Smart contact lenses:Catalysts for science fiction becoming reality

Smart glasses are multifunctional devices designed to replicate the capabilities of smartphones,offering entertainment,fitness tracking,and various other features.However,currently available head-mounted devices tend to be large and heavy,leading to discomfort and diminished immersion.In contrast,the advent of smart contact lenses(SCLs)signifies a significant advancement beyond mere entertainment,representing a groundbreaking intersection of traditional eyewear and advanced scientific innovation.

Dynamic heterogeneity of colorectal cancer during progression revealed clinical risk-associated cell types and regulations in single-cell resolution and spatial context

Background:Tumor heterogeneity is contributed by tumor cells and the microenvironment.Dynamics of tumor heterogeneity during colorectal cancer(CRC)progression have not been elucidated.Methods:Eight single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)data sets of CRC were included.Milo was utilized to reveal the differential abundance of cell clusters during progression.The differentiation trajectory was imputed by using the Palantir algorithm and metabolic states were assessed by using scMetabolism.Three spatial transcription sequencing(ST-seq)data sets of CRC were used to validate cell-type abundances and colocalization.Cancer-associated regulatory hubs were defined as communication networks affecting tumor biological behaviors.Finally,quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry staining were performed for validation.Results:TM4SF1t,SOX4t,and MKI67t tumor cells;CXCL12t cancer-associated fibroblasts;CD4t resident memory T cells;Treg;IgAt plasma cells;and several myeloid subsets were enriched in stage IV CRC,most of which were associated with overall survival of patients.Trajectory analysis indicated that tumor cells from patients with advanced-stage CRC were less differentiated,when metabolic heterogeneity showed a highest metabolic signature in terminal states of stromal cells,T cells,and myeloid cells.Moreover,ST-seq validated cell-type abundance in a spatial context and also revealed the correlation of immune infiltration between tertiary lymphoid structures and tumors followed by validation in our cohort.Importantly,analysis of cancer-associated regulatory hubs revealed a cascade of activated pathways including leukocyte apoptotic process,MAPK pathway,myeloid leukocyte differentiation,and angiogenesis during CRC progression.Conclusions:Tumor heterogeneity was dynamic during progression,with the enrichment of immunosuppressive Treg,myeloid cells,and fibrotic cells.The differential state of tumor cells was associated with cancer staging.Assessment of cancer-associated regulatory hubs suggested impaired antitumor immunity and increased metastatic ability during CRC progression.

CRISPR-Cas9技术在细菌耐药性防控研究进展

近年来,多种新型耐药基因的出现和全球性流行,严重威胁了全球公众健康。CRISPR-Cas9系统(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated protein 9 system)是细菌的一种适应性免疫系统,可切割耐药基因、抵御外来核酸入侵,现已作为一种新型基因编辑工具应用于防控细菌耐药性研究。本团队已建立了一种单质粒介导靶向mcr-1基因的CRISPR-Cas9系统,能有效并特异性消除黏菌素耐药大肠杆菌中的mcr-1,恢复其对黏菌素的敏感性。同时也发现在临床中应用还需要优化其递送方式。本文对近几年该技术在细菌耐药性防控方面的研究进展进行了综述,包括CRISPR-Cas9系统的发现过程、作用机制、递送方式、在体外检测实验结果的进展以及当前存在的问题等方面,以期为防控细菌耐药性提供新思路。