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The field of nanomedicine has emerged as a vital component in cancer treatment modalities over the past decades. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) at the nanoscale have become a novel and promising category of biomaterials in the field of nanomedicine. Their distinctive properties, such as low density, exceptional porosity, crystalline structure, remarkable thermal stability, versatile functionality, and biocompatibility, contribute to their significant potential in cancer therapy applications. This review firstly discusses COFs with various morphologies in theranostic applications. The primary morphologies of COFs for tumors treatment can be categorized into four types: nanospheres, nanosheets, nano-rods/tubes and nanoparticles. Furthermore, we review recent research articles and systematically discuss recent advancements in COFs for chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy and combination therapy. In conclusion, we outline the current obstacles and potential future directions for this distinctive research area.

Simple Summary: The current study identified average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed-to-gain ratio (F/G), blood Na+, K+, Cl− concentrations, and serum K+ and uric acid (UA) concentrations as sensitive indicators for determining the ideal level of sodium (Na) or chlorine (Cl) in a corn–soybean meal diet for chickens from 22 to 42 d of age. The dietary Na or Cl content of 0.12% in the corn–soybean meal diet was recommended to satisfy all the aforementioned metabolic needs related to Na or Cl. The objective of this study was to assess the ideal dietary Na or Cl level for chickens from 22 to 42 d of age, utilizing a corn–soybean meal diet that maintains a 1:1 ratio of Na to Cl. At 22 d of age, a total of 288 male broilers of Arbor Acres were selected and randomly divided into one of six treatments. Each treatment contained eight replicates, with six chicks in each replicate. The control chicks were given a basic diet including 0.02% Na and 0.07% Cl without added Na or Cl, while the birds in other treatments were given diets containing different Na or Cl levels (0.13%, 0.19%, 0.25%, 0.31%, and 0.37%). With increasing dietary Na or Cl levels, linear (p < 0.0001) and quadratic (p < 0.0001) increases occurred in ADG, ADFI, and average daily water consumption, while F/G exhibited a linear (p < 0.0001) and quadratic (p < 0.0001) decrease from 22 to 42 d of age in broilers. Linear (p < 0.02) and quadratic increases (p < 0.03) were found in the heart indicator, serum Cl− concentrations, and blood Na+ and Cl− concentrations, whereas the kidney indicator, blood K+ concentrations, and serum K+, UA, and glucose (GLU) concentrations showed a linear (p < 0.04) and quadratic (p < 0.004) decrease with an increase in dietary Na or Cl levels. The excreta water content, liver indicator, and jejunal crypt depth also showed a linear increase (p < 0.02). The ideal levels of dietary Na or Cl were estimated to be 0.07% to 0.12%, based on the most suitable broken-line and asymptotic models (p ≤ 0.0002) using those sensitive indicators mentioned above. It was suggested that the suitable dietary Na or Cl level of 0.12% would adequately fulfill the Na or Cl metabolic demands of chickens from 22 to 42 d of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ellagic acid, extracted from medicinal foods like raspberries and pomegranates, enhances poultry production and disease resistance by regulating redox, inflammation, and cell death. However, the research on ellagic acid in poultry is nascent, with unclear mechanisms. This mini-review summarizes the latest 10-year findings to promote the practical use of ellagic acid in maintaining poultry health and formulating strategies. It has been approximately 2000 years since the medicinal homologous theory, which primarily holds that food has the same therapeutic value as medicine in order to improve the health of both humans and animals. In recent years, this theory has also been proposed to be used in poultry breeding. Ellagic acid (EA), a natural compound primarily extracted from medicinal homologous foods such as raspberries and pomegranates, is reported to have incomparable advantages in improving the production performance and disease resistance of poultry due to its pharmacological properties, which regulate the processes of redox homeostasis, inflammatory response, and cell apoptotic death. However, the application and research of EA in poultry production are still in the initial stage, and the potential mechanisms of its biological functions affecting animal health have not been clearly identified, which requires more attention worldwide. This mini-review collects the latest 10-year achievements of research on the effects of EA on poultry health, aiming to promote the practical application of EA in maintaining animal health and formulating corresponding targeted strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: The electrochemical processes of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) play a crucial role in various energy storage and conversion systems. However, the inherently slow kinetics of reversible oxygen reactions present an urgent demand for the development of efficient oxygen electrocatalysts. Recently, metal‐organic framework (MOF) derivatives have attracted extensive attention in electrocatalysis research due to their unique porous structure, abundant active sites, and tunable structural properties. Especially, the optimization of the electronic structure of active sites in MOF derivatives has been proven as an effective strategy to enhance the catalytic activity. In this review, we provide an overview of the electronic structure optimization strategies for active sites in MOF derivatives as advanced catalysts in various O—O bond activation reactions, including the construction of synergistic effects between multiple sites, the development of heterogeneous interfaces, the utilization of metal support interactions, and the precise modulation of organic ligands surrounding catalytic active sites at the atomic level. Furthermore, this review offers theoretical insights into the oxygen activation and catalytic mechanisms of MOF derivatives, as well as the identification of active sites. Finally, the potential challenges and prospects of MOF derivatives in electrocatalysis are discussed. This review contributes to the understanding and advancement of efficient oxygen electrocatalysis in energy systems. Key Scientists: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Zinc is an essential mineral element for broiler growth and development. In the present study, we found that dietary Zn deficiency decreased the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and inhibited PI3K, AKT, and mTOR phosphorylation along with the downregulation of GPR39 protein expression in the jejunum of broiler on d 42. These findings suggest that dietary Zn deficiency inhibits cell proliferation possibly via the GPR39-mediated suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the jejunum of broilers. A prior investigation revealed that a lack of Zinc (Zn) could hinder intestinal cell proliferation in broiler chickens; however, the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms of dietary Zn deficiency in inhibiting the jejunal cell proliferation of broilers. For this study, a total of 112 chickens (21 days old) were randomly divided into two treatments (seven replicate cages per treatment, eight chickens per replicate cage): the control group (CON) and the Zn deficiency group. The duration of feeding was 21 d. Chickens in the control group were provided with a basal diet containing an extra addition of 40 mg Zn/kg in the form of Zn sulfate, whereas chickens in the Zn deficiency group were given the basal diet with no Zn supplementation. The results indicated that, in comparison to the CON, Zn deficiency increased (p < 0.05) the duodenal and jejunal crypt depth (CD) of broilers on d 28 and jejunal and ileal CD on d 35, and decreased (p < 0.05) the duodenal, jejunal, and ileal villus height/crypt depth (VH/CD) on d 28 and the jejunal VH, jejunal and ileal villus surface area, and VH/CD on d 35. Furthermore, Zn deficiency decreased (p < 0.0001) the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and downregulated (p < 0.01) the mRNA or protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K, phosphorylated serine–threonine kinase (AKT), phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39), and extracellular-regulated protein kinase, but upregulated (p < 0.05) the mRNA or protein expression levels of P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1 and JNK2, and phosphorylated protein kinase C in the jejunum of the broilers on d 42. It was concluded that dietary Zn deficiency inhibited cell proliferation possibly via the GPR39-mediated suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the jejunum of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to estimate the ideal dietary sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) level for broilers during day 1 to 21 using a corn-soybean meal diet under a dietary Na:Cl ratio of 1:1. A total of 490 1-d-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allotted by body weight to one of seven treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment consisted of seven replicate cages with 10 chicks per cage. Broilers were fed a Na and Cl-unsupplemented corn-soybean meal basal diet (control, containing 0.02% Na and 0.08% Cl) and the Na and Cl-supplemented basal diets containing 0.14%, 0.20%, 0.26%, 0.32%, 0.38%, and 0.44% Na and Cl levels, respectively for 21 d. The results indicated that average daily gain, average daily feed intake, blood partial pressure of CO2 and concentrations of HCO3−, total CO2, Na+, Cl−, base excess and anion gap, tibial ash, and ash Na contents of broilers were affected (P  < 0.001) by dietary Na and Cl level, and increased linearly (P  < 0.001) and quadratically (P  < 0.001) with increasing Na and Cl levels. Feed/gain ratio, mortality, blood K+ concentration, serum osmotic pressure and K+, glucose and uric acid concentrations as well as heart, liver, and kidney indices of broilers were affected (P  < 0.01) by dietary Na and Cl level, and decreased linearly (P  < 0.001) and quadratically (P  < 0.001) with increasing Na and Cl levels. The estimates of dietary optimal Na and Cl levels were 0.07% to 0.16% according to the best-fitted broken-line or asymptotic models (P  < 0.001) of the above sensitive indicators. Therefore, the optimal dietary Na and Cl level was suggested to be 0.16% to support all of the above Na and Cl metabolic requirements of broilers fed the corn-soybean meal diet during day 1 to 21, which is lower than the 0.20% recommendation by the Chinese Feeding Standard of Chicken (2004). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to characterize the effects of different dietary forms of supplemental manganese (Mn) on hepatic lipid deposition, gene expression, and enzyme activity in liver fat metabolism in 42-d-old broiler chickens. In total 420 one-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) broilers (rooster:hen = 1:1) were assigned randomly based on body weight and sex to 1 of 6 treatments (10 replicate cages per treatment and 7 broilers per replicate cage) in a completely randomized design using a 2 (sex) × 3 (diet) factorial arrangement. The 3 diets were basal control diets without Mn supplementation and basal diets supplemented with either Mn sulfate or Mn proteinate. No sex × diet interactions were observed in any of the measured indexes; thus, the effect of diet alone was presented in this study. Dietary Mn supplementation increased Mn content in the plasma and liver, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) activity, and ATGL mRNA and its protein expression in the liver by 5.3% to 24.0% (P  < 0.05), but reduced plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels, liver TG content, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and malic enzyme (ME) activities, mRNA expression of sterol-regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), FAS , stearoyl-coA desaturase (SCD), and ME , as well as the protein expression of SREBP1 and SCD in the liver by 5.5% to 22.8% (P  < 0.05). No differences were observed between the 2 Mn sources in all of the determined parameters. Therefore, it was concluded that dietary Mn supplementation, regardless of Mn source, decreased hepatic lipid accumulation in broilers by inhibiting SREBP1 and SCD expression, FAS and ME activities, and enhancing ATGL expression and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent study showed that zinc (Zn) and amino acid transporters may be involved in enhancing Zn absorption from Zn proteinate with moderate chelation strength (Zn-Prot M) in the duodenum of broilers. However, the specific mechanisms by which Zn-Prot M promotes the above Zn absorption are unknown. Therefore, in this study, 3 experiments were conducted to investigate specific and direct effects of Zn-Prot M and Zn sulfate (ZnS) on Zn absorption and expression of related transporters in primary duodenal epithelial cells of broiler embryos so as to preliminarily address possible mechanisms. In experiment 1, cells were treated with 100 μmol Zn/L as ZnS or Zn-Prot M for 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 min. Experiment 2 consisted of 3 sub-experiments. In experiment 2A, cells were treated with a Zn-unsupplemented basal medium (Control) or the basal medium supplemented with 100 or 200 μmol Zn/L as ZnS or Zn-Prot M for 60 min; in experiment 2B, cells were treated with a Zn-unsupplemented basal medium (Control) or the basal medium supplemented with 200 μmol Zn/L of as the ZnS or Zn-Prot M for 120 min; in experiment 2C, cells were treated with a Zn-unsupplemented basal medium (Control) or the basal medium supplemented with 400 or 800 μmol Zn/L as ZnS or Zn-Prot M for 120 min. In experiment 3, cells were treated with a Zn-unsupplemented basal medium (Control) or the basal medium supplemented with 400 μmol Zn/L as ZnS or Zn-Prot M for 120 min. The results of experiment 1 indicated that the minimum incubation time for saturable Zn absorption was determined to be 50.83 min using the best fit line. The results in experiment 2 demonstrated that a Zn concentration of 400 μmol/L and an incubation time of 120 min were suitable to increase the absorption of Zn from Zn-Prot M compared to ZnS. In experiment 3, Zn absorption across cell monolayers was significantly increased by Zn addition (P  < 0.05), and was significantly greater with Zn-Prot M than with ZnS (P  < 0.05). Compared to the control, Zn addition significantly decreased Zn transporter 10 and peptide-transporter 1 mRNA expression levels and increased y + L-type amino transporter 2 (y + LAT2) protein abundance (P  < 0.05). Moreover, protein expression levels of zrt/irt-like protein 3 (ZIP3), zrt–irt-like protein 5 (ZIP5), and y + LAT2 were significantly greater for Zn-Prot M than for ZnS (P  < 0.05). These findings suggest that Zn-Prot M promote Zn absorption by increasing ZIP3, ZIP5 and y + LAT2 protein expression levels in primary duodenal epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMO modification is a vital post-translational regulation process in eukaryotes, in which the SUMO protease is responsible for the maturation of the SUMO precursor and the deconjugation of the SUMO protein from modified proteins by accurately cleaving behind the C-terminal Gly–Gly motif. To promote the understanding of the high specificity of the SUMO protease against the SUMO protein as well as to clarify whether the conserved Gly–Gly motif is strictly required for the processing of the SUMO precursor, we systematically profiled the specificity of the S. cerevisiae SUMO protease (Ulp1) on Smt3 at the P2–P1↓P1' (Gly–Gly↓Ala) position using the YESS–PSSC system. Our results demonstrated that Ulp1 was able to cleave Gly–Gly↓ motif-mutated substrates, indicating that the diglycine motif is not strictly required for Ulp1 cleavage. A structural-modeling analysis indicated that it is the special tapered active pocket of Ulp1 conferred the selectivity of small residues at the P1–P2 position of Smt3, such as Gly, Ala, Ser and Cys, and only which can smoothly deliver the scissile bond into the active site for cleavage. Meanwhile, the P1' position Ala of Smt3 was found to play a vital role in maintaining Ulp1's precise cleavage after the Gly–Gly motif and replacing Ala with Gly in this position could expand Ulp1 inclusivity against the P1 and P2 position residues of Smt3. All in all, our studies advanced the traditional knowledge of the SUMO protein, which may provide potential directions for the drug discovery of abnormal SUMOylation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) generally refer to the plastic fragments or particles smaller than 5 mm in diameter, which are closely concerned due to their widespread presence in the environment. Recent studies have shown that MPs have a serious threat on the reproductive health of organisms. Pigs are often selected as the model animals because of their high similarity to human tissues and organs. However, there are no reports on the effects and mechanisms of MPs exposure on swine germ cells. In the present study, we established swine testis (ST) cell models exposed to 250, 500, and 1000 μg/ml polystyrene microplastics (PS‐MPs, 1–10 μm), respectively. The findings revealed that PS‐MPs reduced cell viability dose‐dependently. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and flow cytometry results indicated the occurrence of apoptosis and necrosis in ST cells under PS‐MPs exposure, and the expression changes of relevant marker genes (B‐cell lymphoma‐2, Bcl‐2 Associated X, Caspase‐3, Caspase‐9, Receptor‐interacting protein kinase 1, Receptor‐interacting protein kinase 3, Mixed lineage kinase domain‐like, and Caspase‐8) were clarified via quantitative real‐time PCR and western blot. Further mechanistic studies found that PS‐MPs treatment induced excessive intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which promoted the phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway‐related genes (P38, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, extracellular regulated protein kinases) and activated the downstream gene hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF1α). In conclusion, our study suggests that PS‐MPs treatment causes apoptosis and necroptosis in ST cells via ROS/MAPK/HIF1α signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important immune mechanism of neutrophils, the release of Web‐like chromatin structures known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can rapidly locate and capture invading pathogens, which has received sustained attention. There are still some fundamental questions surrounding established studies on the mechanism of balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) dependent release and neutrophil antioxidant response. Glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) is an important antioxidant protein and has been identified can regulate the immune response. However, the effect of GPx3 on the NETs formation and microRNA in this process remain poorly understood. In the present study, we used chicken peripheral blood neutrophils treated with Phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate (PMA) for 3 h as NETs formation model. The result of morphological observation showed that GPx3 inactivation compromised the release of NETs. Further analysis revealed that knockdown of GPx3 significantly disturbed oxidative balance by inhibiting antioxidant enzymes activity and increasing H2O2 content. Quantitative analysis of NETs‐related genes found that the phosphorylation level of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway genes (ERK, JNK, and p38) and expression of phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway genes (PI3K and AKT) were suppressed with the downregulation of GPx3. Meanwhile, we identified that miR‐1696 can target GPx3 expression by using dual luciferase reporter system. Additionally, overexpression of miR‐1696 can not only inhibit the formation of NETs by restraining the expression of GPx3, interfering with the generation of ROS and activation of the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways, but also reducing the release of PMA‐induced NETs promoted by overexpression of GPx3. These results provide evidence that miR‐1696 targeted GPx3 activities in neutrophils could be used to regulate the NETs formation stimulated by PMA. Highlights: The targeting regulatory relations between miRNA‐1696 and GPx3 was confirmed in broiler neutrophils. NETs formation was hindered after knocking down GPx3 in broiler neutrophils. MiRNA‐1696 participates in regulating ROS level and NETs formation by targeting GPx3. The miRNA‐1696/GPx3 axis was involved in NETs formation via regulating PI3K/AKT and MAPKs pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The potential utility of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to convert animal waste into harvested protein or lipid sources for feeding animal or producing biodiesel provides a new strategy for agricultural waste management. In this study, the taxonomic structure and potential metabolic and nutrient functions of the intestinal bacterial communities of BSFL were investigated in chicken and swine manure conversion systems. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in the BSFL gut in both the swine and chicken manure systems. After the larvae were fed manure, the proportion of Proteobacteria in their gut significantly decreased, while that of Bacteroidetes remarkably increased. Compared with the original intestinal bacterial community, approximately 90 and 109 new genera were observed in the BSFL gut during chicken and swine manure conversion, and at least half of the initial intestinal genera found remained in the gut during manure conversion. This result may be due to the presence of specialized crypts or paunches that promote microbial persistence and bacteria–host interactions. Ten core genera were found in all 21 samples, and the top three phyla among all of the communities in terms of relative abundance were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The nutrient elements (OM, TN, TP, TK and CF) of manure may partly affect the succession of gut bacterial communities with one another, while TN and CF are strongly positively correlated with the relative abundance of Providencia. Some bacterial taxa with the reported ability to synthesize amino acids, Rhizobiales, Burkholderia, Bacteroidales, etc., were also observed in the BSFL gut. Functional analysis based on genes showed that intestinal microbes potentially contribute to the nutrition of BSFL and the high‐level amino acid metabolism may partly explain the biological mechanisms of protein accumulation in the BSFL body. These results are helpful in understanding the biological mechanisms of high‐efficiency nutrient conversion in BSFL associated with intestinal microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]