TDI-based continuous window compressed spatio-temporal imaging capable of flexible voxels post-interpretation.

To achieve high frame rates and continuous streaming simultaneously, we propose a compressed spatio-temporal imaging framework implemented by combining time-delay-integration sensors and coded exposure. Without additional optical coding elements and subsequent calibration required, this electronic-domain modulation enables a more compact and robust hardware structure, compared to the existing imaging modalities. By exploiting the intra-line charge transfer mechanism, we achieve a super-resolution in both temporal and spatial domains, thus multiplying the frame rate to millions of frames-per-second. In addition, the forward model with post-tunable coefficients, and two reconstruction strategies proposed therefrom, facilitate a flexible voxels post-interpretation. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated by both numerical simulations and proof-of-concept experiments. With the prominent advantages of prolonged time window and flexible voxels post-interpretation, the proposed system will be suitable for imaging random, non-repetitive, or long-term events.

Characterization of CpCaM, a protein potentially involved in the growth of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Cryptosporidium parvum is an important apicomplexan parasite causing severe diarrhea in both humans and animals. Calmodulin (CaM), a multifunctional and universal calcium-binding protein, contributes to the growth and development of apicomplexan parasites, but the role of CaM in C. parvum remains unknown. In this study, the CaM of C. parvum encoded by the cgd2_810 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the biological functions of CpCaM were preliminarily investigated. The transcriptional level of the cgd2_810 gene peaked at 36 h post infection (pi), and the CpCaM protein was mainly located around the nucleus of the whole oocysts, in the middle of sporozoites and around the nucleus of merozoites. Anti-CpCaM antibody reduced the invasion of C. parvum sporozoites by 30.69%. The present study indicates that CpCaM is potentially involved in the growth of C. parvum. Results of the study expand our knowledge on the interaction between host and Cryptosporidium.

Downregulation of ACE2 is associated with advanced pathological features and poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the alteration in ACE2 expression and correlation between ACE2 expression and immune infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods: The authors first analyzed the expression profiles and prognostic value of ACE2 in ccRCC patients using The Cancer Genome Atlas public database. The authors used ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms to analyze the correlation between ACE2 expression and tumor microenvironment in ccRCC samples. Results: ACE2 was correlated with sex, distant metastasis, clinical stage, tumor T stage and histological grade. Moreover, downregulation of ACE2 was correlated with unfavorable prognosis. In addition, ACE2 expression was associated with different immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: The authors' analyses suggest that ACE2 plays an important role in the development and progression of ccRCC and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in ccRCC patients.

Lay abstract To date, the morbidity and mortality of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are gradually increasing, and ccRCC is more aggressive than other kidney cancer types. The ACE2 protein could alter other protein activity and promote cancer progression. In this study, the authors used publicly available databases, analyzed the ACE2 expression patterns in ccRCC cells and evaluated the link between the presence of ACE2 and the ability of immune cells to enter tumors. Finally, the authors conducted further analyses to explore the mechanism by which ACE2 may be involved in ccRCC cancer progression. The authors found that the presence and activity of ACE2 were low in advanced ccRCC and that this was linked to worse overall survival.

WDR5a functions in cadmium-inhibited root meristem growth by regulating nitric oxide accumulation in Arabidopsis.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Cadmium stress induces WDR5a expression to promote NO accumulation to repress root meristem growth via suppressing auxin transport and synthesis in Arabidopsis. Nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS)-like activity plays a vital role in toxic cadmium (Cd)-induced NO production and inhibition of root meristem growth, while factor(s) regulating NOS-like activity and root meristem growth in plant response to Cd has not been identified yet. Here, we report that WD40 repeat 5a (WDR5a) functions in Cd-induced NOS-like activity, NO accumulation and root meristem growth suppression. We found that wdr5a-1 mutant root has increased root meristem growth with lower NOS-like activity and NO accumulation than wild type upon Cd exposure, and exogenous NO donors sodium nitroprusside or nitrosoglutathione can restore its reduced Cd sensitivity. In addition, Cd activates WDR5a expression in roots, and overexpressing WDR5a results in increased NO accumulation and suppressed root meristem growth similar to Cd-stressed wild-type roots, while scavenging NO or inhibiting NOS-like activity significantly reverts these effects of Cd. Furthermore, WDR5a acts in Cd-repressed auxin accumulation through reducing the levels of auxin efflux carriers PIN1/3/7 and biosynthetic enzyme TAA1, and reduced sensitivity of wdr5a-1 root meristem to Cd can be partially reverted by inhibiting TAA1 activity pharmaceutically or mutating TAA1 genetically. This study identified WDR5a as a key factor modulating NO accumulation and root meristem growth in plant response to Cd.

Molecular characterization of Balantioides coli in pigs from Shaanxi province, northwestern China.

Balantioides coli (syn. Balantidium coli) is an important zoonotic but usually neglected protozoa infecting human and a great number of animals, and the pig was considered to be the most important natural host and reservoir. However, no information about the infection of B. coli in pigs in northwestern China was available. In the present study, the prevalence and genetic diversity of B. coli in pigs in Shaanxi province were investigated. A total of 560 fecal samples were collected from pigs of four age groups in five different geographical regions and analyzed by using PCR targeting the ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 gene fragment. The infection of B. coli was detected in all age groups and regions, with the total prevalence of 16.8% (94/560). Significant differences (P < 0.01) in prevalence were found among four investigated age groups, with the highest in fatteners (38.8%) and the lowest in adults (5.7%). The prevalence was also significantly (P < 0.01) different among pigs from five sampling regions. Sequence analysis revealed two genetic variants, namely, A and B, in these investigated pigs, and both of them were detected in all age groups and regions, with the latter as the predominant one. Further, sixty-eight different haplotypes were found, with 19 and 49 belonged to genetic variants A and B, respectively. The findings in the present study indicated wide distribution and high diversity of B. coli in pigs in Shaanxi province and provided fundamental data for implementing control strategies on B. coli infection in pigs as well as other hosts in this province.

Multilocus genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) in China.

The protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis is known to infect humans and a wide range of animals globally. However, no studies on G. duodenalis infection in Bactrian camels have been reported. In the present study, in order to examine the prevalence and genetic diversity of G. duodenalis in Bactrian camels, 852 fecal samples were collected from 24 sampling sites in three geographical areas (Gansu province, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions) of northwestern China, and subjected to multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis targeting the 18S rRNA, ß-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes. About 84 fecal samples tested positive for Giardia infection, with an overall prevalence of 9.8%, including three samples from camel calves with diarrhea. Significant differences (χ2 = 80.7, df = 2, P < 0.01) in the prevalence were found in Bactrian camels belonging to three geographical areas, with the highest (33.3%) in Gansu province and the lowest (4.2%) in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Furthermore, significantly different prevalences (χ2 = 34.2, df = 2, P < 0.01) were revealed among age groups, with the highest (35.7%) in camels aged 3 to 6 years old, and the lowest (7.5%) in camels aged > 6 years old. Sequence analysis identified two assemblages, including zoonotic assemblage A and ungulate-adapted assemblage E, with the latter as the dominant G. duodenalis assemblage in each age group and at all sampling sites having positive samples except Hotan. Genetic variations were detected among G. duodenalis isolates in these camels, and eight, three, and seven haplotypes were identified at loci bg, gdh, and tpi, respectively, forming two multilocus genotypes (MLGs) of zoonotic assemblage A and one MLG of assemblage E. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on G. duodenalis infection in Bactrian camels, and the data indicate that G. duodenalis have a broad host range.

Downregulation of microRNA-9 reduces inflammatory response and fibroblast proliferation in mice with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis through the ANO1-mediated TGF-ß-Smad3 pathway.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with increasing occurrence, high death rates and unfavorable treatment regimens. In the current study, we identified the expression of microRNA-9 (miR-9) and anoctamin-1 (ANO1) in IPF mouse models induced by bleomycin, and their effects on inflammation and fibroblast proliferation through the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß)-Smad3 pathway. To verify the targeting relationship between miR-9 and ANO1, we used bioinformatics prediction and conducted a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The underlying regulatory mechanisms of miR-9 and the target gene ANO1 were investigated mainly with the treatment of miR-9 mimic, miR-9 inhibitor, or siRNA against ANO1 in fibroblasts isolated from IPF mice. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to investigate the effect of miR-9 or ANO1 on inflammatory factors. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry were used to detect fibroblast proliferation and apoptosis. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were applied to measure the expression of the TGF-ß-Smad3 pathway-related genes. The determination of luciferase activity suggested that miR-9 targets ANO1. Upregulation of miR-9 or silencing of ANO1 intensified inflammation in IPF, promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptotic ability of lung fibroblasts. MiR-9 negatively modulated ANO1, and thus activated the TGF-ß-Smad3 pathway. These findings suggest that miR-9 can indirectly activate the TGF-ß-Smad3 pathway by inhibiting the expression of ANO1, thereby aggravating inflammation, promotes proliferation and suppressing apoptosis of lung fibroblasts in mice models of IPF.

MiR-140 Expression Regulates Cell Proliferation and Targets PD-L1 in NSCLC.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Programmed death ligand1(PD-L1) plays a role in the development and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to identify miRNA(s) that are responsible for regulation of expression of PD-L1 in NSCLC, and to investigate the role of PD-L1 in regulation of the cell cycle in NSCLC. METHODS: We predicted the target miRNA of PD-L1, which was miR-140, using the online tools TargetScan and miBase. In NSCLC cells obtained from clinical specimens, in addition to A549 and NCI-H1650 cell cultures, western blots were used to detect the level of expression of proteins, while real-time PCR was used to determine the level of expression of PD-L1, miR-140, cyclin E, and ß-actin. Transfection with miR-140 mimics, miR-140 inhibitors, and PD-L1 siRNA were conducted using commercial kits. To determine whether miR-140 directly binds PD-L1, a luciferase reporter gene with wild type or mutated PD-L1 was used. Cell viability was measured with the MTT assay, and PI staining was used for cell cycle analysis. RESULTS: We found low expression of miR-140 and high expression of PD-L1 and cyclin E in NSCLC cells. Over-expression of miR-140 suppressed the expression of PD-L1 by directly binding its 3' UTR, and was also associated with decreased expression of cyclin E and inhibition of cellular proliferation in A549 and NCI-H1650 cells. Inhibition of PD-L1, in the absence of manipulations to miR-140, also decreased the expression of cyclin E. CONCLUSION: We conclude that miR-140 directly suppresses PD-L1 and inhibits the miR-140/PD-L1/cyclin E pathway in NSCLC.

Monitoring of pH changes in a live rat brain with MoS2/PAN functionalized microneedles.

Monitoring the dynamic pH changes in vivo remains very essential to comprehend the function of pH in various physiological processes. In this study, we report a high-performance electrochemical pH microneedle based on an acupuncture needle (AN) for real-time monitoring of pH changes in a rat brain. The pH microneedle was prepared by a layer-to-layer assembly of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets and polyaniline (PAN), with an attempt to achieve a highly sensitive detection of hydrogen ions (H+). The as-prepared PAN/MoS2/AN exhibited a high Nernstian response of -51.2 mV per pH over a wide pH range from 3.0 to 9.0, and excellent selectivity toward pH against other potential interfering species in the brain. Moreover, the corresponding open circuit potential rapidly increased and decreased when Na2CO3 or NaH2PO4 was injected into the rat brain, respectively, demonstrating that the PAN/MoS2/AN has an excellent response toward pH changes in vivo. This work provides a new potentiometric method for real-time monitoring of dynamic pH changes in vivo with high reliability and stability.

WD40-REPEAT 5a functions in drought stress tolerance by regulating nitric oxide accumulation in Arabidopsis.

Nitric oxide (NO) generation by NO synthase (NOS) in guard cells plays a vital role in stomatal closure for adaptive plant response to drought stress. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of NOS activity in plants is unclear. Here, by screening yeast deletion mutants with decreased NO accumulation and NOS-like activity when subjected to H2 O2 stress, we identified TUP1 as a novel regulator of NOS-like activity in yeast. Arabidopsis WD40-REPEAT 5a (WDR5a), a homolog of yeast TUP1, complemented H2 O2 -induced NO accumulation of a yeast mutant Δtup1, suggesting the conserved role of WDR5a in regulating NO accumulation and NOS-like activity. This note was further confirmed by using an Arabidopsis RNAi line wdr5a-1 and two T-DNA insertion mutants of WDR5a with reduced WDR5a expression, in which both H2 O2 -induced NO accumulation and stomatal closure were repressed. This was because H2 O2 -induced NOS-like activity was inhibited in the mutants compared with that of the wild type. Furthermore, these wdr5a mutants were more sensitive to drought stress as they had reduced stomatal closure and decreased expression of drought-related genes. Together, our results revealed that WDR5a functions as a novel factor to modulate NOS-like activity for changes of NO accumulation and stomatal closure in drought stress tolerance.