Coseismic Coulomb stress changes induced by a 2020-2021 M_(W)>7.0 Alaska earthquake sequence in and around the Shumagin gap and its influence on the Alaska-Aleutian subduction interface

Three M_(W)>7.0 earthquakes in 2020-2021 occurred in the Shumagin seismic gap and its adjacent area of the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone,including the Mw7.8 Simeonof thrust earthquake on July 22,2020,the M_(W)7.6 Sand Point strike-slip earthquake on October 19,2020,and the M_(W)8.2 Chignik thrust earthquake on July 29,2021.The spatial and temporal proximity of these three earthquakes prompts us to probe stress-triggering effects among them.Here we examine the coseismic Coulomb stress change imparted by the three earthquakes and their influence on the subduction interface.Our results show that:(1)The Simeonof earthquake has strong loading effects on the subsequent Sand Point and Chignik earthquakes,with the Coulomb stress changes of 3.95 bars and 2.89 bars,respectively.The Coulomb stress change caused by the Sand Point earthquake at the hypocenter of the Chignik earthquake is merely around 0.01 bars,suggesting the negligible triggering effect on the latter earthquake;(2)The triggering effects of the Simeonof,Sand Point,and Chignik earthquakes on aftershocks within three months are not well pronounced because of the triggering rates of 38%,14%,and 43%respectively.Other factors may have played an important role in promoting the occurrence of these aftershocks,such as the roughness of the subduction interface,the complicated velocity structure of the lithosphere,and the heterogeneous prestress therein;(3)The three earthquakes caused remarkable coseismic Coulomb stress changes at the subduction interface nearby these mainshocks,with an average Coulomb stress change of 3.2 bars in the shallow region directly inwards the trench.

The Upper Jurassic sediments,Marib-Shabwa Basin,Yemen:Lithofacies aspects and sequence stratigraphic analysis

The present study is devoted to understanding the evolution of the Upper Jurassic Sab'atayn Formation in the Marib-Shabwa Basin,Yemen,through a sequence stratigraphic analysis based on integrating datasets of sedimentology,seismic sections,and well logs.The Sab'atayn Formation(Tithonian age)is represented by a series of clastic and evaporites that were deposited under fluvio-deltaic to prodeltaic settings.It is divided into four members including Yah(at the base),upwards to Seen,Alif,and Safir at the top.Two third-order depositional sequences were determined for the Tithonian succession which were separated by three sequence boundaries.These sequences were classified into their systems tracts signifying several sedimentation patterns of progradational,aggradational,and retrogradational parasequence sets.The first depositional sequence corresponds to the early-middle Tithonian Yah and Seen units that can be classified into lowstand,transgressive,and highstand systems tracts.The second sequence comprises the late Tithonian Alif unit that can be subdivided into transgressive and highstand systems tracts.The sandy deposits of the Alif Member(highstand deposits)represent the most productive hydrocarbon reservoir in the basin.The Upper Jurassic sediments in the study area were resulted from a combination of eustatic and tectonic effects.

Highlighting relationships between sand thicknesses,reservoir-seal pairs and paleobathymetry from a sequence stratigraphic perspective:An example from Tortonian Serravallian deposits,onshore Niger Delta Basin

The utilization of sequence stratigraphic concepts in identifying sands and their spatial continuity in distinct gross depositional settings is key,especially in frontier settings where data paucity is a common challenge.In the Baka field,onshore Niger Delta,detailed reservoir correlation guided by sequence stratigraphic framework analysis showed the distribution of sand and shale units constituting reservoirseal pairs(RSP)correlatable across the field.Within the 3rd-order packages,it is observed that the lowstand systems tract(LST)and highstand systems tract(HST)contain more RSPs and thicker 4th-and 5th-order sands than the transgressive systems tract(TST).In terms of bathymetry,it is noted that irrespective of systems tracts,the RSP Index(RI)decreases from the proximal shallow/inner shelf settings to the more distal outer shelf areas.Amongst all three systems tracts,intervals interpreted as lowstand prograding complexes contain the best developed sands and highest RSP.Sand development within the LSTs has been controlled by a pronounced growth fault regime accompanied by high subsidence and sedimentation rates.This is linked to the basinward migration of the sands during prolonged sea-level fall,creating significant accommodation space for sand deposition.On the other hand,the TSTs known to mark periods of progressive sea-level rise and landward migration of sandy facies,show thinner sands enclosed in much thicker,laterally extensive,and better-preserved deeper marine shales.Interpreted seismic sections indicate intense growth faulting and channelization that influenced the syn-and postdepositional development of the sand packages across the field.The initial timing of deformation of subregional faults in this area coincides with periods of abrupt falls in sea level.This approach could be useful for predicting sand-prone areas in frontier fields as well as possible reservoir-seal parameters required for some aspects of petroleum system analysis and quick-look volume estimation.

Mitochondrial targeting sequence of magnetoreceptor MagR:More than just targeting

Iron-sulfur clusters(ISC)are essential cofactors for proteins involved in various biological processes,such as electron transport,biosynthetic reactions,DNA repair,and gene expression regulation.ISC assembly protein IscA1(or MagR)is found within the mitochondria of most eukaryotes.Magnetoreceptor(MagR)is a highly conserved A-type iron and iron-sulfur cluster-binding protein,characterized by two distinct types of iron-sulfur clusters,[2Fe-2S]and[3Fe-4S],each conferring unique magnetic properties.MagR forms a rod-like polymer structure in complex with photoreceptive cryptochrome(Cry)and serves as a putative magnetoreceptor for retrieving geomagnetic information in animal navigation.Although the N-terminal sequences of MagR vary among species,their specific function remains unknown.In the present study,we found that the N-terminal sequences of pigeon MagR,previously thought to serve as a mitochondrial targeting signal(MTS),were not cleaved following mitochondrial entry but instead modulated the efficiency with which iron-sulfur clusters and irons are bound.Moreover,the N-terminal region of MagR was required for the formation of a stable MagR/Cry complex.Thus,the N-terminal sequences in pigeon MagR fulfil more important functional roles than just mitochondrial targeting.These results further extend our understanding of the function of MagR and provide new insights into the origin of magnetoreception from an evolutionary perspective.

Association between childhood obesity and gut microbiota:16S rRNA gene sequencing-based cohort study

BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify characteristic gut genera in obese and normal-weight children(8-12 years old)using 16S rDNA sequencing.The research aimed to provide insights for mechanistic studies and prevention strategies for childhood obesity.Thirty normal-weight and thirty age-and sex-matched obese children were included.Questionnaires and body measurements were collected,and fecal samples underwent 16S rDNA sequencing.Significant differences in body mass index(BMI)and body-fat percentage were observed between the groups.Analysis of gut microbiota diversity revealed lowerα-diversity in obese children.Differences in gut microbiota composition were found between the two groups.Prevotella and Firmicutes were more abundant in the obese group,while Bacteroides and Sanguibacteroides were more prevalent in the control group.AIM To identify the characteristic gut genera in obese and normal-weight children(8-12-year-old)using 16S rDNA sequencing,and provide a basis for subsequent mechanistic studies and prevention strategies for childhood obesity.METHODS Thirty each normal-weight,1:1 matched for age and sex,and obese children,with an obese status from 2020 to 2022,were included in the control and obese groups,respectively.Basic information was collected through questionnaires and body measurements were obtained from both obese and normal-weight children.Fecal samples were collected from both groups and subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing using an Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform for gut microbiota diversity analysis.RESULTS Significant differences in BMI and body-fat percentage were observed between the two groups.The Ace and Chao1 indices were significantly lower in the obese group than those in the control group,whereas differences were not significant in the Shannon and Simpson indices.Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated significant differences in unweighted and weighted UniFrac distances between the gut microbiota of normal-weight and obese children(P<0.01),suggesting substantial disparities in both the species and quantity of gut microbiota between the two groups.Prevotella,Firmicutes,Bacteroides,and Sanguibacteroides were more abundant in the obese and control groups,respectively.Heatmap results demonstrated significant differences in the gut microbiota composition between obese and normal-weight children.CONCLUSION Obese children exhibited lowerα-diversity in their gut microbiota than did the normal-weight children.Significant differences were observed in the composition of gut microbiota between obese and normal-weight children.

Identification and validation of a pyroptosis-related prognostic model for colorectal cancer based on bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data

BACKGROUND Pyroptosis impacts the development of malignant tumors,yet its role in colorectal cancer(CRC)prognosis remains uncertain.AIM To assess the prognostic significance of pyroptosis-related genes and their association with CRC immune infiltration.METHODS Gene expression data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and single-cell RNA sequencing dataset GSE178341 from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Pyroptosis-related gene expression in cell clusters was analyzed,and enrichment analysis was conducted.A pyroptosis-related risk model was developed using the LASSO regression algorithm,with prediction accuracy assessed through K-M and receiver operating characteristic analyses.A nomo-gram predicting survival was created,and the correlation between the risk model and immune infiltration was analyzed using CIBERSORTx calculations.Finally,the differential expression of the 8 prognostic genes between CRC and normal samples was verified by analyzing TCGA-COADREAD data from the UCSC database.RESULTS An effective pyroptosis-related risk model was constructed using 8 genes-CHMP2B,SDHB,BST2,UBE2D2,GJA1,AIM2,PDCD6IP,and SEZ6L2(P<0.05).Seven of these genes exhibited differential expression between CRC and normal samples based on TCGA database analysis(P<0.05).Patients with higher risk scores demonstrated increased death risk and reduced overall survival(P<0.05).Significant differences in immune infiltration were observed between low-and high-risk groups,correlating with pyroptosis-related gene expression.CONCLUSION We developed a pyroptosis-related prognostic model for CRC,affirming its correlation with immune infiltration.This model may prove useful for CRC prognostic evaluation.

The Application of Nicotiana benthamiana as a Transient Expression Host to Clone the Coding Sequences of Plant Genes

Coding sequences (CDS) are commonly used for transient gene expression, in yeast two-hybrid screening, to verify protein interactions and in prokaryotic gene expression studies. CDS are most commonly obtained using complementary DNA (cDNA) derived from messenger RNA (mRNA) extracted from plant tissues and generated by reverse transcription. However, some CDS are difficult to acquire through this process as they are expressed at extremely low levels or have specific spatial and/or temporal expression patterns in vivo. These challenges require the development of alternative CDS cloning technologies. In this study, we found that the genomic intron-containing gene coding sequences (gDNA) from Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Brassica napus, and Glycine max can be correctly transcribed and spliced into mRNA in Nicotiana benthamiana. In contrast, gDNAs from Triticum aestivum and Sorghum bicolor did not function correctly. In transient expression experiments, the target DNA sequence is driven by a constitutive promoter. Theoretically, a sufficient amount of mRNA can be extracted from the N. benthamiana leaves, making it conducive to the cloning of CDS target genes. Our data demonstrate that N. benthamiana can be used as an effective host for the cloning CDS of plant genes.

Development of a High-throughput Sequencing Platform for Detection of Viral Encephalitis Pathogens Based on Amplicon Sequencing

Objective Viral encephalitis is an infectious disease severely affecting human health.It is caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens,including herpes viruses,flaviviruses,enteroviruses,and other viruses.The laboratory diagnosis of viral encephalitis is a worldwide challenge.Recently,high-throughput sequencing technology has provided new tools for diagnosing central nervous system infections.Thus,In this study,we established a multipathogen detection platform for viral encephalitis based on amplicon sequencing.Methods We designed nine pairs of specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR)primers for the 12 viruses by reviewing the relevant literature.The detection ability of the primers was verified by software simulation and the detection of known positive samples.Amplicon sequencing was used to validate the samples,and consistency was compared with Sanger sequencing.Results The results showed that the target sequences of various pathogens were obtained at a coverage depth level greater than 20×,and the sequence lengths were consistent with the sizes of the predicted amplicons.The sequences were verified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST,and all results were consistent with the results of Sanger sequencing.Conclusion Amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing technology is feasible as a supplementary method for the pathogenic detection of viral encephalitis.It is also a useful tool for the high-volume screening of clinical samples.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing reveals the mechanism regulating rice plumule development

Seed plumules comprise multiple developing tissues and are key sites for above-ground plant organ morphogenesis.Here,the spatial expression of genes in developing rice seed plumules was characterized by single-cell transcriptome sequencing in Zhongjiazao 17,a popular Chinese indica rice cultivar.Of 15 cell clusters,13 were assigned to cell types using marker genes and cluster-specific genes.Marker genes of multiple cell types were expressed in several clusters,suggesting a complex developmental system.Some genes for signaling by phytohormones such as abscisic acid were highly expressed in specific clusters.Various cis-elements in the promoters of genes specifically expressed in cell clusters were calculated,and some key hormone-related motifs were frequent in certain clusters.Spatial expression patterns of genes involved in rapid seed germination,seedling growth,and development were identified.These findings enhanced our understanding of cellular diversity and specialization within plumules of rice,a monocotyledonous model crop.

To Analyze the Sensitivity of RT-PCR Assays Employing S Gene Target Failure with Whole Genome Sequencing Data during Third Wave by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant

Introduction: Omicron is a highly divergent variant of concern (VOCs) of a severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2. It carries a high number of mutations in its spike protein hence;it is more transmissible in the community by immune evasion mechanisms. Due to mutation within S gene, most Omicron variants have reported S gene target failure (SGTF) with some commercially available PCR kits. Such diagnostic features can be used as markers to screen Omicron. However, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is the only gold standard approach to confirm novel microorganisms at genetically level as similar mutations can also be found in other variants that are circulating at low frequencies worldwide. This Retrospective study is aimed to assess RT-PCR sensitivity in the detection of S gene target failure in comparison with whole genome sequencing to detect variants of Omicron. Methods: We have analysed retrospective data of SARS-CoV-2 positive RT-PCR samples for S gene target failure (SGTF) with TaqPath COVID-19 RT-PCR Combo Kit (ThermoFisher) and combined with sequencing technologies to study the emerged pattern of SARS-CoV-2 variants during third wave at the tertiary care centre, Surat. Results: From the first day of December 2021 till the end of February 2022, a total of 321,803 diagnostic RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 were performed, of which 20,566 positive cases were reported at our tertiary care centre with an average cumulative positivity of 6.39% over a period of three months. In the month of December 21 samples characterized by the SGTF (70/129) were suggestive of being infected by the Omicron variant and identified as Omicron (B.1.1.529 lineage) when sequence. In the month of January, we analysed a subset of samples (n = 618) with SGTF (24%) and without SGTF (76%) with Ct values Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it took almost more than 15 days to diagnose infection and identify pathogen by sequencing technology. In contrast to that molecular assay provided quick identification with the help of SGTF phenomenon within 5 hours of duration. This strategy helps scientists and health policymakers for the quick isolation and identification of clusters. That ultimately results in a decreased transmission of pathogen among the community.

Impact of next-generation sequencing on antimicrobial treatment in immunocompromised adults with suspected infections

BACKGROUND:Prompt pathogen identification can have a substantial impact on the optimization of antimicrobial treatment.The objective of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of next-generation sequencing(NGS)for identifying pathogen and its clinical impact on antimicrobial intervention in immunocompromised patients with suspected infections.METHODS:This was a retrospective study.Between January and August 2020,47 adult immunocompromised patients underwent NGS testing under the following clinical conditions:1)prolonged fever and negative conventional cultures;2)new-onset fever despite empiric antimicrobial treatment;and 3)afebrile with suspected infections on imaging.Clinical data,including conventional microbial test results and antimicrobial treatment before and after NGS,were collected.Data were analyzed according to documented changes in antimicrobial treatment(escalated,no change,or deescalated)after the NGS results.RESULTS:The median time from hospitalization to NGS sampling was 19 d.Clinically relevant pathogens were detected via NGS in 61.7% of patients(29/47),more than half of whom suffered from fungemia(n=17),resulting in an antimicrobial escalation in 53.2% of patients(25/47)and antimicrobial de-escalation in 0.2% of patients(1/47).Antimicrobial changes were mostly due to the identification of fastidious organisms such as Legionella,Pneumocystis jirovecii,and Candida.In the remaining three cases,NGS detected clinically relevant pathogens also detected by conventional cultures a few days later.The antimicrobial treatment was subsequently adjusted according to the susceptibility test results.Overall,NGS changed antimicrobial management in 55.3%(26/47)of patients,and conventional culture detected clinically relevant pathogens in 14.9% of the patients(7/47).CONCLUSION:With its rapid identification and high sensitivity,NGS could be a promising tool for identifying relevant pathogens and enabling rapid appropriate treatment in immunocompromised patients with suspected infections.

Pig pangenome graph reveals functional features of non‑reference sequences

Background The reliance on a solitary linear reference genome has imposed a significant constraint on our compre-hensive understanding of genetic variation in animals.This constraint is particularly pronounced for non-reference sequences(NRSs),which have not been extensively studied.Results In this study,we constructed a pig pangenome graph using 21 pig assemblies and identified 23,831 NRSs with a total length of 105 Mb.Our findings revealed that NRSs were more prevalent in breeds exhibiting greater genetic divergence from the reference genome.Furthermore,we observed that NRSs were rarely found within coding sequences,while NRS insertions were enriched in immune-related Gene Ontology terms.Notably,our investigation also unveiled a close association between novel genes and the immune capacity of pigs.We observed substantial differences in terms of frequencies of NRSs between Eastern and Western pigs,and the heat-resistant pigs exhibited a substantial number of NRS insertions in an 11.6 Mb interval on chromosome X.Additionally,we discovered a 665 bp insertion in the fourth intron of the TNFRSF19 gene that may be associated with the ability of heat tolerance in South-ern Chinese pigs.Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the potential of a graph genome approach to reveal important functional features of NRSs in pig populations.

Phylogenetic, phylogeographic and divergence time analysis of Anopheles subpictus species complex using ITS2 and COI sequences

Objective:To address the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationship between different lineages of Anopheles(An.)subpictus species complex in most parts of the Asian continent by maximum utilization of Internal Transcriber Spacer 2(ITS2)and cytochrome C oxidase I(COI)sequences deposited at the GenBank.Methods:Seventy-five ITS2,210 COI and 26 concatenated sequences available in the NCBI database were used.Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Bayesian likelihood trees,whereas median-joining haplotype networks and time-scale divergence trees were generated for phylogeographic analysis.Genetic diversity indices and genetic differentiation were also calculated.Results:Two genetically divergent molecular forms of An.subpictus species complex corresponding to sibling species A and B are established.Species A evolved around 37-82 million years ago in Sri Lanka,India,and the Netherlands,and species B evolved around 22-79 million years ago in Sri Lanka,India,and Myanmar.Vietnam,Thailand,and Cambodia have two molecular forms:one is phylogenetically similar to species B.Other forms differ from species A and B and evolved recently in the above mentioned countries,Indonesia and the Philippines.Genetic subdivision among Sri Lanka,India,and the Netherlands is almost absent.A substantial genetic differentiation was obtained for some populations due to isolation by large geographical distances.Genetic diversity indices reveal the presence of a long-established stable mosquito population,at mutation-drift equilibrium,regardless of population fluctuations.Conclusions:An.subpictus species complex consists of more than two genetically divergent molecular forms.Species A is highly divergent from the rest.Sri Lanka and India contain only species A and B.

Inferring Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Drug Resistance and Transmission using Whole-genome Sequencing in a High TB-burden Setting in China

Objective China is among the 30 countries with a high burden of tuberculosis(TB)worldwide,and TB remains a public health concern.Kashgar Prefecture in the southern Xinjiang Autonomous Region is considered as one of the highest TB burden regions in China.However,molecular epidemiological studies of Kashgar are lacking.Methods A population-based retrospective study was conducted using whole-genome sequencing(WGS)to determine the characteristics of drug resistance and the transmission patterns.Results A total of 1,668 isolates collected in 2020 were classified into lineages 2(46.0%),3(27.5%),and 4(26.5%).The drug resistance rates revealed by WGS showed that the top three drugs in terms of the resistance rate were isoniazid(7.4%,124/1,668),streptomycin(6.0%,100/1,668),and rifampicin(3.3%,55/1,668).The rate of rifampicin resistance was 1.8%(23/1,290)in the new cases and 9.4%(32/340)in the previously treated cases.Known resistance mutations were detected more frequently in lineage 2 strains than in lineage 3 or 4 strains,respectively:18.6%vs.8.7 or 9%,P<0.001.The estimated proportion of recent transmissions was 25.9%(432/1,668).Multivariate logistic analyses indicated that sex,age,occupation,lineage,and drug resistance were the risk factors for recent transmission.Despite the low rate of drug resistance,drug-resistant strains had a higher risk of recent transmission than the susceptible strains(adjusted odds ratio,1.414;95%CI,1.023–1.954;P=0.036).Among all patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis(DR-TB),78.4%(171/218)were attributed to the transmission of DR-TB strains.Conclusion Our results suggest that drug-resistant strains are more transmissible than susceptible strains and that transmission is the major driving force of the current DR-TB epidemic in Kashgar.

On power series statistical convergence and new uniform integrability of double sequences

In the present paper,we mostly focus on P_(p)^(2)-statistical convergence.We will look into the uniform integrability via the power series method and its characterizations for double sequences.Also,the notions of P_(p)^(2)-statistically Cauchy sequence,P_(p)^(2)-statistical boundedness and core for double sequences will be described in addition to these findings.

Detection of Novel BEST1 Variations in Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy Using Third-generation Sequencing

Objective:Autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy(ARB),a retinal degenerative disease,is characterized by central visual loss,yellowish multifocal diffuse subretinal deposits,and a dramatic decrease in the light peak on electrooculogram.The potential pathogenic mechanism involves mutations in the BEST1 gene,which encodes Ca2+-activated Cl−channels in the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE),resulting in degeneration of RPE and photoreceptor.In this study,the complete clinical characteristics of two Chinese ARB families were summarized.Methods:Pacific Biosciences(PacBio)single-molecule real-time(SMRT)sequencing was performed on the probands to screen for disease-causing gene mutations,and Sanger sequencing was applied to validate variants in the patients and their family members.Results:Two novel mutations,c.202T>C(chr11:61722628,p.Y68H)and c.867+97G>A,in the BEST1 gene were identified in the two Chinese ARB families.The novel missense mutation BEST1 c.202T>C(p.Y68H)resulted in the substitution of tyrosine with histidine in the N-terminal region of transmembrane domain 2 of bestrophin-1.Another novel variant,BEST1 c.867+97G>A(chr11:61725867),located in intron 7,might be considered a regulatory variant that changes allele-specific binding affinity based on motifs of important transcriptional regulators.Conclusion:Our findings represent the first use of third-generation sequencing(TGS)to identify novel BEST1 mutations in patients with ARB,indicating that TGS can be a more accurate and efficient tool for identifying mutations in specific genes.The novel variants identified further broaden the mutation spectrum of BEST1 in the Chinese population.

Applications of single-cell RNA sequencing in spermatogenesis and molecular evolution

Spermatogenic cell heterogeneity is determined by the complex process of spermatogenesis differentiation.However,effectively revealing the regulatory mechanisms underlying mammalian spermatogenic cell development and differentiation via traditional methods is difficult.Advances in technology have led to the emergence of many single-cell transcriptome sequencing protocols,which have partially addressed these challenges.In this review,we detail the principles of 10x Genomics technology and summarize the methods for downstream analysis of single-cell transcriptome sequencing data.Furthermore,we explore the role of single-cell transcriptome sequencing in revealing the heterogeneity of testicular ecological niche cells,delineating the establishment and disruption of testicular immune homeostasis during human spermatogenesis,investigating abnormal spermatogenesis in humans,and,ultimately,elucidating the molecular evolution of mammalian spermatogenesis.

Safety assessment of a novel marine multi-stress-tolerant yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii GXDK6 according to phenotype and whole genome-sequencing analysis

The application of microorganisms as probiotics is limited due to lack of safety evaluation.Here,a novel multi-stress-tolerant yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii GXDK6 with aroma-producing properties was identified from marine mangrove microorganisms.Its safety and probiotic properties were assessed in accordance with phenotype and whole-genome sequencing analysis.Results showed that the genes and phenotypic expression of related virulence,antibiotic resistance and retroelement were rarely found.Hyphal morphogenesis genes(SIT4,HOG1,SPA2,ERK1,ICL1,CST20,HSP104,TPS1,and RHO1)and phospholipase secretion gene(VPS4)were annotated.True hyphae and phospholipase were absent.Only one retroelement(Tad1-65_BG)was found.Major biogenic amines(BAs)encoding genes were absent,except for spermidine synthase(JA9_002594),spermine synthase(JA9_004690),and tyrosine decarboxylase(inx).The production of single BAs and total BAs was far below the food-defined thresholds.GXDK6 had no resistance to common antifungal drugs.Virulence enzymes,such as gelatinase,DNase,hemolytic,lecithinase,and thrombin were absent.Acute toxicity test with mice demonstrated that GXDK6 is safe.GXDK6 has a good reproduction ability in the simulation gastrointestinal tract.GXDK6 also has a strong antioxidant ability,β-glucosidase,and inulinase activity.To sum up,GXDK6 is considered as a safe probiotic for human consumption and food fermentation.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing assay for identifying pathogens in lung cancer patients

Background:For patients with lung cancer,timely identification of new lung lesions as infectious or non-infectious,and accurate identification of pathogens is very important in improving OS of patients.As a new auxiliary examination,metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)is believed to be more accurate in diagnosing infectious diseases in patients without underlying diseases,compared with conventional microbial tests(CMTs).We designed this study tofind out whether mNGS has better performance in distinguishing infectious and non-infectious diseases in lung cancer patients using bronchoalveolar lavagefluid(BALF).Materials and Methods:This study was a real-world retrospective review based on electronic medical records of lung cancer patients with bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL)and BALF commercial mNGS testing as part of clinical care from 1 April 2019 through 30 April 2022 at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.164 patients were included in this study.Patients were categorized into the pulmonary non-infectious disease(PNID)group(n=64)and the pulmonary infectious disease(PID)group(n=100)groups based onfinal diagnoses.Results:BALF mNGS increased the sensitivity rate by 60%compared to CMTs(81%vs.21%,p<0.05),whereas there was no significant difference in specificity(75%vs.98.4%,p>0.1).Among the patients with PID,bacteria were the most common cause of infection.Fungal infections occurred in 32%of patients,and Pneumocystis Yersini was most common.Patients with Tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)therapy possess longer overall survival(OS)than other anti-cancer agents,the difference between TKIs and immuno-checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)was insignificant(median OS TKIs vs.ICIs vs.Anti-angiogenic vs.Chemo vs.Radiotherapy=76 vs.84 vs.61 vs.58 vs.60).Conclusions:our study indicates that BALF mNGS can add value by improving overall sensitivity in lung cancer patients with potential pulmonary infection,and was outstanding in identifying Pneumocystis infection.It could be able to help physicians adjust the follow-up treatment to avoid the abuse of antibiotics.

Single-cell sequencing technology in diabetic wound healing:New insights into the progenitors-based repair strategies

Diabetes mellitus(DM),an increasingly prevalent chronic metabolic disease,is characterised by prolonged hyperglycaemia,which leads to long-term health consequences.Although much effort has been put into understanding the pathogenesis of diabetic wounds,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNAseq)has revolutionised biological research by enabling the identification of novel cell types,the discovery of cellular markers,the analysis of gene expression patterns and the prediction of develop-mental trajectories.This powerful tool allows for an in-depth exploration of pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels.In this editorial,we focus on progenitor-based repair strategies for diabetic wound healing as revealed by scRNAseq and highlight the biological behaviour of various healing-related cells and the alteration of signalling pathways in the process of diabetic wound healing.ScRNAseq could not only deepen our understanding of the complex biology of diabetic wounds but also identify and validate new targets for inter-vention,offering hope for improved patient outcomes in the management of this challenging complication of DM.