Objective: To analyze a family with recurrent fetal copy number variations (microdeletion and microduplication, respectively) of 1p31.1 using single nucleotide polymorphism-based array (SNP-array) and G banding chromosomal karyotyping. Methods: Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling were performed for a woman during the two pregnancies. Whole genome SNP-array was used to detect genomic imbalance of the fetus. The couple was also subjected to G-banding chromosomal analysis and SNP-array analysis. Results: SNP-array showed a 1p31.1 (70 164 686-83 474 843)×1 and a 1p31.1 (70 164 686-83 479 747) × 3 in the fetuses during the two pregnancies, respectively. SNP array results of the couple appeared to be normal. The mother of the fetuses had a 46, XX, inv(1)(p31.1p32.1) karyotype. Conclusion The paracentric inversion in chromosome 1 in the gravida probably underlies the recurrent 1p31.1 copy number variations in the fetuses. SNP-array combined with G banding chromosomal analysis are suitable for prenatal diagnosis for recurrent microdeletion and microduplication in the same chromosomal region, and can provide detailed information for genetic counseling.

Medical alliances constitute a vertical integration of regional medical resources, and an effective means to promote the tiered medical services. As one of the largest tertiary hospitals in Xinjiang, a hospital has gradually built a " 1+ 6+ N" medical alliance cooperative system fitting the geographical characteristics of Xinjiang since 2018. The system was based on the hospital, made county-level medical institutions as the hub, primary medical and health units as the focus, and telemedicine as the bridge. It turned a telemedicine service platform as the medium, integrating such service segments, as offline practices of experts like clinical teaching, ward rounds, surgical guidance and discipline construction, and as online practices like remote consultation, remote diagnosis, remote education, and remote new technology training among others. Then these segments were integrated into such cooperative models as the remote cooperative medical alliances, specialist-cooperative medical alliances, inter-department co-construction medical alliances, precision-based assistance medical alliances, urban medical group type of medical alliances, and " alliance-consortium" integrated development medical alliances. These practices enabled the expansion and primary support of high-quality medical resources. By June 2022, the hospital had established cooperation via medical alliances with 285 medical institutions at all levels. The implementation of this cooperation mechanism has effectively improved the medical service capacity, diagnosis and treatment capacity of difficult and critical diseases, diagnosis and treatment homogeneity and remote diagnosis capacity in the region, as well as the smooth and orderly progress of the tiered medical services and two-way referrals within a medical alliance.

Synthetic plastics have been widely used in various fields of the national economy and are the pillar industry. However, irregular production, plastic product use, and plastic waste piling have caused long-term accumulation in the environment, contributing considerably to the global solid waste stream and environmental plastic pollution, which has become a global problem to be solved. Biodegradation has recently emerged as a viable disposal method for a circular plastic economy and has become a thriving research area. In recent years, important breakthroughs have been made in the screening, isolation, and identification of plastic-degrading microorganisms/enzyme resources and their further engineering, which provide new ideas and solutions for treating microplastics in the environment and the closed-loop bio-recycling of waste plastics. On the other hand, the use of microorganisms (pure cultures or consortia) to further transform different plastic degradants into biodegradable plastics and other compounds with high added value is of great significance, promoting the development of a plastic recycling economy and reducing the carbon emission of plastics in their life cycle. We edited a Special Issue on the topic of "Biotechnology of Plastic Waste Degradation and Valorization", focusing on the researches progress in three aspects: Mining microbial and enzyme resources for plastic biodegradation, Design and engineering of plastic depolymerase, and biological high-value transformation of plastic degradants. In total, 16 papers have been collected in this issue including reviews, comments, and research articles, which provide reference and guidance for further development of plastic waste degradation and valorization biotechnology.
Biodegradable Plastics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biotechnology

Polyolefin plastics are a group of polymers with C-C backbone that have been widely used in various areas of daily life. Due to their stable chemical properties and poor biodegradability, polyolefin plastic waste continues to accumulate worldwide, causing serious environmental pollution and ecological crises. In recent years, biological degradation of polyolefin plastics has attracted considerable attention. The abundant microbial resources in the nature offer the possibility of biodegradation of polyolefin plastic waste, and microorganisms capable of degrading polyolefin have been reported. This review summarizes the research progress on the biodegradation microbial resources and the biodegradation mechanisms of polyolefin plastics, presents the current challenges in the biodegradation of polyolefin plastics, and provides an outlook on future research directions.
Plastics/metabolism* ; Polymers/metabolism* ; Polyenes ; Biodegradation, Environmental

Tripterygium wilfordii is a valuable medicinal plant rich in biologically active diterpenoids, but there are few studies on the origins of these diterpenoids in its secondary metabolism. Here, we identified three regions containing tandemly duplicated diterpene synthase genes on chromosomes (Chr) 17 and 21 of T. wilfordii and obtained 11 diterpene synthases with different functions. We further revealed that these diterpene synthases underwent duplication and rearrangement at approximately 2.3-23.7 million years ago (MYA) by whole-genome triplication (WGT), transposon mediation, and tandem duplication, followed by functional divergence. We first demonstrated that four key amino acids in the sequences of TwCPS3, TwCPS5, and TwCPS6 were altered during evolution, leading to their functional divergence and the formation of diterpene secondary metabolites. Then, we demonstrated that the functional divergence of three TwKSLs was driven by mutations in two key amino acids. Finally, we discovered the mechanisms of evolution and pseudogenization of miltiradiene synthases in T. wilfordii and elucidated that the new function in TwMS1/2 from the terpene synthase (TPS)-b subfamily was caused by progressive changes in multiple amino acids after the WGT event. Our results provide key evidence for the formation of diverse diterpenoids during the evolution of secondary metabolites in T. wilfordii.

Sterol C24-methyltransferase (SMT) plays multiple important roles in plant growth and development. SMT1, which belongs to the family of transferases and transforms cycloartenol into 24-methylene cycloartenol, is involved in the biosynthesis of 24-methyl sterols. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a sterol C24-methyltransferase from().(GenBank access number KU885950) is a 1530 bp cDNA with a 1041 bp open reading frame predicted to encode a 346-amino acid, 38.62 kDa protein. The polypeptide encoded by thecDNA was expressed and purified as a recombinant protein from() and showed SMT activity. The expression ofwas highly up-regulated incell suspension cultures treated with methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Tissue expression pattern analysis showed higher expression in the phellem layer compared to the other four organs (leaf, stem, xylem and phloem), which is about ten times that of the lowest expression in leaf. The results are meaningful for the study of sterol biosynthesis ofand will further lay the foundations for the research in regulating both the content of other main compounds and growth and development of