Parasitoids are ubiquitous in natural ecosystems. Parasitic strategies are highly diverse among parasitoid species, yet their underlying genetic bases are poorly understood. Here, we focus on the ...divergent adaptation of a specialist and a generalist drosophilid parasitoids. We find that a novel protein (Lar) enables active immune suppression by lysing the host lymph glands, eventually leading to successful parasitism by the generalist. Meanwhile, another novel protein (Warm) contributes to a passive strategy by attaching the laid eggs to the gut and other organs of the host, leading to incomplete encapsulation and helping the specialist escape the host immune response. We find that these diverse parasitic strategies both originated from lateral gene transfer, followed with duplication and specialization, and that they might contribute to the shift in host ranges between parasitoids. Our results increase our understanding of how novel gene functions originate and how they contribute to host adaptation.
Early childhood development (ECD) is an essential foundation for children’s future development and a building block and driving force for society’s future development. Traditional evaluation models ...of early childhood development focus on children’s comprehensive evaluation, ignoring the importance of each evaluation data. In addition, the previous evaluation model mainly relies on the expert’s experience, which is highly dependent and has a strengthened subjectivity. Therefore, this paper combines the random forest algorithm to construct an early childhood development evaluation model and builds a multilayer evaluation index system. Test experiments show that the evaluation results obtained after the model’s training have a lower error than the traditional evaluation model, and the results are closer to the expected results. Application experiments show that the model can effectively present the evaluation results of children’s abilities and intuitively present comprehensive evaluation results, so that parents and teachers can view the corresponding evaluation data according to the needs of children’s development. At the same time, the evaluation results are consistent with the actual development of children, which can provide parents and teachers with effective and reliable evaluation data to improve children’s development program.
In this study, we aimed to perform a comprehensive analysis on the metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the etiological diagnosis of septic patients, and further to establish optimal read ...values for detecting common pathogens.
In this single-center retrospective study, septic patients who underwent pathogen detection by both microbial culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the intensive care unit of the Second People's Hospital of Shenzhen from June 24, 2015, to October 20, 2019, were included.
A total of 193 patients with 305 detected specimens were included in the final analysis. The results of metagenomic next-generation sequencing showed significantly higher positive rates in samples from disparate loci, including blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid, as well as in the determination of various pathogens. The optimal diagnostic reads were 2893, 1825.5, and 892.5 for Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively.
The metagenomic next-generation sequencing is capable of identifying multiple pathogens in specimens from septic patients, and shows significantly higher positive rates than culture-based diagnostics. The optimal diagnostic reads for frequently detected microbes might be useful for the clinical application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in terms of timely and accurately determining etiological pathogens for suspected and confirmed cases of sepsis due to well-performed data interpretation.
Intraspecific competition is a major force in mediating population dynamics, fuelling adaptation, and potentially leading to evolutionary diversification. Among the evolutionary arms races between ...parasites, one of the most fundamental and intriguing behavioural adaptations and counter-adaptations are superparasitism and superparasitism avoidance. However, the underlying mechanisms and ecological contexts of these phenomena remain underexplored. Here, we apply the Drosophila parasite Leptopilina boulardi as a study system and find that this solitary endoparasitic wasp provokes a host escape response for superparasitism avoidance. We combine multi-omics and in vivo functional studies to characterize a small set of RhoGAP domain-containing genes that mediate the parasite's manipulation of host escape behaviour by inducing reactive oxygen species in the host central nervous system. We further uncover an evolutionary scenario in which neofunctionalization and specialization gave rise to the novel role of RhoGAP domain in avoiding superparasitism, with an ancestral origin prior to the divergence between Leptopilina specialist and generalist species. Our study suggests that superparasitism avoidance is adaptive for a parasite and adds to our understanding of how the molecular manipulation of host behaviour has evolved in this system.
Tumor microenvironment (TME) is one of the important factors in tumorigenesis and progression, in which tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in non-small cell lung cancer ...(NSCLC) progression. However, the mechanism of TAMs in NSCLC progression remains unclear, so this study aimed to investigate the role of TAMs in NSCLC progression and to find potential therapeutic targets.
Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database was used to analyze the expression of prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4) mRNA in NSCLC and normal lung tissues; the protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), EP4, cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86), CD163 and CD31 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 120 NSCLC tissues and 24 paracancerous tissues specimens. The nude mouse lung adenocarcinoma cell A549 and macrophage RAW264.7 co-transplanted tumor model was established. And the samples were collected by gavage with EP4 inhibitor E7046, and then stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), I
The success of an organism depends on the molecular and ecological adaptations that promote its beneficial fitness. Parasitoids are valuable biocontrol agents for successfully managing agricultural ...pests, and they have evolved diversified strategies to adapt to both the physiological condition of hosts and the competition of other parasitoids. Here, we deconstructed the parasitic strategies in a highly successful parasitoid, Trichopria drosophilae , which parasitizes a broad range of Drosophila hosts, including the globally invasive species D. suzukii . We found that T. drosophilae had developed specialized venom proteins that arrest host development to obtain more nutrients via secreting tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), as well as a unique type of cell—teratocytes—that digest host tissues for feeding by releasing trypsin proteins. In addition to the molecular adaptations that optimize nutritional uptake, this pupal parasitoid has evolved ecologically adaptive strategies including the conditional tolerance of intraspecific competition to enhance parasitic success in older hosts and the obligate avoidance of interspecific competition with larval parasitoids. Our study not only demystifies how parasitoids weaponize themselves to colonize formidable hosts but also provided empirical evidence of the intricate coordination between the molecular and ecological adaptations that drive evolutionary success.
Natural small-molecule phenols (NSMPs) share some bioactivities. The anxiolytic activity of NSMPs is attracting attention in the scientific community. This paper provides data supporting the ...hypothesis that NSMPs are generally anxiolytic. The anxiolytic activities of seven simple phenols, including phloroglucinol, eugenol, protocatechuic aldehyde, vanillin, thymol, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid, were assayed with the elevated plus maze (EPM) test in mice. The oral doses were 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, except for phloroglucinol for which the doses were 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg. All tested phenols had anxiolytic activity in mice. The phenolic hydroxyl group in 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4-OH CA) was essential for the anxiolytic activity in the EPM test in mice and rats compared to 4-chlorocinnamic acid (4-Cl CA). The in vivo spike recording of rats' hippocampal neurons also showed significant differences between 4-OH CA and 4-Cl CA. Behavioral and neuronal spike recording results converged to indicate the hippocampal CA1 region might be a part of the anxiolytic pathways of 4-OH CA. Therefore, our study provides further experimental data supporting NSMPs sharing anxiolytic activity, which may have general implications for phytotherapy because small phenols occur extensively in herbal medicines.
To assess healthcare workers' attitudes and concerns regarding seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines in order to improve vaccination campaign communications.
Cross-sectional survey.
All 6 health ...authorities in British Columbia, Canada.
An anonymous, self-administered online survey was conducted from August 30 through September 30, 2009. Question topics included demographic characteristics, factors influencing acceptance of seasonal influenza vaccine, factors influencing intentions to accept pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine, and knowledge and concerns regarding the effect of the influenza pandemic.
All 96,217 British Columbia healthcare workers were eligible to participate.
A volunteer sample of 4,046 healthcare workers returned the survey; 3,563 (88%) were women, 58% were under 50 years old (mean age + or - standard deviation, 45.3 + or - 10.9 years), 3,152 of 4,023 (79%) had 5 or more years of experience in their profession, 1,853 of 4,023 (46%) were nurses, and 2,833 (70%) had been vaccinated against seasonal influenza the previous year. Two thousand eight hundred (69%) respondents reported intending to receive the pandemic H1N1 vaccine. The most important predictor of this intention was having received the seasonal vaccine the previous year (odds ratio OR, 6.25 95% confidence interval {CI}, 5.39-7.26). Worry about making loved ones ill was the only attitude associated with intention to receive the pandemic H1N1 vaccine (adjusted OR, 1.38 95% CI, 1.27-1.50). Concerns with vaccine safety (adjusted OR, 0.31 95% CI, 0.25-0.39) and belief "that H1N1 is not severe enough" (adjusted OR, 0.29 95% CI, 0.26-0.32) were independently associated with the intention to reject the pandemic H1N1 vaccine.
Vaccination campaigns for pandemic H1N1 vaccine should use messages that emphasize the risk of illness among younger people and the opportunity to protect loved ones by getting the vaccine and should address concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
Background. Cases of infection due to a novel swine-origin variant of influenza A virus subtype H3N2 (H3N2v) have recently been identified in the United States, primarily among children. We estimate ...levels of cross-reactive antibody to H3N2v by age and assess whether seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV), with or without adjuvant, may increase seroprotection. Methods. Antibody to H3N2v was assessed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and, for a subset, also by microneutralization assay. Seroprevalence and seroprotection were defined as an HI titer of ≥40, and levels were compared with those for ancestral and contemporary human strains. The analysis included 1116 sera collected during fall 2010, corresponding to approximately 100 sera per decade of life. Vaccine-induced antibody levels were also assessed in sera from 136 children aged <10 years and 65 adults aged 20-59 years before and after receipt of 2010-2011 split TIV and in sera from 182 elderly individuals aged > 65 years before and after receipt of 2011-2012 split TIV (for 31 individuals), MF59-adjuvanted TIV (for 72), or unadjuvanted subunit TIV (for 79). Results. The overall prevalence of HI titers of ≥40 against A(H3N2) v was 25%. No children aged <5 years and <20% of individuals aged ≤14 years or ≥40 years had an HI titer of ≥40. Conversely, among individuals aged 15-39 years, half of teens and adults showed H3N2v seroprotection. Following TIV receipt, <15% of individuals in any vaccine group developed a 4-fold increase in antibody level. Conclusions. A substantial proportion of adolescents and young adults have cross-reactive antibody against emerging H3N2v, whereas children and older adults show broad susceptibility. Recent formulations of TIV do not substantially increase seroprotection. A specific vaccine would be needed if H3N2v establishes epidemic spread.
BACKGROUNDCurrently, a significant number of miners are involved in mining operations at the Gejiu tin mine in Yunnan. This occupational setting is associated with exposure to dust particles, heavy ...metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and radioactive radon, thereby significantly elevating the risk of lung cancer. This study aims to investigate the involvement of leptin-mediated extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in the malignant transformation of rat alveolar type II epithelial cells induced by Yunnan tin mine dust.METHODSImmortalized rat alveolar cells type II (RLE-6TN) cells were infected with Yunnan tin mine dust at a concentration of 200 μg/mL for nine consecutive generations to establish the infected cell model, which was named R₂₀₀ cells. The cells were cultured normally, named as R cells. The expression of leptin receptor in both cell groups was detected using the Western blot method. The optimal concentration of leptin and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)
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