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Anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AngHV), the causative agent of "mucus sloughing and hemorrhagic septicemia disease", causes serious infectious diseases in farmed eel. Among the effective prevention and control strategies, vaccination is one of the most effective approaches. However, no vaccine for AngHV is available. Our study developed a formalin-inactivated AngHV vaccine and evaluated its performance in American eels. Initially, AngHV-FJ, a strain of AngHV, was inactivated completely by 0.1 % formaldehyde, mixed with adjuvant Montanide ISA 763 A VG (763A). Then, vaccines containing different amount of antigen (3 × 106 PFU, 3 × 105 PFU, 3 × 104 PFU, 3 × 103 PFU) were immunized in each American eels. The results showed that the 3 × 105 PFU/fish was the proper dose. The inactivated AngHV vaccine was proven safe for American eels by back intramuscular injection. The results of twice immunization showed that antibody production peaked in the 8th week after the first immunization, and the antibody titer was 1:64,000. Furthermore, the immunized fishes challenged with AngHV (105 PFU/ml immersion) showed a significantly lower incidence rate (33.33 %) than the control group (95.65 %). The survival of the fish in the vaccine group (94.44 %) was significantly higher than the control group (60.87 %). The relative survival rate of the vaccinated group was 85.80 %. Also, vaccine group tissue collected at 7th d post-challenge showed reduced tissue damage and a lower virus load than the control group. The expression of cytokines of IL-1β , IFN-α , IFN-γ , Mx1 , RIG-1 , and IRF-3 , were significantly lower in the vaccine group than the control group at the 7th and 14th d post-challenge. Overall, the formalin-inactivated AngHV vaccine was safe and had immune protective effects against AngHV infection. • Adjuvant Montanide ISA 763 A VG AngHV vaccine is safe for eel. • Twice immunization gain peak antibody production at 8th week post immunization with highest antibody titer of 1:64,000. • Inactivated AngHV vaccine provide significant immune protection against AngHV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being a zoonotic parasitic disease, schistosomiasis was widely spread in 12 provinces of Southern China in the 1950s, severly harming human health and hindering economic development. The National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at the Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, and Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research (NIPD-CTDR), as the only professional institution focussing on parasitic diseases at the national level, has played an important role in schistosomiasis control in the country. In this article, we look back at the changes of schistosomiasis endemicity and the contribution of NIPD-CTDR to the national schistosomiasis control programme. We review NIPD-CTDR's activities, including field investigations, design of control strategies and measures, development of diagnostics and drugs, surveillance-response of endemic situation, and monitoring & evaluation of the programme. The NIPD-CTDR has mastered the transmission status of schistosomiasis, mapped the snail distribution, and explored strategies and measures suitable for different types of endemic areas in China. With a good understanding of the life cycle of Schistosoma japonicum and transmission patterns of the disease, advanced research carried out in the NIPD-CTDR based on genomics and modern technology has made it possible to explore highly efficient and soft therapeutic drugs and molluscicides, making it possible to develop new diagnostic tools and produce vaccine candidates. In the field, epidemiological studies, updated strategies and targeted intervention measures developed by scientists from the NIPD-CTDR have contributed significantly to the national schistosomiasis control programme. This all adds up to a strong foundation for eliminating schistosomiasis in China in the near future, and recommendations have been put forward how to reach this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] IL-6/STAT3 expression was associated with invasion/metastasis in Wilms’ tumor. [•] IL-6/STAT3 showed a concordance expression between primary WT and matched Inv/Meta. [•] Patients with either IL-6 or STAT3 expression had shorter DFS than those without. [•] Patients with IL-6 had shorter OS than those without. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with 5-(4-carboxybenzoylamino)-isophthalic acid (H3L), namely, [Cd9L6(DMA)6]·4DMA (1), [Cd3L2(H2O)9]·4H2O (2), [LaL(H2O)4]·2H2O (3), [CeL(H2O)4]·H2O (4) and [Tb(HL)(H2L)(H2O)3]·5H2O (5) (DMA=N,N-dimethylacetamide), have been synthesized. Complex 1 shows a three-dimensional architecture generated from linkage of Cd–O chains via L3− ligands. Minor variations in synthetic conditions of 1 afforded 2, which features an interesting 2D→3D catenation architecture containing helical chains. Complexes 3 and 4 are isostructural and each feature a two-dimensional architecture constructed from the linkage of L3− with Ln3+. Complex 5 displays a chain-like structure, of which the most interesting feature is the existence of free carboxylic acid (–COOH) group which may confer unique functionality. Moreover, the investigations of the thermal stability, powder X-ray diffractions and solid-state photoluminescent properties for these crystalline materials have been carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the acute toxicity of various industrial effluents in the Pearl River Delta region using lux bacteria, duckweed, green algae, crustaceans and zebrafish. The potential toxicants in the industrial effluents were identified and evaluated by lux bacteria bioassay and chemical analysis. The results show that green algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) and crustacean (Ceriodaphnia dubia) were more sensitive to the effluents from electronic and electroplate factories than other test species, while lux bacteria were more sensitive to all the other effluents. The toxicities of effluents from electronic and electroplate factories to the six test organisms were significantly higher than those of the other industrial effluents, and mainly caused by metals. Noticeably, organic pollutants were the main contributing factor to the toxicity of effluents from textile and dyeing plants, pulp and paper mills, fine chemical factories and municipal wastewater treatment plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The complexes [Co(Him)2(μ4-bta)1/2]n 1 and {[Cu(phen)(μ4-bta)1/2]·H2O}n 2 were hydrothermally synthesized at 160°C and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 was triclinic, space group P–1, a=7.9294(11) A˚, b=9.621(3) A˚, c=9.6461(16) A˚, α=116.772(19)°, β=96.791(13)°, γ=102.787(19)°, Z=2, V=620.3(2) A˚3, R1=0.0252 and wR2=0.0640 [I>2σ(I)]; complex 2 was monoclinic, space group P21/c, a=7.386(3) A˚, b=12.723(4) A˚, c=15.831(3) A˚, β=102.66(2)°, Z=4, V=1451.5(7) A˚3, R1=0.0389 and wR2=0.1033 [I>2σ(I)]. In both of the structures the metal ions were linked by the μ4-bridging benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate ligands, resulting in one-dimensional double-metal chains. The synthesized products were characterized by IR spectroscopy, UV–VIS spectra, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), elemental, thermogravimetric (TGA) and magnetic analyses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ideonella sp. TH17, an autotrophic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium (HOB), was successfully enriched and isolated from activated sludge in a domestic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Batch experiments were conducted to identify the cell growth and ammonium (NH 4 +-N) removal, and to verify the pathways of nitrogen utilization under different conditions. At a representative NH 4 +-N concentration of 100 mg/L in domestic wastewater, it was the first time that a HOB strain achieved a nearly 100% ammonium removal. More than 90% of NH 4 +-N was assimilated to biomass nitrogen by strain TH17. Only a little of N 2 (<10% of initial NH 4 +-N) was detected without N 2 O emission in aerobic denitrification process. Autotrophic NH 4 +-N assimilation contributed predominantly to biomass nitrogen production, supplemented by assimilatory nitrate (NO 3 −-N) reduction under aerobic conditions. A total of 17 amino acids, accounting for 54.25 ± 1.98% of the dry biomass, were detected in the bacterial biomass harvested at 72 h. These results demonstrated that the newly isolated strain TH17 was capable of removing NH 4 +-N and recovering nutrients from wastewater efficiently. A new solution was thus provided by this HOB strain for ammonium treatment in sustainable WWTPs of future. • A novel HOB strain was enriched and isolated for rapid NH 4 +-N removal. • High-quality microbial proteins were produced with simultaneous NH 4 +-N removal. • NH 4 +-N removal was contributed predominantly by autotrophic assimilation. • NH 4 +-N removal was supplemented by aerobic denitrification with zero N 2 O emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Computer simulations, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) and mesoscopic dynamics (MesoDyn), are performed to study the aggregation behavior of pH-sensitive micelles self-assembled from amphiphilic polymer poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid)-b-poly(poly-(ethylene glycol) methyl ether monomethacrylate), P(MMA-co-MAA)-b-PPEGMA. Ibuprofen (IBU) is selected as the model drug. It can be seen from DPD simulations that P(MMA-co-MAA)-b-PPEGMA and IBU form spherical core–shell micelles at certain compositions, and IBU molecules distribute inside the core formed by hydrophobic MMA. The polymer molecules aggregate first, and then IBU diffuses into the aggregate, forming drug-loaded nanoparticles. With different compositions of polymer and IBU, aggregate morphologies in water are observed as sphere, column and lamella. From MesoDyn results, with less hydrophobic MMA beads, the polymer chains are more difficult to form ordered aggregates, and the order parameters get equilibrated in a longer time. The pH value also affects the aggregate process. At pH<5, the polymer could form traditional core–shell micelles. But at pH>5, the morphology of micelles is found to be anomalous and loose for releasing drug. MAA aggregates on the surface, instead of the inside. The simulation results are qualitatively consistent with the experimental results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Angiogenesis is crucial for tumor metastasis, with many compounds that inhibit tumor metastasis acting through suppression of angiogenesis. We investigated anti-angiogenic properties of Ligustrazine in a series of in vitro and in vivo models. Ligustrazine inhibited VEGF-induced HUVECs migration and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, and had limited cytotoxicity to HUVECs and normal fibroblasts even at a dose up to 100μg/ml. Ligustrazine also suppressed VEGF-induced rat aortic ring sprouting dose-dependently. In vivo, Ligustrazine reduced the Hb content in a Matrigel plug implanted in mice and inhibited new vessel formation in CAM. In addition, in a B16F10 spontaneous metastasis model, Ligustrazine decreased the expression of CD34 and VEGF in primary tumor tissue and reduced the number of metastasis nodi on the lung surface. Our data suggests that Ligustrazine may inhibit tumor metastasis, at least in part, through its anti-angiogenic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]