Cross-kingdom RNA interference mediated by insect salivary microRNAs may suppress plant immunity.

Communication between insects and plants relies on the exchange of bioactive molecules that traverse the species interface. Although proteinic effectors have been extensively studied, our knowledge of other molecules involved in this process remains limited. In this study, we investigate the role of salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) from the rice planthopper Nilaparvata lugens in suppressing plant immunity. A total of three miRNAs were confirmed to be secreted into host plants during insect feeding. Notably, the sequence-conserved miR-7-5P is specifically expressed in the salivary glands of N. lugens and is secreted into saliva, distinguishing it significantly from homologues found in other insects. Silencing miR-7-5P negatively affects N. lugens feeding on rice plants, but not on artificial diets. The impaired feeding performance of miR-7-5P-silenced insects can be rescued by transgenic plants overexpressing miR-7-5P. Through target prediction and experimental testing, we demonstrate that miR-7-5P targets multiple plant genes, including the immune-associated bZIP transcription factor 43 (OsbZIP43). Infestation of rice plants by miR-7-5P-silenced insects leads to the increased expression of OsbZIP43, while the presence of miR-7-5P counteracts this upregulation effect. Furthermore, overexpressing OsbZIP43 confers plant resistance against insects which can be subverted by miR-7-5P. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which herbivorous insects have evolved salivary miRNAs to suppress plant immunity, expanding our understanding of cross-kingdom RNA interference between interacting organisms.

Drug repurposing for cancer therapy.

Cancer, a complex and multifactorial disease, presents a significant challenge to global health. Despite significant advances in surgical, radiotherapeutic and immunological approaches, which have improved cancer treatment outcomes, drug therapy continues to serve as a key therapeutic strategy. However, the clinical efficacy of drug therapy is often constrained by drug resistance and severe toxic side effects, and thus there remains a critical need to develop novel cancer therapeutics. One promising strategy that has received widespread attention in recent years is drug repurposing: the identification of new applications for existing, clinically approved drugs. Drug repurposing possesses several inherent advantages in the context of cancer treatment since repurposed drugs are typically cost-effective, proven to be safe, and can significantly expedite the drug development process due to their already established safety profiles. In light of this, the present review offers a comprehensive overview of the various methods employed in drug repurposing, specifically focusing on the repurposing of drugs to treat cancer. We describe the antitumor properties of candidate drugs, and discuss in detail how they target both the hallmarks of cancer in tumor cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment. In addition, we examine the innovative strategy of integrating drug repurposing with nanotechnology to enhance topical drug delivery. We also emphasize the critical role that repurposed drugs can play when used as part of a combination therapy regimen. To conclude, we outline the challenges associated with repurposing drugs and consider the future prospects of these repurposed drugs transitioning into clinical application.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote enzalutamide resistance and PD-L1 expression in prostate cancer through CCL5-CCR5 paracrine axis.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been shown to play a key role in prostate cancer treatment resistance, but the role of CAFs in the initial course of enzalutamide therapy for prostate cancer remains unclear. Our research revealed that CAFs secrete CCL5, which promotes the upregulation of androgen receptor (AR) expression in prostate cancer cells, leading to resistance to enzalutamide therapy. Furthermore, CCL5 also enhances the expression of tumor programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), resulting in immune escape. Mechanistically, CCL5 binds to the receptor CCR5 on prostate cancer cells and activates the AKT signaling pathway, leading to the upregulation of AR and PD-L1. The CCR5 antagonist maraviroc to inhibit the CAFs mediated CCL5 signaling pathway can effectively reduce the expression of AR and PD-L1, and improve the efficacy of enzalutamide. This study highlights a promising therapeutic approach targeting the CCL5-CCR5 signaling pathway to improve the effectiveness of enzalutamide.

Algorithm of automatic identification of diabetic retinopathy foci based on ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.

AIM: To propose an algorithm for automatic detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR) lesions based on ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO). METHODS: The algorithm utilized the FasterRCNN (Faster Regions with CNN features)+ResNet50 (Residua Network 50)+FPN (Feature Pyramid Networks) method for detecting hemorrhagic spots, cotton wool spots, exudates, and microaneurysms in DR ultra-widefield SLO. Subimage segmentation combined with a deeper residual network FasterRCNN+ResNet50 was employed for feature extraction to enhance intelligent learning rate. Feature fusion was carried out by the feature pyramid network FPN, which significantly improved lesion detection rates in SLO fundus images. RESULTS: By analyzing 1076 ultra-widefield SLO images provided by our hospital, with a resolution of 2600×2048 dpi, the accuracy rates for hemorrhagic spots, cotton wool spots, exudates, and microaneurysms were found to be 87.23%, 83.57%, 86.75%, and 54.94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The proposed algorithm demonstrates intelligent detection of DR lesions in ultra-widefield SLO, providing significant advantages over traditional fundus color imaging intelligent diagnosis algorithms.

Bilateral synchronous double primary lung cancer: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Bilateral synchronous double primary lung cancer (sDPLC) is a rare disease in clinics. This study analyzed the clinical data of a patient with bilateral sDPLC, aiming to improve medical workers' understanding of the disease and avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Abstract: A 68-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with "intermittent cough and expectoration for two months." Enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) showed that the upper lobe of the left lung had a mass of high-density shadow, bronchial opening of the left lobe was thickened, lumen was narrow, and middle lobe of the right lung had a mass of high-density shadow. Bronchoscopy was performed to observe the microscopic characteristics of the lesions in the upper lobe of the left lung, and abnormal mucosa was biopsied. The pathological and immunohistochemical results confirmed that it was small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the upper lobe of the left lung. Considering the occupation of the middle lobe of the right lung, CT-guided lung biopsy was performed, and the pathological and immunohistochemical results confirmed that it was moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the middle lobe of the right lung. Clinicians should strengthen their understanding of sDPLC and focus on the imaging characteristics of chest CT and performance under bronchoscopy. Additionally, it is necessary to perform both CT-guided lung biopsy and bronchoscopy to obtain histopathological findings for the diagnosis.

A novel deep generative model for mRNA vaccine development: Designing 5' UTRs with N1-methyl-pseudouridine modification.

Efficient translation mediated by the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) is essential for the robust efficacy of mRNA vaccines. However, the N1-methyl-pseudouridine (m1Ψ) modification of mRNA can impact the translation efficiency of the 5' UTR. We discovered that the optimal 5' UTR for m1Ψ-modified mRNA (m1Ψ-5' UTR) differs significantly from its unmodified counterpart, highlighting the need for a specialized tool for designing m1Ψ-5' UTRs rather than directly utilizing high-expression endogenous gene 5' UTRs. In response, we developed a novel machine learning-based tool, Smart5UTR, which employs a deep generative model to identify superior m1Ψ-5' UTRs in silico. The tailored loss function and network architecture enable Smart5UTR to overcome limitations inherent in existing models. As a result, Smart5UTR can successfully design superior 5' UTRs, greatly benefiting mRNA vaccine development. Notably, Smart5UTR-designed superior 5' UTRs significantly enhanced antibody titers induced by COVID-19 mRNA vaccines against the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2, surpassing the performance of vaccines using high-expression endogenous gene 5' UTRs.

The genomic history and global migration of a windborne pest.

Many insect pests, including the brown planthopper (BPH), undergo windborne migration that is challenging to observe and track. It remains controversial about their migration patterns and largely unknown regarding the underlying genetic basis. By analyzing 360 whole genomes from around the globe, we clarify the genetic sources of worldwide BPHs and illuminate a landscape of BPH migration showing that East Asian populations perform closed-circuit journeys between Indochina and the Far East, while populations of Malay Archipelago and South Asia undergo one-way migration to Indochina. We further find round-trip migration accelerates population differentiation, with highly diverged regions enriching in a gene desert chromosome that is simultaneously the speciation hotspot between BPH and related species. This study not only shows the power of applying genomic approaches to demystify the migration in windborne migrants but also enhances our understanding of how seasonal movements affect speciation and evolution in insects.

Molecular insights into linkages among free-floating macrophyte-derived organic matter, the fate of antibiotic residues, and antibiotic resistance genes.

Macrophyte rhizospheric dissolved organic matter (ROM) served as widespread abiotic components in aquatic ecosystems, and its effects on antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) could not be ignored. However, specific influencing mechanisms for ROM on the fate of antibiotic residues and expression of ARGs still remained unclear. Herein, laboratory hydroponic experiments for water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) were carried out to explore mutual interactions among ROM, sulfamethoxazole (SMX), bacterial community, and ARGs expression. Results showed ROM directly affect SMX concentrations through the binding process, while CO and N-H groups were main binding sites for ROM. Dynamic changes of ROM molecular composition diversified the DOM pool due to microbe-mediated oxidoreduction, with enrichment of heteroatoms (N, S, P) and decreased aromaticity. Microbial community analysis showed SMX pressure significantly stimulated the succession of bacterial structure in both bulk water and rhizospheric biofilms. Furthermore, network analysis further confirmed ROM bio-labile compositions as energy sources and electron shuttles directly influenced microbial structure, thereby facilitating proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (Methylotenera, Sphingobium, Az spirillum) and ARGs (sul1, sul2, intl1). This investigation will provide scientific supports for the control of antibiotic residues and corresponding ARGs in aquatic ecosystems.

A meta-analysis: laparoscopic versus open liver resection for large hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The indication of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for treating large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial. In this study, we compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of LLR and open liver resection (OLR) for large HCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We searched eligible articles about LLR versus OLR for large HCC in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE and performed a meta-analysis. RESULTS: Eight publications involving 1,338 patients were included. Among them, 495 underwent LLR and 843 underwent OLR. The operation time was longer in the LLR group (MD: 22.23, 95% CI: 4.14-40.33, p = 0.02). but the postoperative hospital stay time was significantly shorter (MD : -4.88, CI: -5.55 to -4.23, p < 0.00001), and the incidence of total postoperative complications and major complications were significantly fewer (OR: 0.49, 95% CI:0.37-0.66, p < 0.00001; OR: 0.54, 95% CI:0.36 - 0.82, p = 0.003, respectively). Patients in the laparoscopic group had no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion rate, resection margin size, R0 resection rate, three-year overall survival (OS) and three-year disease-free survival (DFS). CONCLUSION: LLR for large HCC is safe and feasible. This surgical strategy will not affect the long-term outcomes of patients.

Associations between Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index, bone mineral density and body composition in type 2 diabetes patients.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a fast-growing issue in public health, is one of the most common chronic metabolic disorders in older individuals. Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are highly prevalent in T2DM patients and may result in fractures and disabilities. In people with T2DM, the association between nutrition, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis has rarely been explored. AIM: To evaluate the connections among nutrition, bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in patients with T2DM. METHODS: We enrolled 689 patients with T2DM for this cross-sectional study. All patients underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination and were categorized according to baseline Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) values calculated from serum albumin levels and body weight. The GNRI was used to evaluate nutritional status, and DXA was used to investigate BMD and body composition. Multivariate forward linear regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with BMD and skeletal muscle mass index. RESULTS: Of the total patients, 394 were men and 295 were women. Compared with patients in tertile 1, those in tertile 3 who had a high GNRI tended to be younger and had lower HbA1c, higher BMD at all bone sites, and higher appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI). These important trends persisted even when the patients were divided into younger and older subgroups. The GNRI was positively related to ASMI (men: r = 0.644, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.649, P < 0.001), total body fat (men: r = 0.453, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.557, P < 0.001), BMD at all bone sites, lumbar spine (L1-L4) BMD (men: r = 0.110, P = 0.029; women: r = 0.256, P < 0.001), FN-BMD (men: r = 0.293, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.273, P < 0.001), and hip BMD (men: r = 0.358, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.377, P < 0.001). After adjustment for other clinical parameters, the GNRI was still significantly associated with BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Additionally, a low lean mass index and higher ß-collagen special sequence were associated with low BMD at all bone sites. Age was negatively correlated with ASMI, whereas weight was positively correlated with ASMI. CONCLUSION: Poor nutrition, as indicated by a low GNRI, was associated with low levels of ASMI and BMD at all bone sites in T2DM patients. Using the GNRI to evaluate nutritional status and using DXA to investigate body composition in patients with T2DM is of value in assessing bone health and physical performance.

Doped Cu0 and sulfidation induced transition from R-O• to •OH in peracetic acid activation by sulfidated nano zero-valent iron-copper.

Peracetic acid (PAA) has emerged as a new effective oxidant for various contaminants degradation through advanced oxidation process (AOP). In this study, sulfidated nano zero-valent iron-copper (S-nZVIC) with low Cu doping and sulfidation was synthesized for PAA activation, resulting in more efficient degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX, 20 µM) and other contaminants using a low dose of catalyst (0.05 g/L) and oxidant (100 µM). The characterization results suggested that S-nZVIC presented a more uniform size and distribution with fewer metal oxides, as the agglomeration and oxidation were inhibited. More significantly, doped Cu0 and sulfidation significantly enhanced the generation and contribution of •OH but decreased that of R-O• in S-nZVIC/PAA/SMX system compared with that of nZVIC and S-nZVI, accounting for the relatively high degradation efficiency of 97.7% in S-nZVIC/PAA/SMX system compared with 85.7% and 78.9% in nZVIC/PAA/SMX and S-nZVI/PAA/SMX system, respectively. The mechanisms underlying these changes were that (i) doped Cu° could promote the regeneration of Fe(Ⅱ) for strengthened PAA activation through mediating Fe(Ⅱ)/Fe(Ⅲ) cycle by Cu(Ⅰ)/Cu(Ⅱ) cycle; (ii) S species might consume part of R-O•, resulting in a decreased contribution of R-O• in SMX degradation; (iii) sulfidation increased the electrical conductivity, thus facilitating the electron transfer from S-nZVIC to PAA. Consequently, the dominant reactive oxygen species transited from R-O• to •OH to degrade SMX more efficiently. The degradation pathways, intermediate products and toxicity were further analyzed through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and T.E.S.T software analysis, which proved the environmental friendliness of this process. In addition, S-nZVIC exhibited high stability, recyclability and degradation efficiency over a wide pH range (3.0∼9.0). This work provides a new insight into the rational design and modification of nano zero-valent metals for efficient wastewater treatment through adjusting the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) into the more active free radicals.

Efficacy and immune-inflammatory mechanism of acupuncture-related therapy in animal models of knee osteoarthritis: a preclinical systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many KOA patients have not reached indications for surgery, thus we need to find effective non-surgical treatments. Acupuncture is thought to have the potential to modulate inflammation and cytokines in KOA through the immune system. However, the mechanisms have not been elucidated, and there is no network Meta-analysis of acupuncture on KOA animals. So we evaluate the effect and mechanism of acupuncture-related therapy in KOA animals. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CBM, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP Database to identify relevant animal studies focusing on acupuncture therapy for KOA. The included studies were assessed for risk of bias using SYRCLE's Risk of Bias tool. Subsequently, pair-wise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were performed using Stata 15.0 software, evaluating outcomes such as Lequesne index scale, Mankin score, IL-1ß, TNF-α, MMP3, and MMP13. RESULTS: 56 RCTs with 2394 animals were included. Meta-analysis showed that among the 6 outcomes, there were significant differences between acupuncture and model group; the overall results of network meta-analysis showed that the normal group or sham operation group performed the best, followed by the acupotomy, acupuncture, and medicine group, and the model group had the worst effect, and there were significant differences between 6 interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture-related therapy can be a possible treatment for KOA. The mechanism involves many immune-inflammatory pathways, which may be mediated by DAMPs/TLR/NF-κB/MAPK,PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, or IFN-γ/JAK-STAT pathway. It needs to be further confirmed by more high-quality animal experiments or meta-analysis. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO identifier: CRD42023377228.

A case of POEMS syndrome comprising of a complicated diagnostic procedure: Case report.

RATIONALE: This article presents the case of a patient with recurrent chronic diarrhea and cachexia who was misdiagnosed, followed by a literature review to summarize the reasons for misdiagnosis of POEMS syndrome and the treatment strategies. PATIENT CONCERNS: The diagnosis and treatment of this patient suggest that with the improvement of M-protein detection levels, the diagnosis of patients with low M-protein levels, such as those with POEMS syndrome, has been greatly aided. DIAGNOSES: POEMS syndrome requires polyneuropathy and monoclonal plasma cell proliferation as mandatory diagnostic criteria. Therefore, patients presenting with polyneuropathy should routinely undergo M-protein testing and consider the possibility of POEMS syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: The patient, in this case, was treated primarily with relatively conservative immunomodulatory agents. OUTCOMES: During follow-up after treatment, the patient's diarrhea and malnutrition showed significant improvement. LESSONS SUBSECTIONS: POEMS syndrome has low clinical specificity and a high rate of misdiagnosis. However, once a definitive diagnosis is made, the treatment outcome is favorable.

A Prediction Model for Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients: Construction and Accuracy Assessment.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread rapidly with considerable morbidity nationwide since China's liberalization in December 2022. Our work has focused on identifying different predictive factors from the laboratory examination of critically ill patients, and forecasting the unfavorable outcome of critically ill patients with COVID-19 through a combined diagnosis of biological markers. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study at the Department of First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China, from December 24, 2022, to January 10, 2023, where 434 critically ill patients who met the inclusion criteria were involved. Machine analysis was employed to search for the parameters with the highest predictive value to calculate COVID-19 mortality by exploiting 66 typical laboratory results. RESULTS: Combined diagnosis of serum albumin (ALB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), direct bilirubin (Dbil), ferritin, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), and neutrophil count (NEUT#) was evaluated, and the result with the highest predictive value (NEUT#) was selected as the predictor for COVID-19 mortality with a sensitivity of 89.2% and a specificity of 77.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The increased levels of LDH, Dbil, ferritin, and NEUT#, along with lowered ALB and SpO2 levels are the most decisive variables for forecasting the mortality for COVID-19 according to our machine-learning-based model. The combined diagnosis could be used to improve further diagnostic performance.

In Silico Human Cardiomyocyte Action Potential Modeling: Exploring Ion Channel Input Combinations.

In silico modeling offers an opportunity to supplement and accelerate cardiac safety testing. With in silico modeling, computational simulation methods are used to predict electrophysiological interactions and pharmacological effects of novel drugs on critical physiological processes. The O'Hara-Rudy's model was developed to predict the response to different ion channel inhibition levels on cardiac action potential duration (APD) which is known to directly correlate with the QT interval. APD data at 30% 60% and 90% inhibition were derived from the model to delineate possible ventricular arrhythmia scenarios and the marginal contribution of each ion channel to the model. Action potential values were calculated for epicardial, myocardial, and endocardial cells, with action potential curve modeling. This study assessed cardiac ion channel inhibition data combinations to consider when undertaking in silico modeling of proarrhythmic effects as stipulated in the Comprehensive in Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA). As expected, our data highlight the importance of the delayed rectifier potassium channel (IKr) as the most impactful channel for APD prolongation. The impact of the transient outward potassium channel (Ito) inhibition on APD was minimal while the inward rectifier (IK1) and slow component of the delayed rectifier potassium channel (IKs) also had limited APD effects. In contrast, the contribution of fast sodium channel (INa) and/or L-type calcium channel (ICa) inhibition resulted in substantial APD alterations supporting the pharmacological relevance of in silico modeling using input from a limited number of cardiac ion channels including IKr, INa, and ICa, at least at an early stage of drug development.

Single-cell deconvolution algorithms analysis unveils autocrine IL11-mediated resistance to docetaxel in prostate cancer via activation of the JAK1/STAT4 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel resistance represents a significant obstacle in the treatment of prostate cancer. The intricate interplay between cytokine signalling pathways and transcriptional control mechanisms in cancer cells contributes to chemotherapeutic resistance, yet the underlying molecular determinants remain only partially understood. This study elucidated a novel resistance mechanism mediated by the autocrine interaction of interleukin-11 (IL-11) and its receptor interleukin-11 receptor subunit alpha(IL-11RA), culminating in activation of the JAK1/STAT4 signalling axis and subsequent transcriptional upregulation of the oncogene c-MYC. METHODS: Single-cell secretion profiling of prostate cancer organoid was analyzed to determine cytokine production profiles associated with docetaxel resistance.Analysis of the expression pattern of downstream receptor IL-11RA and enrichment of signal pathway to clarify the potential autocrine mechanism of IL-11.Next, chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) was performed to detect the nuclear localization and DNA-binding patterns of phosphorylated STAT4 (pSTAT4). Coimmunoprecipitation and reporter assays were utilized to assess interaction between pSTAT4 and the cotranscription factor CREB-binding protein (CBP) as well as their role in c-MYC transcriptional activity. RESULTS: Autocrine secretion of IL-11 was markedly increased in docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells. IL-11 stimulation resulted in robust activation of JAK1/STAT4 signalling. Upon activation, pSTAT4 translocated to the nucleus and associated with CBP at the c-MYC promoter region, amplifying its transcriptional activity. Inhibition of the IL-11/IL-11RA interaction or disruption of the JAK1/STAT4 pathway significantly reduced pSTAT4 nuclear entry and its binding to CBP, leading to downregulation of c-MYC expression and restoration of docetaxel sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Our findings identify an autocrine loop of IL-11/IL-11RA that confers docetaxel resistance through the JAK1/STAT4 pathway. The pSTAT4-CBP interaction serves as a critical enhancer of c-MYC transcriptional activity in prostate cancer cells. Targeting this signalling axis presents a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome docetaxel resistance in advanced prostate cancer.

A type VI secretion system effector TseG of Pantoea ananatis is involved in virulence and antibacterial activity.

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) of many gram-negative bacteria injects toxic effectors into adjacent cells to manipulate host cells during pathogenesis or to kill competing bacteria. However, the identification and function of the T6SS effectors remains only partly known. Pantoea ananatis, a gram-negative bacterium, is commonly found in various plants and natural environments, including water and soil. In the current study, genomic analysis of P. ananatis DZ-12 causing brown stalk rot on maize demonstrated that it carries three T6SS gene clusters, namely, T6SS-1, T6SS-2, and T6SS-3. Interestingly, only T6SS-1 secretion systems are involved in pathogenicity and bacterial competition. The study also investigated the T6SS-1 system in detail and identified an unknown T6SS-1-secreted effector TseG by using the upstream T6SS effector chaperone TecG containing a conserved domain of DUF2169. TseG can directly interact with the chaperone TecG for delivery and with a downstream immunity protein TsiG for protection from its toxicity. TseG, highly conserved in the Pantoea genus, is involved in virulence in maize, potato, and onion. Additionally, P. ananatis uses TseG to target Escherichia coli, gaining a competitive advantage. This study provides the first report on the T6SS-1-secreted effector from P. ananatis, thereby enriching our understanding of the various types and functions of type VI effector proteins.

Identification of particle distribution pattern in vertical profile via unmanned aerial vehicles observation.

Below the boundary layer, the air pollutants have been confirmed to present the decreasing trend with the height in most situaitons. However, the disperiosn rate of air pollutants in the vertical profile is rarely investigated in detail, especially through in-situ measurement. With this consideration, we employed an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with portable monitoring equipments to scrutinize the vertical distribution of PM2.5. Based on the original data, we found that PM2.5 concentration decreases gradually with altitude below the boundary layer and demonstrated an obvious linear correlation. Therefore, the vertical distribution of PM2.5 was quantified by representing the distribution of PM2.5 with the slope of PM2.5 vertical distribution. We used backward trajectories to reveal the causes of outliers (PM2.5 increasing with altitude), and found that PM2.5 in the high altitude came from the southwest. Besides, the relationship between the vertical distribution of PM2.5 and various meteorological factors was investigated using stepwise regression analysis. The results show that the four meteorological factors most strongly correlated with the slope values are: (a) the difference in relative humidity between the ground and the air; (b) the difference in temperature between the ground and the air; (c) the height of the boundary layer; and (d) the wind speed. The slope values increase with increasing the difference in relative humidity between ground and air and the difference in temperature between the ground and the air, and decrease with increasing boundary layer height and wind speed. According to the Random Forest calculations, the ground-to-air relative humidity difference is the most important at 0.718; the wind speed is the least important at 0.053; and the ground-to-air temperature difference and boundary layer height are 0.140 and 0.088, respectively.