Transcriptomic and Ectoine Analysis of Halotolerant YIM 90087 Under Salt Stress.

The genus is an unique actinobacterial group that widely distributed in hypersaline environments. In this study, we investigated the growth conditions, transcriptome analysis, production and accumulation of ectoine by YIM 90087 under salt stress. The colony color of YIM 90087 changed from yellow to white under salt stress conditions.

Identification and Characterization of a Membrane-Bound Sesterterpene Cyclase from Streptomyces somaliensis.

Sesterterpenes are usually found in plants and fungi, but are rare in bacteria. Here, we present the identification of StsC from Streptomyces somaliensis, a member of the UbiA superfamily, as a membrane-bound sesterterpene cyclase in bacteria. The cyclized products for StsC, somaliensenes A (1) and B (2), were identified by expressing the corresponding gene in an engineered Escherichia coli strain.

Engineering improved thermostability of the GH11 xylanase from Neocallimastix patriciarum via computational library design.

Xylanases, which cleave the β-1,4-glycosidic bond between xylose residues to release xylooligosaccharides (XOS), are widely used as food additives, animal feeds, and pulp bleaching agents. However, the thermally unstable nature of xylanases would hamper their industrial application. In this study, we used in silico design in a glycoside hydrolase family (GH) 11 xylanase to stabilize the enzyme.

Production of myo-inositol from glucose by a novel trienzymatic cascade of polyphosphate glucokinase, inositol 1-phosphate synthase and inositol monophosphatase.

Myo-inositol (inositol) is important in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and functional food industries. Here, we report a novel pathway to produce inositol from glucose by a trienzymatic cascade system involving polyphosphate glucokinase (PPGK), inositol 1-phosphate synthase (IPS) and inositol monophosphatase (IMP). The system contained three highly active enzymes, AspPPGK from Arthrobacter sp.

DNA Methylation Patterns Separate Senescence from Transformation Potential and Indicate Cancer Risk.

Overall shared DNA methylation patterns between senescence (Sen) and cancers have led to the model that tumor-promoting epigenetic patterns arise through senescence. We show that transformation-associated methylation changes arise stochastically and independently of programmatic changes during senescence. Promoter hypermethylation events in transformation involve primarily pro-survival and developmental genes, similarly modified in primary tumors.

Diagnostic and predictive values of procalcitonin in bloodstream infections for nosocomial pneumonia.

Purpose: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of PCT to distinguish between gram-negative (GN) and gram-positive (GP) bloodstream infections nosocomial pneumonia (NP) patients and compared PCT levels with the pneumonia severity index (PSI) for predicting mortality.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively for blood culture-positive NP patients between January 2014 and August 2016. PCT levels were compared between patients with GN versus GP infections.

Crystal structure of IspF from and absence of protein complex assembly amongst IspD/IspE/IspF enzymes in the MEP pathway.

2-C-Methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (IspF) is a key enzyme in the 2-C-Methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. This enzyme catalyzes the 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2-phosphate (CDPME2P) to 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate (MEcDP) with concomitant release of cytidine 5'-diphospate (CMP). is a potential host cell for the production of isoprenoids, but few studies are performed on the key enzymes of MEP pathway in In this work, the high-resolution crystal structures of IspF in native and complex with CMP from have been determined.

[Association of serum miRNA6086 expression with postoperative anal fistula recurrence].

Objective: To investigate the association between serum miRNA-6086 expression level and anal fistula recurrence.

Methods: Clinical data and serum samples of 60 patients with anal fistula and mix hemorrhoid identified by pathology undergoing resection in our department from August 2015 to August 2016 were collected. In addition, serum samples of 20 patients matching with fistula group in age, gender and body weight and receiving only hemorroidectomy were collected as control during the same period.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Curcumin Sensitizes Human Colon Cancer to Radiation by Altering the Expression of DNA Repair-related Genes.

Background/aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the radio-sensitizing efficacy of curcumin, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Materials And Methods: Human colon cancer HT-29 cells were treated with curcumin (2.5 μM), irradiation (10 Gy) and the combination of irradiation and curcumin.

Treatment of autosomal dominant hearing loss by in vivo delivery of genome editing agents.

Although genetic factors contribute to almost half of all cases of deafness, treatment options for genetic deafness are limited. We developed a genome-editing approach to target a dominantly inherited form of genetic deafness. Here we show that cationic lipid-mediated in vivo delivery of Cas9-guide RNA complexes can ameliorate hearing loss in a mouse model of human genetic deafness.

[Construction of high-yield strain by optimizing lycopene cyclase for β-carotene production].

To optimize key enzymes, such as to explore the gene resources and to modify the expression level, can maximize metabolic pathways of target products. β-carotene is a terpenoid compound with important application value. Lycopene cyclase (CrtY) is the key enzyme in β-carotene biosynthesis pathway, catalyzing flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent cyclization reaction and β-carotene synthesis from lycopene precursor.

Delivery of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors in Adult Mammalian Inner-Ear Cell Subtypes Without Auditory Dysfunction.

Hearing loss, including genetic hearing loss, is one of the most common forms of sensory deficits in humans with limited options of treatment. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer has been shown to recover auditory functions effectively in mouse models of genetic deafness when delivered at neonatal stages. However, the mouse cochlea is still developing at those time points, whereas in humans, the newborn inner ears are already fully mature.

Decreased pain tolerance before surgery and increased postoperative narcotic requirements in abstinent tobacco smokers.

Introduction: The clinical influence of smoking cessation on pain tolerance before surgery and postoperative pain perception is not fully understood. This clinical study investigated the effect of smoking cessation on pain threshold during the perioperative period in patients undergoing hepatic resection.

Methods: We enrolled 148 male patients (68 non-smokers and 80 abstinent smokers) who underwent hepatic resection and received postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia.

RPN2 promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation through modulating the glycosylation status of EGFR.

Various studies have found that silencing ribophorin II (RPN2) inhibits cell growth in several cancers. However, the underlying mechanism by which RPN2 regulates cancer cell proliferation remains unclear. Herein, we reveal that downregulation of RPN2, which may be a crucial regulator of N-linked glycosylation in cancer cells and drug-resistant cancer cells, promoted the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) cell cycle and proliferation and .

HMGB1-mediated autophagy attenuates gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in bladder cancer cells involving JNK and ERK activation.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has been found to mediate autophagy during chemotherapy in several cancers. However, whether HMGB1plays a role in autophagy and chemoresistance in bladder cancer is elusive. In this report, HMGB1 expression was found to be increased in 30 primary bladder cancer tissue specimens compared to their matched adjacent non-tumor tissues.

Establishment and characterization of human osteosarcoma cells resistant to pyropheophorbide-α methyl ester-mediated photodynamic therapy.

The present study was performed to establish and characterize new human osteosarcoma cell lines resistant to pyropheophorbide-α methyl ester‑mediated photodynamic therapy (MPPa-PDT). MPPa-PDT-resistant cells are isolated from the human osteosarcoma MG63 and HOS cell lines and two resistant populations were finally acquired, including MG63/PDT and HOS/PDT. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine the MPPa-PDT, cisplatin (CDDP) resistance and proliferation of MG63, MG63/PDT, HOS and HOS/PDT cells.

Cofactor self-sufficient whole-cell biocatalysts for the production of 2-phenylethanol.

The efficiency of biocatalysis is often affected by an insufficient supply and regeneration of cofactors and redox equivalents. To alleviate this shortcoming, a cofactor self-sufficient system was developed for enhanced production of 2-phenylethanol (2-PE) in E. coli.

The process-related dynamics of microbial community during a simulated fermentation of Chinese strong-flavored liquor.

Background: Famous Chinese strong-flavored liquor (CSFL) is brewed by microbial consortia in a special fermentation pit (FT). However, the fermentation process was not fully understood owing to the complicate community structure and metabolism. In this study, the process-related dynamics of microbial communities and main flavor compounds during the 70-day fermentation process were investigated in a simulated fermentation system.

Synthesis of Sialic Acids, Their Derivatives, and Analogs by Using a Whole-Cell Catalyst.

Sialic acids (Sias) are important constituents of cell surface glycans. Ready access to Sias in large quantities would facilitate the development of carbohydrate-based vaccines and small-molecule drugs. We now present a facile method for synthesizing various natural forms and non-natural derivatives or analogs of Sias by using a whole-cell catalyst, which is constructed by adding a plasmid containing necessary enzyme genes into a metabolically engineered strain of Escherichia coli.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk of short-term post-procedural complications after carotid artery stenting.

The risk factors for post-procedural events after carotid artery stenting (CAS) have not been well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the risk of post-CAS complications. A total of 358 consecutive patients who underwent CAS were enrolled in this prospective study.

Complete genome sequence of Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6: A newly isolated culture for efficient n-caproic acid production from lactate.

n-caproic acid (CA) is a valuable chemical feedstock for various industrial applications. Biological production of CA from renewable carbon sources has attracted a lot of attentions recently. We lately reported the new culture Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6, which was isolated from a microbiome for efficient CA production from lactate.

Monitoring in vivo metabolic flux with a designed whole-cell metabolite biosensor of shikimic acid.

Knowledge of intracellular metabolite levels is important for the understanding of metabolic flux distributions. Whole-cell biosensors of key metabolites are ideal for the monitoring of carbon flow in important metabolic pathways, thus guiding metabolic engineering for microbial improvement. However, lack of biosensors for metabolites of interests has limited their applications.

The functional potential and active populations of the pit mud microbiome for the production of Chinese strong-flavour liquor.

The popular distilled Chinese strong-flavour liquor (CSFL) is produced by solid fermentation in the ground pit. Microbes inhabiting in the pit mud (PM) on the walls of the fermentation pit are responsible for the production of caproic acid (CA) that determines the quality of CSFL to a large degree. However, little is known about the active microbial populations and metabolic potential of the PM microbiome.

Association between Aqueous Cytokines and Diabetic Retinopathy Stage.

Purpose: To measure the concentrations of various cytokines in the aqueous humor from patients with different stages of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: All selected cataract patients were categorized into 4 groups: the control group (patients without diabetes), nonretinopathy (NDR) group (diabetic patients without retinopathy), nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group. The aqueous concentrations of interleukin- (IL-) 1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-, tumor necrosis factor-, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from patients were measured using the cytometric bead array technique.

Avermectin biosynthesis: stable functional expression of branched chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex from Streptomyces avermitilis in Escherichia coli by selectively regulating individual subunit gene expression.

Objective: To improve the production of short branched-chain acyl-CoAs for avermectin biosynthesis, the functional expression of the branched chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex (BKDH) from Streptomyces avermitilis was systematically optimized by selectively regulating individual subunit expression in Escherichia coli.

Results: Functional expression of the BKDH complex was achieved by independent and selective optimization of individual subunit genes of the complex. Codon optimization significantly improved the expression of complex component proteins BkdH and LpdA1 but expression of BkdF and BkdG depended on coexpression of the bkdH gene.