Mechanobiology:A new frontier for human pluripotent stem cells

Our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control self-renewal,pluripotency and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells(hPSCs)and our progress toward harnessing the regenerative potential of these cells to treat human diseases are advancing at a rapid rate.Human pluripotent stem cells(hPSCs)include human embryonic stem cells(hESCs)and human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs).Their unique capacity for indefinite self-renewal(unlimited proliferation)in vitro coupled with their ability to differentiate into almost any cell type present in the adult body(pluripotency)provide a potentially

Advances in Research of Characteristics and Removal of Microplastics in Sewage Treatment Plants

Microplastic pollution has become a worldwide issue.The discharge of sewage treatment plants(STPs)or wastewater treatment plant(WWTPs)is an important way for microplastics to enter the environment.This study reviewed the sources and occurrence characteristics(type,size,color and components)of microplastics in domestic and foreign sewage plants.It elaborated the removal principles of microplastics by primary,secondary and tertiary treatments.In addition,the removal effects of various treatment units and different processes on microplastics were summarized.In the future,the removal mechanism of microplastics in sewage treatment plants should be discussed in more depth,so as to further improve the removal rate of microplastics by optimizing and transforming traditional sewage treatment processes.Therefore,it is necessary to develop new technologies/processes specifically for the removal of microplastics and promote them to practical applications.

Synthetic Human Embryo-Like Structure: A New Paradigm for Human Embryology

Early human embryonic development remains mysterious due to drastic species divergences between humans and othermammalian models and limited accessibility to human embryo samples. Recent studies from my laboratory and others haveshown that under suitable culture conditions human pluripotent stem cells ( hPSCs) can undergo intricate morphogenetic eventsand self-organize to form patterned human embryo-like structures in vitro. These synthetic human embryonic tissueshold great promises for advancing human embryology and reproductive medicine. In this talk,I will describe a hPSC-based,synthetic 3D model of human post-implantation development that recapitulates key developmental landmarks successively,including pro-amniotic cavity formation,amniotic ectoderm-epiblast patterning,primordial germ cell specification,and developmentof the primitive streak with controlled anteroposterior polarity ( Fig.1) . We further show that the amniotic ectoderm,as the first lineage that segregates from the epiblast upon implantation of the human embryo,functions as a signaling centerto trigger primitive streak development in the epiblast. Together,our research has developed a powerful synthetic embryologicalmodel and provided new understandings of previously inaccessible but critical embryogenic events in human development.

Stem cell-derived embryo models:a frontier of human embryology

Studying human development remains difficult due to limited accessibility to human embryonic tissues.Prompted by the availability of human stem cells that share molecular and cellular similarities with embryonic and extraembryonic cells in peri-implantation human embryos,researchers have now successfully developed stem cellbased human embryo models that are promising as experimental tools for studying early human development.In this Perspective,we discuss the current progress in mouse and human stem cell-derived embryo models and highlight their promising applications in advancing the fundamental understanding of mammalian development.

Immunogenic proteins and their vaccine development potential evaluation in outer membrane proteins(OMPs)of Flavobacterium columnare

Flavobacterium columnare is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes columnaris disease in freshwater fish worldwide.Many studies have focused on the identification of protective antigens to aid in the development of novel vaccines against the disease.In this study,an immunoblotting approach was employed to identify immunogenic outer membrane proteins(OMPs)from F.columnare in two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE)map gels using antibacterial sera obtained from grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella),and anti-grass carp-recombinant Ig(rIg)monoclonal antibodies.Five unique immunogenic proteins,including the gliding motility lipoprotein GldJ(GldJ),hypothetical protein FCOL_13420(Fco1),lipoprotein(Lip),F0F1 ATP synthase subunit beta(F0f1)and outer membrane efflux protein precursor(Omep),were characterized.Over-expression of these proteins in Escherichia coli DE3,and their immunogenicity and protective efficacy were evaluated in grass carp.The relative percent survival(RPS)of the groups immunized separately with recombinant GldJ,Lip and Omep was 72%,64%and 68%,respectively when compared to control fish.Up-regulation of immuno-related genes and specific antibodies were detected in immunized fish and sera of immunized fish inhibited the growth of F.columnare.The results suggest that GldJ,Lip and Omep are major protective antigens and may be considered as novel candidates in the development of vaccines against columnaris disease in fish.