Gender differences in oral health among prisoners: a cross-sectional study from Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of oral diseases among Taiwanese prisoners has rarely been investigated. This study aimed to estimate the gender-specific prevalence of oral disease in a sample of Taiwanese prisoners. METHODS: We included 83,048 participants from the National Health Insurance (NHI) Program. Outcomes were measured using the clinical version of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9-CM). For prevalence, we provide absolute values and percentages. We also performed a χ2 test to assess sex and age group differences in the percentage of disease in the oral cavity, salivary glands, and jaw. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of oral diseases was 25.90%, which was higher than that of the general population. The prevalence of oral diseases in female prisoners was higher than that in male prisoners (p < 0.001), and the prevalence of oral diseases in prisoners aged ≤ 40 was higher than that of prisoners aged > 40. Among all cases of diagnosed oral diseases, the top three diseases were dental hard tissue diseases (13.28%), other cellulitis and abscesses (9.79%), and pruritus and related conditions (2.88%), respectively. The prevalence of various oral diseases in female prisoners was significantly higher than that in male prisoners. CONCLUSION: Oral disease is common among Taiwanese prisoners. Female prisoners had a higher prevalence of oral, salivary gland, and jaw diseases than male prisoners. Therefore, early prevention and appropriate treatment are required and also a need for gender-specific oral disease products given the differences in the prevalence of oral disease among male and female prisoners.

A review on microbial synthesis of lactate-containing polyesters.

Degradable polylactic acids (PLA) have been widely used in agriculture, textile, medicine and degradable plastics industry, and can completely replace petroleum-based plastics in the future. At present, polylactic acid was chemically synthesized by ring-opening polymerisation or the direct polycondensation of lactic acid, which inevitably leads to chemical and heavy metal catalyst pollution. The current research focus has gradually shifted to the development of recombinant industrial strains for the efficiently production of lactate-containing polyesters from renewable resources. This review summarizes various explorations of metabolic pathway optimization and production cost control in the industrialization of lactate-containing polyesters bio-production. In particular, the effects of key enzymes, including CoA transferase, polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase, and their mutants, culture conditions, low-cost carbon sources, and recombinant strains on the yield and composition of lactate-containing polyesters are summarized and discussed. Future prospects and challenges for the industrialization of lactate-containing polyesters are also pointed out.

Recent progress in the development of upconversion nanomaterials in bioimaging and disease treatment.

Multifunctional lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), which feature efficiently convert low-energy photons into high-energy photons, have attracted considerable attention in the domain of materials science and biomedical applications. Due to their unique photophysical properties, including light-emitting stability, excellent upconversion luminescence efficiency, low autofluorescence, and high detection sensitivity, and high penetration depth in samples, UCNPs have been widely applied in biomedical applications, such as biosensing, imaging and theranostics. In this review, we briefly introduced the major components of UCNPs and the luminescence mechanism. Then, we compared several common design synthesis strategies and presented their advantages and disadvantages. Several examples of the functionalization of UCNPs were given. Next, we detailed their biological applications in bioimaging and disease treatment, particularly drug delivery and photodynamic therapy, including antibacterial photodynamic therapy. Finally, the future practical applications in materials science and biomedical fields, as well as the remaining challenges to UCNPs application, were described. This review provides useful practical information and insights for the research on and application of UCNPs in the field of cancer.

Highly elastic, fatigue-resistant, antibacterial, conductive, and nanocellulose-enhanced hydrogels with selenium nanoparticles loading as strain sensors.

The fabrication of highly elastic, fatigue-resistant and conductive hydrogels with antibacterial properties is highly desirable in the field of wearable devices. However, it remains challenging to simultaneously realize the above properties within one hydrogel without compromising excellent sensing ability. Herein, we fabricated a highly elastic, fatigue-resistant, conductive, antibacterial and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) enhanced hydrogel as a sensitive strain sensor by the synergistic effect of biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles (BioSeNPs), MXene and nanocellulose. The structure and potential mechanism to generate biologically synthesized SeNPs (BioSeNPs) were systematically investigated, and the role of protease A (PrA) in enhancing the adsorption between proteins and SeNPs was demonstrated. Additionally, owing to the incorporation of BioSeNPs, CNC and MXene, the synthesized hydrogels showed high elasticity, excellent fatigue resistance and antibacterial properties. More importantly, the sensitivity of hydrogels determined by the gauge factor was as high as 6.24 when a high strain was applied (400-700 %). This study provides a new horizon to synthesize high-performance antibacterial and conductive hydrogels for soft electronics applications.

Multifunctional Lipidated Protein Carrier with a Built-In Adjuvant as a Universal Vaccine Platform Potently Elevates Immunogenicity of Weak Antigens.

Weak antigens represented by MUC1 are poorly immunogenic, which greatly constrains the development of relevant vaccines. Herein, we developed a multifunctional lipidated protein as a carrier, in which the TLR1/2 agonist Pam3CSK4 was conjugated to the N-terminus of MUC1-loaded carrier protein BSA through pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-mediated transamination reaction. The resulting Pam3CSK4-BSA-MUC1 conjugate was subsequently incorporated into liposomes, which biomimics the membrane structure of tumor cells. The results indicated that this lipidated protein carrier significantly enhanced antigen uptake by APCs and obviously augmented the retention of the vaccine at the injection site. Compared with the BSA-MUC1 and BSA-MUC1 + Pam3CSK4 groups, Pam3CSK4-BSA-MUC1 evoked 22- and 11-fold increases in MUC1-specific IgG titers. Importantly, Pam3CSK4-BSA-MUC1 elicited robust cellular immunity and significantly inhibited tumor growth. This is the first time that lipidated protein was constructed to enhance antigen immunogenicity, and this universal carrier platform exhibits promise for utilization in various vaccines, holding the potential for further clinical application.

Investigative biological therapies for primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by dryness of the eyes and mouth. The histological feature is mononuclear cell infiltration in exocrine glands, primarily salivary and lachrymal glands. As the disease progresses, some other tissues and organs may be involved and extraglandular manifestations ensue. The major current treatments are palliative and empirical, and in most cases the outcomes are not satisfactory. Emerging data indicate a critical role of lymphocytes in its development and progression. While pioneering work targeting B cells has demonstrated some encouraging results, more trials are warranted to validate the safety and efficacy. In addition, modulation of T cell function with abatacept ameliorates the severity of pSS. Furthermore, clinical trials to inhibit important cytokines involved in its formation have been carried out. In this article, we summarize and compare current biological therapies in order to find new and effective treatments for pSS.

[Preparation and bone repair capability of a new plastic bone filler material].

Objective: To prepare a new plastic bone filler material with adhesive carrier and matrix particles derived from human bone, and evaluate its safety and osteoinductive ability through animal tests. Methods: The human long bones donated voluntarily were prepared into decalcified bone matrix (DBM) by crushing, cleaning, and demineralization, and then the DBM was prepared into bone matrix gelatin (BMG) by warm bath method, and the BMG and DBM were mixed to prepare the experimental group's plastic bone filler material; DBM was used as control group. Fifteen healthy male thymus-free nude mice aged 6-9 weeks were used to prepare intermuscular space between gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles, and all of them were implanted with experimental group materials. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 4, and 6 weeks after operation, and the ectopic osteogenic effect was evaluated by HE staining. Eight 9-month-old Japanese large-ear rabbits were selected to prepare 6-mm-diameter defects at the condyles of both hind legs, and the left and right sides were filled with the materials of the experimental group and the control group respectively. The animals were sacrificed at 12 and 26 weeks after operation, and the effect of bone defect repair were evaluated by Micro-CT and HE staining. Results: In ectopic osteogenesis experiment, HE staining showed that a large number of chondrocytes could be observed at 1 week after operation, and obvious newly formed cartilage tissue could be observed at 4 and 6 weeks after operation. For the rabbit condyle bone filling experiment, HE staining showed that at 12 weeks after operation, part of the materials were absorbed, and new cartilage could be observed in both experimental and control groups; at 26 weeks after operation, the most of the materials were absorbed, and large amount of new bone could be observed in the 2 groups, while new bone unit structure could be observed in the experimental group. Micro-CT observation showed that the bone formation rate and area of the experimental group were better than those of the control group. The measurement of bone morphometric parameters showed that the parameters at 26 weeks after operation in both groups were significantly higher than those at 12 weeks after operation ( P<0.05). At 12 weeks after operation, the bone mineral density and bone volume fraction in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups in trabecular thickness ( P>0.05). At 26 weeks after operation, the bone mineral density of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion: The new plastic bone filler material is an excellent bone filler material with good biosafety and osteoinductive activity.

Self-Adjuvanting Protein Vaccine Conjugated with a Novel Synthetic TLR4 Agonist on Virus-Like Liposome Induces Potent Immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

Exploring potent adjuvants and new vaccine strategies is crucial for the development of protein vaccines. In this work, we synthesized a new TLR4 agonist, structurally simplified lipid A analogue GAP112, as a potent built-in adjuvant to improve the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD protein. The new TLR4 agonist GAP112 was site-selectively conjugated on the N-terminus of RBD to construct an adjuvant-protein conjugate vaccine in a liposomal formulation. It is the first time that a TLR4 agonist is site-specifically and quantitatively conjugated to a protein antigen. Compared with an unconjugated mixture of GAP112/RBD, a two-dose immunization of the GAP112-RBD conjugate vaccine strongly activated innate immune cells, elicited a 223-fold increase in RBD-specific antibodies, and markedly enhanced T-cell responses. Antibodies induced by GAP112-RBD also effectively cross-neutralized SARS-CoV-2 variants (Delta/B.1.617.2 and Omicron/B.1.1.529). This conjugate strategy provides an effective method to greatly enhance the immunogenicity of antigen in protein vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and other diseases.

Overview of Several Typical Ceramic Materials for Restorative Dentistry.

With the development of ceramic technology, prosthodontic ceramics are becoming a useful option for improving esthetic outcomes in dentistry. In this paper, various ceramic materials were reviewed and evaluated, and their advantages and disadvantages and indications in oral prosthodontics were analyzed objectively. The properties of resin-based ceramics, polycrystalline ceramics, and silicate ceramics were compared and analyzed. Resin-based ceramics may replace other ceramic materials in the CAD/CAM field.

MPLA-Adjuvanted Liposomes Encapsulating S-Trimer or RBD or S1, but Not S-ECD, Elicit Robust Neutralization Against SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern.

Safe and effective vaccines are the best method to defeat worldwide SARS-CoV-2 and its circulating variants. The SARS-CoV-2 S protein and its subunits are the most attractive targets for the development of protein-based vaccines. In this study, we evaluated three lipophilic adjuvants, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), Toll-like receptor (TLR) 1/2 ligand Pam3CSK4, and α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), in liposomal and nonliposomal vaccines. The immunological results showed that the MPLA-adjuvanted liposomal vaccine induced the strongest humoral and cellular immunity. Therefore, we further performed a systematic comparison of S-trimer, S-ECD, S1, and RBD as antigens in MPLA-adjuvanted liposomes and found that, although these four vaccines all induced robust specific antibody responses, only S-trimer, S1, and RBD liposomes, but not S-ECD, elicited potent neutralizing antibody responses. Moreover, RBD, S-trimer, and S1 liposomes effectively neutralized variants (B.1.1.7/alpha, B.1.351/beta, P.1/gamma, B.1.617.2/delta, and B.1.1.529/omicron). These results provide important information for the subunit vaccine design against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

Self-Adjuvanting Lipoprotein Conjugate αGalCer-RBD Induces Potent Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and its Variants of Concern.

Safe and effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants are the best approach to successfully combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein is a major target to develop candidate vaccines. α-Galactosylceramide (αGalCer), a potent invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT) agonist, was site-specifically conjugated to the N-terminus of the RBD to form an adjuvant-protein conjugate, which was anchored on the liposome surface. This is the first time that an iNKT cell agonist was conjugated to the protein antigen. Compared to the unconjugated RBD/αGalCer mixture, the αGalCer-RBD conjugate induced significantly stronger humoral and cellular responses. The conjugate vaccine also showed effective cross-neutralization to all variants of concern (B.1.1.7/alpha, B.1.351/beta, P.1/gamma, B.1.617.2/delta, and B.1.1.529/omicron). These results suggest that the self-adjuvanting αGalCer-RBD has great potential to be an effective COVID-19 vaccine candidate, and this strategy might be useful for designing various subunit vaccines.

A comparative study of the effects of phosphatidylserine rich in DHA and EPA on Aß-induced Alzheimer's disease using cell models.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-dependent, irreversible neurodegenerative disease, and one of the pathological features is amyloid-ß (Aß) deposition. Previous studies have shown that phosphatidylserine (PS) enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) exhibited significant effects in preventing and alleviating the progress of AD. However, no studies have focused on the differences in the preventive effects on AD between EPA-PS and DHA-PS. Here, the effects of EPA-PS and DHA-PS on Aß production, Aß-induced neurotoxicity and Aß clearance have been studied. The results show that DHA-PS significantly reduced Aß production in CHO-APP/PS1 cells compared to EPA-PS. Moreover, both EPA-PS and DHA-PS significantly protected the primary hippocampal neurons against Aß-induced toxicity by inhibiting the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway and phosphorylation of JNK and p38. Compared to DHA-PS, EPA-PS administration significantly improved the Aß phagocytic capacity of BV2 cells. In addition, EPA-PS and DHA-PS significantly promoted the neurite outgrowth of primary hippocampal neurons. These findings might provide dietary guidance for the prevention of AD as well as a reference for the development of related functional foods.

Saliva is more sensitive than nasopharyngeal or nasal swabs for diagnosis of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 infection.

We aimed to test the sensitivity of naso-oropharyngeal saliva and self-administered nasal (SN) swab compared to nasopharyngeal (NP) swab for COVID-19 testing in a large cohort of migrant workers in Singapore. We also tested the utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for diagnosis of COVID-19. Saliva, NP and SN swabs were collected from subjects who presented with acute respiratory infection, their asymptomatic roommates, and prior confirmed cases who were undergoing isolation at a community care facility in June 2020. All samples were tested using RT-PCR. SARS-CoV-2 amplicon-based NGS with phylogenetic analysis was done for 30 samples. We recruited 200 subjects, of which 91 and 46 were tested twice and thrice respectively. In total, 62.0%, 44.5%, and 37.7% of saliva, NP and SN samples were positive. Cycle threshold (Ct) values were lower during the earlier period of infection across all sample types. The percentage of test-positive saliva was higher than NP and SN swabs. We found a strong correlation between viral genome coverage by NGS and Ct values for SARS-CoV-2. Phylogenetic analyses revealed Clade O and lineage B.6 known to be circulating in Singapore. We found saliva to be a sensitive and viable sample for COVID-19 diagnosis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma through the miR-194/GRHL3/PTEN/Akt Axis.

Recent studies have revealed that Porphyromonas gingivalis is closely related to the occurrence and progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the underlying mechanism of P. gingivalis in ESCC has not been well elucidated. To explore the mechanism of P. gingivalis infection in ESCC, cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration models of KYSE-30 and KYSE-150 cells infected by P. gingivalis at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 were established. The results showed that P. gingivalis infection could drastically increase the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of ESCC. Furthermore, the results of high-throughput sequencing showed that miR-194 was considerably upregulated in infected cells compared with control cells, which was further verified by qRT-PCR. The inhibition or overexpression of miR-194 had a significant effect on KYSE-30 and KYSE-150 cell migration and invasion. Additionally, the levels of GRHL3 and PTEN were decreased in P. gingivalis-infected esophageal cancer cells compared with uninfected esophageal cancer cells. Furthermore, dual-luciferase experiments confirmed that GRHL3 is a direct target of miR-194. In addition, the GRHL3-related pathway was investigated, and the levels of GRHL3 and PTEN were downregulated while the level of p-Akt was upregulated after P. gingivalis infection. Taken together, these findings indicated that P. gingivalis might promote ESCC proliferation and migration via the miR-194/GRHL3/PTEN/Akt signaling axis.

Specific Anti-biofilm Activity of Carbon Quantum Dots by Destroying P. gingivalis Biofilm Related Genes.

INTRODUCTION: Biofilms protect bacteria from antibiotics and this can produce drug-resistant strains, especially the main pathogen of periodontitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis. Carbon quantum dots with various biomedical properties are considered to have great application potential in antibacterial and anti-biofilm treatment. METHODS: Tinidazole carbon quantum dots (TCDs) and metronidazole carbon quantum dots (MCDs) were prepared by a hydrothermal method with the clinical antibacterial drugs tinidazole and metronidazole, respectively. Then, TCDs and MCDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry. The antibacterial effects were also investigated under different conditions. RESULTS: The TCDs and MCDs had uniform sizes. The results of UV-visible and energy-dispersive spectrometry confirmed their important carbon polymerization structures and the activity of the nitro group, which had an evident inhibitory effect on P. gingivalis, but almost no effect on other bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Prevotella nigrescens. Importantly, the TCDs could penetrate the biofilms to further effectively inhibit the growth of P. gingivalis under the biofilms. Furthermore, it was found that the antibacterial effect of TCDs lies in its ability to impair toxicity by inhibiting the major virulence factors and related genes involved in the biofilm formation of P. gingivalis, thus affecting the self-assembly of biofilm-related proteins. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate a promising new method for improving the efficiency of periodontitis treatment by penetrating the P. gingivalis biofilm with preparations of nano-level antibacterial drugs.

Endoscope-assisted Surgery in the Treatment of Dentigerous Cyst Involving the Maxillary Sinus - Report of Two Cases.

Endoscopic techniques have been applied to oral and maxillofacial surgeries. Previous studies have proved their practicability in the treatment of osteomyelitis of the mandible and displaced residual roots in the maxillary sinus. In this report, two patients with dentigerous cysts in the maxillary sinus underwent endoscope-assisted curettage. Both patients were successfully cured without recurrent lesions or any complications. The follow-up found that the bone cavities had shrunk. An endoscope-assisted Caldwell-Luc operation provided clear visibility of the surgical field and preserved the mucosa of the maxillary sinus.

Treatment of Patellar Lower Pole Fracture with Modified Titanium Cable Tension Band Plus Patellar Tibial Tunnel Steel "8" Reduction Band.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of modified titanium tension band plus patellar tendon tunnel steel 8 "reduction band" versus titanium cable tension band fixation for the treatment of patellar lower pole fracture. Materials and Methods: 58 patients with lower patella fracture were enrolled in this study, including 30 patients treated with modified titanium cable tension band plus patellar tibial tunnel wire "8" tension band internal fixation (modified group), and 28 patients with titanium cable tension band fixation. All patients were followed up for 9∼15 months with an average of 11.6 months. Results: Knee flexion was significantly improved in the modified group than in the titanium cable tension band group (111.33 ± 13 degrees versus 98.21 ± 21.70 degrees, P = 0.004). The fracture healing time showed no significant difference. At the end of the follow-up, the improvement excellent rate was 93.33% in the modified group, and 82.14% in the titanium cable tension band group. Titanium cable tension band internal fixation loosening was found in 2 cases, including 1 case of treatment by two surgeries without loose internal fixation. Conclusions: The modified titanium cable tension band with "8" tension band fixation showed better efficacy for lower patella fractures than titanium cable tension band fixation.

Co-production of xylooligosaccharides and fermentable sugars from poplar through acetic acid pretreatment followed by poly (ethylene glycol) ether assisted alkali treatment.

A novel combined pretreatment process of poplar sawdust was established in this study based on the sequential acetic acid and alkali treatment with poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE). Effects of each treatment step on chemical composition, cellulose accessibility, and enzymatic digestibility of poplar sawdust was investigated. Acetic acid pretreatment remarkably increased cellulose accessibility while also producing a relatively high quantity of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) (37.6% of raw xylan). However, enzymatic digestibility remained low (28.3%) despite hemicellulose disruption. Post alkali treatment was next applied, leading to improvement on cellulose accessibility and enzymatic hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis was improved more significantly by successive alkali treatment with PEGDE. Its potential mechanisms attributable to enzymatic hydrolysis improvement were explored by revealing the changes to lignin properties. This work successfully demonstrated that recalcitrant waste woody biomass can be biorefined into both high-value XOS as well as relatively high yield of fermentable sugars.

[Preliminary study on true bone ceramics for alveolar ridge preservation in dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To study the preservation effect of true bone ceramics (TBC) prepared by high-temperature calcination of bovine bone on alveolar ridge of canine extraction socket. METHODS: Six healthy Beagle dogs (aged 1.5-2 years) were selected to extract the second and fourth premolars of both mandibles and the second premolars of the maxilla. The left extraction socket was implanted with TBC as the experimental group, and the right side was implanted with the calcined bovine bone (CBB) as the control group, to observe the alveolar ridge preservation effect. Three dogs were euthanized after general observation at 1 and 6 months after operation respectively. After separating the maxilla and mandible, cone beam CT (CBCT) was performed to measure the average gray value of the graft site and the adjacent reference area (the area between the roots of the adjacent third premolar) and calculate the gray scale ratio between the bone graft site and the reference area. Histological observation was made on the bone graft site to evaluate the new bone formation. RESULTS: General observation showed that the wounds of both groups were basically healed at 2 weeks after operation, and the bone graft materials were not exposed. The wounds healed well at 1 and 6 months after operation without swelling. The results of CBCT showed that the residual material was found in both groups at 1 month after operation, and no significant residual material was found in both groups at 6 months after operation, and the alveolar ridge height of the bone graft area was not significantly reduced. There was no significant difference in the bone mineral density between the experimental group and the control group. The gray scale ratios of the experimental group at 1 month and 6 months after operation were 0.97±0.14 and 0.93±0.06, respectively, and were 0.99±0.16 and 0.94±0.05 in control group, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( t=-1.030, P=0.333; t=-0.770, P=0.466). HE staining observation showed that a large number of bone graft materials did not degrade and new bone formed around the grafts in both groups at 1 month after operation; the bone graft materials were absorbed and a large number of new bones were formed in both groups at 6 months after operation. CONCLUSION: TBC can maintain bone mineral density and have good osteoconductivity in the alveolar ridge site preservation experiment of dogs, and can be used for alveolar ridge site preservation.

[Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide Produced in a Municipal WWTP Using a Biotrickling Filter with Polypropylene Rings as the Packing Material and Microbial Community Analysis].

Under transient conditions, a biotrickling filter was developed to treat gaseous H2S produced from the fine-grid reservoir of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with AAO excess sludge as the inoculum and polypropylene rings as the packing material. The start-up process and steady-state operation of the biotrickling filter were studied. With an empty bed retention time of 14 s, an ambient temperature of 7.8-32.5℃, and an inlet concentration of 2.02-319.19 mg·m-3, an average removal efficiency of 91.8% was achieved with a maximum H2S elimination capacity of 78.37 g·(m3·h)-1. Over a 247-day period, the pressure drop across the biotrickling filter was maintained at 96 Pa·m-1. Microbial analysis using high-throughput sequencing technology showed a variation in the microbial community during the experiment; the Shannon index dropped from 4.99 to 3.75, and the functional genera Pseudomonas and Thiobacillus were identified as good performers in the biotrickling filter system. These results indicate that the application of AAO excess sludge as an inoculum for biotrickling filters is feasible for effective H2S removal. A steady pressure drop was achieved using polypropylene rings as the packing material. The diversity of the microbial community showed a downward trend when exposed to H2S, but the elimination capacity could be increased.