In Vitro & In Vivo Studies on Identifying and Designing Temporin-1CEh from the Skin Secretion of as the Optimised Antibacterial Prototype Drug.

Amphibian skin secretion is an ideal source of antimicrobial peptides that are difficult to induce drug resistance to due to their membrane-targeting mechanism as a new treatment scheme. In this study, a natural antimicrobial peptide Temporin-1CEh was identified by molecular cloning and mass spectrometry from the skin secretions of the Chinese forest frog (). Through the study of the structure and biological activity, it was found that Temporin-1CEh was a helical peptide from the Temporin family, and possessed good anti-Gram-positive bacteria activity through the mechanism of membrane destruction.

Aggregation and Its Influence on the Bioactivities of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide, Temporin-PF, and Its Analogues.

Temporin is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) family discovered in the skin secretion of ranid frog that has become a promising alternative for conventional antibiotic therapy. Herein, a novel temporin peptide, Temporin-PF (TPF), was successfully identified from . It exhibited potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but no effect on Gram-negative bacteria.

Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity and Improved Stability of a D-Amino Acid Enantiomer of DMPC-10A, the Designed Derivative of Dermaseptin Truncates.

DMPC-10A (ALWKKLLKK-Cha-NH) is a 10-mer peptide derivative from the N-terminal domain of Dermaseptin-PC which has shown broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity as well as a considerable hemolytic effect. In order to reduce hemolytic activity and improve stability to endogenous enzymes, a D-amino acid enantiomer (DMPC-10B) was designed by substituting all L-Lys and L-Leu with their respective D-form amino acid residues, while the Ala and Trp remained unchanged. The D-amino acid enantiomer exhibited similar antimicrobial potency to the parent peptide but exerted lower cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity.

A novel membrane-disruptive antimicrobial peptide from frog skin secretion against cystic fibrosis isolates and evaluation of anti-MRSA effect using Galleria mellonella model.

Antimicrobial peptides from amphibian skin secretion are a promising source for the development of alternative antibiotics against the urgent antibiotic resistance. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has been found to persist in both early and late disease course of cystic fibrosis (CF).

[Dynamics of nutrient concentration and microbial community composition during fine root decomposition in subtropical Mytilaria laosensis and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations.].

We conducted a 12-month fine root decomposition experiment under 19-year-old Mytilaria laosensis and Cunninghamia lanceolate plantations to explore the dynamics of nutrient concentration and microbial community composition. The aim of this study was to provide insights into nutrient cycling under plantations with different tree species. Our results showed that the initial concentrations of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were significantly higher in the fine root of M.

[Effects of litter and root exclusion on soil microbial community composition and function of four plantations in subtropical sandy coastal plain area, China].

We conducted detritus input and removal treatment (DIRT) to examine the effects of shifting above- and belowground carbon (C) inputs on soil microbial biomass, community composition and function in subtropical Pinus elliottii, Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis, Acacia aulacocarpa and Casuarina equisetifolia coastal sandy plain forests, and the treatments included: root trenching, litter removal and control. Up to September 2015, one year after the experiment began, we collected the 0-10 cm soil samples from each plot. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis was used to characterize the microbial community composition, and micro-hole enzymatic detection technology was utilized to determine the activity of six kinds of soil enzymes.

[Variations of water use efficiency and its relationship with leaf nutrients of different altitudes of Wuyi Mountains, China].

We determined the water use efficiency and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of plants at different altitudes (600, 900, 1300, 1500, 1800, 2000, 2100 m) in Wuyi Mountains to understand the relationship of water use efficiency with foliar nutrients. The results showed that plant water use efficiency increased with altitude, and the leaf δO of tree showed no significant variance with altitude. On the whole, leaf nitrogen concentration showed no obvious trend, while leaf phosphorus concentration at high altitude was significantly higher than that at low altitude.

[Seasonal dynamics of soil mineral nitrogen pools and nitrogen mineralization rate in different forests in subtropical China].

We conducted an in situ incubation experiment to determine soil mineral N (NH-N and NO-N) concentrations and soil net N mineralization rates (net ammonification rate and net nitrification rate) using close-top PVC tubes in three adjacent forests (natural forest, Castanopsis kawakamii and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation) from September 2014 to August 2015 in subtropical China, investigating the effects of forest type and season on soil inorganic N concentrations and soil net N mineralization rates. Results showed that soil NO-N was the dominant form in mi-neral N pool in all three forests, and the proportion of NO-N to soil inorganic N content ranged from 55.1% to 87.

[Effects of forest types on soil dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in surface and deep la-yers in subtropical region, China.].

Forest types have significant effects on the availability and dynamics of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). By now the impacts of forest types on soil DOC and DON were mainly focused on surface soil (0-10 cm). Based on the comparisons between natural forest, Phyllostachys pubescens, Castanopsis kawakamii and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations, we investigated the effects of forest types on soil DOC and DON pools in top (0-10 cm) and deep soils (40-60 cm).

Self-assembly of graphenelike ZnO superstructured nanosheets and their application in hybrid photoconductors.

Photoconductors require high charge-carrier mobilities, sensitivity over a wide range of light levels, and good stability. Combining an organic semiconductor with environmentally benign inorganic nanoparticles is a rational means to develop photoconductors with such properties. However, an inhomogeneous distribution of nanoparticles in the active layer restricts both charge-carrier mobility and charge collection at an electrode.

Tuning the supramolecular chirality of polyaniline by methyl substitution.

A game of Twister: The induced helicity of polyaniline and its supramolecular structures could be tuned by the methyl substitution of one of the monomers. By copolymerization of aniline with m-toluidine, the helicity of copolymer (PMANI) nanofibers was totally inverted compared to that of polyaniline (PANI), while copolymer nanofibers with o-toluidine (POANI) had the same helicity as that of polyaniline (see picture).

CoCl2-induced expression of p300 promotes neuronal-like PC12 cell damage.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is an important transcription activator involved in cell responses to hypoxic stress. Previous studies demonstrated that HIF-1 exerts both pro- and anti-survival effects under hypoxia. The mechanisms underlying these contrary effects of HIF-1 remain unclear.

Alkynylation of alpha-halocarbonyl compounds--a stille-type cross-coupling for the formation of C(sp)-C(sp3) bonds under neutral conditions.

A direct alkynylation of readily available alpha-halo esters and amides with high yields is described herein; a distinct switch from diyne formation to alkynylation products was attained under neutral conditions.