The origin, dissemination, and molecular networks of HIV-1 CRF65_cpx strain in Hainan Island, China.

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 CRF65_cpx strain carries drug-resistant mutations, which raises concerns about its potential for causing virologic failure. The CRF65_cpx ranks as the fourth most prevalent on Hainan Island, China. However, the origin and molecular epidemiology of CRF65_cpx strains in this area remain unclear. This study aims to estimate the spatial origins and dissemination patterns of HIV-1 CRF65_cpx in this specific region. METHODS: Between 2018 and 2021, a total of 58 pol sequences of the CRF65_cpx were collected from HIV-positive patients on Hainan Island. The available CRF65_cpx pol sequences from public databases were compiled. The HIV-TRACE tool was used to construct transmission networks. The evolutionary history of the introduction and dissemination of HIV-1 CRF65_cpx on Hainan Island were analyzed using phylogenetic analysis and the Bayesian coalescent-based approach. RESULTS: Among the 58 participants, 89.66% were men who have sex with men (MSM). The median age was 25 years, and 43.10% of the individuals had a college degree or above. The results indicated that 39 (67.24%) sequences were interconnected within a single transmission network. A consistent expansion was evident from 2019 to 2021, with an incremental annual addition of four sequences into the networks. Phylodynamic analyses showed that the CRF65_cpx on Hainan Island originated from Beijing (Bayes factor, BF = 17.4), with transmission among MSM on Hainan Island in 2013.2 (95%HPD: 2012.4, 2019.5), subsequently leading to an outbreak. Haikou was the local center of the CRF65_cpx epidemic. This strain propagated from Haikou to other locations, including Sanya (BF > 1000), Danzhou (BF = 299.3), Chengmai (BF = 27.0) and Tunchang (BF = 16.3). The analyses of the viral migration patterns between age subgroups and risk subgroups revealed that the viral migration directions were from "25-40 years old" to "17-24 years old" (BF = 14.6) and to "over 40 years old" (BF = 17.6), and from MSM to heterosexuals (BF > 1000) on Hainan Island. CONCLUSION: Our analyses elucidate the transmission dynamics of CRF65_cpx strain on Hainan Island. Haikou is identified as the potential hotspot for CRF65_cpx transmission, with middle-aged MSM identified as the key population. These findings suggest that targeted interventions in hotspots and key populations may be more effective in controlling the HIV epidemic.

Multiomics analysis of metabolic heterogeneity in cervical cancer cell lines with or without HPV.

Metabolomics analysis revealed the metabolic heterogeneity of cervical cancer (CC) cell lines C33A and CaSki, and their molecular mechanisms were explored. Using the modified Bligh-Dyer method, the endogenous metabolites of C33A and CaSki cells were divided into polar and nonpolar fractions. The metabolites were analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Then, the differential metabolites were screened by combining multivariate statistical analysis and volcano maps, and functional enrichment and pathway analysis of the differential metabolites were performed. Finally, association analysis was carried out in combination with transcriptomics, and the important differential metabolisms were experimentally verified by real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and oil red staining. The results showed that between the C33A and CaSki cell lines, there were significant differences in amino acids, nucleotides and lipids, such as in threonine, arachidonic acid and hypoxanthine, in the metabolic pathways. These compounds could be used as markers of differences in cellular metabolism. The heterogeneity of lipid metabolism accounted for 87.8%, among which C33A cells exhibited higher contents of fatty acid polar derivatives, while CaSki cells showed higher contents of free fatty acids and glycerides. Based on correlation analysis of the above metabolic differences in HPV pathways as well as lipid metabolism-related genes, p53 and the genes involved in lipid metabolism pathways, such as Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma(PPARG) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), are relevant to the metabolic heterogeneity of the cells. The differential expression of some genes was validated by RT-qPCR. CaSki cells showed significantly higher glyceride levels than that of C33A cells, as verified by oil red O staining and glyceride assays. The above results showed that the metabolomic differences between C33A and CaSki cells were relatively obvious, especially in lipid metabolism, which might be related to the decreased expression of PPARG and p53 caused by HPV E6. Further studies on the molecular mechanism of lipid metabolism heterogeneity in cervical cancer cell lines with or without HPV could provide a new reference for the development of CC and individualized treatments of tumour patients.

Interventional effect of processing temperature on anti-angiogenesis of Coptis chinensis and screening of active components by UPLC-MS/MS on quail chick chorioallantoic membrane model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Coptis chinensis Franch. (CC), as a commonly used heat-clearing and toxin-resolving traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has gained increased attention for its anti-tumor activity. However, little is known about the anti-tumor angiogenesis effect of CC and its possible bioactive components. Also, it has been shown that temperature affects the quality of CC, albeit whether and how it affects the anti-angiogenic activity of CC is currently unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the processing temperatures (40, 60, 80, 120, 140, 150, 160 and 200 °C) at which CC has the strongest anti-angiogenic effect and speculate the possible bioactive components. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The q-CAM model was constructed to explore the anti-angiogenesis agents of CC. The angiogenesis inhibition effects of CC samples at different processing temperatures and its seven alkaloids were determined based on morphological observation and vascular area proportion analysis. UPLC-MS/MS was employed to screen the potent active components of CC on anti-angiogenesis. RESULTS: All the intervention by CC at different processing temperatures and its seven alkaloids could inhibit angiogenesis on q-CAM vessels, as evidenced by a poor vasular development in morphological observation and a low vascular area proportion in vascular quantitative analysis, most evident in CC processed at 40 °C and palmatine. LC-MS revealed that palmatine displayed strongest inhibitory effect on q-CAM vessels with a high absorption due to its stable structure. And the maternal nucleus transformation phenomenon of CC alkaloids was found in the quail embryo metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The q-CAM models in conjunction with the UPLC-MS/MS technique could be a useful tool for assessing tumor angiogenesis and screening tumor-targeted medicines. Processing temperature can affect the anti-angiogenesis effect of CC because of its function on the content of alkaloids, and palmatine can be considered as a prospective anti-angiogenic drug.