Faecal contamination in China: Trends, sources, and driving mechanisms.

Faecal contamination of surface waters is a global public health and economic burden. Here, we constructed a 30-year dataset to analyse the spatiotemporal trends and driving mechanisms of faecal coliforms (FCs) in China. We found that previous national policies to reduce water pollution have significantly improved the quality of surface water and, correspondingly, faecal contamination. However, the downward trend in FC levels has been more gradual than that for physico-chemical pollutants, and this trend may be exaggerated. Our results show that the driving mechanisms of faecal pollution were seasonal and complex. During the dry season, forests and grasslands were the source landscapes that exacerbated faecal pollution; during the wet season, urbanisation dominated, highlighting China's poorly designed drainage systems. Our projections revealed that faecal contamination will continue to worsen from 2022 to 2035, highlighting the need for pollution control. In the future, faecal indicators should be included in routine monitoring, evaluation, and assessment at the national level. Moreover, coordinated design of forest, grassland, and wetland landscapes is recommended for faecal pollution control at the regional level, whereas stormwater-related source control needs to be further strengthened at the urban level.

Room Temperature Phosphorescent Nanofiber Membranes by Bio-Fermentation.

Stimuli-responsive materials exhibiting exceptional room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) hold promise for emerging technologies. However, constructing such systems in a sustainable, scalable, and processable manner remains challenging. This work reports a bio-inspired strategy to develop RTP nanofiber materials using bacterial cellulose (BC) via bio-fermentation. The green fabrication process, high biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and abundant hydroxyl groups make BC an ideal biopolymer for constructing durable and stimuli-responsive RTP materials. Remarkable RTP performance is observed with long lifetimes of up to 1636.79 ms at room temperature. Moreover, moisture can repeatedly quench and activate phosphorescence in a dynamic and tunable fashion by disrupting cellulose rigidity and permeability. With capabilities for repeatable moisture-sensitive phosphorescence, these materials are highly suitable for applications such as anti-counterfeiting and information encryption. This pioneering bio-derived approach provides a reliable and sustainable blueprint for constructing dynamic, scalable, and processable RTP materials beyond synthetic polymers.

Aggregation promotes charge separation in fullerene-indacenodithiophene dyad.

Fast photoinduced charge separation (CS) and long-lived charge-separated state (CSS) in small-molecules facilitate light-energy conversion, while simultaneous attainment of both remains challenging. Here we accomplish this through aggregation based on fullerene-indacenodithiophene dyads. Transient absorption spectroscopy reveals that, compared to solution, the CS time in aggregates is accelerated from 41.5 ps to 0.4 ps, and the CSS lifetime is prolonged from 311.4 ps to 40 µs, indicating that aggregation concomitantly promotes fast CS and long-lived CSS. Fast CS arises from the hot charge-transfer states dissociation, opening up additional resonant channels to free carriers (FCs); subsequently, charge recombination into intramolecular triplet CSS becomes favorable mediated by spin-uncorrelated FCs. Different from fullerene/indacenodithiophene blends, the unique CS mechanism in dyad aggregates reduces the long-lived CSS dependence on molecular order, resulting in a CSS lifetime 200 times longer than blends. This endows the dyad aggregates to exhibit both photoelectronic switch properties and superior photocatalytic capabilities.

Deep recognition of rice disease images: how many training samples do we really need?

BACKGROUND: With the rapid development of deep learning, the recognition of rice disease images using deep neural networks has become a hot research topic. However, most previous studies only focus on the modification of deep learning models, while lacking research to systematically and scientifically explore the impact of different data sizes on the image recognition task for rice diseases. In this study, a functional model was developed to predict the relationship between the size of dataset and the accuracy rate of model recognition. RESULTS: Training VGG16 deep learning models with different quantities of images of rice blast-diseased leaves and healthy rice leaves, it was found that the test accuracy of the resulting models could be well fitted with an exponential model (A = 0.9965 - e(-0.0603×I50-1.6693)). Experimental results showed that with an increase of image quantity, the recognition accuracy of deep learning models would show a rapid increase at first. Yet when the image quantity increases beyond a certain threshold, the accuracy of image classification would not improve much, and the marginal benefit would be reduced. This trend remained similar when the composition of the dataset was changed, no matter whether (i) the disease class was changed, (ii) the number of classes was increased or (iii) the image data were augmented. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided a scientific basis for the impact of data size on the accuracy of rice disease image recognition, and may also serve as a reference for researchers for database construction. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Single-pixel Fresnel incoherent correlation holography compressed imaging using a Trumpet network.

Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH) can achieve high-precision and non-scanning 3D imaging. However, as a holographic imaging technology, the huge bandwidth requirements and the amount of holographic data transmitted have always been one of the important factors limiting its application. In addition, the hardware cost of pixel array-based CCD or CMOS imaging is very high under high resolution or specific wavelength conditions. Accordingly, a single-pixel Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (SP-FINCH) compressed imaging method is proposed, which replaces pixel array detector with single-pixel detector and designs a Trumpet network to achieve low-cost and high-resolution imaging. Firstly, a modified FINCH imaging system is constructed and data acquisition is carried out using a single-pixel detector. Secondly, a Trumpet network is constructed to directly map the relationship between one-dimensional sampled data and two-dimensional image in an end-to-end manner. Moreover, by comparing the reconstructed images using neural network with that using commonly used single-pixel reconstruction methods, the results indicate that the proposed SP-FINCH compressed imaging method can significantly improve the quality of image reconstruction at lower sampling rate and achieve imaging without phase-shifting operation. The proposed method has been shown to be feasible and advantageous through numerical simulations and optical experiment results.

Personalized SO2 Prodrug for pH-Triggered Gas Enhancement in Anti-Tumor Radio-Immunotherapy.

The inhibition of the immune response in the tumor microenvironment by therapy regimens can impede the eradication of tumors, potentially resulting in tumor metastasis. As a non-invasive therapeutic method, radiotherapy is utilized for tumor ablation. In this study, we aimed to improve the therapeutic impact of radiotherapy and trigger an immune response by formulating a benzothiazole sulfinate (BTS)-loaded fusion liposome (BFL) nanoplatform, which was then combined with radiotherapy for anti-cancer treatment. The platelet cell membrane, equipped with distinctive surface receptors, enables BFL to effectively target tumors while evading the immune system and adhering to tumor cells. This facilitates BFL's engulfment by cancer cells, subsequently releasing BTS within them. Following the release, the BTS produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) for gas therapy, initiating the oxidation of intracellular glutathione (GSH). This process demonstrates efficacy in repairing damage post-radiotherapy, thereby achieving effective radiosensitization. It was revealed that an immune response was triggered following the enhanced radiosensitization facilitated by BFL. This approach facilitated the maturation of dendritic cell (DC) within lymph nodes, leading to an increase in the proportion of T cells in distant tumors. This resulted in significant eradication of primary tumors and inhibition of growth in distant tumors. In summary, the integration of personalized BFL with radiotherapy shows potential in enhancing both tumor immune response and the elimination of tumors, including metastasis.

Surface Reconstruction of Silicone-Based Amphiphilic Polymers for Mitigating Marine Biofouling.

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) coatings are considered to be environmentally friendly antifouling coatings. However, the presence of hydrophobic surfaces can enhance the adhesion rate of proteins, bacteria and microalgae, posing a challenge for biofouling removal. In this study, hydrophilic polymer chains were synthesised from methyl methacrylate (MMA), Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEG-MA) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TPMA). The crosslinking reaction between TPMA and PDMS results in the formation of a silicone-based amphiphilic co-network with surface reconstruction properties. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains are covalently bonded by condensation reactions, while the hydrophilic polymers migrate under water to induce surface reconstruction and form hydrogen bonds with water molecules to form a dense hydrated layer. This design effectively mitigates the adhesion of proteins, bacteria, algae and other marine organisms to the coating. The antifouling performance of the coatings was evaluated by assessing their adhesion rates to proteins (BSA-FITC), bacteria (B. subtilis and P. ruthenica) and algae (P. tricornutum). The results show that the amphiphilic co-network coating (e.g., P-AM-15) exhibits excellent antifouling properties against protein, bacterial and microalgal fouling. Furthermore, an overall assessment of its antifouling performance and stability was conducted in the East China Sea from 16 May to 12 September 2023, which showed that this silicon-based amphiphilic co-network coating remained intact with almost no marine organisms adhering to it. This study provides a novel approach for the development of high-performance silicone-based antifouling coatings.

Observation of Agonistic Behavior in Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Transcriptome Analysis.

Agonistic behavior has been identified as a limiting factor in the development of intensive L. vannamei aquaculture. However, the characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying agonistic behavior in L. vannamei remain unclear. In this study, we quantified agonistic behavior through a behavioral observation system and generated a comprehensive database of eyestalk and brain ganglion tissues obtained from both aggressive and nonaggressive L. vannamei employing transcriptome analysis. The results showed that there were nine behavior patterns in L. vannamei which were correlated, and the fighting followed a specific process. Transcriptome analysis revealed 5083 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in eyestalk and 1239 DEGs in brain ganglion between aggressive and nonaggressive L. vannamei. Moreover, these DEGs were primarily enriched in the pathways related to the energy metabolism process and signal transduction. Specifically, the phototransduction (dme04745) signaling pathway emerges as a potential key pathway for the adjustment of the L. vannamei agonistic behavior. The G protein-coupled receptor kinase 1-like (LOC113809193) was screened out as a significant candidate gene within the phototransduction pathway. Therefore, these findings contribute to an enhanced comprehension of crustacean agonistic behavior and provide a theoretical basis for the selection and breeding of L. vannamei varieties suitable for high-density aquaculture environments.

Unveiling the domino effect: a nine-year follow-up on pentalogy of central nervous system induced by a large unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation: a case report and literature review.

Background: The disruption of intracranial fluid dynamics due to large unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) commonly triggers a domino effect within the central nervous system. This phenomenon is frequently overlooked in prior clinic and may lead to catastrophic misdiagnoses. Our team has documented the world's first case of so-called AVM Pentalogy (AVMP) induced by a AVM. Clinical presentation and result: A 30-year-old female was first seen 9 years ago with an occasional fainting, at which time a huge unruptured AVM was discovered. Subsequently, due to progressive symptoms, she sought consultations from several prestigious neurosurgical departments in China, where all consulting neurosurgeons opted for conservation treatment due to perceived surgical risks. During the follow-up period, the patient gradually presented with hydrocephalus, empty sella, secondary Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, and scoliosis (we called as AVMP). When treated in our department, she already displayed numerous symptoms, including severe intracranial hypertension. Our team deduced that the hydrocephalus was the primary driver of her AVMP symptoms, representing the most favorable risk profile for intervention. As expected, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt successfully mitigated all symptoms of AVMP at 21-months post-surgical review. Conclusion: During the monitoring of unruptured AVM, it is crucial to remain vigilant for the development or progression of AVMP. When any component of AVMP is identified, thorough etiological studies and analysis of cascade reactions are imperative to avert misdiagnosis. When direct AVM intervention is not viable, strategically addressing hydrocephalus as part of the AVMP may serve as the critical therapeutic focus.

Probing chromatin condensation dynamics in live cells using interferometric scattering correlation spectroscopy.

Chromatin organization and dynamics play important roles in governing the regulation of nuclear processes of biological cells. However, due to the constant diffusive motion of chromatin, examining chromatin nanostructures in living cells has been challenging. In this study, we introduce interferometric scattering correlation spectroscopy (iSCORS) to spatially map nanoscopic chromatin configurations within unlabeled live cell nuclei. This label-free technique captures time-varying linear scattering signals generated by the motion of native chromatin on a millisecond timescale, allowing us to deduce chromatin condensation states. Using iSCORS imaging, we quantitatively examine chromatin dynamics over extended periods, revealing spontaneous fluctuations in chromatin condensation and heterogeneous compaction levels in interphase cells, independent of cell phases. Moreover, we observe changes in iSCORS signals of chromatin upon transcription inhibition, indicating that iSCORS can probe nanoscopic chromatin structures and dynamics associated with transcriptional activities. Our scattering-based optical microscopy, which does not require labeling, serves as a powerful tool for visualizing dynamic chromatin nano-arrangements in live cells. This advancement holds promise for studying chromatin remodeling in various crucial cellular processes, such as stem cell differentiation, mechanotransduction, and DNA repair.

Deamidation enables pathogenic SMAD6 variants to activate the BMP signaling pathway.

The BMP signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating early embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. SMAD6 encodes a negative regulator of BMP, and rare variants of SMAD6 are recurrently found in individuals with birth defects. However, we observed that a subset of rare pathogenic variants of SMAD6 consistently exhibited positive regulatory effects instead of the initial negative effects on the BMP signaling pathway. We sought to determine whether these SMAD6 variants have common pathogenic mechanisms. Here, we showed that pathogenic SMAD6 variants accompanying this functional reversal exhibit similar increases in deamidation. Mechanistically, increased deamidation of SMAD6 variants promotes the accumulation of the BMP receptor BMPR1A and the formation of new complexes, both of which lead to BMP signaling pathway activation. Specifically, two residues, N262 and N404, in SMAD6 were identified as the crucial sites of deamidation, which was catalyzed primarily by glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 2 (GFPT2). Additionally, treatment of cells harboring SMAD6 variants with a deamidase inhibitor restored the inhibitory effect of SMAD6 on the BMP signaling pathway. Conversely, when wild-type SMAD6 was manually simulated to mimic the deamidated state, the reversed function of activating BMP signaling was reproduced. Taken together, these findings show that deamidation of SMAD6 plays a crucial role in the functional reversal of BMP signaling activity, which can be induced by a subset of various SMAD6 variants. Our study reveals a common pathogenic mechanism shared by these variants and provides a potential strategy for preventing birth defects through deamidation regulation, which might prevent the off-target effects of gene editing.

Nano- and microplastics drive the dynamic equilibrium of amoeba-associated bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes.

As emerging pollutants, microplastics have become pervasive on a global scale, inflicting significant harm upon ecosystems. However, the impact of these microplastics on the symbiotic relationship between protists and bacteria remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms through which nano- and microplastics of varying sizes and concentrations influence the amoeba-bacterial symbiotic system. The findings reveal that nano- and microplastics exert deleterious effects on the adaptability of the amoeba host, with the magnitude of these effects contingent upon particle size and concentration. Furthermore, nano- and microplastics disrupt the initial equilibrium in the symbiotic relationship between amoeba and bacteria, with nano-plastics demonstrating a reduced ability to colonize symbiotic bacteria within the amoeba host when compared to their microplastic counterparts. Moreover, nano- and microplastics enhance the relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and heavy metal resistance genes in the bacteria residing within the amoeba host, which undoubtedly increases the potential transmission risk of both human pathogens and resistance genes within the environment. In sum, the results presented herein provide a novel perspective and theoretical foundation for the study of interactions between microplastics and microbial symbiotic systems, along with the establishment of risk assessment systems for ecological environments and human health.

Exploring new frontiers: a rare case of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation in a patient with cor triatriatum sinister guided by intracardiac echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Cor triatriatum sinister (CTS) is an uncommon congenital cardiac anomaly. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is commonly the initial symptom in patients with CTS, occurring in approximately 32% of the cases. The complexity of performing AF catheter ablation, particularly in cases with persistent AF, increases in patients with CTS due to its unique structural challenges. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the treatment course of a 60-year-old male patient diagnosed with CTS, who underwent catheter ablation of drug-refractory, persistent AF. The complex anatomical structure of the condition made catheter ablation of AF challenging. To navigate these challenges, we performed comprehensive assessments using transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography, along with cardiac computed tomography angiography, prior to treatment initiation. The intricate anatomy of CTS was further clarified during the procedure via intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). Additionally, the complexity of catheter manipulation was further reduced with the aid of the VIZIGO sheath and the vein of Marshall ethanol infusion to achieve effective mitral isthmus blockage, thereby circumventing the impact of the CTS membrane. CONCLUSIONS: This case underscores the complexity and potential of advanced ablation techniques in managing cardiac arrhythmias associated with unusual cardiac anatomies. During the procedure, ICE facilitated detailed modeling of the left atrium, including the membranous structure and its openings, thus providing a clearer understanding of CTS. It is noteworthy that the membrane within the CTS may serve as a potential substrate for arrhythmias, which warrants further validation through larger sample studies.

High beam quality continuous-wave 320 nm UV laser from a walk-off compensated intracavity frequency-doubled Pr:YLF laser.

We report a high beam quality continuous-wave (CW) 320 nm ultra-violet (UV) laser. An end-pumped praseodymium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride (Pr:YLF) laser is constructed in a typical V-shaped cavity structure, while the UV output is obtained through intracavity frequency doubling using L i B 3 O 5 (LBO). We investigate the dependence of the UV output power, as well as the spot profile on the LBO length, and find that the "walk-off" within LBO severely affects both the frequency-doubling efficiency and the beam quality of the UV output. Rotated twin LBO crystals are then applied to substitute for single long LBO crystal to compensate the walk-off effect, resulting in high-power 320 nm output up to 410 mW under the absorbed pump power of 4.0 W at 444 nm, with a high beam quality of M x2=1.02 and M y2=1.04.

Spatial distribution of cable bacteria in nationwide organic-matter-polluted urban rivers in China.

An overload of labile organic matter triggers the water blackening and odorization in urban rivers, leading to a unique microbiome driving biogeochemical cycles in these anoxic habitats. Among the key players in these environments, cable bacteria interfere directly with C/N/S/O cycling, and are closely associated with phylogenetically diverse microorganisms in anoxic sediment as an electron conduit to mediate long-distance electron transport from deep-anoxic-layer sulfide to oxic-layer oxygen. Despite their hypothesized importance in black-odorous urban rivers, the spatial distribution patterns and roles of cable bacteria in large-scale polluted urban rivers remain inadequately understood. This study examined the diversity and spatial distribution pattern of cable bacteria in sediment samples from 186 black-odorous urban rivers across China. Results revealed the co-existence of two well-characterized cable bacteria (i.e., Candidatus Electrothrix and Candidatus Electronema), with Candidatus Electrothrix exhibiting a comparatively wider distribution in the polluted urban rivers. Concentrations of DOC, SS, sulfate, nitrate, and heavy metals (e.g., Ni and Cr) were correlated with the cable bacteria diversity, indicating their essential role in biogeochemical cycles. The activation energy of cable bacteria was 0.624 eV, close to the canonical 0.65 eV. Furthermore, cable bacteria were identified as key connectors and module hubs, closely associated with denitrifiers, sulfate-reducing bacteria, methanogens and alkane degraders, highlighting their role as keystone functional lineages in the contaminated urban rivers. Our study provided the first large-scale and comprehensive insight into the cable bacteria diversity, spatial distribution, and their essential function as keystone species in organic-matter-polluted urban rivers.

The use of LEDs for the stomatal response, light compensation points, and storage of spinach and kale.

The spectral composition of some light-emitting diodes (LEDs) reportedly results in higher crop yield, prevents wilting, and reduces thermal damage to plants. The use of LEDs for postharvest storage and shelf-life extension has been limited, but the potential of this technology will allow for greater applications in horticulture and the food industry. In this experiment, 'Winterbor' kale (Brassica oleracea) and 'Melody' spinach (Spinacia oleracea) plants were measured for the light compensation point and stomatal response under 14 different wavelengths of light ranging from 405 to 661 nm. Data collected from these measurements were used to select two different wavelengths of LEDs and determine the proper irradiance levels for an LED irradiance storage test on spinach and kale. Treatments comprising blue, red, and amber lights were effective at increasing the stomatal opening, while the green light resulted in reduced stomatal opening. For spinach, the light response curve showed that light compensation points at 500 nm and 560 nm were 65.3 and 64.7 µmol m-2 s-1, respectively. For kale, the light compensation points at 500 nm and 560 nm were 50.8 and 44.1 µmol m-2 s-1, respectively. For the storage test experiment at room temperature, kale and spinach were stored under four different treatments: dark treatment (control), standard white fluorescent light, 500 nm, and 560 nm LED wavelengths. For spinach, the moisture content was 70.1% at 560 nm and 53.7% for dark, moisture losses of 41.5% under the 560-nm treatment and 52.0% for the dark treatment. The fresh basis moisture content was 74.6% at 560 nm and 59.3% in the dark. Moisture loss under the 560 nm treatment was 39.6% while the dark treatment had a 54.0% moisture loss. A visual assessment scale was monitored, 560 nm resulted in the top visual quality for kale compared to the other treatments with the lowest visual quality under the dark treatment at day 4. For spinach, the visual quality for 560 nm treatment was statistically the standard white fluorescent light and 500 nm, with poor-quality product occurring by day 4 and the lowest-quality product occurring at day 5. The LED treatments improved the shelf life of spinach and kale, likely as a result of stomatal aperture closure, photosynthetic rate near the light compensation point and stability of the atmospheric moisture content. This study provides valuable information on the extension of the shelf life of leafy greens during storage. Reducing fresh produce waste in grocery stores will increase revenue, thereby benefiting the Canadian economy while providing social and environmental benefits that entail increased food security and reduced food waste.

Spatial Diffusion of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils around Non-ferrous Metal Mines.

This study focuses on the diffusion patterns of principal ore-forming elements (Pb and Zn) and associated elements (Cd, Cu, Cr, and As) in lead-zinc ore. Sampling points in upwind and downwind directions of lead-zinc ore areas at various densities (1 N/km2 - 4 N/km2) were categorized. This study analyzed the statistical relationship between the content of PTEs in the soil around lead-zinc ore and the source strength and dominant wind direction, constructed one-dimensional and two-dimensional diffusion model, and simulated the EER scope caused by PTEs. The findings indicate that: (1) concerning source strength, the content of PTEs in soils of high-density ore aggregation areas is significantly higher than in low-density ore aggregation areas. However, the impact of source strength decreases with decreasing ore grade, with a difference in Pb content of 1.71 times among principal ore-forming elements and almost consistent Cd content among associated elements. (2) Regarding the transport pathways, for most PTEs, the inverse proportion coefficients downwind are higher than upwind, approximately 1.18 to 3.63 times, indicating greater migration distances of PTEs downwind due to atmospheric dispersion. (3) By establishing a two-dimensional risk diffusion model, the study simulates the maximum radius of risk diffusion (r=5.7km), the 50% probability radius (r=3.1km), and the minimum radius (r=0.8km) based on the maximum, median, and minimum values statistically obtained from the EER. This study provides a scientific basis for implementing preventive measures for PTEs accumulation in soil within different pollution ranges. Different risk prevention and control measures should be adopted for PTEs accumulation in soil within the three ranges after cutting off pollution sources. Subsequent research should further investigate the impact and contribution of atmospheric transmission and surface runoff on the diffusion of PTEs in areas with high risk near lead-zinc ore.

Atomically Resolved Defect-Engineering Scattering Potential in 2D Semiconductors.

Engineering atomic-scale defects has become an important strategy for the future application of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials in next-generation electronic technologies. Thus, providing an atomic understanding of the electron-defect interactions and supporting defect engineering development to improve carrier transport is crucial to future TMDs technologies. In this work, we utilize low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (LT-STM/S) to elicit how distinct types of defects bring forth scattering potential engineering based on intervalley quantum quasiparticle interference (QPI) in TMDs. Furthermore, quantifying the energy-dependent phase variation of the QPI standing wave reveals the detailed electron-defect interaction between the substitution-induced scattering potential and the carrier transport mechanism. By exploring the intrinsic electronic behavior of atomic-level defects to further understand how defects affect carrier transport in low-dimensional semiconductors, we offer potential technological applications that may contribute to the future expansion of TMDs.

Research Note: The structure and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in animal house environment.

In recent years, a series of public health issues caused by the spread of antibiotic resistance have been widely concerned. The indoor air of livestock and poultry houses is considered to be one of the main sources of environmental contamination of ARGs. This study characterized the micro-organisms and ARGs in the air particulate matter of chicken houses using metagenomics. The study successfully detected 761 different subtypes of resistance genes including aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, MLSB etc., 4 types of mobile genetic elements, and various pathogenic microorganisms from the aerosols in the chicken coop environment. The results showed that the abundance of ARGs in the air of the chicken coop was at a relatively high level, correlation network analysis showed that multiple types of ARGs could promote the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Intestinal GSTpi deficiency exacerbates the severity of experimental hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis.

Intestinal dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the development of acute pancreatitis (AP), however, the underlying mechanisms of intestinal dysfunction on severity of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) are still unclear. Herein, we explored the role of intestinal function on the severity of HLAP. We found that HLAP patients exhibit higher lipid and inflammatory response than AP patients. Hyperlipidemia significantly elevates serum lipids and worsen pancreatic damage in AP mice. In addition, significant exacerbated intestinal barrier damage and inflammation were observed in experimental HLAP mice, as evidenced by increased serum amylase and lipase levels, and pancreatic edema. Further, RNA-Seq showed that a markedly decrease of glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi) in colonic tissue of HLAP mice compared with AP mice, accompanied with increased serum lipopolysaccharides level. However, colonic GSTpi overexpression by adeno-associated virus significantly attenuated intestinal damage and subsequent pancreatic inflammation in HLAP mice. Mechanistically, GSTpi mitigated HLAP-mediated colonic NLRP3 inflammasome activation and barrier dysfunction. These results suggest that intestinal GSTpi deficiency exacerbates the severity of experimental HLAP, providing new insights for the clinical treatment of HLAP.