The Potential of Trichoderma-Mediated Nanotechnology Application in Sustainable Development Scopes.

The environmental impact of industrial development has been well-documented. The use of physical and chemical methods in industrial development has negative consequences for the environment, raising concerns about the sustainability of this approach. There is a growing need for advanced technologies that are compatible with preserving the environment. The use of fungi products for nanoparticle (NP) synthesis is a promising approach that has the potential to meet this need. The genus Trichoderma is a non-pathogenic filamentous fungus with a high degree of genetic diversity. Different strains of this genus have a variety of important environmental, agricultural, and industrial applications. Species of Trichoderma can be used to synthesize metallic NPs using a biological method that is environmentally friendly, low cost, energy saving, and non-toxic. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of Trichoderma metabolism in the synthesis of metallic NPs. We discuss the different metabolic pathways involved in NP synthesis, as well as the role of metabolic metabolites in stabilizing NPs and promoting their synergistic effects. In addition, the future perspective of NPs synthesized by extracts of Trichoderma is discussed, as well as their potential applications in biomedicine, agriculture, and environmental health.

Microplastics drive microbial assembly, their interactions, and metagenomic functions in two soils with distinct pH and heavy metal availability.

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as widely existing global environmental concerns in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the mechanisms that how MPs are affecting soil microbes and their metagenomic functioning is currently uncertain. Herein, we investigated the response mechanisms of bacterial and fungal communities as well as the metagenomic functions to the addition of MPs in two soils with distinct pH and heavy metals. In this study, the acidic soil (Xintong) and the neutral soil (Huanshan) contaminated by heavy metals were incubated with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) MPs at ratios of 2.5% and 5% on 60 and 120 days. We aimed to evaluate the responding, assembly, and interactions of the metagenomic taxonomy and function. Results showed that only in the acidic soil, PVC MPs significantly increased soil pH and decreased CaCl2-extractable heavy metals, and also reduced bacterial alpha diversity and interaction networks. The relative proportions of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota in bacteria, and Mortierellomycota in fungi, were increased, but Chloroflexi and Acidobacteriota in bacteria, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota in fungi, were significantly decreased by PVC MPs. Metagenomic functions related to C cycling were repressed but the nutrient cycles were enriched with PVC MPs. In conclusion, our study suggests that the addition of PVC MPs could shift soil microbial community and metagenomic functioning, as well as increasing soil pH and reduced heavy metal availability.

High-precision early warning system for rice cadmium accumulation risk assessment.

Rapid global industrialization has resulted in widespread cadmium contamination in agricultural soils and products. A considerable proportion of rice consumers are exposed to Cd levels above the provisional safe intake limit, raising widespread environmental concerns on risk management. Therefore, a generalized approach is urgently needed to enable correct evaluation and early warning of cadmium contaminants in rice products. Combining big data and computer science together, this study developed a system named "SMART Cd Early Warning", which integrated 4 modules including genotype-to-phenotype (G2P) modelling, high-throughput sequencing, G2P prediction and rice Cd contamination risk assessment, for rice cadmium accumulation early warning. This system can rapidly assess the risk of rice cadmium accumulation by genotyping leaves at seeding stage. The parameters including statistical methods, population size, training population-testing population ratio, SNP density were assessed to ensure G2P model exhibited superior performance in terms of prediction precision (up to 0.76 ± 0.003) and computing efficiency (within 2 h). In field trials of cadmium-contaminated farmlands in Wenling and Fuyang city, Zhejiang Province, "SMART Cd Early Warning" exhibited superior capability for identification risk rice varieties, suggesting a potential of "SMART Cd Early-Warning system" in OsGCd risk assessment and early warning in the age of smart.

[Effects of miR-122 on expression of hepatitis B virus proteins].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of miR-122 on the expression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) proteins. METHODS: Anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) of two different sequences against miR-122, anti-miR-122 and LNA-antimiR-122 (Locked nucleic acid), human miR -122 (hsa-miR-122), or the negative control anti-GFP were designed and synthesized, then transfected into HepG2.2.15 cells. After 24 h and 48 h, the levels of HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatant were determined with a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (TRFIA). HBV DNA in supernatant and miR-122 in cells were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: After 48 h expressions of miR-122 in the LNA-antimiR-122 and anti-miR-122 groups were significantly suppressed and lower than those in the negative control (P<0.001), while the level of miR-122 in the hsa-miR-122 group was higher than that in the negative control (P<0.001). The expression of HBeAg and HBsAg in hsa-miR-122 group was lower than that in the negative control (P<0.01) 24 h and 48 h after transfection. The expression of HBeAg and HBsAg in the anti-miR-122 group and LNA-antimiR-122 group was significantly lower than that in negative control (P>0.001). The levels of viral DNA at both time-points in the various test groups were not significantly different from those of negative control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: miR-122 may regulate HBV antigens and potentially affect the progress of pathogenesis, which might be the new targets for treatment of HBV infection.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The seroprevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B, the relationship between KSHV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and the influence of glycyrrhizic acid on KSHV replication in vivo are undefined. Plasma was collected from 211 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Antibody to KSHV ORF65 was evaluated by ELISA, and real-time PCR was used to quantify KSHV DNA and HBV DNA. The KSHV ORF65 positivity rate in patients with chronic hepatitis B was found to be 28% (59/211): 27.3% (44/161) in males and 30% (15/50) in females (P > 0.05). The seroprevalence of KSHV increased with age until reaching the highest rate (37.1%) in the 31-40 years age group. HBV DNA loads in patients with chronic hepatitis B infected with KSHV were higher than those without KSHV infection (9.2 log (10) IU/ml vs. 7.8 log (10) IU/ml, P < 0.05). The average KSHV DNA loads in patients with HBV genotype B, C, and mixed (B/C) were 409.1, 484.5, and 352 copies/ml, respectively (P > 0.05). Patients treated with glycyrrhizic acid had lower KSHV DNA levels than those without therapy (204.7 copies/ml vs. 533.9 copies/ml, P < 0.05). The KSHV ORF65 positivity rates tended to increase with age, but were not related to gender or HBV genotypes. The data indicated the interaction between KSHV and HBV, and the inhibiting effect of glycyrrhizic acid on KSHV replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Surveillance of viral contamination of invasive medical instruments in dentistry.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the viral contamination of invasive medical instruments in dentistry and to provide health administrative institutions with surveillance data. METHODS: Sterilized samples were randomly collected from the department of dentistry to detect HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, HIV-RNA and HBsAg. RESULTS: Of the invasive medical instruments that were sterilized with 2% glutaraldehyde, one of the samples was positive for HBV-DNA, and another sample was positive for HBsAg. CONCLUSION: Though massive virus contamination of invasive medical instruments in dentistry has been reduced to a low level, the occurrence of contamination still remains.

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus X gene expression by 10-23 DNAzymes.

The X protein (HBx) of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a transcriptional activator protein. The HBx protein plays an important role in viral replication in HBV infected cells and the liver diseases including hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, the repression of HBx gene expression by 10-23 DNAzymes might be a good way to inhibit HBV replication and counteract HBV-related liver diseases. We designed three 10-23 DNAzymes with different substrate-recognition domains. When each of the 10-23 DNAzymes were cotransfected into human AD293 cells with HBx-EGFP expression plasmid, they could all reduce the level of HBx mRNA as well as the HBx-EGFP protein. These results suggest that the 10-23 DNAzymes might be used for gene therapy of liver diseases caused by HBV.

[Inhibition of hepatitis B virus S gene and C gene expression by different 10-23 DNAzymes substrate-recognition domains].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibition effects of 10-23 DNAzymes with different substrate-recognition domains targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene and C gene expression in 2.2.15 cells. METHODS: 10-23 DNAzymes with different substrate-recognition domains specific to HBV S gene open reading frame (ORF) A(157)UG and HBV C gene ORF A(1816)UG were designed and synthesized, respectively. Different 10-23 DNAzymes were transfected into 2.2.15 cells which is a stable HBV producing cell line. HBsAg and HBeAg secreted into culture media were detected by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and HBV DNA levels were measured by real-time PCR. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiagol-2-yl)-2, 5-drphnyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to evaluate cytotoxicity. RESULTS: HBsAg and HBeAg expressions were reduced by various DNAzymes (0.1 - 2.5 micromol/L) with different substrate-recognition domains after transfection. The antiviral effects of DNAzymes were apparent until 72 h post-transfection. The inhibition rates of the DNAzymes at the same dose on HBsAg and HBeAg in the same period of post-transfection were as the following: DrzBS-9 > DrzBS-8 > DrzBS-7; DrzBC-9 > DrzBC-8 > DrzBC-7. Among all the DNAzymes used, DrzBS-9 targeting S gene and DrzBC-9 targeting C gene were most potent, with HBsAg and HBeAg reduced 95% and 92% 48 h post-transfection at the dose of 2.5 micromol/L, respectively. The inhibition effects on HBV DNA by various DNAzymes with different substrate-recognition domains were of no significance. There were no evident cytotoxic effects of these DNAzymes in the range from 0.1 to 2.5 micromol/L. CONCLUSION: 10-23 DNAzymes with different substrate-recognition domains targeting HBV S gene and C gene mRNA possessed specific inhibition effects in 2.2.15 cells, and DrzBS-9 targeting S gene and DrzBC-9 targeting C gene were most potent.

Association of cytomegalovirus infection with human leukocyte antigen genotypes in recipients after allogeneic liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the important cause affecting the survival rate and function of the transplanted organ after transplantation. The occurrence of CMV infection after liver transplantation (LT) is associated with many factors. Lots of studies suggest that genetic mutation between hosts and CMV may play a role in the occurrence and development of CMV infection. CMV exists in an incubative state, affect or destroy the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules in the host cell surface, and interfere antigen's submission. This mechanism is the key of CMV to avoid immune defense mechanism of the host. To detect HLA and CMV antibody (CMV-Ab), CMV antigen (CMV-Ag) of transplantation recipients, we evaluated the association of CMV infection and the particular HLA genotypes in recipients after LT. METHODS: 277 blood samples were collected from 39 LT recipients. CMV antibody and antigen were detected by ELISA or immunohistochemical methods. The HLA types of the recipients were determined by PCR. To analyze the association of HLA alleles and the occurrence of CMV antigenemia in the patients, relative risk degree (RR) was used as the parameter for the Chi-square test. RESULTS: The LT recipients were serum CMV IgG positive (100%), but none of them was CMV IgM positive (0%). Thirty-three LT recipients (84.6%) were CMV antigenic positive with 1-50 positive leukocytes per 50,000 leukocytes in extent and 7.2+/-4.2 positive leukocytes per 50,000 leukocytes on average. Thirteen patients developed CMV pneumonia, with CMV antigenic positive (100%) and 17.7+/-5.5 positive leukocytes per 50,000 leukocytes on average. Some HLA alleles were associated with the occurrence and extent of CMV antigenemia. HLA-A2 was the higher frequency allele for patients with antigenemia (P<0.05), and 7 patients carrying HLA-DR11 allele developed antigenemia (P<0.05). In the lower antigenemia group, HLA-A11 was higher in frequency than others (P<0.05). Besides, none of the patients carrying HLA-B16 allele developed clinical symptoms of CMV infection (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The variability of HLA alleles might modulate immune response to CMV infection. HLA examination before transplantation should be made for prevention and treatment of CMV infection after operation.

SARS-coronavirus replicates in mononuclear cells of peripheral blood (PBMCs) from SARS patients.

BACKGROUND: The etiologic agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently identified, positive single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Little is known about the dynamic changes of the viral replicative form in SARS cases. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate whether SARS-CoV can infect and replicate in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of infected persons and reveal any dynamic changes to the virus during the course of the disease. STUDY DESIGN: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from SARS cases infected by the same infectious source were tested for both negative-stranded RNA (minus-RNA, "replicative intermediates") and positive-stranded RNA (genomic RNA) of SARS-CoV during the course of hospitalization by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: SARS-CoV minus-RNA was detected in PBMCs from SARS patients. The viral replicative forms in PBMCs were detectable during a period of 6 days post-onset of the disease, while the plus-RNA were detectable for a longer period (8-12 days post-onset). CONCLUSIONS: SARS-coronavirus can infect and replicate within PBMCs of SARS patients, but viral replication in PBMCs seems subject to self-limitation.