Photocatalytic removal of ammonia nitrogen from water: investigations and challenges for enhanced activity.

Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N/NH4+-N) serves as a crucial chemical in biochemistry and fertilizer synthesis. However, it is also a toxic compound, posing risks from eutrophication to direct threats to human health. Ammonia nitrogen pollution pervades water sources, presenting a significant challenge. While several water treatment technologies exist, biological treatment, though widely used, has its limitations. Hence, green and efficient photocatalytic technology emerges as a promising solution. However, current monolithic semiconductor photocatalysts prove inadequate in controlling ammonia nitrogen pollution. Therefore, this review focuses on enhancing semiconductor photocatalysts' efficiency through modification, discussing four mechanisms: (1) mono-ionic modification; (2) metallic and non-metallic modification; (3) construct heterojunctions; and (4) enhancement of synergistic effects of multiple technologies. The influencing factors of photocatalytic ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency are also explored. Moreover, the review outlines the limitations of current photocatalytic pollution treatment and discusses future development trends and research challenges. Currently, the main products of ammonia nitrogen removal include NO3-, NO2-, and N2. To mitigate secondary pollution, the green process of converting ammonia nitrogen to N2 using photocatalysis emerges as a fundamental approach for future treatment. Overall, this review aims to deepen understanding of photocatalysis in ammonia nitrogen treatment and guide researchers toward widespread implementation of this endeavor.

Whole-genome analysis of Escherichia coli isolated from wild Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis).

Background: Escherichia coli is an important intestinal flora, of which pathogenic E. coli is capable of causing many enteric and extra-intestinal diseases. Antibiotics are essential for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by pathogenic E. coli; however, with the widespread use of antibiotics, drug resistance in E. coli has become particularly serious, posing a global threat to human, animal, and environmental health. While the drug resistance and pathogenicity of E. coli carried by tigers and leopards in captivity have been studied intensively in recent years, there is an extreme lack of information on E. coli in these top predators in the wild environment. Methods: Whole genome sequencing data of 32 E. coli strains collected from the feces of wild Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica, n = 24) and North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis, n = 8) were analyzed in this article. The multi-locus sequence types, serotypes, virulence and resistance genotypes, plasmid replicon types, and core genomic SNPs phylogeny of these isolates were studied. Additionally, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed on these E. coli isolates. Results: Among the E. coli isolates studied, 18 different sequence types were identified, with ST939 (21.9%), ST10 (15.6%), and ST3246 (9.4%) being the most prevalent. A total of 111 virulence genes were detected, averaging about 54 virulence genes per sample. They contribute to invasion, adherence, immune evasion, efflux pump, toxin, motility, stress adaption, and other virulence-related functions of E. coli. Sixty-eight AMR genes and point mutations were identified. Among the detected resistance genes, those belonging to the efflux pump family were the most abundant. Thirty-two E. coli isolates showed the highest rate of resistance to tetracycline (14/32; 43.8%), followed by imipenem (4/32; 12.5%), ciprofloxacin (3/32; 9.4%), doxycycline (2/32; 6.3%), and norfloxacin (1/32; 3.1%). Conclusions: Our results suggest that E. coli isolates carried by wild Amur tigers and North China leopards have potential pathogenicity and drug resistance.

Reconstruction of Highly-Defective MgO and Exceptional Photochemical Activity on CO2 Upgrade in Aqueous Solution.

Defects on metal oxide have attracted extensive attention in photo-/electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. Herein, porous MgO nanosheets with abundant oxygen vacancies (Vo s) and three-coordinated oxygen atoms (O3c ) at corners are reported, which reconstruct into defective MgCO3 ·3H2 O exposing rich surface unsaturated -OH groups and vacancies to initiate photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO and CH4 . In consecutive 7-cycle tests (each run for 6 h) in pure water, CO2 conversion keeps stable. The total production of CH4 and CO attains ≈367 µmol gcata -1 h-1 . The selectivity of CH4 gradually increases from ≈3.1% (1st run) to ≈24.5% (4th run) and then remains unchanged under UV-light irradiation. With triethanolamine (3.3 vol.%) as the sacrificial agent, the total production of CO and CH4 production rapidly increases to ≈28 000 µmol gcata -1 in 2 h reaction. Photoluminescence spectra reveal that Vo s induces the formation of donor bands to promote charge carrier seperation. A series of trace spectra and theoretical analysis indicate Mg-Vo sites in the derived MgCO3 ·3H2 O are active centers, which play a crucial role in modulating CO2 adsorption and triggering photoreduction reactions. These intriguing results on defective alkaline earth oxides as potential photocatalysts in CO2 conversion may spur some exciting and novel findings in this field.

Exploration of Parascaris species in three different Equus populations in China.

BACKGROUND: The roundworms, Parascaris spp., are important nematode parasites of foals and were historically model organisms in the field of cell biology, leading to many important discoveries. According to karyotype, ascarids in Equus are commonly divided into Parascaris univalens (2n = 2) and Parascaris equorum (2n = 4). METHODS: Here, we performed morphological identification, karyotyping and sequencing of roundworms from three different hosts (horses, zebras and donkeys). Phylogenetic analysis was performed to study the divergence of these ascarids based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. RESULTS: Karyotyping, performed on eggs recovered from worms of three different Equus hosts in China, showed two different karyotypes (2n = 2 in P. univalens collected from horses and zebras; 2n = 6 in Parascaris sp. collected from donkeys). There are some differences in the terminal part of the spicula between P. univalens (concave) and Parascaris sp. (rounded). Additionally, it was found that the egg's chitinous layer was significantly thicker in Parascaris sp. (> 5 µm) than P. univalens (< 5 µm) (F(2537) = 1967, P < 0.01). Phylogenetic trees showed that the sequences of Parascaris from Equus hosts were divided into two distinct lineages based on sequences of the COI and ITS. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing the differences in roundworms collected from three different Equus hosts, this study describes a Parascaris species (Parascaris sp.) with six chromosomes in donkeys. It is worth noting that the thickness of the chitinous layer in the Parascaris egg may serve as a diagnostic indicator to distinguish the two roundworms (P. univalens and Parascaris sp.). The Parascaris sp. with six chromosomes in donkeys in the present study may be a species of P. trivalens described in 1934, but the possibility that it is a new Parascaris species cannot be ruled out. Both karyotyping and molecular analysis are necessary to solve the taxonomic problems in Parascaris species.

Sp1-mediated miR-193b suppresses atopic dermatitis by regulating HMGB1.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease. Keratinocyte dysfunction plays a central role in AD development. MicroRNA is a novel player in many inflammatory and immune skin diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential function and regulatory mechanism of miR-193b in AD. Inflamed human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were established by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/interferon (IFN)-γ stimulation. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay, while the cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry. The cytokine levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The interaction between Sp1, miR-193b, and HMGB1 was analyzed using dual luciferase reporter and/or chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Our results revealed that miR-193b upregulation enhanced the proliferation of TNF-α/IFN-γ-treated keratinocytes and repressed inflammatory injury. miR-193b negatively regulated high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression by directly targeting HMGB1. Furthermore, HMGB1 knockdown promoted keratinocyte proliferation and inhibited inflammatory injury by repressing nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activation. During AD progression, HMGB1 overexpression abrogated increase of keratinocyte proliferation and repression of inflammatory injury caused by miR-193b overexpression. Moreover, transcription factor Sp1 was identified as the biological partner of the miR-193b promoter in promoting miR-193b expression. Therefore, Sp1 upregulation promotes keratinocyte proliferation and represses inflammatory injury during AD development via promoting miR-193b expression and repressing HMGB1/NF-κB activation.

Pho1 cooperates with DPE1 to control short maltooligosaccharide mobilization during starch synthesis initiation in rice endosperm.

KEY MESSAGE: Plastidial α-glucan phosphorylase is a key factor that cooperates with plastidial disproportionating enzyme to control short maltooligosaccharide mobilization during the initiation process of starch molecule synthesis in developing rice endosperm. Storage starch synthesis is essential for grain filling. However, little is known about how cereal endosperm controls starch synthesis initiation. One of core events for starch synthesis initiation is short maltooligosaccharide (MOS) mobilization consisting of long MOS primer production and excess MOS breakdown. By mutant analyses and biochemical investigations, we present here functional identifications of plastidial α-glucan phosphorylase (Pho1) and disproportionating enzyme (DPE1) during starch synthesis initiation in rice (Oryza sativa) endosperm. Pho1 deficiency impaired MOS mobilization, triggering short MOS accumulation and starch synthesis reduction during early seed development. The mutant seeds differed significantly in MOS level and starch content at 15 days after flowering and exhibited diverse endosperm phenotypes during mid-late seed development: ranging from pseudonormal to shrunken (Shr), severely or excessively Shr. The level of DPE1 was almost normal in the PN seeds but significantly reduced in the Shr seeds. Overexpression of DPE1 in pho1 resulted in plump seeds only. DPE1 deficiency had no obvious effects on MOS mobilization. Knockout of DPE1 in pho1 completely blocked MOS mobilization, resulting in severely and excessively Shr seeds only. These findings show that Pho1 cooperates with DPE1 to control short MOS mobilization during starch synthesis initiation in rice endosperm.

Metallochaperone OsHIPP9 is involved in the retention of cadmium and copper in rice.

Metallochaperones are a unique class of proteins that play crucial roles in metal homoeostasis and detoxification. However, few metallochaperones have been functionally characterised in rice. Heterologous expression of Heavy metal-associated Isoprenylated Plant Protein 9 (OsHIPP9), a metallochaperone, altered yeast tolerance to cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu). We investigated the physiological role of OsHIPP9 in rice. OsHIPP9 was primarily expressed in the root exodermis and xylem region of enlarged vascular bundles (EVB) at nodes. KO of OsHIPP9 increased the Cd concentrations of the upper nodes and panicle, but decreased Cd in expanded leaves. KO of OsHIPP9 decreased Cu uptake and accumulation in rice. Constitutive OX of OsHIPP9 increased Cd and Cu accumulation in aboveground tissues and brown rice. OsHIPP9 showed binding capacity for Cd and Cu. We propose that OsHIPP9 has dual metallochaperone roles, chelating Cd in the xylem region of EVB for Cd retention in the nodes and chelating Cu in rice roots to aid Cu uptake.

Seroprevalence and risk factor analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a worldwide zoonosis. The aim of the present study was to detect the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors among Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China. Blood samples from 112 Siberian tigers and 22 giant pandas were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) against T. gondii by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 7.14% among Siberian tigers and 9.09% among giant pandas. No risk factors were found to be significantly associated with seroprevalence (P > 0.05). This is the first study to evaluate T. gondii infection in Siberian tigers on a large scale in China, and it also updates the information regarding the positivity rate of T. gondii infection among giant pandas in China.

Cytosolic disproportionating enzyme2 is essential for pollen germination and pollen tube elongation in rice.

Degradation of starch accumulated in pollen provides energy and cellular materials for pollen germination and pollen tube elongation. Little is known about the function of cytosolic disproportionating enzyme2 (DPE2) in rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we obtained several DPE2 knockout mutant (dpe2) lines via genomic editing and found that the mutants grew and developed normally but with greatly reduced seed-setting rates. Reciprocal crosses between dpe2 and wild-type plants demonstrated that the mutant was male sterile. In vitro and in vivo examinations revealed that the pollen of the dpe2 mutant developed and matured normally but was defective in germination and elongation. DPE2 deficiency increased maltose content in pollen, whereas it reduced the levels of starch, glucose, fructose, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Exogenous supply of glucose or ATP to the germination medium partially rescued the pollen germination defects of dpe2. The expression of cytosolic phosphorylase2 (Pho2) increased significantly in dpe2 pollen. Knockout of Pho2 resulted in a semi-sterile phenotype. We failed to obtain homozygous dpe2 pho2 double mutant lines. Our results demonstrate that maltose catalyzed by DPE2 to glucose is the main energy source for pollen germination and pollen tube elongation, while Pho2 might partially compensate for deficiency of DPE2.

The genetic characteristics of Sarcoptes scabiei from Chinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii) and goral (Naemorhedus goral arnouxianus) compared with other mites from different hosts and geographic locations using ITS2 and cox1 sequences.

Scabies is a common parasitic disease in many mammalian species, caused by the infestation of Sarcoptes scabiei. There is no consistent conclusion on whether Sarcoptes mites from different hosts or geographic locations have apparent genetic divergence. In this study, we collected and morphologically identified S. scabiei from Chinese serow and goral, and we described the genetic diversity of S. scabiei and other mites based on phylogenetic analyses of the ITS2 and cox1 sequence fragments, including data available in GenBank. The mites isolated from Chinese serow and goral were S. scabiei, and they were morphologically similar. The phylogenetic trees and haplotype networks showed that S. scabiei from other locations worldwide did not cluster according to host divergence or geographical distribution. Additionally, the Fst values were - 0.224 to 0.136 and - 0.045 to 1 between S. scabiei from different hosts, including humans and domestic and wild animals, based on partial ITS and cox1 sequences. Worldwide S. scabiei samples formed three clusters (with H2, H5, and H12 at their centers) in the ITS and one cluster (with C9 at the center) in the cox1 haplotype phylogenetic network. The S. scabiei collected from Chinese serow and goral were morphologically similar and had the same genotype. A study on the genetic characteristics of S. scabiei from Chinese serow and goral together with other mites from different hosts and geographic locations around the world showed no obvious divergence. These findings indicated that scabies likely is a zoonotic disease and that the global prevalence of scabies is probably related to the worldwide trade of domestic animals.

Study on Lgr5 expression in pancreas tissues and organoids by lineage tracing.

Leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5(Lgr5) is widely expressed in multiple tissues and can be used as a stem cell marker in a variety of epithelial organs (including the small intestine, colon, stomach and hair follicles). In this study, we used Lgr5-CreERT2+/- and Rosa26-mTmG hybridized transgenic mice to investigate the expression of Lgr5 in both ductal epithelial cells during pancreas development and in vitro cultured pancreatic duct organoids. After induction with Tamoxifen, the Lgr5 expression was analyzed by detecting the enhanced green fluorescence protein in the pancreatic tissue sections in adult animals and embryos at different developmental stages. The results showed that Lgr5 expression was detected neither in adult pancreatic duct epithelia nor in the embryonic pancreatic tissues at day 15.5 or in newborn mice. However, when 4-hydroxy-Tamoxifen was supplemented to the culture medium, EGFP could be detected in the primary pancreatic duct organoids from Lgr5-Cre ERT2+/-; Rosa26-mTmG mice. These results suggested that Lgr5 was not expressed in adult and embryonic pancreatic tissues; but could be expressed in the cultured pancreas ductal organoids. The research lays the foundation for exploring specific gene expression patterns in stem/progenitor cells during pancreatic development.

First isolation of Trichuris from Chinese serow, Capricornis milneedwardsii (Cetartiodactyla: Caprinae).

Whipworms are soil-transmitted helminths that can infect a variety of animals. A Chinese serow possibly infected by whipworms was found during a wildlife disease surveillance project in Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China, in 2021. As convergent evolution is common in coinhabiting parasites, a mitochondrial gene sequence (cox1) and ribosomal gene sequence (ITS1) were used to identify species similar to Trichuris from Chinese serow. The phylogenetic trees and genetic distances of ten Trichuris samples from a Chinese serow together with other Trichuris spp. that have been previously reported were analysed based on the cox1 and ITS1 sequences. The combined results of the phylogenetic tree and genetic distances based on cox1 gene showed that the whipworms in Chinese serow are T. skrjabini. However, the whipworms in the present study were divided into two apparent clades in the phylogenic trees constructed by the cox1 sequences (Clades A and B) and the ITS1 sequences (Clades C and D). In addition, the Fst and Nm values were 0.82 and 0.23 between Clade A and Clade B for the cox1 gene, and 0.30 and 0.45 between Clade C and Clade D for the ITS1 sequences; both indicators showed low gene flow among the clades. Therefore, the genetic population structure of T. skrjabini was illustrated.

DMSO as a C1 Source for [2 + 2 + 1] Pyrazole Ring Construction via Metal-Free Annulation with Enaminones and Hydrazines.

A cascade reaction between enaminones, hydrazines, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted pyrazoles catalyzed by molecular iodine in the presence of Selectfluor has been realized. DMSO plays a dual role as the C1 source and the reaction medium. In addition, the synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrazoles using aldehydes as alternative C1 building blocks has also been achieved.

Investigation of the Efficacy of Pyrantel Pamoate, Mebendazole, Albendazole, and Ivermectin against Baylisascaris schroederi in Captive Giant Pandas.

Baylisascaris schroederi is one of the main health risks threatening both wild and captive giant pandas. The administration of anthelmintics is a common method to effectively control B. schroederi infection, but there is a notable risk of anthelmintic resistance (AR) after long-term, constant use of anthelmintics. Four anthelmintics-pyrantel pamoate (PYR), mebendazole (MBZ), albendazole (ABZ), and ivermectin (IVM)-were each administered separately at intervals of 2 months to 22 enrolled giant pandas. The fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions were calculated by both the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Bayesian mathematical model and the arithmetic mean. AR was assessed based on the criteria recommended by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP). The estimated prevalence of B. schroederi infection was 34.1%. After treatment with PYR, MBZ, ABZ, and IVM, it was determined that MBZ, ABZ, and IVM were efficacious against B. schroederi, while nematodes were suspected to be resistant to PYR according to the fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions.

OsFes1C, a potential nucleotide exchange factor for OsBiP1, is involved in the ER and salt stress responses.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control system monitors protein homeostasis and relies on the activity of many molecular chaperones. Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) is a major ER luminal chaperone that is involved in most functions of the organelle. BiP activity is tightly regulated by nucleotide exchange factors (NEFs). However, information about NEFs in plants is limited. We obtained a Fes1-like protein (OsFes1C) through isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation-based proteomics analysis of ER-stressed rice (Oryza sativa) seeds. Unlike its homologs in yeast and mammals, which are located in the cytosol and respond to heat stress, OsFes1C is an ER membrane protein and responds to ER and salt stresses. OsFes1C interacts directly with OsBiP1 and the interaction is inhibited by ATP but promoted by ADP, suggesting that OsFes1C acts as a potential NEF of OsBiP1 in vivo. Overexpression or suppression of OsFes1C led to hypersensitivity to ER stress and affected the growth of rice. Furthermore, we established that OsFes1C directly interacts with a putative salt response protein and is involved in the salt response. Taken together, our study marks an important step toward elucidating the functional mechanisms of an identified ER stress response factor in rice.

Influence of NQO1 Polymorphisms on Warfarin Maintenance Dose: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (rs1800566 and rs10517).

This meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of NQO1 polymorphism on the warfarin maintenance dosage. Using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for eligible studies published prior to July 7, 2021. The required data were extracted, and experts were consulted when necessary. Review Manager Version 5.4 software was used to analyze the relationship between NQO1 polymorphisms and the warfarin maintenance dosage. Four articles involving 757 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Patients who were NQO1 rs10517 G carriers (AG carriers or GG carriers) required a 48% higher warfarin maintenance dose than those who were AA carriers. Patients with NQO1 rs1800566 CT carriers required a 13% higher warfarin dose than those who were CC carriers, with no associations observed with the other comparisons of the NQO1 rs1800566 genotypes. However, the results obtained by comparing the NQO1 rs1800566 genotypes require confirmation, as significant changes in the results were found in sensitivity analyses. Our meta-analysis suggests that the NQO1 rs10517and NQO1 rs1800566 variant statuses affect the required warfarin maintenance dose.

Molecular Identification and Antibacterial Activity Analysis of Blue Fox (Vulpes lagopus) ß-Defensins 108 and 122.

The blue fox (Vulpes lagopus), a fur-bearing animal, is an important component of the breeding industry in China. Semen quality is a key factor for the reproductive process and the breeding effectiveness of the farmed blue fox. However, bacterial contamination in semen samples utilized in artificial fertilization is very common. The ß-defensins, a class of important antimicrobial peptides in mammals, could protect the reproductive system of male animals from bacterial invasion, maintain the stability of the genital tract microenvironment and improve semen quality. In this study, molecular cloning and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to analyze the protein structure and function of blue fox ß-defensin 108 (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensin 108, vBD108) and 122 (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensin 122, vBD122). To evaluate the bacteriostatic effect of recombinant vBDs (Vulpes lagopus beta-defensins) protein, varying concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 µg/mL) were taken to evaluate the effects on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at different times (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 h). The results showed that vBD108 and vBD122 existed in different forms in protein structure and had antibacterial activity. Both proteins, at 50 µg/mL, had efficacious bacteriostatic activity. This study shows that recombinant vBD108 and vBD122 proteins have good antibacterial activity in vitro. This implies a potential role in improving semen quality and hygienic measures in the process of artificial insemination as an extender of semen dilution with antibacterial activity.

Brucellosis of unknown origin with haemophagocytic syndrome: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease caused by Brucella species, which is a leading zoonotic disease worldwide. Most patients with brucellosis have a clear infection source; however, our case had a rare presentation of secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis without any epidemiological history. CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a fever of unknown origin. After laboratory examinations, such as blood culture and bone marrow biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with brucellosis and secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. After antibiotic therapy, the patient was afebrile, and his haemogram recovered to normal, after which he was discharged. CONCLUSION: Brucellosis cannot be excluded in patients with clinically unexplained fever, even in those without epidemiologic history.

Ixazomib inhibits myeloma cell proliferation by targeting UBE2K.

PURPOSE: Ixazomib is a selective, effective, and reversible inhibitor of 20S proteasome and is approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 (UBE2K) is involved in the synthesis of K48-linked ubiquitin chains and is the target of certain drugs used for the treatment of tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between ixazomib and UBE2K in myeloma cells. METHODS: We used CCK-8 and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide kit to detect the effects of ixazomib on survival and apoptosis of RPMI-8226 and U-266 myeloma cell lines. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to detect the change in gene and protein expression levels of myeloma cells treated with ixazomib. Furthermore, the regulatory effects of ixazomib on UBE2K and its downstream targets were investigated following the overexpression of UBE2K. RESULTS: In myeloma cells, ixazomib decreased cell survival and increased apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Ixazomib significantly increased the expression of HIST1H2BD, MNAT1, NEK3, and TARS2, while decreasing the expression of HSPA1B and UBE2K. In addition, ixazomib inhibited the proliferation of myeloma cells, blocked cell cycle, induced cell apoptosis, and increased the production of reactive oxygen species by inhibiting UBE2K expression. Lastly, ixazomib regulates mitosis- and apoptosis-related genes by lowering UBE2K expression. CONCLUSION: In summary, ixazomib leads to impaired proliferation of myeloma cells by targeting UBE2K.

Declined expressing mRNA of beta-defensin 108 from epididymis is associated with decreased sperm motility in blue fox (Vulpes lagopus).

BACKGROUND: Fecundity is important for farm blue fox (Vulpes lagopus), who with asthenospermia have be a problem in some of farms in China. A key symptom of asthenospermia is decreased sperm motility. The decreased secreting beta-defensin108 (vBD108) of blue fox is speculated be related to asthenospermia. To clarify this idea, the mRNA expression of vBD108 in testis and epididymis of blue foxes with asthenospermia were detected and compared to the healthy one. The antibody was prepared and analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The vBD108 in testis and epididymis was found both in blue fox with asthenospermia and healthy group by the method of immunohistochemistry. The expression of vBD108 mRNA in testes (P < 0.05) and epididymal corpus (P < 0.0001) in asthenospermia group was lower than that in healthy group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that vBD108 deficiency may related to blue fox asthenospermia. Meanwhile, the study on the blue fox vBD108 provides a hopeful direction to explore the pathogenesis of blue fox asthenospermia in the future.