Superhydrophobic and super-stretchable conductive composite hydrogels for human motion monitoring in complex condition.

With the advent of the information age, there is a growing demand for wearable sensing devices. Conventional hydrogels are a class of materials that can hold a large amount of water, with a three-dimensional network of hydrophilic polymerization chains inside. In remote areas or harsh environments, there is an urgent demand for a flexible sensor that is environmentally stable, wearable, and has high mechanical properties.

Integrating dermal substitutes in soft tissue repair: Insights from a case series and comprehensive literature review.

The use of dermal substitutes with subsequent skin graft application constitutes an alternative treatment option in situations that limit the use of other conventional approaches.

Hyaluronic acid-coated porphyrin nanoplatform with oxygen sustained supplying and glutathione depletion for enhancing photodynamic/ion/chemo synergistic cancer treatment.

Hypoxia and high concentration of glutathione (GSH) in tumor seriously hinder the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxygen-dependence strategy in tumor treatment. In this work, a self-generating oxygen and self-consuming GSH hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated porphyrin nanoplatform (TAPPP@CaO/Pt(IV)/HA) is established for enhancing photodynamic/ion/chemo targeting synergistic therapy of tumor. During the efforts of ROS production by nanosystems, a GSH consuming strategy is implemented for augmenting ROS-induced oxidative damage for synergetic cancer therapy.

Research on accurate pipetting complementation model for high-throughput molecular detection platform.

The incidence of infectious diseases has risen in recent years, leading to a significant surge in the demand for medical molecular detection. High-throughput molecular detection platforms play a crucial role in facilitating rapid and efficient molecular detection. Among the various techniques employed in high-throughput molecular detection, microliquid transfer stands out as one of the most frequently utilized methods.

Discovery and characterization of a novel PKD-Fn3 domains containing GH44 endoglucanase from a Tibetan metagenomic library.

Aims: To explore novel microbial endoglucanases with unique properties derived from extreme environments by using metagenomics approach.

Methods And Results: A Tibetan soil metagenomic library was applied for screening cellulase-active clones by function-based metagenomics. The candidate genes in the active clones were identified through bioinformatic analyses and heterologously expressed using an Escherichia coli system.

Discovery of two bifunctional/multifunctional cellulases by functional metagenomics.

Cellulases are widely used in industry, and the usage in bioconversion of biofuels makes cellulases more valuable. In this study, two tandem genes that encoded cellulases ZF994-1 and ZF994-2, respectively, were identified on a cosmid from a soil metagenomic library. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that ZF994-1 and ZF994-2 belonged to glycoside hydrolase family 12 (GH12), and GH3, respectively.

The spatial spillover effect of higher SO emission tax rates on PM concentration in China.

In this paper, the adoption of SO emission tax rates higher than the legal minimum standard is regarded as a noteworthy policy reform in China (quasi-natural experiment), and a spatial Difference-in-Differences (Spatial-DID) model is constructed to test the direct effects (local effects) and indirect effects (spatial spillover effects) of SO emission tax policy reform on PM concentrations in the atmosphere of 285 China's cities. The estimation and calculation results of the Spatial-DID model show that the SO emission tax policy reform can significantly reduce local PM concentration and significantly promote PM concentration in surrounding areas. The results of heterogeneity analysis show that the SO emission tax policy reform can produce a relatively more beneficial spatial spillover effect in eastern cities and higher administrative level cities, while the pollutants emission rights trading and the reform of NO emission tax rates can produce beneficial spatial spillover effects when cooperating with the reform of SO emission tax rates.

Discovery and Biosynthesis of the Amodesmycins, Aromatic Polyketide-Siderophore Hybrid Conjugates.

A type II polyketide synthase biosynthetic gene cluster () containing three P450 genes was identified from a soil metagenomic library, and novel benz[]isoquinoline-desferrioxamine B conjugated compound amodesmycins were isolated from J1074 harboring the gene cluster. Genetic evidence showed that the benz[]isoquinoline part and desferrioxamine B part in amodesmycins were derived from the gene cluster and J1074, respectively, while P450 enzymes played critical roles in the conjunction of these two parts.

Biosynthesis of coelulatin for the methylation of anthraquinone featuring HemN-like radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine enzyme.

Bacterial aromatic polyketides are usually biosynthesized by the type II polyketide synthase (PKS-II) system. Advances in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, informatics, and biotechnologies have broadened opportunities for the discovery of aromatic polyketides. Meanwhile, metagenomics is a biotechnology that has been considered as a promising approach for the discovery of novel natural products from uncultured bacteria.

Regulated Expression of an Environmental DNA-Derived Type II Polyketide Gene Cluster in Streptomyces Hosts Identified a New Tetracenomycin Derivative TCM Y.

As bacterial natural products have been proved to be the most important source of many therapeutic medicines, the need to discover novel natural products becomes extremely urgent. Despite the fact that the majority of bacterial species are yet to be cultured in a laboratory setting, and that most of the bacterial natural product biosynthetic genes are silent, "metagenomics technology" offers a solution to help clone natural product biosynthetic genes from environmental samples, and genetic engineering enables the silent biosynthetic genes to be activated. In this work, a type II polyketide biosynthetic gene cluster was identified from a soil metagenomic library and was activated by over-expression of a SARP regulator gene in the gene cluster in Streptomyces hosts.

Rod-like hybrid nanomaterial with tumor targeting and pH-responsive for cancer chemo/photothermal synergistic therapy.

The development of chemo/photothermal nanotherapeutic systems with excellent photothermal performance, stable drug loading, tumor targeting and strong membrane penetration still remains a challenge. To address this problem, herein a rod-like nanocomposite system (AuNR@FA-PR/PEG) forming from folic acid (FA) terminated carboxylated cyclodextrin (CD) pseudopolyrotaxane (FA-PR) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) modifying gold nanorods (AuNR) was reported. Cisplatin (CDDP) was loaded in AuNR@FA-PR/PEG via coordination bonds to prepare a rod-like pH-responsive nanosystem (AuNR@FA-PR/PEG/CDDP) with chemotherapy/photothermal therapy.

Precisely NIR-II-activated and pH-responsive cascade catalytic nanoreactor for controlled drug release and self-enhanced synergetic therapy.

Mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) and MPDA-based nanosystems have been widely used in the field of photothermal therapy (PTT) and drug delivery. However, synthesis of the corresponding nanoplatforms for efficient PTT and controlled drug release simultaneously in the second near infrared (NIR-II) region remains a great challenge. Herein, a NIR-II and pH dual-responsive HMPDA@CuSe cascade catalytic nanoplatform was constructed by assembling hollow mesoporous polydopamine (HMPDA) with ultra-small CuSe, which could compensate the inadequate NIR-II-induced PTT effect of HMPDA and enhance the efficacy of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) simultaneously under NIR-II laser irradiation.

Novel amikacin resistance genes identified from human gut microbiota by functional metagenomics.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity and potential for horizontal transfer of amikacin resistance genes from the human gut.

Methods And Results: A library of human faecal microbiota was constructed and subjected to functional screening for amikacin resistance. In total, five amikacin resistance genes that conferred relatively high amikacin resistance, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 64 to >512, were identified from the library, including a novel aminoglycoside acetyltransferase gene and a 16S rRNA methyltransferase (MTase) gene, labelled aac (6')-Iao and rmtI, respectively.

DDX3X alleviates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in an in vitro model.

The life-threatening adverse effects of doxorubicin (Dox) caused by its cardiotoxic properties limit its clinical application. DDX3X has been shown to participate in a variety of physiological processes, and it acts as a regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, the role of DDX3X in Dox-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) remains unclear.

Enhanced Inhibition of Drug-Resistant by Tetracycline Hydrochloride-Loaded Multipore Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Drug-resistant bacterial infections exhibit a major threat to public health. Thus, exploring a novel antibacterial with efficient inhibition is urgently needed. Herein, this paper describes three types of MSNs (MSNs-FC2-R1, MSNs-FC2-R0.

Elevated RAP1A expression correlates with the severity of acute GVHD after umbilical cord blood transplantation.

Background: Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ras-related protein 1A (RAP1A) has been recently identified as a novel oncoprotein in several human malignancies. However, its specific role in aGVHD remains unclear.

A multifunctional nanoamplifier with self-enhanced acidity and hypoxia relief for combined photothermal/photodynamic/starvation therapy.

Phototherapies, including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) have been potential noninvasive therapeutic modality with high efficiency, however, there still exist some intrinsic limitations that impede their clinical applications. Herein, taking the advantages of the synergistic effect and high reactivity of manganese dioxide (MnO) nanosheets and glucose oxidase (GOx), multifunctional MPDA@MnO-MB-GOx nanoamplifier was constructed for enhanced PTT, PDT, and starvation therapy. In tumor microenvironment (TME), MnO nanosheets on the surface of mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) could react with endogenous hydrogen peroxide (HO) and generate oxygen (O) to relieve tumor hypoxia, thus enhancing the efficacy of PDT and GOx catalysis.

Identification and characterization of a novel endo-β-1,4-glucanase from a soil metagenomic library.

A cosmid clone cZFYN1413 with CMCase activity was identified from a soil metagenomic library. The sequence analysis of a subclone of cZFYN1413 revealed an endo-β-1,4-glucanase gene ZFYN1413 belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 6 and a transmembrane region in the N-terminal of ZFYN1413. Expression of ZFYN1413 in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) resulted in ZFYN1413-87, which was a truncated protein cleaved in transmembrane region of ZFYN1413.

Specific modification and self-transport of porphyrins and their multi-mechanism cooperative antitumor studies.

In order to reduce the toxicity and side effects of anti-tumor drugs and improve their therapeutic effect against cancer, photodynamic and chemical combination therapy has been exploited. However, the complicated preparation and metabolic toxicity of photosensitizer-loaded materials remain major obstacles for bioapplications. In this study, we designed and prepared a specific photosensitizer self-transporting drug-delivery system.

Identification and characterization of a novel bifunctional cellulase/hemicellulase from a soil metagenomic library.

Microbes, especially the uncultured microbes, have been considered as an important resource for discovery of novel cellulases. In this study, a novel bifunctional cellulase/hemicellulase (ZFYN184) was identified by functional screening of a soil metagenomic library. Sequence analysis indicated that ZFYN184 shared at best 39% identity with glycoside hydrolase family 44 (GH44) proteins and contained a glutamic acid residue at 235 acting as the catalytic proton donor in hydrolysis of polysaccharides.

Anti-inflammatory protein TSG-6 secreted by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells attenuates neuropathic pain by inhibiting the TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in spinal microglia.

Background: Neuroinflammation plays a vital role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Recent evidence has proved that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can inhibit neuropathic pain and possess potent immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties via secreting a variety of bioactive molecules, such as TNF-α-stimulated gene 6 protein (TSG-6). However, it is unknown whether BMSCs exert their analgesic effect against neuropathic pain by secreting TSG-6.

A novel electrochemical immunosensor based on catalase functionalized AuNPs-loaded self-assembled polymer nanospheres for ultrasensitive detection of tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ether.

A competitive immunosensor was established using an electrochemical amperometric strategy for sensitive detection of tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ether (TBBPA-DHEE), an important derivative of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). In this system, the amplified electrochemical signal towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (HO) was recorded by amperometric method. Meanwhile, the synthetized catalase functionalized AuNPs-loaded self-assembled polymer nanospheres showed an excellent electrocatalytic ability to catalyse HO, which was beneficial for strengthening the electrochemical signals.

[Discovery and analysis of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm inhibitors using functional metagenomics approach].

Although most microbes are not readily cultured in the lab, microbial DNA can be extracted directly from an environmental sample and be functionally expressed in a suitable host for natural products discovery, and this approach has been termed "metagenomics". An E'mei Mountain soil metagenomic library was constructed using an Escherichia coli-Streptomyces shuttle vector for functional based screening of anti-bacterial clones in Streptomyces albus host. Two active clones were obtained and their fermentation broths were studied for the inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm.

Tetracycline Resistance Genes Identified from Distinct Soil Environments in China by Functional Metagenomics.

Soil microbiota represents one of the ancient evolutionary origins of antibiotic resistance and has been increasingly recognized as a potentially vast unstudied reservoir of resistance genes with possibilities to exchange with pathogens. Tetracycline resistance is one of the most abundant antibiotic resistances that may transfer among clinical and commensal microorganisms. To investigate tetracycline resistance genes from soil bacteria in different habitats, we performed functional analysis of three metagenomic libraries derived from soil samples collected from Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet, respectively, in China.