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Psoriasis is a chronic skin inflammation characterized by dysregulated crosstalk between immune cells and keratinocytes. Here we show that the cyclic GMP‐AMP synthase (cGAS)‐stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is a key regulator of psoriatic inflammation in a mouse model. Platinum‐doped positively charged carbon dots (Pt‐CDs) were designed to inhibit the cGAS‐STING pathway. By inhibiting the cGAS‐STING pathway with Pt‐CDs, the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages was reduced, and the proinflammatory cytokines‐induced breakdown of immunological tolerance and overexpression of chemokines in keratinocytes was restored, which reversed the homeostatic imbalance through breaking these cytokines‐mediated intercellular positive feedback loop. Topical Pt‐CDs treatment exhibited therapeutic effects in imiquimod‐induced psoriasis mice without noticeable toxicity. The reversal of elevated expression of STING, phosphorylated STING, and downstream genes within psoriatic lesions indicates that Pt‐CDs effectively inhibit the cGAS‐STING pathway. This work suggests a promising strategy for psoriasis treatment by targeting the cGAS‐STING pathway with Pt‐CDs nanoinhibitor to restore skin homeostatic balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green microalga Dunaliella salina hyperaccumulates β‐carotene in the chloroplast, which turns its cells orange. This does not occur in the sister species Dunaliella tertiolecta. However, the molecular mechanisms of β‐carotene hyperaccumulation were still unclear. Here, we discovered the reasons for β‐carotene hyperaccumulation by comparing the morphology, physiology, genome, and transcriptome between the carotenogenic D. salina and the noncarotenogenic D. tertiolecta after transfer to high light. The differences in photosynthetic capacity, cell growth, and the concentration of stored carbon suggest that these species regulate the supply and utilization of carbon differently. The number of β‐carotene‐containing plastid lipid globules increased in both species, but much faster and to a greater extent in D. salina than in D. tertiolecta. Consistent with the accumulation of plastid lipid globules, the expression of the methyl‐erythritol‐phosphate and carotenoid biosynthetic pathways increased only in D. salina, which explains the de novo synthesis of β‐carotene. In D. salina, the concomitantly upregulated expression of the carotene globule proteins suggests that hyperaccumulation of β‐carotene also requires a simultaneous increase in its sink capacity. Based on genomic analysis, we propose that D. salina has genetic advantages for routing carbon from growth to carotenoid metabolism. Summary statement: Under high light, Dunaliella salina undergoes significant metabolic shifts, while Dunaliella tertiolecta primarily focuses on acclimation in photosynthesis. This metabolic contrast may explain the β‐carotene hyperaccumulation by redirecting carbon from growth to carotenoid metabolism shown in D. salina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy of the extant dinoflagellate genus Gonyaulax is challenging since its thecate morphology is rather conservative. In contrast, cysts of Gonyaulax are varied in morphology and have been related with the fossil‐based genera Spiniferites and Impagidinium. To better understand the systematics of Gonyaulax species, we performed germination experiments on cysts that can be identified as S. ristingensis, an unidentified Spiniferites with petaloid processes here described as Spiniferites pseudodelicatus sp. nov. and Impagidinium variaseptum from Chinese and Portuguese waters. Despite marked differences in cyst morphology, motile cells of S. pseudodelicatus and I. variaseptum are indistinguishable from Gonyaulax baltica. Motile cells hatched from S. ristingensis are morphologically similar to G. baltica as well but differ in the presence of one pronounced antapical spine. Three new species, Gonyaulax amoyensis (cyst equivalent S. pseudodelicatus), Gonyaulax bohaiensis (cyst equivalent I. variaseptum), and Gonyaulax portimonensis (cyst equivalent S. ristingensis), were erected. In addition, a new ribotype (B) of G. baltica was reported from South Korea and a bloom of G. baltica ribotype B is reported from New Zealand. Molecular phylogeny based on LSU and SSU rRNA gene sequences revealed that Gonyaulax species with minute or short antapical spines formed a well‐resolved clade, whereas species with two pronounced antapical spines or lack of antapical spines formed the sister clade. Six strains of four above species were examined for yessotoxin production by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, and very low concentrations of yessotoxin were detected for one G. bohaiensis strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY An unarmored dinoflagellate, Karlodinium jejuense sp. nov., was isolated from the northern East China Sea. The species was characterized by light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy of laboratory cultures, as well as SSU rDNA, ITS region (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2) and LSU rDNA gene sequences. Cells were ellipsoid to oval, small‐sized, 9.9–16.0 μm in length and 6.2–12.7 μm in width. The chloroplasts were 7–10 in number and yellow‐green in color. The central nucleus was large, located in the center of the cell. The linear apical groove with outward thick rolled margins was very short, and there was no ventral pore. Small pores were irregularly distributed on the cell surface. The amphiesmal vesicles were hexagonal and pentagonal. Karlodinium jejuense was morphologically similar to K. ballantinum but differed in cell surface characteristics and swimming pattern. The partial LSU sequence of K. jejuense differed by 3.7–4.1% from that of K. ballantinum. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of multi‐gene sequences revealed that K. jejuense was an independent species nested within the Karlodinium clade. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial LSU rDNA gene sequences indicated that K. jejuense was most closely related to K. gentienii and K. ballantinum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Anion-exchange resins (AERs) were regenerated with Mg/Al double-metal hydroxides as the regenerant. Electrical conductivity breakthrough curves were adopted to estimate the relatively rapid regenerative effect of the AERs. The results show that the optimal regenerative effect of AER was obtained when the Mg/Al molar ratio was 3 and the dosages of Mg and Al hydroxides were 0.045 and 0.015 mol, respectively. The highest effluent water yield was obtained at an AER/cation-exchange resin volume ratio of 2:1. Characterization through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis showed that the regenerant was transformed and exhibited the distinguishing features of Mg/Al layered double hydrotalcites. Cycle experimentation showed that all calcined products effectively regenerated the fouled resins, and the regenerative mechanism was then established. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42928. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides the first morphological features of resting cysts of Cochlodinium polykrikoides collected from Korean coastal sediments. Evidence for the existence of resting cysts of C. polykrikoides is based on the morphological and molecular phylogenetic data of the germinated cells and a resting cyst. The morphology of the resting cysts differed from that reported previously in sediments and culture experiments. The distinct feature is that the cyst body was covered by the reticulate ornaments and spines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To take the advantage of reactivity of five‐membered cyclic phosphorus compounds, 1,2,3‐tri‐phenyl‐1,3,2‐diazaphospholidine‐2‐oxide (TPDPO) was explored as a reactive flame retardant for epoxy resins (EPs). Through model compounds, it has been established that TPDPO selectively reacts with the secondary hydroxyl group and is inert toward both aryl amino groups and epoxide groups. The result of Soxhlet extraction supports that TPDPO is permanently bonded to the cured EPs. At a loading of only 8 wt % (0.74 wt % phosphorus), TPDPO enables the cured epoxy to achieve a UL‐94 V0 rating. The thermogravimetric analysis–Fourier transform infrared analyses of the gaseous products suggest that the excellent flame retardancy of EP–TPDPO is partly due to the enhanced dehydration process of the epoxy. Also an increased char yield and the formation of a coherent char layer contribute to the good fire performance of EP–TPDPO. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 47411. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]