Friend or Foe? Implication of the autophagy-lysosome pathway in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19

There is increasing amount of evidence indicating the close interplays between the replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2 and the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells. While autophagy machinery is known to either assist or inhibit the viral replication process, the reciprocal effects of the SARS-CoV-2 on the autophagy-lysosome pathway have also been increasingly appreciated. More importantly, despite the disappointing results from the clinical trials of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in treatment of COVID-19, there is still ongoing effort in discovering new therapeutics targeting the autophagy-lysosome pathway. In this review, we provide an update-to-date summary of the interplays between the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells and the pathogen SARS-CoV-2 at the molecular level, to highlight the prognostic value of autophagy markers in COVID-19 patients and to discuss the potential of developing novel therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 by targeting the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Thus, understanding the nature of such interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells is expected to provide novel strategies in battling against this global pandemic.     

基于CRISPR/Cas9的基因编辑技术研究进展及其在植物中的应用

CRISPR/Cas9技术是利用RNA靶向引导Cas9核酸酶对基因组中的目标基因进行编辑的生物技术。近年来,该技术的多种新型基因编辑器更新迅猛,编辑效果愈加精细和高效,在作物定向分子设计育种中展现出巨大的应用前景。该文对CRISPR/Cas9及其相关编辑器的技术原理、编辑效果和应用情况进行综述,并探讨了该技术在应用中面临的问题、应对措施和发展前景,旨在为相关领域的科研工作者提供参考。     

南京农业大学微生物学虚拟仿真实验教学模式的探索

借助虚拟仿真技术构建的虚实结合的虚拟仿真实验,是提高学生实践动手能力的有力补充和有效途径。本文通过对微生物学实验教学现状的分析,探讨南京农业大学微生物学虚拟仿真实验教学模式建设的意义,重点阐述建设思路、建设方案及教学特点。该仿真实验教学体系主要从基础微生物学和应用微生物学两大模块进行构建,同时将本校的污水生物处理技术、食用菌资源调查与利用等科研成果转化为教学资源,以丰富实验教学内容。     

沿海快速城市化地区能值生态足迹变化分析

当前我国经济的快速发展和生态环境之间的矛盾日益显著,不利于城市可持续发展。生态足迹目前已成为普遍接受的可持续发展指标,选定生态足迹改进方法——能值生态足迹模型,以城市化地区厦门市为研究区进行计算分析,以期发现快速城市化过程中可能面对的问题。首次计算分析了厦门市1980年至2010年的能值生态足迹动态变化,并对其可持续发展进行了评价。结果表明,30年间厦门市人均生态足迹需求从1980年的8.6 ghm2持续增长至2010年的52.8 ghm2,而供给方面的人均生态承载力却从1980年的181.2 ghm2持续下降为47.5 ghm2,2009、2010年该市由生态盈余转为生态赤字。同时,从生态足迹组分及其比例来看,30年间化石燃料用地和建设用地的生态足迹增长迅速,二者对厦门市人均能值生态足迹变化贡献最大,并且成为2000年后总体足迹中所占比例最大的组分,各自占比超过20%。结果分析显示,厦门市开始面临逐渐加重的生态环境压力,需要开始重视其可持续发展。因此调整厦门市的产业结构和控制城市化发展非常必要。一方面,应该降低第二产业的比例,降低对化石能源的使用,同时促进第三产业的发展和第一产业的现代化,以此为城市提供更多的资源供给并降低资源需求,特别是化石能源的需求。     

Cost-effectiveness evaluation of different control strategies for Clonorchis sinensis infection in a high endemic area of China: A modelling study

Clonorchiasis is an important food-borne parasitic disease caused by Clonorchis sinensis infection. The evaluation of long-term cost-effectiveness of control strategies is important for disease control and prevention. The present study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the three recommended strategies (i.e., WHO, Chinese and Guangdong strategies) and different combinations of commonly used measures (i.e., preventive chemotherapy, information, education, and communication (IEC) and environmental improvement) on clonorchiasis. The study area, Fusha town in Guangdong Province, was a typical high endemic area in China. The analysis was based on a multi-group transmission model of C. sinensis infection. We set the intervention duration for 10 years and post-intervention period for 50 years. The corresponding costs and DALYs were estimated. Strategies with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) less than 1/5 of the willingness-to-pay threshold were identified as highly cost-effective strategies. The optimal control strategy was obtained using the next best comparator method. The ICERs of Guangdong strategy were $172 (95% CI: $143-$230) US for praziquantel and $106 (95% CI: $85-$143) US for albendazole, suggesting the highest cost-effectiveness among the three recommended strategies. For praziquantel, 470 sets of control strategies were identified as highly cost-effective strategies for achieving infection control (prevalence<5%). The optimal strategy consisted of chemotherapy targeted on at-risk population, IEC and environmental improvement, with coverages all being 100%, and with the ICER of $202 (95% CI: $168-$271) US. The results for transmission control (prevalence<1%) and albendazole were obtained with the same procedures. The findings may help to develop control policies for C. sinensis infection in high endemic areas. Moreover, the method adopted is applicable for assessment of optimal strategies in other endemic areas.