Nitrate assimilation compensates for cell wall biosynthesis in the absence of phosphoglucose isomerase.

Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) links glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and the synthesis of cell wall precursors in fungi by facilitating the reversible conversion between glucose-6-phosphate (Glc6p) and fructose-6-phosphate (Fru6P). In a previous study, we established the essential role of PGI in cell wall biosynthesis in the opportunistic human fungal pathogen , highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic analysis and discovered that the Δ mutant exhibited enhanced glycolysis, reduced PPP, and an upregulation of cell wall precursor biosynthesis pathways.

Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of a Ni-Based Alloy with High Boron Content for the Pre-Sintered Preform (PSP) Application.

The pre-sintered preform (PSP) is an advanced technology for repairing the Ni-based superalloy blade in a turbine. In general, boron is added to the Ni-based superalloys in small quantities (<0.1 wt.

Amino sugars influence Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis, and biofilm formation through interfering galactosaminogalactan deacetylation.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous fungal pathogen responsible for a significant number of deaths annually due to invasive aspergillosis infection. While the utilization of diverse carbon sources, including amino sugars, has been explored in other fungi, its impact on A. fumigatus remains uncharted territory.

Palladium-Phosphide-Modified Three-Dimensional Phospho-Doped Graphene Materials for Hydrogen Storage.

The development of efficient hydrogen storage materials is crucial for advancing hydrogen-based energy systems. In this study, we prepared a highly innovative palladium-phosphide-modified P-doped graphene hydrogen storage material with a three-dimensional configuration (3D PdP/P-rGO) using a hydrothermal method followed by calcination. This 3D network hindering the stacking of graphene sheets provided channels for hydrogen diffusion to improve the hydrogen adsorption kinetics.

Development and Evaluation of Two Double-Antibody Sandwich ELISAs for Detecting Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Infection.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a newly emerging tick-borne virus with a fatality rate between 12% and 50%. Currently, effective vaccines or antiviral drugs are not available to treat SFTSV infection, and a diagnostic method for its detecting is urgently needed. Monoclonal (MAb) and polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) against SFTSV were prepared by immunizing animals with the SFTSV nucleocapsid protein (NP).

The Effect of Stress Ratios on the Very High Cycle Fatigue Behavior of 9%Cr Turbine Steel at 630 °C.

Effects of the stress ratio on the very high cycle fatigue behaviors of 9%Cr turbine steel have been investigated at 630 °C. The experimental results show that the S-N curve has a continuous downward trend and has no fatigue limit with the increasing in the cycles at 630 °C. Meanwhile, according to the analysis of microstructure, there are two failure modes that were observed at different stress ratios (R = -1 and 0.

A novel small RNA contributes to restrain cellular chain length and anti-phagocytic ability in Streptococcus suis 2.

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) is an important porcine and human pathogen. Regulatory small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) play an essential role in diverse physiological processes, although they remain poorly understood in SS2. In this study, we identified eight novel sRNAs through a combination of computational strategies and experimental identification.

Experimental and Numerical Studies on Recrystallization Behavior of Single-Crystal Ni-Base Superalloy.

The recrystallization (RX) behavior of superalloy during standard solution heat treatment (SSHT) varies significantly with deformation temperature. Single-crystal (SX) samples of Ni-base superalloy were compressed to 5% plastic deformation at room temperature (RT) and 980 °C, and the deformed samples were then subjected to SSHT process which consists of 1290 °C/1 h, 1300 °C/2 h, and 1315 °C/4 h, air cooling. RT-deformed samples showed almost no RX grains until the annealing temperature was elevated to 1315 °C, while 980 °C-deformed samples showed a large number of RX grains in the initial stage of SSHT.

Two novel regulators of N-acetyl-galactosamine utilization pathway and distinct roles in bacterial infections.

Bacterial pathogens can exploit metabolic pathways to facilitate their successful infection cycles, but little is known about roles of d-galactosamine (GalN)/N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc) catabolism pathway in bacterial pathogenesis. Here, we report the genomic reconstruction of GalN/GalNAc utilization pathway in Streptococci and the diversified aga regulons. We delineated two new paralogous AgaR regulators for the GalN/GalNAc catabolism pathway.

Development of reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assays to detect Hantaan virus and Seoul virus.

We developed two assays based on one-step reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) to identify Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Seoul virus (SEOV), members of the Hantavirus genus that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Our results showed that these assays can be conducted within 30min under isothermal conditions. The detection limit for HTNV was around 10 copies per reaction, similar to detection levels for quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays.

The β-galactosidase (BgaC) of the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis is a surface protein without the involvement of bacterial virulence.

Streptococcal pathogens have evolved to express exoglycosidases, one of which is BgaC β-galactosidase, to deglycosidate host surface glycolconjucates with exposure of the polysaccharide receptor for bacterial adherence. The paradigm BgaC protein is the bgaC product of Streptococcus, a bacterial surface-exposed β-galactosidase. Here we report the functional definition of the BgaC homologue from an epidemic Chinese strain 05ZYH33 of the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis.

Rapid and sensitive detection of H7N9 avian influenza virus by use of reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

An epidemic of human H7N9 influenza virus infection recently emerged in China whose clinical features include high mortality and which has also resulted in serious economic loss. The novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus which was the causative agent of this epidemic raised the possibility of triggering a large-scale influenza pandemic worldwide. It seemed likely that fast molecular detection assays specific for this virus would be in great demand.

Rapid visual detection of highly pathogenic Streptococcus suis serotype 2 isolates by use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2) is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes considerable economic losses to the pig industry and significantly threatens public health worldwide. The highly pathogenic S.