Towards Understanding and Identification of Human Viral Co-Infections.

Viral co-infections, in which a host is infected with multiple viruses simultaneously, are common in the human population. Human viral co-infections can lead to complex interactions between the viruses and the host immune system, affecting the clinical outcome and posing challenges for treatment. Understanding the types, mechanisms, impacts, and identification methods of human viral co-infections is crucial for the prevention and control of viral diseases. In this review, we first introduce the significance of studying human viral co-infections and summarize the current research progress and gaps in this field. We then classify human viral co-infections into four types based on the pathogenic properties and species of the viruses involved. Next, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of viral co-infections, focusing on virus-virus interactions, host immune responses, and clinical manifestations. We also summarize the experimental and computational methods for the identification of viral co-infections, emphasizing the latest advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics approaches. Finally, we highlight the challenges and future directions in human viral co-infection research, aiming to provide new insights and strategies for the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of viral diseases. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and future perspectives on human viral co-infections and underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address this complex and important topic.

DCTPep, the data of cancer therapy peptides.

With the discovery of the therapeutic activity of peptides, they have emerged as a promising class of anti-cancer agents due to their specific targeting, low toxicity, and potential for high selectivity. In particular, as peptide-drug conjugates enter clinical, the coupling of targeted peptides with traditional chemotherapy drugs or cytotoxic agents will become a new direction in cancer treatment. To facilitate the drug development of cancer therapy peptides, we have constructed DCTPep, a novel, open, and comprehensive database for cancer therapy peptides. In addition to traditional anticancer peptides (ACPs), the peptide library also includes peptides related to cancer therapy. These data were collected manually from published research articles, patents, and other protein or peptide databases. Data on drug library include clinically investigated and/or approved peptide drugs related to cancer therapy, which mainly come from the portal websites of drug regulatory authorities and organisations in different countries and regions. DCTPep has a total of 6214 entries, we believe that DCTPep will contribute to the design and screening of future cancer therapy peptides.

Development and Validation of an 18-Gene Urine Test for High-Grade Prostate Cancer.

Importance: Benefits of prostate cancer (PCa) screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) alone are largely offset by excess negative biopsies and overdetection of indolent cancers resulting from the poor specificity of PSA for high-grade PCa (ie, grade group [GG] 2 or greater). Objective: To develop a multiplex urinary panel for high-grade PCa and validate its external performance relative to current guideline-endorsed biomarkers. Design, Setting, and Participants: RNA sequencing analysis of 58 724 genes identified 54 markers of PCa, including 17 markers uniquely overexpressed by high-grade cancers. Gene expression and clinical factors were modeled in a new urinary test for high-grade PCa (MyProstateScore 2.0 [MPS2]). Optimal models were developed in parallel without prostate volume (MPS2) and with prostate volume (MPS2+). The locked models underwent blinded external validation in a prospective National Cancer Institute trial cohort. Data were collected from January 2008 to December 2020, and data were analyzed from November 2022 to November 2023. Exposure: Protocolized blood and urine collection and transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic prostate biopsy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Multiple biomarker tests were assessed in the validation cohort, including serum PSA alone, the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial risk calculator, and the Prostate Health Index (PHI) as well as derived multiplex 2-gene and 3-gene models, the original 2-gene MPS test, and the 18-gene MPS2 models. Under a testing approach with 95% sensitivity for PCa of GG 2 or greater, measures of diagnostic accuracy and clinical consequences of testing were calculated. Cancers of GG 3 or greater were assessed secondarily. Results: Of 761 men included in the development cohort, the median (IQR) age was 63 (58-68) years, and the median (IQR) PSA level was 5.6 (4.6-7.2) ng/mL; of 743 men included in the validation cohort, the median (IQR) age was 62 (57-68) years, and the median (IQR) PSA level was 5.6 (4.1-8.0) ng/mL. In the validation cohort, 151 (20.3%) had high-grade PCa on biopsy. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values were 0.60 using PSA alone, 0.66 using the risk calculator, 0.77 using PHI, 0.76 using the derived multiplex 2-gene model, 0.72 using the derived multiplex 3-gene model, and 0.74 using the original MPS model compared with 0.81 using the MPS2 model and 0.82 using the MPS2+ model. At 95% sensitivity, the MPS2 model would have reduced unnecessary biopsies performed in the initial biopsy population (range for other tests, 15% to 30%; range for MPS2, 35% to 42%) and repeat biopsy population (range for other tests, 9% to 21%; range for MPS2, 46% to 51%). Across pertinent subgroups, the MPS2 models had negative predictive values of 95% to 99% for cancers of GG 2 or greater and of 99% for cancers of GG 3 or greater. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, a new 18-gene PCa test had higher diagnostic accuracy for high-grade PCa relative to existing biomarker tests. Clinically, use of this test would have meaningfully reduced unnecessary biopsies performed while maintaining highly sensitive detection of high-grade cancers. These data support use of this new PCa biomarker test in patients with elevated PSA levels to reduce the potential harms of PCa screening while preserving its long-term benefits.

High-throughput sequencing-based analysis of the composition and diversity of the endophyte community in roots of Stellera chamaejasme.

Stellera chamaejasme (S. chamaejasme) is an important medicinal plant with heat-clearing, detoxifying, swelling and anti-inflammatory effects. At the same time, it is also one of the iconic plants of natural grassland degradation in northwest China, playing a key role in the invasion process. Plant endophytes live in healthy plant tissues and can synthesize substances needed for plant growth, induce disease resistance in host plants, and enhance plant resistance to environmental stress. Therefore, studying the root endophytes of S. chamaejasme is of great significance for mining beneficial microbial resources and biological prevention and control of S. chamaejasme. This study used Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the composition and diversity of endophytes in the roots of S. chamaejasme in different alpine grasslands (BGC, NMC and XGYZ) in Tibet. Research results show that the main phylum of endophytic fungi in the roots of S. chamaejasme in different regions is Ascomycota, and the main phyla of endophytic bacteria are Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes (Bacteroidota). Overall, the endophyte diversity of the NMC samples was significantly higher than that of the other two sample sites. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) results showed significant differences in the composition of endophytic bacterial and fungal communities among BGC, NMC and XGYZ samples. Co-occurrence network analysis of endophytes showed that there were positive correlations between fungi and some negative correlations between bacteria, and the co-occurrence network of bacteria was more complex than that of fungi. In short, this study provides a vital reference for further exploring and utilizing the endophyte resources of S. chamaejasme and an in-depth understanding of the ecological functions of S. chamaejasme endophytes.

Review on mechanism and remediation strategies of dissolved oxygen abnormal in surface water.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is an important index to evaluate the quality of surface water environments. In recent years, anomalies in DO level have emerged as a major contributor to the decline of surface water quality. These anomalies have triggered several ecological and environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, the degradation of water environmental quality, intensification of eutrophication, and an exacerbation of the greenhouse effect. Understanding the mechanisms underlying DO anomalies and devising targeted remediation strategies holds paramount importance in the scientific pursuit of water pollution control and aquatic ecosystem restoration. We explored and summarized the fluctuations and abnormal mechanism of DO concentration in surface water, focusing on factors like oxygen solubility, reoxygenation rates, and oxygen consumption by water bodies. We compiled a range of approaches for addressing DO anomalies, including pollution source management, artificial oxygenation, and the reconfiguration of aquatic ecosystems. Ultimately, we underscored the emerging significance of monitoring and regulating DO level in surface waters. Future research in this realm should encompass the establishment of distinct quality standards for surface water, the development of a comprehensive real-time spatial monitoring system for DO levels across watersheds, and the formulation of standardized procedures and technical norms.

Pyrene-Based Deep-Blue Fluorophores with Narrow-Band Emission.

High-efficiency narrow-band luminescent materials have attracted intense interest, resulting in their great colorimetric purity. This has led to a variety of high-tech applications in high-definition displays, spectral analysis, and biomedicine. In this study, a rigid pyrene core was employed as the molecular backbone, and four narrow-band pyrene-based blue emitters were synthesized using various synthetic methods (such as Lewis-acid catalyzed cyclization domino reactions, Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions like Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira). Due to the steric effect of the hydroxy group at the 2-position, the target compounds exhibit deep blue emission (<429 nm, CIEy < 0.08) with full width at half-maximum (FWHM) less than 33 nm both in solution and when solidified. The experimental and theoretical results indicated that the substituents at the 1- and 3-positions afford a large dihedral angle with the pyrene core, and the molecular motion is almost fixed by multiple intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in the crystallized state, leading to a suppression of the vibrational relaxation of the molecular structure. Moreover, we observed that the suppression of the vibrational relaxation in the molecular structures and the construction of rigid conjugated structures can help develop narrow-band organic light-emitting materials.

Targeting the mSWI/SNF Complex in POU2F-POU2AF Transcription Factor-Driven Malignancies.

The POU2F3-POU2AF2/3 (OCA-T1/2) transcription factor complex is the master regulator of the tuft cell lineage and tuft cell-like small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Here, we found that the POU2F3 molecular subtype of SCLC (SCLC-P) exhibits an exquisite dependence on the activity of the mammalian switch/sucrose non-fermentable (mSWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex. SCLC-P cell lines were sensitive to nanomolar levels of a mSWI/SNF ATPase proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) degrader when compared to other molecular subtypes of SCLC. POU2F3 and its cofactors were found to interact with components of the mSWI/SNF complex. The POU2F3 transcription factor complex was evicted from chromatin upon mSWI/SNF ATPase degradation, leading to attenuation of downstream oncogenic signaling in SCLC-P cells. A novel, orally bioavailable mSWI/SNF ATPase PROTAC degrader, AU-24118, demonstrated preferential efficacy in the SCLC-P relative to the SCLC-A subtype and significantly decreased tumor growth in preclinical models. AU-24118 did not alter normal tuft cell numbers in lung or colon, nor did it exhibit toxicity in mice. B cell malignancies which displayed a dependency on the POU2F1/2 cofactor, POU2AF1 (OCA-B), were also remarkably sensitive to mSWI/SNF ATPase degradation. Mechanistically, mSWI/SNF ATPase degrader treatment in multiple myeloma cells compacted chromatin, dislodged POU2AF1 and IRF4, and decreased IRF4 signaling. In a POU2AF1-dependent, disseminated murine model of multiple myeloma, AU-24118 enhanced survival compared to pomalidomide, an approved treatment for multiple myeloma. Taken together, our studies suggest that POU2F-POU2AF-driven malignancies have an intrinsic dependence on the mSWI/SNF complex, representing a therapeutic vulnerability.

Influence of Steric Effects on the Emission Behavior of Pyrene-Based Blue Luminogens.

Pyrene-based derivatives have been widely deployed in organic luminescent materials because of their bright fluorescence, high charge carrier mobility, and facile modification. Nevertheless, the fluorescence output of conventional pyrenes is prone to quenching upon aggregation due to extensive intermolecular π-π stacking interactions. To address this issue, a set of new Y-shaped pyrene-containing luminogens are synthesized from a new bromopyrene chemical precursor, 2-hydroxyl-7-tert-butyl-1,3-bromopyrene, where the bromo and hydroxyl groups at the pyrene core can be readily modified to obtain the target products and provide great flexibility in tuning the photophysical performances. When the hydroxy group at the 2-position of pyrene was replaced by a benzyl group, the steric hindrance of the benzyl group not only efficiently inhibits the detrimental intermolecular π-π stacking interactions but also rigidifies the molecular conformation, resulting in a narrow-band blue emission. Moreover, the TPE-containing compounds 2c and 3c possessed characteristic aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties with fluorescence quantum yields of up to 66% and 38% in the solid state, respectively. Thus, this article has methodically investigated the factors influencing the optical behavior, such as intermolecular interactions, and the steric effects of the substituent group, thereby opening up the potential to develop narrow-band pyrene-based blue emitters for OLED device applications.

ε-Poly-l-lysine-hydroxyphenyl propionic acid/IL-4 composite hydrogels with inflammation regulation and antibacterial activity for improving integration stability of soft tissues and orthopedic implants.

The failure of orthopedic implants is usually caused by inflammation, poor tissue integration, and infection, which can lead to pain, limited mobility, dysfunction of patients. This may require additional surgical interventions, such as removal, replacement, or repair of implants, as well as related treatment measures such as antibiotic therapy, physical therapy. Here, an injectable hydrogel carrier was developed for the steady release of inflammatory regulators to reduce the surface tissue inflammatory response of orthopedic implants and induce soft tissue regeneration, ultimately achieving the promotion of implants stability. The hydrogels carrier was prepared by hydroxyphenyl propionic acid-modified ε-Poly-l-lysine (EPA), hydrogen peroxide and horseradish peroxidase, which showed antibacterial bioactive and stable factor release ability. Due to the introduction of IL-4, EPA@IL-4 hydrogels showed good inflammatory regulation. EPA@IL-4 hydrogels regulated the differentiation of macrophages into M2 in inflammatory environment in vitro, and promoted endothelial cells to show a more obvious trend of tube formation. The composite hydrogels reduced the inflammation on the surface of the implants in vivo, induced local endothelial cell angiogenesis, and had more collagen deposition and new granulation tissue. Therefore, EPA hydrogels based on IL-4 release are promising candidates for promoting of implants surface anti-inflammatory, soft tissue regeneration, and anti-infection.

C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 5 (CCL5): A Potential Biomarker and Immunotherapy Target for Osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone tissue, which has an insidious onset and is difficult to detect early, and few early diagnostic markers with high specificity and sensitivity. Therefore, this study aims to identify potential biomarkers that can help diagnose OS in its early stages and improve the prognosis of patients. METHODS: The data sets of GSE12789, GSE28424, GSE33382 and GSE36001 were combined and normalized to identify Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs). The data were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) and Disease Ontology (DO). The hub gene was selected based on the common DEG that was obtained by applying two regression methods: the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Support vVector Machine (SVM). Then the diagnostic value of the hub gene was evaluated in the GSE42572 data set. Finally, the correlation between immunocyte infiltration and key genes was analyzed by CIBERSORT. RESULTS: The regression analysis results of LASSO and SVM are the following three DEGs: FK501 binding protein 51 (FKBP5), C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), complement component 1 Q subcomponent B chain (C1QB). We evaluated the diagnostic performance of three biomarkers (FKBP5, CCL5 and C1QB) for osteosarcoma using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. In the training group, the area under the curve (AUC) of FKBP5, CCL5 and C1QB was 0.907, 0.874 and 0.676, respectively. In the validation group, the AUC of FKBP5, CCL5 and C1QB was 0.618, 0.932 and 0.895, respectively. It is noteworthy that these genes were more expressed in tumor tissues than in normal tissues by various immune cell types, such as plasma cells, CD8+ T cells, T regulatory cells (Tregs), activated NK cells, activated dendritic cells and activated mast cells. These immune cell types are also associated with the expression levels of the three diagnostic genes that we identified. CONCLUSION: We found that CCL5 can be considered an early diagnostic gene of osteosarcoma, and CCL5 interacts with immune cells to influence tumor occurrence and development. These findings have important implications for the early detection of osteosarcoma and the identification of novel therapeutic targets.

Association between polycystic ovary syndrome and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There have been many studies assessing whether abnormal metabolic and hormone levels among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are associated with a greater risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, previous studies repported no consistent outcomes. To provide a comprehensive evaluation regarding the role of PCOS in the risk of NAFLD, we updated the published literature and conducted this systemic review and meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electronic databases (Web of Science and PubMed) were searched for literature up to October 2022. We used STATA 12.0 software to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), to evaluate the association between PCOS and risk of NAFLD. RESULTS: The study indicated that PCOS was significantly related to an elevated risk of NAFLD (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 2.38 to 3.62, I2 = 83.7%, p < 0.001). Meta-regression analysis showed that age and body mass index (BMI) were not responsible for heterogeneity across the studies (age: p = 0.096; BMI: p = 0.418). Sensitivity analysis indicated no alteration in the direction of effect when any study was eliminated. Begg's test, Egger's test, Begg's test, and funnel plot indicated a significant risk of publication bias (Egger's test: p = 0.028; Begg's test: p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis reported that PCOS was associated with an elevated risk of NAFLD. Early proper detection of NAFLD for PCOS women is essential. All patients with PCOS should undergo appropriate diagnostics for early detection of fatty liver and fibrosis.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Imatinib and N-Desmethyl Imatinib in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Using LC-MS/MS in a Cohort Study.

Imatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and first-line therapy for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). There is a positive correlation between serum imatinib concentrations and treatment response. However, the specific relationship between the blood concentration of imatinib and its influencing factors remains unclear. This study collected basic information from 102 patients using imatinib as first-line treatment for CML. Further, we analyzed the individual differences in imatinib concentration and explored its influencing factors. Through intra-day and inter-day precision studies, we found that the precision for the imatinib assay methodology was within ±13% and that the recovery rate was above 85%. There is notable individual variation in the blood concentration of imatinib; the recommended treatment concentration is 860-1500 ng/mL, with only 41.40% of patients achieving this concentration. Also, there was a negative correlation between age and imatinib trough concentration (Ctrough ), as is observed between age and N-desmethyl imatinib. Moreover, compared with the adolescent group, the serum imatinib Ctrough for groups aged 17-47 and 48-68 years was significantly reduced. Further analysis shows that imatinib Ctrough values reaching therapeutic concentrations (59%) increased dramatically for patients with CML aged 17-47 years. Moreover, groups dosed with 400 mg/day resulted in therapeutic imatinib concentrations for 68% of patients with CML, which was the best performance. The established method was validated, with acceptable accuracy, precision, linearity, and stability, as required, and then successfully applied to the therapeutic drug monitoring of imatinib. Age, dose, and metabolites can influence the imatinib concentration and its therapeutic effect in patients with CML.

[Mechanism of melatonin-mediated antihyperglycemic effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation （taVNS） on plasma melatonin （MLT） content and insulin receptor expression in the liver, the skeletal muscles, and the pancreas of Zucker diabetic fatty （ZDF） rats, so as to explore the hypoglycemic mechanism of taVNS. METHODS: Thirty male ZDF rats were randomly divided into model group, taVNS group and sham-taVNS group, with 10 rats in each group； besides, 10 male Zucker lean rats of the same strain were collected for the blank control group. ZDF rats were fed with high-fat diet to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） rat model. In the taVNS group, HANS-100A electroacupuncture instrument was used to stimulate the cavum conchae of both sides. The stimulation sites of rats in the sham-taVNS were the same as the taVNS group, but without electricity delivered. The above interventions were performed 30 min each time, once daily, lasting for 6 weeks. Fasting blood glucose （FBG） was measured weekly in each group, the plasma metatonin （MLT） content was detected by ELISA, and the insulin receptor expression level in the liver, the skeletal muscle and the pancreas was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the level of FBG of rats were increased （P<0.01）, the plasma MLT content was decreased （P<0.01） and the insulin receptor expression level in the pancreatic tissue was decreased （P<0.01） in the model group. In the taVNS gruop, FBG was decreased （P<0.05, P<0.01）, the plasma MLT content was increased （P<0.01）, and the insulin receptor expression level in the liver, the skeletal muscle and the pancreas was increased （P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001） when compared with the model group. Compared with the taVNS group, FBG was increased （P<0.05, P<0.01）, the plasma MLT content was decreased （P<0.01）, and the expression level of insulin receptors in the skeletal muscle and the pancreas was decreased （P<0.01, P<0.001） in the sham-taVNS group. CONCLUSION: The taVNS can improve the insulin resistance and ultimately obtain the antihyperglycemic effect through regulating MLT concentration.

Benzeneboronic-alginate/quaternized chitosan-catechol powder with rapid self-gelation, wet adhesion, biodegradation and antibacterial activity for non-compressible hemorrhage control.

Although hemostatic powders have excellent adaptability for irregular and inaccessible wounds, their hemostasis for continuous bleeding or bleeding wounds of non-compressible organs remains a critical challenge. Herein, a series of benzeneboronic acid-modified sodium alginate/catechol-modified quaternized chitosan (SA-BA/QCS-C, SBQCC) powders is developed by borate ester crosslinking for non-compressible hemorrhage control. SBQCC powders possess remarkable tissue adhesion, rapid self-gelation, good cytocompatibility and antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coil. The blood coagulation assays show that SBQCC powders display excellent blood clotting ability due to the synergistic effect of SA-BA and QCS-C. The SBQCC2 powder with the SA-BA to QCS-C mass ratio of 5 to 3 has the greatest effect on the blood-clotting rate. Upon depositing SBQCC2 powder to bleeding wounds of rabbit liver, the powder can absorb a large amount of blood and form a stable hydrogel physical barrier at the bleeding wounds in situ to achieve non-pressing rapid hemostasis. The SBQCC2 powder also has good biocompatibility and can be degraded in vivo. Altogether, the SBQCC powders can be a promising candidate for rapid hemostasis, and these findings may provide a new perspective for improving the hemostatic efficiency of the hemostatic powder in biomedical fields.

Discovery of a novel RIPK2 inhibitor for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 and 2 (NOD 1/2) are important cytosolic pattern recognition receptors that initiate host immune response. The dysregulation of NOD signaling is highly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that needs novel treatment options. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 2 (RIPK2) is a critical mediator of NOD signaling and considered a promising therapeutic target for IBD treatment. However, there are currently no RIPK2 inhibitors available for clinical use. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of Zharp2-1 as a novel and potent RIPK2 inhibitor that effectively blocks RIPK2 kinase function and NOD-mediated NF-κB/MAPK activation in both human and mouse cell lines. Zharp2-1 exhibits significantly superior solubility compared to the non-prodrug form of the advanced RIPK2 inhibitor prodrug GSK2983559. The improved solubility combined with favorable in vitro metabolic stability translated to excellent in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles for Zharp2-1. In addition, Zharp2-1 demonstrates better effects than GSK2983559 in inhibiting the muramyl dipeptide (MDP)-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and MDP-induced peritonitis in mice. Furthermore, Zharp2-1 markedly reduces Listeria monocytogenes infection-induced cytokines release in both human and mouse cells. Importantly, Zharp2-1 significantly ameliorates DNBS-induced colitis in rats and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine release in intestinal specimens from IBD patients. Collectively, our findings indicate that Zharp2-1 is a promising RIPK2 inhibitor with the potential to be further developed for IBD therapy.

Web Resources for SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Database, Annotation, Analysis and Variant Tracking.

The SARS-CoV-2 genomic data continue to grow, providing valuable information for researchers and public health officials. Genomic analysis of these data sheds light on the transmission and evolution of the virus. To aid in SARS-CoV-2 genomic analysis, many web resources have been developed to store, collate, analyze, and visualize the genomic data. This review summarizes web resources used for the SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiology, covering data management and sharing, genomic annotation, analysis, and variant tracking. The challenges and further expectations for these web resources are also discussed. Finally, we highlight the importance and need for continued development and improvement of related web resources to effectively track the spread and understand the evolution of the virus.

DRAVP: A Comprehensive Database of Antiviral Peptides and Proteins.

Viruses with rapid replication and easy mutation can become resistant to antiviral drug treatment. With novel viral infections emerging, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, novel antiviral therapies are urgently needed. Antiviral proteins, such as interferon, have been used for treating chronic hepatitis C infections for decades. Natural-origin antimicrobial peptides, such as defensins, have also been identified as possessing antiviral activities, including direct antiviral effects and the ability to induce indirect immune responses to viruses. To promote the development of antiviral drugs, we constructed a data repository of antiviral peptides and proteins (DRAVP). The database provides general information, antiviral activity, structure information, physicochemical information, and literature information for peptides and proteins. Because most of the proteins and peptides lack experimentally determined structures, AlphaFold was used to predict each antiviral peptide's structure. A free website for users (http://dravp.cpu-bioinfor.org/, accessed on 30 August 2022) was constructed to facilitate data retrieval and sequence analysis. Additionally, all the data can be accessed from the web interface. The DRAVP database aims to be a useful resource for developing antiviral drugs.

The Enhancing Effect of Stable Oxygen Functional Groups on Porous-Carbon-Supported Pt Catalysts for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

The oxygen functionalization of carbon materials has widely been employed to improve the catalytic performance of carbon-supported Pt (Pt/C) catalysts. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) has often been employed to clean carbons during the preparation of carbon materials. However, the effect of oxygen functionalization through a HCl treatment of porous carbon (PC) supports on the performance of the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has rarely been investigated. Herein, the impact of HCl combined with the heat treatment of PC supports on the HER performance of Pt/C catalysts has been comprehensively investigated. The structural characterizations revealed similar structures of pristine and modified PC. Nevertheless, the HCl treatment resulted in abundant hydroxyl and carboxyl groups and the further heat treatment formed thermally stable carbonyl and ether groups. Among the catalysts, Pt loading on the HCl-treated PC followed by a heat treatment at 700 °C (Pt/PC-H-700) exhibited elevated HER activity with a lower overpotential of 50 mV at 10 mA cm-2 when compared to the unmodified Pt/PC (89 mV). Pt/PC-H-700 also exhibited better durability than the Pt/PC. Overall, novel insights into the impact of the surface chemistry properties of porous carbon supports on the HER performance of Pt/C catalysts were provided, which were useful for highlighting the feasible improvement of HER performances by regulating the surface oxygen species of porous carbon supports.

The fluorescence and colorimetric dual-readout probe for clinical rapid detection of mycophenolic acid by the poly(ethylenimine)/silica-coated CdTe quantum dots.

It is particularly meaningful to therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of mycophenolic acid (MPA) for transplant patients to maximize the drug efficacy and minimize the adverse effect. In this study, a novel fluorescence and colorimetric dual-readout probe was put forward to fast and reliable detect MPA. The blue fluorescence of MPA was largely enhanced in the presence of poly (ethylenimine) (PEI), while the red fluorescence of CdTe@SiO2 (silica-coated CdTe quantum dots) provided a reliable reference signal. Hence, combining PEI70,000 and CdTe@SiO2, a fluorescence and colorimetric dual-readout probe could be constructed. For fluorescence measurement of MPA, the linearity was obtained in the MPA concentration range of 0.5-50 µg/mL, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 33 ng/mL. For the visual detection, the fluorescent colorimetric card was established in the MPA concentration from 0.5 to 50 µg/mL corresponding to the fluorescence color from red to violet and then to blue, which could be used for semi-quantification. Furthermore, in the light of the ColorCollect APP by the smartphone, the ratio of blue and red brightness values was linear with the MPA concentration from 1 to 50 µg/mL; thus, quantification of MPA could be realized by APP with the LOD of 83 ng/mL. The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of MPA in the plasma samples of three patients after oral administration of mycophenolate mofetil, which was the prodrug of MPA. The result was comparable to those obtained by the clinically widely-used enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique. The developed probe was fast, cost-effective and operational convenience, and possessed high potential for TDM of MPA.