Visible-light-driven alkene dicarboxylation with formate and CO2 under mild conditions.

Low-cost formate salt was used as the reductant and part of the carboxyl source in a visible-light-driven dicarboxylation of diverse alkenes, including simple styrenes. The highly competing hydrocarboxylation side reaction was successfully overridden. Good yields of products were obtained under mild reaction conditions at ambient temperature and pressure of CO2. The dual role of formate salt may stimulate the discovery of a range of new transformations under mild and friendly conditions.

Bacterial and fungal community structures in Hulun Lake are regulated by both stochastic processes and environmental factors.

Microorganisms are a crucial component of lake ecosystems and significant contributors to biogeochemical cycles. However, the understanding of how primary microorganism groups (e.g., bacteria and fungi) are distributed and constructed within different lake habitats is lacking. We investigated the bacterial and fungal communities of Hulun Lake using high-throughput sequencing techniques targeting 16S rRNA and Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 genes, including a range of ecological and statistical methodologies. Our findings reveal that environmental factors have high spatial and temporal variability. The composition and community structures vary significantly depending on differences in habitats. Variance partitioning analysis showed that environmental and geographical factors accounted for <20% of the community variation. Canonical correlation analysis showed that among the environmental factors, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen had strong control over microbial communities. However, the microbial communities (bacterial and fungal) were primarily controlled by the dispersal limitations of stochastic processes. This study offers fresh perspectives regarding the maintenance mechanism of bacterial and fungal biodiversity in lake ecosystems, especially regarding the responses of microbial communities under identical environmental stress.IMPORTANCELake ecosystems are an important part of the freshwater ecosystem. Lake microorganisms play an important role in material circulation and energy flow owing to their unique enzymatic and metabolic capacity. In this study, we observed that bacterial and fungal communities varied widely in the water and sediments of Hulun Lake. The primary factor affecting their formation was identified as dispersal limitation during stochastic processes. Environmental and geographical factors accounted for <20% of the variation in bacterial and fungal communities, with pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen being important environmental factors. Our findings provide new insights into the responses of bacteria and fungi to the environment, shed light on the ecological processes of community building, and deepen our understanding of lake ecosystems. The results of this study provide a reference for lake management and conservation, particularly with respect to monitoring and understanding microbial communities in response to environmental changes.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide alleviates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury by modulating macrophage polarization via the SIRT1/NF-κB pathway.

CONTEXT: Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe condition with limited effective therapeutics; nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory activities. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the potential mechanisms by which NMN ameliorates sepsis-induced ALI in vivo and in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cultured MH-S cells and a murine model were used to evaluate the effect of NMN on sepsis-induced ALI. MH-S cells were stimulated with LPS (1 µg/mL) and NMN (500 µM) for 12 h grouping as control, LPS, and LPS + NMN. Cell viability, apoptotic status, and M1/2 macrophage-related markers were detected. The mice were pretreated intraperitoneally with NMN (500 mg/kg) and/or EX-527 (5 mg/kg) 1 h before LPS injection and randomized into 7 groups (n = 8): control, LPS, LPS + NMN, NMN, LPS + NMN + EX-527 (a SIRT1 inhibitor), LPS + EX-527, and EX-527. After 12 h, lung histopathology, W/D ratio, MPO activity, NAD+ and ATP levels, M1/2 macrophage-related markers, and expression of the SIRT1/NF-κB pathway were detected. RESULTS: In MH-S cells, NMN significantly decreased the apoptotic rate from 12.25% to 5.74%. In septic mice, NMN improved the typical pathologic findings in lungs and reduced W/D ratio and MPO activity, but increased NAD+ and ATP levels. Additionally, NMN suppressed M1 but promoted M2 polarization, and upregulated the expression of SIRT1, with inhibition of NF-κB-p65 acetylation and phosphorylation. Furthermore, inhibition of SIRT1 reversed the effects of NMN-induced M2 macrophage polarization. CONCLUSIONS: NMN protects against sepsis-induced ALI by promoting M2 macrophage polarization via the SIRT1/NF-κB pathway, it might be an effective strategy for preventing or treating sepsis-induced ALI.

HYENA detects oncogenes activated by distal enhancers in cancer.

Somatic structural variations (SVs) in cancer can shuffle DNA content in the genome, relocate regulatory elements, and alter genome organization. Enhancer hijacking occurs when SVs relocate distal enhancers to activate proto-oncogenes. However, most enhancer hijacking studies have only focused on protein-coding genes. Here, we develop a computational algorithm "HYENA" to identify candidate oncogenes (both protein-coding and non-coding) activated by enhancer hijacking based on tumor whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing data. HYENA detects genes whose elevated expression is associated with somatic SVs by using a rank-based regression model. We systematically analyze 1,148 tumors across 25 types of adult tumors and identify a total of 192 candidate oncogenes including many non-coding genes. A long non-coding RNA TOB1-AS1 is activated by various types of SVs in 10% of pancreatic cancers through altered 3-dimension genome structure. We find that high expression of TOB1-AS1 can promote cell invasion and metastasis. Our study highlights the contribution of genetic alterations in non-coding regions to tumorigenesis and tumor progression.

Analysis of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Pteronura brasiliensis and Lontra canadensis.

P. brasiliensis and L. canadensis are two otter species, which successfully occupied semi-aquatic habitats and diverged from other Mustelidae. Herein, the full-length mitochondrial genome sequences were constructed for these two otter species for the first time. Comparative mitochondrial genome, selection pressure, and phylogenetic independent contrasts (PICs) analyses were conducted to determine the structure and evolutionary characteristics of their mitochondrial genomes. Phylogenetic analyses were also conducted to confirm these two otter species' phylogenetic position. The results demonstrated that the mitochondrial genome structure of P. brasiliensis and L. canadensis were consistent across Mustelidae. However, selection pressure analyses demonstrated that the evolutionary rates of mitochondrial genome protein-coding genes (PCGs) ND1, ND4, and ND4L were higher in otters than in terrestrial Mustelidae, whereas the evolutionary rates of ND2, ND6, and COX1 were lower in otters. Additionally, PIC analysis demonstrated that the evolutionary rates of ND2, ND4, and ND4L markedly correlated with a niche type. Phylogenetic analysis showed that P. brasiliensis is situated at the base of the evolutionary tree of otters, and then L. canadensis diverged from it. This study suggests a divergent evolutionary pattern of Mustelidae mitochondrial genome PCGs, prompting the otters' adaptation to semi-aquatic habitats.

Structure characteristics of mutation sites in two waxy alleles from Yunnan waxy maize (Zea mays L. var. certaina Kulesh) landraces.

A large number of waxy maize landraces are distributed in Yunnan and surrounding areas, and abundant waxy alleles of different types are distributed in these landraces. The identification of waxy alleles is helpful to the protection and utilization of these waxy landraces. This study introduced structure characteristics of waxy genes from two specific landraces of Yunnan, Zinuoyumi and Myanmar Four-Row Wax. Zinuoyumi has two waxy alleles wx-Cin4 and wx-Cin4-2; Myanmar Four-Row Wax has three waxy alleles wx-D10, wx-Reina and wx-D11. The wx-Cin4-2 and wx-D11 are two types of waxy alleles first reported in this study. The wx-Cin4-2 has two mutation sites, deletion of 30 bp in exon 10, insertion of a 1,267 bp non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposon Cin4 in intron 10, and 13 bp extra sequence were found at 5' end of the Cin4; the mutation site of wx-D11 is a 1,082 bp deletion from exons 11 to 14 of the waxy gene and is replaced with a 72 bp filler sequence. This study enriched the type of waxy allele from Yunnan waxy maize landraces and further discussed the molecular basis for the formation of mutation sites of wx-Cin4-2 and wx-D11.

Wireless-Powering Deep Brain Stimulation Platform Based on 1D-Structured Magnetoelectric Nanochains Applied in Antiepilepsy Treatment.

Electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a top priority for pharmacoresistant epilepsy treatment, while less-invasive wireless DBS is an urgent priority but challenging. Herein, we developed a conceptual wireless DBS platform to realize local electric stimulation via 1D-structured magnetoelectric Fe3O4@BaTiO3 nanochains (FBC). The FBC was facilely synthesized via magnetic-assisted interface coassembly, possessing a higher electrical output by inducing larger local strain from the anisotropic structure and strain coherence. Subsequently, wireless magnetoelectric neuromodulation in vitro was synergistically achieved by voltage-gated ion channels and to a lesser extent, the mechanosensitive ion channels. Furthermore, FBC less-invasively injected into the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) obviously inhibited acute and continuous seizures under magnetic loading, exhibiting excellent therapeutic effects in suppressing both high voltage electroencephalogram signals propagation and behavioral seizure stage and neuroprotection of the hippocampus mediated via the Papez circuit similar to conventional wired-in DBS. This work establishes an advanced antiepilepsy strategy and provides a perspective for other neurological disorder treatment.

FTY720 attenuates acute colitis via colonic T cells reduction and inhibition of M1 macrophages polarization independent of CCR2-mediated monocytes input.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complex multifactorial disease, of which the exact etiology is not fully understood. The inappropriate aggressive inflammatory response is closely related to the disease progression of UC. FTY720 is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist and acts as a key immunomodulator in inflammation. This study aims to investigate the protective influence of FTY720 on inflammation in the DSS-induced colitis model. In the present study, the C57BL/6 mice and the CCR2-/- mice were exposed to 5% Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) drinking water for 6 days followed by an injection of FTY720 (1 mg/kg/d) or vehicle (PBS) 6 times starting on the next day. The body weight, stool consistency, and occult blood were assessed daily. The inflammatory cytokines level in colon tissues and serum were assessed. Leukocyte subsets of bone marrow (BM), spleen, and colon were analyzed by flow cytometry. Our results demonstrated that FTY720 ameliorated the aberrant immune responses by trapping T cells and inhibiting the polarization of M1 macrophages in colitis mice. The effect of FTY720 on the increased number of colonic macrophages did not dependent on CCR2-mediated monocyte influx, despite most monocytes being reduced after DSS administration in the inflamed colon of CCR2-/- mice. Rather, depletion of CCR2 did not impact the protective influence of FTY720 on colonic injury in acute colitis. All these findings unravel a beneficial function of FTY720 in the inflammatory response to DSS-induced acute colitis, provided further insights into monocyte migration and might provide potential opportunities for UC therapeutic intervention.

A novel immunohistochemical score predicts the postoperative prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Immunohistochemistry indicators are increasingly being used to predict the survival prognosis of cancer patients after surgery. This study aimed to combine some markers to establish an immunohistochemical score (MSI-P53-Ki-67[MPK]) and stratify postoperative patients with gastric cancer according to the score. METHODS: We used 245 patients who underwent surgery at one center as the training cohort and 111 patients from another center as the validation cohort. All patients were treated between January 2012 and June 2018. The training cohort was screened for prognostic factors, and MPK scores were established using univariate and multifactorial COX risk proportional models. Patients were prognostically stratified according to the MPK score after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were compared among low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups using the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival curves were plotted. Finally, the MPK score was validated using the validation cohort. RESULTS: In the training group, there were statistically significant differences in OS and RFS in the low, medium, and high-risk groups (P < 0.001). Thirty patients were in the high-risk group (12.2%). The median survival times of the three groups were 64.0, 44.0, and 23.0, respectively, and median times to recurrence were 54.0, 35.0, and 16.0 months, respectively. In the validation group, the prognosis in the three risk groups remained significantly different (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The novel MPK score could effectively predict the postoperative OS and RFS of gastric cancer patients, risk-stratify postoperative patients, and identify postoperative high-risk patients for refined management.

5-Methoxytryptophan ameliorates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a complicated and fatal condition with no specific or efficient clinical treatments. 5-Methoxytryptophan (5-MTP), an endogenous metabolite of tryptophan, was revealed to block systemic inflammation. However, the specific mechanism by which 5-MTP affects ALI still needs to be clarified. The purpose of this study was to determine whether 5-MTP protected the lung by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated C57BL/6 J mice and MH-S alveolar macrophages to create models of ALI, and 5-MTP (100 mg/kg) administration attenuated pathological lung damage in LPS-exposed mice, which was associated with decreased inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress levels, upregulated protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1, and suppressed Caspase-1 activation and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis protein levels. Moreover, Nrf2-deficient mice or MH-S cells were treated with 5-MTP to further confirm the protective effect of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway on lung damage. We found that Nrf2 deficiency partially eliminated the beneficial effect of 5-MTP on reducing oxidative stress levels and inflammatory responses and abrogating the inhibition of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis induced by LPS. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that 5-MTP could effectively ameliorate ALI by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Magnetic manipulation of Fe3O4@BaTiO3 nanochains to regulate extracellular topographical and electrical cues.

Magnetic fields play an essential role in material science and biomedical engineering. Magnetic-responsive materials can be arranged orderly in matrix to realize the construction of an aligned scaffold under magnetic induction. However, a single topological cue is insufficient to activate neural tissue regeneration, demanding more cues to promote regeneration synergistically, such as electrical stimulation and a biomimetic matrix. Herein, we propose one-dimensional (1D) magnetoelectric Fe3O4@BaTiO3 nanochains with controllable lengths under the regulation of a magnetic field. These nanochains can be oriented in the biomimetic hydrogel under magnetic guidance and induce the hydrogel microfiber to align along the direction of the nanochains, which is beneficial for cell-oriented outgrowth. This aligned hydrogel enabled wireless electrical stimulation mediated by magnetoelectric nanochains under magnetic stimulation, thereby activating the voltage-gated ion channel. Consequently, topological and electrical cues in this multifunctional biomimetic hydrogel synergistically enhanced the expression of neural functional proteins, facilitating synapse remodeling and neural regeneration. Predictably, the construction of multifunctional hydrogels based on low-cost and facile synthesis of magnetoelectric nanochains is an emerging patient-friendly and effective therapeutic strategy for neural or other tissue regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A facile and controllable magnetic strategy is established to manipulate 1D nanomaterial growth, matrix topography, and wireless electrical stimulation of cells. First, the magnetic-assisted interface co-assembly was used to control the length of Fe3O4@BaTiO3 nanochains with enhanced magnetoelectric effect. Then, the motion of the magnetic-induced nanochains guided the orientation of nanofibers in a 3D biomimetic hydrogel matrix. Finally, wireless electrical signals and topological cues in the biomimetic matrix synergistically promoted orderly aligned cell outgrowth and membrane depolarization by Ca2+ influx, thus enhancing nerve cell synaptic plasticity and functional expression. Consequently, this work provides a conceptual strategy from material design to extracellular matrix signal manipulation and synergistic induction of tissue regeneration.

Flexible and temperature-responsive hydrogel dressing for real-time and remote wound healing monitoring.

Wound management is highly clinically desirable due to the complexity and diversity of the wound repair process. However, it is still a major clinical challenge to develop a wound dressing with the capabilities of real-time and remote monitoring during wound healing. Herein, we have designed a polymer-based wound dressing in the form of a conductive, soft, temperature-responsive, antibacterial and biocompatible hydrogel, which is composed of polyacrylic acid (PAA)-grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), vinyl-based polyacrylamide (PAM) and silver nanowires (AgNWs). In this hydrogel dressing, PAA-grafted PNIPAM acts as conformal interface and intrinsic temperature-responsive matrix, PAM helps to construct semi-penetrating polymer networks (SIPNs) to improve the mechanical properties, while the AgNWs introduce a three-dimensional conductive hydrogel network with antibacterial properties and sensing properties. The constructed hydrogel matrix was connected to a Bluetooth module to transmit the temperature changes wirelessly to a smart device. The design integrating a conductive hydrogel dressing with a wireless transmission module realized the real-time and wireless monitoring of the wound temperature, which is helpful to provide an early diagnosis of infection. This proof-of-concept study is highly promising in the development of new strategies to significantly improve wound management and other pathological diagnostics or treatments.

Identification and validation of a novel cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature for predicting colorectal cancer patients' survival.

Background: Cuproptosis is a novel form of cell death referred to as copper-dependent cytotoxicity. The regulation of proptosis is becoming an increasingly popular cancer treatment modality. To date, few studies have attempted to identify the cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (CRLs). In this study, we sought to investigate the CRLs and construct a novel prognostic model for colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: The RNA-sequencing data of CRC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. An analysis was conducted to identify the differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs, and a correlation analysis was performed to identify the CRLs. A univariate Cox analysis was conducted to select the prognostic CRLs. Based on a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis, a prognostic signature comprising the 22 identified CRLs was constructed. A survival receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of the signature. Finally, an in vitro analysis was performed to investigate the function of lncRNA AC090116.1 in the CRC cells. Results: A signature comprising 22 CRLs was developed. The patients in the training and validation sets were divided into the low- and high-risk groups and had significantly different survival probabilities. This signature had outstanding prognostic accuracy in predicting the 5-year overall survival of patients [training set, area under the curve (AUC) =0.820; validation set, AUC =0.810]. The pathway enrichment analysis showed that the differential genes between low and high groups were enriched in several important oncogenic- and metastatic-associated processes and pathways. Finally, the in vitro experiments showed that AC090116.1 silencing promoted the cuproptosis processes and suppressed cell proliferation. Conclusions: Our findings provided promising insights into the CRLs involved in CRC. The signature based on CRLs has been successfully devised to prognosticate the clinical outcomes and treatment responses in patients.

Identification of lncRNA and mRNA regulatory networks associated with gastric cancer progression.

Gastric cancer is a tumor type characterized by lymph node metastasis and the invasion of local tissues. There is thus a critical need to clarify the molecular mechanisms governing gastric cancer onset and progression to guide the treatment of this disease. Long non-coding RNAs and mRNA expression profiles associated with early and local advanced gastric cancer were examined through microarray analyses, with GO and KEGG analyses being employed as a means of exploring the functional roles of those long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs that were differentially expressed in gastric cancer. In total, 1005 and 1831 lncRNAs and mRNAs, respectively, were found to be differentially expressed between early and local advanced gastric cancer. GO and KEGG analyses revealed several pathways and processes that were dysregulated, including the RNA transport, ECM-receptor interaction, and mRNA splicing pathways. In co-expression networks, E2F1, E2F4, and STAT2 were identified as key transcriptional regulators of these processes. Moreover, thrombospondin-2 was confirmed as being expressed at high levels in more advanced gastric cancer by both the GEO and TCGA databases. RNA-sequencing analyses of SGC-790 cells transfected to express thrombospondin-2 further revealed this gene to enhance NF-kB and TNF pathway signaling activity. These results offer insight into gastric cancer-related regulatory networks and suggest thrombospondin-2 to be an important oncogene that drives the progression of this deadly cancer type.

Comparative Analyses of the Fecal Microbiome of Five Wild Black-Billed Capercaillie (Tetrao parvirostris) Flocks.

Black-billed capercaillie (Tetrao parvirostris) was listed as a first-class state-protected animal because it was endangered in China (Category I). This study is the first to examine the diversity and composition of T. parvirostris gut microbiome in the wild. We collected fecal samples from five black-billed capercaillie flock roosting sites (each 20 km apart) in one day. Thirty fecal samples were sequenced with 16S rRNA gene amplicons on the Illumina HiSeq platform. This study is the first to analyze the fecal microbiome composition and diversity of black-billed capercaillie in the wild. At the phylum level, Camplyobacterota, Bacillota, Cyanobacteria, Actinomycetota, and Bacteroidota were the most abundant in the fecal microbiome of black-billed capercaillie. At the genus level, unidentified Chloroplast, Escherichia-Shigella, Faecalitalea, Bifidobacterium, and Halomonas were the dominant genera. Based on alpha and beta diversity analyses, we found no significant differences in the fecal microbiome between five flocks of black-billed capercaillie. Protein families: genetic information processing; protein families: signaling and cellular processes, carbohydrate metabolism; protein families: metabolism and energy metabolism are the main predicted functions of the black-billed capercaillie gut microbiome through the PICRUSt2 method. This study reveals the composition and structure of the fecal microbiome of the black-billed capercaillie under wild survival conditions, and this study provides scientific data for the comprehensive conservation of the black-billed capercaillie.

Hyaluronan-based hydrogel integrating exosomes for traumatic brain injury repair by promoting angiogenesis and neurogenesis.

With wide clinical demands, therapies for traumatic brain injury (TBI) are far from satisfactory. Combining the merits of stem cells but avoiding the risk of immunologic rejection, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (BME) attract increasing interests and have been proved effective for TBI repair by intravenous or in situ injection. However, difficulties in sustained delivery or aggregation in lesion sites remain obstacle to using BME for TBI. Inspired by that hydrogels are promising to bridge the destroyed neural gap and provide neural niches, we raised a novel strategy of incorporating BME into hyaluronan-collagen hydrogel (DHC-BME) to achieve both mimicking of brain matrix and steady release of exosomes, and thus realizing TBI repair. External characterizations proved that the BME and DHC synergistically promoted neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiation into neurons and oligodendrocytes while inhibited astrocytes differentiation. DHC-BME induced angiogenesis and neurogenesis, from endogenous NSC recruitment to neuronal differentiation and vascularization to synergistically promote axonal regeneration, remyelination, synapse formation and even brain structural remodeling, and lastly, neurological functional recovery of TBI.

Characteristics of Microbiota in Different Segments of the Digestive Tract of Lycodon rufozonatus.

The gastrointestinal tract of animals contains microbiota, forming a complex microecosystem. Gut microbes and their metabolites can regulate the development of host innate and adaptive immune systems. Animal immune systems maintain intestinal symbiotic microbiota homeostasis. However, relatively few studies have been published on reptiles, particularly snakes, and even fewer studies on different parts of the digestive tracts of these animals. Herein, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the microbial community composition and adaptability in the stomach and small and large intestines of Lycodon rufozonatus. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were most abundant in the stomach; Fusobacteria in the small intestine; and Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Firmicutes in the large intestine. No dominant genus could be identified in the stomach; however, dominant genera were evident in the small and large intestines. The microbial diversity index was significantly higher in the stomach than in the small and large intestines. Moreover, the influence of the microbial community structure on function was clarified through function prediction. Collectively, the gut microbes in the different segments of the digestive tract revealed the unique features of the L. rufozonatus gut microbiome. Our results provide insights into the co-evolutionary relationship between reptile gut microbiota and their hosts.

Adaptive Evolution of the OAS Gene Family Provides New Insights into the Antiviral Ability of Laurasiatherian Mammals.

Many mammals risk damage from virus invasion due to frequent environmental changes. The oligoadenylate synthesis (OAS) gene family, which is an important component of the immune system, provides an essential response to the antiviral activities of interferons by regulating immune signal pathways. However, little is known about the evolutionary characteristics of OASs in Laurasiatherian mammals. Here, we examined the evolution of the OAS genes in 64 mammals to explore the accompanying molecular mechanisms of the antiviral ability of Laurasiatherian mammals living in different environments. We found that OAS2 and OAS3 were found to be pseudogenes in Odontoceti species. This may be related to the fact that they live in water. Some Antilopinae, Caprinae, and Cervidae species lacked the OASL gene, which may be related to their habitats being at higher altitudes. The OASs had a high number of positive selection sites in Cetartiodactyla, which drove the expression of strong antiviral ability. The OAS gene family evolved in Laurasiatherian mammals at different rates and was highly correlated with the species' antiviral ability. The gene evolution rate in Cetartiodactyla was significantly higher than that in the other orders. Compared to other species of the Carnivora family, the higher selection pressure on the OAS gene and the absence of positive selection sites in Canidae may be responsible for its weak resistance to rabies virus. The OAS gene family was relatively conserved during evolution. Conserved genes are able to provide better maintenance of gene function. The rate of gene evolution and the number of positively selected sites combine to influence the resistance of a species to viruses. The positive selection sites demonstrate the adaptive evolution of the OAS gene family to the environment. Adaptive evolution combined with conserved gene function improves resistance to viruses. Our findings offer insights into the molecular and functional evolution of the antiviral ability of Laurasian mammals.

Association of mitochondrial homeostasis and dynamic balance with malignant biological behaviors of gastrointestinal cancer.

Mitochondria determine the physiological status of most eukaryotes. Mitochondrial dynamics plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, and the disorder in mitochondrial dynamics could affect cellular energy metabolism leading to tumorigenesis. In recent years, disrupted mitochondrial dynamics has been found to influence the biological behaviors of gastrointestinal cancer with the potential to be a novel target for its individualized therapy. This review systematically introduced the role of mitochondrial dynamics in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, and further elaborated the effects of disrupted mitochondrial dynamics on the cellular biological behaviors of gastrointestinal cancer as well as its association with cancer progression. We aim to provide clues for elucidating the etiology and pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancer from the perspective of mitochondrial homeostasis and disorder.

Hydrogel-Integrated Multimodal Response as a Wearable and Implantable Bidirectional Interface for Biosensor and Therapeutic Electrostimulation.

A hydrogel that fuses long-term biologic integration, multimodal responsiveness, and therapeutic functions has received increasing interest as a wearable and implantable sensor but still faces great challenges as an all-in-one sensor by itself. Multiple bonding with stimuli response in a biocompatible hydrogel lights up the field of soft hydrogel interfaces suitable for both wearable and implantable applications. Given that, we proposed a strategy of combining chemical cross-linking and stimuli-responsive physical interactions to construct a biocompatible multifunctional hydrogel. In this hydrogel system, ureidopyrimidinone/tyramine (Upy/Tyr) difunctionalization of gelatin provides abundant dynamic physical interactions and stable covalent cross-linking; meanwhile, Tyr-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) acts as a conductive filler to establish electrical percolation networks through enzymatic chemical cross-linking. Thus, the hydrogel is characterized with improved conductivity, conformal biointegration features (i.e., high stretchability, rapid self-healing, and excellent tissue adhesion), and multistimuli-responsive conductivity (i.e., temperature and urea). On the basis of these excellent performances, the prepared multifunctional hydrogel enables multimodal wearable sensing integration that can simultaneously track both physicochemical and electrophysiological attributes (i.e., motion, temperature, and urea), providing a more comprehensive monitoring of human health than current wearable monitors. In addition, the electroactive hydrogel here can serve as a bidirectional neural interface for both neural recording and therapeutic electrostimulation, bringing more opportunities for nonsurgical diagnosis and treatment of diseases.