Cross-species transmission of viruses from wildlife animal reservoirs poses a marked threat to human and animal health
. Bats have been recognized as one of the most important reservoirs for emerging ...viruses and the transmission of a coronavirus that originated in bats to humans via intermediate hosts was responsible for the high-impact emerging zoonosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
. Here we provide virological, epidemiological, evolutionary and experimental evidence that a novel HKU2-related bat coronavirus, swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), is the aetiological agent that was responsible for a large-scale outbreak of fatal disease in pigs in China that has caused the death of 24,693 piglets across four farms. Notably, the outbreak began in Guangdong province in the vicinity of the origin of the SARS pandemic. Furthermore, we identified SADS-related CoVs with 96-98% sequence identity in 9.8% (58 out of 591) of anal swabs collected from bats in Guangdong province during 2013-2016, predominantly in horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus spp.) that are known reservoirs of SARS-related CoVs. We found that there were striking similarities between the SADS and SARS outbreaks in geographical, temporal, ecological and aetiological settings. This study highlights the importance of identifying coronavirus diversity and distribution in bats to mitigate future outbreaks that could threaten livestock, public health and economic growth.
To assess the relationship between novel insulin resistance (IR) indices and the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
This is a cross-sectional study ...involving 2211 patients. The study outcomes were DR events. The study exposures were IR indices including estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), natural logarithm of glucose disposal rate (lnGDR), metabolic insulin resistance score (METS-IR), triglyceride glucose index-body mass index (TyG-BMI), triglyceride glucose index-waist-to-hip ratio (TyG-WHR), and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(TG/HDL-c ratio). We used binary and multivariate ordered logistic regression models to estimate the association between different IR indices and the presence and severity of DR. Subject work characteristic curves were used to assess the predictive power of different IR indices for DR.
DR was present in 25.4% of participants. After adjusting for all covariates, per standard deviation (SD) increases in eGDR (ratio OR 0.38 95% CI 0.32-0.44), lnGDR (0.34 0.27-0.42) were negatively associated with the presence of DR. In contrast, per SD increases in METS-IR (1.97 1.70-2.28), TyG-BMI (1.94 1.68-2.25), TyG-WHR (2.34 2.01-2.72) and TG/HDL-c ratio (1.21 1.08-1.36) were positively associated with the presence of DR. eGDR was strongly associated with severity of DR. Of all variables, eGDR had the strongest diagnostic value for DR (AUC = 0.757).
Of the six IR indices, eGDR was significantly associated with the presence and severity of DR in patients with type 2 diabetes. eGDR has a good predictive value for DR. Thus, eGDR maybe a stronger marker of DR.
In the snake-infested mountainous regions of China, Saxifraga stolonifera L. Meeb is widely utilized as an immediate remedy for venomous snake bites. However, the scientific understanding of S. ...stolonifera's efficacy in snakebite treatment remains limited and requires further investigation.
The aim of this study was to assess the inhibitory effects of Saxifraga stolonifera phenolic extracts (SSPE) on Deinagkistrodon acutus venom (DAV) and explore the potential of S. stolonifera as a valuable candidate for antivenom development.
We employed our previously optimized extraction conditions to obtain SSPE. In vitro experiments utilizing diverse models were conducted to assess the inhibitory effects of the extracted phenolic compounds on DAV, specifically targeting phospholipase A2 (PLA2), proteolytic, fibrinolytic, and hyaluronidase enzymes. Furthermore, in vivo investigations were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory potential of the extracted compounds against DAV-induced hemorrhagic and edematogenic activity. To elucidate the chemical composition of the phenolic extracts, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis was performed.
Our in vitro inhibition study showed that S. stolonifera was able to inhibit the activities of PLA2 enzyme, proteolytic enzyme, hyaluronidase and fibrinogenolytic. The median effective dose (ED50) values of SSPE for inhibiting PLA2 enzyme, proteolytic enzyme and hyaluronidase activities were 0.115 mg/mL, 0.026 mg/mL and 0.238 mg/mL, respectively. The DAV-induced hemorrhagic and edematogenic effects of the SSPE were also successfully inhibited in vivo, and the high SSPE concentration was able to completely inhibit the hemorrhage and edema. It is noteworthy that the mice suffered no harm from the high SSPE concentration. The composition analysis showed that the phenolic substances contained in SSPE are gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-ɑ-L-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin and kaempferol.
This study provides scientific validation of the inhibitory efficacy of S. stolonifera as an emergency treatment for venomous snake bites, offering a theoretical foundation for future drug development strategies targeting snakebite.
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•Inhibitory effect of S. stolonifera on Deinagkistrodon acutus venom was evaluated.•Phenolics were found to be significant contributors to anti-venom activity.•Analyze qualitatively the phenolic composition of the S. stolonifera extract.•Saxifraga stolonifera is a promising natural antivenom source.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Chinese wild blueberry extract and its fractions against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis, ...and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Chinese wild blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) crude extract (BBE) was obtained using methanol extraction, and sugars plus organic acids (F1), phenolics fraction (F2), and anthocyanins plus proanthocyanidins (F3) fractions were separated using C‐18 Sep‐Pak columns. The minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration of each fractional component were determined using a two‐fold‐serial dilution method. Nucleic acid leakage (OD260 nm) and protein release (Bradford protein assay) were determined by spectrophotometry, to evaluate the permeability of the cell membrane. F3 was found to exhibit the greatest antimicrobial activity against the four tested strains, followed by F2, F1, and BBE. V. parahaemolyticus was the most sensitive to the all fractions, followed by S. Enteritidis, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus. Survival curve analysis showed that the number of bacteria decreased from six log colony‐forming units (CFU) to less than 10 CFU after bacteria were treated with fractions for 12 hr, which demonstrated the bactericidal effect of blueberry fractions. Furthermore, when the pathogens were treated with fractions for 2 hr, the OD260 nm and OD595 nm values increased significantly (P < 0.01), which indicated the significant release of nucleic acid and protein. The results from this study indicated that blueberry fractions, especially F3, inhibited the growth of foodborne pathogens by damaging their cell membrane, and may be developed as a natural preservative to prevent and control foodborne pathogens.
Practical Application
A blueberry crude extract and its sugars plus organic acids, phenolics, and anthocyanins plus proanthocyanidins fractions, inhibited the growth of foodborne pathogens by destroying their cell membrane. Therefore, Chinese wild blueberries have potential as a natural preservative to prevent and control foodborne pathogens.
We construct a class of counterexamples to cosmic censorship in four dimensional Einstein–Born–Infeld theory with asymptotically anti-de Sitter boundary conditions, and investigate the effect of the ...Born–Infeld parameter
b
in comparison with the counterpart of Einstein–Maxwell theory. When a charged massive scalar field is included into the action, we find that this class of counterexamples to cosmic censorship would be removed if the charge of scalar fields is above the bound of charge
q
w
. In particular, the bound of charge required to preserve cosmic censorship increases with the increasing of Born–Infeld parameter. Meanwhile, we also show the lower bounds on charge-to-mass ratio with the different values of Born–Infeld parameter.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent type of neurodegenerative disease. There is mounting evidence that the gut microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. Sodium butyrate (NaB) can regulate ...gut microbiota and improve brain functioning in neurological disorders. Hence, we examined whether the neuroprotective function of NaB on PD was mediated by the modulation of gut microbial dysbiosis and revealed its possible mechanisms. Mice were administered 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days to construct the PD model. NaB gavage was given 2 h after the daily MPTP injections for 21 days. NaB improved the motor functioning of PD mice, increased striatal neurotransmitter levels, and reduced the death of dopaminergic neurons. The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that NaB restored the gut microbial dysbiosis. NaB also attenuated the intestinal barrier's disruption and reduced serum, colon, and striatal pro-inflammatory cytokines, along with inhibiting the overactivation of glial cells, suggesting an inhibitory effect on inflammation from NaB throughout the gut-brain axis of the PD mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that NaB treatment suppressed the TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB pathway in the colon and striatum. In summary, NaB had a neuroprotective impact on the PD mice, likely linked to its regulation of gut microbiota to inhibit gut-brain axis inflammation.
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•A colorimetric fluorescent probe was designed and synthesized for the detection of bisulfite with high sensitivity and selectivity in 100% aqueous solution.•The probe has been ...successfully used for the detection of SO2 in food and animal serum samples with good recovery.•The probe was used as a solid sensor to visually detect the liquid and gas sulfur dioxide on the test strips.•The probe could detect both bisulfite in food and gaseous SO2 in the environment.
Bisulfite (HSO3−) has the functions of bleaching, antiseptic, antioxidant, inhibiting bacterial growth, and controlling enzymatic reactions in food. However, long-term consumption of foods containing excessive amounts of bisulfite can be harmful to health. In addition, large doses of sulfur dioxide (SO2) can cause diarrhea, hypotension, allergic and asthmatic reactions in susceptible individuals. Therefore, it is urgent and essential to explore some rapid, reliable, and convenient tools to detect HSO3− in food and SO2 gas. Herein, we exploited a fluorescent probe, NPO, to detect HSO3− in 100 % aqueous solution. The probe has the advantages of easy synthesis, excellent water solubility, significant colorimetric change, good selectivity, high sensitivity, and fast response (within 1 min). Probe NPO was successfully applied for testing strips to visualize the behavior of HSO3− and SO2 gas. Moreover, the probe has been used to monitor the behavior of HSO3− in real food samples and animal serum samples.
Luminous efficiency, color purity and spectral stability of white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) remain the key challenges for display applications based on the "white plus color filter" ...approach. To tackle these issues, we developed high-efficiency and color-stable WOLEDs in natural color based on all thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters constructed with a blue-orange-blue sandwich emissive layer (EML) structure. The balanced carrier transport and good exciton confinement in this system facilitate excitons broadly forming over the recombination zone and thus realizing a balance of blue and orange emissions in the EMLs successfully. As a result, the device exhibits high-performance pure white emission with the ideal and stable Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates (
x
,
y
) of (0.33 ± 0.01, 0.33 ± 0.01) and a high color rendering index (CRI) of 81-83 at a luminance in the range of 250 to 5000 cd m
−2
. The device shows a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) and current efficiency (CE) of 12.0% and 28.0 cd A
−1
, respectively. The full-TADF WOLEDs with a sandwich EML not only show ideal CIE coordinates and CRIs, but also exhibit excellent color stability. We anticipate that our findings can provide an efficient strategy to realize color stable and high color-purity WOLEDs through the full TADF mechanism and have great potential for display applications.
WOLEDs with stable natural white emission based on all-TADF emitters.
Abstract Recently pseudorabies outbreaks have occurred in many vaccinated farms in China. To identify genetic characteristics of pseudorabies virus (PRV) strains, we obtained the genomic sequences of ...PRV strains HeN1 and JS, which were compared to 4 PRV genomes and 729 partial gene sequences. PRV strains isolated in China showed marked sequence divergence compared to European and American strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that for the first time PRV can be divided into 2 distinct clusters, with Chinese strains being genotype II and PRVs isolated from other countries being genotype I. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis confirmed differences between HeN1 and Bartha strains, as did the presence of unique insertion/deletion polymorphisms and microsatellites. This divergence between the two genotypes may have been generated from long-term, independent evolution, which could also explain the low efficacy of the Bartha vaccine in protecting pigs infected with genotype II PRV.
Multinary intermetallic compounds with rich chemical compositions enable one to achieve a logical design for desired materials based on the required function. In this work, we have demonstrated a ...step-by-step strategy to design a quaternary intermetallic compound that exhibits highly active and stable performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). With binary intermetallic TaCo
2
as the starting point, the minor inclusion of a ductile Cu element in TaCo
2
to form ternary TaCu
0.25
Co
1.75
can substantially lower the degradation rate from
ca.
20% to 5% after sintering treatment (
i.e.
, enhance connectivity between particles). However, the overpotential at a current density of 10 mA cm
−2
(
η
10
) increases by
ca.
20 mV from TaCo
2
to TaCu
0.25
Co
1.75
. Further incorporation of a HER active Ru element to cast quaternary TaCu
0.125
Ru
0.125
Co
1.75
can decrease
ca.
70 mV of
η
10
while maintaining long-term stability. This proves that one can design functional intermetallic compounds intentionally, which may be extended to different fields of application.
Multinary intermetallic compounds with rich chemical compositions enable one to achieve a logical design for desired materials based on the required function.
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