Publications by authors named "Xuemei Wei"
The homeotic transformation of stamens into pistil-like structures (pistillody) causes cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). This phenomenon is widely present in plants, and might be induced by intracellular communication (mitochondrial retrograde signaling), but its systemic regulating mechanism is still unclear. In this study, morphological observation showed that the stamens transformed into pistil-like structures, leading to flat and dehiscent pistils, and fruit set decrease in sua-CMS (MS K326, somatic fusion between Nicotiana.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) influenced by multiple factors. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from the root and bark of Franch., has shown promise in managing UC, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer seriously threatens human life and health, and the structure and function of genes within cancer cells have changed relative to normal cells. Essentially, cancer is a polygenic disorder, and the core of its occurrence and development is caused by polygenic synergy. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) act as regulators to modulate gene expression levels, and they provide theoretical basis and new technology for the diagnosis and preventive treatment of cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * Endolysin LysSYL, derived from phage SYL, has potential as an antibacterial agent, but its effectiveness is limited by instability and low availability in acidic environments; however, a self-assembling peptide, L5, can form hydrogels that enhance the bioavailability of LysSYL.
- * The combination of L5 and LysSYL into hydrogels (L5@LysSYL) not only effectively eliminates MRSA by disrupting bacterial membranes but also promotes wound healing in mice
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how resilience among frontline nurses in China changes over time during public health emergencies, focusing on internal and external factors that influence these changes.
- It surveyed 258 nurses at three points (2020 and 2022) using various resilience and coping assessment tools, finding three distinct resilience categories: fragile, general, and high resilience.
- Results indicate that support from hospital management and personal factors like emotional regulation are essential for maintaining resilience, highlighting the need for early interventions and ongoing support to aid nurses' mental health.
Article Synopsis
- * A specific catalyst, 5.0Pd/CsHPMo with 5 nm Pd nanoparticles, exhibited the strongest interactions and catalytic efficiency due to significant "strong metal-support interaction" (SMSI).
- * Techniques like DRIFTS and CH-TPD demonstrated that the ability to activate CO and CH gases varies considerably with different Pd particle sizes, offering insights for designing better carbonylation catalysts.
Article Synopsis
- RNA-sequencing technology aids in understanding miRNA regulation in diseases like cancer, but existing methods often struggle with sample-specific inference due to sample heterogeneity.
- A new framework called Scan has been developed, integrating 27 network inference methods to effectively analyze tissue and cell-specific miRNA regulation from both bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing data.
- Scan enhances prediction accuracy by using prior miRNA target information and allows the construction of correlation networks, ultimately improving our understanding of miRNA regulation on an individual sample level.
Modelling cell type-specific lncRNA regulatory network in autism with Cycle.
BMC Bioinformatics
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex condition with high genetic diversity, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in its neurological mechanisms, which current methods often fail to analyze at the cell type level.
- The study introduces a new approach called Cycle, which creates a detailed map of lncRNA regulation specifically for different ASD cell types, revealing that each has unique regulatory patterns.
- Findings indicate that more than one-third of the lncRNA networks are scale-free and small-world, with connections between similar ASD cell types being stronger, positioning Cycle as a valuable tool for exploring the diverse lncRNA regulation in ASD.
Article Synopsis
- - The study explores the impact of resilience and posttraumatic growth (PTG) on frontline nurses dealing with global disasters, aiming to understand how these factors affect their mental health over time.
- - Results indicate that PTG can enhance resilience but not vice versa, suggesting a one-way influence where growth after trauma helps build resilience in nurses.
- - The findings highlight the importance of PTG in supporting nurses, paving the way for better psychological interventions and programs aimed at boosting resilience during and after crises.
Article Synopsis
- MicroRNA sponges play a significant role in regulating both normal and disease-related biological processes, often working in groups or clusters.
- The text introduces a protocol using the R package miRSM 2.0 for identifying and analyzing these miRNA sponge modules in various data sets.
- This computational tool aims to enhance our understanding of how miRNA sponges are involved in diseases, with further details provided in the mentioned reference to Zhang et al.
Article Synopsis
- - This study aimed to clarify the relationship between circulating micronutrient levels and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by using two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis, focusing on 14 specific micronutrients.
- - Researchers utilized 56 SNPs as instrumental variables to analyze how micronutrient levels might influence SLE risk, employing various statistical methods for robustness, including the MR Steiger test and logistic regression analyses.
- - The findings indicated that lower levels of calcium and iron were correlated with a reduced risk of SLE, as confirmed by both the Mendelian randomization approach and retrospective analysis of participants from the NHANES III database.
Article Synopsis
- Advanced in vitro diagnostic technologies are essential for early disease detection and monitoring, and this study presents a new multiplex protein biosensing approach using self-assembling multi-material heterochains for improved sensitivity and accuracy compared to traditional methods like ELISA.
- The engineered biosensor utilizes semiconductor nanoparticles and polymer chains to generate strong optical signals that can effectively detect multiple protein biomarkers in a single test, achieving an ultra-low detection limit of 1 pg/mL.
- By incorporating a neural network algorithm, this biosensing technology enables rapid and high-throughput quantification of protein levels from various clinical samples, demonstrating its potential for next-generation diagnostic applications in healthcare.
Article Synopsis
- Immune cells in the lungs play a role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but how different immune cell types contribute to this condition is still not well understood.
- A study using single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that CD8 T cells are more prevalent in IPF patients compared to those with non-fibrotic lungs, showing unique metabolic characteristics and signaling pathways related to fibrosis.
- The research suggests that CD8 T cells significantly impact the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which could help in creating targeted therapies for the condition.
Article Synopsis
- * This research examined how seven types of human intestinal fungi transform CDCA, discovering that hydroxylation and dehydrogenation are the main metabolic processes involved.
- * The study identified eight new compounds resulting from the interaction with one specific fungus, Rhizopus microspores, some of which inhibit FXR activity, suggesting they could affect metabolism in ways that differ from CDCA.
Article Synopsis
- This study developed metal-organic framework (MOF) composites integrated with nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) for effective removal of chromium(VI) from wastewater.
- Four types of MOF/NZVI composites were created: ZIF67/NZVI, MOF74/NZVI, MIL101(Fe)/NZVI, and CuBTC/NZVI, showcasing improved efficiency in capturing Cr(VI) compared to NZVI alone.
- The optimal Cr(VI) capture occurred at a pH of around 4.0, with the mechanism involving adsorption, reduction, and precipitation, indicating these composites could play a significant role in wastewater treatment.
Article Synopsis
- - A new method has been created to assemble complex naphthalenes using -alkynyl benzyl alcohols, facilitated by a small amount of TfO catalyst.
- - This process is notable for being free of transition metals and other bases/additives, making it simpler and cleaner.
- - The method offers a novel way to utilize -alkynyl benzyl alcohols as building blocks (C6 synthons) for producing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Article Synopsis
- * The phage-derived endolysin, LysSYL, was found to effectively kill MRSA and other strains, rapidly lysing bacteria and demonstrating strong activity against both single and mixed bacterial biofilms.
- * LysSYL also performed well in animal models, reducing bacterial loads significantly and protecting mice from lethal S. aureus infections, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent in treating serious staphylococcal infections.
Article Synopsis
- * This study investigated 13 PPOs in tobacco plants, revealing that certain members (NtPPO9 and NtPPO10) are highly expressed in reproductive tissues and are activated during self-pollination.
- * Findings suggest that NtPPOs contribute to pollen tube growth and the accumulation of certain compounds after pollination, providing new insights into their roles in plant reproduction.
Changes in the airway microbiome in patients with bronchiectasis.
Medicine (Baltimore)
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated microbial changes in the lower respiratory tract of patients experiencing acute exacerbations of bronchiectasis using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to enhance clinical treatment and outcomes.
- It included 54 patients with acute exacerbations and 46 stable patients, revealing significant differences in viral and fungal infections, as well as bacterial pathogens, between the two groups.
- Notably, common findings included an increase in fungal species like Candida albicans and prominent bacterial species such as Acinetobacter baumannii in patients with acute exacerbations, indicating a need for tailored treatment strategies based on mNGS results.
Article Synopsis
- - The study evaluated the effects of Zishen Yutai Pill (ZYP) on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing fresh embryo transfer in a randomized clinical trial involving 2,265 participants across 19 IVF centers.
- - Results indicated that ZYP significantly improved clinical pregnancy rates, particularly in subgroups of older women (≥ 35 years) and overweight/obese patients (BMI > 24), showing enhanced rates of implantation and biochemical pregnancies.
- - The findings suggest that ZYP may provide clinical benefits for women in advanced maternal age and those who are overweight or obese during assisted reproductive technology treatments.
Article Synopsis
- * The study explores the use of three sugar additives (d-glucose, l-arabinose, and d-fructose) to improve the crystal structure of myo-inositol, leading to better food properties.
- * Results showed that d-glucose and l-arabinose altered myo-inositol crystals into a diamond shape, enhancing texture and mouthfeel in products like infant formulas and increasing dissolution rates in beverages, highlighting industrial potential.
Article Synopsis
- * The SCOM framework identifies and analyzes the competition among ncRNAs, highlighting that malignant tumors commonly share key ncRNAs rather than specific interactions, including their roles in drug resistance and immune regulation.
- * SCOM and its accompanying web-based database, SCOMdb, serve as valuable tools for researchers to explore ncRNA regulation and identify potential biomarkers for cancer diagnostics and prognostics.
Article Synopsis
- Phenolics are crucial for plant adaptation and species diversity, and their oxidation is carried out by phenoloxidases (COs and LACs), whose origins and roles in plant development are not well understood.
- The study conducted phylogenetic analyses and examined structural elements to trace the evolution and distribution of COs and LACs, finding that COs originated from horizontal gene transfer and expanded significantly in bryophytes.
- LACs evolved from ascorbate oxidases in a specific algae group and played a significant role in vascular plants, suggesting that COs and LACs coevolved with phenolic metabolism, contributing to plant evolution and adaptation during early land colonization.
Article Synopsis
- A quick response of antiviral genes is essential for fighting off viruses, which depends on activated transcription factors and open chromatin for effective gene transcription.
- XAF1 was identified as a key player that helps regulate chromatin accessibility during viral infections by de-repressing chromatin and facilitating the induction of antiviral genes.
- Mice lacking XAF1 showed vulnerability to RNA viruses, highlighting its critical role in enhancing antiviral immunity through chromatin remodeling.