L-citrulline is a nonprotein amino acid that plays an important role in human health and has great market demand. Although microbial cell factories have been widely used for biosynthesis, there are still challenges such as genetic instability and low efficiency in the biosynthesis of L-citrulline. In this study, an efficient, plasmid-free, non-inducible L-citrulline-producing strain of Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) was engineered by combined strategies. Firstly, a chassis strain capable of synthesizing L-citrulline was constructed by block of L-citrulline degradation and removal of feedback inhibition, with the L-citrulline titer of 0.43 g/L. Secondly, a push-pull-restrain strategy was employed to enhance the L-citrulline biosynthesis, which realized the L-citrulline titer of 6.0 g/L. Thirdly, the NADPH synthesis and L-citrulline transport were strengthened to promote the synthesis efficiency, which achieved the L-citrulline titer of 11.6 g/L. Finally, fed-batch fermentation was performed with the engineered strain in a 3 L fermenter, in which the L-citrulline titer reached 44.9 g/L. This study lays the foundation for the industrial production of L-citrulline and provides insights for the modification of other amino acid metabolic networks.
Citrulline/biosynthesis* ; Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Metabolic Engineering/methods* ; Fermentation ; NADP/biosynthesis*

The comparison between traditional Chinese medicine Jinzhen oral liquid (JZOL) and Western medicine in treating children with acute bronchitis (AB) showed encouraging outcomes. This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the JZOL for improving cough and expectoration in children with AB. 480 children were randomly assigned to take JZOL or ambroxol hydrochloride and clenbuterol hydrochloride oral solution for 7 days. The primary outcome was time-to-cough resolution. The median time-to-cough resolution in both groups was 5.0 days and the antitussive onset median time was only 1 day. This randomized controlled trial showed that JZOL was not inferior to cough suppressant and phlegm resolving western medicine in treating cough and sputum and could comprehensively treat respiratory and systemic discomfort symptoms. Combined with clinical trials, the mechanism of JZOL against AB was uncovered by network target analysis, it was found that the pathways in TRP channels like IL-1β/IL1R/TRPV1/TRPA1, NGF/TrkA/TRPV1/TRPA1, and PGE2/EP/PKA/TRPV1/TRPA1 might play important roles. Animal experiments further confirmed that inflammation and the immune regulatory effect of JZOL in the treatment of AB were of vital importance and TRP channels were the key mechanism of action.

Genome-scale metabolic network model (GSMM) is an extremely important guiding tool in the targeted modification of industrial microbial strains, which helps researchers to quickly obtain industrial microbes with specific traits and has attracted increasing attention. Here we reviewe the development history of GSMM and summarized the construction method of GSMM. Furthermore, the development and application of GSMM in industrial microorganisms are elaborated by using four typical industrial microorganisms (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as examples. In addition, prospects in the development trend of GSMM are proposed.
Corynebacterium glutamicum/genetics* ; Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Metabolic Engineering ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics*

Objective To investigate the potential association of Ghrelin(GHRL)gene polymorphisms susceptible to schizophrenia by case-control study.Methods Six hundred and thirty-four patients,six hundred and six healthy control subjects were recruited.Four SNPs rs696217,rs26802,rs27647 and rs26311 were detected by the polymerase chain reaction-based-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.Results No significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies of the four SNPs were observed between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls (Pvalues of genotype frequencies were 0.649,0.944,0.410,0.826;P values of allele frequencies were 0.773,0.992,0.301,0.723).However,seven haplotypes(GAAG,GAGC,GAGG,GCGC,GCGG,TAGC,TAGG)showed significant differences in frequency between schizophrenic and control groups(P values were 0.011,0.001,1.76×10-6,9.84×10-10,1.38×10-9,2.12×10-5,2.57×10-6).Conclusion These data suggest that the GHRL gene may not be associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population.However,the haplotype of GA may be the susceptive factor of schizophrenia.

Abdominal breathing is an effective training method for relaxation.It is applicable for resolving sub-health problems in autonomic nervous malfunction and curing some kinds of psychosomatic disorders.In order to improve its training effect,we develop a kind of abdominal breathing training instrument on the basis of the principle of biofeedback.With both features of biofeedback and breathing training apparatus,it may simultaneously feedback the training effect to the trainer during the abdominal breathing training,and the trainer may regulate his breathing mode for desirable effects.In this paper,the instrument is described in such aspects as the circuit design,composition and clinical application.It is an economical,safe and effective instrument,which can be used in Health Promotion Project.