Clinical characteristics, genetic alterations, and prognosis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: an 11-year multicenter retrospective study in China.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis, and there is little data available from the Chinese population. This retrospective study included 115 patients diagnosed with ATLL who were treated across five hospitals in China from June 2011 to December 2022. The median age at diagnosis was 53 years. Several genes involved in T-cell receptor-induced nuclear factor κB (TCR-NF-κB) signaling were commonly mutated, including PLCG1, CIC, PRKCB, CARD11, and IRF4. Eighty-seven patients received chemotherapy. Of these, 13 received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) (allogeneic-HSCT, n=9; autologous-HSCT, n=4) after chemotherapy. Following initial multiagent chemotherapy using EPOCH/CHOEP and other regimens, the overall response rates were 80.6% (complete response [CR], 44.4%) and 42.8% (CR, 14.2%), respectively. The 4-year survival rates (median survival time in days) for EPOCH/CHOEP (n=43), HSCT (n=13), and CHOP-based regimens (n=31) were 12.7% (138), 30.8% (333), and 0% (66), respectively. Lymphadenopathy, EPOCH/CHOEP, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were independent prognostic protective factors in patients with aggressive ATLL. Chinese patients exhibit a higher incidence of aggressive-type ATLL, sharing similar genetic alterations with Japanese patients. Etoposide-based chemotherapy (EPOCH or CHOEP) remains the preferred choice for aggressive ATLL, and upfront allogeneic HSCT should be considered in all eligible patients.

Case Report: A Rare Case of Iodixanol-Induced Anaphylactic Shock in Cerebral Angiography.

Background: Adverse reactions induced by isoosmolar contrast medium (iodixanol) are mostly mild, with rashes and headaches being the most common. Although anaphylactic shock has been reported, no related incidents have been documented on cerebral angiography. Objective: This article reports a serious case of anaphylactic shock possibly induced by iodixanol and provides an overview of the case report. Case Summary: A 65-year-old female with persistent headaches for nearly six months and CTA examination revealed multiple intracranial aneurysms. After two treatments, she returned to the hospital for aneurysm of reexamination a month ago. Following a preoperative assessment, cerebral angiography was performed. Three minutes after the procedure, the patient experienced dizziness, increased heart rate, followed by hypotension (BP 90/43 mm Hg), a sudden drop-in heart rate (HR 68 bpm), and a drop in SpO2 to 92%. Intravenous dexamethasone for anti-allergic were administered immediately, along with therapy through oxygen-inhalation. However, the patient then developed limb convulsions, unresponsiveness, and was urgently given diazepam for sedation and sputum aspiration to maintain airway patency. Blood pressure decrease to 53/29 mm Hg, and SpO2 readings were unavailable. Intravenous dopamine to elevates blood pressure, and assists breathing by intubating in the endotracheal. After 3 minutes, as the blood pressure remained undetectable, intermittent intravenous epinephrine 1mg was administered to raise the blood pressure, gradually restoring it to 126/90 mm Hg, and SpO2 increased to 95%. The patient was diagnosed with iodixanol-induced anaphylactic shock and urgently transferred to the NICU for monitoring and treatment. The patient died despite immediate treatment. Conclusion: A 65-year-old female developed serious anaphylactic shock during cerebral angiography after receiving iodixanol. Although iodixanol is considered one of the safest iodinated contrast mediums (ICM), clinicians should be aware of its the potential for serious hypersensitivity reactions that can lead to fatal and life-threatening events.

Gonadal transcriptome analysis of genes related to sex differentiation and sex development in the Pomacea canaliculata.

As an invasive alien animal, Pomacea canaliculata poses a great danger to the ecology and human beings. Recently, there has been a gradual shift towards bio-friendly control. Based on the development of RNA interference and CRISPR technology as molecular regulatory techniques for pest control, it was determined if the knockout of genes related to sex differentiation in P. canaliculata could induce sterility, thereby helping in population control. However, the knowledge of sex differentiation- and development-related genes in P. canaliculata is currently lacking. Here, transcriptomic approaches were used to study the genes expressed in the two genders of P. canaliculata at various developmental stages. Gonad transcriptomes of immature or mature males and females were compared, revealing 12,063 genes with sex-specific expression, of which 6066 were male- and 5997 were female-specific. Among the latter, 581 and 235 genes were up-regulated in immature and mature females, respectively. The sex-specific expressed genes identified included GnRHR2 and TSSK3 in males and ZAR1 and WNT4 in females. Of the genes, six were involved in reproduction: CCNBLIP1, MND1, DMC1, DLC1, MRE11, and E(sev)2B. Compared to immature snail gonads, the expression of HSP90 and CDK1 was markedly reduced in gonadal. It was hypothesized that the two were associated with the development of females. These findings provided new insights into crucial genetic information on sex differentiation and development in P. canaliculata. Additionally, some candidate genes were explored, which can contribute to future studies on controlling P. canaliculata using molecular regulatory techniques.

Comparative genomics and phylogenomics of the genus Glycyrrhiza (Fabaceae) based on chloroplast genomes.

Glycyrrhiza (Fabaceae) species are rich in metabolites and widely used in medicine. Research on the chloroplast genome of Glycyrrhiza is important for understanding its phylogenetics, biogeography, genetic diversity, species identification, and medicinal properties. In this study, comparative genomics and phylogenomics of Glycyrrhiza were analyzed based on the chloroplast genome. The chloroplast genomes of six Glycyrrhiza species were obtained using various assembly and annotation tools. The final assembled chloroplast genome sizes for the six Glycyrrhiza species ranged from 126,380 bp to 129,115 bp, with a total of 109-110 genes annotated. Comparative genomics results showed that the chloroplast genomes of Glycyrrhiza showed typically lacking inverted repeat regions, and the genome length, structure, GC content, codon usage, and gene distribution were highly similar. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of 69-96 simple sequence repeats and 61-138 long repeats in the chloroplast genomes. Combining the results of mVISTA and nucleotide diversity, four highly variable regions were screened for species identification and relationship studies. Selection pressure analysis indicated overall purifying selection in the chloroplast genomes of Glycyrrhiza, with a few positively selected genes potentially linked to environmental adaptation. Phylogenetic analyses involving all tribes of Fabaceae with published chloroplast genomes elucidated the evolutionary relationships, and divergence time estimation estimated the chronological order of species differentiations within the Fabaceae family. The results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that species from the six subfamilies formed distinct clusters, consistent with the classification scheme of the six subfamilies. In addition, the inverted repeat-lacking clade in the subfamily Papilionoideae clustered together, and it was the last to differentiate. Co-linear analysis confirmed the conserved nature of Glycyrrhiza chloroplast genomes, and instances of gene rearrangements and inversions were observed in the subfamily Papilionoideae.

Nomogram predictive models for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia based on real-world treatment outcomes.

This study aimed to analyse the characteristics and treatment outcomes of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and construct nomogram predictive models for prognosis prediction. Between January 2017 and June 2022, 462 adult patients with ALL were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients' ages ranged from 14 to 84 years. B-cell origin was observed in 82.7% of these patients, while 17.3% of the cases were of T-cell origin. The BCR/ABL1 fusion gene was detected in 32.9% of those with B-ALL. Complete remission was achieved in 83.7% of the patients after induction chemotherapy. The median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients were 19.0 and 39.1 months, respectively. The 5-year DFS and OS rates were 29.5% and 41.8%, respectively. The BCR/ABL1 fusion gene had a significant adverse impact on DFS and OS when patients were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and chemotherapy; however, this effect was eliminated when patients underwent transplantation. Multivariate analysis identified that age ≥ 35 years, white blood cell count ≥ 30 × 109/L, platelet count < 100 × 109/L, failure to achieve complete remission after induction chemotherapy, positive measurable residual disease (MRD), and absence of transplantation were independent adverse prognostic factors for DFS and/or OS. Nomogram predictive models constructed by the rms package in R software based on these prognostic factors demonstrated precise predictive value. In conclusion, adult patients with ALL experience poor survival. TKIs in combination with transplantation can eliminate the adverse effects of BCR/ABL1 fusion genes on prognosis. Nomogram predictive models were accurate for prognostic prediction and will be useful in clinical practice.

Characterization of an exopolysaccharide synthesized by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus B6 and its immunomodulatory activity in vitro.

An exopolysaccharide, designated F1, was purified from the fermented milk by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain B6 (CGMCC No. 13310). F1, with the weight average molecular weight of 1.577 × 106 Da, is consisted of rhamnose, glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 3.7:1.5: 1. The backbone included 1,3-linked Rha, 1,2,3-linked Rha, 1,2-linked Glc and 1,3-linked Glc residues, with the branching point located at O2 position of 1,2,3-linked Rha residue, and the branch chain composed of terminal linked galactose residue with a pyruvate substituent. F1 could significantly stimulate the phagocytic activity and TNF-α expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner, and the release of NO at 200 µg/mL as well. F1 at 200 µg/mL could stimulate the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine encoding genes including TNF-α and iNOS, but with a negligible upregulating effect on the mRNA expression of IL-10. F1 could up-regulate the expression of NF-κBp65 and skew macrophage polarization towards M1 phenotype. These results suggest F1 elicit an immunomodulatory effect through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Myelodysplasia-related gene mutations are associated with favorable prognosis in patients with TP53-mutant acute myeloid leukemia.

This study aimed to examine the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with TP53-mutant acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and to explore potential prognostic factors. This retrospective analysis included 130 patients diagnosed with TP53-mutant AML at the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between January 2016 and June 2023. Patients' ages ranged from 17 to 80 years, with a median age of 59 years. The proportions of de novo, therapy-related, and secondary AML cases were 71.5%, 7.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. Complex karyotypes were observed in 60.6% of patients, and the proportions of -5 or del(5q), -7 or del(7q), and - 17 or del(17p) were 41.7%, 27.9% and 14.4%, respectively. DNA methylation- and myelodysplasia-related (MR) gene mutations were observed in 36.9% and 25.4% of patients, respectively. These patients showed poor survival, with a median overall survival (OS) of 4.5 months, a 1-year OS rate of 32.5%, a 3-year OS rate of 18.8%, and a 5-year OS rate of 11.3%. The complete response rates for intensive chemotherapy (IC), hypomethylating agent (HMAs)-based therapies, and azacitidine plus venetoclax were 35.7%, 22.2%, and 37.5%, respectively. Patients who did or did not receive allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) had similar prognoses (median OS: 6.0 vs. 3.9 months; P = 0.6415). Multivariate analysis indicated that MR gene mutations is an independent favorable prognostic factor of OS (HR = 0.366, 95% CI: 0.181-0.738, P = 0.005). In conclusion, patients with TP53-mutant AML have poor prognoses under current treatment strategies and MR gene mutations are associated with a more favorable survival. Therefore, further studies are needed to improve the survival rates in this population.

Insights into characteristic metabolites and potential bioactive peptides profiles of fresh cheese fermented with three novel probiotics based metabolomics and peptidomics.

The metabolite and peptide profiles of fresh cheese fermented by three novel probiotics, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus B6, Limosylactobacillus fermentum B44 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus KF7, were investigated using LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and peptidomics. The multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in metabolite composition between the probiotic fresh cheese and the control sample. The differential metabolites were primarily lipids and lipid-like molecules and organic oxygen compounds, which were associated with fatty acid and carbohydrate-related pathways. Among three probiotics, L. rhamnosus KF7 showed the highest effectiveness in sucrose decomposition. 147 potential bioactive peptides, mainly derived from casein, were identified in probiotic fresh cheese. Furthermore, 112 bioactive peptides were significantly up-regulated in probiotic fresh cheese. Molecular docking analysis indicated that two short peptides (LVYPFPGPIP and YPQRDMPIQ) in the B44 and KF7 groups exhibited low estimated binding energy values (-9.9 and -6.9 kcal/mol) with ACE. These findings provide a theoretical basis for developing novel probiotic-enriched fresh cheese.

The Involvement of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Exopolysaccharides in the Biosorption and Detoxication of Heavy Metals in the Gut.

Heavy metal pollution has become one of the most important global environmental issues. The human health risk posed by heavy metals encountered through the food chain and occupational and environmental exposure is increasing, resulting in a series of serious diseases. Ingested heavy metals might disturb the function of the gut barrier and cause toxicity to organs or tissues in other sites of the body. Probiotics, including some lactic acid bacteria (LAB), can be used as an alternative strategy to detoxify heavy metals in the host body due to their safety and effectiveness. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by LAB possess varied chemical structures and functional properties and take part in the adsorption of heavy metals via keeping the producing cells vigorous. The main objective of this paper was to summarize the roles of LAB and their EPS in the adsorption and detoxification of heavy metals in the gut. Accumulated evidence has demonstrated that microbial EPS play a pivotal role in heavy metal biosorption. Specifically, EPS-producing LAB have been reported to show superior absorption, tolerance, and efficient abatement of the toxicity of heavy metals in vitro and/or in vivo to non-EPS-producing species. The mechanisms underlying EPS-metal binding are mainly related to the negatively charged acidic groups and unique steric structure on the surface of EPS. However, whether the enriched heavy metals on the bacterial cell surface increase toxicity to local mammal cells or tissues in the intestine and whether they are released during excretion remain to be elucidated.

Pulmonary infection associated with immune dysfunction is associated with poor prognosis in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome accompanied by TP53 abnormalities.

The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics and prognosis of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) accompanied by TP53 abnormalities and explore potential prognostic factors and treatment responses. This retrospective analysis included 95 patients with MDS and TP53 abnormalities and 173 patients with MDS without TP53 abnormalities at the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between January 2016 and June 2023. Among patients with TP53 abnormalities, 26 (27.4%) developed AML during the disease course, with a median transformation time of 5.7 months. Complex karyotypes were observed in 73.1% of patients, and the proportions of -5 or del(5q), -7 or del(7q), +8, and -20 or del(20q) were 81.8%, 54.5%, 30.7%, and 25.0%, respectively. These patients exhibited poor survival, with a median overall survival (OS) of 7.3 months, and had 1- and 2-year OS rates of 42.2% and 21.5%, respectively. The complete response rates for azacitidine monotherapy, venetoclax combined with azacitidine, decitabine monotherapy, and decitabine combined with low-dose chemotherapy were 9.1%, 41.7%, 37.5%, and 33.3%, respectively. Long-term survival was similar among the four treatment groups. Patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) had a median OS of 21.3 months, which trended to be longer than that of patients who did not undergo allo-HSCT (5.6 months; P = 0.1449). Patients with pulmonary infection at diagnosis experienced worse OS than those without pulmonary infection (2.3 months vs. 15.4 months; P < 0.0001). Moreover, 61.9% of patients with pulmonary infection had immune dysfunction, with a ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T lymphocytes below two. Pulmonary infections and complex karyotypes were independent adverse prognostic factors for OS. In conclusion, TP53 abnormalities in patients with MDS were frequently accompanied by complex karyotypes, and treatments based on hypomethylating agents or venetoclax have limited efficacy. Pulmonary infections associated with immune dysfunction is associated with poor prognosis.

Ligilactobacillus cholophilus sp. nov., isolated from pickled potherb mustard (Brassica juncea Coss.).

Strain BD7642T was isolated from Chinese pickled potherb mustard (Brassica juncea Coss.) purchased from a local market in Shanghai, PR China. A polyphasic approach, including 16S rRNA gene sequence, housekeeping gene, average nucleotide identity (ANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), G+C content and phenotypic analyses, was employed to characterize strain BD7642T. Cells of the bacterium were short round rods, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming and catalase-negative. The strain grew at 30-45 °C and pH 4.0-8.0. Optimum growth occurred at 35-40 °C and pH 6.0-7.0. The strain exhibited growth with salt (NaCl) concentrations of up to 5 % (w/v). The G+C content of the strain's genomic DNA was 31.37 mol%. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1 c9 and summed feature 10 (C18 : 1 c11/t9/t6). 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that strain BD7642T represents a member of the genus Ligilactobacillus and it had high sequence similarity to Ligilactobacillus aviarius NBRC 102162T (96.73 %), Ligilactobacillus araffinosus LGM 23560 (96.66 %) and Ligilactobacillus salivarius JCM 1231T (95.82 %). The dDDH values between strain BD7642T and its phylogenetically related species within the genus Ligilactobacillus ranged from 12.6 to 25.4 %. The ANI values between strain BD7642T and its closely related taxa were far lower than the threshold (95 %-96 %) used for species differentiation. Results of phylogenetic, physiological and phenotypic characterization confirmed that strain BD7642T represents a novel species within the genus Ligilactobacillus, for which the name Ligilactobacillus cholophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BD7642T (=CCTCC AB 2022398T=JCM 36074T).

Responses of gut microbiota in crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) to changes in temperature.

The gut microbiota plays an essential role in maintaining the health and fitness of the host organism. As a critical environmental variable, temperature exerts significant effects on animal survival and reproduction. Elevated temperatures can influence the composition and function of the animal gut microbiota, which may have potentially detrimental effects on the host. The crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is an ancient and currently endangered reptile species due to human hunting and habitat destruction. Given the predicted shifts in global temperatures in the next century, it is important to understand how warming affects the gut microbiota of these vulnerable lizards, which remains unclear. To determine how the microbial communities change in crocodile lizards in response to warming, we analyzed the gut microbiota under five temperature conditions (22°C, 24°C, 26°C, 28°C, and 30°C) using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that the dominant phyla, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, in gut microbiota were not significantly affected by temperature variations, but increasing temperature altered the structure and increased the community richness of the gut microbiota. In addition, warming changed the abundance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Actinobacteria, which may have negative effects on the physiological health of the crocodile lizards. Functional prediction analysis demonstrated that the functional pathways enriched in crocodile lizards were mainly related to metabolism, with no significant differences observed in these pathways at KEGG pathway level 1 after warming. These results provide valuable insights into the ecological adaptations and regulatory mechanisms employed by crocodile lizards in response to warming, which may be of benefit for their conservation.

Identification of sex pheromone of red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii and exploration of the chemosensory mechanism of their antennae.

Red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, is a globally invasive species, which has caused great damage to biodiversity, agriculture, and fishing. Therefore, the development of effective management methods, such as pheromone control, is necessary for biological control and biodiversity protection. However, the components of P. clarkii sex pheromones have not yet been explored, and the chemosensory mechanism of the P. clarkii antennae after stimulation by sex pheromone also remains unknown. In this study, we isolated and identified the candidate bioactive component of the female P. clarkii sex pheromone using ultrafiltration centrifugation, semi-preparative liquid phase separation and omics technologies and conducted bioassays to determine its attraction ability. Meanwhile, RNA-Seq technology was used to analyze the potential chemosensory mechanism of antennae. Our results indicated that the male P. clarkii were uniaxially attracted to the female crude conditioned water (FCW), medium fraction (MF, isolated by ultrafiltration centrifugation), and preparative fragment 6 of females (PFF6, isolated by semi-preparative liquid phase separation). Metabolomic analysis revealed the presence of 18 differential metabolites between the PFF6 and PFM6 samples, among which 15 were significantly upregulated in the PFF6 sample. Bioassay test also showed that mestranol, especially at concentrations of 10-5-10-2 mol∙l-1, could significantly attract P. clarkii males; therefore, mestranol was identified as the candidate sex pheromone component of P. clarkii females. Furthermore, RNA-Seq results showed that most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in lipid metabolism and signal transduction pathways were up-regulated in P. clarkii males. In addition, high expressions of Ca2+-binding protein and ion transporting ATPases may enhance the sensitivity of the antennae of P. clarkii males towards sex pheromones. Our study provides data on P. clarkii sex pheromone composition and reveals the molecular mechanism of sex pheromone response in P. clarkii. Moreover, our study provides a referable method for the isolation of candidate bioactive molecules from the P. clarkii sex pheromone.

Targeting nucleolin improves sensitivity to chemotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PURPOSE: Most patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are treated with chemotherapy as primary care. Although the treatment response is usually positive, resistance and relapse often occur via unknown mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with chemotherapy resistance in ALL. Here, we present clinical and experimental evidence that overexpression of nucleolin (NCL), a multifunctional nucleolar protein, is linked to drug resistance in ALL. METHODS: NCL mRNA and protein levels were compared between cell lines and patient samples using qRT-PCR and immunoblotting. NCL mRNA levels were compared between patients of different disease stages from our clinic patients' specimens and publicly available ALL patient datasets. Cells and patient-derived xenograft mouse experiments were performed to assess the effect of NCL inhibition on ALL chemotherapy effectiveness. RESULTS: Analysis of patient specimens, and publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets revealed a strong correlation between the abundance of NCL and disease relapse or poor survival in B-ALL. Altering NCL expression results in changes in drug sensitivity in ALL cell lines. High levels of NCL upregulated components of the ATP-binding cassette transporters via activation of the ERK pathway, resulting in a decrease in drug accumulation inside the cells. Targeting NCL with AS1411, an NCL-binding oligonucleotide aptamer, significantly increased the sensitivity of ALL cell lines and cells/patient-derived ALL xenograft mice to chemotherapeutic drugs and prolonged mouse survival. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight NCL as a prognostic marker in B-ALL and a potential therapeutic target to combat chemotherapy resistance in ALL.

A new species of Bush frog (Anura, Rhacophoridae, Raorchestes) from southeastern Yunnan, China.

In this study, based on morphological and molecular data, a new bush frog species is described from Yunnan, China. Eleven samples of Raorchestesmalipoensissp. nov. were collected from Malipo County, southeastern Yunnan. This species can be distinguished from other congeners by a combination of 13 morphological characters. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene indicate that these individuals form a monophyletic group, and genetic divergence between this clade and its closest relatives is higher than 3.1%, which is comparable to the divergence between recognized Raorchestes species. The discovery of this new species suggests that additional extensive surveys in the southeastern Yunnan would yield more amphibian lineages yet unknown to science.

Loss of MiR-155 Sensitizes FLT3-ITD+AML to Chemotherapy and FLT3 Inhibitors via Glycolysis Blocking by Targeting PIK3R1.

FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy have shown some success in patients with FLT3 mutations. But a variety of mechanisms have led to the rapid resistance to the treatment. One of the most prominent is the metabolic alteration on aerobic glycolysis. We aim to explore the role of a high expressing microRNA, miR-155, in mediating resistance to chemotherapy and FLT3 inhibitor treatment. The deep sequencing data mining revealed the connection between glycolysis and drug resistance. MV411 cells with miR-155 knockout (KO) not only had increased sensitivity to FLT3 inhibitors but also Adriamycin (ADM) treatment. When combined with glycolysis inhibition the treatment response in MV411 cells further increased. Whereas in miR-155 KO cells, a lower glucose consumption level and lactic acid level were observed, and western blotting showed a decreased expression of key enzymes in glycolysis pathways. A negative correlation between PIK3R1 and miR-155 level can be observed in the sequencing data from FLT3-ITD+ AML patients. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay revealed that the 3'UTR of PIK3R1 mRNA can interact with the seed sequence of miR-155-5p. In conclusion, the loss of miR-155 increased treatment sensitivity to both chemotherapy and FLT3 inhibitors in FLT3-ITD+ AML cells via glycolysis blocking by targeting PIK3R1.

Structural elucidation of the exopolysaccharide from Streptococcus thermophilus XJ53 and the effect of its molecular weight on immune activity.

EPS53, a homogeneous exopolysaccharide (EPS) was isolated from Streptococcus thermophiles XJ53 fermented in skimmed milk via anion exchange column chromatography. The relative molecular weight of EPS53 was above 6.7 × 105 g/mol; its repeating structural unit of EPS53 consisted of ß-T-Galp, ß-1,3-Galf, α-1,3-Glcp and ß-1,3,6-Glcp residues in a molar ratio of 1:1:1:1, with ß-T-Galp attached to the O-6 position of ß-1,3,6-Glcp，identical to the EPS produced from S. thermophilus SFi39. EPS53-D, purified under similar conditions as EPS53 except for the deproteinization of trichloroacetic acid (TCA), had a lower molecular weight but the same repeating structural unit. The effects of EPS53 and EPS53-D on proliferation, phagocytosis and nitric oxide (NO) release of macrophage RAW264.7 were compared. EPS53 exhibited stronger immune activity than EPS53-D, suggesting that the molecular weight might have an important effect on the activity of EPS molecules. Treatment with TCA might affect the activities of native EPSs produced by fermentation.

Preferred prey reduce species realized niche shift and improve range expansion prediction.

Many studies have detected realized climatic niche shifts during range changes; this is challenging the fundamental theory of the niche conservatism hypothesis (NCH) and the usefulness of the ecological niche model (ENM) for predicting the distributions of species in space and time by tracking environmental change. Biotic factors such as predatory interactions are important components of species realized niches but are generally difficult to quantify during NCH testing and ENM building. Identifying species' preferred prey may provide a unique opportunity to include trophic interactions in assessing the NCH and determine whether more precise ENM predictions are generated. In this study, we focused on a range-expanding predatory bird, the Asian openbill (Anastomus oscitans). The main prey of the Asian openbill include 136 snail species. We observed a realized climatic niche shift during the northward expansion of the Asian openbill by considering only climates; however, niche conservatism was detected after incorporating their preferred prey. ENMs including preferred snails also predicted the distributions of the Asian openbill better than climate-only models and models including nonpreferred snails or only habitat variables. The results of our study suggested the importance of incorporating preferred prey in evaluating the NCH and developing a framework for predicting the range shifts of both native and alien species in response to global climate change.

Large-brained birds display lower extra-pair paternity.

Extra-pair paternity (EPP) benefits to improve the reproductive success via extra-pair fertilizations without the costs of parental care in males and through improved offspring quality with additional food and parental care in females among species of birds. Variations in the EPP appear to link to behavioral and ecological factors and sexual selection. According to the "relationship intelligence hypothesis", the cognitive abilities of the birds play an important role in maintaining long-term relationships. Here, we undertook the first comparative test of the relationships between extra-pair paternity and brain size, testis size, and life histories among 315 species of birds using phylogenetically controlled comparative analyses and path analysis. After controlling for the effects of shared ancestry and body mass, the frequency of EPP was negatively correlated with relative brain size, but positively with testis size across species of birds. However, the frequency of EPP was not linked to life-history traits (e.g. incubation period, fledging period, clutch size, egg mass, and longevity). Our findings suggest that large-brained birds associated with enhanced cognitive abilities are more inclined to maintain long-term stable relationships with their mates and to mutualism with them than to increase the frequency of EPP.

Description of a New Cobra (Naja Laurenti, 1768; Squamata, Elapidae) from China with Designation of a Neotype for Naja atra.

Taxonomic frameworks for medically important species such as cobras (genus Naja Laurenti, 1768; Squamata, Elapidae) are essential for the medical treatment of snake bites and accurate antivenin development. In this paper, we described the former N. kaouthia populations recorded from China as a new species and designated a neotype for N. atra-based morphological and mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis. The new species N. fuxisp. nov. was morphologically diagnosed from N. kaouthia by (1) regular single narrow crossband present on the middle and posterior parts of the dorsum (3-15, 7.9 ± 2.7, n = 32) and the dorsal surface of the tail (1-6, 4.2 ± 1.1, n = 32) of both adults and juveniles, buff-colored with dark fringes on both edges, vs. South Asian populations (n = 39) and Southeast Asian populations (n = 35) without cross bands, with irregular cross bands or multiple light-colored crossbands pairs, or densely woven lines; (2) small scales between the posterior chin shields, usually three (40%) or two (37%), rarely four (13%), or one (10%) (n = 30) vs. mostly one (81%) and rarely two (19%) (n = 28); (3) ventrals 179-205 (195.4 ± 6.7, n = 33) vs. South Asian populations 179-199 (188.7 ± 5.9, n = 12); Southeast Asian populations 168-186 (177.8 ± 4.9, n = 18). Phylogenetically, the new species forms an independent sister clade to the clade including N. atra, N. kaouthia, N. oxiana and N. sagittifera. Furthermore, the subspecies N. naja polyocellata should be resurrected and recognized as a full species, N. polyocellatacomb. nov., and the subspecies N. sumatrana miolepis should be resurrected.