1.The Structure and Function of The YopJ Family Effectors in The Bacterial Type III Secretion System
Ao-Ning LI ; Wen-Bo LI ; Yu-Ying LU ; Min-Hui ZHU ; Yu-Long QIN ; Yong ZHAO ; Zhao-Huan ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):516-533
The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) serves as a pivotal virulence apparatus for numerous Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, enabling them to infect both animal and plant hosts. Functioning as a molecular syringe, the T3SS directly translocates bacterial effector proteins from the bacterial cytoplasm into the interior of eukaryotic host cells. These effectors are central weapons that precisely manipulate a wide spectrum of host cellular physiological processes, ranging from cytoskeletal dynamics to immune signaling, to establish a favorable niche for bacterial survival and proliferation. Among the diverse arsenal of T3SS effectors, the YopJ family constitutes a critical group of virulence factors. Members of this family are characterized by a conserved catalytic triad structure—a hallmark of the CE clan of cysteine proteases that has been evolutionarily repurposed to confer acetyltransferase activity. A defining and intriguing feature of these enzymes is their stringent dependence on a host-derived eukaryotic cofactor, inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6), for allosteric activation. This requirement acts as a sophisticated molecular safeguard, ensuring enzymatic activity only within the appropriate host environment, thereby preventing detrimental effects on the bacterium itself. While seminal studies on individual members such as Yersinia’s YopJ and Salmonella’s AvrA have provided deep mechanistic insights, a systematic and integrative understanding of the structure-function relationships across the entire family remains fragmented. Key questions persist regarding how a conserved catalytic core has diverged to recognize distinct host substrates in different kingdoms of life. To address this gap, this article provides a systematic review of the YopJ family, focusing on three interconnected aspects: their structural features, their catalytic mechanism, and their divergent immunosuppressive strategies in animal versus plant hosts. By conducting a comparative analysis of the sequences and resolved three-dimensional structures of three representative members (e.g., HopZ1a, PopP2, AvrA), we elucidate regions of significant variation embedded within the conserved core catalytic architecture. These variable regions, often involving surface loops and substrate-binding interfaces, are crucial determinants of target specificity and functional specialization. The functional divergence of this effector family is most apparent when comparing their modes of action in different hosts. In animal hosts, YopJ-family effectors primarily sabotage innate immune signaling pathways. They achieve this by acetylating key serine and threonine residues within the activation loops of critical kinases in the MAPK and NF‑κB pathways. This post-translational modification blocks the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of these kinases, leading to potent suppression of inflammatory cytokine production. Conversely, in plant hosts, the strategy broadens to dismantle the two-tiered plant immune system. YopJ homologs target a more diverse set of substrates, including immune-associated receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs), microtubule networks via tubulin acetylation (which disrupts cellular trafficking and signaling), and transcription factors central to defense gene regulation. This multi-target approach effectively suppresses both Pattern-Triggered Immunity (PTI) and Effector-Triggered Immunity (ETI). In conclusion, this synthesis aims to deepen the mechanistic understanding of YopJ family-mediated pathogenesis by integrating structural biology with cellular function across host kingdoms. Elucidating the precise molecular basis for substrate selection—how conserved platforms achieve target diversity—is a major frontier. Furthermore, this knowledge provides a vital theoretical foundation for developing novel anti-virulence strategies. Targeting the conserved IP6-binding pocket or the catalytic acetyltransferase activity itself represents a promising avenue for designing broad-spectrum inhibitors that could disarm this critical family of bacterial effectors, potentially offering new therapeutic approaches against a range of pathogenic bacteria.
2.Surgical treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: challenges and innovations
Pei ZHANG ; Lu ZHAO ; Yunfei FANG ; Hui YANG ; Yifan WANG ; Yanqiong MA ; Yu MENG
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(3):512-518
Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is a highly invasive zoonotic parasitic disease with poor prognosis. Surgical intervention serves as the pivotal approach to achieve radical cure and improve the prognosis of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis patients. In recent years, with the popularization of the concept of precision surgery and the development of the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment model, the surgical treatment strategies for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis have been continuously enriched, and the selection of surgical procedures has become increasingly diversified. Although key surgical techniques such as radical hepatectomy, autologous liver transplantation and allogeneic liver transplantation have achieved remarkable progress in clinical application, many insurmountable challenges still remain. Therefore, by sorting out the latest evidence-based advances in the field of surgical treatment for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, this article focuses on discussing the application status and bottlenecks of radical hepatectomy, autologous liver transplantation and allogeneic liver transplantation in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, aiming to provide a reference for the clinical treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
3.Longitudinal cohort study on pubertal development trajectories of testicular and breast development among children
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):408-412
Objective:
To characterize longitudinal trajectories of testicular development in boys and breast development in girls, so as to provide reference data for understanding patterns of pubertal sexual maturation.
Methods:
Based on the Shanghai Pudong New Area Cohort Study on Growth, Development and Health in Children and Adolescents, a baseline survey was conducted in 2020 using a mult stage cluster random sampling method. A total of 2 184 children who completed all follow ups during the primary school period from 13 elementary schools in Pudong New Area,Shanghai,with annual follow ups during 2021-2025. Testicular volume and Tanner stage of breast development were assessed by professional physicians using standardized visual inspection and palpation. The age distribution of testicular volume and breast development was fitted by using cumulative link mixed models and Turnbull s nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation method.
Results:
Median ages for testicular volumes of 2, 3, 4 and 5 mL in boys were 7.07, 9.24, 10.29, and 11.57 years old, respectively. Median ages for Tanner breast stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ in girls were 8.55 , 10.17, 11.18, and 13.78 years old, respectively. Based on overweight and obesity, stratified analysis showed that earlier pubertal onset among overweight/obesity children, and the key milestones for pubertal initiation were testicular volume reaching 4 mL in boys and breast Tanner II in girls for 10.29, 10.83; 8.18, 9.00 years.
Conclusion
Overweight and obesity are associated with earlier pubertal initiation,but there are certain gender and developmental stage specific patterns.
4.Mendelian randomization study of sleep duration and sleep disorders in relation to age at menarche in females
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(7):1021-1025
Objective:
To determine the potential genetic causal relationship between sleep related phenotypes and female pubertal onset using the two sample Mendelian randomization approach.
Methods:
Genetic instrumental variables for sleep and age at menarche were sourced from FinnGen, IEU Open GWAS and GWAS Catalog three publicly available Genome Wide Association Study databases. Causal effects were estimated using the inverse variance weighted method, supplemented by sensitivity analyses and tests for heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and direction.
Results:
Genetically predicted sleep duration was positively associated with age at menarche ( β =0.61, 95% CI =0.30-0.91, P <0.01). Conversely, overall sleep problems ( β =-0.13, 95% CI =-0.20 to -0.07 ), two specific types of sleep disorders (sleep apnea: β =-0.10, 95% CI =-0.16 to -0.03; insomnia: β =-0.40, 95% CI = -0.69 to -0.11) were causally associated with earlier age at menarche (all P <0.01). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings with consistent effect directions and no evidence of significant directional pleiotropy.
Conclusions
The study reveales a genetic causal relationship between sleep and pubertal onset. Adequate sleep duration appears to have a protective effect. These findings suggest that sleep may have a critical regulatory role in the initiation of pubertal development.
5.Changing antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in hospitals across China:results from CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program,2015-2021
Chunyue GE ; Yunjian HU ; Xiaoman AI ; Yang YANG ; Fupin HU ; Demei ZHU ; Yingchun XU ; Xiaojiang ZHANG ; Hui LI ; Ping JI ; Yi XIE ; Mei KANG ; Chuanqing WANG ; Pan FU ; Yuanhong XU ; Ying HUANG ; Ziyong SUN ; Zhongju CHEN ; Yuxing NI ; Jingyong SUN ; Yunzhuo CHU ; Sufei TIAN ; Zhidong HU ; Jin LI ; Yunsong YU ; Jie LIN ; Bin SHAN ; Yan DU ; Sufang GUO ; Lianhua WEI ; Fengmei ZOU ; Hong ZHANG ; Chun WANG ; Chao ZHUO ; Danhong SU ; Dawen GUO ; Jinying ZHAO ; Hua YU ; Xiangning HUANG ; Wen'en LIU ; Yanming LI ; Yan JIN ; Chunhong SHAO ; Xuesong XU ; Chao YAN ; Shanmei WANG ; Yafei CHU ; Lixia ZHANG ; Juan MA ; Shuping ZHOU ; Yan ZHOU ; Lei ZHU ; Jinhua MENG ; Fang DONG ; Zhiyong LÜ ; Fangfang HU ; Han SHEN ; Wanqing ZHOU ; Wei JIA ; Gang LI ; Jinsong WU ; Yuemei LU ; Jihong LI ; Jinju DUAN ; Jianbang KANG ; Xiaobo MA ; Yanping ZHENG ; Ruyi GUO ; Yan ZHU ; Yunsheng CHEN ; Qing MENG ; Shifu WANG ; Xuefei HU ; Jilu SHEN ; Wenhui HUANG ; Ruizhong WANG ; Hua FANG ; Bixia YU ; Yong ZHAO ; Ping GONG ; Kaizhen WENG ; Yirong ZHANG ; Jiangshan LIU ; Longfeng LIAO ; Hongqin GU ; Lin JIANG ; Wen HE ; Shunhong XUE ; Jiao FENG ; Chunlei YUE
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2025;25(5):557-562
Objective To examine the changing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in 52 hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were collected from 52 hospitals between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was tested using Kirby-Bauer method or automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems according to a unified protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)guidelines(2023 edition).Results A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were isolated from all age groups,especially elderly patients.The proportion was 11.1%(1 032 strains)in children,significantly lower than the proportion in adults.About half(46.5%,4 310/9 261)of the strains were isolated from patients at least 60 years old and 42.3%(3 919/9 261)of the strains were isolated from young adults.Most isolates(71.1%)were isolated from sputum and respiratory secretions,followed by urine(10.7%)and blood samples(8.1%).B.cepacia isolates were highly susceptible to the five antimicrobial agents recommended in the CLSI M100 document(33rd edition,2023).B.cepacia isolates showed relatively higher resistance rates to meropenem and levofloxacin.However,the resistance rates to ceftazidime,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,and minocycline remained below 8.1%.The percentage of B.cepacia strains resistant to levofloxacin was the highest compared to other antibiotics in any of the three age groups(from 12.4%in the patients<18 years old to 20.6%in the patients aged 60 years or older).Conclusions B.cepacia is one of the clinically important non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria.Accurate and timely reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility test results and ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance are helpful for rational prescription of antimicrobial agents and proper prevention and control of nosocomial infections.
6.Preparation of the Fusion Protein Between Diphtheria Toxin Mutants and the Receptor Binding Domain of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype E(EHc)Molecules and the Immunological Effect Evaluation
Qiu-Ju JIA ; Yao-Hui ZHAO ; Xiao-Yu LIU ; Shuo YU ; Jian-Sheng LU ; Yun-Zhou YU ; Ming LIAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1421-1431
CRM 197(cross-reacting material 197),a naturally occurring mutant of diphtheria toxin,is a safe and effective vaccine vector and extensively used on developing conjugate or combined vaccines.The mutant loses its enzymatic activity,but fully retains its receptor-binding ability and immunogenicity.In current work,the diphtheria toxin mutant CRM 197 and its fusion proteins with the receptor-binding do-main of botulinum neurotoxin serotype E(EHc)were developed using genetic engineering technology.These recombinant proteins were confirmed by Western blotting and SDS-PAGE.BALB/c mice were im-munized with the CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197 fusion proteins,and their immunogenicity was evalua-ted.These two fusion protein molecules,CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197,as subunit vaccines,elicited a robust humoral immune response targeting both CRM197 and EHc antigens in the immunized mice.Compared to the mixture of CRM197 and EHc,the mice vaccinated with the fusion proteins(CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197)induced higher levels of anti-CRM197 antibodies,and the mice vaccinated with EHc-CRM197 also generated strongest anti-EHc antibodies.Consequently,as a carrier molecule in the fusion protein vaccine,EHc enhances the immunogenicity of CRM197 molecules.Likewise,CRM197 boosts the immunogenicity of EHc in the EHc-CRM197 fusion protein.
7.Research status of arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds applied in medicine
Hui LU ; Guangze YAO ; Yujie WEI ; Hui WANG ; Xinyang ZHAO ; Senlin ZHU ; Yiling LIU ; Qianlei YANG ; Yan AN
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2025;44(3):253-258
Arsenic (organoarsenic) compound is one of the oldest drugs used by humans to treat various diseases. From its initial application in treating various skin diseases to the 1970s when arsenic trioxide (ATO) was proven to be able to significantly relieve acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds gradually occupied an important position in the history of medical development. This article reviews the pharmaceutical research progress of inorganic arsenic compounds and organic arsine compounds, covering anticancer, antiparasitic, antiviral and antibiotic aspects. It further explores the potential for developing new arsenic (organoarsenic) drugs with higher efficacy and lower toxicity, aiming to provide new research directions and ideas for the application of arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds in disease treatment.
8.Comparative experimental study of sodium benzoate and corticosterone in a mouse model of asthenozoospermia with high sperm DNA fragmentation
Zonglin LU ; Haiyang ZHAO ; Hui WANG ; Xin WANG ; Zixue SUN
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(3):48-57
Objective To prepare a mouse model of asthenozoospermia(AZS)with high sperm DNA fragmentation(SDF)using corticosterone(CORT)and sodium benzoate(NaB).Methods Fifty 3-week-old male ICR mice were divided randomly into CORT-treated(n=30)and NaB-treated(n=20)groups.The CORT group was further divided into the following six groups(n=5 per group):high CORT(500 μg/mL),medium CORT(200 μg/mL),and low CORT(10 μg/mL)drinking water group,drinking water control group,CORT injection(40 mg/kg)group,and injection control group(normal saline).The animals were modeled continuously for 50 d.Mice in the NaB group were further divided into four groups(n=5 per group):high NaB(500 mg/kg),medium NaB(300 mg/kg),and low NaB(100 mg/kg)gavage groups,and control group(normal saline).The animals were modeled continuously for 50 d.The physiological state of the mice in each group was observed and mass changes were recorded continuously.The sperm motility capacity and DNA fragmentation index(DFI)of the sperm were observed from the tail of the epididymis after the end of the modeling.Results The rate of mass change in the CORT-injection moding group showed a downward trend.There was no significant difference(P>0.05)in the high NaB gavage group,and the rate of body mass change in the high NaB gavage group was significantly decreased compared with the control group(P<0.05).The percentages of forward motility sperm were significantly decreased in the CORT injection group(P>0.05)and the percentage in the high NaB gavage group(P<0.05),compared with the control group.The DFI was increased in the CORT injection group compared with the control group,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05),and the DFI in the high NaB gavage group was significantly increased compared with the control group(P<0.05).Conclusions Intragastric gavage with NaB 500 mg/(kg·d)for 50 d is an ideal method for constructing an animal model of AZS with high SDF.
9.Research status of arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds applied in medicine
Hui LU ; Guangze YAO ; Yujie WEI ; Hui WANG ; Xinyang ZHAO ; Senlin ZHU ; Yiling LIU ; Qianlei YANG ; Yan AN
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2025;44(3):253-258
Arsenic (organoarsenic) compound is one of the oldest drugs used by humans to treat various diseases. From its initial application in treating various skin diseases to the 1970s when arsenic trioxide (ATO) was proven to be able to significantly relieve acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds gradually occupied an important position in the history of medical development. This article reviews the pharmaceutical research progress of inorganic arsenic compounds and organic arsine compounds, covering anticancer, antiparasitic, antiviral and antibiotic aspects. It further explores the potential for developing new arsenic (organoarsenic) drugs with higher efficacy and lower toxicity, aiming to provide new research directions and ideas for the application of arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds in disease treatment.
10.Mechanism of bexarotene in suppressing double hit lymphoma via modulation of the c-Myc pathway:Insights from WGCNA
Tiantian HE ; Hongyi LI ; Jie GENG ; Chuandong HOU ; Hong ZHANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Peng ZHAO ; Xuechun LU ; Peifeng HE
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2025;32(7):716-722
Objective:To investigate the molecular mechanisms of bexarotene in treating double hit lymphoma(DHL)based on Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis(WGCNA),thereby providing potential targets and experimental evidence for DHL treatment.Methods:The gene expression datasets GSE44164 and GSE43677 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,and differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified.WGCNA was employed to identify gene modules associated with DHL.A protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed to screen for key hub genes.Drug-gene association analysis was conducted using the EpiMed platform to identify potential targeted drugs for DHL.The effects of bexarotene on DHL cell proliferation and key protein expression were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay and Western blotting(WB),and its effects on cell apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry.Results:WGCNA identified a turquoise module highly associated with DHL,and 10 hub genes(COL1A2,COL3A1,MMP2,COL5A2,DCN,BGN,FN1,MMP9,FBN1,and LUM)were screened from the PPI network.Drug association analysis nominated bexarotene as a potential therapeutic agent.In vitro validation demonstrated that bexarotene significantly inhibited U2932 cell viability(P<0.05),promoted cell apoptosis(P<0.001),and downregulated c-Myc and COL1A2 expression(P<0.05).Conclusion:Bexarotene may exert anti-DHL effects by suppressing the c-Myc signaling pathway and modulating extracellular matrix-related genes.Further studies are warranted to validate its in vivo efficacy and potential for combination therapy.


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