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.

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.

Secure Transmission of Compressed Medical Image Sequences on Communication Networks Using Motion Vector Watermarking

Medical imaging plays a key role within modern hospital management systems for diagnostic purposes.Compression methodologies are extensively employed to mitigate storage demands and enhance transmission speed,all while upholding image quality.Moreover,an increasing number of hospitals are embracing cloud computing for patient data storage,necessitating meticulous scrutiny of server security and privacy protocols.Nevertheless,considering the widespread availability of multimedia tools,the preservation of digital data integrity surpasses the significance of compression alone.In response to this concern,we propose a secure storage and transmission solution for compressed medical image sequences,such as ultrasound images,utilizing a motion vector watermarking scheme.The watermark is generated employing an error-correcting code known as Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem(BCH)and is subsequently embedded into the compressed sequence via block-based motion vectors.In the process of watermark embedding,motion vectors are selected based on their magnitude and phase angle.When embedding watermarks,no specific spatial area,such as a region of interest(ROI),is used in the images.The embedding of watermark bits is dependent on motion vectors.Although reversible watermarking allows the restoration of the original image sequences,we use the irreversible watermarking method.The reason for this is that the use of reversible watermarks may impede the claims of ownership and legal rights.The restoration of original data or images may call into question ownership or other legal claims.The peak signal-to-noise ratio(PSNR)and structural similarity index(SSIM)serve as metrics for evaluating the watermarked image quality.Across all images,the PSNR value exceeds 46 dB,and the SSIM value exceeds 0.92.Experimental results substantiate the efficacy of the proposed technique in preserving data integrity.

Rapid Amplification of Flanking Sequences of a Known DNA Region by Partial Restriction Digestion and Hot Start PCR

A simple and efficient method for cloning the flanking genomic sequences of a known DNA region is reported in this study. This method combined partial restriction endonuclease digestion, adaptor ligation, and a single round polymerase chain reaction. Total genomic DNA was partially digested with the frequent-cutting restriction enzyme Mse I. The partially digested products were ligated to an unphosphorylated adaptor. A hot start PCR amplification with Taq polymerase and dNTP was performed with a DNA-specific primer and the adaptor primer complementary to the adaptor and the Mse I recognition site. The amplified products were fractionated, cloned and sequenced. By this method, we cloned the downstream region of a gynoecious marker TG/CAC234 from cucumber （Cucumis sativus L.）.

A Novel Method of Deinterleaving Radar Pulse Sequences Based on a Modified DBSCAN Algorithm

A modified DBSCAN algorithm is presented for deinterleaving of radar pulses in modern EW environments.A main characteristic of the proposed method is that using only time of arrival of pulses,the method can sort the pulses efficiently.Other PDW information such as rise time,carrier frequency,pulse width,modulation on pulse,fall time and direction of arrival are not required.To identify the valid PRIs in a set of interleaved pulses,an innovative modification of the DBSCAN algorithm is introduced which is accurate and easy to implement.The proposed method determines valid PRIs more accurately and neglects the spurious ones more efficiently as compared to the classical histogram based algorithms such as SDIF.Furthermore,without specifying any input parameter,the proposed method can deinterleave radar pulses while up to 30%jitter is present in the associated PRI.The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are verified by computer simulations and real data results.Experimental simulations are based on different real and operational scenarios where the presence of missing and spurious pulses are also considered.So,the simulation results can be of practical significance.

Complicated expansion trajectories of insertion sequences and potential association with horizontal transfer of Wolbachia DNA

DEAR EDITOR,Insertion sequences(ISs) are the simplest structural transposable elements(TEs) in prokaryotes, consisting only of a transposase coding sequence and its bilateral short terminal inverted repeats. Due to their gradually streamlined genomic construction, TEs rarely exist in the genomes of obligate endosymbionts. However, TE content, especially ISs.

Identification of clade-wide putative cis-regulatory elements from conserved non-coding sequences in Cucurbitaceae genomes

Cis-regulatory elements regulate gene expression and play an essential role in the development and physiology of organisms.Many conserved non-coding sequences(CNSs)function as cis-regulatory elements.They control the development of various lineages.How-ever,predicting clade-wide cis-regulatory elements across several closely related species remains challenging.Based on the relationship between CNSs and cis-regulatory elements,we present a computational approach that predicts the clade-wide putative cis-regulatory elements in 12 Cucurbitaceae genomes.Using 12-way whole-genome alignment,we first obtained 632112 CNSs in Cucurbitaceae.Next,we identified 16552 Cucurbitaceae-wide cis-regulatory elements based on collinearity among all 12 Cucurbitaceae plants.Furthermore,we predicted 3271 potential regulatory pairs in the cucumber genome,of which 98 were verified using integrative RNA sequencing and ChIP sequencing datasets from samples collected during various fruit development stages.The CNSs,Cucurbitaceae-wide cis-regulatory elements,and their target genes are accessible at http://cmb.bnu.edu.cn/cisRCNEs_cucurbit/.These elements are valuable resources for functionally annotating CNSs and their regulatory roles in Cucurbitaceae genomes.

KHSRP通过ANK3调节前列腺癌细胞对雄激素的反应性

目的·研究KH型剪接调节蛋白(KH-type splicing regulatory protein,KHSRP)对前列腺癌细胞增殖能力的影响及其下游基因的表达调控,考察KHSRP在前列腺癌由雄激素依赖型向非依赖型转变过程中的潜在作用及机制。方法·通过重组慢病毒感染雄激素依赖型前列腺癌LNCaP细胞和雄激素非依赖型前列腺癌DU145细胞,分别构建KHSRP功能性缺失/获得的稳定细胞株,并比较KHSRP在2种细胞之间的功能差异。采用蛋白质印迹法(Western blotting)检测稳定细胞株中KHSRP、雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)及锚定蛋白3(ankyrin 3,ANK3)的表达量。通过细胞增殖实验、平板克隆实验、小鼠成瘤实验等检测KHSRP对LNCaP细胞增殖能力的影响。通过转录组测序(RNA sequencing,RNA-seq)检测KHSRP影响的下游基因,并通过实时荧光定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,RT-qPCR)检测KHSRP下游基因的mRNA表达量。结合癌细胞系百科全书(Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia,CCLE)、癌症基因组图谱(The Cancer Genome Atlas,TCGA)、基因表达综合(Gene Expression Omnibus,GEO)数据库,分析研究ANK3和KHSRP在前列腺组织样本中的表达情况以及ANK3在不同前列腺癌细胞株中的表达差异。结果·GEO数据分析结果显示KHSRP在前列腺癌组织中的表达高于良性前列腺组织,提示其与前列腺癌的发生相关。细胞增殖实验、平板克隆实验、小鼠成瘤实验结果显示KHSRP的表达与LNCaP细胞增殖能力呈负相关,提示KHSRP可以抑制前列腺癌细胞的增殖,且KHSRP对LNCaP细胞增殖能力的影响强于对DU145细胞的影响。对LNCaP稳定细胞株的Western blotting和RT-qPCR检测显示KSHRP过表达后LNCaP细胞中AR蛋白质水平下降,但mRNA水平未产生变化,提示KHSRP可以间接调节AR的蛋白质水平。RNA-seq和RT-qPCR结果显示KHSRP与影响AR蛋白稳定性的调节因子ANK3的表达呈正相关,随后的Western blotting证明KHSRP过表达后ANK3蛋白质的表达量明显升高,TCGA数据分析结果进一步说明KHSRP与ANK3的mRNA表达的相关性。根据CCLE和GEO数据,ANK3的表达与前列腺癌的恶性程度也密切相关。结论·KHSRP可能通过ANK3间接调控AR的蛋白稳定性,影响雄激素依赖型前列腺癌细胞的增殖能力,并介导前列腺癌细胞对雄激素反应性的改变。

Leachate Lithium Characteristics of Loess-paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau and their Paleoclimatic Significance

The geochemical components of the leachate from loess-paleosol deposits can provide information about climaterelated post-depositional processes.For example,leachate lithium([Li]_(leachate))is a potential paleoclimate proxy because lithium is a typical lithophile element that is readily adsorbed by clay minerals during weathering and pedogenesis,and thus stratigraphic variations in[Li]leachatecan reflect these processes.We investigated the[Li]leachatevalues of two loess-paleosols profiles(the Luochuan and Weinan sections),on a north-south climatic gradient on the Chinese Loess Plateau.Independent paleoclimate information was provided by measurements of magnetic susceptibility,grain size,Rb/Sr ratios,and clay mineral content.During the last glacial-interglacial period,[Li]leachateincreased from 0.39 to 1.97μg/g at Luochuan and from 0.67 to 2.45μg/g at Weinan,mainly due to increasing pedogenesis.Based on these results we developed a conceptual model to explain the variations in[Li]leachate,Li^(+)within loess layers is mainly derived from dust input and the decomposition of primary minerals,influenced by the East Asian winter monsoon,while in paleosol layers Li is mainly derived from clay mineral adsorption during pedogenic processes,influenced by the East Asian summer monsoon.

About Upper and Lower Strong Fractional Weighted Mean Convergence by Moduli for Triple Sequences

In article, I present a study on upper and lower statistical convergence, and upper and lower strong fractional weighted mean convergence by moduli for triple sequences. One of the generalizations of the discrete operator Cesàro, was weighted mean operators, which are linear operators, too. Given a modulus function f, I established that a triple sequence that is f-upper or lower strong fractional weighted mean convergent, in some supplementary conditions, is also f-lower or upper statistically convergent. The results of this paper adapt the results obtained in [1] and [2] to upper and lower strong fractional weighted mean convergence and to triple sequence concept. Furthermore, new concepts can be applied to the approximation theory, topology, Fourier analysis, analysis interdisciplinary with applications electrical engineering, robotics and other domains.

The asymptotic relation between the first crossing point and the last exit time of Gaussian order statistics sequences

In this paper,we study the asymptotic relation between the first crossing point and the last exit time for Gaussian order statistics which are generated by stationary weakly and strongly dependent Gaussian sequences.It is shown that the first crossing point and the last exit time are asymptotically independent and dependent for weakly and strongly dependent cases,respectively.The asymptotic relations between the first crossing point and the last exit time for stationary weakly and strongly dependent Gaussian sequences are also obtained.

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.

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.

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.

Next Generation Sequencing in Oncological Diagnostics: Hype or Hope?

The understanding of how genetic and epigenetic factors influence tumorigenesis, progression and invasion, is vastly growing since new technologies allow the analysis of the functional genome namely the exome, the transcriptome and the epigenome, besides enabling genome-wide assessment of genetic variations. With the advent of new drugs that are indicated tissue agnostic, depending on certain mutations, there is a growing demand for fast and cost-effective genetic diagnosis. The method in focus that already became an indispensable tool in viral diagnosis is next-generation sequencing (NGS). This approach allows sequencing of literally every DNA molecule in the sample and can either be used to assess numerous genetic markers of one patient at a time, or to assess fewer markers of many patients in parallel, which reduces costs. We submitted 23 samples of different tumor entities to four diagnostic companies with different analysis profiles. The results as disclosed and discussed in this report indicate that so far, the main application of NGS is rather in cancer research than in diagnosis, as none of the reports had a real impact on the therapeutic scheme. We are perfectly aware that such a small cohort cannot be generalized, but considering the costs vs. benefits, NGS should be engaged upon a very stringent evaluation only. However, in cases where obtaining a tissue biopsy is impossible or unfavorable, analysis of liquid biopsy by NGS provides a vital alternative.

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.

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 reveals the reproductive variations between primiparous and multiparous Hu ewes

Background In the modern sheep production systems,the reproductive performance of ewes determines the economic profitability of farming.Revealing the genetic mechanisms underlying differences in the litter size is important for the selection and breeding of highly prolific ewes.Hu sheep,a high-quality Chinese sheep breed,is known for its high fecundity and is often used as a model to study prolificacy traits.In the current study,animals were divided into two groups according to their delivery rates in three consecutive lambing seasons(namely,the high and low reproductive groups with≥3 lambs and one lamb per season,n=3,respectively).The ewes were slaughtered within 12 h of estrus,and unilateral ovarian tissues were collected and analyzed by 10×Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing.Results A total of 5 types of somatic cells were identified and corresponding expression profiles were mapped in the ovaries of each group.Noticeably,the differences in the ovary somatic cell expression profiles between the high and low reproductive groups were mainly clustered in the granulosa cells.Furthermore,four granulosa cell subtypes were identified.GeneSwitches analysis revealed that the abundance of JPH1 expression and the reduction of LOC101112291 expression could lead to different evolutionary directions of the granulosa cells.Additionally,the expression levels of FTH1 and FTL in mural granulosa cells of the highly reproductive group were significantly higher.These genes inhibit necroptosis and ferroptosis of mural granulosa cells,which helps prevent follicular atresia.Conclusions This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the high fecundity of Hu sheep.The differences in gene expression profiles,particularly in the granulosa cells,suggest that these cells play a critical role in female prolificacy.The findings also highlight the importance of genes such as JPH1,LOC101112291,FTH1,and FTL in regulating granulosa cell function and follicular development.