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Abstract Background Sheeppox virus (SPPV) and goatpox virus (GTPV), members of the Capripoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family are causative agents of sheep pox and goat pox respectively, which are important contagious diseases and endemic in central and northern Africa, the Middle and Far East, and the Indian sub-continent. Both sheep pox and goat pox can cause wool and hide damage, and reduce the production of mutton and milk, which may result in significant economic losses and threaten the stockbreeding. In this study, three SPPVs and two GTPVs were collected from China in 2009 and 2011. We described the sequence features and phylogenetic analysis of the P32 gene, GPCR gene and RPO30 gene of the SPPVs and GTPVs to reveal their genetic relatedness. Results Sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that there was a close relationship among SPPV/GanS/2/2011/China, SPPV/GanS/1/2011/China and SPPV/NingX/2009/China. They were clustered on the same SPPV clade. GTPV/HuB/2009/China and GS-V1 belonged to the GTPV lineage. GS-V1 was closely related to other GTPV vaccine strains. GTPV/HuB/2009/China and GS-V1 were clustered with GTPVs from China and some southern Asian countries. Conclusion This study may expand the datum for spread trend research of Chinese SPPVs and GTPVs, meanwhile provide theoretical references to improve the preventive and control strategy.

Altered gut microbial ecology contributes to the development of metabolic diseases including obesity. However, studies based on different populations have generated conflicting results due to diet, environment, methodologies, etc. The aim of our study was to explore the association between gut microbiota and BMI in Chinese college students. The 16S next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to test the gut microbiota of nine lean, nine overweight/obesity and ten normal-weight male college students. The differences in gut microbiota distribution among three groups were compared, and the relationship between the richness, diversity, composition of gut microbiota and BMI were analysed. The predominant phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were further confirmed by real-time PCR. Metagenomic biomarker discovery was conducted by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe). NGS revealed that gut microbiota composition was different among three groups, but there was no difference in the abundance ratio of Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes. Several bacterial taxa were in linear relationship with BMI (positive relationship: uncultured bacterium (Bacteroides genus); negative relationship: Porphyromonadaceae, Acidaminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Blautia , Anaerotruncus , Parabacteroides , Alistipes). Moreover, gut microbiota diversity decreased with the increase in BMI. And LEfSe analysis indicated that Blautia , Anaerotruncus and its uncultured species were significantly enriched in the lean group (LDA score ≥ 3), Parasuterella and its uncultured species were significantly enriched in the overweight/obese groups (LDA score ≥ 3). In general, gut microbiota composition and microbial diversity were associated with BMI in Chinese male college students. Our results might enrich the understanding between gut microbiota and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene-like materials in two dimensions hold great promise for energy storage and transformation applications owing to their distinctive features, such as lightweight composition, porous geometry, etc. Among these materials, a recently discovered unit known as g-B 5 N 3 has demonstrated high performance in energy storage and transformation. In our efforts to enhance its applicability in adsorbing energy gases, we propose a novel composite structure by decorating Li atoms on the surface of pristine g-B 5 N 3 . The electronic properties of this composite have been comprehensively investigated using a first-principles method. Our findings reveal that the added Li atoms can be securely anchored on the g-B 5 N 3 with an adsorption energy of -3.01 eV. Furthermore, the Li atom transfers its partial 2s electrons to the g-B 5 N 3 , exhibiting considerable electropositivity. These metallic sites effectively polarize the adsorbed H 2 molecules, enhancing the mutual electrostatic interactions. Each primitive cell of Li-doped g-B 5 N 3 can adsorb up to 13 H 2 molecules, resulting in a storage capacity up to 6.3 wt %. This capacity significantly surpasses the goal of 4.5 wt % set by the U.S. Department of Energy. Furthermore, the typical adsorption energy of -0.209 eV per molecule of H 2 aligns with the energy range suitable for reversible hydrogen storage. This study underscores the potential of Li-doped g-B 5 N 3 for energy gas adsorption, shedding light on further advancements in this field.

Objective To elucidate the regulating effect of orf virus (ORFV) encoded ORF128 on NF-κB signaling pathway during the infection of HEK293T cells with ORFV and the underlying mechanism. Methods The ORF128 DNA sequences from ORFV/QH02/2010 strain were constructed into eukaryotic expression vectors pCMV-tag2B and pEGFP-N1. During viral infection of cells, the level of ORF128 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription PCR and the subcellular localization of ORF128 protein by laser confocal microscopy. A dual luciferase reporter assay system was used to analyze the regulating effect of ORF128 on NF-κB signaling pathway, and Western blot analysis to detect the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65 and the phosphorylation of IκBα protein (p-IκBα). Results ORF128 protein was expressed at the early stage and localized in the cell nuclear during ORFV infection, and it inhibited the expression of NF-κB reporter luciferase activity. The expression of the protein blocked the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65 and the degradation of p-IκBα. Conclusion ORF128 inhibits the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway by blocking the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65 and the degradation of p-IκBα.

The classical swine fever virus C-strain vaccine (C-strain vaccine) plays a vital role in preventing and controlling the spread of classical swine fever (CSF). However, the protective mechanisms of C-strain vaccine and cellular immunity conferred by T cell receptors (TCRs) are less well defined. We aimed to analyse the association between the complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) spectratype of αβTCR in CD4 + T cells and C-strain vaccine; and to find conserved CDR3 amino acid motifs in specific TCR α- and β-chains. We found that the CDR3 spectratype showed dynamic changes correlating with C-strain vaccine immunisation and that TCR AV5S/8-3S/8-4S/14/38 and BV4S/6S/7S/15S/30 gene families showed clonal expansion in immunised pigs. The sequences of CDR3 from these clonally expanded T cells indicated a high frequency of the 'KLX' motif in the TCR α chain and the 'GGX' motif in β chain, and Jα39, Jα43, Jβ2.5 and Jβ2.3 genes were also found in high frequency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the dynamic changes of αβTCRs and conserved CDR3 amino acid motifs in CD4 + T cells from C-strain vaccine-immunised pigs, which will provide a basis for the development of high-efficiency epitope vaccines.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a large family of germ-line encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and evoke the relevant innate immune responses. TLR8 is a member of several endosome nucleic acid-sensing TLRs; however little attention has been paid to murine TLR8 (mTLR8) compared with other endosome nucleic acid-sensing TLRs. In the present study, mTLR8 was cloned using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from murine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and its function in regulating innate immune response was characterized. The open reading frame of mTLR8 consists of 3,099 bps and encodes 1,032 amino acids. It contains typical leucine-rich repeats, a transmembrane domain and a Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain, and it shares a high level of identity with other mammalian species. The expression of mTLR8 has been widely observed in different tissues, and higher expression levels of mTLR8 have mainly been detected in the heart, spleen and lung. Overexpression of mTLR8 is required for the activation of transcription factor nuclear factor-κB and the production of tumor necrosis factor-α. However, mTLR8 is not able to activate interferon regulatory factor 3 or activator protein 1, nor can it induce interferon-α in HEK293T cells. These results indicate that mTLR8, as an important PRR, is indeed functional and is vital role in the activation of innate immune responses. This study may aid in determining the molecular basis of the interactions between mTLR8 and pathogens.

Objective: To study the structural characteristics of the mouse DNA-dependent activator of interferon-regulatory factors (DAI) and its related molecular mechanism in anti-viral innate immune responses and signal transduction., Methods: The coding sequence of mouse DAI gene was amplified from splenic mononuclear cells by reverse transcription-PCR, and the genetic evolution and molecular structure of the mouse DAI gene were analyzed by bioinformatics softwares. After mouse DAI was stimulated by poly(dA-dT) and poly(dG-dC), the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and interferon-beta (IFN-β) promoter-driven luciferase activity were detected by dual-luciferase reporter assay system., Results: The open reading frame (ORF) of the cloned mouse DAI sequence was 1236 bp, encoding 411 amino acids, which exhibited identity with the corresponding sequences of cattle, pig, rat and other mammals ranging from 60%, 63.1%, 84%, and it contained two Z-DNA domains (Zα and Zβ), DNA binding region (D3) and signaling domain (SD). The stimulation of poly (dA-dT) increased the expressions of mouse DAI activated transcription factors NF-κB and IFN-β promoter. However, the stimulation of poly(dG-dC) only induced the activation of NF-κB but not IFN-β promoter., Conclusion: Mouse DAI as an important cytosolic DNA sensor, is responsible for the recognition of A/T or G/C-rich DNA derived from DNA virus. It may play an important role in anti-viral innate immune responses.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have emerged as major receptor components of pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), which are responsible for the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)-derived pathogenic parasites. This recognition triggers the secretion of a large amount of type I interferons (IFNs), inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines and maturation of immune cells, for effective host defense by eradicating infectious parasites. Both the myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and the TIR domain containing the adaptor molecule (TRIF) are involved in these signaling pathways. Here, we review the latest findings on the recognition of the pathogenic parasites and activation of corresponding signaling pathways through TLRs, with special emphasis on the recognition of pathogenic protozoan and helminthes. By highlighting recent progress in these areas, we hope to provide references in future studies not only for the complexity of host-parasite interactions but also for the prevention of the pathogenic parasite infections.