ECM stiffness affects cargo sorting into MSC-EVs to regulate their secretion and uptake behaviors.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) have garnered extensive attention as natural product-based nanomedicines and potential drug delivery vehicles. However, the specific mechanism for regulating MSC-EVs secretion and delivery remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness regulates the secretion and delivery of EVs by affecting MSCs' cargo sorting mechanically. Using multi-omics analysis, we found that a decrease in ECM stiffness impeded the sorting of vesicular transport-related proteins and autophagy-related lipids into MSC-EVs, impairing their secretion and subsequent uptake by macrophages. Hence, MSC-EVs with different secretion and uptake behaviors can be produced by changing the stiffness of culture substrates. This study provides new insights into MSC-EV biology and establishes a connection between MSC-EV behaviors and ECM from a biophysical perspective, providing a basis for the rational design of biomedical materials.

Bioinspired engineering ADSC nanovesicles thermosensitive hydrogel enhance autophagy of dermal papilla cells for androgenetic alopecia treatment.

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is a highly prevalent form of non-scarring alopecia but lacks effective treatments. Stem cell exosomes have similar repair effects to stem cells, suffer from the drawbacks of high cost and low yield yet. Cell-derived nanovesicles acquired through mechanical extrusion exhibit favorable biomimetic properties similar to exosomes, enabling them to efficiently encapsulate substantial quantities of therapeutic proteins. In this study, we observed that JAM-A, an adhesion protein, resulted in a significantly increased the adhesion and resilience of dermal papilla cells to form snap structures against damage caused by dihydrotestosterone and macrophages, thereby facilitating the process of hair regrowth in cases of AGA. Consequently, adipose-derived stem cells were modified to overexpress JAM-A to produce engineered JAM-A overexpressing nanovesicles (JAM-AOE@NV). The incorporation of JAM-AOE@NV into a thermosensitive hydrogel matrix (JAM-AOE@NV Gel) to effectively addresses the limitations associated with the short half-life of JAM-AOE@NV, and resulted in the achievement of a sustained-release profile for JAM-AOE@NV. The physicochemical characteristics of the JAM-AOE@NV Gel were analyzed and assessed for its efficacy in promoting hair regrowth in vivo and vitro. The JAM-AOE@NV Gel, thus, presents a novel therapeutic approach and theoretical framework for promoting the treatment of low cell adhesion diseases similar to AGA.

Magnesium Mitigation Behavior in P2-Layered Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode.

Heteroatom incorporation can effectively suppress the phase transition of layered sodium-ion battery cathode, but heteroatom behaviors during operating conditions are not completely understood at the atomic scale. Here, density functional theory calculations are combined with experiments to explore the mitigation behavior of Mg dopant and its mechanisms under operating conditions in P2-Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2. The void formed by Na extraction will pump some Mg dopants into Na layers from TM layers, and the collective diffusion of more than one Mg ion most likely occurs when the Mg content is relatively high in the TM layer, finally aggregating to form Mg-enrich regions (i.e., Mg segregation) apart from Ni vacancies. The void-pump-effect-induced Mg segregation effectively suppresses the P2-O2 phase transition owing to the stronger Mg-O electrostatic attraction that enhances the integrate of two adjacent oxygen layers and prevents the crack growth by mitigating the lattice volume variation under high-voltage cycling. Our work provides a fundamental understanding of heteroatom mitigation behavior in layered cathodes at the atomic level for next-generation energy storage technologies.

Tofacitinib Promotes Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury by Regulating Microglial Polarization via JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway.

Background: The JAK/STAT signaling pathway is the main inflammatory signal transduction pathway, whether JAK/STAT contributes the pathology of SCI and targeting the pathway will alleviate SCI needs to be addressed. Here, we explored the therapeutic effect of pan-JAK inhibitor tofacitinib (TOF) on secondary injury after SCI and explained the underlying mechanisms. Methods: SCI model in rat was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of TOF treatment in vivo. Histological and behavioral analyses were performed at different time points after SCI. In vitro, the effects of TOF on pro-inflammatory activation of primary microglia and BV2 cells were analyzed by western blot analysis, fluorescent staining, qPCR and flow cytometry. The neuroprotection of TOF was detected using a co-culture system with primary neurons and microglia. Results: TOF can effectively improve motor dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury in rats. TOF administration in the early stage of inflammation can effectively inhibit neuronal apoptosis and scar tissue formation, and promote the repair of axons and nerve fibers. Further studies have demonstrated that TOF suppresses inflammation caused by spinal cord injury by inhibiting the activation of microglia to pro-inflammatory phenotype in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, an interesting phenomenon is revealed in our results that TOF exhibits superior neuronal protection during inflammation in vitro. Conclusions: Our study showed that TOF could regulate microglial activation via JAK / STAT pathway and promote the recovery of motor function after SCI, which is of great significance for the immunotherapy of SCI.

In Situ Visualization of the Pinning Effect of Planar Defects on Li Ion Insertion.

Longevity of Li ion batteries strongly depends on the interaction of transporting Li ions in electrode crystals with defects. However, detailed interactions between the Li ion flux and structural defects in the host crystal remain obscure due to the transient nature of such interactions. Here, by in situ transmission electron microscopy and density function theory calculations, we reveal how the diffusion pathways and transport kinetics of a Li ion can be affected by planar defects in a tungsten trioxide lattice. We uncover that changes in charge distribution and lattice spacing along the planar defects disrupt the continuity of ion conduction channels and dramatically increase the energy barrier of Li diffusion, thus, arresting Li ions at the defect sites and twisting the lithiation front. The atomic-scale understanding holds critical implications for rational interface design in solid-state batteries and solid oxide fuel cells.

Construction of regulatory network for alopecia areata progression and identification of immune monitoring genes based on multiple machine-learning algorithms.

Objectives: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune-related non-cicatricial alopecia, with complete alopecia (AT) or generalized alopecia (AU) as severe forms of AA. However, there are limitations in early identification of AA, and intervention of AA patients who may progress to severe AA will help to improve the incidence rate and prognosis of severe AA. Methods: We obtained two AA-related datasets from the gene expression omnibus database, identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and identified the module genes most related to severe AA through weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Functional enrichment analysis, construction of a protein-protein interaction network and competing endogenous RNA network, and immune cell infiltration analysis were performed to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms of severe AA. Subsequently, pivotal immune monitoring genes (IMGs) were screened through multiple machine-learning algorithms, and the diagnostic effectiveness of the pivotal IMGs was validated by receiver operating characteristic. Results: A total of 150 severe AA-related DEGs were identified; the upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in immune response, while the downregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways related to hair cycle and skin development. Four IMGs (LGR5, SHISA2, HOXC13, and S100A3) with good diagnostic efficiency were obtained. As an important gene of hair follicle stem cells stemness, we verified in vivo that LGR5 downregulation may be an important link leading to severe AA. Conclusion: Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis and underlying biological processes in patients with AA, and identification of four potential IMGs, which is helpful for the early diagnosis of severe AA.

Novel Structural Design and Adsorption/Insertion Coordinating Quasi-Metallic Na Storage Mechanism toward High-performance Hard Carbon Anode Derived from Carboxymethyl Cellulose.

Hard Carbon have become the most promising anode candidates for sodium-ion batteries, but the poor rate performance and cycle life remain key issues. In this work, N-doped hard carbon with abundant defects and expanded interlayer spacing is constructed by using carboxymethyl cellulose sodium as precursor with the assistance of graphitic carbon nitride. The formation of N-doped nanosheet structure is realized by the CN• or CC• radicals generated through the conversion of nitrile intermediates in the pyrolysis process. This greatly enhances the rate capability (192.8 mAh g-1 at 5.0 A g-1 ) and ultra-long cycle stability (233.3 mAh g-1 after 2000 cycles at 0.5 A g-1 ). In situ Raman spectroscopy, ex situ X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis in combination with comprehensive electrochemical characterizations, reveal that the interlayer insertion coordinated quasi-metallic sodium storage in the low potential plateau region and adsorption storage in the high potential sloping region. The first-principles density functional theory calculations further demonstrate strong coordination effect on nitrogen defect sites to capture sodium, especially with pyrrolic N, uncovering the formation mechanism of quasi-metallic bond in the sodium storage. This work provides new insights into the sodium storage mechanism of high-performance carbonaceous materials, and offers new opportunities for better design of hard carbon anode.

Bilayer tetragonal AlN nanosheets as potential cathodes for Li-O2 batteries.

Li-O2 batteries are considered promising electrochemical energy storage devices due to their high specific capacity and low cost. However, this technology currently suffers from two serious problems: low round-trip efficiency and slow reaction dynamics at the cathode. Solving these problems requires designing novel catalysis materials. In this study, a bilayer tetragonal AlN nanosheet as the catalyst is theoretically designed for the Li-O2 electrochemical system, and the discharge/charge process is simulated by a first-principles approach. It is found that the reaction path leading to Li4O2 is energetically more favored than the path to form a Li4O4 cluster on an AlN nanosheet. The theoretical open-circuit voltage for Li4O2 is 2.70 V, which is only 0.14 V lower than the formation of Li4O4. Notably, the discharge overpotential for forming Li4O2 on the AlN nanosheet is only 0.57 V, and the corresponding charge overpotential is as low as 0.21 V. A low charge/discharge overpotential can effectively solve the problems of low round-trip efficiency and slow reaction kinetics. The decomposition pathways of the final discharge product Li4O2 and the intermediate product Li2O2 are also investigated, and the decomposition barriers are 1.41 eV and 1.45 eV, respectively. Our work shows that bilayer tetragonal AlN nanosheets are promising catalysts for Li-O2 batteries.

ROS-scavenging hydrogel as protective carrier to regulate stem cells activity and promote osteointegration of 3D printed porous titanium prosthesis in osteoporosis.

Stem cell-based therapy has drawn attention as an alternative option for promoting prosthetic osteointegration in osteoporosis by virtue of its unique characteristics. However, estrogen deficiency is the main mechanism of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Estrogen, as an effective antioxidant, deficienncy also results in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body, affecting the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells and the bone formation i osteoporosis. In this study, we prepared a ROS-scavenging hydrogel by crosslinking of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), 3-acrylamido phenylboronic acid (APBA) and acrylamide. The engineered hydrogel can scavenge ROS efficiently, enabling it to be a cell carrier of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to protect delivered cells from ROS-mediated death and osteogenesis inhibition, favorably enhancing the tissue repair potential of stem cells. Further in vivo investigations seriously demonstrated that this ROS-scavenging hydrogel encapsulated with BMSCs can prominently promote osteointegration of 3D printed microporous titanium alloy prosthesis in osteoporosis, including scavenging accumulated ROS, inducing macrophages to polarize toward M2 phenotype, suppressing inflammatory cytokines expression, and improving osteogenesis related markers (e.g., ALP, Runx-2, COL-1, BSP, OCN, and OPN). This work provides a novel strategy for conquering the challenge of transplanted stem cells cannot fully function in the impaired microenvironment, and enhancing prosthetic osteointegration in osteoporosis.

Rapid Melt-Quenching Enables General Synthesis of High-Loading Single-Atom Catalysts with Bicontinuous Nanoporous Structure.

Single-atom catalysts have attracted extensive attention due to their unique atomic structures and extraordinary activities in catalyzing chemical reactions. However, the lack of general and efficient approaches for producing high-density single atoms on suitably tailored supporting matrixes hinders their industrial applications. Here, a rapid melt-quenching strategy with high throughput to synthesize single atoms with high metal-atom loadings of up to 9.7 wt% or 2.6 at% on nanoporous metal compounds is reported, representing several-fold improvements compared to benchmarks in the literature. Mechanism characterizations reveal that the high-temperature melting provides the essential liquid environment and activation energy to achieve the atomization of metals, while the following rapid-quenching pins the isolated metal atoms and stabilizes the coordination environment. In comparison with carbon-supported single-atom catalysts, various collaboration combinations of single atoms and nanoporous metal compounds can be synthesized using the strategy, thus achieving efficient hydrazine oxidation-assisted H2 production. This synthesis protocol is highly compatible with automatic operation, which provides a feasible and general route to design and manufacture specific single-atom catalysts with tunable atomic metal components and supporting matrixes, thus promoting the deployment of single-atom catalysts for various energy technology applications.

Theoretically evaluating two-dimensional tetragonal Si2Se2 and SiSe2 nanosheets as anode materials for alkali metal-ion batteries.

In this work, based on first-principles calculations, we theoretically predict two kinds of two-dimensional tetragonal Si-Se compounds, Si2Se2 and SiSe2, as the anode materials for alkali metal-ion batteries. The results show that Si2Se2 and SiSe2 are thermally and dynamically stable and have good electronic conductivity. The diffusion barriers of Li, Na and K atoms are 0.07 eV, 0.17 eV and 0.17 eV on the surface of Si2Se2, and 0.45 eV, 0.43 eV and 0.30 eV on the surface of SiSe2, respectively, which indicate excellent rate capability. Most remarkably, Si2Se2 and SiSe2 can deliver high specific capacities. The predicted specific capacities of Si2Se2 are 1252 mA h g-1, 501 mA h g-1 and 250 mA h g-1 for Li, Na and K storage, respectively, and the corresponding specific capacities of SiSe2 are 1441 mA h g-1, 865 mA h g-1 and 180 mA h g-1. In addition, the highest plateaus of open-circuit voltages are 0.50 V vs. Li+/Li, 0.60 V vs. Na+/Na and 1.01 V vs. K+/K for Si2Se2, and 1.13 V vs. Li+/Li, 1.09 V vs. Na+/Na and 1.01 V vs. K+/K for SiSe2, which are beneficial for achieving the high discharge voltage in full cells. Considering these advantages, Si2Se2 and SiSe2 monolayers can be competitive candidates as anode materials for alkali metal-ion batteries.

Exosome-mediated transduction of mechanical force regulates prostate cancer migration via microRNA.

Physical cues in the extracellular microenvironment regulate cancer cell metastasis. Functional microRNA (miRNA) carried by cancer derived exosomes play a critical role in extracellular communication between cells and the extracellular microenvironment. However, little is known about the role of exosomes loaded miRNAs in the mechanical force transmission between cancer cells and extracellular microenvironment. Herein, our results suggest that stiff extracellular matrix (ECM) induced exosomes promote cancer cell migration. The ECM mechanical force regulated the exosome miRNA cargo of prostate cancer cells. Exosome miRNAs regulated by the ECM mechanical force modulated cancer cell metastasis by regulating cell motility, ECM remodeling and the interaction between cancer cells and nerves. Focal adhesion kinase mediated-ECM mechanical force regulated the intracellular miRNA expression, and F-actin mediate-ECM mechanical force regulated miRNA packaging into exosomes. The above results demonstrated that the exosome miRNA cargo promoted cancer metastasis by transmitting the ECM mechanical force. The ECM mechanical force may play multiple roles in maintaining the microenvironment of cancer metastasis through the exosome miRNA cargo.

Low-Stiffness Hydrogels Promote Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Through the Rapid Release of Exosomes.

A hydrogel system loaded with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome (MSC-Exos) is an attractive new tool for tissue regeneration. However, the effect of the stiffness of exosome-loaded hydrogels on tissue regeneration is unclear. Here, the role of exosome-loaded hydrogel stiffness, during the regeneration of injured nerves, was assessed in vivo. The results showed that the photocrosslinkable hyaluronic acid methacrylate hydrogel stiffness plays an important role in repairing nerve injury. Compared with the stiff hydrogels loaded with exosomes, soft hydrogels loaded with exosomes showed better repair of injured peripheral nerves. The soft hydrogel promoted nerve repair by quickly releasing exosomes to inhibit the infiltration of macrophages and the expression of the proinflammatory factors IL-1ß and TNF-α in injured nerves. Our work revealed that exosome-loaded hydrogel stiffness plays an important role in tissue regeneration by regulating exosome release behavior and provided important clues for the clinical application of biological scaffold materials.

Huc-MSCs-derived exosomes attenuate inflammatory pain by regulating microglia pyroptosis and autophagy via the miR-146a-5p/TRAF6 axis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammatory pain significantly reduces the quality of life and lacks effective interventions. In recent years, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (huc-MSCs)-derived exosomes have been used to relieve neuropathic pain and other inflammatory diseases as a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy. However, the therapeutic value of huc-MSCs-derived exosomes in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain remains to be confirmed. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect and related mechanisms of huc-MSCs-derived exosomes in a chronic inflammatory pain model. METHODS: C57BL/6J male mice were used to establish a CFA-induced inflammatory pain model, and huc-MSCs-derived exosomes were intrathecally injected for 4 consecutive days. BV2 microglia cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to investigate the effect of huc-MSCs-derived exosomes on pyroptosis and autophagy. Bioinformatic analysis and rescue experiments were used to demonstrate the role of miR-146a-5p/ TRAF6 in regulating pyroptosis and autophagy. Western blotting, RT-qPCR, small interfering RNA and Yo-Pro-1 dye staining were performed to investigate the related mechanisms. RESULTS: Huc-MSCs-derived exosomes alleviated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CFA-induced inflammatory pain. Furthermore, huc-MSCs-derived exosomes attenuated neuroinflammation by increasing the expression of autophagy-related proteins (LC3-II and beclin1) and inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the spinal cord dorsal horn. In vitro, NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, caspase1-p20, ASC) and gasdermin D (GSDMD-F, GSDMD-N) were inhibited in BV2 cells pretreated with huc-MSCs-derived exosomes. Western blot and Yo-Pro-1 dye staining demonstrated that 3-MA, an autophagy inhibitor, weakened the protective effect of huc-MSCs-derived exosomes on BV2 cell pyroptosis. Importantly, huc-MSCs-derived exosomes transfected with miR-146a-5p mimic promoted autophagy and inhibited BV2 cell pyroptosis. TRAF6, as a target gene of miR-146a-5p, was knocked down via small-interfering RNA, which increased pyroptosis and inhibited autophagy. CONCLUSION: Huc-MSCs-derived exosomes attenuated inflammatory pain via miR-146a-5p/TRAF6, which increased the level of autophagy and inhibited pyroptosis.

Exosome Mimetics-Loaded Hydrogel Accelerates Wound Repair by Transferring Functional Mitochondrial Proteins.

Loading human umbilical mesenchymal stem cell (hUMSC) derived exosomes onto hydrogel scaffolds is a strategy for rapid wound healing. The clinical application of exosomes is hindered by low production, and exosome mimetics could be substituted for exosomes. Here, the therapeutic effects of exosome-loaded hydrogels and exosome mimetic-loaded hydrogels on wounds are evaluated. Our results revealed that exosome mimetic-loaded hydrogels promote wound healing more efficiently than exosome-loaded hydrogels. Exosome mimetics can promote the proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts (hDF-a) cells in vitro. To investigate how exosome mimetics play a role, proteomics analysis was applied, and the obtained results suggested that exosome mimetics significantly enrich mitochondrial-derived oxidative phosphorylation-related proteins in comparison to exosomes. Overall, our work envisages the emerging potential of exosome mimetics, which take the advantage of exosomes and can be promising candidates for exosomes. It also suggests that hUMSC-derived exosome mimetic-loaded hydrogels have remarkable prospects for clinical application.

Synergistic Effect, Structural and Morphology Evolution, and Doping Mechanism of Spherical Br-Doped Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 /C toward Enhanced Sodium Storage.

Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 has attracted wide attention due to its high voltage platform, and stable crystal structure. However, its application is limited by the low electronic conductivity and the ease formation of impurity. In this paper, the spherical Br-doped Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 /C is successfully obtained by a one-step spray drying technology. The hard template polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) supplements the loss of fluorine, forming porous structure that accelerates the infiltration of electrolyte. The soft template cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) enables doping of bromine and can also control the fluorine content, meanwhile, the self-assembly effect strengthens the structure and refines the size of spherical particles. The loss, compensation, and regulation mechanism of fluorine are investigated. The Br-doped Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 /C sphere exhibits superior rate capability with the capacities of 116.1, 105.1, and 95.2 mAh g-1 at 1, 10, and 30 C, and excellent cyclic performance with 98.3% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 10 C. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation shows weakened charge localization and enhanced conductivity, meanwhile the diffusion energy barrier of sodium ions is reduced with Br doping. This paper proposes a strategy to construct fluorine-containing polyanions cathode, which enables the precise regulation of structure and morphology, thus leading to superior electrochemical performance.

Nanoporous Intermetallic SnTe Enables Efficient Electrochemical CO2 Reduction into Formate via Promoting the Fracture of Metal-Oxygen Bonding.

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 into formate product is considered the most practical significance link in the carbon cycle. Developing cheap and efficient electrocatalysts with high selectivity for formate on a wide operated potential window is desirable yet challenging. Herein, nanoporous ordered intermetallic tin-tellurium (SnTe) is synthesized with a greater reduction performance for electrochemical CO2 to formate reduction compared to bare Sn. This nanoporous SnTe achieves 93% Faradaic efficiency for formate production and maintains over 90% Faradaic efficiency at a wide voltage range from -1.0 to -1.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), together with 60 h stability. Combining operando Raman spectroscopy studies with density functional theory calculations reveals that strong orbital interaction between Sn and neighboring tellurium (Te) in the intermetallic SnTe can lower the barriers of the oxygen cutoff hydrogenation and desorption steps by promoting the fracture of bond between metal and oxygen, leading to the significant enhancement of formate production.

Reprogramming hormone-sensitive prostate cancer to a lethal neuroendocrine cancer lineage by mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC).

Cell lineage reprogramming is the main approach for cancer cells to acquire drug resistance and escape targeted therapy. The use of potent targeted therapies in cancers has led to the development of highly aggressive carcinoma, including neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). Although metabolic reprogramming has been reported to be essential for tumor growth and energy production, the relationship between metabolic reprogramming and lineage differentiation which can cause hormone therapy resistance has never been reported in prostate cancer (PCa). Moreover, as there is still no efficient therapy for NEPC, it is urgent to reverse this lineage differentiation during the hormone therapy. Here for the first time, we used in vitro and in vivo human PCa models to study the effect of metabolic reprogramming on the lineage differentiation from the androgen receptor (AR)-dependent adenocarcinoma to AR-independent NEPC. This lineage differentiation leads to antiandrogen drug resistance and tumor development. This phenotype is enabled by the loss of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), the gate for mitochondrial pyruvate influx, and can be reversed by MPC overexpression. Morphologic and cellular studies also demonstrate that the pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) involved epithelium-mesenchymal transition process mediated this lineage alteration. Its inhibition is a potential treatment for MPC-lo tumors. All of these results suggest that metabolic rewiring can act as a starter for increased cellular plasticity which leads to antiandrogen therapy resistance through lineage differentiation. This study provides us with a potent treatment target for therapy-induced, enzalutamide-resistant NE-like prostate cancer.

Four new species of Guimaraesiella (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Brueelia-complex) from China.

Four new species of Guimaraesiella Eichler, 1949 are described and illustrated based on specimens collected in South China. They are: Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) citreisoma new species ex Leiothrix lutea kwangtungensis Whistler, 1943 (Leiothrichidae); Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) corrugata new species ex Alcippe hueti hueti David, 1874 (Leiothrichidae); Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) petilorica new species ex Alcippe nipalensis nipalensis (Hodgson, 1837) (Leiothrichidae); and Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) yuhinae new species from Yuhina flavicollis rouxi (Oustalet, 1896) (Zosteropidae); this is the first species of the Brueelia-complex recorded from a member of the Zosteropidae.

NEW SPECIES AND NEW RECORDS OF PRICEIELLA (PHTHIRAPTERA: ISCHNOCERA: BRUEELIA-COMPLEX) FROM SOUTH CHINA.

Seven new species of chewing lice in the genus PriceiellaGustafsson and Bush, 2017, are described and illustrated based on specimens collected in south China. They are Priceiella (Camurnirmus) tanydrepanus n. sp. from Garrulax castanotis castanotis (Ogilvie-Grant, 1899); Priceiella (Camurnirmus) nanlingensis n. sp. from Garrulax maesi maesi (Oustalet, 1890); Priceiella (Thescelovora) brutifrons n. sp. from Turdinus brevicaudatus stevensi (Kinnear, 1925); Priceiella (Thescelovora) chuae n. sp. from Pellorneum albiventre cinnamomeus (Rippon, 1900); Priceiella (Thescelovora) catanachei n. sp. from Stachyris strialata swinhoei Rothschild, 1903; Priceiella (Thescelovora) dehongensis n. sp. from Stachyris nigriceps yunnanensis La Touche, 1921; and Priceiella (Thescelovora) rotundiceps n. sp. from Pomatorhinus ruficollis styani Seebohm, 1884. Several of these new species constitute the second species of Priceiella known from the host, suggesting that local endemism may be high in this louse genus. We also provide new host records for Priceiella (Thescelovora) coleyaeGustafsson et al., 2018, and Priceiella (Thescelovora) austiniGustafsson et al., 2018, and correct the type host subspecies for the latter. Finally, we amend the subgenus descriptions of CamurnirmusGustafsson and Bush, 2017, and ThescelovoraGustafsson and Bush, 2017. As a result of these changes, Priceiella najeriGustafsson et al., 2018, is moved to subgenus Thescelovora. An updated checklist of the genus Priceiella is provided.