Identification of Cables1 as a critical host factor that promotes ALV-J replication via genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout screening.

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), a member of the genus Alpharetrovirus, possesses a small genome and exploits a vast array of host factors during its replication cycle. To identify host factors required for ALV-J replication and potentially guide the development of key therapeutic targets for ALV-J prevention, we employed a chicken genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library to screen host factors involved in ALV-J infection within DF-1 cells. This screening revealed 42 host factors critical for ALV-J infection. Subsequent knockout assays showed that the absence of the genes encoding cycle-regulatory proteins, namely, Cables1, CDK1, and DHFR, significantly inhibited ALV-J replication. Notably, Cables1 knockout cell lines displayed the most pronounced inhibitory effect. Conversely, overexpression assays confirmed that Cables1 significantly promotes ALV-J replication. Immunoprecipitation assays further indicated that Cables1 specifically interacts with the viral protein p15 (viral protease) among all ALV-J proteins, enhancing ALV-J p15 polyubiquitination. Additionally, we identified 26 lysine residues of ALV-J p15 as key sites for ubiquitination, and their replacement with arginine attenuated the replication ability of ALV-J in both in vitro and in vivo assays. This study demonstrates that Cables1 is a critical replication-dependent host factor of ALV-J by enhancing p15 ubiquitination and thereby promoting viral replication. Overall, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the ALJ-V replication mechanism and offer a potential target for the prevention and control of ALV-J infection.

An Organic Microcavity Laser Amplifier Integrated on the End Facet of an Optical Fiber.

We report a thin-film optical amplifier integrated on a fiber facet based on polymer-coated distributed feedback (DFB) microcavities, which are fabricated on a planar substrate and then transferred onto fiber tips by means of a flexible transfer technique. The amplified light directly couples into the fiber and is detected when coupled out at the other end after propagating along the fiber for about 20 cm. A prominently amplification factor of about 4.33 at 578.57 nm is achieved by sending supercontinuum pulses into the hundreds of micrometers' DFB microcavities along the normal direction, which is also the axis direction of the fiber. The random distortions of grating lines generated during the transfer process result in a larger amplification spectral range and a less strict polarization dependence for injected light. Benefitting from the device size of hundreds of micrometers and the ease of integration, polymer amplifiers based on DFB microcavities demonstrate significant application potentials in optical communication systems and miniaturized optical devices.

Association between subchorionic hematoma in the first trimester and outcomes of singleton pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technology: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between first trimester (≤ 12 weeks gestation) subchorionic hemorrhage (SCH), and maternal and neonatal outcomes in women who conceived with the help of assisted reproductive technique (ART). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for observational studies that specifically focused on women who achieved pregnancy via ART and investigated the relationship between early pregnancy (within 12 weeks of gestation) SCH and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Only studies with singleton pregnancies and reporting data on the comparator group (women without SCH) were included. Primary outcomes of interest included incidences of early (within 20 weeks of gestation) pregnancy loss, preterm delivery, caesarean section, and live birth rates. Pooled effect sizes were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Nine studies were included. All studies had a cohort design. In all studies, the primary assisted reproduction technique used was in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Compared to pregnancies without SCH, women with diagnosed early pregnancy SCH have a similar risk of preterm birth (< 37 weeks) (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.83, 1.22), low birth weight (< 2500 g) (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.59, 1.73) and fetal growth restriction (OR 1.57, 95% CI 0.62, 4.02). The gestational age (in weeks) (weighted mean difference (WMD) - 0.06, 95% CI - 0.18, 0.06) and the birth weight (in grams) (WMD - 16.5, 95% CI - 62.9, 29.8) were also similar in the two groups. The odds of early pregnancy loss (OR 1.39, 95% CI 0.97, 2.01), live birth (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.55, 1.08) and caesarean delivery (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.81, 1.16) were statistically similar in both groups. The risk of maternal adverse outcomes such as gestational diabetes (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.74, 1.29), hypertensive disorder (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.63, 1.43), premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (OR 1.36, 95% CI 0.90, 2.05) and placental abruption (OR 2.44, 95% CI 0.57, 10.5) was also similar in both the groups. There was no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that SCH may not significantly increase the risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies conceived through ART, particularly IVF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number CRD42024533996.

Research Progress of Molecular Simulation in Acrylamide Polymers with High Degree of Polymerization.

Acrylamide polymers with a high degree of polymerization are widely used in petroleum production. It is of great significance to study the oil displacement mechanism of acrylamide polymers with a high degree of polymerization from the micro level. In recent years, the rapid development of computer molecular simulation technology has filed the gaps in macroscopic experiments and theories. This technology has been highly valued in the study of the molecular behaviour of polymer systems. In this paper, the research progress of molecular simulation applied to high-polymerization-degree acrylamide polymer is summarized. The application status of acrylamide polymer flooding, the analysis of polymer flooding mechanisms, and the research progress of molecular simulation in acrylamide linear and crosslinked polymers are expounded. Finally, the development prospect of acrylamide polymer research is given, and suggestions are put forward in terms of simulation direction and simulation tools.

OASL suppresses infectious bursal disease virus replication by targeting VP2 for degrading through the autophagy pathway.

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute and fatal immunosuppressive disease caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). As an obligate intracellular parasite, IBDV infection is strictly regulated by host factors. Knowledge on the antiviral activity and possible mechanism of host factors might provide the theoretical basis for the prevention and control of IBD. In this study, RNA-sequencing results indicated that many host factors were induced by IBDV infection, among which the expression levels of OASL (2´,5´-oligadenylate synthetase-like protein) was significantly upregulated. OASL overexpression significantly inhibited IBDV replication, whereas OASL knockdown promoted IBDV replication. Interestingly, the antiviral ability of OASL was independent of its canonical enzymatic activity, i.e., OASL targeted viral protein VP2 for degradation, depending on the autophagy receptor p62/SQSTM1 in the autophagy pathway. Additionally, the 316 lysine (K) of VP2 was the key site for autophagy degradation, and its replacement with arginine disrupted VP2 degradation induced by OASL and enhanced IBDV replication. Importantly, our results for the first time indicate a unique and potent defense mechanism of OASL against double-stranded RNA virus by interaction with viral proteins, which leads to their degradation. IMPORTANCE: OASL (2´,5´-oligadenylate synthetase-like protein) exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral effects against single-stranded RNA viruses in mammals, potentially serving as a promising target for novel antiviral strategies. However, its role in inhibiting the replication of double-stranded RNA viruses (dsRNA viruses), such as infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), in avian species remains unclear. Our findings indicated a unique and potent defense mechanism of OASL against dsRNA viruses. It has been previously shown in mammals that OASL inhibits virus replication through increasing interferon production. The groundbreaking aspect of our study is the finding that OASL has the ability to interact with IBDV viral protein VP2 and target it for degradation and thus exerts its antiviral effect. Our results reveal the interaction between avian natural antiviral immune response and IBDV infection. Our study not only enhances our understanding of bird defenses against viral infections but can also inform strategies for poultry disease management.

N123I mutation in the ALV-J receptor-binding domain region enhances viral replication ability by increasing the binding affinity with chNHE1.

The subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J), a retrovirus, uses its gp85 protein to bind to the receptor, the chicken sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (chNHE1), facilitating viral invasion. ALV-J is the main epidemic subgroup and shows noteworthy mutations within the receptor-binding domain (RBD) region of gp85, especially in ALV-J layer strains in China. However, the implications of these mutations on viral replication and transmission remain elusive. In this study, the ALV-J layer strain JL08CH3-1 exhibited a more robust replication ability than the prototype strain HPRS103, which is related to variations in the gp85 protein. Notably, the gp85 of JL08CH3-1 demonstrated a heightened binding capacity to chNHE1 compared to HPRS103-gp85 binding. Furthermore, we showed that the specific N123I mutation within gp85 contributed to the enhanced binding capacity of the gp85 protein to chNHE1. Structural analysis indicated that the N123I mutation primarily enhanced the stability of gp85, expanded the interaction interface, and increased the number of hydrogen bonds at the interaction interface to increase the binding capacity between gp85 and chNHE1. We found that the N123I mutation not only improved the viral replication ability of ALV-J but also promoted viral shedding in vivo. These comprehensive data underscore the notion that the N123I mutation increases receptor binding and intensifies viral replication.

Numerical and Experimental Study on Flame Dynamics of the Premixed Methane-Air Mixture at Different Ignition Positions in a Two-Side 45° Branch Tube.

The combustion characteristics of premixed methane-air flames in a half-open tube with a two-sided 45° branch structure at different ignition positions were investigated by experiments and large eddy simulations. The numerical results were compared with the experimental results to verify the correctness of the model. The results show that the simulation results are highly consistent with the experiment. This study provides a basic understanding of the effects of the branch tube structure and the ignition position on flame dynamics. When the flame propagates to the branch interface, it forms a symmetrical vortex structure at the branch tube with the opposite rotation direction. When the ignition position is at IP0 and IP900, the maximum overpressures obtained in the experiment are 10.1 and 10.7 kPa, respectively, and 9.2 and 10.4 kPa in the simulation, respectively. At IP0, the Karlovitz number indicating the interaction intensity between the flame surface and the turbulence during flame propagation is a maximum of 9.2 and a minimum of 0.04. The premixed flame has a folded small flame, a corrugated small flame, and a thin reaction zone.

PlMYB308 Regulates Flower Senescence by Modulating Ethylene Biosynthesis in Herbaceous Peony.

Herbaceous peony is an important cut-flower plant cultivated worldwide, but its short vase life substantially restricts its economic value. It is well established that endogenous hormones regulate the senescence process, but their molecular mechanism in flower senescence remains unclear. Here, we isolated a MYB transcription factor gene, PlMYB308, from herbaceous peony flowers, based on transcriptome data. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that PlMYB308 is strongly up-regulated in senescing petals, and its expression was induced by abscisic acid or ethylene and reduced by gibberellin in petals. Treatment with abscisic acid or ethylene accelerated herbaceous peony petal senescence, and gibberellin delayed the process. PlMYB308 silencing delayed peony flower senescence and dramatically increased gibberellin, but reduced ethylene and abscisic acid levels in petals. PlMYB308 ectopic overexpression in tobacco accelerated flower senescence and reduced gibberellin, but increased ethylene and abscisic acid accumulation. Correspondingly, five endogenous hormone biosynthetic genes showed variable expression levels in petals after PlMYB308 silencing or overexpression. A dual-luciferase assay and yeast one-hybrid analysis showed that PlMYB308 specifically binds the PlACO1 promoter. Moreover, treatment with ethylene and 1-MCP can accelerate PlMYB308 silencing-reduced senescence and delay PlMYB308- overexpression-induced senescence. We also found that PlACO1 silencing delayed senescence in herbaceous peony petals. Taken together, our results suggest that the PlMYB308-PlACO1 regulatory checkpoints positively mediate the production of ethylene, and thus contribute to senescence in herbaceous peony flowers.

Transcriptome Profiling Reveals a Petunia Transcription Factor, PhCOL4, Contributing to Antiviral RNA Silencing.

RNA silencing is a common antiviral mechanism in eukaryotic organisms. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanism that controls the RNA silencing process remains elusive. Here, we performed high-depth transcriptome analysis on petunia (Petunia hybrida) leaves infected with tobacco rattle virus (TRV) strain PPK20. A total of 7,402 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Of them, some RNA silencing-related transcripts, such as RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RDRs), Dicer-like RNase III enzymes (DCLs), and Argonautes (AGOs), were induced by viral attack. Furthermore, we performed TRV-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay on 39 DEGs encoding putative transcription factors (TFs), using green fluorescent protein (GFP) and phytoene desaturase (PhPDS) as reporters. Results showed that the down-regulation of PhbHLH41, PhbHLH93, PhZPT4-3, PhCOL4, PhHSF-B3A, PhNAC90, and PhWRKY75 led to enhanced TRV accumulation and inhibited PhPDS-silenced photobleaching phenotype. In contrast, silencing of PhERF22 repressed virus accumulation and promoted photobleaching development. Thus, these TFs were identified as potential positive and negative regulators of antiviral RNA silencing, respectively. One positive regulator PhCOL4, belonging to the B-box zinc finger family, was selected for further functional characterization. Silencing and transient overexpression of PhCOL4 resulted in decreased and increased expression of several RNA silencing-related genes. DNA affinity purification sequencing analysis revealed that PhCOL4 targeted PhRDR6 and PhAGO4. Dual luciferase and yeast one-hybrid assays determined the binding of PhCOL4 to the PhRDR6 and PhAGO4 promoters. Our findings suggest that TRV-GFP-PhPDS-based VIGS could be helpful to identify transcriptional regulators of antiviral RNA silencing.

Immunogenicity of Novel Live Vaccine Based on an Artificial rHN20 Strain against Emerging Fowl Adenovirus 4.

In recent years, hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS), caused by novel fowl adenovirus 4 (FAdV-4), has caused serious economic losses to the poultry industry. Vaccines are important for preventing and controlling HHS. Current FAdV-4 vaccine research and development are mainly focuses on inactivated vaccines and relatively fewer live vaccines. We previously demonstrated that the hexon gene is the key gene responsible for the high pathogenicity of FAdV-4 and constructed a non-pathogenic chimeric virus rHN20 strain based on the emerging FAdV-4. In this study, the immunogenicity of artificially rescued rHN20 was evaluated in chickens using different routes and doses as a live vaccine. The live rHN20 vaccine induced high titers of neutralizing antibodies against FAdV-4 and fully protected the immunized chickens against a lethal dose of FAdV-4. Furthermore, immunized chickens showed no clinical symptoms or histopathological changes in the FAdV-4-targeted liver, and the viral load in the tissues of immunized chickens was significantly lower than that of chickens in the challenge control group. Collectively, the live rHN20 vaccine effectively protected our sample against FAdV-4 infection and can be considered a live vaccine candidate for preventing HHS in the poultry industry.

Maternal transcription profiles at different stages for the development of early embryo in buffalo.

Maternal mRNAs deposited in the egg during oogenesis are critical during the development of early embryo, before the activation of the embryonic genome. However, there is little known about the dynamic expression of maternally expressed genes in mammals. In this study, we made buffalo parthenogenesis as our research model to analyse maternal transcription profiles of pre-implantation embryo in buffalo using RNA sequencing. In total, 3,567 unique genes were detected to be differentially expressed among all constant stages during early embryo development (FPKM > 0). Interestingly, a total of 10,442 new genes were discovered in this study, and gene ontology analysis of the new differentially expressed genes indicated that the new genes have a wide cellular localization and are involved in many molecular functions and biological processes. Moreover, we identified eight clusters that were only highly expressed in a particular developmental stage and enriched a number of GO terms and KEGG pathways that were related to specific stage. Furthermore, we identified 1,530 hub genes (or key members) from the maternally expressed gene networks, and these hub genes were involved in 11 stage-specific modules. After visualization using Cytoscape 3.2.1 software, we obtained complex interaction network of hub genes, indicating the highly efficient cooperation between genes during the development in buffalo embryos. Further research of these genes will greatly deepen our understanding of embryo development in buffalo. Collectively, this research lays the foundation for future studies on the maternal genome function, buffalo nuclear transfer and parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells.

WITHDRAWN: Comparative proteomic identification of capacitation and noncapacitation swamp buffalo spermatozoa.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in Theriogenology, 126C (1 March 2019) 303-309, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.12.025. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.

Comparative proteomic identification buffalo spermatozoa during in vitro capacitation.

To investigate the proteomic profiling in buffalo spermatozoa before and after capacitation, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) combined with Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) labeling strategy was applied. As a result, 1461 proteins were identified, 93 of them were found to be differentially expressed (>1.5-fold), including 52 up-regulated proteins and 41 down-regulated proteins during sperm capacitation. 88 out of 93 proteins were annotated and classified. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that most of the differently expressed proteins (DEPs) were involved in the Biological Process of transport, cytoskeleton organization, sexual reproduction, and spermatogenesis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that DEPs were mainly involved in the pathways of metabolic pathways, PPAR signaling pathway, and oxidative phosphorylation. Western blot (WB) assay confirmed the expressional variation of VAMP4 and APOC3 proteins. Our date provided a foundation for studying the changes in protein expression during sperm capacitation, which contributing to identifying marker proteins that may be associated with sperm capacitation.

Integrated Analysis of Quantitative Proteome and Transcriptional Profiles Reveals the Dynamic Function of Maternally Expressed Proteins After Parthenogenetic Activation of Buffalo Oocyte.

Maternal-effect genes are especially critical for early embryonic development after fertilization and until massive activation of the embryonic genome occurs. By applying a tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomics combined with RNA sequencing approach, the proteome of the buffalo was quantitatively analyzed during parthenogenesis of mature oocytes and the two-cell stage embryo. Of 1908 quantified proteins, 123 differed significantly. The transcriptome was analyzed eight stages (GV, MII, 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, 16-cell, morula, blastocyst) of Buffalo using the RNA sequencing approach, and a total of 3567 unique genes were identified to be differently expressed between all consecutive stages of pre-implantation development. Validation of proteomics results (TUBB3, CTNNA1, CDH3, MAP2K1), which are involved in tight junction and gap junction, revealing that the maternal expression of the proteins possibly plays a role in the formation of cellular junctions firstly after parthenogenetic activation. Correlation and hierarchical analyses of transcriptional profiles and the expression of NPM2 and NLRP5 mRNA of buffalo in vitro developed oocytes and parthenogenetic embryos indicated that the "maternal-to-zygotic transition" (MZT) process might exist in the model of parthenogenesis, which is similar to a normally fertilized embryo, and may occur between the 8-cell to 16-cell stage. These data provide a rich resource for further studies on maternal proteins and genes and are conducive to improving nuclear transfer technology.