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Novel Fe N C electrocatalysts derived from conjugated microporous polymers based on pre-functionalization of monomers was developed, which exhibits great potential for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cell and provides a feasible strategy of developing multi-atoms doping catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis. [Display omitted] Porous iron–nitrogen-doped carbons (Fe N C) offer a great platform for construction of cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts in fuel cells. However, challenges still remain regarding with the collapse of carbon-skeleton during pyrolysis, uneven distribution of active sites and aggregation of metal atoms. In this work, we synthesized Fe, N co-doped conjugated microporous polymer (FeN-CMP) through a facile bottom-up strategy using 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene and iron-chelated 3,8-dibromo-1,10-phenanthroline as monomers, ensuring the uniform coordination of N with Fe element in network. Then, the resulting FeN-CMP was treated by pyrolysis without structural collapse to obtain porous Fe N C electrocatalyst for ORR. The most active catalyst was fabricated under 900 °C, which exhibits remarkable ORR activity in alkaline medium with half-wave potential of 0.796 V (18 mV and 105 mV positive deviation from the commercial Pt/C catalyst and post-doping catalyst), high selectivity with nearly 4e- transfer process and excellent methanol tolerance. Our study first developed porous Fe N C electrocatalysts derived from Fe, N -anchoring CMPs based on pre-functionalization of monomers, which exhibits great potential as an alternative to commercial Pt/C catalyst for ORR, and provides a feasible strategy of developing multi-atoms doping catalysts for energy storage and conversion as well as heterogeneous catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is an important economic insect. Bombyx mori , which is exposed to sublethal doses of pesticides, has a low or no mortality rate, while it is susceptible to infections triggered by foreign pathogens. The immune regulatory mechanism of silkworms caused by trace pesticides still remains unclear. The midgut is the major organ of silkworm for digestion and nutrient absorption, and it plays a critical defensive role against pathogens. In the present study, the silkworm was susceptible to Enterobacter cloacae sp. (E. cloacae) after exposure to sublethal dose of phoxim. The body weight and survival rate of the phoxim- E. cloacae co-treatment group were significantly decreased after 120 h of treatment compared with the phoxim treatment group. The immune responses and expressions of immune-related genes were dysregulated in the midgut of silkworm following exposure to phoxim. Digital gene expression (DGE) analysis revealed that 44 immune response-related and immune defense-related genes were differentially expressed. qRT-PCR results indicated that the transcriptional levels of antimicrobial peptide genes Bmdefensin1 , BmcecA , Bmglv1 , Bmglv2 , Bmmoricin and BmmoricinB3 were down-regulated by 0.77-, 0.37-, 0.05-, 0.19-, 0.34- and 0.54-fold, respectively. The transcriptional levels of Toll signaling pathway genes Bmcactus , Bmspatzle and Bmrel were down-regulated by 0.4-, 0.37- and 0.96-fold, respectively. Peritrophic membrane (PM) protein-related genes BmCBP-02 , BmPM-41 , BmPM-43 and BmCDA7 were down-regulated by 0.18-, 0.02-, 0.66- and 0.16-fold, respectively. The expressions of Toll signaling pathway genes were down-regulated at 48 h and 72 h. Immune deficiency (IMD) and Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway genes were dysregulated after phoxim exposure. These results indicated that phoxim might cause damage to the PM and reduce the immune response of the silkworm, leading to susceptibility of silkworm to disease and damage from foreign pathogens. Unlabelled Image • Phoxim and Enterobacter cloacae co-treatment enhanced toxic effects on silkworms. • Phoxim dysregulated the expression of Toll, IMD and JAK/STAT signaling pathway genes. • Phoxim damaged immune defense of midgut, inducing silkworm sensitivity to pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorantraniliprole (CAP) can induce excessive calcium release from muscle of insects, causing muscle paralysis until death, and its residues in farmland can cause poisoning in Bombyx mori (B. mori), resulting in the failure of cocooning. No reports have investigated the effects of CAP exposure on detoxification enzyme activities and detoxification-related gene expression in B. mori. In the present study, we treated mulberry leaves with CAP by the leaf-dipping method, and then B. mori larvae were continuously fed with the polluted mulberry leaves. Moreover, the detoxification enzyme activities and the expressions of detoxification-related genes in the fat body of B. mori were examined. The results showed that at 24 h after CAP exposure, the activities of P450 and GST enzymes were all significantly increased, with P450 enzymes responding fastest. CarE enzyme activity was up-regulated in 24 h, and then it was decreased compared with the control group. Furthermore, the expressions of the key genes in the PI3K/Akt/CncC signaling pathway (PI3K , PDK , Akt , CncC and Keap1) at the mRNA were significantly increased. Western blotting analysis revealed that Akt was inhibited at the protein level, resulting in decreased expression of Keap1 and increased expression of CncC. These results indicated that the PI3K/Akt/CncC signaling pathway in the fat body of B. mori responded to CAP exposure and regulated the expressions of downstream detoxification enzymes, thus enhancing the detoxifying capability of B. mori. Image 1 • Chlorantraniliprole causes Bombyx mori poisoning, reduced the body weight. • Chlorantraniliprole affected detoxifying enzymatic activity and transcription of detoxification-related genes. • Chlorantraniliprole increased the transcriptional levels and protein levels of CncC. • PI3K/Akt/CncC pathway mediates the regulation of metabolic detoxification of Chlorantraniliprole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Babesia is a protozoan that mainly parasitizes mammalian red blood cells. It causes damage to multiple organs of the host, even threatening the life of the host when the infection is severe. This study found that the mouse kidney was injured after Babesia infection, leading to changes such as ischaemia and an abnormal morphology of renal and epithelial cells. Serum tests showed that indices reflecting renal abnormalities (including serum creatinine, uric acid, and bilirubin) appeared to be abnormal. To further explore the molecular mechanism underlying kidney injury and self-healing in infected hosts, we employed a data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics method to investigate large-scale B. microti infection-induced changes in protein expression and phosphorylation in mouse kidneys. This study identified and analysed the reasons for the obvious changes in kidney injury-related proteins, repair-related proteins, immune-related proteins, and lipid metabolism-related proteins. The results provide a strong theoretical basis for effective treatments of the kidney disease caused by Babesia infection. [Display omitted] • First proteomics study on mammalian kidney after Babesia infection. • Infection leads to serious damage of kidney, significant changes with injury-related proteins. • Immune-related proteins and repair-related proteins in kidney play an important role in defense. • Babesia infection causes abnormal lipid metabolism in the kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the toxicity of environmental residues of graphene oxide nanoparticles (GONPs) to reproduction of Lepidopteron insects using both ovary cell line (BmN) and individual female Bombyx mori as the research subjects. The results showed that GONPs dose dependently affect BmN cells. At higher concentrations (>25 mg/L), GONPs led to oxidative stress, ROS accumulation and DNA damage in BmN cells and significantly reduced their survival rate (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, feeding female B. mori larvae with mulberry leaves treated with 25 mg/L GONPs significantly decreased their gonadosomatic index (GSI) by 40.84%, and increased oxidation levels and antioxidant enzyme activity in silkworm ovary tissues. Pathological analysis found that exposure to GONPs decreased the numbers of both oogonia and oocytes in ovarian tissues, increased the formation of peroxisome and vacuoles in follicle cells, reduced the transcription of genes (Vg , Ovo , Sxl-s , Sxl-l , and Otu) related to ovarian development in B. mori by 0.61, 0.65, 0.75, 0.72, and 0.42-fold, respectively, and lowered the amount of spawning by 52.25%. Overall, these results revealed that GONPs exposure is toxic to the reproduction of B. mori. The underlying mechanism is that oxidative stress due to GONPs causes oxidative damage to DNA, damages ovarian tissues, as well as hinders B. mori development and spawning. Thus, this study provides important experimental data for safety evaluation of reproductive toxicity due to GONPs exposure. ga1 • GONPs affects the reproduction of B. mori in a dose dependent manner with a safe dosage < 25 mg/L. • GONPs exposure causes oxidative stress in BmN cells and Bombyx mori , resulting in oxidative damage to DNA. • GONPs exposure damages ovarian tissue of B. mori. • GONPs exposure leads to reduced oviposition of B. mori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetamiprid is a new neonicotinoid insecticide widely used in the prevention and control of pests in agriculture. However, its residues in the environment affect the cocooning of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (B. mori), a non-target insect. To investigate the mechanism of damage, B. mori larvae were fed with trace amounts of acetamiprid (0.15 mg/L). At 96 h after exposure, the larvae showed signs of poisoning and decreased body weight, resulting in reduced survival and ratio of cocoon shell. At 48 h and 96 h after exposure, the residues in the posterior silk gland (PSG), which is responsible for synthesizing silk fibroin, were 0.72 μg/mg and 1.21 μg/mg, respectively, as measured by high performance liquid chromatography, indicating that acetamiprid can accumulate in the PSG. Moreover, pathological sections and transmission electron microscopy also demonstrate the damage of the PSG by acetamiprid. Digital gene expression (DGE) and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that genes related to metabolism, stress responses and inflammation were significantly up-regulated after exposure. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the transcript levels of FMBP-1 and FTZ-F1 (transcription factors for synthesizing silk protein) were up-regulated by 2.55-and 1.56-fold, respectively, and the transcript levels of fibroin heavy chain (Fib-H) , fibroin light chain (Fib-L) , P25, Bmsage and Bmdimm were down-regulated by 0.75-, 0.76-, 0.65-, 0.44- and 0.40-fold, respectively. The results indicate that accumulated acetamiprid causes damage to the PSG and leads to reduced expression of genes responsible for synthesizing silk fibroin. Our data provide reference for evaluating the safety of acetamiprid residues in the environment for non-target insects. Unlabelled Image • Trace amounts of acetamiprid could cause damage to the PSG of Bombyx mori. • Acetamiprid exposure could affect the transcript levels of genes responsible for synthesizing silk fibroin. • Accumulated acetamiprid could cause oxidative stress and inflammation to the PSG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LaeA-like methyltransferase Mtr23B contributes to spore pigment formation and the expression of secondary metabolic gene cluster and glycoside hydrolase genes in P. oxalicum. • Mtr23B has similarities and differences with LaeA in regulating the above biological processes. • LaeA interacts with VeA, while Mtr23B does not interact with VeA directly. Mtr23B may regulate cellulase and amylase gene transcription by interacting with HAP5 and chromatin remodeling complex. Putative methyltranferase LaeA and LaeA-like proteins, which are conserved in many filamentous fungi, regulate the sporogenesis and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In this study, we reported the biological function of a LaeA-like methyltransferase, Penicillium oxalicum Mtr23B, which contains a methyltransf_23 domain and an S-adenosylmethionine binding domain, in controlling spore pigment formation and in the expression of secondary metabolic gene cluster and glycoside hydrolase genes. Additionally, we compared Mtr23B and LaeA, and determined their similarities and differences in terms of their roles in regulating the above biological processes. mtr23B had the highest transcriptional level among the 12 members of the methyltransf_23 family in P. oxalicum. The colony color of Δ mtr23B (deletion of mtr23B) was lighter than that of Δ laeA , although Δ mtr23B produced ~ 19.2-fold more conidia than Δ laeA. The transcriptional levels of abrA , abrB / yA , albA / wA , arpA , arpB , and aygA , which are involved in the dihydroxynaphtalene–melanin pathway, decreased in Δ mtr23B. However, Mtr23B had a little effect on brush-like structures and conidium formation, and had a different function from LaeA. Mtr23B extensively regulated glycoside hydrolase gene expression. The absence of Mtr23B remarkably repressed prominent cellulase- and amylase-encoding genes in the whole culture period, while the effect of LaeA mainly occurred in the later phases of prolonged batch cultures. Similar to LaeA, Mtr23B was involved in the expression of 10 physically linked regions containing secondary metabolic gene clusters; the highest regulatory activities of Mtr23B and LaeA were observed in BrlA-dependent cascades. Although LaeA interacted with VeA, Mtr23B did not interact with VeA directly. We assumed that Mtr23B regulates cellulase and amylase gene transcription by interacting with the CCAAT-binding transcription factor HAP5 and chromatin remodeling complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is an economically important insect. However, the survival of silkworms has been significantly affected by the assault of chemical pesticides on mulberry trees through aerial application and water currents. Phoxim is a broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide widely used in China. Currently, very little is known about the non-neuronal effects of sublethal exposure to phoxim. The purpose of this study was to investigate the non-neuronal effects of sublethal phoxim exposure in the silkworm midgut, with a focus on nutrient metabolism. After phoxim treatment, lipase activity in the silkworm was shown to be up-regulated at 24 h before a decreasing trend was seen. Meanwhile, α-amylase activity showed the opposite trend. The expression levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain-related genes were all up-regulated at 24 h before falling continuously. To ensure that the effects of phoxim on nutrient metabolism were not simply a consequence of a decrease in mulberry consumption, the silkworms were treated with a reduced-food diet before the digestive enzyme activities and the transcription levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain-related genes were analyzed. Our results showed that the patterns in the reduced-diet and phoxim-exposed silkworm were markedly different, suggesting the alterations in the phoxim-exposed silkworm cannot readily be explained by nutrient deprivation Unlabelled Image • Phoxim exposure alters the mRNA levels of glucose and lipid metabolism-related genes. • Lipase activity showed the opposite trend to α-amylase activity after exposure. • The patterns in the reduced-diet and phoxim-exposed silkworm were markedly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate pesticides are widely applied worldwide for agricultural purposes, and their exposures often result in adverse effects on Bombyx mori. The insect gut is a complicated ecosystem inhabited by a large number of microbes that play important roles in insect physiology and behavior. Recent studies have reported that alteration of their microbiota due to stressful conditions or environmental changes has been linked to a compromised health status and a susceptibility to diseases. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effects of phoxim exposure on intestinal microbes in silkworms. The results showed that phoxim exposure increased the bacterial community evenness and altered the structure of gut microbiota in silkworm larvae. The abundances of several genera, such as Methylobacterium and Aurantimonadaceae , in phoxim-treated larval guts were significantly reduced compared with the H 2 O-treated group, whereas the abundances of non-dominant bacteria, such as Staphylococcus, were significantly increased. Moreover, phoxim inhibited the expressions of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) at the mRNA level and enhanced the pathogenesis of Enterobacter cloacae (E. cloacae) against silkworm larvae, suggesting that the immune system was inhibited after phoxim exposure. Therefore, the gut microbial community shifts were apparent after phoxim exposure. The compositional and structural changes of intestinal microbes caused by phoxim exposure might affect the normal function of the intestinal tract of silkworm. These results highlighted the importance of the gut bacterial community when investigating the mechanisms of midgut injury after pesticide exposure in Bombyx mori. Image 1 • Low-level phoxim inhibited the mRNA expressions of antimicrobial peptides. • Low-level phoxim enhanced the pathogenesis of E. cloacae against silkworm larvae. • The gut microbial community shifts were apparent after phoxim exposure. • The structural changes of gut microbes might affect normal function of silkworm gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 50 putative collaborators of transcriptional factor CrzA are identified. • CrzA is related with the expression of cellulolytic genes. • The calcineurin-CrzA pathway is drafted in cellulolytic fungi. Fungi sense environmental signals and coordinate growth, development, and metabolism accordingly. Calcium-calmodulin-calcineurin signaling is a conserved cascade pathway in fungi. One of the most important downstream targets of this pathway is the transcription factor Crz1/CrzA, which plays an essential role in various cellular processes. The putative collaborators of Penicillium oxalicum CrzA (PoCrzA) were found, through tandem affinity purification followed by mass spectrometric analysis (TAP-MS). A total of 50 protein–protein interaction collaborators of PoCrzA were observed. Among them, some collaborators, such as the catalytic subunit of calcineurin (Cna1, calcineurin A), the regulatory catalytic subunit of calcineurin (Cnb1, calcineurin B), and a 14-3-3 protein Bmh1, which were previously reported in yeast, were identified. Some putative collaborators, including two karyopherins (exportin Los1 and importin Srp1), two kinases (Fus3 and Slt2p), and a general transcriptional corepressor (Cyc8), were also found. The CrzA deletion mutant ΔPo crzA exhibited slow hyphal growth, impaired conidiogenesis, and reduced extracellular cellulase synthesis. Phenotype and transcriptome analysis showed that PoCrzA regulated fungal development in a Flbs-BrlA-dependent manner and participated in cellulase synthesis by modulating cellulolytic gene expression. On the basis of the results of TAP-MS, transcriptome, and phenotypic analysis in P. oxalicum , our study was the first to draft the calcineurin-CrzA pathway in cellulolytic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) have been widely used for studies on phylogenetic relationships and molecular evolutionary biology. Here, the complete mitogenome sequence of Spilosoma lubricipedum (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Arctiinae) was determined (total length 15,375 bp) and phylogenetic analyses S. lubricipedum were inferred from available noctuid sequence data. The mitogenome of S. lubricipedum was found to be highly A + T-biased (81.39%) and exhibited negative AT- and GC-skews. All 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) were initiated by ATN codons, except for cox1 with CGA. All tRNAs exhibited typical clover-leaf secondary structures, except for trnS1. The gene order of the S. lubricipedum mitogenome was trnM-trnI-trnQ-nad2. The A + T-rich region of S. lubricipedum contained several conservative features common to noctuid insects. Phylogenetic analysis within Noctuoidea was carried out based on mitochondrial data. Results showed that S. lubricipedum belonged to Erebidae and the Noctuoidea insects could be divided into five well-supported families (Notodontidae + (Erebidae + (Nolidae + (Euteliidae + Noctuidae)))). • The complete mitochondrial genome of Spilosoma lubricipedum was firstly determined. • This mitochondrial genome shows a typical pattern of lepidoptera insects'. • Spilosoma lubricipedum has a close evolutionary relationship to Notodontidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is known to affect the growth, development and reproduction of insects. In this study, the larvae developmental process and endogenous hormone levels under high temperature (36 °C) stress were investigated in the lepidopteran model insect Bombyx mori (B. mori). After high temperature treatment, the duration of 5th instar larvae was shortened by 28 ± 2 h, the content of 20-hydroxyecdysone(20E) in hemolymph was significantly increased, and the transcription levels of the 20E response genes E93, Br–C, USP and E75 were up-regulated by 1.35-, 1.25-, 1.28-, and 1.27-fold, respectively. High temperature treatment also elevated the phosphorylation level of Akt and activated the downstream BmCncC/keap1 pathway, and the transcription levels of the 20E synthesis-related genes cyp302a1, cyp306a1, cyp314a1 and cyp315a1 were up-regulated by 1.12-, 1.51-, 2.17- and 1.23-fold, respectively. The transcription levels of cyp302a1 and cyp306a1 were significantly decreased in BmN cells after treatment with the double stranded RNA of BmCncC (dsBmCncC), whereas their transcription levels were significantly increased (2.15- and 1.31-fold, respectively) after treatment with the CncC agonist Curcumin. These results demonstrated that high temperature treatment promoted the metamorphosis and the BmCncC/keap1 pathway played a role in the metamorphosis of B. mori. Our results provided clues for understanding the CncC/keap1 pathway-mediated regulation of metamorphosis of Lepidopteran insects. • High temperature stress promotes the larvae development and changes endogenous hormone levels. • The activation of BmCncC/keap1 pathway is one of the reasons for the increase of 20E level. • BmCncC mediates ecdysone synthesis via Cyp302a1 and Cyp306a1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel Y 2 Mo 4 O 15 : x Sm 3+ ( (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.20) phosphors for white light-emitting (W-LEDs) were successfully prepared by the solid state reaction technology at 973 K for 12 h. X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence spectra were utilized to characterize the structure and luminescence properties of the as-synthesized phosphors. The emission spectra of the Y 2 Mo 4 O 15 :Sm 3+ phosphors consisted of some sharp emission peaks of Sm 3+ ions centered at 565 nm, 605 nm, 650 nm, and 712 nm. The strongest one is located at 605 nm due to 4 G 5/2 – 6 H 7/2 transition of Sm 3+ , generating bright orange–red light. The optimum dopant concentration of Sm 3+ ions in Y 2 Mo 4 O 15 : x Sm 3+ is around 5 mol% and the critical transfer distance of Sm 3+ is calculated as 23.32 Å. The CIE chromaticity coordinates of the Y 2 Mo 4 O 15 :0.05Sm 3+ phosphors were located in the orange reddish region. The Y 2 Mo 4 O 15 :Sm 3+ phosphors may be potentially used as red phosphors for white light-emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sublethal doses of chlorantraniliprole (CAP) disrupt spinning disorder in the silkworm Bombyx mori (B. mori) and cause reduced cocoon production. In the present study, we investigated the effects of trace amounts of CAP on morphology and gene expression of the B. mori silk gland, found the posterior silk gland cells were possessed of disintegrated Endoplasmic reticulum (ER), unevenly distributed chromatin after exposure to CAP (0.01 mg/L). Gene expression analysis revealed that IRE1 and ATF6 ER stress-signaling pathways were inhibited, the PERK/CncC pathway was activated. Digital gene expression (DGE) analysis showed that detoxification-related genes, antioxidant genes and genes involved in ER protein processing pathway were expressed differentially in CAP-treated silkworm larvae. Notably, the transcript levels of the detoxification-related genes (CYP4M5 , CYP6AB4 , GSTD3 and GSTS1) and the antioxidant genes (CAT , TPX and SOD) were significantly increased, and the expression of ER protein processing-related genes (Sec61β , Sec61γ , Sec23α and ERGIC-53) was significantly decreased after CAP exposure. The results showed that sublethal doses of CAP exposure caused ER stress, oxidative damage to the silk gland and the perturbation of protein processing in ER, thereby probably leading to abnormal growth of the silk gland and triggering the spinning failure in silkworm. Unlabelled Image • Silk gland cells were possessed of swelling ER exposed to sublethal doses of CAP. • Sublethal doses of CAP activated ER stress in silk gland. • The activation of PERK/CncC might induced detoxification and antioxidant responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]