Search Results (14)

The implementation of COVID-19 policy and the rapid development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in the early pandemic significantly contained numerous outbreaks and reduced the severity and mortality of COVID-19. However, the population immunity induced by existing vaccines was insufficient to prevent SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. The host immunity induced by the wide spread of Omicron variants and its influence on emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants are attracting broad attention. In this study, a clinical data analysis of the patients indicated that pre-vaccination reduced inflammatory responses and mitigated the severity of COVID-19 cases caused by natural infection with Omicron BA.5.2. The analysis of adaptive immune responses indicated that natural infection with BA.5.2 induced robust and broad immune responses, including both humoral and T cell-mediated immune responses (IFN-γ) against highly conserved viral antigens, and provided cross-reactive neutralization against various viral variants. Collectively, we report that the natural infection with Omicron BA.5.2 induced broad cross-reactive immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants, which suggests that the development of a live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine with desired safety, high efficacy, broad spectrum, and long-term immune persistence is feasible. Therefore, we suggest that herd immunity, achieved through vaccination with attenuated vaccines, combined with booster doses of existing vaccines and antiviral therapy for people with high viral loads, may contribute to the eradication of this virus. Full article

Rizhao green tea (RZT), a renowned green tea, is cultivated in China’s northernmost tea region. Its unique environment endows it with a strong chestnut- and seaweed-like aroma. This study sought to explore the volatile profiles of RZT and pinpoint its key odorants by employing stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), determining the odor activity value (OAV), and performing gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC-O). A total of 112 volatiles were identified, and the major volatile compounds were esters (2035.25 μg/kg), alcohols (1799.02 μg/kg), alkanes (991.88 μg/kg), and ketones (691.96 μg/kg), comprising 74.91% of the total. A molecular aroma wheel was preliminarily established based on these key odorants. These insights might contribute to the scientific elucidation of the flavor chemical basis of RZT. Full article

The BES1 transcription factor family was unique and critical in plants. The BES1s played roles in the Brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway and participated in the plant’s development, maturation, and stress response process. This study investigated the function of the BES1 gene family of 48 horticultural crops by phylogenetic and genomic colinearity network analysis. In addition, the transcriptional regulatory networks had analyzed the process during biotic stress, abiotic stress, fruit development, and postharvest of kiwifruit and peach. The study illustrated a comprehensive understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of the BES1 family in plant genomes and the prediction of growth and development of kiwifruit and peach fruits and maturation-related BES1 members, laying the foundation for further functional studies of BES1 genes in the future. Full article

This study conducted a nationwide specific assessment of soil chromium (Cr) contamination status in 506 of China’s industrial regions. The overall soil Cr concentrations were 0.74–37,967.33 mg/kg, and the soil Cr content in 4.15% of the regions exceeded the reference screening value (2500 mg/kg). Geochemical accumulation index (I_geo) and monomial potential ecological risk index (E) revealed Cr salt production and tanning were the primary control industries. The non-carcinogenic risks posed by Cr salt production and tanning industries were higher than the national average values, and children were the most vulnerable groups. The heavily polluted regions were mainly located at the Yangtze River Delta, the Bohai Rim, the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Basin, and the Yellow River Basin. The Yangtze River Delta was further identified as the high priority control area based on the class distribution of I_geo and E. Regression analysis showed the soil Cr concentrations in industrial regions increased during 2002–2009 and then turned into a declining trend in 2009–2021. This paper gives detailed insights into soil Cr pollution status in industrial regions across China and the results may serve as references for formulating tailored control measures for different industries and areas. Full article

Background: The gut microbial ecosystem is an important factor that regulates host health and the onset of chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, which are important risk factors for atherosclerosis. However, the links among diet, microbiota composition, and atherosclerotic progression are unclear. Methods and results: Four-week-old mice (^-/- mice, C57Bl/6) were randomly divided into two groups, namely, supplementation with culture medium (control, CTR) and Bacteroides fragilis (BFS), and were fed a high-fat diet. The gut microbiota abundance in feces was evaluated using the 16S rDNA cloning library construction, sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. The atherosclerotic lesion was estimated using Oil Red O staining. Levels of CD36, a scavenger receptor implicated in atherosclerosis, and F4/80, a macrophage marker in small intestine, were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Compared with the CTR group, the BFS group showed increased food intake, fasting blood glucose level, body weight, low-density lipoprotein level, and aortic atherosclerotic lesions. BFS dramatically reduced Lactobacillaceae (LAC) abundance and increased Desulfovibrionaceae (DSV) abundance. The mRNA expression levels of CD36 and F4/80 in small intestine and aorta tissue in the BFS group were significantly higher than those in the CTR group. Conclusions: gut microbiota dysbiosis was induced by BFS. It was characterized by reduced LAC and increased DSV abundance and led to the deterioration of glucose/lipid metabolic dysfunction and inflammatory response, which likely promoted aorta plaque formation and the progression of atherosclerosis. Full article

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) waste produced by chrome plating activities pollutes the surrounding environment and harms human health. However, information about the chromium (Cr) pollution characteristics of actual electroplating sites is still lacking. In this study, the concentration, leachability and speciation of Cr in soils from a typical chrome plating site were analyzed. Our results showed that this site was severely contaminated by Cr (7.2 to 7735.2 mg/kg) and Cr(VI) reached the mean concentration of 138.7 mg/kg. The spatial distribution of Cr(VI) was related to the plating processes. Chrome plating and sewage treatment areas could be considered as the hot spots of contaminated sites. The vertical distribution of Cr(VI) was mainly affected by soil properties, where the loam layer retained and reduced a large amount of Cr(VI) due to its high content of iron minerals and finer particle fractions. Additionally, the chemical extraction results showed that Cr was mainly in non-residual fractions and the existence of Cr(VI) led to a high leaching toxicity based on the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) results. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results revealed the speciation of Cr in the long-term contaminated soils. A large amount of Cr(VI) was reduced into Cr(III) and mainly existed as Cr(OH)₃ and Cr₂O₃. Furthermore, Cr(VI) tended to precipitate as CaCrO₄ and persisted in soils. Therefore, it is necessary to find appropriate strategies to remediate these contaminated soils. Overall, these findings strengthen our understanding of Cr(VI) behaviors and lay a foundation for the future pollution investigation, ecological remediation and risk assessment of sites contaminated by electroplating. Full article

The aggregation of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles and their limited transport ability in environmental media hinder their application in environmental remediation. In this study, the Cr(VI) removal efficiency, transport performance, and toxicity of nZVI and bentonite-modified nZVI (B-nZVI) were investigated. Compared with nZVI, B-nZVI improved the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) by 10%, and also significantly increased the transport in quartz sand and soil. Increasing the flow rate can enhance the transport of nZVI and B-nZVI in the quartz sand columns. The transport of the two materials in different soils was negatively correlated with the clay composition. Besides, modification of nZVI by bentonite could reduce toxicity to luminous bacteria (Photobacterium phosphereum T3) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Compared with Fe-EDTA, the transfer factors of nZVI and B-nZVI were 65.0% and 66.4% lower, respectively. This indicated that although iron nanoparticles accumulated in the roots of ryegrass, they were difficult to be transported to the shoots. The results of this study indicate that B-nZVI has a strong application potential in in situ environmental remediation. Full article

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are widely used as a fungicide in agriculture. The application of CuO NPs in agriculture affects the growth of rice and metal accumulation in rice. However, the mechanism of CuO NPs on arsenic (As) accumulation in rice remains unclear. In this study, a hydroponic culture was produced to investigate the mechanism of the effect of 50 and 100 mg L⁻¹ CuO NPs on As accumulation in rice. Our results showed that CuO NPs decreased As(III/V) accumulation in the roots and shoots by adsorbing As(III/V), oxidizing of As(III) on the surface, and thickening the root cell wall. The addition of CuO NPs regulated the expression of the OsNIP1;1, OsHAC1;1, and OsHAC4 genes, which decreased As(III) transport and promoted As(V) reduction in the roots. Moreover, when CuO NPs were co-exposed to As, a negative correlation between the concentration of Cu and As in rice was also found in our study. However, CuO NPs significantly increased Cu accumulation in rice and constrained the rice growth. In conclusion, CuO NPs might be a promising way to decrease As accumulation in rice, but the negative effects such as growth inhibition should be further considered. Therefore, the application of CuO NPs in rice plants should take a more restrained approach. Full article

The rhizosphere is an essential pathway for the uptake of metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) by plant roots. However, the interaction between root exudates and MNPs is still unclear. In this study, we initially identified the major low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in the rice root exudates using hydroponics. Then, the individual LMWOAs were added to CuO nanoparticle suspensions to investigate their effects on the environmental behavior of the MNPs. The results showed that both the variety and the concentration of LMWOAs impacted the aggregation, sedimentation, and dissolution of CuO nanoparticles (NPs). Almost all LMWOAs except succinic acid inhibited the aggregation of CuO NPs by enhancing the electrostatic repulsive force between NPs. The presence of citric and oxalic acids rather than lactic acid greatly improved the stability of CuO NP suspensions, but other acids showed a low promoting and high inhibiting effect on NP sedimentation. Moreover, all the LMWOAs from root exudates facilitated the dissolution of CuO NPs with a positive dose-dependent correlation, especially formic acid. Notably, citric acid, as the most abundant LMWOAs in rice root exudates, largely determined the aggregation, sedimentation, and dissolution of CuO NPs. This study provides a better understanding on NP–plant interactions in the rhizosphere. Full article

The wide use of metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) will inevitably lead to their release into soil, and consequently affect the quality and ecological functions of soil environments. In this study, two paddy soils with different properties were exposed to CuO NPs to evaluate the transformation of CuO NPs and their effects on soil properties and components. The results of single chemical extraction and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis showed that CuO NPs could release Cu ions once being applied into the flooding paddy soil and then progress toward the more stable forms (Cu₂S and Cu(OH)₂). CuO NPs could change the soil properties by increasing the pH and Eh of the lower organic matter-soil rather than those of the higher organic matter-soil. Furthermore, we found that the 1000 mg/kg CuO NPs could accelerate the degradation or mineralization of the organic matter, as well as the Fe reduction process, by increasing the Fe(II) content by 293% after flooding for 60 days in the lower organic matter soil. The microbial biomass in both soils was severely inhibited by CuO NPs and the organic matter could partly mitigate the negative effects of CuO NPs. Full article

Many studies have shown the effect of solution chemistry on the environmental behavior of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs), except CuO NPs. Here, we investigated the agglomeration, sedimentation, dissolution, and speciation of CuO NPs by varying pH, ionic strength, ionic valence, and natural organic matter (NOM). The results showed that as the pH moved away from 6, the size of CuO agglomerates decreased, along with the enhanced NP suspension stabilization, due to the increase of electrostatic repulsive force. Increasing ionic strength and valence intensified the agglomeration and sedimentation of CuO NPs because of the compression of electrical double layers. The presence of humic acid and citric acid enhanced the dispersion and stabilization of CuO NP suspension, but l-cysteine showed a different impact. Decreasing pH, increasing ionic strength and all NOM improved the dissolution of CuO NPs, but the divalent electrolyte (CaCl₂) inhibited the Cu²⁺ release from CuO NPs compared to the monovalent electrolyte (NaCl). In addition, X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis demonstrated that the presence of l-cysteine transformed more than 30% of CuO NPs to Cu(I)-cysteine by coordinating with thiol group. This study can give us an in-depth understanding on the environmental behavior and fate of CuO NPs in the aquatic environment. Full article

Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds produced by many aquatic plants and released in their environments. In this study, the effects of several aquatic flavonoids on cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa, especially in relation to the cell growth, photosynthetic activity, cell morphology, and cell membrane integrity, were investigated. Significant growth inhibition was observed when the cyanobacteria were exposed to three flavonoids, namely, 5,4'-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), apigenin, and luteolin. Luteolin reduced the effective quantum yield, photosynthetic efficiency, and maximal electron transport rate by 70%, 59% and 44%, respectively, whereas 5,4'-DHF and apigenin slightly affected these parameters, which implies that luteolin disrupts the photosynthetic system. Moreover, 5,4'-DHF and apigenin compromised the membrane integrity, and induced membrane depolarization in 52% and 38%, and permeabilization in 30% and 44% of the cells, respectively. The 5,4'-DHF and apigenin showed more pronounced effects on M. aeruginosa morphology and membrane integrity, compared to the luteolin. These results suggest that flavonoids could have significant effects on growth and physiological functions in cyanobacterial species. Full article

In order to investigate the microbe-mineral interaction in the micro scale, spatial distribution and speciation of Cu and S in Halothiobacillus HT1 biofilm formed on a CuS surface was examined using synchrotron-based X-ray techniques. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) results indicated that Halothiobacillus HT1 biofilm formation gave rise to distinct chemical and redox gradients, leading to diverse niches in the biofilm. Live cells were distributed at the air-biofilm and membrane-biofilm interface. CuS was oxidized by Halothiobacillus HT1 biofilm, and copper penetrated into the biofilm. Sulfide was oxidized to cysteine (77.3%), sulfite (3.8%) and sulfonate (18.9%). Cu-cysteine-like species were involved in the copper homeostasis. These results significantly improve our understanding of the interfacial properties of the biofilm-mineral interface. Full article

The transformation of phosphorus (P) is a major factor of lake eutrophication, and phosphate releasing bacteria play an important role in the release process. Experiments were conducted to investigate P content and characterize phosphate solubilizing bacterial composition at the molecular level in a shallow eutrophic lake and a wetland. Results showed that P concentrations were relatively high and derived from agricultural runoff and domestic or industrial pollution. Enumeration and molecular identification of these strains indicated that these bacterial groups were abundant in the ecosystem and various kinds of bacteria participated in the phosphorus release process. Twelve phosphate solubilizing bacteria, including eight organic P-solubilizing bacteria (OPBs) and four inorganic P-solubilizing bacteria (IPBs), which belonged to three different families, were isolated and identified. Cupriavidus basilensis was found for the first time to have the ability to mineralize organic P (OP). Laboratory tests on P release ability revealed that IPBs were more effective at releasing P than OPBs. The most efficient IPB strain could accumulate over 170 mg·L^-1 orthophosphate, while the equivalent OPB strain only liberated less than 4 mg·L^-1 orthophosphate in liquid culture. The results obtained from this investigation should help clarify the roles of microorganisms in aquatic systems and the mechanisms of eutrophication. Full article