Rhoptry Protein 7 (ROP7) Interacts with NLRP3 and Promotes Inflammasome Hyperactivation in THP-1-Derived Macrophages.

is a common opportunistic protozoan pathogen that can parasitize the karyocytes of humans and virtually all other warm-blooded animals. In the host's innate immune response to infection, inflammasomes can mediate the maturation of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18, which further enhances the immune response. However, how intercellular parasites specifically provoke inflammasome activation remains unclear.

A QoT prediction technique based on machine learning and NLSE for QoS and new lightpaths in optical communication networks.

In this paper, we proposed a quality of transmission (QoT) prediction technique for the quality of service (QoS) link setup based on machine learning classifiers, with synthetic data generated using the transmission equations instead of the Gaussian noise (GN) model. The proposed technique uses some link and signal characteristics as input features. The bit error rate (BER) of the signals was compared with the forward error correction threshold BER, and the comparison results were employed as labels.

Generation of flow and droplets with an ultra-long-range linear concentration gradient.

In the chemical and biological fields, the creation of concentration gradient microenvironments is an important approach for many applications, such as crystal growth and drug screening. Although many concentration gradient generators have been demonstrated, current generators can hardly produce ultra-long linear concentration gradients. In this paper, we propose a concentration-gradient flow/droplet generator which consists of a microfluidic flow switch, a cavity array for stage-by-stage concentration dilution, and an optional T-junction for droplet formation.

High Co-Infection Rate of and Mycoplasma Girerdii in Gansu Province, China.

() is a flagellated protist parasite that infects the human urogenital tract. The symbiotic relationship between and has been reported. Recent studies have identified a new strain, Mycoplasma girerdii ( M.

High-Throughput Cell Trapping in the Dentate Spiral Microfluidic Channel.

Cell trapping is a very useful technique in a variety of cell-based assays and cellular research fields. It requires a high-throughput, high-efficiency operation to isolate cells of interest and immobilize the captured cells at specific positions. In this study, a dentate spiral microfluidic structure is proposed for cell trapping.

An Oxygen-Concentration-Controllable Multiorgan Microfluidic Platform for Studying Hypoxia-Induced Lung Cancer-Liver Metastasis and Screening Drugs.

Various cancer metastasis models based on organ-on-a-chip platforms have been established to study molecular mechanisms and screen drugs. However, current platforms can neither reveal hypoxia-induced cancer metastasis mechanisms nor allow drug screening under a hypoxia environment on a multiorgan level. We have developed a three-dimensional-culture multiorgan microfluidic (3D-CMOM) platform in which the dissolved oxygen concentration can be precisely controlled.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals that the Switching of the Transcriptional Profiles of Cysteine-Related Genes Alters the Virulence of Entamoeba histolytica.

is an intestinal protozoan that causes human amoebic colitis and extraintestinal abscesses. Virulence variation is observed in the pathogenicity of trophozoites, but the detailed mechanism remains unclear. Here, a single trophozoite was cultured alone, and the progeny of the trophozoites of each generation were subjected to single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to study the transcriptional profiles of trophozoites.

EGFR inhibitors regulate Ca concentration and apoptosis after PM exposure based on a lung-mimic microfluidic system.

Air pollution has side effects on human health. Epidemiology studies indicate a positive association between ambient fine particle (PM, or particles less than 2.5 μm in diameter) concentration and lung cancer.

A flux-adaptable pump-free microfluidics-based self-contained platform for multiplex cancer biomarker detection.

Microfluidics drives technological advancement in point-of-care (POC) bioanalytical diagnostics towards portability, fast response and low cost. In most microfluidic bioanalytical applications, flowing antigen/antibody reacts with immobilized antibody/antigen at a constant flux; it is difficult to reach a compromise to simultaneously realize sufficient time for the antigen-antibody interaction and short time for the entire assay. Here, we present a pump-free microfluidic chip, in which flow is self-initialized by capillary pumping and continued by imbibition of a filter paper.

Evaluation on Elongation Factor 1 Alpha of Interaction with the Intermediate Subunit of the Gal/GalNAc Lectin and Actin in Phagocytosis.

is the causative agent of amoebiasis. This disease results in 40,000 to 100,000 deaths annually. The pathogenic molecules involved in the invasion of trophozoites had been constantly being clarified.

Molecular identification of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome viruses from tick and bitten patient in Southeast China.

Background: Severe fever and thrombocytopenia bunyavirus (SFTSV) infection causes severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome with high mortality. It is extremely rare that a transmitting tick can be directly captured in bite wounds, and that SFTSV can be isolated from both the captured tick and patient's serum to establish a solid pathogen diagnosis.

Case Presentation: We report a case infected with severe fever and thrombocytopenia bunyavirus.

Development and evaluation of a rapid detection assay for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus based on reverse-transcription recombinase polymerase amplification.

Rapid detection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is crucial for its control and surveillance. In this study, a rapid isothermal real-time reverse-transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay was developed for the detection of SFTSV. The detection limit at 95% probability was 241 copies per reaction.

Colour compound lenses for a portable fluorescence microscope.

In this article, we demonstrated a handheld smartphone fluorescence microscope (HSFM) that integrates dual-functional polymer lenses with a smartphone. The HSFM consists of a smartphone, a field-portable illumination source, and a dual-functional polymer lens that performs both optical imaging and filtering. Therefore, compared with the existing smartphone fluorescence microscope, the HSFM does not need any additional optical filters.

Characterizing nitric oxide emissions from two typical alpine ecosystems.

A portion of alpine meadows has been and will continue to be cultivated due to the concurrent increasing demands for animal- and crop-oriented foods and global warming. However, it remains unclear how these long-term changes in land use will affect nitric oxide (NO) emission. At a field site with a calcareous soil on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the authors measured the year-round NO fluxes and related variables in a typically winter-grazed natural alpine meadow (NAM) and its adjacent forage oat field (FOF).

Correlation of genetic diversity between hosts and parasites in Entamoeba nuttalli isolates from Tibetan and rhesus macaques in China.

Entamoeba nuttalli infection is prevalent in captive and wild macaques. Recent studies have suggested that genotypes of E. nuttalli isolates are correlated with the geographical distribution of host macaques.

Ultrafast cell edge detection by line-scan time-stretch microscopy.

Ultrafast time-stretch imaging technique recently attracts an increasing interest for applications in cell classification due to high throughput and high sensitivity. A novel imaging modality of time-stretch imaging technique for edge detection is proposed. Edge detection based on the directional derivative is realized using differential detection.

Screening for biomarkers reflecting the progression of Babesia microti infection.

Background: Babesiosis is caused by the invasion of erythrocytes by parasites of the Babesia spp. Babesia microti is one of the primary causative agents of human babesiosis. To better understand the status of the disease, discovering key biomarkers of the different infection stages is crucial.

Characteristics of inflammatory reactions during development of liver abscess in hamsters inoculated with Entamoeba nuttalli.

Background: Entamoeba nuttalli is an intestinal protozoan with pathogenic potential that can cause amebic liver abscess. It is highly prevalent in wild and captive macaques. Recently, cysts were detected in a caretaker of nonhuman primates in a zoo, indicating that E.

Evaluation of a Major Surface Antigen of Merozoites as a Vaccine Candidate against Babesia Infection.

species are tick-borne intraerythrocytic protozoa that cause babesiosis in humans worldwide. No vaccine has yet proven effective against infection. Surface antigens of merozoites are involved in the invasion of erythrocytes by .

Apoptosis of Acanthamoeba castellanii Trophozoites Induced by Oleic Acid.

Acanthamoeba spp. can be parasitic in certain situations and are responsible for serious human infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, and cutaneous acanthamoebiasis. We analyzed the fatty acid composition of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and tested the inhibitory activity of the main fatty acids, oleic acid and arachidonic acid, in vitro.

Unique Trichomonas vaginalis gene sequences identified in multinational regions of Northwest China.

Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) is a flagellated protozoan parasite that infects humans worldwide. This study determined the sequence of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene of T.

Identification of Human UMP/CMP Kinase 1 as Doxorubicin Binding Target Using Protein Microarray.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a leading anthracycline drug with exceptional efficacy; however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of its side effects, which include heart muscle damage, noncancerous cell death, and drug resistance. A total of 17,950 human proteins expressed in HEK293 cells were screened and yielded 14 hits. Competitive and binding experiments further verified the binding of DOX to UMP/CMP kinase 1 (CMPK1), and microscale thermophoresis showed that DOX binds to CMPK1 with a K of 1216 nM.

A case of human infection with a novel Babesia species in China.

Background: Babesiosis is an uncommon but emerging tick-borne disease caused by the genus Babesia. In this case study, we report a case of human infection with a novel Babesia sp. in China.

Evaluation of the C-Terminal Fragment of Entamoeba histolytica Gal/GalNAc Lectin Intermediate Subunit as a Vaccine Candidate against Amebic Liver Abscess.

Background: Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal protozoan parasite that causes amoebiasis, including amebic dysentery and liver abscesses. E. histolytica invades host tissues by adhering onto cells and phagocytosing them depending on the adaptation and expression of pathogenic factors, including Gal/GalNAc lectin.

Phylogeographic analysis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus from Zhoushan Islands, China: implication for transmission across the ocean.

From June 2011 to August 2014, 21 cases of infection by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus (SFTSV) were confirmed in Zhoushan Islands in the Eastern coast of China. To identify the source of SFTSV in Zhoushan Islands, the whole SFTSV genomes were amplified and sequenced from 17 of 21 patients. The L, M, and S genomic segments of these SFTSV strains were phylogenetically analyzed together with those of 188 SFTSV strains available from GenBank.