Effect of dental chew on reducing dental plaque, dental calculus and halitosis in beagle dogs.

Periodontosis is the most common clinical disease in adult dogs, which is mainly caused by plaque accumulation and seriously endangers the oral health of dogs and even cause kidney, myocardial, and liver problems in severe cases. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy of dental chew (Cature Brushing Treats product) with mechanical and chemical properties in beagles. The dogs in the experimental group were fed with a dental chew twice a day after meals; The control group had no treatment. Dental plaque was evaluated on the 14th day and 29th day, respectively. The concentration of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) in the breath and dental calculus were also evaluated on the 29th day. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the indexes of dental plaque on the 14th day. While they had significantly reduced accumulation of plaque (37.63%), calculus (37.61%), and VSC concentration (81.08%) compared to when receiving no chew on the 29th day.

Increase in HIV reservoir and T cell immune response after CoronaVac vaccination in people living with HIV.

Introduction: CoronaVac, an inactivated vaccine developed by Sinovac Life Sciences, has been widely used for protection against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study investigates its effect on the HIV reservoir and T cell repertoires in people living with HIV (PLWHs). Methods: Blood samples were collected from fifteen PLWHs who were administered at least two doses of CoronaVac between April 2021 and February 2022. The levels of cell-associated HIV RNA (CA HIV RNA) and HIV DNA, as well as the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire profiles, TCR clustering and TCRß annotation, were studied. Results: A significant increase was observed in CA HIV RNA at 2 weeks (431.5 ± 164.2 copies/106 cells, P = 0.039) and 12 weeks (330.2 ± 105.9 copies/106 cells, P = 0.019) after the second dose, when compared to the baseline (0 weeks) (73.6 ± 23.7 copies/106 cells). Various diversity indices of the TCRß repertoire, including Shannon index, Pielou's evenness index, and Hvj Index, revealed a slight increase (P < 0.05) following CoronaVac vaccination. The proportion of overlapping TCRß clonotypes increased from baseline (31.9 %) to 2 weeks (32.5 %) and 12 weeks (40.4 %) after the second dose. We also found that the breadth and depth of COVID-19-specific T cells increased from baseline (0.003 and 0.0035) to 12 weeks (0.0066 and 0.0058) post the second dose. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated an initial increase in HIV reservoir and TCR repertoire diversity, as well as an expansion in the depth and breadth of COVID-19-specific T-cell clones among CoronaVac-vaccinated PLWHs. These findings provide important insights into the effects of COVID-19 vaccination in PLWHs.

Association of hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults.

With high prevalence and substantial mortality, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are significant public health concerns. Utilizing a large, population-based dataset from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, our study probes the relationship between COPD prevalence and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, as measured by Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography. We analyzed data from 693 individuals with COPD and 7229 without. Through weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis, a restricted cubic spline curve, and threshold effect analysis, we investigated the correlation between the severity of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and the presence of COPD. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and COPD prevalence [OR = 1.03 (95% CI 1.01, 1.05)], even after multivariate adjustment. Furthermore, we observed a U-shaped association between CAP and COPD, where the inflection point, CAP value of 264.85 dB/m, corresponded to the lowest COPD prevalence. Our study emphasizes a substantial and complex link between hepatic steatosis and COPD. These findings urge healthcare professionals to factor liver health into COPD management and prompt further exploration into the underlying mechanisms. This could pave the way for the development of improved prevention and treatment strategies.

Characterizing the Loss and Acquisition of Tn2-like Transposon in Klebsiella pneumoniae: Implications for Carbapemase Gene Dissemination.

Over one year, two KPC-producing and two non-KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were isolated from a patient. Genome and DNA hybridization analyses revealed the first three strains as a clonal lineage, with carbapenem resistance changes due to a Tn2-like transposon on an IncR/IncFII plasmid. The fourth strain, carrying three plasmids, caused a lethal infection and represented a different lineage. All strains belonged to the ST11-SL47-OL101 type. This study highlights the Tn2-like transposon's role in carbapenemase gene spread and the importance of distinguishing between bacterial colonization and infection.

Diversity inhibits foliar fungal diseases in grasslands: Potential mechanisms and temperature dependence.

A long-standing debate exists among ecologists as to how diversity regulates infectious diseases (i.e., the nature of diversity-disease relationships); a dilution effect refers to when increasing host diversity inhibits infectious diseases (i.e., negative diversity-disease relationships). However, the generality, strength, and potential mechanisms underlying negative diversity-disease relationships in natural ecosystems remain unclear. To this end, we conducted a large-scale survey of 63 grassland sites across China to explore diversity-disease relationships. We found widespread negative diversity-disease relationships that were temperature-dependent; non-random diversity loss played a fundamental role in driving these patterns. Our study provides field evidence for the generality and temperature dependence of negative diversity-disease relationships in grasslands, becoming stronger in colder regions, while also highlighting the role of non-random diversity loss as a mechanism. These findings have important implications for community ecology, disease ecology, and epidemic control.

Chemo-, Regio- and Stereoselective Preparation of (Z)-2-Butene-1,4-Diol Monoesters via Pd-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Acyloxylation.

(Z)-alkenes are useful synthons but thermodynamically less stable than their (E)-isomers and typically more difficult to prepare. The synthesis of 1,4-hetero-bifunctionalized (Z)-alkenes is particularly challenging due to the inherent regio- and stereoselectivity issues. Herein we demonstrate a general, chemoselective and direct synthesis of (Z)-2-butene-1,4-diol monoesters. The protocol operates within a Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative acyloxylation regime involving vinyl ethylene carbonates (VECs) and various carboxylic acids as the reaction partners under mild and operationally attractive conditions. The newly developed process allows access to a structurally diverse pool of (Z)-2-butene-1,4-diol monoesters in good yields and with excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. Various synthetic transformations of the obtained (Z)-2-butene-1,4-diol monoesters demonstrate how these synthons are of great use to rapidly diversify the portfolio of these formal desymmetrized (Z)-alkenes.

A recombinant chimeric spider pyriform-aciniform silk with highly tunable mechanical performance.

Spider silks are natural protein-based biomaterials which are renowned for their mechanical properties and hold great promise for applications ranging from high-performance textiles to regenerative medicine. While some spiders can produce several different types of silks, most spider silk types - including pyriform and aciniform silks - are relatively unstudied. Pyriform and aciniform silks have distinct mechanical behavior and physicochemical properties, with materials produced using combinations of these silks currently unexplored. Here, we introduce an engineered chimeric fusion protein consisting of two repeat units of pyriform (Py) silk followed by two repeat units of aciniform (W) silk named Py2W2. This recombinant ∼86.5 kDa protein is amenable to expression and purification from Escherichia coli and exhibits high α-helicity in a fluorinated acid- and alcohol-based solution used to form a dope for wet-spinning. Wet-spinning enables continuous fiber production and post-spin stretching of the wet-spun fibers in air or following submersion in water or ethanol leads to increases in optical anisotropy, consistent with increased molecular alignment along the fiber axis. Mechanical properties of the fibers vary as a function of post-spin stretching condition, with the highest extensibility and strength observed in air-stretched and ethanol-treated fibers, respectively, with mechanics being superior to fibers spun from either constituent protein alone. Notably, the maximum extensibility obtained (∼157 ± 38 %) is of the same magnitude reported for natural flagelliform silks, the class of spider silk most associated with being stretchable. Interestingly, Py2W2 is also water-compatible, unlike its constituent Py2. Fiber-state secondary structure correlates well with the observed mechanical properties, with depleted α-helicity and increased ß-sheet content in cases of increased strength. Py2W2 fibers thus provide enhanced materials behavior in terms of their mechanics, tunability, and fiber properties, providing new directions for design and development of biomaterials suitable and tunable for disparate applications.

The cellular expression patterns of gdnfa and gdnfb in the gonads of Nile tilapia and their differential response to retinoic acid.

In mammals, glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays a critical role in the self-renewal and maintenance of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in testis and oogenesis in ovary, whilst retinoic acid (RA), the key factor of meiosis initiation, can downregulate its expression. Unlike mammals, two Gdnf replication genes are widely present in teleost fishes, however, our understanding of them is still poor. In the present study, two paralogous gdnf from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), namely as Ongdnfa and Ongdnfb, were characterized, and then their cellular expression profiles in testis and ovary and responsiveness to RA treatment at the tissue and cellular levels were investigated. In phylogenetic tree, the Gdnfa and Gdnfb from teleost fishes were clustered into two different subclasses, respectively, and then clustered with the homologs from cartilaginous fish and tetrapods, suggesting that OnGdnfa and OnGdnfb are orthologous to GDNF and paralogous to each other. Ongdnfa is expressed in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells in testis and oocytes in ovary. The expression pattern of Ongdnfb is similar to Ongdnfa. In the ex vivo testicular organ culture, RA down-regulated the expression of Ongdnfa, whereas up-regulated the expression of Ongdnfb (P < 0.05), suggesting that they have differential responsiveness to RA signaling. RA treatment of the cultured cells derived from adult Nile tilapia testis which have the expression of RA receptors (RAR), Ongdnfa and Ongdnfb further confirmed the above result. Collectively, our study suggests that Ongdnfa and Ongdnfb have non-germline expression patterns in testis and germline expression patterns in ovary; furthermore, they have differential responsiveness to RA signaling, implying that they might have differential biological functions. This study broadens and enriches our understanding of fish GDNF homologs and lays foundation for the study of their biological functions in the future.

Endovascular treatment versus standard medical treatment in patients with established large infarct: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous trials confirmed the benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute large core stroke, but the effect of EVT on outcomes in these patients based on non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) in real-world clinical practice was unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of EVT versus standard medical treatment (SMT) in patients with large ischemic core stroke defined as Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS)≤5 based on NCCT alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with acute large core stroke at 38 Chinese centers between November 2021 and February 2023 were reviewed from prospectively maintained databases. The primary outcome was favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score [mRS], 0-3) at 90 days. Safety outcomes included 48-hour symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Of 745 eligible patients recruited at 38 stroke centers between November 2021 and February 2023, 490 were treated with EVT and 255 with SMT alone. One hundred and eighty-one (36.9%) in the EVT group achieved favorable functional independence versus 48 (18.8%) treated with SMT only (adjusted risk ratio [RR], 1.86; 95% CI, 1.43 to 2.42, P<0.001; adjusted risk difference [RD], 13.77; 95% CI, 7.40 to 20.15, P<0.001). The proportion of sICH was significantly higher in patients undergoing EVT (13.3% vs. 2.4%; adjusted RR, 5.17; 95% CI, 2.17 to 12.32, P<0.001; adjusted RD, 10.10; 95% CI, 6.12 to 14.09, P<0.001). No significant difference of mortality between the groups was observed (41.8% vs. 49.0%; adjusted RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.07, P=0.24; adjusted RD, -5.91; 95% CI, -12.91 to 1.09, P=0.1). CONCLUSION: Among patients with acute large core stroke based on NCCT in real world, EVT is associated with better functional outcomes at 90 days despite of higher risk of sICH. Rates of procedure-related complications were high in the EVT group.

Trends in prevalence of multimorbidity for chronic diseases in China: serial cross-sectional surveys from 2009 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity, individuals suffering from two or more chronic diseases, has become a major health challenge worldwide, especially in populous and prosperous cities, where studies of this phenomenon in China are limited. We examined the prevalence, trends, patterns, and associated factors of multimorbidity from 2009 to 2018 among community-dwelling adults in Guangzhou, China. METHODS: We conducted serial cross-sectional surveys for chronic diseases in Guangzhou, China, in 2009, 2013, and 2018. General and stratified prevalence were standardized using demographic data. Multivariable logistic regression and hierarchical cluster analysis were applied to identify associated factors and to assess the correlations and patterns of multimorbidity, respectively. RESULTS: This study included 23,284 adults aged 18 and over in 2009, 18,551 in 2013, and 15,727 in 2018. The standardized prevalence of multimorbidity increased substantially, with 12.69% (95% CI: 10.45-15.33) in 2009, 25.44% (95% CI: 23.47-27.52) in 2013, and 35.13% (95% CI:32.64-37.70) in 2018 (P for trend <0.001). The highest bi- and triple-conditions of multimorbidity were dyslipidemia (DP) and overweight or obesity (OO) (12.54%, 95% CI: 11.68-13.46), and DP, OO, and Hypertension (HT) (3.99%, 95% CI: 3.47-4.58) in 2018. From 2009 to 2018, (1) The majority of multimorbidity patterns showed a high prevalence; (2) The percentage of participants with only one chronic condition was found lower, while the percentage with multiple conditions was higher. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of chronic disease multimorbidity in Guangzhou China, has increased substantially among adults. Effective policies targeting multimorbidity are urgently needed, especially for the health management of primary medical institutions.

Chronic exposure to tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate: Effects on intestinal microbiota and serum metabolism in rats.

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is a widely used organophosphate ester that can adversely affect animal or human health. The intestinal microbiota is critical to human health. High-dose exposure to TDCIPP can markedly affect the intestinal ecosystem of mice, but the effects of long-term exposure to lower concentrations of TDCIPP on the intestinal flora and body metabolism remain unclear. In this study, TDCIPP was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats by gavage at a dose of 13.3 mg/kg bw/day for 90 days. TDCIPP increased the relative weight of the kidneys (P = 0.017), but had no effect on the relative weight of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, testes, and ovaries (P > 0.05). 16 S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that long-term TDCIPP exposure affected the diversity, relative abundance, and functions of rat gut microbes. The serum metabolomics of the rats showed that TDCIPP can disrupt the serum metabolic profiles, result in the up-regulation of 26 metabolites and down-regulation of 3 metabolites, and affect multiple metabolic pathways in rat sera. In addition, the disturbed genera and metabolites were correlated. The functions of some disturbed gut microbes were consistent with the affected metabolic pathways in the sera, and these metabolic pathways were all associated with kidney disease, suggesting that TDCIPP may cause kidney injury in rats by affecting the intestinal flora and serum metabolism.

Surface-engineered Mo2B: a promising electrode material for constructing Ohmic contacts with blue phosphorene for electronic device applications.

The Schottky barrier between a metal and a semiconductor plays an important role in determining the transport efficiency of carriers and improving the performance of devices. In this work, we systematically studied the structure and electronic properties of heterostructures of blue phosphorene (BP) in contact with Mo2B based on density functional theory. The semiconductor properties of BP are destroyed owing to strong interaction with bare Mo2B. The effect of modifying Mo2B with O and OH on the contact properties was investigated. A p-type Schottky contact can be obtained in BP/Mo2BO2. The height of the Schottky barrier can be modulated by interlayer distance to realize a transition from a p-type Schottky contact to a p-type Ohmic contact in BP/Mo2BO2. The BP/Mo2B(OH)2 forms robust Ohmic contacts, which are insensitive to interlayer distance and external electric fields due to the Fermi level pinning effect. Our work provides important clues for contact engineering and improvement of device performance based on BP.

The DNA loop release factor WAPL suppresses Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein expression to maintain the highly restricted latency I program.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) uses latency programs to colonize the memory B-cell reservoir, and each program is associated with human malignancies. However, knowledge remains incomplete of epigenetic mechanisms that maintain the highly restricted latency I program, present in memory and Burkitt lymphoma cells, in which EBNA1 is the only EBV-encoded protein expressed. Given increasing appreciation that higher order chromatin architecture is an important determinant of viral and host gene expression, we investigated roles of Wings Apart-Like Protein Homolog (WAPL), a host factor that unloads cohesins to control DNA loop size and that was discovered as an EBNA2-associated protein. WAPL knockout (KO) in Burkitt cells de-repressed LMP1 and LMP2A expression but not other EBV oncogenes to yield a viral program reminiscent of EBV latency II, which is rarely observed in B-cells. WAPL KO also increased LMP1/2A levels in latency III lymphoblastoid cells. WAPL KO altered EBV genome architecture, triggering formation of DNA loops between the LMP promoter region and the EBV origins of lytic replication (oriLyt). Hi-C analysis further demonstrated that WAPL KO reprograms EBV genomic DNA looping. LMP1 and LMP2A de-repression correlated with decreased histone repressive marks at their promoters. We propose that EBV coopts WAPL to negatively regulate latent membrane protein expression to maintain Burkitt latency I. Author Summary: EBV is a highly prevalent herpesvirus etiologically linked to multiple lymphomas, gastric and nasopharyngeal carcinomas, and multiple sclerosis. EBV persists in the human host in B-cells that express a series of latency programs, each of which is observed in a distinct type of human lymphoma. The most restricted form of EBV latency, called latency I, is observed in memory cells and in most Burkitt lymphomas. In this state, EBNA1 is the only EBV-encoded protein expressed to facilitate infected cell immunoevasion. However, epigenetic mechanisms that repress expression of the other eight EBV-encoded latency proteins remain to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that the host factor WAPL might have a role in restriction of EBV genes, as it is a major regulator of long-range DNA interactions by negatively regulating cohesin proteins that stabilize DNA loops, and WAPL was found in a yeast 2-hybrid screen for EBNA2-interacting host factors. Using CRISPR together with Hi-ChIP and Hi-C DNA architecture analyses, we uncovered WAPL roles in suppressing expression of LMP1 and LMP2A, which mimic signaling by CD40 and B-cell immunoglobulin receptors, respectively. These proteins are expressed together with EBNA1 in the latency II program. We demonstrate that WAPL KO changes EBV genomic architecture, including allowing the formation of DNA loops between the oriLyt enhancers and the LMP promoter regions. Collectively, our study suggests that WAPL reinforces Burkitt latency I by preventing the formation of DNA loops that may instead support the latency II program.

Social network analysis of a decade-long collaborative innovation network between hospitals and the biomedical industry in China.

Collaborative innovation between hospitals and biomedical enterprises is crucial for ensuring breakthroughs in their development. This study explores the structural characteristics and examines the main roles of associated key actors of collaborative innovation between hospitals and biomedical enterprises in China. Using the jointly owned patent data within the country's healthcare industry, a decade-long collaborative innovation network between hospitals and biomedical enterprises in China was established and analyzed through social network analysis. The results revealed that the overall levels of collaborative innovation network density, collaborative frequency, and network connectivity were significantly low, especially in less-developed regions. In terms of actors with higher degree centrality, hospitals accounted for the majority, whereas a biomedical enterprise in Shenzhen had the highest degree centrality. Organizations in underdeveloped and northwest regions and small players were more likely to implement collaborative innovation. In conclusion, a collaborative innovation network between hospitals and biomedical enterprises in China demonstrated high dispersion and poor development levels. Stimulating organizations' initiatives for collaborative innovation may enhance quality and quantity of such innovation. Policy support and economic investments, strategic collaborative help, and resource and partnership optimization, especially for small players and in less-developed and northwest regions, should be encouraged to enhance collaborative innovation between hospitals and the biomedical industry in China and other similar countries or regions.

Real-world applications of the new grading system in lung adenocarcinoma: A study of 907 patients focusing on revealing the relationship between pathologic grade and genetic status.

BACKGROUND: The status of the lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) grading system and the association between LUAD differentiation, driver genes, and clinicopathological features remain to be elucidated. METHODS: We included patients with invasive non-mucinous LUAD, evaluated their differentiation, and collected available clinicopathological information, gene mutations, and analyzed clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 907 patients with invasive non-mucinous LUAD, 321 (35.4 %) were poorly differentiated, 422 (46.5 %) were moderately differentiated, and 164 (18.1 %) were well differentiated. EGFR mutation was more common in the LUADs accompanied without CGP (complex glandular pattern) than LUADs with CGP (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis between mutations and clinical characteristics showed that EGFR gene mutation (p < 0.001), KRAS gene mutation (p < 0.05), and ALK gene rearrangement (p < 0.001) were significantly related to the degree of tumor differentiation, and the KRAS and ALK gene mutation frequencies were higher in the low-differentiation group than in the high and medium differentiation groups. The EGFR mutation frequency was higher in the well/moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds to the evidence regarding the role of the grading system in prognosis. EGFR, KRAS, and ALK are related to the degree of tumor differentiation.

Endovascular Therapy and Outcomes Among Patients With Very Large Ischemic Core Stroke.

Importance: The association of endovascular therapy (EVT) with outcomes is unclear for patients with very low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) within 24 hours of stroke onset. Objective: To explore the association of EVT with functional and safety outcomes among patients with ASPECTS of 0 to 2 scored with noncontrast computed tomography. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used data from an ongoing, prospective, observational, nationwide registry including all patients treated at 38 stroke centers in China with an occlusion in the internal carotid artery or M1 or M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery within 24 hours of witnessed symptom onset. Patients with ASPECTS of 0 to 2 between November 1, 2021, and February 8, 2023, were included in analysis. Data were analyzed October to November 2023. Exposures: EVT vs standard medical treatment (SMT). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was favorable functional outcome, defined as modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) of 0 to 3, at 90 days. Safety outcomes included symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) within 48 hours and mortality at 90 days. Results: A total of 245 patients (median [IQR] age, 71 [63-78] years; 118 [48%] women) with ASPECTS of 0 to 2 were included, of whom 111 patients (45.1%) received SMT and 135 patients (54.9%) received EVT. The EVT group had significantly greater odds of favorable functional outcome at 90 days than the SMT group (30 patients [22.2%] vs 11 patients [9.9%]; P = .01; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.07 [95% CI, 1.29-7.31]; P = .01). Patients in the EVT group, compared with the SMT group, had significantly greater odds of any ICH (56 patients [41.5%] vs 16 patients [11.4%]; P < .001; aOR, 4.27 [95% CI, 2.19-8.35]; P < .001) and sICH (24 patients [17.8%] vs 1 patient [0.9%]; P < .001; aOR, 23.07 [95% CI, 2.99-177.79]; P = .003) within 48 hours. There were no differences between groups for 90-day mortality (80 patients [59.3%] vs 59 patients [53.2%]; P = .34; aOR, 1.38 [95% CI, 0.77-2.47]; P = .28). The results remained robust in the propensity score-matched analysis. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of patients with very low ASPECTS based on NCCT within 24 hours of stroke onset, those treated with EVT had higher odds of a favorable functional outcome compared with those who received SMT. Randomized clinical trials are needed to assess these findings.

xSiGra: Explainable model for single-cell spatial data elucidation.

Recent advancements in spatial imaging technologies have revolutionized the acquisition of high-resolution multi-channel images, gene expressions, and spatial locations at the single-cell level. Our study introduces xSiGra, an interpretable graph-based AI model, designed to elucidate interpretable features of identified spatial cell types, by harnessing multi-modal features from spatial imaging technologies. By constructing a spatial cellular graph with immunohistology images and gene expression as node attributes, xSiGra employs hybrid graph transformer models to delineate spatial cell types. Additionally, xSiGra integrates a novel variant of Grad-CAM component to uncover interpretable features, including pivotal genes and cells for various cell types, thereby facilitating deeper biological insights from spatial data. Through rigorous benchmarking against existing methods, xSiGra demonstrates superior performance across diverse spatial imaging datasets. Application of xSiGra on a lung tumor slice unveils the importance score of cells, illustrating that cellular activity is not solely determined by itself but also impacted by neighboring cells. Moreover, leveraging the identified interpretable genes, xSiGra reveals endothelial cell subset interacting with tumor cells, indicating its heterogeneous underlying mechanisms within the complex cellular communications.

Isolation, characterization and therapeutic evaluation of a new Acinetobacter virus Abgy202141 lysing Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that easily resists currently available antibiotics. Phages are considered alternative therapeutic agents to conventional antibiotics for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacteria. We isolated an Acinetobacter virus Abgy202141 from underground sewage in a residential area of Guiyang City in China. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that Acinetobacter virus Abgy202141 has an icosahedral head attached to a tail. This phage infects A. baumannii strain GY-4, and was found to have a short latent period of 5 min and with a burst size of 189 particles per infected host cell. Additionally, Acinetobacter virus Abgy202141 remained stable at different concentrations of chloroform and varying pH levels and temperatures. Based on SDS-PAGE analysis, it contained 14 proteins with molecular weights ranging from 12 to 125 kDa. The double-strand (ds) DNA genome of Acinetobacter virus Abgy202141 consisted of 41,242 bp with a GC content of 39.4%. It contained 50 open reading frames (ORFs), of which 29 ORFs had identified functions, but no virulence-related genes, antibiotic-resistance genes, or tRNAs were found. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Acinetobacter virus Abgy202141 was a new phage in the Friunavirus genus. Acinetobacter virus Abgy202141 also showed the ability to prevent A. baumannii infections in the Galleria mellonella in vivo model.