Polyphenol-mediated assembly of toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist nanoparticles for effective tumor immunotherapy.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonists have shown significant potential in tumor immunotherapy. However, the limited pharmacokinetic properties and systemic toxicity resulting from off-target effects limits their biomedical applications. We here report the polyphenol-mediated assembly of resiquimod (R848, a TLR7/8 agonist) nanoparticles (RTP NPs) to achieve tumor-selective immunotherapy while avoiding systemic adverse effects.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of human bocavirus-1 in children and adults with influenza-like illness from Kunming, Southwest China.

Human bocavirus-1 (HBoV-1) has been associated with respiratory infections in both children and adults, often presenting symptoms similar to those of influenza. Understanding the prevalence and molecular characteristics of HBoV-1 in individuals with influenza-like illness (ILI) is essential for enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections in Kunming, Southwest China. Between December 2017 and December 2023, demographic and clinical data, along with respiratory tract specimens from individuals aged 0 to 97 years with ILI, were collected at three sentinel hospitals in Kunming.

Intracellular osteopontin potentiates the immunosuppressive activity of mesenchymal stromal cells.

Introduction: Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based cell therapy is a promising approach for various inflammatory disorders based on their immunosuppressive capacity. Osteopontin (OPN) regulates several cellular functions including tissue repair, bone metabolism and immune reaction. However, the biological function of OPN in regulating the immunosuppressive capacity of MSCs remains elusive.

Effect of coated-benzoic acid on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal functions in weaned pigs challenged by enterotoxigenic .

Introduction: Benzoic acid (BA) could be added to the diets of weaned pigs to prevent diarrhea due to its antibacterial function. However, BA may be absorbed or decomposed before it can reach the hindgut. This study was conducted to explore the effect of a novel coated benzoic acid (CBA) on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal barrier functions in weaned pigs upon enterotoxigenic (ETEC) challenge.

Protective Effect of Coated Benzoic Acid on Intestinal Epithelium in Weaned Pigs upon Enterotoxigenic Challenge.

The study was designed to investigate the protective effect of dietary supplementation with coated benzoic acid (CBA) on intestinal barrier function in weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic (ETEC). Thirty-two pigs were randomized to four treatments and given either a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 3.0 g/kg CBA, followed by oral administration of ETEC or culture medium.

PMS2 has both pro-mutagenic and anti-mutagenic effects on repeat instability in the Repeat Expansion Diseases.

Genome Wide Association studies (GWAS) have implicated PMS2 as a modifier of somatic expansion in Huntington's disease (HD), one of >45 known Repeat Expansion Diseases (REDs). PMS2 is a subunit of the MutLα complex, a major component of the mismatch repair (MMR) system, a repair pathway that is involved in the generation of expansions in many different REDs. However, while MLH3, a subunit of a second MutL complex, MutLγ, is required for all expansions, PMS2 has been shown to protect against expansion in some model systems but to drive expansion in others.

Development of the CRISPR-Cas12a system for editing of phages.

is a common opportunistic pathogen. The potential efficacy of phage therapy has attracted the attention of researchers, but efficient gene-editing tools are lacking, limiting the study of their biological properties. Here, we designed a type V CRISPR-Cas12a system for the gene editing of phages.

Characterization, genome analysis, and therapeutic evaluation of a novel Salmonella phage vB_SalS_JNS02: a candidate bacteriophage for phage therapy.

Phage therapy is gaining momentum as an alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella. In this study, a novel Salmonella phage, vB_SalS_JNS02, was isolated successfully from poultry farms in Shandong, China. The biological characteristics of vB_SalS_JNS02 were analysed, which revealed a short latent period of approximately 10 min and a burst size of 110 PFU/cell.

Deficiency of UCHL1 results in insufficient decidualization accompanied by impaired dNK modulation and eventually miscarriage.

Background: Miscarriage is a frustrating complication of pregnancy that is common among women of reproductive age. Insufficient decidualization which not only impairs embryo implantation but disturbs fetomaternal immune-tolerance, has been widely regarded as a major cause of miscarriage; however, the underlying mechanisms resulting in decidual impairment are largely unknown.

Methods: With informed consent, decidual tissue from patients with spontaneous abortion or normal pregnant women was collected to detect the expression profile of UCHL1.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Characterization of from Healthy Chickens in Shandong, China from 2009 to 2014.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a great threat to animal and public health. Here, we conducted a surveillance of isolated from healthy chickens during 2009-2014 to identify the characteristics of AMR. A total of 351 (95.

High Clinical Exome Sequencing Diagnostic Rates and Novel Phenotypic Expansions for Nonisolated Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia, and Coloboma.

Purpose: A molecular diagnosis is only made in a subset of individuals with nonisolated microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and coloboma (MAC). This may be due to underutilization of clinical (whole) exome sequencing (cES) and an incomplete understanding of the genes that cause MAC. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of cES in cases of nonisolated MAC and to identify new MAC phenotypic expansions.

Toxin gene detection and antibiotic resistance of Clostridium perfringens from aquatic sources.

Clostridium perfringens is a zoonotic opportunistic pathogen that produces toxins that can cause necrotic enteritis and even "sudden death disease". This bacterium is widely distributed in the intestines of livestock and human, but there are few reports of distribution in aquatic animals (Hafeez et al., 2022).

Genomic analysis and experimental pathogenic characterization of Riemerella anatipestifer isolates from chickens in China.

Waterfowl have a high likelihood of being infected with Riemerella anatipestifer. Although the pathogen is found in domestic ducks, turkeys, geese, and wild birds, there is little information available about the consequences of infection during egg laying and hatching in chickens. Here, we present the first report of a novel sequence type of R.

Genomic Analyses Uncover Evolutionary Features of Influenza A/H3N2 Viruses in Yunnan Province, China, from 2017 to 2022.

Influenza A viruses evolve at a high rate of nucleotide substitution, thereby requiring continuous monitoring to determine the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral drugs. In the current study, we performed whole-genome sequencing analyses of 253 influenza A/H3N2 strains from Yunnan Province, China, during 2017-2022. The hemagglutinin (HA) segments of Yunnan A/H3N2 strains isolated during 2017-2018 harbored a high genetic diversity due to heterogeneous distribution across branches.

Multiplexed immunosensing of cancer biomarkers on a split-float-gate graphene transistor microfluidic biochip.

This work reports the development of a novel microfluidic biosensor using a graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) design for the parallel label-free analysis of multiple biomarkers. Overcoming the persistent challenge of constructing μm-sized FET sensitive interfaces that incorporate multiple receptors, we implement a split-float-gate structure that enables the manipulation of multiplexed biochemical functionalization using microfluidic channels. Immunoaffinity biosensing experiments are conducted using the mixture samples containing three liver cancer biomarkers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), α-fetoprotein (AFP), and parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Frontier issues in international ocean governance: Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea.

This paper aimed at explore international ocean governance issues through the perspective of Japan's nuclear contaminated water discharge to the sea. This paper analyzes the core issue of Japan's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the ocean from the perspectives of Japan's international legal obligation, law enforcement issues, and judicial issues after integrated analyzing academic research paper and cases. Japan has obligations such as timely notification, information disclosure, environmental impact assessment, and avoidance of transboundary harm.

Phage Tail Fiber Protein as a Specific Probe for Recognition of Shiga Toxin-Producing O91, O103, and O111.

The ability to quickly identify specific serotypes of Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) could facilitate the monitoring and control of STEC pathogens. In this study, we identified the receptors and receptor-binding proteins (RBPs) of three novel phages (pO91, pO103, and pO111) isolated from hospital wastewater. Recombinant versions of these RBPs (pO91-ORF43, pO103-ORF42, and pO111-ORF8) fused to a fluorescent reporter protein were then constructed.

Neurodevelopmental and other phenotypes recurrently associated with heterozygous BAZ2B loss-of-function variants.

The bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger 2B (BAZ2B) gene encodes a chromatin remodeling protein that has been shown to perform a variety of regulatory functions. It has been proposed that loss of BAZ2B function is associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes, and some recurrent structural birth defects and dysmorphic features have been documented among individuals carrying heterozygous loss-of-function BAZ2B variants. However, additional evidence is needed to confirm that these phenotypes are attributable to BAZ2B deficiency.

Size Exclusion Chromatography-Mass Photometry: A New Method for Adeno-Associated Virus Product Characterization.

Over the past decade, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have attained significant prominence in gene therapy and genome editing applications, necessitating the development of robust and precise methodologies to ensure the quality and purity of AAV products. Existing AAV characterization techniques have proven effective for the analysis of pure and homogeneous AAV samples. However, there is still a demand for a rapid and low-sample-consumption method suitable for the characterization of lower purity or heterogeneous AAV samples commonly encountered in AAV products.

Clinical exome sequencing efficacy and phenotypic expansions involving anomalous pulmonary venous return.

Anomalous pulmonary venous return (APVR) frequently occurs with other congenital heart defects (CHDs) or extra-cardiac anomalies. While some genetic causes have been identified, the optimal approach to genetic testing in individuals with APVR remains uncertain, and the etiology of most cases of APVR is unclear. Here, we analyzed molecular data from 49 individuals to determine the diagnostic yield of clinical exome sequencing (ES) for non-isolated APVR.

Carbonized Syndiotactic Polystyrene/Carbon Nanotube/MXene Hybrid Aerogels with Egg-Box Structure: A Platform for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Solar Thermal Energy Management.

Functional materials for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding are a consistently hot topic in the booming communication engineering, proceeding the development that tends to the multifunctional EMI shielding materials. Herein, a series of carbonized syndiotactic polystyrene/carbon nanotube/MXene (CsPS/CNT/MXene) hybrid aerogels were fabricated for EMI shielding and solar thermal energy conversion purposes. To fabricate the hybrid aerogels, a porous CNT/MXene framework was initially prepared using freeze-casting.

Application of the Intelligent High-Throughput Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing/Phage Screening System and Lar Index of Antimicrobial Resistance.

To improve the efficiency of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and phage high-throughput screening for resistant bacteria and to reduce the detection cost, an intelligent high-throughput AST/phage screening system, including a 96-dot matrix inoculator, image acquisition converter, and corresponding software, was developed according to AST criteria and the breakpoints of resistance (R) formulated by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). AST and statistics of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) distributions (from R/8 to 8R) of 1,500 Salmonella strains isolated from poultry in Shandong, China, against 10 antimicrobial agents were carried out by the intelligent high-throughput AST/phage screening system. The Lar index, meaning "less antibiosis, less resistance and residual until little antibiosis", was obtained by calculating the weighted average of each MIC and dividing by R.