C-type lectin (CTL) and sialic acid-binding lectin (SABL) from Venerupis philippinarum: Function on PAMP binding and opsonic activities in immune responses.

Lectins are a superfamily of carbohydrate-recognition proteins that bind to specific carbohydrate structures and play significant roles in immune recognition and clearance of invaders. In the study, we investigated the potential mechanisms of PAMP binding and opsonic activities of a c-type lectin and a sialic acid-binding lectin from manila clam Venerupis philippinarum (designed as VpCTL and VpSABL). Both recombinant proteins (rVpCTL and rVpSABL) could bind LPS, PGN, glucan and zymosan in vitro. Coinciding with the PAMPs binding assay, a broad agglutination spectrum was displayed by rVpSABL including gram-positive bacteria Staphyloccocus aureus, gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, Pseudomonas putida, Proteus mirabilis and fungi Pichia pastoris, while no agglutinative activities on P. mirabilis and P. putida was observed in rVpCTL. Moreover, the phagocytosis and encapsulation ability of hemocytes could be significantly enhanced by rVpCTL and rVpSABL. More remarkable, VpCTL and VpSABL were highly detected in all the examined tissues, especially in gills and hepatopancreas. All the results showed that VpCTL and VpSABL could function as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) with distinct recognition spectrum, perhaps involved in the innate immune responses of V. philippinarum.

The complete mitochondrial genome of marine gastropod Sydaphera spengleriana (Deshayes, 1830) (Neogastropoda: Cancellariidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Sydaphera spengleriana was characterized for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,336 bp including a standard set of 13 protein-coding (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The overall nucleotides base composition of the heavy strand is A (26.44%), G (19.89%), C (13.25%), and T (40.41%), with an A + T bias (66.85%). With the exception of eight tRNA genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. The mitogenomic phylogenetic relationships indicated that S. spengleriana was clustered with Bivetiella cancellata within the family Cancellariidae clade with a high bootstrap value.

Synergistical Performance Modification of Epoxy Resin by Nanofillers and Carboxyl-Terminated Liquid Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber.

Epoxy composite materials are widely used in power equipment. As the voltage level increases, the requirement of material properties, including electrical, thermal, and mechanical, has also increased. Introducing thermally conductive nanofiller to the epoxy/liquid rubber composites system is an effective approach to improve heat performance, but the effects of thermally conductive nanofillers on relaxation characteristics remain unclarified. In this paper, nano-alumina (nano-Al2O3) and nano-boron nitride (nano-BN) have been employed to modify the epoxy/carboxyl-terminated liquid nitrile-butadiene rubber (epoxy/CTBN) composites system. The thermal conductivity and glass transition temperature of different formula systems have been measured. The effect of the nanofillers on the relaxation behaviors of the resin matrix has been investigated. Results show that the different kinds of nanofillers will introduce different relaxation processes into the matrix and increase the conductivity at the same time. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the synergistic improvement of multiple properties of epoxy resin composites.

Adsorption and desorption mechanisms on graphene oxide nanosheets: Kinetics and tuning.

A knowledge of the adsorption and desorption behavior of sorbates on surface adsorptive site (SAS) is the key to optimizing the chemical reactivity of catalysts. However, direct identification of the chemical reactivity of SASs is still a challenge due to the limitations of characterization techniques. Here, we present a new pathway to determine the kinetics of adsorption/desorption on SASs of graphene oxide (GO) based on total internal reflectance fluorescence microscopy. The switching on and off of the fluorescent signal of SAS lit by carbon dots (CDs) was used to trace the adsorption process and desorption process. We find that sodium pyrophosphate (PPi) could increase the adsorption equilibrium of CDs thermodynamically and promote the substrate-assisted desorption pathway kinetically. At the single turnover level, it was disclosed that the species that can promote desorption may also be an adsorption promoter. Such discovery provides significant guidance for improving the chemical reactivity of the heterogeneous catalyst.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the green alga Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3077 (Watanabea clade, Trebouxiophyceae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3077 was determined in this study. The circular genome was 90,774 bp in length with the GC content of 38.8%. It contained 30 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and 2 ribosome RNA (rRNA) genes. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 8 mitochondrial genomes of Trebouxiophyceae indicated that Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3077 grouped with Chlorellales.

Bile cell­free DNA as a novel and powerful liquid biopsy for detecting somatic variants in biliary tract cancer.

Tissue sampling of biliary tract carcinomas (BTCs) for molecular characterization is challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of identifying individual actionable mutations derived from bile cell­free DNA (cfDNA) using targeted deep sequencing. Ten BTC patients, four with gallbladder carcinomas and six with cholangiocarcinomas, were enrolled in the present study. Using targeted deep sequencing with a panel of 150 tumor­related genes, paired bile cfDNA and tumor DNA were analyzed for mutational variants individually and then compared. The present study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to reveal that bile cfDNA is predominantly comprised of long DNA fragments, which is not the case for plasma cfDNA. Herein, paired bile cfDNA and tumors from ten BTC patients were examined using targeted deep sequencing. When comparing bile cfDNA and tumor DNA for single nucleotide variation (SNV)/insertion and deletion (Indel), the results using targeted deep sequencing revealed high sensitivity (94.7%) and specificity (99.9%). Additionally, the sensitivity of detecting a copy number variation (CNV) was 75.0%, with a specificity of 98.9%. When comparing two bile extraction methods, including percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage and operation, no significant difference in SNV/Indel or CNV detection sensitivity was noted. Moreover, when examining the tumor stage and incidence site, AJCC stage II and the distal bile duct both had significantly decreased CNV detection sensitivities. The present study revealed that targeted deep sequencing can reliably detect mutational variants within bile cfDNA obtained from BTC patients. These preliminary results may shed light on bile cfDNA as a promising liquid biopsy for BTC patients.

[Relationships between soil microbial ecological characteristics and physical-chemical properties of vegetable garden soil].

The study on the 64 vegetable garden soil samples in the Baiyuan District of Guangzhou City showed that there were significantly positive correlations of soil microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) with soil total N, alkali-hydrolygable N, available K, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and organic matter (OM), of soil microbial biomass nitrogen (Nmic) with soil total N, total P, CEC and OM, of soil basal respiration (SBR) with soil total N, alkali-hydrolygable N, available K, CEC and OM, of AWCD with soil total N and OM, and of Shannon diversity index with soil total N and CEC. Low alkali-hydrolygable N increased Cmic SBR, and metabolic quotient (qCO2), while high alkali-hydrolygable N decreased qCO2. High available P decreased Cmic, Nmic and microbial quotient, and a high ratio of available P to alkali-hydrolygable N was related to the decrease of Cmic, Nmic, Cmic/Nmic and SBR. It was suggested that there were significant correlations between soil microbial ecological characteristics and physico-chemical properties, and excessive available nutrients or inappropriate ratios of alkali-hydrolygable N to available P in soil were harmful to soil microbes.