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Manganese-based catalysts attract extensive attentions in low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxide (NOIn this work, electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer and density functional theory are combined to reveal surface characterizations of manganese oxide and Ce/La-doped manganese oxides.As a result, superoxide radical (O

As a means of producing the resources required for human survival and development, land is the cornerstone of social development and an important part of the ecological environmental system. To measure the granularity and spatial differentiation of changes in the ecological security levels of the study area, this paper uses the PSR model. A kilometer grid is used as the evaluation unit, and a relative entropy theory is used to obtain the combined weight. The comprehensive index method is used to calculate the ecological security value of the land. Based on clarifying the dynamics of time and space, the spatial distribution of the ecological security levels in 2020 is simulated by the CA-Markov model. The results show the following: (1) the level of ecological security in the city of Deyang decreases from 0.580 in 2005 to 0.558 in 2015, showing a fluctuating downward trend, and different districts, cities, and counties and show varying trends. (2) During the study period, the area classified with a safe level decreased from 2853.72 km2 in 2005 to 1809.45 km2 in 2015, and the areas with critical safe, less safe, and unsafe levels all increased. The areas of decrease are mainly concentrated in the Jingyang District, Luojiang County, and Zhongjiang County. (3) The results of four proposed scenarios for future economic or environmental development are significantly different. Maintaining the status quo cannot change the declining trend in ecological security in the city of Deyang. A priority of economic development will lead to a significant decline in land ecological security. Establishing environmental protection as a priority can significantly change the ecological security of the land in the city. The results of the “comprehensive” scenario simulation are closest to the actual security values calculated for 2019, reflecting the trade-off between economic development and environmental protection. The research results can provide a reference for the evaluation and prediction of ecological security and provide theoretical guidance for the formulation of sustainable measures.

A durable and high-flux superhydrophilic-underwater superoleophobic oil-water separation membrane was prepared for effective oil-water separation by cellulose-starch-silica surface charging and hydrophilization. The surface properties of the composite coating nylon membrane were characterized by contact angle and scanning electron microscopy. The chemical structures of this membrane were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. This membrane showed excellent hydrophilicity and underwater oleophobicity. After modified, the water contact angle of the membrane attained 0, and the underwater oil contact angles reached 159.5. The cellulose-starch-silica composite coating nylon membrane exhibited high oil-water separation efficiency (99.8%) for hexane, and it was also efficient for cyclohexane, petroleum ether, diesel, soybean oil, lubricating oil and silicone oil. Besides, the membrane flux could reach 31847 L−1m−2 h−1 bar−1. It showed this membrane had a high efficiency for oil-water separation. The modified nylon membrane was durable for oil-water separation. The separation efficiency could still retained above 97% after 100 cycles, and the modified nylon membrane still worked well after 24 h in harsh environment (pH value 4 to 10). The whole separation process could be achieved successfully without depending on any extra power. This work provided a new strategy to fabricate superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic membrane with good reusability, high flux and stability for oil-water separation.

In our previous proteomics study, we identified Miro domain-containing protein (Miro-1), an excretory and secretory product of the pole worm, Haemonchus contortus, binds to goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vivo. However, our understanding of the role of Miro-1and its potential immune impact on goat PBMCs is limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Miro-1 on functions of goat PBMCs in vitro. Recombinant protein (rMiro-1) was expressed in a prokaryote and incubated with goat PBMCs. Western blot analysis showed that rMiro-1 is successfully recognized by goat sera infected with H. contortus. Immunofluorescence analysis using rat antibodies against rMiro-1 indicated that this protein binds to goat PBMCs in vitro. Treatment of goat PBMCs/monocytes with various concentrations of rMiro-1 resulted in the upregulation of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-17, which in turn promoted cell proliferation, migration, the release of NO in PBMCs, and enhancement of phagocytosis of monocytes. These findings suggested that rMiro-1 stimulates PBMCs activity.

// Yujian Wang 1 , Yuling Wen 1 , Shuai Wang 1 , Muhammad Ehsan 1 , RuoFeng Yan 1 , XiaoKai Song 1 , LiXin Xu 1 and XiangRui Li 1 1 College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China Correspondence to: XiangRui Li, email: lixiangrui@njau.edu.cn Keywords: Haemonchus contortus, cystatin, monocyte, immunomodulation Received: December 23, 2016 Accepted: March 31, 2017 Published: April 21, 2017 ABSTRACT Modulation and suppression of the host immune response by nematode parasites have been reported extensively and the cysteine protease inhibitor (cystatin) is identified as one of the major immunomodulator. In the present study, we cloned and produced recombinant cystatin protein from nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus (rHCcyst-2) and investigated its immunomodulatory effects on goat monocyte. rHCcyst-2 protein is biologically functional as shown by its ability to inhibit the protease activity of cathepsin L, cathepsin B and papain. Immunohistochemical test demonstrated that the native HCcyst-2 protein was predominantly localized at the body surface and internal surface of the worm’s gut. We demonstrated that rHCcyst-2 could be distinguished by antisera from goats experimentally infected with H. contortus and could uptake by goat monocytes. The immunomodulatory effects of HCcyst-2 on cytokine secretion, MHC molecule expression, NO production and phagocytosis were observed by co-incubation of rHCcyst-2 with goat monocytes. The results showed that the interaction of rHCcyst-2 decreased the production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-12p40. However, it significantly increased the secretion of IL-10 in goat monocytes. After rHCcyst-2 exposure, the expression of MHC-II on goat monocytes was inhibited. Moreover, rHCcyst-2 could up-regulate the LPS induced NO production of goat monocytes. Phagocytotic assay by FITC-dextran internalization showed that rHCcyst-2 inhibited the phagocytosis of goat monocytes. Our findings provided potential target as immunoregulator, and will be helpful to illustrate the molecular basis of host–parasite interactions and search for new potential molecule as vaccine and drug target candidate.

For the first time, a heterostructure was synthesized by bismuth oxychloride and Zn-Cr layered double hydroxide. A novel membrane photocatalyst was then obtained by dispersing the heterostructure in polyvinylidene fluoride. Under visible light, the membrane removed 99.9% of Rhodamine B after 240 min. Under sun light, the removal even reached over 80% after 360 min. The heterostructure effectively inhibited the recombination of electron–hole pairs and promoted the production of active species, thus improving the natural-light activity. The degradation mechanism for Rhodamine B was attributed to photocatalysis and photosensitization. Moreover, the formation of membrane improved the reusage of photocatalyst. Therefore, this work put forward a potential natural-light photocatalyst for a real application.

In the field of selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide, metal-species and loading-amount regulations were usually investigated to increase the catalytic activity. For the first time, this work investigated the influence of metal coordination state on the catalytic activity. Catalysts with different coordination states were compared by experiments and theoretical calculations. With the increase of coordination state, crystallinity improved, lone-pair-electron amount increased from 7.0∗104 to 1.5∗106, and catalytic-enter ability for electron donating enhanced from 0.376 to 0.430 |e−|. In comparison, oxide-state catalyst only showed a charge of 0.294 |e−|. As a result, the catalytic activity of oxide state was only 39.45% at 350 °C. The activity increased to 59.46, 76.75, and 98.62% in poor, weak, and good coordination state, respectively. If this result was applied in producing honeycomb catalyst, adding ligand increased the total price by 4%. However, the total cost was reduced by 48% for end users since increased activity decreased usage amount. After all, main results of this work will help to produce a more effective catalyst with a same metal-loading amount by controlling coordination state, which is in favor of both industrial and academic fields.

The VP6, the group antigenic rotavirus (RV), is highly conserved and the most abundant, constituting about 39% of the viral structure proteins by weight. The high degree of identity (>87%–99%) in the primary amino acid sequences suggests VP6-based vaccines could potentially provide heterotypic protection. Although some efforts have been made toward producing recombinant rotavirus VP6 vaccines, the native VP6 is still unsatisfactory as an optimal vaccine. The major neutralizing antigenic epitopes that exist on VP4 or VP7 are not on the native VP6, and as a vector the native VP6 lacks insertion sites that can be used for insertion of foreign epitopes. In this study, a new foreign epitope presenting system using VP6 as a vector (VP6F) was constructed on the outer surface of the vector six sites that could be used for insertion of the foreign epitopes created. Using this system, three VP6-based VP4 epitope chimeric proteins were constructed. Results showed that these chimeric proteins reacted with anti-VP6 and -VP4 antibodies, and elicited antibodies against VP6 and VP4 in guinea pigs. Antibodies against VP6F or antibodies against the chimeric proteins neutralized RV Wa and SA11 infection in vitro. It is optimistic that the limitation for using the native VP6 as a vaccine candidate or vector will be solved with our proposed approach. It is expected that this VP6-based epitope presenting system and the VP6-based VP4 epitope chimeric proteins will be valuable for and contribute to the development of novel RV vaccines and vaccine vectors.

A G2P[4]/NSP4[A] rotavirus strain TB-Chen was isolated from a 2-year-old patient hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Kunming, China. The strain TB-Chen was demonstrated having group A-specific antigenicity, a “short” (subgroup II) electropherotype. To investigate its overall genomic relatedness and to determine which group it belonged, the complete genome of strain TB-Chen was determined. Genomic comparison based on amino acid sequence identity and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all 11 gene segments of strain TB-Chen were highly identical (>91.80%) with the representative G2P[4]/NSP4[A] human strains DS-1, S2, NR1 and IS2, suggesting that this rotavirus strain was derived from human host. Besides, almost all the available representative rotavirus gene segments among group A were analyzed and identified within 15 G-types, 28 P-types, and 6 NSP4 genotypes. This is the first report of group A rotavirus genomic analyses in China and the findings have important implications for rotavirus vaccine development.

Rotavirus capsid protein Vp4 plays an important role in the virus adhering and entering the cells. In this study, a Vp4 gene cloned from a rotavirus strain TB-Chen was highly expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The results of the Western blot showed that the protein possesses specific immuno-reactivities and can be specifically recognized by guinea pig antibodies against rotavirus strain SA11 or Wa. Some Vp4 dimers were formed during renaturation. These data obtained from this study provide a strong basis for further study on the structure and function of the Vp4.

VP7 of group A rotavirus (RVA) contains major neutralizing epitopes. Using the antigenic protein VP6 as the vector, chimeric proteins carrying foreign epitopes have been shown to possess good immunoreactivity and immunogenicity. In the present study, using modified VP6 as the vector, three chimeric proteins carrying epitopes derived from VP7 of RVA were constructed. The results showed that the chimeric proteins reacted with anti-VP6 and with SA11 and Wa virus strains. Antibodies from guinea pigs inoculated with the chimeric proteins recognized VP6 and VP7 of RVA and protected mammalian cells from SA11 and Wa infection in vitro. The neutralizing activities of the antibodies against the chimeric proteins were significantly higher than those against the vector protein VP6F. Thus, development of chimeric vaccines carrying VP7 epitopes using VP6 as a vector could be a promising alternative to enhance immunization against RVAs. [Image: see text]

It has been demonstrated that the immunodominant region of the HCV core protein and the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have high degree of reactivity. In order to construct a chimeric protein that carries HCV and HBV epitopes and possesses immunogenicity to both HCV and HBV, four epitopes derived from residues aa2-21 (epitope C1), aa22-40 (epitope C2) of the core protein, residues aa315-328 (epitope E) of E1 protein of HCV, and residues aa124-147 (epitope S) of HBsAg were chosen to be displayed in a conformation-specific manner on the outer surface of the Flock House virus capsid protein and expressed in E. coli cells. The reactivity of these epitopes with antisera from hepatitis C and hepatitis B patients and induction of immune response in guinea pigs were determined. The results showed that when displayed in this system, the chimeric protein carrying only epitope S could react with anti-HBsAg positive human sera, elicit an anti-HBsAg response in guinea pigs. The chimeric protein carrying epitopes C1, C2 and E could react with antibodies to different HCV genotypes, elicit an anti-HCV response in guinea pigs. The chimeric protein carrying epitopes C1, C2, E, and S could react with antibodies against HCV and HBV, elicit anti-HCV and anti-HBsAg responses in guinea pigs. The results suggested that these epitopes displayed in this form could be considered for development of epitope-based vaccines against HCV/HBV infections.

Background Recombinant galectins of male and female Haemonchus contortus (rHco-gal-m/f) have been recognized as significant regulators of the functions of goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In previous research, transmembrane protein 63A (TMEM63A) was identified as a partner protein in the regulation associated with H. contortus infection. However, in the identification of binding partners for galectins of male and female H. contortus (Hco-gal-m/f) by yeast two-hybrid (YTH) screening, it was found that the transmembrane protein 147 (TMEM147) could also bind to Hco-gal-m/f. In this study, the functions of TMEM147 in the regulations of H. contortus galectin on the goat PBMC were investigated. Methods To identify Hco-gal-m/f-interacting proteins, a yeast two-hybrid system to detect interactions was used. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting were used to validate the interaction between recombinant galectins of male H. contortus (rHco-gal-m) and candidate binding protein. The localization of TMEM147 in PBMC was explored by immunofluorescence in confocal imaging studies. Flow cytometry was used to determine the distribution of TMEM147 in T cells, B cells and monocytes in PBMC. The modulatory effects of rHco-gal-m and TMEM147 on cell proliferation, phagocytosis, nitric oxide production, migration, apoptosis and cytokine mRNA transcription were observed by co-incubation of rHco-gal-m and knockdown of the tmem147 gene. Results In this research, it was demonstrated that TMEM147 could bind to rHco-gal-m/f. Immunofluorescence assays showed that TMEM147 was localized to the cell membrane and within the cell membrane in goat PBMC. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that TMEM147 was expressed in all B cells and monocytes in goat PBMC. However, 3.8 % of T cells did not express this protein. Knockdown of the tmem147 gene using RNA interference (RNAi) showed that the interaction of galectin with TMEM147 mainly mediated cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, transcription of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) of goat PBMC. This membrane protein, together with TMEM63A, was also related to the regulation of galectin on phagocytosis and nitric oxide production of goat PBMC. However, it might not be involved in the regulation of galectin on the migration and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) transcription of goat PBMC. Conclusions Our results showed that TMEM147 was a binding partner of Hco-gal-m/f and mediated the immunological regulation of Hco-gal-m/f on goat PBMC in a manner different to that of TMEM63A. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1640-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.