Arginine vs tryptophan-based β-turn in the β-hairpin antimicrobial peptides: Superior antibacterial properties of the arginine-containing β-turn sequences.

The antimicrobial activity and toxicity of β-hairpin antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) primarily depend on their intramolecular β-sheet structure, which is crucially affected by the β-turn sequence. To determine whether the tryptophan or arginine motifs in the β-turn of β-hairpin AMPs exhibit greater therapeutic efficacy, a library of β-hairpin AMPs was designed based on the simplified template: (WK)X(KW)-NH (X = Trp or Arg; n = 1, 2, 3; m = 1, 2, 3). The results indicate that AMPs containing arginine motifs within the β-turn sequence exhibit superior antibacterial activity and enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

High therapeutic index α-helical antimicrobial peptides with repetitive subunit structures against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

De novo design of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offers a promising strategy to overcome the limitations of natural AMPs through rational design, providing potential solutions to address the growing risk of traditional antibiotic resistance. In this study, a series of new AMPs are generated using the α-helical template (XXFY) and its β-sheet counterpart (KFKY) (X = Lys, Dab, Orn, or Arg; F = Phe; Y = Leu, Ile, Phe, or Trp; K = Lys; n = 2, 3, 4, or 5), enabling a systematic investigation of their structure-activity relationships (SAR). The optimal peptide 27, designated as (OOFI) (O = Orn, I = Ile), demonstrates potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against both standard and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, along with low hemolytic toxicity.

Rapid identification of high-viscosity rice soup quality using neutral desorption extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

High-viscosity rice soup is not only a popular food item but also a traditional Chinese medicinal remedy. Herein, we developed a high-throughput characterization platform for high-viscosity rice soup analysis using Neutral Desorption Extractive Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ND-EESI-MS) with untargeted metabolomics. The chemical fingerprint of high-viscosity rice soup was directly analyzed by ND-EESI-MS, with exogenous (, heavy metals and pesticides) and endogenous pollutants detected qualitative and quantitative tandem mass spectrometry.

Thrombin-Anchored Bacterial Cellulose Dressing for Advanced Burn Wound Care.

In burn wound surgery, commercially available dressings often lack the necessary hemostatic properties required to effectively manage hemorrhage during critical procedures, such as tangential excision of eschar. To address this limitation, a thrombin-anchored bacterial cellulose (T-BC) dressing is developed that combines the biocompatibility of bacterial cellulose (BC) with the hemostatic efficacy of a recombinant thrombin-cellulose binding domain (CBD) fusion protein. The CBD facilitates stable thrombin anchoring within the BC matrix, enhancing hemostasis, and promoting wound healing.

One-Step Strategy to Synthesize Sulfonic Acid-Functionalized Silica Chromatographic Stationary Phases for Separation of Rare-Earth Elements.

Separation and analysis of rare-earth elements (REEs) with impurities are challenging processes. Ion-exchange chromatography has emerged as a valuable technology for rare-earth separation, and developing a simple and efficient preparation method for stationary ion-exchange chromatography remains a hot topic. In this study, a sulfonic acid-modified silica stationary phase was synthesized through a facile one-step strategy, where 1,3-propanesultone reacted with the silanol group.

Elevated nitric oxide during colitis restrains GM-CSF production in ILC3 cells via suppressing an AhR-Cyp4f13-NF-κB axis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) presents a significant clinical challenge, yet the way bioactive gases are implicated remains elusive. We detect elevated colonic Nos2 levels in both IBD patients and mice undergoing diverse colitis. Additionally, Nos2 deficiency significantly aggravates anti-CD40-induced colitis, along with an increase in GM-CSF production by ILC3s.

Leucine/Isoleucine Substitution Scanning of Tryptophan Residues to Reduce the Toxicity of β-Hairpin Peptide N2W2.

The unique bactericidal mechanism of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) significantly reduces the likelihood of pathogenic bacteria developing resistance to them. However, AMPs exhibiting high antimicrobial activity are often associated with significant toxicity. In our prior studies, the peptide N2W2 (WKWKWWKWKW-NH) exhibited potent antimicrobial activity but also high toxicity.

Development of New Antimicrobial Peptides by Integrating Structural Motifs from Microbial-Derived Cyclic Lipopeptides.

Microbial-derived cyclic-lipid antimicrobial peptides (CLAMPs) exhibit significant toxicity, which hinders their wide application in clinical practice. However, such AMPs generally possess high antimicrobial activity and high metabolic stability. The superiority of their molecular structures merits summarization and can be utilized in the design of novel AMPs.

RORγt is crucial for gut homeostasis by regulating the expression of HB-EGF rather than IL-22 in activated ILC3s.

RORγt inhibition shows potential for treating T helper 17 (Th17) cell-related inflammatory disorders. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive understanding of its influence on the immune system. RORγt also serves as the master regulator of type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s).

Microenvironment-responsive living hydrogel containing engineered probiotic for treatment of massive bone defects.

Self-activating and microenvironment-responsive biomaterials for tissue regeneration would address the escalating need for bone grafting, but remain challenging. The emergence of microbial living therapeutics offers vast potential in regenerative medicine, as genetically engineered probiotics possess efficient stimuli-responsiveness and tunable biological functions. Here, using elevated endogenous nitric oxide (NO) signals as a biological trigger in bone fracture injuries, a Living Responsive Regenerative Medicine (LRRM) strategy for bone defect repair through real-time controlled release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) is proposed.

Improve the Stability and Activity of Antimicrobial Peptides by the Proline-Based PXXP Hinge Structure.

Developing a simple and effective strategy to enhance the stability of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is critical for successful AMP design. In this study, we leveraged the property of proline to form hinge-like structures and designed a series of repetitive symmetrical sequence AMPs with different proline-based hinge centers (PWWP, PKKP, and PWKP), proposing a template of (KW)PXXP(WK)-NH (where XX = WW, = 1-4 or XX = KK, WK, = 2-4). The corresponding templates without hinge structures, (KW)(WK)-NH ( = 1-4), were used as controls.

Aromatic group-induced self-assembly of short antimicrobial peptides: unveiling exceptionally potent antimicrobial efficacy.

Self-assembled antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have superior antimicrobial properties from their supramolecular nanostructures. A systematic study is needed to determine which AMPs can generate more significant self-assembled structures for antimicrobial activity. In this study, thirty-six self-assembled AMPs were systematically designed by combining six hexapeptide sequences with five aromatic groups, exploring the contributions of different sequences and groups to self-assembly and antimicrobial properties.

Therapeutic potential of natural flavonoids in atherosclerosis through endothelium-protective mechanisms: An update.

Atherosclerosis and its associated cardiovascular complications remain significant global public health challenges, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies. Endothelial cells are critical for maintaining vascular health and homeostasis, and their dysfunction is a key contributor to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Targeting endothelial dysfunction has, therefore, emerged as a promising approach for the prevention and management of atherosclerosis.

A new short pH-responsive anticancer peptide derived by intramolecular charge shielding strategy.

The pH-responsive anticancer peptides (ACPs) have been regarded as a new generation of prospective antitumor candidates due to their selectivity. However, the successful utilizations have been hampered by their narrow therapeutic index, poor stability and long sequence. Here, a new type of short pH-responsive ACPs was constructed by smart intramolecular charge shielding in histidine-rich peptide LH.

CCR8 decidual regulatory T cells maintain maternal-fetal immune tolerance during early pregnancy.

Regulatory T (T) cells play a vital role in maintaining maternal immune tolerance to the semiallogeneic fetus during pregnancy. T cell population heterogeneity and tissue-specific functions in the human decidua remain largely unknown. Here, using single-cell transcriptomic and T cell receptor sequencing of human CD4 T cells from first-trimester deciduae and matched peripheral blood of pregnant women, we identified a highly activated, immunosuppressive CCR8 T cell subset specifically enriched in the decidua (dT cells).

Combination value of cell index, CSF PCT, and CSF IL-6 for intracranial infection diagnosis after neurosurgery.

This study evaluated the predictive value of cell index (CI), cerebrospinal fluid procalcitonin (CSF PCT), and cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 (CSF IL-6) for detecting intracranial infection after neurosurgery. A two-center, prospective study analyzed CSF samples from ICU patients suspected of having intracranial infection following neurosurgery from January 2020 to June 2023. Patients with infection had longer operation times and longer stays in the ICU.

R406 and its structural analogs reduce SNCA/α-synuclein levels via autophagic degradation.

The presence of neuronal Lewy bodies mainly composed of SNCA/α-synuclein aggregations is a pathological feature of Parkinson disease (PD), whereas reducing SNCA protein levels may slow the progression of this disease. We hypothesized that compounds enhancing SNCA's interaction with MAP1LC3/LC3 May increase its macroautophagic/autophagic degradation. Here, we conducted small molecule microarray (SMM)-based screening to identify such compounds and revealed that the compound R406 could decrease SNCA protein levels in an autophagy-dependent manner.

4-Hydroxyderricin attenuates ischemic brain injury and neuroinflammation by upregulating haptoglobin expression in microglia.

Background: Angelica keiskei (Miq.) Koidz. is a traditional plant that is widely used in Asian countries because of its tonic, diuretic, and galactagogue properties.

Study on the Consistency of Elements in 1-1-3-Type Piezoelectric Composite Materials.

This study introduces a novel 1-1-3-type piezoelectric array structure and investigates variations in the piezoelectric phase's volume fraction. Its performance and consistency are compared with that of a conventional 1-3-type piezoelectric array of identical volume fraction. Finite element analysis was applied to study the effects of the positions of the elements in 1-1-3-type and 1-3-type piezoelectric arrays on the electrical conductivity curves, as well as the differences in vibration modes.

3-D Printable Living Hydrogels as Portable Bio-energy Devices.

Harnessing engineered living materials for energy application represents a promising avenue to sustainable energy conversion and storage, with bio-batteries emerging as a pivotal direction for sustainable power supply. Whereas, the realization of miniaturized and portable bio-battery orchestrating off-the-shelf devices remains a significant challenge. Here, this work reports the development of a miniaturized and portable bio-battery using living hydrogels containing conductive biofilms encapsulated in an alginate matrix for nerve stimulation.

Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn protects against HFD-induced murine atherosclerosis through improving gut microbiota-mediated intestinal barrier integrity.

Background: Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn, a member of the Thymelaeaceae family and the Edgeworthia genus, has been previously shown in our studies to attenuate atherogenesis when administered orally as an ethanolic extract (EEEG).

Bendable Phased-Array Ultrasound Transducer for Imaging on Curved Surfaces.

Flexible phased-array ultrasound transducers (PAUTs), promising for nondestructive testing in biomedical and industrial applications, are classified as stretchable or bendable. Stretchable PAUTs offer a superior solution for complex curved surfaces but face substantial variations in piezoelectric element pitches, particularly on surfaces with small radii, complicating position correction algorithms. Meanwhile, real-time measurement of the pitches remains a technical difficulty.

Quality evaluation of Semen Platycladi samples of different origins by internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Semen Platycladi is a widely used natural product in Chinese medicine with pharmacological effects such as anti-arteriosclerosis, sleep improvement, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The quality of Semen Platycladi is fundamentally important for its therapeutic use. However, the tedious sample pretreatment required by the currently available methods poses great challenge to the high throughput analysis and evaluation of the quality of Semen Platycladi.