Genomic characterization of a novel ureolytic bacteria, Lysinibacillus capsici TSBLM, and its application to the remediation of acidic heavy metal-contaminated soil.

Soil heavy metal contamination is an essential challenge in ecological and environmental management, especially for acidic soils. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an effective and environmentally friendly remediation technology for heavy metal contaminated sites, and one of the key factors for its realization lies in the microorganisms. In this study, Lysinibacillus capsici TSBLM was isolated from heavy metal contaminated soil around a gold mine, and inferred to be a novel ureolytic bacteria after phylogenomic inference and genome characterization. The urease of L. capsici TSBLM was analyzed by genetic analysis and molecular docking, and further applied this bacteria to the remediation of Cu and Pb in solution and acidic soils to investigate its biomineralization mechanism and practical application. The results revealed L. capsici TSBLM possessed a comprehensive urease gene cluster ureABCEFGD, and the encoded urease docked with urea at the lowest binding energy site (ΔG = -3.43 kcal/mol) connected to three amino acids threonine, aspartic, and alanine. The urease of L. capsici TSBLM is synthesized intracellularly but mainly functions extracellularly. L. capsici TSBLM removes Cu/Pb from the solution by generating heavy metal carbonates or co-precipitating with CaCO3 vaterite. For acidic heavy metal-contaminated soil, the carbonate-bound states of Cu and Pb increased significantly from 7 % to 16 % and from 23 % to 35 % after 30 days by L. capsici TSBLM. Soil pH improved additionally. L. capsici TSBLM maintained the dominant status in the remediated soil after 30 days, demonstrating good environmental adaptability and curing persistence. The results provided new strain resources and practical application references for the remediation of acidic heavy metal contaminated soil based on MICP.

Biomineralization of heavy metals based on urea transport and hydrolysis within a new bacterial isolate, B. intermedia TSBOI.

A newly isolated ureolytic bacteria, Brucella intermedia TSBOI, exhibited microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) which is a promising technique for the remediation of heavy metals in polluted environments. Brucella intermedia TSBOI achieved 90-100% removal of 1 mmol/L Cu2+/Pb2+/Zn2+ within 72 h. A distinctive feature lies in B. intermedia TSBOI's capacity for the transport and hydrolysis of urea, considered to be critical for its strong urease activity. This study explored the mechanisms of this capacity at the genetic, molecular and protein levels through complete genome sequencing, molecular docking and enzymatic reaction kinetics. The results revealed that, for urea hydrolysis, B. intermedia TSBOI exhibited a comprehensive urease gene cluster, with the key gene ureC demonstrating an absolute expression level approximating to 4 × 104 copies/RNA ng under optimal conditions. Results also confirmed the strong spontaneous, energy-independent binding ability of it's urease to urea, with the lowest Gibbs free energy binding site linking to the three amino acids, alanine, asparagine and serine. The urea transport gene yut presented and expressed, with the absolute expression enhanced in response to increasing urea concentrations. The significant positive correlation between ureC/yut expression levels and urease activity provided a theoretical basis for B. intermedia TSBOI's heavy metal bioremediation potential. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) were studied in this study. Heavy metals are hazardous due to their toxicity, persistence, and ability to bioaccumulate in living organisms. They can cause severe health issues, harm ecosystems, and contaminate air, water, and soil. A novel ureolytic bacteria, Brucella intermedia TSBOI, exhibited microbially induced carbonate precipitation capability was isolated which removed 90-100% of 1 mmol/L Cu2+/Pb2+/Zn2+ within 72 h. Its advantages in urea hydrolysis and transport facilitate the remediation of actual heavy metal contaminated environments.

Exploring the synergistic interplay of sulfur metabolism and electron transfer in Cr(VI) and Cd(II) removal by Clostridium thiosulfatireducens: Genomic and mechanistic insights.

In this study, a sulfate-reducing bacterium, Clostridium thiosulfatireducens (CT) was reported and the performance and removal mechanism of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) removal were investigated. It is noteworthy that the dsrAB gene is absent in this strain, but the strain is capable of producing sulfide. The conversion rate of Cr(VI) by CT was 84.24 % at a concentration of 25 mg/L, and the conversion rate of Cd(II) was 94.19 % at a concentration of 28 mg/L. The complete genome is 6,106,624 bp and the genome consisted of a single chromosome. The GC content of the chromosomes was 29.65 %. The mechanism of heavy metal removal by CT bacteria mainly includes biosorption, electron transfer and redox, with reduction combined with S2- precipitation as the main pathway. The product characterization results showed that the formation of mainly ionic crystals and precipitates (CdS, Cd(OH)2, Cr(OH)3, Cr2O3) after adsorption. Genome-wide techniques have shown that the clearance of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) by CT is largely dependent on sulfate transport, sulfur metabolism, and energy metabolism to some extent. In addition, genes related to ATP binding, electron carrier activity, transporter protein genes, and DNA repair are also important factors to improve the heavy metal resistance and transformation ability of CT strains. Both the Fe-S cycle and the ROS-resistant system can enhance the electron transfer activity and thus slow down the damage of heavy metals to microorganisms. This study fills the gap in the understanding of the basic properties and heavy metal transformation mechanism of CT.

Exploring the accumulation capacity of dominant plants based on soil heavy metals forms and assessing heavy metals contamination characteristics near gold tailings ponds.

Heavy metal contamination of soil commonly accompanies problems around gold mine tailings ponds. Fully investigating the distribution characteristics of heavy metals and the survival strategies of dominant plants in contaminated soils is crucial for effective pollution management and remediation. This study aims to investigate the contamination characteristics, sources of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Ni) in soils around gold mine tailings ponds areas (JHH and WZ) and to clarify the form distribution of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg) in contaminated plots as well as their accumulation and translocation in native dominant plants. The results of the study showed that the concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in soil exceeded the national limits at parts of the sampling sites in both study areas. The Nemerow pollution index showed that both study areas reached extreme high pollution levels. Spatial analysis showed that the main areas of contamination were concentrated around metallurgical plants and tailings ponds, with Cd exhibiting the most extensive area of contamination. In the JHH, As (74%), Cd (66%), Pb (77%), Zn (47%) were mainly from tailings releases, and Cu (52%) and Hg (51%) were mainly from gold ore smelting. In the WZ, As (42%), Cd (41%), Pb (73%), Cu (47%), and Zn (41%) were mainly from tailings releases. As, Cd, Pb, and Hg were mostly present in the residue state, and the proportion of water-soluble, ion-exchangeable, and carbonate-bound forms of Cd (19.93%) was significantly higher than that of other heavy metals. Artemisia L. and Amaranthus L. are the primary dominating plants, which exhibited superior accumulation of Cd compared to As, Pb, and Hg, and Artemisia L. demonstrated a robust translocation capacity for As, Pb, and Hg. Compared to the concentrations of other forms of soil heavy metals, the heavy metal content in Artemisia L correlates significantly better with the total soil heavy metal concentration. These results offer additional systematic data support and a deeper theoretical foundation to bolster pollution-control and ecological remediation efforts in mining areas.

Mechanisms of microbial-driven changes in soil ecological stoichiometry around gold mines.

In this study, we used soils with different pollution and nutrient levels (non-polluted S1, highly polluted low-nutrient S2, and highly polluted high nutrient S3) around the gold mine tailing ponds, and combined with metabolic limitation modeling and macro-genomics approaches, aiming to investigate the relationship between soil microbial composition and soil eco-chemometrics characteristics under heavy metal stress. The results showed that heavy pollution resulted in reduced SOC, TN, microbial biomass, and with C- and P- acquisition (BG, CBH, ALP) as well as nitrogen limitation of soil microbial metabolism in soils (S2, S3). Further analysis by macrogenomics showed that heavy metal contamination led to an increase in α-microbial diversity and altered the composition of microbial communities in the soil. The cycling of C, N, and P nutrients was altered by affecting the relative abundance of Anaeromyxobacter, Steroidobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Acidobacterium, Limnochorda (predominantly in the Ascomycetes and Acidobacteria phyla), with the most pronounced effect on the composition of microorganisms synthesizing C-acquiring enzymes, and heavy metals and pH were the main influences on ecological stoichiometry. The results of this study are useful for understanding the sustainability of ecological remediation in heavy metal contaminated areas and for developing ecological restoration strategies.

Physiological, biochemical, and genomic elucidation of the Ensifer adhaerens M8 strain with simultaneous arsenic oxidation and chromium reduction.

This study reports the simultaneous oxidation of As(III) and reduction of the Cr(VI) strain Ensifer adhaerens M8 screened from soils around abandoned gold tailings contaminated with highly complex metals (loids). Physiological, biochemical, and genomic techniques were used to explore the mechanism. The strain M8 could simultaneously oxidize 1 mM As(III) and reduce 45.3 % 0.1 mM Cr(VI) in 16 h, and the Cr(VI) reduction rate was increased by 5.8 % compared with the addition of Cr(VI) alone. Cellular debris was the main site of M8 arsenic oxidation. Chromium reduction was dominated by the reduction of extracellular hexavalent chromium (23.80-35.67 %). The genome of M8 included one chromosome and four plasmids, and a comparison of the genomes showed that M8 had two more plasmids than strains of the same genus, which may be related to strong environmental adaptations. M8 had 10 heavy metal resistance genes (HMRs), and plasmid D had a complete cluster of arsenic resistance-oxidation-transport genes (arsOHBCCR-aioSR-aioBA-cytCmoeA-phoBBU-PstBACS-phnCDEE). The genes involved in Cr(VI) detoxification include DNA repair (RecG, ruvABC, and UvrD), Cr(VI) transport (chrA, TonB, and CysAPTW) and Cr(VI) reduction. In summary, this study provides a molecular basis for As (III) and Cr (VI) remediation.

Biodegradation characteristics and mechanism of quinoline by Ochrobactrum sp. strain C2.

A quinoline-degrading strain, C2, which could completely degrade 250 mg/L of quinoline within 24 h, was isolated from coking wastewater. Strain C2 was identified as Ochrobactrum sp. on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis According to 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, Strain C2 was identified as Ochrobactrum sp. Strain C2 could utilize quinoline as the sole carbon sources and nitrogen sources to grow and degrade quinoline well under acidic conditions. The optimum inoculum concentration, temperature and shaking speed for quinoline degradation were 10%, 30 °C and 150 r/min, respectively. The degradation of quinoline at low concentration by the strain followed the first-order kinetic model. The growth process of strain C2 was more consistent with the Haldane model than the Monod model, and the kinetic parameters were: Vmax = 0.08 h-1, Ks = 131.5 mg/L, Ki = 183.1 mg/L. Compared with suspended strains, strain C2 immobilized by sodium alginate had better degradation efficiency of quinoline and COD. The metabolic pathway of quinoline by Strain C2 was tentatively proposed, quinoline was firstly converted into 2(1H) quinolone, then the benzene ring was opened with the action of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase and subsequently transformed into benzaldehyde, 2-pentanone, hydroxyphenyl propionic acid and others.

Toxicity and risk assessment of nine pesticides on nontarget natural predator Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

BACKGROUND: Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a beneficial predatory arthropod in the agricultural ecosystem. For the success and development of integrated pest management strategies, it is essential to assess the toxicity risks of commonly used pesticides to nontarget arthropods. RESULTS: The glass tube residue method was used to determine the risk of nine pesticides to H. axyridis after second-instar exposure. To assess the potential risk of the selected pesticides, the pre-adult LR50 values were calculated by the hazard quotient (HQ) method. The LR50 (application rate causing 50% mortality) values of imidacloprid, dinotefuran, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, bifenthrin, and dimethoate were 0.44, 0.82, 0.10, 0.05, 0.04, and 0.21 g a.i. ha-1 , respectively, showing unacceptable risk to H. axyridis after exposure to in and off field. However, emamectin benzoate and two fungicides, tebuconazole and myclobutanil, posed a low risk to H. axyridis and their HQ values were less than the trigger value of 5. CONCLUSIONS: The four neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid, dinotefuran, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid), pyrethroid bifenthrin, and organophosphorus dimethoate showed a high risk to H. axyridis. Emamectin benzoate, tebuconazole, and myclobutanil showed a low risk to H. axyridis under both exposure scenarios. The results provide critical scientific evidence to guide future regulation of pesticide management practices and protection of nontarget arthropods like H. axyridis. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Identification of the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Molecular Subtypes Associated With Clinical and Immunological Features via Bioinformatics Methods.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a manifestation of metabolic syndrome in the liver with varying severity. Heterogeneity in terms of molecules and immune cell infiltration drives NAFLD from one stage to the next. However, a precise molecular classification of NAFLD is still lacking, and the effects of complex clinical phenotypes on the efficacy of drugs are usually ignored. Methods: We introduced multiple omics data to differentiate NAFLD subtypes via consensus clustering, and a weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to identify eight co-expression modules. Further, eigengenes of eight modules were analyzed with regard to Gene Ontology enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Furthermore, the infiltration rates of 22 immune cell types were calculated with CIBERSORT and the ESTIMATE algorithm. Results: In total, 111 NAFLD patients from three independent GEO datasets were divided into four molecular subtypes, and the corresponding clinical features and immune cell infiltration traits were determined. Based on high gene expression correlations, four molecular subtypes were further divided into eight co-expression modules. We also demonstrated a significant correlation between gene modules and clinical phenotypes. Moreover, we integrated phenotypic, immunologic, and genetic data to assess the potential for progression of different molecular subtypes. Furthermore, the efficacy of drugs against various NAFLD molecular subtypes was discussed to aid in individualized therapy. Conclusion: Overall, this study could provide new insights into the underlying pathogenesis of and drug targets for NAFLD.

Microbial community succession in soils under long-term heavy metal stress from community diversity-structure to KEGG function pathways.

Currently, understanding the structure and function of the microbial community is the key step in artificially constructing microbial communities to control soil heavy metal pollution. Abundant/rare microbial communities play different roles in different levels of concentrations. However, the correlation between heavy metals and rare/abundant subgroups is poorly understood. In this study, we used a metagenomics approach to comprehensively investigate the evolutionary changes in microbial diversity, structure, and function under different heavy metal concentration stress in soils surrounding gold tailings. The results show that the main pollutants were Pb, As, and Zn. Indigenous microorganisms have different responses to heavy metal concentrations. Bacteria are the main components of indigenous microorganisms, mainly including Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria. With the increase of heavy metal pollution, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria increased, and that of Actinobacteria decreased. Archaea was significantly inhibited by heavy metal stress and was more sensitive to heavy metal concentration. The response of fungi to heavy metal concentration was not obvious. The results of KEGG pathways showed that carbon fixation was inhibited with increasing heavy metal concentrations, while nitrogen metabolism was in contrast. Abundant subcommunity had a greater correlation mainly with metal resistance mechanisms, and rare subcommunity plays a key role for soil nutrient cycling such as N, S cycling in soils contaminated. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of heavy metal stress at different concentrations on microorganisms in farmland around gold tailings and reveals the relationship between heavy metals on KEGG pathways.

Correction: Novel anilino quinazoline-based EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Correction for 'Novel anilino quinazoline-based EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer' by Lili Yang et al., Biomater. Sci., 2021, 9, 443-455. DOI: 10.1039/D0BM00293C.

A fructose receptor gene influences development and feed intake in Helicoverpa armigera.

Gustatory receptors (GRs) are critical for multiple life activities of insects. Owing to the rapid development of genome and transcriptome sequencing, numerous insect GRs have been identified. However, the expression patterns and functions of these receptors are poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the expression pattern of GRs in Helicoverpa armigera and found that the fructose receptor HarmGR9 was highly expressed in the foregut and abdomen. The function of HarmGR9 was identified using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system. Knockout of the HarmGR9 gene shortened the developmental period of the larval stages and increased food consumption in both larvae and adults. This study revealed the tissue distribution of sugar-sense-related receptors in H. armigera and thereby expanded the understanding of insect feeding regulation.

Adaptation mechanisms of arsenic metabolism genes and their host microorganisms in soils with different arsenic contamination levels around abandoned gold tailings.

Soil around the gold tailing due to the smelting process of wastewater and solid waste can lead to metal (loids) contamination, especially arsenic (As). Soil microorganisms have gradually evolved adaptive mechanisms in the process of long-term adaptation to As contamination. However, comprehensive investigations on As metabolism genes and their host microbial communities in soil profiles with different levels under long-term As contamination are lacking. There are selected three typical soil profiles (0-100 cm) with different metal (loids) contamination levels (L-low, M-moderate and H-high) around tailings in this research. It uses a Metagenomic approach to explore the adaptation mechanisms of arsenic metabolism genes and arsenic metabolism gene host microorganisms in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. The results showed that four categories of As metabolism genes were prevalent in soil profiles at different As contamination, with As reduction genes being the most abundant, followed by As oxidation genes, then respiration genes and methylation genes. The As metabolism genes arsBCR, aioE, arsPH, arrAB increased with the increase of metal (loid) contaminants concentration. Longitudinal arsA, arrA, aioA, arsM and acr3 increased in abundance in deep soil. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi were the dominant phylum of As metabolism gene host microorganisms. Different concentrations of metal (loid) contamination significantly affected the distribution of host As metabolism genes. Random forest prediction identified As as the most critical driver of As metabolism genes and their host microorganisms. Overall, this study provides a reference for a comprehensive investigation of the detoxification mechanisms of As metabolism microorganisms in soil profiles with different As contamination conditions, and is important for the development of As metabolism gene host microbial strains and engineering applications of microbial technologies to manage As contamination.

Embryo Microinjection and Knockout Mutant Identification of CRISPR/Cas9 Genome-Edited Helicoverpa Armigera (Hübner).

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, is one of the most destructive pests in the world. A combination of molecular genetics, physiology, functional genomics, and behavioral studies has made H. armigera a model species in Lepidoptera Noctuidae. To study the in vivo functions of and interactions between different genes, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/ associated protein 9 (Cas9) genome editing technology is a convenient and effective method used for performing functional genomic studies. In this study, we provide a step-by-step systematic method to complete gene knockout in H. armigera using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The design and synthesis of guide RNA (gRNA) are described in detail. Then, the subsequent steps consisting of gene-specific primer design for guide RNA (gRNA) creation, embryo collection, microinjection, insect rearing, and mutant detection are summarized. Finally, troubleshooting advice and notes are provided to improve the efficiency of gene editing. Our method will serve as a reference for the application of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in H. armigera as well as other Lepidopteran moths.

Distribution of the microbial community and antibiotic resistance genes in farmland surrounding gold tailings: A metagenomics approach.

Metal mining has caused the accumulation of waste mine tailing dumps from abandoned mines. The pollution of farmlands surrounding metal tailings by heavy metals has been a long-recognized problem. However, the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in tailings and the main factors influencing this distribution have rarely been reported. In this study, a metagenomics approach was used to investigate the microbial community and ARGs present in farmland surrounding gold tailings in northern China. The results showed that the main pollutants in the farmland were As, Pb, and Cd. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla of microbes in farmlands surrounding gold tailings. A total of 75 ARGs with 327 ARG subtypes were detected in soil samples. Macrolide-, lincosaminide-, and streptogramin B resistant genes accounted for the majority of ARGs in this study, and Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the hosts of most ARGs. Partial least squares path modeling revealed that the microbial community was the most influential driver moderating the distribution of soil ARGs near tailings, and heavy metals have direct and partially indirect effects on these ARGs. In contrast to previous analyses of ARGs, our study found that mobile gene elements had a minimal impact on ARGs. Overall, this study presents a complete ARG survey that sheds light on the distribution and fate of ARGs under heavy metal contamination in farmland around gold tailings.

Comparative sensitivity of Neoseiulus cucumeris and its prey Tetranychus cinnabarinus, after exposed to nineteen pesticides.

The toxicity tests of nineteen commonly used pesticides were carried out to compare the sensitivity differences between predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris and its prey Tetranychus cinnabarinus by a "leaf spray method" in laboratory microcosms. For two avermectins, emamectin benzoate and abamectin, exhibited high bioactivity against T. cinnabarinusf with LR50 values of 0.04 and 0.05 g a.i./ha, respectively, but these two insecticides showed the opposite toxic effects to N. cucumeris. These two agents showed strong selectivity for the two test species with Selective Toxicity Rate (STR) values of 950 and 620, respectively. However, for five neonicotinoids, the LR50s of dinotefuran, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid were all greater than the recommended rates in the field except for clothianidin, and they showed no obvious toxicity difference to the two species with STR values ranging from 0.58 to 2.00. For two organophosphates, malathion is more toxic to N. cucumeris than T. cinnabarinus, however, dimethoate showed a higher toxic effect on T. cinnabarinus. In addition, the toxicity of four pyrethroids, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, cyhalothrin and gamma-cyhalothrin to N. cucumeris was higher than that of T. cinnabarinus, except for alpha-cypermethrin. For five acaricides, spirodiclofen, spirotetramat and pyridaben had no obvious selectivity to the two organisms, while diafenthiuron and chlorfenapyr were found to be highly toxic to T. cinnabarinus than N. cucumeris with STR values of 14.2 and 68.5, respectively. Thus, some pesticides above-mentioned like emamectin benzoate, abamectin, diafenthiuron and chlorfenapyr exhibited potential to be used in the management programs of T. cinnabarinus, especially in organically based production systems where there are fewer chemical control measures available, which need to combine with natural enemies to achieve the best control effect.

Study on the spatial distribution of ureolytic microorganisms in farmland soil around tailings with different heavy metal pollution.

Ureolytic microorganisms, a kind of microorganism which can secrete urease and decompose urea, have great potential in remediation of soil heavy metals based on microbial induced carbonate precipitation. However, the horizontal and vertical distribution of ureolytic microbial community in heavy metals contaminated soils is poorly understood. In this study, urease genes in agricultural soils surrounding tailings were first investigated using metagenomic in two dimensions: heavy metal pollution (Low-L, Middle-M, High-H) and soil depth (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm, 60-80 cm, 80-100 cm). Results showed that the effect of heavy metal concentration on ureolytic microorganisms was indeed significant, while the changes of ureolytic microorganisms with increasing soil depth varied in the vertical direction at the same level of heavy metal contamination. H site had the highest diversity of ureolytic microorganisms except for the topsoil. And at the same heavy metal contamination level, the ureolytic microbial diversity was lower in deeper soils. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Thaumarchaeota (Archaea) were the dominant phyla of ureolytic microorganisms in all three sites, accounting for more than 80% of the total. However, the respond to the heavy metal concentrations of three phyla were different, which were increasing, decreasing and essentially unchanged, respectively. Besides, other environmental factors such as SOM and pH had different effects on ureolytic microorganisms, with Proteobacteria being positively correlated and Actinobacteria being the opposite. Another phenomenon was that Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia were biomarkers of group L, which could significantly explain the difference with the other two sites. These results provided valuable information for further research on the response mechanism and remediation of heavy metal pollution by ureolytic microbial system.

Novel anilino quinazoline-based EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EGFR-TKI positron emission tomography (PET) probes based on the central quinazoline core show great potential for NSCLC diagnosis, and pre-clinical and clinical therapy monitoring. In our previous research, anilino quinazoline based PET probe, N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-(2-(2-(2-(2-18F-fluoroethoxy) ethoxy) ethoxy) ethoxy)-6-methoxyquinazolin-4-amine (18F-MPG), have been developed, and it has been successfully demonstrated to be a powerful non-invasive imaging tool for differentiating EGFR mutation status and stratifying NSCLC patients for EGFR-TKI treatment in a clinical study (n = 75 patients). Moreover, it has been found that 18F-MPG shows excellent tumor targeting performance and good pharmacokinetic characteristics in NSCLC patients. These results motivate us to investigate the cancer treatment efficacy of non-radioactive F-MPG and its analogue N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-(2-(2-(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy) ethoxy) ethoxy)-6-methoxyquinazolin-4-amine (OH-MPG) in vitro and in small animal models. Our studies revealed that both F-MPG and OH-MPG displayed high therapeutic effect to NSCLC cells (IC50 = 5.3 nM and 2.0 nM to HCC827 cells for F-MPG and OH-MPG, respectively). More importantly, compared with a standard EGFR-TKI, 4-(3-bromoanilino)-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline (PD153035), F-MPG and OH-MPG showed stronger tumor inhibition in preclinical models. Furthermore, the treatment efficacy of F-MPG or OH-MPG monitored by 18F-FDG-PET indicated that tumor uptake in treated groups was significantly decreased. Ex vivo experiments showed that the levels of serum biomarkers and pathological changes in the liver were significantly reduced in the F-MPG and OH-MPG group, compared to PD153035 treated group. In conclusion, EGFR targeted F-MPG and OH-MPG exhibit promising anti-tumor activity with limited liver damage, thus representing promising drug candidates for further investigation for combating the deadly NSCLC.

Advanced applications of Zr-based MOFs in the removal of water pollutants.

The global water pollution is caused by the increase of industrial and agricultural activities, which have produced various toxic pollutants. Pollutants in water generally consist of metal ions, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), oil spills, organic dyes, and other organic pollutants. Amongst the adsorbents that have been developed to deal with pollutants in water, Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have drawn scientists' great attention due to their excellent stability and adjustable functionalization. Herein, the present review article introduces the synthetic methods of functionalized Zr-based MOFs and summarizes their applications in water pollution treatment. It also clarifies the interactions and removal mechanisms between pollutants and Zr-based MOFs. The use of these MOFs with eminent adsorption ability and recycling performance have been discussed in detail. Zr-based MOFs also face some challenges such as high cost, lack of real water environment applications, selective removal of pollutants, and low ability to remove composite pollutants. Future research should focus on addressing these issues. Although there is still a blank of the practical utility of Zr-based MOFs on a commercial scale, the research reported to date clearly shows that they are very promising materials for the water treatment.

Sublethal and transgenerational effects of acetamiprid and imidacloprid on the predatory bug Orius sauteri (Poppius) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae).

The predatory bug Orius sauteri (Poppius) is currently one of the most important beneficial arthropods in Northeast Asia and used as a biological control agent of several small pest arthropods including Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Two neonicotinoid chemical insecticides, acetamiprid and imidacloprid, mainly used in China as chemical control on F. occidentalis, although applied at sublethal concentrations in the field or greenhouse to protect beneficial arthropods, still may affect the predator O. sauteri. The objective of present work is to assess the long-term effects of 24-h exposure time to these two insecticides on the life-cycle of O. sauteri at application rates similar to the laboratory 24-h LC10, LC20 and LC30 of O. sauteri. Results showed that acetamiprid and imidacloprid at all tested concentrations significantly decreased the fecundity of O. sauteri females, while the effect of acetamiprid was higher than that of imidacloprid. Moreover, the oviposition period and longevity of O. sauteri to both insecticides shortened. The sublethal effects on the first progeny (F1 generation) were also found to increase nymphal mortality, shorten adult longevity and reduce fecundity. However, all treatments of acetamiprid and imidacloprid at the concentration of LC10, LC20 and LC30 caused no significant effect on the developmental time of different nymphal stages and sex ratio of the F1 generation. This paper is the first one that assesses the compatibility between neonicotinoid insecticides and O. sauteri, and shows that the application of acetamiprid and imidacloprid likely interferes with the population dynamic of O. sauteri.