A Rapid In Vivo Toxicity Assessment Method for Antimicrobial Peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising antibiotic alternative to overcome drug-resistant bacteria by inserting into the membrane of bacteria, resulting in cell lysis. However, therapeutic applications of AMPs have been hindered by their ability to lyse eukaryotic cells. GF-17 is a truncated peptide of LL-37, which has perfect amphipathicity and a higher hydrophobicity, resulting in higher haemolytic activity.

Integrating waste fish scale-derived gelatin and chitosan into edible nanocomposite film for perishable fruits.

Petroleum-based plastics (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, etc.) as white waste have caused great concern in the environment. It is urgent to develop a kind of biodegradable, biocompatible and non-toxic materials to replace them.

Antimicrobial peptide AR-23 derivatives with high endosomal disrupting ability enhance poly(l-lysine)-mediated gene transfer.

Background: pH-sensitive peptides are a relatively new strategy for conquering the poor endosomal release of cationic polymer-mediated transfection. Modification of antimicrobial peptides by exchanging positively-charged residues with negatively-charged glutamic acid residues (Glu) greatly improves its lytic activity at the endosomal pH, which could improve cationic polymer-mediated transfection.

Methods: In the present study, we investigated the effect of the number of Glu substituted for positively-charged residues on the endosomal escape activity of AR-23 and the ability of mutated AR-23 with respect to enhancing cationic polymer-mediated transfection.

miRNAs induced by white spot syndrome virus involve in immunity pathways in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.

White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei are widely cultured in the world and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) led to huge economic losses in the shrimp industry every year. In the present study, miRNAs involved in the response of shrimp L. vannamei to WSSV infection were obtained through the Illumina HiSeq 2500 high-throughput next-generation sequencing technique.

Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of the Asian honeybee Apis cerana provides novel insights into honeybee biology.

The Asian honeybee Apis cerana is one of two bee species that have been commercially kept with immense economic value. Here we present the analysis of genomic sequence and transcriptomic exploration for A. cerana as well as the comparative genomic analysis of the Asian honeybee and the European honeybee A.

USP11 regulates p53 stability by deubiquitinating p53.

The p53 tumor suppressor protein coordinates the cellular responses to a broad range of cellular stresses, leading to DNA repair, cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. The stability of p53 is essential for its tumor suppressor function, which is tightly controlled by ubiquitin-dependent degradation primarily through its negative regulator murine double minute 2 (Mdm2). To better understand the regulation of p53, we tested the interaction between p53 and USP11 using co-immunoprecipitation.

Ferritin protect shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei from WSSV infection by inhibiting virus replication.

Iron is considered as an essential element for all living organisms. Therefore, limiting iron availability may be key part of the host's innate immune response to various pathogens. Ferritin is a major iron storage protein in living cells and plays an important role in iron homeostasis.

TCTP is a critical factor in shrimp immune response to virus infection.

The translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is an abundant, ubiquitous, and conserved protein which plays important roles in a number of biological processes. In the present study, the TCTP in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei was analyzed. The TCTP of L.

Bid-overexpression regulates proliferation and phosphorylation of Akt and MAPKs in response to etoposide-induced DNA damage in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Background: Growing evidence supports BH3-interacting domain death agonist (Bid) playing a dual role in DNA damage response. However, the effects of Bid on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation in response to etoposide-induced DNA damage have not been sufficiently investigated.

Methods: Using a stable Bid-overexpression HCC cell line, Bid/PLC/PRF/5, overexpression of Bid promoted loss of viability in response to etoposide-induced DNA damage.