Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films on Flexible Substrates with Excellent Bending Resistance and Spacing Stability.

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are very attractive due to their electrically switchable properties. However, current PDLC films still have problems such as high driving voltages, low contrast ratio (CR), and poor bending resistance and spacing stability. To solve these problems, a PDLC film with a system of coexisting polymer spacer columns and polymer network was proposed. First, based on the adhesive systems of IBMA and UV6301, the effects of IBMA concentration and LC content on the morphology of the polymer network and the electro-optical properties of PDLC were investigated, respectively. Then, the effects of the process conditions of mask polymerization such as temperature, time, and UV light intensity on the morphology and electro-optical properties of the polymer spacer columns were systematically investigated. It was found that PDLC films with the coexistence system exhibit both excellent electro-optical properties and outstanding bending resistance and spacing stability. Thus, it provides new practical possibilities for the preparation of high-performance PDLC films used in flexible devices.

A bistable cholesteric liquid crystal film stabilized by a liquid-crystalline epoxy/thiol compound-based polymer.

Bistable cholesteric liquid crystals have promising application prospects in various fields, such as smart windows and displays. However, the long-term stability of two individual states is not easy to achieve, hindering their practical use. In this research, the bistable feature was enhanced by constructing a microsphere-type polymer with a liquid-crystalline epoxy/thiol monomer in negative dielectric anisotropic cholesteric liquid crystals. Spectroscopic and optical examinations revealed that either the transparent planar state or the opaque focal conic state can be maintained without the aid of an external field. Moreover, they can be switched to each other by applying a high- or low-frequency electric field. Further, factors such as the chemical structure of thiol compounds, curing temperature and curing time were investigated to explore their influences on the micro morphology of the polymer and thereby the electro-optical properties. In addition, the frequency-dependent driving scheme was analysed. Finally, bistable switching was demonstrated using an optimized sample. This energy-efficient bistable film shines light on future applications in smart windows, photonic paper and other electro-optical devices.

Acridone-Based Host Materials for Green Phosphorescent and Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent OLEDs with Low-Efficiency Roll-Offs.

By linking the carbazole unit to the nitrogen atom of acridone through phenyl or pyridyl, two compounds, named 10-(4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)acridin-9(10H)-one (AC-Ph-Cz) and 10-(5-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)pyridin-2-yl)acridin-9(10H)-one (AC-Py-Cz) were designed and synthesized. These two materials, characterized with highly twisted and rigid structure, good thermal stability, and balanced carrier-transporting properties, were employed as host materials for green phosphorescent and thermally activated delayed fluorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The carbazole group, despite its small contribution to the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) of these two materials, plays an essential role as an intramolecular host in energy delivering and improving the hole transporting ability of these two hosts. The incorporation of the electron-deficient pyridyl group as a linking group slightly improves the electron transporting capability of AC-Py-Cz. The green phosphorescent OLED (PhOLED) based on AC-Py-Cz exhibited excellent device performance with a turn-on voltage of 2.5 V, a maximum power efficiency and an external quantum efficiency (ηext ) of 89.8 lm W-1 and 25.2 %, respectively, benefitting from the better charge-balancing ability of AC-Py-Cz host due to the presence of the pyridyl bridge. More importantly, all the devices based on these two hosts showed low efficiency roll-off at high brightness due to the suppressed non-radiative transition in the emitting layer. In particular, the AC-Py-Cz-hosted green PhOLED exhibited an efficiency roll-off of 1.6 % from the maximum next at a high brightness of 1000 cd m-2 and a roll-off of 15.9 % at an extremely high brightness of 10000 cd m-2 . This study manifests that acridone-based host materials have great potential in fabricating OLEDs with low efficiency roll-off.

Preparation of Polyphenylene Ring Derivative Dyes with Wide Wave Absorption Properties and Their Performance Study.

Some conjugated benzene ring molecules were prepared using the Sonogashira reaction, and the molecules were post-functionally modified using click chemistry. The optical and electrical band gaps were measured using UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy and the three-electrode method, and the results of both were verified against each other to prove the accuracy of the characterization. In addition, the optical performances of the material were studied by z-scan; almost all materials exhibited good nonlinear optical properties and interconversion between saturable and anti-saturable absorption due to the invocation of click reagents.

Silicon nanostructure-doped polymer/nematic liquid crystal composites for low voltage-driven smart windows.

In this work, two silicon nanostructures were doped into polymer/nematic liquid crystal composites to regulate the electric-optical performance. Commercial SiO2nanoparticles and synthesized thiol polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS-SH) were chosen as the dopants to afford the silicon nanostructures. SiO2nanoparticles were physically dispersed in the composites and the nanostructure from POSS-SH was implanted into the polymer matrix of the composites via photoinduced thiol-ene crosslinking. Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the implantation of POSS microstructure into the polymer matrix was conducive to obtaining the uniform porous polymer microstructures in the composites while the introduction of SiO2nanoparticles led to the loose and heterogeneous polymer morphologies. The electric-optical performance test results also demonstrated that the electric-optical performance regulation effect of POSS microstructure was more obvious than that of SiO2nanoparticles. The driving voltage was reduced by almost 80% if the concentration of POSS-SH in the composite was nearly 8 wt% and the sample could be completely driven by the electric field whose voltage was lower than the safe voltage for continuous contact (24 V). This work could provide a creative approach for the regulation of electric-optical performance for polymer/nematic liquid crystal composites and the fabrication of low voltage-driven PDLC films for smart windows.

Fabrication and characterization of dissolving microneedles for transdermal drug delivery of allopurinol.

Allopurinol (AP) is the first line drug in treating hyperuricemia and gout in clinical by oral drug delivery, which is associated with severe adverse effects and the hepatic first-pass effect. Herein, we first proposed AP encapsulated dissolving microneedles (DMNs) for transdermal drug delivery to realize the sustained drug release and avoid the hepatic first-pass effect, which will help to reduce the adverse effects and improve the bioavailability of AP. DMNs were fabricated by a suspension solution casting method with precisely controlled dose. They had sufficient mechanical strength to penetrate through the skin and resulted in the formation of hundreds of micropores in skin. The results of in vitro and ex vivo release experiments demonstrated that the release profile of DMNs was independent with the dose of AP, and they indeed had much higher drug delivery efficiency (DDE) than the equal amount of AP in solutions. In vivo DDE reached to 38.9% within 1 h, and the drug residual can be served as a drug reservoir for sustained drug release. The result of pharmacodynamic study further confirmed that the sustained release and the anti-hyperuricemia effect of DMNs encapsulating AP were achieved. Moreover, transepidermal water loss significantly increased to 49.50 ± 3.82 g/m2·h after the application of DMNs and returned to normal levels (12.25 ± 0.21 g/m2·h) after 8 h, indicating that the DMNs were well tolerated. These results suggest that transdermal drug delivery of AP by using DMNs is an efficient and safe alternative to currently available routes of administration.

Investigation on Fluorescence Quenching Mechanism of Perylene Diimide Dyes by Graphene Oxide.

Perylene diimide derivatives were used as probes to investigate the effect of the molecular structures on the fluorescence quenching mechanism in a perylene diimide/graphene oxide system. The electrons transferred from the excited state of dyes to the conductive band of graphene oxide with different concentrations were determined by fluorescence spectra. The results indicated that the quenching efficiency of perylene diimides by graphene oxide was not only dependent on the difference between the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of dyes and the conduction band of the graphene oxide, but also mainly on the difference in the molecular structures.

Inhibition of Xanthine Oxidase by 4-nitrocinnamic Acid: In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations and Docking Simulations.

Background: Cinnamic acid and its derivatives have gained significant attention in recent medicinal research due to their broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. However, the effects of these compounds on xanthine oxidase (XO) have not been systematically investigated, and the inhibitory mechanism remains unclear.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to screen 18 compounds and identify the XO inhibitor with the strongest inhibitory effect. Furthermore, we aimed to study the inhibitory mechanism of the identified compound.

Methods: The effects of the inhibitors on XO were evaluated using kinetic analysis, docking simulations, and in vivo study. Among the compounds tested, 4-NA was discovered as the first XO inhibitor and exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects, with an IC50 value of 23.02 ± 0.12 µmol/L. The presence of the nitro group in 4-NA was found to be essential for enhancing XO inhibition. The kinetic study revealed that 4-NA inhibited XO in a reversible and noncompetitive manner. Moreover, fluorescence spectra analysis demonstrated that 4-NA could spontaneously form complexes with XO, referred to as 4-NA-XO complexes, with the negative values of △H and ΔS.

Results: This suggests that hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces play crucial roles in the binding process. Molecular docking studies further supported the kinetic analysis and provided insight into the optimal binding conformation, indicating that 4-NA is located at the bottom outside the catalytic center through the formation of three hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, animal studies confirmed that the inhibitory effects of 4-NA on XO resulted in a significant reduction of serum uric acid level in hyperuricemia mice.

Conclusion: This work elucidates the mechanism of 4-NA inhibiting XO, paving the way for the development of new XO inhibitors.

Effects of Peanut Rust Disease (Puccinia arachidis Speg.) on Agricultural Production: Current Control Strategies and Progress in Breeding for Resistance.

Peanuts play a pivotal role as an economic crop on a global scale, serving as a primary source of both edible oil and protein. Peanut rust (Puccinia arachidis Speg.) disease constitutes a significant global biotic stress, representing a substantial economic threat to the peanut industry by inducing noteworthy reductions in seed yields and compromising oil quality. This comprehensive review delves into the distinctive characteristics and detrimental symptoms associated with peanut rust, scrutinizing its epidemiology and the control strategies that are currently implemented. Notably, host resistance emerges as the most favored strategy due to its potential to surmount the limitations inherent in other approaches. The review further considers the recent advancements in peanut rust resistance breeding, integrating the use of molecular marker technology and the identification of rust resistance genes. Our findings indicate that the ongoing refinement of control strategies, especially through the development and application of immune or highly resistant peanut varieties, will have a profound impact on the global peanut industry.

Xanthine oxidase inhibitory kinetics and mechanism of ellagic acid: In vitro, in silico and in vivo studies.

Ellagic acid (EA), which is widely distributed in many foods, has been found to possess inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase (XO). However, there is ongoing debate about the difference in XO inhibitory activity between EA and allopurinol. Additionally, the inhibitory kinetics and mechanism of EA on XO are still unclear. Herein, the authors systematically studied the inhibitory effects of EA on XO. The authors' findings showed that EA is a reversible inhibitor with mixed-type inhibition, and its inhibitory activity is weaker than allopurinol. Fluorescence quenching experiments suggested that the generation of EA-XO complex was exothermic and spontaneous. In silico analysis further confirmed that EA entered the XO catalytic centre. Furthermore, the authors verified the anti-hyperuricemia effect of EA in vivo. This study elucidates the inhibition kinetics and mechanism of EA on XO, and lays a theoretical foundation for the further development of drugs and functional foods containing EA for the treatment of hyperuricemia.

Predictive Value of Skeletal Muscle Function Test Combined with Climbing Test for Postoperative Cardiopulmonary Complications in Patients with COPD and Concurrent Lung Cancer.

Purpose: To explore the predictive value of skeletal muscle function measurement combined with stair climbing test for postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods: A prospective study was conducted from June 2022 to July 2023 at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, including 335 COPD patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery. The patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications: the complication group and the non-complication group. The demographic data, including gender, age, smoking history, quadriceps strength, body mass index (BMI), respiratory muscle strength, 6-minute walk test (6MWD), stair climbing test, and preoperative pulmonary function tests, were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive power of each parameter for postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. Results: Among the enrolled patients, 103 (30.7%) developed postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of quadriceps strength, respiratory muscle strength, 6MWD, smoking history, stair climbing test, DLCO%, FEV1%, heart rate, oxygen saturation, surgical duration, surgical approach, resection range, and blood loss (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that respiratory muscle strength, quadriceps strength, stair climbing test, FEV1%, DLCO%, ΔHR, ΔSPO2, surgical approach were identified as risk factors for postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in patients with COPD and lung cancer. Conclusion: Skeletal muscle function measurement, stair climbing test, FEV1, surgical approach, and DLCO% can serve as assessment tools for surgical risk in patients with COPD and lung cancer. They can predict the occurrence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications to a certain extent, providing valuable predictive value for these complications in patients with COPD and NSCLC.

Luminescence regulation of lanthanide-doped nanorods in chiral photonic cellulose nanocrystal films.

A new design for chiral photonic cellulose nanocrystal films was developed by co-assembling lanthanide-doped nanorods (NRs) into chiral cellulose nanocrystals, in which the photonic band gap (PBG) could be tuned in the visible range by changing the mass fraction of flexible agents, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and ethylene glycol (EG). Due to the PBG effect, the luminescence modulation in such nanocrystal films had been realized. The down-conversion luminescence from NaGd30Y60F4:5%Tb3+, 5%Eu3+ NRs and up-conversion luminescence from NaGd40Y40F4:18%Yb3+, 2%Er3+ NRs could be enhanced by 28 % and 18 % respectively, on account of the band edge effect. The luminescence would be inhibited when the luminescence overlapped with the stop band of the PBG. These results implied that the biocompatible photonic cellulose nanocrystal films are ideally suited for applications in optical coding, optical resonators and biocompatible lasers.

Eco-friendly cellulose-based hydrogel functionalized by NIR-responsive multimodal antibacterial polymeric ionic liquid as platform for promoting wound healing.

With the trend of sustainable development and the complex medical environment, there is a strong demand for multimodal antibacterial cellulose wound dressing (MACD) with photothermal therapy (PTT). Herein, a novel MACD fabrication strategy with PTT was proposed and implemented through graft polymerization of an imidazolium ionic liquid monomer containing iron complex anion structure. The fabricated hydrogels exhibited excellent antibacterial properties because of the efficient photothermal conversion ability (68.67 %) of ionic liquids and the intrinsic structural characteristic of quaternary ammonium salts. The antibacterial ratio of cellulosic hydrogel dressings to S. aureus and E. coli could reach 99.57 % and 99.16 %, respectively. Additionally, the fabricated hydrogels demonstrated extremely low hemolysis rates (<5 %) and excellent cell viability (~>85 %). Furthermore, in vivo antibacterial experimental results proved that the fabricated antibacterial dressings could significantly accelerate wound healing. Therefore, the proposed strategy would provide a new method of designing and preparing high-performance cellulose wound dressings.

High-performance functional cellulose foam fabricated with theoretically optimized imidazolium salts for the efficient removal of ciprofloxacin.

With the increasing requirements for sustainable development and environmental protection, the design and development of bio-adsorbent based on the widely sourced cellulose have attracted widespread attention. In this study, a polymeric imidazolium satls (PIMS) functionalized cellulose foam (CF@PIMS) was conveniently fabricated. It was then employed to efficiently remove ciprofloxacin (CIP). Three imidazolium salts containing phenyl groups that can lead to multiple interactions with CIP were elaborately designed and then screened through a combination of molecular simulation and removal experiments to acquire the most significant binding ability of CF@PIMS. Besides, the CF@PIMS retained the well-defined 3D network structure as well as high porosity (90.3 %) and total intrusion volume (6.05 mL g-1) as the original cellulose foam (CF). Therefore, the adsorption capacity of CF@PIMS reached an astonishing value of 736.9 mg g-1, nearly 10 times that of the CF. Furthermore, the pH-affected and ionic strength-affected adsorption experiments confirmed that the non-electrostatic interaction took on a critical significance in the adsorption. The reusability experiments showed that the recovery efficiency of CF@PIMS was higher than 75 % after 10 adsorption cycles. Thus, a high-potential method was proposed in terms of the design and preparation of functionalized bio-adsorbent to remove waste matters from samples of the environment.

Estradiol and Benzo[a]pyrene Co-Exposure Contributes to Lung Cancer Cell A549 Proliferation through AHR/AKT/ERK1/2 Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Estrogen may have a certain role in promoting lung cancer caused by tobacco. Our understanding of the carcinogenic effects and mechanisms of carcinogen mixture estrogen is limited and mostly relies on the findings from studying individual factors. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, an in-vitro study was used to investigate the effects of 17 ß-estradiol (E2) on benzo[a]pyrene (Bap)-induced lung cancer cell A549 proliferation. RESULTS: We first found that E2 was increased in serum samples from lung adenocarcinoma cancer (LUAD) patients, even to a small extent. We found that Bap could enhance colony formation ability, up-regulate proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expression, induce cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis in A549 cells. E2 promoted these effects of Bap. Moreover, E2 and Bap co-exposure promoted lung cancer cell proliferation by activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)/protein kinase B (AKT)/extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) signaling pathway. Inhibition of the AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways suppressed E2 and Bap co-exposure's effect on A549 cells proliferation and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, we conclude that E2 could promote the proliferative and antiapoptotic effects of Bap on A549 cells, and activation of the AHR/AKT/ERK1/2 pathway may be involved in this process.

Artificial Intelligence Pulse Coupled Neural Network Algorithm in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Sepsis Complicated with Acute Kidney Injury under Ultrasound Image.

The objective of this study was to explore the diagnosis of severe sepsis complicated with acute kidney injury (AKI) by ultrasonic image information based on the artificial intelligence pulse coupled neural network (PCNN) algorithm. In this study, an algorithm of ultrasonic image information enhancement based on the artificial intelligence PCNN was constructed and compared with the histogram equalization algorithm and linear transformation algorithm. After that, it was applied to the ultrasonic image diagnosis of 20 cases of severe sepsis combined with AKI in hospital. The condition of each patient was diagnosed by ultrasound image performance, change of renal resistance index (RRI), ultrasound score, and receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. It was found that the histogram distribution of this algorithm was relatively uniform, and the information of each gray level was obviously retained and enhanced, which had the best effect in this algorithm; there was a marked individual difference in the values of RRI. Overall, the values of RRI showed a slight upward trend after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The RRI was taken as the dependent variable, time as the fixed-effect model, and patients as the random effect; the parameter value of time was between 0.012 and 0.015, p=0.000 < 0.05. Besides, there was no huge difference in the ultrasonic score among different time measurements (t = 1.348 and p=0.128 > 0.05). The area under the ROC curve of the RRI for the diagnosis of AKI at the 2nd day, 4th day, and 6th day was 0.758, 0.841, and 0.856, respectively, which was all greater than 0.5 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the proposed algorithm in this study could significantly enhance the amount of information in ultrasound images. In addition, the change of RRI values measured by ultrasound images based on the artificial intelligence PCNN was associated with AKI.

Novel Dealloying-Fabricated NiS/NiO Nanoparticles with Superior Cycling Stability for Supercapacitors.

NiS/NiO nanoparticles are successfully fabricated through a simple dealloying method and an ion-exchange process. X-ray diffraction demonstrates the existence of NiO and NiS phases, and scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy imply the nanopore distribution nature and the nanoparticle morphology of the produced material. The electrochemical behaviors are studied by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. The NiS/NiO electrode shows an enhanced specific capacitance of 1260 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1. The NiS/NiO//AC device provides a maximum energy density of 17.42 W h kg-1, a high power density of 4000 W kg-1, and a satisfactory cycling performance of 93% capacitance retention after 30,000 cycles.

Application and significance of PiCCO monitoring technique combined with troponin I detection in fluid resuscitation of elderly patients with septic myocardial dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to demonstrate the predictive value of Pulse indicate Contour Cardiac Output (PiCCO) monitoring technique combined with troponin I (cTnI) detection in septic myocardial dysfunction (SMD) of the elderly. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen elderly patients with SMD treated in our hospital from March 2016 to September 2019 were enrolled and allocated into the joint group (JG; 64 cases) for capacity management of fluid resuscitation under the guidance of PiCCO monitoring technique and cTnI detection, and the control group (CG; 55 cases) for conventional capacity management. Clinical indicators, hemodynamics, improvement of myocardial injury markers and inflammatory factors 6 h and 36 h post intervention, fluid balance 6 h, 12 h and 36 h post intervention, drug consumption (norepinephrine), treatment effect and 28-day hospitalization mortality were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After resuscitation, the urine volume per hour and the fluid resuscitation volume were higher while the blood lactic acid (BLA) expression was lower in JG as compared to CG. JG presented a remarkably lower central venous pressure (CVP) than CG after resuscitation, with notably higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2). In comparison with CG, JG displayed dramatically lower cTnI and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) 6 h and 36 h post intervention, as well as evidently reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). After 36 h of intervention, the fluid balance was evidently lower in JG than in CG. JG showed statistically less use of norepinephrine, less time of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay, and noticeably lower incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), as well as dramatically lower 28-day hospitalization mortality than CG post intervention. CONCLUSIONS: PiCCO monitoring technique combined with cTnI detection is high-performing in fluid resuscitation of elderly patients with SMD, which can meliorate the myocardial function of patients, reduce medication and facilitate disease recovery.

Increased risk of cerebrovascular accident related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis.

Recent published studies on the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) risk have yielded conflicting findings. The aim of our study was to identify the potential association by pooling all available publications. A total of nine independent studies were included into our study. The pooled odd ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated to weigh the strength for the relationship between NAFLD and CVA risk. We also conducted stratified analyses by study design, ethnicity and disease classification for further elucidation. The pooled results of the present meta-analysis showed that NAFLD was related to increased risk of CVA (OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.84-2.93, P < 0.001). Besides, NAFLD is associated with increased risk of CVA among both Caucasians (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.77-2.90, P < 0.001) and Asians (OR = 2.81, 95% CI 1.43-5.51, P = 0.003). Moreover, the significant association was also observed in case-control studies (OR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.67-4.48, P < 0.001) and cohort studies (OR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.71-2.89, P < 0.001), respectively. In addition, NAFLD was shown to correlate with increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.05-3.27, P = 0.034) and the ischemic stroke (OR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.92-3.28, P < 0.001). In conclusion, our findings firstly provide strong evidence for a risk effect of NAFLD on CVA development.

Lipid A Has Significance for Optimal Growth of Coxiella burnetii in Macrophage-Like THP-1 Cells and to a Lesser Extent in Axenic Media and Non-phagocytic Cells.

Lipid A is an essential basal component of lipopolysaccharide of most Gram-negative bacteria. Inhibitors targeting LpxC, a conserved enzyme in lipid A biosynthesis, are antibiotic candidates against Gram-negative pathogens. Here we report the characterization of the role of lipid A in Coxiella burnetii growth in axenic media, monkey kidney cells (BGMK and Vero), and macrophage-like THP-1 cells by using a potent LpxC inhibitor -LPC-011. We first determined the susceptibility of C. burnetii LpxC to LPC-011 in a surrogate E. coli model. In E. coli, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of LPC-011 against C. burnetii LpxC is < 0.05 µg/mL, a value lower than the inhibitor's MIC against E. coli LpxC. Considering the inhibitor's problematic pharmacokinetic properties in vivo and Coxiella's culturing time up to 7 days, the stability of LPC-011 in cell cultures was assessed. We found that regularly changing inhibitor-containing media was required for sustained inhibition of C. burnetii LpxC in cells. Under inhibitor treatment, Coxiella has reduced growth yields in axenic media and during replication in non-phagocytic cells, and has a reduced number of productive vacuoles in such cells. Inhibiting lipid A biosynthesis in C. burnetii by the inhibitor was shown in a phase II strain transformed with chlamydial kdtA. This exogenous KdtA enzyme modifies Coxiella lipid A with an α-Kdo-(2 → 8)-α-Kdo epitope that can be detected by anti-chlamydia genus antibodies. In inhibitor-treated THP-1 cells, Coxiella shows severe growth defects characterized by poor vacuole formation and low growth yields. Coxiella progenies prepared from inhibitor-treated cells retain the capability of normally infecting all tested cells in the absence of the inhibitor, which suggests a dispensable role of lipid A for infection and early vacuole development. In conclusion, our data suggest that lipid A has significance for optimal development of Coxiella-containing vacuoles, and for robust multiplication of C. burnetii in macrophage-like THP-1 cells. Unlike many bacteria, C. burnetii replication in axenic media and non-phagocytic cells was less dependent on normal lipid A biosynthesis.