Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction.

Signal transduction across biological membranes enables cells to detect and respond to diverse chemical or physical signals, and replicating these complex biological processes through synthetic methods is of significant interest in synthetic biology. Here we present an artificial signal transduction system using oriented cholesterol-tagged triplex DNA (TD) as synthetic receptors to transmit and amplify signals across lipid bilayer membranes through H-mediated TD conformational transitions from duplex to triplex. An auxiliary sequence, complementary to the third strand of the TD, ensures a controlled and preferred outward orientation of cholesterol-tagged TD on membranes.

Recognition of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia among Myocoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in hospitalized children: development and validation of a predictive nomogram model.

Backgroud: The current diagnostic criteria for refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) among Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia (MPP) are insufficient for early identification, and potentially delayed appropriate treatment. This study aimed to develop an effective individualized diagnostic prediction nomogram for pediatric RMPP.

Methods: A total of 517 hospitalized children with MPP, including 131 with RMPP and 386 without RMPP (non-RMPP), treated at Lianyungang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled as a development (modeling) cohort to construct an RMPP prediction nomogram.

DNA-Based Artificial Receptors as Transmembrane Signal Transduction Systems for Protocellular Communication.

The ability to reproduce signal transduction and cellular communication in artificial cell systems is significant in synthetic protobiology. Here, we describe an artificial transmembrane signal transduction through low pH-mediated formation of the i-motif and dimerization of DNA-based artificial membrane receptors, which is coupled to the occurrence of fluorescence resonance energy transfer and the activation of G-quadruplex/hemin-mediated fluorescence amplification inside giant unilamellar vesicles. Moreover, an intercellular signal communication model is established when the extravesicular H input is replaced by coacervate microdroplets, which activate the dimerization of the artificial receptors, and subsequent fluorescence production or polymerization in giant unilamellar vesicles.

Case report: Fatal infantile hypertonic myofibrillar myopathy with compound heterozygous mutations in the gene.

Background: Fatal infantile hypertonic myofibrillar myopathy (FIHMM) is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease characterized by amyotrophy, progressive flexion contracture and ankylosis of the trunk and limb muscles, apnea and respiratory failure, and increased creatine phosphate levels. It is caused by mutations in the gene, and only around 18 cases including genetic mutations have been reported worldwide. All patients with FIHMM develop respiratory distress, progressive stiffness of the limbs, and have a poor prognosis.

Pronounced temporal changes in soil microbial community and nitrogen transformation caused by benzalkonium chloride.

As one typical cationic disinfectant, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) were approved for surface disinfection in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and then unintentionally or intentionally released into the surrounding environment. Concerningly, it is still unclear how the soil microbial community succession happens and the nitrogen (N) cycling processes alter when exposed to QACs. In this study, one common QAC (benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was selected as the target contaminant, and its effects on the temporal changes in soil microbial community structure and nitrogen transformation processes were determined by qPCR and 16S rRNA sequencing-based methods.

DNA nanotubes in coacervate microdroplets as biomimetic cytoskeletons modulate the liquid fluidic properties of protocells.

Coacervate microdroplets, formed liquid-liquid phase separation, have been proposed as a compartment model for the construction of artificial cells or organelles. However, these microsystems are very fragile and demonstrate liquid-like fluidity. Here, an artificial cytoskeleton based on DNA nanotubes was constructed in coacervate microdroplets to modulate the liquid fluidic properties of the microdroplets.

Enzyme-active liquid coacervate microdroplets as artificial membraneless organelles for intracellular ROS scavenging.

Artificial organelles are microcompartments capable of performing catalytic reactions in living cells to replace absent or lost cellular functions. Coacervate microdroplets, formed liquid-liquid phase separation, have been developed as membraneless organelles that mimic the dynamical organization of liquid organelles. However, the further studies focusing on cellular implanting of coacervate microdroplets in living cells to supplement the dysfunction of natural cells are still rare.

Coacervate microdroplet protocell-mediated gene transfection for nitric oxide production and induction of cell apoptosis.

Liquid coacervate microdroplets have been widely explored as membrane-free compartment protocells for cargo delivery in therapeutic applications. In this study, coacervate protocells were developed as gene carriers for transfection of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) for killing of cancer cells. The coacervate microdroplet protocells were formed the liquid-liquid phase separation of oppositely charged diethylaminoethyl-dextran/polyacrylic acids.

Spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Philippine Sea, Western Pacific and the impact factors analysis.

Knowing the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution properties in ocean is highly needed to protect the open sea. In July to August of 2020, twenty surface water samples were obtained from the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea. The ranges of ΣPAHs concentrations were 3.

Hydrogel-Immobilized Coacervate Droplets as Modular Microreactor Assemblies.

Immobilization of compartmentalized microscale objects in 3D hydrogels provides a step towards the modular assembly of soft functional materials with tunable architectures and distributed functionalities. Herein, we report the use of a combination of micro-compartmentalization, immobilization, and modularization to fabricate and assemble hydrogel-based microreactor assemblies comprising millions of functionalized polysaccharide-polynucleotide coacervate droplets. The heterogeneous hydrogels can be structurally fused by interfacial crosslinking and coupled as input and output modules to implement a UV-induced photocatalytic/peroxidation nanoparticle/DNAzyme reaction cascade that generates a spatiotemporal fluorescence read-out depending on the droplet number density, intensity of photoenergization, and chemical flux.

Occurrence, distribution, and source track of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in the main rivers of Chongqing city, Southwest China.

In this study, the occurrence of 14 antibiotics, four corresponding antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and two microbial source tracker (MST) indicators were analyzed in two rivers of Chongqing city, southwest China. The results showed that 13 antibiotics were detected in all 12 sites and their detection frequencies were much higher in September, but concentrations were lower than that in March. Of them, erythromycin (ETM) and ofloxacin (OFL) were the predominant antibiotics in both seasons.

Uricase-containing coacervate microdroplets as enzyme active membrane-free protocells for detoxification of uric acid in serum.

Based on the unique property of preferential sequestration of guest molecules, coacervate microdroplets are proposed as enzyme active membrane-free protocells, in which uricase is loaded for efficient detoxification of uric acid in serum.

DNA supersandwich assemblies as artificial receptors to mediate intracellular delivery of catalase for efficient ROS scavenging.

Aptamer-tailored DNA supersandwich assemblies are proposed as artificial receptors anchored onto a cell membrane, enabling catalase delivery with an 8-fold enhancement in efficiency. The catalase transfection led to inhibition of intracellular ROS, while the cell viability was also remarkably improved even when exposed to H2O2 and lipopolysaccharide environments.

Apoptosis in human myelodysplastic syndrome CD34+ cells is modulated by the upregulation of TLRs and histone H4 acetylation via a β-arrestin 1 dependent mechanism.

Excessive apoptosis of hematopoietic precursors in the bone marrow underlies the ineffective hematopoiesis characteristic of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is abnormally activated in MDS and may be involved in excessive programmed cell death in the pathogenesis of MDS. TLRs expression and global histone H3/H4 acetylation were analyzed in bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cells from 20 lower-risk and 20 higher-risk MDS patients and 10 healthy controls.

Signal amplification strategies for DNA and protein detection based on polymeric nanocomposites and polymerization: A review.

Demand is increasing for ultrasensitive bioassays for disease diagnosis, environmental monitoring and other research areas. This requires novel signal amplification strategies to maximize the signal output. In this review, we focus on a series of significant signal amplification strategies based on polymeric nanocomposites and polymerization.

Clinical study on the effect of Shengxueling on idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Shengxueling (SXL) on idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and study the possible mechanism.

Methods: Eighty-six cases of ITP were randomly divided into two groups. The SXL group, 56 patients treated with SXL, a traditinal Chinese medicine and 30 patients administered with prednisone were taken as control.

[Clinical study on idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura treated with Shengxueling Granule].

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Shengxueling Granule (SXLG) in treating idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and to study its possible mechanism.

Methods: Eighty-six cases of ITP were divided into two groups randomly. Fifty-six cases in the treatment group were treated with SXLG, a traditional Chinese medicine, and 30 cases administered with Western medicine (prednisone) were taken as control.