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Abstract Basal progenitor cells are crucial for maintaining foregut (the esophagus and forestomach) homeostasis. When their function is dysregulated, it can promote inflammation and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain largely unclear. Here, we employ genetic mouse models to reveal that Jag1/2 regulate esophageal homeostasis and foregut tumorigenesis by modulating the function of basal progenitor cells. Deletion of Jag1/2 in mice disrupts esophageal and forestomach epithelial homeostasis. Mechanistically, Jag1/2 deficiency impairs activation of Notch signaling, leading to reduced squamous epithelial differentiation and expansion of basal progenitor cells. Moreover, Jag1/2 deficiency exacerbates the deoxycholic acid (DCA)-induced squamous epithelial injury and accelerates the initiation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the forestomach. Importantly, expression levels of JAG1/2 are lower in the early stages of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) carcinogenesis. Collectively, our study demonstrates that Jag1/2 are important for maintaining esophageal and forestomach homeostasis and the onset of foregut SCC.

To mitigate the continued impact of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B viruses on human health, a smartphone-based point-of-care testing (POCT) system was designed to detect respiratory pathogens through a nucleic acid test. This compact, light-weight, highly automated, and universal system enables the differential diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B in approximately 30 min in a single-tube reaction. Numerous hospitals and disease control and prevention center assessed the triple POCT system’s detection threshold, sensitivity, specificity, and stability, and have concluded that all the assessments were comparable to those of fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based testing. The triple POCT system is suitable as an onsite rapid-diagnosis device, as well as for pathogen screening at airports and customs.

ABSTRACTSalmonella enterica is a prominent cause of foodborne disease in the United States. However, the mechanism and route of pathogen transmission that leads to Salmonella infection in commercial processing plants are poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of mixed-species biofilms on S. enterica survival and persistence under sanitizer stress [Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)] by analyzing 78 floor drain samples from a meat processing facility and three S. enterica strains (serovars Cerro, Montevideo, and Typhimurium) isolated from that facility and an unrelated source. The four test groups were as follows: control, QAC treatment, Salmonella addition, and QAC treatment with Salmonella addition. DNAs were extracted, and 16S rRNA gene based on the variable region V4 amplicon sequencing was performed to analyze the relative abundance, core microbiome, and Alpha and Beta diversity using the qiime2 pipeline. At the genus level, the Brochothrix (45.56%), Pseudomonas (38.94%), Carnobacterium (6.18%), Lactococcus (4.68%), Serratia (3.14%), and Staphylococcus (0.82%) were shown to be the most prevalent in all drain samples. The results demonstrate that the relative abundance of different bacterial genera was affected by both QAC treatment and Salmonella addition, with some genera showing increases or decreases in abundance. Notably, the correlation network was constructed to understand the relationships between the different bacteria. Nitrospira had the greatest number of connections in the floor drain environment network, with two negative and eight positive correlations. The results suggest that Nitrospira in the mixed-species biofilm community may play a role in converting ammonium in the QAC sanitizer into nitrites. Thus, Nitrospira could be a potentially important genus in providing sanitizer resistance to pathogen-encompassed mixed-species biofilms.IMPORTANCESalmonella contamination in meat processing facilities can lead to foodborne illness outbreaks. Our study characterized the microbiome dynamics in beef facility drains and their response to Salmonella addition and common sanitizer (QAC). Nitrospira could be an important genus in providing sanitizer resistance to pathogen-encompassed mixed-species biofilms. The results provide insight into the impact of mixed-species biofilms on Salmonella survival and persistence under sanitizer stress in meat processing facilities. The results highlight the need to consider mixed-species biofilm effects when developing targeted interventions to enhance food safety.

The soil in a lead–zinc mining area, contaminated with heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), poses a risk to crops such as maize. Experiments using biochar and sepiolite as soil ameliorants in potted maize showed these substances can mitigate heavy metal contamination. Biochar increased potassium and phosphorus in the soil and maize, while sepiolite significantly boosted overground phosphorus by 73.2%. Both ameliorants transformed Cd and Pb into a more stable state in the soil, reducing their accumulation in maize, especially with biochar, which effectively inhibited metal migration during leaching events. This study provided insights for further improvement of soil amendments and multi-factor application experiments.

Basal progenitor cells serve as a stem cell pool to maintain the homeostasis of the epithelium of the foregut, including the esophagus and the forestomach. Aberrant genetic regulation in these cells can lead to carcinogenesis, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating the function of basal progenitor cells remain largely unknown. Here, we use mouse models to reveal that Hippo signaling is required for maintaining the homeostasis of the foregut epithelium and cooperates with p53 to repress the initiation of foregut SCC. Deletion of Mst1/2 in mice leads to epithelial overgrowth in both the esophagus and forestomach. Further molecular studies find that Mst1/2-deficiency promotes epithelial growth by enhancing basal cell proliferation in a Yes-associated protein (Yap)-dependent manner. Moreover, Mst1/2 deficiency accelerates the onset of foregut SCC in a carcinogen-induced foregut SCC mouse model, depending on Yap. Significantly, a combined deletion of Mst1/2 and p53 in basal progenitor cells sufficiently drives the initiation of foregut SCC. Therefore, our studies shed light on the collaborative role of Hippo signaling and p53 in maintaining squamous epithelial homeostasis while suppressing malignant transformation of basal stem cells within the foregut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]