Broad-spectrum resistance gene RPW8.1 balances immunity and growth via feedback regulation of WRKYs.

Arabidopsis RESISTANCE TO POWDERY MILDEW 8.1 (RPW8.1) is an important tool for engineering broad-spectrum disease resistance against multiple pathogens. Ectopic expression of RPW8.1 leads to enhanced disease resistance with cell death at leaves and compromised plant growth, implying a regulatory mechanism balancing RPW8.1-mediated resistance and growth. Here, we show that RPW8.1 constitutively enhances the expression of transcription factor WRKY51 and activates salicylic acid and ethylene signalling pathways; WRKY51 in turn suppresses RPW8.1 expression, forming a feedback regulation loop. RPW8.1 and WRKY51 are both induced by pathogen infection and pathogen-/microbe-associated molecular patterns. In ectopic expression of RPW8.1 background (R1Y4), overexpression of WRKY51 not only rescues the growth suppression and cell death caused by RPW8.1, but also suppresses RPW8.1-mediated broad-spectrum disease resistance and pattern-triggered immunity. Mechanistically, WRKY51 directly binds to and represses RPW8.1 promoter, thus limiting the expression amplitude of RPW8.1. Moreover, WRKY6, WRKY28 and WRKY41 play a role redundant to WRKY51 in the suppression of RPW8.1 expression and are constitutively upregulated in R1Y4 plants with WRKY51 being knocked out (wrky51 R1Y4) plants. Notably, WRKY51 has no significant effects on disease resistance or plant growth in wild type without RPW8.1, indicating a specific role in RPW8.1-mediated disease resistance. Altogether, our results reveal a regulatory circuit controlling the accumulation of RPW8.1 to an appropriate level to precisely balance growth and disease resistance during pathogen invasion.

Promoting Photosynthetic Production of Dammarenediol-II in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii via Gene Loading and Culture Optimization.

Ginsenosides are major bioactive compounds found in Panax ginseng that exhibit various pharmaceutical properties. Dammarenediol-II, the nucleus of dammarane-type ginsenosides, is a promising candidate for pharmacologically active triterpenes. Dammarenediol-II synthase (DDS) cyclizes 2,3-oxidosqualene to produce dammarenediol-II. Based on the native terpenoids synthetic pathway, a dammarane-type ginsenosides synthetic pathway was established in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by introducing P. ginseng PgDDS, CYP450 enzyme (PgCYP716A47), or/and Arabidopsis thaliana NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase gene (AtCPR), which is responsible for producing dammarane-type ginsenosides. To enhance productivity, strategies such as "gene loading" and "culture optimizing" were employed. Multiple copies of transgene expression cassettes were introduced into the genome to increase the expression of the key rate-limiting enzyme gene, PgDDS, significantly improving the titer of dammarenediol-II to approximately 0.2 mg/L. Following the culture optimization in an opt2 medium supplemented with 1.5 mM methyl jasmonate under a light:dark regimen, the titer of dammarenediol-II increased more than 13-fold to approximately 2.6 mg/L. The C. reinhardtii strains engineered in this study constitute a good platform for the further production of ginsenosides in microalgae.

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Novel Triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine Derivatives.

Infectious diseases pose a major challenge to human health, and there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial agents with excellent antibacterial activity. A series of novel triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine derivatives were synthesized and their structures were characterized using various techniques, such as melting point, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity using the microbroth dilution method. Among all the tested compounds, some showed moderate to good antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli strains. In particular, compound 2e exhibited superior antibacterial activities (MICs: 32 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and 16 µg/mL against Escherichia coli), which was comparable to the first-line antibacterial agent ampicillin. In addition, the structure-activity relationship of the triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine derivatives was preliminarily investigated.

2-Pyridinecarboxaldehyde-Modified Chitosan-Silver Complexes: Optimized Preparation, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity.

The widespread prevalence of infectious bacteria is one of the greatest threats to public health, and consequently, there is an urgent need for efficient and broad-spectrum antibacterial materials that are antibiotic-free. In this study, 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (PCA) was grafted onto chitosan (CS) and the modified CS coordinated with silver ions to prepare PCA-CS-Ag complexes with antibacterial activity. To obtain complexes with a high silver content, the preparation process was optimized using single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. Under the optimal preparation conditions (an additional amount of silver nitrate (58 mg), a solution pH of 3.9, and a reaction temperature of 69 °C), the silver content of the PCA-CS-Ag complex reached 13.27 mg/g. The structure of the PCA-CS-Ag complex was subsequently verified using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, three possible complexation modes of the PCA-CS-Ag complex were proposed using molecular mechanics calculations. The results of the antibacterial assay in vitro showed that the PCA-CS-Ag complex exhibited strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, exerting the synergistic antibacterial effect of modified chitosan and silver ions. Therefore, the PCA-CS-Ag complex is expected to be developed as an effective antibacterial material with promising applications in food films, packaging, medical dressings, and other fields.

Osa-miR160a confers broad-spectrum resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens in rice.

Rice production is threatened by multiple pathogens. Breeding cultivars with broad-spectrum disease resistance is necessary to maintain and improve crop production. Previously we found that overexpression of miR160a enhanced rice blast disease resistance. However, it is unclear whether miR160a also regulates resistance against other pathogens, and what the downstream signaling pathways are. Here, we demonstrate that miR160a positively regulates broad-spectrum resistance against the causative agents of blast, leaf blight and sheath blight in rice. Mutations of miR160a-targeted Auxin Response Factors result in different alteration of resistance conferred by miR160a. miR160a enhances disease resistance partially by suppressing ARF8, as mutation of ARF8 in MIM160 background partially restores the compromised resistance resulting from MIM160. ARF8 protein binds directly to the promoter and suppresses the expression of WRKY45, which acts as a positive regulator of rice immunity. Mutation of WRKY45 compromises the enhanced blast resistance and bacterial leaf blight resistance conferred by arf8 mutant. Overall, our results reveal that a microRNA coordinates rice broad-spectrum disease resistance by suppressing multiple target genes that play different roles in disease resistance, and uncover a new regulatory pathway mediated by the miR160a-ARF8 module. These findings provide new resources to potentially improve disease resistance for breeding in rice.

Metabolic Engineering of the Isopentenol Utilization Pathway Enhanced the Production of Terpenoids in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Eukaryotic green microalgae show considerable promise for the sustainable light-driven biosynthesis of high-value fine chemicals, especially terpenoids because of their fast and inexpensive phototrophic growth. Here, the novel isopentenol utilization pathway (IUP) was introduced into Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to enhance the hemiterpene (isopentenyl pyrophosphate, IPP) titers. Then, diphosphate isomerase (IDI) and limonene synthase (MsLS) were further inserted for limonene production. Transgenic algae showed 8.6-fold increase in IPP compared with the wild type, and 23-fold increase in limonene production compared with a single MsLS expressing strain. Following the culture optimization, the highest limonene production reached 117 µg/L, when the strain was cultured in a opt2 medium supplemented with 10 mM isoprenol under a light: dark regimen. This demonstrates that transgenic algae expressing the IUP represent an ideal chassis for the high-value terpenoid production. The IUP will facilitate further the metabolic and enzyme engineering to enhance the terpenoid titers by significantly reducing the number of enzyme steps required for an optimal biosynthesis.

Iridoid Glycosides from Phlomis Medicinalis Diels: Optimized Extraction and Hemostasis Evaluation.

Phlomis medicinalis Diels, an important perennial herbal plant unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is often used as Tibetan Materia Medicine Radix Phlomii for the treatment of cold, cough, and convergence trauma. In order to efficiently extract the iridoid glycosides from P. medicinalis, an ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction technique was employed. The main parameters influencing the extraction process were studied through single-factor tests and the extraction was optimized by using response surface methodology. The hemostasis activity of total iridoid glycosides (TIG) from P. medicinalis was evaluated in vitro and in mice. The optimization results revealed that the optimal process parameters were liquid-solid ratio 20 : 1, choline chloride-lactic acid concentration 79 %, and sonication time 34 min, under which a TIG extraction yield of 20.73 % was obtained. Meanwhile, high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array/mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA/MS) was employed to characterize the optimized extract and indicated that TIG from P. medicinalis mainly consisted of sixteen reported iridoid glycosides with a total content of 91.22 %. The experimental results in vivo and in vitro indicated that TIG from P. medicinalis had strong hemostasis activities, which may be achieved by increasing the fibrinogen levels. Therefore, the ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction is an effective method to extract iridoid glycosides from P. medicinalis and they will be promising candidates to be developed for medical hemostasis agents.

Resolution of huge thrombi in bilateral ventricles caused by severe lupus cardiomyopathy.

Ventricular thrombus is an uncommon, severe condition with high morbidity and mortality. Simultaneous left and right ventricular thrombi caused by lupus myocardiopathy have not been previously reported in the literature. This case presents a 42-year-old woman who has bilateral ventricular thrombi with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (35.4%) and acute kidney injury. Pro-brain natriuretic peptide was >35000 pg/mL. Systemic lupus erythematosus was confirmed based on multiorgan injuries including malar rash, anemia, renal injury, positive antinuclear, anti-Smith antibodies, and decreased complements. Renal biopsy revealed lupus nephritis class III + V. Low molecular weight heparin, steroids, and mycophenolate mofetil were initiated, after which the patient experienced transient numbness in the right limbs and hemoptysis. She then recovered quickly and improved significantly with recovery of left ventricular systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction 46%) and the eventual disappearance of thrombi. Simultaneous left and right ventricular thrombi are rare but life-threatening condition, prompting consideration of myocardiopathy caused by autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Timely treatment with immunosuppressants and anticoagulants may resolve the thrombi and improve cardiac function.

Automatic detection and classification of rib fractures based on patients' CT images and clinical information via convolutional neural network.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for the automatic detection and classification of rib fractures in actual clinical practice based on cross-modal data (clinical information and CT images). MATERIALS: In this retrospective study, CT images and clinical information (age, sex and medical history) from 1020 participants were collected and divided into a single-centre training set (n = 760; age: 55.8 ± 13.4 years; men: 500), a single-centre testing set (n = 134; age: 53.1 ± 14.3 years; men: 90), and two independent multicentre testing sets from two different hospitals (n = 62, age: 57.97 ± 11.88, men: 41; n = 64, age: 57.40 ± 13.36, men: 35). A Faster Region-based CNN (Faster R-CNN) model was applied to integrate CT images and clinical information. Then, a result merging technique was used to convert 2D inferences into 3D lesion results. The diagnostic performance was assessed on the basis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, free-response ROC (fROC) curve, precision, recall (sensitivity), F1-score, and diagnosis time. The classification performance was evaluated in terms of the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: The CNN model showed improved performance on fresh, healing, and old fractures and yielded good classification performance for all three categories when both clinical information and CT images were used compared to the use of CT images alone. Compared with experienced radiologists, the CNN model achieved higher sensitivity (mean sensitivity: 0.95 > 0.77, 0.89 > 0.61 and 0.80 > 0.55), comparable precision (mean precision: 0.91 > 0.87, 0.84 > 0.77, and 0.95 > 0.70), and a shorter diagnosis time (average reduction of 126.15 s). CONCLUSIONS: A CNN model combining CT images and clinical information can automatically detect and classify rib fractures with good performance and feasibility in actual clinical practice. KEY POINTS: • The developed convolutional neural network (CNN) performed better in fresh, healing, and old fractures and yielded a good classification performance in three categories, if both (clinical information and CT images) were used compared to CT images alone. • The CNN model had a higher sensitivity and matched precision in three categories than experienced radiologists with a shorter diagnosis time in actual clinical practice.

C3 glomerulonephritis associated with ANCA positivity: a case report.

BACKGROUND: C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a recent disease classification that is characterized by the presence of glomerular deposits (composed of C3) in the absence of significant amounts of immunoglobulin and comprises dense deposit disease and C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN). Most C3GN manifests as membranoproliferative, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis patterns via light microscopy. Pure membranous nephropathy (MN)-like glomerular lesions are rare manifestations of C3GN. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) are also seldomly reported to be positive in C3GN. Herein, we report the case of a C3GN patient presenting with an MN-like glomerular pattern with ANCA positivity. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old woman was admitted to a local hospital with elevated serum creatinine for two weeks. Laboratory tests showed a hemoglobin level of 85 g/L. Urinalysis was positive for 2 + protein and 360 RBCs/HPF. Blood biochemistry analysis revealed the following concentrations: albumin, 30.3 g/L; globulin, 46.2 g/L; blood urea nitrogen, 19.9 mmol/L; and serum creatinine, 234 µmol/L. The serum C3 level was 0.4950 g/L, and the serum C4 level was 0.1050 g/L. The direct Coombs test was positive. Serologic testing for ANCA revealed the presence of p-ANCA (1:10) by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy assay, as well as the presence of PR3 1.2 (normal range < 1) and MPO 3.5 (normal range < 1) by enzyme immunoassay. Renal biopsy sample pathology showed 2/6 cellular crescents and thickened glomerular basement membranes. Immunofluorescence testing revealed only diffuse, finely granular depositions of C3 along the glomerular capillary walls in frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of subepithelial electron-dense deposits, similar to those that are observed in membranous nephropathy. Corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide were administered, with a subsequent improvement in renal function. CONCLUSIONS: We present the rare case of a patient with MN-like C3GN with ANCA positivity. C3GN with ANCA positivity may be represented by more crescents, severe renal dysfunction and more extrarenal manifestations. More cases are needed to elucidate the clinicopathologic features and optimal treatments of these patients.

Research Progress of Chitosan-Based Biomimetic Materials.

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide produced by deacetylation of natural biopolymer chitin. Owing to its good biocompatibility and biodegradability, non-toxicity, and easy processing, it has been widely used in many fields. After billions of years of survival of the fittest, many organisms have already evolved a nearly perfect structure. This paper reviews the research status of biomimetic functional materials that use chitosan as a matrix material to mimic the biological characteristics of bivalves, biological cell matrices, desert beetles, and honeycomb structure of bees. In addition, the application of biomimetic materials in wound healing, hemostasis, drug delivery, and smart materials is briefly overviewed according to their characteristics of adhesion, hemostasis, release, and adsorption. It also discusses prospects for their application and provides a reference for further research and development.

A radiologic parameter that could be applied in the development of sleep apnea in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing occipitocervical fusion.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sleep apnea in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with occipitocervical lesions was 79%. Occipitocervical fusion (OCF) could incur sleep apnea or worsen this condition. Recent studies reported that this complication is caused by stenosis of the oropharyngeal airway accompanying a decrease in the occipitoaxial angle (O-C2a). However, there are several limitations to the application of the O-C2a, which decreases its effectiveness. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between a new radiologic parameter, the CVT/NSL angle (CVT: craniocervical inclination in the second and fourth vertebrae; NSL: Nasion-Sella line), and sleep apnea in RA patients accepting OCF. METHODS: A total of 35 patients who underwent OCF due to upper cervical lesions secondary to RA and had sleep apnea before surgery were analyzed. Those who have a postoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 15 and a ΔAHI ≥50% were considered "responders"; patients were otherwise considered "non-responders." They were analyzed whether pre- and postoperative radiologic parameters and their differences in plain lateral radiographs were correlated to the parameter related to sleep apnea. RESULTS: The included patients have a mean AHI of 21.9 (range, 10 to 52) before surgery. The mean postoperative CVT/NSLa, ΔCVT/NSLa, andΔO-C2a in complete responders were significantly greater compared with non-responders (p < 0.05). Both the changes in the CVT/NSLa and O-C2a were linearly correlated within patients. However, the R2 value for the CVT/NSLa was greater compared with the O-C2a (0.403 vs. 0.203). CONCLUSIONS: The usefulness of the new craniovertebral angle, CVT/NSLa, as an intraoperative indicator during OCF, is more valuable in comparison with the conventional method of measuring the O-C2a. Measuring the craniovertebral angle is extremely important in the planning of surgical treatment for the development of sleep apnea in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing occipitocervical fusion.

Dual role of autophagy/mitophagy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease characterised by progressive, irreversible airflow limitation. Multiple regulatory pathways are involved in COPD pathogenesis. Emerging evidence from clinical and basic medical research has suggested that autophagy-a highly conserved catabolic process mediated under various cellular stress conditions-plays a role in the development and prognosis of COPD. Nevertheless, precise function of autophagy remains debatable owing to its beneficial as well as detrimental consequences. In this review, we summarised the 'double-edged sword' functions of autophagy in COPD and aimed to distinguish and classify these functions on the basis of various factors, such as different airway cell types and autophagy stimulators and modulators. Moreover, we determined the biological-functional consequences of autophagy. In particular, we discussed mitophagy-also termed mitochondrial autophagy-which is a critical process in cellular energy homeostasis. We hope that our findings will shed new light on future therapeutic strategies for COPD.

Enabling Mitochondrial Uptake of Lipophilic Dications Using Methylated Triphenylphosphonium Moieties.

Triphenylphosphonium (TPP+) species comprising multiple charges, i.e., bis-TPP+, are predicted to be superior mitochondrial-targeting vectors and are expected to have mitochondrial accumulations 1000-fold greater than TPP+, the current "gold standard". However, bis-TPP+ vectors linked by short hydrocarbon chains ( n < 5) are unable to be taken up by the mitochondria, thus hindering their development as mitochondrial delivery vectors. Through the incorporation of methylated TPP+ moieties (T*PP+), we successfully enabled the accumulation of bis-TPP+ with a short linker chain in isolated mitochondria, as measured by high performance liquid chromatography. These experimental results are further supported by molecular dynamics and ab initio calculations, revealing the strong correlations between mitochondria uptake and molecular volume, surface area, and chemical hardness. Most notably, the molecular volume has been shown to be a strong predictor of accumulation for both mono- and bis-TPP+ salts. Our study underscores the potential of T*PP+ moieties as alternative mitochondrial vectors to overcome low permeation into the mitochondria.

Simultaneous occurrence of IgG4-related Tubulointerstitial nephritis and colon adenocarcinoma with hepatic metastasis: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the uncommon association of IgG4-related disease with other disorders is essential for the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of patients. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only few reports of patients with IgG4-related kidney disease coexisting with metastasis of malignancy. Here, we report a rare case of simultaneous occurring IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis and colon adenocarcinoma with hepatic metastasis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old Chinese man presented with dysuria and was initially diagnosed as benign prostatic hyperplasia for one year. He was admitted to the hospital for surgery. After admission, the renal function tests revealed a rapid increase of serum creatinine from 291.0 µmol/L to 415 µmol/L. The hemoglobin level was 89 g/L. Fecal occult blood testing was positive. Urinalysis revealed mild proteinuria. The serum IgG4 level was 13.9 g/L. The abdominal imaging examination revealed multiple solid nodules in the liver. The gastrointestinal endoscopy combined with the biopsy revealed colon adenocarcinoma. Kidney biopsy showed massive IgG4-positive plasma cells and storiform fibrosis infiltration in the tubulointerstitial area, thus establishing the diagnosis of IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis. Corticosteroid therapy was initiated, and subsequently, the renal function dramatically improved without the diminution of the liver nodules. The liver biopsy was performed and a diagnosis of metastatic colon adenocarcinoma was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: We here reported a rare case of simultaneous occurring of IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis, colon adenocarcinoma with hepatic metastasis. The case highlights the importance of screening for malignancy in patients with IgG4-related disease, and the nature of the mass in other organs of patients with coexisting IgG4-related disease and malignancy should be carefully checked.

Analysis of patients' sleep disorder after total knee arthroplasty-A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorder after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is complex as it greatly differs from patient to patient. Thus, it can be seen that we should further know the detail in sleep disorders following TKA to find well solutions to achieve satisfactory sleep and better recovery. METHODS: Between October 2011 and January 2016, 965 patients accepted primary TKA. We reviewed each patient's data. Sleep disorder was evaluated via subjective instruments. The Sleep Questionnaire in the present study is a 12-item instrument that evaluates sleep in terms of three dimensions: sleep quality; disruptive factors; and specific forms. Patients were identified and confirmed as at least 1 kind of sleep disorders according to the Second Edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-2). And we compare the clinical characteristics and difference in postoperative recovery of different types of sleep disorders. RESULTS: Sleep disturbances persisted approximately 2 months postoperatively. 75.9% patients was classified into primary insomnias, while 24.1% was secondary insomnias. There was the largest number of those who were adjustment sleep disorder. Pains, mental elements, and factors intrinsic to the patients were the most significant causes of insomnia of patients. There were significant differences in VAS pain score (P < 0.001*), active ROM (P < 0.001*) and LOS in hospital (P < 0.001*) among varied forms of insomnias. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed that adjustment insomnia ranked first. Specifically, the factors affecting sleep quality postoperatively included pains, mental elements, and factors intrinsic to the patients etc. In addition, we found that patients with difficulty in staying asleep and non-restorative sleep has increased pain scores and LOS in hospital with decreased active ROM in comparison to difficulty in falling asleep and too early awakening. Our data may be of a certain benefit to rational use of medication to improve diverse insomnias and to make patients recover better.

Sponges of Carboxymethyl Chitosan Grafted with Collagen Peptides for Wound Healing.

Burns are physically debilitating and potentially fatal injuries. Two marine biomaterials, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and collagen peptides (COP), have emerged as promising burn dressings. In this paper, sponges of carboxymethyl chitosan grafted with collagen peptide (CMC-COP) were prepared by covalent coupling and freeze drying. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were then used to characterize the prepared sponges. To evaluate the wound healing activity of the CMC-COP sponges, in vitro tests including cell viability scratch wound healing and scald wound healing experiments were performed in rabbits. Appearance studies revealed the porous nature of sponges and FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated the successful incorporation of COP into CMC. The in vitro scratch assay showed that treatment with CMC-COP sponges (at 100 µg/mL) had significant effects on scratch closure. For burn wounds treated with CMC-COP, regeneration of the epidermis and collagen fiber deposition was observed on day 7, with complete healing of the epidermis and wound on days 14 and 21, respectively. Based on the pathological examination by hematoxylin and eosinstaining, the CMC-COP group demonstrated pronounced wound healing efficiencies. These results confirmed that the CMC-COP treatment enhanced cell migration and promoted skin regeneration, thereby highlighting the potential application of these sponges in burn care.

Preparation of Poly (Allylthiourea-Co-Acrylic Acid) Derived Carbon Materials and Their Applications in Wastewater Treatment.

Functional carbon materials have been developed and applied in various sewage treatment applications in recent years. This article reports the fabrication, characterization, and application of a new kind of poly (allylthiourea-co-acrylic acid) (PAT⁻PAC) hydrogel-based carbon monolith. The results indicated that the poly acrylic acid component can endow the PAT⁻PAC hydrogel with an increased swelling ratio and enhanced thermal stability. During the carbonization process, O⁻H, N⁻H, C=N, and ⁻COO⁻ groups, etc. were found to be partly decomposed, leading to the conjugated C=C double bonds produced and the clear red shift of C=O bonds. Particularly, it was found that this shift was accelerated under higher carbonization temperature, which ultimately resulted in the complex conjugated C=C network with oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur atoms doped in-situ. The as-obtained carbon monoliths showed good removal capacity for Ni(II) ions, organic solvents, and dyes, respectively. Further analysis indicated that the Ni(II) ion adsorption process could be well described by pseudo-second-order and Freundlich models under our experimental conditions, respectively. The adsorption capacity for Ni(II) ions and paraffin oil was as high as 557 mg/g and 1.75 g/g, respectively. More importantly, the as-obtained carbon monoliths can be recycled and reused for Ni(II) ions, acetone, and paraffin oil removal. In conclusion, the proposed PAT⁻PAC-based carbonaceous monoliths are superior adsorbents for wastewater treatment.

Mussel-Inspired Catechol-Functionalized Hydrogels and Their Medical Applications.

Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) have a unique ability to firmly adhere to different surfaces in aqueous environments via the special amino acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). The catechol groups in DOPA are a key group for adhesive proteins, which is highly informative for the biomedical domain. By simulating MAPs, medical products can be developed for tissue adhesion, drug delivery, and wound healing. Hydrogel is a common formulation that is highly adaptable to numerous medical applications. Based on a discussion of the adhesion mechanism of MAPs, this paper reviews the formation and adhesion mechanism of catechol-functionalized hydrogels, types of hydrogels and main factors affecting adhesion, and medical applications of hydrogels, and future the development of catechol-functionalized hydrogels.

Acuticoccus kandeliae sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of the mangrove plant Kandelia, and emended description of Acuticoccus yangtzensis.

A novel bacterial strain, J103T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of the mangrove plant Kandelia in Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, Hong Kong. The strain was aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, oval-shaped with folds in the middle, non-motile and non-spore-forming. It grew at temperatures of 20-30 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum pH 6.0) and at NaCl concentrations of 0.5-5.0 % (w/v) (optimum 1.0-2.0 %). Strain J103T was able to reduce nitrate to nitrite, and hydrolyse urea, Tween 40 and Tween 60. The major polar lipids were aminolipid, glycolipid, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The respiratory quinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content was 68.5 mol%. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain J103T belongs to the genus Acuticoccus, within the family Rhodobacteraceae. The closest phylogenetic neighbour was Acuticoccus yangtzensis JL1095T, showing 96.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The genome size of strain J103T was 6 478 100 bp. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain J103T and Acuticoccus yangtzensis JL1095T were 75.44 and 16.43 %, respectively. Characterization based on phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic evidence demonstrated that strain J103T represents a novel species of the genus Acuticoccus, for which the name Acuticoccus kandeliae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is J103T (=DSM 104434T=MCCC 1K03288T).