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Summary: The activation of NLRP3, NLRC4 and AIM2 inflammasomes is pivotal for innate immunity against some pathogenic fungi, but their role in the pathogenesis of Malassezia folliculitis (MF) remains unclear. The objective of the study was to determine the expression of 4 canonical inflammasomes (NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4 and AIM2) and their priming‐associated molecules (TLR2, TLR4, Dectin‐1, Dectin‐2 and NFκB) in MF lesion. Expression of NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, TLR2, TLR4, Dectin‐1, Dectin‐2 and NFκB was detected by immunohistochemistry in skin lesion of 23 MF patients and normal skin of 12 healthy subjects. Furthermore, NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, caspase‐1 and IL‐1β mRNA was measured by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) in 12 MF cases and 10 controls. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, Casp‐1, IL‐1β, TLR2, TLR4, Dectin‐1, Dectin‐2 and NFκB expression was up‐regulated in the epidermis and dermal inflammatory cells of MF lesion compared with control skin (P < .01‐.05), but NLRP1 expression was not different between both groups (P > .05). qRT‐PCR showed that levels of NLRP3, Casp‐1 and IL‐1β mRNA were significantly increased (P < .01‐.05), whereas those of NLRP1, NLRC4 and AIM2 mRNA were slightly augmented compared to control skin (P > .05). Our observation suggests that simultaneous activation of NLRP3, NLRC4 and AIM2 inflammasomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of MF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic amines are formed from precursor amino acids, mainly by the microbial decarboxylation. The presence of these compounds plays a vital role in oenology because high amounts of them can lead to health problems. Thus, the origin, detection, and quantity of biogenic amines in wine are extremely important for winemaking. This study, focusing on the articles of latest 5 years, not only reviews the analytical methods used for the determination of biogenic amines but also describes the source of biogenic amines from the perspective of microbiological and oenological factors and summarises the strategies for the degradation of amines. The information presented in this review is important to alert about the inadequate quality of wine products, and efforts from the entire productive chain and the government are required to attain consumer safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of excisions of intraorbital and/or periorbital metallic foreign bodies with the help of teleroentgen system. Methods: Selecting 86 cases (86 eyes) of metallic foreign body patients in our hospital from July 2002 to July 2012. Individual surgical methods were made according to the imaging fetures got by teleroentgen system to extract the intraorbital and/or periorbital metallic foreign body through the skin or conjunctiva. Results: Foreign bodies of 86 patients were successfully removed, including 83 cases (96.5%) in one operation, and 3 cases (3.5%) in two operations. Over a period of 2 ~ 18 (9.2 ± 5.3) months follow-up, there were 62 patients (72.1%) whose eyesight reached the level as that before the operation, 21 patients (24.4%) whose eyesight has been improved in the last follow-up. The eye movement disorders were observed in 34 cases (39.5%) and 16 cases (18.6%) in the last preoperative and postoperative follow-up respectively. And the traumatic ptosis were found in 5 cases (5.8%) and 3 cases (3.5%) in the preoperative and postoperative final follow up respectively. Conclusion: The surgical method which excisions of intraorbital and/or periorbital metallic foreign bodies under the teleroentgen system of interventional radiology room with little intraorbital and periorbital tissue damage, shorter operative time and satisfactory results is easy to operate and worth promoting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second heart field ( SHF) is indicated to contribute to the embryonic heart development. However, less knowledge is available about SHF development of human embryo due to the difficulty of collecting embryos. In this study, serial sections of human embryos from Carnegie stage 10 ( CS10) to CS16 were stained with antibodies against Islet-1 (Isl-1), Nkx2.5, GATA4, myosin heavy chain ( MHC) and α-smooth muscle actin (α- SMA) to observe spatiotemporal distribution of SHF and its contribution to the development of the arterial pole of cardiac tube. Our findings suggest that during CS10 to CS12, SHF of the human embryo is composed of the bilateral pharyngeal mesenchyme, the central mesenchyme of the branchial arch and splanchnic mesoderm of the pericardial cavity dorsal wall. With development, SHF translocates and consists of ventral pharyngeal mesenchyme and dorsal wall of the pericardial cavity. Hence, the SHF of human embryo shows a dynamic spatiotemporal distribution pattern. The formation of the Isl-1 positive condense cell prongs provides an explanation for the saddle structure formation at the distal pole of the outflow tract. In human embryo, the Isl-1 positive cells of SHF may contribute to the formation of myocardial outflow tract ( OFT) and the septum during different development stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction is one of the features of multiple organ dysfunction in sepsis, which is associated with extremely high mortality and is characterized by impaired myocardial compliance. To date, there are few effective treatment options available to cure sepsis. Tannic acid (TA) is reportedly protective during sepsis; however, the underlying mechanisms by which TA protects against septic heart injury remain elusive. The present study investigated the potential effects and underlying mechanisms of TA in alleviating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced H9C2 cardiomyocyte cell apoptosis. H9C2 cells were treated with LPS (15 µg/ml), TA (10 µM) and TA + LPS; control cells were treated with medium only. Apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot analysis. Additionally, the levels of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate were evaluated. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were also employed to detect the expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated functional proteins. The present findings demonstrated that TA reduced the degree of LPS-induced H9C2 cell injury, including inhibition of ROS production and ER stress (ERS)-associated apoptosis. ERS-associated functional proteins, including activating transcription factor 6, protein kinase-like ER kinase, inositol-requiring enzyme 1, spliced X box-binding protein 1 and C/EBP-homologous protein were suppressed in response to TA treatment. Furthermore, the expression levels of ERS-associated apoptotic proteins, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase, Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-3, caspase-12 and caspase-9 were reduced following treatment with TA. Additionally, the protective effects of TA on LPS-induced H9C2 cells were partially inhibited following treatment with the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine, which demonstrated that ROS mediated ERS-associated apoptosis and TA was able to decrease ROS-mediated ERS-associated apoptosis. Collectively, the present findings demonstrated that the protective effects of TA against LPS-induced H9C2 cell apoptosis may be associated with the amelioration of ROS-mediated ERS. These findings may assist the development of potential novel therapeutic methods to inhibit the progression of myocardial cell injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper presents the work on the structural health monitoring design and operational modal analysis of a 250‐m super‐tall building situated in Shanghai, China. The building is a steel–concrete composite structure with a steel composite frame‐concrete core tube system. At the 21st and 36th–38th floors, outrigger trusses and ring‐shaped trusses are set to strengthen this structure. Because the height of this structure is overlimited and its lateral stiffness in the vertical direction is nonuniform, a SHM system was designed to monitor the structural condition and evaluate its safety. The SHM system is presented in this paper, and the instrumented equipment includes accelerometers and tilt sensors. The locations of sensors were well arranged so that SHM could be conducted using the least amount of sensors. On the basis of the system, an ambient vibration test was carried out to perform the analysis with four setups designed to investigate the modal parameters in the X and Y directions. The Fast Bayesian FFT method was employed to perform the operational modal analysis. The first 10 modes were identified. The modal parameters obtained by the Bayesian method are studied and discussed, and they are compared with the results obtained by other methods. Long‐term monitoring of this super‐tall building was also carried out to investigate the change of modal parameters in different stages. The results of this study are expected to provide a reference for model updating, damage detection, and SHM of this high‐rise building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is one of the most common clinical autoimmune diseases. Recent studies have found that HT pathogenesis is associated with macrophage polarization. Saikosaponin-d (SSd) is an active component in the Chinese medicine Bupleurum, which has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. The purpose of this study was to verify the therapeutic effect of SSd on HT and to investigate the regulatory effect of SSd on macrophage polarization in HT.Methods: Network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the relevant targets and signaling pathways of SSd for HT treatment. The therapeutic effect of SSd on HT model mice and the effect on macrophage polarization were detected by animal experiment.Results: Network pharmacological analysis showed that SSd can alleviate HT against multiple targets such as IL-6 and IL-10 and can act on macrophage polarization-related signaling pathways such as MAPK and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Animal experiments showed that SSd intervention attenuated the lymphocytic infiltration in thyroid tissues of HT mice (P = 0.044); SSd intervention reduced serum TPOAb antibody level in HT mice (P < 0.001); SSd adjusted M1/M2 imbalance towards M2-type macrophage polarization in the spleen of HT mice (P = 0.003); SSd inhibited the expressions of Th1-type cytokine IFN-γ and Th17-type cytokine IL-17 systemically and locally in the thyroid of HT mice (P < 0.05).Conclusion: SSd treatment can regulate Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg imbalances and reduce the severity of HT in mice by promoting the polarization of M2 macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• S-scheme MIL-101(Fe)/WO 3 heterojunction has been prepared successfully. • The as-prepared heterojunction shows a superior photocatalytic degradation activity. • The S-scheme photocatalytic mechanism is well verified. • h+ is main active radical in photodegradation over MIL-101(Fe)/WO 3 heterojunction. Here, a series of S-scheme hybrid MIL-101(Fe)/WO 3 samples were designed and prepared by tightly immobilizing MIL-101(Fe) nanoparticles on the surface of WO 3 nanoplates via a simple solvothermal reaction. The in situ loading of MIL-101(Fe) promoted charge separation because of the successful construction of the S-scheme, significantly enhancing the photocatalytic activity to efficiently remove tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). This smart structural design endowed the synthetic MIL-101(Fe)/WO 3 hybrid sample with highly efficient visible light-driven photocatalytic activity and good photostability. The optimized MIL-101(Fe)/WO 3 (1:1) hybrid photocatalyst exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency with a photodegradation efficiency of up to 93.8%. Dissimilar to certain reports, the photocatalytic activity over hybrid MIL-101(Fe)/WO 3 samples was majorly driven by photogenerated holes (h+). In addition, the S-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was fully demonstrated by systematic characterizations including active species capture experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance analyses. This study sheds light on the design and synthesis of S-scheme hybrid photocatalysts for highly efficient applications of photocatalysis for removing TCH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture research has focused on polysaccharides as they are among the most promising new-generation immunostimulant used to control aquatic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of fermented wheat bran polysaccharides (FWBPs) on juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Carps were fed different FWBP amounts (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4%) for 8 weeks and then their skin mucus and serum immune parameters, hepatopancreas antioxidant indicators, and immune-related gene expression in the intestines, kidneys, and spleen were measured. The skin mucus IgM levels significantly increased in 0.1% FWBP group, but decreased in 0.4% FWBP group. The skin mucus protease and the serum alkaline phosphatase activities increased significantly in the 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.4% FWBP groups, respectively. The serum total Ig levels increased noticeably in the 0.1% and 0.2% FWBP groups. The highest and lowest serum lysozyme activities were observed in the 0.1% and 0.4% FWBP groups, respectively. The hepatopancreatic total superoxide dismutase activity was higher in the 0.1% FWBP group than in the control. The malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly in the 0.2% and 0.4% groups. The intestinal mRNA levels of the LZM-C and IL-10 genes were significantly higher in the 0.2% than in the 0.4% FWBP group; TNF-α was significantly upregulated in the 0.1% group. The gene expression in the kidneys did not differ significantly among the treatments, except for a significant increase in the IL-10 expression in the 0.1% treatment. Significantly elevated expression of LZM-C in 0.2% group and IL-10 in 0.1% group was observed in the spleens. TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly downregulated in the 0.4% group. These results suggest that FWBPs could be used as immunostimulant feed additives in common carp cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) is an enzyme responsible for the conversion of androgen into oestrogen. To study the role of ovarian aromatase (Cyp19a1a) in sex differentiation, the novel c DNA clone encoding ovarian aromatase (Cyp19a1a) was identified from the ovary of the black rockfish ( Sebastes schlegeli). The cloned c DNA is 1868 bp in length with 79 bp 5′U TR, 209 bp 3′UTR [excluding poly (A)] and contains 1550 bp ORF, encoding a protein of 516 amino acids. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that the black rockfish ovarian aromatase (Cyp19a1a) shared 61-89% sequence identity with those of other seven fish species. The cyp19a1a transcript was found more highly abundant in ovary, but not detected in the testis, brain, liver, spleen, kidney, muscle, skin, heart, head kidney, gill, intestine and eyes by semi-quantitative reverse transcription ( RT)- PCR. The cyp19a1a gene is not equivalent in tissue-specific expression in the female and male, showed the possibility of distinct promoters and regulatory mechanisms. The expression level of cyp19a1a in ovary declined with the ovary development, but was higher than that in testis in all phases. These results indicated that cyp19a1a might be involved in gonadal development in S. schlegeli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein aggregation is a common challenge in the manufacturing of biological products. It is possible to minimize the extent of aggregation through timely measurement and in-depth characterization of aggregation. In this study, we demonstrated the use of dynamic light scattering ( DLS) to monitor inclusion body ( IB) solubilization, protein refolding, and aggregation near the production line of a recombinant protein-based vaccine candidate. Our results were in good agreement with those measured by size-exclusion chromatography. DLS was also used to characterize the mechanism of aggregation. As DLS is a quick, nonperturbing technology, it can potentially be used as an at-line process analytical technology to ensure complete IB solubilization and aggregate-free refolding. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 102:4284-4290, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnostic value of modified Chicago sky blue (CSB) stain and potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount for superficial mycoses was compared using fungal culture as gold standard. The sensitivity and screening time of the CSB stain were superior to the KOH mount. The CBS stain is simple, quick and reliable for diagnosing superficial mycoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coilia nasus is influenced by various external pressures during spawning migration and these anadromous transitions can lead to specific gut microbiome characteristics that affecting the host biological process. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the variations of components and functions in the gut prokaryotic microbiome during spawning migration as well as the key factors that triggered the changes. The gut microbiome in C. nasus was mainly consisted of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Deinococcus-Thermus and Fusobacteria via 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing. The relative abundance of Acinetobacter and Clostridium increased, while Corynebacterium, Actinomyces, Bacillus, Klebsiella and Ochrobactrum decreased after entering freshwater, indicated the preference of C. nasus gut microbial members transferred from seawater to freshwater. Additionally, the proportion of Firmicutes significantly decreased and then increased, as well as the arise of some soil bacteria in gut, corresponding to the phenomenon that C. nasus are fasting during the upstream process and refeeding after entering the spawning grounds. The function prediction of gut microbiome was also consistent with the above results. The present study generally demonstrated the gut microbiome dynamics and the significant correlation between the gut microbiome and salinity and feeding behavior in the spawning migration of C. nasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the effect of dietary polysaccharide from fermented wheat bran on growth performance, muscle composition, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microbiota of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Four diets supplemented with 0 (D0), 1.0 (D1), 2.0 (D2) and 4.0 (D3) g/kg fermented wheat bran polysaccharide (FWBP) were prepared. Fish were randomly assigned into four groups, each group having four replicates (30 fish/replicate) and fed with experimental diets for 8 weeks. Compared with the D0 group, the D3 group had higher final body weight and weight gain (p <.05). The amylase activity in the intestine and hepatopancreas of D1 and D2 groups and pepsin and trypsin activities in the hepatopancreas of D2 and D3 groups were significantly higher than D0 group. Significantly increased muscle protein and lipid content while reduced moisture content was observed in D1 group; additionally, D3 group had significantly lower muscle lipid content. The population of Bifidobacterium spp. in the intestine digesta of D1 and D2 groups was significantly increased, whereas lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Escherichia coli were unaffected. Collectively, dietary FWBP supplementation could enhance digestive enzyme activities and Bifidobacterium population and change the muscle composition and improve growth performance of common carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since embryonic heart development is a complex process and acquisition of human embryonic specimens is challenging, the mechanism by which the embryonic conduction system develops remains unclear. Herein, we attempt to gain insights into this developmental process through immunohistochemical staining and 3D reconstructions. Expression analysis of T‐box transcription factor 3, cytoskeleton desmin, and nucleoskeleton lamin A protein in human embryos in Carnegie stages 11–20 showed that desmin is preferentially expressed in the myocardium of the central conduction system compared with the peripheral conduction system, and is co‐expressed with T‐box transcription factor 3 in the central conduction system. Further, lamin A was first expressed in the embryonic ventricular trabeculations, where the terminal ramifications of the peripheral conduction system develop, and extended progressively to all parts of the central conduction system. The uncoupled spatiotemporal distribution pattern of lamin A and desmin indicated that the association of cytoskeleton desmin and nucleoskeleton lamin A may be a late event in human embryonic heart development. Compared with model animals, our data provide a direct morphological basis for understanding the arrhythmogenesis caused by mutations in human DES and LMNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Morphine is widely used in clinical practice for a class of analgesic drugs, long-term use of morphine will cause the action of tolerance. MicroRNAs have been reported to be involved in morphine analgesic tolerance.. Methods: Forty male SD rats were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups: the control group, morphine tolerance group, miR-365 mimic + morphine (miR-365 mimic) group, miR-365 inhibitor + morphine (miR-365 inhibitor) group and miR-365 negative control (NC) + morphine (miR-365 NC) group. After the administration of morphine at 0 d, 1 d, 3 d, 5 d and 7 d, behavioral testing was performed. A dual luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to confirm the relationship between miR-365 and β-arrestin2, RT-qPCR was used to detect miR-365, β-arrestin2, ERK and CREB mRNA expressions, western blotting was used to evaluate the protein expressions of β-arrestin2, ERK, p-ERK, CREB and p-CREB, ELISA was used to detect the contents of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-18, while immunofluorescence staining was used to measure the GFAP expression. Intrathecal injection of mir365 significantly increased the maximal possible analgesic effect (%MPE) in morphine tolerant rats. β-arrestin2 was the target gene of miR-365. Results: The results obtained showed that when compared with the morphine tolerance group, there was an increase in miR-365 expression and a decrease in the β-arrestin2, ERK, CREB protein expressions, contents of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-18 and GFAP expression in the miR-365 mimic group, while the miR-365 inhibitor group displayed an opposite trend. Conclusions: The results of this experiment suggest that by targeting β-arrestin2 to reduce the contents of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-18 and by inhibiting the activation of ERK/CREB signaling pathway, miR-365 could lower morphine analgesic tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane chromatography is increasingly used for protein purification in the biopharmaceutical industry. Membrane adsorbers are often pre-assembled by manufacturers as ready-to-use modules. In large-scale protein manufacturing settings, the use of multiple membrane modules for a single batch is often required due to the large quantity of feed material. The question as to how multiple modules can be connected to achieve optimum separation and productivity has been previously approached using model proteins and mass transport theories. In this study, we compare the performance of multiple membrane modules in series and in parallel in the production of a protein antigen. Series connection was shown to provide superior separation compared to parallel connection in the context of competitive adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second heart field ( SHF), foregut endoderm and sonic hedgehog ( SHH) signaling pathway are all reported to associate with normal morphogenesis and septation of outflow tract ( OFT). However, the morphological relationships of the development of foregut endoderm and expression of SHH signaling pathway members with the development of surrounding SHF and OFT are seldom described. In this study, serial sections of mouse embryos from ED9 to ED13 (midgestation) were stained with a series of marker antibodies for specifically highlighting SHF (Isl-1), endoderm (Foxa2), basement membrane (Laminin), myocardium ( MHC) and smooth muscle ( α- SMA) respectively, or SHH receptors antibodies including patched1 (Ptc1), patched2 (Ptc2) and smoothened, to observe the spatiotemporal relationship between them and their contributions to OFT morphogenesis. Our results demonstrated that the development of an Isl-1 positive field in the splanchnic mesoderm ventral to foregut, a subset of SHF, is closely coupled with pulmonary endoderm or tracheal groove, the Isl-1 positive cells surrounding pulmonary endoderm are distributed in a special cone-shaped pattern and take part in the formation of the lateral walls of the intrapericardial aorta and pulmonary trunk and the transient aortic-pulmonary septum, and Ptc1 and Ptc2 are exclusively expressed in pulmonary endoderm during this Isl-l positive field development, suggesting special roles played in inducing the Isl-l positive field formation by pulmonary endoderm. It is indicated that pulmonary endoderm plays a role in the development and specification of SHF in midgestation, and that pulmonary endoderm-associated Isl-l positive field is involved in patterning the morphogenesis and septation of the intrapericardial arterial trunks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flipped classroom model is a reversal arrangement of imparting knowledge and knowledge internalization, is a powerful tool for the interaction between teachers and students, stimulates students ' interest, and provides an environment and platform for the discussion-based teaching and pro!ect-driven teaching. The reversal model really refects " student-centered + education concept. The software development courses have very strong practicality. It has put forward higher requirements for the training in class. If we apply flipped classroom model for software development courses, students could autonomously learn before class and develop the real project in class. It could enhance the students 'thinking ability, practice ability and innovation ability, and improve the effect of classroom teaching. The paper demonstrates basic principles and application and research status of flipped classroom model and analyses the feasibility of flipped classroom model for software development courses, then puts forward to teaching model and constituent elements of flipped classroom model for software development courses, it also provides theoretical reference for software engineering maj and computer related majors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rv3487c (lipF), a member of the lipase family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is related to virulence of this pathogen. Real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that Rv3487c was induced at low pH in M. tuberculosis cultured in vitro. The gene of Rv3487c was cloned and expressed as fusion protein in Escherichia coli. After removal of the N-terminal domain of the fusion partner by enterokinase treatment, the effect of pH, temperature, and detergents on the purified enzyme activity and stability was characterized. Rv3487c could efficiently hydrolyze short chain esters. The catalytic triad of Rv3487c consists of residues Ser90, Glu189, and His219 as demonstrated by amino acid sequence alignment, three-dimensional modeling, and site-directed mutagenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copper as developmental toxicants have been reported extensively in freshwater fish, however, the sublethal and chronic toxic effects of Cu to the early life stages of marine fish are not clear. Embryo (3–5 hpf) and newly hatched larvae of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) were exposed to 0.01–1.28 mg L−1 waterborne Cu to investigate the developmental toxic effects. The results showed that Cu accumulation in the whole embryos presented a dose- and time-response increase while it decreased dramatically once hatching. Most of Cu accumulated in the chorion suggests that chorion is an effective barrier to Cu absorption. However, Cu that penetrated chorion and entered embryo still caused significant lethal and sublethal effects. Cu concentrations at ≥0.16 mg L−1 led to low hatchability, delayed hatching, high mortality, morphological abnormalities and increased egg size in the embryos. Heart beats and the total body length of the newly hatched larvae were significantly increased when exposed to ≥0.02 mg L−1. Cu exposure accelerated early development and promoted or delayed hatching of embryo. High Cu concentration (≥0.16 mg L−1) exposure induced morphological abnormalities of embryo and larvae, particularly skeletal and vascular system abnormalities and reduction of pigmentation. The 30 d-LC 50 for embryo development was 0.138 mg L−1 and 7d LC 50 for larvae survival was 10.15 mg L−1, demonstrating that embryos were more sensitive to Cu than larvae. In summary, O. melastigma embryos development is highly sensitive to Cu exposure, and the sublethal effects occurred at low Cu concentration might be as potential biomarkers in marine fish. • Sub-lethal effects of waterborne copper in early developmental stages of marine model fish were investigated. • Most of Cu (>95%) accumulated in the chorion. • O. melastigma embryos were more sensitive to Cu than larvae. • Heart beats and the total body length of the newly hatched larvae might be as potential biomarkers in marine fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]