The bacterial pathogens Xanthomonas oryzae pathovars oryzae (Xoo) and oryzicola (Xoc) cause leaf blight and leaf streak diseases on rice, respectively. Pathogenesis is largely defined by the ...virulence genes harboured in the pathogen genome. Recently, we demonstrated that the protein HpaP of the crucifer pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is an enzyme with both ATPase and phosphatase activities, and is involved in regulating the synthesis of virulence factors and the induction of the hypersensitive response (HR). In this study, we investigated the role of HpaP homologues in Xoo and Xoc. We showed that HpaP is required for full virulence of Xoo and Xoc. Deletion of hpaP in Xoo and Xoc led to a reduction in virulence and alteration in the production of virulence factors, including extracellular polysaccharide and cell motility. Comparative transcriptomics and reverse transcription‐quantitative PCR assays revealed that in XVM2 medium, a mimic medium of the plant environment, the expression levels of hrp genes (for HR and pathogenicity) were enhanced in the Xoo hpaP deletion mutant compared to the wild type. By contrast, in the same growth conditions, hrp gene expression was decreased in the Xoc hpaP deletion mutant compared to the wild type. However, an opposite expression pattern was observed when the pathogens grew in planta, where the expression of hrp genes was reduced in the Xoo hpaP mutant but increased in the Xoc hpaP mutant. These findings indicate that HpaP plays a divergent role in Xoo and Xoc, which may lead to the different infection strategies employed by these two pathogens.
HpaP is required for full virulence in Xanthomonas oryzae pvs oryzae and oryzicola, but divergently regulates the expression of hrp genes.
Heteronuclear complexes FeCp2DTECCRu(dppe)2Cl (1 o; dppe=1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, Cp=cyclopentadienyl, DTE=dithienylethene) and FeCp2DTECCRu(dppe)2CCDTEFeCp2 (2 oo), with ...redox‐active ferrocenyl and ruthenium centers separated by a photochromic DTE moiety, were prepared to achieve photoswitchable charge delocalization and Fe⋅⋅⋅Ru electronic communication. Upon UV‐light irradiation of 2 oo, the Fe⋅⋅⋅Ru heterometallic electronic interaction is increasingly facilitated with stepwise photocyclization, 2 oo→2 co→2 cc; this is ascribed to the gradual increase in π‐conjugated systems. The near‐infrared absorptions in mixed‐valence species 2 oo+/2 co+/2 cc+ are gradually intensified following the conversion of 2 oo+→2 co+→2 cc+, which demonstrates that the extent of charge delocalization shows progressive enhancement with stepwise photocyclization. As revealed by electrochemical, spectroscopic, and theoretical studies, complex 2 exhibits nine switchable states through stepwise photochromic and reversible redox processes.
How does your metal talk? Heteronuclear complexes (see scheme), with redox‐active ferrocenyl and ruthenium centers separated by a photochromic dithienylethene (DTE) moiety, were prepared to achieve photoswitchable charge delocalization and Fe⋅⋅⋅Ru electronic communication.
VemR is a response regulator of the two‐component signalling systems (TCSs). It consists solely of a receiver domain. Previous studies have shown that VemR plays an important role in influencing the ...production of exopolysaccharides and exoenzymes, cell motility, and virulence of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc). However, whether VemR is involved in the essential pathogenicity determinant type III secretion system (T3SS) is unclear. In this work, we found by transcriptome analysis that VemR modulates about 10% of Xcc genes, which are involved in various cellular processes including the T3SS. Further experiments revealed that VemR physically interacts with numerous proteins, including the TCS sensor kinases HpaS and RavA, and the TCS response regulator HrpG, which directly activates the transcription of HrpX, a key regulator controlling T3SS expression. It has been demonstrated previously that HpaS composes a TCS with HrpG or VemR to control the expression of T3SS or swimming motility, while RavA and VemR form a TCS to control the expression of flagellar genes. Mutation analysis and in vitro transcription assay revealed that phosphorylation might be essential for the function of VemR and phosphorylated VemR could significantly enhance the activation of hrpX transcription by HrpG. We infer that the binding of VemR to HrpG can modulate the activity of HrpG to the hrpX promoter, thereby enhancing hrpX transcription. Although further studies are required to validate this inference and explore the detailed functional mechanism of VemR, our findings provide some insights into the complex regulatory cascade of the HpaS/RavA‐VemR/HrpG‐HrpX signal transduction system in the control of T3SS.
VemR, a single‐domain response regulator, modulates the expression of type III secretion system via binding to the key regulator HrpG in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris.
The transport of live fish is an important process in the ornamental fish trade. As such, reducing transport stress plays a vital role in improving fish survival and minimizing economic losses. The ...objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of exogenous neurotransmitters in alleviating transport stress in koi carp, Cyprinus carpio. First, fish were subjected to simulated transport, and samples were collected at 0, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h for the determination of water quality parameters and serum indices. The results indicated that the pH of the water decreased and ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) was enhanced with the increase of transport time. The most significant changes in stress-related indices were observed at 4 h after transport, and thus the subsequent transport experiments were scheduled for 4 h. Three types of exogenous neurotransmitters were added to the water, and fish were transported for 4 h to determine the efficacy of the neurotransmitters. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) increased the pH, and decreased the NH4-N content of the water. The concentrations of serum adrenaline, cortisol, and glucose were decreased by GABA supplementation. Guanidine acetic acid (GAA) increased the pH of the water, and decreased the concentrations of serum adrenaline and cortisol. The addition of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) lowered the NH4-N level of the water, and decreased the concentrations of serum adrenaline and cortisol in the fish. In conclusion, the addition of exogenous neurotransmitters to transport water may help to alleviate transport stress by improving water quality and depressing the enhancement of stress-related hormones.
•The most significant change of stress-related indices was observed at 4 h after transport.•Water quality was improved by supplementation with neurotransmitters.•The enhancement of stress-related hormones was depressed by neurotransmitters.
Although phototransistors for controlling photocurrent with electricity have been studied intensively for several decades, transistors with all‐optical inputs that can control the photocurrent with ...light have not been investigated thus far. In this paper, a plasmonic porous Ag/TiO2 transistor is fabricated with all‐optical inputs. One light input acts as the source to generate a plasmonic‐hot‐electron photocurrent, while the other gate light changes the current channel by adjusting the height of an Ag/TiO2 Schottky barrier. As a result, the plasmon‐induced photocurrent generated by the source light can be enhanced by several to one hundred times by controlling the gate light. In addition to signal enhancement, the device can also be used for signal modulation and switching.
Plasmonic porous Ag/TiO2 transistors with all‐optical inputs are fabricated. The source input light generates a plasmonic‐hot‐electron photocurrent, while the other gate light changes the current channel. As a result, the plasmon‐induced photocurrent generated by the source light can be enhanced by several to one hundred times by controlling the gate light.
Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) have advantages such as high voltage and low cost, making them one kind of the promising positive electrode materials for sodium‐ion batteries. Particle dispersion is a ...key physical parameter of electrode materials, and understanding its impact on electrochemical performance is a prerequisite for obtaining high‐performance PBAs. In this article, two PBAs samples with different particle dispersion were synthesized through sodium citrate‐assisted co‐precipitation method by means of staying and stirring. The influence of particle dispersion on electrochemical performance was investigated through polarization curve and AC impedance tests. It was found that PBAs with well‐dispersed particles exhibited excellent rate performance, with a capacity of ~120 mAh g−1 at 1 C rate and a capacity retention of 75 % after 100 cycles. The capacity retention rate could reach 63 % at 5 C rate, far higher than that of PBAs samples with poor particle dispersion. From the perspective of electrochemical kinetics analysis, it has been shown that PBAs with well‐dispersed particles exhibit smaller electrochemical polarization and faster Na+ diffusion reaction kinetics, which are key factors in achieving excellent rate performance.
Prussian Blue analogues (PBAs) with different particle dispersions were prepared using co‐precipitation method. In terms of electrochemical performance, PBAs with good particle dispersion show more pronounced advantages at high rates. The underlying mechanism is that PBAs with well‐dispersed particles exhibit shorter Na+ diffusion channels and fewer interfacial impediments during the charge‐discharge process, resulting in faster sodium ion diffusion kinetics.
Autophagy can protect stressed cancer cell by degradation of damaged proteins and organelles. However, the regulatory mechanisms behind this cellular process remain incompletely understood. Here, we ...demonstrate that RSK2 (p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2) plays a critical role in ER stress-induced autophagy in breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that the promotive effect of RSK2 on autophagy resulted from directly binding of AMPKα2 in nucleus and phosphorylating it at Thr172 residue. IRE1α, an ER membrane-associated protein mediating unfolded protein response (UPR), is required for transducing the signal for activation of ERK1/2-RSK2 under ER stress. Suppression of autophagy by knockdown of RSK2 enhanced the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to ER stress both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that inhibition of RSK2-mediated autophagy rendered breast cancer cells more sensitive to paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent that induces ER stress-mediated cell death. This study identifies RSK2 as a novel controller of autophagy in tumor cells and suggests that targeting RSK2 can be exploited as an approach to reinforce the efficacy of ER stress-inducing agents against cancer.
Background
At present, several studies have reported that the pretreatment neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may be associated with the prognosis of liver cancer. Nevertheless, their conclusions ...remain controversial. Thus, we performed a meta‐analysis of 54 studies to evaluate the prognostic value of NLR.
Method
Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched to July 2017.
Result
A total of 54 studies including 12 979 patients were included in this meta‐analysis. Elevated NLR had a close relationship with the overall survival (OS) (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.39‐1.67), recurrence‐free survival (RFS) (HR 1.84; 95% CI 1.48‐2.30), and disease‐free survival (DFS) (HR 1.71; 95% CI 1.39‐2.11) of liver cancer, respectively. In addition, elevated NLR was associated with the presence of tumor vascular invasion (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.93‐2.86), multiple tumors (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.15‐1.66), alpha‐fetoprotein ≥ 400 ng/mL (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.15‐1.98), presence of HbsAg (+) (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.51‐0.90), and cirrhosis (OR: 0.59; 95% CI 0.44‐0.80).
Conclusion
This meta‐analysis indicated that elevated NLR may be an effective and noninvasive indicator for prognosis of patients with liver cancer.
Due to the advantages of narrow energy distribution of plasmonic hot-electrons in Ag and the high density of states in the TiO
conduction band, an Ag/TiO
composite is considered to be an ideal ...combination to construct a plasmonic hot-electron photodetector with high detectivity and a high response speed. In this work, we fabricate a porous Ag/TiO
-Schottky-diode based plasmonic hot-electron photodetector. This detector shows a high detectivity of 9.8 × 10
cmHz
/W and a fast response speed, with a rise and fall time of 112 μs and 24 μs, respectively, under 450 nm light illumination at zero bias voltage. In addition, the height of the Ag/TiO
Schottky barrier can be decreased by removing the chemisorbed oxygen from the surface of TiO
with ultraviolet light illumination, and as a result, the responsivity of the Ag/TiO
plasmonic hot-electron photodetector at 450 nm can increase from 3.4 mA/W to 7.4 mA/W.
Introduction
Gut microbial disturbance has been established as potential pathogenesis of mental disorders. However, the signatures and differences regarding patients with schizophrenia (SCH) or ...bipolar disorder (BD) in emerging adulthood as well as their subtypes have been poorly addressed.
Methods
In the present study, stool samples obtained from 63 emerging adult patients with schizophrenia (SCH), 50 with bipolar disorder (BD), and 40 healthy controls (HC) were analyzed by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing; psychiatric symptoms and psychological, social, and professional functioning were also assessed.
Results
We found that gut microbiota composition was remarkably changed in the patients with SCH and BD. Moreover, the distinct gut microbiome signatures and their potential function in bipolar depression (BP‐D) and SCH with predominantly negative symptoms (SCH‐N) as well as bipolar mania (BP‐M) and SCH with predominantly positive symptoms (SCH‐P) were also observed. Furthermore, we identified diagnostic potential biomarkers that can distinguish BD from HC (38 genera, AUC = 0.961), SCH from HC (32 genera, AUC = 0.962), and BD from Scheme (13 genera, AUC = 0.823). Potential diagnostic biomarkers that can distinguish BD‐D from SCH‐N (16 genera, AUC = 0.969) and BD‐M from SCH‐P (31 genera, AUC = 0.938) were also identified.
Conclusion
This study provides further understanding of abnormal gut microbiome in emerging adulthood patients with SCH and BD and lay the potential foundation for the development of microbe‐based clinical diagnosis for BD and SCH.
The present study observed the signatures and differences of gut microbiome regarding patients with schizophrenia (SCH) or bipolar disorder (BD) in emerging adulthood as well as their subtypes and identified diagnostic potential biomarkers that can distinguish BD from HC (38 microbial panels, AUC = 0.961), SCH from HC (32 microbial panels, AUC = 0.962), and BD from Scheme (13 microbial panels, AUC = 0.823). Potential diagnostic biomarkers that can distinguish BD‐D from SCH‐N (16 microbial panels, AUC = 0.969) and BD‐M from SCH‐P (31 microbial panels, AUC = 0.938) were also identified.
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