Deciphering the Effects of the PYCR Family on Cell Function, Prognostic Value, Immune Infiltration in ccRCC and Pan-Cancer.

Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (PYCR) is pivotal in converting pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to proline, the final step in proline synthesis. Three isoforms, PYCR1, PYCR2, and PYCR3, existed and played significant regulatory roles in tumor initiation and progression. In this study, we first assessed the molecular and immune characteristics of PYCRs by a pan-cancer analysis, especially focusing on their prognostic relevance. Then, a kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC)-specific prognostic model was established, incorporating pathomics features to enhance predictive capabilities. The biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of PYCR1 and PYCR2 were investigated by in vitro experiments in renal cancer cells. The PYCRs' expressions were elevated in diverse tumors, correlating with unfavorable clinical outcomes. PYCRs were enriched in cancer signaling pathways, significantly correlating with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). In KIRC, a prognostic model based on PYCR1 and PYCR2 was independently validated statistically. Leveraging features from H&E-stained images, a pathomics feature model reliably predicted patient prognosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that PYCR1 and PYCR2 enhanced the proliferation and migration of renal carcinoma cells by activating the mTOR pathway, at least in part. This study underscores PYCRs' pivotal role in various tumors, positioning them as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, particularly in malignancies like KIRC. The findings emphasize the need for a broader exploration of PYCRs' implications in pan-cancer contexts.

Genome-wide detection of genetic structure and runs of homozygosity analysis in Anhui indigenous and Western commercial pig breeds using PorcineSNP80k data.

BACKGROUND: Runs of homozygosity (ROH) are continuous homozygous regions typically located in the DNA sequence of diploid organisms. Identifications of ROH that lead to reduced performance can provide valuable insight into the genetic architecture of complex traits. Here, we systematically investigated the population genetic structure of five Anhui indigenous pig breeds (AHIPs), and compared them to those of five Western commercial pig breeds (WECPs). Furthermore, we examined the occurrence and distribution of ROHs in the five AHIPs and estimated the inbreeding coefficients based on the ROHs (FROH) and homozygosity (FHOM). Finally, we identified genomic regions with high frequencies of ROHs and annotated candidate genes contained therein. RESULTS: The WECPs and AHIPs were clearly differentiated into two separate clades consistent with their geographical origins, as revealed by the population structure and principal component analysis. We identified 13,530 ROHs across all individuals, of which 4,555 and 8,975 ROHs were unique to AHIPs and WECPs, respectively. Most ROHs identified in our study were short (< 10 Mb) or medium (10-20 Mb) in length. WECPs had significantly higher numbers of short ROHs, and AHIPs generally had longer ROHs. FROH values were significantly lower in AHIPs than in WECPs, indicating that breed improvement and conservation programmes were successful in AHIPs. On average, FROH and FHOM values were highly correlated (0.952-0.991) in AHIPs and WECPs. A total of 27 regions had a high frequency of ROHs and contained 17 key candidate genes associated with economically important traits in pigs. Among these, nine candidate genes (CCNT2, EGR2, MYL3, CDH13, PROX1, FLVCR1, SETD2, FGF18, and FGF20) found in WECPs were related to muscular and skeletal development, whereas eight candidate genes (CSN1S1, SULT1E1, TJP1, ZNF366, LIPC, MCEE, STAP1, and DUSP) found in AHIPs were associated with health, reproduction, and fatness traits. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide a useful reference for the selection and assortative mating of pig breeds, laying the groundwork for future research on the population genetic structures of AHIPs, ultimately helping protect these local varieties.

Specific knockdown of HOXB7 inhibits cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell migration and invasion while inducing apoptosis via the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is a major cause of death associated with nonmelanoma skin cancer. The involvement of homeobox B7 ( HOXB7) in cancers has been reported. Thus, the current study intends to explore the effect of HOXB7 on CSCC and its relationship with the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Initially, microarray-based gene expression profiling of CSCC was performed, and HOXB7 was identified as an upregulated gene based on the microarray data of GSE66359 . Following this, the experimental results indicated that HOXB7 and ß-catenin formed a composite, demonstrating that endogenous HOXB7 binds to ß-catenin. Subsequently, CSCC cells were treated with siRNA against HOXB7 or an inhibitor of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway to analyze any underlying regulatory mechanism of HOXB7 on the CSCC cells. Tumor growth involving xenografts in nude mice was also observed so as to explore whether or not HOXB7 could regulate subcutaneous tumor growth through in vivo culturing. To investigate the potential effects of HOXB7 on the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, we determined the expression of HOXB7 and downstream genes of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Notably, siRNA-mediated knockdown of HOXB7 inhibited the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, thereby impeding the progression of cell viability, migration, and invasion as well as of the tumor growth, although contrarily facilitating cell apoptosis. Taken together, silencing of the HOXB7 has the mechanism of inactivating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, thereby accelerating cell apoptosis and suppressing cell migration and invasion in CSCC, which could provide a candidate target for the CSCC treatment.

Effects of Narrow Band Ultraviolet B on Serum Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Interleukin-8 in Patients with Psoriasis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy on serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in patients with psoriasis. Relevant Chinese and English scientific literature databases were searched to identify studies published before November, 2013 that included serum VEGF and IL-8 levels in patients with psoriasis. The studies retrieved from database searches were screened on the basis of predefined selection criteria, and data from finally selected studies were extracted for meta-analysis. Analyses were conducted using STATA 12.0 software. Our systematic search resulted in retrieval of 700 studies (500 studies in Chinese, 200 studies in English), and after a multistep screening process, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled for meta-analysis. The 13 studies contained a combined total of 400 patients with psoriasis and 221 healthy controls. The results of meta-analysis revealed that healthy controls exhibited significantly lower serum level of VEGF, compared to patients with psoriasis before therapy. After NB-UVB, VEGF levels were significantly decreased in patients with psoriasis, as compared to their pretherapy VEGF levels. Although no statistically significant differences were detected in IL-8 serum levels between patients with psoriasis and healthy controls before therapy, after NB-UVB therapy, the serum IL-8 levels in patients with psoriasis were markedly decreased. Corresponding reductions in the psoriasis area and severity index scores of patients with psoriasis were observed after NB-UVB treatment. Our results revealed that NB-UVB therapy significantly decreased the serum levels of VEGF and IL-8 in patients with psoriasis. Furthermore, VEGF and IL-8 levels correlated with disease status, indicating that they are sensitive biomarkers for evaluating the effectiveness of psoriasis therapy.

Causes of suicidal behaviors in men who have sex with men in China: a national questionnaire survey.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have become a high-risk group of HIV infection in China. To date, little is known regarding the psychological characteristics in Chinese MSM, especially the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 2,250 MSM recruited from gay bars in 9 large cities in mainland China. Data on the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts as well as the underlying causes in the respondents were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1530 MSM responded to the question regarding previous suicidal ideation and attempts. Of these respondents, 26.01% had ever considered suicide and 12.55% actually attempted suicide at least once. Romantic gay relationship breakup was the number one cause of suicide behaviors, followed by self-objection to homosexuality, difficulties in finding gay partners or in getting used to heterosexual marriage life, sudden emotional hurts from unexpected events, illegal status of gay marriage in China and disclosure of homosexuality. CONCLUSIONS: The survey study has led to a better understanding of the factors contributing to suicide behaviors of MSM in China, which may have significant implications in developing preventive strategies against suicide behaviors in this unique group of individuals.

The Role of NFATC4 Gene in Human Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 4 (NFATC4) has been implicated in keratinocyte development and several types of cancer. A well-defined role for NFATC4 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) has not yet been established. In this study, NFATC4 gene function in CSCC development was examined. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to measure the mRNA expression of NFATC4 in CSCC tissues and controls. A431 and Colo16 cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8 assay, transwell invasion, and flow cytometry, respectively, after an NFATC4 expression lentivirus infection. Animal models were applied to validate the function of the NFATC4 gene. (1) CSCC tissues showed a significant decrease in NFATC4 expression compared to controls. (2) Overexpression of NFATc4 suppresses A431 and Colo16 cell proliferation and invasion but promotes cell apoptosis. (3) Mouse models overexpressing NFATC4 showed reduced tumourigenesis. It was suggested that NFATC4 might be a tumour suppressor gene in CSCC.

Analysing transcriptomic signatures and identifying potential genes for the protective effect of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines.

Inactivated vaccines are one of the most effective strategies for controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the response genes for the protective effect of inactivated vaccines are still unclear. Herein, we analysed the neutralization antibody responses elicited by vaccine serum and carried out transcriptome sequencing of RNAs isolated from the PBMCs of 29 medical staff receiving two doses of the CoronaVac vaccine. The results showed that SARS-CoV-2 neutralization antibody titers varied considerably among individuals, and revealed that many innate immune pathways were activated after vaccination. Furthermore, the blue module revealed that NRAS, YWHAB, SMARCA5, PPP1CC and CDC5L may be correlated with the protective effect of the inactivated vaccine. Additionally, MAPK1, CDC42, PPP2CA, EP300, YWHAZ and NRAS were demonstrated as the hub genes having a significant association with vaccines. These findings provide a basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of the host immune response induced by inactivated vaccines.

A practical nomogram and risk stratification system predicting the cancer-specific survival for patients aged >50 with advanced melanoma.

Objective: To investigate risk factors for advanced melanoma over 50 years of age and to develop and validate a new line chart and classification system. Methods: The SEER database was screened for patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma from 2010 to 2019 and Cox regression analysis was applied to select variables affecting patient prognosis. The area under curve (AUC), relative operating characteristic curve (ROC), Consistency index (C-index), decision curve analysis (DCA), and survival calibration curves were used to verify the accuracy and utility of the model and to compare it with traditional AJCC tumor staging. The Kaplan-Meier curve was applied to compare the risk stratification between the model and traditional AJCC tumor staging. Results: A total of 5166 patients were included in the study. Surgery, age, gender, tumor thickness, ulceration, the number of primary melanomas, M stage and N stage were the independent prognostic factors of CSS in patients with advanced melanoma (P<0.05). The predictive nomogram model was constructed and validated. The C-index values obtained from the training and validation cohorts were 0.732 (95%CI: 0.717-0.742) and 0.741 (95%CI: 0.732-0.751). Based on the observation and analysis results of the ROC curve, survival calibration curve, NRI, and IDI, the constructed prognosis model can accurately predict the prognosis of advanced melanoma and performs well in internal verification. The DCA curve verifies the practicability of the model. Compared with the traditional AJCC staging, the risk stratification in the model has a better identification ability for patients in different risk groups. Conclusion: The nomogram of advanced melanoma and the new classification system were successfully established and verified, which can provide a practical tool for individualized clinical management of patients.

Ecogroups and maternal haplogroups reveal the ancestral origin of native Chinese goat populations based on the variation of mtDNA D-loop sequences.

China is rich in goat breeding resources. Officially recognized local goat breeds are mainly distributed in agro-ecological regions. The population structure and matrilineal origin of native Chinese goats can be used to formulate protection and utilization strategies for these genetic resources. In this study, the genetic structure and maternal origin of native Chinese goats were investigated using mtDNA D-loop sequences. A total of 329 goat samples from 25 Chinese indigenous goat populations and five introduced goat breeds from abroad were collected; these populations were distributed in four ecogroups designated as Southwest, South-central, the North China Plain, and Foreign-ecogroup. A larger average number of nucleotide differences and richer nucleotide diversity were observed in South-central and Foreign-ecogroup, whereas these were lower in Southwest. The 216 haplotypes divided into several haplogroups, of which HapA contained 99 haplotypes distributed in Southwest, the North China Plain, and Foreign-ecogroup with high frequency (0.53-0.77), whereas the frequency of HapA in South-central was <0.09. HapB was mostly found in South-central (0.5538) and was distributed to the North China Plain (0.2667), while it was rare in Southwest (<0.08) and Foreign-ecogroup (<0.07). According to the estimation of kinship and ancestry, HapA had five ancestors (A2, A3, A5, A10, and A12), HapB had a single maternal ancestor (A8), and HapC had two maternal ancestors (A1 and A4). This study showed that native Chinese goat breeds were mainly divided into three haplogroups (HapA, HapB, and HapC) and goat populations have expanded in the ecological regions.

Targeting of MALT1 May Improve Functional Recovery and Attenuate Microglia M1 Polarization-Mediated Neuroinflammation During Spinal Cord Injury.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) is involved in neural injury, neuroinflammation, microglia activation, and polarization, while its function in spinal cord injury (SCI) remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the role of MALT1 modification on SCI recovery and its underlying mechanism. SCI surgery or sham surgery was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats. Then, MALT1 knockdown or negative control lentivirus was injected into SCI rats. Subsequently, MALT1 expression, locomotor capability, neural injury, markers for microglia activation and polarization, inflammatory cytokine expressions, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway were detected. SCI rats exhibited higher MALT1 expression, microglia activation and M1 polarization, neuroinflammation, and NF-κB pathway activation, while worse locomotor capacity compared to sham rats (all P < 0.05). In SCI rats, MALT1 knockdown alleviated Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan score from 10 to 28 days and attenuated HE staining reflected neural injury (all P < 0.05). Besides, MALT1 knockdown declined the number of IBA1+ cells, IBA1+ iNOS+ cells, and IBA1+ CD86+ cells, while enhanced the number of IBA1+ Arg1+ cells and IBA1+ CD206+ cells in SCI rats (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, MALT1 knockdown declined the expressions of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in SCI (all P < 0.05), but did not affect IL-10 expression (P > 0.05). Furthermore, MALT1 knockdown suppressed NF-κB pathway activation validated by immunofluorescence staining and western blot assays (all P < 0.05). MALT1 knockdown improves functional recovery, attenuates microglia activation, M1 polarization, and neuroinflammation via inhibiting NF-κB pathway in SCI.

Transcriptome analysis reveals critical factors for survival after adenovirus serotype 4 infection.

Fowl adenovirus serotype-4 (FAdV-4) is highly lethal to poultry, making it one of the leading causes of economic losses in the poultry industry. However, a small proportion of poultry can survive after FAdV-4 infection. It is unclear whether there are genetic factors that protect chickens from FAdV-4 infection. Therefore, the livers from chickens uninfected with FAdV-4 (Normal), dead after FAdV-4 infection (Dead) or surviving after FAdV-4 infection (Survivor) were collected for RNA-seq, and 2,649 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Among these, many immune-related cytokines and chemokines were significantly upregulated in the Dead group compared with the Survivor group, which might indicate that death is related to an excessive inflammatory immune response (cytokine storm). Subsequently, the KEGG results for DEGs specifically expressed in each comparison group indicated that cell cycle and apoptosis-related DEGs were upregulated and metabolism-related DEGs were downregulated in the Dead group, which also validated the reliability of the samples. Furthermore, GO and KEGG results showed DEGs expressed in all three groups were mainly associated with cell cycle. Among them, BRCA1, CDK1, ODC1, and MCM3 were screened as factors that might influence FAdV-4 infection. The qPCR results demonstrated that these 4 factors were not only upregulated in the Dead group but also significantly upregulated in the LMH cells after 24 h infection by FAdV-4. Moreover, interfering with BRCA1, CDK1, ODC1, and MCM3 significantly attenuated viral replication of FAdV-4. And interfering of BRCA1, CDK1, and MCM3 had more substantial hindering effects. These results provided novel insights into the molecular changes following FAdV-4 infection but also shed light on potential factors driving the survival of FAdV-4 infection in chickens.

The impact of CoronaVac on the neutralization breadth and magnitude of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

Although immune response enhancement has been reported after primary and booster vaccines of CoronaVac, neutralization breadth of SARS-CoV-2 variants is still unclear. In the present study, we examined the neutralization magnitude and breadth of SARS-CoV-2 variants including Beta (B.1.351), Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) in 33 convalescent COVID-19 patients and a cohort of 55 medical staff receiving primary CoronaVac vaccines and an additional homologous booster dose. Results showed that, as compared with the two-dose primary vaccination, the homologous booster dose achieved 2.24-, 3.98-, 4.58- and 2.90-fold increase in neutralization titer against wild-type, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, respectively. After booster dose, neutralization titer reduction for variants was less than that after the primary vaccine or that for convalescents. The proportion of recipients able to neutralize 2 or more variants increased from 36.36% post the primary vaccination to 87.27% after the booster. Significant increase in neutralization breadth of 1.24 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89-1.59) variants was associated with a log10 increase in neutralization titer against the wild-type. In addition, anti-RBD IgG level was identified as an excellent surrogate for positive neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 and neutralization breadth of variants. These findings highlight the value of an additional homologous CoronaVac dose in broadening the cross-neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are critical for informing the booster dose vaccination efforts.

An immune gene signature to predict prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. The purpose of this study was to construct a stable immune gene signature for prediction of prognosis (IGSPP) and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy in LUAD patients. Five genes were screened by weighted gene coexpression network analysis, Cox regression and LASSO regression analyses and were used to construct the IGSPP. The survival rate of the IGSPP low-risk group was higher than that of the IGSPP high-risk group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that IGSPP could be used as an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival of LUAD patients. IGSPP genes were enriched in cell cycle pathways. IGSPP gene mutation rates were higher in the high-risk group. CD4 memory-activated T cells, M0 and M1 macrophages had higher infiltration abundance in the high-risk group, which was associated with poor overall survival. In contrast, the abundance of resting CD4 memory T cells, monocytes, resting dendritic cells and resting mast cells associated with a better prognosis was higher in the low-risk group. TIDE scores and the expressions of different immune checkpoints showed that patients in the high-risk IGSPP group benefited more from ICIs treatment. In short, an IGSPP of LUAD was constructed and characterized. It could be used to predict the prognosis and benefits of ICIs treatment in LUAD patients.

Polymorphisms of coding region of BMPR-IB gene and their relationship with litter size in sheep.

The bone morphogenetic protein receptor IB (BMPR-IB) was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of sheep. Nine pairs of primers (P1-P9) were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of exons 1-4 and 6-10 of the BMPR-IB gene in both high (Small Tail Han and Hu sheep) and low prolificacy breeds (Texel and Chinese Merino sheep) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Only the products amplified by primers P2, P5, P6, P7, P8 and P9 displayed polymorphisms. The present study identified 22 SNPs in partial coding regions of ovine BMPR-IB, in which 20 SNPs were reported for the first time. In total of the 22 mutations, 18 DNA variations were originated from the Hu breed, three were found in the Small Tail Han breed (two of them were found in other sheep breeds), three in the Chinese Merino breed, and none in the Texel breed. These results preliminarily demonstrated that BMPR-IB is a major gene affecting the hyperprolificacy in Small Tail Han and Hu sheep, and could be used as a molecular genetic marker for early auxiliary selection for hyperprolificacy in sheep.

Spatiotemporal coupling measurement of industrial wastewater discharge and industrial economy in China.

With the industrial-level panel data on total output and wastewater discharge over the period of 1997 to 2018, this paper employs GIS and ESDA methods to empirically investigate the spatial relationship between industrial total output and wastewater discharge. In this paper, we empirically examine whether and how industrial wastewater discharge in a particular province may affect the wastewater discharge in its neighboring provinces. Results suggest that provinces (municipalities) with large-scale industrial sewage discharge are located along riversides and coastal areas and these discharges then gradually distribute to coastal, central, and western areas. Results also show a strong spatial autocorrelation of industrial wastewater discharge between the observed local province and its neighboring provinces which is increasing over time. In addition, there is also a significant spatial spillover effect of industrial wastewater discharge among neighboring provinces in China's eastern and central regions, indicating a structural convergence of high-pollution industries.

Identifying modifiable risk factors of lung cancer: Indications from Mendelian randomization.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the major cause of mortality in tumor patients. While its incidence rate has recently declined, it is still far from satisfactory and its potential modifiable risk factors should be explored. METHODS: We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to investigate the causal relationship between potentially modifiable risk factors (namely smoking behavior, alcohol intake, anthropometric traits, blood pressure, lipidemic traits, glycemic traits, and fasting insulin) and lung cancer. Besides, a bi-directional MR analysis was carried out to disentangle the complex relationship between different risk factors. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) was utilized to combine the estimation for each SNP. Cochrane's Q value was used to evaluate heterogeneity and two methods, including MR-Egger intercept and MR-PRESSO, were adopted to detect horizontal pleiotropy. RESULTS: Three kinds of smoking behavior were all causally associated with lung cancer. Overall, smokers were more likely to suffer from lung cancer compared with non-smokers (OR = 2.58 [1.95, 3.40], p-value = 2.07 x 10-11), and quitting smoking could reduce the risk (OR = 4.29[2.60, 7.07], p-value = 1.23 x 10-8). Furthermore, we found a dose-response relationship between the number of cigarettes and lung cancer (OR = 6.10 [5.35, 6.96], p-value = 4.43x10-161). Lower HDL cholesterol could marginally increase the risk of lung cancer, but become insignificant after Bonferroni correction (OR = 0.82 [0.68, 1.00], p-value = 0.045). In addition, we noted no direct causal relationship between other risk factors and lung cancer. Neither heterogeneity nor pleiotropy was observed in this study. However, when treating the smoking behavior as the outcome, we found the increased BMI could elevate the number of cigarettes per day (beta = 0.139[0.104, 0.175], p-value = 1.99x10-14) and a similar effect was observed for the waist circumference and hip circumference. Additionally, the elevation of SBP could also marginally increase the number of cigarettes per day (beta = 0.001 [0.0002, 0.002], p-value = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Smoking behavior might be the most direct and effective modifiable way to reduce the risk of lung cancer. Meanwhile, smoking behavior can be affected by other risk factors, especially obesity.

Blood lipids and risk of colon or rectal cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

PURPOSE: Recent Mendelian randomization (MR) studies derived inconsistent results of blood lipids' effect on colorectal cancer, and whether the blood lipids' effect on colon and rectal cancer is different is still unknown. Here, we sought to answer these questions. METHODS: Primarily, we employed univariable MR to explore the blood lipids' effect on colon and rectal cancer, including high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol and triglycerides. Then, multivariable MR was also employed to reassess each blood lipid's effect on the two cancers with adjustment of the other lipids. Reverse MR analysis was adopted to determine whether colon or rectal cancer could affect the levels of blood lipids. The Cochrane's Q value was used to evaluate the heterogeneity, and MR-PRESSO was used to appraise the pleiotropy. RESULTS: Generally, we did not find any significant result between blood lipids and the colon/rectal cancer after Bonferroni correction in the univariable MR analysis. The multivariable MR analysis also obtained the same results. However, it should be noted that higher total cholesterol level might increase the risk of colon cancer (OR = 1.15 [1.01, 1.31], IVW p value = 0.029) but not rectal cancer (OR = 1.02 [0.85, 1.21], IVW p value = 0.853). Such causal relationship turned insignificant in the multivariable MR. The reverse MR analysis suggested that either colon or rectal cancer could increase the levels of blood lipids. CONCLUSION: We found no association between blood lipids and risk of colon or rectal cancer, except for a positive association between total cholesterol and colon cancer risk.

Development of a Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Based on the Receptor-Binding Domain Displayed on Virus-Like Particles.

The ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by a new coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) first reported in Wuhan City, China. From there, it has been rapidly spreading to many cities inside and outside China. Nowadays, more than 110 million cases with deaths surpassing 2 million have been recorded worldwide, thus representing a major health and economic issues. Rapid development of a protective vaccine against COVID-19 is therefore of paramount importance. Here, we demonstrated that the recombinantly expressed receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein can be coupled to immunologically optimized virus-like particles derived from cucumber mosaic virus (CuMVTT). The RBD displayed CuMVTT bound to ACE2, the viral receptor, demonstrating proper folding of RBD. Furthermore, a highly repetitive display of the RBD on CuMVTT resulted in a vaccine candidate that induced high levels of specific antibodies in mice, which were able to block binding of the spike protein to ACE2 and potently neutralize SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro.

Whole Transcriptome Analysis Identifies the Taxonomic Status of a New Chinese Native Cattle Breed and Reveals Genes Related to Body Size.

Wandong (WD) cattle has recently been identified as a new Chinese native cattle breed by the National Commission for Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources. The population size of this breed is less than 10,000. WD cattle and Dabieshan (DB) cattle are sympatric but are raised in different ecological environments, on mountains and plains, respectively, and the body sizes of these two breeds are markedly different. Blood samples were obtained from 8 adult female WD cattle and 7 adult female DB cattle (24 months old). The total RNA was extracted from leukocyte cells, and sequencing experiments were conducted on the Illumina HiSeqTM 4000 platform. After the removal of one outlier sample from the WD cattle breed as determined by principal component analysis (PCA), phylogenetic and population structure analyses indicated that WD and DB cattle formed a distinct Central China cattle group and showed evidence of hybridization between Bos. taurus and Bos. indicus. The immune-regulator CD48 (P = 1.3E-6) was associated with breed-specific traits according to loss-of-function variant enrichment analysis. In addition, 113 differentially expressed genes were identified between the two breeds, many of which are associated with the regulation of body growth, which is the major difference between the two breeds. This study showed that WD cattle belong to the group of hybrids between Bos. Taurus and Bos. indicus, and one novel gene associated with breed traits and multiple differentially expressed genes between these two closely related breeds was identified. The results provide insights into the genetic mechanisms that underlie economically important traits, such as body size, in cattle.

Transcriptional activity of FIGLA, NEUROG2, and EGR1 transcription factors associated with polymorphisms in the proximal regulatory region of GPR54 gene in cattle.

Activity of transcription factors affect synthesis of G-protein coupled receptor 54 (GPR54), an important factor in regulation of initiation of puberty. Expression of the GPR54 gene in cattle is associated with polymorphisms in the proximal regulatory region (PRR) of the GPR54 gene. Transcription resulting in production of GPR54 mRNA transcript occurs as a result of transcription factor (TF) interactions in the PRR. Polymorphisms in the PRR may be associated with extent of activity of these TFs. Folliculogenesis-specific BHLH TF (FIGLA), neurogenin 2 (NEUROG2), and early growth response 1 (EGR1) are important in modulation of ovarian follicle development and neurons synthesizing GnRH, thus, regulating biosynthesis of luteinizing hormone. The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess the transcription-activating potential of binding sites for FIGLA, NEUROG2, and EGR1 TFs in the GPR54 promoter of cattle. Two luciferase-based promoters, ATC and CCT, which contain three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), A/C-794, T/C-663, and C/T-601, in the GPR54 PRR, were analyzed to evaluate gene expression and activation of different promoters by FIGLA, NEUROG2, and EGR1. The FIGLA induced GPR54 transcription through the CCT, whereas NEUROG2 and EGR1 induced GPR54 transcription through the ATC promoter-binding site. The CCT-activating effects of FIGLA were greater (2.56-fold) than the ATC-activating effects (P < 0.05). The ATC-activating effects of NEUROG2 and EGR1 were markedly greater (12.91- and 8.41-fold; P < 0.01) than CCT-activating effects. The polymorphisms, CCT and ATC, of the cattle GPR54 affect the activity of transcription factors, therefore, have an important effect on production of GPR54 mRNA transcript.