1.The Diversity of Filamentous Morphologies and Magnetic Sensitivity Modulated by Diverse MagR Expression in Bacteria
Ya-Fei CHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng ZHANG ; Xiu-Juan ZHOU ; Meng-Ke WEI ; Tian-Tian CAI ; Pei-Qi HE ; Jun-Feng WANG ; Can XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1439-1456
Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe2+), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe3+) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe2+-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.
2.The Diversity of Filamentous Morphologies and Magnetic Sensitivity Modulated by Diverse MagR Expression in Bacteria
Ya-Fei CHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng ZHANG ; Xiu-Juan ZHOU ; Meng-Ke WEI ; Tian-Tian CAI ; Pei-Qi HE ; Jun-Feng WANG ; Can XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1439-1456
Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe2+), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe3+) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe2+-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.
3.Expression and clinical significance of ARTN in prostate cancer
Rong LI ; Junfeng JING ; Can WEI
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):448-454
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical significance of artemin (ARTN) expression in prostate cancer (PCa) tissues and its impact on the malignant behavior of PCa cell lines. MethodsImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ARTN protein in 40 benign prostate tissues and 91 PCa tissues, and its relationship with the clinical and pathological characteristics of PCa was analyzed. PCa stable cell lines with ARTN knockdown were constructed, and the effects of ARTN on the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of PCa cells were detected via CCK-8 cell proliferation assay and Transwell assay. Western blot assay was used to detect the effect of ARTN on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail family transcription inhibitory factor 1 (Snail-1). ResultsARTN was highly expressed in PCa and correlated with Gleason score, local lymph node metastasis, and local nerve invasion (P0.05). Survival analysis showed a statistically significant difference in survival rates between ARTN positive and negative patients (P=0.027). The results of CCK-8 and Transwell assay showed that the knockdown of ARTN could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of PCa cells (all P0.05). Western blot results showed that the knockdown of ARTN upregulated the epithelial marker E-cadherin in PCa cells, while the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, Snail-1, and Vimentin were downregulated. ConclusionARTN is highly expressed in PCa and can promote the proliferation, migration, invasion ability of PCa cells, as well as increasing EMT levels in PCa cells, suggesting it may be a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of PCa.
4.Correlation between electronic cross-matching and the detection rate of unexpected antibodies in red blood cells
Can LOU ; Hang LEI ; Yuqing WANG ; Songsong GONG ; Xuefeng WANG ; Wei ZOU ; Xiaohong CAI ; Shikai CHEN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(10):1370-1376
Objective: To analyze changes in Rh system antibodies among antibody-positive patients and evaluate the efficacy of Rh phenotype-matched electronic cross-matching (hereinafter referred to as Rh-ECM). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on antibody screening data of 48 254 patients in our hospital from December 2023 to March 2025. The antibody screening results were compared between the pre-application phase (n=46 346, control group) and post-application phase (n=48 254, experimental group) of Rh-ECM technology, focusing on the changes in the proportion of Rh system antibodies, with statistical analysis conducted using SPSS 26.0 software. Meanwhile, the initial and re-examination situations of Rh antibody in the antibody screening of approximately 20 000 person-times each before (June 2019 to June 2020, n=21 048) and after (July 2020 to April 2021, n=20 965) of Rh-ECM were evaluated to explore the influence of Rh-ECM on the detection rate of Rh antibody. Results: After Rh-ECM implementation, 345 positive cases (0.7%) (345/48 254) were detected among 48 254 patients, primarily consisting of mns system antibodies (128 cases, 37.1%) (128/345) and rh system antibodies (95 cases, 27.5%) (95/345). Before Rh-ECM implementation, 199 positive cases (0.4%) (199/46 346) were detected among 46 346 patients, with rh system antibodies accounting for 97 cases (48.7%) (97/199). The difference in the composition ratio of Rh antibodies between the two phases was statistically significant (P<0.001), and the relative risk ratio of Rh antibody detection after Rh-ECM implementation was 56.5% compared to before. Another set of data analysis showed that before Rh-ECM, there were 37 cases with initial positive results and 8 cases with re-examination positive results; after Rh-ECM, these numbers were 44 and 2 respectively There was a statistically significant difference in the re-examination positive rate of Rh antibodies between the two stages (P<0.05). Conclusion: The implementation of Rh-ECM technology significantly reduced the proportion of Rh system antibodies among patients with positive antibody screening results. This suggests that Rh-ECM can effectively reduce the detection rate of Rh antibodies, which may be related to the reduced risk of antibody production due to Rh-matched transfusion, thus improving transfusion safety. Therefore, Rh-ECM is worthy of broader promotion in clinical transfusion testing.
5.Strengthening the prevention,treatment and rehabilitation of navy military training injuries:strategies and thinking
Xiaojing MA ; Can LÜ ; Lei SHI ; Wei GU ; Fanfu FANG ; Jintao JÜ
Academic Journal of Naval Medical University 2025;46(1):123-128
The prevention and research of military training injuries(MTI)are crucial for reducing non-battle casualties,ensuring combat readiness,and enhancing the effectiveness of military training.In-depth analyses of the prevention and treatment strategies of MTI and related research can provide concrete guidance for scientific training practices.As a critical component of national defense,the Chinese Navy has experienced rapid development in recent years,and the prevention and research of MTI in naval forces have become a key focus.In recent years,rehabilitation medicine has been increasingly recognized for its importance in areas such as physical capability enhancement and injury prevention.The comprehensive adoption of rehabilitation concepts and the early implementation of rehabilitation measures have been widely accepted.It has important guiding significance for further strengthening the application of rehabilitation in preventing and treating injuries in naval training.This article discusses how to further strengthen the rehabilitation strategies for the prevention and research of MTI in the Navy,so as to provide insights and prospects for this field.
6.The characteristics of changes in blood test indicators and the combined detection for the differential diagnosis value of early gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis
Shangyun WANG ; Haixiu YAN ; Can CAO ; Yongtao WEI
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(14):1783-1788
Objective To explore the characteristics of changes in blood test indicators and the combined detection for the differential diagnosis value of early gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis.Methods A total of 44 patients with early gastric cancer admitted to the hospital from January 2023 to March 2024 were selected as the early gastric cancer group.Another 59 patients with atrophic gastritis who were admitted to the hospital during the same period were selected as the atrophic gastritis group.Analyze the characteristics of changes in blood test indicators of the two groups.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to eval-uate the clinical value of blood test indicators in differentiating early gastric cancer from atrophic gastritis.Re-sults The levels of white blood cell count(WBC),platelet count(PLT),C-reactive protein(CRP),pro-thrombin time(PT),fibrinogen(Fib),D-dimer(D-D),and carbohydrate antigen 199(CA199)in the early gastric cancer group were significantly higher than those in the atrophic gastritis group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The levels of red blood cells(RBC),hemoglobin(HGB),total pro-tein(TP),thrombin time(TT),and ferritin(Fer)in the early gastric cancer group were significantly lower than those in the atrophic gastritis group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The re-sults of the ROC curve analysis show that the area under the curve(AUC)for the individual detection and dif-ferential diagnosis of early gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis by WBC,RBC,HGB,PLT,CRP,TP,PT,TT,Fib,D-D,Fer and CA199 were 0.591,0.716,0.764,0.623,0.728,0.671,0.692,0.746,0.721,0.689,0.770 and 0.680,respectively.The AUC of the combined detection of RBC,HGB,CRP,TT,Fib and Fer for the dif-ferential diagnosis of early gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis was 0.857(95%CI:0.772-0.941),which was significantly higher than AUC of the individual detection.Conclusion The combined detection of blood test indicators such as RBC,HGB,CRP,TT,Fib and Fer has certain clinical value in the differential diagnosis of early gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis.
7.Effect of childhood maltreatment on depression in college students: a moderated mediation model
Xinghua LAI ; Huitong ZHAO ; Ruofan XIAO ; Can CUI ; Ameng ZHAO ; Wei FU ; Jing JIANG ; Tinghuizi SHANG ; Honglong LI ; Zengyan YU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(3):247-253
BackgroundCurrently, the problem of depressed mood in college students is becoming more prominent. The experience of childhood maltreatment is a significant contributor to depression among college students. Although the association between the two has been confirmed, the specific psychosocial mechanisms underlying how childhood maltreatment affects college students' mental health remain insufficiently evidenced. ObjectiveTo explore the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depression among college students, and to investigate the moderated effects of psychological resilience and family socioeconomic status, aiming to provide references for improving depressive symptoms in college students. MethodsOn 14 March 2024, a cluster sampling method was employed to recruit 751 college students from a university in Heilongjiang Province. Participants were assessed with Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Patients' Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9), 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) and Family Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire. Pearson correlation analysis was adopted to examine the correlation between the scores of scales. Model 4 and model 7 in Process 4.2 were used to test the mediating effects of emotional regulation difficulties and the moderated effects of psychological resilience and family socioeconomic status. Results① A total of 712 (94.81%) valid questionnaires were collected. ② College students' CTQ score was positively correlated with DERS score and PHQ-9 score (r=0.296, 0.507, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with CD-RISC-10 score and Family Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire score (r=-0.148, -0.229, P<0.01). ③ The indirect effect value of difficulties in emotion regulation on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depression was 0.091 (95% CI: 0.018~0.046), accounting for 17.95% of the total effect. ④ The first half of the mediation model "childhood maltreatment → difficulties in emotion regulation → depression" (childhood maltreatment → difficulties in emotion regulation) was moderated by psychological resilience (β=-0.030, t=-6.147, 95% CI: -0.040~-0.020) and family socioeconomic status (β=-0.051, t=-3.929, 95% CI: -0.077~-0.026). ConclusionChildhood maltreatment exerts both a direct effect on college students' depression and an indirect effect through emotion regulation difficulties. The childhood maltreatment → emotion regulation difficulties pathway in this mediation model is moderated by psychological resilience and family socioeconomic status. [Funded by Qiqihar Medical University Graduate Student Innovation Fund Project (number, QYYCX2023-48); Special Research Fund Project for Young Doctors of Qiqihar Academy of Medical Sciences (number, QMSI2021B-08)]
8.Biological and genomic characterization of phage IME330 of Klebsiella pneumoniae type K39
Jinpan Wei ; Can Wang ; Lei Zhao
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(9):1631-1637
Objective:
To isolate a lytic phage targeting K. pneumoniae type K39 from untreated sewage and systematically analyze its biological characteristics and genomic information.
Methods:
The bacteriophage of K. pneumoniae K39 Kp 1000 was identified based on the sequence of the capsular polysaccharide gene. It was isolated and purified using the double agar plate method. The morphology of the phage was observed through negative staining and transmission electron microscopy,and its bacteriophage spectrum was evaluated by phagocytosis. The biological characteristics of the bacteriophage were assessed by determining the optimal multiplicity of infection(MOI),constructing a one-step growth curve,and conducting temperature and pH tolerance tests. Finally,the phage DNA was extracted,and its whole genome was sequenced using the Illumina Hi Seq2000 sequencing platform. The sequencing results were then annotated and analyzed.
Results:
A lytic phage specifically targeting K. pneumoniae type K39was successfully isolated and named IME330. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the head diameter of the phage was(75 ± 1) nm and the tail length was(185 ± 1) nm. The lytic spectrum analysis revealed that IME330 lysed K. pneumoniae type K39,demonstrating a narrow host range and high specificity. The optimal multiplicity of infection(MOI) was 0. 1,The lysis amount reached 168 PFU/cell. Physicochemical experiments indicated that IME330 exhibited strong tolerance to high temperatures and a broad p H range(pH 4-10). Genomic analysis demonstrated that the IME330 genome had a length of 144,245 bp,a molecular weight of 46,463 MDa,G +C content of 44. 8%,and encoded 320 open reading frames(ORFs).
Conclusion
IME330 is a novel lytic K.pneumoniae phage belonging to the order Caudovirales. This phage exhibits strong tolerance to physicochemical factors(e. g.,temperature,acidic/alkaline conditions) and demonstrates high lytic activity,while its lytic spectrum remains narrow with strict host specificity.
9.Differences in mercury dissolution from HgS-containing traditional medicines under simulated gastrointestinal conditions
Ming ZHANG ; Yuan-can XIAO ; Jing ZHAO ; Hai-ying TONG ; Xiao-yu WANG ; Wen-bin ZHOU ; Hong-tao BI ; Li-xin WEI
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(8):2607-2611
AIM To investigate the variations in mercury dissolution from HgS-containing traditional medicines in three kinds of simulated gastrointestinal dissolution media.METHODS 39 batches of 15 types of HgS-containing traditional medicines were collected,total mercury content and dissolved mercury concentrations in simulated gastric fluid,simulated intestinal fluid,and L-cysteine-containing simulated intestinal fluid were measured.The maximum daily intake of total mercury and soluble mercury was calculated based on the maximum daily clinical dosage.RESULTS Among the 15 types of medicines,the maximum daily intake of total mercury varied by 156 times,the daily intake of soluble mercury varied by 3 502 times in simulated gastric fluid,313 times in simulated intestinal fluid,and 10 663 times in L-cysteine-containing simulated intestinal fluid,approximately.CONCLUSION For the 15 types of HgS-containing traditional medicines,the daily maximum intake of soluble mercury showed greater variations than that of total mercury.Soluble mercury concentration is more closely correlated with intestinal absorption of mercury and thus represents a more rational quality control indicator for HgS-containing traditional medicines.


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