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Fluoroquinolones are potentially effective against Elizabethkingia anophelis. We investigated the MIC, mutant prevention concentration (MPC), and target gene mutations of fluoroquinolones in E. anophelis. Eighty-five E. anophelis isolates were collected from five hospitals in Taiwan. The MIC and MPC of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were examined for all E. anophelis except 17 isolates, in which ciprofloxacin MPC could not be determined due to drug precipitation caused by overly high drug concentration. Mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions of DNA gyrase (GyrA and GyrB) and topoisomerase IV (ParC and ParE) in the clinical isolates and fluoroquinolone-selected mutants were examined. Overall, 23.5% and 71.8% of the isolates tested were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, respectively. The MPC(50) of ciprofloxacin was 128 mg/L, and the MPC(50) of levofloxacin was 51.2 mg/L. The MPC(50)/MIC(50) ratio for ciprofloxacin was 64, whereas that for levofloxacin was 25.6. The coefficient of determination between the MPC and MIC for ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin was 0.72 and 0.56, respectively, in the linear regression analysis. Preexisting mutations in GyrA (S83I, S83R, and D87Y) were identified in 18 clinical isolates, all of which were resistant to both ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Additional amino acid substitutions in GyrA were identified in all ciprofloxacin- and levofloxacin-selected mutants. Furthermore, GyrB alterations (D431N or D431H) were found in nine levofloxacin-treated isolates. Given that maintaining the serum concentrations of fluoroquinolones above MPCs is impossible under presently recommended doses, the selection of mutant E. anophelis strains seems inevitable.

Nanotechnology gives rise to new breakthroughs and developments in various fields. The applications of advanced nanotechnology may resolve the current technical problems encountered in stem cell research. Nanotechnology has gained significant attention in both academic research and the biomedical industry in recent years. In this mini-review article, the progress of nanotechnology-aided stem cell studies has been surveyed, and the in vitro and in vivo applications of nanotechnology have been introduced. The in vitro studies are divided into three categories: isolation, detection, and regulation. The progress of in vivo studies and trends in biomedical applications have also been addressed.

Background and objectives We previously demonstrated that intense pulsed light (IPL) irradiation prior to wounding improved the wound healing in rats with diabetes mellitus (DM). Also, we found that IPL upregulated the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3), a protein that is crucial for wound healing, in normal rats. This present study aimed to examine the involvement of AQPs in the IPL-enhanced wound healing in diabetic rats. Study design/materials and methods Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were divided into four groups: normal group, DM only group, DM rats with IPL treatment 2 weeks before wounding (DM + IPL-Pre group), and DM rats with concurrent IPL irradiation and wounding (DM + IPL-Con group). Wounds were created on the dorsal skin of rats. The expressions of AQP1, 3, 4, 7, and 9 in the pre-injured skin, periwound, and wound were determined. Results Among all the AQPs analyzed, only the expressions of AQP3 and AQP7 were significantly altered. Unirradiated diabetic rats showed much higher expression level of AQP3 in the regenerating skin compared with normal rats. IPL pretreatment, but not concurrent treatment, attenuated the expression toward the level detected in the normal wounds. In contrast, a lower expression level of AQP7 was noted in the regenerating skin of DM only rats and IPL pretreatment upregulated the expression to a level similar to that in the normal rats. Conclusion The beneficial effect of IPL pretreatment on the wound healing in diabetic rats might involve a mechanism by which the expression of AQPs is regulated. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Background. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a critical public health issue with a huge financial burden for both patients and society worldwide. Unfortunately, there are currently no efficacious therapies to prevent or delay the progression of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Traditional Chinese medicine practices have shown that Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) mycelia have a variety of pharmacologically useful properties, including antitumor, immunomodulation, and hepatoprotection. However, the effect of mycelial C. militaris on CKD remains unclear. Methods. Here, we investigated the effects of C. militaris mycelia on mice with CKD using four types of media: HKS, HKS with vitamin A (HKS + A), CM, and CM with vitamin A (CM + A). Results. The results at day 10 revealed that the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly lower in the HKS (41%), HKS + A (41%), and CM + A (34%) groups compared with those in the corresponding control groups (nephrectomic mice). The level of serum creatinine in the HKS + A group decreased by 35% at day 10, whereas the levels in the HKS and CM + A groups decreased only by 14% and 13%, respectively, on day 30. Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for C. militaris mycelia. Each medium of mycelial C. militaris on CKD exhibits specific effect on BUN, serum creatinine, body weight, total protein, and uric acid. Conclusions. Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for C. militaris mycelia. Each medium of mycelial C. militaris on CKD exhibits specific effects on BUN, serum creatinine, body weight, total protein, and uric acid. We concluded that treatment with C. militaris mycelia cultured in HKS or CM + A medium could potentially prevent the deterioration of kidney function in mice with CKD.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a critical public health issue with a huge financial burden for both patients and society worldwide. Unfortunately, there are currently no efficacious therapies to prevent or delay the progression of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Traditional Chinese medicine practices have shown thatHere, we investigated the effects ofThe results at day 10 revealed that the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly lower in the HKS (41%), HKS + A (41%), and CM + A (34%) groups compared with those in the corresponding control groups (nephrectomic mice). The level of serum creatinine in the HKS + A group decreased by 35% at day 10, whereas the levels in the HKS and CM + A groups decreased only by 14% and 13%, respectively, on day 30. Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) forTaken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for

“Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2]” is a medicament frequently used for antimicrobial purposes in endodontic procedures, or it is used as a toxic-waste adsorbent in industry. Ca(OH)2 particles produced through conventional methods are size untunable and have a wide size distribution and polygonal shape. In this paper, a novel and facile approach involving template-mediated synthesis and two-step ion exchange is proposed for uniform size Ca(OH)2 composite particles generation. “Sodium-alginate (Na-alginate)” was used as a precursor, and monodisperse Na-alginate emulsions were formed through needle droplet or droplet microfluidic technology. After the first ion exchange step with the Ca2+ ions, “calcium-alginate (Ca-alginate)” particles were obtained. The Ca-alginate particles were intermediate reaction products and were designed to be the templates for ensuring the spherical shape and size of products. The OH− ions were used for the second ion exchange step to fabricate Ca(OH)2 composite particles. The results revealed that the Ca(OH)2 composite particles were size tunable, had a spherical shape, and were monodisperse (with a relative standard deviation of less than 8%). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed that the Ca(OH)2 composite particles were potential biocompatible materials.

Chlorophyllide (chlide) is a natural catabolic product of chlorophyll (Chl), produced through the activity of chlorophyllase (chlase). The growth inhibitory and antioxidant effects of chlide from different plant leaf extracts have not been reported. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that chlide in crude extracts from leaves has the potential to exert cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. The potential inhibitory and antioxidant effects of chlide in crude extracts from 10 plant leaves on breast cancer cells (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231), hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Hep G2), colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco2), and glioblastoma cells (U-118 MG) were studied using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assays. The results of the MTT assay showed that chlide in crude extracts from sweet potato were the most effective against all cancer cell lines tested. U-118 MG cells were the most sensitive, while Caco2 cells were the most resistant to the tested crude extracts. The cytotoxic effects of chlide and Chl in crude extracts from sweet potato and of commercial chlorophyllin (Cu-chlin), in descending order, were as follows: chlide > Chl > Cu-chlin. Notably, the IC50 of sweet potato in U-118 MG cells was 45.65 μg/mL while those of Chl and Cu-chlin exceeded 200 μg/mL. In the DPPH assay, low concentrations (100 μg/mL) of chlide and Cu-chlin from crude extracts of sweet potato presented very similar radical scavenging activity to vitamin B2. The concentration of chlide was negatively correlated with DPPH activity. The current study was the first to demonstrate that chlide in crude extracts from leaves have potential cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines. Synergism between chlide and other compounds from leaf crude extracts may contribute to its cytotoxicity.

We fabricated nanomaterials comprising amino-functionalized and nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (amino-N-GQDs) and investigated their photostability and intrinsic luminescence in the near-infrared spectrum to determine their suitability as contrast agents in two-photon imaging (TPI). We observed that amino-N-GQDs with a higher amount of bonded nitrogen and amino-functionalized groups (6.2%) exhibited superior two-photon properties to those with a lower amount of such nitrogen and groups (4.9%). These materials were conjugated with polymers containing sulfur (polystyrene sulfonate, PSS) and nitrogen atoms (polyethylenimine, PEI), forming amino-N-GQD&ndash, PSS&ndash, PEI specimens (amino-N-GQD-polymers). The polymers exhibited a high quantum yield, remarkable stability, and notable two-photon properties and generated no reactive oxygen species, rendering them excellent two-photon contrast agents for bioimaging. An antiepidermal growth factor receptor (AbEGFR) was used for labeling to increase specificity. Two-photon imaging (TPI) of amino-N-GQD (6.2%)-polymer-AbEGFR-treated A431 cancer cells revealed remarkable brightness, intensity, and signal-to-noise ratios for each observation at a two-photon excitation power of 16.9 nJ pixel&minus, 1 under 30 scans and a three-dimensional (3D) depth of 105 &micro, m, indicating that amino-N-GQD (6.2%)-polymer-AbEGFR-treated cells can achieve two-photon luminescence with 71 times less power required for two-photon autofluorescence (1322.8 nJ pixel&minus, 1 with 500 scans) of similar intensity. This economy can minimize photodamage to cells, rendering amino-N-GQD-polymers suitable for noninvasive 3D bioimaging.

Dengue fever has become an imminent threat to international public health because of global warming and climate change. The World Health Organization proclaimed that more than 50% of the world’s population is at risk of dengue virus (DENV) infection. Therefore, developing a clinically ap-proved vaccine and effective therapeutic remedy for treating dengue fever is imperative. Peptide drug de-velopment has become a novel pharmaceutical research field. This article reviews various peptides-based antimicrobial agents targeting three pathways involved in the DENV lifecycle. Specifically, they are peptide vaccines from immunomodulation, peptide drugs that inhibit virus entry, and peptide drugs that interfere with viral replication. Many antiviral peptide studies against DENV have been conducted in animal model trials, and progression to clinical trials for these promising peptide drugs is anticipated.

Using 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequencing, we identified 6 patients infected with Elizabethkingia bruuniana treated at E-Da Hospital (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) during 2005-2017. We describe patient characteristics and the molecular characteristics of the E. bruuniana isolates, including their MICs. Larger-scale studies are needed for more robust characterization of this pathogen.

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) represent one of the most intensively studied types of iron oxide nanoparticles in various fields, including biomedicine, pharmaceutics, bioengineering, and industry. Since their properties in terms of size, shape, and surface charge significantly affects their efficiency towards the envisaged application, it is fundamentally important to develop a new synthesis route that allows for the control and modulation of the nanoparticle features. In this context, the aim of the present study was to develop a new method for the synthesis of MNPs. Specifically, a microfluidic lab-on-chip (LoC) device was used to obtain MNPs with controlled properties. The study investigated the influence of iron precursor solution concentration and flowed onto the final properties of the nanomaterials. The synthesized MNPs were characterized in terms of size, morphology, structure, composition, and stability. Results proved the formation of magnetite as a single mineral phase. Moreover, the uniform spherical shape and narrow size distribution were demonstrated. Optimal characteristics regarding MNPs crystallinity, uniformity, and thermal stability were obtained at higher concentrations and lower flows. In this manner, the potential of the LoC device is a promising tool for the synthesis of nanomaterials by ensuring the necessary uniformity for all final applications.

Elizabethkingia anophelis has become an emerging infection in humans. Recent research has shown that previous reports of E. meningoseptica infections might in fact be caused by E. anophelis. We aimed to investigate the genomic features, phylogenetic relationships, and comparative genomics of this emerging pathogen. Elizabethkingia anophelis strain EM361-97 was isolated from the blood of a cancer patient in Taiwan. The total length of the draft genome was 4,084,052 bp. The whole-genome analysis identified the presence of a number of antibiotic resistance genes, which corresponded with the antibiotic susceptibility phenotype of this strain. Based on the average nucleotide identity, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that E. anophelis EM361-97 was a sister group to E. anophelis FMS-007, which was isolated from a patient with T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in China. Knowledge of the genomic characteristics and comparative genomics of E. anophelis will provide researchers and clinicians with important information to understand this emerging microorganism.

Knowledge associated with energy conservation is important but it may appear difficult and monotonous to students due to the presence of jargon and complex scientific concepts. This research created two digital question-and-answer games and compared them with a traditional paper-and-pencil learning method to explore how different learning approaches would affect college students’ learning for knowledge of energy conservation. This research conducted a between-subject experiment with random assignment to examine short-term effects of the three different learning methods on motivation, attention, and learning outcomes. The results revealed that participants who played the digital game equipped with more cartoon-style, animated, and interactive features scored significantly higher than the lower-complexity digital game group as well as the traditional paper-and-pencil group on the learning outcome tests. Moreover, in contrast to many previous studies, use of these digital games was not found to affec...

Bacteria of the genus Elizabethkingia are emerging infectious agents that can cause infection in humans. The number of published whole-genome sequences of Elizabethkingia is rapidly increasing. In this study, we used comparative genomics to investigate the genomes of the six species in the Elizabethkingia genus, namely E. meningoseptica, E. anophelis, E. miricola, E. bruuniana, E. ursingii, and E. occulta. In silico DNA–DNA hybridization, whole-genome sequence-based phylogeny, pan genome analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed, and clusters of orthologous groups were evaluated. Of the 86 whole-genome sequences available in GenBank, 21 were complete genome sequences and 65 were shotgun sequences. In silico DNA–DNA hybridization clearly delineated the six Elizabethkingia species. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that E. bruuniana, E. ursingii, and E. occulta were closer to E. miricola than to E. meningoseptica and E. anophelis. A total of 2,609 clusters of orthologous groups were identified among the six type strains of the Elizabethkingia genus. Metabolism-related clusters of orthologous groups accounted for the majority of gene families in KEGG analysis. New genes were identified that substantially increased the total repertoire of the pan genome after the addition of 86 Elizabethkingia genomes, which suggests that Elizabethkingia has shown adaptive evolution to environmental change. This study presents a comparative genomic analysis of Elizabethkingia, and the results of this study provide knowledge that facilitates a better understanding of this microorganism.

Chryseobacterium infections are uncommon, and previous studies have revealed that Chryseobacterium gleum is frequently misidentified as Chryseobacterium indologenes. We aimed to explore the differences in clinical manifestations and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns between C. gleum and C. indologenes. The database of a clinical microbiology laboratory was searched to identify patients with Chryseobacterium infections between 2005 and 2017. Species were reidentified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and patients with C. gleum and C. indologenes infections were included in the study. A total of 42 C. gleum and 84 C. indologenes isolates were collected from consecutive patients. A significant increase in C. indologenes incidence was observed. C. gleum was significantly more associated with bacteremia than C. indologenes. Patients with C. gleum infections had more comorbidities of malignancy and liver cirrhosis than those with C. indologenes infections. The overall case fatality rate was 19.8%. Independent risk factors for mortality were female sex and C. indologenes infection. These isolates were most susceptible to minocycline (73%), followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (47.6%), tigecycline (34.1%), and levofloxacin (32.5%). C. gleum exhibited a significantly higher rate of susceptibility than C. indologenes to piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, tigecycline, and levofloxacin. Alterations in DNA gyrase subunit A were identified to be associated with fluoroquinolone resistance in C. indologenes. No nonsynonymous substitutions were observed in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of C. gleum. Differences in epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns exist between C. gleum and C. indologenes. Additional investigations are needed to explore the significance of these differences.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

Bacteria belonging to the genus Chryseobacterium are ubiquitously distributed in natural environments, plants, and animals. Except C. indologenes and C. gleum, other Chryseobacterium species rarely cause human diseases. This study reported the whole-genome features, comparative genomic analysis, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of C. arthrosphaerae ED882-96 isolated in Taiwan. Strain ED882-96 was collected from the blood of a patient who had alcoholic liver cirrhosis and was an intravenous drug abuser. This isolate was initially identified as C. indologenes by using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization&ndash, time of flight mass spectrometry. The analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence revealed that ED882-96 shared 100% sequence identity with C. arthrosphaerae type strain CC-VM-7T. The results of whole-genome sequencing of ED882-96 showed two chromosome contigs and one plasmid. The total lengths of the draft genomes of chromosome and plasmid were 4,249,864 bp and 435,667 bp, respectively. The findings of both in silico DNA&ndash, DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity analyses clearly demonstrated that strain ED882-96 was a species of C. arthrosphaerae. A total of 83 potential virulence factor homologs were predicted in the whole-genome sequencing of strain ED882-96. This isolate was resistant to all tested antibiotics, including &beta, lactams, &beta, lactam/&beta, lactamase inhibitor combinations, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, tetracycline, glycylcycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Only one antibiotic resistance gene was recognized in the plasmid. By contrast, many antibiotic resistance genes were identified in the chromosome. The findings of this study suggest that strain ED882-96 is a highly virulent and multidrug-resistant pathogen. Knowledge regarding genomic characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns provides valuable insights into this uncommon species.

Bacteria belonging to the genus Chryseobacterium are ubiquitously distributed in natural environments, plants, and animals. Except C. indologenes and C. gleum, other Chryseobacterium species rarely cause human diseases. This study reported the whole-genome features, comparative genomic analysis, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of C. arthrosphaerae ED882-96 isolated in Taiwan. Strain ED882-96 was collected from the blood of a patient who had alcoholic liver cirrhosis and was an intravenous drug abuser. This isolate was initially identified as C. indologenes by using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry. The analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence revealed that ED882-96 shared 100% sequence identity with C. arthrosphaerae type strain CC-VM-7T. The results of whole-genome sequencing of ED882-96 showed two chromosome contigs and one plasmid. The total lengths of the draft genomes of chromosome and plasmid were 4,249,864 bp and 435,667 bp, respectively. The findings of both in silico DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity analyses clearly demonstrated that strain ED882-96 was a species of C. arthrosphaerae. A total of 83 potential virulence factor homologs were predicted in the whole-genome sequencing of strain ED882-96. This isolate was resistant to all tested antibiotics, including β-lactams, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, tetracycline, glycylcycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Only one antibiotic resistance gene was recognized in the plasmid. By contrast, many antibiotic resistance genes were identified in the chromosome. The findings of this study suggest that strain ED882-96 is a highly virulent and multidrug-resistant pathogen. Knowledge regarding genomic characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns provides valuable insights into this uncommon species.

Chlorophyll is a valuable bioactive compound, which is used as a natural food coloring agent and a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy because of its antioxidant properties, antimutagenic ability, and near-infrared fluorescence. However, chlorophyll is unstable when it comes to retaining its antioxidant activity, when exposed to oxygen, high temperature, or light environments. To enhance the stability of chlorophyll, a polymer encapsulation method was proposed. Polycaprolactone (PCL) was employed to encapsulate the chlorophyll, and the particles size of the composites was controlled through droplet microfluidics. The composites (chlorophyll-encapsulated PCL particles) were characterized through UV–VIS spectrometry, SEM, optical microscopy, and light exposure. The particles were spherical, with diameters adjustable from 68 to 247 μm. Additionally, the chlorophyll-encapsulated PCL particles exhibited considerably prolonged chlorophyll stability. The solid microparticle is more convenient for storage and transportation, and have great potential for application in the food industry.

Elizabethkingia bruuniana is a novel species of the Elizabethkingia genus. There is scant information on this microorganism. Here, we report the whole-genome features and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of E. bruuniana strain EM798-26. Elizabethkingia strain EM798-26 was initially identified as E. miricola. This isolate contained a circular genome of 4,393,011 bp. The whole-genome sequence-based phylogeny revealed that Elizabethkingia strain EM798-26 was in the same group of the type strain E. bruuniana G0146T. Both in silico DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity analysis clearly demonstrated that Elizabethkingia strain EM798-26 was a species of E. bruuniana. The pan-genome analysis identified 2,875 gene families in the core genome and 5,199 gene families in the pan genome of eight publicly available E. bruuniana genome sequences. The unique genes accounted for 0.2–12.1% of the pan genome in each E. bruuniana. A total of 59 potential virulence factor homologs were predicted in the whole-genome of E. bruuniana strain EM798–26. This isolate was nonsusceptible to multiple antibiotics, but susceptible to aminoglycosides, minocycline, and levofloxacin. The whole-genome sequence analysis of E. bruuniana EM798-26 revealed 29 homologs of antibiotic resistance-related genes. This study presents the genomic features of E. bruuniana. Knowledge of the genomic characteristics provides valuable insights into a novel species.

Additional file 6. The SEP genes in Bayesian tree and the Bayesian posterior probability values in tree.