Jiaojiao Han

The microsporidian parasite Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a major pathogen causing severe growth retardation in shrimp, leading to substantial economic losses in global aquaculture. To address the urgent need for accurate, rapid, and field-deployable diagnostic tools for EHP, this study developed a novel one-pot detection platform by integrating asymmetric Enzymatic Recombinase Amplification (aERA) with a PAM-independent CRISPR/Cas12a system (AYERA-Cas12a) based on ssDNA activation. This design circumvents the compatibility challenge between isothermal amplification and CRISPR activity in a single tube by generating single-stranded DNA amplicons that activate Cas12a without requiring a PAM sequence. The assay operates at a constant temperature of 46 °C and completes detection within 15 min. It achieves a sensitivity of 10 copies/μL, equivalent to qPCR, and shows no cross-reactivity with six other prevalent shrimp pathogens. Validation using 56 clinical shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei, L. vannamei) samples demonstrated complete agreement with qPCR results. With its simple procedure, isothermal conditions, and clear endpoint fluorescence readout under blue light, the AYERA-Cas12a platform is suitable for point-of-care testing (POCT). This work provides a user-friendly tool for the on-site surveillance and early diagnosis of EHP, offering significant potential for improving disease management in shrimp farming.

BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia, a major risk factor for gout and kidney disease, requires safe and effective dietary strategies beyond conventional pharmacotherapy. This study investigated the multi‐target effects of the food‐grade probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri RE225 on hyperuricemia. It was evaluated in vitro for xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibition and nucleoside degradation, and in vivo in hyperuricemic mice gavaged daily with low or high doses of RE225 (1 × 10 ⁶ or 1 × 10 ⁹ CFU). Serum uric acid (UA), XOD activity, inflammatory cytokines, intestinal permeability markers – fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran (FITC‐dextran), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and d ‐lactate – and renal TLR4/NF‐ κ B signaling were quantified. Fecal metagenomics and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes ortholog (KO) profiling were used to assess microbiota structure and function. RESULTS: Limosilactobacillus reuteri RE225 dose‐dependently inhibited XOD and degraded more than 50% of nucleosides in vitro . In vivo , RE225 reduced serum urate, restored intestinal barrier function, suppressed inflammation, and downregulated renal TLR4/NF‐ κ B signaling. Metagenomic analysis showed that L. reuteri RE225 reversed UA‐induced loss of microbial richness and evenness, enriched Faecalibaculum and Erysipelotrichaceae , and shifted functional profiles from proliferation‐ and inflammation‐related modules (K02315, K02970, and K03496) toward carbohydrate utilization and genetic stability pathways (K01784 and K07491). CONCLUSION: Limosilactobacillus reuteri RE225 shows promise as a dietary intervention for the management of hyperuricemia. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Artemisia argyi (A. argyi) is a Chinese herbal medicine with reported anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the A. argyi was extracted with water and ethanol, and the concentrations of 35 flavonoids in A. argyi water extract (WE) and ethanol extract (EE) were measured via targeted metabolomics. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of both WE and EE were firstly explored in vitro via chemical assays and cellular experiment, respectively. Both WE and EE showed significant DPPH, ABTS, OH^-, and O₂^- radical scavenging ability in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-22 in LPS induced RAW264.7 cell model. In addition, the in vivo anti-colitis activity of both extracts was performed in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse, and the mechanisms were elucidated by 16S rDNA sequencing and targeted metabolomics. We found that both WE and EE relieved colitis in mice, characterized by decreased disease activity index, increased colon length, improved pathological changes in colon tissue, while EE showed better anti-colitis activity. In addition, both 16S rDNA sequencing and targeted bile acids metabolomics indicated EE modulated gut microbiota and specifically increased the abundance of lithocholic acid, which might contribute to intestinal barrier function improvement via up-regulating the expression of colonic FXR. In summary, this study identified the anti-colitis mechanism of A. argyi ethanol extract by modulating gut microbiota, facilitating the production of lithocholic acid, activating FXR and improving intestinal barrier function.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) is a safe probiotic with no side effects, providing benefits such as gut microbiota regulation and immune enhancement, making it highly valuable with strong potential. However, strains from different sources have unique traits, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) helps analyse these differences. In this study, we used WGS to examine L. rhamnosus strains from mice with fish oil-treated smoking-induced pneumonia to better understand their biological functions and explore possible anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Methods: We isolated a strain, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CP-1 (L. rhamnosus CP-1), from mice intestines where fish oil alleviated smoking-induced pneumonia. Identification of probiotic-related genes by WGS and characterised the strain’s probiotic properties. Results: L. rhamnosus CP-1 has a single circular chromosome (2,989,570 bp, 46.76% GC content) and no plasmids. COG, GO, and KEGG databases revealed genes linked to carbohydrate metabolism. The CAZy database identified GH25 lysozyme and PL8 polysaccharide lyase genes. KEGG highlighted an antimicrobial peptide ABC transporter permease, while TCDB noted the ABC-type antimicrobial peptide transporter (the main active transport component). KEGG also showed 10 genes for terpenoid skeleton biosynthesis and 5 for keto-glycan unit biosynthesis. Additionally, L. rhamnosus CP-1 carries metabolic regulators and bacteriocin-related genes. Conclusions: Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed that L. rhamnosus CP-1 has carbohydrate utilisation and potential anti-inflammatory effects at the molecular level. Potential functional genes include carbohydrate transport and hydrolase, antimicrobial peptide ABC transporter and its osmotic enzyme components, bacteriocin immune protein, terpenoid skeleton, and keto-glycan synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Gout poses a significant health threat. The use of Lactobacillus from the gut microbiota is one potential remedy. However, the intricate molecular mechanisms governing the impact of Lactobacillus on gout remain largely uncharted. In this study, a strain of Limosilactobacillus reuteri RE225 was separated from the gut of mice and colitis was treated with polypeptide intervention.RESULTS: Limosilactobacillus reuteri RE225 reduced foot tumefaction markedly in mice with gout and extended the pain threshold time in their feet. It also improved the health of gut microbiota. Intervention with L. reuteri RE225 also suppressed the TLR4/MyD88/NF‐κB and nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) pathways in the mice, reduced the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines – interleukin 1β (IL‐1β), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) – and increased the level of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL‐10), thereby mitigating inflammation.CONCLUSION: This study provides a theoretical basis for the comprehensive development of Limosilactobacillus reuteri and new ideas for the non‐pharmacological treatment of gout. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, motile, and spore-forming bacterium, designated SCL10, was isolated from Acaudina molpadioides exposure to Co-60 radiation. In this study, whole-genome sequencing was performed to identify the strain as Bacillus cereus and functional characterization, with a focus on stress resistance. The genome of the B. cereus SCL10 strain was sequenced and assembled, revealing a size of 4,979,182 bp and 5167 coding genes. The genes involved in biological functions were annotated by using the GO, COG, KEGG, NR, and Swiss-Prot databases. The results showed that genes related to alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (ahpC, ahpF), DNA-binding proteins from starved cells (dps), spore and biofilm formation (spoVG, spo0A, gerP), cold shock-like protein (cspC, cspE), ATP-dependent chaperone (clpB), and photolyase, small, acid-soluble spore protein (SASP) and DNA repair protein (recA, radD) could explain the stress resistance. These findings suggest that antioxidant activity, sporulation, biofilm formation, and DNA protection may be considered as the main resistance mechanisms under exposure to radiation in the B. cereus SCL10 strain.

Pork is one of the most widely produced and consumed meats in the world, and it is also an important source of animal protein. The continuous rise in feed prices has forced the pig industry to consider adding cost-effective alternative feed to pig diets. In this study, we aimed to explore the beneficial effects of tuna dark muscle as a nutritional supplement on the growth performance, serum lipids and antioxidant levels of Holland mini-piglets, as well as on the odor and volatile substances of pork and the gut microbiota. Two-month-old male mini-piglets (n = 24) were fed a control diet or supplemented with either 2% (LD) or 4% (HD) tuna dark muscle for 8 weeks. The use of tuna dark muscle at low and high dosages significantly increased the average daily weight gain, but it showed no significant effect on organ indices or blood lipids. In addition, dark muscle treatment significantly increased the antioxidant capacity, characterized by increased SOD and GSH-Px activities, and it decreased the content of MDA in serum. Moreover, tuna dark muscle feeding shifted the odor of rib muscle and tendon meat away from that of the control group, while similar odor patterns were observed in the longissimus dorsi muscle. Among these volatile substances, hexanal, nonanal, and heptanal increased in response to dietary tuna dark muscle and were regarded as indispensable contributors to the feeding. Furthermore, dietary tuna dark muscle modulated the gut microbiota of the piglets, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as butyric acid-producing bacteria, and reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria. The feeding strategy reported in this study not only reduces the production costs of pork but also utilizes tuna processing by-products in an environmentally friendly way.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent inflammatory bowel disease that imposes a severe burden on families and society. In recent years, exploiting the potential of marine bioactive peptides for the treatment of diseases has become a topic of intense research interest. This study revealed the mechanism underlying the protective effect of the dominant polypeptide PKKVV of Rhopilema esculentum cnidoblasts against DSS-induced UC through a combined analysis of the metagenome and serum metabolome. Specifically, the polypeptide composition of R. esculentum cnidoblasts was determined by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. Molecular docking showed that the dominant peptide PKKVV could bind better with TNF-α than the original ligand. Subsequent animal experiments suggested that PKKVV could modulate disorganized gut microorganisms in mice with UC; affect serum metabolites through the arachidonic acid, glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid metabolism pathways; and further alleviate UC symptoms. This study provides a reference for the comprehensive development of marine bioactive substances and nonpharmaceutical treatments for UC.

Background: The gut microbiota is very important for maintaining the homeostasis and health of crustaceans. Many factors affect the gut microbiota of crustaceans, one of which is temperature. However, it is currently unclear how temperature affects the gut microbiota and metabolites of Procambarus clarkii.Methods: Using metagenomic sequencing and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) techniques, the gut microbiota and metabolites of P. clarkii from Hubei (HB), Jiangsu (JS), Shandong (SD), and Zhejiang (ZJ) in China were investigated.Results: Under the impact of temperature, the gut microbiota and metabolites of P. clarkii exhibit a specific trend of change. The primary pathogenic bacteria affecting P. clarkii are Citrobacter, Enterobacterium, and Aeromonas, which are affected by temperature. Two metabolites, namely, sugars and amino acids, are regulated by temperature.Implication: This study demonstrated that the gut microbiota and gut metabolites of P. clarkii were considerably affected by temperature. It provides a theoretical basis for the systematic study of P. clarkii and provides a basis for a healthy culture of P. clarkii.