Identification of a GABAergic neuroblast lineage modulating sweet and bitter taste sensitivity

In Drosophila melanogaster, processing of gustatory information and controlling feeding behavior are executed by neural circuits located in the subesophageal zone (SEZ) of the brain.1 Gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) project their axons in the primary gustatory center (PGC), which is located in the SEZ.1,2,3,4 To address the function of the PGC, we need detailed information about the different classes of gustatory interneurons that frame the PGC. In this work, we screened large collections of driver lines for SEZ interneuron-specific labeling and subsequently used candidate lines to access the SEZ neuroblast lineages. We converted 130 Gal4 lines to LexA drivers and carried out functional screening using calcium imaging. We found one neuroblast lineage, TRdm, whose neurons responded to both sweet and bitter tastants, and formed green fluorescent protein (GFP) reconstitution across synaptic partners (GRASP)-positive synapses with sweet sensory neurons. TRdm neurons express the inhibitory transmitter GABA, and silencing these neurons increases appetitive feeding behavior. These results demonstrate that TRdm generates a class of inhibitory local neurons that control taste sensitivity in Drosophila.

Predictive correction method based on deep learning for a phase compensation system with frozen flow turbulence

We propose a deep learning method that includes convolution neural network (CNN) and convolutional long short-term memory (ConvLSTM) models to realize atmospheric turbulence compensation and correction of distorted beams. The trained CNN model can automatically obtain the equivalent turbulent compensation phase screen based on the Gaussian beams affected by turbulence and without turbulence. To solve the time delay problem, we use the ConvLSTM model to predict the atmospheric turbulence evolution and acquire a more accurate compensation phase under the Taylor frozen hypothesis. The experimental results show that the distorted Gaussian and vortex beams are effectively and accurately compensated.

A Neutral FeCl3 Photocatalysis for C─C Bond Animation and Alkylation of Cyclic Alcohols

We have developed a modified method for iron-catalyzed C–C bond cleavage and amination or alkylation of nonactivated cyclic alcohols. Using FeCl3 as catalyst, the photoinduced ligand-to-metal charge transfer facilitates the generation of O-radicals from alcohols, the subsequent β-scission, and finally the radical trapping. Compared with the Fe(OR)3 catalysis, this mildly base-free system could enable the amination in a broader substrate scope with higher yields. Moreover, the C–C bond cleavage and alkylation of cyclic alcohols is able to proceed with electron-deficient olefins under these conditions.

Prevention of ribosome collision-induced neuromuscular degeneration by SARS CoV-2-encoded Nsp1

An overarching goal of aging and age-related neurodegenerative disease research is to discover effective therapeutic strategies applicable to a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. Little is known about the extent to which targetable pathogenic mechanisms are shared among these seemingly diverse diseases. Translational control is critical for maintaining proteostasis during aging. Gaining control of the translation machinery is also crucial in the battle between viruses and their hosts. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we show that overexpression of SARS-CoV-2-encoded nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1) robustly rescued neuromuscular degeneration and behavioral phenotypes in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These diseases share a common mechanism: the accumulation of aberrant protein species due to the stalling and collision of translating ribosomes, leading to proteostasis failure. Our genetic and biochemical analyses revealed that Nsp1 acted in a multipronged manner to resolve collided ribosomes, abort stalled translation, and remove faulty translation products causative of disease in these models, at least in part through the ribosome recycling factor ABCE1, ribosome-associated quality-control factors, autophagy, and AKT signaling. Nsp1 exhibited exquisite specificity in its action, as it did not modify other neurodegenerative conditions not known to be associated with ribosome stalling. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized mechanism of Nsp1 in manipulating host translation, which can be leveraged for combating age-related neurodegenerative diseases that are affecting millions of people worldwide and currently without effective treatment.

Lpt, trr, and Hcf regulate histone mono- and dimethylation that are essential for Drosophila heart development

Mammalian KMT2C, KMT2D, and HCFC1 are expressed during heart development and have been associated with congenital heart disease, but their roles in heart development remain elusive. We found that the Drosophila Lpt and trr genes encode the N-terminal and C-terminal homologs, respectively, of mammalian KMT2C or KMT2D. Lpt and trr mutant embryos showed reduced cardiac progenitor cells. Silencing of Lpt, trr, or both simultaneously in the heart led to similar abnormal cardiac morphology, tissue fibrosis, and cardiac functional defects. Like KMT2D, Lpt and trr were found to modulate histone H3K4 mono- and dimethylation, but not trimethylation. Investigation of downstream genes regulated by mouse KMT2D in the heart showed that their fly homologs are similarly regulated by Lpt or trr in the fly heart, suggesting that Lpt and trr regulate an evolutionarily conserved transcriptional network for heart development. Moreover, we showed that cardiac silencing of Hcf, the fly homolog of mammalian HCFC1, leads to heart defects similar to those observed in Lpt and trr silencing, as well as reduced H3K4 monomethylation. Our findings suggest that Lpt and trr function together to execute the conserved function of mammalian KMT2C and KMT2D in histone H3 lysine K4 mono- and dimethylation required for heart development. Possibly aided by Hcf, which we show plays a related role in H3K4 methylation during fly heart development.

SARS-CoV-2 Nsp6 damages Drosophila heart and mouse cardiomyocytes through MGA/MAX complex-mediated increased glycolysis

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19, a severe acute respiratory disease associated with cardiovascular complications including long-term outcomes. The presence of virus in cardiac tissue of patients with COVID-19 suggests this is a direct, rather than secondary, effect of infection. Here, by expressing individual SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the Drosophila heart, we demonstrate interaction of virus Nsp6 with host proteins of the MGA/MAX complex (MGA, PCGF6 and TFDP1). Complementing transcriptomic data from the fly heart reveal that this interaction blocks the antagonistic MGA/MAX complex, which shifts the balance towards MYC/MAX and activates glycolysis-with similar findings in mouse cardiomyocytes. Further, the Nsp6-induced glycolysis disrupts cardiac mitochondrial function, known to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) in heart failure; this could explain COVID-19-associated cardiac pathology. Inhibiting the glycolysis pathway by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) treatment attenuates the Nsp6-induced cardiac phenotype in flies and mice. These findings point to glycolysis as a potential pharmacological target for treating COVID-19-associated heart failure.

SARS-CoV-2 invades cognitive centers of the brain and induces Alzheimer's-like neuropathology

The neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 and the phenotypes of infected neurons are still in debate. Long COVID manifests with "brain diseases" and the cause of these brain dysfunction is mysterious. Here, we analyze 34 age- and underlying disease-matched COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 human brains. SARS-CoV-2 RNA, nucleocapsid, and spike proteins are present in neurons of the cognitive centers of all COVID-19 patients, with its non-structural protein NSF2 detected in adult cases but not in the infant case, indicating viral replications in mature neurons. In adult COVID-19 patients without underlying neurodegeneration, SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers Aβ and p-tau deposition, degenerating neurons, microglia activation, and increased cytokine, in some cases with Aβ plaques and p-tau pretangles. The number of SARS-CoV-2 + cells is higher in patients with neurodegenerative diseases than in those without such conditions. SARS-CoV-2 further activates microglia and induces Aβ and p-tau deposits in non-Alzheimer's neurodegenerative disease patients. SARS-CoV-2 infects mature neurons derived from inducible pluripotent stem cells from healthy and Alzheimer's disease (AD) individuals through its receptor ACE2 and facilitator neuropilin-1. SARS-CoV-2 triggers AD-like gene programs in healthy neurons and exacerbates AD neuropathology. An AD infectious etiology gene signature is identified through SARS-CoV-2 infection and silencing the top three downregulated genes in human primary neurons recapitulates the neurodegenerative phenotypes of SARS-CoV-2. Thus, our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 invades the brain and activates an AD-like program.

High-throughput microarray reveals the epitranscriptome-wide landscape of m6A-modified circRNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Emerging transcriptome-wide high-throughput screenings reveal the landscape and functions of RNAs, such as circular RNAs (circRNAs), in human cancer. In addition, the post-transcriptional RNA internal modifications, especially N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), greatly enrich the variety of RNAs metabolism. However, the m⁶A modification on circRNAs has yet to be addressed.

Results

Here, we report an epitranscriptome-wide mapping of m⁶A-modified circRNAs (m⁶A-circRNA) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Utilizing the data of m⁶A methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and m⁶A-circRNAs microarray, we found that m⁶A-circRNAs exhibited particular modification styles in OSCC, which was independent of m⁶A-mRNA. Besides, m⁶A modification on circRNAs frequently occurred on the long exons in the front part of the coding sequence (CDS), which was distinct from m⁶A-mRNA that in 3’-UTR or stop codon.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our work preliminarily demonstrates the traits of m⁶A-circRNAs, which may bring enlighten for the roles of m⁶A-circRNAs in OSCC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08806-z.

1. m⁶A-circRNAs exhibited their particular modification style in OSCC, which was independent of m⁶A-mRNA.

2. m⁶A on circRNAs frequently occurred on the long exons in the front part of CDS, which was distinct from m⁶A-mRNA that in 3’-UTR or stop codon.

A Fast and Reliable Method to Generate Pure, Single Cell-derived Clones of Mammalian Cells

Stable cell cloning is an essential aspect of biological research. All advanced genome editing tools rely heavily on stable, pure, single cell-derived clones of genetically engineered cells. For years, researchers have depended on single-cell dilutions seeded in 96- or 192-well plates, followed by microscopic exclusion of the wells seeded with more than or without a cell. This method is not just laborious, time-consuming, and uneconomical but also liable to unintentional error in identifying the wells seeded with a single cell. All these disadvantages may increase the time needed to generate a stable clone. Here, we report an easy-to-follow and straightforward method to conveniently create pure, stable clones in less than half the time traditionally required. Our approach utilizes cloning cylinders with non-toxic tissue-tek gel, commonly used for immobilizing tissues for sectioning, followed by trypsinization and screening of the genome-edited clones. Our approach uses minimal cell handling steps, thus decreasing the time invested in generating the pure clones effortlessly and economically. Graphical abstract: A schematic comparison showing the traditional dilution cloning and the method described here. Here, a well-separated colony (in the green box) must be preferred over the colonies not well separated (in the red box).

Research progress of E-cigarette-A bibliometric analysis during 2010–2022

Introduction

Electronic cigarettes have been widely used all over the world. It is not clear what the advantages and disadvantages of a novelty in daily life are that is attracting increasing attention. Up to now, no bibliometric studies on e-cigarettes have been published in databases. Therefore, we are willing to explore directions and research hotspots in this emerging field by using bibliometrics to analyze research areas, publishing countries and institutions, high-output authors, and future trends of e-cigarettes in recent years. Compared with the traditional review, the bibliometric study can provide some information on core journals, articles, researchers, institutions, and countries concentrating on this topic to guide experimentation strategies and funding decisions.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis was performed by CiteSpace and VOSviewer up to April 2022 in the core collection of Web of Science. HistCite, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R-based Bibliometrix 4.1.0 packages were used to analyze literature information, including year, journal, country, institute, author, keywords, and co-cited references.

Results

Research related to e-cigarettes has proliferated since its inception around 2010. A total of 2,302 studies were published in 689 journals by our search method. Nicotine and tobacco research was the most published journal. The most prolific country was the United States, while the most influential institution was Virginia Commonwealth University. Eight of the top ten authors were from the United States. Oxidative stress, high school students, smoking cessation, delivery, behavioral economics, and exposure were the top topics.

Conclusions

As an emerging social phenomenon, research on e-cigarettes has increased significantly over the past decade, particularly from 2015 to 2020. The top three core journals are Nicotine and Tobacco Research, the International Journal of Environmental Research, and Public Health. Eisenberg-Thomas had published numerous articles on e-cigarettes that had been co-cited in many papers. Oxidative stress, high school students, and smoking cessation are the top three areas of e-cigarette-related research, which were also important areas for further investigation.

Six-Month Periodic Fasting in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Nephropathy: A Proof-of-Concept Study

CONTEXT

Novel fasting interventions have gained scientific and public attention. Periodic fasting has emerged as a dietary modification promoting beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

Assess whether periodic fasting reduces albuminuria and activates nephropathy-driven pathways.

DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS

Proof-of-concept study where individuals with type 2 diabetes (n = 40) and increased albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) were randomly assigned to receive a monthly fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) or a Mediterranean diet for 6 months with 3-month follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Change in ACR was assessed by analysis of covariance adjusted for age, sex, weight loss, and baseline value. Prespecified subgroup analysis for patients with micro- vs macroalbuminuria at baseline was performed. Change in homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), circulating markers of dicarbonyl detoxification (methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone 1, glyoxalase-1, and hydroxyacetone), DNA-damage/repair (phosphorylated histone H2AX), lipid oxidation (acylcarnitines), and senescence (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) were assessed as exploratory endpoints.

RESULTS

FMD was well tolerated with 71% to 95% of the participants reporting no adverse effects. After 6 months, change in ACR was comparable between study groups [110.3 (99.2, 121.5) mg/g; P = 0.45]. FMD led to a reduction of ACR in patients with microalbuminuria levels at baseline [-30.3 (-35.7, -24.9) mg/g; P ≤ 0.05] but not in those with macroalbuminuria [434.0 (404.7, 463.4) mg/g; P = 0.23]. FMD reduced HOMA-IR [-3.8 (-5.6, -2.0); P ≤ 0.05] and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor [-156.6 (-172.9, -140.4) pg/mL; P ≤ 0.05], while no change was observed in markers of dicarbonyl detoxification or DNA-damage/repair. Change in acylcarnitines was related to patient responsiveness to ACR improvement. At follow-up only HOMA-IR reduction [-1.9 (-3.7, -0.1), P ≤ 0.05]) was sustained.

CONCLUSIONS

Improvement of microalbuminuria and of markers of insulin resistance, lipid oxidation, and senescence suggest the potential beneficial effects of periodic fasting in type 2 diabetes.

A phase 2, randomized, open-label, multicenter study of sintilimab and anlotinib in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GemCis) as first-line therapy in patients (pts) with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC): SAGC

4100

Background: BTC has a higher incidence in China rather than worldwide, with extremely poor prognosis, and the efficacy of standard first-line therapy (GemCis) is rather limited. TOPAZ-1 study suggested immunotherapy + GemCis as first line in advanced BTC significantly improved OS and PFS vs placebo + GemCis with manageable safety, but the median OS was just 12.8 months. SAGC is the first randomized controlled phase 2 trial to evaluate first-line immunotherapy + antiangiogenic targeted drug + GemCis in advanced BTC. Methods: In this randomized controlled study, pts previously untreated for unresectable locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic BTC were randomized 1:1 to receive sintilimab (200mg every 3 weeks [Q3W]) and anlotinib (10mg po qd, Days 1-14 Q3W) in combination with GemCis (Gem 1000 mg/m2 and Cis 25 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 8 Q3W) for up to 8 cycles, followed by sintilimab (200mg every 3 weeks [Q3W]) and anlotinib (10mg po qd, Days 1-14 Q3W) or GemCis (Gem 1000 mg/m2 and Cis 25 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 8 Q3W) for up to 8 cycles until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary objective was to assess the 1-year overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included OS, progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety. Results: At data cutoff for this interim analysis (11 November, 2021), 48 pts were randomized to sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis (n=26) or GemCis (n=22). The primary objective was not meet: the 1-year OS was 52.5% with sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis and 36.3% with GemCis (p=0.437), but there was a trend of nominal OS benefit in patients treated with sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis. PFS was significantly improved with sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis vs GemCis (6.4m vs 5m; p=0.014). ORR was 37.5% with sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis and 26.7% with GemCis. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 69.2% of pts receiving sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis and38.7% of pts receiving GemCis. TRAEs led to discontinuation of any study medication in 7.7% of pts receiving sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis and 9.1% of pts receiving GemCis. Conclusions: In pts with advanced BTC, sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis could improve OS and PFS vs GemCis with manageable safety, indicating sintilimab + anlotinib + GemCis may be a new first-line standard of care regimen. Research Sponsor: Innoventbio Biologics, Inc, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. Clinical trial information: NCT04300959.

Artificial neural networks assisting the design of a dual-mode photonic crystal nanobeam cavity for simultaneous sensing of the refractive index and temperature

We put forward a dual-mode photonic crystal nanobeam cavity for simultaneous sensing of the refractive index (RI) and temperature (T) designed with the assistance of artificial neural networks (ANNs). We choose the structure of quadratically tapered elliptical holes with a slot to improve the sensitivities of the two modes. To reduce the time consumption of the design, the ANNs are trained to predict the band structure and to inverse design the geometric structure. For the forward prediction and the inverse design neural networks, low mean square errors of 5.1×10^-4 and 1.4×10^-2 are achieved, respectively. Through a specific design of band properties by the well-trained neural networks, a dual-mode nanobeam sensor with high quality factors of 9.34×10⁴ and 1.55×10⁵ and a small footprint of 23.8×0.7µm² are designed. The RI and T sensitivities of the air mode are 405 nm/RIU and 40 pm/K, respectively, whereas those of the dielectric mode are 531 nm/RIU and 27 pm/K, respectively. The present work shows significance in further research on the design and applications for dual-mode cavities.

Epidemiological characteristics of central nervous system tumors in children: a 5-year review of 3180 cases from Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Background

To describe the epidemiological characteristics of central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children, based on the neurosurgery department of Beijing Tiantan Hospital.

Methods

From January 2015 to December 2019, 3180 children were histopathologically diagnosed with CNS tumors based on the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors. Patients were 0 to 15 years old. We analyzed age-related gender preferences, tumor locations, and the histological grades of the tumors. In addition, the epidemiological characteristics of the five most common intracranial tumors were compared to the previous studies.

Results

In this study, intracranial and spinal tumors account for 96.4% (3066) and 3.6% (114) of all tumors, with a preponderance of supratentorial tumors (57.9%). Among all pediatric patients, low-grade tumors comprise 67.1% (2 135). The integral gender ratio of males to females is 1.47: 1 and the average age of patients is 7.59 years old. The five most common intracranial tumors are craniopharyngioma (15.4%), medulloblastoma (14.3%), pilocytic astrocytoma (11.8%), diffuse astrocytoma (9.8%), and anaplastic ependymoma (4.8%).

Conclusions

Due to the lack of national data on childhood brain tumors, we used a large nationally representative population sample based on the largest pediatric neurosurgery center in China. We analyzed the data of the past 5 years, reflecting the incidence of CNS tumors in Chinese children to a certain extent, and laying a data foundation for subsequent clinical studies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41016-022-00279-z.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P9 improved gut microbial metabolites and alleviated inflammatory response in pesticide exposure cohorts

Multiple pesticide residue accumulations increase the probability of chronic metabolic diseases in humans. Thus, we applied multi-omics techniques to reveal how the gut microbiome responded to pesticide exposure. Then, we explored how probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P9 (P9) consumption impacted the gut microbiota and immune factors after high pesticide exposure. Multi-omics results indicated frequent exposure to pesticides did not alter the composition of the intestinal microbiota, but it did increase the abundance of Lipopolysaccharide in the gut, which might contribute to chronic inflammation. Supplementation with P9 maintained the homeostasis of the gut microbiota and reduced the abundance of pathogens in the high pesticide-exposed subjects. By detecting metabolites, we observed uridine and 5-oxoproline concentrations increased significantly after P9 consumption. Furthermore, P9 alleviated immune factors disorder and promoted pesticide residue excretion. Our findings provide new insights into the application of probiotics for pesticide detoxification, and suggest probiotics as daily supplements for pesticide exposure prevention.

•

High-frequency pesticide exposure induced inflammatory responses to occur

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P9 maintained gut microbiota homeostasis in subjects with high pesticide exposure

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P9 significantly increased the level of beneficial metabolites in the subjects

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P9 reduced inflammatory response and promoted excretion of pesticide residues

High anti-interference dual-parameter sensor using EIT-like effect photonic crystal cavity coupled system: publisher's note

This publisher's note serves to correct Appl. Opt.61, 1552 (2022)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.452140.

Administration of olaquindox impairs spermatogenesis and sperm quality by increasing oxidative stress and early apoptosis in mice

Olaquindox (OLA), a potent antibacterial agent, has been widely used as a feed additive and growth promoter in animal husbandry. Our previous study has shown that OLA administration in female mice could markedly cause sub-fertility. Here we established the model in male mice to investigate the toxic effects of OLA on mammalian spermatozoa quality and fetal development. After continuous 45 days of OLA gavage, the dosage of 60 mg/kg/day (high dose) significantly affected body weight, organ weights and coefficients, and the morphology of the testis seminiferous tubule in male mice. Dosage of 60 mg/kg/day also reduced sperm count, motility, and viability. OLA at both low-dose (5 mg/kg/day) and high-dose induced peroxidation, early apoptosis, and abnormal mitochondrial membrane potential in sperm. Significantly, high-dose OLA impaired in vitro fertilized embryo development, indicated by the decreased percentages of 2-cell and blastocyst formation. Surprisingly, the natural fertility of males was unaffected after OLA gavage, which was indicated by the comparable litter size after mating. However, paternal gavage of OLA significantly decreased the survival rate of the offspring from the age of 4 weeks. In sum, our study showed that OLA gavage in male mice damages sperm quality and offspring survival, illustrating the use of OLA as a feed additive should be strictly restricted.

On-chip trapping and sorting of nanoparticles using a single slotted photonic crystal nanobeam cavity

In this work, we propose a slotted photonic crystal nanobeam cavity (PCNC) to trap and sort the 120 nm and 30 nm nanoparticles. The simulation shows that the maximum optical trapping force of the 120 nm particle is 38.7 pN/mW, and that of the 30 nm particle is 10.8 pN/mW. It is calculated that the trapping threshold power of the 120 nm particle is 35.3 µW, and that of the 30 nm particle is 41.6 µW. Because the width of the slot is 100 nm, when the input power is between 35.3 µW and 41.6 µW, only the 120 nm particle can be trapped in the upper cladding of the slotted-PCNC. When the input power is greater than 41.6 µW, the 120 nm particle is still trapped in the upper cladding of the slotted-PCNC, while the 30 nm particle is trapped inside the slot of the slotted-PCNC. By properly controlling the input power and the direction of flow in the microfluidic channel, the sorting of particles can be achieved. In addition, trapping of the particles causes different redshifts of peak wavelengths. Thus, the proposed slotted-PCNC can detect particle trapping and sorting by monitoring the resonant wavelength shifts. What is the most important, compared with previous reported single particle trapping work, is that the proposed work can realize both trapping and sorting. Therefore, provided with the ultra-compact footprint and excellent performance, the proposed slotted-PCNC shows great potential for a multifunctional lab-on-a-chip system.

Using Drosophila Nephrocytes to Understand the Formation and Maintenance of the Podocyte Slit Diaphragm

The podocyte slit diaphragm (SD) is an essential component of the glomerular filtration barrier and its disruption is a common cause of proteinuria and many types of kidney disease. Therefore, better understanding of the pathways and proteins that play key roles in SD formation and maintenance has been of great interest. Podocyte and SD biology have been mainly studied using mouse and other vertebrate models. However, vertebrates are limited by inherent properties and technically challenging in vivo access to the podocytes. Drosophila is a relatively new alternative model system but it has already made great strides. Past the initial obvious differences, mammalian podocytes and fly nephrocytes are remarkably similar at the genetic, molecular and functional levels. This review discusses SD formation and maintenance, and their dependence on cell polarity, the cytoskeleton, and endo- and exocytosis, as learned from studies in fly nephrocytes and mammalian podocytes. In addition, it reflects on the remaining gaps in our knowledge, the physiological implications for glomerular diseases and how we can leverage the advantages Drosophila has to offer to further our understanding.

Supplemented phase diagrams for vitrification CPA cocktails: DP6, VS55 and M22

DP6, VS55 and M22 are the most commonly used cryoprotective agent (CPA) cocktails for vitrification experiments in tissues and organs. However, complete phase diagrams for the three CPAs are often unavailable or incomplete (only available for full strength CPAs) thereby hampering optimization of vitrification and rewarming procedures. In this paper, we used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to measure the transition temperatures including heterogeneous nucleation temperatures (T_het), glass transition temperatures (T_g), rewarming phase crystallization (devitrification and/or recrystallization) temperatures (T_d) and melting temperatures (T_m) while cooling or warming the CPA sample at 5 °C/min and plotted the obtained transition temperatures for different concentrations of CPAs into the phase diagrams. We also used cryomicroscopy cooling or warming the sample at the same rate to record the ice crystallization during the whole process, and we presented the cryomicroscopic images at the transition temperatures, which agreed with the DSC presented phenomena.

The Potential Prebiotic Berberine Combined With Methimazole Improved the Therapeutic Effect of Graves' Disease Patients Through Regulating the Intestinal Microbiome

Graves’ disease, a typical metabolism disorder, causes diffuse goiter accompanied by ocular abnormalities and ocular dysfunction. Although methimazole (MI) is a commonly used drug for the treatment of GD, the efficacy of methimazole is only limited to the control of clinical indicators, and the side effects of MI should be seriously considered. Here, we designed a 6-month clinical trial that divided the patients into two groups: a methimazole group (n=8) and a methimazole combined with potential prebiotic berberine group (n=10). The effects of both treatments on thyroid function and treatment outcomes in patients with GD were assessed by thyroid index measurements and gut microbiota metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that the addition of berberine restored the patients’ TSH and FT3 indices to normal levels, whereas MI alone restored only FT3. In addition, TRAb was closer to the healthy threshold at the end of treatment with the drug combination. MI alone failed to modulate the gut microbiota of the patients. However, the combination of berberine with methimazole significantly altered the microbiota structure of the patients, increasing the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Lactococcus lactis while decreasing the abundance of the pathogenic bacteria Enterobacter hormaechei and Chryseobacterium indologenes. Furthermore, further mechanistic exploration showed that the addition of berberine resulted in a significant upregulation of the synthesis of enterobactin, which may have increased iron functioning and thus restored thyroid function. In conclusion, methimazole combined with berberine has better efficacy in patients with GD, suggesting the potential benefit of berberine combined with methimazole in modulating the composition of intestinal microbes in the treatment of GD, providing new strong evidence for the effectiveness of combining Chinese and Western drugs from the perspective of modulating the intestinal microbiota.

Effect of Resistance Training Combined with Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyric Acid Supplements in Elderly Patients with Sarcopenia after Hip Replacement

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of resistance training (RT) combined with beta‐hydroxy‐beta‐methylbutyric acid (HMB) in the treatment of elderly patients with sarcopenia after hip replacement.

Methods

From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, 200 elderly patients (68 men, mean age 76.3 years and 137 women, mean age 79.1 years) who experienced femoral neck fracture with sarcopenia after hip arthroplasty were assigned to four groups: RT + HMB group, RT group, HMB group, and negative control group. Baseline data, body composition, grip strength, Barthel index (BI), Harris hip score (HHS), and visual analog scale score (VAS) were compared among the four groups before and 3 months after surgery.

Results

A total of 177 participants completed the trial, including 43 in the HMB + RT group, 44 in the HMB group, 45 in the RT group, and 45 in the negative control group. At the 3‐month follow‐up, the body composition and grip strength of the HMB + RT group and RT group were significantly improved compared with those before operation. The HMB group had no significant change, while the measures in the negative control group significantly decreased. Postoperative BI and HSS did not reach pre‐injury levels in any of the four groups, but postoperative VAS score was significantly improved. However, there was no significant difference in BI, HSS, or VAS among the four groups.

Conclusion

RT, with or without HMB supplementation, can effectively improve body composition and grip strength in elderly patients with sarcopenia after hip replacement at short‐term follow‐up. Simultaneously, use of exclusive HMB supplementation alone may also help to prevent decreases in muscle mass and grip strength in these patients.

High anti-interference dual-parameter sensor using an EIT-like effect photonic crystal cavity coupled system

We propose a sensor with high anti-interference ability using a photonic crystal cavity coupled system for simultaneous sensing of the refractive index (RI) and temperature (T) based on an electromagnetically induced transparency-like effect. A transparent window is achieved in the transmission spectrum through destructive interference between the air mode resonance and dielectric mode resonance in two one-dimensional photonic crystal structures. The T-sensitive material (SU-8) is used in the coupled system, promoting sensitivity and anti-interference ability. The capability of the system to simultaneously detect a small range of RI and T is demonstrated using three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations and the fitting process. The RI sensitivities for the air and dielectric modes were 215 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) and 0 nm/RIU, respectively. The T sensitivities for the air and dielectric modes were 19 pm/K and -83pm/K, respectively. The sensor resists external interference, enabling it to resist the error caused by readings. The footprint of the sensor is 29×1.8µm² (length×width), contributing to future optical on-chip integration sensor design.

Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of hypoxia signaling attenuates oncogenic RAS-induced cancer phenotypes

Oncogenic Ras mutations are highly prevalent in hematopoietic malignancies. However, it is difficult to directly target oncogenic RAS proteins for therapeutic intervention. We have developed a Drosophila acute myeloid leukemia model induced by human KRAS^G12V, which exhibits a dramatic increase in myeloid-like leukemia cells. We performed both genetic and drug screens using this model. The genetic screen identified 24 candidate genes able to attenuate the oncogenic RAS-induced phenotype, including two key hypoxia pathway genes HIF1A and ARNT (HIF1B). The drug screen revealed that echinomycin, an inhibitor of HIF1A, can effectively attenuate the leukemia phenotype caused by KRAS^G12V. Furthermore, we showed that echinomycin treatment can effectively suppress oncogenic RAS-driven leukemia cell proliferation, using both human leukemia cell lines and a mouse xenograft model. These data suggest that inhibiting the hypoxia pathway could be an effective treatment approach and that echinomycin is a promising targeted drug to attenuate oncogenic RAS-induced cancer phenotypes.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Summary: Hypoxia pathway inhibition, either genetically or pharmacologically, rescues RAS-induced oncogenesis in a Drosophila acute myeloid leukemia model, mouse xenograft model and human leukemia cells.

Effect of flurbiprofen axetil combined with “Cocktail” therapy on opioid dosage in patients after total knee arthroplasty

Objectives:

To investigate the effect of flurbiprofen axetil combined with “cocktail” therapy on opioid dosage in patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods:

The clinical data of 200 patients who underwent TKA in Baoding No.1 Central Hospital hospital from March 2019 to March 2021 were collected for retrospective analysis. All 200 patients were divided into two groups according to their intraoperative anesthesia methods: the control group (100 cases) and the experimental group (100 cases). Patients in the control group were treated with “cocktail” therapy intraoperatively, while those in the experimental group were treated with flurbiprofen axetil combined with “cocktail” therapy intraoperatively. The hip pain scores in resting state and motion state were compared between the two groups at different postoperative time points, and postoperative pain relief, adverse reactions, and patient satisfaction with analgesia were statistically analyzed to evaluate the postoperative quality of life of the patients.

Results:

A statistically significant difference was observed in the intergroup and temporal effects of pain scores in resting state and motion state between the two groups (p<0.05). By comparison at each time point, the pain scores in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the time point T1-T6 in resting and motion states, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The frequency and dosage of remedial medication per capita in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group, with a statistical significance (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the scores of life quality items between the two groups preoperatively (p>0.05), while the scores of each item in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group postoperatively (p<0.05). The satisfaction degree of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group, showing a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

Flurbiprofen axetil combined with “cocktail” therapy is a safe treatment regimen that can improve the quality of life and safety of patients. With such a regimen, postoperative pain of patients undergoing TKA can be effectively relieved, and the use of opioids can be reduced.

Antimicrobial effects of four chemical additives on fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and in vitro ruminal digestibility of total mixed ration silage prepared with local food by-products

The objective of the work is to evaluate the effects of four chemical additives on fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and in vitro ruminal digestibility of total mixed ration (TMR) silage. TMR containing 15% spent mushroom substrate, 25% soybean sauce residue, 45% napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schum.), and 15% concentrate was ensiled with the following: (1) no additives (control), (2) potassium sorbate (PS, 0.1%), (3) sodium benzoate (SB, 0.1%), (4) sodium diacetate (SDA, 0.5%), and (5) calcium propionate (CAP, 0.5%) based on fresh weight. All silos (10 L) were opened for fermentation quality, in vitro ruminal digestibility analysis after 60 days of ensiling, and then subjected to aerobic stability test for 9 days. All TMR silages were well-conserved, as indicated by low pH, butyric acid, and ammonia nitrogen contents. During aerobic exposure, SDA was more stable with higher (p < 0.05) lactic acid and acetic acid contents and lower (p < 0.05) yeast counts than other TMR silages. In addition, SDA significantly (p < 0.05) increased cumulate gas production and in vitro dry matter digestibility compared with the control. Overall, SDA is recommended as additives to improve fermentation quality, in vitro ruminal digestibility, and aerobic stability of TMR silage prepared with local food by-products.

Metagenomics assembled genome scale analysis revealed the microbial diversity and genetic polymorphism of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in traditional fermented foods of Hainan, China

Exploring the microbiome in fermented foods and their effects on food quality and sustainability is beneficial to provide data support for understanding how they affects human physiology. Here, metagenomic sequencing and metagenomic assembled genomes (MAGs) were applied to appraise the microbial diversity of fermented Yucha (FYC) and fermented vegetables (FVE). The antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) enrichment and genetic polymorphism of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in fermented foods of different regions were compared. The results showed that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was the dominant species in FYC, while Lactiplantibacillus fermentum in FVE occupied the dominant position. From 32 high-quality MAGs, the central differential Lactic acid bacteria were higher in FVE. By comparing the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MAGs in Hainan and Other regions, we found that the total Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Hainan were significantly higher than other areas. Six non-synonymous mutations were included in the primary differential mutation, especially TrkA family potassium uptake protein and MerR family transcriptional regulator, which may be related to the hypersaline environment and highest ARGs enrichment in Hainan. This research provides valuable insight into our understanding of the microbiome of fermented food. Meanwhile, the analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum genetic polymorphism based on MAGs helps us understand this strain's evolutionary history.

1097. A Comparison of Area-Under Curve (AUC)-Guided vs Trough-Guided Monitoring of Vancomycin and Its Impact on Nephrotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Trough levels have been used for Vancomycin (VAN) therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) historically due to its practicality. A paradigm shift towards the use of area under curve (AUC)-guided dosing TDM has been made due to availability of advanced pharmacokinetics software, variability between trough levels and AUC values and the potential for reducing toxicity. This review aims to evaluate the impact of AUC-guided vs trough-guided vancomycin TDM on nephrotoxicity-related outcomes.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted using PubMed®, Embase®, Web of Science®, CINAHL®, Google scholar and Cochrane library® up till 1st January 2021 and was reported according to the PRISMA checklist. Studies which evaluated AUC-guided or trough-guided VAN TDM and vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity were included. Random effects models were used to compare differences in nephrotoxicity between trough level or AUC based vancomycin TDM due to expected heterogeneity in study designs.

PRISMA Flowchart

PRISMA flow chart depicting the selection process of studies included in the meta-analysis

Results

Of 1191 records retrieved, 57 studies were included. Majority of studies included adult and elderly patients (n=47, 82.5%). The pooled prevalence of nephrotoxicity was lower using the AUC-guided TDM [6.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.9 – 9.5%] compared to trough-guided TDM [17.0%; 95% CI: 14.7 – 19.2%]. The risk of nephrotoxicity was lower with the AUC-guided approach as compared with the trough-guided approach [OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.32–0.89]. AUC thresholds correlated with risk of nephrotoxicity only for the first 96 hours of therapy. A frequency analysis of significant multivariable factors showed that concomitant use of nephrotoxins, VAN trough levels and duration of VAN therapy were most commonly associated with nephrotoxicity.

Forest plot comparing the risk of nephrotoxicity of AUC-guided vs trough-guided

Forest plot comparing the risk of nephrotoxicity of AUC-guided vs trough-guided

Pooled nephrotoxicity rates from AUC-guided monitoring

Pooled nephrotoxicity rates from AUC-guided monitoring

Pooled nephrotoxicity rates from trough-guided monitoring

Pooled nephrotoxicity rates from trough-guided monitoring

Conclusion

The AUC-guided approach appeared to have lower risk of nephrotoxicity which supports the updated American Society of Health-System Pharmacists recommendations. More studies should be performed to evaluate the optimal derivation of AUC and clinical utility of repeated measurements of vancomycin AUC and trough levels.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures

Assisted Hatching Treatment of Piezo-Mediated Small Hole on Zona Pellucida in Morula Stage Embryos Improves Embryo Implantation and Litter Size in Mice

For in vitro produced embryos generated from in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure, the intra- and extra-environmental factors during in vitro culture have significant impact on latter embryo development and fetus growth. Assisted hatching (AH), an effective approach to facilitate hatchability for in vitro generated embryos, is an essential step for successful embryo implantation in the uterus. However, regarding the different AH methods reported in clinical practice, it is still unknown whether zona pellucida (ZP) broken is based on AH applied in diverse stages of embryos affect implantation and fetal development. Here, piezo-mediated AH treatments were classified into four categories: (1) drilling one small hole (SH) with a diameter of 10 μm on ZP (SH); (2) drilling one large hole (LH) with a diameter of 40 μm on ZP (LH); (3) made a small area with diameter of 40-μm thinner on ZP [small area thinner (ST)]; (4) made a large area with a diameter of 80-μm thinner [large area thinner (LT)]. These four AH treatments were applied in different stage embryos including two-cell, four-cell, and morula. The most efficient AH approach was chosen according to the final hatch rate at 120 h after fertilization. We found that the approach of SH applied in morula-stage embryos obtained the highest hatch rate. To further investigate if this treatment has any side effect on later development after embryo transfer, we evaluated embryo implantation, gestational period, litter size, and growth. Our results showed that SH applied in morula-stage embryos could facilitate the implantation process and increase litter size. Meanwhile, this approach had no side effect on birth weight, growth, or gender ratio in the offspring. We conclude that drilling a SH on ZP in morula-stage embryos is an effective and reliable AH approach for in vitro cultured embryos in rodent. And this approach is worth further investigating in human-assisted reproductive technology.

Artificial neural networks applied in fast-designing ultrabroad bandgap elliptical hole dielectric mode photonic crystal nanobeam cavity

Artificial neural networks are employed to predict the band structure of the one-dimensional photonic crystal nanobeam, and to inverse-design the geometry structure with on-demand band edges. The data sets generated by 3D finite-difference time-domain based on elliptical-shaped hole nanobeams are used to train the networks and evaluate the networks' accuracy. Based on the well-trained forward prediction and inverse-design network, an ultrabroad bandgap elliptical hole dielectric mode nanobeam cavity is designed. The bandgap achieves 77.7 THz for the center segment of the structure, and the whole designing process takes only 0.73 s. The approach can also be expanded to fast-design elliptical hole air mode nanobeam cavities. The present work is of significance for further research on the application of artificial neural networks in photonic crystal cavities and other optical devices design.

Autophagy inhibition rescues structural and functional defects caused by the loss of mitochondrial chaperone Hsc70-5 in Drosophila

We investigated in larval and adult Drosophila models whether loss of the mitochondrial chaperone Hsc70-5 is sufficient to cause pathological alterations commonly observed in Parkinson disease. At affected larval neuromuscular junctions, no effects on terminal size, bouton size or number, synapse size, or number were observed, suggesting that we studied an early stage of pathogenesis. At this stage, we noted a loss of synaptic vesicle proteins and active zone components, delayed synapse maturation, reduced evoked and spontaneous excitatory junctional potentials, increased synaptic fatigue, and cytoskeleton rearrangements. The adult model displayed ATP depletion, altered body posture, and susceptibility to heat-induced paralysis. Adult phenotypes could be suppressed by knockdown of dj-1β, Lrrk, DCTN2-p50, DCTN1-p150, Atg1, Atg101, Atg5, Atg7, and Atg12. The knockdown of components of the macroautophagy/autophagy machinery or overexpression of human HSPA9 broadly rescued larval and adult phenotypes, while disease-associated HSPA9 variants did not. Overexpression of Pink1 or promotion of autophagy exacerbated defects.Abbreviations: AEL: after egg laying; AZ: active zone; brp: bruchpilot; Csp: cysteine string protein; dlg: discs large; eEJPs: evoked excitatory junctional potentials; GluR: glutamate receptor; H₂O₂: hydrogen peroxide; mEJP: miniature excitatory junctional potentials; MT: microtubule; NMJ: neuromuscular junction; PD: Parkinson disease; Pink1: PTEN-induced putative kinase 1; PSD: postsynaptic density; SSR: subsynaptic reticulum; SV: synaptic vesicle; VGlut: vesicular glutamate transporter.

A laser-mediated photo-manipulative toolbox for generation and real-time monitoring of DNA lesions

With the advancement of laser-based microscopy tools, it is now possible to explore mechano-kinetic processes occurring inside the cell. Here, we describe the advanced protocol for studying the DNA repair kinetics in real time using the laser to induce the DNA damage. This protocol can be used for inducing, testing, and studying the repair mechanisms associated with DNA double-strand breaks, interstrand cross-link repair, and single-strand break repair. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Kumar et al. (2017, 2020).

Phosphorylation of slit diaphragm proteins NEPHRIN and NEPH1 upon binding of HGF promotes podocyte repair

Phosphorylation (activation) and dephosphorylation (deactivation) of the slit diaphragm proteins NEPHRIN and NEPH1 are critical for maintaining the kidney epithelial podocyte actin cytoskeleton and, therefore, proper glomerular filtration. However, the mechanisms underlying these events remain largely unknown. Here we show that NEPHRIN and NEPH1 are novel receptor proteins for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and can be phosphorylated independently of the mesenchymal epithelial transition receptor in a ligand-dependent fashion through engagement of their extracellular domains by HGF. Furthermore, we demonstrate SH2 domain–containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2–dependent dephosphorylation of these proteins. To establish HGF as a ligand, purified baculovirus-expressed NEPHRIN and NEPH1 recombinant proteins were used in surface plasma resonance binding experiments. We report high-affinity interactions of NEPHRIN and NEPH1 with HGF, although NEPHRIN binding was 20-fold higher than that of NEPH1. In addition, using molecular modeling we constructed peptides that were used to map specific HGF-binding regions in the extracellular domains of NEPHRIN and NEPH1. Finally, using an in vitro model of cultured podocytes and an ex vivo model of Drosophila nephrocytes, as well as chemically induced injury models, we demonstrated that HGF-induced phosphorylation of NEPHRIN and NEPH1 is centrally involved in podocyte repair. Taken together, this is the first study demonstrating a receptor-based function for NEPHRIN and NEPH1. This has important biological and clinical implications for the repair of injured podocytes and the maintenance of podocyte integrity.

[Japan narrow-band imaging Expert Team type 2B colorectal cancer: consistency between endoscopic prediction and pathological diagnosis]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the potential factors that affect the accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis for Japan narrow-band imaging (NBI) Expert Team (JNET) type 2B colorectal lesions.

OBJECTIVE

The clinical data were collected from 261 patients with JNET type 2B colorectal lesions diagnosed in Nanfang Hospital between July, 2018 and July, 2021. We analyzed the macroscopic type, size, location or pit pattern classification of the lesions for their potential influence of the diagnostic accuracy of JNET type 2B lesions.

OBJECTIVE

The 261 lesions included 91 low-grade intramucosal neoplasia lesions (34.9%), 132 high-grade intramucosal neoplasia lesions (50.6%), 13 submucosal invasive cancer lesions (5.0%), and 25 deep submucosal invasive cancer lesions (9.6%). The coincidence rate between endoscopic prediction and pathological diagnosis of these lesions was 55.6% (145/ 261). The macroscopic type and size of the lesions were significantly associated with the diagnostic accuracy of JNET type 2B lesions (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy among the lesions with different pit pattern types (P < 0.001).

OBJECTIVE

Both the macroscopic type and size affect the accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis of JNET type 2B colorectal lesions. JNET classification combined with pit pattern types can have better accuracy in predicting the pathological diagnosis of these lesions.

SGN nerve filaments develop synapses with IHCs earlier than with OHCs in C57BL/6 mouse inner ear

OBJECTIVE

To explore the connections between hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) during the development of the C57BL/6 mouse inner ear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The specimens of C57BL/6 mouse inner ear, from E15 (embryo day 15) to adult mouse, were collected; immunohistochemistry was employed to explore the frozen sections of specimens.

RESULTS

The development of cochlea starts sequentially from the basal turn to the apex turn. Morphological development of SGNs occurs mainly from E16 to P12 (postnatal day 12). Hair cells appear from E18 to P12, and inner hair cells (IHCs) develop earlier than outer hair cells (OHCs). The connections between hair cells and SGNs begin to develop during E18-P1, morphologically resemble mature synapses during P8-P12, and completely mature in adult mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The genesis of auditory ribbon synapse occurs from E18 to P1. Synchronized with the development of SGNs and hair cells, the functional filaments remain connected to hair cells, while the spare ones get disconnected from the surface of hair cells. Connections between SGN nerve filaments and IHCs occur earlier than those between SGN nerve filaments and OHCs.

Drosophila, a powerful model to study virus-host interactions and pathogenicity in the fight against SARS-CoV-2

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a tremendous impact on humanity. Although COVID-19 vaccines are showing promising results, they are not 100% effective and resistant mutant SARS-CoV-2 strains are on the rise. To successfully fight against SARS-CoV-2 and prepare for future coronavirus outbreaks, it is essential to understand SARS-CoV-2 protein functions, their host interactions, and how these processes convey pathogenicity at host tissue, organ and systemic levels. In vitro models are valuable but lack the physiological context of a whole organism. Current animal models for SARS-CoV-2 research are exclusively mammals, with the intrinsic limitations of long reproduction times, few progeny, ethical concerns and high maintenance costs. These limitations make them unsuitable for rapid functional investigations of virus proteins as well as genetic and pharmacological screens. Remarkably, 90% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus-host interacting proteins are conserved between Drosophila and humans. As a well-established model system for studying human diseases, the fruit fly offers a highly complementary alternative to current mammalian models for SARS-CoV-2 research, from investigating virus protein function to developing targeted drugs. Herein, we review Drosophila's track record in studying human viruses and discuss the advantages and limitations of using fruit flies for SARS-CoV-2 research. We also review studies that already used Drosophila to investigate SARS-CoV-2 protein pathogenicity and their damaging effects in COVID-19 relevant tissues, as well as studies in which the fly was used as an efficient whole animal drug testing platform for targeted therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 proteins or their host interacting pathways.