Identification of fabclavine derivatives, Fcl-7 and Fcl-8, from Xenorhabdus budapestensis as major antifungal natural products against Rhizoctonia solani.

AIMS: Black scurf disease, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is a severe soil-borne and tuber-borne disease, which occurs and spreads in potato growing areas worldwide and poses a serious threat to potato production. New biofungicide is highly desirable for addressing the issue, and natural products (NPs) from Xenorhabdus spp. provide prolific resources for biofungicide development. In this study, we aim to identify antifungal NPs from Xenorhabdus spp. for the management of this disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Out of the 22 Xenorhabdus strains investigated, Xenorhabdus budapestensis 8 (XBD8) was determined to be the most promising candidate with the measured IC50 value of its cell-free supernatant against R. solani as low as 0.19 ml l-1. The major antifungal compound in XBD8 started to be synthesized in the middle logarithmic phase and reached a stable level at stationary phase. Core gene deletion coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis determined the major antifungal NPs as fabclavine derivatives, Fcl-7 and 8, which showed broad-spectrum bioactivity against important pathogenic fungi. Impressively, the identified fabclavine derivatives effectively controlled black scurf disease in both greenhouse and field experiments, significantly improving tuber quality and increasing with marketable tuber yield from 29 300 to 35 494 kg ha-1, comparable with chemical fungicide fludioxonil. CONCLUSIONS: The fabclavine derivatives Fcl-7 and 8 were determined as the major antifungal NPs in XBD8, which demonstrated a bright prospect for the management of black scurf disease.

A Novel Fluorescent Sensor Based on Aptamer and qPCR for Determination of Glyphosate in Tap Water.

Glyphosate (GLYP) is a broad-spectrum, nonselective, organic phosphine postemergence herbicide registered for many food and nonfood fields. Herein, we developed a biosensor (Mbs@dsDNA) based on carboxylated modified magnetic beads incubated with NH2-polyA and then hybridized with polyT-glyphosate aptamer and complementary DNA. Afterwards, a quantitative detection method based on qPCR was established. When the glyphosate aptamer on Mbs@dsDNA specifically recognizes glyphosate, complementary DNA is released and then enters the qPCR signal amplification process. The linear range of the method was 0.6 µmol/L−30 mmol/L and the detection limit was set at 0.6 µmol/L. The recoveries in tap water ranged from 103.4 to 104.9% and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were <1%. The aptamer proposed in this study has good potential for recognizing glyphosate. The detection method combined with qPCR might have good application prospects in detecting and supervising other pesticide residues.

Preparation of a novel monoclonal antibody against active components of PHA-L from Phaseolus vulgaris and its functional characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte phytohemagglutinin (PHA-L), derived from the L4 tetramer of PHA, has been frequently employed as a mitogen to induce T lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. The biological application of PHA-L in cancer diagnosis and treatment has gained traction in recent years. However, it has been noted that PHA-L obtained using traditional procedures has a massive amount of impurities or toxic components, which interfere with the activity of PHA-L. Preparation of a monoclonal antibody against active PHA-L is a significant tool for studying PHA-L's function and therapeutic potential. RESULTS: We successfully prepared monoclonal antibodies against the active components of PHA-L based on the whole PHA-L protein as an antigen, and found that monoclonal antibody 3C1C6G11 can be employed in western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry detection. Importantly, preliminary result shows that the mAb 3C1C6G11 may prevent PHA-L-induced cell aggregation and AICD (activation-induced cell death). CONCLUSIONS: The monoclonal antibody mAb 3C1C6G11 prepared in this study can be used as an effective tool for detecting PHA-L active components, investigating PHA-L's function and antineoplastic application.

[Clinical features of intestinal polyps and risk factors for secondary intussusception in children: an analysis of 2 669 cases]. / 2 669ä¾‹å„¿ç«¥è‚ æ¯è‚‰çš„ä¸´åºŠç‰¹å¾åŠç»§å‘è‚ å¥—å çš„å±é™©å› ç´ åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical features of intestinal polyps and the risk factors for secondary intussusception in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the medical data of 2 669 children with intestinal polyps. According to the presence or absence of secondary intussusception, they were divided into two groups: intussusception (n=346) and non-intussusception (n=2 323). Related medical data were compared between the two groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for secondary intussusception. RESULTS: Among the children with intestinal polyps, 62.42% were preschool children, and the male/female ratio was 2.08∶1; 92.66% had hematochezia as disease onset, and 94.34% had left colonic polyps and rectal polyps. There were 346 cases of secondary intussusception, with an incidence rate of 12.96% (346/2 669). Large polyps (OR=1.644, P<0.001), multiple polyps (≥2) (OR=6.034, P<0.001), and lobulated polyps (OR=93.801, P<0.001) were the risk factors for secondary intussusception. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal polyps in children often occur in preschool age, mostly in boys, and most of the children have hematochezia as disease onset, with the predilection sites of the left colon and the rectum. Larger polyps, multiple polyps, and lobulated polyps may increase the risk of secondary intussusception, and endoscopic intervention is needed as early as possible to improve prognosis.

The protective mechanism of resveratrol against hepatic injury induced by iron overload in mice.

Excessive iron deposition can produce toxicity. Liver, as the main storage site of iron, is more vulnerable to excessive iron than other organs. Many studies have found that Resveratrol (RES) can effectively eliminate oxygen free radicals and resist lipid peroxide damage. However, studies investigating the mechanism of how RES prevents liver injury induced by iron overload are few. This study aims to observe the protective effect of RES on liver injury induced by iron overload in mice. Mice, except for the control group, received an intraperitoneal injection of iron dextran (50 mg/kg) every morning. The L-RES and H-RES groups received intragastric administration of low- and high-concentration RES solutions (20 or 50 mg/kg). The deferoxamine (DFO) group was intraperitoneally injected with DFO (50 mg/kg), while the control and iron overload groups were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of normal saline every afternoon. Two weeks after continuous administration, iron-overloaded mice treated with high and low doses of RES significantly improved liver injury (GOT and GPT) and decreased LDH activity and MDA content and increased SOD and GSH activities (P < 0.01). Morphological tests showed that RES treatment can reduce liver iron deposition and improve liver pathological changes in iron-overloaded mice. Furthermore, RES treatment caused a significant decrease in Ft expression (P < 0.01). In conclusion, RES can alleviate liver injury in iron-overloaded mice. The mechanism may be related to improve the antioxidant capacity and reduce excess iron in the liver.

Functional Component Isolated from Phaseolus vulgaris Lectin Exerts In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Tumor Activity Through Potentiation of Apoptosis and Immunomodulation.

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), the lectin purified from red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), is a well-known mitogen for human lymphocyte. Because it has obvious anti-proliferative and anti-tumor activity, PHA may serve as a potential antineoplastic drug in future cancer therapeutics. However, the literature is also replete with data on detrimental effects of PHA including oral toxicity, hemagglutinating activity, and immunogenicity. There is a critical need to evaluate the functional as well as the toxic components of PHAs to assist the rational designs of treatment with it. In this report, we performed SDS-PAGE to identify components of PHA-L, the tetrameric isomer of PHA with four identical L-type subunits, and then characterized biological function or toxicity of the major protein bands through in vitro experiments. It was found that the protein appearing as a 130 kD band in SDS-PAGE gel run under the condition of removal of ß-mercaptoethanol from the sample buffer together with omission of a heating step could inhibit tumor cell growth and stimulate lymphocyte proliferation, while most of the 35 kD proteins are likely non-functional impurity proteins and 15 kD protein may be related to hemolytic effect. Importantly, the 130 kD functional protein exhibits promising in vivo anti-tumor activity in B16-F10 melanoma C57 BL/6 mouse models, which may be achieved through potentiation of apoptosis and immunomodulation. Altogether, our results suggest that PHA-L prepared from crude extracts of red kidney bean by standard strategies is a mixture of many ingredients, and a 130 kD protein of PHA-L was purified and identified as the major functional component. Our study may pave the way for PHA-L as a potential anticancer drug.

Changes in gene expression of adipose tissue CD14+ cells in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and their relationship with environmental factors. / 2åž‹ç³–å°¿ç— æ‚£è€ è„‚è‚ªç»„ç»‡CD14+ç»†èƒžåŸºå› è¡¨è¾¾çš„å˜åŒ–åŠå ¶ä¸ŽçŽ¯å¢ƒå› å­çš„å ³ç³».

OBJECTIVES: To study the gene expression of adipose tissue CD14+ cells in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on chip data, screen differentially expressed genes, and analyze their relationship with the environmental factors. METHODS: The data of GSE54350 were obtained from the public database of gene expression profiling. The data were pre-processed by Network Analyst, String 11.0, Cytoscape 3.7.1, and other analytical software. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by gene ontology biological function and kyoto encycopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway to establish differential gene protein interaction network, transcription factor-gene regulatory network, microRNA-gene regulatory network, environmental factors-gene regulatory network, and other interaction systems. RESULTS: The gene expression pattern of CD14+ cells in adipose tissue of obese T2DM patients was significantly different from that of obese non-T2DM patients. There were 19 differentially expressed genes with up-regulation. The differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in ARP2/3 complex regulation of actin cytoskeleton, positively associated with biological processes such as protein complex assembly, and involved in the phagocytic Fcγ receptor signaling pathways and receptor family signaling pathways. The protein-protein interaction networks showed that TNF was the core protein node. The microRNA-gene regulatory network showed that hsa-mir-124-3p interacted with differentially expressed genes; TNF, KYNU, RCAN1 and other related genes all interacted with environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS: The gene expression of adipose tissue CD14+ cells are significantly changed in obese T2DM patients. TNF may play an important role in the process of obesity affecting the immune status of T2DM patients. Multiple microRNAs, transcription factors, and environmental factors also play a role in the above process. This study provides new material and new ideas for further exploration of the impact of obesity on T2DM patients.

[Clostridium difficile infection and its susceptibility factors in children with inflammatory bowel disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence rates of Clostridium difficile colonization and Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the susceptibility factors for CDI in children with IBD. METHODS: A total of 62 children diagnosed with IBD were enrolled as the IBD group. Forty-two children who attended the hospital due to persistent or chronic diarrhea and were excluded from IBD were enrolled as the non-IBD group. The incidence rate of CDI was compared between the two groups. According to the presence or absence of CDI, the IBD group was subdivided into two groups:IBD+CDI (n=12) and non-CDI IBD (n=50), and the clinical data were collected from the two groups to analyze the susceptibility factors for CDI. RESULTS: The IBD group had a significantly higher incidence rate of CDI[19% (12/62) vs 2% (1/42); P < 0.05] than the non-IBD group (P < 0.05). Compared with the non-CDI IBD group, the IBD+CDI group had a significantly longer disease course (P < 0.05), and a significantly higher proportion of children with fever, diarrhea, or abdominal pain (P < 0.05). The IBD+CDI group had significantly higher activity indices of pediatric Crohn's disease, C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate than the non-CDI IBD group (P < 0.05). The univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-CDI IBD group, the IBD+CDI group had a significantly higher proportion of children with moderate-to-severe disease, use of glucocorticoids, or treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics for more than 14 days before diagnosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The children with IBD have a higher incidence of CDI than those without IBD. Severe disease conditions and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics or glucocorticoids may be associated with an increased incidence of CDI in children with IBD.

The cysteine protease ATG4B of Trichinella spiralis promotes larval invasion into the intestine of the host.

The cysteine proteases of parasites are vital contributors that induce parasite migration to and invasion of host tissue. In this study, we analysed the cysteine protease ATG4B of Trichinella spiralis (TsATG4B) isolated from the soluble proteins of Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) adult worms to ascertain its biochemical properties and functions during invasion into the intestine of the host. The 43 kDa recombinant cysteine protease ATG4B protein (rTsATG4B) consists of a conserved peptidase_C54 domain and was expressed in Escherichia coli. Gelatine zymography showed that rTsATG4B could hydrolyse gelatine and that the hydrolytic activity was prevented by the cysteine protease inhibitor E-64 (pH 5.2). Immunofluorescence assays showed that TsATG4B is expressed at different stages and is localized at the cuticles and stichosomes of worms. Far-Western blotting and confocal microscopy revealed that rTsATG4B interacts with intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and that it was subcellularly localized to the membrane and cytoplasm in IECs. Real­time quantitative PCR (qPCR) results indicated that the transcription level of the TsATG4B gene was the higher in 6-day-old adult worms (6 days AW) than in any other stage. An in vitro larval invasion assay verified that rTsATG4B promoted larval invasion and that invasion was inhibited when rTsATG4B was pre-incubated with E-64, whereas anti-rTsATG4B serum inhibited larval invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these results suggested that the enzymatic activity of TsATG4B significantly influences the hydrolysis process, which is necessary for larval invasion of the host intestinal epithelium.

Novel transcriptional responses to heat revealed by turning up the heat at night.

KEY MESSAGE: The circadian clock controls many molecular activities, impacting experimental interpretation. We quantify the genome-wide effects of time-of-day on the heat-shock response and the effects of "diurnal bias" in stress experiments. Heat stress has significant adverse effects on plant productivity worldwide. Most experiments examining heat stress are performed during daytime hours, generating a 'diurnal bias' in the pathways and regulatory mechanisms identified. Such bias may confound downstream interpretations and limit our understanding of the full response to heat stress. Here we show that the transcriptional and physiological responses to a sudden heat shock in Arabidopsis are profoundly sensitive to the time of day. We observe that plant tolerance and acclimation to heat shock vary throughout the day and are maximal at dusk. Consistently, over 75% of heat-responsive transcripts show a time of day-dependent response, including many previously characterized heat-response genes. This temporal sensitivity implies a complex interaction between time and temperature where daily variations in basal transcription influence thermotolerance. When we examined these transcriptional responses, we uncovered novel night-response genes and cis-regulatory elements, underpinning new aspects of heat stress responses not previously appreciated. Exploiting this temporal variation can be applied to most environmental responses to understand the underlying network wiring. Therefore, we propose that using time as a perturbagen is an approach that will enhance our understanding of plant regulatory networks and responses to environmental stresses.

Clinical and Genetic Study of Children With Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome Identifies a High Frequency of STK11 De Novo Mutation.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to identify the genotype-phenotype correlation in children with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS) through the analysis of STK11 gene mutations in the context of clinical and pathological characteristics. METHOD: In this observational cohort study, the clinical characteristics of 18 families diagnosed with pediatric PJS were collected. Genomic DNA from the peripheral blood of affected children and their family members was collected. The coding region of STK11 was amplified by PCR and screened for mutation by Sanger sequencing. The families that were negative for STK11 mutation were further assessed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). RESULT: Initial presentation in affected children was at 1.6 to 14.2 years and included anemia in 8 patients whereas 6 presented for screening by virtue of family history. All patients underwent endoscopy, colonoscopy, and polypectomy. Polyps were distributed throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the small intestine, stomach, colon, and rectum.In the 18 pediatric PJS families, STK11 mutations were detected in 8 families by Sanger sequencing, and large deletions were detected in 3 by MLPA, respectively. Nine of the 11 STK11 mutations were de novo, 3 were novel (c.419T>C:p.L140P, c.314T>G:p.L105X), and (c.488_489insACGG p.L164fs). CONCLUSIONS: Although the main clinical features of pediatric PJS were similar to those of PJS cases in adults, a high frequency of STK11 de novo mutations were encountered in our population of patients with PJS.

[Effect of glutamine-supplemented enteral nutrition on the apoptosis of colonic mucosal cells in young rats with inflammatory bowl disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of glutamine-supplemented enteral nutrition in regulating the apoptosis of intestinal mucosal cells and promoting mucosal healing in young rats with inflammatory bowl disease (IBD). METHODS: A total of 80 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4-5 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank control, IBD model, short peptide, and short peptide+glutamine (n=20 each). The IBD model was prepared by a single colon perfusion of 3-nitrobenzene sulfonic acid. At 3 days after modeling, the rats in the short peptide group were fed with short peptide formula (100 mL/kg), and those in the short peptide+glutamine group were fed with short peptide formula (100 mL/kg) and glutamine (0.5 g/kg). The course of intervention was 1 week. General conditions were observed after the experiment and their intestinal mucosal tissue was obtained. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological change of the intestinal mucosa. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of apoptosis-regulating genes (bax and bc1-2) and apoptotic signal transduction factors (Caspase-3 and Caspase-9) in the intestinal mucosa. Western blot was used to measure the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the colonic mucosa. RESULTS: The IBD model group had poorer general conditions than the other three groups (blank control, short peptide and short peptide+glutamine), and the short peptide+glutamine group had better general conditions than the IBD model and short peptide groups. The IBD model group had significantly higher mRNA expression of bax than the other three groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the mRNA expression of bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 among the 4 groups (P>0.05). The short peptide group had a significantly higher level of IGF-1 than the short peptide+glutamine, blank control and IBD model groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Glutamine-supplemented enteral nutrition can effectively improve the general nutritional status of young rats with IBD, but it is not better than exclusive enteral nutrition in inhibiting the apoptosis of colonic mucosal cells and stimulating the synthesis of IGF-1 in the intestinal mucosa.

Effects of dietary water-soluble extract of rosemary supplementation on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella.

This study was conducted to explore the effect of dietary supplementation of water-soluble extract of rosemary (WER) on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella (E. tenella), and evaluate the anticoccidial activity of WER. 360 1-d-old Chinese indigenous male yellow-feathered broiler chickens were randomly allocated to six groups: blank control (BC) group and infected control (IC) group received a basal diet; positive control (PC) group, received a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg diclazuril; WER100, WER200, and WER300 groups received a basal diet containing 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg WER, respectively. On day 21, all birds in the infected groups (IC, PC, WER100, WER200, and WER300) were orally gavaged with 1 mL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) of 8 × 104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella, and birds in the BC group were administrated an aliquot of PBS dilution. The results showed that dietary supplementation of 200 mg/kg WER increased the average daily gain of broilers compared to the IC group from days 22 to 29 (P < 0.001). The anticoccidial index values of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg WER were 137.49, 157.41, and 144.22, respectively, which indicated that WER exhibited moderate anticoccidial activity. Compared to the IC group, the groups supplemented with WER (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) significantly lowered fecal oocyst output (P < 0.001) and cecal coccidia oocysts, alleviated intestinal damage and maintained the integrity of intestinal epithelium. Dietary supplementation with WER significantly improved antioxidant capacity, elevated the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A, and diminished inflammation within the cecum, particularly at a dosage of 200 mg/kg. The results of this study indicated that dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg WER could improve broiler growth performance and alleviate intestinal damage caused by coccidiosis.

Avian coccidiosis, a prevalent parasitic disease caused by Eimeria protozoa, leads to significant economic losses in the global poultry industry. Currently, the control of coccidiosis in chickens primarily relies on chemical and ionophore anticoccidials. However, the long-term use of these compounds has resulted in the development of drug-resistant strains, presenting a critical challenge. Additionally, the toxic and side effects of ionophore anticoccidials have become increasingly apparent. Thus, there is an urgent need to find economical and environmentally friendly measures to control coccidiosis in chickens. In this study, we established a model of Eimeria tenella infection in broilers to explore whether the water-soluble extract of rosemary (WER) could serve as an alternative method for controlling avian coccidiosis. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with WER (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) had a beneficial anticoccidial effect, alleviating intestinal damage caused by coccidiosis by enhancing the intestinal antioxidant defense and activating the immune function of the infected broilers. Specifically, dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg WER emerged as a promising strategy for controlling avian coccidiosis in the poultry industry.

Development of an Efficient and Seamless Genetic Manipulation Method for Xenorhabdus and Its Application for Enhancing the Production of Fabclavines.

Xenorhabdus can produce numerous natural products, but their development has been hampered by the lack of a seamless genetic manipulation method. In this study, we compared several lethal genes and determined the sacB gene as the most effective counter-selection marker and then established a dual selection/counter-selection system by integrating neo and sacB genes into one cassette. This provides an efficient and seamless genetic manipulation method for Xenorhabdus. Using this method, DNA fragments ranging from 205 to 47,788 bp in length were seamlessly knocked out or replaced with impressively high positive rates of 80 to 100% in Xenorhabdus budapestensis XBD8. In addition, the method was successfully applied with good efficiency (45-100%) in Xenorhabdus nematophila CB6. To further validate the method, different constitutive promoters were used to replace the native fclC promoter in a batch experiment. The positivity rate remained consistently high, at 46.3%. In comparison to WT XBD8, the recombinant strain MX14 demonstrated a significant increase in the production of fabclavine 7 and fabclavine 8 by 4.97-fold and 3.22-fold, respectively, while the overall production of fabclavines was enhanced by 3.52-fold.

Testosterone maintains male longevity and female reproduction in Chrysopa pallens.

Vertebrate testosterone, an androgen present in the testes, is essential for male fertility. Vertebrate-type steroid hormones have been identified in insects, but their function remains unknown. Insect vitellogenin (Vg) is usually a female-specific protein involved in reproductive processes. However, males of some species, such as the green lacewing Chrysopa pallens, have Vg. Here, we demonstrated that the knockdown of C. pallens male Vg by RNAi significantly shortened the lifespan of males, suppressed the reproduction of post-mating females, and strikingly reduced the abundance of several immune-related compounds, including testosterone. LC-MS/MS revealed that C. pallens male testosterone had the same structure and molecular mass as vertebrate testosterone. Topical testosterone application partially restored the lifespan of Vg-deficient males and the reproduction of post-mating females. These results suggest that vertebrate-type testosterone maintains male longevity and female reproduction under the control of the male Vg in C. pallens.

Knickkopf (LmKnk) is required for chitin organization in the foregut of Locusta migratoria.

The foregut, located at the front of the digestive tract, serves a vital role in insects by storing and grinding food into small particles. The innermost layer of the foregut known as the chitinous intima, comes into direct contact with the food and acts as a protective barrier against abrasive particles. Knickkopf (Knk) is required for chitin organization in the chitinous exoskeleton, tracheae and wings. Despite its significance, little is known about the biological function of Knk in the foregut. In this study, we found that LmKnk was stably expressed in the foregut, and highly expressed before molting in Locusta migratoria. To ascertain the biological function of LmKnk in the foregut, we synthesized specific double-stranded LmKnk (dsLmKnk) and injected it into locusts. Our findings showed a significant decrease in the foregut size, along with reduced food intake and accumulation of residues in the foregut after dsLmKnk injection. Morphological observations revealed that newly formed intima became thinner and lacked chitin lamella. Furthermore, fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that LmKnk was located in the apical region of new intima and epithelial cells. Taken together, this study provides insights into the biological function of LmKnk in the foregut, and identifies the potential target gene for exploring biological pest management strategies.

Advances in molecularly imprinted materials for selective adsorption of phenolic pollutants from the water environment: Synthesis, applications, and improvement.

The application of molecularly imprinted material (MIM) is widely employed as a material for removing phenolic pollutants from the water environment, owing to its exceptional capacity for selective adsorption and high sensitivity. In this paper, the preparation principle, bonding types, and preparation methods of MIM have been comprehensively introduced. Meanwhile, according to the binding type of MIM with phenolic pollutants, three categories of hydroxyl bonding, hydroxyl carboxyl bonding, and hydroxyl nitro bonding were carried out to explain its application to phenolic pollutants. Strategies for addressing the challenges of selective instability, high regeneration costs, and template leakage in MIM applications were summarized. These strategies encompassed the introduction of superior carriers, enhancements in preparation processes, and the utilization of molecular dynamics simulation-assisted technology. Finally, the prospects in the three aspects of material preparation, process coupling, and recycling. In summary, this paper has demonstrated the potential of utilizing MIM for the selective treatment of phenolic pollutants from the water environment.

EFHD2 suppresses intestinal inflammation by blocking intestinal epithelial cell TNFR1 internalization and cell death.

TNF acts as one pathogenic driver for inducing intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) death and substantial intestinal inflammation. How the IEC death is regulated to physiologically prevent intestinal inflammation needs further investigation. Here, we report that EF-hand domain-containing protein D2 (EFHD2), highly expressed in normal intestine tissues but decreased in intestinal biopsy samples of ulcerative colitis patients, protects intestinal epithelium from TNF-induced IEC apoptosis. EFHD2 inhibits TNF-induced apoptosis in primary IECs and intestinal organoids (enteroids). Mice deficient of Efhd2 in IECs exhibit excessive IEC death and exacerbated experimental colitis. Mechanistically, EFHD2 interacts with Cofilin and suppresses Cofilin phosphorylation, thus blocking TNF receptor I (TNFR1) internalization to inhibit IEC apoptosis and consequently protecting intestine from inflammation. Our findings deepen the understanding of EFHD2 as the key regulator of membrane receptor trafficking, providing insight into death receptor signals and autoinflammatory diseases.

Rapid, sensitive, and visual detection of swine Japanese encephalitis virus with a one-pot RPA-CRISPR/EsCas13d-based dual readout portable platform.

Japanese encephalitis (JE), a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), poses a serious threat to global public health. The low viremia levels typical in JEV infections make RNA detection challenging, necessitating early and rapid diagnostic methods for effective control and prevention. This study introduces a novel one-pot detection method that combines recombinant enzyme polymerase isothermal amplification (RPA) with CRISPR/EsCas13d targeting, providing visual fluorescence and lateral flow assay (LFA) results. Our portable one-pot RPA-EsCas13d platform can detect as few as two copies of JEV nucleic acid within 1 h, without cross-reactivity with other pathogens. Validation against clinical samples showed 100 % concordance with real-time PCR results, underscoring the method's simplicity, sensitivity, and specificity. This efficacy confirms the platform's suitability as a novel point-of-care testing (POCT) solution for detecting and monitoring the JE virus in clinical and vector samples, especially valuable in remote and resource-limited settings.

Preparation and Performance of Multilayer Si-B-C-N/Diamond-like Carbon Gradient Films.

Si-B-C-N/diamond-like carbon (DLC) gradient films with different layers were prepared on a glass substrate by radio frequency magnetron sputtering, and the structure and surface morphology of the resulting films were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The mechanical and optical properties of the films were studied using a multifunctional material mechanical testing system, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and micro-Vickers hardness tester. The gradient structure promotes the formation of sp3 bonds and improves the hardness and optical transmittance of the resulting films. Among the prepared films, the single-layer Si-B-C-N/DLC gradient film shows the highest optical transmittance (97%). Film-substrate adherence is strengthened by the introduction of the gradient structure. The best adhesion was obtained with a double-layer Si-B-C-N/DLC gradient film. Suitable anti-wear properties were exhibited in both dry (0.18) and wet (0.07) conditions. In this paper, evaluation of the microstructural, optical, and mechanical properties of the films could provide new insights into improvements in the bonding force of glass-based DLC films and enrich the experimental data of DLC multilayer film systems.