A smartphone-based genetically recombinant whole-cell biosensor for highly sensitive monitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent carcinogens widely distributed in ecosystems. Their structural complexity-diverse chlorine numbers and positions-challenges detection using conventional methods like ELISA or instrumental analysis, which are limited to single congeners. Whole-cell biosensors (WCBs) present a promising alternative by enabling multi-congener detection, yet their sensitivity remains constrained by inefficient PCB-sensing proteins.

Centrifugal microfluidic chip with an air gap for oil-free production of enhanced adipogenic multicellular microspheres.

Hydrogel microspheres, derived from natural or synthetic materials, serve as crucial platforms for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture and tissue engineering. While traditional production methods like emulsification and microfluidics are widely used, they often involve complex processes and oil phases that can compromise biocompatibility. Here, we present a novel centrifugal microfluidic device with an air gap for producing hydrogel microspheres.

Construction of an ASFV proteome library via multiple optimization strategies for high-throughput analysis.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large and structurally complex DNA virus encoding more than 160 proteins, including more than 68 structural proteins. A protein library covering recombinant ASFV proteins is fundamentally important for studies on protein function, antigenicity, vaccine development, and virus-host interactions. Here, to construct an ASFV protein library, we add a glutathione S-transferase (GST) tag at the N-terminus of each ASFV protein to facilitate solubilization and purification and express the recombinant proteins in the yeast host.

A human intestinal organoid derived from fetal human colon cells model for studying enteroviral pathogenesis.

Human enteroviruses, including enterovirus 71 (EV71), cause hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and may lead to severe neurological diseases in infants. Enteroviruses first infect the gastrointestinal tract and then spread to the main organs, such as the liver, lungs, heart, and brain. Human intestinal organoids (HIOs) provide a physiologically relevant model for studying enterovirus infections.

Dual-functional berberine-magnolol co-assembled nanoparticles inhibit Fusarium graminearum growth and mycotoxin production.

Fusarium graminearum, a major fungal pathogen of cereal crops, causes severe yield losses and widespread contamination with deoxynivalenol (DON), a heat-stable and persistent mycotoxin that threatens food safety and human health. F. graminearum has developed resistance to single-target azole fungicides, necessitating the development of multi-target antifungal agents.

Serum N-Glycan Signatures as Potential Biomarkers for the Detection and Monitoring of IgG4-Related Disease.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare disease characterized by lymphoplasmatic infiltration and fibrosis in multiple organs, often accompanied by elevated serum levels of IgG4. Considerable efforts have been devoted to the diagnosis of IgG4-related diseases, but its etiology and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. The total serum N-glycome profile can reflect disease phenotypes with specific serum N-glycans serving as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.

Fast TV-PRO-seq: Accelerated and Streamlined Protocol for Timing RNA Polymerase Pausing.

Transcriptional pausing dynamically regulates spatiotemporal gene expression during cellular differentiation, development, and environmental adaptation. Precise measurement of pausing duration, a critical parameter in transcriptional control, has been challenging due to limitations in resolution and confounding factors. We introduce Fast TV-PRO-seq, an optimized protocol built on time-variant precision run-on sequencing (TV-PRO-seq), which enables genome-wide, single-base resolution mapping of RNA polymerase II pausing times.

Overview of small proteins encoded by bacterial dual-function small RNAs.

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are widely used by bacteria to regulate diverse biological processes. Although they are generally considered "non-coding", some sRNAs (called dual-function sRNAs) have been found to encode small proteins, which are usually less than 50 amino acids in length and have long been overlooked due to significant challenges in their annotation and biochemical detection. However, in the past few decades, an increasing number of small proteins encoded by dual-function sRNAs have been reported.

Analysis of gene expansion and defense-related genes in Anacardiaceae family from an evolutionary aspect.

Introduction: The Anacardiaceae family, encompassing economically and ecologically significant genera such as , , and , exhibits substantial genomic diversity and adaptive complexity. However, comparative genomic analysis and evolutionary insights into defense-related mechanisms within this family remain underexplored.

Methods And Results: This study employed a comprehensive phylogenomic, synteny, and gene family analysis across six species and three additional Anacardiaceae plants (, , and ).

Mussel Foot-Inspired Multifunctional Engineered Protein Adhesive with Enhanced Antibacterial Properties.

Protein materials, valued for their good biocompatibility, versatility, and designability, are sought as innovative adhesives to address the environmental and health hazards caused by traditional adhesives. Herein, inspired by mussel foot protein 5 and elastin, a novel adhesive protein, M5EP, was designed and efficiently expressed in BL21(DE3). It could be activated into mature protein M5EPm to obtain adsorption and adhesion capabilities on various interfaces via tyrosinase catalysis, exhibiting adhesion strengths exceeding 2 MPa under dry conditions and 0.

Rational Design of Copper-Based Metallic Nano-Antibiotic against Drug-Resistant Bacteria Infection.

The rapidly increasing global incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections poses a serious threat to public health worldwide, demanding immediate development of novel antimicrobial approaches. In this study, a rationally designed multifunctional metallic nano-antibiotic (MNAB) system using an in-situ reduction method is developed. The strategic incorporation of cuprous species substantially enhanced antimicrobial activity against clinically isolated strains, including two Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacterial species.

Pangenome analysis provides insights into legume evolution and breeding.

Grain legumes hold great promise for advancing sustainable agriculture. Although the evolutionary history of legume species has been investigated, the conserved mechanisms that drive adaptive evolution and govern agronomic improvement remain elusive. Here we present high-quality genome assemblies for nine widely consumed pulses, including common bean, chickpea, pea, lentil, faba bean, pigeon pea, cowpea, mung bean and hyacinth bean.

Isoquercitrin: From natural source to clinical candidate - Synthesis, pharmacology, and metabolic safety.

Isoquercitrin (ISQ, C₂₁H₂₀O₁₂) is a typical flavonoid compound characterized by a C6-C3-C6 backbone structure. It is widely distributed across various plant families, including Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae, and can be obtained through standardized extraction processes. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that ISQ exhibits extensive pharmacological activities and exerts significant therapeutic effects on diseases affecting the circulatory, nervous, metabolic, and musculoskeletal systems.

Overlooked synergisms of flotation organic reagents and toxic metals in water: Formation of tridentate cadmium-xanthate complexes.

Mining activities release a substantial quantity of toxic metals and organic flotation reagents into the aquatic environment, causing severe pollution and potential health risks. However, the synergisms and mechanisms associated with these mixed pollutants are largely overlooked. The combined application of atomic force microscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and quantum chemical calculations revealed that cadmium (Cd) was capable of forming tridentate coordination complexes with typical organic beneficiation reagents, namely xanthates (ethyl, isopropyl, and butyl xanthates).

Dehydrotumulosic acid: a potential glucocorticoid receptor agonist with anti-coxsackievirus activity.

Background: Coxsackievirus infections cause a range of diseases, from hand-foot-and-mouth disease to severe conditions such as myocarditis and meningoencephalitis. High mutation rates and serotype diversity complicate clinical management, as no approved vaccines or therapies exist. Triterpenoids, natural compounds with antiviral and immunomodulatory effects, offer potential as novel treatments.

An Innovative Machine Learning Based Multistage Signal Amplification Method Breaks through the Detection Limits of Conventional Optical Sensors.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) enables in situ, label-free, real-time molecular detection. However, traditional SPR biosensors require complex and precise large-scale equipment, with detection limits constrained by multiple factors, complicating and prolonging biosensor development, especially in emergencies. To address these challenges, we introduce an innovative multistage signal amplification metasurface plasmon resonance (MSA-MetaSPR) method based on a complete inverse design.

Polysaccharide nano‑selenium in the regulation of neuroinflammation: A review of mechanisms, functional potential, and activity evaluation.

Neuroinflammation is crucial in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, particularly neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Recently, polysaccharides and polysaccharide nano‑selenium have gained attention for their potential in protecting neural tissue from damage. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the role of polysaccharides in modulating neuroinflammation and the structural characteristics that underpin their effects.

Knockout of Enhances Soybean Seed Yield via Cytokinin-Mediated Cell Expansion and Lipid Accumulation.

Soybean is a dual-purpose crop for food and oil, playing a crucial role in China's grain production. Seed size and weight are key agronomic traits directly influencing the yield. Cytokinin oxidases/dehydrogenases (CKXs) specifically degrade certain isoforms of endogenous cytokinins (CKs), thereby modulating plant growth and seed development.

A Rare Frameshift Mutation of in Alters Ethylene Biosynthesis and Determines Fruit Morphology in Melon ( L.).

Fruit shape diversity in melon is governed by complex genetic networks, with ethylene biosynthesis playing a pivotal yet poorly characterized role. In this study, we identified a rare CmACS7 double mutant through fine mapping of the locus. Ethylene-mediated ovary growth regulation has been completely lost in the CmACS7 double mutant, driving a transition from elongated to spherical fruit.

Cold Shock Proteins Balance Biofilm-Associated Antibiotic Resistance and Oxidative Vulnerability in Mycobacteria.

Cold Shock Proteins (Csps) are multifunctional regulators critical for bacterial stress adaptation. While Csps are known to regulate biofilm formation and low-temperature growth in some species, their roles in mycobacteria remain unclear. Here, we explored the functions of three Csps (CspA1, CspA2, and CspB) in .

Cultivar specific nitrogen and potassium recommendations optimize yield and quality attributes in sugar beet.

This study aimed to investigate cultivar-specific responses to nitrogen and potassium fertilization in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) to optimize yield, quality attributes, and fertilizer use efficiency. Five sugar beet cultivars (Indira, Carma, Mallak, Melodia, and Shantala) were evaluated under nine fertilization treatments combining three nitrogen and potassium levels (T1 (144 N,0 K); T2 (144 N,60 K); T3 (144 N,120 K); T4 (216 N,0 K); T5 (216 N,60K2);T6 (216 N,120 K); T7 (288 N,0 K); T8 (288 N,60 K); T9 (288 N,120 K)) in a split-plot design over two growing seasons (2020/2021 and 202120/22 ). Significant cultivar × treatment interactions (p < 0.

An in-silico design of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate against Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) through prediction of B- and T-cell epitopes and molecular dynamics simlation.

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections, particularly in pediatric, elderly, and immunocompromised populations. Despite its clinical significance, no licensed vaccine is currently available for HMPV. This study employed an in silico immunoinformatics-based approach to design a multi-epitope subunit vaccine candidate targeting key structural proteins of HMPV, including Matrix2-2, Matrix2-1, Matrix, and Phosphoprotein.

Self-targeting carrier-free coordination nanotherapeutics for tumor microenvironment modulation and enhanced chemo-dynamic oncotherapy.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based emerging antitumor modality had garnered increasing attentions. Nevertheless, the low delivery efficiency and poor selection of chemotherapeutic agents, and hypoxia and elevated glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) had severely restricted the therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we designed a carrier-free self-targeting nanotherapeutic PEM-Cu-MET (PCM), which was obtained through coordination-driven self-assembly of the pemetrexed (PEM, a dual-acting small molecule drug), Fenton-like agent copper ion (Cu), and metformin (MET, a mitochondrial respiratory inhibitor).

Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling of a uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 11 with normal phenotype.

Background: Uniparental disomy (UPD) is an epigenomic irregularity where both copies, or part of a homologous chromosome pair, come from a single parent. UPD can occur through various processes, such as monosomic and trisomic rescue during embryonic development, incomplete chromosome segregation, and mitotic recombination.

Case Presentation: A 35-year-old, gravida 2, para 0 woman underwent amniocentesis at 18 weeks of gestation because the noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) showed the highly possibility of monosomy chromosome 11.