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Rod-shape nanoplatform have received tremendous attention owing to their enhanced ability for cell internalization and high capacity for drug loading. MoS2, widely used in electronic devices, electrocatalysis, sensor and energy-storage, has been studied as photothermal agents over the years. However, the efficacy of rod-shape MoS2 based photothermal agents for photothermal therapy has not been studied before. Here, a near-infrared (NIR) light-absorbing MoS2 nanosheets coated mesoporous silica nanorods with human serum albumin (HSA) modifying and Ce6 loading (MSNR@MoS2-HSA/Ce6) were constructed for combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy. Methods: The near-infrared (NIR) light was used to trigger the synergistic anti-tumor therapy. In addition, breast cancer cell line was applied to evaluate the in vitro anti-tumor activity. The multi-modal imaging capacity and tumor-killing efficiency of the designed nanocomposites in vivo was also demonstrated with the 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse model. Results: These nanocomposites could not only perform NIR light triggered photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), but also achieve in vivo fluorescence (FL) /multispectral optical tomography (MSOT)/X-ray computed tomography (CT) triple-model bioimaging. What's more, the rod-shape nanoplatform could be endowed with better anti-tumor ability based on the EPR effect and HSA-mediated active tumor targeting. At the same time, the hyperthermia generated by MoS2 could synergistically improve the PDT effect with the acceleration of the blood flow, leading to the increase of the oxygen level in tumor tissue. Conclusion: MSNR@MoS2-HSA/Ce6 proves to be a promising multi-functional nanoplatform for effective treatment of tumor.Rod-shape nanoplatform have received tremendous attention owing to their enhanced ability for cell internalization and high capacity for drug loading. MoS2, widely used in electronic devices, electrocatalysis, sensor and energy-storage, has been studied as photothermal agents over the years. However, the efficacy of rod-shape MoS2 based photothermal agents for photothermal therapy has not been studied before. Here, a near-infrared (NIR) light-absorbing MoS2 nanosheets coated mesoporous silica nanorods with human serum albumin (HSA) modifying and Ce6 loading (MSNR@MoS2-HSA/Ce6) were constructed for combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy. Methods: The near-infrared (NIR) light was used to trigger the synergistic anti-tumor therapy. In addition, breast cancer cell line was applied to evaluate the in vitro anti-tumor activity. The multi-modal imaging capacity and tumor-killing efficiency of the designed nanocomposites in vivo was also demonstrated with the 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse model. Results: These nanocomposites could not only perform NIR light triggered photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), but also achieve in vivo fluorescence (FL) /multispectral optical tomography (MSOT)/X-ray computed tomography (CT) triple-model bioimaging. What's more, the rod-shape nanoplatform could be endowed with better anti-tumor ability based on the EPR effect and HSA-mediated active tumor targeting. At the same time, the hyperthermia generated by MoS2 could synergistically improve the PDT effect with the acceleration of the blood flow, leading to the increase of the oxygen level in tumor tissue. Conclusion: MSNR@MoS2-HSA/Ce6 proves to be a promising multi-functional nanoplatform for effective treatment of tumor.

The rod shape of most bacteria requires the actin homolog, MreB. Whereas MreB was initially thought to statically define rod shape, recent studies found that MreB dynamically rotates around the cell circumference dependent on cell wall synthesis. However, the mechanism by which cytoplasmic MreB is linked to extracytoplasmic cell wall synthesis and the function of this linkage for morphogenesis has remained unclear. Here we demonstrate that the transmembrane protein RodZ mediates MreB rotation by directly or indirectly coupling MreB to cell wall synthesis enzymes. Furthermore, we map the RodZ domains that link MreB to cell wall synthesis and identifymreBmutants that suppress the shape defect ofΔrodZwithout restoring rotation, uncoupling rotation from rod-like growth. Surprisingly, MreB rotation is dispensable for rod-like shape determination under standard laboratory conditions but is required for the robustness of rod shape and growth under conditions of cell wall stress.

PurposeTo determine if the planned sagittal profile for thoracic kyphosis (TK) restoration was achieved after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery using a novel hybrid construct with apical double bands and precontoured patient-specific rods (PSR) made according to the detailed surgical plan for the desired sagittal plane.MethodsAIS patients with a Lenke type 1–4 primary right thoracic curve who underwent corrective surgery by a single surgeon and had minimum 24-month follow-up were analyzed retrospectively from a prospective database. All patients underwent simultaneous translation on two rods with apical double bands and PSR. Clinical outcomes in terms of sagittal 2D TK (T4–T12), lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), PI–LL mismatch, rod angle, and rod deflection were compared between preoperative, planned, and 24-month data, while 3D apical rotation, 3D TK (T5–T12), sagittal thoracolumbar angle, degree of curvature at L1–L4 and L4–S1, proximal junctional angle, and distal junctional angle were compared at baseline and at 6 and 24 months postoperatively. SRS-22 questionnaire scores were obtained at baseline and 24 months postoperatively.ResultsForty-eight patients were included. Study patients had a median coronal thoracic curve of 62.7° preoperatively and 22.4° at 24-month follow-up (p < 0.001). Median TK gain was 6.5° for the entire cohort (n = 48) and 19.1° in the Lenke type 1 and 2 hypokyphotic subgroup (n = 14). Both groups had no significant changes between planned and 24-month TK (p = 0.068 and p = 0.943, respectively), rod angle (p = 0.776 and p = 0.548, respectively), or rod deflection (p = 0.661 and p = 0.850, respectively). For the overall study cohort, median LL gain was 7.0° (p < 0.001), 3D apical derotation was 10.7° (p < 0.001), and change in 3D TK was 36° (p < 0.001). No instance of proximal junctional kyphosis was observed. SRS-22 scores for pain, self-image, and satisfaction differed significantly between the preoperative and 24-month follow-up time-points.ConclusionsWith sagittal plane planning, desired TK, improved reciprocal changes in LL, and minimal changes in rod shape can be achieved in patients with AIS.

In most well-studied rod-shaped bacteria, peptidoglycan is primarily crosslinked by penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). However, in mycobacteria, crosslinks formed by L,D-transpeptidases (LDTs) are highly abundant. To elucidate the role of these unusual crosslinks, we characterized Mycobacterium smegmatis cells lacking all LDTs. We find that crosslinks generate by LDTs are required for rod shape maintenance specifically at sites of aging cell wall, a byproduct of polar elongation. Asymmetric polar growth leads to a non-uniform distribution of these two types of crosslinks in a single cell. Consequently, in the absence of LDT-mediated crosslinks, PBP-catalyzed crosslinks become more important. Because of this, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is more rapidly killed using a combination of drugs capable of PBP- and LDT- inhibition. Thus, knowledge about the spatial and genetic relationship between drug targets can be exploited to more effectively treat this pathogen. Most bacteria have a cell wall that protects them and maintains their shape. Many of these organisms make their cell walls from fibers of proteins and sugars, called peptidoglycan. As bacteria grow, peptidoglycan is constantly broken down and reassembled, and in many species, new units of peptidoglycan are added into the sidewall. However, in a group of bacteria called mycobacteria, which cause tuberculosis and other diseases, the units are added at the tips. The peptidoglycan layer is often a successful target for antibiotic treatments. But, drugs that treat tuberculosis do not attack this layer, partly because we know very little about the cell walls of mycobacteria. Here, Baranowski et al. used genetic manipulation and microscopy to study how mycobacteria build their cell wall. The results showed that these bacteria link peptidoglycan units together in an unusual way. In most bacteria, peptidoglycan units are connected by chemical links known as 4-3 crosslinks. This is initially the same in mycobacteria, but as the cell grows and the cell wall expands, these bonds break and so-called 3-3 crosslinks form. In genetically modified bacteria that could not form these 3-3 bonds, the cell wall became brittle and weak, and the bacteria eventually died. These findings could be important for developing new drugs that treat infections caused by mycobacteria. Baranowski et al. demonstrate that a combination of drugs blocking both 4-3 and 3-3 crosslinks is particularly effective at killing the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.

Micro particles come in a wide variety of architectural designs and shapes. It is time to look beyond the conventional spherical morphology and focus on anisotropic systems. Rod-shaped micro particles in particular exhibit numerous unique behaviors based on their structural characteristics. Because of their various shapes, architectures, and material compositions, which are based on the wide range of synthesis possibilities, they possess an array of interesting characteristics and applications. This review summarizes and provides an overview of the substantial amount of work that has already been published in the field of rod-shaped micro particles. Nevertheless, it also reveals limitations and potential areas for development.

Polar growth in Agrobacterium pirates and repurposes well-known bacterial cell cycle proteins, such as FtsZ, FtsA, PopZ, and PodJ. Here we identify a heretofore unknown protein that we name GROWTH POLE RING (GPR) due to its striking localization as a hexameric ring at the growth pole during polar growth. GPR also localizes at the midcell late in the cell cycle just before division, where it is then poised to be precisely localized at new growth poles in sibling cells. GPR is 2,115 aa long, with two N-terminal transmembrane domains placing the bulk of the protein in the cytoplasm, N- and C-terminal proline-rich disordered regions, and a large 1,700-aa central region of continuous α-helical domains. This latter region contains 12 predicted adjacent or overlapping apolipoprotein domains that may function to sequester lipids during polar growth. Stable genetic deletion or riboswitch-controlled depletion results in spherical cells that grow poorly; thus, GPR is essential for wild-type growth and morphology. As GPR has no predicted enzymatic domains and it forms a distinct 200-nm-diameter ring, we propose that GPR is a structural component of an organizing center for peptidoglycan and membrane syntheses critical for cell envelope formation during polar growth. GPR homologs are found in numerous Rhizobiales; thus, our results and proposed model are fundamental to understanding polar growth strategy in a variety of bacterial species.

Accurately identifying genes responsible for specific functions is a cornerstone of biological research, but current methods are often limited to single-species analyses. Here, we present a novel method, called Genomic and Phenotype-based machine learning for Gene Identification (GPGI), that leverages large-scale, cross-species genomic and phenotypic data for functional gene discovery. Using bacterial rod-shape determination as a case study, we demonstrate GPGI’s ability to rapidly identify key genes. Our approach uses machine learning to predict bacterial shape from protein structural domain profiles, identifying influential domains whose corresponding genes are selected for experimental validation. Focused gene knockouts in Escherichia coli confirmed the critical roles of two genes, pal and mreB , in maintaining rod-shaped morphology. We further validated GPGI’s robustness by demonstrating its consistent performance even with reduced datasets. GPGI thus offers a rapid, accurate, and efficient way to identify multiple key genes associated with complex traits across diverse organisms.

Background Bufalin (BA) is a potent traditional Chinese medicine derived from toad venom. It has shown significant antitumor activity, but its use is limited by cardiotoxicity, which necessitates innovative delivery methods, such as rod-shaped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (rMSNs). rMSNs have been extensively employed for reducing drug toxicity and for controlled or targeted drug delivery in tumor therapy. However, their potential in delivering BA has not been completely elucidated. Therefore, in this study, BA-loaded rMSNs (BA-rMSNs) were developed to investigate their potential and mechanism in impairing colon cancer cells. Methods rMSNs were developed via the sol‒gel method. Drug encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity were determined to investigate the advantages of the rMSN in loading BA. The antiproliferative activities of the BA-rMSNs were investigated via 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine and CCK-8. To evaluate cell death, Annexin V-APC/PI apoptotic and calcein-AM/PI double staining were performed. Western blotting, oil red O staining, and Nile red solution were employed to determine the ability of BA-rMSNs to regulate lipophagy. Results The diameter of the BA-rMSNs was approximately 60 nm. In vitro studies demonstrated that BA-rMSNs markedly inhibited HCT 116 and HT-29 cell proliferation and induced cell death. In vivo studies revealed that BA-rMSNs reduced BA-mediated cardiotoxicity and enhanced BA tumor targeting. Mechanistic studies revealed that BA-rMSNs blocked lipophagy. Conclusions rMSNs reduced BA-mediated cardiotoxicity and impaired the growth of colon cancer cells. Mechanistically, antitumor activity depends on lipophagy.

Recent advance in nanotechnology and inorganic chemistry has attracted considerable attention in the field of electronics. The development of charge transport microscopic coordination complexes is a prime area of interest in current research. In reported work nano/microstructures of [Co(1,3Dap) 3 ](N 3 ) 3 ·H 2 O(1N) and [Co(1,3Dap) 3 ]Cl(S 2 O 3 )·H 2 O (2N) and [Co(1,3Dap) 3 ]Cl(SiF 6 )·2H 2 O (3N) {where Dap = 1,3diaminopropane} were synthesized by using a pioneering sonochemical technique based on reaction between [Co(1,3 dap) 3 ]Cl 3 and sodium salts of N 3 − , SiF 6 2− , and S 2 O 3 2− in an aqueous medium. These complexes were compared with their bulk materials which were produced by the classical method. All complexes were characterized by elemental (CHN) analysis, (FTIR and UV–Visible) spectroscopy. Morphology and particle size of nanostructures of complexes were determined by TEM, FESEM. The size of nano rod, star puzzle and spherical shape nanostructures are in the range 180–200, 450–500 and 250–300 nm respectively. The I–V measurement performance of nanosized complexes [Co(1,3Dap) 3 ]Cl(S 2 O 3 )·H 2 O (2N) and [Co(1,3Dap) 3 ]Cl(SiF 6 )·2H 2 O (3N) has also been studied and result indicates the charge-transport property of the complexes. The sonochemical method required less time for synthesis and reduced the size of the particle, as compared to the classical method. Graphical Abstract

A novel rod-shape BaNiSn-Graphene oxide decorated TiO 2 composite (BaNiSn-GT) has been synthesized using a simple ultrasonic method to enhance the visible-light-driven H 2 evolution with cationic scavengers. The unique structure between the interfaces of BaNiSn-Graphene and TiO 2 provides graphene oxide of contact and excellent electron transfer for H 2 evolution activity. The BaNiSn-GT ternary photocatalyst exhibits relatively high photocatalytic activity with a hydrogen evolution rate of 1012 μmol/g during 4 h. On the other hand, BaNiSn-GT composite exhibited significantly higher hydrogen evolution rates of 870 μmol/g with TEA scavenger and 730 μmol/g with LA scavenger during 1 h, respectively. Moreover, the higher photocurrent density of BaNiSn-GT is correlated with electron–hole recombination, providing evidence for its inhibition, which leads to a longer lifetime of carriers produced by photoelectrons. The mechanism of the photocatalytic H 2 evolution of BaNiSn-GT based on a full physicochemical characterization was proposed. This study provides new insight into the efficient hydrogen-evolution of graphene-based photocatalysts.