Variation in the gut microbiota during the early developmental stages of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and its correlation with feed and pond water microflora.

Background: Fish gut microbiota undergo dynamic changes under the influence of many factors and play an important role in the nutrition, immunity and development in fish. Although common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) is an economically important freshwater fish, there are few reports on its gut microbiota changes at different early developmental stages.

Analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of compressed sensing magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of heart failure.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for predicting heart failure (HF) patient prognosis (including death), but it adversely affecting clinical diagnosis and work efficiency. Compressed sensing technology reconstructs and recovers signals using sampling points that are far below the requirement of traditional sampling laws, which can shorten the signal acquisition time without affecting the image quality of MRI. This study aimed to apply compressed sensing technology to the MRI images of patients with HF to evaluate its effectiveness in the diagnosis of HF.

Stimulator of interferon genes from Asian swamp eel (MaSTING) is involved in host defense against bacterial infection.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein that plays critical roles in innate immunity and pathogenesis of various diseases. To date, teleost STING against viral stimulation has been identified, whereas STING signaling events in fish against bacteria are not well understood. In the present study, the open reading frame (ORF) of STING from Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) was cloned (named MaSTING) and its roles in bacterial infection were investigated.

Identification and functional analysis of Mannose receptor in Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) in response to bacterial infection.

Mannose receptor (MR), as a member of the C-type lectin (CLEC) family, plays an important role in the internalize pathogen-associated ligands and activate immune response. In the present study, MR was identified and characterized from Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) (namely MaMR). The open reading frame of MaMR was 4311 bp in length encoding 1437 amino acids of a ∼162.

Activation of the NLRP1 inflammasome and its ligand recognition in the antibacterial immune response of common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

NLRP1 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 1) is the first member of NOD-like receptors (NLRs) which can form inflammasome and play critical roles in innate immunity and pathogenesis of various diseases. To date, many NLRs and inflammasome-related genes have been identified in teleost, however, the activation of NLRP1 inflammasome is only found in zebrafish, and the activator of fish NLRP1 is unclear. In the present study, the activation of CcNLRP1 inflammasome and its function in innate immune defence of common carp was investigated.

Molecular characterization and immune functional analysis of IRF2 in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): different regulatory role in the IFN and NF-κB signalling pathway.

Background: Interferon regulatory factor 2 (IRF2) is an important transcription factor, which can regulate the IFN response and plays a role in antiviral innate immunity in teleost.

Results: In the present study, the full-length cDNA sequence of IRF2 (CcIRF2) was characterized in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), which encoded a protein containing a conserved DNA-binding domain (DBD) and an IRF-associated domain (IAD).

Molecular characterization of a new IgZ3 subclass in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and comparative expression analysis of IgH transcripts during larvae development.

Background: Immunoglobulins (Igs) distributed among systemic immune tissues and mucosal immune tissues play important roles in protecting teleosts from infections in the pathogen-rich aquatic environment. Teleost IgZ/IgT subclasses with different tissue expression patterns may have different immune functions.

Results: In the present study, a novel secreted IgZ heavy chain gene was cloned and characterized in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of interferon regulatory factor 9 (irf9) in common carp Cyprinus carpio: a pivotal molecule in the Ifn response against pathogens.

In the present study, interferon (IFN) regulatory factor (IRF) 9 gene (irf9) was identified and characterized in common carp Cyprinus carpio. The predicted protein sequence of Irf9 contains a DNA binding domain (DBD) that possess five tryptophans, an IRF association domain (IAD) and two nuclear localisation signals (NLS). Alignment of Irf9 of C.

Two new species of Xyalidae (Monhysterida, Nematoda) from the East China Sea.

Two new free-living nematode species of the family Xyalidae Chitwood, 1951 found in the East China Sea are described. Daptonema donghaiensis sp. nov.

Cytochemical characterization of peripheral blood cell populations of two Cyprinidae, Carassius auratus and Ctenopharyngodon idellus.

Fish are the most diverse species of all vertebrate groups, and their blood cells have shown variable characteristics in terms of morphology. Cytochemical staining for enzyme activity in blood leukocytes will help assess the immune function of fish. We characterize blood cells from crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) by using a Diff-Quick stain as well as different cytochemical methods.

A genetically encoded F NMR probe for lysine acetylation.

Advances in acetylated protein-protein/DNA interactions depend on the development of a novel NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) probe to study the conformational changes of acetylated proteins. However, the method for detecting the acetylated protein conformation is underdeveloped. Herein, an acetyllysine mimic has been exploited for detecting the conformational changes of acetylated p53-protein/DNA interactions by genetic code expansion and 19F NMR.

Osteopontin is involved in TLR4 pathway contributing to ovarian cancer cell proliferation and metastasis.

Tumor cell proliferation and metastasis are critical for tumor progression and lead to death of cancer patients. TLR4 is a member of the toll-like receptor (TLR) family, which promotes tumor growth, metastasis and immune escape. Osteopontin (OPN), a phosphorylated glycoprotein extensively expressed in multiple cell-types, plays important roles in tumorigenesis, metastasis and infiltration, and participates in signal transduction of innate immunity.

Cortactin in cancer cell migration and invasion.

Cortactin, a substrate of sarcoma (Src) kinases, is an actin-binding protein that is involved in cytoskeletal regulation, and is frequently overexpressed in cancer cells. Binding to the actin related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex stimulates cortactin activity, which promotes F-actin nucleation and assembly. Cortactin promotes cancer cell migration and invasion, and plays a pivotal role in invadopodia formation and extra cellular matrix degradation.

Non-mammalian Toll-like receptor 18 (Tlr18) recognizes bacterial pathogens in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): Indications for a role of participation in the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Toll-like receptors are important pattern recognition receptors that can recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and play a critical role in innate immunity. In the present study, tlr18 was identified from common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) (named Cctlr18).

Pathogen invasion changes the intestinal microbiota composition and induces innate immune responses in the zebrafish intestine.

Numerous bacteria are harbored in the animal digestive tract and are impacted by several factors. Intestinal microbiota homeostasis is critical for maintaining the health of an organism. However, how pathogen invasion affects the microbiota composition has not been fully clarified.

Cutting Edge: TRAF6 Mediates TLR/IL-1R Signaling-Induced Nontranscriptional Priming of the NLRP3 Inflammasome.

NLRP3 inflammasome activiation requires two sequential signals. The priming signal 1 from TLRs or cytokine receptors induces the transcription of NLRP3 and IL-1β, and concomitantly promotes transcription-independent activation of caspase-1. The activating signal 2 can be provided by microbial products or danger signals.

Molecular characterization and expression pattern of X box-binding protein-1 (XBP1) in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): Indications for a role of XBP1 in antibacterial and antiviral immunity.

X box-binding protein-1 (XBP1) is a transcription factor that is essential for the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the differentiation of plasma cells, and some findings have also uncovered its function in innate immunity. XBP1 typically has two different transcripts, un-spliced (XBP1u) and spliced forms (XBP1s), but XBP1s is an active transcription factor in the regulation of target genes. To date, there is no evidence about the identification and function of XBP1 in common carp.

The role of Exo70 in vascular smooth muscle cell migration.

Background: As a key subunit of the exocyst complex, Exo70 has highly conserved sequence and is widely found in yeast, mammals, and plants. In yeast, Exo70 mediates the process of exocytosis and promotes anchoring and integration of vesicles with the plasma membrane. In mammalian cells, Exo70 is involved in maintaining cell morphology, cell migration, cell connection, mRNA splicing, and other physiological processes, as well as participating in exocytosis.

Molecular characterization of a fish-specific toll-like receptor 22 (TLR22) gene from common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): Evolutionary relationship and induced expression upon immune stimulants.

In the host innate immune system, various pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) recognize conserved pathogens-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and represent an efficient first line of defense against invading pathogens. TLR22 is one of the fish-specific Toll-like receptors (TLRs), identified in a variety of fish species. In this study, we report the cloning and identification of a TLR22 cDNA from the gills of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.

Hyperactivation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Myeloid Cells Leads to Severe Organ Damage in Experimental Lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune syndrome associated with severe organ damage resulting from the activation of immune cells. Recently, a role for caspase-1 in murine lupus was described, indicating an involvement of inflammasomes in the development of SLE. Among multiple inflammasomes identified, the NLRP3 inflammasome was connected to diverse diseases, including autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Dysregulated function of normal human epidermal keratinocytes in the absence of filaggrin.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of filaggrin knockdown on the function of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). Filaggrin expression levels in NHEKs were knocked down by lentivirus (LV) encoding small hairpin RNA (shRNA), with control cells infected with nonsense shRNA or not infected. Cell migration and invasion were assayed using Transwell inserts, cell adhesion and proliferation by the Cell Counting kit‑8 assay, and apoptosis and cell cycle progression by flow cytometry.

Characterization of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) and its expression in response to viral and bacterial challenges.

Background: Common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), one of the most economically valuable commercial farming fish species in China, is often infected by a variety of viruses. As the first line of defence against microbial pathogens, the innate immune system plays a crucial role in teleost fish, which are lower vertebrates.

Characterization and expression analysis of Toll-interacting protein in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., responding to bacterial and viral challenge.

Toll-interacting protein (Tollip) is a mediator involved in the TLRs signaling pathway which is critical for innate immune response. In the present study, a full-length Tollip cDNA was first cloned from common carp (CcTollip), which was 1284 bp in length, containing an open reading frame of 831 bp encoding a peptide of 276 amino acids. Multiple sequence alignment showed that the CcTollip shared the highest similarity with that of grass carp and zebrafish.

Inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway reduces caspase-14 expression in impaired keratinocytes.

Objectives: Several investigations have revealed that caspase-14 is responsible for the epidermal differentiation and cornification, as well as the regulation of moisturizing effect. However, the precise regulation mechanism is still not clear. This study was aimed to investigate the expression of caspase-14 in filaggrin-deficient normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and to explore the possible mechanism that contributes to the regulation of caspase-14.

Expression profile of carp IFN correlate with the up-regulation of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) in vivo and in vitro: the pivotal molecules in antiviral defense.

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are a family of transcription factors that mediate the transcriptional regulation of interferon (IFN) genes and IFN-inducible genes. In this study, IRF-1 gene is cloned from the common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., named CcIRF-1.