An engineered Pichia pastoris platform for the biosynthesis of silk-based nanomaterials with therapeutic potential.

Silk fibroin (SF) from the cocoon of silkworm has exceptional mechanical properties and biocompatibility and is used as a biomaterial in a variety of fields. Sustainable, affordable, and scalable manufacturing of SF would enable its large-scale use. We report for the first time the high-level secretory production of recombinant SF peptides in engineered Pichia pastoris cell factories and the processing thereof to nanomaterials.

The protein methyltransferase TrSAM inhibits cellulase gene expression by interacting with the negative regulator ACE1 in Trichoderma reesei.

Protein methylation is a commonly posttranslational modification of transcriptional regulators to fine-tune protein function, however, whether this regulation strategy participates in the regulation of lignocellulase synthesis and secretion in Trichoderma reesei remains unexplored. Here, a putative protein methyltransferase (TrSAM) is screened from a T. reesei mutant with the ability to express heterologous β-glucosidase efficiently even under glucose repression.

Stigma and its influencing factors for seeking professional psychological help among pregnant women: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Although the stigma associated with seeking professional psychological help has received significant attention, few studies have focused on the status and factors influencing this stigma among pregnant women, especially those with a Chinese cultural background. This study aimed to assess the status of stigma associated with seeking professional psychological help and its influencing factors.

Methods: A total of 1325 pregnant women were recruited from Hunan Province, China.

Women's experience of polycystic ovary syndrome management: A systematic review and meta-synthesis.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common chronic condition in women of child-bearing age. There is currently no effective treatment, so early and long-term management is essential. However, there are many problems in the practice of disease management in women with PCOS that make it difficult to achieve good outcomes.

Multi-omics strategies uncover the molecular mechanisms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium deficiency responses in Brassica napus.

Background: Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are critical macronutrients in crops, such that deficiency in any of N, P or K has substantial effects on crop growth. However, the specific commonalities of plant responses to different macronutrient deficiencies remain largely unknown.

Methods: Here, we assessed the phenotypic and physiological performances along with whole transcriptome and metabolomic profiles of rapeseed seedlings exposed to N, P and K deficiency stresses.

Research progress and applications of colorful Brassica crops.

We review the application and the molecular regulation of anthocyanins in colorful Brassica crops, the creation of new germplasm resources, and the development and utilization of colorful Brassica crops. Brassica crops are widely cultivated: these include oilseed crops, such as rapeseed, mustards, and root, leaf, and stem vegetable types, such as turnips, cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflowers. Colorful variants exist of these crop species, and asides from increased aesthetic appeal, these may also offer advantages in terms of nutritional content and improved stress resistances.

Mapping and Identifying Candidate Genes Enabling Cadmium Accumulation in Revealed by Combined BSA-Seq and RNA-Seq Analysis.

Rapeseed has the ability to absorb cadmium in the roots and transfer it to aboveground organs, making it a potential species for remediating soil cadmium (Cd) pollution. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon in rapeseed are still unclear. In this study, a 'cadmium-enriched' parent, 'P1', with high cadmium transport and accumulation in the shoot (cadmium root: shoot transfer ratio of 153.

Prevalence of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder and its determinants in Mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The prevalence and risk factors of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder reported by population-based studies have significantly varied and the data are all collected from regional populations in Mainland China.

Aims: To utilize published data to estimate the overall prevalence of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder and its determinants in Mainland China.

Methods: Comprehensively electronic searches were performed across six English databases and three Chinese databases.

Barriers and facilitators of psychological help-seeking behaviors for perinatal women with depressive symptoms: A qualitative systematic review based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators related to psychological help-seeking behaviors of perinatal depression from all related stakeholders (e.g., perinatal women, family members, mental health care providers, and policymakers).

Help-Seeking Intentions for Depression and Associated Factors among Chinese Perinatal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

A low help-seeking intention for depression is an important reason for the low number of women with perinatal depression who have sought professional help. However, evidence of help-seeking intentions for depression is still lacking in Chinese perinatal women. We aimed to investigate the help-seeking intention for depression and its associated factors among Chinese perinatal women.

Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among Chinese pregnant women: A cross-sectional study.

Background: There exists a gap between the high prevalence of mental health problems and negative attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among Chinese pregnant women. This study aimed to investigate the attitudes and factors toward seeking professional psychological help among Chinese pregnant women to provide some suggestions for improving pregnant women's psychological help-seeking behaviors.

Methods: A total of 1024 pregnant women were recruited.

Efficient genome editing in using a CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein method.

produces many pharmacologically important ergot alkaloids (EAS), which are widely used to treat migraine and hypertension and to aid childbirth. Although an EAS biosynthetic cluster of . has been discovered more than 20 years ago, the complete biosynthetic pathway of EAS has not been fully characterized until now.

Building a Versatile Protein Production Platform Using Engineered .

has an extremely high capacity for synthesizing and secreting proteins, thus exhibiting promise as an expression platform for heterologous proteins. However, secretes large amounts of native proteins, which hinders its widespread application for heterologous protein production. Here, we designed and built a series of chassis using an iterative gene deletion approach based on an efficient genome editing system.

Risk prediction for postpartum depression based on random forest.

Objectives: To explore the application of random forest algorithm in screening the risk factors and predictive values for postpartum depression.

Methods: We recruited the participants from a tertiary hospital between June 2017 and June 2018 in Changsha City, and followed up from pregnancy up to 4-6 weeks postpartum.Demographic economics, psychosocial, biological, obstetric, and other factors were assessed at first trimesters with self-designed obstetric information questionnaire and the Chinese version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Alleviating product inhibition of Trichoderma reesei cellulase complex with a product-activated mushroom endoglucanase.

Product inhibition of cellulase is a challenging issue in industrial processes. Here, we introduced a product-activated mushroom cellulase, PaCel3A from Polyporus arcularius, into Trichoderma reesei. The filter paper activity, carboxymethyl cellulase activity, and saccharification efficiency (substrate: pretreated rice straw, PRS) of transformants increased significantly with this enzyme (by 18.

Research progress in prediction of postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression is a kind of mental disorder caused by the comprehensive effects of economics, psychosociology, biology, obstetrics and other characteristic factors in the process of female pregnancy. The pathogenesis of postpartum depression is complicated and has not been clarified. With the process pregnancy, the influence of psychosocial and biology factors are also in dynamic change.

Efficient genome editing in filamentous fungi via an improved CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein method facilitated by chemical reagents.

DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair induced by the RNA-programmed nuclease Cas9 has become a popular method for genome editing. Direct genome editing via Cas9-CRISPR gRNA (guide RNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes assembled in vitro has also been successful in some fungi. However, the efficiency of direct RNP transformation into fungal protoplasts is currently too low.

MicroRNA-mRNA expression profiles and their potential role in cadmium stress response in Brassica napus.

Background: Oilseed rape is an excellent candidate for phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils given its advantages of high biomass, fast growth, moderate metal accumulation, ease of harvesting, and metal tolerance, but the cadmium response pathways in this species (Brassica napus) have yet to be fully elucidated. A combined analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression to infer Cd-induced regulation has not been reported in B. napus.

Non-coding RNAs and transposable elements in plant genomes: emergence, regulatory mechanisms and roles in plant development and stress responses.

This review will provide evidence for the indispensable function of these elements in regulating plant development and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as their evolutionary role in facilitating plant adaptation. Over millions of years of evolution, plant genomes have acquired a complex constitution. Plant genomes consist not only of protein coding sequences, but also contain large proportions of non-coding sequences.

Development and Evaluation of an Online Training System for Home Caregivers.

With the increasing demands of professional rehabilitation training for home caregivers, to develop a mode of training with widespread applicability has been emphasized. In order to improve life quality of the impaired elderly, we developed an online training system for the home caregivers to learn knowledge and skills for caring the elderly. We also assessed the acceptance and acceptance factors of the online training system.

Small RNA changes in synthetic Brassica napus.

Small RNAs and microRNAs were found to vary extensively in synthetic Brassica napus and subsequent generations, accompanied by the activation of transposable elements in response to hybridization and polyploidization. Resynthesizing B. napus by hybridization and chromosome doubling provides an approach to create novel polyploids and increases the usable genetic variability in oilseed rape.

Effects of genome structure variation, homeologous genes and repetitive DNA on polyploid crop research in the age of genomics.

Compared to diploid species, allopolyploid crop species possess more complex genomes, higher productivity, and greater adaptability to changing environments. Next generation sequencing techniques have produced high-density genetic maps, whole genome sequences, transcriptomes and epigenomes for important polyploid crops. However, several problems interfere with the full application of next generation sequencing techniques to these crops.