Association of MBL2 gene polymorphisms and MBL levels with dilated cardiomyopathy in a Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that Mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) gene polymorphisms and expression levels are related to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This study aimed to investigate the potential association between MBL2 gene polymorphisms and the pathogenesis of DCM. METHODS: Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the MBL2 gene were genotyped in 440 DCM patients and 532 controls in Southwest China. A luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the transcriptional activity the different genotypes. MBL serum levels, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and lower left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) were measured. RESULTS: The rs11003125 C allele increased the transcriptional activity of the MBL2 promoter compared with the rs11003125 G allele. The rs11003125 CC carriers had higher MBL serum levels, LVEF and LVEDD than the rs11003125 CG and GG carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study first revealed that MBL2 polymorphisms and serum MBL levels were associated with DCM. Allele C in rs11003125 of MBL2 may upregulate the expression levels of MBL. High serum MBL levels may be a protective factor in DCM pathogenesis.

Insight into environmental adaptability of antibiotic resistome from surface water to deep sediments in anthropogenic lakes by metagenomics.

The escalating antibiotic resistance threatens the long-term global health. Lake sediment is a vital hotpot in transmitting antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs); however, their vertical distribution pattern and driving mechanisms in sediment cores remain unclear. This study first utilized metagenomics to reveal how resistome is distributed from surface water to 45 cm sediments in four representative lakes, central China. Significant vertical variations in ARG profiles were observed (R2 = 0.421, p < 0.001), with significant reductions in numbers, abundance, and Shannon index from the surface water to deep sediment (all p-values < 0.05). ARGs also has interconnections within the vertical profile of the lakes: twelve ARGs persistently exist all sites and depths, and shared ARGs (e.g., vanS and mexF) were assembled by diverse hosts at varying depths. The 0-18 cm sediment had the highest mobility and health risk of ARGs, followed by the 18-45 cm sediment and water. The drivers of ARGs transformed along the profile of lakes: microbial communities and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) dominated in water, whereas environmental variables gradually become the primary through regulating microbial communities and MGEs with increasing sediment depth. Interestingly, the stochastic process governed ARG assembly, while the stochasticity diminished under the mediation of Chloroflexi, Candidatus Bathyarcaeota and oxidation-reduction potential with increasing depth. Overall, we formulated a conceptual framework to elucidate the vertical environmental adaptability of resistome in anthropogenic lakes. This study shed on the resistance risks and their environmental adaptability from sediment cores, which could reinforce the governance of public health issues.

Influence of ripening stage on the microwave-assisted pectin extraction from banana peels: A feasibility study targeting both the Homogalacturonan and Rhamnogalacturonan-I region.

This work investigated a sustainable and efficient approach of pectin extraction for banana peel waste valorisation and studied the influence of banana ripening stages (RS at 2,5 and 7). Although pectin content in banana peel raw material decreased during ripening, pectin extraction was favoured. The highest alcohol-insoluble solids (AIS) yield (12.5%) was achieved at 70 °C, 15 mins from RS 7 peel. All extracts were homogalacturan-rich with some rhamnogalacturonan-I content (showing HGA/RG-I ratio > 2) with varied degree of methylation (DM). The highest HGA content (837.2 mg/g AIS) and HGA/RG-I ratio (9.9) were achieved at 110 °C, 0 mins from RS 7, suggesting its promising application as gelling agent. The highest RG-I content (111.1 mg/g AIS) were obtained at 110 °C, 5 mins from RS 7, which was comparable with the pectin with reported prebiotic ability isolated from the literature, suggesting its potential application in novel products.