Rapid and accurate detection of infectious SARS-CoV-2 by viral receptor capture combined with loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Rapid and accurate detection of infectious virus particles, not just viral nucleic acid, is essential to avoid unnecessary quarantine and effectively control the spread of viral diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was the most widely used detection technique during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, it cannot discriminate between intact infectious viruses and surface-distorted, non-infectious virus particles or naked viral RNA.

Evidence for fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a mouse model.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of fomite-based transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we employed the K18-hACE2 mouse infection model to experimentally assess the relative contribution of fomite transmission. Our findings indicate that while fomite transmission can occur in certain cases, the risk of fomite transmission in natural settings may be relatively low when appropriate hygiene practices are followed.

A portable point-of-care testing platform for rapid and sensitive miRNA-21 detection for heart failure diagnosis.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in various physiological and pathological processes. In particular, miRNA-21 holds significant potential as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of heart failure. The development of miRNA detection methods is rapidly advancing, with point-of-care testing (POCT) platforms garnering considerable attention.

Highly Sensitive Detection of Let-7a in Different Tumor Cells Based on a Dual Cascade Signal Amplification Strategy.

Let-7a is a key microRNA (miRNA) cancer biomarker closely associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment, but its detection is challenging due to its small size and low abundance. In this study, we developed a highly sensitive cascade amplification strategy by integrating catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) to achieve dual-signal amplification. Two functionalized DNA tetrahedron (TDN) probes, TDN-1 and TDN-2 were first assembled by annealing four sequences and modified with four hairpins.

Self-Assembly of DNA Nanoflares in Mitochondria for Sensitive In Situ Imaging of Cancer Markers.

Real-time monitoring of cancer markers at the organelle level offers an effective approach to understanding the mechanisms of cancer generation. Herein, we have developed a sensitive in situ imaging method for human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), a cancer biomarker that regulates mitochondrial function by triggering a chain reaction within mitochondria to form highly efficient DNA nanoflares through palindrome-driven assembly (PDA). To deliver the DNA sequences with palindromes for the chain reaction, we prepared triphenylphosphine (TPP)-modified polymeric nanoparticles specifically targeting mitochondria.

Mogroside V protects against acetaminophen-induced liver injury by reducing reactive oxygen species and c-jun-N-terminal kinase activation in mice.

Background: High levels of acetaminophen (APAP) consumption can result in significant liver toxicity. Mogroside V (MV) is a bioactive, plant-derived triterpenoid known for its various pharmacological activities. However, the impact of MV on acute liver injury (ALI) is unknown.

DNA Dual-Color Probes for Real-Time Monitoring of p21 mRNA and Bax mRNA during Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells.

Monitoring apoptosis in breast cancer cells is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer and evaluating the therapeutic effects of anticancer drugs. Real-time monitoring of p21 mRNA and Bax mRNA during apoptosis offers a valuable tool for assessing drug efficacy. Tetrahedral DNA frameworks (TDFs) are known for their ease of synthesis and multiple signal outputs.

RNF167 mediates atypical ubiquitylation and degradation of RLRs via two distinct proteolytic pathways.

The precise regulation of the RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs)-mediated type I interferon (IFN-I) activation is crucial in antiviral immunity and maintaining host immune homeostasis in the meantime. Here, we identify an E3 ubiquitin ligase, namely RNF167, as a negative regulator of RLR-triggered IFN signaling. Mechanistically, RNF167 facilitates both atypical K6- and K11-linked polyubiquitination of RIG-I/MDA5 within CARD and CTD domains, respectively, which leads to degradation of the viral RNA sensors through dual proteolytic pathways.

Distribution and environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in poultry farms and surrounding ecosystems.

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide, with farms serving as crucial reservoirs of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) and Antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, the distribution of ARGs in poultry farms and their transmission patterns in the environment remain poorly understood. This study collected samples of aerosol microorganisms, cloacal matter, soil, and vegetables from poultry farms and surrounding environments at three different distances.

Complement activation targeted inhibitor C2-FH ameliorates acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice.

Background: Complement activation is recognized as an important factor in the progression of liver damage caused by acetaminophen (APAP). However, the role of the complement inhibitor C2-FH in APAP-induced liver injury remains unclear.

Aim: To explore C2-FH in protecting against APAP-induced liver injury by inhibiting complement activation.

A Moderately High-Fat Diet with Proper Nutrient Quality Improves Glucose Homeostasis, Linked to Downregulation of Intestinal CD36 Mediated by the Loss of .

The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has become a major public health challenge. Dietary intervention is a cornerstone of diabetes management, yet the optimal macronutrient composition remains an open question. In this study, mice were fed a western (W) diet, a moderately high-fat (MHF) diet, a high-protein-high-carbohydrate (HPHC) diet, or a high-protein-low-carbohydrate (HPLC) diet for 22 weeks to compare the effects of different dietary patterns on glucose homeostasis.

CCDC50 mediates the clearance of protein aggregates to prevent cellular proteotoxicity.

Protein aggregation caused by the disruption of proteostasis will lead to cellular cytotoxicity and even cell death, which is implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. The elimination of aggregated proteins is mediated by selective macroautophagy receptors, which is termed aggrephagy. However, the identity and redundancy of aggrephagy receptors in recognizing substrates remain largely unexplored.

Negative correlation between metabolic score for insulin resistance index and testosterone in male adults.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is strongly correlated with the decreased deficiency of testosterone levels in males. The metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index is regarded as an innovative measure for the assessment on IR. The research aims to explore the correlation between the METS-IR index and the testosterone levels in males.

Chiral Assembly of Perovskite Nanocrystals: Sensitive Discrimination of Amino Acid Enantiomers.

Chirality is a widespread phenomenon in nature and in living organisms and plays an important role in living systems. The sensitive discrimination of chiral molecular enantiomers remains a challenge in the fields of chemistry and biology. Establishing a simple, fast, and efficient strategy to discriminate the spatial configuration of chiral molecular enantiomers is of great significance.

DNA Nanospheres Assisted Spatial Confinement Signal Amplification for MicroRNA Imaging in Live Cancer Cells.

DNA assemblies are commonly used in biosensing, particularly for the detection and imaging of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are biomarkers associated with tumor progression. However, the difficulty lies in the exploration of high-sensitivity analytical techniques for miRNA due to its limited presence in living cells. In this study, we introduced a DNA nanosphere (DS) enhanced catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) system for the detection and imaging of intracellular miR-21.

Current perspectives and trends in nanoparticle drug delivery systems in breast cancer: bibliometric analysis and review.

The treatment of breast cancer (BC) is a serious challenge due to its heterogeneous nature, multidrug resistance (MDR), and limited therapeutic options. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) represent a promising tool for overcoming toxicity and chemotherapy drug resistance in BC treatment. No bibliometric studies have yet been published on the research landscape of NDDS-based treatment of BC.

AMP Aptamer Programs DNA Tile Cohesion without Canonical Base Pairing.

Tile-based DNA self-assembly provides a versatile approach for the construction of a wide range of nanostructures for various applications such as nanomedicine and advanced materials. The inter-tile interactions are primarily programmed by base pairing, particularly Watson-Crick base pairing. To further expand the tool box for DNA nanotechnology, herein, we have designed DNA tiles that contain both ligands and aptamers.

Carbon emission reduction effect of renewable energy technology innovation: a nonlinear investigation from China's city level.

There has always been controversy over how renewable energy technologies can play a role in reducing carbon emissions. Based on the energy patent data and the economic data of 244 prefecture-level cities from 2007 to 2017 in China, we explore the carbon reduction effect of renewable energy technology and its mechanism from the perspective of energy production, conservation, and management. The two-way fixed effect, instrumental variable, spatial Durbin, and mediation effect models are employed to explore empirical results.

Rational design of genotyping nanodevice for HPV subtype distinction.

There are more than 200 subtypes of human papillomavirus (HPV), and high-risk HPVs are a leading cause of cervical cancer. Identifying the genotypes of HPV is significant for clinical diagnosis and cancer control. Herein, we used programmable and modified DNA as the backbone to construct fluorescent genotyping nanodevice for HPV subtype distinction.

Simultaneous Response of Mitochondrial MicroRNAs to Identify Cell Apoptosis with Multiple Responsive Intelligent DNA Biocomputing Nanodevices.

Challenges remained in precisely real-time monitoring of apoptotic molecular events at the subcellular level. Herein, we developed a new type of intelligent DNA biocomputing nanodevices (iDBNs) that responded to mitochondrial microRNA-21 (miR-21) and microRNA-10b (miR-10b) simultaneously which were produced during cell apoptosis. By hybridizing two hairpins (H1 and H2) onto DNA nanospheres (DNSs) that had been previously modified with mitochondria-targeted triphenylphosphine (TPP) motifs, iDBNs were assembled in which two localized catalytic hairpins self-assembly (CHA) reactions occurred upon the co-stimulation of mitochondrial miR-21 and miR-10b to perform AND logic operations, outputting fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signals for sensitive intracellular imaging during cell apoptosis.

Discovery of extracellular vesicle-delivered miR-185-5p in the plasma of patients as an indicator for advanced adenoma and colorectal cancer.

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether extracellular vesicles (EV)-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as biomarkers for advanced adenoma (AA) and colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: We detected the changes in the plasma EV-delivered miRNA profiles in healthy donor (HD), AA patient, and I-II stage CRC patient groups using miRNA deep sequencing assay. We performed the TaqMan miRNA assay using 173 plasma samples (two independent cohorts) from HDs, AA patients, and CRC patients to identify the candidate miRNA(s).