[Identification of HSP70 gene family members in Fritillaria cirrhosa and expression analysis in different tissues under high temperature stress].

The heat shock protein 70 family contains the stress proteins ubiquitous in plants. These proteins are involved in the responses to different abiotic stress conditions and have highly conserved gene sequences. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of Fritillaria cirrhosa in response to high-temperature stress. Here, 26 HSP70s, FcHSP70-1 to FcHSP70-26, were identified from the transcriptome data of root, bulb, stem, leaf, and fruit samples of F. cirrhosa. The proteins encoded by FcHSP70s had the lengths ranging from 560 aa to 944 aa, with the molecular weight of 61.64-100.01 kDa and the theoretical isoelectric point between 5.00 and 6.59. The secondary structural elements of HSP70s were mainly random coils and α-helixes. Subcellular localization prediction revealed that FcHSP70s were distributed in mitochondria, chloroplasts, nuclei, endoplasmic reticulum, and cytoplasm. The phylogenetic tree showed that 7 members of the HSP70 family belonged to the Dnak subfamily and 19 members belonged to the HSP110/SSE subfamily. In addition, the qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of FcHSP70-5, FcHSP70-8, FcHSP70-17, FcHSP70-18, and FcHSP70-23 in F. cirrhosa was significantly up-regulated at 35 ℃, which indicated that these genes might play a role in the response to high temperature stress. In addition, compared with other tissues, stems and leaves were sensitive to high temperature stress, with the expression of 18 genes up-regulated by 18.18 and 8.03 folds on average, respectively. These findings provide valuable information about the molecular mechanism of HSP70s of F. cirrhosa in response to high temperature stress.

High-Resolution Crossed-Beam Dynamics Studies of the D + Para-H2 → HD + H Reaction at 1.21 eV.

Understanding kinetic isotope effects is important in the study of the reaction dynamics of elementary chemical reactions, particularly those involving hydrogen atoms and molecules. As one of the isotopic variants of the hydrogen exchange reaction, the D + para-H2 reaction has attracted much attention. However, experimental studies of this reaction have been limited primarily due to its strong experimental background noise. In this study, by using the velocity map ion imaging method and the near-threshold ionization technique, together with improvements on the vacuum condition in the vicinity of the collision zone, background noise was reduced significantly, and quantum state-resolved differential cross sections (DCSs) for the D + para-H2 reaction at a collision energy of 1.21 eV were acquired in a crossed molecular beams experiment. Interestingly, clear rotational state-dependent angular distributions were noticed in the quantum state-resolved DCSs. The most intense peak's positions for HD (v', j') products shift to different scattering directions as the product's ro-vibrational quantum number increases. Two different microscopic reaction mechanisms are found to be involved in this reaction for HD products in different vibrational states. The results show a direct correlation between the scattering angle and the product's rotational quantum number, revealing that the contributions of impact parameters are strongly influenced by the corresponding centrifugal barrier.

Lipidomics and single-cell RNA sequencing reveal lipid and cell dynamics of porcine glycerol-injured skeletal muscle regeneration model.

AIMS: Intramuscular fat (IMF) infiltration and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition are characteristic features of muscle dysfunction, such as muscular dystrophy and severe muscle injuries. However, the underlying mechanisms of cellular origin, adipocyte formation and fibrosis in skeletal muscle are still unclear. MAIN METHODS: Pigs were injected with 50 % glycerol (GLY) to induce skeletal muscle injury and regeneration. The acyl chain composition was analyzed by lipidomics, and the cell atlas and molecular signatures were revealed via single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Adipogenesis analysis was performed on fibroblast/fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) isolated from pigs. KEY FINDINGS: The porcine GLY-injured skeletal muscle regeneration model was characterized by IMF infiltration and ECM deposition. Skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) and FAP clusters were analyzed to explore the potential mechanisms of adipogenesis and fibrosis, and it was found that the TGF-ß signaling pathway might be a key switch that regulates differentiation. Consistently, activation of the TGF-ß signaling pathway increased SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and inhibited adipogenesis in FAPs, while inhibition of the TGF-ß signaling pathway increased the expression of PPARγ and promoted adipogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE: GLY-induced muscle injury and regeneration provides comprehensive insights for the development of therapies for human skeletal muscle dysfunction and fatty infiltration-related diseases in which the TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathway might play a primary regulatory role.

Constructing an Al3+/Zn2+-Based Solid Electrolyte Interphase to Enable Extraordinarily Stable Al3+-Based Electrochromic Devices.

The interface between the electrochromic (EC) electrode and ionic conductor is crucial for high-performance and extraordinarily stable EC devices (ECDs). Herein, the effect of the ALD-AZO interfacial layer on the performance of the WO3 thin film was examined, revealing that an introduction of the ALD-AZO interfacial layer to the Al3+-based complementary ECDs can lead to improved EC performance and stability, such as an extraordinary cyclability of more than 20,000 cycles, an outstanding coloration efficiency of 109.69 cm2 C-1, and a maximum transmittance modulation of 63.44%@633 nm. The probable explanation is that the introduced ALD-AZO interfacial layer can effectively regulate the band gap of WO3, promote the electron transport process, and induce the formation of a robust solid electrolyte interphase to protect the electrode during cycling. These findings offer valuable insights for enhancing the EC performance of the EC thin films and new space for the construction of advanced multivalent Al3+-based ECDs.

The fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in sewer sediments:Adsorption triggering resistance gene proliferation.

In recent years, large quantities of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been discharged into sewers, while the mechanisms of PPCPs enrichment in sewer sediments have rarely been revealed. In this study, three PPCPs (tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and triclocarban) were added consecutively over a 90-day experimental period to reveal the mechanisms of PPCPs enrichment and the transmission of resistance genes in sewer sediments. The results showed that tetracycline (TC) and triclocarban (TCC) have higher adsorption concentration in sediments compared to sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The absolute abundance of Tets and suls genes increased in sediments under PPCPs pressure. The increase in secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the loosening of the structure exposed a large number of hydrophobic functional groups, which promoted the adsorption of PPCPs. The absolute abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), EPS and the content of PPCPs in sediments exhibited significant correlations. The enrichment of PPCPs in sediments was attributed to the accumulation of EPS, which led to the proliferation of ARGs. These findings contributed to further understanding of the fate of PPCPs in sewer sediments and opened a new perspective for consideration of controlling the proliferation of resistance genes.

Revealing the Genetic Diversity of Chinese Chlamydia trachomatis Strains Directly from Clinical Samples through Selective Whole-Genome Amplification.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis is the causative agent of most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection globally. Whole-genome sequencing is essential for molecular Chlamydia surveillance; however, its application is hampered by the pathogen's low abundance in clinical specimens and the expensive, labor-intensive nature of existing enrichment methodologies for Chlamydia. METHODS: We developed a targeted whole-genome amplification tool termed SWTICH, by integrating phi29 DNA polymerase-mediated amplification with meticulously designed primer sets to enrich Chlamydia trachomatis genome, followed by whole-genome sequencing. This method underwent evaluation through testing synthetic and clinical specimens. RESULTS: SWITCH demonstrated robust ability to achieve up to 98.3% genomic coverage of Chlamydia trachomatis from as few as 26.4 genomic copies present in synthetic specimens and exhibited excellent performance across diverse Chlamydia trachomatis serovars. Utilizing SWITCH, we directly generated 21 Chlamydia genomes from 26 clinical samples, enabling us to gain insights into the genetic relationships and phylogeny of current Chlamydia strains circulating in the country. Remarkably, this study marked the first instance of generating Chinese Chlamydia genomes directly from clinical samples. CONCLUSIONS: SWITCH represents a practical, cost-efficient approach to enrich Chlamydia genome directly from clinical specimens, offering an efficient avenue for molecular surveillance of Chlamydia.

IL-5 antagonism reverses priming and activation of eosinophils in severe eosinophilic asthma.

Eosinophils are key effector cells mediating airway inflammation and exacerbation in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. They are present in increased numbers and activation states in the airway mucosa and lumen. Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is the key eosinophil growth factor that is thought to play a role in eosinophil priming and activation. However, the mechanism of these effects is still not fully understood. The anti-IL-5 antibody mepolizumab reduces eosinophil counts in the airway modestly but has a large beneficial effect on the frequency of exacerbations of severe eosinophilic asthma, suggesting that reduction in eosinophil priming and activation is of central mechanistic importance. In this study, we used the therapeutic effect of mepolizumab and single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing to investigate the mechanism of eosinophil priming and activation by IL-5. We demonstrated that IL-5 is a dominant driver of eosinophil priming and plays multifaceted roles in eosinophil function. It enhances eosinophil responses to other stimulators of migration, survival, and activation by activating phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways. It also enhances the pro-fibrotic roles of eosinophils in airway remodeling via transforming growth factor-ß pathway. These findings provide a mechanistic understanding of eosinophil priming in severe eosinophilic asthma and the therapeutic effect of anti-IL-5 approaches in the disease.

The influence of the molecular chain length of PVA on the toughening mechanism of calcium silicate hydrates.

In recent years, polymers have been demonstrated to effectively toughen cementitious materials. However, the mechanism of interaction between the polymers and C-S-H at the nanoscale remains unclear, and the quantitative impact of the polymer chain length on toughening effectiveness is lacking in research. This study employs molecular dynamics techniques to examine the impact of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) chain length on the tensile performance and toughening mechanism of C-S-H. The toughening effect in both the X and Z directions exhibits an initial enhancement followed by a decline with increasing chain length. The optimal degrees of polymerization are determined to be 8 and 12 in the X and Z directions, respectively, resulting in an improvement of fracture energy by 146.7% and 29.5%, respectively. During the stretching process along the X and Z axes, the chain length of PVA molecules significantly influences the variation in the number of Ca⋯O bonds in the system, leading to different stress responses. Additionally, PVA molecules form C-O-Si bonds with the silicate layers of C-S-H, bridging the adjacent layers in a left-right or up-down manner. The toughening effect of PVA on C-S-H depends on the behavior of PVA molecules with different chain lengths, and there exists an optimal range of chain length for PVA, enabling it to enhance structural uniformity and adjust its own conformation to absorb strain energy. When the length of PVA molecular chains is too short, it can easily cause stress concentration in the system and its connection with silicates is not significant. Conversely, when the length of PVA molecular chains is too long, the large molecular structure restricts its extension in the defects of C-S-H, and as the stretching progresses, PVA molecules break and form numerous small segments, thereby losing the advantage of the chain length. This study provides a theoretical basis for the ability of polymers to toughen cementitious materials.

Coarse-resolution burned area datasets severely underestimate fire-related forest loss.

Global coarse-resolution (≥250 m) burned area (BA) products have been used to estimate fire related forest loss, but we hypothesised that a significant part of fire impacts might be undetected because of the underestimation of small fires (<100 ha), especially in the tropics. In this paper, we analysed fire-related forest cover loss in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for 2016 and 2019 based on a BA product generated from Sentinel-2 data (20 m), which was observed to have significantly lower omission errors than the coarse-resolution BA products. Using these higher resolution BA datasets, we found that fires contribute to >46 % of total forest losses over SSA, more than twice the estimates from coarse-resolution BA products. In addition, burned forest areas showed more than twofold likelihood of subsequent loss compared to unburned ones. In moist tropical forests, the most fire-vulnerable biome, burning had even six times more chance to precede forest loss than unburned areas. We also found that fire-related characteristics, such as fire size and season, and forest fragmentation play a major role in the determination of tree cover fate. Our results reveal that medium-resolution BA detects more fires in late fire season, which tend to have higher impact on forests than early season ones. On the other hand, small fires represented the major driver of forest loss after fires and the vast majority of these losses occur in fragmented landscapes near forest edge (<260 m). Therefore medium-resolution BA products are required to obtain a more accurate evaluation of fire impacts in tropical ecosystems.

Pinobanksin from peony seed husk: A flavonoid with the potential to inhibit the proliferation of SH-SY5Y.

Pinobanksin, as one of the flavonoids, has powerful biological activities but has been under-recognized. In this study, we optimized the extraction method of phragmites from peony seed shells by using organic solvent extraction. The yield of PSMS was 10.54 ± 0.13% under the conditions of ethanol volume fraction 70%, extraction temperature 70°C, material-liquid ratio 1:25 g/mL, and extraction time 60 min; the optimized PSMS could be effectively separated in S-8 macroporous resin coupled with C18. The relative content of PSMS was increased from 0.42% in PSMS to 92.53% after C18 purification; the antioxidant activity test revealed that pinobanksin could exert antioxidant ability by binding catalase (CAT) enzyme. Second, it was found that pinobanksin could effectively inhibit the proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells, mainly by binding to BCL2-associated X (BAX), B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), and cyclin-dependent Kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) to produce more hydrogen bonds to inhibit their activities. This study confirms the medicinal potential of pinobanksin and provides the basis for the proper understanding of pinobanksin and the development of related products.

Observation of geometric phase effect through backward angular oscillations in the H + HD → H2 + D reaction.

Quantum interference between reaction pathways around a conical intersection (CI) is an ultrasensitive probe of detailed chemical reaction dynamics. Yet, for the hydrogen exchange reaction, the difference between contributions of the two reaction pathways increases substantially as the energy decreases, making the experimental observation of interference features at low energy exceedingly challenging. We report in this paper a combined experimental and theoretical study on the H + HD → H2 + D reaction at the collision energy of 1.72 eV. Although the roaming insertion pathway constitutes only a small fraction (0.088%) of the overall contribution, angular oscillatory patterns arising from the interference of reaction pathways were clearly observed in the backward scattering direction, providing direct evidence of the geometric phase effect at an energy of 0.81 eV below the CI. Furthermore, theoretical analysis reveals that the backward interference patterns are mainly contributed by two distinct groups of partial waves (J ~ 10 and J ~ 19). The well-separated partial waves and the geometric phase collectively influence the quantum reaction dynamics.

Leucine improves the growth performance, carcass traits, and lipid nutritional quality of pork in Shaziling pigs.

Leucine is involved in promoting fatty acid oxidation and lipolysis, mediating lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis, thus it has been widely used in livestock production. However, the effects of leucine on fat deposition and nutrition in Shaziling pigs remain unclear. A total of 72 Shaziling pigs (150 days old, weight 35.00 ± 1.00 kg) were randomly divided into 2 groups and fed with basal diet (control group) or basal diet containing 1% leucine (leucine group) for 60 days. The results showed that leucine significantly increased the average daily feed intake but decreased the ratio of feed to gain (P < 0.05), increased the loin muscle area and serum glucose content (P < 0.05) of Shaziling pigs. Besides, leucine regulated the re-distribution of fatty acids from adipose tissue to muscle as it significantly increased the contents of C18:1n-9 and C22:6n-3 (DHA) in the longissimus thoracis while decreased the contents of C22:5n-3 (DPA), C20:5n-3 (EPA), and DHA in the adipose tissue of Shaziling pigs (P < 0.05). Lipidomic analysis showed that the contents of phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), cardiolipins (CLs), and phosphatidylglycerols (PGs) in the longissimus thoracis and the contents of lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LPEs), ceramides (Cers), phosphatidylinositols (PIs) in adipose tissue of Shaziling pigs were decreased in leucine group (P < 0.05). Collectively, this study clarified that dietary addition of 1% leucine have a better effect on growth performance and the deposition of beneficial fatty acids in the muscle of Shaziling pigs, which is conductive to the production of high quality and healthy pork. In addition, leucine altered the lipid composition of muscle and fat in Shaziling pigs. The related results provide a theoretical basis and application guidance for regulating fat deposition in Shaziling pigs, which is important for the healthy breeding of Shaziling pigs.

A rapid isothermal CRISPR-Cas13a diagnostic test for genital herpes simplex virus infection.

Prompt diagnosis is essential for managing herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1/2). Existing diagnostic methods are not widely available that required expensive or additional equipment for conducting examinations and result readouts, which can limit their utility in resource-constrained settings. We successfully developed a CRISPR-Cas13a-based assay for the detection and genotyping of HSV. Our assay demonstrated a high sensitivity of 96.15% and 95.15% for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively, with a specificity of 100% compared to a commercial qPCR assay when tested on 194 clinical samples. Remarkably, the assay enables a limit of detection of 1 copy/µL of viral DNA, facilitated by an enhanced input of RPA product and is designed for both mobile app integration and colorimetric interpretation, allowing for semiquantitative readings. These findings highlight the excellent performance of our CRISPR-based diagnostic in detecting HSV and its potential for point-of-care testing in resource-constrained settings.

Material Properties of Fiber Bundles of the Superficial Medial Collateral Ligament of the Knee Joint.

The superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) of the human knee joint has functionally separate anterior and posterior fiber bundles. The two bundles are alternatively loaded as the knee flexion angle changes during walking. To date, the two bundles are usually not distinguished in knee ligament simulations because there has been little information about their material properties. In this study, we conducted quasi-static tensile tests on the sMCL of matured porcine stifle joints and obtained the material properties of the anterior bundle (AB), posterior bundle (PB), and whole ligament (WL). AB and PB have similar failure stress but different threshold strain, modulus, and failure strain. As a result, we recommend assigning different material properties (i.e., modulus and failure strain) to the two fiber bundles to realize biofidelic ligament responses in human body models. However, it is often inconvenient to perform tensile tests on AB and PB. Hence, we proposed a microstructural model-based approach to predict the material properties of AB and PB from the test results of WL. Such obtained modulus values of AB and PB had an error of 2% and 0.3%, respectively, compared with those measured from the tests. This approach can reduce the experimental cost for acquiring the needed mechanical property data for simulations.

The programmed sequence-based oxygenase screening for polypropylene degradation.

Enzymatic degradation of plastic is an effective means of plastic recycling and pollution control. However, the strong chemical inertness of polypropylene plastic (PP) severely impedes its oxidative cleavage, making it resistant to degradation. In this study, based on sequence screening of Hidden Markov Model (HMM), a dioxygenase (HIS1) was identified and characterized to be effective in PP oxidation. Various kinds of PP products, including plastic films, microplastics, and disposable water cups or bags, were HIS1-degraded with cracks and holes on the surface. The hydrophobic binding was the primary force driving oxidative degradation in the specific cavity of HIS1. The discovery of HIS1 achieved a zero breakthrough in PP biodegradation, providing a promising candidate for the selection and evolution of degrading enzymes.

Aggregation-Induced Emission-Based Macrophage-Like Nanoparticles for Targeted Photothermal Therapy and Virus Transmission Blockage in Monkeypox.

The recent prevalence of monkeypox has led to the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Monkeypox lesions are typically ulcers or pustules (containing high titers of replication-competent virus) in the skin and mucous membranes, which allow monkeypox virus to transmit predominantly through intimate contact. Currently, effective clinical treatments for monkeypox are lacking, and strategies for blocking virus transmission are fraught with drawbacks. Herein, this work constructs a biomimetic nanotemplate (termed TBD@M NPs) with macrophage membranes as the coat and polymeric nanoparticles loading a versatile aggregation-induced emission featured photothermal molecule TPE-BT-DPTQ as the core. In a surrogate mouse model of monkeypox (vaccinia-virus-infected tail scarification model), intravenously injected TBD@M NPs show precise tracking and near-infrared region II fluorescence imaging of the lesions. Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, the virus is eliminated by the photothermal effect and the infected wound heals rapidly. More importantly, the inoculation of treated lesion tissue suspensions does not trigger tail infection or inflammatory activation in healthy mice, indicating successful blockage of virus transmission. This study demonstrates for the first time monkeypox theranostics using nanomedicine, and may bring a new insight into the development of a viable strategy for monkeypox management in clinical trials.

A case study of unavoidable accidents of autonomous vehicles.

Objective: Autonomous driving technology eliminates human errors, and thus it is a promising solution for reducing road traffic fatalities and injuries. While future autonomous driving technology may be able to reduce the number of collision accidents, it will not be able to avoid all collision accidents. This study is aimed to demonstrate why some accidents will still be unavoidable even with advanced perceiving and controlling capabilities.Methods: Because fully autonomous vehicles are currently in the laboratory stage, we used the prospective method to study the unavoidable accident of autonomous vehicles. Suitable traffic accident cases were screened from the China In-Depth Accident Study (CIDAS). Videos of the accidents were analyzed and the accidents were reconstructed using PC-Crash software. We assumed that target vehicle possesses near-perfect autonomous driving capabilities. Unavoidable accidents were determined based on vehicle dynamics and traffic constraints. The time from perceiving hazard to collision was calculated for each accident.Results: Among the 112 accidents screened, 15 cases of unavoidable accidents were identified. Three typical cases are presented in detail in this study. Based on the reasons why the target vehicles cannot avoid the collisions, we classified the unavoidable accidents into time-limit type and space-limit type. Time-limit means that vehicle cannot stop or steer out of danger in time, and space-limit means that the traffic environment does not have sufficient space for vehicle to avoid collision.Conclusions: Collision accidents will still occur even with perfect autonomous driving technology. We used the prospective method to investigate scenarios and characteristics of unavoidable accidents of autonomous vehicles. The time-limit type and the space-limit type were identified as two categories of unavoidable accidents. For the time-limit unavoidable accidents, the time from perceiving hazard to collision is typically not longer than 1.5s. The characteristics of unavoidable accidents and the estimated pre-crash warning time can provide some reference for establishing future occupant protection strategies. This study also showed the limitations of active safety and the necessity of passive safety.

Comparison of freehand technique and a novel laser-guiding navigation system in femoral neck-cannulated screw fixation: a randomized controlled trial.

Cannulated screw fixation is essential in treating femoral neck fractures, and the widely used freehand technique has several limitations. Therefore, we designed a new laser-positioning and navigation system and compared its efficacy with that of the traditional freehand technique in the cannulated screw fixation of femoral neck fractures. This randomized controlled single-blind trial recruited patients with femoral neck fracture, who were treated using either the newly designed laser-navigation device or the freehand technique. In in-vitro experiments, using the femoral neck model, the laser group was better than the freehand group in terms of operation time (P = 0.0153) and radiation exposure time (P < 0.001). In in-vivo experiments, involving 30 patients (15 in each group), the laser group was better than the freehand group in terms of operation time (P < 0.001), radiation exposure time (P < 0.001), blood loss (P < 0.001) and first success rate (P = 0.03). There was no difference in visual analog scale score, Harris score, and fracture-healing time between the two groups. In conclusion, the novel laser-guiding navigation system resulted in shorter operation time, less radiation exposure, and higher first success rate compared with the freehand technique. Further qualified investigations with a larger number of patients and longer follow-up are required in the future.

An isothermal CRISPR-based diagnostic assay for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis detection.

IMPORTANCE: A method for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG)/Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) detection is developed using multiplex-recombinase polymerase amplification and Cas12a/Cas13a. This method can detect NG and CT simultaneously with high sensitivity and specificity. This method has great potential to be further developed into larger-scale screening and point-of-care testing (POCT).

Early syphilis in Guangzhou, China: presentation, molecular detection of Treponema pallidum , and genomic sequences in clinical specimens and isolates obtained by rabbit infectivity testing.

Background: The global resurgence of syphilis requires novel prevention strategies. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Treponema pallidum ( TPA ) using different specimen types is essential for vaccine development. Methods: Patients with primary (PS) and secondary (SS) syphilis were recruited in Guangzhou, China. We collected ulcer exudates and blood from PS participants, and skin biopsies and blood from SS participants for TPA polA polymerase chain reaction (PCR); ulcer exudates and blood were also used to isolate TPA strains by rabbit infectivity testing (RIT). TPA WGS was performed on 52 ulcer exudates and biopsy specimens and 25 matched rabbit isolates. Results: We enrolled 18 PS and 51 SS participants from December 2019 to March 2022. Among PS participants, TPA DNA was detected in 16 (89%) ulcer exudates and three (17%) blood specimens. Among SS participants, TPA DNA was detected in 50 (98%) skin biopsies and 27 (53%) blood specimens. TP A was isolated from 48 rabbits, with a 71% (12/17) success rate from ulcer exudates and 69% (36/52) from SS bloods. Twenty-three matched SS14 clade genomes were virtually identical, while two Nichols clade pairs had discordant tprK sequences. Forty-two of 52 unique TPA genomes clustered in an SS14 East Asia subgroup, while ten fell into two East Asian Nichols subgroups. Conclusions: Our TPA detection rate was high from PS ulcer exudates and SS skin biopsies and over 50% from SS whole blood, with RIT isolation in over two-thirds of samples. Our results support the use of WGS from rabbit isolates to inform vaccine development. Summary: We performed Treponema pallidum molecular detection and genome sequencing from multiple specimens collected from early syphilis patients and isolates obtained by rabbit inoculation. Our results support the use of whole genome sequencing from rabbit isolates to inform syphilis vaccine development.