Exploring the impact of gut microbiota on liver health in mice and patients with Wilson disease.

Background And Aims: Distinctive gut microbial profiles have been observed between patients with Wilson disease (WD) and healthy individuals. Despite this, the exact relationship and influence of gut microbiota on the advancement of WD-related liver damage remain ambiguous. This research seeks to clarify the gut microbiota characteristics in both human patients and mouse models of WD, as well as their impact on liver injury.

Machine learning methods to predict cadmium (Cd) concentration in rice grain and support soil management at a regional scale.

Rice is a major dietary source of the toxic metal cadmium (Cd). Concentration of Cd in rice grain varies widely at the regional scale, and it is challenging to predict grain Cd concentration using soil properties. The lack of reliable predictive models hampers management of contaminated soils.

[Seasonal variation of distribution and removal of high-risk tetracycline resistance genes in constructed wetland.].

Livestock wastewater is an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with high environmental risks. We investigated the seasonal variations of distribution and removal of swine wastewater originated high-risk tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands. The effects of exogenous addition of tetracycline (TC) and copper ion (Cu) on the abundance of TRGs in effluent with single and combined pollution of antibiotic and heavy metal were studied.

Prevalent and highly mobile antibiotic resistance genes in commercial organic fertilizers.

Compost-based organic fertilizers made from animal manures may contain high levels of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the factors affecting the abundance and profile of ARGs in organic fertilizers remain unclear. We conducted a national-wide survey in China to investigate the effect of material type and composting process on ARG abundance in commercial organic fertilizers and quantified the contributions of bacterial composition and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) to the structuring of ARGs, using quantitative PCR and Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons.

Spatiotemporal visualization for the global COVID-19 surveillance by balloon chart.

Background: Considering the widespread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the world, it is important to understand the spatiotemporal development of the pandemic. In this study, we aimed to visualize time-associated alterations of COVID-19 in the context of continents and countries.

Methods: Using COVID-19 case and death data from February to December 2020 offered by Johns Hopkins University, we generated time-associated balloon charts with multiple epidemiological indicators including crude case fatality rate (CFR), morbidity, mortality and the total number of cases, to compare the progression of the pandemic within a specific period across regions and countries, integrating seven related dimensions together.

AIDS-associated Talaromyces marneffei central nervous system infection in patients of southwestern China.

Background: The clinical and laboratory characteristics of AIDS-associated Talaromyces marneffei infection, a rare but a fatal mycosis disease of the central nervous system, remain unclear.

Case Presentation: Herein, we conducted a retrospective study of ten AIDS patients with cerebrospinal fluid culture-confirmed central nervous system infection caused by Talaromyces marneffei. All 10 patients were promptly treated with antifungal treatment for a prolonged duration and early antiviral therapy (ART).

[De novo domestication to create new crops].

Crop improvement by domestication and traditional breeding often results in fitness penalties and loss of genetic diversity, which greatly threatens crop production and food security under the challenging global climate. De novo domestication has been proposed as a novel strategy for crop breeding. By combining multi-omics, genome editing and synthetic biology approaches, domestication of wild or semi-wild plant species can be accelerated by rapidly introducing desirable traits without causing an associated drag on their inherent traits.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Dehydroabietic Acid-Oxazolidinone Hybrids for Antitumor Properties.

Novel representatives of the important group of biologically-active, dehydroabietic acid-bearing oxazolidinone moiety were synthesized to explore more efficacious and less toxic antitumor agents. Structures of all the newly target molecules were confirmed by IR, ¹H-NMR, C-NMR, and HR-MS. The inhibitory activities of these compounds against different human cancer cell lines (MGC-803, CNE-2, SK-OV-3, NCI-H460) and human normal liver cell line LO2 were evaluated and compared with the commercial anticancer drug cisplatin, using standard MTT (methyl thiazolytetrazolium) assay in vitro.

[Evolution of Extracellular Polymeric Substances of the Activated Sludge with Calcium Ion Addition During Set-up Period of Sequencing Batch Reactors].

Great attention has been paid to accelerate the start-up period and enhance floc properties and structural stability in activated sludge reactors with the aid of inorganic chemical agents such as calcium ion. The laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were operated continuously for 35 days to investigate the effect of calcium ion (Ca) on the physicochemical properties and evolution of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of activated sludge during set-up period. When compared to the control (non-calcium ion addition), the addition of 150 mg·LCa to the influent significantly increased the mixed liquid suspended solids (MLSS) and the mixed liquid volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) by 89.

[Comparison of Extraction Methods of Extracellular Polymeric Substances from Activated Sludge].

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) are biosynthetic polymers of microbial origin in the sludge activation process and crucially affect the properties of sludge in biological wastewater treatment reactors, such as the formation of sludge flocs, stabilization of sludge structure, and protection of microbes against noxious environmental conditions. However, the EPS extraction efficiency differs significantly according to the extraction method used. In this study, soluble EPSs and loosely bound EPSs can be extracted by centrifugation first and tightly bound EPSs in activated sludge require additional eight treatments for extraction, respectively.

Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of two mixed ligand copper(ii) complexes by regulating the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway.

The single crystals of two novel mixed-ligand copper(ii)-based complexes were obtained and characterized. These complexes can remarkably induce apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, suppress migration and metastasis, and inhibit angiogenesis to inhibit the growth of cervical cancer by down-regulating the expressions of the important proteins FAK, Akt and Erk1/2 or their phosphorylated proteins p-FAK, p-Akt, and p-Erk1/2 downstream of the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway.

Changes in antibiotic concentrations and antibiotic resistome during commercial composting of animal manures.

The over-use of antibiotics in animal husbandry in China and the concomitant enhanced selection of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in animal manures are of serious concern. Thermophilic composting is an effective way of reducing hazards in organic wastes. However, its effectiveness in antibiotic degradation and ARG reduction in commercial operations remains unclear.

Analysis of biosurfactants from industrially viable Pseudomonas strain isolated from crude oil suggests how rhamnolipids congeners affect emulsification property and antimicrobial activity.

Rhamnolipid biosurfactants produced mainly by Pseudomonas sp. had been reported to possess a wide range of potential industrial application. These biosurfactants are produced as monorhamnolipid (MRL) and di-rhamnolipid (DRL) congeners.

[A review of uptake, translocation and phytotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles in plants].

With the increasing use of engineered nanoparticles, these materials will inevitably be released into the environment with unknown consequences. The interactions between engineered nanoparticles and plants are of particular concern, and the uptake by plants may constitute one of the main routes of exposure for species at a higher trophic level, leading to possible biomagnification of nanoparticles in the food chain. A review of the current literature shows that nanoparticles can be taken up by plants and cause phytotoxicity.

[Isolation, identification and oxidizing characterization of an iron-sulfur oxidizing bacterium LY01 from acid mine drainage].

An acidophilic iron-sulfur oxidizing bacterium LY01 was isolated from acid mine drainage of coal in Guizhou Province, China. Strain LY01 was identified as Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans by morphological and physiological characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence. Strain LY01 was able to grow using ferrous ion (Fe2+), elemental sulfur (S0) and pyrite as sole energy source, respectively, but significant differences in oxidation efficiency and bacterial growth were observed when different energy source was used.

Asymptomatic oral yeast carriage and antifungal susceptibility profile of HIV-infected patients in Kunming, Yunnan Province of China.

Background: Oral Candida colonization and its relation with predisposing factors in HIV-infected patients have received wide concerns during recent decades. In this study, we investigated asymptomatic oral Candida carriage rate, species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of 604 HIV-infected patients and 851 healthy individuals in Kunming, Yunnan Province of China.

Methods: Mucosal swab sampling was taken from each subject and CHROMagar Candida agar medium and API 20C AUX system were used to identify yeast isolates.

[Difference in acclimation of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans by various substrates and its effect on coal desulfurization efficiency].

In this study, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans LX5 was cultured in 9K medium with pyrite and ferrous sulfate as the substrates. Results showed that the number of A. ferrooxidans LX5 acclimated by pyrite for 20 d was 3.

Isolation and nitrogen removal characteristics of an aerobic heterotrophic nitrifying-denitrifying bacterium, Bacillus subtilis A1.

Bacterium A1, isolated to enhance nitrogen removal from ammonium-rich wastewater in situ, exhibited an amazing ability to convert ammonium to gaseous nitrogen compounds under fully aerobic conditions, while growing autotrophically or heterotrophically. A1 was identified as Bacillus subtilis by morphological and physiological characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rDNA gene sequence. Nitrogen removal by A1 was analyzed in relation to the ammonium concentration, presence of organic carbon, carbon source, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N).

[Effect of carbon source and dissolved oxygen on denitrification by aerobic denitrifier Pseudomonas mendocina AD6].

Aerobic denitrifying performances of P. mendocina AD6 at various C/N ratios, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and carbon sources including citrate, acetate, and glucose were evaluated through flask experiment. At an insufficient carbon concentration, namely C/N ratio of 3, total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was 42% by aerobic denitrification.

[Role of Ca2 in the formation of glucose-fed aerobic granular sludge in sequencing batch reactor].

Influence of Ca2+ on glucose-fed aerobic granule was investigated through sequencing batch reactor(SBR) and shaking flask experiments. Granules of two SBRs spiked with 30 mg/L and 100 mg/L of Ca2+ could be observed visually on day 20. In the first 50 days, the SBR II had higher mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) and lower sludge volume index (SVI) than those of SBR I.

[Expression of B7-H1 on peripheral myeloid dendritic cells in patients with HIV infection and its correlation with diseases progression].

Objective: To investigate the features of B7-H1 expression on peripheral myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in patients with HIV infection and evaluate the correlations between B7-H1 expression and disease progression.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples from 82 treatment-naïve patients with HIV infection, 28 viral complete responders (CRs) under antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 14 healthy controls (HCs) were collected. Flow cytometry was applied to investigate the expression of B7-H1 on mDCs and CD4 cell counts.