Significantly enhanced biodegradation of profenofos by Cupriavidus nantongensis X1T mediated by walnut shell biochar.

The feasibility of using walnut shell biochar to mediate biodegradation of Cupriavidus nantongensis X1T for profenofos was investigated. The results of scanning electron microscopy, classical DLVO theory and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that strain X1T was stably immobilized on biochar by pore filling, van der Waals attraction, and hydrogen bonding. Profenofos degradation experiments showed that strain X1T immobilized on biochar significantly decomposed profenofos (shortened the half-life by 5.2 folds) by promoting the expression of the degradation gene opdB and the proliferation of strain X1T. The immobilized X1T showed stronger degradation ability than the free X1T at higher initial concentration, lower temperature and pH. The immobilized X1T could maintain 83% of removal efficiency for profenofos after 6 reuse cycles in paddy water. Thus, X1T immobilized using walnut shell biochar as a carrier could be practically applied to biodegradation of organophosphorus pesticides present in agricultural water.

Action mechanisms and characteristics of miRNAs to regulate virus replication.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have the potential to be explored as antiviral products. It is known that miRNAs have different kinds of target mRNAs and different target sites in mRNAs, and that the action-modes of miRNAs at different target sites may be different. But there is no evidence demonstrating the significance of the differences for the regulation of viruses by miRNAs, which might be crucial for the exploration of miRNA-based antiviral products. Here the experimental studies about the antiviral effects of miRNAs, with validated target mRNAs and target sites in the mRNAs, were systematically collected, based on which the mechanisms whereby miRNAs regulated virus replication were systematically reviewed. And miRNAs' down-regulation rates on target mRNAs and antiviral rates were compared among the miRNAs with different target sites, to analyze the characteristics of action-modes of miRNAs at different target sites during virus replication.

Diallyl Trisulfide attenuates alcohol-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis via elevation of hydrogen sulfide.

Garlic is a popular culinary herb for the prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Diallyl Trisulfide (DATS) is the major organosulfur compound of garlic. Latest studies indicated that the hepatocyte pyroptosis serves a primary role in the pathogenesis of ALD. The present study aims to assess the inhibitory effect of DATS on alcohol-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis, and to elucidate the potential mechanism by using the hepatocyte cell line HL-7702. Our study found that DATS inhibited alcohol-induced pyroptosis by decreasing gasdermin D (GSDMD) activation. Results illuminated that DATS inhibited alcohol-induced (NOD)-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation by reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Furthermore, DATS upregulated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to resist ROS overproduction. The present study demonstrated that DATS mitigated alcohol-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis by increasing the intracellular level of H2S.

Resistance properties and adaptation mechanism of cadmium in an enriched strain, Cupriavidus nantongensis X1T.

Bacterial adaption to heavy metal stress is a complex and comprehensive process of multi-response regulation. However, the mechanism is largely unexplored. In this study, cadmium (Cd) resistance and adaptation mechanism in Cupriavidus nantongensis X1T were investigated. Strain X1T could resist the stress of 307 mg/L Cd2+ and remove 70% Cd2+ in 48 h. Spectroscopic analyses suggested interactions between Cd2+ with C-N, -COOH, and -NH ligands of extracellular polymeric substances. Whole-genome sequencing found that the resistance of Cd2+ in strain X1T was caused by the joint action of Czc and Cad systems. Cd2+ at 20 mg/L elicited differential expression of 1157 genes in strain X1T. In addition to the reported effects of uptake, adsorption, effluxion, and accumulation system, the oxidative stress system, Type-VI secretory protein system, Fe-S protein synthesis, and cysteine synthesis system in strain X1T were involved in the Cd2+ resistance and accumulation. The intracellular accumulation content of Cd2+ in strain X1T was higher than the extracellular adsorption content made strain X1T to be an important resource strain in the bioremediation of Cd-contaminated sewage. The results provide a theoretical network for understanding the complex regulatory system of bacterial resistance and adaptation of Cd against stressful environments.