Ionic liquid extraction of silkworm pupa protein and its biological characteristics

Zeng Qing-Lei,Zhang Ning,Zhang Yue-Yue,Xin Xiang-Dong,Attaribo Thomas,Shao Ying,Tang Liu-Mei,Zhang Ran,이광식,진병래,Gui Zhongzheng 한국응용곤충학회 2021 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.24 No.1

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupa protein (SPP) is a high-quality source of animal protein with substantial nutri tional benefits and health value. To develop an efficient extraction method for SPP that is environmentally friendly, we selected choline hydroxide ionic liquid (CH-IL) as the extraction solvent and performed orthogonal experiments to optimize the extraction conditions. We demonstrated that 3% CH-IL, a solid-to-liquid ratio (g/mL) of 1:30, an extraction temperature of 40 ◦ C, and an extraction time of 1 h facilitated the most efficient extraction. Compared to the conventional alkali solubilization–acid precipitation method, the CH-IL extraction increased protein content by 12.14%. Protein structure analysis showed that the β-sheet content increased by 10.98% and that of disulfide bonds reduced by 16.4%. The processing properties of the CH-IL extracted protein showed that the solubility, emulsification, and foaming capacity were enhanced by 82.87%, 15.44%, and 18.97%, respec tively. The physical properties of SPP remarkably improved relative to the increased stretching of the poly peptide chains. The findings of this study provide technical knowledge that will enhance the processing performance of pupal proteins.

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are Associated with Viral Persistence and Downregulation of TCR ζ Chain Expression on CD8⁺ T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Zeng, Qing-Lei,Yang, Bin,Sun, Hong-Qi,Feng, Guo-Hua,Jin, Lei,Zou, Zheng-Sheng,Zhang, Zheng,Zhang, Ji-Yuan,Wang, Fu-Sheng Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.1

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in impairing the function of T cells. We characterized MDSCs in two chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohorts: a cross-sectional group that included 61 treatment-naive patients with CHC, 14 rapid virologic response (RVR) cases and 22 early virologic response (EVR) cases; and a longitudinal group of 13 cases of RVR and 10 cases of EVR after pegylated-interferon-${\alpha}$/ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b HCV infection. Liver samples from 32 CHC patients and six healthy controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. MDSCs frequency in treatment-naive CHC was significantly higher than in RVR, EVR, or healthy subjects and was positively correlated with HCV RNA. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2a had a significantly higher frequency of MDSCs than those infected with genotype 1b. Decreased T cell receptor (TCR) ${\zeta}$ expression on $CD8^+$ T cells was significantly associated with an increased frequency of MDSCs in treatment-naive CHC patients and was restored by L-arginine treatment in vitro. Increased numbers of liver arginase-$1^+$ cells were closely associated with the histological activity index in CHC. The TCR ${\zeta}$ chain was significantly downregulated on hepatic $CD8^+$ T cells in CHC. During antiviral follow up, MDSCs frequency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was directly correlated with the HCV RNA load in the plasma and inversely correlated with TCR ${\zeta}$ chain expression in $CD8^+$ T cells in both RVR and EVR cases. Notably, the RVR group had a higher frequency of MDSCs at baseline than the EVR group. Collectively, this study provides evidence that MDSCs might be associated with HCV persistence and downregulation of CD8 ${\zeta}$ chain expression.

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are Associated with Viral Persistence and Downregulation of TCRζ Chain Expression on CD8+ T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Qing-Lei Zeng,Bin Yang,Hong-Qi Sun,Guo-Hua Feng,Lei Jin,Zheng-Sheng Zou,Zheng Zhang,Ji-Yuan Zhang,Fu-Sheng Wang 한국분자세포생물학회 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.1

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in impairing the function of T cells. We characterized MDSCs in two chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohorts: a cross-sectional group that included 61 treatment-naive patients with CHC, 14 rapid virologic response (RVR) cases and 22 early virologic response (EVR) cases; and a longitudinal group of 13 cases of RVR and 10 cases of EVR after pegylated-interferon-α/ribavirin treatment for genotype 1b HCV infection. Liver samples from 32 CHC patients and six healthy controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. MDSCs frequency in treatmentnaive CHC was significantly higher than in RVR, EVR, or healthy subjects and was positively correlated with HCV RNA. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2a had a significantly higher frequency of MDSCs than those infected with genotype 1b. Decreased T cell receptor (TCR) ζ expression on CD8+ T cells was significantly associated with an increased frequency of MDSCs in treatment-naive CHC patients and was restored by L-arginine treatment in vitro. Increased numbers of liver arginase-1+ cells were closely associated with the histological activity index in CHC. The TCR ζ chain was significantly downregulated on hepatic CD8+ T cells in CHC. During antiviral follow up, MDSCs frequency in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was directly correlated with the HCV RNA load in the plasma and inversely correlated with TCR ζ chain expression in CD8+ T cells in both RVR and EVR cases. Notably, the RVR group had a higher frequency of MDSCs at baseline than the EVR group. Collectively, this study provides evidence that MDSCs might be associated with HCV persistence and downregulation of CD8 ζ chain expression.

Clinical Model for Predicting Hepatocellular Carcinomas in Patients with Post-Sustained Virologic Responses of Chronic Hepatitis C: A Case Control Study

( Qing-lei Zeng ),( Bing Li ),( Xue-xiu Zhang ),( Yan Chen ),( Yan-ling Fu ),( Jun Lv ),( Yan-min Liu ),( Zu-jiang Yu ) 대한소화기학회 2016 Gut and Liver Vol.10 No.6

Background/Aims: No clinical model exists to predict the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in sustained virologic response-achieving (HCC after SVR) patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Methods: We performed a case-control study using a clinical database to research the risk factors for HCC after SVR. A predictive model based on risk factors was established, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated. Results: In the multivariate model, an initial diagnosis of compensated cirrhosis and post-SVR albumin reductions of 1 g/L were associated with 21.7-fold (95% CI, 4.2 to 112.3; p< 0.001) and 1.3-fold (95% CI, 1.1 to 1.7; p=0.004) increases in the risk of HCC after SVR, respectively. A predictive model based on an initial diagnosis of compensated cirrhosis (yes, +1; no, 0) and post- SVR albumin ≤36.0 g/L (yes, +1; not, 0) predicted the occurrence of HCC after SVR with a cutoff value of >0, an AUC of 0.880, a sensitivity of 0.833, a specificity of 0.896, and a negative predictive value of 0.956. Conclusions: An initial diagnosis of compensated cirrhosis combined with a post-SVR albumin value of ≤36.0 g/L predicts the occurrence of HCC after SVR in patients with CHC. (Gut Liver 2016;10:955-961)

Influences of Solution pH and Redox Potential on the Bioleaching of LiCoO2 from Spent Lithium-ion Batteries

Lei Li,Gui-sheng Zeng,Shenglian Luo,Xiao-rong Deng,Qing-ji Xie 한국응용생명화학회 2013 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.56 No.2

The influences of solution pH and redox potential on bioleaching of LiCoO2 from spent lithium-ion batteries using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were investigated. Bioleaching at different initial pH and ferrous ion (Fe2+) concentrations were carried out, and electrochemical behavior of LiCoO2 dissolution was examined to study the effect of solution redox potential on the bioleaching process. The results showed maximum cobalt dissolution at initial pH of 1.5 and initial Fe2+ concentration of 35 g/L, and cobalt dissolution showed only slight relationship with pH of solution. Nonetheless, there was improvement of cobalt dissolution at higher redox potential. The cyclic voltammograms showed that dissolution rates increase when the solution potentials are higher than 0.4 V, and rapid decrease at 1.3 V. The anodic polarization curves indicated that the corrosion, primary passive, and passivation potentials were 0.420, 0.776 and 0.802 V, respectively.

Influences of Solution pH and Redox Potential on the Bioleaching of $LiCoO_2$ from Spent Lithium-ion Batteries

Li, Lei,Zeng, Gui-Sheng,Luo, Sheng-Lian,Deng, Xiao-Rong,Xie, Qing-Ji 한국응용생명화학회 2013 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.56 No.2

The influences of solution pH and redox potential on bioleaching of $LiCoO_2$ from spent lithium-ion batteries using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were investigated. Bioleaching at different initial pH and ferrous ion ($Fe^{2+}$) concentrations were carried out, and electrochemical behavior of $LiCoO_2$ dissolution was examined to study the effect of solution redox potential on the bioleaching process. The results showed maximum cobalt dissolution at initial pH of 1.5 and initial $Fe^{2+}$ concentration of 35 g/L, and cobalt dissolution showed only slight relationship with pH of solution. Nonetheless, there was improvement of cobalt dissolution at higher redox potential. The cyclic voltammograms showed that dissolution rates increase when the solution potentials are higher than 0.4 V, and rapid decrease at 1.3 V. The anodic polarization curves indicated that the corrosion, primary passive, and passivation potentials were 0.420, 0.776 and 0.802 V, respectively.

Comparative Analysis on Antioxidative Ability of Muscle between Laiwu Pig and Large White

Chen, Wei,Zhu, Hong-Lei,Shi, Yuan,Zhao, Meng-Meng,Wang, Hui,Zeng, Yong-Qing Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.8

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of storage temperatures ($4^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$) and pig breeds (Laiwu pig and Large White pig) on the main antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) activity and lipid oxidation in porcine Longissimus dorsi muscle. Activities of antioxidative enzymes (AOE) decreased slightly during storage, regardless of storage temperatures. Muscle antioxidative enzymes activities stored at $4^{\circ}C$ were higher than that stored at $20^{\circ}C$. Laiwu pig's enzymes activities were significantly (p<0.01) higher than Large White's. The level of malondialdehyde is a direct expression of the grade of lipid oxidation in meat. In our study, the malondialdehyde contents increased after 6 days storage. However, malondialdehyde contents of Laiwu pig were significantly (p<0.01) lower than Large White's. A lower content of malondialdehyde corresponds to a lower oxidation of lipids. These results indicated the muscle antioxidative ability of Laiwu pig was higher than Large White pig. It also implied that antioxidative enzymes were involved in the essentials and deciding mechanisms of meat quality by quenching oxygen free radicals and inhibiting lipid oxidation in muscle.

Isolation of Dibutyl Phthalate-Degrading Bacteria and Its Coculture with Citrobacter freundii CD-9 to Degrade Fenvalerate

( Min Wu Jie Tang ),( Xuerui Zhou ),( Dan Lei ),( Chaoyi Zeng ),( Hong Ye Ting Cai ),( Qing Zhang ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2022 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.32 No.2

Continued fenvalerate use has caused serious environmental pollution and requires large-scale remediation. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) was discovered in fenvalerate metabolites degraded by Citrobacter freundii CD-9. Coculturing is an effective method for bioremediation, but few studies have analyzed the degradation pathways and potential mechanisms of cocultures. Here, a DBPdegrading strain (BDBP 071) was isolated from soil contaminated with pyrethroid pesticides (PPs) and identified as Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila. The optimum conditions for DBP degradation were determined by response surface methodology (RSM) analysis to be 30.9 mg/l DBP concentration, pH 7.5, at a culture temperature of 37.2℃. Under the optimized conditions, approximately 88% of DBP was degraded within 48 h and five metabolites were detected. Coculturing C. freundii CD-9 and S. acidaminiphila BDBP 071 promoted fenvalerate degradation. When CD-9 was cultured for 16 h before adding BDBP 071, the strain inoculation ratio was 5:5 (v/v), fenvalerate concentration was 75.0 mg/l, fenvalerate was degraded to 84.37 ± 1.25%, and DBP level was reduced by 5.21 mg/l. In addition, 12 fenvalerate metabolites were identified and a pathway for fenvalerate degradation by the cocultured strains was proposed. These results provide theoretical data for further exploration of the mechanisms used by this coculture system to degrade fenvalerate and DBP, and also offer a promising method for effective bioremediation of PPs and their related metabolites in polluted environments.

HCV-Specific Interleukin-21+CD4+ T Cells Responses Associated with Viral Control through the Modulation of HCV-Specific CD8+ T Cells Function in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Guo-Hua Feng,Fu-Sheng Wang,Ji-Yuan Zhang,Qing-Lei Zeng,Lei Jin,Junliang Fu,Bin Yang,Ying Sun,Tianjun Jiang,Xiangsheng Xu,Zheng Zhang,Jinhong Yuan,Liyuan Wu 한국분자세포생물학회 2013 Molecules and cells Vol.36 No.4

Interleukin-21 (IL-21)+CD4+ T cells are involved in the immune response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) by secreting IL-21. However, the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in the immune response against chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in CHC patients and the potential mechanisms. The study subjects in-cluded nineteen CHC patients who were grouped by viral load (low, < 106 RNA copies/ml, n = 8; high, > 106 RNA copies/ml, n = 11). The peripheral frequency of HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells was higher in the low viral load group and was negatively correlated with the serum HCV RNA viral load in all CHC patients. Meanwhile, IL-21+ cells accumulated in the liver in the low viral load group. In vitro, IL-21 treatment increased the expression of proliferation markers and cytolytic molecules on HCV-specific CD8+ T cells. In summary, these findings suggest that HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells might contribute to HCV control by rescuing HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in CHC patients.