Rapid diagnosis of canine respiratory coronavirus, canine influenza virus, canine distemper virus and canine parainfluenza virus with a Taqman probe-based multiplex real-time PCR.

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) is a highly infectious diseases. Canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV), Canine influenza virus (CIV), Canine distemper virus (CDV), and Canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV) are crucial pathogens causing CIRDC. Due to the similar clinical symptoms induced by these viruses, differential diagnosis based solely on symptoms can be challenging. In this study, a multiplex real-time PCR assay was developed for detecting the four RNA viruses of CIRDC. Specific primers and probes were designed to target M gene of CRCoV, M gene of CIV, N gene of CDV and NP gene of CPiV. The detection limit is 10 copies/µL for CIV or CRCoV, while the detection limit of CDV or CPiV is 100 copies/µL. Intra-group and inter-group repeatability coefficient of variation (CV) were both less than 2 %. A total of 341 clinical canine samples were analyzed, and the results indicated that the method developed in our study owns a good consistency and better specificity compared with the conventional reverse transcription PCR. This study provides a new method to enable the simultaneous detection of all four pathogens in a single reaction, improving the efficiency for monitoring the prevalence of four viruses in CIRDC, which benefits the control of CIRDC.

Guidelines for the clinical application of the Xihuang pill for the prevention and treatment of breast hyperplasia diseases.

CONTEXT: The Xihuang pill (XHP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formulation that has been historically used in the prevention and treatment of proliferative breast diseases. However, there is a lack of guidelines that offer recommendations for its clinical use. OBJECTIVE: The task force from the Chinese Guangdong Pharmaceutical Association aims to develop evidence-based guidelines for XHP to prevent and treat proliferative breast diseases. METHODS: We searched six Chinese and English electronic databases, including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Scientific Journal Database, the Wanfang Medical Database, PubMed, and Embase, up to November 1, 2022. Publications (case reports, clinical observation, clinical trials, reviews) on using XHP to treat proliferative breast diseases were manually searched. The search terms were Xihuang pill, hyperplasia of the mammary gland, breast lump, and mastalgia. The writing team developed recommendations based on the best available evidence. RESULTS: Treatment should be customized based on syndrome identification. We recommend using XHP for the prevention and treatment of breast hyperplasia disease when a patient presents the following syndromes: concurrent blood stasis syndrome, concurrent phlegm-stasis syndrome, and concurrent liver fire syndrome. Safety indicators, including blood analysis and liver and kidney function monitoring, should be performed regularly during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Current clinical evidence suggests that XHP can be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other medications to prevent and manage breast hyperplasia diseases. More randomized controlled studies are warranted to establish high-quality evidence of its use.

A modified recombinant adenovirus vector containing dual rabies virus G expression cassettes confers robust and long-lasting humoral immunity in mice, cats, and dogs.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the incidence of rabies has increased in several countries, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas, due to inadequate surveillance and declining immunization coverage. Multiple vaccinations with inactivated rabies virus vaccines for pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis are considered inefficient, expensive and impractical in developing countries. Herein, three modified human recombinant adenoviruses type 5 designated Adv-RVG, Adv-E1-RVG, and Adv-RVDG, carrying rabies virus G (RVG) expression cassettes in various combinations within E1 or E3 genomic regions, were constructed to serve as rabies vaccine candidates. Adv-RVDG mediated greater RVG expression both in vitro and in vivo and induced a more robust and durable humoral immune response than the rabies vaccine strain SAD-L16, Adv-RVG, and Adv-E1-RVG by more effectively activating the dendritic cells (DCs) - follicular helper T (Tfh) cells - germinal centre (GC) / memory B cells (MBCs) - long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) axis with 100% survival after a lethal RABV challenge in mice during the 24-week study period. Similarly, dogs and cats immunized with Adv-RVDG showed stronger and longer-lasting antibody responses than those vaccinated with a commercial inactivated rabies vaccine and showed good tolerance to Adv-RVDG. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that simultaneous insertion of protective antigens into the E1 and E3 genomic regions of adenovirus vector can significantly enhance the immunogenicity of adenoviral-vectored vaccines, providing a theoretical and practical basis for the subsequent development of multivalent and multi-conjugated vaccines using recombinant adenovirus platform. Meanwhile, our data suggest Adv-RVDG is a safe, efficient, and economical vaccine for mass-coverage immunization.

Circular RNA vaccines with long-term lymph node-targeting delivery stability after lyophilization induce potent and persistent immune responses.

IMPORTANCE: messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are a key technology in combating existing and emerging infectious diseases. However, the inherent instability of mRNA and the nonspecificity of lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated (LNP) delivery systems result in the need for cold storage and a relatively short-duration immune response to mRNA vaccines. Herein, we develop a novel vaccine in the form of circRNAs encapsulated in LNPs, and the circular structure of the circRNAs enhances their stability. Lyophilization is considered the most effective method for the long-term preservation of RNA vaccines. However, this process may result in irreversible damage to the nanoparticles, particularly the potential disruption of targeting modifications on LNPs. During the selection of lymph node-targeting ligands, we found that LNPs modified with mannose maintained their physical properties almost unchanged after lyophilization. Additionally, the targeting specificity and immunogenicity remained unaffected. In contrast, even with the addition of cryoprotectants such as sucrose, the physical properties of LNPs were impaired, leading to an obvious decrease in immunogenicity. This may be attributed to the protective role of mannose on the surface of LNPs during lyophilization. Freshly prepared and lyophilized mLNP-circRNA vaccines elicited comparable immune responses in both the rabies virus model and the SARS-CoV-2 model. Our data demonstrated that mLNP-circRNA vaccines elicit robust immune responses while improving stability after lyophilization, with no compromise in tissue targeting specificity. Therefore, mannose-modified LNP-circRNA vaccines represent a promising vaccine design strategy.

A single immunization with core-shell structured lipopolyplex mRNA vaccine against rabies induces potent humoral immunity in mice and dogs.

The persistence and clinical consequences of rabies virus (RABV) infection have prompted global efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccines against rabies. mRNA vaccines represent a promising option against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, gaining particular interest since the outbreak of COVID-19. Herein, we report the development of a highly efficacious rabies mRNA vaccine composed of sequence-modified mRNA encoding RABV glycoprotein (RABV-G) packaged in core-shell structured lipopolyplex (LPP) nanoparticles, named LPP-mRNA-G. The bilayer structure of LPP improves protection and delivery of RABV-G mRNA and allows gradual release of mRNA molecules as the polymer degrades. The unique core-shell structured nanoparticle of LPP-mRNA-G facilitates vaccine uptake and demonstrates a desirable biodistribution pattern with low liver targeting upon intramuscular immunization. Single administration of low-dose LPP-mRNA-G in mice elicited potent humoral immune response and provided complete protection against intracerebral challenge with lethal RABV. Similarly, single immunization of low-dose LPP-mRNA-G induced high levels of virus-neutralizing antibody titers in dogs. Collectively, our data demonstrate the potential of LPP-mRNA-G as a promising next-generation rabies vaccine used in human and companion animals.

Substitution of S179P in the Lyssavirus Phosphoprotein Impairs Its Interferon Antagonistic Function.

Lyssaviruses cause rabies, which is an acute neurological disease responsible for more than 59,000 human deaths annually and has no available effective treatments. The phosphoprotein (P) of lyssaviruses (lyssavirus-P) plays multiple roles in virus replication and immune evasion. Lyssavirus-P has been identified as the major type I interferon (IFN-I) antagonist, while the precise site and precise molecular mechanism remain unclear. Herein, we found that substitution of site 179 of lyssavirus-P from serine (Ser) to proline (Pro) impairs its antagonism function of IFN-I by sequence alignment and site mutations. Subsequent studies demonstrated that lyssavirus-P containing S179 specifically interacted with I-kappa B kinase ε (IKKε). Specifically, lyssavirus-P containing S179 interacted simultaneously with the kinase domain (KD) and scaffold dimerization domain (SDD) of IKKε, competing with TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) and IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) for binding with IKKε, leading to the inhibition of IFN production. Furthermore, S179 was involved in the viral pathogenicity of the typical lyssavirus rabies virus in a mouse model. Interestingly, we found that S179 is conserved among most lyssavirus-P and functional for IFN antagonism. Collectively, we identified S179 of lyssavirus-P is essential for IFN-I inhibition, which provides deep insight into the immune evasion strategies of lyssaviruses. IMPORTANCE Interferon (IFN) and the IFN-induced cellular antiviral response constitute the first line of defense against viral invasion. Evading host innate immunity, especially IFN signaling, is the key step required for lyssaviruses to establish infection. In this study, S179 of lyssavirus phosphoprotein (lyssavirus-P) was identified as the key site for antagonizing IFN-I production. Mechanistically, lyssavirus-P containing S179 specifically targets the key kinase IKKε and disrupts its interaction with TRAF3 and IRF3. S179P mutation in the P protein of the typical lyssavirus rabies virus (RABV) attenuated its pathogenicity in a mouse model. Our findings provide deep insight into the immune evasion strategies of lyssaviruses, which is helpful for the development of effective antiviral therapeutics.

Experimental Study on Shear Wave Transmission in Fractured Media.

Unconventional oil and gas reservoirs have broad exploration and development prospects. Fracture parameters and effectiveness evaluation are two of the key tasks for the evaluation of these types of reservoirs. Array acoustic logging can be used for fracture evaluation to compensate for the deficiencies of the image logging fracture evaluation method. Therefore, to develop acoustic logging evaluation methods as well as nondestructive testing methods for fractures, experiments were conducted to study the shear wave transmission in fractured media. Experiment data demonstrate a good correlation between the shear wave attenuation coefficient and fracture width, and the shear wave attenuation coefficients rise logarithmically with the increase in the fracture width for all models with different porosities and distinct dip angles of fractures. The shear wave attenuation coefficient changes relatively faster with the fracture width when the fracture width is within 250 µm. In addition, the shear wave attenuation is affected by the core porosity and fracture dip angle. When the fracture width is constant, the shear wave attenuation caused by the 0° fracture is relatively larger and is obviously greater than that of the fractures at other angles, which is consistent with the existing experimental results. The results of this study can be used to guide further research on amplitude compensation methods for sonic signal transmission in fractured media and fracture evaluation methods.

Comprehensive Analysis of Protein Acetylation and Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Brains Infected with Rabies Virus.

Rabies, caused by rabies virus (RABV), is a widespread zoonosis that is nearly 100% fatal. Alteration of the metabolic environment affects viral replication and the immune response during viral infection. In this study, glucose uptake was increased in mouse brains at the late stage of infection with different RABV strains (lab-attenuated CVS strain and wild-type DRV strain). To illustrate the mechanism underlying glucose metabolism alteration, comprehensive analysis of lysine acetylation and target analysis of energy metabolites in mouse brains infected with CVS and DRV strains were performed. A total of 156 acetylated sites and 115 acetylated proteins were identified as significantly different during RABV infection. Compared to CVS- and mock-infected mice, the lysine acetylation levels of glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes were decreased, and enzyme activity was upregulated in DRV-infected mouse brains. Metabolomic analysis revealed high levels of oxaloacetate (OAA) in RABV-infected mouse brains. Specifically, the OAA level in CVS-infected mouse brains was higher than that in DRV-infected mouse brains, which contributed to the enhancement of the metabolic rate at the substrate level. Finally, we confirmed that OAA could reduce excessive neuroinflammation in CVS-infected mouse brains by inhibiting JNK and P38 phosphorylation. Taken together, this study provides fresh insight into the different strategies the host adapts to regulate glucose metabolism for energy requirements after different RABV strain infections and suggests that OAA treatment is a strategy to prevent neural damage during RABV infection. IMPORTANCE Both viral replication and the host immune response are highly energy dependent. It is important to understand how the rabies virus affects energy metabolism in the brain. Glucose is the direct energy source for cell metabolism. Previous studies have revealed that there is some association between acetylation and metabolic processes. In this study, comprehensive protein acetylation and glucose metabolism analysis were conducted to compare glucose metabolism in mouse brains infected with different RABV strains. Our study demonstrates that the regulation of enzyme activity by acetylation and OAA accumulation at the substrate level are two strategies for the host to respond to energy requirements after RABV infection. Our study also indicates the role OAA could play in neuronal protection by suppressing excessive neuroinflammation.

Ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits osteosarcoma progression by reducing circ_0003074 expression in a miR-516b-5p/KPNA4-dependent manner.

BACKGROUND: Previous data have suggested that ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), isolated from the roots of Panax ginseng, plays a repressing role in multiple cancers, including osteosarcoma (OS). However, there is no any literature available about the role of circular RNA (circRNA) in Rg3-mediated OS development. The study aimed to explore the function of circ_0003074 in the anti-cancer effects of Rg3 on OS. METHODS: RNA expression of circ_0003074, miR-516b-5p and karyopherin subunit alpha 4 (KPNA4) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Protein expression was evaluated by Western blotting or immunohistochemistry assay. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were investigated by cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry analysis, wound-healing and transwell invasion assays, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter and/or RNA immunoprecipitation assay was performed to confirm the interplay between miR-516b-5p and circ_0003074 or KPNA4. Xenograft mouse model assay was conducted to reveal the effect of Rg3 treatment on tumor formation. RESULTS: Circ_0003074 and KPNA4 expression was significantly upregulated, while miR-516b-5p was downregulated in OS tissues and cells compared with controls. Rg3 treatment dramatically decreased circ_0003074 expression in OS cells. Rg3 treatment led to decreased cell proliferation, migration and invasion but increased cell apoptosis, which was attenuated after circ_0003074 overexpression. Besides, miR-516b-5p was a target miRNA of circ_0003074 and partially restored circ_0003074-mediated action under Rg3 treatment. Decreasing miR-516b-5p expression also promoted Rg3-treated OS cell malignancy through KPNA4, which was identified as a target mRNA of miR-516b-5p. Besides, circ_0003074 induced KPNA4 production owing to the decrease of miR-516b-5p expression. Furthermore, Rg3 treatment inhibited tumor formation by regulating circ_0003074 in vivo. CONCLUSION: Rg3 inhibited OS progression through circ_0003074/miR-516b-5p/KPNA4 axis, showing the potential of Rg3 as a therapeutic agent for OS.

Toll-Like Receptor 4 Regulates Rabies Virus-Induced Humoral Immunity through Recruitment of Conventional Type 2 Dendritic Cells to Lymph Organs.

Rabies, caused by rabies virus (RABV), is fatal to both humans and animals around the world. Effective clinical therapy for rabies has not been achieved, and vaccination is the most effective means of preventing and controlling rabies. Although different vaccines, such as live attenuated and inactivated vaccines, can induce different immune responses, different expressions of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) also cause diverse immune responses. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a pivotal PRR that induces cytokine production and bridges innate and adaptive immunity. Importantly, TLR4 recognizes various virus-derived pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and virus-induced damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), usually leading to the activation of immune cells. However, the role of TLR4 in the humoral immune response induced by RABV has not yet been revealed. Based on TLR4-deficient (TLR4-/-) and wild-type (WT) mouse models, we report that TLR4-dependent recruitment of the conventional type 2 dendritic cells (CD8α- CD11b+ cDC2) into secondary lymph organs (SLOs) is critical for antigen presentation. cDC2-initiated differentiation of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells promotes the proliferation of germinal center (GC) B cells, the formation of GCs, and the production of plasma cells (PCs), all of which contribute to the production of RABV-specific IgG and virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAs). Collectively, our work demonstrates that TLR4 is necessary for the recruitment of cDC2 and for the induction of RABV-induced humoral immunity, which is regulated by the cDC2-Tfh-GC B axis. IMPORTANCE Vaccination is the most efficient method to prevent rabies. TLR4, a well-known immune sensor, plays a critical role in initiating innate immune response. Here, we found that TLR4-deficient (TLR4-/-) mice suppressed the induction of humoral immune response after immunization with rabies virus (RABV), including reduced production of VNAs and RABV-specific IgG compared to that occurred in wild-type (WT) mice. As a consequence, TLR4-/- mice exhibited higher mortality than that of WT mice after challenge with virulent RABV. Importantly, further investigation found that TLR4 signaling promoted the recruitment of cDC2 (CD8α+ CD11b-), a subset of cDCs known to induce CD4+ T-cell immunity through their MHC-II presentation machinery. Our results imply that TLR4 is indispensable for an efficient humoral response to rabies vaccine, which provides new insight into the development of novel rabies vaccines.

Colloidal Manganese Salt Improves the Efficacy of Rabies Vaccines in Mice, Cats, and Dogs.

Rabies, caused by rabies virus (RABV), remains a serious threat to public health in most countries worldwide. At present, the administration of rabies vaccines has been the most effective strategy to control rabies. Herein, we evaluate the effect of colloidal manganese salt (Mn jelly [MnJ]) as an adjuvant of rabies vaccine in mice, cats, and dogs. The results showed that MnJ promoted type I interferon (IFN-I) and cytokine production in vitro and the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and in vivo. Besides, MnJ serving as an adjuvant for rabies vaccines could significantly facilitate the generation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, germinal center (GC) B cells, plasma cells (PCs), and RABV-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), consequently improve the immunogenicity of rabies vaccines, and provide better protection against virulent RABV challenge. Similarly, MnJ enhanced the humoral immune response in cats and dogs as well. Collectively, our results suggest that MnJ can facilitate the maturation of DCs during rabies vaccination, which can be a promising adjuvant candidate for rabies vaccines. IMPORTANCE Extending the humoral immune response by using adjuvants is an important strategy for vaccine development. In this study, a novel adjuvant, MnJ, supplemented in rabies vaccines was evaluated in mice, cats, and dogs. Our results in the mouse model revealed that MnJ increased the numbers of mature DCs, Tfh cells, GC B cells, PCs, and RABV-specific ASCs, resulting in enhanced immunogenicity and protection rate of rabies vaccines. We further found that MnJ had the same stimulative effect in cats and dogs. Our study provides the first evidence that MnJ serving as a novel adjuvant of rabies vaccines can boost the immune response in both a mouse and pet model.

Virus-Like Vesicles Based on Semliki Forest Virus-Containing Rabies Virus Glycoprotein Make a Safe and Efficacious Rabies Vaccine Candidate in a Mouse Model.

Rabies is a fatal zoonosis that causes encephalitis in mammals, and vaccination is the most effective method to control and eliminate rabies. Virus-like vesicles (VLVs), which are characterized as infectious, self-propagating membrane-enveloped particles composed of only Semliki Forest virus (SFV) replicase and vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G), have been proven safe and efficient as vaccine candidates. However, previous studies showed that VLVs containing rabies virus glycoprotein (RABV-G) grew at relatively low titers in cells, impeding their potential use as a rabies vaccine. In this study, we constructed novel VLVs by transfection of a mutant SFV RNA replicon encoding RABV-G. We found that these VLVs could self-propagate efficiently in cell culture and could evolve to high titers (approximately 108 focus-forming units [FFU]/ml) by extensive passaging 25 times in BHK-21 cells. Furthermore, we found that the evolved amino acid changes in SFV nonstructural protein 1 (nsP1) at positions 470 and 482 was critical for this high-titer phenotype. Remarkably, VLVs could induce robust type I interferon (IFN) expression in BV2 cells and were highly sensitive to IFN-α. We found that direct inoculation of VLVs into the mouse brain caused reduced body weight loss, mortality, and neuroinflammation compared with the RABV vaccine strain. Finally, it could induce increased generation of germinal center (GC) B cells, plasma cells (PCs), and virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAs), as well as provide protection against virulent RABV challenge in immunized mice. This study demonstrated that VLVs containing RABV-G could proliferate in cells and were highly evolvable, revealing the feasibility of developing an economic, safe, and efficacious rabies vaccine. IMPORTANCE VLVs have been shown to represent a more versatile and superior vaccine platform. In previous studies, VLVs containing the Semliki Forest virus replicase (SFV nsP1 to nsP4) and rabies virus glycoprotein (RABV-G) grew to relatively low titers in cells. In our study, we not only succeeded in generating VLVs that proliferate in cells and stably express RABV-G, but the VLVs that evolved grew to higher titers, reaching 108 FFU/ml. We also found that nucleic acid changes at positions 470 and 482 in nsP1 were vital for this high-titer phenotype. Moreover, the VLVs that evolved in our studies were highly attenuated in mice, induced potent immunity, and protected mice from lethal RABV infection. Collectively, our study showed that high titers of VLVs containing RABV-G were achieved, demonstrating that these VLVs could be an economical, safe, and efficacious rabies vaccine candidate.

A novel antiviral lncRNA, EDAL, shields a T309 O-GlcNAcylation site to promote EZH2 lysosomal degradation.

BACKGROUND: The central nervous system (CNS) is vulnerable to viral infection, yet few host factors in the CNS are known to defend against invasion by neurotropic viruses. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been revealed to play critical roles in a wide variety of biological processes and are highly abundant in the mammalian brain, but their roles in defending against invasion of pathogens into the CNS remain unclear. RESULTS: We report here that multiple neurotropic viruses, including rabies virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, Semliki Forest virus, and herpes simplex virus 1, elicit the neuronal expression of a host-encoded lncRNA EDAL. EDAL inhibits the replication of these neurotropic viruses in neuronal cells and rabies virus infection in mouse brains. EDAL binds to the conserved histone methyltransferase enhancer of zest homolog 2 (EZH2) and specifically causes EZH2 degradation via lysosomes, reducing the cellular H3K27me3 level. The antiviral function of EDAL resides in a 56-nt antiviral substructure through which its 18-nt helix-loop intimately contacts multiple EZH2 sites surrounding T309, a known O-GlcNAcylation site. EDAL positively regulates the transcription of Pcp4l1 encoding a 10-kDa peptide, which inhibits the replication of multiple neurotropic viruses. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that a neuronal lncRNA can exert an effective antiviral function via blocking a specific O-GlcNAcylation that determines EZH2 lysosomal degradation, rather than the traditional interferon-dependent pathway.

A novel rabies vaccine based on infectious propagating particles derived from hybrid VEEV-Rabies replicon.

BACKGROUND: Live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) can mimic natural infection and have advantages to stimulate a robust and sustained immune response as well as to confer long-term protection. However, safety concerns is one of the major obstacles for LAVs development. In an effort to achieve the optimal balance between immunogenicity and safety, researchers currently have taken different strategies for the development of LAVs. METHODS: We constructed a novel infectious self-propagating hybrid replicon particle (PRP), VEEV-RABV-G, through replacing the entire structural proteins of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) with the glycoprotein of rabies virus (RABV-G) as the single structural protein. We evaluated the potential of VEEV-RABV-G as a safe live attenuated vaccine in mice model. FINDINGS: We found that VEEV-RABV-G could self-propagate efficiently in cell culture and induce a robust humoral immunity and provide protection against virulent RABV challenge in immunized mice. Remarkably, VEEV-RABV-G is highly attenuated in both adult and sucking mice, causing much weaker inflammatory and apoptotic effects in the brains of infected adult mice and significantly lower weight loss and morbidity compared with the commonly used RABV-derived LAVs. INTERPRETATION: This study reveals the feasibility of developing novel rabies vaccines based on the self-replicating PRPs. FUNDING: This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0500400).

All Polymer Dielectric Films for Achieving High Energy Density Film Capacitors by Blending Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride-Trifluoroethylene-Chlorofluoroethylene) with Aromatic Polythiourea.

Construct dielectric films with high energy density and efficiency are the key factor to fabricate high-performance dielectric film capacitors. In this paper, an all organic composite film was constructed based on high dielectric polymer and linear dielectric polymer. After the optimized polycondensation reaction of a linear dielectric polymer aromatic polythiourea (ArPTU), the proper molecular weight ArPTU was obtained, which was introduced into poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE-CFE) terpolymer for a composite dielectrics. The results indicate that the addition of ArPTU molecules reduces the dielectric loss and improves the breakdown field strength of the PVDF-TrFE-CFE effectively. For the PVDF-TrFE-CFE/ArPTU (90/10) composite film, the maximum energy density about 22.06 J/cm3 at 407.57 MV/m was achieved, and high discharge efficiency about 72% was presented. This composite material can be casted on flexible substrate easily, and PVDF-TrFE-CFE/ArPTU organic composite films having high energy density, high breakdown field strength, low dielectric loss, and higher discharge efficiency are obtained. This is an unreported exploration about high energy density organic dielectric films based on PVDF-TrFE-CFE matrix and linear polymer dielectrics, and the findings of this research can provide a simple and scalable method for producing flexible high energy density materials for energy storage devices.

Monophosphoryl-Lipid A (MPLA) is an Efficacious Adjuvant for Inactivated Rabies Vaccines.

Rabies, as one of the most threatening zoonoses in the world, causes a fatal central nervous system (CNS) disease. So far, vaccination with rabies vaccines has been the most effective measure to prevent and control this disease. At present, inactivated rabies vaccines are widely used in humans and domestic animals. However, humoral immune responses induced by inactivated rabies vaccines are relatively low and multiple shots are required to achieve protective immunity. Supplementation with an adjuvant is a practical way to improve the immunogenicity of inactivated rabies vaccines. In this study, we found that monophosphoryl-lipid A (MPLA), a well-known TLR4 agonist, could significantly promote the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) through a TLR4-dependent pathway in vitro and the maturation of conventional DCs (cDCs) in vivo. We also found that MPLA, serving as an adjuvant for inactivated rabies vaccines, could significantly facilitate the generation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, germinal center (GC) B cells, and plasma cells (PCs), consequently enhancing the production of RABV-specific total-IgG, IgG2a, IgG2b, and the virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAs). Furthermore, MPLA could increase the survival ratio of mice challenged with virulent RABV. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that MPLA serving as an adjuvant enhances the intensity of humoral immune responses by activating the cDC-Tfh-GC B axis. Our findings will contribute to the improvement of the efficiency of traditional rabies vaccines.

Genome-wide sequencing of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) provides insights into molecular basis of its polyphenol-rich characteristics.

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.), an important subtropical fruit in the family Sapindaceae, is grown in more than 10 countries. Longan is an edible drupe fruit and a source of traditional medicine with polyphenol-rich traits. Tree size, alternate bearing, and witches' broom disease still pose serious problems. To gain insights into the genomic basis of longan traits, a draft genome sequence was assembled. The draft genome (about 471.88 Mb) of a Chinese longan cultivar, "Honghezi," was estimated to contain 31 007 genes and 261.88 Mb of repetitive sequences. No recent whole-genome-wide duplication event was detected in the genome. Whole-genome resequencing and analysis of 13 cultivated D. longan accessions revealed the extent of genetic diversity. Comparative transcriptome studies combined with genome-wide analysis revealed polyphenol-rich and pathogen resistance characteristics. Genes involved in secondary metabolism, especially those from significantly expanded (DHS, SDH, F3΄H, ANR, and UFGT) and contracted (PAL, CHS, and F3΄5΄H) gene families with tissue-specific expression, may be important contributors to the high accumulation levels of polyphenolic compounds observed in longan fruit. The high number of genes encoding nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) and leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase proteins, as well as the recent expansion and contraction of the NBS-LRR family, suggested a genomic basis for resistance to insects, fungus, and bacteria in this fruit tree. These data provide insights into the evolution and diversity of the longan genome. The comparative genomic and transcriptome analyses provided information about longan-specific traits, particularly genes involved in its polyphenol-rich and pathogen resistance characteristics.

Genome sequencing of Sporisorium scitamineum provides insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of sugarcane smut.

BACKGROUND: Sugarcane smut can cause losses in cane yield and sugar content that range from 30% to total crop failure. Losses tend to increase with the passage of years. Sporisorium scitamineum is the fungus that causes sugarcane smut. This fungus has the potential to infect all sugarcane species unless a species is resistant to biotrophic fungal pathogens. However, it remains unclear how the fungus breaks through the cell walls of sugarcane and causes the formation of black or gray whip-like structures on the sugarcane plants. RESULTS: Here, we report the first high-quality genome sequence of S. scitamineum assembled de novo with a contig N50 of 41 kb, a scaffold N50 of 884 kb and genome size 19.8 Mb, containing an estimated 6,636 genes. This phytopathogen can utilize a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources. A reduced set of genes encoding plant cell wall hydrolytic enzymes leads to its biotrophic lifestyle, in which damage to the host should be minimized. As a bipolar mating fungus, a and b loci are linked and the mating-type locus segregates as a single locus. The S. scitamineum genome has only 6 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) grouped into five classes, which are responsible for transducing extracellular signals into intracellular responses, however, the genome is without any PTH11-like GPCR. There are 192 virulence associated genes in the genome of S. scitamineum, among which 31 expressed in all the stages, which mainly encode for energy metabolism and redox of short-chain compound related enzymes. Sixty-eight candidates for secreted effector proteins (CSEPs) were found in the genome of S. scitamineum, and 32 of them expressed in the different stages of sugarcane infection, which are probably involved in infection and/or triggering defense responses. There are two non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene clusters that are involved in the generation of ferrichrome and ferrichrome A, while the terpenes gene cluster is composed of three unknown function genes and seven biosynthesis related genes. CONCLUSIONS: As a destructive pathogen to sugar industry, the S. scitamineum genome will facilitate future research on the genomic basis and the pathogenic mechanisms of sugarcane smut.

[Comparison of ultrasound-guided transrectal and transperineal prostate biopsies in clinical application].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the positive rates and complications of ultrasound-guided transrectal and transperineal prostate biopsies. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 156 cases of ultrasound-guided transrectal (n = 97) and transperineal (n = 59) prostate biopsy, and compared the positive rate and post-biopsy complications between the two approaches. RESULTS: The positive rates in the transrectal and transperineal groups were 48.4% and 44.1%, respectively, with no significant difference between the two approaches according to different PSA levels (P >0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the transrectal and transperineal groups in the post-biopsy incidence rates of such complications as hematuria (54.6% vs 42.4%, P >0.05), lower urinary tract symptoms (17.5% vs 22.0%, P >0.05), dysuria (9.3% vs 6.8%, P >0.05), and acute urinary retention (7.2% vs 6.8%, P >0.05). However, the incidence rates of post-biopsy infection and rectal bleeding were remarkably higher (15.5% vs 3.4%, P<0.05 and 50.5% vs 3.4%, P >0.01) while that of perineal swelling markedly lower in the former than in the latter (3.1% vs 13.6%, P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Transrectal and transperineal biopsies are both effective for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Since their complications vary, the choice between the two methods depends on the specific condition of the patient.