Effect and mechanism of C-terminal cysteine on the properties of HEV p222 protein.

Preliminary investigations have demonstrated that the cysteines located at the C-terminus of HEV ORF2 protein exhibits disulfide bonding capability during virus-like particles (VLPs) assembly. However, the effect and mechanism underlying the pairing of disulfide bonds formed by C627, C630, and C638 remains unclear. The p222 protein encompasses C-terminus and serves as a representative of HEV ORF2 to investigate the specific impacts of C627, C630, and C638. The three cysteines were subjected to site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in prokaryotes; Both the mutated proteins and p222 underwent polymerization except for p222A; Surprisingly, only p222 was observed as abundant spherical particles under transmission electron microscope (TEM); Stability and immunogenicity of the p222 exhibited higher than other mutated proteins; LC/MS/MS analysis identified four disulfide bonds in the p222. The novel findings suggest that the three cysteines contribute to structural and functional properties of ORF2 protein, highlighting the indispensability of each cysteine.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profile Analysis of the Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Gene Family in Hevea brasiliensis.

The majority of the world's natural rubber comes from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). As a key enzyme for synthesizing phenylpropanoid compounds, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) has a critical role in plant satisfactory growth and environmental adaptation. To clarify the characteristics of rubber tree PAL family genes, a genome-wide characterization of rubber tree PALs was conducted in this study. Eight PAL genes (HbPAL1-HbPAL8), which spread over chromosomes 3, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 18, were found to be present in the genome of H. brasiliensis. Phylogenetic analysis classified HbPALs into groups I and II, and the group I HbPALs (HbPAL1-HbPAL6) displayed similar conserved motif compositions and gene architectures. Tissue expression patterns of HbPALs quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) proved that distinct HbPALs exhibited varying tissue expression patterns. The HbPAL promoters contained a plethora of cis-acting elements that responded to hormones and stress, and the qPCR analysis demonstrated that abiotic stressors like cold, drought, salt, and H2O2-induced oxidative stress, as well as hormones like salicylic acid, abscisic acid, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate, controlled the expression of HbPALs. The majority of HbPALs were also regulated by powdery mildew, anthracnose, and Corynespora leaf fall disease infection. In addition, HbPAL1, HbPAL4, and HbPAL7 were significantly up-regulated in the bark of tapping panel dryness rubber trees relative to that of healthy trees. Our results provide a thorough comprehension of the characteristics of HbPAL genes and set the groundwork for further investigation of the biological functions of HbPALs in rubber trees.

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Neonatal Ureaplasma urealyticum Infection.

Purpose: To understand the epidemiology and clinical features of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection in hospitalized neonates due to vertical transmission from mother to child. Methods: Respiratory secretions were collected from neonates hospitalized in the neonatology department of the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province from July 2020 to June 2022, and PCR was used to detect UU-DNA in respiratory secretions. The neonates were divided into UU-positive and UU-negative groups, the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of two groups, were statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 7257 hospitalized neonates were included in this study, of whom 561 were UU positive and 6696 were UU negative, with a UU detection rate of 7.73%. The detection rate among female neonates was higher than male neonates, and the highest detection rate was found in the period from 1-7 days after birth; the detection rate was highest in spring and fall, and the lowest in winter, but the overall difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the UU-negative group, neonates in the UU-positive group were more likely to be preterm, have a lower birth weight, be delivered vaginally, and have maternal preterm rupture of membranes. In addition, neonates in the UU-positive group were more likely to be co-infected with pathogens and to have complications related to UU infections, which were all statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Neonatal UU infections are detected more frequently in female infants, with the highest detection rate occurring in 1-7 days after birth, and the most prevalent periods for infection being spring and fall. Vaginal delivery and premature rupture of membranes may lead to an increased risk of vertical UU transmission from mother to child, and UU infection is strongly associated with preterm labor, low birth weight, pathogen co-infection, and related complications.

SERS-Based Microneedle Biosensor for In Situ and Sensitive Detection of Tyrosinase.

Tyrosinase (TYR) emerges as a key enzyme that exerts a regulatory influence on the synthesis of melanin, thereby assuming the role of a critical biomarker for the detection of melanoma. Detecting the authentic concentration of TYR in the skin remains a primary challenge. Distinguished from ex vivo detection methods, this study introduces a novel sensor platform that integrates a microneedle (MN) biosensor with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology for the in situ detection of TYR in human skin. The platform utilized dopamine (DA)-functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as the capturing substrate and 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA)-modified silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) acting as the SERS probe. Here, the Au NPs were functionalized with mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) for DA capture. In the presence of TYR, DA immobilized on the MN is preferentially oxidized to dopamine quinone (DQ), a process that results in a decreased density of SERS probes on the platform. TYR concentration was detected through variations in the signal intensity emitted by the phenylboronic acid. The detection system was able to evaluate TYR concentrations within a linear range of 0.05 U/mL to 200 U/mL and showed robust anti-interference capabilities. The proposed platform, integrating MN-based in situ sensing, SERS technology, and TYR responsiveness, holds significant importance for diagnosing cutaneous melanoma.

Integrated physiology, transcriptome and proteome analyses highlight the potential roles of multiple hormone-mediated signaling pathways involved in tapping panel dryness in rubber tree.

Currently, one of the most serious threats to rubber tree is the tapping panel dryness (TPD) that greatly restricts natural rubber production. Over-tapping or excessive ethephon stimulation is regarded as the main cause of TPD occurrence. Although extensive studies have been carried out, the molecular mechanism underlying TPD remains puzzled. An attempt was made to compare the levels of endogenous hormones and the profiles of transcriptome and proteome between healthy and TPD trees. Results showed that most of endogenous hormones such as jasmonic acid (JA), 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACC), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), trans-zeatin (tZ) and salicylic acid (SA) in the barks were significantly altered in TPD-affected rubber trees. Accordingly, multiple hormone-mediated signaling pathways were changed. In total, 731 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 671 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified, of which 80 DEGs were identified as putative transcription factors (TFs). Further analysis revealed that 12 DEGs and five DEPs regulated plant hormone synthesis, and that 16 DEGs and six DEPs were involved in plant hormone signal transduction pathway. Nine DEGs and four DEPs participated in rubber biosynthesis and most DEGs and all the four DEPs were repressed in TPD trees. All these results highlight the potential roles of endogenous hormones, signaling pathways mediated by these hormones and rubber biosynthesis pathway in the defense response of rubber trees to TPD. The present study extends our understanding of the nature and mechanism underlying TPD and provides some candidate genes and proteins related to TPD for further research in the future.

In Situ, Rapid Synthesis of Carbon-Loaded High Density and Ultrasmall High Entropy Oxide Nanoparticles as Efficient Electrocatalysts.

High entropy materials offer almost unlimited catalytic possibilities due to their variable composition, unique structure, and excellent electrocatalytic performance. However, due to the strong tendency of nanoparticles to coarsen and agglomerate, it is still a challenge to synthesize nanoparticles using simple methods to precisely control the morphology and size of the nanoparticles in large quantities, and their large-scale application is limited by high costs and low yields. Herein, a series of high-entropy oxides (HEOs) nanoparticles with high-density and ultrasmall size (<5 nm) loaded on carbon nanosheets with large quantities are prepared by Joule-heating treatment of gel precursors in a short period of time (≈60 s). Among them, the prepared (FeCoNiRuMn)3 O4-x catalyst shows the best electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction, with low overpotentials (230 mV @10 mA cm-2 , 270 mV @100 mA cm-2 ), small Tafel slope (39.4 mV dec-1 ), and excellent stability without significant decay at 100 mA cm-2 after 100 h. The excellent performance of (FeCoNiRuMn)3 O4-x can be attributed to the synergistic effect of multiple elements and the inherent structural stability of high entropy systems. This study provides a more comprehensive design idea for the preparation of efficient and stable high entropy catalysts.

Identification of prognostic biomarkers for cervical cancer based on programmed cell death-related genes and assessment of their immune profile and response to drug therapy.

BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death (PCD) has been widely investigated in various human diseases. The present study aimed to identify a novel PCD-related genetic signature in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC) to provide clues for survival, immunotherapy and drug sensitization prediction. METHODS: Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to quantify the PCD score and assess the distribution of PCD in clinicopathological characteristics in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-CESC samples. Then, the ConsensusClusterPlus method was used to identify molecular subtypes in the TCGA-CESC database. Genomic mutation analysis, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment, as well as tumor microenvironment (TME) infiltration analysis, were performed for each molecular subtype group. Finally, a prognostic model by Uni-Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-Cox analysis was established based on differentially expressed genes from molecular subtypes. ESTIMATE (i.e. Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignantTumours using Expression data) and ssGSEA were performed to assess the correlation between the model and TME. Drug sensitization prediction was carried out with the oncoPredict package. RESULTS: Preliminary analysis indicated that PCD had a potential association clinical characteristics of the TCGA-CESC cohort, and PCD-related genes mutated in 289 (70.59%) CESC patients. Next, four groups of CESC molecular typing were clustered based on 63 significantly prognostic PCD-related genes. Among four subtypes, C1 group displayed the worst prognosis combined with over expressed PCD genes and enriched cell cycle-related pathways. C4 group exhibited the best prognosis accompanied with high degree of immune infiltration. Finally, a five-gene (SERPINE1, TNF, CA9, CX3CL1 and JAK3) prognostic model was constructed. Patients in the high-risk group displayed unfavorable survival. Immune infiltration analysis found that the low-risk group had significantly higher levels of immune cell infiltration such as T cells, Macrophages_M1, relative to the high-risk group, and were significantly enriched in apoptosis-associated pathways, which predicted a higher level of immunity. Drug sensitivity correlation analysis revealed that the high-risk group was resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and sensitive to the Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs BI.2536_1086 and SCH772984_1564. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we first found that PCD-related gene expression patterns were correlated with clinical features of CESC patients, which predicts the feasibility of subsequent mining of prognostic features based on these genes. The five-PCD-associated-gene prognostic model showed good assessment ability in predicting patient prognosis, immune response and drug-sensitive response, and provided guidance for the elucidation of the mechanism by which PCD affects CESC, as well as for the clinical targeting of drugs.

Molecular cloning, biological description, and functional analysis of Ajfos transcription factor in pathogen-induced Apostichopus japonicus.

Activator protein-1 subfamily member c-Fos wields significant influence over cellular activities, such as regulation of cell growth and division, cell death, and immune responses under various extracellular situations. In this study, the full-length c-Fos of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus (Ajfos) was successfully cloned and analyzed. The anticipated 306 amino acid sequences of Ajfos displayed a basic-leucine zipper (bZIP) domain, similar to invertebrate counterparts. In addition, the qPCR results suggested Ajfos expressed in all tissues, with the highest level in coelomocytes from polian vesicle (vesicle lumen cells), followed by coelomocytes from coelom (coelomocytes). Moreover, the expression levels of Ajfos in the coelomocytes and vesicle lumen cells of sea cucumber showed significant changes after the Vibrio splendidus challenge, especially reaching a peak at 6 h. Compared with the silencing negative control RNA interference (siNC) group, silencing Ajfos (siAjfos) in vivo decreased the downstream proliferation-related gene expression of vesicle lumen cells after infection with V. splendidus while no significant influence was observed on coelomocytes. Furthermore, the proliferation proportion of vesicle lumen cells in the siAjfos group was significantly reduced under pathogen stimulation conditions. Finally, based on the fluctuation trend of total coelomocyte density (TCD) from coelom and polian vesicle previously discovered, it is evident that Ajfos played a critical role in facilitating the swift proliferation of vesicle lumen cells in response to V. splendidus stimulation. Altogether, this research provided an initial reference of the function of Ajfos in echinoderms, unveiling its participation in host coelomocyte proliferation of sea cucumbers during bacterial challenges.

Inhibiting the NLRP3 Inflammasome with MCC950 Alleviates Neurological Impairment in the Brain of EAE Mice.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that is characterized by demyelination and neuronal damage. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice are used to model the disease progression of MS and mirror MS-like pathology. Previous researches have confirmed that inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome significantly alleviated the severity of EAE mice and the demyelination of spinal cord, but its effect on neuronal damage and oligodendrocyte loss in the brain remains unclear. In this study, female C57BL/6 mice were immunized with MOG35-55 and PTX to establish experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. MCC950, a selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, was used to investigate the effect of NLRP3 inflammasome on the pathological changes and glial cell activation in the brain of EAE mice by immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrated that MCC950 ameliorated the neuronal damage, demyelination, and oligodendrocyte loss in the brain of EAE mice. This protective effect of MCC950 may be attributed to its ability to suppress the activation of glial cells and prevents microglia polarization to M1 phenotype. Our work indicates that inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome has the therapeutic effects of neuroprotection through immunomodulation and is a promising therapeutic strategy for MS.

Brassica oleracea L. extract ameliorates isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury by regulating HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis.

Brassica oleracea L. (BO) is an important vegetable with proven health benefits. This study aimed to elucidate the constituents of BO leaf extract (BOE) and evaluate its effect on myocardial injury. For this purpose, the constituents of BOE were identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of- flight mass spectrometry, and 26 compounds were determined, including glucosinolates, sulfur compounds, alkaloids, phenolic acids, flavones, and two other kinds of compounds. The effects of BOE on myocardial cells were evaluated using isoproterenol (ISO)-treated H9C2 cells and Wistar rats, and the results revealed that BOE could inhibit cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and reduce the levels of B-type natriuretic peptide, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, lactic acid, and pyruvic acid. Meanwhile, BOE could increase the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, BOE could reduce the levels of apoptosis- and glycolysis-related proteins. Taken together, our data demonstrated that BOE treatment could alleviate ISO-induced myocardial cell injury by downregulating apoptosis and glycolysis signals.

Prompt Hole Extraction Suppresses V5+ Dissolution and Sustains Large-Area BiVO4 Photoanodes for Over 2100 h Water Oxidation.

Nanostructured bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is at the forefront of emerging photoanodes in photoelectrochemical tandem devices for solar water splitting owing to the suitable band edge position and efficient charge separation capability. However, the (photo)chemical corrosion involving V5+ dissolution limits the long-term stability of BiVO4. Herein, guided by DFT calculations, we introduce an ALD-derived NiOx catalyst layer on BiVO4 to stabilize the surface Bi-O bonds, facilitate hole extraction, and thus suppress the V5+ dissolution. At the same time, the ALD NiOx catalyst layer could efficiently suppress the surface recombination and accelerate the surface OER kinetics, boosting the half-cell applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of BiVO4 to 2.05%, as well as a fill factor of 47.1%. By adding trace NaVO3 to the electrolyte, the NiOx/BiVO4 photoanode with an illumination area of 10.5 cm2 shows a record operational stability of more than 2100 h.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Growth-Regulating Factor (GRF) Transcription Factors.

Flax is an important cash crop globally with a variety of commercial uses. It has been widely used for fiber, oil, nutrition, feed and in composite materials. Growth regulatory factor (GRF) is a transcription factor family unique to plants, and is involved in regulating many processes of growth and development. Bioinformatics analysis of the GRF family in flax predicted 17 LuGRF genes, which all contained the characteristic QLQ and WRC domains. Equally, 15 of 17 LuGRFs (88%) are predicted to be regulated by lus-miR396 miRNA. Phylogenetic analysis of GRFs from flax and several other well-characterized species defined five clades; LuGRF genes were found in four clades. Most LuGRF gene promoters contained cis-regulatory elements known to be responsive to hormones and stress. The chromosomal locations and collinearity of LuGRF genes were also analyzed. The three-dimensional structure of LuGRF proteins was predicted using homology modeling. The transcript expression data indicated that most LuGRF family members were highly expressed in flax fruit and embryos, whereas LuGRF3, LuGRF12 and LuGRF16 were enriched in response to salt stress. Real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that both LuGRF1 and LuGRF11 were up-regulated under ABA and MeJA stimuli, indicating that these genes were involved in defense. LuGRF1 was demonstrated to be localized to the nucleus as expected for a transcription factor. These results provide a basis for further exploration of the molecular mechanism of LuGRF gene function and obtaining improved flax breeding lines.

Construction and analysis of the tapping panel dryness-related lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network in latex of Hevea brasiliensis.

Tapping panel dryness (TPD) results in a severe reduction in latex yield in Hevea brasiliensis. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of TPD occurrence are still largely unclear. In this study, whole-transcriptome sequencing was carried out on latex from TPD and healthy trees. In total, 7078 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), 3077 circular RNAs (circRNAs), 4956 miRNAs, and 25041 mRNAs were identified in latex, among which 435 lncRNAs, 68 circRNAs, 320 miRNAs, and 1574 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the latex of TPD trees. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling pathway, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis were the key pathways associated with TPD onset. Phytohormone profiling revealed significant changes in the contents of 28 hormonal compounds, among which ACC, ABA, IAA, GA, and JA contents were increased, while SA content was reduced in TPD latex, suggesting that hormone homeostasis is disrupted in TPD trees. Furthermore, we constructed a TPD-related competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network of lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA with 561 edges and 434 nodes (188 lncRNAs, 5 circRNAs, 191 miRNAs, and 50 mRNAs) and identified two hub lncRNAs (MSTRG.11908.1 and MSTRG.8791.1) and four hub miRNAs (hbr-miR156, miR156-x, miRf10477-y, and novel-m0452-3p). Notably, the lncRNA-miR156/157-SPL module containing three hubs probably plays a crucial role in TPD onset. The expression of network hubs and the lncRNA-miR156/157-SPL module were further validated by qRT-PCR. Our results reveal the TPD-associated ceRNA regulatory network of lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA in latex and lay a foundation for further investigation of molecular regulatory mechanisms for TPD onset in H. brasiliensis.

Anti-obesity effects exerted by Dioscorea opposita Thunb. polysaccharides in diet-induced obese mice.

Obesity is characterized by chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Dioscorea opposita Thunb. is a traditional food and medicine homolog from China. In the present study, polysaccharides isolated from a water extract of Dioscorea opposita Thunb. (DOTPs) were prepared. We showed that DOTPs reduced body weight, accumulation of fat tissues, insulin resistance, and inflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Further experiments showed that DOTPs could regulate the composition of the gut microbiota in HFD mice. DOTPs supplementation in HFD-fed mice resulted in the reduction of the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio. We further demonstrated that DOTPs supplementation enhanced bacterial levels of Akkermansia and reduced levels of Ruminiclostridium_9. A significant reduction of glycolysis metabolism related to obesity and gut microbiota dysbiosis was also observed upon administration of DOTPs. Our results suggest that DOTPs can produce significant anti-obesity effects, by inhibiting systematic inflammation and ameliorating gut microbiota dysbiosis in diet-induced obese mice.

Nonvolatile Memory Organic Light-Emitting Transistors.

In the field of active-matrix organic light emitting display (AMOLED), large-size and ultra-high-definition AMOLED applications have escalated the demand for the integration density of driver chips. However, as Moore's Law approaches the limit, the traditional technology of improving integration density that relies on scaling down device dimension is facing a huge challenge. Thus, developing a multifunctional and highly integrated device is a promising route for improving the integration density of pixel circuits. Here, a novel nonvolatile memory ferroelectric organic light-emitting transistor (Fe-OLET) device which integrates the switching capability, light-emitting capability and nonvolatile memory function into a single device is reported. The nonvolatile memory function of Fe-OLET is achieved through the remnant polarization property of ferroelectric polymer, enabling the device to maintain light emission at zero gate bias. The reliable nonvolatile memory operations are also demonstrated. The proof-of-concept device optimized through interfacial modification approach exhibits 20 times improved field-effect mobility and five times increased luminance. The integration of nonvolatile memory, switching and light-emitting capabilities within Fe-OLET provides a promising internal-storage-driving paradigm, thus creating a new pathway for deploying storage capacitor-free circuitry to improve the pixel aperture ratio and the integration density of circuits toward the on-chip advanced display applications.

Gene Expression Analysis of Different Organs and Identification of AP2 Transcription Factors in Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.).

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important oilseed crop widely cultivated for its oil and fiber. This study conducted transcriptome analysis to analyze the gene expression profiles of roots, leaves, stamens, pistils, and fruits in the flax cultivar Longya10. A total of 43,471 genes were detected in the RNA-seq data, with 34,497 genes showing differential expression levels between different organs. Gene expression patterns varied across different organs, with differences observed in expression-regulating genes within specific organs. However, 23,448 genes were found to be commonly expressed across all organs. Further analysis revealed organ-specific gene expressions, with 236, 690, 544, 909, and 1212 genes identified in pistils, fruits, leaves, roots, and stamens, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed on these organ-specific genes, and significant enrichment was observed in various biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions, providing new insights for the specific growth patterns of flax organs. Furthermore, we investigated the expression differences of AP2 transcription factors in various tissues and organs of Longya10. We identified 96 AP2 genes that were differentially expressed in different organs and annotated them into various biological pathways. Our results suggest that AP2 transcription factors may play important roles in regulating the growth and development of flax organs including stress response. In summary, our study provides a comprehensive analysis of gene expression patterns in different organs and tissues of flax plant and identifies potential critical regulators of flax organ growth and development. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying flax organ development and may have important implications for the genetic improvement of flax crops.

Widely Targeted Metabolomics Reveals the Effects of Soil on the Metabolites in Dioscorea opposita Thunb.

Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun), a type of homologous medicinal plant, mainly grows in sandy soil (SCY) and loessial soil (LCY). However, the effects of the soil on the metabolites in SCY and LCY remain unclear. Herein, this study aims to comprehensively elucidate the metabolites in SCY and LCY. A UPLC-MS/MS-based, widely targeted metabolomics approach was adapted to compare the chemical composition of SCY and LCY. A total of 988 metabolites were detected, including 443 primary metabolites, 510 secondary metabolites, and 35 other compounds. Notably, 177 differential metabolites (classified into 12 categories) were identified between SCY and LCY; among them, 85.9% (152 differential metabolites) were upregulated in LCY. LCY significantly increased the contents of primary metabolites such as 38 lipids and 6 nucleotides and derivatives, as well as some secondary metabolites such as 36 flavonoids, 28 phenolic acids, 13 alkaloids, and 6 tannins. The results indicate that loessial soil can improve the nutritional and medicinal value of D. opposita.

Research progress on the neutrophil components and their interactions with immune cells in the development of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disease, and currently it is widely believed that the IL-23/IL-17 axis and Th17 cells play a critical and central role. However, increasing evidence suggests that neutrophils may interact with a variety of immune cells to play an indispensable role in psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the recent literature on psoriasis and neutrophils through databases such as PubMed and CNKI, and summarized the findings to draw conclusions. RESULTS: Neutrophils can promote the development of psoriasis by secreting IL-23, IL-17, and cytokines with TH17 cell chemotaxis. Activated keratinocytes (KCs) can attract and activate neutrophils, induce the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). KCs can also expose self-antigens which lead to strong autoimmune reactions. The granule proteins secreted by activated neutrophils can activate IL-36, which converts vulgaris psoriasis to generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). CONCLUSION: The function of neutrophils components and the interaction between neutrophils and immune cells play an essential role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The aim is to provide a theoretical basis for the exploration of targeted clinical treatments and fundamental research on the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Post-hybridization introgression and natural selection promoted genomic divergence of Aegilops speltoides and the four S*-genome diploid species.

Understanding how different driving forces have promoted biological divergence and speciation is one of the central issues in evolutionary biology. The Triticum/Aegilops species complex contains 13 diploid species belonging to the A-, B- and D-lineages and offers an ideal system to address the evolutionary dynamics of lineage fusion and splitting. Here, we sequenced the whole genomes of one S-genome species (Aegilops speltoides) of the B-lineage and four S*-genome diploid species (Aegilops bicornis, Aegilops longissima, Aegilops sharonensis and Aegilops searsii) of the D-lineage at the population level. We performed detailed comparisons of the five species and with the other four representative A-, B- and D-lineage species. Our estimates identified frequent genetic introgressions from A- and B-lineages to the D-lineage species. A remarkable observation is the contrasting distributions of putative introgressed loci by the A- and B-lineages along all the seven chromosomes to the extant D-lineage species. These genetic introgressions resulted in high levels of genetic divergence at centromeric regions between Ae. speltoides (B-lineage) and the other four S*-genome diploid species (D-lineage), while natural selection is a potential contributor to divergence among the four S*-genome species at telomeric regions. Our study provides a genome-wide view on how genetic introgression and natural selection acted together yet chromosome-regionally divided to promote genomic divergence among the five S- and S*-genome diploid species, which provides new and nuanced insights into the evolutionary history of the Triticum/Aegilops species complex.

Aniline-induced production of aniline-containing polyketides and related bicyclic polyketides by the Yellow River wetland-derived fungus Talaromyces funiculosus.

Introduction and Methods: Silencing gene activation can effectively enrich the diversity of fungal secondary metabolites. Results and Discussion: Cultivation of the Yellow River wetland-derived fungus Talaromyces funiculosus HPU-Y01 with aniline led to the isolation of one new aniline-containing polyketide tanicutone A (1), two new bicyclic polyketides tanicutones B-C (2-3), a new related trienoic acid 8-methyldeca-2,4,6-trienoic acid (5), and a known compound 4. The planar structures and configurations of 1-5 were determined by NMR, MS, and ECD calculations. Compound 2 featured a key aldehyde group and showed promising inhibitory activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.17 µg/mL. This is a rare report of aniline-induced fungal production of tetrahydronaphthone polyketides.