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Achyranthes plays the role of dredging the meridians and clearing the joints with a certain anti-inflammatory effect, peripheral analgesic activity and central analgesic activity. A novel self-assembled nanoparticles containing Celastrol (Cel) with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive chemotherapy-sonodynamic therapy was fabricated targeting macrophages at the inflammatory site of rheumatoid arthritis. Dextran sulfate (DS) with highly expressed SR-A receptor on the surface of macrophages is used to specifically target the site of inflammation; by introducing PVGLIG enzyme-sensitive polypeptides and ROS-responsive bonds, it can achieve the desired effect on MMP-2/9 and reactive oxygen species at the joint site. The preparation forms DS-PVGLIG-Cel&Abps-thioketal-Cur@Cel nanomicelles, referred to as D&A@Cel. The resulting micelles had an average size of 204.8 nm and the zeta potential −16.46 mV. The results show that activated macrophages can effectively capture Cel in in vivo experiments, indicating that Cel delivered by nanoparticles can significantly improve bioavailability. Fig. 1 Design and schematic illustration of Achyranthes polysaccharide based dual-responsive nano-delivery system. In the ancient classic prescription "Shentong Zhuyu Decoction", Achyranthes plays the role of dredging the meridians and clearing the joints. It can be used as a medicinal guide, guiding its medicinal power to descend to the lower part of the body to treat the "disease in the lower part". In addition, Achyranthes has a certain anti-inflammatory effect, peripheral analgesic activity and central analgesic activity. Construction of cross-linked self-assembled nanoparticles with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive chemotherapy-sonodynamic combination therapy targeting macrophages at the inflammatory site of rheumatoid arthritis, overcoming the low water solubility of triptolide and targeting unspecific question. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid evolution of pest resistance to Bt insecticidal proteins presents a serious threat to the sustainable use of Bt crops. The cotton bollworm has been extensively exposed to Bt cotton worldwide and has evolved resistance in laboratory and field. Previous studies have highlighted the significant roles played by the ABC transporter proteins in Bt resistance. In this study, the ORF of HaABCB1 was cloned and analyzed. The expression of HaABCB1 was detected in all developmental stages and tissues, with the highest expression in third instar larvae stage and hindgut tissue. Compared with susceptible strain, a remarkable decrease of HaABCB1 expression in Cry1Ac resistant strain while no significant change in Cry2Ab resistant strain were found. The HaABCB1 expression reduced after susceptible larvae induced by Cry1Ac, but no obvious expression changes after Cry2Ab exposure. RNAi-mediated down-regulation of HaABCB1 could lead to a significant reduction in larval susceptibility to Cry1Ac, but not to Cry2Ab, in susceptible strain. Genetic linkage analysis confirmed that decreased expression of the HaABCB1 mediates resistance to Cry1Ac, but not Cry2Ab resistance. This knowledge contributes to better understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms underlying Bt resistance and provide theoretical foundation for the development of new strategies for pest resistance management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen, as the main component of human skin, plays a vital role in maintaining dermal integrity. Its loss will lead to dermis destruction and collapse, resulting in skin aging. At present, injection of exogenous collagen is an important means to delay skin aging. In this study, high-purity collagen was extracted from porcine skin. Our research revealed that it can effectively promote the adhesion and chemotaxis of HSF cells. It can also reduce the expression of β-galactosidase, decrease ROS levels, and increase the expression of the collagen precursors, p53 and p16 in HSF cells during senescence. After local injection into the aging skin of rats, it was found that the number of cells and type I collagen fibers in the dermis increased significantly, and the arrangement of these fibers became more uniform and orderly. Moreover, the important thing is that it is biocompatible. To sum up, the porcine skin collagen we extracted is an anti-aging biomaterial with application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen, as the main component of human skin, plays a vital role in maintaining dermal integrity. Its loss will lead to dermis destruction and collapse, resulting in skin aging. At present, injection of exogenous collagen is an important means to delay skin aging. In this study, high-purity collagen was extracted from porcine skin. Our research revealed that it can effectively promote the adhesion and chemotaxis of HSF cells. It can also reduce the expression of β-galactosidase, decrease ROS levels, and increase the expression of the collagen precursors, p53 and p16 in HSF cells during senescence. After local injection into the aging skin of rats, it was found that the number of cells and type I collagen fibers in the dermis increased significantly, and the arrangement of these fibers became more uniform and orderly. Moreover, the important thing is that it is biocompatible. To sum up, the porcine skin collagen we extracted is an anti-aging biomaterial with application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on preparing the monoclonal antibody (MAb) against subgroup A of avian leukosis virus (ALV-A) and identifying its antigenic epitope. The ALV-A gp85 gene with a size of 1005bp was amplified and expressed into a recombinant protein with a size of 46KD in E. coli. The products expressed after purification were inoculated into BALB/c mice for preparing antibody-secreting splenic lymphocytes and further obtaining hybridoma cells. Finally, one new hybridoma cell (A18GH) secreting MAb against ALV-A was screened, and the MAb was able to detect ALV-A/K strains in an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), but not ALV-B/J strains. A total of 14 overlapping truncated ALV-A gp85 protein segments were expressed and eight peptides containing different antigenic amino acids were artificially synthesized for analyzing the antigenic epitope of the MAb using a western blot or an ELISA, and the results indicate that the antigenic epitope consists of seven amino acids within the 146-ATRFLLR -152 region of the ALV-A gp85 protein. A biological information analysis shows that the antigenic epitope has a high antigenic index and develops a curved linear spatial structure. Further, its 7 amino acids are completely within the 17 representative ALV-A strains, 4 are within the 11 ALV-K strains, and fewer are within the ALV-B/J/E strains. This study will significantly assist in a further understanding of the protein structure and function of ALV-A, and in the establishment of specific ALV-A detection methods. • A new hybrdoma cell secreting the MAb against ALV-A was successfully developed. • The MAb's antigenic epitope consists of 7 amino acids and develops a curved linear spatial structure. • Seven epitope's amino acids are completely within the 17 representative ALV-A strains, but not in the ALV-K/B/J/E strains. • IFA mediated by the prepared MAb can detect ALV-A/K strains, but not ALV-B/J strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to stabilize zein nanoparticles with anionic polysaccharides—chondroitin sulfate (CS) to overcome the poor colloidal stability of zein nanoparticles. The average molecular weight of CS was 20.51 kDa and the disaccharide composition of CS was 70.71% monosulfated disaccharide Di2S and 29.29% disulfated disaccharide Di2,6 diS. Zein/CS composite nanoparticles were fabricated by antisolvent precipitation method at pH 4.0. The optimal mass ratio of zein to CS was 1:1 (w/w). Zein/CS composite nanoparticles showed mean size of 148 nm and PDI < 0.2, maintaining great stability at pH 3.0 to 8.0. Meanwhile, these prepared nanoparticles were also stable to heat treatment and was stable to a range of ionic strength of 0–15 mM at pH 4.0 and 0–10 mM at pH 7.0. The composite nanoparticles exhibited regular spherical structures, and CS was deposited on the surface of zein mainly by electrostatic interactions. In the process, the addition of urea and sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that it also involved both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. In addition, cytotoxicity assay on human renal epithelial cells—293 cells indicated that zein/CS composite nanoparticles were essentially nontoxic. • Zein nanoparticles were fabricated using chondroitin sulfate as a stabilizer. • Chondroitin sulfate could stabilize zein nanoparticles at pH 3.0–8.0. • Zein and chondroitin sulfate might form core-shell structure mainly by electrostatic interactions. • Zein/chondroitin sulfate nanoparticles were essentially nontoxic to human renal epithelial cells—293 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]