Search

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogen and one of the leading causes of ventilator-associated pneumonia and infections in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Murepavadin is a peptidomimetic that specifically targets outer-membrane lipopolysaccharide transport protein LptD of P. aeruginosa. In this study, we find that murepavadin enhances the bactericidal efficacy of ciprofloxacin. We further demonstrate that murepavadin increases intracellular accumulation of ciprofloxacin by suppressing drug efflux. In addition, the murepavadin–ciprofloxacin combination exhibits a synergistic bactericidal effect in an acute murine pneumonia model. In conclusion, our results identify an effective drug combination for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is one of the most widely cultured crustacean species. In recent years, its aquaculture has faced challenges, including the degradation of germplasm resources and the emergence of viral diseases. Genomic information can be a valuable resource for developing molecular breeding programs for this important aquaculture species. Here we constructed a high-quality reference genome for M. rosenbergii by integrating Nanopore, Illumina, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technologies. The final genome assembly is 3.18 Gb in size, with scaffold N50 and contig N50 of 62.73 Mb and 8.92 Mb, respectively. Approximately 98.6% of the assembled sequences were anchored into 59 pseudo-chromosomes. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) benchmark of the genome assembly reached 94.5%. Repetitive sequences comprise 43.77% of the assembled genome, and 17,436 protein-coding genes were annotated. The high-quality genome of M. rosenbergii will empower molecular breeding efforts and provide invaluable resources for comparative genomic analysis of decapod species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the production and demand of berries in the world have gradually increased, but the infection of fungal pathogens has become one of the important factors restricting the production and sales of fresh berries. It has been found that Alternaria can cause a variety of plant diseases and fruit rot worldwide. This review introduces the effect of Alternaria infection on berry quality, including physical, chemical and physiological aspects, and discusses the possible infection mechanisms. In addition, Alternaria produces toxins during infections and seriously threatens the safety of berries and consumer health. Therefore, the prevention and control measures of Alternaria are systematically summarized. This review provides the basis for further optimization of postharvest preservation technology and fruit quality, to prolong the shelf life of berries. We can realistically expect to control plant diseases with increasing efficiency, which is conducive to improving the quality and safety of postharvest berry fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution and thermal infrared hyperspectral data acquired from the Thermal Infrared Airborne Spectrographic Imager (TASI) have been recognized as efficient tools in geology, demonstrating significant potential for rock discernment. Deep learning (DL), as an advanced technology, has driven substantial advancements in lithological mapping by automatically extracting high-level semantic features from images to enhance recognition accuracy. However, gathering sufficient high-quality lithological samples for model training is challenging in many scenarios, posing limitations for data-driven DL approaches. Moreover, existing sample collection approaches are plagued by limited verifiability, subjective bias, and variation in the spectra of the same class at different locations. To tackle these challenges, a novel sample generation method called multi-lithology spectra sample selection (MLS3) is first employed. This method involves multiple steps: multiple spectra extraction, spectra combination and optimization, lithological type identification, and sample selection. In this study, the TASI hyperspectral data collected from the Liuyuan area in Gansu Province, China, were used as experimental data. Samples generated based on MLS3 were fed into five typical DL models, including two-dimensional convolutional neural network (2D-CNN), hybrid spectral CNN (HybridSN), multiscale residual network (MSRN), spectral-spatial residual network (SSRN), and spectral partitioning residual network (SPRN) for lithological mapping. Among these models, the accuracy of the SPRN reaches 84.03%, outperforming the other algorithms. Furthermore, MLS3 demonstrates superior performance, achieving an overall accuracy of 2.25–6.96% higher than other sample collection methods when SPRN is used as the DL framework. In general, MLS3 enables both the quantity and quality of samples, providing inspiration for the application of DL to hyperspectral lithological mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution have prompted the exploration of eco-friendly alternatives to disposable plastic packaging and utensils. Paper-based materials, derived from renewable resources such as wood pulp, non-wood pulp (bamboo pulp, straw pulp, reed pulp, etc.), and recycled paper fibers, are distinguished by their recyclability and biodegradability, making them promising substitutes in the field of plastic food packaging. Despite their merits, challenges like porosity, hydrophilicity, limited barrier properties, and a lack of functionality have restricted their packaging potential. To address these constraints, researchers have introduced antimicrobial agents, hydrophobic substances, and other functional components to improve both physical and functional properties. This enhancement has resulted in notable improvements in food preservation outcomes in real-world scenarios. This paper offers a comprehensive review of recent progress in hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials. In addition to outlining the characteristics and functions of commonly used antimicrobial substances in food packaging, it consolidates the current research landscape and preparation techniques for hydrophobic paper. Furthermore, the paper explores the practical applications of hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials in agricultural produce, meat, and seafood, as well as ready-to-eat food packaging. Finally, challenges in production, application, and recycling processes are outlined to ensure safety and efficacy, and prospects for the future development of antimicrobial hydrophobic paper-based materials are discussed. Overall, the emergence of hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials stands out as a robust alternative to plastic food packaging, offering a compelling solution with superior food preservation capabilities. In the future, paper-based materials with antimicrobial and hydrophobic functionalities are expected to further enhance food safety as promising packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]