The Role of SHP2 in Advancing COPD: Insights into Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Pyroptosis.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation and inflammation resulting from genetic and environmental factors, notably cigarette smoke. Pyroptosis, a cell death process, is implicated in COPD, but its mechanisms are unclear. SHP2, a phosphatase, modulates inflammatory pathways, suggesting a role in COPD pathogenesis and potential therapeutic avenues. Objective: This study investigates the mechanism by which SHP2 regulates cell pyroptosis in bronchial epithelial cells in COPD patients. Methods: In this prospective study, we employed in vivo and in vitro models to investigate the mechanisms underlying COPD progression. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were utilized to assess the morphological changes characteristic of COPD. Electron microscopy enabled precise quantification of pyroptotic bodies to highlight cellular changes associated with COPD pathogenesis. Immunofluorescence analysis facilitated the measurement of protein fluorescence intensity, allowing for the assessment of inflammatory responses within bronchial epithelial cells. Additionally, Western blot analysis was conducted to evaluate the expression levels of key pathway proteins involved in COPD progression. Results: In the COPD model, lesions worsened in SHP2-KD mice compared to SHP2-NC. Western blot results showed increased p22, p47, p-IRE1α, XBP1, STING, p-TBK1, NLRP3, Caspase1, and IL-1ß expression levels in both in vivo and in vitro models. Transmission electron microscopy revealed more pyroptotic bodies in SHP2-KD+CSE than in SHP2-NC+CSE. Immunofluorescence demonstrated significantly higher NLRP3 and GSDMD fluorescence intensities in SHP2-KD+CSE versus SHP2-NC+CSE. Additionally, Western blot analysis indicated increased expression of Bax, Caspase3, Caspase8, and Caspase9 proteins in the in vitro model. No differences were observed between SHP2 NC and SHP2-KD groups without CSE stimulation in immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and Western blot findings in the cellular model. Conclusions: SHP2 promotes COPD progression by inducing oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and pyroptosis.

Therapeutic Potential of Bacteroides fragilis SNBF-1 as a Next-Generation Probiotic: In Vitro Efficacy in Lipid and Carbohydrate Metabolism and Antioxidant Activity.

This study explores the potential of aerotolerant Bacteroides fragilis (B. fragilis) strains as next-generation probiotics (NGPs), focusing on their adaptability in the gastrointestinal environment, safety profile, and probiotic functions. From 23 healthy infant fecal samples, we successfully isolated 56 beneficial B. fragilis strains. Notably, the SNBF-1 strain demonstrated superior cholesterol removal efficiency in HepG2 cells, outshining all other strains by achieving a remarkable reduction in cholesterol by 55.38 ± 2.26%. Comprehensive genotype and phenotype analyses were conducted, including sugar utilization and antibiotic sensitivity tests, leading to the development of an optimized growth medium for SNBF-1. SNBF-1 also demonstrated robust and consistent antioxidant activity, particularly in cell-free extracts, as evidenced by an average oxygen radical absorbance capacity value of 1.061 and a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging ability of 94.53 ± 7.31%. The regulation of carbohydrate metabolism by SNBF-1 was assessed in the insulin-resistant HepG2 cell line. In enzyme inhibition assays, SNBF-1 showed significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, with rates of 87.04 ± 2.03% and 37.82 ± 1.36%, respectively. Furthermore, the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of SNBF-1 enhanced glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells, indicating improved cellular energy metabolism. This was consistent with the observation that the CFS of SNBF-1 increased the proliferation of HepG2 cells by 123.77 ± 0.82% compared to that of the control. Overall, this research significantly enhances our understanding of NGPs and their potential therapeutic applications in modulating the gut microbiome.

Production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in pork backfat fermented by Mucor circinelloides.

Pork backfat (PB) contains excessive saturated fatty acids (SFAs), but lacks polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Excessive SFAs can be used as a substrate for the growth of certain microorganisms that convert them into PUFAs and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and the added value of PB can be enhanced. In this study, Mucor circinelloides CBS 277.49 and Lactiplantacillus plantarum CGMCC 24189 were co-cultured for conversion of PB into fermented pork backfat (FPB) with high level of PUFAs. Our results showed that the content of γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and linoleic acid (LA) in the surface of FPB reached 9.04 ± 0.14 mg/g and 107.31 ± 5.16 mg/g for 7-day fermentation, respectively. To convert the internal SFAs of PB, ultrasound combined with papain was used to promote the penetrative growth of M. circinelloides into the internal PB, and the GLA level in the third layer of fat reached 2.58 ± 0.31 mg/g FPB. The internal growth of M. circinelloides in PB was promoted by adjusting the oxygen rate and ventilation rate through the wind velocity sensor. When the oxygen rate is 2 m/s and the ventilation rate is 18 m3/h, the GLA level in the third layer of fat reached 4.13 ± 1.01 mg/g FPB. To further improve the level of PUFAs in PB, FPB was produced by M. circinelloides at 18 °C. The GLA content on the surface of FPB reached 15.73 ± 1.13 mg/g FPB, and the GLA yield in the second and third layers of fat reached 8.68 ± 1.77 mg/g FPB and 6.13 ± 1.28 mg/g FPB, the LA yield in the second and third layers of fat reached 105.45 ± 5.01 mg/g FPB and 98.46 ± 4.14 mg/g FPB, respectively. These results suggested that excessive SFAs in PB can be converted into PUFAs and provided a new technique for improving PUFAs in FPB. KEY POINTS: • This article achieved the conversion of PUFAs in pork backfat by Mucor circinelloides CBS 277.49 and Lactiplantacillus plantarum CGMCC 24189. • This article solved the internal growth of M. circinelloides CBS277.49 in pork backfat by ultrasound combined with papain. • This article proposed an innovative of promoting the internal growth of M. circinelloides and increasing the PUFAs production by oxygen ventilation in pork backfat.

Structural properties and biological activities of the extracellular polysaccharide of Bacillus subtilis LZ13-4.

The remarkable functional characteristics of Bacillus subtilis extracellular polysaccharides (BSPS) are of great interest. Therefore, in the present study, BSPS was isolated and characterized to obtain two fractions, BSPS-1 and BSPS-2, respectively, and to investigate their biological activities. BSPS-1 contained fructose, glucose, and galactose (molar ratio: 25.27:43.37:31.36), while BSPS-2 contained fructose with only trace amounts of glucose, galactose, and mannose (molar ratio: 55.08:19.03:19.21:6.68), and their respective average molecular weights were 16.9 kDa and 202.67 kDa. With a 93.55 % clearance of ABTS•+ at a concentration of 2 mg/mL of BSPS-1, the antioxidant activity revealed that BSPS-1 had greater antioxidant activity than BSPS-2 and that both were concentration-dependent. The inhibitory effect on HepG2 cells demonstrated that BSPS-1 and BSPS-2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 and increased the expression of apoptotic proteins, causing apoptosis. The inhibition rate on HepG2 cells was dose-dependent and reached 52.7 % and 40.3 % after 48 h of action. BSPS-2 and 800 µg/mL BSPS-1 growth was inhibited in the G1/G0 phase, while 200 and 400 µg/mL BSPS-1 growth was inhibited in the S phase. In conclusion, the study of the BSPS's structure and properties can offer a theoretical foundation for real-world industrial applications.

Ultrasound-assisted fermentation for antioxidant peptides preparation from okara: Optimization, stability, and functional analyses.

This study investigated the effects of ultrasound-assisted fermentation (UAF) on the preparation of antioxidant peptides (UAFP) from okara and examined their content, chemical structures, and antioxidant activity. After the optimal ultrasonic processing (time, 20 min; frequency, 45 KHz; power, 120 W/L), the peptide content yield reached the maximum of 12.36 ± 0.02 mg/mL, and their DPPH free radical scavenging rate was 65.15 ± 0.32 %. UAF increased the number of globular aggregates with deeper gullies, a looser structure, and higher porosity. The experiments conducted using the oxidative stress injury model of HepG2 cells showed that okara UAFP promoted cell growth and exerted a protective effect. Moreover, ultrasonic treatment remarkably improved the environmental stability (NaCl, glucose, sodium benzoate, temperature, pH, metal ions) and antioxidant activity of UAFP. Concisely, optimal ultrasonic processing can aid the fermentation of agroindustrial by-products to prepare antioxidant peptides, such as natural food antioxidant peptides from soybean waste.

Antimicrobial peptides: An alternative to traditional antibiotics.

As antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes continue to emerge, the identification of effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics has become a pressing issue. Antimicrobial peptides are favored for their safety, low residue, and low resistance properties, and their unique antimicrobial mechanisms show significant potential in combating antibiotic resistance. However, the high production cost and weak activity of antimicrobial peptides limit their application. Moreover, traditional laboratory methods for identifying and designing new antimicrobial peptides are time-consuming and labor-intensive, hindering their development. Currently, novel technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) are being employed to develop and design new antimicrobial peptide resources, offering new opportunities for the advancement of antimicrobial peptides. This article summarizes the basic characteristics and antimicrobial mechanisms of antimicrobial peptides, as well as their advantages and limitations, and explores the application of AI in antimicrobial peptides prediction amd design. This highlights the crucial role of AI in enhancing the efficiency of antimicrobial peptide research and provides a reference for antimicrobial drug development.

Identification, Characterization, and Receptor Binding Mechanism of New Umami Peptides from Traditional Fermented Soybean Paste (Dajiang).

Dajiang, a traditional Chinese condiment, is made from fermented soybeans. It is highly popular among consumers as a result of its delicious umami flavor, which mainly originates from umami peptides. To examine the mechanism of umami taste in Dajiang, we selected Dajiang samples with strong umami taste and subjected them to purification and identification analysis using ethanol precipitation, gel chromatography, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Subsequently, on the basis of toxicity and umami prediction analysis, we screened, synthesized, and characterized three novel bean umami peptides in Dajiang: TLGGPTTL, 758.4174 Da; GALEQILQ, 870.4811 Da; and HSISDLQ, 911.4713 Da. Their sensory threshold values were 0.25, 0.40, and 0.17 mmol/L, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking results showed that hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions are important interaction forces in the binding of umami peptide to taste receptors. Ser147 and Glu148 of the T1R3 taste receptor are important amino acid residues for binding of the three umami peptides. This study uncovers the mechanism of umami-peptide-driven flavor in fermented soybean products.

Biofilm tolerance, resistance and infections increasing threat of public health.

Microbial biofilms can cause chronic infection. In the clinical setting, the biofilm-related infections usually persist and reoccur; the main reason is the increased antibiotic resistance of biofilms. Traditional antibiotic therapy is not effective and might increase the threat of antibiotic resistance to public health. Therefore, it is urgent to study the tolerance and resistance mechanism of biofilms to antibiotics and find effective therapies for biofilm-related infections. The tolerance mechanism and host reaction of biofilm to antibiotics are reviewed, and bacterial biofilm related diseases formed by human pathogens are discussed thoroughly. The review also explored the role of biofilms in the development of bacterial resistance mechanisms and proposed therapeutic intervention strategies for biofilm related diseases.

Microbial influence on triggering and treatment of host cancer: An intestinal barrier perspective.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with complex complications that may lead to tumors. However, research on the mechanisms underlying susceptibility to chronic immune diseases and cancer pathogenesis triggered by the inflammatory environment remains limited. An imbalance in the host gut microbiota often accompanies intestinal inflammation. The delayed recovery of the dysregulated intestinal microbiota may exacerbate systemic inflammatory responses, multiorgan pathology, and metabolic disorders. This delay may also facilitate bacterial translocation. This review examined the relationship between gut barrier disruption and unbalanced microbial translocation and their impact on the brain, liver, and lungs. We also explored their potential roles in tumor initiation. Notably, the role of the intestinal microbiota in the development of inflammation is linked to the immune surveillance function of the small intestine and the repair status of the intestinal barrier. Moreover, adherence to a partially anti-inflammatory diet can aid in preventing the malignant transformation of inflammation by repairing the intestinal barrier and significantly reducing inflammation. In conclusion, enhancing intestinal barrier function may be a novel strategy for preventing and treating chronic malignancies in the intestine and other body areas.

Toward Human-Like Grasp: Functional Grasp by Dexterous Robotic Hand Via Object-Hand Semantic Representation.

Intelligent robotic manipulation is a challenging study of machine intelligence. Although many dexterous robotic hands have been designed to assist or replace human hands in executing various tasks, how to teach them to perform dexterous operations like human hands is still a challenge. This motivates us to conduct an in-depth analysis of human behavior in manipulating objects and propose an object-hand manipulation representation. This representation provides an intuitive and clear semantic indication of how the dexterous hand should touch and manipulate an object based on the object's own functional areas. At the same time, we propose a functional grasp synthesis framework, which does not require real grasp label supervision, but relies on the guidance of our object-hand manipulation representation. In addition, in order to obtain better functional grasp synthesis results, we propose a network pre-training method that can make full use of easily obtained stable grasp data, and a network training strategy to coordinate the loss functions. We conduct object manipulation experiments on a real robot platform, and evaluate the performance and generalization of our object-hand manipulation representation and grasp synthesis framework.

Construction of Probiotic Double-Layered Multinucleated Microcapsules Based on Sulfhydryl-Modified Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium for Increased Intestinal Adhesion of Probiotics and Therapy for Intestinal Inflammation Induced by Escherichia coli O157:H7.

The decreased number of viable bacteria and the ability of Bifidobacterium to adhere to and colonize the gut in the gastrointestinal environment greatly limit their efficacy. To solve this problem, thiolated carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) probiotic double-layered multinucleated microcapsules with Bifidobacterium adolescentis FS2-3 in the inner layer and Bacillus subtilis SN15-2 embedded in the outer layers were designed. First, the viable counts and release rates of microcapsules were examined by in vitro simulated digestion assays, and it was found that microcapsules were better protected from gastrointestinal digestion than the controls. Compared with free Bifidobacterium strains, double-layered multinucleated microcapsules have higher viable bacterial survival rates and storage stability. Second, through in vitro rheology, tensile tests, isotherm titration calorimetry, and adhesion tests, it was observed that thiolated CMC could enhance the strong interaction of Bifidobacterium with intestinal mucus and significantly promote the proliferation and growth of probiotics. Finally, double-layered multinucleated microcapsules containing B. adolescentis FS2-3 and B. subtilis SN15-2 modified with sulfhydryl-modified CMC were studied in the intestine. Alleviation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 induced intestinal inflammation. The results showed that microencapsulation could significantly increase the colon content of Bifidobacterium, relieve intestinal inflammation symptoms in mice with bacterial enteritis, and repair the intestinal microbiota disorder caused by inflammation. The probiotic double-layered multinucleated microcapsules prepared in this study can improve the survival rate of probiotics and promote proliferation, adhesion, and colonization of probiotics.

A systematic review on the flavor of soy-based fermented foods: Core fermentation microbiome, multisensory flavor substances, key enzymes, and metabolic pathways.

The characteristic flavor of fermented foods has an important impact on the purchasing decisions of consumers, and its production mechanisms are a concern for scientists worldwide. The perception of food flavor is a complex process involving olfaction, taste, vision, and oral touch, with various senses contributing to specific properties of the flavor. Soy-based fermented products are popular because of their unique flavors, especially in Asian countries, where they occupy an important place in the dietary structure. Microorganisms, known as the souls of fermented foods, can influence the sensory properties of soy-based fermented foods through various metabolic pathways, and are closely related to the formation of multisensory properties. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the core microbiome and its interactions that play an active role in representative soy-based fermented foods, such as fermented soymilk, soy sauce, soybean paste, sufu, and douchi. The mechanism of action of the core microbial community on multisensory flavor quality is revealed here. Revealing the fermentation core microbiome and related enzymes provides important guidance for the development of flavor-enhancement strategies and related genetically engineered bacteria.

Inhibitory effect of carvacrol against Alternaria alternata causing goji fruit rot by disrupting the integrity and composition of cell wall.

Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) is a widely planted crop in China that is easily infected by the pathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata, which causes rot after harvest. Previous studies showed that carvacrol (CVR) significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of A. alternata in vitro and reduced Alternaria rot in goji fruits in vivo. The present study aimed to explore the antifungal mechanism of CVR against A. alternata. Optical microscopy and calcofluor white (CFW) fluorescence observations showed that CVR affected the cell wall of A. alternata. CVR treatment affected the integrity of the cell wall and the content of substances in the cell wall as measured by alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Chitin and ß-1,3-glucan contents in cells decreased after CVR treatment, and the activities of ß-glucan synthase and chitin synthase decreased. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CVR treatment affected cell wall-related genes in A. alternata, thereby affecting cell wall growth. Cell wall resistance also decreased with CVR treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that CVR may exert antifungal activity by interfering with cell wall construction, leading to impairment of cell wall permeability and integrity.

Metabonomic analysis of human and 12 kinds of livestock mature milk.

Mature milk, as a nutrient-rich endogenous metabolite, has various beneficial effects on the human body. In order to investigate the specific nutrients provided by different dairy products to humans, we used UHPLC-Q-TOF MS to analyze the highly significantly differentially expressed metabolites in 13 species of mammalian mature milk, which were grouped into 17 major metabolite classes with 1992 metabolites based on chemical classification. KEGG shows that 5 pathways in which differentially significant metabolites are actively involved are ABC transporters, Purine metabolism, Pyrimidine metabolism, Phosphotransferase system, Galactose metabolism. The study found that pig milk and goat milk are closer to human milk and contain more nutrients that are beneficial to human health, followed by camel milk and cow milk. In the context of dairy production, the development of goat milk is more likely to meet human needs and health.

A new decontamination method for Bacillus subtilisin pasteurized milk: Thermosonication treatment.

Thermosonication (TS) is a novel and viable technique employed to replace conventional thermal processing. TS treatment combined with pasteurization was used to kill the residual heat-resistant Bacillus in pasteurized milk and extend the shelf life of pasteurized milk and compared with High Temperture Shoort Time (HTST) pasteurization to study its decontamination effect on Bacillus subtilis and the quality of treated milk. The results showed that after 40 kHz, 240 W, 25 min ultrasonic treatment and 50 °C heating decontamination treatment, the number of B. subtilis in the medium and milk medium decreased by 4.17 log CFU/mL and 4.09 log CFU/mL respectively. The results of cell membrane permeability showed that the leakage of DNA and protein in the HTST-TS group increased by 52.3 % and 34 %, respectively, when compared to that in the HTST group. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the bacterial cell membrane of the HTST-TS group swelled up, the cell wall was ruptured, and the cell content was accumulated in the cells. The results showed that HTST-TS treatment significantly inhibited the activities of ATPase (47 %), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) (68.6 %), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) (54.4 %). The physical and chemical sensory evaluation of milk treated with HTST-TS showed that HTST-TS treatment could improve the L* value (2.24 %), zeta potential (64.19 %), and colloidal particle size (14.49 %) of milk but had no significant effect on oral sensitivity. In conclusion, this study provides new insights, which may be helpful in implementing this new combined decontamination method in the dairy industry to improve the quality of pasteurized milk and extend the its shelf life.

Catalytic mechanisms underlying fungal fatty acid desaturases activities.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have beneficial roles in a variety of human pathologies and disorders. Owing to the limited source of PUFAs in animals and plants, microorganisms, especially fungi, have become a new source of PUFAs. In fungi, fatty acid desaturases (F-FADS) are the main enzymes that convert saturated fatty acids (SFAs) into PUFAs. Their catalytic activities and substrate specificities, which are directly dependent on the structure of the FADS proteins, determine their efficiency to convert SFAs to PUFAs. Catalytic mechanisms underlying F-FADS activities can be determined from the findings of the relationship between their structure and function. In this review, the advances made in the past decade in terms of catalytic activities and substrate specificities of the fungal FADS cluster are summarized. The relationship between the key domain(s) and site(s) in F-FADS proteins and their catalytic activity is highlighted, and the FADS cluster is analyzed phylogenetically. In addition, subcellular localization of F-FADS is discussed. Finally, we provide prospective crystal structures of F-FADSs. The findings may provide a reference for the resolution of the crystal structures of F-FADS proteins and facilitate the increase in fungal PUFA production for human health.