Recapitulating dengue virus infection with human pluripotent stem cell-derived liver organoids for antiviral screening.

Dengue virus (DENV) poses a major global health threat, affecting an estimated 100 to 400 million people annually. The infection and pathogenesis remain incompletely understood, and no antiviral drug is currently approved for DENV treatment. Here, we develop a human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived liver organoid (hPLO) model to characterize DENV infection and screen for antivirals.

Highly scalable prefusion-stabilized RSV F vaccine with enhanced immunogenicity and robust protection.

Stabilizing the RSV F protein in its prefusion conformation is crucial for effective vaccine development but has remained a significant challenge. Traditional stabilization methods, such as disulfide bonds and cavity-filling mutations, have been labor-intensive and have often resulted in suboptimal expression levels. Here, we report the design of an RSV prefusion F (preF) antigen using a proline-scanning strategy, incorporating seven proline substitutions to achieve stabilization.

Elevated levels of NT-proBNP, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α are associated with coronary artery injury in children with severe Kawasaki disease.

Objective: To investigate the association between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and coronary artery injury in children with Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: This retrospective study included 42 children with KD admitted to Baoding Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital Capital Medical University from January 2019 to January 2022 (KD group), and 80 healthy children during the same period (control group). Peripheral blood markers including white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet count (PLT), NT-proBNP, IFN-γ, TNF-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), and circulating endothelial cell count (CEC) were compared between groups.

Specific transcription of sodium-dependent pyruvate transporter 2 increases carbon allocation into plastid glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis with high oil production in Lindera glauca seeds.

BASS (Bile acid/sodium symporter) contribute greatly to pyruvate transport for oil biosynthesis. This work focused on determining critical BASS and revealing function in controlling oil biosynthesis in Lindera glauca seeds. A combination of global analysis of oil biosynthesis-related plastidial transporters and quantitative-comparison of transcription of BASS family members with oil content was conducted in L.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of human bocavirus in children with acute gastroenteritis in Beijing, China, during 2014-2023.

Unlabelled: Human bocavirus (HBoVs) is an emerging virus globally, and its prevalence, diversity, and evolution in children with acute gastroenteritis require further study. Fecal specimens collected from outpatients with acute gastroenteritis in Beijing, China, from April 2014 to December 2023, were tested for HBoVs by PCR targeting the NS1 gene. Genotyping was based on the NP1/VP1 boundary region, and nearly full-length HBoV2 sequences were analyzed phylogenetically.

The Changed Endemic Pattern of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Pediatric Patients With the Relaxation of NPIs in Beijing, China, 2022-2023.

With the cancellation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) since December 26, 2022, in Beijing, it is essential to update the endemic pattern of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in pediatric patients. Respiratory specimens were collected from hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) from January 2022 to December 2023 in Beijing for multiple pathogen screening. Then, specimens positive for RSV were subtyped by PCR and genotyped by G gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis with Mega X.

Expression of Serum Ferritin, Human neutrophil lipocalin, Procalcitonin, and inflammatory factors in children with Kawasaki disease and their relationship to coronary artery lesions.

Objective: To investigate the levels of serum ferritin (SF), human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL), procalcitonin (PCT), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-18, TNF-α, INF-γ, and sCD25) in Kawasaki disease (KD) and their relationship with coronary artery lesions (CAL).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 76 children with KD treated from May 2022 to May 2024. Participants were classified into a lesion group (n=48) and a no-lesion group (n=28) based on CAL status.

The Cumulative Variations of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion Protein (F) in Ten Consecutive Years in China.

Background: Variations in the fusion (F) protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with main antigenic sites I-V and Ø may affect the development of RSV vaccines and therapies.

Methods: In the study, 30 respiratory specimens positive for RSV were randomly selected from children with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in Beijing every year from 2012 to 2021 for gene sequencing. Then, 300 gene sequences and 508 uploaded to GenBank from China were subjected to phylogenetic analysis.

Diverse Head-to-Tail Sequences in the Circular Genome of Human Bocavirus Genotype 1 among Children with Acute Respiratory Infections Implied the Switch of Template Chain in the Rolling-Circle Replication Model.

Head-to-tail sequences have been reported in human bocavirus (HBoV) 1-4. To reveal their features and functions, HBoV DNA was screened among respiratory specimens from pediatric patients with an acute respiratory infection (ARI) between April 2020 and December 2022, followed by HBoV genotyping. Head-to-tail sequences were detected using nested PCR, TA cloning, and Sanger sequencing, and these findings were confirmed by mNGS and amplicon sequencing.

The outcome of early screening and treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants and toddlers in the Northern Guizhou region.

This study is an observation of the early screening and treatment effect of infant developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in an area in China. From January 2016 to December 2017, we selected infants and toddlers with high-risk factors for DDH, such as asymmetric gluteal folds, unequal length of lower limbs, and limited hip joint abduction, who visited the Department of Child Health Care and the Outpatient Clinic of Pediatric Orthopedics at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. In total, 1485 cases were divided into age groups, examined using Graf ultrasound and X-ray, and the results were analyzed.

Construction and Characterization of Fitting Equations for a New Wheat Straw Pulping Method.

The pretreatment of pulp with enzymes has been extensively studied in the laboratory. However, due to cost constraints, the application of enzymes in the pulp and paper industry is very limited. In this paper, an environment-friendly and efficient pulping method is proposed as an alternative to traditional pulping and papermaking methods.

Development of Raw Materials and Technology for Pulping-A Brief Review.

Paper is one of the most significant inventions in human civilization, which considerably advanced global cultural development. Pulping is a key step in the conversion of fiber raw materials into paper. Since its inception, pulping has rapidly evolved, continually adapting to technological advancements.

Manganese Mineralization of Pathogenic Viruses as a Universal Vaccine Platform.

Biomimetic viral mineralization improves viral vaccine stability and immunogenicity using inorganic metals such as Ca, Al, or Fe. Mn is a metal found in high concentrations in mammalian tissues; however, under natural or laboratory conditions, Mn mineralization by medical viruses has yet to be established. Herein, a single IAV particle is successfully encapsulated with manganese phosphate (MnP) under specific conditions using the human influenza A virus (IAV).

Expression of PCT, BNP and Inflammatory Factors in Children with Kawasaki Disease and Their Correlation with Coronary Artery Lesions.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD), as one of the most common vascular diseases in children, will cause the risk of coronary artery lesions (CAL) without treatment. This study is to explore the expression of procalcitonin (PCT), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in children with KD and their correlation with CAL.

Methods: 86 KD children in Baoding Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital were selected as the study subjects from January 2020 to June 2021.

Material-engineered bioartificial microorganisms enabling efficient scavenging of waterborne viruses.

Material-based tactics have attracted extensive attention in driving the functional evolution of organisms. In aiming to design steerable bioartificial organisms to scavenge pathogenic waterborne viruses, we engineer Paramecium caudatum (Para), single-celled microorganisms, with a semiartificial and specific virus-scavenging organelle (VSO). FeO magnetic nanoparticles modified with a virus-capture antibody (MNPs@Ab) are integrated into the vacuoles of Para during feeding to produce VSOs, which persist inside Para without impairing their swimming ability.

Improvement of optimum pH and specific activity of pectate lyase from RN.1 using loop replacement.

Alkaline pectate lyase plays an important role in papermaking, biological refining and wastewater treatment, but its industrial applications are largely limited owing to its low activity and poor alkali resistance. The alkaline pectate lyase BspPel from RN.1 was heterologously expressed in BL21 (DE3) and its activity and alkali resistance were improved by loop replacement.

Biosynthesis and genetic engineering of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid in Lzh-T5.

Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) is a biologically active substance with the ability to prevent and control crop diseases. It was certified as a pesticide by the Ministry of Agriculture of China in 2011 and was named "Shenzimycin." Lzh-T5 is a strain found in the rhizosphere of tomatoes.

Immune escaping of the novel genotypes of human respiratory syncytial virus based on gene sequence variation.

Purpose: Immune escaping from host herd immunity has been related to changes in viral genomic sequences. The study aimed to understand the diverse immune responses to different subtypes or genotypes of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in pediatric patients.

Methods: The genomic sequences of different subtypes or RSV genotypes, isolated from Beijing patients, were sequenced and systematically analyzed.

The changed endemic pattern of human adenovirus from species B to C among pediatric patients under the pressure of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 in Beijing, China.

Background: Under the pressure of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the prevalence of human adenovirus (HAdV) was monitored before and after NPIs launched on Jan 24, 2020 in pediatric patients in Beijing, China.

Methods: Respiratory samples collected from children hospitalized with acute respiratory infections from Jan 2015 to Dec 2021 were screened by direct immunofluorescence test or capillary electrophoresis-based multiplex PCR assay. The hexon, penton base, and fiber genes were amplified from HAdV positive specimens, then sequenced.