Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 4 (TNFRSF4), also known as OX40, plays a crucial role in the regulation of T-cell immune responses under normal physiological conditions. Abnormal expression of OX40 and its cognate ligand OX40L (TNFSF4) have been associated with various autoimmune diseases, indicating that blocking the OX40/OX40L pathway could be a promising strategy for the treatment of a broad range of T cel...

In this study, we investigated the molecular recognition mechanisms of shark-derived single-domain antibodies (ssdAbs) targeting fluoroquinolones using an integrated approach that combines in silico homologous modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, molecular docking, and alanine scanning mutagenesis. Three ssdAbs—2E6, 1N9, and 1O17—specific to enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin, respectively, were selected based on pr...

In mammals, mitofusin 2 (MFN2) is involved in mitochondrial fusion, and suppresses the virus-induced RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway. However, little is known about the function of MFN2 in non-mammalian species. In the present study, we cloned an MFN2 ortholog ( Lc MFN2) in large yellow croaker ( Larimichthys crocea ). Phylogenetic analysis showed that MFN2 emerged after the divergence of amphioxus and vertebrates....

Diatoms are unicellular eukaryotic phytoplankton that account for approximately 20% of global carbon fixation and 40% of marine primary productivity; thus, they are essential for global carbon biogeochemical cycling and climate. The availability of ten diatom genome sequences has facilitated evolutionary, biological and ecological research over the past decade; however, a complimentary map of the diatom proteome with direct me...

Marine sponges are productive sources of bioactive secondary metabolites with over 200 new compounds isolated each year, contributing 23% of approved marine drugs so far. This review describes statistical research, structural diversity, and pharmacological activity of sponge derived new natural products from 2009 to 2018. Approximately 2762 new metabolites have been reported from 180 genera of sponges this decade, of which the...

This work reports on a preliminary taxonomic study of epibenthic macroinvertebrates collected or observed by underwater video at the Haima cold seeps and in adjacent deep-sea habitats, including a mud volcano field and Ganquan Plateau, during an expedition in the South China Sea by the Chinese-manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi in May 2018. A total of 41 species belonging to 6 phyla were identified, among which 34 species were...

Assessment of microzooplankton and copepods grazing pressure on picoplankton is a key requirement for resolving the microbial food web efficiency. Although microzooplankton grazing on picoplankton has been extensively studied, the impact of microzooplankton on different groups of picoplankton, i.e., heterotrophic bacteria, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes have rarely been compared. Furthermore, in the very few existing studies...

With the advantages of wide distribution, fast growth, and broad metabolic spectrum to organic carbon compounds, Vibrio may play an important role in organic carbon cycling. However, the ecological roles of Vibrio in many marine environments have not been explored. Here, the world’s deepest ‘blue hole’, the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole (SYBH) in the South China Sea, which is a geographically semi-enclosed environment featuring uniq...

Production of chitosan and its derivatives by traditional methods involves the excessive use of a reaction solution comprised of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. Waste water resulting from this process has limited the application of chitosan as a fertilizer as the process causes serious environmental pollution. Specifically, the resulting waste water contains high levels of dissolved nitrogen and minerals from shrimp sh...