There is an urgent need for vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Among all approaches, a messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccine has emerged as ...a rapid and versatile platform to quickly respond to this challenge. Here, we developed a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA (mRNA-LNP) encoding the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 as a vaccine candidate (called ARCoV). Intramuscular immunization of ARCoV mRNA-LNP elicited robust neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 as well as a Th1-biased cellular response in mice and non-human primates. Two doses of ARCoV immunization in mice conferred complete protection against the challenge of a SARS-CoV-2 mouse-adapted strain. Additionally, ARCoV is manufactured as a liquid formulation and can be stored at room temperature for at least 1 week. ARCoV is currently being evaluated in phase 1 clinical trials.
Display omitted
•Development of LNP-encapsulated mRNA vaccine (ARCoV) targeting the RBD of SARS-CoV-2•ARCoV induces neutralizing antibodies and T cell immunity in mice and NHPs•ARCoV vaccination confers full protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in mice•ARCoV is a thermostable vaccine candidate for phase I studies
ARCoV is an LNP-encapsulated mRNA vaccine platform that is highly immunogenic and safe in mice and non-human primates, conferring protection against challenge with a SARS-CoV-2 mouse-adapted strain.
To discover new drugs to combat COVID-19, an understanding of the molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is urgently needed. Here, for the first time, we report the crucial role of cathepsin L ...(CTSL) in patients with COVID-19. The circulating level of CTSL was elevated after SARS-CoV-2 infection and was positively correlated with disease course and severity. Correspondingly, SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection increased CTSL expression in human cells in vitro and human ACE2 transgenic mice in vivo, while CTSL overexpression, in turn, enhanced pseudovirus infection in human cells. CTSL functionally cleaved the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and enhanced virus entry, as evidenced by CTSL overexpression and knockdown in vitro and application of CTSL inhibitor drugs in vivo. Furthermore, amantadine, a licensed anti-influenza drug, significantly inhibited CTSL activity after SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection and prevented infection both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, CTSL is a promising target for new anti-COVID-19 drug development.
It is a puzzle as to why more severe haze formed during the New Year Holiday in 2020 (NYH‐20), when China was in an unprecedented state of shutdown to contain the coronavirus (COVID‐19) outbreak, ...than in 2019 (NYH‐19). We performed a comprehensive measurement and modeling analysis of the aerosol chemistry and physics at multiple sites in China (mainly in Shanghai) before, during, and after NYH‐19 and NYH‐20. Much higher secondary aerosol fraction in PM2.5 were observed during NYH‐20 (73%) than during NYH‐19 (59%). During NYH‐20, PM2.5 levels correlated significantly with the oxidation ratio of nitrogen (r2 = 0.77, p < 0.01), and aged particles from northern China were found to impede atmospheric new particle formation and growth in Shanghai. A markedly enhanced efficiency of nitrate aerosol formation was observed along the transport pathways during NYH‐20, despite the overall low atmospheric NO2 levels.
Plain Language Summary
In China, there are multiple cases (e.g., the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai) when combustion‐related emissions (e.g., NOx) were actively, and successfully, reduced to transiently improve air quality. During the extended Chinese Lunar New Year holiday in 2020 (between 24 January and 10 February), whole China was in an unprecedented state of shutdown, because most people were contained in their homes to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). Mobility, energy demand, and industrial output remained far below their normal levels. Nevertheless, widespread haze pollution still occurred over Eastern China. To elucidate haze formation mechanisms, we performed comprehensive and continuous measurements of aerosol chemistry and physics in and out of Shanghai before, during, and after the Chinese New Year Holiday in 2019 and 2020, respectively. We argue that the synergistic effects of long‐range transport and atmospheric chemistry leading to the efficient conversion of NOx to particulate nitrate were the key of haze formation during the Chinese New Year Holiday of the COVID‐19 outbreak in Shanghai.
Key Points
Higher concentrations and distinct compositions of aerosol particles were observed during the COVID‐19 shutdown
Fast formation of secondary inorganic aerosol contributed to high aerosol mass loading
Longer‐range, regional transport facilitated and enhanced particulate nitrate formation
Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) provides an efficient strategy to synthesize highly luminescent metal nanoclusters (NCs), however, rational control of emission energy and intensity of metal NCs is ...still challenging. This communication reveals the impact of surface AuI‐thiolate motifs on the AIE properties of Au NCs, by employing a series of water‐soluble glutathione (GSH)‐coordinated Au complexes and NCs as a model (Au10SR10, Au15SR13, Au18SR14, and Au25SR18−, SR=thiolate ligand). Spectroscopic investigations show that the emission wavelength of Au NCs is adjustable from visible to the near‐infrared II (NIR‐II) region by controlling the length of the AuI‐SR motifs on the NC surface. Decreasing the length of AuI‐SR motifs also changes the origin of cluster luminescence from AIE‐type phosphorescence to Au0‐core‐dictated fluorescence. This effect becomes more prominent when the degree of aggregation of Au NCs increases in solution.
Tuning gold: The aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) of Au nanoclusters (NCs) is adjustable from the visible to the near‐infrared II region by controlling the length of the AuI–thiolate motifs on the NC surface. Decreasing the length of AuI‐SR motifs also changes the origin of cluster luminescence from AIE‐type phosphorescence to Au0‐core‐dictated fluorescence.
Cotton is not only the world's most important natural fiber crop, but it is also an ideal system in which to study genome evolution, polyploidization, and cell elongation. With the assembly of five ...different cotton genomes, a cotton-specific whole-genome duplication with an allopolyploidization process that combined the A- and D-genomes became evident. All existing A-genomes seemed to originate from the A
0
-genome as a common ancestor, and several transposable element bursts contributed to A-genome size expansion and speciation. The ethylene production pathway is shown to regulate fiber elongation. A tip-biased diffuse growth mode and several regulatory mechanisms, including plant hormones, transcription factors, and epigenetic modifications, are involved in fiber development. Finally, we describe the involvement of the gossypol biosynthetic pathway in the manipulation of herbivorous insects, the role of
GoPGF
in gland formation, and host-induced gene silencing for pest and disease control. These new genes, modules, and pathways will accelerate the genetic improvement of cotton.
Tin‐based halide perovskite materials have been successfully employed in lead‐free perovskite solar cells, but the overall power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) have been limited by the high carrier ...concentration from the facile oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+. Now a chemical route is developed for fabrication of high‐quality methylammonium tin iodide perovskite (MASnI3) films: hydrazinium tin iodide (HASnI3) perovskite film is first solution‐deposited using presursors hydrazinium iodide (HAI) and tin iodide (SnI2), and then transformed into MASnI3 via a cation displacement approach. With the two‐step process, a dense and uniform MASnI3 film is obtained with large grain sizes and high crystallization. Detrimental oxidation is suppressed by the hydrazine released from the film during the transformation. With the MASnI3 as light harvester, mesoporous perovskite solar cells were prepared, and a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.13 % is delivered with good reproducibility.
High‐quality, pinhole‐free CH3NH3SnI3 films are achieved from pristine NH2NH3SnI3 perovskite, and the oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+ can be efficiently suppressed owing to the reduction agent hydrazine generated inside the films in the conversion. With the CH3NH3SnI3 film as light absorber, mesoporous MASnI3 perovskite solar cells were fabricated with a maximum PCE of 7.13 %.
Taking a coordinated approach to promoting the rule of law at home and in matters involving foreign parties stands as one of the essentials of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. The profound ...essence of this concept is predominantly articulated through the dialectic nexus between the rule of law at home and in matters involving foreign parties and the foundational necessities and underlying principles for their coordinated advancement. This concept is intellectually rooted in the legal theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, the theory of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, modern progressive theories of international law, and the exemplary facets of traditional Chinese culture. It is aligned with contemporary trends and in harmony with the need to take a holistic approach to imperatives at home and abroad. This philosophy underscores the approach to building a human community with a shared future through the rule of law, guaranteeing the fruition of national strategic aspirations. This resonates with profound contemporary, integrative, international, and strategic significance. Presently, the focus should be on fostering the development of foreign-related rule of law, maintaining the correct equilibrium between the dyad of rule of law in domestic and foreign-related matters. It is imperative to augment strategic design and institutional construction in the realm of rule of law on issues related to foreign parties, step up research on and practical application of international law, and reinforce the cultivation of legal professionals in this area to take a coordinated approach to advance the rule of law at home and in matters involving foreign parties.
In view of many of the fundamental properties of ultrasmall noble metal nanoclusters progressively being uncovered, it has become increasingly clear that this class of materials has enormous ...potential for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications due to their unique electronic and optical properties. In this Minireview, we highlight the key electronic and optical properties of metal nanoclusters which are essential to photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. We further use these properties as the basis for our discussion to map out directions or principles for the rational design of high performance photocatalysts and electrocatalysts, highlighting several successful attempts along this direction.
The many fundamental properties of ultrasmall noble metal nanoclusters have made it increasingly clear that they possess enormous potential for photo- and electro-catalytic applications due to their unique electronic and optical properties.
N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are efficient Lewis basic catalysts for the umpolung of various polarized unsaturated compounds usually including aldehydes, imines, acyl chlorides and activated ...esters. NHC catalysis involving electron pair transfer steps has been extensively studied; however, NHC catalysis through single-electron transfer (SET) processes, despite having the potential to achieve chemical transformations of inert chemical bonds and using green reagents, has long been a challenging task in organic synthesis. In parallel, visible-light-induced photocatalysis and photoexcitation have been established as powerful tools to facilitate sustainable organic synthesis, as they enable the generation of various reactive radical intermediates under extremely mild conditions. Recently, a number of elegant visible-light-induced, NHC-catalyzed transformations were developed for accessing valuable organic compounds. As a result, this minireview will highlight the recent advances in this field.
This minireview summarized the recent advances on the photoinduced, NHC-catalyzed organic reactions according to the function of visible light.
PDF
