Remediation of Cd contaminated paddy fields by intercropping of the high- and low- Cd-accumulating rice cultivars.

Intercropping cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulators with crops have been widely applied in the remediation of contaminated farmland soils. However, most studies were done on drylands since the majority of the hyperaccumulators are susceptible to the aquatic environment, making the remediation of Cd-contaminated paddy fields particularly difficult. Our study attempts to address the issue by intercropping the high-Cd-accumulating (henceforth, "high-Cd") rice cultivars with the low-Cd-accumulating (henceforth, "low-Cd") ones, and to study the Cd removal, uptake and translocation during the remediation process. The results indicated that intercropping mode with 20-cm row spacing (intercropping-20 treatment) performed better than the that with 30-cm row spacing (intercropping-30 treatment), while intercropping had stronger impact on late rice compared to early rice. In general, the physiological condition of rice was stable under the intercropping-20 treatment, suggesting the growth of rice was not impeded. For late rice, as the intercropping-20 treatment can significantly reduce soil pH and increase the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid extracted Cd (DTPA-extracted Cd) from the rhizosphere soil, Cd accumulated more in the tissues of the high-Cd rice cultivars (H2), and its dry biomass increased. As a result, a drastic improvement in the total Cd removal rate by 38.55 % was noticed. Therefore, the reduction of total Cd concentration in 0-20 cm profile caused by removal, thus it could provide safer soil environment for the growth of low Cd-rice cultivars (L2), leading to a significant drop in the root Cd concentration and safer production of L2. Interestingly, intercropping had no effect on the yield per plant of low-Cd rice cultivars. For early rice, intercropping-20 treatment exerted trivial effects to all aspects. The intercropping-30 treatment has poor representativeness of all indicators because of the large intercropping distance. Our results demonstrate that intercropping of the high-Cd and the low-Cd rice cultivars is a potential mode for Cd remediation in paddy fields.

Response and Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Countermeasures for a COVID-19 Outbreak - Guizhou Province, China, March 2022.

What is already known about this topic?: Many regions in China have recently reported outbreaks of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the Omicron variant. What is added by this report?: Wuchuan County, Guizhou Province reacted quickly and implemented accurate intervention measures to effectively control the outbreak. The susceptible-exposed-infectious-asymptomatic-removed (SEIAR) model was applied to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention measures. What are the implications for public health practice?: Fast response measures should be taken to prevent the spread of outbreaks caused by the Omicron variant.

[Distribution and Seasonal Variations of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter(CDOM) in the Bohai Sea and the North Yellow Sea].

UV-Vis spectral data and a fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) was analyzed for the surface, middle, and bottom layer water samples from the Bohai Sea and North Yellow Sea in April, August, and December of 2016 and February of 2017. Distribution characteristics, influencing factors, and seasonal variation of CDOM in the study area were investigated. The results showed that the horizontal distributions of CDOM are similar in different seasons, showing a characteristic of high levels near shore and low levels in the offshore region. Strong correlations were observed between value a (355) and spectral slope S275-295, indicating that CDOM is significantly affected by land input. According to the vertical distribution, the CDOM level is the lowest in surface seawater in summer due to strong photo-degradation. In February, controlled by primary productivity, the lowest level of CDOM was found in the bottom seawater. From April 2016 to February 2017, the content of CDOM first increased and then decreased. Its concentration was highest in December. Seasonal variations are mainly controlled by land input and on-site production. According to analysis of the spectral slope S275-295, the average molecular weight of CDOM in winter was smallest in February, which was mainly related to the drastic reduction of land-based input at that time. The strong photo-degradation in summer resulted in a small average molecular weight of CDOM.

Isolation and engineering of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa for enhanced cadmium bioremediation.

Although many bacteria are tolerant to heavy metals and play important roles in the immobilization of heavy metals, they cannot always be dependably reproduced under field conditions. In this work, a cadmium (Cd)-resistant bacterium was isolated from a Cd-contaminated oil field and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pse-w). We then determined various plant growth promoting features such as the solubilization of phosphate, and the production of indole-3-acetic acid and siderophores. Lastly, we engineered the strain Pse-w-MT by targeting metallothioneins to the cell surface of Pse-w to immobilize Cd2+ and promote plant growth. Our data revealed that Pse-w exhibited high levels of resistance to Cd2+ (4 mM) and showed various plant growth promoting features. The engineered strain Pse-w-MT was found to adsorb Cd2+ mainly via extracellular deposition, and had an enhanced ability for immobilizing Cd2+ ions from the external media. Furthermore, the inoculation of Cd-polluted soil with Pse-w-MT significantly elevated the shoot and root biomass and leaf chlorophyll content. Similarly, plants inoculated with Pse-w-MT demonstrated markedly lower Cd2+ accumulation in the root and shoot system. It was concluded that plant growth promoting rhizobacteria with a high Cd2+ tolerance was an ideal candidate to be engineered for bioremediation and plant growth promotion against Cd-induced stress.

[One case report of nasal sinus ossification].

A 8-years-old male patient with a bulge of left eye ball for one mongth was hospitalized. The inspection of the patient showed the movement on the left side of the lateral nasal wall and a narrow nasal cavity. Orbital CT showed that the left orbital ethmoid sinus, maxillary sinus cyst, left orbital, sphenoid sinus, nasal cavity were damaged. A resection with the combination of approaches including the left maxillary sinus, the ethmoid sinus, and the sphenoid sinus osteofibroma was performed. 5 days after the operation, the nasal packing material was removed and 7 days after the operation the stiches were removed. The recovery of the patient was satisfied after the operation and no recurrence was observed during one and half years follow up.

Achieving High Yield of Lactic Acid for Antimicrobial Characterization in Cephalosporin-Resistant Lactobacillus by the Co-Expression of the Phosphofructokinase and Glucokinase.

Lactobacilli are universally recognized as probiotics that are widely used in the adjuvant treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as vaginitis and enteritis. With the overuse of antibiotics in recent years, the lactobacilli in the human body are killed, which could disrupt the microecological balance in the human body and affect health adversely. In this work, cephalosporin-resistant Lactobacillus casei RL20 was obtained successfully from the feces of healthy volunteers, which possessed a stable genetic set. However, the shortage of lactic acid (72.0 g/l at 48 h) by fermentation did not meet the requirement for its use in medicine. To increase the production of lactic acid, the functional genes pfk and glk were introduced into the wild strain. A yield of 144.2 g/l lactic acid was obtained in the transgenic L. casei RL20-2 after fermentation for 48 h in 1 L of basic fermentation medium with an initial glucose concentration of 100 g/l and increasing antibacterial activity. These data suggested that L. casei RL20-2 that exhibited a high yield of lactic acid may be a potential probiotic to inhibit the spread of bacterial infectious diseases and may be used for vaginitis therapy.

Oral delivery of Bifidobacterium longum expressing α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone to combat ulcerative colitis.

α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a tridecapeptide derived from pro-opiomelanocortin that exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties by regulating the production of inflammatory mediators. This peptide has been well established in several inflammatory models, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, its extremely short duration in vivo limits its clinical application. To address this limitation, Bifidobacterium was used here as a carrier to deliver α-MSH. We utilized α-MSH-engineered Bifidobacterium against IBD, which is closely linked to immune and intestinal microbiota dysfunction. First, we constructed a Bifidobacterium longum secreting α-MSH (B. longum-α-MSH). We then tested the recombinant α-MSH expression and determined its bioactivity in HT-29 cells. To assess its effectiveness, B. longum-α-MSH was used against an ulcerative colitis (UC) model in rats induced by dextran sulfate sodium. The data showed that α-MSH expression in B. longum-α-MSH was effective, and its biological activity was similar to the synthesized one. This UC model experiment indicated that B. longum-α-MSH successfully colonized the intestinal gut, expressed bioactive α-MSH and had a significant anti-inflammatory effect. The results demonstrate the feasibility of preventing IBD by using B. longum-α-MSH.

Oral Bifidobacterium longum expressing alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone to fight experimental colitis.

The oral delivery of peptides is a highly attractive treatment approach. However, the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract limits its application. Here, we utilize Bifidobacterium as a delivery system to orally deliver a potent anti-inflammatory but short duration peptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) against experimental colitis. The aim of our study was to facilitate the efficient oral delivery of α-MSH. We designed a vector of pBDMSH and used it to construct a Bifidobacterium longum expressing α-MSH. We then determined the bioactivity of recombinant Bifidobacterium in lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory models of HT-29 cells. Finally, we used Bifidobacterium expressing α-MSH against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis mice. Results based on the myeloperoxidase activity, the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 and the histological injury of colon tissue reveal recombinant Bifidobacterium was efficient in attenuating DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, suggesting an alternative way to use Bifidobacterium as a delivery system to deliver α-MSH for DSS-induced ulcerative colitis therapy.

HIV-1 Coreceptor CXCR4 Antagonists Promote Clonal Expansion of Viral Epitope-Specific CD8+ T Cells During Acute SIV Infection in Rhesus Monkeys In Vivo.

BACKGROUND: The underlying molecular mechanisms and the kinetics of T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire selection during administration of CXCR4 or CCR5 inhibitors in infection of AIDS viruses in vivo have remained largely unexplored. Viral epitope-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes play a dominant role in the control of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). We hypothesized that blockade of CXCR4 or CCR5 might influence the clonal expansion of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells, contributing to antiviral immune responses in vivo. METHODS: We measured frequencies of the dominant epitope p11C-specific CD8(+) T cells and analyzed the TCR repertoire of those cells in SIV-infected rhesus monkeys treated by CXCR4 or CCR5 inhibitors and vMIP-II, which binds multiple chemokine receptors. RESULTS: A significantly increase in the levels of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells was observed after blockade of CXCR4 or CCR5 compared with untreated control groups. Those CD8(+) T cells exhibited selected usage of TCR Vß families and complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) segments. The clonal expansion of distinct Vß populations could efficiently inhibit SIV replication in vitro, and CXCR4 inhibitor induced more expansion of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells than CCR5 antagonist (P < 0.01), whereas vMIP-II treatment showed the most marked augmentation of p11C-specific CD8(+) T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Antagonists of HIV coreceptors, particularly CXCR4, play an important role in the clonal expansion of SIV epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells in vivo, thus inhibitors of chemokine receptors such as CXCR4 or CCR5 may contribute to the ability of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells to inhibit SIV or HIV infection.

[Effects of phosphorous fertilizers on phytoavailability of cadmium in its contaminated soil and related mechanisms].

To explore an effective measure to ensure the safety of rice quality in cadmium (Cd)-contaminated farmland, a pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effects of of low Cd content (Cd < 0.2 mg x kg(-1)) phosphorous fertilizers with an application rate of 0.10 or 0.20 g P2O5 x kg(-1) on the phytoavailability of Cd in its contaminated p add y soil, with the related mechanisms discussed. Compared with no phosphorous fertilization, applying 0.10 P2O5 x kg(-1) of calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP) and monopotassium phosphate (MKP) increased soil pH and decreased soil available Cd content significantly, and CMP and calcium superphosphate (CSP) decreased the Cd accumulation in rice significantly. When the application rate was up to 0.20 g P2O5 x kg(-1), calcium hydrogen phosphate (CHP) increased the soil pH and decreased the soil available Cd content significantly, and CMP, MKP, and CHP decreased the DTPA-extractable soil Cd content by 11.8%, 9.8%, and 11.8%, and the NH4 OAc-extractable soil Cd content by 9.5%, 7.1%, and 7.1%, respectively. All test phosphorous fertilizers could significantly decrease the stem and leaf Cd contents, with a decrement of 24.9%-50.8%, and except CHP, the others could significantly decrease the Cd content of brown rice. With the application CMP and CSP, the Cd content of brown rice was close to the National Hygienic Standard for Grains (GB 2715-2005). Among the test phosphorous fertilizers, those can increase soil pH (CMP, MKP, and CHP) could significantly decrease the availability of soil Cd significantly, and those containing calcium (CMP and CSP) were more effective in decreasing the Cd accumulation in rice. The efficiency of the phosphorous fertilizers was mainly determined by their chemical properties. Alkaline calcium-containing phosphorous fertilizers were more effective in decreasing the Cd absorption and accumulation in rice plant in Cd-contaminated farmland.

[Effects and mechanism of alkaline wastes application and zinc fertilizer addition on Cd bioavailability in contaminated soil].

The effects of paper mill sludge, red mud and zinc fertilizer addition on remediation of acid cadmium contaminated paddy soil were studied in a pot experiment, and their beneficial effects were verified in a field experiment, by using lime as comparison. The pot experiment results showed that a single application (2 g x kg(-1)) of lime, paper mill sludge or red mud increased soil pH significantly. Compared with no applying alkaline substances, the soil exchangeable Ca content was increased by 33.1%-76.0% at 7 days after applying alkaline substances and 31.0%-78.3% at 30 days after rice transplanting, respectively. The soil available Cd content was significantly decreased by 38.4%-45.0% at 7 days after the three alkaline substances applications, and was decreased by 37.4%-52.9% and 33.2%-38.7% at 30 days and 60 days after rice transplanting, respectively. The Cd content in rice root and brown rice was decreased by 24.0%-48.5% and 26.3%-44.7%, respectively. With equal applications of lime, paper mill sludge and red mud, the effects on increase of soil pH and decrease in Cd accumulation by rice was lime > red mud > paper mill sludge. Compared with a single application (2 g x kg(-1)) of paper mill sludge or red mud, Cd accumulation decreased significantly following the application of zinc fertilizer (0.2 g x kg(-1)) field experimental results were similar to the pot experiment that Cd accumulation apparently declined in the first and second crops (late rice and autumn rape) following the application of paper mill sludge, red mud and addition of zinc fertilizer. The Cd content in brown rice and rape seeds was decreased by 27.1-65.1% and 16.4%-41.6%, respectively, compared with no alkaline substances application. The Cd content in brown rice reached the National Hygienic Standard for Grains (GB 2715-2005). Therefore, combined application of paper mill sludge or red mud with zinc fertilizer was a feasible method to remediate acid cadmium contaminated paddy soil. Rice quality was guaranteed by determination of rational amount of alkaline wastes and a proportion of zinc fertilizer which was in accord with soil Cd contamination level and chemical properties, etc.

[Carbon sequestration effects of rice straw return in double season paddy field in Southern China].

In a long-term site-specific experiment with rice straw return (RSR) and in a short-term experiment with different RSR modes, this paper studied the effects of RSR on the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, methane emission, and net carbon sink in a double season paddy field. RSR increased the SOC content, and the annual increasing rate of soil carbon sink in plow layer (0-15 cm) under long-term RSR was 0.07 t C x hm(-2) x a(-1). With the increasing amount of RSR, the apparent SOC transformation rate decreased. RSR promoted the methane emission from the paddy field significantly, and the methane emission flux in treatment RSR plus NPK during early- and late rice growth seasons increased by 75.0% and 251.5% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with that in treatment NPK. The methane emission increased with the increasing amount of RSR. Under the similar tillage mode and rice yield, the rice straw returned had the similar apparent methane transformation rate. Considering the soil carbon sequestration and the net carbon sink after methane emission in the paddy field comprehensively, treatment RSR plus NPK had significant negative effect on the carbon sink which was basically approached to the bio-fixation of carbon by rice and increased by 158.3%, as compared with treatment NPK. Among different RSR modes, rice straw mulching plus no tillage decreased soil methane emission significantly, with the net carbon sink decreased by 50.9% as compared with the treatment high stubble plus tillage, and benefited the high and stable yielding of rice.