Using OMICS technologies to analyze the mechanisms of synthetic microbial co-culture systems: a review / 生物工程学报

In recent years, the interaction mechanisms underpinning the synthetic microbial co-culture systems have gained increasing attention due to their potentials in various biotechnological applications. Exploration of the inter-species mechanisms underpinning the synthetic microbial co-culture system could contribute to a better understanding of the theoretical basis to further optimize the existing co-culture systems, and design new synthetic co-culture system for large-scale application. OMICS technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics could analyze the biological processes in a high throughput manner. Multi-omics analysis could achieve a "global view" of various members in the microbial co-culture systems, which presents opportunities in understanding synthetic microbial consortia better. This article summarizes recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of synthetic microbial co-culture systems using omics technologies, from the aspects of metabolic network, energy metabolism, signal transduction, membrane transport, stress response, community stability and structural rationality. All these findings could provide important theoretical basis for future application of the microbial co-culture systems with the aids of emerging biotechnologies such as synthetic biology and genome editing.

Analysis of protective mechanism of silk protein based cryoprotectants / 生物医学工程学杂志

Dimethyl sulfoxide (Me SO) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a widely used cryoprotectant combination. However, high concentration of Me SO is toxic to cells, and FBS presents problems related to diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy and viral infections. Silk protein is a kind of natural macromolecule fiber protein with good biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. The aim of this paper is to analyze the cryoprotective mechanism of silk protein as cryoprotectant. Firstly, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure the thermal hysteresis activity (THA) of silk protein. The THA of 10 mg/mL sericin protein was 0.96°C, and the THA of 10% (V/V) fibroin protein was 1.15°C. Then the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) of silk protein-PBS solution was observed with cryomicroscope. The cold stage was set at - 7°C, after 40 minutes' incubation, the mean grain size rate (MGSR) of sericin protein and fibroin protein were 28.99% and 3.18%, respectively, which were calculated relative to phosphate buffer saline (PBS) control. It is indicated that sericin and silk fibroin have certain effects of inhibiting recrystallization of ice crystals. Finally, the structure and physicochemical properties of silk protein were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that the content of the random coil was 75.62% and the β-sheet structure was 24.38% in the secondary of sericin protein. The content of the β-sheet structure was 56.68%, followed by random coil structure 22.38%, and α-helix 16.84% in the secondary of fibroin protein. The above analysis demonstrates the feasibility of silk fibroin as a cryoprotectant, and provides a new idea for the selection of cryoprotectants in the future.

Clinical application and mechanism analysis on the Siguan points for the mental diseases / 国际中医中药杂志

This article aims to retrieve the articles which are related to the application and mechanism of Siguan points in treating the mental disease, such as depression, insomnia, apsychia, madness, dementia and stroke. We hope to find out a new model of its utility and wider range of applicability for maximum medical effect.

Targets identification and mechanism analysis for macrophage activation of low molecular weight saccharides from Cistanche deserticola based on molecular affinity chromatography / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the targets and targets-involved mechanism for the macrophage activation of low molecular weight saccharides from Cistanche deserticola (LMSC). The phagocytic activity and NO release of RAW264.7 cells were detected, and results showed that LMSC exerts immune activation effect by significantly increasing the phagocytic activity and NO release. LMSC-conjugated epoxy-activated sepharose beads were prepared as affinity reagent to capture the target proteins. Twenty-four proteins such as Eef2 were identified by LC-MS/MS analysis. Pathway enrichment analysis showed LMSC activated RAW264.7 cells by regulating Fcgamma receptor dependent phagocytosis, TNF-alpha NF-κB signaling pathway, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and the citric acid cycle and respiratory electron transport pathway.