Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are major outer membrane components of Gram-negative bacteria. Unlike most Gram-negative bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii can still survive and acquire polymyxin resistance after complete loss of LPS. Previous studies of LPS-deficient Acinetobacter baumannii mostly focused on LPS-deficient strains induced by polymyxin, whose background was complex and unstable. To investigate LPS loss-mediated polymyxin resistant-Acinetobacter baumannii, this study constructed a stable and clear background LPS-deficient strain by knocking out lpxC gene in Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606 with CIRSPR/Cas9, and then studied the phenotypic changes of the lpxC-deficient strain including morphology, growth rate, antibiotic susceptibility, virulence, membrane permeability, and membrane potential. Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Care and Welfare Committee Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, CAMS and PUMC (approval number: IMB-20240119D₉). The results indicated that the lpxC gene of Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606 was successfully knocked out. After losing the lpxC, the strain underwent the morphological change from rod-shaped to spherical. Furthermore, it leads to reduced growth rate, enhanced membrane permeability, decreased membrane potential, lower virulence, and increased antibiotic susceptibility to β-lactams, quinolones, aminoglycosides, macrolides, glycopeptides. The lpxC deletion results in significant changes in membrane homeostasis and adaptability of Acinetobacter baumannii. Understanding the phenotypic changes of colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii mediated by LPS loss is useful for exploring the resistance mechanism of Acinetobacter baumannii and developing new therapeutic strategies.

AIM To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on hearing function,cochlear morphology and autophagy-related protein expression in a rat model of presbycusis.METHODS Forty-five rats were randomly divided into the control group,the model group and the low,medium and high dose G.biloba extract groups(10,20 and 30 mg/kg),with 9 rats in each group.The rat model of presbycusis was established by intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg/kg D-galactose(D-gal).Eight weeks after the corresponding administration,the rats had their changes of hearing threshold detected by the auditory brainstem evoked potential(ABR);their morphological changes of cochlear hair cells,stria vascularis(SV)and spiral ganglion cells observed by HE staining;their number of hair cells inside and outside the cochlea detected by immunofluorescence staining;their ultrastructure changes of cochlear hair cells observed by transmission electron microscopy;and their expression of autophagy-related proteins in cochlea tissue detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the model group displayed increased ABR threshold(P<0.01);more severely damaged inner and outer hair cells,spiral ganglion cells and SV,decreased SV thickness and numbers of spiral ganglion cells,inner and outer hair cells and autophagosomes(P<0.01);decreased protein expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 Ⅱ and ratio of LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ in cochlear tissue(P<0.01),and higher P62 protein expression(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the medium and high dose G.biloba extract groups shared decreased ABR thresholds(P<0.01);improved morphology of inner and outer hair cells and SV in the cochlea,normalized,morphology of spiral ganglion cells,and increased SV thickness and the numbers of spiral ganglion cells,inner and outer hair cells and autophagosomes(P<0.05,P<0.01);increased protein expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 Ⅱ and the ratio of LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ in the cochlea(P<0.01),and decreased P62 protein expression(P<0.01).CONCLUSION The protective effects G.biloba extract on hearing function and cochlear cells in the rat model of presbycusis may be associated with the up-regulated expression of Beclin1 and LC3 Ⅱ proteins and down-regulated P62 protein expression in cochlear tissues.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of phytoestrogen biochanin A （BCA） on liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄ in female mice with bilateral oophorectomy （ovariectomized） and its mechanism. MethodsA total of 50 ovariectomized Kunming mice were selected and given intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄ to establish a model of liver fibrosis， and then according to body weight， they were randomly divided into model group， positive control group， and low-， middle-， and high-dose BCA groups， with 10 mice in each group. In addition， 10 female mice in the same litter were given resection of a small amount of adipose tissue near both ovaries to establish the sham-operation group. The mice in the positive control group were given estradiol 2 mg/kg by gavage， and those in the low-， middle-， and high-dose BCA groups were given BCA by gavage at a dose of 25， 50， and 100 mg/kg， respectively， once a day for 7 consecutive weeks； the mice in the sham-operation group and the model group were given an equal volume of 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution by gavage. The mice were anesthetized and sacrificed after administration to collect samples. Liver index and uterus index were measured； HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe liver histopathological changes； the biochemical analysis was used to measure the activity of aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and alanine aminotransferase （ALT）； ELISA was used to measure the levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in liver tissue， and Western blot was used to measure the relative protein expression levels of collagen Ⅰ， transforming growth factor-beta 1 （TGF-β₁）， alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， estrogen receptor beta （ERβ）， and p-NF-κBp65/NF-κBp65 in liver tissue. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups； a one-way analysis of various was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups and further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the sham-operated group， the model group had a significant increase in liver index and a significant reduction in uterus index， as well as significant increases in the activities of serum AST and ALT， the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in liver tissue， and the protein expression levels of collagen Ⅰ， TGF-β₁， α-SMA， and p-NF-κBp65/NF-κBp65 in liver tissue （all P<0.05）， with no significant change in the expression of ERβ in liver tissue （P>0.05）， and the model group showed significant fibrosis lesions in the liver， such as hepatocyte edema， steatosis， and necrosis with inflammatory cell infiltration and hyperplasia， deposition， and staggered distribution of collagen fibers. Compared with the model group， the low-， middle-， and high-dose BCA groups had significant reductions in liver index， the activities of serum AST and ALT， the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α， and the protein expression levels of collagen Ⅰ， TGF-β₁， α-SMA， and p-NF-κBp65/NF-κBp65 in liver tissue （all P<0.05）， with no significant change in uterine index （P>0.05）， as well as a significant increase in the protein expression level of ERβ in liver tissue （P<0.05） and varying degrees of improvement in liver fibrosis lesions. ConclusionBCA can effectively improve CCL₄-induced liver fibrosis in ovariectomized female mice， possibly by upregulating ERβ to inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway and then alleviating inflammatory response.

Aim To investigate the mechanism of ligu aged 2 months of the same strain were used as the constilide (LIG) in delaying the senescence of auditory trol (Ctrl) group. Auditory brainstem response test was cortex and treating central presbycusis. Methods used to detect the auditory threshold of mice before and Forty C57BL/6J mice aged 13 months were randomly di after treatment. Levels of serum MDA and activity of vided into ligustilide low-dose(L-LIG) group, ligustil serum SOD were detected to display the level of oxidative ide medium-dose (M-LIG) group, ligustilide high-dose stress. The pathological changes of auditory cortex were (H-LIG) group and aging (Age) group, and 10 mice observed by HE staining. Ferroptosis was observed by

Objective To establish a rapid detection method for zika virus based on direct amplification re-al-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)technique.Methods A direct amplification RT-PCR technique for the rapid detection of zika virus in 5 samples(whole blood,serum,saliva,throat swab and urine)was established by using a special function DNA polymerase and a preferred PCR enhancer.Results The detection limits of the 5 samples were 103 PFU/mL in serum,102 PFU/mL in urine,throat swab,and saliva,and 104 PFU/mL in whole blood.The coefficient of goodness-fit of stand-ard curves was above 0.98,and the amplification efficiency was 90％-110％.Zika virus nucleic acid was suc-cessfully amplified,but non-zika virus nucleic acid was not amplified.Based on the repeatable detection of sam-ples from urine,whole blood,and saliva,the variation coefficient of 6 repeated Ct values at 106 PFU/mL and 102 PFU/mL concentrations were all＜5％.The zika virus detection method established by the direct amplifi-cation RT-PCR technique was consistent with the detection results of conventional RT-PCR technique.Only two serum samples were detected in eight zika virus samples,and the remaining 62 non-zika virus samples and 12 negative samples were not amplified.Conclusion A rapid detection method for zika virus based on direct ampli-fication RT-PCR technique is successfully established.The method is simple,rapid,sensitive and specific.

Based on the species-specific peptides of Pheretima and its common counterfeit (Metaphire magna), an identification method was established using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) for quality evaluation of Pheretima and its preparations. Separation was performed on a CORTECS T3 C18 column with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phases. Mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using ESI⁺ mode was used to simultaneously monitor three ion pairs. The results indicated that the method was specific and could distinguish Guang Dilong, Hu Dilong, and M. magna, which were consistent with those of DNA barcode identification. The adulteration test showed that the LOD of peptide M was 1 μg·g^-1. Peptide M could be detected when 1% M. magna was added to Guang Dilong, indicating the high sensitivity of the method. Fifty-four batches of commercially available samples contained 35% Guang Dilong, 35% Hu Dilong, and 15% M. magna. No ions were detected in 15% of the samples, and DNA barcode identification revealed that they were mainly from Amynthas, with similar appearance to Hu Dilong. The analysis results of the formulation showed that no peptide ions were detected in 3 batches of Xiaohuoluo pills (3/6) and M. magna were detected in 2 batches of Shenjindan capsules (2/4). The developed method in the study has good specificity, sensitivity, and feasibility, and could be used for quality control of Pheretima and its related preparations. It is of great significance for improving quality standards and regulating the medicinal market of Pheretima.

Neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorders(NMOSD)is a serious inflammatory demyelinating disease.Clinical treatment of NMOSD mainly involves acute phase treatment and remission phase prevention treatment.Disease-modifying therapy(DMT)in remission phase of NMOSD can effectively reduce disease re-currence and delay disability progression.At present,the drugs commonly used for DMT at home and abroad in-clude classical immunosuppression,B-cell surface antigen monoclonal antibody,complement targeting mono-clonal antibody,IL-6 receptor-targeting monoclonal antibody,etc.This paper mainly reviews the DMT drugs ef-ficacy,safety,as well as the marketing status of NMOSD.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome(LGS)is a severe,epileptic encephalopathy.In recent years,a variety of drugs have been approved for the treatment of LGS.The U.S.Food and Drug Administration ap-proved clobazam and cannabidiol as adjunctive therapy for LGS in October 2011 and June 2018,respectively.This article provides an overview of clobazam and cannabidiol,including their chemical structures,pharmaco-logical actions,curative effects,safety profile,drug interactions,to introduce the current state of research and the achievements of both drugs.

Infantile epileptic spasm syndrome(IESS)is a new concept proposed recently.IESS is a unique and age-specific refractory epilepsy syndrome.The recent advances in molecular biology,neuroimmunol-ogy and the in-depth study of anti-epileptic mechanism in antiepileptic drugs have led to the achievements in the definition and treatment of infantile epileptic spasm.At present,the use of traditional antiepileptic drugs is de-creasing,while the use of new antiepileptic drugs is increasing.In this paper,based on the relevant literature in recent years,the authors discuss the pathogenesis,epidemiology,etiology,diagnosis,treatment,therapeutic drugs,clinical progress,efficacy,and safety of infantile epileptic spasm,hoping to introduce the latest status in research and achievements of IESS.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Lonicera japonica Thunb.and their antioxidant activities.METHODS The extract from L.japonica was isolated and purified by D101 macroporous resin,silica gel column and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging method.RESULTS Fifteen compounds were isolated and identified as dearabinosyl pneumonanthoside(1),5α-carboxystrictosidine(2),apigenin 7-O-glucoside(3),ethyl caffeate(4),isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(5),luteolin 7-O-glucoside(6),quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside(7),luteolin 7-O-rutinoside(8),luteolin-7-O-neohesperidoside(9),hydnocarpin(10),methyl chlorogenate(11),(Z)-aldosecolohanin(12),kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucoside(13),chlorogenic acid butyl ester(14),(-)-syringaresinol(15).The IC50 values of DPPH free radical scavenging of compounds 3,5-10,13-14 were 6.70-36.25 μmol/L.CONCLUSION Compounds 1-2,8,9-11 and 15 are isolated from genus Lonicera for the first time.Compounds 3,5-10,13-14 show good antioxidant activities.