Rapid anaerobic culture and reaction kinetic study of anammox bacteria on microfluidic chip.

Anammox bacteria are being increasingly investigated as part of an emerging nitrogen removal technology. However, due to the difficulty in culturing, current understanding of their behavior is limited. In this study, anaerobic microfluidic chips were used to study anammox bacteria, showing great advantages over reactors. On-chip fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed the relative abundance of free form anammox bacteria increased by 56.1 % after one week's culture, an increase that is three times higher than that of bioreactor (17.1 %). For granular form cultures, the nitrogen removal load reached 2.34 âˆ¼ 2.51 kg-N/(m3·d), which was also substantially higher than the bioreactor (∼1.22 kg-N/(m3·d)). Furthermore, studying the kinetics of nitrite inhibition of granular sludge with different particle sizes (100-900 µm) showed that the maximum ammonia load and the nitrite semi-saturation coefficient noticeably decreased for smaller particle sizes. These results illustrate the usefulness of the microfluidic method for in-depth understanding anammox process and its implementation.

Integrated analysis of physiological, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses of the gills in Solenaia oleivora under ammonia exposure.

Ammonia is a common toxicant in aquatic systems and one of the key factors affecting aquaculture. However, data on mollusks' toxic response and coping mechanisms to ammonia nitrogen, especially freshwater mollusks, are still lacking. In this study, we evaluated the tolerance of a freshwater mollusk Solenaia oleivora to ammonia and investigated its coping mechanisms by combining physiological, metabolic, and transcriptomic analyses in the gills. The acute toxicity test revealed that the LC50-96 h (temperature-20 â„ƒ, pH-7.4) of ammonia in S. oleivora was 63.29 mg/L. The physiological and TUNEL results showed that although 10 mg/L ammonia exposure increased the activities of antioxidant, immune and ammonia detoxification-related enzymes, it still caused oxidative damage and cell apoptosis of gill tissues. A total of 97 differential metabolites (DMs) and 3431 differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified after ammonia stress. Among them, most DMs and DEGs were involved in immune response, antioxidant, cell apoptosis, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism. The enhancement of glycolysis and lipid metabolisms may provide energy for immune response and ammonia detoxification. In addition, glutamine synthesis, alanine synthesis and urea cycle were involved in ammonia nitrogen detoxification in the gill tissue of S. oleivora. Our results indicate that ammonia leads to individual death in S. oleivora, as wells as oxidative damage, cell apoptosis, immune response, and metabolic changes of gill tissues. The findings will provide valuable information to assess the potential ecological risk of environmental ammonia to freshwater mollusks and theoretical guidance for the healthy aquaculture of S. oleivora.

Corrigendum: Gut microbes reveal Pseudomonas medicates ingestion preference via protein utilization and cellular homeostasis under feed domestication in freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.861705.].

A High-Quality Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of a Snail Cipangopaludina cathayensis (Gastropoda: Viviparidae).

Cipangopaludina cathayensis (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia; Mesogastropoda; Viviparidae) is widely distributed in the freshwater habitats of China. It is an economically important snail with high edible and medicinal value. However, the genomic resources and the reference genome of this snail are lacking. In this study, we assembled the first chromosome-level genome of C. cathayensis. The preliminary assembly genome was 1.48 Gb in size, with a contig N50 size of 93.49 Mb. The assembled sequences were anchored to nine pseudochromosomes using Hi-C data. The final genome after Hi-C correction was 1.48 Gb, with a contig N50 of 98.49 Mb and scaffold N50 of 195.21 Mb. The anchored rate of the chromosome was 99.99%. A total of 22,702 protein-coding genes were predicted. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that C. cathayensis diverged with Bellamya purificata approximately 158.10 million years ago. There were 268 expanded and 505 contracted gene families in C. cathayensis when compared with its most recent common ancestor. Five putative genes under positive selection in C. cathayensis were identified (false discovery rate <0.05). These genome data provide a valuable resource for evolutionary studies of the family Viviparidae, and for the genetic improvement of C. cathayensis.

Full-length transcriptome analysis provides new insights into the diversity of immune-related genes in the threatened freshwater shellfish Solenaia oleivora.

Solenaia oleivora, a valuable and rare bivalve endemic to China, is becoming a threatened freshwater sepcies. However, the lack of research on its genome and immune system will hinder advances in its conservation and artificial breeding. In this study, we obtained the full-length transcriptome of S. oleivora using PacBio sequencing. A total of 21,415 transcripts with an average length of 1,726 bp were generated. Among these transcripts, 12,084 had coding sequences (CDS), of which 8,639 were annotated in 6 databases. The structure analysis identified 625 transcript factors (TFs), 8,005 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 5,288 simple sequences repeat (SSRs). Meanwhile, massive immune genes were identified from the transcriptome of S. oleivora. In terms of non-self-identification, 97 transcripts of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) were discovered, including peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs), gram-negative bacteria binding proteins (GNBPs), toll-like receptors (TLRs), scavenger receptors (SRs), galectins (GALs), C-type lectins (CLTs), and fibrinogen-related protein (FREPs). For pathogen elimination, 7 transcripts related to antimicrobial peptides, lysozymes, and lysosomal enzymes were identified. Moreover, 33 complement-associated transcripts were found. This study enriched the genome resources of S. oleivora and provided new insights for the study of the immune system of S. oleivora.

Effect of SEBS Molecular Structure and Formula Composition on the Performance of SEBS/PP TPE for Automotive Interior Skin.

The hydrogenated styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS)/Polypropylene (PP)-blended thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is an ideal material for automotive interior skin applications due to its excellent elasticity, weather resistance, and environmentally friendly characteristics such as low odor and low volatile organic compounds (VOC). As a thin-wall injection-molded appearance skin product, it requires both high fluidity and good mechanical properties with scratch resistance. To optimize the performance of the SEBS/PP-blended TPE skin material, an orthogonal experiment and other methods were employed to investigate the impact of the formula composition and raw material characteristics, such as the styrene content and molecular structure of SEBS, on the TPE's final performance. The outcomes revealed that the ratio of SEBS/PP had the most significant influence on the mechanical properties, fluidity, and wear resistance of the final products. The mechanical performance was enhanced by increasing the PP content within a certain range. The degree of sticky touch on the TPE surface was increased as the filling oil content increased, causing the increase in sticky wear and the decrease in abrasion resistance. When the SEBS ratio of high/low styrene content was 30/70, the TPE's overall performance was excellent. The different proportions of linear/radial SEBS also had a significant effect on the final properties of the TPE. The TPE exhibited the best wear resistance and excellent mechanical properties when the ratio of linear-shaped/star-shaped SEBS was 70/30.

Stability analysis of an HIV/AIDS epidemic model with sexual transmission in a patchy environment.

A multi-patch HIV/AIDS model with heterosexual transmission is formulated to investigate the impact of population migration on the spread of HIV/AIDS. We derive the basic reproduction number R0 and prove that if R0<1, the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. If R0>1 and certain conditions are satisfied, the endemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. We apply the model to two patches and conduct numerical simulations. If HIV/AIDS becomes extinct in each patch when two patches are isolated, the disease remains extinct in two patches when the population migration occurs; if HIV/AIDS spreads in each patch when two patches are isolated, the disease remains persistent in two patches when the population migration occurs; if the disease disappears in one patch and spreads in the other patch when they are isolated, the disease can spread or disappear in two patches if migration rates of individuals are suitably chosen.

Validation and Functional Analysis of Reference and Tissue-Specific Genes in Adipose Tissue of Freshwater Drum, Aplodinotus grunniens, under Starvation and Hypothermia Stress.

Adipose tissue is critical to the growth, development, and physiological health of animals. Reference genes play an essential role in normalizing the expression of mRNAs. Tissue-specific genes are preferred for their function and expression in specific tissues or cell types. Identification of these genes contributes to understanding the tissue-gene relationship and the etiology and discovery of new tissue-specific targets. Therefore, reference genes and tissue-specific genes in the adipose tissue of Aplodinotus grunniens were identified to explore their function under exogenous starvation (1 d, 2 w, 6 w) and hypothermic stress (18 °C and 10 °C for 2 d and 8 d) in this study. Results suggest that 60SRP was the most stable reference gene in adipose tissue. Meanwhile, eight genes were validated as tissue-specific candidates from the high-throughput sequencing database, while seven of them (ADM2, ß2GP1, CAMK1G, CIDE3, FAM213A, HSL, KRT222, and NCEH1) were confirmed in adipose tissue. Additionally, these seven tissue-specific genes were active in response to starvation and hypothermic stress in a time- or temperature-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that adipose-specific genes can be identified using stable internal reference genes, thereby identifying specific important functions under starvation and hypothermic stress, which provides tissue-specific targets for adipose regulation in A. grunniens.

Stunting among kindergarten children in China in the context of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of COVID-19 has most likely increased the prevalence of stunting. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of stunting among kindergarten children in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Longgang District, Shenzhen, China, and its risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify children from 11 sub districts of 481 kindergartens in the Longgang District of Shenzhen City from May to July 2021. In the context of COVID-19, an online survey was conducted to gather demographic information, height, birth information, and lifestyle. The prevalence of stunting was calculated, and the risk factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression with three stepwise models. Results: A total of 118,404 subjects were included from May to July 2021, with a response and questionnaire effective rates of 85.75% and 95.03%, respectively. The prevalence of stunting and severe stunting were 3.3% and 0.8%, respectively. Model 3 showed that risk factors for stunting were male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 1.07], low birth weight (OR = 2.02), insufficient sleep time (OR = 1.08), less food intake than their peers (OR = 1.66), slower eating than their peers (OR = 1.16), accompanied by grandparents alone or non-lineal relatives (reference: parents accompanying) (OR = 1.23, 1.51), and children induced to eat (OR = 1.17). Protective factors included only-child status (OR = 0.66), reported high activity (OR = 0.37, 0.26, 0.23), parents with high education levels (father: OR = 0.87, 0.69; mother: OR = 0.69, 0.58), high monthly income per capita of the family (OR = 0.88, 0.74, 0.68), and allowing children to make food choices (OR = 0.82). Conclusion: The stunting rate of children in kindergartens in Longgang District is 3.3%, close to the level of developed countries but higher than the average level of developed cities in China. The relatively high stunting rate in children under 3 years old in 2021 may be associated with the influence of COVID-19. Appropriate policies should be formulated for individuals and families with children to help children establish good living habits and reduce stunting.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis/Mycobacterium bovis triggered different variations in lipid composition of Bovine Alveolar Macrophages.

The lipid composition performs important functions in interaction between macropha-ge and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/Mycobacterium bovis (MB). Current understanding regarding the lipid responses of bovine alveolar macrophage (BAM) to MTB/MB is quite limited. The present study conducted lipidomics and transcriptome to assess alterations in BAM lipid compositions upon MB and MTB infection. We found that both MTB and MB induced glycerophospholipids accumulation in BAM, and MTB induced more alterations in lipid composition. MTB could affect the contents of various lipids, especially ceramide phosphocholines, polystyrene (PS) (17:0/0:0), testolic acid and testosterone acetate. Meanwhile, MB particularly induced accumulation of 1-alkyl,2-acylglycerophosphoinositols. Both MB and MTB suppressed the contents of palmitoleamide, N-ethyl arachidonoyl amine, N-(1,1-dimethyl-2-hydroxy-ethyl) arachidonoyll amine, eicosanoyl-EA, and PS (O-18:0/17:0) in BAM. Additionally, transcriptome analysis revealed that only MTB triggered genes involved in immune signaling and lipid related pathways in BAM. And MTB mainly activated genes CXCL2 and CXCL3 relevant to NOD-like receptor, IL-17 and TNF to further induce lipid accumulation in BAM, which in turn promoted the formation of foam cells. Meanwhile, time course RT-qPCR results showed that MTB was recognized by BAM to triggered dramatic immune responses, whereas MB could effectively escape the recognition system of BAM, leading rearrangement of lipid metabolisms in BAM at early infection stage. Altogether, the results of the present study provided evidence for changes in lipid metabolism of MTB/MB attacked BAM and contributed to the detection and treatment of zoonotic tuberculosis.

Gut Microbes Reveal Pseudomonas Medicates Ingestion Preference via Protein Utilization and Cellular Homeostasis Under Feed Domestication in Freshwater Drum, Aplodinotus grunniens.

With strong demand for aquatic products, as well as a rapid decrease in global fishery resources and capture fisheries, domesticating animals to provide more high-quality proteins is meaningful for humans. Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) is widely distributed in the wild habitats of North America. However, the research on A. grunniens and the feed domestication with diets composed of artificial compounds remains unclear. In this study, a 4-month feeding domestication experiment was conducted with A. grunniens larvae to evaluate the underlying mechanism and molecular targets responsible for alternations in the ingestion performance. The results indicated that a significant increase in the final body weight was exhibited by the feed domesticated group (DOM, 114.8 g) when compared to the group that did not ingest the feed (WT, 5.3 g) as the latest version we raised From the result, the final body weight exhibited significant increase between unfavorable with the feed (WT, 5.3 g) and feed domesticated group (DOM, 114.8 g). In addition, the enzyme activity of digestive enzymes like amylase, lipase, and trypsin was increased in DOM. Genes related to appetite and perception, such as NPY4R, PYY, and LEPR, were activated in DOM. 16s rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed that Pseudomonas sp. increased from 58.74% to 89.77% in DOM, which accounts for the dominant upregulated microbial community at the genus level, followed by Plesiomonas. Analogously, Mycobacterium, Methylocystis, and Romboutsia also accounted for the down-regulated microbes in the diversity. Transcriptome and RT-PCR analysis revealed that feed domestication significantly improved protein digestion and absorption, inhibited apoptosis by AGE-RAGE signaling, and activated extracellular matrix remodeling by relaxin signaling. Integrated analysis of the microbiome and host transcriptome revealed that Pseudomonas-mediated ingestion capacity, protein utilization, and cellular homeostasis might be the underlying mechanism under feed domestication. These results indicate Pseudomonas and its key genes relating to food ingestion and digestion could serve as the molecular targets for feed domestication and sustainable development in A. grunniens.

Mechanism and Influence Factors of Abrasion Resistance of High-Flow Grade SEBS/PP Blended Thermoplastic Elastomer.

Hydrogenated styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS)/polypropylene (PP) blended thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is suitable for preparing the automotive interiors because of its excellent elasticity, softness, weather resistance, low odor, low VOC and other environmental-friendly properties. The skin of the automobile instrument panel is an appearance part, which requires excellent friction loss resistance of surface. In this paper, the high-flow SEBS/PP blended thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) suitable for the preparation of injection molding skins for automobile instrument panel was studied. By comparing the Taber abrasion and cross-scratch properties, the effects of SEBS's molecular weight, styrene content in the molecule, molecular structure and types of lubricating agents on the friction loss properties of the material were investigated. The results show that under the same SEBS molecular structure, the higher the molecular weight within a certain range, the better the wear resistance of high-flow SEBS/PP type TPE, but the ultra-high molecular weight exhibits lower wear resistance than high molecular weight; The high-flow SEBS/PP blended TPE prepared by medium styrene content SEBS has better abrasion resistance; TPE prepared by star SEBS is better than linear SEBS; Adding silane-based lubricating agents is beneficial to improve the friction loss resistance of the material, especially combined use of high and low molecular weight silicone.

Emerging trends and hotspot in gut-lung axis research from 2011 to 2021: a bibliometrics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Increasing attention has been paid to the potential relationship between gut and lung. The bacterial dysbiosis in respiratory tract and intestinal tract is related to inflammatory response and the progress of lung diseases, and the pulmonary diseases could be improved by regulating the intestinal microbiome. This study aims to generate the knowledge map to identify major the research hotspots and frontier areas in the field of gut-lung axis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Publications related to the gut-lung axis from 2011 to 2021 were identified from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace 5.7.R2 software was used to analyze the publication years, journals, countries, institutions, and authors. Reference co-citation network has been plotted, and the keywords were used to analyze the research hotspots and trends. RESULTS: A total of 3315 publications were retrieved and the number of publications per year increased over time. Our results showed that Plos One (91 articles) was the most active journal and The United States (1035 articles) published the most articles. We also observed the leading institution was the University of Michigan (48 articles) and Huffnagle Gary B, Dickson Robert P and Hansbro Philip M, who have made outstanding contributions in this field. CONCLUSION: The Inflammation, Infection and Disease were the hotspots, and the regulation of intestinal flora to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer was the research frontier. The research has implications for researchers engaged in gut-lung axis and its associated fields.

Intestinal Flora: A Potential Mechanism by Which Yinlai Decoction Treats Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Pneumonia.

Background: We intended to explore the mechanism of Yinlai decoction in the treatment of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pneumonia from the perspective of intestinal flora. Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the blank control group (N), the pneumonia group (P), and the Yinlai decoction group (PT). The rat pneumonia model was established using LPS inhalation (0.5 mg/mL, 5 mL, 30 min/day, 3 days). Yinlai decoction was administered intragastrically (2 mL/100 g, 3 days). Lung tissue pathology, organ indexes, serum inflammatory factors, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and intestinal flora changes were measured. Results: Lung tissue inflammation was prevented by Yinlai decoction. IL-6 levels showed a higher tendency to be higher, and IL-12 and TNF-α were significantly higher in the PT group than in the P group. The structure of the intestinal flora in the P differed from that in the N. The relative abundance of 10 out of 12 microflora was significantly higher in the P group than in the N and PT groups. In the PT group, the structure and the distribution of microbial groups were like those of the N group. Conclusions: Yinlai decoction inhibited LPS-induced lung and systemic inflammation in rats and may help the intestinal flora restore equilibrium by inhibiting the colonization of pathogenic bacteria and adjusting the ratio between probiotics and pathogenic bacteria. Intestinal flora may serve as a mediator of Yinlai decoction's effect on LPS-induced pneumonia.

Draft Genome Sequence of Alternaria longipes Causing Tobacco Brown Spot.

Alternaria is a cosmopolitan fungal genus associated with diverse hosts. Tobacco brown spot caused by Alternaria longipes is one of the most destructive diseases of tobacco. A. longipes can also infect many other plants, some animals and even humans. Here, we report a genome assembly of A. longipes CBS 540.94 using Oxford Nanopore Technologies. A total of 15 contigs were assembled, and the genome size was 37.5 Mb with contig N50 of 4.33 Mb. This genome resource will provide information for further research on comparative genomics of the genus Alternaria and be a valuable resource in investigations of the molecular interactions of pathogen and hosts.

Multiple primary malignant neoplasm: Case report and comprehensive literature review.

Multiple primary tumors, especially quadruple primary tumors, are extremely rare clinically, and there is no standard protocol for clinical management. We described a case in which a bone tumor, a malignant bladder tumor, a malignant melanoma, and an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were all original malignancies. The patient is a 79-year-old woman who underwent surgery for a left middle finger bone tumor 45 years ago, as well as surgery for bladder malignancy and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy 15 years ago, and the precise pathological results and treatment are unclear. One year ago, she underwent amputation of the toe due to a black mass of the right toe and was diagnosed pathologically as a freckled malignant melanoma of the extremity. Prior to postoperative adjuvant systemic medication, PET/CT revealed malignancy in the lateral segment of the left lobe of the liver, and multiple lymphadenopathies in the left parotid gland, hilar hepatic, and retroperitoneal region. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was found in the liver puncture biopsy's pathology report. The serum sample's next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed a missense mutation, designated P.G12V, in exon 2 of the KRAS gene. Based on patients with malignant melanoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, she received 6 cycles of GP (gemcitabine/cisplatin) combined with Camrelizumab systemic therapy, and followed by 3 cycles of Camrelizumab maintenance therapy, the efficacy was evaluated as stable disease (SD) during treatment. When the 4th cycle of Camrelizumab was suggested for maintenance therapy, the efficacy evaluation revealed that the tumor had greatly advanced. The patient refused to continue anti-tumor therapy and passed away from septic shock and multiple organ failure 3 months later. The patient had satisfactory efficacy and lived for a year after being diagnosed with two primary cancers. Despite the rarity of quadruple primary tumors and the lack of a conventional clinical management strategy, we postulate that germline mutations in the KRAS gene may be closely associated with the formation and development of multiple primary tumors. NGS testing is necessary for clinical management, and systemic treatment based on concurrent multiple main tumors is the key to improving prognosis.

Gill physiological and transcriptomic response of the threatened freshwater mussel Solenaia oleivora to salinity shift.

Solenaia oleivora, a freshwater shellfish endemic to China, is becoming one of the most threatened freshwater mussels owing to water pollution, habitat fragmentation, and overfishing. Hence, exploring its response to different environmental factors is important for its conservation. In this work, we investigated the physiological and transcriptomic response of S. oleivora to increased salinity. We found that increased salinity caused the death of S. oleivora. High salinity caused shrinking and deformation of gill filaments, reduced gill cilia, and induced cell apoptosis in gills. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), as well as glutathione (GSH) content were increased at the beginning of salinity stress (3-12 h), while SOD and ACP activities decreased at 48 h. Transcriptome data revealed that high salinity stress (48 h) induced 766 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among these DEGs, the majority of the stress response and ion transport-related genes were up-regulated, while most of the immune-related genes were down-regulated. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the antioxidant and immune functions of S. oleivora can be inhibited by high salinity, which may be one of the main reasons for its low survival rate under conditions of increasing salinity.

Phenolic compounds promote the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge.

Phenolic compounds are common organic pollutants in wastewater. During the wastewater treatment process, these compounds may influence the microbial community structure and functions. However, the impact of the phenolic compounds in the wastewater treatment plants on the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has not been well assessed. In this study, we investigated the horizontal transfer of ARGs under the stress of phenolic compounds. The results showed that in pure culture bacteria system, p-nitrophenol (PNP), p-aminophenol (PAP) and phenol (PhOH) (10-100 mg/L) can significantly increase the horizontal transfer frequency of ARGs by 2.2-4.6, 3.6-9.4 and 1.9-9.0 fold, respectively. And, the RP4 plasmid transfer from Escherichia coli HB101 (E. coli HB101) to the bacteria in activated sludge increased obviously under the stress of phenolic compounds. Further investigation revealed that the PNP and PhOH at the concentration of 10-100 mg/L increased the production of reactive oxygen species and the permeability of cell membrane in the donor and recipient, which could be the causes of horizontal transfer of RP4 plasmid. In addition, it was also found that PNP, PAP and PhOH stress inhibit the expression of the global regulatory genes korB and trbA in the RP4 plasmid, and increase the expression level of the traF gene, thereby promoting the conjugative transfer of the RP4 plasmid. Taken together, these results improved our understanding of the horizontal transfer of ARGs under the stress of phenolic compounds and provided basic information for management of the systems that treat wastewater containing phenolic compounds.