Publications by authors named "Xueli Cao"

Prokaryotic anti-phage immune systems use TIR and cGAS-like enzymes to produce 1''-3'-glycocyclic ADP-ribose (1''-3'-gcADPR) and cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) and cyclic trinucleotide (CTN) signalling molecules, respectively, which limit phage replication. However, how phages neutralize these distinct and common systems is largely unclear. Here we show that the Thoeris anti-defence proteins Tad1 and Tad2 both achieve anti-cyclic-oligonucleotide-based anti-phage signalling system (anti-CBASS) activity by simultaneously sequestering CBASS cyclic oligonucleotides.

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Introduction: was the primary pathogenic organism responsible for dental caries. (LJF) is a traditional herb in Asia and Europe and consumed as a tea beverage for thousands of years.

Methods: The inhibitory effect and mechanism of LJF on biofilm formation by was investigated.

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Article Synopsis
  • CRISPR-Cas systems are immune defenses in bacteria that protect against viruses and genetic elements; certain viruses, like ICP1, also have their own CRISPR-Cas systems to fight back.* -
  • The ICP1 virus's Cas8f protein is missing a crucial domain for DNA cleavage, which raised questions about how it manages to interfere with host defenses.* -
  • Research uncovered that Cas1, typically involved in adaptation, also plays a key role in DNA targeting during the interference stage by linking other proteins to the DNA, providing new insights into phage CRISPR mechanisms.*
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In this study, potential inhibitors of biofilm were screened from using semiflexible molecular docking. A total of 88 metabolites from and 14 biofilm-related proteins of were analyzed, and 25 compounds were initially screened out. Subsequently, 9 compounds with higher availability were subjected to experimental validation, confirming that 6 of them effectively inhibit the biofilm formation.

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This study presents a comprehensive strategy for the selection and optimization of solvent systems in countercurrent chromatography (CCC) for the effective separation of compounds. With a focus on traditional organic solvent systems, the research introduces a "sweet space" strategy that merges intuitive understanding with mathematical accuracy, addressing the significant challenges in solvent system selection, a critical bottleneck in the widespread application of CCC. By employing a combination of volume ratios and graphical representations, including both regular and trirectangular tetrahedron models, the proposed approach facilitates a more inclusive and user-friendly strategy for solvent system selection.

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The efficiency and longevity of metal-halide perovskite solar cells are typically dictated by nonradiative defect-mediated charge recombination. In this work, we demonstrate a vapor-based amino-silane passivation that reduces photovoltage deficits to around 100 millivolts (>90% of the thermodynamic limit) in perovskite solar cells of bandgaps between 1.6 and 1.

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Nanofiltration (NF) membranes play a pivotal role in water treatment; however, the persistent challenge of membrane fouling hampers their stable application. This study introduces a novel approach to address this issue through the creation of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based conductive membrane, achieved by synergistically coupling interfacial polymerization (IP) with in situ self-polymerization of EDOT. During the IP reaction, the concurrent generation of HCl triggers the protonation of EDOT, activating its self-polymerization into PEDOT.

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Cyclic-oligonucleotide-based anti-phage signaling system (CBASS) is a common immune system that uses cyclic oligonucleotide signals to limit phage replication. In turn, phages encode anti-CBASS (Acb) proteins such as Acb2, which can sequester some cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) and limit downstream effector activation. Here, we identified that Acb2 sequesters many CDNs produced by CBASS systems and inhibits stimulator of interferon genes (STING) activity in human cells.

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Article Synopsis
  • Prokaryotic organisms use immune systems involving TIR and cGAS enzymes to produce signaling molecules that help combat phage infections.
  • Researchers discovered that the Thoeris anti-defense proteins Tad1 and Tad2 can neutralize this immune response by sequestering cyclic oligonucleotides produced by the immune system.
  • Tad1 and Tad2 operate independently but effectively inhibit these anti-phage systems by binding to various cyclic nucleotides and glycocyclic ADPR molecules, showcasing their capabilities as dual-function inhibitors against bacterial defenses.
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Chlorogenic acid is a secondary metabolite produced by many traditional Chinese medicines. Its physiological activities (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities, etc.) have been well described.

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Due to the structural similarity and large difference in concentration, the separation of trans- and cis-crocetin has been challenging, and the cis-crocetin is usually neglected. In this work, a countercurrent chromatography method was developed for the quick separation of trans-crocetin and cis-crocetin from the hydrolytic extract of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. High purity of trans-crocetin (>95%) and cis-crocetin (>91%) were prepared simultaneously for the first time through a novel biphasic system based on deep eutectic solvents, n-heptane/n-butyl alcohol/13 mmol/L Na CO in water/acetamide-benzyltrimethylammonium chloride (4:1, mol/mol) (4:7:9:1, v/v).

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The utilization of deep eutectic solvent as an alternative and environmentally friendly option has gained significant attention. This study first proposed a series of benzylammonium chloride based-deep eutectic systems for the extraction of bioactive compounds from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. Through the implementation of response surface methodology, the optimal solvent was determined to be dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride-levulinic acid (1:3, mol/mol) with 35% (v/v) water, specifically tailored to extract geniposide, genipin-1-β-d-gentiobioside, crocin-1, and crocin-2 from gardenia fruits with the ratio of solid to liquid of 1:20 at 86°C for 16 min.

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Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely used in different types of consumer and industrial applications such as surfactants, household cleaning products, textiles, carpets, cosmetics, firefighting foams, and food packaging because of their good stability and special physicochemical properties of hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, high temperature resistance, etc. Meanwhile, PFASs are considered an emerging organic pollutant due to their persistence and potential toxicity to human health. PFASs occur in edible oil, an important component of the global diet, mainly in three ways: raw material contamination, process contamination, and migration from oil contact materials.

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Article Synopsis
  • CBASS is an anti-phage immune system that uses cyclic oligonucleotides to limit viral replication, while phages have developed anti-CBASS proteins, like Acb2, to counteract this immune response.
  • Acb2 acts as a "sponge," binding to both cyclic dinucleotides and cyclic trinucleotides, effectively blocking the immune activity in human cells by inhibiting cGAMP-mediated STING signaling.
  • Structural analysis of Acb2 reveals it has distinct binding pockets that allow it to simultaneously sequester multiple types of cyclic signaling molecules, making it a powerful inhibitor of the CBASS immune defense system.
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Three kinds of sanshools were separated from Zanthoxylum bungeanum oleoresin by high-speed countercurrent chromatography. Sanshools are a series of amide compounds extracted from the Zanthoxylum bungeanum. Due to similar structures, polarities, and dissociation constants, it was challenging to select an appropriate solvent system for their complete separation by countercurrent chromatography.

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Surface patterning is a promising strategy to overcome the trade-off effect of separation membranes. Herein, a bottom-up patterning strategy of locking micron-sized carbon nanotube cages (CNCs) onto a nanofibrous substrate is developed. The strongly enhanced capillary force triggered by the abundant narrow channels in CNCs endows the precisely patterned substrate with excellent wettability and antigravity water transport.

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Methyl orange dye (MO) is one of the azo dyes, which is not only difficult to degrade but also hazardous to human health, therefore, it is necessary to develop an efficient photocatalyst to degrade MO. In this paper, a facile and low-cost elemental doping method was used for the surface modification of TiC MXene, i.e.

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Paeoniflorin is a glycoside compound found in Pall that is used in traditional herbal medicine and shows various protective effects on the cardio-cerebral vascular system. It has been reported that the pharmacological effects of paeoniflorin might be generated by its metabolites. However, the bioavailability of paeoniflorin by oral administration is low, which greatly limits its clinical application.

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A fundamental strategy of eukaryotic antiviral immunity involves the cGAS enzyme, which synthesizes 2',3'-cGAMP and activates the effector STING. Diverse bacteria contain cGAS-like enzymes that produce cyclic oligonucleotides and induce anti-phage activity, known as CBASS. However, this activity has only been demonstrated through heterologous expression.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The study reveals that PDV1 not only recruits the division protein ARC5 but also stabilizes PARC6, and the interaction between PDV1 and PARC6 is crucial for proper chloroplast division.
  • * Light exposure reduces a disulfide bond in PARC6, allowing it to interact with PDV1; additionally, increased magnesium levels from light also aid in PARC6 dimerization, further regulating chloroplast division.
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is a traditional Chinese plant with high ornamental and application values due to its very early blooming and unique fragrance. Long-term breeding and cultivation have resulted in a variety of blossoms and have made their exploitation more possible. Existing studies on the volatile metabolome and aroma of blossoms are limited.

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Inducing the surface enrichment of active noble metal can not only help to stabilize the catalyst but also modify the catalytic performance of the catalyst through electronic and geometric effects. Herein, we report the surface enrichment of Ir on IrRu alloy during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The surface enrichment of Ir was probed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and electrochemical Cu stripping, leading to complementary characterizations of the dynamic reconstruction of the IrRu alloy during OER.

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The application of lithium-sulfur batteries are seriously hindered by their poor cycle stability and low sulfur utilization due to their inevitable polysulfide shuttle effect and slow reaction kinetics. Here, MoC nanorods that were surface-decorated with metallic-organic framework-derived nitrogen-doped carbon and ultrasmall cobalt nanoparticles (NC-Co@MoC) were used as the materials for lithium-sulfur battery cathodes. The prepared NC-Co@MoC@S composites had the specific capacity of 1073 mAh·g (0.

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Smart voltage-gated nanofiltration membranes have enormous potential for on-demand and precise separation of similar molecules, which is an essential element of sustainable water purification and resource recovery. However, the existing voltage-gated membranes are hampered by limited selectivity, stability, and scalability due to electroactive monomer dimerization. Here, for the first time, the host-guest recognition properties of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) are used to protect the viologen derivatives and promote their assembly into the membrane by interfacial polymerization.

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Objective: To elucidate the therapeutic efficacy of needle-warming moxibustion (NWM) combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of patients with ischemic stroke and its effect on neurological function.

Methods: One hundred patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Xuzhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital of Lianyungang from January 2019 to July 2021 were enrolled. Among them, 45 patients treated with NWM were set as the control group, and the rest 55 patients treated by NWM combined with HBOT were included in the research group.

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