Early predictive value of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase for 28-day mortality in cardiac arrest patients: study protocol for a prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Public training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and treatment in emergency and intensive care unit have made tremendous progress. However, cardiac arrest remains a major health burden worldwide, with brain damage being a significant contributor to disability and mortality. Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), which is mainly localised in the central nervous system, has been previously shown to inhibit postischemia neuronal apoptosis. Therefore, we aim to observe whether serum L-PGDS can serve as a potential biomarker and explore its role in determining the severity and prognosis of patients who have achieved restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective observational study. The participants (n = 60) who achieve ROSC will be distributed into two groups (non-survivor and survivor) based on 28-day survival. Healthy volunteers (n = 30) will be enrolled as controls. Each individual's relevant information will be extracted from Electronic Medical Record System in Xinhua Hospital, including demographic characteristics, clinical data, laboratory findings and so on. On days 1, 3 and 7 after ROSC, blood samples will be drawn and batch tested on the level of serum neuron-specific enolase, soluble protein 100ß, L-PGDS, procalcitonin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. The cerebral performance category score was assessed on the 28th day after ROSC. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was performed with the approval of the Clinical Ethical Committee of Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Approval No. XHEC-C-2023-130-1). The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300078564).

A homozygous mutation of TWNK identified in premature ovarian insufficiency warns of late-onset perrault syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined as cessation of ovarian function before the age of 40 years, which is characterized by amenorrhoea, infertility, elevated gonadotrophin level and sex-steroid deficiency. The phenotypes of POI are heterogeneous, including isolated and syndromic forms. Perrault syndrome (PS), characterized by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and ovarian dysfunction before 40 years in females, is one type of syndromic POI. Genetic defects play a vital role in the pathogenesis of POI. METHODS AND RESULTS: To illustrate the genetic causation of Perrault syndrome, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) in one pedigree with the disease, and identified a novel homozygous mutation in TWNK (c.1388G > A, p.R463Q). TWNK encodes a hexameric DNA helicase in mitochondria and plays a critical role in mtDNA replication. In order to determine the effect of the novel mutation on the mitochondrial function, we generated immortalized cell lines by infecting lymphocytes from the family members with EB virus in vitro. Functional studies found that TWNK p.R463Q impaired mtDNA replication and the respiration potential of mitochondria, while the ROS level remains unaffected. CONCLUSION: Our study provided evidence that TWNK mutation impaired the ovarian function by dysfunctional mitochondria. Moreover, considering the patients here presented POI onset earlier than SNHL, specific variants localizing in different locus of TWNK might induce heterogeneous phenotypes, indicating that the genetic screening of patients with POI would be useful for early recognition of other disease or other phenotypes of syndromic POI.

Effect of bilateral low serratus anterior plane block on quality of recovery after trans-subxiphoid robotic thymectomy: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of ultrasound-guided, bilateral, low level (T8-T9) deep serratus anterior plane (DSAP) blocks on postoperative recovery quality and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing trans-subxiphoid robotic thymectomy (TRT). Methods: 39 patients undergoing TRT were randomized to receive either low DSAP block under general anesthesia (Group S) or the sham block (Group C) on each side. The primary outcome was the QoR-40 score at postoperative day (POD) 1. Secondary outcomes included numeric rating scale (NRS) scores over time, postoperative 48 hours opioid consumption, QoR-40 scores at POD 2, 30, and 90. Results: The QoR-40 scores on POD1-2 were higher in Group S than in Group C [179.1 (4.9) vs 167.7 (2.8), P < 0.01; 187.7 (4.6) vs 178.1 (3), P < 0.01, respectively]. Pain scores were significantly lower in Group S, both during resting and motion at postoperative 6h, 12h, and 24h (P < 0.05 for each). The total amount of sufentanil consumed in the first 48 h was lower in Group S than in Group C [61.4 (4.9) vs 78.9 (4.6), P < 0.001]. Conclusion: The bilateral low DSAP blocks enhanced the QoR-40 for 2 days postoperatively, relieved postsurgical pain, and reduced opioid consumption during the early postoperative period in patients undergoing TRT.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes the browning of white fat and contributes to the healing of diabetic wounds.

Non-healing wounds are one of the chronic complications of diabetes and have remained a worldwide challenge as one of the major health problems. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is proven to be very successful for diabetic wound treatment, for which the molecular basis is not understood. Adipocytes regulate multiple aspects of repair and may be therapeutic for inflammatory diseases and defective wound healing associated with aging and diabetes. Endothelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles could promote wound healing in diabetes. To study the mechanism by which HBO promotes wound healing in diabetes, we investigated the effect of HBO on fat cells in diabetic mice. A diabetic wound mouse model was established and treated with HBO. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunofluorescence were used for the analysis of wound healing. To further explore the mechanism, we performed whole-genome sequencing on extracellular vesicles (EVs). Furthermore, we conducted in vitro experiments. Specifically, exosomes were collected from human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cells after HBO treatment, and then these exosomes were co-incubated with adipose tissue. The wound healing rate in diabetic mice treated with HBO was significantly higher. HBO therapy promotes the proliferation of adipose precursor cells. HUVEC-derived exosomes treated with HBO significantly promoted fat cell browning. These data clarify that HBO therapy may promote vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration, and promote browning of fat cells through vascular endothelial cells derived exosomes, thereby promoting diabetic wound healing. This provides new ideas for the application of HBO therapy in the treatment of diabetic trauma.

Biosynthetic potential of uncultured anammox community bacteria revealed through multi-omics analysis.

Microbial secondary metabolites (SMs) and their derivatives have been widely used in medicine, agriculture, and energy. Growing needs for renewable energy and the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance, cancer, and pesticides emphasize the crucial hunt for new SMs. Anaerobic ammonium-oxidation (anammox) systems harbor many uncultured or underexplored bacteria, representing potential resources for discovering novel SMs. Leveraging HiFi long-read metagenomic sequencing, 1,040 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were unearthed from the anammox microbiome with 58% being complete and showcasing rich diversity. Most of them showed distant relations to known BGCs, implying novelty. Members of the underexplored lineages (Chloroflexota and Planctomycetota) and Proteobacteria contained lots of BGCs, showcasing substantial biosynthetic potential. Metaproteomic results indicated that Planctomycetota members harbored the most active BGCs, particularly those involved in producing potential biofuel-ladderane. Overall, these findings underscore that anammox microbiomes could serve as valuable resources for mining novel BGCs and discovering new SMs for practical application.

New insights into functional divergence and adaptive evolution of uncultured bacteria in anammox community by complete genome-centric analysis.

Anaerobic ammonium-oxidation (anammox) bacteria play a crucial role in global nitrogen cycling and wastewater nitrogen removal, but they share symbiotic relationships with various other microorganisms. Functional divergence and adaptive evolution of uncultured bacteria in anammox community remain underexplored. Although shotgun metagenomics based on short reads has been widely used in anammox research, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) are often discontinuous and highly contaminated, which limits in-depth analyses of anammox communities. Here, for the first time, we performed Pacific Biosciences high-fidelity (HiFi) long-read sequencing on the anammox granule sludge sample from a lab-scale bioreactor, and obtained 30 accurate and complete metagenome-assembled genomes (cMAGs). These cMAGs were obtained by selecting high-quality circular contigs from initial assemblies of long reads generated by HiFi sequencing, eliminating the need for Illumina short reads, binning, and reassembly. One new anammox species affiliated with Candidatus Jettenia and three species affiliated with novel families were found in this anammox community. cMAG-centric analysis revealed functional divergence in general and nitrogen metabolism among the anammox community members, and they might adopt a cross-feeding strategy in organic matter, cofactors, and vitamins. Furthermore, we identified 63 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and 50 putative horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events within these cMAGs. The results suggest that HGT events and MGEs related to phage and integration or excision, particularly transposons containing tnpA in anammox bacteria, might play important roles in the adaptive evolution of this anammox community. The cMAGs generated in the present study could be used to establish of a comprehensive database for anammox bacteria and associated microorganisms. These findings highlight the advantages of HiFi sequencing for the studies of complex mixed cultures and advance the understanding of anammox communities.

Pumping Small Molecules Selectively through an Energy-Assisted Assembling Process at Nonequilibrium States.

In living organisms, precise control over the spatial and temporal distribution of molecules, including pheromones, is crucial. This level of control is equally important for the development of artificial active materials. In this study, we successfully controlled the distribution of small molecules in the system at nonequilibrium states by actively transporting them, even against the apparent concentration gradient, with high selectivity. As a demonstration, in the aqueous solution of acid orange (AO7) and TMC10COOH, we found that AO7 molecules can coassemble with transient anhydride (TMC10CO)2O to form larger assemblies in the presence of chemical fuel 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). This led to a decrease in local free AO7 concentration and caused AO7 molecules from other locations in the solution to move toward the assemblies. Consequently, AO7 accumulates at the location where EDC was injected. By continuously injecting EDC, we could maintain a stable high value of the apparent AO7 concentration at the injection point. We also observed that this process which operated at nonequilibrium states exhibited high selectivity.

Motility behavior and physiological response mechanisms of aerobic denitrifier, Enterobacter cloacae strain HNR under high salt stress: Insights from individual cells to populations.

The motility behaviors at the individual-cell level and the collective physiological responsive behaviors of aerobic denitrifier, Enterobacter cloacae strain HNR under high salt stress were investigated. The results revealed that as salinity increased, electron transport activity and adenosine triphosphate content decreased from 15.75 µg O2/g/min and 593.51 mM/L to 3.27 µg O2/g/min and 5.34 mM/L, respectively, at 40 g/L, leading to a reduction in the rotation velocity and vibration amplitude of strain HNR. High salinity stress (40 g/L) down-regulated genes involved in ABC transporters (amino acids, sugars, metal ions, and inorganic ions) and activated the biofilm-related motility regulation mechanism in strain HNR, resulting in a further decrease in flagellar motility capacity and an increase in extracellular polymeric substances secretion (4.08 mg/g cell of PS and 40.03 mg/g cell of PN at 40 g/L). These responses facilitated biofilm formation and proved effective in countering elevated salt stress in strain HNR. Moreover, the genetic diversity associated with biofilm-related motility regulation in strain HNR enhanced the adaptability and stability of the strain HNR populations to salinity stress. This study enables a deeper understanding of the response mechanism of aerobic denitrifiers to high salt stress.

Long-term impact of nano zero-valent iron on methanogenic activity, microbial community structure, and transcription activity in anaerobic wastewater treatment system.

Nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) is commonly used in industrial wastewater treatment. However, its long-term impact mechanisms of metabolization in anaerobic systems are not well understood. This study investigated the effects of long-term and continuous addition of NZVI on methanogenic activity, microbial community, and transcription activity. The results demonstrated that low levels of NZVI (1000 mg/L) induced inhibition of methanogenesis after 80 days, while high levels of NZVI (5000 mg/L) immediately led to a sharp decrease of cumulative methane production and chemical oxygen demand removal, which arrived at a steady state (14.4 % of control and 17 %) after 30 days. NZVI adversely affected cell viability, adenosine triphosphate production, and fatty acid evolution of cell membranes played a crucial role in resisting chronic NZVI toxicity. Moreover, high NZVI levels hindered the transcription of key enzymes CoM and mcrA, while low NZVI levels maintained its high CoM and mcrA activity, but down-regulated the transcription of cdh and hdr. Besides, amino-utilizing bacteria was reduced under the high NZVI concentration, while low NZVI changed dominant genus with potential protein hydrolysis function from Candidatus Cloacamonas to Sedimentibacter. These results provide a guideline for proper NZVI utilization in wastewater treatment.

Maternal and neonatal complications after IVF/ICSI-fresh embryo transfer in low-prognosis women under the POSEIDON criteria: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies on pregnancy complications of poor ovarian response (POR) patients did not draw a consistent conclusion. The POSEIDON criteria introduces the concept of "low prognosis" and divides POR patients into four groups based on age, AFC and AMH for individualized management. We analyzed low-prognosis population and patients with regular ovarian response, compared maternal and neonatal complications and discussed the relevant risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of females who achieved a singleton clinical pregnancy after IVF / ICSI-fresh embryo transfer in a single center from January 2014 to March 2019. Participants with low prognosis, as defined by the POSEIDON criteria, were enrolled in the study groups. The controls were defined as AFC ≥ five and number of retrieved oocytes > nine. Maternal and neonatal complications were compared among those groups. RESULTS: There were 2554 cycles in POSEIDON group 1, 971 in POSEIDON group 2, 141 in POSEIDON group 3, 142 in POSEIDON group 4, and 3820 in Control. Univariate analysis roughly showed that Groups 2 and 4 had an increased tendency of pregnancy complications. Multi-variable generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis showed that the risks of GDM, total pregnancy loss, and first-trimester pregnancy loss in Groups 2 and 4 were significantly higher than in Control. The risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in Groups 2 and 3 increased, and Group 4 had an increased tendency without statistical significance. After classification by age, GEE analysis showed no significant difference in risks of all complications among groups ≥ 35 years. In patients < 35 years, the risk of HDP in POSEIDON group 3 was significantly higher than in controls (< 35 years), and there was no significant increase in the risk of other complications. CONCLUSION: Compared to patients with regular ovarian response, low-prognosis population have increased tendency of maternal and neonatal complications. In low-prognosis patients, advanced age (≥ 35 years) might be the predominant risk factor for pregnancy complications. In those < 35 years, poor ovarian reserve could contribute to HDP.

Fate of iron nanoparticles in anammox system: Dissolution, migration and transformation.

Iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) are commonly used in various industrial processes, leading to their release into the environment and eventual entrance into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). FeNPs undergo dissolution, migration, and transformation in WWTPs, which can potentially affect the stable operation of anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) systems and may be discharged with wastewater or biomass. To better understand the fate of FeNPs in anammox systems, exposure experiments were conducted using anammox granular sludges (AnGS) and FeNPs. Results demonstrated that FeNPs released Fe2+ upon contact with water, with a portion being bound to functional groups in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the rest entering the bacteria to form highly absorbable substances. A significant amount of FeNPs was observed to cover the surface of AnGS or aggregate and deposit at the bottom of the reactor, eventually converting into Fe3O4 and stably existing within the anammox system. The findings of this study clarify the fate of FeNPs in anammox systems and provide important insights into the stable operation of anammox systems under FeNPs exposure.

Multi-target responsive nanoprobe with cellular-level accuracy for spatiotemporally selective photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy is known for its non-invasiveness to significantly reduce undesired side effects on patients. However, the infiltration and invasiveness of tumor growth are still beyond the specificity of traditional light-controlled photodynamic therapy (PDT), which lacks cellular-level accuracy to tumor cells, possibly leading to "off-target" damage to healthy tissues such as the skin or immune cells infiltrated. Here, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were co-encapsulated with manganese dioxide (MnO2) by amphiphilic polymers poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylate) (PSMA) and further coated with photosensitizer (riboflavin)-loaded mesoporous silica (C@S/V). The C@S/V nanoprobes exhibited shielded upconversion luminescence in normal conditions (pH 7.4, no hydroperoxide (H2O2)) under 980-nm irradiation and thus minimal reactive oxygen production from riboflavin. However, the excess H2O2 (1 mM) and acidic environment (pH 5.5) could decompose the MnO2 within the C@S/V, resulting in remarkable enhancement of upconversion luminescence and a favorable hypoxia-relieving condition for PDT, providing a spatiotemporal signal for therapy initiation. The C@S/V nanoprobes were applied to the co-culture of normal cells (HEK293) and pancreatic cancer cells (Panc02) and performed a selective killing on Panc02 under the 980-nm irradiation. By using the "double-safety" strategy, a responsive C@S/V nanoprobe was designed by the selective activation of acidic and H2O2-rich conditions and 980-nm irradiation for spatiotemporally selective photodynamic therapy with cellular-level accuracy.

Screening core genes and signaling pathways after SFTSV infection by integrated transcriptome profiling analysis.

A newly discovered tick-borne virus called the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) can cause the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). The mortality and incidence rate of SFTS patients remain extremely high due to the fast global dissemination of its arthropod vectors, and the mechanism of viral pathogenesis remains largely unknown. In this study, high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to sequence HEK 293 cells treated with SFTSV at four time points. 115, 191, 259, and 660 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h post-infection, respectively. We found that SFTSV infection induced the expression of genes responsible for numerous cytokine-related pathways, including TNF, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL8, CXCL10, and CCL20. With the extension of infection time, the expression of most genes involved in these pathways increased significantly, indicating the host's inflammatory response to SFTSV. Moreover, the expression levels of GNA13, ARHGEF12, RHOA, ROCK1, and MYL12A, elements of the platelet activation signaling pathway, were downregulated during SFTSV infection, suggesting that the SFTSV infection may cause thrombocytopenia by inhibiting platelet activation. Our results contribute to further understanding the interaction between SFTSV and the host.

Unraveling the structure and function of bacterioferritin in Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis: Iron storage sites maintain cellular iron homeostasis.

Anammox bacteria rely heavily on iron and have many iron storage sites. However, the biological significance of these iron storage sites has not been clearly defined. In this study, we explored the properties and location of iron storage sites to better understand their cellular function. To do this, the Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis iron storage protein, bacterioferritin (K.S Bfr), was successfully expressed and purified. In vitro, correctly assembled globulins were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The self-assembled K.S Bfr has active redox and can bind Fe2+ and mineralize it in the protein cavity. In vivo, engineered bacteria with K.S Bfr showed good adaptability to Fe2+, with a survival rate of 78.9% when exposed to 5 mM Fe2+, compared with only 66.0% for wild-type bacteria lacking K.S Bfr. A potential iron regulatory strategy similar to that of Anammox was identified in transcriptomic analysis of engineered bacteria. This system may be controlled by the iron uptake regulator Furto transport Fe2+ via FeoB and store excess Fe2+ in K.S Bfr to maintain cellular homeostasis. K.S Bfr has superior iron storage capacity both intracellularly and in vitro. The discovery of K.S Bfr reveals the storage location of iron-rich nanoparticles, increases our understanding of the adaptability of iron-dependent bacteria to Fe2+, and suggests possible iron regulation strategies in Anammox bacteria.

Developmental defects and potential mechanisms in F1 generation of parents exposed to difenoconazole at different life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

As a typical triazole fungicide, difenoconazole is extensively used to control plant diseases; however, its residue in environmental waters poses a risk to aquatic organisms. In this study, we investigated the acute toxicity of different life stages and sub-lethal toxicity in embryonic yolk sac stage of difenoconazole to zebrafish, and the developmental toxicity in F1 generation of parents exposed to difenoconazole at different life stages of zebrafish. Furthermore, we used transcriptomics to explore the potential mechanisms of difenoconazole on the F1 larvae of parents exposed to the chemical at the embryonic stage. The results of this study showed that developmental defects were observed in the F1 embryo/larvae of parents exposed to 3, 30, and 300 µg/L of difenoconazole at different (embryo, larval, juvenile, and adult) life stages, and exposure to difenoconazole at the embryonic stage caused more severe developmental toxicity than those at other life stages. Developmental defects (malformation, inhibition of heartbeat and body length) were observed in the F1 embryos and larvae of parents exposed to difenoconazole at the embryonic stage. In addition, the total cholesterol and triglyceride contents were significantly reduced in the F1 larvae, and RNA-seq analysis revealed significant alterations in the expression of nine genes (msmo1, hsd17b7, sc5d, tm7sf2, ebp, cyp2r1, lss, cyp51, and cyp27b1) in the steroid synthesis pathway. This is suggested that F1 larvae of parents exposed to difenoconazole at the embryonic stage show abnormalities in the steroid biosynthetic pathway. These results reveal the differences in toxicity of difenoconazole to zebrafish at different life stages, improve studies on difenoconazole toxicity to zebrafish, and provide a new perspective for assessing the risk of contaminants to aquatic organisms.

Chemical energy assisted self-assembling of a porphyrin-substituted benzoic acid in complex environments.

Energy input plays a crucial role in the assembling of matter. In our present study, we utilize EDC as a chemical fuel to drive the molecular assembling of POR-COOH. POR-COOH will react with EDC to generate the intermediate POR-COOEDC first, which was well-solvated by solvent molecules. During the subsequent hydrolysis process, EDU and oversaturated POR-COOH molecules at high energy states will be formed and thus allowed the self-assembling of POR-COOH into 2D nanosheets. This chemical energy assisted assembling process could be performed not only under mild conditions with high spatial accuracy but also with high selectivity in complex environments.

Engineering a polymer-encapsulated manganese dioxide/upconversion nanoprobe for FRET-based hydrogen peroxide detection.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is considered a significant biomarker in various diseases and could induce deleterious health problems at irregular physiological concentrations. Therefore, developing a simple, efficient biocompatible nanoprobe for trace amount H2O2 detection with high sensitivity and specificity is of great help for early diagnosis and therapeutics. Herein, we designed amphiphilic poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PMSA)-encapsulated nanoclusters composed of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs) at a specific ratio to produce a near-infrared (NIR) excited luminescent nanoprobe for H2O2 detection. Our results revealed that the MnO2 NPs tended to experience catalytic decomposition when exposed to H2O2, while the UCNPs were retained inside the PSMA encapsulation, causing recovery of the UCNP emission band at 470 nm in accordance with H2O2 concentration. This luminescence recovery was linearly dependent on H2O2 concentrations, yielding a limit of detection (LOD) of 20 nM. The easy-to-interpret H2O2 nanoprobe also proved high selectivity in the presence of other interfering substances, and biocompatibility and water-dispersibility, making it an ideal candidate for real-time detection of disease-related H2O2 in living organisms.

How anaerobic sludge microbiome respond to different concentrations of nitrite, nitrate, and ammonium ions: a comparative analysis.

High concentrations of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate always induce inhibition in anaerobic wastewater treatment. Due to the complexity and vulnerability of the microbial community (especially methanogens) in anaerobic sludge, little is understood about its underlying microbial mechanism under such inhibition. In this study, the shifts of microbial communities in anaerobic sludge under increasing levels of nitrite, nitrate, and ammonium ions were compared. Results show that although half maximal inhibitory concentrations (methanogenesis) were different for nitrite, nitrate, and ammonium ions with EC50 values of 12, 30, and 3000 mg N/L, respectively, bacteria genera Kosmotoga and Brooklawnia dominated in all of the three high-stress inhibitory systems. Network analysis and redundancy analysis (RDA) of the microbial community showed the treatments with nitrate and nitrite ions decreased the modularity of anaerobic microorganisms. RDA showed that specific methanogenic activity was positively related to coenzyme F420 under nitrite inhibition (rp = 0.833, p < 0.05) and closely correlated with viability under nitrate inhibition. Gram-positive and nonmotile Brooklawnia genus showed a negative correlation with physiological characteristics in the ammonia treatments, suggesting its high resistance to ammonia.

Ferric Chloride Controls Citrus Anthracnose by Inducing the Autophagy Activity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes citrus anthracnose, which seriously endangers the pre-harvest production and post-harvest storage of citrus due to its devastating effects on fruit quality, shelf life, and profits. However, although some chemical agents have been proven to effectively control this plant disease, little to no efforts have been made to identify effective and safe anti-anthracnose alternatives. Therefore, this study assessed and verified the inhibitory effect of ferric chloride (FeCl3) against C. gloeosporioides. Our findings demonstrated that FeCl3 could effectively inhibit C. gloeosporioides spore germination. After FeCl3 treatment, the germination rate of the spores in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) groups decreased by 84.04% and 89.0%, respectively. Additionally, FeCl3 could effectively inhibit the pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides in vivo. Optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses demonstrated the occurrence of wrinkled and atrophic mycelia. Moreover, FeCl3 induced autophagosome formation in the test pathogen, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining. Additionally, a positive correlation was identified between the FeCl3 concentration and the damage rate of the fungal sporophyte cell membrane, as the staining rates of the control (untreated), 1/2 MIC, and MIC FeCl3 treatment groups were 1.87%, 6.52%, and 18.15%, respectively. Furthermore, the ROS content in sporophyte cells increased by 3.6%, 29.27%, and 52.33% in the control, 1/2 MIC, and MIC FeCl3 groups, respectively. Therefore, FeCl3 could reduce the virulence and pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides. Finally, FeCl3-handled citrus fruit exhibited similar physiological qualities to water-handled fruit. The results show that FeCl3 may prove to be a good substitute for the treatment of citrus anthracnose in the future.

Combined ecotoxicological effects of different-sized polyethylene microplastics and imidacloprid on the earthworms (Eisenia fetida).

Microplastics (MPs) and pesticides frequently coexist in farmland soil; however, there are relatively few studies on the ecological risk assessment of soil animals attributed to the combined pollution caused by MPs and pesticides. Moreover, the influence of particle size on the combined toxic effects of MPs and pesticides remains poorly understood. In this study, different-sized polyethylene MPs (PE MPs; 10 µm, 500 µm, and 2 mm) were combined with a series of imidacloprid concentrations (IMI; 0.10, 0.50 and 1.00 mg/kg), and earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were exposed to these MP and IMI combinations for 28 d to explore the combined toxic effects and mechanisms. The results showed, compared with IMI or PE MPs exposure alone, the combined exposure of IMI and PE MPs did not substantially increase the acute toxicity of earthworms but significantly inhibited weight increase and induced more serious epidermal damage to earthworms with a size effect; among these 10 µm PE MPs combined with IMI exhibited the strongest toxic effects. In addition, the combined exposure decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and caused oxidative damage in earthworms. Transcriptome results demonstrated most of the treatment combinations affected the ferroptosis pathway, which was further verified by the increase in the total iron content, reactive oxygen species, and malondialdehyde content in earthworms. Combined with the analysis of key signalling pathways, the above results revealed that the combined exposure to IMI and PE MPs showed stronger toxicity to earthworms than exposure to either IMI or MPs alone, which was mediated by the superimposed effect of ferroptosis and oxidative damage. Moreover, the effect was size-dependent, with 10 µm PE MPs combined with IMI exhibiting the strongest toxic effects. This study aimed to provide data to support the ecological risk assessment of soil animals caused by the combined pollution of MPs and coexisting pesticides.