Landscape of New Nuclease-Containing Antiphage Systems in Escherichia coli and the Counterdefense Roles of Bacteriophage T4 Genome Modifications.

Many phages, such as T4, protect their genomes against the nucleases of bacterial restriction-modification (R-M) and CRISPR-Cas systems through covalent modification of their genomes. Recent studies have revealed many novel nuclease-containing antiphage systems, raising the question of the role of phage genome modifications in countering these systems. Here, by focusing on phage T4 and its host Escherichia coli, we depicted the landscape of the new nuclease-containing systems in E. coli and demonstrated the roles of T4 genome modifications in countering these systems. Our analysis identified at least 17 nuclease-containing defense systems in E. coli, with type III Druantia being the most abundant system, followed by Zorya, Septu, Gabija, AVAST type 4, and qatABCD. Of these, 8 nuclease-containing systems were found to be active against phage T4 infection. During T4 replication in E. coli, 5-hydroxymethyl dCTP is incorporated into the newly synthesized DNA instead of dCTP. The 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (hmCs) are further modified by glycosylation to form glucosyl-5-hydroxymethylcytosine (ghmC). Our data showed that the ghmC modification of the T4 genome abolished the defense activities of Gabija, Shedu, Restriction-like, type III Druantia, and qatABCD systems. The anti-phage T4 activities of the last two systems can also be counteracted by hmC modification. Interestingly, the Restriction-like system specifically restricts phage T4 containing an hmC-modified genome. The ghmC modification cannot abolish the anti-phage T4 activities of Septu, SspBCDE, and mzaABCDE, although it reduces their efficiency. Our study reveals the multidimensional defense strategies of E. coli nuclease-containing systems and the complex roles of T4 genomic modification in countering these defense systems. IMPORTANCE Cleavage of foreign DNA is a well-known mechanism used by bacteria to protect themselves from phage infections. Two well-known bacterial defense systems, R-M and CRISPR-Cas, both contain nucleases that cleave the phage genomes through specific mechanisms. However, phages have evolved different strategies to modify their genomes to prevent cleavage. Recent studies have revealed many novel nuclease-containing antiphage systems from various bacteria and archaea. However, no studies have systematically investigated the nuclease-containing antiphage systems of a specific bacterial species. In addition, the role of phage genome modifications in countering these systems remains unknown. Here, by focusing on phage T4 and its host Escherichia coli, we depicted the landscape of the new nuclease-containing systems in E. coli using all 2,289 genomes available in NCBI. Our studies reveal the multidimensional defense strategies of E. coli nuclease-containing systems and the complex roles of genomic modification of phage T4 in countering these defense systems.

Serum NLRP3: A potential marker for identifying high-risk coronary arterial aneurysm in children with Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis of unknown etiology in children aged under 5 years. Coronary arterial aneurysm (CAA) is the major complication of KD. It is no longer though to be a self-limiting disease because its cardiovascular sequelae might persist into adulthood. NLRP3 is a key protein of the NLRP3 inflammasome that participates in sterile inflammatory disease. This study investigated the serum levels of NLRP3 in patients with KD at different stages to explore the relationships between serum NLRP3 and clinical parameters. METHODS: A total of 247 children enrolled in this study. There were 123 patients in the acute stage of KD, and 93 healthy children made up the healthy control (HC) group. Among the acute KD patients, 52 had coronary arterial aneurysm (KD-CAA) and 71 did not (KD-NCAA). 36 patient samples were collected after IVIG and aspirin treatment. Additionally, 29 patients were in the cardiovascular sequelae stage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum NLRP3 levels in all subjects. RESULTS: Serum NLRP3 was elevated in the KD group and was even higher in the KD-CAA subgroup than in the KD-NCAA subgroup of acute-stage patients. Serum NLRP3 declined when the patients were treated with IVIG and aspirin, but during the convalescent (coronary sequelae) stage, serum NLRP3 re-increased. Serum NLRP3 was higher in the ≥ 6-mm-coronary-arterial-diameter group than that the < 6-mm-diameter group. The ROC curve of serum NLRP3 indicated its utility in the prediction of both KD and KD-CAA. CONCLUSIONS: NLRP3 may be involved in the development of KD and CAA in children with KD. Targeting NLRP3 might mitigate CAA, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in adulthood.

Protective effects of baicalin against phenylarsine oxide-induced cytotoxicity in human skin keratinocytes.

Phenylarsine oxide (PAO) is a known environmental pollutant and skin keratinocytes are most seriously affected. Baicalin (BCN) was reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but its protective effect against PAO toxicity is unknown. This study aimed at exploring whether baicalin can reverse the toxicity of human epidermal keratinocytes that are subjected to PAO exposure and underlying mechanisms. In silico analysis from a publicly accessible HaCaT cell transcriptome dataset exposed to chronic Arsenic showed significant differential expression of several genes, including the genes related to DNA replication. Later, we performed in vitro experiments, in which HaCaT cells were exposed to PAO (500 nM) in the existence of BCN (10-50 µM). Treatment of PAO alone induces the JNK, p38 and caspase-3 activation, which were engaged in the apoptosis induction, while the activity of AKT was significantly inhibited, which was engaged in the suppression of apoptosis. PAO suppressed SIRT3 expression and induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing a marked reduce in cell viability and apoptosis. However, BCN treatment restored the PAO-induced suppression of SIRT3 and AKT expression, reduced intracellular ROS generation, and markedly suppressed both caspase-3 activation and apoptosis induction. However, the protective effect of BCN was significantly attenuated after pretreatment with nicotinamide, an inhibitor of SIRT3. These findings indicate that BCN protects against cell death induced by PAO via inhibiting excessive intracellular ROS generation via restoring SIRT3 activity and reactivating downstream AKT pathway. In this study, we firstly shown that BCN is an efficient drug to prevent PAO-induced skin cytotoxicity, and these findings need to be confirmed by in vivo and clinical investigations.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is upregulated in inflammatory bowel disease and contributed TLR2 pathway-mediated inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVE: Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling play an important role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, the link between TLR2 and ERS in IBD is unclear. This study investigated whether Thapsigargin (TG) -induced ER protein expression levels contributed to TLR2-mediated inflammatory response. METHODS: The THP-1 cells were treated with TLR2 agonist (Pam3CSK4), ERS inducer Thapsigargin (TG) or inhibitor (TUDCA). The mRNA expressions of TLR1-TLR10 were detected by qPCR. The production and secretion of inflammatory factors were detected by PCR and ELISA. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of GRP78 and TLR2 in the intestinal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The IBD mouse model was established by TNBS in the modeling group. ERS inhibitor (TUDCA) was used in the treatment group. RESULTS: The expression of TLRs was detected via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in THP-1 cells treated by ERS agonist Thapsigargin (TG). According to the findings, TG could promote TLR2 and TLR5 expression. Subsequently, in TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 induced THP-1 cells, TG could lead to increased expression of the inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-8, and ERS inhibitor (TUDCA) could block this effect. However, Pam3CSK4 did not significantly impact the GRP78 and CHOP expression. Based upon the immunohistochemical results, TLR2 and GRP78 expression were significantly increased in the intestinal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). For in vivo experiments, TUDCA displayed the ability to inhibit intestinal mucosal inflammation and reduce GRP78 and TLR2 proteins. CONCLUSIONS: ERS and TLR2 is upregulated in inflammatory bowel disease, ERS may promote TLR2 pathway-mediated inflammatory response. Moreover, ERS and TLR2 signaling could be novel therapeutic targets for IBD.

Impact of bentonite on greenhouse gas emissions during pig manure composting and its subsequent application.

Additives were widely investigated to retain the nutrients and mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) during manure composting. However, the sustained effects of additives on the GHGs emissions following incorporation of composts to soil were scarcely explored. This study evaluated the effects of bentonite added at the beginning of pig manure composting on the GHGs emissions during two successive processes, i.e., composting and soil incubation amended with composting products. Addition of bentonite did not hinder the composting process and alter the total CO2 emission. On the other hand, reduction by about 17% and 29% for CH4 and N2O emission, respectively, was achieved in the presence of bentonite during composting. Incorporation of the final composting products to soil enhanced significantly the soil C and N of various forms, and gas emissions of CO2 and N2O. However, no significant differences were observed between bentonite-manure co-compost and manure-only compost application except for the N2O emission. Compared to the manure-only compost, compost amended with bentonite reduced N2O loss by around 6.8%, but not statistically significant. This study confirmed that addition of bentonite at the composting stage can mitigate the GHGs emission considering both composting and compost application stages, with all reductions occurring at the composting stage.

Trends and biopsychosocial correlates of physical disabilities among older men and women in Taiwan: examination based on ADL, IADL, mobility, and frailty.

BACKGROUND: This study examines correlates of disabilities related to ADL, IADL, mobility, and frailty in men and women with a nationally representative sample of older adults living in the community. METHODS: A total of 10,898 noninstitutionalized Taiwanese nationals aged 65 years and older enrolled in the 2001 (N = 2,064), 2005 (N = 2,727), 2009 (N = 2,904), and 2013 (N = 3,203) National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of mobility disabilities and frailty in older adults in Taiwan decreased during the past decade ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). Exercise, social engagement, and tea and coffee intake were found to be associated with lower levels of all types of disabilities in both men and women. In addition, a diet based on carbohydrates, falls, depressive symptomatology, lung and metabolic diseases were risks for most of the disabilities under consideration. Gender-specific independent correlates included: being married (OR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.40-0.98), eggs/beans/fish/meat consumption (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.16-0.80); depressive symptoms, obesity and cataracts, which were associated with higher IADL (OR = 3.61, 1.63, and 1.18, respectively) and frailty limitations (OR = 10.89, 1.27, and 1.20, respectively) in women. Cognitive impairment was found to be an important correlate for ADL limitations in men (OR = 3.64, 95%CI: 2.38-5.57). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise, social participation and diet (more tea and coffee intake and lower carbohydrates) were correlates for lower levels of disability. Some gender-specific correlates were also identified, including associations of disability with depressive symptoms, obesity, and cataracts that were more distinct in women, and lower levels of disability which were especially significant in men who were married, eat more eggs, beans, fish, and meat, and those free from cognitive impairment.

A Survey of Dummy-Based Location Privacy Protection Techniques for Location-Based Services.

As smart devices and mobile positioning technologies improve, location-based services (LBS) have grown in popularity. The LBS environment provides considerable convenience to users, but it also poses a significant threat to their privacy. A large number of research works have emerged to protect users' privacy. Dummy-based location privacy protection solutions have been widely adopted for their simplicity and enhanced privacy protection results, but there are few reviews on dummy-based location privacy protection. Or, for existing works, some focus on aspects of cryptography, anonymity, or other comprehensive reviews that do not provide enough reviews on dummy-based privacy protection. In this paper, the authors provide a review of dummy-based location privacy protection techniques for location-based services. More specifically, the connection between the level of privacy protection, the quality of service, and the system overhead is summarized. The difference and connection between various location privacy protection techniques are also described. The dummy-based attack models are presented. Then, the algorithms for dummy location selection are analyzed and evaluated. Finally, we thoroughly evaluate different dummy location selection methods and arrive at a highly useful evaluation result. This result is valuable both to users and researchers who are studying this field.

Disability trajectories prior to death for ten leading causes of death among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged life expectancy is associated with increased prevalence of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the different disability trajectories for the top ten leading causes of death in Taiwan . METHODS: A total of 2,431 participants aged 50-96 in 1996 from the Taiwan longitudinal study on aging (TLSA) who died from 1996 to 2016 were analyzed. Integration of Cause of Death Data and TLSA helped sort out participants who had died from the ten leading causes of death. The level of physical disability was evaluated with the Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADLs), ranging from 0 to 6 points, in 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011. A multilevel model was used to investigate the levels and rates of change in disability development before death. RESULTS: The outcome of the research showed that the earliest group to experience physical limitation was individuals living with diabetes. The groups with the highest ADL scores were participants with diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertension-related diseases. Most groups reach ADL scores ≥ 1 (mild-level) during 4-6 years before death except chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis and injury. CONCLUSIONS: People who had died from the ten leading causes of death experienced different disability trajectories before death. The trajectory of the participants who had died from diabetes showed a unique pattern with the earliest occurrence and more severe deterioration in terms of development of disabilities. Disability trajectories provide a prediction of survival status for middle-aged and older adults associated with the ten leading causes of death.

Aluminum chloride causes 5-fluorouracil resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

Chemoresistance is one of the major obstacles in chemotherapy-based hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) intervention. Aluminum (Al) is an environmental pollutant that plays a vital role in carcinogenesis, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. However, the effect of Al on chemoresistance remains unknown. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used antitumor drug. Therefore, we investigated the effects of aluminum chloride (AlCl3 ) on the chemoresistance of HepG2 cells to 5-FU and explored the underlying mechanisms of these effects. The results demonstrated that AlCl3 pretreatment attenuated 5-FU-induced apoptosis through Erk activation and reversed 5-FU-induced cell cycle arrest by downregulating p-Chk2Thr68 levels. In addition, AlCl3 markedly increased the levels of proteins associated with cell migration, such as MMP-2 and MMP-9. Further investigation demonstrated that an Erk inhibitor (U0126) reversed the AlCl3 -induced decrease in apoptosis, enhancement of cell cycle progression, promotion of cell migration, and attenuation of oxidative stress. In summary, AlCl3 induced chemoresistance to 5-FU in HepG2 cells. The present study suggests a potential influence of AlCl3 on 5-FU therapy. These findings may help others to understand and properly address the resistance of HCC to chemotherapeutic agents.

Protective effect of dihydromyricetin on hyperthermia-induced apoptosis in human myelomonocytic lymphoma cells.

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a traditional herbal medicine, with a wide range of biological activities. Extreme hyperthermia (HT) can suppress the immune system; thus, protection of the immune system is beneficial in heat-related diseases, including heatstroke. In our study, we revealed the protective effect of DMY against HT-induced apoptosis and analysed the underlying molecular mechanisms. We incubated human myelomonocytic lymphoma U937 cells at 44 °C for 30 min with or without DMY and followed by further incubation for 6 h at 37 °C. Cell viability was determined by the CCK-8 assay. DMY did not cause any cytotoxic effects in U937 cells even at high doses. HT treatment alone induced significant apoptosis, which was detected by DNA fragmentation and Annexin V/PI double staining. Mitochondrial dysfunction was identified by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) during heat stimulation. Apoptotic related proteins were involved, truncated Bid and caspase-3 were upregulated, and Mcl-1 and XIAP were downregulated. We also identified the related signalling pathways, such as the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. However, changes in HT were dramatically reversed when the cells were pretreated with DMY before exposure to HT. Overall, MAPKs and PI3K/AKT signalling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase-mediated pathways were involved in the protective effect of DMY against HT-induced apoptosis in U937 cells, which was totally reversed by DMY pretreatment. These findings indicate a new clinical therapeutic strategy for the protection of immune cells during heatstroke.

Baicalin Augments Hyperthermia-Induced Apoptosis in U937 Cells and Modulates the MAPK Pathway via ROS Generation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hyperthermia is a widely used therapeutic tool for cancer therapy and a well-known inducer of apoptosis. Although the flavonoid compound baicalin (BCN) is a potent anticancer agent for several human carcinomas, it is less potent in the human U937 myelomonocytic leukemia cell line. To explore any enhancing effects of BCN on hyperthermia-induced apoptosis, this study investigated the combined effects and apoptotic mechanisms of hyperthermia and BCN in U937 cells. METHODS: U937 cells were heat treated at 44ºC for 12 min with or without pre-treatment with BCN (10-50 µM) and then incubated for 6 h at 37 ºC with 5% CO2 and 95% air. Cell viability was analyzed by Trypan blue exclusion assay. Apoptosis was examined by DNA fragmentation, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Generation of mitochondrial trans-membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial calcium, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also detected by flow cytometry. The expression of proteins related to apoptosis and signaling pathways was determined by western blotting. RESULTS: Hyperthermia alone did not reduce cell viability or induce notable levels of apoptosis, but combined hyperthermia and BCN treatment markedly augmented apoptosis by upregulating proapoptotic proteins and suppressing antiapoptotic proteins, culminating in caspase-3 activation. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential was significantly decreased, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppression of antioxidant enzymes were marked. Furthermore, with the combined treatment, the phosphorylated forms of JNK and p38 showed increased expression, whereas AKT was dephosphorylated. JNK-IN-8 (a JNK inhibitor) and NAC (a ROS scavenger) abrogated the apoptotic effects of the combined treatment, significantly protecting the cells and indicating the involvement of high ROS generation and the MAPK pathway in the underlying molecular mechanism. CONCLUSION: This study provides compelling evidence that hyperthermia, in combination with BCN, is a promising therapeutic strategy for enhancement of apoptosis and suggest a promising therapeutic approach for cancer.

Potential hazards of fenvalerate in massive pollution influence the apoptosis sensitivity.

Fenvalerate (Fen), a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, is widely used in agricultural, domestic and veterinary applications. Fen induces abnormal cell proliferation and apoptosis, which are linked to its hazardous effects. However, this view is controversial and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, the effects of Fen on cadmium (Cd)-induced apoptosis and the associated molecular mechanisms were investigated in human myeloid leukemia U937 cells. U937 cells were treated with 50 µm cadmium chloride (CdCl2 ) with or without Fen pretreatment at 1-50 µm. Apoptosis was evaluated by externalization of phosphatidylserine on the plasma membrane. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, including Bcl-2 family members were determined by western blot analysis. The results revealed that pretreatment with Fen at 20 µm for 12 hours significantly inhibited Cd-induced apoptosis. Decreased expression of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (Noxa and Bid) and increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-xL, Mcl-1 and XIAP) were observed after combined treatment with Fen and CdCl2 . Phosphorylation of ERK and AKT was increased, while phosphorylation of JNK was decreased by the combined treatment, compared with CdCl2 treatment alone. In conclusion, Fen decreased apoptotic sensitivity induced by Cd in U937 cells. This effect was associated with activation of ERK and AKT, suppression of JNK and changes in expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and XIAP. The present findings suggest a potential influence of Fen on Cd toxicity via suppression of apoptosis. Fen decreased apoptotic sensitivity induced by Cd, and thus it may contribute carcinogenic risk and influence on cancer therapy.

Evaluation of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry for Identification of Mycobacterium abscessus Subspecies According to Whole-Genome Sequencing.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the utility of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry with the Vitek MS Plus system for identifying Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies in order to facilitate more rapid and appropriate therapy. A total of 175 clinical M. abscessus strains were identified by whole-genome sequencing analysis: 139 Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus and 36 Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense The research-use-only (RUO) Saramis Knowledge Base database v.4.12 was modified accordingly by adding 40 M. abscessus subsp. abscessus and 19 M. abscessus subsp. massiliense reference spectra to construct subspecies SuperSpectra. A blind test, used to validate the remaining 116 isolates, yielded 99.1% (n = 115) reliability and only 0.9% (n = 1) error for subspecies identification. Among the two subspecies SuperSpectra, two specific peaks were found for M. abscessus subsp. abscessus and four specific peaks were found for M. abscessus subsp. massiliense Our study is the first to report differential peaks 3,354.4 m/z and 6,711.1 m/z, which were specific for M. abscessus subsp. massiliense Our research demonstrates the capacity of the Vitek MS RUO Saramis Knowledge Base database to identify M. abscessus at the subspecies level. Moreover, it validates the potential ease and accuracy with which it can be incorporated into the IVD system for the identification of M. abscessus subspecies.

CCR7 signalling as an essential regulator of CNS infiltration in T-cell leukaemia.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) is a blood malignancy afflicting mainly children and adolescents. T-ALL patients present at diagnosis with increased white cell counts and hepatosplenomegaly, and are at an increased risk of central nervous system (CNS) relapse. For that reason, T-ALL patients usually receive cranial irradiation in addition to intensified intrathecal chemotherapy. The marked increase in survival is thought to be worth the considerable side-effects associated with this therapy. Such complications include secondary tumours, neurocognitive deficits, endocrine disorders and growth impairment. Little is known about the mechanism of leukaemic cell infiltration of the CNS, despite its clinical importance. Here we show, using T-ALL animal modelling and gene-expression profiling, that the chemokine receptor CCR7 (ref. 5) is the essential adhesion signal required for the targeting of leukaemic T-cells into the CNS. Ccr7 gene expression is controlled by the activity of the T-ALL oncogene Notch1 and is expressed in human tumours carrying Notch1-activating mutations. Silencing of either CCR7 or its chemokine ligand CCL19 (ref. 6) in an animal model of T-ALL specifically inhibits CNS infiltration. Furthermore, murine CNS-targeting by human T-ALL cells depends on their ability to express CCR7. These studies identify a single chemokine-receptor interaction as a CNS 'entry' signal, and open the way for future pharmacological targeting. Targeted inhibition of CNS involvement in T-ALL could potentially decrease the intensity of CNS-targeted therapy, thus reducing its associated short- and long-term complications.

Spatial predictions of groundwater potential using automated machine learning (AutoML): a comparative study of feature selection and training sample size in Qinghai Province, China.

Predicting groundwater potential is crucial for identifying the spatial distribution of groundwater in a region. It serves as an essential guide for the development, utilization, and protection of groundwater resources. Previous studies have primarily emphasized finding the most accurate prediction model for groundwater potential while giving less attention to the selection of training features and sample sizes. This study aims to predict groundwater potential within Qinghai Province using automated machine learning technology and assess the influence of sample sizes and feature selection on prediction accuracy. Sixteen groundwater conditioning factors were categorized into categorical and numerical variables. Four feature selection modes were utilized as input in training the model. The results indicated that, except for correlations between evaporation and landforms (- 0.8) and precipitation and normalized difference vegetation index (0.8), the Pearson correlation coefficients among the remaining sixteen factors were ≤ 0.5 or ≥ - 0.5. The models XGB-ALL, RF-Entropy, ET-CRITIC, and XGB-PCA yielded accuracy scores of 0.783, 0.685, 0.745, and 0.703, and area under curve (AUC) of 0.819, 0.724, 0.779, and 0.747, respectively. If enough samples are available with the tree model, an increased number of features can improve prediction accuracy. The principal component analysis method showed difficulty in reducing the dimensionality of the input space, while the Entropy method proved efficient. The accuracy and AUC value of the prediction model improved with an increasing number of samples. Training with 8 features and 200 data points achieved an accuracy of 0.745, sufficient to evaluate regional groundwater potential. As for training with 600 samples, the model's performance accuracy rose to 0.9, enabling precise groundwater potential prediction. The outputs of this research can provide decision-makers in groundwater resource management in Qinghai Province with crucial theoretical and practical support. The lessons learned can have future applications in similar situations.

The landscape of hot topics and research frontiers in Kawasaki disease: Scientometric analysis.

Purpose: Kawasaki disease(KD) is a vascular inflammatory disease that was first identified in 1967. Numerous studies have been conducted on KD and have yielded valuable recent insights. This current bibliometric analysis aimed to determine the intellectual landscape of research interest in KD. Methods: Publications were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer were utilized to analyze the research focus, emerging trends, frontiers, and hot topics in this specific field. Results: A total of 6122 articles on KD were retrieved. Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatrics International, and Pediatric Infections Disease Journal were the three most productive journals reporting KD development. The University of California San Diego was the most productive institution, with 230 publications. The USA was the most productive country, with 1661 articles in KD. SARS-CoV-2, diagnostic serum biomarkers, and risk factor prediction models for coronary arterial lesions and subtypes of KD are popular topics in KD research. Factors that induce smooth muscle cell transition to myofibroblastic cell, potentially halting the subacute/chronic vasculitis process and endothelial dysfunction in macrophage activation syndrome associated with KD were the frontiers in the study of KD. Conclusion: KD has attracted widespread attention worldwide that has continued to increase since 1974. The most productive institution and country are the University of California San Diego and the USA, respectively. SARS-CoV-2, serum biomarkers, and prediction models are hot topics in this field.

Single-cell data revealed CD14-type and FCGR3A-type macrophages and relevant prognostic factors for predicting immunotherapy and prognosis in stomach adenocarcinoma.

Background: Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) exhibits profound tumor heterogeneity and represents a great therapeutic challenge. Single-cell sequencing technology is a powerful tool to identify characteristic cell types. Methods: Single-cell sequencing data (scRNA-seq) GSE167297 and bulk RNA-seq data from TCGA, GTEx, GSE26901 and GSE15459 database were included in this study. By downscaling and annotating the cellular data in scRNA-seq, critical cell types in tumor progression were identified by AUCell score. Relevant gene modules were then identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A prognostic scoring system was constructed by identifying prognostic factors in STAD by Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) COX model. The prognosis and model performance in the RiskScore groups were measured by Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves and Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Nomogram was drawn based on RiskScore and prognosis-related clinical factors. In addition, we evaluated patient's feedback on immunotherapy in the RiskScore groups by TIMER, ESTIMATE and TIDE analysis. Finally, the expression levels of prognostic factors were verified in gastric cancer cell lines (MKN7 and MKN28) and human normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1), and the effects of prognostic factors on the viability of gastric cancer cells were examined by the CCK8 assay and cell cycle. Results: scRNA-seq analysis revealed that 11 cell types were identified, and macrophages exhibited relatively higher AUCell scores and specifically expressed CD14 and FCGR3A. High macrophage scores worsened the prognosis of STAD patients. We intersected the specifically expressed genes in macrophages subgroups (670) and macrophage module genes (2,360) obtained from WGCNA analysis. Among 86 common genes, seven prognostic factors (RGS2, GNAI2, ANXA5, MARCKS, CD36, NRP1 and PDE4A) were identified and composed a RiskScore model. Patients in low Risk group showed a better survival advantage. Nomogram also provided a favorable prediction for survival at 1, 3 and 5 years in STAD patients. Besides, we found positive feedback to immunotherapy in patients with low RiskScore. The expression tendency of the seven prognostic factors in MKN7 and MKN28 was consistent with that in the RNA-seq data in addition to comparison of protein expression levels in the public HPA (The Human Protein Atlas) database. Further functional exploration disclosed that MARCKS was an important prognostic factor in regulating cell viability in STAD. Conclusion: This study preliminary uncovered a single cell atlas for STAD patients, and Macrophages relevant gene signature and nomogram displayed favorable immunotherapy and prognostic prediction ability. Collectively, our work provides a new insight into the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic approach for LUAD patients.

Recombinant bacteriophage T4 displaying key epitopes of the foot-and-mouth disease virus as a novel nanoparticle vaccine.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious pathogen that has caused significant economic losses in the livestock industry. Peptide vaccines engineered with the protective epitopes of FMDV have provided a safer alternative for disease prevention than the traditional inactivated vaccines. However, the immunogenicity of the peptide is usually poor and therefore an adjuvant is required. Here, we showed that recombinant T4 phages displaying the B-cell epitope of the FMDV VP1 protein (VP1130-158), without additional adjuvants, induced similar levels of antigen-specific IgG1 but higher levels of IgG2a compared to the peptide vaccine. Incorporation of a CD4+ T cell epitope, either 3A21-35 of FMDV 3A protein or P2830-844 of tetanus toxoid, further enhanced the immunogenicity of VP1-T4 phage nanoparticles. Interestingly, the extrinsic adjuvant cannot enhance the immunogenicity of the nanoparticles, indicating the intrinsic adjuvant activities of T4 phage. Furthermore, the recombinant T4 phage can be produced on a large scale within a short period of time at a relatively low-cost using Escherichia coli, heralding its potential in the development of a safe and effective FMDV vaccine.

Recovery of Ag(I) from Wastewater by Adsorption: Status and Challenges.

Untreated or inadequately treated silver-containing wastewater may pose adverse effects on hu-man health and the ecological environment. Currently, significant progress has been made in the treatment of Ag(I) in wastewater using adsorption methods, with adsorbents playing a pivotal role in this process. This paper provides a systematic review of various adsorbents for the recovery and treatment of Ag(I) in wastewater, including MOFs, COFs, transition metal sulfides, metal oxides, biomass materials, and other polymeric materials. The adsorption mechanisms of these materials for Ag(I) are elaborated upon, along with the challenges currently faced. Furthermore, insights into optimizing adsorbents and developing novel adsorbents are proposed in this study.