1.The Mechanism of Blue Light in Inactivating Microorganisms and Its Applications in The Food and Medical Fields
Ruo-Hong BI ; Rong-Qian WU ; Yi LÜ ; Xiao-Fei LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1219-1228
Blue light inactivation technology, particularly at the 405 nm wavelength, has demonstrated distinct and multifaceted mechanisms of action against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, offering a promising alternative to conventional antibiotic therapies. For Gram-positive pathogens such as Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the bactericidal effects are primarily mediated by endogenous porphyrins (e.g., protoporphyrin III, coproporphyrin III, and uroporphyrin III), which exhibit strong absorption peaks between 400-430 nm. Upon irradiation, these porphyrins are photoexcited to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), including singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anions, which collectively induce oxidative damage to cellular components. Early studies by Endarko et al. revealed that (405±5) nm blue light at 185 J/cm² effectively inactivated L. monocytogenes without exogenous photosensitizers, supporting the hypothesis of intrinsic photosensitizer involvement. Subsequent work by Masson-Meyers et al. demonstrated that 405 nm light at 121 J/cm² suppressed MRSA growth by activating endogenous porphyrins, leading to ROS accumulation. Kim et al. further elucidated that ROS generated under 405 nm irradiation directly interact with unsaturated fatty acids in bacterial membranes, initiating lipid peroxidation. This process disrupts membrane fluidity, compromises structural integrity, and impairs membrane-bound proteins, ultimately causing cell death. In contrast, Gram-negative bacteria such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii exhibit more complex inactivation pathways. While endogenous porphyrins remain central to ROS generation, studies reveal additional photodynamic contributors, including flavins (e.g., riboflavin) and bacterial pigments. For instance, H. pylori naturally accumulates protoporphyrin and coproporphyrin mixtures, enabling efficient 405 nm light-mediated inactivation without antibiotic resistance concerns. Kim et al. demonstrated that 405 nm light at 288 J/cm² inactivates Salmonella by inducing genomic DNA oxidation (e.g., 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine formation) and disrupting membrane functions, particularly efflux pumps and glucose uptake systems. Huang et al. highlighted the enhanced efficacy of pulsed 405 nm light over continuous irradiation for E. coli, attributing this to increased membrane damage and optimized ROS generation through frequency-dependent photodynamic effects. Environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and osmotic stress further modulate susceptibility, sublethal stress conditions (e.g., high salinity or acidic environments) weaken bacterial membranes, rendering cells more vulnerable to subsequent ROS-mediated damage. The 405 nm blue light inactivates drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa through endogenous porphyrins, pyocyanin, and pyoverdine, with the inactivation efficacy influenced by bacterial growth phase and culture medium composition. Intriguingly, repeated 405 nm exposure (20 cycles) failed to induce resistance in A. baumannii, with transient tolerance linked to transient overexpression of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase) or stress-response genes (e.g., oxyR). For Gram-positive bacteria, porphyrin abundance dictates sensitivity, whereas in Gram-negative species, membrane architecture and accessory pigments modulate outcomes. Critically, ROS-mediated damage is nonspecific, targeting DNA, proteins, and lipids simultaneously, thereby minimizing resistance evolution. The 405 nm blue light technology, as a non-chemical sterilization method, shows promise in medical and food industries. It enhances infection control through photodynamic therapy and disinfection, synergizing with red light for anti-inflammatory treatments (e.g., acne). In food processing, it effectively inactivates pathogens (e.g., E. coli, S. aureus) without altering food quality. Despite efficacy against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, challenges include device standardization, limited penetration in complex materials, and optimization of photosensitizers/light parameters. Interdisciplinary research is needed to address these limitations and scale applications in healthcare, food safety, and environmental decontamination.
2.Spatiotemporal distribution of Aedes albopictus and its influencing factors in China from 2000 to 2019
Zerui JIAO ; Lei QU ; Duoquan WANG ; Yi ZHANG ; Shan LÜ
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(3):268-275
Objective To investigate the spatial distribution of Aedes albopictus in China at different time periods from 2000 to 2019, so as to provide insights into precise management of Ae. albopictus in China. Methods Data pertaining to the distribution of Ae. albopictus in China from 2000 to 2019 were collected through literature retrieval with terms of “Aedes albopictus”, “monitoring”, “survey”, “density”, “distribution”, and “outbreak” in national and international databases. The title and time of the publication, sampling sites, sampling time, mosquito capture methods, and mosquito species and density were extracted, and the longitude and latitude of sampling sites were obtained through Baidu Map. Meteorological element data at meteorological observation stations within China were obtained from the National Climatic Data Center of the United States, and the annual maximum temperature, annual minimum temperature, average temperature in January, average temperature in July, annual temperature range, daily temperature range and relative humidity were calculated and subjected to Kriging interpolation. Monthly cumulative precipitation grid data and monthly average temperature grid data with a resolution of 1 km for China from 2000 to 2019 were obtained from the National Tibetan Plateau Scientific Data Center, and the annual precipitation and annual average temperature were calculated cumulatively. Population density data in China from 2000 to 2019 were obtained from the WorldPop Hub, and the gross domestic product (GDP) in China was obtained from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The above data were divided into 5-year intervals to calculate data during the periods from 2000 to 2004, from 2005 to 2009, from 2010 to 2014, and from 2015 to 2019. Ae. albopictus distribution data were modeled in China from 2000 to 2019 and during each period with the classification random forest (RF) model, to predict the distribution of Ae. albopictus across the country and analyze the distribution of Ae. albopictus based on the seven major climate zones in China. The performance of RF models was evaluated by accuracy, precision, recall, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and the importance of each feature in the RF model was evaluated with mean decrease accuracy (MDA). Results A total of 1 191 Chinese publictions and 391 English publications were retrieved, among which 580 articles provided detailed data on the sampling sites of Ae. albopictus and specific sampling years, meeting the inclusion criteria. A total of 2 234 Ae. albopictus sampling sites were included in China from 2000 to 2019, and RF modeling results showed that the overall Ae. Albopictus distribution area was mainly found in southeastern and southwestern provinces of China from 2000 to 2019, with scattered distribution in coastal areas of northeastern provinces, such as Liaoning Province. The accuracy, precision, recall and AUC of the RF model were 0.915 to 0.947, 0.933 to 0.975, 0.898 to 0.978, and 0.902 to 0.932 for the distribution of Ae. albopictus at different time periods from 2000 to 2019. Among all features in the RF models, population density was the most contributing factor to the distribution of Ae. albopictus in China, followed by GDP, and all meteorological variables contributed relatively less to the predictive power of the RF model. In China’s seven major climate zones, Ae. albopictus was almost entirely distributed in the marginal tropical humid region, the north subtropical humid region, and the warm temperate semi-humid region. The combined distribution area of these three zones accounted for 100.0% of the national distribution area from 2000 to 2004, from 2005 to 2009, and from 2010 to 2014, and 99.9% from 2015 to 2019, and the proportion of Ae. albopictus distribution area in the warm temperate semihumid region increased gradually from 20.2% to 30.2%. Conclusions Ae. albopictus is mainly distributed in the southeastern and southwestern provinces of China and is greatly influenced by population and economic factors. The warm temperate semi-humid region in China is gradually becoming a hot spot for the distribution of Ae. albopictus.
3.The Role of Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells-mediated Muscle Regeneration in The Treatment of Age-related Sarcopenia
Wei-Xiu JI ; Jia-Lin LÜ ; Yi-Fan MA ; Yun-Gang ZHAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2033-2050
Age-related sarcopenia is a progressive, systemic skeletal muscle disorder associated with aging. It is primarily characterized by a significant decline in muscle mass, strength, and physical function, rather than being an inevitable consequence of normal aging. Despite ongoing research, there is still no globally unified consensus among physicians regarding the diagnostic criteria and clinical indicators of this condition. Nonetheless, regardless of the diagnostic standards applied, the prevalence of age-related sarcopenia remains alarmingly high. With the global population aging at an accelerating rate, its incidence is expected to rise further, posing a significant public health challenge. Age-related sarcopenia not only markedly increases the risk of physical disability but also profoundly affects patients’ quality of life, independence, and overall survival. As such, the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies to mitigate its dual burden on both societal and individual health has become an urgent and critical priority. Skeletal muscle regeneration, a vital physiological process for maintaining muscle health, is significantly impaired in age-related sarcopenia and is considered one of its primary underlying causes. Skeletal muscle satellite cells (MSCs), also known as muscle stem cells, play a pivotal role in generating new muscle fibers and maintaining muscle mass and function. A decline in both the number and functionality of MSCs is closely linked to the onset and progression of sarcopenia. This dysfunction is driven by alterations in intrinsic MSC mechanisms—such as Notch, Wnt/β‑Catenin, and mTOR signaling pathways—as well as changes in transcription factors and epigenetic modifications. Additionally, the MSC microenvironment, including both the direct niche formed by skeletal muscle fibers and their secreted cytokines, and the indirect niche composed of extracellular matrix proteins and various cell types, undergoes age-related changes. Mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic inflammation further contribute to MSC impairment, ultimately leading to the development of sarcopenia. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for age-related sarcopenia. Nutritional intervention and exercise remain the cornerstone of therapeutic strategies. Adequate protein intake, coupled with sufficient energy provision, is fundamental to both the prevention and treatment of this condition. Adjuvant therapies, such as dietary supplements and caloric restriction, offer additional therapeutic potential. Exercise promotes muscle regeneration and ameliorates sarcopenia by acting on MSCs through various mechanisms, including mechanical stress, myokine secretion, distant cytokine signaling, immune modulation, and epigenetic regulation. When combined with a structured exercise regimen, adequate protein intake has been shown to be particularly effective in preventing age-related sarcopenia. However, traditional interventions may be inadequate for patients with limited mobility, poor overall health, or advanced sarcopenia. Emerging therapeutic strategies—such as miRNA mimics or inhibitors, gut microbiota transplantation, and stem cell therapy—present promising new directions for MSC-based interventions. This review comprehensively examines recent advances in MSC-mediated muscle regeneration in age-related sarcopenia and systematically discusses therapeutic strategies targeting MSC regulation to enhance muscle mass and strength. The goal is to provide a theoretical foundation and identify future research directions for the prevention and treatment of this increasingly prevalent condition.
4.Rapid Screening of 34 Emerging Contaminants in Surface Water by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS
Chen-Shan LÜ ; Yi-Xuan CAO ; Xiao-Xi MU ; Hai-Yan CUI ; Tao WANG ; Zhi-Wen WEI ; Ke-Ming YUN ; Meng HU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;40(1):30-36
Objective To establish a rapid screening method for 34 emerging contaminants in surface water by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS).Methods The pretreatment conditions of solid phase extraction(SPE)were op-timized by orthogonal experimental design and the surface water samples were concentrated and ex-tracted by Oasis? HLB and Oasis? MCX SPE columns in series.The extracts were separated by Kine-tex? EVO C18 column,with gradient elution of 0.1%formic acid aqueous solution and 0.1%formic acid methanol solution.Q-TOF-MS'fullscan'and'targeted MS/MS'modes were used to detect 34 emerging contaminants and to establish a database with 34 emerging contaminants precursor ion,prod-uct ion and retention times.Results The 34 emerging contaminants exhibited good linearity in the con-centration range respectively and the correlation coefficients(r)were higher than 0.97.The limit of de-tection was 0.2-10 ng/L and the recoveries were 81.2%-119.2%.The intra-day precision was 0.78%-18.70%.The method was applied to analyze multiple surface water samples and 6 emerging contaminants were detected,with a concentration range of 1.93-157.71 ng/L.Conclusion The method is simple and rapid for screening various emerging contaminants at the trace level in surface water.
5.Molecular tracing of Biomphalaria straminea in China
Lei DUAN ; Lei QU ; Yunhai GUO ; Wenbiao GU ; Shan LÜ ; Yi ZHANG ; Xiaonong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2024;36(3):272-278
Objective To investigate the origin of Biomphalaria straminea in China, so as to provide insights into assessment of schistosomiasis mansoni transmission risk and B. straminea control. Methods Guanlan River, Dasha River, Shenzhen Reservoir, upper and lower reaches of Kuiyong River, and Xinzhen River in Shenzhen, China, were selected as sampling sites. Ten Biomphalaria samples were collected from each site, and genomic DNA was extracted from Biomphalaria samples. DNA samples were obtained from 15 B. straminea sampled from 5 sampling sites in Minas Gerais State, Pará State, Federal District, Pernambuco State, and Sao Paulo State in Brazil, South America. Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) genes were sampled using the above DNA templates, and the amplified products were sequenced. The COI and 16S rRNA gene sequences were downloaded from GenBank, and the sampling sites were acquired. All COI and 16S rRNA gene sequences were aligned and evolutionary trees of B. straminea were created based on COI and 16S rRNA gene sequences to identify the genetic similarity and evolutionary relationship between B. straminea samples from China and South America. Results A total of 60 COI gene sequences with a length of 529 bp and 3 haplotypes were obtained from B. straminea sampled from China. There were 165 COI gene sequences of B. straminea retrieved from GenBank, and following alignment with the above 60 gene sequences, a total of 33 haplotypes were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the three haplotypes of B. straminea from China were clustered into one clade, among which the haplotype China11 and three B. straminea samples from Brazil retrieved from GenBank belonged to the same haplotype. Geographical evolution analysis showed that the B. straminea samples from three sampling sites along eastern coasts of Brazil had the same haplotype with China11, and B. straminea samples from other two sampling sites were closely, genetically related to China11. A total of 60 16S rDNA gene sequences with approximately 322 bp in length were amplified from B. straminea in China, with 2 haplotypes identified. A total of 70 16S rDNA gene sequences of B. straminea were captured from GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Biomphalaria snails collected from China were clustered into a clade, and the haplotype China64 and the haplotype 229BS from Brazil shared the same haplotype. The 49 16S rDNA gene sequences of B. straminea from 25 sampling sites in southern Brazil, which were captured from GenBank, were included in the present analysis, and the B. straminea from 3 sampling sites shared the same haplotype with China64 in China. Geographical evolution analysis based on COI and 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that B. straminea sampled from eastern coastal areas of Brazil shared the same haplotypes in two gene fragment sequences with Biomphalaria snails collected from China. Conclusions The Biomphalaria snails in China are characterized as B. straminea, which have a low genetic diversity. The Biomphalaria snails in China have a high genetic similarity with B. straminea sampled from eastern coastal areas of Brazil, which may have originated from the eastern coastal areas of Brazil.
6.Effects of Shiquan Dabu Decoction on cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease through regulation of synaptic function
Zi-He GUO ; Yi WANG ; Meng-Yao ZHU ; Hai-Yang YUAN ; Xin LÜ ; Yue-Song GONG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(1):72-78
AIM To explore the effects of Shiquan Dabu Decoction on the synaptic function and cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease(AD).METHODS Sixty mice were randomly divided into the control group,the model group,the memantine group(5 mg/kg)and the high,medium and low dose Shiquan Dabu Decoction groups(6.24,3.12 and 1.56 g/kg),with 10 mice in each group.Except for those of the control group,the mice of other groups underwent their 70-day AD models induction by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose and gavage feeding of AlCl3,followed by 42-day corresponding dosing of drugs by gavage on the 29th day.The mice had their spatial learning and associative memory detected by Morris water maze test and conditioned fear test;their morphological changes of hippocampal neurons observed by HE staining;their serum SOD activity,MDA level,and SOD,AChE activities and MDA,ACh,TNF-α and IL-1β levels in hippocampus detected by kits;and their PSD-95,Shank3,NR1,NR2A,NR2B,AMPK and p-AMPK protein expressions in hippocampus detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the high-dose Shiquan Dabu Decoction group displayed improved spatial learning and memory ability and associative memory(P<0.05,P<0.01);reduced pathological damage of hippocampal neurons,decreased levels of oxidative stress and inflammation(P<0.05,P<0.01);enhanced cholinergic transmission(P<0.05,P<0.01),and increased protein expressions of PSD-95,Shank3,NR1,NR2A,NR2B,and p-AMPK in hippocampal tissue(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Shiquan Dabu Decoction can improve the cognitive impairment of in the mouse model of AD,and its mechanism may be related to AMPK activation and synaptic function restoration.
7.Advances in Salmonella -mediated targeted tumor therapy
Zhao-rui LÜ ; Dong-yi LI ; Yu-yang ZHU ; He-qi HUANG ; Hao-nan LI ; Zi-chun HUA
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(1):17-24
italic>Salmonella has emerged as a promising tumor-targeting strategy in recent years due to its good tumor targeting ability and certain safety. In order to further optimize its therapeutic effect, scientists have tried to modify
8.Synthesis and antibacterial activity evaluation of octapeptin derivatives
He-xian YANG ; A-long CUI ; Yong-jian WANG ; Shi-bo KOU ; Miao LÜ ; Hong YI ; Zhuo-rong LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(1):152-160
Octapeptin has strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria such as
9.Effects of three sterilization methods on the magnetic flux of magnetic surgical devices and analysis of sterilization cost
Feng MA ; Aihua SHI ; Xiaoyan ZENG ; Fang BAI ; Ningxia JIA ; Hao XUE ; Fengling WANG ; Yan LI ; Xufeng ZHANG ; Yi LÜ ; Lingling SHI
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(4):669-673
Objective To analyze the effects of three sterilization methods,namely,pressure steam,low-temperature plasma and ethylene oxide,on the magnetic flux of magnetic surgical devices and their sterilization costs.Methods A total of 234 magnetic surgical devices of different specifications and models(magnetic rings)were randomly divided into Group A,Group B and Group C after the paired number was labelled,and each group consisted of 78 pieces(39 pairs).After packaging each pair of devices according to sterilization specifications,Group A was sterilized by pressure steam,Group B was sterilized by low-temperature plasma,and Group C was sterilized by ethylene oxide.We measured the magnetic flux of three sets of magnetic rings before and after sterilization,and comparatively analyzed the sterilization cost and sterilization time of the single package.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the impact of the three sterilization methods on the magnetic flux of the magnetic surgical devices(P>0.05),but there was a significant difference in the magnetic flux before and after sterilization for each sterilization method(P<0.001);the sterilization cost was(1.96±0.16)yuan for Group A,(23.17±0.32)yuan for Group B,and(8.16±0.18)yuan for Group C,showing statistically significant differences among the three groups(P<0.01).The sterilization time was(65.21±3.36)min for Group A,(45.46±1.39)min for Group B,and(1020.38±12.21)min for Group C,with statistically significant differences among the three groups(P<0.01).Conclusion None of the three sterilization methods affects the magnetic flux of the magnetic surgical devices.Pressure steam method shows the lowest cost of single package,low-temperature plasma method shows the highest cost of single package,while ethylene oxide method shows the highest sterilization time.Pressure steam should be the preferred sterilization method for magnetic surgical devices.
10.Effect of Hirudo on autophagy in atherosclerotic mice
Qian-Qian HAN ; Yun-Yun PAN ; Zi-Yun WEN ; Qing LÜ ; Liang WEI ; Meng-Yi LI ; Min HONG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(5):688-692
Objective To explore the anti-atherosclerosis mechanism of Hirudo and its effect on autophagy in mice.Methods Forty healthy male ApoE-/-mice were randomly divided into model group,control group(3 × 10-3 g·kg-1·d-1 simvastatin)and experimental-L,experimental-M,experimental-H groups(0.45,0.9,1.8 g·kg-1· d-1,Maixuekang capsule).Eight healthy male C57BL/6J mice were divided into blank group.The mice were fed with common diet for 1 week.Then,except blank group,other groups were fed with high-fat diet.After 8 weeks of modeling,the atherosclerosis(AS)mice were given drugs orally once a day for 12 weeks,and fed with high-fat diet in the meantime.The levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The levels of Beclin-1,LC3 autophagy protein were detected by Western blot method.Results The IL-6 contents in the experimental-H,experimental-M,experimental-L,control,model and blank groups were(107.59±3.03),(99.31±5.12),(103.52±2.28),(98.68±4.68),(112.66±6.08),(93.98±3.43)pg·mL-1;the TNF-α contents were(538.41±30.26),(504.49±21.51),(538.51±19.05),(494.05±25.08),(578.53±26.32),(467.35±21.53)pg·mL-1.For the above indexes,the differences between model group and experimental-H group,experimental-M group,experimental-L group,control group,blank group were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).The Beclin-1 protein expression levels in the experimental-H,experimental-M,experimental-L,control and model groups were 1.48±0.05,1.72±0.05,1.19±0.02,1.51±0.04,0.66±0.03;the LC3 Ⅱ protein expression levels were 1.53±0.01,1.83±0.02,1.16±0.01,1.90±0.01,0.49±0.01,and the differences between model group and experimental-H group,experimental-M group,experimental-L group,control group were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).Conclusion Hirudo can significantly reduce the area of atherosclerotic plaque by regulating the level of autophagy.

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