Benthic ecological quality assessment of the Bohai Sea, China using marine biotic indices.

The coastal ecological environments are heavily affected by anthropogenic activities as well as global climate change. Macrofauna can be used as good indicators for benthic ecological quality status due to its relatively slow movement ability under disturbance and a variety of assessment approaches have been established based on the characteristics of macrofauna. The benthic ecological quality of the Bohai Sea, China, is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities. In order to accurately assess the benthic ecological quality status in this region, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, ABC curve, AMBI, M-AMBI and macrofaunal feeding evenness index were used. Results showed that the northern Laizhou Bay and Bohai Bay were under slight disturbance while Liaodong Bay, the central Bohai Sea and Bohai Strait were under moderate disturbance. Overall, the ecological quality indicated by the assessment results of AMBI, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and feeding evenness index were better than that by M-AMBI and the ABC curve.

Dual-Responsive Molecular Probe for Tumor Targeted Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy.

The precision oncology significantly relies on the development of multifunctional agents to integrate tumor targeting, imaging and therapeutics. In this study, a first small-molecule theranostic probe, RhoSSCy is constructed by conjugating 5'-carboxyrhodamines (Rho) and heptamethine cyanine IR765 (Cy) using a reducible disulfide linker and pH tunable amino-group to realize thiols/pH dual sensing. In vitro experiments verify that RhoSSCy is highly sensitive for quantitative analysis and imaging intracellular pH gradient and biothiols. Furthermore, RhoSSCy shows superb tumor targeted dual-modal imaging via near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) and photoacoustic (PA). Importantly, RhoSSCy also induces strongly reactive oxygen species for tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) with robust antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. Such versatile small-molecule theranostic probe may be promising for tumor targeted imaging and precision therapy.

Dual-modal imaging-guided highly efficient photothermal therapy using heptamethine cyanine-conjugated hyaluronic acid micelles.

Targeted phototherapy and multi-modal imaging can effectively improve the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the side effects of theranostics. Herein, we constructed novel biocompatible cyanine dye IR808-conjugated hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (HAIR NPs) for photothermal therapy (PTT) with near-infrared fluorescence (FL) and photoacoustic (PA) dual-modal imaging. The nanoparticles formed stable nanostructures under aqueous conditions with uniform size distribution. The HAIR NPs were rapidly taken up by the human lung cancer cells A549 via CD44 (the hyaluronic acid receptor on the surface of tumor cells) receptor-mediated endocytosis. Upon laser irradiation, the HAIR NPs enabled good near-infrared fluorescence imaging and photoacoustic imaging in tumor-bearing mice. In addition, the tight nanostructure arising from the covalent link between HA and IR808 could significantly improve the light-thermal conversion efficiency of IR808. Under a low dose of laser power, the HAIR NPs presented more effective photothermal therapy for the suppression of tumor growth than free IR808 in vitro and in vivo. Overall, these results indicate that the HAIR NPs may be an extremely promising nanoplatform in cancer theranostics for targeted PTT under FL and PA dual-modal imaging.

Oxygen Nanocarrier for Combined Cancer Therapy: Oxygen-Boosted ATP-Responsive Chemotherapy with Amplified ROS Lethality.

Oxygen nanocarrier (A/D-ONC) with a polymeric core entrapping hemoglobin and a cationic lipid shell absorbing a DOX-intercalating DNA duplex is developed. After endocytosis oxygenated A/D-ONC donates O2 to cancer cells that acts therapeutically by: (1) increasing intracellular ATP content that promotes DOX release, thereby converting ATP to the trigger of detrimental chemotherapy; (2) by synchronously increasing the ROS amount to amplify the lethality to cancer cells.

Intraspecific and heteroplasmic variations, gene losses and inversions in the chloroplast genome of Astragalus membranaceus.

Astragalus membranaceus is an important medicinal plant in Asia. Several of its varieties have been used interchangeably as raw materials for commercial production. High resolution genetic markers are in urgent need to distinguish these varieties. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the chloroplast genome of A. membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K. Hsiao using the next generation DNA sequencing technology. The genome was assembled using Abyss and then subjected to gene prediction using CPGAVAS and repeat analysis using MISA, Tandem Repeats Finder, and REPuter. Finally, the genome was subjected phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses. The complete genome is 123,582 bp long, containing only one copy of the inverted repeat. Gene prediction revealed 110 genes encoding 76 proteins, 30 tRNAs, and four rRNAs. Five intra-specific hypermutation loci were identified, three of which are heteroplasmic. Furthermore, three gene losses and two large inversions were identified. Comparative genomic analyses demonstrated the dynamic nature of the Papilionoideae chloroplast genomes, which showed occurrence of numerous hypermutation loci, frequent gene losses, and fragment inversions. Results obtained herein elucidate the complex evolutionary history of chloroplast genomes and have laid the foundation for the identification of genetic markers to distinguish A. membranaceus varieties.

[Effects of phytohormones on hairy root growth and tanshinone biosynthesis of Salvia miltiorrhiza].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of different phytohormones on the growth of hairy root and biosynthesis of tanshinone II A in Salvia miltiorrhiza. METHODS: Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy root was induced by organizational culture method. Tanshinone was extracted with ultrasonic method and detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: The phytohormone combination of GA3 and 6-BA at different concentrations adding to 1/2 MS medium had obviously inhibitory effect on the hairy root growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza. And the highest inhibition rate was up to 100% (hairy roots were death). However, the growth of hairy roots could be obviously promoted by the combination of KT (1.0 mg/L) and IBA (1.0 mg/L), increasing 3. 251 times than that of the control. Total tanshinone II A content in hairy roots bodies was the highest under the combination of 0.2 mg/L NAA and 3.0 mg/L 6-BA. 6-BA of 2.0 mg/L played a significant role in promoting tanshinone II A biosynthesis, and the tanshinone II A concentration was 3.012 times higher than that of the control. CONCLUSION: Different phytohormones and its combination adding to 1/2 MS medium has significant influence on the hairy root growth and the content of tanshinone II A in Salvia miltiorrhiza.