Autophagy in Multiple Sclerosis: Phagocytosis and Autophagy of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of chronic neurological dysfunction in young to middle-aged adults, affecting approximately 2.5 million people worldwide. It is characterized by inflammation, multifocal demyelination, axonal loss, and white and gray matter gliosis. Autophagy is a highly conserved protein degradation pathway. Polymorphisms in autophagy-related genes have been implicated in a variety of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and MS. However, the significance of autophagy in MS remains to be elucidated. This paper aims to explore the potential role of autophagy-related genes in MS diseases by using bioinformatics combined with machine learning methods. Finally, we obtained 9 autophagy genes with the highest correlation with MS, and further changes in these autophagy genes were verified in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) engulfed myelin debris (MD). Combined with bioinformatic analysis and experimental data, Becn1 showed obvious expression abnormalities suggesting that this gene has vital functions in autophagy and MD engulfed by OPCs. This work will be of great significance for the further exploration of autophagy-related genes in demyelinating diseases.

Palm-Sized Wireless Transient Elastography System with Real-Time B-Mode Ultrasound Imaging Guidance: Toward Point-of-Care Liver Fibrosis Assessment.

Transient elastography (TE), recommended by the WHO, is an established method for characterizing liver fibrosis via liver stiffness measurement (LSM). However, technical barriers remain towards point-of-care application, as conventional TE requires wired connections, possesses a bulky size, and lacks adequate imaging guidance for precise liver localization. In this work, we report the design, phantom validation, and clinical evaluation of a palm-sized TE system that enables simultaneous B-mode imaging and LSM. The performance of this system was validated experimentally using tissue-equivalent reference phantoms (1.45-75 kPa). Comparative studies against other liver elastography techniques, including conventional TE and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), were performed to evaluate its reliability and validity in adults with various chronic liver diseases. Intra- and inter-operator reliability of LSM were established by an elastography expert and a novice. A good agreement was observed between the Young's modulus reported by the phantom manufacturer and this system (bias: 1.1-8.6%). Among 121 patients, liver stiffness measured by this system and conventional TE were highly correlated (r = 0.975) and strongly agreed with each other (mean difference: -0.77 kPa). Inter-correlation of this system with conventional TE and 2D-SWE was observed. Excellent-to-good operator reliability was demonstrated in 60 patients (ICCs: 0.824-0.913). We demonstrated the feasibility of employing a fully integrated phased array probe for reliable and valid LSM, guided by real-time B-mode imaging of liver anatomy. This system represents the first technical advancement toward point-of-care liver fibrosis assessment. Its small footprint, along with B-mode guidance capability, improves examination efficiency and scales up screening for liver fibrosis.

Paenibacillus mangrovi sp. nov., a novel endophytic bacterium isolated from bark of Kandelia candel.

A endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain KQZ6P-2T, was isolated from surface-sterilized bark of the mangrove plant Kandelia candel, collected from Maowei Sea Mangrove Nature Reserve in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Strain KQZ6P-2T was able to grow at NaCl concentrations in the range of 0-3 % (w/v) with optimum growth at 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. Growth occurred at 20-42 °C (optimal growth at 30-37 °C) and pH 5.5-6.5 (optimal growth at pH 6.5). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain KQZ6P-2T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour Paenibacillus chibensis JCM 9905T was 98.2 %. Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KQZ6P-2T formed a distinct lineage with Paenibacillus chibensis JCM 9905T. The draft genome of strain KQZ6P-2T was 5 937 633 bp in size and its DNA G+C content was 47.2mol%. Comparative genome analysis revealed that the average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity values among strain KQZ6P-2T and its related species were below the cut-off levels of 95, 70 and 95.5%, respec-tively. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain KQZ6P-2T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. Major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and C16:0. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminophospholipids, four unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminolipid and five unidentified lipids. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain KQZ6P-2T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KQZ6P-2T (=MCCC 1K07172T =JCM 34931T).

Spinal anesthesia alleviates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis by modulating the gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease with recurrent intestinal inflammation. Although the exact etiology of IBD remains unknown, the accepted hypothesis of the pathogenesis to date is that abnormal immune responses to the gut microbiota are caused by environmental factors. The role of the gut microbiota, particularly the bidirectional interaction between the brain and gut microbiota, has gradually attracted more attention. AIM: To investigate the potential effect of spinal anesthesia on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice and to detect whether alterations in the gut microbiota would be crucial for IBD. METHODS: A DSS-induced colitis mice model was established. Spinal anesthesia was administered on colitis mice in combination with the methods of cohousing and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to explore the role of spinal anesthesia in IBD and identify the potential mechanisms involved. RESULTS: We demonstrated that spinal anesthesia had protective effects against DSS-induced colitis by alleviating clinical symptoms, including reduced body weight loss, decreased disease activity index score, improved intestinal permeability and colonic morphology, decreased inflammatory response, and enhanced intestinal barrier functions. Moreover, spinal anesthesia significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes, which was suppressed in the gut microbiota of colitis mice. Interestingly, cohousing with spinal anesthetic mice and FMT from spinal anesthetic mice can also alleviate DSS-induced colitis by upregulating the abundance of Bacteroidetes. We further showed that spinal anesthesia can reduce the increase in noradrenaline levels induced by DSS, which might affect the gut microbiota. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that microbiota dysbiosis may contribute to IBD and provide evidence supporting the protective effects of spinal anesthesia on IBD by modulating the gut microbiota, which highlights a novel approach for the treatment of IBD.

Jiella sonneratiae sp. nov., a novel endophytic bacterium isolated from bark of Sonneratia apetala.

A new endophytic bacterium, designated strain MQZ13P-4T was isolated from Sonneratia apetala collected from Maowei sea Mangrove Nature Reserve in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, PR China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain MQZ13P-4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour Jiella endophytica CBS5Q-3T was 97.9 %. Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequences and whole-genome sequences showed that strain MQZ13P-4T formed a distinct lineage with Jiella endophytica CBS5Q-3T, Jiella pacifica 40Bstr34T and Jiella aquimaris JCM 30119T. The draft genome of strain MQZ13P-4T was 5 153 243 bp in size and its DNA G+C content was 68.1 mol%. Comparative genome analysis revealed that the average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity values among strain MQZ13P-4T and other related species were below the cut-off levels of 95, 70 and 95.5 %, respectively. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain MQZ13P-4T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The respiratory quinone was Q-10. The major cellular fatty acid was C18 : 1 ω7c. The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. Strain MQZ13P-4T had a typical chemical compositions of fatty acids, lipids, quinones and diagnostic diamino acid for Jiella species, but could be distinguished from known species of the genus Jiella. Based on polyphasic evidence, strain MQZ13P-4T represents novel species of the genus Jiella, for which the name Jiella sonneratiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MQZ13P-4T (=CGMCC 1.18727T=JCM 34333T).

Real-Time Visual Biofeedback via Wearable Ultrasound Imaging Can Enhance the Muscle Contraction Training Outcome of Young Adults.

ABSTRACT: Huang, Z-H, Ma, CZ-H, Wang, L-K, Wang, X-Y, Fu, S-N, and Zheng, Y-P. Real-time visual biofeedback via wearable ultrasound imaging can enhance the muscle contraction training outcome of young adults. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): 941-947, 2022-Real-time ultrasound imaging (RUSI) can serve as visual biofeedback to train deep muscle contraction in clinical rehabilitative settings. However, its effectiveness in resistance training in sports/fitness fields remains unexplored. This article introduced a newly developed wearable RUSI system that provided visual biofeedback of muscle thickening and movement and reported its effectiveness in improving the training outcomes of muscle thickness change (%) during dynamic contraction. Twenty-five healthy young men participated and performed pec fly exercise both with and without RUSI biofeedback. Statistical analysis was conducted to examine the reliability of the measurements and the immediate effects of (a) RUSI biofeedback of muscle contraction and (b) training intensity (50 vs. 80% of 1-repetition maximum [1RM]) on the pectoralis major (PMaj) thickness change measured by ultrasound images. In addition to significantly high inter-contraction reliability (ICC3,1 > 0.97), we observed significantly increased PMaj thickness change for both training intensities upon receiving biofeedback in subjects, compared with without biofeedback (p < 0.001). We also observed significantly larger PMaj thickness change at 80% of 1RM compared with 50% of 1RM (p = 0.023). The provision of visual biofeedback using RUSI significantly enlarged the magnitude of PMaj thickness change during pec fly exercises, potentially indicating that RUSI biofeedback could improve the ability of targeted muscle contraction of PMaj in healthy young adults. To our knowledge, this study has pioneered in applying RUSI as a form of biofeedback during weight training and observed positive effectiveness. Future iterations of the technique will benefit more subject groups, such as athletes and patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Ectobacillus aegiceratis sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from branch of Aegiceras corniculatum.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped and aerobic bacterium was isolated from surface-sterilized branch of Aegiceras corniculatum in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The isolate, designated strain 165T, grew at 20-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6.0-7.0 (optimum, 6.0) and with 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1 %). The major respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0. On the basis of 16 S rRNA gene sequence and multiple genes of conserved core proteins analysis, strain 165T was a member of the genus Ectobacillus. Its closest phylogenetic neighbor was Ectobacillus panaciterrae Gsoil 1517T, with sequence similarity of 97.1 %. The average nucleotide identity value between strain 165T and type strain of Ectobacillus panaciterrae was 73.0 %. The estimated DDH value between strain 165T and type strain of Ectobacillus panaciterrae was 19.7 %. The genome of strain 165T was 3, 545, 051 bp long with a DNA G + C content of 38.2 % and encodes 3459 predicted proteins, 25 rRNAs, 87 tRNAs and 5 ncRNA. The genome of strain 165T comprised gene clusters of type 3 PKS, terpene, betalactone and lanthipeptide-class-ii for secondary metabolites. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses supported the strain 165T as a representative of a novel species of the genus Ectobacillus, for which the name Ectobacillus aegiceratis sp. nov. is proposed, with strain 165T (= JCM 33,414T = CGMCC 1.13742T) as the type strain.

Jiella mangrovi sp. nov., a novel endophytic bacterium isolated from leaf of Rhizophora stylosa.

A Gram-stain negative, non-motile, brilliant yellow and non-spore forming, coccoid- or short rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain KSK16Y-1T, was isolated from surface-sterilised leaf of Rhizophora stylosa collected from Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Genome of strain KSK16Y-1T is 4.93 Mb with 68.1% DNA G + C content and encoded 4359 predicted proteins, 4 rRNAs, 45 tRNAs and 4 ncRNA. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the strain KSK16Y-1T has 98.1%, 97.9% and 96.9% 16S rRNA gene similarities with Jiella aquimaris JCM 30119T, J. endophytica CBS5Q-3T and J. pacifica 40Bstr34T, respectively. Whole-genome comparisons between strain KSK16Y-1T and J. aquimaris 22II-16-19i, J. endophytica CBS5Q-3T, J. pacifica 40Bstr34T, using average nucleotide identity (ANI) values (< 82.0%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values (< 25.1%), confirmed low genome relatedness. Strain KSK16Y-1T grew at 20-30 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6.0-11.0 (optimum, pH 6.0-7.0) and with 0-10% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-2%). Cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the major fatty acid was C18:1ω7c. The polar lipid profile consists of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, one unknown phospholipid, one unknown aminolipid, one unknown aminophospholipid and four unidentified lipids. The predominant respiratory quinone is ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The polyphasic characterization indicated that strain KSK16Y-1T represents a novel Jiella species. The name Jiella mangrovi sp. nov., type strain KSK16Y-1T (= CGMCC 1.18745T = JCM 34332T) is proposed.

Phycicoccus avicenniae sp. nov., a novel endophytic actinomycete isolated from a branch of Avicennia mariana.

A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated strain BSK3Z-2 T, was isolated from a surface-sterilised branch of Avicennia mariana from Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Cells were observed to be Gram-stain positive, aerobic, asporogenous and rod-shaped. Strain BSK3Z-2 T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain BSK3Z-2 T belongs to the genus Phycicoccus and has high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.1% with Phycicoccus endophyticus IP6SC6T. Phylogenetic analysis based on the genome of strain BSK3Z-2 T was performed by extracting and aligning 39 conserved proteins and 88 housekeeping genes, which further confirmed the phylogenetic assignment of strain BSK3Z-2 T. The draft genome of strain BSK3Z-2 T is 3.54 Mbp with a DNA G + C content of 73.8%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), amino acid identity (AAI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain BSK3Z-2 T and species of genus Phycicoccus were 73.8-85.6%, 64.5-75.9% and 19.5-23.8%, respectively, which are below the standard cut-off values for bacterial species delineation. Strain BSK3Z-2 T contains MK-8(H4) as the dominant menaquinone. The cell wall peptidoglycan contains meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipids profile of strain BSK3Z-2 T was found to contain diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol. The predominant fatty acids were identified as C15:0, C17:0, iso-C16:0 and C17:1ω8c. Comparing the phenotypic and phylogenetic features of the strain BSK3Z-2 T and related taxa, strain BSK3Z-2 T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Phycicoccus, for which the name Phycicoccus avicenniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BSK3Z-2 T (= CGMCC 1.18743 T = JCM 34335 T).

Application of metallic nanoparticle-biochars with ionic liquids for thermal transfer fluids.

Ionic liquids (ILs (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim][Cl]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C4mim][BF4]))) were used as heat transfer fluids for solar thermal collectors. The additive of ILs was biochar containing copper and silver nanoparticles (Cu-Ag/biochar) to improve the adsorption of solar irradiation and thermal conductivities. After impregnation and reduction processes, nanoparticles such as Cu, CuO, Cu(OH)2, Ag, and Ag2O were found in the biochar by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. With adding 2% Cu-Ag/biochar into the ILs, the thermal conductivities of [C4mim][Cl] and [C4mim][BF4] containing 10% Cu-1% Ag/biochar were individually increased 9.2 and 6.6 times compared to the base ILs due to the high graphitization of biochar and metallic nanoparticles. The 1H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) features of the imidazole ring and methyl group in the ILs were highly disturbed due to the formation of weak or strong hydrogen bonds between the cations in ILs and Cu-Ag/biochar. The high hydrogen bond acceptance of anions in ILs also affected the thermal properties. The thermal properties of the metals/biochar [C4mim][Cl] were better than those of metals/biochar [C4mim][BF4] due to high hydrogen bond acceptance of [Cl]-. The strong hydrogen bonds between the Cu-Ag/biochar and the cations and anions in ILs result in thermal properties of heat transfer fluids. Under simulated sunlight, the temperatures of [C4mim][Cl] and [C4mim][BF4] containing 10% Cu-1% Ag/biochar rose from 304 to 345 and 340 K within 24 min, respectively. A novel heat transfer fluid was developed for high adsorption of irradiation, high thermal conductivities, and speedy transfer of heat.

Selective C-H dithiocarbamation of arenes and antifungal activity evaluation.

This paper discloses a transition metal-free selective C-H dithiocarbamation of drug skeletons using disulfiram (DSF) in the presence of KI/K2S2O8 in DMF/H2O. Drug skeletons, including 5-aminopyrazoles, indoles, pyrroloquinoline, and Julolidine, underwent C-H dithiocarbamation smoothly to afford a variety of drug-like molecules in moderate to good yields. It was found that the in situ formed 5-aminopyrazole iodide is the key intermediate for the dithiocarbamation. Bioassay results show that some of these N-heterocyclic dithiocarbamate derivatives exhibit good antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosprioides and Fusarium oxysporum, F. proliferatum, Fusarium solani, Geotrichum candidum, Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Phyricularia grisea.