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The cyclic GMP–AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS–STING) pathway is an essential component of the innate immune system and is central to the identification of abnormal DNA leakage caused by ionising radiation (IR) damage. Cell‐intrinsic cGAS–STING initiation has been revealed to have tremendous potential for facilitating interferon synthesis and T‐cell priming. Targeting the cGAS–STING axis has been proposed as a strategy to improve radiosensitivity or enhance immunosurveillance. However, due to the complex biology of the irradiated tumour microenvironment and the extensive involvement of the cGAS–STING pathway in various physiological and pathological processes, many defects in this strategy limit the therapeutic effect. Here, we outline the molecular mechanisms by which IR activates the cGAS–STING pathway and analyse the dichotomous roles of the cGAS–STING pathway in modulating cancer immunity after radiotherapy (RT). Then, based on the crosstalk between the cGAS–STING pathway and other signalling events induced by IR, such as necroptosis, autophagy and other cellular effects, we discuss the immunomodulatory actions of the broad cGAS–STING signalling network in RT and their potential therapeutic applications. Finally, recent advances in combination therapeutic strategies targeting cGAS–STING in RT are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yarrowia lipolytica is progressively being employed as a workhouse for recombinant protein expression. Here, we expanded the molecular toolbox by engineering the enolase promoter (pENO) and developed a new self-excisable vector, and based on this, a combined strategy was employed to enhance the expression of Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL) in Y. lipolytica. The strength of 11 truncated enolase promoters of different length was first identified using eGFP as a reporter. Seven of the truncated promoters were selected to examine their ability for driving TLL expression. Then, a series of enolase promoters with higher activities were developed by upstream fusing of different copies of UAS1B, and the recombinant strain Po1f/hp16e100-tll harboring the optimal promoter hp16e100 obtained a TLL activity of 447 U/mL. Additionally, a new self-excisable vector was developed based on a Cre/loxP recombination system, which achieved efficient markerless integration in Y. lipolytica. Subsequently, strains harboring one to four copies of the tll gene were constructed using this tool, with the three-copy strain Po1f/3tll showing the highest activity of 579 U/mL. The activity of Po1f/3tll was then increased to 720 U/mL by optimizing the shaking flask fermentation parameters. Moreover, the folding-related proteins Hac1, Pdi, and Kar2 were employed to further enhance TLL expression, and the TLL activity of the optimal recombinant strain Po1f/3tll-hac1-pdi-kar2 reached 1197 U/mL. By using this combined strategy, TLL activity was enhanced by approximately 39.9-fold compared to the initial strain. Thus, the new vector and the combined strategy could be a useful tool to engineer Y. lipolytica for high-level expression of heterologous protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ternary metal halide perovskites have gradually attracted attention for application in the optoelectronic field, owing to their tunable crystal structure and appropriate bandgap. Lead free Cs3Bi2I9 perovskite, with a 0D layered structure containing molecular [Bi2I9]3− dimers, exhibits prominent optical and electrical anisotropies. Here, the anisotropic properties of the Cs3Bi2I9 crystals were evaluated using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS); meanwhile, the effect of phonon vibration on the THz transmission was confirmed using density functional perturbation theory (DFPT). Accordingly, the refractive index and extinction coefficient are estimated using THz-TDS, thanks to the high transmission in the range of 0.2–0.9 THz. The anisotropic refractive index was observed for the Cs3Bi2I9 crystals, and was found to be 3.2–3.7 for the (100) plane (CBI(100)) in contrast to 2.8–3.2 for the (001) plane (CBI(001)). Furthermore, the Lorentz model was employed to extract the dielectric constant of Cs3Bi2I9, in which anisotropy is obviously indicated by the static dielectric constant and the high-frequency dielectric constant. These anisotropic behaviors are determined by the dipole moment, which is attributed to the anisotropic packing density of [Bi2I9]3− dimers. This study is significant and provides a deeper insight into the anisotropic photoelectric properties of Cs3Bi2I9, thus contributing to the development of metal halide perovskites in the field of optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of ultrasound offers a facile tool for the synthesis of / hybrid particles. We have obtained the architectures of nanoparticles on sub-micrometer cubes by simply ultrasonic irradiating their precursors in ethylene glycol (EG). The formation process of / hybrid particles in the reaction solution has been studied based on the optical absorption spectra and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the particles obtained at different ultrasonic irradiation stages. The dynamic changes of / hybrid particles under electron beam irradiation have been investigated in both SEM and in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscope (TEM). Hollow / hybrid particle structures have been obtained under the electron beam irradiation in liquid, with the cuboid contour shape preserved. In the current study, Au/AgCl hybrid cubic particles were synthesized by a facile ultrasonic irradiation method. The dynamic changes of these particles under electron beam irradiation were investigated in both SEM and in situ liquid cell TEM. The as-prepared Au/AgCl nanocomposites exhibited good SERS and photocatalytic performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and novel method to modify the surface of glass material withAcetobacter xylinumbacteria to deposit bacterial cellulose (BC) around glass material during the process of fermentation was described. The modified glass material with more hydrophobic and rougher surface was characterized by FTIR, SEM, XPS, peeling experiments, and water/air contact angle. It was found that heat treatment at 140 ∼ 150°C was able to improve the interaction between BC and glass material owing to the increase in chemical bonds between them. The biological modified glass fibers were compounded with epoxy resin. The influence of incubation time and high temperature on the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between glass fibers and epoxy resin was identified by Microbond Test. The strongest IFSS could be obtained with incubation time of 1 hour and temperature of 140°C, which then offers a biological approach to improve the interface of silicates materials and resin matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The ternary metal halide perovskites have gradually attracted attention for application in the optoelectronic field, owing to their tunable crystal structure and appropriate bandgap. Lead free Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 perovskite, with a 0D layered structure containing molecular [Bi 2 I 9 ] 3- dimers, exhibits prominent optical and electrical anisotropies. Here, the anisotropic properties of the Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 crystals were evaluated using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS); meanwhile, the effect of phonon vibration on the THz transmission was confirmed using density functional perturbation theory (DFPT). Accordingly, the refractive index and extinction coefficient are estimated using THz-TDS, thanks to the high transmission in the range of 0.2-0.9 THz. The anisotropic refractive index was observed for the Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 crystals, and was found to be 3.2-3.7 for the (100) plane (CBI (100) ) in contrast to 2.8-3.2 for the (001) plane (CBI (001) ). Furthermore, the Lorentz model was employed to extract the dielectric constant of Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 , in which anisotropy is obviously indicated by the static dielectric constant and the high-frequency dielectric constant. These anisotropic behaviors are determined by the dipole moment, which is attributed to the anisotropic packing density of [Bi 2 I 9 ] 3- dimers. This study is significant and provides a deeper insight into the anisotropic photoelectric properties of Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 , thus contributing to the development of metal halide perovskites in the field of optoelectronics.