Multi-omics analysis reveals that linoleic acid metabolism is associated with variations of trained immunity induced by distinct BCG strains.

Trained immunity is one of the mechanisms by which BCG vaccination confers persistent nonspecific protection against diverse diseases. Genomic differences between the different BCG vaccine strains that are in global use could result in variable protection against tuberculosis and therapeutic effects on bladder cancer. In this study, we found that four representative BCG strains (BCG-Russia, BCG-Sweden, BCG-China, and BCG-Pasteur) covering all four genetic clusters differed in their ability to induce trained immunity and nonspecific protection. The trained immunity induced by BCG was associated with the Akt-mTOR-HIF1α axis, glycolysis, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Multi-omics analysis (epigenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics) showed that linoleic acid metabolism was correlated with the trained immunity-inducing capacity of different BCG strains. Linoleic acid participated in the induction of trained immunity and could act as adjuvants to enhance BCG-induced trained immunity, revealing a trained immunity-inducing signaling pathway that could be used in the adjuvant development.

The Antibacterial Properties of 4, 8, 4', 8'-Tetramethoxy (1,1'-biphenanthrene) -2,7,2',7'-Tetrol from Fibrous Roots of Bletilla striata.

Biphenanthrene compound, 4, 8, 4', 8'-tetramethoxy (1, 1'-biphenanthrene)-2, 7, 2', 7'-tetrol (LF05), recently isolated from fibrous roots of Bletilla striata, exhibits antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial properties, potential mode of action and cytotoxicity. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) tests showed LF05 was active against all tested Gram-positive strains, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and staphylococcal clinical isolates. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests demonstrated LF05 was bactericidal against S. aureus ATCC 29213 and Bacillus subtilis 168 whereas bacteriostatic against S. aureus ATCC 43300, WX 0002, and other strains of S. aureus. Time-kill assays further confirmed these observations. The flow cytometric assay indicated that LF05 damaged the cell membrane of S. aureus ATCC 29213 and B. subtilis 168. Consistent with this finding, 4 × MIC of LF05 caused release of ATP in B. subtilis 168 within 10 min. Checkerboard test demonstrated LF05 exhibited additive effect when combined with vancomycin, erythromycin and berberine. The addition of rat plasma or bovine serum albumin to bacterial cultures caused significantly loss in antibacterial activity of LF05. Interestingly, LF05 was highly toxic to several tumor cells. Results of these studies indicate that LF05 is bactericidal against some Gram-positive bacteria and acts as a membrane structure disruptor. The application of biphenanthrene in the treatment of S. aureus infection, especially local infection, deserves further study.

[Efficiency and Mechanism of Capping with Purple Parent Rocks to Control Phosphorus Release from Sediments].

In order to study the efficiency and mechanism of capping with purple parent rocks to control phosphorus release from sediments, three kinds of purple parent rocks (Fei-xian-guan Formation, Peng-lai-zhen Formation and Sui-ning Formation) which distribute widely in Chongqing, and two types of rock (limestone and calcite) which have been found to effectively control the release of phosphorus from sediments, were selected as active covering materials to cap the sediments to conduct simulation experiment. The results indicated that: all three kinds of purple parent rocks showed strong inhibition of total phosphorus release from sediments to the overlying water, far better than limestone and calcite (P<0.05), and the highest removal rate of total phosphorus was 94.4% in the disposal of Fei-xian-guan Formation. Those five kinds of covering materials could promote the release and transformation of total phosphorus in sediments, which could significantly promote the in situ conversion of OP to Ca-P, while the three kinds of purple parent rocks were more conducive to convert the released phosphorus into inorganic phosphorus and organic phosphorus. At the same time, those five kinds of covering materials could also change the microbial community structure in sediments and overlying water, and the numbers of bacteria (labeled as PLFA16:0) were significantly negatively correlated with the content of total phosphorus in the overlying water.

[Isolation, Identification and Characteristics of a Rhodopseudomonas with High Ammonia-nitrogen Removal Efficiency].

A strain of photosynthetic bacterium named psb1 capable of ammonia-nitrogen degradation was isolated from a swamp in Yunnan. The psb1 was similar to Rhodopseudomonas sp. according to its cell morphological properties and absorption spectrum analysis of living cells. The alignment result of 16S rDNA amplification sequence with specific primers of photosynthetic bacteria showed that the homology between strain psb1 and Rhodopseudomonas sp. was 99%, and the alignment results of protein sequences of bacterial chlorophyll Y subunit showed that the strain psb1 and Rhodopseudomonas palustris were the most similar, with a similarity of 99%. But there was a great difference in the biological properties of the strains psb1 and Rhodopseudomonas palustris according to physiological biochemical characteristics and main fatty acid analysis. For example, strain psb1 could not utilize glucose and mannitol as carbon source, and had specific fatty acid C18:1ω6c. The results of single factor test showed that:the optimal growth was obtained at pH 7.0 and 40℃, the optimal nitrogen source was yeast extract. The optimal conditions for ammonia nitrogen biodegradation were as following:anaerobic, light, initial pH 6.0-7.0, temperature 30℃, inoculation volume 0.4%. Under that cultural condition, the degradation rate of ammonia nitrogen in wastewater could reach 99%. The results indicated that strain psb1 might be a novel bacterium in genus Rhodopseudomonas with high ammonia removal efficiency, and can be applied in the bioremediation of polluted landscape water.

[Effect of Different Purple Parent Rock on Removal Rates of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Organics in Landscape Water].

In order to understand the impacts of physicochemical properties of purple parent rock on the removal rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and organics in landscape water systems, four types of purple parent rocks including Peng-lai-zhen Formation (S1) , Sha-xi-miao Formation (S2) , Fei-xian-guan Formation (S3) and Sui-ning Formation (S4) , which distribute widely in Chongqing, were selected and autoclaved, and added to unsterile landscape water collected from Chong-de Lake in Southwest University, and the landscape water only was used as control. And several indicators such as total nitrogen and phosphorus and so on of every disposal were investigated periodically. The results indicated that: (1) The highest removal rates of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and Ammonia nitrogen were observed in Sl, which were 45.1%, 62.3% and 90%, respectively; the highest removal rate of COD was 94.5% in S4; the ammonia nitrogen content in the purple parent rocks was not obviously changed before and after the experiments, which indicated that the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen on purple parent rock surface was not the main reason for the decrease of ammonia nitrogen in water. (2) Arsenate had inhibitory effect on the sulfate-reducing bacteria, while copper and magnesium had promoting effect on gram-negative bacteria. (3) The microbial diversity was positively correlated to total nitrogen in water. (4) Based on the PCA analyses of microbial community structure and environmental factors, the mineral elements released from parent rock affected the structure and composition of microbial community in the test water, and then influenced the removal rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and organics in water systems.