Porphyromonas gingivalis exacerbates ulcerative colitis via Porphyromonas gingivalis peptidylarginine deiminase

Abstract:Ulcerative Colitis(UC)has been reported to be related to Porphyromonas gingivalis(P.gingivalis).Porphyromonas gingivalis peptidylarginine deiminase(PPAD),a virulence factor released by P.gingivalis,is known to induce inflammatory responses.To explore the pathological relationships between PPAD and UC,we used homologous recombination technology to construct a P.gingivalis strain in which the PPAD gene was deleted(Δppad)and aΔppad strain in which the PPAD gene was restored(comΔppad).C57 BL/6 mice were orally gavaged with saline,P.gingivalis,Δppad,or comΔppad twice a week for the entire 40 days(days 0-40),and then,UC was induced by dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)solution for 10 days(days 31-40).P.gingivalis and comΔppad exacerbated DDS-induced colitis,which was determined by assessing the parameters of colon length,disease activity index,and histological activity index,butΔppad failed to exacerbate DDS-induced colitis.Flow cytometry and ELISA revealed that compared withΔppad,P.gingivalis,and comΔppad increased T helper 17(Th17)cell numbers and interleukin(IL)-17 production but decreased regulatory T cells(Tregs)numbers and IL-10 production in the spleens of mice with UC.We also cocultured P.gingivalis,Δppad,or comΔppad with T lymphocytes in vitro and found that P.gingivalis and comΔppad significantly increased Th17 cell numbers and decreased Treg cell numbers.Immunofluorescence staining of colon tissue paraffin sections also confirmed these results.The results suggested that P.gingivalis exacerbated the severity of UC in part via PPAD.

An organic-inorganic hybrid thermochromic ferroelastic with multi-channel switches

Multifunctional switchable materials are attracting tremendous interest because of their great application potential in signal processing,information encryption,and smart devices.Here,we reported an organic-inorganic hybrid thermochromic ferroelastic crystal,[TMIm][CuCl_(4)](TMIm=1,1,3,3-tetramethylimidazolidinium),which undergoes two reversible phase transitions at 333 K and 419 K,respectively.Intriguingly,these three phases experience a remarkable ferroelastic-paraelastic-ferroelastic(2/m-mmm-2/m)transition,which remains relatively unexplored in ferroelastics.Moreover,the ferroelastic domains can be simultaneously switched under temperature and stress stimuli.Meanwhile,[TMIm][CuCl_(4)]exhibits thermochromic phenomenon,endowing it with extra spectral encryption possibilities during information processing.Combined with dielectric switching behavior,[TMIm][Cu Cl_(4)]are promising for practical applications in memory devices,next-generation sensors,and encryption technology.

A temperature-activated nanocomposite metamaterial absorber with a wide tunability

Novel thin and flexible broadband electromagnetic microwave absorbers are realized with nanocomposites and achieve a wide frequency tunability （from 10 to 17.2 GHz） by actively adjusting the resistance. The proposed absorbers are fabricated by scalable screen printing of optimized nanoparticle ink onto the flexible dielectric composite substrates. Based on the shape memory effects of the substrate and piezoresistive effect of the nanocomposite frequency selective surface, a controllable sheet resistance, and thereby tunable wave absorption performance, can be realized in a temperature-activated and dynamically stable manner. The results provide new dimensions for the design of active electromagnetic devices by utilizing previously underestimated intrinsic properties of the artificial materials and the smart behavior of polymer-based nanocomposites.