Genome-wide identification of the HIPPs gene family and functional validation of MsHIPP12 in enhancing cadmium tolerance in Medicago sativa.

Heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant proteins (HIPPs) are crucial for metal ion homeostasis and stress responses in plants exposed to heavy metals. They bind heavy metal ions via their HMA domains, sequestering them to prevent cellular toxicity. The C-terminal isoprenylation enhances interactions with membrane proteins, aiding in ion transport and compartmentalization.

hmLIGHT Enhances Vaccine Antitumor Effects by Facilitating T-cell Infiltration and Activation in the 4T1 Breast Cancer Model.

Mounting evidence suggests that immunotherapies are promising strategies for fighting against cancers. However, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), insufficient lymphocytic infiltration, and poor immunogenicity hamper the broader implementation of immunotherapies. LIGHT, a member of the TNF superfamily, has been shown to recruit T cells into the TME, turning "cold" tumors into "hot" ones.

Engineering of CD8 T cells with an HIV-specific synthetic notch receptor to secrete broadly therapeutic antibodies for combining antiviral humoral and cellular immune responses.

The application of immunotherapeutic strategies, such as chimeric antigen receptor-T cells and broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is hindered by the latent reservoirs and viral escape. Achieving long-term control of viral load in the absence of antiretroviral therapy requires a combination approach utilizing these immunotherapeutic strategies. For this purpose, we developed novel anti-HIV-1 synthetic Notch (synNotch) receptor-T cells, termed CD4-17b-VN, which express both a bNAb (VRC01) and a bispecific T cell-engaging protein (N6-αCD3) with antigenic control.

Targeting USP1 Potentiates Radiation-Induced Type I IFN-Dependent Antitumor Immunity by Enhancing Oligo-Ubiquitinated SAR1A-Mediated STING Trafficking and Activation.

The magnitude of Type I interferon (IFN) mediated innate immune response within the tumor microenvironment (TME) critically influences the effectiveness of radiotherapy. Unfortunately, due to a myriad of resistance mechanisms, the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) signals produced by tumor cells postradiotherapy often induce a diminished response from immune cells. Through chemical screening targeting deubiquitinating enzymes, we identified USP1 (Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 1) inhibitor as an enhancer of post-radiotherapy dsDNA responses.

Tailored Lattice-Matched Carbazole Self-Assembled Molecule for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Self-assembled monolayer molecules have been widely employed as interfacial transport materials in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), demonstrating high efficiency and improved device stability. However, self-assembling monolayer (SAM) molecules often suffer from aggregation and weak interactions with the perovskite layer, resulting in inefficient charge transfer and significant energy losses, ultimately limiting the power conversion efficiency and long-term stability of perovskite solar cells. In this work, we developed a series of novel skeleton-matching carbazole isomer SAMs based on the following key design principles: (1) introducing a benzene ring structure to distort the molecular skeleton of the SAM, thereby preventing aggregation and achieving a uniform distribution on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates; (2) strategically incorporating methoxy groups onto the benzene ring at different positions (ortho, meta, and para).

A Rolling Light-Driven Pneumatic Soft Actuator Based on Liquid-Gas Phase Change.

Light-driven wireless actuators provide obvious advantages for remote control. However, traditional double-layer actuators are restricted to the thin film deformation mode when undertaking complex tasks. Here, an actuator is proposed that employs thermal strain and local photothermal effects induced by low boiling point liquids to generate asymmetry along the fiber axis, thereby causing elastic deformation of the fiber.

Microneedle-Based Approaches for Skin Disease Treatment.

The use of microneedles (MNs) has been established as an effective transdermal drug delivery strategy that has been extensively deployed for treating various diseases, including skin diseases. MNs can surpass the constraints of conventional drug delivery methods by their superior safety and efficacy through precise targeting, while simultaneously enabling painless delivery. Currently, MNs are increasingly used as carriers for drug delivery, with the loading of insoluble drugs to improve their treatment efficiency or combining with bioactive substances for the construction of an efficient drug delivery system to maximize the effects of bioactive substances.

CBX2 suppresses interferon signaling to diminish tumor immunogenicity via a noncanonical corepressor complex.

Chromobox 2 (CBX2), a crucial component of the polycomb repressive complex (PRC), has been implicated in the development of various human cancers. However, its role in the regulation of tumor immunogenicity and immune evasion remains inadequately understood. In this study, we found that ablation of CBX2 led to tumor growth inhibition, activation of the tumor immune microenvironment, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD1 or adoptive T cell therapies by using murine syngeneic tumor models.

Using a novel and validated survey tool to analyze sexual functioning following vaginoplasty in transgender individuals.

Background In the healthcare setting, transgender patients are often marginalized, face discrimination and have limited access to high-quality gender-affirming care, such as gender-affirming surgery (GAS). As a result, the available data pertaining to GAS are often based on convenience samples, and the majority of published studies in the US are cross-sectional. Transgender people may undergo GAS to align their bodies with their gender identities.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Female Reproductive Aging.

Female reproductive aging often affects women's emotional, physical, and physiological well-being. Ovarian aging is characterized by fluctuations in reproductive hormones and determines the age at which menopause occurs. Understanding potentially modifiable factors that influence this process is essential for addressing health disparities, improving quality of life, and informing relevant public health strategies.

Prevalence of Site-Specific Infection and Macrolide and Fluoroquinolone-Associated Mutations in Men Who Have Sex with Men in Shenzhen, China.

Background: (MG) poses a growing public health concern due to the escalating antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to assess site-specific MG infection and its correlates and macrolide and fluoroquinolones mutations among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shenzhen, China.

Methods: Samples were obtained from different anatomic sites of MSM based on their sexual behavior.

Endothelial STING-JAK1 interaction promotes tumor vasculature normalization and antitumor immunity.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists have been developed and tested in clinical trials for their antitumor activity. However, the specific cell population(s) responsible for such STING activation-induced antitumor immunity have not been completely understood. In this study, we demonstrated that endothelial STING expression was critical for STING agonist-induced antitumor activity.

Pyrithione zinc alters mismatch repair to trigger tumor immunogenicity.

Mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) cancers are highly sensitive to immunotherapy, but only account for a small fraction of cancer patients. How to increase immunotherapy efficacy on MMR-proficient (pMMR) cancer is still a major challenge. This study demonstrates that pyrithione zinc (PYZ), an FDA-approved drug, can enhance tumor immunogenicity via altering MMR and activating STING signaling.

Development of a TaqMan qPCR for the Simultaneous Detection of the TuMV and BBWV2 Viruses Responsible for the Viral Disease in .

(Miq.) Pax, a highly valued Chinese medicinal plant, is experiencing a notable decline in yield and quality due to viral diseases, particularly caused those by TuMV and BBWV2. Currently, the absence of a quantitative detection method for these viruses in impedes the accurate diagnosis.

TRIOL attenuates intracerebral hemorrhage injury by bidirectionally modulating microglia- and neuron-mediated hematoma clearance.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents the most severe subtype of stroke, and the lack of effective clinical pharmacotherapies poses a substantial threat to human health. Hematoma plays a crucial role in determining the prognosis of ICH patients by causing primary mechanical extrusion, followed by secondary brain injuries, such as cerebral edema, iron-mediated oxidative stress, and inflammation resulting from its degradation products. 5α-androst-3β,5α,6β-triol (TRIOL) is a neuroprotective steroid currently undergoing phase II clinical trial for acute ischemic stroke with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

CircRNA-loaded DC vaccine in combination with low-dose gemcitabine induced potent anti-tumor immunity in pancreatic cancer model.

Although promising, dendritic cell (DC) vaccines may not suffice to fully inhibit tumor progression alone, mainly due to the short expression time of the antigen in DC vaccines, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and tumor antigenic modulation. Overcoming the limitations of DC vaccines is expected to further enhance their anti-tumor effects. In this study, we constructed a circRNA-loaded DC vaccine utilizing the inherent stability of circular RNA to enhance the expression level and duration of the antigen within the DC vaccine.

Restorative Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Corneal Homeostasis Disrupted by Antibiotic-Induced Gut Dysbiosis.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial regulatory role in various physiological processes, yet its impact on corneal homeostasis remains insufficiently understood. Here, we investigate the effects of antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis (AIGD) and germ-free conditions on circadian gene expression, barrier integrity, nerve density, and immune cell activity in the corneas of mice. Through RNA sequencing, we found that both AIGD and germ-free conditions significantly disrupted the overall transcriptomic profile and circadian transcriptomic oscillations in the cornea.

Seasonal instability of phytoplankton community in extreme arid lake basin during interval period of large-scale ecological water transport.

Large-scale water transport helps solve the imbalance in water resources. Studies on ecological benefits after long-term EWT mainly focus on vegetation restoration and increase in water surface. However, the maintenance of aquatic communities in the EWT context is a major challenge.

Alleviation of lipopolysaccharide-induced heart inflammation in poultry treated with carnosic acid via the NF-κB and MAPK pathways.

In intensive poultry farming, environmental stress, pathogen infections, and noise can negatively impact growth or cause sudden death, leading to economic losses. The prevalent use of antibiotics as feed additives to prevent diseases in broilers has raised concerns about antibiotic resistance and highlighted the need for safer and more effective alternatives. Carnosic acid (CA), a bioactive compound derived from rosemary, exhibits notable pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

The host restriction factor SERINC5 inhibits HIV-1 transcription by negatively regulating NF-κB signaling.

Serine incorporator 5 (SER5) can be incorporated into HIV-1 virions to block viral entry by disrupting the envelope glycoprotein-mediated viral fusion to the plasma membrane. Recent studies suggest that SER5 also inhibits HIV-1 mRNA transcription and the subsequent progeny virion biogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms through which SER5 antagonizes the viral transcription remain poorly understood.

Carnosic acid prevents heat stress-induced oxidative damage by regulating heat-shock proteins and apoptotic proteins in mouse testis.

Heat stress impacts male reproduction in animal husbandry. Carnosic acid (CA), a potent antioxidant, mitigates oxidative stress and apoptosis. αB-crystallin, a small heat shock protein, regulates apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Nanoparticle-Mediated Gene Delivery for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Critical-sized bone defects represent an urgent clinical problem, necessitating innovative treatment approaches. Gene-activated grafts for bone tissue engineering have emerged as a promising solution. However, traditional gene delivery methods are constrained by limited osteogenic efficacy and safety concerns.