Abstract Keloids are pathological scars exhibiting tumour-like aggressiveness and high recurrence rate. Here we find increased proportion of pro-inflammatory and mesenchymal fibroblast subpopulations and senescent fibroblasts, and enhanced expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype genes using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, as well as elevated p16 protein and more β-galactosidase-positive cells in keloids. The up-regulated p53-serine15 phosphorylation (p53-pS15) in keloids is identified by phosphospecific protein microarray and western blotting. We further demonstrate that a senolytic FOXO4-D-retro-inverso-isoform peptide (FOXO4-DRI) promotes apoptosis and decreases G0/G1 phase cells in pro-senescence models of keloid organ cultures and fibroblasts, accompanied with p53-pS15 nuclear exclusion. Our study indicates that upregulation of p53-pS15 and p16 maintains a persistent senescent microenvironment to promote cell cycle arrest and apoptosis resistance in keloid fibroblasts. FOXO4-DRI shows potential as a treatment targeting the senescence and apoptosis resistance, and holds promise as an approach to prevent the aggressiveness and relapse of keloids.
Tyrosol is an important component of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, and their biosynthetic pathways are currently a hot research topic. d-Erythrose 4-phosphate is a key precursor for the biosynthesis of tyrosol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hence, the flux of d-Erythrose 4-phosphate determined the yield of tyrosol synthesis. In this study, we first obtained an S. cerevisiae strain S19 with a tyrosol yield of 247.66 mg/L by metabolic engineering strategy. To increase the production of d-Erythrose 4-phosphate, highly active phosphoketolase BA-C was obtained by bioinformatics combined with tyrosol yield assay. The key residue sites 183, 217, and 320 were obtained by molecular docking, kinetic simulation, and tyrosol yield verification. After mutation, the highly efficient phosphoketolase BA-CHis320Met was obtained, with a 37.32 % increase in enzyme activity. The tyrosol production of strain S26 with BA-CHis320Arg increased by 43.05 % than strain S25 with BA-C and increased by 151.19 % compared with the strain S19 without phosphoketolase in a 20 L fermenter. The mining and modification of phosphoketolase will provide strong support for the de novo synthesis of aromatic compounds.
The discipline of `theoretical biology' has been developing from its inception several decades ago almost in parallel with the advances in biology, so much so that the latter is often considered to be almost exclusively an empirical science. However, the scenario has been changing in recent years with statistical mechanics, nonlinear dynamics and soft-matter physics being more and more frequently invoked to explain various biological observations. As distinct from computational biology, theoretical biology is not just an attempt to reproduce in-silico experimental phenomena, but asks more general and abstract questions. It strives to attain a more fundamental understanding of the mechanisms underlying biological phenomena, ranging from oscillations to strategic actions, that can be unified through the perspective that views organisms as processing information to respond appropriately despite the noise in their environment. We show through a number of investigations carried out by our group, on the emergence of systems-level phenomena through interactions between components, how an approach melding physics, and the theory of information & computation can act as an unifying framework for biological processes across a wide range of temporal and spatial scales.
Electronic equipment is indispensable in the industrial 4.0 era. Electromagnetic Compatibility issues with electronic devices are increasingly concerning. The phenomenon of electromagnetic field compatibility is getting higher and higher. The operating quality of electronic equipment is more and more adversely affected, such as by the phenomenon of hesitation in operation for the operating structures, the generation of fire and explosion of electrical equipment, the loss of information, and many other negative effects. This paper discusses the relationship between Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) scoring, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) scoring, and Electromagnetic Susceptibility (EMS) scoring with the performance quality of electronic devices (QUA). We perform reviews on regulatory institutions governing Electromagnetic Compatibility on electronic devices. To evaluate the proposed Electromagnetic Compatibility structure and its relationship to electronic devices, we proposed to use the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The research results of the model show that the electronic device layout conditions and the lack of systematic conditions have a negative impact on the operating quality of the electronic equipment, while the conditions on equipment techniques, scientific and technological resources have positive and significant impacts.
Sylvain Ambayi Bienu, Tolerant K. Lubalega, Damase P. Khasa
et al.
Tropical rainforests play an important role in the global Eco-climatic balance and its sustainable management is a major concern that has attracted the attention of researchers. The Luki biosphere reserve, while under a status of protected area, experiences anthropic pressures without spare. In order to control the activities of local populations and particularly to implement the principles of natural resources management enacted by the Man and Biosphere program of the United Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, a zoning plan has been implemented in the Luki biosphere reserve since 1979. The aim of this study was to evaluate the floristic composition, the diversity and structural parameters on floristic groupings of forest tree species in the Luki Biosphere Reserve (LBR) to evaluate whether the implemented zoning has an effect on plant diversity and population structure of forest trees species in the Luki Biosphere Reserve. Floristic data were collected on a set of 15 plots of 1 hectare (ha) each following the management zoning, in which tree species with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 10 cm were measured and identified. Floristic diversity analysis was carried out and the relationship between within plots species richness and physical and chemical properties of soil was established. In total, 6497 individual trees were inventoried belonging to a total of 218 species grouped in 41 families making an average tree density of 433 ± 13 individual per hectare. Two floristic groups emerged from the ordination of species and cluster analysis. Prioria balsamifera and Dialium pachyphyllum were among the most represented and characteristic tree species in the floristics groups. The families Sterculiaceae, Fabaceae, Ebenaceae, Olacaceae, Rubiaceae, Annonaceae, Myristicaceae, Meliaceae and Sapotaceae displayed high values of specific important index. Tree populations from the three zoning displayed an ''inverted J'' shape in an axil distribution of classes of diameters while the horizontal distribution of tree height displayed a bell structure. A significant difference exists in species richness among zones and floristic groupings. The floristics groupings were distributed following the soil texture. This work provides the basic elements for a sustainable management plan adapted with the current zoning plan in the Luki Biosphere Reserve.
Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm that is relatively common in the distal extremities. Primary SS of bone is an extremely rare finding. Here in this report, we present a 44-year-old male patient referred with bone and later bone fracture that was finally diagnosed with primary SS of thumerus. So far, 13 documented cases of primary SS of the bone have been reported. The current case is the second known case of primary SS of humerus. Our case was treated with both neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapies associated with surgical tumor removal and prosthesis implantation. Follow-up of the case demonstrated significant remission but with late metastasis and subsequent advanced chemotherapy regimens.
Emily K. Oh, Timothy J. Krogmeier, Anthony W. Schlimgen
et al.
There has been a recent interest in quantum algorithms for the modelling and prediction of non-unitary quantum dynamics using current quantum computers. The field of quantum biology is one area where these algorithms could prove to be useful, as biological systems are generally intractable to treat in their complete form, but amenable to an open quantum systems approach. Here we present the application of a recently developed singular value decomposition algorithm to two well-studied benchmark systems in quantum biology: excitonic energy transport through the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex and the radical pair mechanism for avian navigation. We demonstrate that the singular value decomposition algorithm is capable of capturing accurate short- and long-time dynamics for these systems through implementation on a quantum simulator, and conclude that this algorithm has the potential to be an effective tool for the future study of systems relevant to quantum biology.
Katherine A Rhodes, Man Cheong Ma, María A Rendón
et al.
The mechanisms used by human adapted commensal Neisseria to shape and maintain a niche in their host are poorly defined. These organisms are common members of the mucosal microbiota and share many putative host interaction factors with Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Evaluating the role of these shared factors during host carriage may provide insight into bacterial mechanisms driving both commensalism and asymptomatic infection across the genus. We identified host interaction factors required for niche development and maintenance through in vivo screening of a transposon mutant library of Neisseria musculi, a commensal of wild-caught mice which persistently and asymptomatically colonizes the oral cavity and gut of CAST/EiJ and A/J mice. Approximately 500 candidate genes involved in long-term host interaction were identified. These included homologs of putative N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae virulence factors which have been shown to modulate host interactions in vitro. Importantly, many candidate genes have no assigned function, illustrating how much remains to be learned about Neisseria persistence. Many genes of unknown function are conserved in human adapted Neisseria species; they are likely to provide a gateway for understanding the mechanisms allowing pathogenic and commensal Neisseria to establish and maintain a niche in their natural hosts. Validation of a subset of candidate genes confirmed a role for a polysaccharide capsule in N. musculi persistence but not colonization. Our findings highlight the potential utility of the Neisseria musculi-mouse model as a tool for studying the pathogenic Neisseria; our work represents a first step towards the identification of novel host interaction factors conserved across the genus.
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Biology Open, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Yuta Koui is first author on ‘
Hepatic leukemia factor-expressing paraxial mesoderm cells contribute to the developing brain vasculature’, published in BiO. Yuta is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Yoh-suke Mukouyama at the Laboratory of Stem Cell and Neuro-Vascular Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA, investigating cellular origin of brain vascular cells developing CNS-specific unique vascular structure such as blood brain barrier.
The tea aphid (Toxoptera aurantii Boyer de Fonscolombe) is an important tea plant pest insect worldwide. The parasitoid wasp, Aphelinus sp., is one of the most important natural enemies of the tea aphid in China. Unfortunately, Aphelinus sp. alone cannot effectively control the outbreaks of the aphid under natural conditions. In this study, 27 volatile compounds from tea aphid-injured tea shoots, tea flowers, aphid sex pheromones, or body rinses were selected and tested in Y-tube olfactometer assays to find potential attractants of the parasitoid wasp, Aphelinus sp. Based on the Y-tube assay results, the following three attractant mixtures were formulated and further tested in the field. Attractant-1 (HIPV-based) included trans-2-hexenal (10−6 g/ml), β-ionone (10−6 g/ml), allyl isothiocyanate (10−4 g/ml), trans-2-pentenal (10−2 g/ml), and jasmone (10−2 g/ml) at equal loading volume of their solutions. Attractant-2 (with aphid sex-pheromone and body rinse compounds) included nepetalactone (10−6 g/ml), 2,5-hexanedione (10−4 g/ml), benzaldehyde (10−2 g/ml), eicosane (10−2 g/ml), and heptadecane (10−2 g/ml) at equal loading volume of their solutions. Attractant-3 (partial combination of Attractant-1 and Attractant-2) included nepetalactone (10−4 g/ml), benzaldehyde (10−2 g/ml), jasmone (10−2 g/ml), trans-2-hexenal (10−6 g/ml), eicosane (10−2 g/ml), and heptadecane (10−2 g/ml) at equal loading volume of their solutions. Field trials showed that Attractant-3 was much more attractive to the parasitic wasps than Attractant-1 and Attractant-2. From late August to late September the controlled release of Attractant-3 effectively attracted Aphelinus sp. to parasitize and colonize the aphid populations in the treated tea plantations, resulting in a progressive decrease of the tea aphid abundances/populations in the fall. The continued enhanced parasitism of overwintered aphids by Aphelinus sp. further reduced this population during the next spring tea harvest season. This approach may present an environmentally sound, non-insecticidal control tactic against tea aphids using synthetic semiochemicals.