Omicron escapes the majority of existing SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.

The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant contains 15 mutations of the receptor-binding domain (RBD). How Omicron evades RBD-targeted neutralizing antibodies requires immediate investigation. Here we use high-throughput yeast display screening1,2 to determine the profiles of RBD escaping mutations for 247 human anti-RBD neutralizing antibodies and show that the neutralizing antibodies can be classified by unsupervised clustering into six epitope groups (A-F)-a grouping that is highly concordant with knowledge-based structural classifications3-5. Various single mutations of Omicron can impair neutralizing antibodies of different epitope groups. Specifically, neutralizing antibodies in groups A-D, the epitopes of which overlap with the ACE2-binding motif, are largely escaped by K417N, G446S, E484A and Q493R. Antibodies in group E (for example, S309)6 and group F (for example, CR3022)7, which often exhibit broad sarbecovirus neutralizing activity, are less affected by Omicron, but a subset of neutralizing antibodies are still escaped by G339D, N440K and S371L. Furthermore, Omicron pseudovirus neutralization showed that neutralizing antibodies that sustained single mutations could also be escaped, owing to multiple synergetic mutations on their epitopes. In total, over 85% of the tested neutralizing antibodies were escaped by Omicron. With regard to neutralizing-antibody-based drugs, the neutralization potency of LY-CoV016, LY-CoV555, REGN10933, REGN10987, AZD1061, AZD8895 and BRII-196 was greatly undermined by Omicron, whereas VIR-7831 and DXP-604 still functioned at a reduced efficacy. Together, our data suggest that infection with Omicron would result in considerable humoral immune evasion, and that neutralizing antibodies targeting the sarbecovirus conserved region will remain most effective. Our results inform the development of antibody-based drugs and vaccines against Omicron and future variants.

BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 escape antibodies elicited by Omicron infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron sublineages BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 exhibit higher transmissibility than the BA.2 lineage1. The receptor binding and immune-evasion capability of these recently emerged variants require immediate investigation. Here, coupled with structural comparisons of the spike proteins, we show that BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 (BA.4 and BA.5 are hereafter referred collectively to as BA.4/BA.5) exhibit similar binding affinities to BA.2 for the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Of note, BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 display increased evasion of neutralizing antibodies compared with BA.2 against plasma from triple-vaccinated individuals or from individuals who developed a BA.1 infection after vaccination. To delineate the underlying antibody-evasion mechanism, we determined the escape mutation profiles2, epitope distribution3 and Omicron-neutralization efficiency of 1,640 neutralizing antibodies directed against the receptor-binding domain of the viral spike protein, including 614 antibodies isolated from people who had recovered from BA.1 infection. BA.1 infection after vaccination predominantly recalls humoral immune memory directed against ancestral (hereafter referred to as wild-type (WT)) SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The resulting elicited antibodies could neutralize both WT SARS-CoV-2 and BA.1 and are enriched on epitopes on spike that do not bind ACE2. However, most of these cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies are evaded by spike mutants L452Q, L452R and F486V. BA.1 infection can also induce new clones of BA.1-specific antibodies that potently neutralize BA.1. Nevertheless, these neutralizing antibodies are largely evaded by BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 owing to D405N and F486V mutations, and react weakly to pre-Omicron variants, exhibiting narrow neutralization breadths. The therapeutic neutralizing antibodies bebtelovimab4 and cilgavimab5 can effectively neutralize BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5, whereas the S371F, D405N and R408S mutations undermine most broadly sarbecovirus-neutralizing antibodies. Together, our results indicate that Omicron may evolve mutations to evade the humoral immunity elicited by BA.1 infection, suggesting that BA.1-derived vaccine boosters may not achieve broad-spectrum protection against new Omicron variants.

Newcastle disease virus activates diverse signaling pathways via Src to facilitate virus entry into host macrophages.

As an intrinsic cellular mechanism responsible for the internalization of extracellular ligands and membrane components, caveolae-mediated endocytosis (CavME) is also exploited by certain pathogens for endocytic entry [e.g., Newcastle disease virus (NDV) of paramyxovirus]. However, the molecular mechanisms of NDV-induced CavME remain poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that sialic acid-containing gangliosides, rather than glycoproteins, were utilized by NDV as receptors to initiate the endocytic entry of NDV into HD11 cells. The binding of NDV to gangliosides induced the activation of a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src, leading to the phosphorylation of caveolin-1 (Cav1) and dynamin-2 (Dyn2), which contributed to the endocytic entry of NDV. Moreover, an inoculation of cells with NDV-induced actin cytoskeletal rearrangement through Src to facilitate NDV entry via endocytosis and direct fusion with the plasma membrane. Subsequently, unique members of the Rho GTPases family, RhoA and Cdc42, were activated by NDV in a Src-dependent manner. Further analyses revealed that RhoA and Cdc42 regulated the activities of specific effectors, cofilin and myosin regulatory light chain 2, responsible for actin cytoskeleton rearrangement, through diverse intracellular signaling cascades. Taken together, our results suggest that an inoculation of NDV-induced Src-mediated cellular activation by binding to ganglioside receptors. This process orchestrated NDV endocytic entry by modulating the activities of caveolae-associated Cav1 and Dyn2, as well as specific Rho GTPases and downstream effectors. IMPORTANCE: In general, it is known that the paramyxovirus gains access to host cells through direct penetration at the plasma membrane; however, emerging evidence suggests more complex entry mechanisms for paramyxoviruses. The endocytic entry of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), a representative member of the paramyxovirus family, into multiple types of cells has been recently reported. Herein, we demonstrate the binding of NDV to induce ganglioside-activated Src signaling, which is responsible for the endocytic entry of NDV through caveolae-mediated endocytosis. This process involved Src-dependent activation of the caveolae-associated Cav1 and Dyn2, as well as specific Rho GTPase and downstream effectors, thereby orchestrating the endocytic entry process of NDV. Our findings uncover a novel molecular mechanism of endocytic entry of NDV into host cells and provide novel insight into paramyxovirus mechanisms of entry.

CTCF-Mediated Enhancer-Promoter Interaction Is a Critical Regulator of Cell-to-Cell Variation of Gene Expression.

Recent studies indicate that even a homogeneous population of cells display heterogeneity in gene expression and response to environmental stimuli. Although promoter structure critically influences the cell-to-cell variation of gene expression in bacteria and lower eukaryotes, it remains unclear what controls the gene expression noise in mammals. Here we report that CTCF decreases cell-to-cell variation of expression by stabilizing enhancer-promoter interaction. We show that CTCF binding sites are interwoven with enhancers within topologically associated domains (TADs) and a positive correlation is found between CTCF binding and the activity of the associated enhancers. Deletion of CTCF sites compromises enhancer-promoter interactions. Using single-cell flow cytometry and single-molecule RNA-FISH assays, we demonstrate that knocking down of CTCF or deletion of a CTCF binding site results in increased cell-to-cell variation of gene expression, indicating that long-range promoter-enhancer interaction mediated by CTCF plays important roles in controlling the cell-to-cell variation of gene expression in mammalian cells.

Toll-Like Receptors Mediate Opposing Dendritic Cell Effects on Treg/Th17 Balance in Mice With Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Dendritic cells (DCs) regulate the immune response associated with T lymphocytes, but their role in stroke remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the causal relationship between DCs and T-cell response in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by focusing on TLRs (toll-like receptors) that may modulate the function of DCs. METHODS: We studied the effects of TLR4, TLR2, and TLR9 on DC-mediated T-cell response and the outcomes of ICH using male C57BL/6 and CD11c-DTx (diphtheria toxin) receptor mice. We administered specific agents intraperitoneally or orally and evaluated the results using flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, histopathology, and behavioral tests. RESULTS: TLR4 and TLR2 activation induces DC maturation and reduces the ratio of regulatory T to T-helper 17 cells in the brain and periphery after ICH. When either of these receptors is activated, it can worsen neuroinflammation and exacerbate ICH outcomes. TLR9 also promotes DC maturation, stabilizing the number of DCs, particularly conventional DCs. TLR9 has the opposite effects on regulatory T/T-helper 17 balance, neuroinflammation, and ICH outcomes compared with TLR4 and TLR2. Upon stimulation, TLR4 and TLR9 may achieve these effects through the p38-MAPK (p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase)/MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1)/GCN2 (general control nonderepressible 2) signaling pathways, respectively. DCs act as intermediaries for TLR-mediated T-cell response. CONCLUSIONS: TLR-mediated opposing effects of DCs on T-cell response may provide novel strategies to treat ICH.

Copper-Catalyzed Domino-Double Annulation of o-Aminobenzamides with 2-Iodoisothiocyanates for the Synthesis of 12H-Benzo[4,5]thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-12-ones.

A facile and efficient copper-catalyzed domino-double annulation strategy was developed from easily accessible o-aminobenzamides and 2-iodoisothiocyanates, which affords a direct pathway for the synthesis of tetracyclic fused 12H-benzo[4,5]thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-12-ones in moderate to good yields without the addition of ligands, bases, and external oxidants. The reaction involves a C-N bond cleavage and the formation of a C-N/C-S bond in one step with the advantages of using an inexpensive copper catalyst and easy operation. Mechanistic studies suggest that this transformation proceeds via intermolecular condensation of o-aminobenzamides with 2-iodoisothiocyanates, followed by an intramolecular Ullmann-type cross-coupling cyclization reaction.

Palladium-Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Intermolecular [2 + 2 + 2] Coupling-Annulation: Regioselective Synthesis of Multiaryl-Substituted Benzenes.

A palladium-catalyzed intermolecular [2 + 2 + 2] oxidative coupling-annulation of terminal alkenes and alkynes using copper(II) as the oxidant has been developed through direct C-C bond formation. These reactions provide effective access to multiaryl-substituted benzenes with high regioselectivity in the absence of any ligands. The features of this protocol are broad substrate scope, and high atom and step economy. The aggregation-induced emission properties of selected products were further investigated. These synthesized multiaryl-substituted benzenes may be worth exploring for further applications in the fields of advanced functional materials or drugs.

Genetically engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for enhanced oral delivery vaccine vehicle.

As a series of our previous studies reported, recombinant yeast can be the oral vaccines to deliver designed protein and DNA, as well as functional shRNA, into dendritic cells (DCs) in mice for specific immune regulation. Here, we report the further optimization of oral yeast-based vaccine from two aspects (yeast characteristics and recombinant DNA constitution) to improve the effect of immune regulation. After screening four genes in negative regulation of glucan synthesis in yeast (MNN9, GUP1, PBS2 and EXG1), this research combined HDR-based genome editing technology with Cre-loxP technology to acquire 15 gene-knockout strains without drug resistance-gene to exclude biosafety risks; afterward, oral feeding experiments were performed on the mice using 15 oral recombinant yeast-based vaccines constructed by the gene-knockout strains harboring pCMV-MSTN plasmid to screen the target strain with more effective inducing mstn-specific antibody which in turn increasing weight gain effect. And subsequently based on the selected gene-knockout strain, the recombinant DNA in the oral recombinant yeast-based vaccine is optimized via a combination of protein fusion expression (OVA-MSTN) and interfering RNA technology (shRNA-IL21), comparison in terms of both weight gain effect and antibody titer revealed that the selected gene-knockout strain (GUP1ΔEXG1Δ) combined with specific recombinant DNA (pCMV-OVA-MSTN-shIL2) had a better effect of the vaccine. This study provides a useful reference to the subsequent construction of a more efficient oral recombinant yeast-based vaccine in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Simultaneous Reduction and Methylation of Nanoparticulate Mercury: The Critical Role of Extracellular Electron Transfer.

Mercury nanoparticles are abundant in natural environments. Yet, understanding their contribution to global biogeochemical cycling of mercury remains elusive. Here, we show that microbial transformation of nanoparticulate divalent mercury can be an important source of elemental and methylmercury.Geobacter sulfurreducensPCA, a model bacterium predominant in anoxic environments (e.g., paddy soils), simultaneously reduces and methylates nanoparticulate Hg(II). Moreover, the relative prevalence of these two competing processes and the dominant transformation pathways differ markedly between nanoparticulate Hg(II) and its dissolved and bulk-sized counterparts. Notably, even when intracellular reduction of Hg(II) nanoparticles is constrained by cross-membrane transport (a rate-limiting step that also regulates methylation), the overall Hg(0) formation remains substantial due to extracellular electron transfer. With multiple lines of evidence based on microscopic and electrochemical analyses, gene knockout experiments, and theoretical calculations, we show that nanoparticulate Hg(II) is preferentially associated with c-type cytochromes on cell membranes and has a higher propensity for accepting electrons from the heme groups than adsorbed ionic Hg(II), which explains the surprisingly larger extent of reduction of nanoparticles than dissolved Hg(II) at relatively high mercury loadings. These findings have important implications for the assessment of global mercury budgets as well as the bioavailability of nanominerals and mineral nanoparticles.

Independent risk factors of left ventricular hypertrophy in non-diabetic individuals in Sierra Leone - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a critical factor in heart failure and cardiovascular event-related mortality. While the prevalence of LVH in diabetic patients is well-documented, its occurrence and risk factors in non-diabetic populations remain largely unexplored. This study addresses this issue by investigating the independent risk factors of LVH in non-diabetic individuals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, conducted meticulously, utilized data from a robust and comprehensive source, DATADRYAD, in the Sierra Leone database, collected between October 2019 and October 2021, including LVH and various variables. All variables were described and screened using univariate analysis, Spearman correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). The lipid profile, including total cholesterols (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein (Non-HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), TC/HDL-C ratio, TG/HDL-C ratio, Non-HDL-C /HDL-C ratio and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, which quartiles were treated as categorical variables, with the lowest quartile serving as the reference category. Three adjusted models were constructed to mitigate the influence of other variables. To ensure the robustness of the model, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to calculate the cutoff values by analyzing the ROC curves. A sensitivity analysis was performed to validate the findings further. RESULTS: The dataset encompasses information from 2092 individuals. After adjusting for potential factors that could influence the results, we found that TC (OR = 2.773, 95%CI: 1.805-4.26), Non-HDL-C (OR = 2.74, 95%CI: 1.7723-4.236), TC/HDL-C ratio (OR = 2.237, 95%CI: 1.445-3.463), Non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio (OR = 2.357, 95%CI: 1.548-3.588), TG/HDL-C ratio (OR = 1.513, 95%CI: 1.02-2.245) acts as independent risk factors of LVH. ROC curve analysis revealed the predictive ability of blood lipids for LVH, with Non-HDL-C exhibiting area under the curve (AUC = 0.6109), followed by TC (AUC = 0.6084). CONCLUSIONS: TC, non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C ratio, Non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio, and TG/HDL-C ratio were independent risk factors of LVH in non-diabetic people. Non-HDL-C and TC were found to be essential indicators for predicting the prevalence of LVH.

Community-dwelling older adults' perspectives on health risks: a qualitative study exploring anxieties, priorities, and expectations in ageing.

BACKGROUND: With the conflict between the promise of ageing in health and longevity and the limited availability of health resources and social support, older adults in China inevitably experience anxieties surrounding health risks. This study aims to investigate how older adults perceive the health risks that come with getting older, explore the degree to which health risks affect older adults, and advocate for active engagement in practices for managing health risks. METHODS: Using purposive sampling, three districts of Beijing (Xicheng District, Fengtai District, and Daxing District, respectively) were selected for the research. Qualitative semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with 70 community-dwelling older adults who participated in the study. Data were extracted and analyzed based on a thematic framework approach. RESULTS: Three main themes were identified: (i) the anxieties of older adults concerning health risks in ageing; (ii) the priorities of older adults for health risk management in ageing; (iii) the expectations of older adults for health risk management in ageing. The primary health concerns among older adults included disease incidence and function decline. It was found that basic health management emerged as a critical need for older adults to mitigate health risks. Moreover, it was observed that healthcare support for older adults from familial, institutional, and governmental levels exhibited varying degrees of inadequacy. CONCLUSIONS: The primary source of anxieties among older adults regarding health risks predominantly stems from a perceived sense of health deprivation. It is often compounded by persistent barriers to primary care of priorities in managing health risks among older adults. In addition, the expectations of older adults for health risk management emphasize the necessity for integrated care approaches. Therefore, further research should give priority to the prevention and management of health risks, aim to reduce anxieties, provide integrated care to meet the primary needs and expectations of older adults, and ultimately strive toward the overarching goal of promoting health and longevity.

People-centered primary care measures in health equity: a perspective of urban-rural comparison in Beijing, China.

Person-centered primary care measures (PCPCM) facilitate high-quality and culturally appropriate primary care. Access to PCPCM remains unequal between rural and urban areas, and the available evidence on rural PCPCM is still lacking. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with stratified sampling by regions, and four districts (Xicheng, Fengtai, Huairou, and Daxing) in Beijing were selected to test the performance of PCPCM in both urban and rural areas. Descriptive statistical methods were used to compare the urban-rural differences in the demographic characteristics of PCPCM. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to determine the associations between PCPCM in demographics and utilization of primary care. The PCPCM showed good reliability and validity in both urban and rural areas (P < .001), slightly lower in rural areas, but scores of rural PCPCM (R-PCPCM) in all items were lower than urban PCPCM (U-PCPCM). Patients in either the preferred urban or rural health centers all showed the highest PCPCM scores, with U-PCPCM= 3.31 for CHCs and R-PCPCM= 3.10 for RHCs, respectively. Patients in urban areas were more likely to receive higher-quality primary care than in rural areas (P < .001). Patients who preferred hospitals (ß = 2.61, P < .001) or CHCs (ß = 0.71, P = .003) as providers was a significant positive predictor of U-PCPCM but it was the preference for hospitals (ß = 2.95, P < .001) for R-PCPCM. Urban-rural differences existed in the performance of PCPCM, with rural areas typically more difficult to access better PCPCM. To promote health equity in rural areas, healthcare providers should strive to minimize urban-rural differences in the quality and utilization of primary care services as much as feasible.

Comparison of Normal Human Skin and Hypertrophic Scar Tissue Samples of Different Ages, Locations, and Stages of Maturity.

BACKGROUND: Scars disrupt the normal structure and function of the skin. The primary goal of plastic surgery is to prevent and reduce scarring. Therefore, we aimed to establish a comparison scheme between normal skin (NS) tissues of different ages and locations; hypertrophic scars (HTS) of different ages, locations, and maturities; and NS and HTS tissues to provide evidence on scar severity for improving treatment evaluation. METHODS: Various methods including histology, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were employed to compare the general appearance, macrophage infiltration, fibroblast activity, degree of angiogenesis, and collagen fiber type and arrangement in human-sourced NS and HTS tissues of different ages, locations, and maturities in seven patients (three with NS and four with HTS) from the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of the Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. RESULTS: The thicknesses of the epidermis and dermis of NS tissues varied with age and location. The epidermis of the upper arms, face, and upper eyelids of NS tissues sequentially thickened, whereas the dermis was sequentially thinner. Several glandular structures were identified in the upper eyelids but rarely in the face and upper arms. Histological changes in HTS tissue of different ages, locations, and maturity occur as scar formation time is prolonged, accompanied by increased CD86 levels and fibrosis. As the scar matured, connexin and VEGFR2 expression decreased, indicating reduced inflammation, fibroblast activity, and angiogenesis. The comparison between NS and HTS tissue also revealed significant differences; the positive expression of VEGFR2 and total collagen in HTS tissue was higher than that in NS tissue. CONCLUSIONS: We discovered significant differences among NS, HTS, and NS and HTS tissues of different ages, locations, and maturities. Further, this study may provide a basis for clarifying the treatment effect of different methods for HTS compared with those for NS, efficiently individualizing patients' treatment plans and ultimately shortening the scar treatment process.

Large Amount of Epidural Effusion Outside the Dura After Percutaneous Puncture and Suction Treatment.

Epidural fluid collection is commonly seen as a low-density accumulation beneath the dura on postoperative computed tomography scans. It is discussed less in the literature because, in most cases, the fluid amount is small, self-absorbing, and typically does not cause neurological deficits, so intervention is usually unnecessary. However, when a significant amount of fluid accumulates, patients may experience symptoms such as altered consciousness and even coma. In such cases, treatment is necessary to reduce intracranial pressure, preventing further deterioration of consciousness and potentially life-threatening situations. The authors report a case of a large epidural fluid collection following cranioplasty, resulting in progressive deterioration of consciousness in the patient. Computed tomography scans indicated brain herniation. Subsequently, percutaneous puncture and suction treatment were performed, followed by appropriate pressure dressing. The patient gradually recovered from a shallow coma to clear consciousness and was discharged after rehabilitation.

[Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and variant of CREBBP gene in a fetus with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS). METHODS: A fetus with RSTS diagnosed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in August 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data, amniotic fluid sample of the fetus and peripheral blood samples of its parents were collected for whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Foot malformation, cerebellar vermis agenesis, brain agenesis, polysyndactyly of the big toes and other phenotypes were found by prenatal ultrasound. WES revealed that the fetus has harbored a heterozygous c.4684G>T (p.E1562*) variant in exon 28 of the CREBBP gene (NM_004380.3), which was de novo in origin. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+PS2_Moderate+PM2_Supporting). After genetic counseling, the couple had opted to terminate the pregnancy and refused autopsy of the fetus. CONCLUSION: The c.4684G>T (p.E1562*) variant of the CREBBP gene probably underlay the RSTS in this fetus. The newly discovered variant has enriched the mutational spectrum of the CREBBP gene and illustrated that WES is an efficient tool for the prenatal diagnosis of RSTS.

Evaluating the efficacy of recombinant human growth factors in scar remodelling for patients with facial soft tissue injuries.

Facial soft tissue injuries, often resulting in scarring, pose a challenge in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery due to the need for functional and aesthetic restoration. This study evaluates the efficacy of recombinant human growth factors (rhGFs) in scar remodelling for such injuries. A retrospective evaluation was conducted from January 2020 to January 2023, involving 100 patients with facial soft tissue injuries. Participants were divided equally into a control group, receiving standard cosmetic surgical repair, and an observation group, treated with rhGFs supplemented cosmetic surgery. The study assessed scar characteristics (pigmentation, pliability, vascularity, height), hospital stay duration, tissue healing time, complication rates and patient satisfaction. The observation group demonstrated significant improvements in all scar characteristics, with notably better pigmentation, pliability, vascularity and height compared with the control group. The rhGF treatment also resulted in reduced hospital stay duration and faster tissue healing. Notably, the total complication rate was significantly lower in the observation group (10%) compared with the control group (34%). Additionally, patient satisfaction levels were higher in the observation group, with 98% combined satisfaction compared with 76% in the control group. The application of rhGFs in treating facial soft tissue injuries significantly enhances scar remodelling, expedites healing, reduces complications and improves patient satisfaction. These findings establish rhGFs as a valuable tool in the management of facial soft tissue injuries, highlighting their potential in improving both functional and aesthetic outcomes.

CRISPR/Gal4BD-Cas donor adapting systems based on miniaturized Cas proteins for improved gene editing.

Targeted precise point editing and knock-in can be achieved by homology-directed repair(HDR) based gene editing strategies in mammalian cells. However, the inefficiency of HDR strategies seriously restricts their application in precision medicine and molecular design breeding. In view of the problem that exogenous donor DNA cannot be efficiently recruited autonomously at double-stranded breaks(DSBs) when using HDR strategies for gene editing, the concept of donor adapting system(DAS) was proposed and the CRISPR/Cas9-Gal4BD DAS was developed previously. Due to the large size of SpCas9 protein, its fusion with the Gal4BD adaptor is inconvenient for protein expression, virus vector packaging and in vivo delivery. In this study, two novel CRISPR/Gal4BD-SlugCas9 and CRISPR/Gal4BD-AsCas12a DASs were further developed, using two miniaturized Cas proteins, namely SlugCas9-HF derived from Staphylococcus lugdunensis and AsCas12a derived from Acidaminococcus sp. Firstly, the SSA reporter assay was used to assess the targeting activity of different Cas-Gal4BD fusions, and the results showed that the fusion of Gal4BD with SlugCas9 and AsCas12a N-terminals had minimal distraction on their activities. Secondly, the HDR efficiency reporter assay was conducted for the functional verification of the two DASs and the corresponding donor patterns were optimized simultaneously. The results demonstrated that the fusion of the Gal4BD adaptor binding sequence at the 5'-end of intent dsDNA template (BS-dsDNA) was better for the CRISPR/Gal4BD-AsCas12a DAS, while for the CRISPR/Gal4BD-SlugCas9 DAS, the dsDNA-BS donor pattern was recommended. Finally, CRISPR/Gal4BD-SlugCas9 DAS was used to achieve gene editing efficiency of 24%, 37% and 31% respectively for EMX1, NUDT5 and AAVS1 gene loci in HEK293T cells, which was significantly increased compared with the controls. In conclusion, this study provides a reference for the subsequent optimization of the donor adapting systems, and expands the gene editing technical toolbox for the researches on animal molecular design breeding.

[Mechanism of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma in regulating PI3K/Akt/mTORC1-mitochondrial energy metabolism to treat chronic renal failure in rats with blood stasis syndrome].

This study observed the effects of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1) signaling pathway and mitochondrial energy metabolism in the rat model of adriamycin-induced renal fibrosis with blood stasis syndrome to explore the mechanism of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma in protecting the kidney. Thirty male rats with adriamycin-induced renal fibrosis were randomized into model, low-, medium-, and high-dose Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, and positive control groups(n=6). Six clean SD male rats were selected into the normal group. The normal group and model group were administrated with normal saline, and other groups with corresponding drugs. After 8 weeks of treatment, the renal function, renal pathology, adenosine triphosphate(ATP) levels, Na~+-K~+-ATPase and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATPase activities, and the protein levels of ATP5B, mTORC1, 70 kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase(P70S6K), P85, Akt, p-Akt, and SH2-containing inositol phosphatase(SHIP2) in the renal tissue were determined. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and serum creatinine(SCr)(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and the positive control lowered the levels of BUN and SCr, which were significant in the medium-and high-dose Noto-ginseng Radix et Rhizoma groups and the positive control group(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and the positive control alleviated the pathological changes in the renal tissue, such as vacuolar and fibroid changes, glomerulus atrophy, cystic expansion of renal tubules, and massive infiltration of inflammatory cells. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed decreased mitochondrial ATP content and Na~+-K~+-ATPase and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATPase activities in the renal tissue(P<0.05), and medium-and high-dose Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and positive control mitigated such decreases(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, medium-and high-dose Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and the positive control up-regulated the protein levels of ATP5B and SHIP2 and down-regulated the protein levels of mTORC1, P70S6K, P85, Akt, and p-Akt(P<0.05 or P<0.01 or P<0.001). Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma may exert an anti-fibrosis effect by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 pathway to restore mitochondrial energy metabolism, thus protecting the kidney.

Development of a universal antibiotic resistance screening reporter for improving efficiency of cytosine and adenine base editing.

Base editing has emerged as a revolutionary technology for single nucleotide modifications. The cytosine and adenine base editors (CBEs and ABEs) have demonstrated great potential in clinical and fundamental research. However, screening and isolating target-edited cells remains challenging. In the current study, we developed a universal Adenine and Cytosine Base-Editing Antibiotic Resistance Screening Reporter (ACBE-ARSR) for improving the editing efficiency. To develop the reporter, the CBE-ARSR was first constructed and shown to be capable of enriching cells for those that had undergone CBE editing activity. Then, the ACBE-ARSR was constructed and was further validated in the editing assays by four different CBEs and two versions of ABE at several different genomic loci. Our results demonstrated that ACBE-ARSR, compared to the reporter of transfection (RoT) screening strategy, improved the editing efficiency of CBE and ABE by 4.6- and 1.9-fold on average, respectively. We found the highest CBE and ABE editing efficiencies as enriched by ACBE-ARSR reached 90% and 88.7%. Moreover, we also demonstrated ACBE-ARSR could be employed for enhancing simultaneous multiplexed genome editing. In conclusion, both CBE and ABE activity can be improved significantly using our novel ACBE-ARSR screening strategy, which we believe will facilitate the development of base editors and their application in biomedical and fundamental research studies.

Structural insights into how GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase directs lysosomal protein transport.

GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase catalyzes the initial step in the formation of the mannose-6-phosphate tag that labels ∼60 lysosomal proteins for transport. Mutations in GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase are known to cause lysosomal storage disorders such as mucolipidoses. However, the molecular mechanism of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase activity remains unclear. Mammalian GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferases are α2ß2γ2 hexamers in which the core catalytic α- and ß-subunits are derived from the GNPTAB (N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase subunits alpha and beta) gene. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Drosophila melanogaster GNPTAB homolog, DmGNPTAB. We identified four conserved regions located far apart in the sequence that fold into the catalytic domain, which exhibits structural similarity to that of the UDP-glucose glycoprotein glucosyltransferase. Comparison with UDP-glucose glycoprotein glucosyltransferase also revealed a putative donor substrate-binding site, and the functional requirements of critical residues in human GNPTAB were validated using GNPTAB-knockout cells. Finally, we show that DmGNPTAB forms a homodimer that is evolutionarily conserved and that perturbing the dimer interface undermines the maturation and activity of human GNPTAB. These results provide important insights into GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase function and related diseases.