The clinical utility of CD163 in viral diseases

Comprehensive genome assembly reveals genetic diversity and carcass consumption insights in critically endangered Asian king vultures

The Asian king vulture (AKV), a vital forest scavenger, is facing globally critical endangerment. This study aimed to construct a reference genome to unveil the mechanisms underlying its scavenger abilities and to assess the genetic relatedness of the captive population in Thailand. A reference genome of a female AKV was assembled from sequencing reads obtained from both PacBio long-read and MGI short-read sequencing platforms. Comparative genomics with New World vultures (NWVs) and other birds in the Family Accipitridae revealed unique gene families in AKV associated with retroviral genome integration and feather keratin, contrasting with NWVs' genes related to olfactory reception. Expanded gene families in AKV were linked to inflammatory response, iron regulation and spermatogenesis. Positively selected genes included those associated with anti-apoptosis, immune response and muscle cell development, shedding light on adaptations for carcass consumption and high-altitude soaring. Using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq)-based genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genetic relatedness and inbreeding status of five captive AKVs were determined, revealing high genomic inbreeding in two females. In conclusion, the AKV reference genome was established, providing insights into its unique characteristics. Additionally, the potential of RADseq-based genome-wide SNPs for selecting AKV breeders was demonstrated.

Comprehensive Proteomic Profiling of Aqueous Humor in Idiopathic Uveitis and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome

Idiopathic uveitis (IU) and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome are common types of uveitis. However, the exact pathological mechanisms of IU and VKH remain unclear. Proteomic analysis of aqueous humor (AH), the most easily accessible intraocular fluid and a key site of uveitis development, may reveal potential biomarkers and elucidate uveitis pathogenesis. In this study, 44 AH samples, including 12 IU cases, 16 VKH cases, and 16 controls, were subjected to label-free quantitative proteomic analysis. We identified 557 proteins from a comprehensive spectral library of 634 proteins across all samples. The AH proteomic profiles of the IU and VKH groups were different from those of the control group. Differential analysis revealed a shared pattern of extracellular matrix disruption and downregulation of retinal cellular proteins in the IU and VKH groups. Enrichment analysis revealed a protein composition indicative of inflammation in the AH of the IU and VKH groups but not in that of the control group. In the IU and VKH groups, innate immunity played an important role, as indicated by complement cascade activation and overexpression of innate immune cell markers. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), an efficient and robust machine learning algorithm, was subsequently used to screen potential biomarkers for classifying the IU, VKH, and control groups. Transferrin and complement factor B were deemed the most important and represent a promising biomarker panel. These proteins were validated by high-resolution multiple reaction monitoring (HR-MRM) in an independent validation cohort. A classification decision tree was subsequently built for the diagnosis. Our findings further the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms in IU and VKH and facilitate the development of potential therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.

Rationally Designed Self-Assembling Nanovaccines Elicit Robust Mucosal and Systemic Immunity against Rhabdovirus

Viral diseases have constantly caused great threats to global public health, resulting in an urgent need for effective vaccines. However, the current viral vaccines often show low immunogenicity. To counter this, we report a smart strategy of a well-designed modular nanoparticle (LSG-TDH) that recapitulates the dominant antigen SG, low-molecular-weight protamine, and tetralysine-modified H-chain apoferritin (TDH). The constructed LSG-TDH nanovaccine could self-assemble into a nanocage structure, which confers excellent mucus-penetrating, cellular affinity, and uptake ability. Studies demonstrate that the LSG-TDH nanovaccine could strongly activate both mucosal and systemic immune responses. Importantly, by immunizing wild-type and TLR2 knockout (TLR2-KO) zebrafish, we found that TLR2 could mediate LSG-TDH-induced adaptive mucosal and systemic immune responses by activating antigen-presenting cells. Collectively, our findings offer new insights into rational viral vaccine design and provide additional evidence of the vital role of TLR2 in regulating adaptive immunity.