Analysis of ester-producing performance in high-yield ethyl hexanoate yeast and the effect on metabolites in bio- enhanced Daqu, the starter for Baijiu and other traditional fermented foods.

AIMS: Ethyl hexanoate, one of the key flavor compounds in strong-flavor Baijiu. To improve the content of ethyl hexanoate in strong-flavor Baijiu, a functional strain with high yield of ethyl hexanoate was screened and its ester-producing performance was studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: Upon identification, the strain was classified as Candida sp. and designated as ZY002. Under optimal fermentation conditions, the content of ethyl hexanoate synthesized by ZY002 can be as high as 170.56 mg L-1. A fermentation test was carried out using the ZY002 strain bioaugmented Daqu to verify the role of the strain applied to Baijiu brewing. It was found that strain ZY002 could not only improve the moisture and alcohol contents of fermented grains but also diminish the presence of reducing sugar and crude starch. Furthermore, it notably amplified the abundance of flavor compounds. CONCLUSION: In this study, Candida sp. ZY002 with a high yield of ethyl hexanoate provided high-quality strain resources for the actual industrial production of Baijiu.

Mouse nerve growth factor suppresses neuronal apoptosis in valproic acid-induced autism spectrum disorder rats by regulating the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/serine/threonine kinase signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social communication and restrictive behaviors. Mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF), a neurotrophic factor, is critical for neuronal growth and survival, and the mNGF treatment is considered a promising therapy for neurodegeneration. In light of this, we aimed to evaluate the effect of mNGF on neurological function in ASD. METHODS: An ASD rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA). Social behavior, learning, and memory of the rats were measured. TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-end labeling and Nissl assays were performed to detect neuronal apoptosis and survival in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Apoptosis-related proteins and oxidative stress markers were detected. RESULTS: mNGF improved locomotor activity, exploratory behavior, social interaction, and spatial learning and memory in VPA-induced ASD rats. In the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, mNGF suppressed neuronal apoptosis, increased the number of neurons, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione levels, and decreased reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-1ß levels compared with the VPA group. In addition, mNGF increased the levels of Bcl-2, p-phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), and p-serine/threonine kinase (Akt), and decreased the levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3, while the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 reversed these effects. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that mNGF suppressed neuronal apoptosis and ameliorated the abnormal behaviors in VPA-induced ASD rats, in part, by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Integrated hybrid de novo assembly technologies to obtain high-quality pig genome using short and long reads.

With the rapid progress of sequencing technologies, various types of sequencing reads and assembly algorithms have been designed to construct genome assemblies. Although recent studies have attempted to evaluate the appropriate type of sequencing reads and algorithms for assembling high-quality genomes, it is still a challenge to set the correct combination for constructing animal genomes. Here, we present a comparative performance assessment of 14 assembly combinations-9 software programs with different short and long reads of Duroc pig. Based on the results of the optimization process for genome construction, we designed an integrated hybrid de novo assembly pipeline, HSCG, and constructed a draft genome for Duroc pig. Comparison between the new genome and Sus scrofa 11.1 revealed important breakpoints in two S. scrofa 11.1 genes. Our findings may provide new insights into the pan-genome analysis studies of agricultural animals, and the integrated assembly pipeline may serve as a guide for the assembly of other animal genomes.

A Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Prenatal and Early Childhood Antimicrobial Use on Autism Spectrum Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of prenatal and early childhood antimicrobial use on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed and Embase databases for relevant studies from inception to August 2022. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Peer-reviewed, observational studies were all acceptable. Raw data were extracted into a predefined worksheet and quality analysis was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: Nineteen studies were identified in the meta-analysis. Prenatal antimicrobial exposure was not associated with ASD (P = 0.06 > 0.05), whereas early childhood antimicrobial exposure was associated with an increased odds ratio of ASD (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = [1.08-1.27], P value < 0.001). The sibling-matched analysis, with a very limited sample size, suggested that neither prenatal (P = 0.47 > 0.05) nor early childhood (P = 0.13 > 0.05) antimicrobial exposure was associated with ASD. Medical professionals may need to take the possible association into consideration when prescribing an antimicrobial in children. CONCLUSIONS: Early childhood antimicrobial exposure could increase the incidence of ASD. In future studies, it would be necessary to control for confounding factors, such as genetic factors, parenteral age at birth, or low birthweight, to further validate the association.

Taming transposable elements in livestock and poultry: a review of their roles and applications.

Livestock and poultry play a significant role in human nutrition by converting agricultural by-products into high-quality proteins. To meet the growing demand for safe animal protein, genetic improvement of livestock must be done sustainably while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Transposable elements (TE) are important components of livestock and poultry genomes, contributing to their genetic diversity, chromatin states, gene regulatory networks, and complex traits of economic value. However, compared to other species, research on TE in livestock and poultry is still in its early stages. In this review, we analyze 72 studies published in the past 20 years, summarize the TE composition in livestock and poultry genomes, and focus on their potential roles in functional genomics. We also discuss bioinformatic tools and strategies for integrating multi-omics data with TE, and explore future directions, feasibility, and challenges of TE research in livestock and poultry. In addition, we suggest strategies to apply TE in basic biological research and animal breeding. Our goal is to provide a new perspective on the importance of TE in livestock and poultry genomes.

TCHis mitigate oxidative stress and improve abnormal behavior in a prenatal valproic acid-exposed rat model of autism.

Troxerutin is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects in nerve impairment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of troxerutin and cerebroprotein hydrolysate injections (TCHis) on prenatal valproic acid (VPA)-exposed rats. The VPA was administered to pregnant rats on gestational day 12.5 to induce a model of autism. The offspring were given the treatment of TCHis on postnatal day (PND) 21-50. On PND 43-50, the behavioral analysis of offspring was performed after the treatment of TCHis for 1 h. On PND 50, the offspring were harvested and the brains were collected. The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were isolated for relevant biochemical detections. The administration of TCHis increased pain sensitivity and improved abnormal social behaviors in prenatal VPA-exposed rats. Prenatal exposure of VPA induced neuronal loss and apoptosis, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and promoted oxidative stress in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, whereas these effects were reversed by the postnatal treatment of TCHis. In addition, postnatal administration of TCHis ameliorated mitochondrial function in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of prenatal VPA-exposed rats. This study concluded that postnatal treatment of TCHis reduced oxidative stress and ameliorated abnormal behavior in a prenatal VPA-induced rat model of autism.

Genomic Analysis Revealed a Convergent Evolution of LINE-1 in Coat Color: A Case Study in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

Visible pigmentation phenotypes can be used to explore the regulation of gene expression and the evolution of coat color patterns in animals. Here, we performed whole-genome and RNA sequencing and applied genome-wide association study, comparative population genomics and biological experiments to show that the 2,809-bp-long LINE-1 insertion in the ASIP (agouti signaling protein) gene is the causative mutation for the white coat phenotype in swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). This LINE-1 insertion (3' truncated and containing only 5' UTR) functions as a strong proximal promoter that leads to a 10-fold increase in the transcription of ASIP in white buffalo skin. The 165 bp of 5' UTR transcribed from the LINE-1 is spliced into the first coding exon of ASIP, resulting in a chimeric transcript. The increased expression of ASIP prevents melanocyte maturation, leading to the absence of pigment in white buffalo skin and hairs. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the white buffalo-specific ASIP allele originated from a recent genetic transposition event in swamp buffalo. Interestingly, as a similar LINE-1 insertion has been identified in the cattle ASIP gene, we discuss the convergent mechanism of coat color evolution in the Bovini tribe.

Genome-wide analysis of zinc finger-homeodomain (ZF-HD) transcription factors in diploid and tetraploid cotton.

ZF-HD (zinc finger-homeodomain) gene family plays important roles in plant growth, development, and various stress responses. In the present study, 49, 50, 22, and 32 ZF-HD genes were identified in Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium arboretum, and Gossypium raimondii genomes, respectively. According to their phylogenetic features, the ZF-HD genes were classified into six groups. Segmental duplication, whole genome duplication, and transposable elements provides major forces for the expansion of cotton ZF-HD gene family during the divergence of Gossypium species and the divergence between monocots and dicots. The Ka/Ks ratios of the ZF-HD segmental duplication pairs were mainly distributed around 0.12, which indicated that they have experienced strong purifying selective pressure during evolution. Transcriptome analysis showed that 6 Gossypium hirsutum and 4 Gossypium barbadense ZF-HD genes were expressed in all tested tissues. Further, expression profiles under abiotic stress exhibited that the ZF-HD genes were differentially regulated in response to various stresses. Taken together, our findings provide a valuable information on the characterization of ZF-HD gene family and lay foundation for their further function investigations in cotton.

Cationic Conjugated Polyelectrolytes with Aggregation-Induced Ratiometric Fluorescence.

The molecular diversity of aggregation-induced emission remains a challenge due to the limitation of conventional synthesis methods. Here, a series of novel neutral and cationic conjugated polymers composed of various ratios of tetraarylethylene (TAE) containing a bridged oxygen (O) and fluorene (F) units is designed and synthesized via the geminal cross-coupling (GCC) of 1,1-dibromoolefins. The incorporation of TAE segments into the conjugated backbone of polyfluorene produces pronounced aggregation-induced ratiometric fluorescence, i.e., aggregation-induced emission (AIE) at 520-600 nm and grows synergistically with aggregations-caused quenching (ACQ) at 400-450 nm. The content of fluorene unit in the polymer backbones determines the intensity of the initial fluorescence in the blue light region. The huge distinction (about 150 nm) in dual emission wavelengths caused by the environment change makes these conjugated polyelectrolytes particularly suitable for ratiometric fluorescence sensing. Based on electrostatic interaction mechanism, the gradual addition of heparin into the cationic conjugated polymers aqueous solutions can induce dual-color fluorescence changes with a detection limit of 9 × 10-9 m. This work exhibits the great facility of using GCC reaction to synthesis the conjugated TAE polymers with superior AIE properties and special functions.

Publisher Correction: Single-DNA electron spin resonance spectroscopy in aqueous solutions.

In the version of this paper originally published online, the ORCID ID for Peter Z. Qin was incorrectly assigned to Zhuoyang Qin. In addition, the ORCID for Fazhan Shi was omitted. These errors have been corrected in the print, PDF, and HTML versions of the paper.

Single-DNA electron spin resonance spectroscopy in aqueous solutions.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of single biomolecules under near-physiological conditions could substantially advance understanding of their biological function, but this approach remains very challenging. Here we used nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamonds to detect electron spin resonance spectra of individual, tethered DNA duplexes labeled with a nitroxide spin label in aqueous buffer solutions at ambient temperatures. This work paves the way for magnetic resonance studies on single biomolecules and their intermolecular interactions in native-like environments.

Li Maneuver for geotropic horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HC-BPPV) -A better choice.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of Li Maneuver as a repositioning maneuver for geotropic HC-BPPV, compared with Gufon Maneuver. METHODS: Data of geotropic HC-BPPV patients treated at our department between January 2009 and January 2020 was retrospectively collected and analyzed. Enrolled cases were divided into Gufoni Group and Li Group. Follow-up results were recorded on the first, third, and seventh day after the first therapeutic maneuver. RESULTS: A total of 254 cases were enrolled, with 87 cases in Gufoni Group, and 167 cases in Li Group. The cure rate at the first, third, and seventh days of follow-up was 62.22%, 77.01%, and 90.80% respectively for Gufoni Group, while for Li Group the number was 60.48%, 72.46%, and 89.22% respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Li Maneuver for geotropic HC-BPPV was as effective as Gufoni Maneuver but much simpler and faster. By introducing Li Maneuver, we may help physicians to treat geotropic HC-BPPV patients more willingly, which would decrease the chance of delayed treatment and ease the burden of the health-care system.

Real-Time Fluorescence In Situ Visualization of Latent Fingerprints Exceeding Level 3 Details Based on Aggregation-Induced Emission.

A water-soluble probe, TPA-1OH, with aggregation-induced emission activity is synthesized and used for expedient real-time fluorescence in situ visualization of latent fingerprints (LFPs). A TPA-1OH aqueous solution exhibits nonfluorescence in pure water while strong fluorescence upon molecular aggregation induced by addition of poor solvent. Fluorescence images of LFPs on a variety of substrates, including rough surfaces such as walls, bricks, and paper, are developed under 405 nm light, by soaking in or spraying with a TPA-1OH aqueous solution (30 µM) without any necessity of organic cosolvents and post-treatment steps. The probe is noncytotoxic at a concentration lower than 50 µM. The development process of LFPs is demonstrated by real-time fluorescence in situ imaging. The exponential relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity and time is deduced from the fitting curve. The LFP images developed by TPA-1OH are evident and intact enough to allow that the level 1-3 details are displayed and analyzed. Noteworthily, the level 3 details of LFPs such as the fingerprint ridge width and the characteristics of the sweat pores are evidently visible under fluorescence microscopy. Even the nanoscopic details exceeding level 3 are visualized under super-resolution microscopy with sub-50 nm optical resolution.

AIE-Based Dynamic in Situ Nanoscale Visualization of Amyloid Fibrillation from Hen Egg White Lysozyme.

Protein misfolding and denaturation, represented by amyloid fibrillation, are associated with many diseases. However, as a general chemical biological process, the dynamic structure information on amyloid fibrillation has not been demonstrated categorically. Herein, hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) was used as the model protein of interest to realize in situ nanoscale imaging of protein fibrillation process using the fluorophores with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) activity. The AIE-active fluorophores exhibit the reversible capability of association and dissociation with ß-sheet structure and thus dynamic binding-induced emission, which causes the spontaneous switching of fluorescence. The entire HEWL denaturation process induced by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at ambient conditions was demonstrated in detail by using two AIE-active fluorophores (TPE-NaSO3 and PD-BZ-OH) through reversible electrostatic interaction and specific labeling between AIE probes and ß-sheet structures of amyloid fibrils, respectively. The results indicate that PD-BZ-OH is more specific AIE probe for amyloid fibrils than TPE-NaSO3. In comparison, the SEM and TEM results show the same denaturation process of protein fibrillation induced by SDS at different concentrations. The static super-resolution imaging of amyloid fibrils is performed with a resolution of 35 nm using PD-BZ-OH aqueous solution without additional auxiliary conditions. The dynamic evolution process of HEWL amyloid fibrillation is in situ visualized through super-resolution fluorescent microscopy with nanoscale resolution. Both static and dynamic super-resolution imaging of amyloid fibrillation provides detailed nanoscale structure information exceeding 50 nm resolution, which is of great significance in the exploration of amyloid fibrillation and related diseases.

Nanoscale Electrometry Based on a Magnetic-Field-Resistant Spin Sensor.

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is a potential atomic-scale spin sensor for electric field sensing. However, its natural susceptibility to the magnetic field hinders effective detection of the electric field. Here we propose a robust electrometric method utilizing continuous dynamic decoupling (CDD) technique. During the CDD period, the NV center evolves in a dressed frame, where the sensor is resistant to magnetic fields but remains sensitive to electric fields. As an example, we use this method to isolate the electric noise from a complex electromagnetic environment near diamond surface via measuring the dephasing rate between dressed states. By reducing the surface electric noise with different covered liquids, we observe an unambiguous relation between the dephasing rate and the relative dielectric permittivity of the liquid, which enables a quantitative investigation of electric noise model near the diamond surface.

Whole-genome analysis of structural variations between Xiang pigs with larger litter sizes and those with smaller litter sizes.

To gain a better knowledge of structural variations (SVs) in Xiang pig, we used next-generation sequencing to analyze the Xiang pigs with larger (XL) or smaller litter sizes (XS). Our analysis yielded 28,040 putative SVs in the Xiang pig. These SVs distributed throughout all of chromosomes. Some functional regions including exons and untranslated regions were less varied than introns and intergenic regions. We detected 4637 and 4119 specific SVs, which contained 1697 and 1582 genes in XL and XS group, respectively. These genes were mainly enriched in the well-known pathways involved in development and reproduction processes. Population validation was carried out on 50 SVs candidates using PCR method in 144 Xiang pig crowds. All of 50 SVs were confirmed by PCR method and 14 SVs were associated with the litter size of Xiang pigs. These results may be helpful for the elucidation of growth and reproduction regulation in Xiang pig.

Conserved microRNA mediates heating tolerance in germ cells versus surrounding somatic cells.

Mammalian fertility is reduced during heat exposure in the summer, but is regained as temperatures decrease in the autumn again. However, the mechanism underlying the phenomenon remains unknown. We investigated heat stress tolerance of germ cells and their surrounding somatic cells, and discovered that microRNA ssc-ca-1 was upregulated after heat stress in cultured porcine granulosa cells (GCs), but not in serum-starved GCs. Ssc-ca-1 inhibited heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression through its 3'- and 5'-UTRs. Although Hsp70 mRNA transcription was induced in GCs by in vivo exposure to heat in the summer, ssc-ca-1 inhibited Hsp70 expression. In ovarian cultures, heat stress-induced Hsp70 expression in primordial but not in growing follicles; ssc-ca-1 expression did not change in primordial follicles, but increased in growing follicles. Consistently, ssc-ca-1 was present in testicular cells and exhibited the same function as in ovarian cells. It modulated the different Hsp70 expression between spermatogonial stem cells and Sertoli cells after scrotal heat stress. This mechanism is of relevance to mammalian fertility in parts of the world dominated by heat stress associated with global climate change.

Quantitative proteome analysis of bovine mammary gland reveals protein dynamic changes involved in peak and late lactation stages.

Mammary gland is an important organ for milk synthesis and secretion. It undergoes dramatic physiological changes to adapt the shift from peak to late lactation stage. Protein plays a final very vital role in many life functions, and the protein changes during different lactation stages potentially reflect the biology of lactation and the functions of mammary gland in cows. In current study, we adopted tandem mass tags label-based quantitative analysis technique and to investigate proteome changes occurring in bovine mammary gland from peak to late lactation stages. A total of 3753 proteins from mammary tissues taken at two lactation points from four individual cows by biopsy were quantified, out of which 179 proteins were expressed differentially between two stages. We observed five new DEPs (AACS, DHCR7, GSTM3, SFRP1 and SFRP4) and nine functional well-studies known proteins (PLIN2, LPIN1, PLIN3, GSN, CD74, MMP2, SOD1, SOD3 and GPX3) related to milk performance and mammary morphology. Bioinformatics analyses of the DEPs showed a majority of the up-regulated proteins during late lactation stage were related to apoptosis and immune process, while the downregulated proteins were mainly involved in localization, lipid metabolic and transport process. This suggests that the mammary gland can adapt to different molecular functions according to the biological need of the animal. From the integrated analysis of the differentially expressed proteins with known quantitative trait loci and genome-wide association study data, we identified 95 proteins may potentially affect milking performance. We expect findings in this study could be a valuable resource for future studies investigating the bovine proteome and functional studies.

Resequencing diverse Chinese indigenous breeds to enrich the map of genomic variations in swine.

To enrich the map of genomic variations in swine, we randomly sequenced 13 domestic and wild individuals from China and Europe. We detected approximately 28.1 million single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 3.6 million short insertions and deletions (INDELs), of which 2,530,248 SNVs and 3,456,626 INDELs were firstly identified compared with dbSNP 143. Moreover, 208,687 SNVs and 24,161 INDELs were uniquely observed in Chinese pigs, potentially accounting for phenotypic differences between Chinese and European pigs. Furthermore, significantly high correlation between SNV and INDEL was witnessed, which indicated that these two distinct variants may share similar etiologies. We also predicted loss of function genes and found that they were under weaker evolutionary constraints. This study gives interesting insights into the genomic features of the Chinese pig breeds. These data would be useful in the establishment of high-density SNP map and would lay a foundation for facilitating pig functional genomics study.

Combined repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and gut microbiota modulation through the gut-brain axis for prevention and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by enduring impairments in social communication and interaction together with restricted repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities. No targeted pharmacological or physical interventions are currently available for ASD. However, emerging evidence has indicated a potential association between the development of ASD and dysregulation of the gut-brain axis. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic approach, has demonstrated positive outcomes in diverse psychiatric disorders; however, its efficacy in treating ASD and its accompanying gastrointestinal effects, particularly the effects on the gut-brain axis, remain unclear. Hence, this review aimed to thoroughly examine the existing research on the application of rTMS in the treatment of ASD. Additionally, the review explored the interplay between rTMS and the gut microbiota in children with ASD, focusing on the gut-brain axis. Furthermore, the review delved into the integration of rTMS and gut microbiota modulation as a targeted approach for ASD treatment based on recent literature. This review emphasizes the potential synergistic effects of rTMS and gut microbiota interventions, describes the underlying mechanisms, and proposes a potential therapeutic strategy for specific subsets of individuals with ASD.