The combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics reveals the mechanisms by which dietary quercetin regulates growth and immunity in Penaeus vannamei.

As a potent antioxidant, the flavonoid compound quercetin (QUE) has been widely used in the farming of aquatic animals. However, there are fewer reports of the beneficial effects, especially in improving immunity of Penaeus vannamei by QUE. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary QUE on growth, apoptosis, antioxidant and immunity of P. vannamei. It also explored the potential mechanisms of QUE in improving the growth and immunity of P. vannamei. P. vannamei were fed diets with QUE for 60 days. The results revealed that QUE (0.5 or 1.0 g/kg) ameliorated the growth, and the expressions of genes related to apoptosis, antioxidant, and immunity. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential metabolites (DMs) obtained through transcriptomics and metabolomics, respectively, enriched in pathways related to nutritional metabolism such as lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. After QUE addition, especially at 0.5 g/kg, DEGs were enriched into the functions of response to stimulus and antioxidant activity, and the pathways of HIF-1 signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway. In conclusion, dietary QUE can ameliorate growth, apoptosis, antioxidant and immunity of P. vannamei, the appropriate addition amount was 0.5 g/kg rather than 1.0 g/kg. Regulations of QUE on nutrient metabolism and immune-related pathways, and bioactive metabolites, were important factors for improving the aforementioned abilities in P. vannamei.

Long-Term Tetrabromobisphenol A Exposure Induces Gut Microbiota Imbalance and Metabolic Disorders via the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Signaling Pathway in the Regenerated Gut of Apostichopus japonicus.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a commonly utilized brominated flame retardant, is found in many types of abiotic and biotic matrices. TBBPA can increase oxidative stress, disrupt the endocrine system, cause neurodevelopmental disorders and activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors to modulate lipid deposits in aquatic animals. However, the toxic mechanism of TBBPA on the gut microbiota and intestinal health remains unclear. Apostichopus japonicus is an ideal model for studying the relationship between environmental contaminants and intestinal health due to its unique capacity for evisceration and quickly regenerated intestine. In the present study, we investigated the toxic mechanism of TBBPA on the gut microbiota and intestinal health in the regenerated intestine of A. japonicus. The results show that TBBPA exposure decreased the health of the regenerated intestine and the enzymatic activities, alpha diversity indices, and the relative abundance of the gut microbiota. Transcriptome analysis shows that TBBPA exposure affected lipid metabolism via the PPAR signaling pathway during the process of intestinal regeneration in A. japonicus, suggesting that TBBPA exposure can affect the composition and function of the gut microbiota and intestinal health in the regenerated intestine of A. japonicus. These results provide a basis for further research on the potential toxicity of TBBPA to the intestinal health in animals.

Acute ammonia stress-induced oxidative and heat shock responses modulated by transcription factors in Litopenaeus vannamei.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of short-term exposure to ammonia on stress and oxidative responses in shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and to determine whether the antioxidant system related to the regulatory role of transcription factors and stress proteins was activated. Shrimp were exposed ammonia-N at four concentrations: 0 (control), 5, 10, and 15 mg/L, for 48 h. The hepatopancreas was sampled to measure the levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO); the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide synthase (NOS); and the expression levels of GSH-px (encoding glutathione peroxidase), GST (encoding glutathione-S-transferase), HSP70 (encoding heat shock protein 70), HSP90 (encoding heat shock protein 90), p53, RELISH, and AKIRIN. We observed that exposure to a high ammonia content increased the abundance of oxidative factors (MDA, CAT, SOD, NOS, and NO), reduced the levels of GSH, and upregulated the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant genes (GSH-px and GST), stress-related genes (HSP70 and HSP90), and transcription factor genes (p53, RELISH, and AKIRIN). These results indicated that ammonia induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant defense systems are involved, which might be regulated by HSPs, as well as certain transcription factors, such as p53 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), thus mounting an adaptive response to help rebalance redox homoeostasis.

Change of Consumption Behaviours in the Pandemic of COVID-19: Examining Residents' Consumption Expenditure and Driving Determinants.

This study investigated changes of individuals' consumption behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored the driving determinants in consumption expenditure in Zhejiang China. Based on the 454 samples of survey data, which were collected in 2020 and 2021, it showed a reduction trend in consumption expenditure during the pandemic. Compared to the consumptions before the pandemic, money spent on housing, food, and beverage did not change too much. However, expenditures on wearing, recreation, and education reduced. Age, family size, and household income were significant to the expenditure changes. Online shopping became an important alternative way for residents during the pandemic and the trend is expected to continue even after the pandemic. Based on the findings, suggestions are summarized as two points. First, the young and single residents are the main group for recovering the consumption for wearing, recreation, education, and public transport. Meanwhile, to improve the satisfactions in online shopping, regulations should be issued by the government in improving the quality of goods and service.

Identification and characterization of peroxiredoxin 1 from Lateolabrax japonicus under biotic and abiotic stresses.

The peroxiredoxins (Prxs) belong to a novel and evolutionarily conserved superfamily, which can protect cells from oxidative damage caused by ROS and play a vital role in immune responses. In the present study, a 995 base pairs (bp) Prx1 cDNA sequence (LjPrx1) with an open reading frame of 594 bp, which encoding 197 amino acid polypeptides was obtained from L. japonicus. Transcriptional expression analysis indicated that the LjPrx1 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues tested, while a comparatively high expression level was detected in head-kidney and blood. After the recombinant LjPrx1 protein was acquired using a prokaryotic expression method, the antioxidant activity was assessed by the catalyzing hydrogen peroxide assay method, and the results showed that the recombinant LjPrx1 possessed an antioxidant activity in a temperature-dependent manner. To further study the function roles of LjPrx1 related to biotic and abiotic stresses, the head-kidney and blood were chosen for the following experiments, and a positive correlation between the expression of LjPrx1 and the different stresses was detected using qRT-PCR. In conclusion, this study provides useful information about the role of the LjPrx1 gene in defense against a variety of toxic factors in L. japonicus, which would broaden our current knowledge of Prx1.

Stimulus-response click chemistry based aptamer-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles for fluorescence detection of thrombin.

In most aptamer based stimulus response mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) systems, the aptamer is modified on the MSN via electrostatic interaction, however leakage might exist after a certain time in the system and hence the stability is not good. In this study, the pores of MSN were capped by aptamer through click chemistry reaction for the first time and the system was then employed to develop a fluorescence biosensor. Specifically, the aptamer of the target (thrombin in this study) was hybridized with its complementary DNA (which was initially modified with alkyne at the terminal) to form a double strand DNA (dsDNA) firstly, and then this dsDNA was modified on N3 modified MSN via Cu(I) catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction. The guest molecules (fluorescein) were blocked in the pores of the MSN with high efficiency and nearly no leakage was detected. Upon the introduction of thrombin, thrombin specifically recognized its aptamer, so aptamer released from the MSN; and the single strand DNA(ssDNA) left could not cap the pores of the MSN efficiently and hence caused the releasing of fluorescein into the solution. The enhanced fluorescence intensity of the system has a good linear relationship with the thrombin concentration in the range of 50-1000ngmL-1 with a detection limit of 28.46ngmL-1. The proposed biosensor has been successfully applied to detect thrombin in serum samples with high selectivity. The same strategy can be applied to develop biosensors for different targets by changing the adopted aptamer.

Stimulus-response mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based chemiluminescence biosensor for cocaine determination.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) based controlled release system had been coupled with diverse detection technologies to establish biosensors for different targets. Chemiluminescence (CL) system of luminol/H2O2 owns the characters of simplicity, low cost and high sensitivity, but the targets of which are mostly focused on some oxidants or which can participate in a chemical reaction that yields a product with a role in the CL reaction. In this study, chemiluminescent detection technique had been coupled with mesoporous silica-based controlled released system for the first time to develop a sensitive biosensor for the target which does not cause effect to the CL system itself. Cocaine had been chosen a model target, the MSN support was firstly loaded with glucose, then the positively charged MSN interacted with negatively charged oligonucleotides (the aptamer cocaine) to close the mesopores of MSN. At the present of target, cocaine binds with its aptamer with high affinity; the flexible linear aptamer structured will become stems structured through currently well-defined non-Waston-Crick interactions and causes the releasing of entrapped glucose into the solution. With the assistant of glucose oxidase (GOx), the released glucose can react with the dissolved oxgen to produce gluconic acid and H2O2, the latter can enhance the CL of luminol in the NaOH solution. The enhanced CL intensity has a relationship with the cocaine concentration in the range of 5.0-60µM with the detection limit of 1.43µM. The proposed method had been successfully applied to detect cocaine in serum samples with high selectivity. The same strategy can be applied to develop biosensors for different targets.

Fluorometric method for inorganic pyrophosphatase activity detection and inhibitor screening based on click chemistry.

A fluorometric method for pyrophosphatase (PPase) activity detection was developed based on click chemistry. Cu(II) can coordinate with pyrophosphate (PPi), the addition of pyrophosphatase (PPase) into the above system can destroy the coordinate compound because PPase catalyzes the hydrolysis of PPi into inorganic phosphate and produces free Cu(II), and free Cu(II) can be reduced by sodium ascorbate (SA) to form Cu(I), which in turn initiates the ligating reaction between nonfluorescent 3-azidocoumarins and terminal alkynes to produce a highly fluorescent triazole complex, based on which, a simple and sensitive turn on fluorometric method for PPase can be developed. The fluorescence intensity of the system has a linear relationship with the logarithm of the PPase concentration in the range of 0.5 and 10 mU with a detection limit down to 0.2 mU (S/N = 3). This method is cost-effective and convenient without any labels or complicated operations. The proposed system was applied to screen the potential PPase inhibitor with high efficiency. The proposed method can be applied to diagnosis of PPase-related diseases.

A portable chemical sensor for histidine based on the strategy of click chemistry.

A novel portable chemical sensor is developed in combination of the personal glucose meters (PGM) with click chemistry for sensitive and selective determination of histidine. Invertase-labeled alkynyl-DNA can be modified onto the surfaces of Streptavidin Magnespheres Paramagnetic Particles (PMPs) through copper(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction and formed invertase-functionalized PMPs, which can be separated easily. The presence of invertase can convert sucrose to glucose and can be monitored by the PGM easily. The presence of histidine can inhibit the CuAAC, so the read-out signal of PGM decreased. The difference in signals from the PGM before and after addition of histidine has a good linear correlation with the logarithm of the histidine concentrations in the range of 0.01~100 µM with a detection limit of 3.4 nM, which is lower than those of many other chemical sensors. Moreover, the assay of histidine in milk samples is demonstrated with satisfactory results.

Colorimetric and fluorometric dual-readout sensor for lysozyme.

A novel, highly sensitive and selective dual-readout sensor (colorimetric and fluorometric) for the detection of lysozyme was proposed. The fluorescence of triazolylcoumarin molecules was quenched by Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) initially through the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), after the addition of lysozyme, the stronger binding of lysozyme onto the surfaces of AuNPs made triazolylcoumarin molecules remove from the AuNPs surface and led to the recovery of the fluorescence of triazolylcoumarin molecules, and accompanied by the discernable color change of the solution from red to purple. The lowest detectable concentration for lysozyme was 50 ng mL(-1) by the naked eye, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 23 ng mL(-1) by fluorescence measurements. In addition, satisfactory results for lysozyme detection in hen egg white were confirmed in the study. Moreover, the presented sensor provides a reliable option to determine lysozyme with high sensitivity and selectivity.

[Study on metastasis and micrometastasis in No.14v lymph nodes of patients with lower third gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the metastasis and micrometastasis in No.14v lymph nodes in patients with lower third gastric cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed. A total of 53 patients undergoing radical resections by a single surgeon for lower third gastric cancer in the Department of General Surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Medical College were included. Conventional pathological section was used to detect lymph nodes metastasis and telomere TRAP-ELISA was used to identify the micrometastasis in No.14v lymph nodes. RESULTS: A total of 96 lymph nodes were dissected from the No.14v group and lymph nodes metastasis were discovered in 9 patients by conventional pathological section. Forty-four patients had no metastasis on conventional pathological examination, of whom 13(29.6%) were found to have micrometastasis. The overall metastatic rate was 41.5%(22/53). Metastasis and micrometastasis in the No.14v lymph nodes were associated with Borrmann types, depth of invasion, No.6 lymph nodes metastasis, tumor diameter, and TNM staging(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No.14v lymph nodes in patients with lower third gastric cancer is associated with a high incidence of metastasis and micrometastasis. The status of No.6 lymph nodes may be used as an useful indicator for No.14v lymph nodes metastases during the operation.

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis of Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri (Bivalvia: Pectinidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri is 21,695 bp in length and contains 12 protein-coding genes (the atp8 gene is absent, as in most bivalves), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. The heavy strand has an overall A+T content of 58.7%. GC and AT skews for the mt genome of C. farreri are 0.337 and -0.184, respectively, indicating the nucleotide bias against C and A. The mitochondrial gene order of C. farreri differs drastically from the scallops Argopecten irradians, Mimachlamys nobilis and Placopecten magellanicus, which belong to the same family Pectinidae. 6623 bp non-coding nucleotides exist intergenically in the mitogenome of C. farreri, with a large continuous sequence (4763 bp) between tRNA ( Val ) and tRNA ( Asn ). Two repeat families are found in the large continuous sequence, which seems to be a common feature of scallops. Phylogenetic analysis based on 12 concatenated amino acid sequences of protein-coding genes supports the monophyly of Pectinidae and paraphyletic Pteriomorphia with respect to Heteroconchia.

Involvement of inducible 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase in the anti-diabetic effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation in mice.

PFKFB3 is the gene that codes for the inducible isoform of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (iPFK2), a key regulatory enzyme of glycolysis. As one of the targets of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), PFKFB3/iPFK2 is up-regulated by thiazolidinediones. In the present study, using PFKFB3/iPFK2-disrupted mice, the role of PFKFB3/iPFK2 in the anti-diabetic effect of PPARgamma activation was determined. In wild-type littermate mice, PPARgamma activation (i.e. treatment with rosiglitazone) restored euglycemia and reversed high fat diet-induced insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. In contrast, PPARgamma activation did not reduce high fat diet-induced hyperglycemia and failed to reverse insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in PFKFB3(+/-) mice. The lack of anti-diabetic effect in PFKFB3(+/-) mice was associated with the inability of PPARgamma activation to suppress adipose tissue lipolysis and proinflammatory cytokine production, stimulate visceral fat accumulation, enhance adipose tissue insulin signaling, and appropriately regulate adipokine expression. Similarly, in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, knockdown of PFKFB3/iPFK2 lessened the effect of PPARgamma activation on stimulating lipid accumulation. Furthermore, PPARgamma activation did not suppress inflammatory signaling in PFKFB3/iPFK2-knockdown adipocytes as it did in control adipocytes. Upon inhibition of excessive fatty acid oxidation in PFKFB3/iPFK2-knockdown adipocytes, PPARgamma activation was able to significantly reverse inflammatory signaling and proinflammatory cytokine expression and restore insulin signaling. Together, these data demonstrate that PFKFB3/iPFK2 is critically involved in the anti-diabetic effect of PPARgamma activation.

[Biohydrogen production by anaerobic fermentation from manure wastewater].

Biohydrogen production by anaerobic sludge was studied by using manure wastewater as substrate, in batch process. The influences of sludge and carbon nitrogen nutrition on hydrogen production, the liquid fermentative products and hydrogen dynamics were investigated. The results indicate both sludge and nutrition were able to enhance the hydrogen production. It can be obtained maximum hydrogen content 50.65%, cumulative hydrogen production 334.80 mL and hydrogen yield per COD 287.10 mL/g from manure wastewater with carbon nitrogen nutrition and sewage sludge. However, the cumulative hydrogen production and the hydrogen yield per COD were only 59.24 mL and 67.05 mL/g from raw wastewater. Acetic acid and butyric acid in the effluent of fermentation occupied 61%-86%. It might be acetic-butyric acid type fermentation in the batch reactor. The more the VFA content, the higher the hydrogen yield. A modified Gompertz model can adequately describe the H2 production.

Effect of ultrasound on desorption kinetics of phenol from polymeric resin.

This work mainly involves the study of desorption kinetics of phenol from polymeric resins under the influence of an ultrasound field. A new phase equilibrium-kinetics model (PEKM), for estimation of diffusion coefficient was proposed, kinetic experiments of phenol desorption on NKA-II resin in the presence and the absence of ultrasound were separately conducted, and diffusion coefficients of phenol within an adsorbent particle were estimated by means of proposed PEKM. Results showed that the use of ultrasound could enhance the diffusion of phenol within the resin. The diffusion coefficient of phenol in the resin in an ultrasonic field increased by an order of magnitude in comparison with the diffusion coefficient in the absence of ultrasound. The more intense the ultrasonic field the larger was the diffusion coefficient.

Genetic engineering of human embryonic stem cells with lentiviral vectors.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells present a valuable source of cells with a vast therapeutic potential. However, the low efficiency of directed differentiation of hES cells remains a major obstacle in their uses for regenerative medicine. While differentiation may be controlled by the genetic manipulation, effective and efficient gene transfer into hES cells has been an elusive goal. Here, we show stable and efficient genetic manipulations of hES cells using lentiviral vectors. This method resulted in the establishment of stable gene expression without loss of pluripotency in hES cells. In addition, lentiviral vectors were effective in conveying the expression of an U6 promoter-driven small interfering RNA (siRNA), which was effective in silencing its specific target. Taken together, our results suggest that lentiviral gene delivery holds great promise for hES cell research and application.

Derivation of adipocytes from human embryonic stem cells.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are undifferentiated and pluripotent cells that hold great therapeutic potential, but are hampered by our limited knowledge to promote specific cell differentiation. Here we provide the first report of the directed differentiation of hES cells into adipocytes. Embryoid bodies (EBs) derived from hES cells are shown to respond to factors that promote adipogenesis. Differentiated cells were observed that displayed the key features of adipocytes, i.e., expression of specific molecular markers, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 (PPARgamma2), adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and adiponectin, the secretion of leptin, and the accumulation of lipid droplets in cytoplasm. Taken together, our results demonstrate that adipocytes derived from hES cells in vitro can provide a novel model system to study human adipogenesis and obesity.

Selective disruption of PPARgamma 2 impairs the development of adipose tissue and insulin sensitivity.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear receptor that plays a pivotal role in obesity and diabetes. PPARgamma has two isoforms, PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2. We investigated the functional differences between PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2 by selectively disrupting PPARgamma2 in mice. In contrast to the embryonic lethality of PPARgamma-deficient mice, PPARgamma2(-/-) mice survived. Although normal development was identified in other tissues we examined, PPARgamma2(-/-) mice exhibited an overall reduction in white adipose tissue, less lipid accumulation, and decreased expression of adipogenic genes in adipose tissue. In addition, insulin sensitivity was impaired in male PPARgamma2(-/-) mice, with dramatically decreased expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 and glucose transporter 4 in the skeletal muscle, but thiazolidinediones were able to normalize this insulin resistance. Consistent with in vivo data, PPARgamma2(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts showed a dramatically reduced capacity for adipogenesis in vitro compared with wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Taken together, our data demonstrate that PPARgamma2 deficiency impairs the development of adipose tissue and insulin sensitivity. PPARgamma2(-/-) mice may provide a tool to study the role of PPARgamma2 in obesity and diabetes.