Stopping Tuberculosis at the Gate: The Role of Adhesins in Infection and Intervention.

The global burden of tuberculosis (TB), exacerbated by the rise of drug-resistant (), underscores the need for alternative intervention strategies. One promising approach is to block the infection at its earliest stage-bacterial adhesion to host cells-thereby preventing colonization and transmission without exerting selective pressure. Adhesins, surface-exposed molecules mediating this critical interaction, have therefore emerged as attractive targets for early prevention.

Ingestible optoelectronic capsules enable bidirectional communication with engineered microbes for controllable therapeutic interventions.

Engineered microbes can be used for biomolecular sensing and therapeutic interventions. However, they cannot be monitored and controlled while in vivo. Here we combine optogenetically engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, an ingestible optoelectronic capsule and a wireless smartphone to establish a bidirectional biological-optical-electronic signal processing chain for diagnostic or therapeutic capabilities under user control.

Screening and characterization of nucleic acid aptamers targeting Brucella surface antigens: identification and analysis of their corresponding binding sites.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Brucella species, posing serious threats to public health and livestock industries worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over one million new cases are reported annually. However, the actual number may be underestimated due to the bacteria's intracellular persistence and subclinical bacteremia.

Carvacrol/thymol derivatives as highly selective BuChE inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activities: Discovery and bio-evaluation.

In this study, nine novel carvacrol/thymol derivatives incorporating carbamate groups were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as multifunctional anti-AD agents. These derivatives displayed superior BuChE inhibitory and anti-inflammatory characteristics compared to the parent compounds. While the derivatives exhibited AChE IC values exceeding the detectable limit (>100 μM), they demonstrated high potency as BuChE inhibitors, with IC values ranging from 0.

Besnoitia was detected in the fecal samples of a cattery in Shenyang, China.

Besnoitia are a genus of cyst-forming protozoa, with cats serving as the definitive host for several species of Besnoitia. In order to gain insight into the epidemiology of Besnoitia infection in cats in catteries in Shenyang City, 58 fecal samples were collected from six catteries, and oocysts conforming morphologically to Besnoitia as well as Besnoitia ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequences were detected, confirming the presence of this parasite in a single cattery located in Shenyang, China. The ITS1 sequences were 100% identical to Besnoitia acinonyx.

Establishment of a 23S rRNA assay for Brucella and its application in evaluating bacterial growth status.

Brucellosis presents notable diagnostic challenges, particularly during the chronic phase of infection, due to the typically low bacterial load in tissues, which may evade detection by conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods. Traditional PCR techniques are susceptible to cross-reactions and can produce false-positive or false-negative results. Furthermore, bacteriological and serological tests have recognized limitations in sensitivity and specificity, potentially complicating accurate diagnosis.

Combination application of Pickering emulsion and BLS protein nanoparticles enhances vaccine efficacy.

The deficiency of recombinant protein immune response could be compensated for by using nanoparticle platforms or adding immune enhancers, however existing vaccines or adjuvants struggle to elicit durable cellular immune responses. In this work, a protein nanoscaffold, lumazine synthase isolated from Brucella (BLS) was optimally designed that could facilitate cellular uptake of displayed antigens and the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), and enhancing humoral immune responses. To enhance cellular immune response, chitosan hydrochloride-stabilized Pickering emulsion (CHSPE) was evaluated as an adjuvant for the BLS nanoscaffold-based vaccine.

A chromosome-level genome assembly for the desert scorpion Mesobuthus przewalskii from Asian drylands.

Scorpions are an ancient and charismatic group of arthropods with medical importance, but a high-quality reference genome for this group is still lacking. Here we perform whole-genome sequencing of Mesobuthus przewalskii, a desert scorpion endemic to the Taklimakan Desert. We combine PacBio HiFi sequencing and Hi-C chromosome conformation capturing to generate chromosomal-level, haplotype-resolved, and fully annotated genome assembly for this medically important scorpion.

From pathogenesis to antigens: the key to shaping the future of TB vaccines.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the gravest global health challenges. (), the causative agent, employs sophisticated immune evasion and pathogenesis strategies. Its capability to thrive within immune cells and incite robust inflammatory responses prolongs infection and dissemination.

Effect of different acupuncture sequences of acupoints on blood glucose and hemorheology in the anesthetized rabbits.

Background And Objective: Hemorheology and blood glucose are commonly used to estimate the risks of thrombosis and stress hyperglycemia after anaesthesia. The sequence of acupoint stimulation might influence the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. In the current study, we aimed at investigating the effect of different acupuncture sequences of "" acupoints on the blood glucose and hemorheology in anesthetized rabbits.

DSCA-PSPNet: Dynamic spatial-channel attention pyramid scene parsing network for sugarcane field segmentation in satellite imagery.

Sugarcane plays a vital role in many global economies, and its efficient cultivation is critical for sustainable development. A central challenge in sugarcane yield prediction and cultivation management is the precise segmentation of sugarcane fields from satellite imagery. This task is complicated by numerous factors, including varying environmental conditions, scale variability, and spectral similarities between crops and non-crop elements.

Identification of Soybean Mutant Lines Based on Dual-Branch CNN Model Fusion Framework Utilizing Images from Different Organs.

The accurate identification and classification of soybean mutant lines is essential for developing new plant varieties through mutation breeding. However, most existing studies have focused on the classification of soybean varieties. Distinguishing mutant lines solely by their seeds can be challenging due to their high genetic similarities.

Measurement Properties of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Lumbar Spine Instability Questionnaire for Patients With Low Back Pain in Mainland China.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Objective: To develop a simplified Chinese version of Lumbar Spine Instability Questionnaire (SC-LSIQ) and test its measurement properties.

Summary Of Background Data: The LSIQ has been translated into several languages.

Clinical Application of a Bird-Beak-Type Z-Shaped Asymmetrical Flap in the Reconstruction of the Inner Canthus.

Objective: To introduce a new surgical method for the repair of a large inner canthus combined with tissue loss at the inner canthal angle of the eye by using a bird-beak-type z-shaped asymmetrical flap and to summarize its clinical effect.

Method: A total of 56 patients with a large inner canthus were randomly selected, and a bird-beak-type z-shaped asymmetrical flap was used on the nasal side of the lower eyelid to repair and reconstruct the inner canthal folds. The inner canthal point was located according to physiological aesthetics.

A synthetic toll-like receptor 7 agonist inhibits porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus replication in piglets.

Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonists have been shown to exert therapeutic effects against several viruses. However, antiviral potential of TLR7 agonist in inhibiting porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection has not been assessed in vivo. In our previous study, a synthetic TLR7 agonist, SZU101, was confirmed to inhibit PRRSV infection of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs).

Synergized regulation of NK cell education by NKG2A and specific Ly49 family members.

Mice lacking MHC class-I (MHC-I) display severe defects in natural killer (NK) cell functional maturation, a process designated as "education". Whether self-MHC-I specific Ly49 family receptors and NKG2A, which are closely linked within the NK gene complex (NKC) locus, are essential for NK cell education is still unclear. Here we show, using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletion, that mice lacking all members of the Ly49 family exhibit a moderate defect in NK cell activity, while mice lacking only two inhibitory Ly49 members, Ly49C and Ly49I, have comparable phenotypes.

Stage-specific requirement of kinase PDK1 for NK cells development and activation.

Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) is an important enzyme for immune cell development by connecting PI3K to downstream mTOR signaling. It is needed to investigate how PDK1 spatiotemporally orchestrates NK cells development and whether this kinase is required for NK cells effector function. In this study, we used three genetic models to delete pdk1 at respective developmental stages, including hematopoietic stem cells (Vav1-Cre used), NK cell progenitor (NKp, CD122-Cre used) and terminal NK cells (Ncr1-Cre used).

Acupoint Specificity on Colorectal Hypersensitivity Alleviated by Acupuncture and the Correlation with the Brain-Gut Axis.

This project was focused on the study of the effect of the different acupoints on visceral hypersensitivity and the correlation with the brain-gut axis. By using a mouse model of zymosan-induced colorectal hypersensitivity, and observing the response of hypersensitivity model to colorectal distension stimulation in acupuncture at different acupoints, we selected the specific acupoints. With immunohistochemical staining method, we observed c-fos expression, distribution and changes after acupuncture on sensory pathway, including colorectum, spinal dorsal horn and different regions of brain center in the model with colorectal distension stimulation, and evaluated the acupuncture effect on brain-gut axis.

Acupoint specificity on acupuncture regulation of hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal cortex axis function.

Background: The hypothalamus is an essential part of the brain that responds to a variety of signaling including stressful stimulations and acupuncture signals. It is also the key element of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis(HPAA). The effect of acupuncture is transmitted into the brain from the distance sensory receptor around the acupoints via peripheral nerves and body fluid.

Acupuncture Alleviates Colorectal Hypersensitivity and Correlates with the Regulatory Mechanism of TrpV1 and p-ERK.

Here we used a mouse model of zymosan-induced colorectal hypersensitivity, a similar model of IBS in our previous work, to evaluate the effectiveness of the different number of times of acupuncture and elucidate its potential mechanism of EA treatment. Colorectal distension (CRD) tests show that intracolonic zymosan injection does, while saline injection does not, induce a typical colorectal hypersensitivity. EA treatment at classical acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37) in both hind limbs for 15 min slightly attenuated and significantly blunted the hypersensitive responses after first and fifth acupunctures, respectively, to colorectal distention in zymosan treatment mice, but not in saline treatment mice.