects on grassland soil microbial communities are amplified in cool months.

Global warming modulates soil respiration (RS) via microbial decomposition, which is seasonally dependent. Yet, the magnitude and direction of this modulation remain unclear, partly owing to the lack of knowledge on how microorganisms respond to seasonal changes. Here, we investigated the temporal dynamics of soil microbial communities over 12 consecutive months under experimental warming in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The interplay between warming and time altered (P < 0.05) the taxonomic and functional compositions of microbial communities. During the cool months (January to February and October to December), warming induced a soil microbiome with a higher genomic potential for carbon decomposition, community-level ribosomal RNA operon (rrn) copy numbers, and microbial metabolic quotients, suggesting that warming stimulated fast-growing microorganisms that enhanced carbon decomposition. Modeling analyses further showed that warming reduced the temperature sensitivity of microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) by 28.7% when monthly average temperature was low, resulting in lower microbial CUE and higher heterotrophic respiration (Rh) potentials. Structural equation modeling showed that warming modulated both Rh and RS directly by altering soil temperature and indirectly by influencing microbial community traits, soil moisture, nitrate content, soil pH, and gross primary productivity. The modulation of Rh by warming was more pronounced in cooler months compared to warmer ones. Together, our findings reveal distinct warming-induced effects on microbial functional traits in cool months, challenging the norm of soil sampling only in the peak growing season, and advancing our mechanistic understanding of the seasonal pattern of RS and Rh sensitivity to warming.

Microbial diversity and metabolic pathways linked to benzene degradation in petrochemical-polluted groundwater.

The rapid advance in shotgun metagenome sequencing has enabled us to identify uncultivated functional microorganisms in polluted environments. While aerobic petrochemical-degrading pathways have been extensively studied, the anaerobic mechanisms remain less explored. Here, we conducted a study at a petrochemical-polluted groundwater site in Henan Province, Central China. A total of twelve groundwater monitoring wells were installed to collect groundwater samples. Benzene appeared to be the predominant pollutant, detected in 10 out of 12 samples, with concentrations ranging from 1.4 µg/L to 5,280 µg/L. Due to the low aquifer permeability, pollutant migration occurred slowly, resulting in relatively low benzene concentrations downstream within the heavily polluted area. Deep metagenome sequencing revealed Proteobacteria as the dominant phylum, accounting for over 63 % of total abundances. Microbial α-diversity was low in heavily polluted samples, with community compositions substantially differing from those in lightly polluted samples. dmpK encoding the phenol/toluene 2-monooxygenase was detected across all samples, while the dioxygenase bedC1 was not detected, suggesting that aerobic benzene degradation might occur through monooxygenation. Sequence assembly and binning yielded 350 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), with 30 MAGs harboring functional genes associated with aerobic or anaerobic benzene degradation. About 80 % of MAGs harboring functional genes associated with anaerobic benzene degradation remained taxonomically unclassified at the genus level, suggesting that our current database coverage of anaerobic benzene-degrading microorganisms is very limited. Furthermore, two genes integral to anaerobic benzene metabolism, i.e, benzoyl-CoA reductase (bamB) and glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (acd), were not annotated by metagenome functional analyses but were identified within the MAGs, signifying the importance of integrating both contig-based and MAG-based approaches. Together, our efforts of functional annotation and metagenome binning generate a robust blueprint of microbial functional potentials in petrochemical-polluted groundwater, which is crucial for designing proficient bioremediation strategies.

Low Carbon Loss from Long-Term Manure-Applied Soil during Abrupt Warming Is Realized through Soil and Microbiome Interplay.

Manure application is a global approach for enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, the response of SOC decomposition in manure-applied soil to abrupt warming, often occurring during diurnal temperature fluctuations, remains poorly understood. We examined the effects of long-term (23 years) continuous application of manure on SOC chemical composition, soil respiration, and microbial communities under temperature shifts (15 vs 25 °C) in the presence of plant residues. Compared to soil without fertilizer, manure application reduced SOC recalcitrance indexes (i.e., aliphaticity and aromaticity) by 17.45 and 21.77%, and also reduced temperature sensitivity (Q10) of native SOC decomposition, plant residue decomposition, and priming effect by 12.98, 15.98, and 52.83%, respectively. The relative abundances of warm-stimulated chemoheterotrophic bacteria and fungi were lower in the manure-applied soil, whereas those of chemoautotrophic Thaumarchaeota were higher. In addition, the microbial network of the manure-applied soil was more interconnected, with more negative connections with the warm-stimulated taxa than soils without fertilizer or with chemical fertilizer applied. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the reduced loss of SOC to abrupt warming by manure application arises from C chemistry modification, less warm-stimulated microorganisms, a more complex microbial community, and the higher CO2 intercepting capability by Thaumarchaeota.

Visualization of the Infection and Colonization Process of Dendrobium officinale Using a Green Fluorescent Protein-Tagged Isolate of Fusarium oxysporum.

Dendrobium officinale soft rot is a widespread and destructive disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum that can seriously affect its yield and quality. To better understand the fungal infection and colonization, we successfully created an F. oxysporum labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) method. Transformants had varying fluorescence intensities, but their pathogenicity did not differ from that of the wild type (WT). Fluorescence microscopy revealed that F. oxysporum primarily entered the aboveground portion of D. officinale through the leaf margin, stomata, or by direct penetration of leaf surface. It then colonized the mesophyll and spreads along its vascular bundles. After 14 d of culture, D. officinale exhibited typical symptoms of decay and wilting, accompanied by a pronounced fluorescence signal in the affected area. The initial colonization of F. oxysporum in the subterranean region primarily involved attachment to the root hair and epidermis, which progressed to the medullary vascular bundle. At 14 days post inoculation (dpi), the root vascular bundles of D. officinale exhibited significant colonization by F. oxysporum. Macroconidia were also observed in black rot D. officinale tissue. In particular, the entire root was surrounded by a significant number of chlamydospore-producing F. oxysporum mycelia at 28 dpi. This approach allowed the visualization of the complete infection process of F. oxysporum and provided a theoretical foundation for the development of field control strategies.

Synthesis of sinomenine derivatives with potential anti-leukemia activity.

In recent years, with sinomenine hydrochloride as the main ingredient, Qingfengteng had been formulated as various dosage forms for clinical treatment. Subsequent findings confirmed a variety of biological roles for sinomenine. Here, 15 H2S-donating sinomenine derivatives were synthesized. Target hybrids a11 displayed substantial cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines, particularly against K562 cells, with an IC50 value of 1.36 µM. In-depth studies demonstrated that a11 arrested cell cycle at G1 phase, induced apoptosis via both morphological changes in nucleus and membrane potential collapse in mitochondria. These results indicated a11 exerted an antiproliferative effect through apoptosis induction via mitochondrial pathway.

Intraepithelial mast cells drive gasdermin C-mediated type 2 immunity.

A specialized population of mast cells residing within epithelial layers, currently known as intraepithelial mast cells (IEMCs), was originally observed over a century ago, yet their physiological functions have remained enigmatic. In this study, we unveil an unexpected and crucial role of IEMCs in driving gasdermin C-mediated type 2 immunity. During helminth infection, αEß7 integrin-positive IEMCs engaged in extensive intercellular crosstalk with neighboring intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Through the action of IEMC-derived proteases, gasdermin C proteins intrinsic to the epithelial cells underwent cleavage, leading to the release of a critical type 2 cytokine, interleukin-33 (IL-33). Notably, mast cell deficiency abolished the gasdermin C-mediated immune cascade initiated by epithelium. These findings shed light on the functions of IEMCs, uncover a previously unrecognized phase of type 2 immunity involving mast cell-epithelial cell crosstalk, and advance our understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying gasdermin C activation.

Study of the relationship between pressure and sensitivity of energetic materials based on first-principles calculation.

CONTEXT: In order to study the relationship between the sensitivity and pressure of energetic materials, six kinds of energetic materials were selected as the research object. The crystal structure, electronic, and phonon properties under hydrostatic pressure of 0 ~ 45 GPa were calculated by first principles. The calculation results show that the lattice parameters and band gap values of these six energetic materials decrease with the increase of pressure. The peak of the density of states decreases and moves to the low energy direction, and the electrons become more active. Meanwhile, the effect of pressure on the sensitivity of the energetic materials is analyzed based on the multi-phonon up-pumping theory. The number of doorway modes and integral of projected phonon density of states under high pressure is calculated. The results show that both of them increase with the increase of pressure. And the smaller the value of the band gap, the larger the number of doorway modes and integral of projected phonon density of states, and the more sensitive the energetic material is. METHODS: All calculations are performed using the Materials Studio software based on density functional theory. The Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functional of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) is used to calculate the exchange correlation function, and the Grimme dispersion correction method is used to deal with the weak intermolecular interaction. The structure of the compound was optimized by BFGS algorithm. The linear response is used to calculate the phonon properties of energetic materials. The plane wave cutoff energy was set to 830 eV. The K-point grids of TATB, FOX-7, TNX, RDX, TNT, and HMX were chosen as 2 × 2 × 2, 2 × 2 × 1, 2 × 1 × 1, 1 × 1 × 1, 1 × 2 × 1, and 2 × 1 × 2.