An Antibody Neutralization Determinant on Domain III and the First α-Helical Domain in the Stem-Anchor Region of Tembusu Virus Envelope Protein.

Previous studies identified three neutralizing epitopes on domains I, II, and III of the Tembusu virus (TMUV) envelope (E). More evidence is needed to understand the molecular basis of Ab-mediated neutralization and protection against TMUV. In this study, we observed a neutralizing mAb, 6C8, that neutralized TMUV infection primarily by inhibiting cell attachment. In immunofluorescence assays, 6C8 recognized the premembrane and E proteins coexpressed in HEK-293T cells, but failed to react with premembrane or E expressed individually. Epitope mapping identified nine E protein residues positioned on BC/EF loops and F/G strands in domain III and the first α-helical domain in the stem region. Further investigation with mutant viruses showed that 6C8 pressure resulted in mutations at residues 330 of BC loop and 409 of the first α-helical domain, although 6C8 only exhibited a moderate neutralizing activity in BHK-21 cells and a weak protective activity in BALB/c mice and Shaoxing duck models. Mutations A330S and T409M conferred high- and low-level 6C8 resistance, respectively, whereas the combination of A330S and T409M mutations conferred moderate-level 6C8 resistance. As a result, a quasispecies comprising three groups of antigenic variants appeared in BHK-21 cell-derived viral stocks after repeated passages of TMUV strain Y in the presence of 6C8 treatment. Taken together, these findings have raised a concern about Ab-induced antigenic variations in vivo, and they have revealed information concerning the conformational structure of the 6C8 epitope and its role in constraint on antigenic variations. The present work contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of the TMUV immunogen.

Microplastics released from disposable medical devices and their toxic responses in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Owing to accelerated urbanization and industrialization, many plastic products have been manufactured and discharged into the environment, causing environmental and public health problems. Plastics in environmental media are further degraded by prolonged exposure to light, heat, mechanical friction, and other factors to form new pollutants called microplastics (MPs). Medical plastics have become a crucial source of plastics in environmental media. However, the release profiles of MPs from medical plastics and their potential ecological and health risks remain unclear. We used optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy to explore the release profiles of eight typical disposable medical devices under high-temperature steam disinfection (HSD). We also evaluated the toxicity of disposable medical devices-derived MPs in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Our results showed that the changes in the surface morphology and modification of the disposable medical devices were mainly associated with the material. Polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) materials exhibited high aging phenomena (e.g., bumps, depressions, bulges and cracks), and HSD broke their oxygen-containing functional groups and carbon chains. By contrast, minor changes in the chemical and physical properties were observed in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-prepared disposable medical devices under the same conditions. Further physicochemical characterization indicated that the amount of MPs released from PP-prepared disposable medical devices (P4: 1.27 ± 0.34 × 106) was greater than that from PVC-prepared disposable medical devices (P7: 1.08 ± 0.14 × 105). The particle size of the released MPs was the opposite, PVC-prepared disposable medical devices (P7: 11.45 ± 1.79 µm) > PP-prepared disposable medical devices (P4: 7.18 ± 0.52 µm). Toxicity assessment revealed that disposable medical devices-released MPs significantly increased germ cell apoptosisin C. elegans. Moreover, MPs from PP-prepared disposable medical devices disrupted the intestinal barrier of worms, decreasing their lifespan. Our findings provided novel information regarding the profiles and mechanisms of MP release from disposable medical devices and revealed their potential risks to ecological environment.

Effects of moderate static magnetic fields on the lipogenesis and lipolysis in different genders of Caenorhabditis elegans.

With the rapid development of magnetic technology, the biological effects of moderate static magnetic fields (SMFs) have attracted increasing research interest due to their potential medical diagnosis and treatment application. The present study explored the effects of moderate SMFs on the lipid metabolism of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in different genders including male, female, and hermaphrodite. We found that the fat content was significantly decreased by moderate SMFs in wild-type N2 worms, which was associated with their development stages. The diameters of lipid droplets in N2 worms, him-5 worms, and fog-2 worms were greatly decreased by 19.23%, 15.38%, and 23.07% at young adult stage under 0.5 T SMF, respectively. The mRNA levels of lipolysis related genes atgl-1 and nhr-76 were significantly up-regulated by SMF exposure, while the mRNA levels of the lipogenesis related genes fat-6, fat-7, and sbp-1 were down-regulated by SMF, whereas the concentration of ß-oxidase was increased. There was a slight effect of SMF on the mRNA levels of ß-oxidation related genes. Moreover, the insulin and serotonin pathway were regulated by SMF, instead of the TOR pathway. In wild-type worms, we found that their lifespan was prolonged by exposure to 0.5 T SMF. Our data suggested that moderate SMFs could significantly modify the lipogenesis and lipolysis process in C. elegans in a gender and development stage-dependent manner, which could provide a novel insight into understanding the function of moderate SMFs in living organisms.

Safe usage of Cd-polluted paddy fields using alkaline Si-rich compound amendment: Effect and mechanism.

A low-cost practical technology is urgently needed to minimize cadmium (Cd) pollution in rice in many parts of the world. In the present study, we elucidated the effects and mechanisms of four alkaline compound materials via field experiments in southern China. The results indicated that these two alkaline Si-rich compound materials (AF-SC, alkaline fertilizer compounded with Si-Ca mineral powder; AF-SS, AF compounded with Si-Se mineral powder) could achieve multi-objective gains by simultaneously reducing grain Cd, increasing yield and improving soil quality at a lower cost. The grain Cd content was decreased by an average of about 75% in two field sites, which even ensured safe grain production in areas with medium Cd pollution. The rice yield was increased by a range of 6.7%-21.0% for different varieties and sites. Moreover, the materials abated soil acidification with the increase of 0.36-0.62 pH units, increased the contents of available P and available Si, subsequently reducing available Cd content in soils. Structural equation model and regression analysis showed that the alkaline environment provided by the alkaline components in compound materials effectively inhibited the formation of Fe/Mn plaques on the root surface, reducing the uptake of Cd from the environment. In addition, the decrease in grain Cd was also attributed to the inhibition of Cd translocation from root to stem, mainly caused by the increase of available Si. These findings reveal that the base application of such alkaline Si-rich compound materials is a viable solution for the remediation of Cd-polluted paddy fields in south China.

Substantial Attenuation of Virulence of Tembusu Virus Strain PS Is Determined by an Arginine at Residue 304 of the Envelope Protein.

The Tembusu virus (TMUV) PS strain, derived by several passages and plaque purifications in BHK-21 cells, displays markedly lower virulence in Pekin ducklings relative to a natural isolate of TMUV, but the potential virulence determinants and the in vivo mechanisms for substantial virulence attenuation of the passage variant remain unknown. Here, we constructed a series of chimeric and mutant viruses and assessed their virulence using a 2-day-old Pekin duckling model. We showed that residue 304 in the envelope (E) protein is the molecular determinant of TMUV virulence. Further investigations with mutant and parental viruses demonstrated that acquisition of positive charges at E protein residue 304 plays a critical role in substantial attenuation of neurovirulence and neuroinvasiveness, which is linked to enhanced binding affinity for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In Pekin ducklings infected by subcutaneous inoculation, an Arg at residue 304 in the E protein was shown to contribute to more rapid virus clearance from the circulation, markedly reduced viremia, and significantly decreased viral growth in the extraneural tissues and the central nervous system, relative to a Met at the corresponding residue. These findings suggest that the in vivo mechanism of virulence attenuation of the TMUV passage variant closely resembles that proposed previously for GAG-binding variants of other flaviviruses. Overall, our study provides insight into the molecular basis of TMUV virulence and the in vivo consequences of acquisition of a GAG-binding determinant at residue 304 in the E protein of TMUV.IMPORTANCE TMUV-related disease emerged in 2010 and has a significant economic impact on the duck industry. Although the disease was originally recognized to affect adult ducks, increasing evidence has shown that TMUV also causes severe disease of young ducklings. It is, therefore, essential to investigate the pathogenesis of TMUV infection in a young duckling model. The significance of our studies is in identifying E protein residue Arg304 as the molecular determinant for TMUV virulence and in clarifying the crucial role of positive charges at E protein residue 304 in virulence attenuation of a TMUV passage variant. These data will greatly enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of TMUV infection in ducklings and have implications for development of a safe and efficient vaccine.

Antibody prophylaxis against Tembusu virus-associated disease.

Earlier studies have shown that Tembusu virus (TMUV) can elicit high levels of neutralizing antibodies, but the ability of antibodies to protect against TMUV-associated disease and to inhibit replication of TMUV in vivo remains to be investigated. Here, we tested the prophylactic efficacy of TMUV immune serum directly using a 2-day-old Pekin duck model. Passive administration of the immune serum prior to challenge protected ducklings against morbidity and mortality, substantially reduced TMUV-caused tissue injury, and significantly decreased TMUV levels in the periphery and central nervous system. These findings demonstrate that antibodies play a dominant protective role in controlling TMUV-associated disease.

Effects of 10 T static magnetic field on the function of sperms and their offspring in Caenorhabditis elegans.

With the wide application of static magnetic fields (SMFs), the risk of living organisms exposed to man-made magnetic fields that the intensity is much higher than geomagnetic field has gradually increased. Reproductive system is highly sensitive to environmental stress; however, the influence of high SMFs on reproduction system is still largely unknown. Here we explored the biological responses of SMFs exposure at an intensity of 10 T on the sperms and their offspring in him-5 male mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The size of unactivated sperms was deceased by 10 T SMF exposure, instead of the morphology. Exposure to 10 T SMF significantly altered the function of sperms in him-5 worms including the activation of sperms and the non-transferred ratio of sperms. In addition, the brood size assay revealed that 10 T SMF exposure eventually diminished the reproductive capacity of him-5 male worms. The lifespan of outcrossed offspring from exposed him-5 male mutants and unexposed fog-2 female mutants was decreased by 10 T SMF in a time dependent manner. Together, our findings provide novel information regarding the adverse effects of high SMFs on the sperms of C. elegans and their offspring, which can improve our understanding of the fundamental aspects of high SMFs on biological system.

Epigenetic mechanisms underlying the effects of triptolide and tripchlorolide on the expression of neuroligin-1 in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Context: Neuroligin-1 (NLGN1) is a cell adhesion protein located on the excitatory postsynaptic membrane. ß-Amyloid (Aß)-induced neuroinflammation decreases NLGN1 expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Triptolide (T10) and tripchlorolide (T4) exert protective effects on synapses in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: The effects of T10 and T4 on hippocampal NLGN1 expression in AD mice and the epigenetic mechanisms were assessed using chromatin immunoprecipitation and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation. Materials and methods: Sixty APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly divided into an AD model group, a T10-treated group and a T4-treated group (n = 20); 20 wild-type littermates served as the control group. APP/PS1 transgenic mice were intraperitoneally injected with T10 (0.1 mg/kg) and T4 (25 µg/kg) once per day for 60 days. NLGN1 expression was examined using western blotting and quantitative PCR. Results: T10 and T4 increased the levels of the NLGN1 protein and mRNA in hippocampus of AD mice. T10 and T4 inhibited the binding of HDAC2 (p< 0.01) and MeCP2 (p< 0.01 and p< 0.05, respectively) to the NLGN1 promoter, and cytosine methylation (1.2305 ± 0.1482/1.2554 ± 0.3570 vs. 1.6578 ± 0.1818, p< 0.01) at the NLGN1 promoter in the hippocampus of AD mice. T10 and T4 increased the level of acetylated histone H3 (0.7733 ± 0.1611/0.8241 ± 0.0964 vs. 0.5587 ± 0.0925, p< 0.01) at the NLGN1 promoter in the hippocampus of AD mice. Conclusions: T10 and T4 may increase hippocampal NLGN1 expression in AD mice through epigenetic mechanisms, providing a new explanation for the mechanism underlying the protective effects of T10 and T4 on synapses.

Identification of a conserved conformational epitope in the VP2 protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), is a highly contagious infectious disease that affects domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals worldwide. VP2 is a structural protein of FMDV. In this study, a potent FMDV serotype-independent monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3D9 was generated. Screening of a phage-displayed random 12-peptide library revealed that MAb 3D9 bound to phages displaying a consensus motif GVYxxAYxW that is highly homologous to the 89GVYxxxxxxxAYxxxxW105 motif in the FMDV VP2 protein. Importantly, this conformational epitope was highly conserved among all seven serotypes of FMDV analyzed in sequence alignments. To further verify the authentic epitope recognized by MAb 3D9, a FMDV O/YS/CHA/05 mutant virus V90A was generated using a reverse genetics system. The results revealed that Val90 was an important residue for MAb 3D9 binding within this conformational epitope. Thus, we finely mapped a conserved conformational epitope onto the FMDV VP2 protein. These results could be applied in the development of epitope-based vaccines and suitable MAb-based diagnostic methods for various FMDV serotype-independent tests.

Identification of a serotype-independent linear epitope of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), is a highly contagious infectious disease that affects domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals worldwide. VP2 is a structural protein of FMDV. In this study, an FMDV serotype-independent monoclonal antibody (MAb), 10B10, against the viral capsid protein VP2 was generated, and a series of GST fusion proteins expressing a truncated peptide of VP2 was subjected to Western blot analysis using MAb 10B10. Their results indicated that the peptide 8TLLEDRILT16 of VP2 is the minimal requirement of the epitope recognized by MAb 10B10. Importantly, this linear epitope was highly conserved among all seven serotypes of FMDV in a sequence alignment analysis. Subsequent alanine-scanning mutagenesis analysis revealed that the residues Thr8 and Asp12 of the epitope were crucial for MAb-10B10 binding. Furthermore, Western blot analysis also revealed that the MAb 10B10-directed epitope could be recognized by positive sera from FMDV-infected cattle. The discovery that MAb 10B10 recognizes a serotype-independent linear epitope of FMDV suggests potential applications for this MAb in the development of serotype-independent tests for FMDV.

Identification of a conserved linear neutralizing epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody 9A9 against serotype A foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), is a highly contagious infectious disease that affects domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals worldwide. In recent years, a series of outbreaks of serotype A FMD have occurred in many countries. High-affinity neutralizing antibodies against a conserved epitope have the potential to provide protective immunity against diverse subtypes of FMDV serotype A and to protect against future pandemics. In this study, we produced an A serotype FMDV-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) against the viral capsid protein VP1, designated 9A9, that potently neutralized FMDV A/JLYS/CHA/2014 with a 50 % neutralization titer (NT50) of 4,096. GST-fusion proteins expressing truncated peptides of VP1 were subjected to Western blot analysis using MAb 9A9, and it was found that the peptide (143)RGDLGPLAARL(153) of VP1 was the minimal epitope for MAb 9A9 binding. Western blot analysis also revealed that the epitope peptide could be recognized by positive sera from serotype A FMDV-infected pigs and cattle. Subsequent alanine-scanning mutagenesis analysis revealed that residues Gly(147) and Leu(149) of the 9A9-recognized epitope are crucial for MAb 9A9 binding. Furthermore, under immunological pressure selected by MAb 9A9, a single amino acid residue replacement (L149P) occurred in a viral neutralization-escape mutant, which verified the location of a critical residue of this epitope at Leu(149). Importantly, the epitope (143)RGDLGPLAARL(153) was highly conserved among different topotypes of serotype A FMDV strains in sequence alignment analysis. Thus, the results of this study could have application potential in the development of epitope-based vaccines and a suitable MAb-based diagnostic method for detection of type A FMDV as well as quantitation of antibodies against FMDV serotype A.

Effects of triptolide on degeneration of dendritic spines induced by Aß1-40 injection in rat hippocampus.

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains elusive, mounting evidence continues to support the involvement of neuroinflammation in the development of AD. Triptolide isolated from the herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities. In this study, we observed the effects of triptolide on dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons in model rats with AD. Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, AD model group and triptolide-treated group. The AD model group was made with bilateral microinjection of aggregated beta-amyloid protein (Aß)1-40 into hippocampus in rats and the control group rats were injected with normal saline in the same way. The triptolide-treated group rats were administered triptolide intraperitoneally for 30 days after microinjection of aggregated Aß1-40 into hippocampus. Dendritic morphology of hippocampal neurons in each group was analyzed using Golgi staining and ImageJ software. Our data showed that the total number of intersection points of dendrites and spine density in hippocampal neurons in the AD model group were decreased as compared with the control group. However, the total number of intersection points of dendrites and spine density in hippocampal neurons in the triptolide-treated group were increased as compared with the AD model group. Our results indicate that triptolide can alleviate the degeneration of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons in model rats with AD.

Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells can alleviate neuroinflammatory responses in rats with trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common form of facial pain, which primarily manifests as severe pain similar to facial acupuncture and electric shock. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are glial cells with high bioactivity; these cells are essential for the periodic regeneration of the olfactory nerve and have been utilized for the repair of nerve injuries. A member of the P2X receptor family, P2X7R, is an ion channel type receptor that has been confirmed to participate in various pain response processes. In this study, we transplanted OECs into trigeminal nerve-model rats with distal infraorbital nerve ligation to observe the therapeutic effect of transplanted OECs in rats. Additionally, we utilized the P2X7R-specific inhibitor brilliant blue G (BBG) to study the therapeutic mechanisms of cell transplantation. The facial mechanical pain threshold of these rats significantly increased following cell transplantation. The immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and RT-qPCR results demonstrated that the levels of P2X7R, (NOD)-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-18 in the trigeminal ganglion of rats treated with OEC transplantation or BBG treatment were significantly lower than those in the injured group without treatment. Overall, our results demonstrate that OEC transplantation can alleviate TN in rats, and it can reduce the expression of P2X7R related inflammatory factors in TN rats, reducing neuroinflammatory response in TG.

Ultra-high static magnetic fields altered the embryonic division and development in Caenorhabditis elegans via multipolar spindles.

INTRODUCTION: Ultra-high static magnetic fields (SMF) have unique advantages in improving medical and academic research. However, the research on the early embryo exposure of ultrahigh SMF is minimal, extensive exploration is indispensable in living organisms. OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed to study the effects of ultra-high SMF on the early embryonic division and development of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). METHODS: Early adult parents containing fertilized eggs in vivo were exposed to SMF at intensities ranging from 4 T to 27 T. The number of mitotic cells in the reproductive glands of the P0 worms, early embryonic cell spindle localization, embryo hatching and the reproductive as well as developmental indicators of F1 and F2 nematodes were examined as endpoints. RESULTS: Our results indicated that ultra-high SMF has no obvious effect on the germ cell cycle, while 14 T and 27 T SMF significantly increased the proportion of multi-polar spindle formation in early embryonic cells, and reduced the developmental rate and lifespan of C. elegans exposure at the embryonic stage. Spindle abnormalities of early embryonic cells, as well as the down-regulation of genes related to asymmetric embryonic division and the abnormal expression of the non-muscle myosin NMY-2 in the division grooves play a critical role in the slowing down of embryonic development induced by ultra-high SMF. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided novel information and a new sight for evaluating the biosafety assessment by exposure to ultra high SMF at the early embryonic stage in vivo.

Zinc oxide/graphene oxide nanocomposites specifically remediated Cd-contaminated soil via reduction of bioavailability and ecotoxicity of Cd.

From both environment and health perspectives, sustainable management of ever-growing soil contamination by heavy metal is posing a serious global concern. The potential ecotoxicity of cadmium (Cd) to soil and ecosystem seriously threatens human health. Developing efficient, specific, and long-term remediation technology for Cd-contaminated soil is impending to synchronously minimize the bioavailability and ecotoxicity of Cd. In the present study, zinc oxide/graphene oxide nanocomposite (ZnO/GO) was developed as a novel amendment for remediating Cd-contaminated soil. Our results showed that ZnO/GO effectively decreased the available soil Cd content, and increased pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in both Cd-spiked standard soil and Cd-contaminated mine field soil through the interaction between ZnO/GO and soil organic acids. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism for soil safety evaluation, ZnO/GO was further proved to decrease the ecotoxicity of Cd-contaminated soil. Specifically, ZnO/GO promoted Cd excretion and declined Cd storage in C. elegans by increasing the expression of gene ttm-1 and decreasing the level of gene cdf-2, which were responsible for Cd transportation and Cd accumulation, respectively. Moreover, the efficacy of ZnO/GO in remediating the properties and ecotoxicity of Cd-contaminated soil increased gradually with the time gradient, and could maintain a long-term effect after reaching the optimal remediation efficiency. Our findings established a specific and long-term strategy to simultaneously improve soil properties and reduce ecotoxicity of Cd-contaminated soil, which might provide new insights into the potential application of ZnO/GO in soil remediation for both ecosystem and human health.

Universal scaling law for chiral antiferromagnetism.

The chiral antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials, which have been widely investigated due to their rich physics, such as non-zero Berry phase and topology, provide a platform for the development of antiferromagnetic spintronics. Here, we find two distinctive anomalous Hall effect (AHE) contributions in the chiral AFM Mn3Pt, originating from a time-reversal symmetry breaking induced intrinsic mechanism and a skew scattering induced topological AHE due to an out-of-plane spin canting with respect to the Kagome plane. We propose a universal AHE scaling law to explain the AHE resistivity ( ρ A H ) in this chiral magnet, with both a scalar spin chirality (SSC)-induced skew scattering topological AHE term, a s k and non-collinear spin-texture induced intrinsic anomalous Hall term, b i n . We found that a s k and b i n can be effectively modulated by the interfacial electron scattering, exhibiting a linear relation with the inverse film thickness. Moreover, the scaling law can explain the anomalous Hall effect in various chiral magnets and has far-reaching implications for chiral-based spintronics devices.

[Observation of Qigui Tongfengshu granules in treatment of sixteen cases of gouty arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Qigui Tongfengshu granule in treating gouty arthritis. METHOD: Qigui Tongfengshu granule was used to treat 16 patients with gouty arthritis for 14 d. RESULT: The recovery rate, marked effective rate, effective rate and improvement rate were 37.5%, 50%, 6.25%, 6.25%, respectively. The total effective rate was 100%. Before and after treatment, the comparison showed statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Qigui Tongfengshu granule is significantly effective for gouty arthritis, and has the effect of anti-inflammation, analgesia and reduction in blood uric acid.

Gold Nanoparticles Reduce Food Sensation in Caenorhabditis elegans via the Voltage-Gated Channel EGL-19.

Introduction: The increasing use of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in the medical field has raised concerns about the potential adverse effect of Au NPs exposure. However, it is difficult to assess the health risks of Au NPs exposure at the individual organ level using current measurement techniques. Methods: The physical and chemical properties of Au NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and zeta sizer. The RNA-seq data of Au NPs-exposed worms were analyzed. The food intake was measured by liquid culture and Pharyngeal pumping rate. The function of the smell and taste neurons was evaluated by the chemotaxis and avoidance assay. The activation of ASE neurons was analyzed by calcium imaging. The gene expression of ins-22 and egl-19 was obtained from the C. elegans single cell RNA-seq databases. Results: Our data analysis indicated that 62.8% of the significantly altered genes were functional in the nervous system. Notably, developmental stage analysis demonstrated that exposure to Au NPs interfered with animal development by regulating foraging behavior. Also, our chemotaxis results showed that exposure to Au NPs reduced the sensation of C. elegans to NaCl, which was consistent with the decrease in calcium transit of ASEL. Further studies confirmed that the reduced calcium transit was dependent on voltage-gated calcium channel EGL-19. The neuropeptide INS-22 was partially involved in Au NPs-induced NaCl sensation defect. Therefore, we proposed that Au NPs reduced the calcium transit in the ASEL neuron through egl-19-dependent calcium channels. It was partially regulated by the DAF-16 targeting neuropeptide INS-22. Discussion: Our results demonstrate that Au NPs affect food sensation by reducing the calcium transit in ASEL neurons, which further leads to reduced pharynx pumping and feeding defects. The toxicology studies of Au NPs from worms have great potential to guide the usage of Au NPs in the medical field such as targeted drug delivery.

Precise and differentiated solutions for safe usage of Cd-polluted paddy fields at regional scale in southern China: Technical methods and field validation.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice grains has become a severe issue worldwide. This study aims to explore feasible technologies applicable to different risk lands and develop a practical solution for safe rice production at a regional scale. Despite inconsistent field conditions in the whole region, various foliar fertilizers could effectively decrease grain Cd content by 20.4-41.6 % and were capable of producing safe grains in low/medium-risk areas. At high-risk sites, foliage dressing coupled with alkaline fertilizers significantly reduced Cd accumulation and increased grain compliance rate to 95.0 %. The cost analysis and questionnaire survey showed the above technologies are low-cost, eco-friendly, and highly acceptable in real-world scenarios. The classification results by conditional inference tree (CIT) for CK and FS scenarios indicated grain Cd content is closely related to the interaction effects of soil Cd and pH. On these bases, the whole area was divided spatially into three different risk zones, and each zone matched a feasible method for safe production, subsequently developing a precise and differentiated solution. The estimation results demonstrate it can effectively improve the precision level of safe utilization of regional polluted lands and save more than half of the total cost, providing a new idea for regional Cd-polluted paddy fields management strategies.

Type II porous ionic liquid based on metal-organic cages that enables L-tryptophan identification.

Porous liquids with chemical separation properties are quite well-studied in general, but there is only a handful of reports in the context of identification and separation of non-gaseous molecules. Herein, we report a Type II porous ionic liquid composed of coordination cages that exhibits exceptional selectivity towards L-tryptophan (L-Trp) over other aromatic amino acids. A previously known class of anionic organic-inorganic hybrid doughnut-like cage (HD) is dissolved in trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride (THTP_Cl). The resulting liquid, HD/THTP_Cl, is thereby composed of common components, facile to prepare, and exhibit room temperature fluidity. The permanent porosity is manifested by the high-pressure isotherm for CH4 and modeling studies. With evidence from time-dependent amino acid uptake, competitive extraction studies and molecular dynamic simulations, HD/THTP_Cl exhibit better selectivity towards L-Trp than other solid state sorbents, and we attribute it to not only the intrinsic porosity of HD but also the host-guest interactions between HD and L-Trp. Specifically, each HD unit is filled with nearly 5 L-Trp molecules, which is higher than the L-Trp occupation in the structure unit of other benchmark metal-organic frameworks.