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Vogt LN, Panis G, Schäpers A, Peschek N, Huber M, Papenfort K, Viollier PH, Fröhlich KS. Genome-wide profiling of Hfq-bound RNAs reveals the iron-responsive small RNA RusT in Caulobacter crescentus. mBio 2024; 15:e0315323. [PMID: 38511926 PMCID: PMC11005374 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03153-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The alphaproteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus thrives in oligotrophic environments and is able to optimally exploit minimal resources by entertaining an intricate network of gene expression control mechanisms. Numerous transcriptional activators and repressors have been reported to contribute to these processes, but only few studies have focused on regulation at the post-transcriptional level in C. crescentus. Small RNAs (sRNAs) are a prominent class of regulators of bacterial gene expression, and most sRNAs characterized today engage in direct base-pairing interactions to modulate the translation and/or stability of target mRNAs. In many cases, the ubiquitous RNA chaperone, Hfq, contributes to the establishment of RNA-RNA interactions. Although the deletion of the hfq gene is associated with a severe loss of fitness in C. crescentus, the RNA ligands of the chaperone have remained largely unexplored. Here we report on the identification of coding and non-coding transcripts associated with Hfq in C. crescentus and demonstrate Hfq-dependent post-transcriptional regulation in this organism. We show that the Hfq-bound sRNA RusT is transcriptionally controlled by the NtrYX two-component system and induced in response to iron starvation. By combining RusT pulse expression with whole-genome transcriptome analysis, we determine 16 candidate target transcripts that are deregulated, many of which encode outer membrane transporters. We hence suggest RusT to support remodeling of the C. crescentus cell surface when iron supplies are limited.IMPORTANCEThe conserved RNA-binding protein Hfq contributes significantly to the adaptation of bacteria to different environmental conditions. Hfq not only stabilizes associated sRNAs but also promotes inter-molecular base-pairing interactions with target transcripts. Hfq plays a pivotal role for growth and survival, controlling central metabolism and cell wall synthesis in the oligotroph Caulobacter crescentus. However, direct evidence for Hfq-dependent post-transcriptional regulation and potential oligotrophy in C. crescentus has been lacking. Here, we identified sRNAs and mRNAs associated with Hfq in vivo, and demonstrated the requirement of Hfq for sRNA-mediated regulation, particularly of outer membrane transporters in C. crescentus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N. Vogt
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gaël Panis
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine/Centre Médical Universitaire, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anna Schäpers
- Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolai Peschek
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michaela Huber
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kai Papenfort
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Patrick H. Viollier
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine/Centre Médical Universitaire, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin S. Fröhlich
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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Ma Y, Liu Y, Chen W, Li F, Guo R, Ji R, Chen J. Carbon quantum dot-induced developmental toxicity in Daphnia magna involves disturbance of symbiotic microorganisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166825. [PMID: 37673252 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing synthesis and application of carbon quantum dots (CQDs), their prevalence as pollution in water environments has increased. However, the toxic effects of CQDs on aquatic organisms are unclear, and their environmental safety must be evaluated. Herein, Daphnia magna was used as a model organism to explore the developmental toxicity of CQDs under a full life-cycle exposure. It was found that the feeding rate and offing number of D. magna decreased with increasing CQD concentration, and the body length of D. magna showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. These results indicated that long-term exposure to CQDs has evident toxic effects on D. magna development. Symbiosis analysis showed that the composition of the symbiotic microbial community of D. magna was disturbed by CQDs. The abundance of microorganisms involved in the immune response of D. magna such as Rhodobacter, decreased; those involved in the inflammation such as Gemmobacter, increased; and those involved in the nitrogen cycle, such as Hydrogenophaga and Paracoccus, decreased. When D. magna was subjected to environmental pressure, host-microflora interactive immune regulation was induced. The abundance of probiotics in D. magna, such as Rhodococcus, increased in response to environmental pressure. The results of KEGG function prediction showed that the abundance of symbiotic microorganisms involved in energy absorption and metabolism was affected by CQDs. In addition, the correlation analysis showed that there was a correlation between the changes in the symbiotic microbial community and the damage to D. magna after exposure to CQDs. Thus, it is appealed that as a potential environmental pollutant, CQDs have aquatic environmental risks, and their safe application deserves attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Ma
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yanhua Liu
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wenling Chen
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Fei Li
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ruixin Guo
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Rong Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jianqiu Chen
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Biełło KA, Olaya-Abril A, Cabello P, Rodríguez-Caballero G, Sáez LP, Moreno-Vivián C, Luque-Almagro VM, Roldán MD. Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Cyanide and Mercury Detoxification by Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0055323. [PMID: 37432117 PMCID: PMC10433974 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00553-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The cyanide-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344 uses cyanide and different metal-cyanide complexes as the sole nitrogen source. Under cyanotrophic conditions, this strain was able to grow with up to 100 μM mercury, which was accumulated intracellularly. A quantitative proteomic analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been applied to unravel the molecular basis of the detoxification of both cyanide and mercury by the strain CECT 5344, highlighting the relevance of the cyanide-insensitive alternative oxidase CioAB and the nitrilase NitC in the tolerance and assimilation of cyanide, independently of the presence or absence of mercury. Proteins overrepresented in the presence of cyanide and mercury included mercury transporters, mercuric reductase MerA, transcriptional regulator MerD, arsenate reductase and arsenical resistance proteins, thioredoxin reductase, glutathione S-transferase, proteins related to aliphatic sulfonates metabolism and sulfate transport, hemin import transporter, and phosphate starvation induced protein PhoH, among others. A transcriptional study revealed that from the six putative merR genes present in the genome of the strain CECT 5344 that could be involved in the regulation of mercury resistance/detoxification, only the merR2 gene was significantly induced by mercury under cyanotrophic conditions. A bioinformatic analysis allowed the identification of putative MerR2 binding sites in the promoter regions of the regulatory genes merR5, merR6, arsR, and phoR, and also upstream from the structural genes encoding glutathione S-transferase (fosA and yghU), dithiol oxidoreductase (dsbA), metal resistance chaperone (cpxP), and amino acid/peptide extruder involved in quorum sensing (virD), among others. IMPORTANCE Cyanide, mercury, and arsenic are considered very toxic chemicals that are present in nature as cocontaminants in the liquid residues generated by different industrial activities like mining. Considering the huge amounts of toxic cyanide- and mercury-containing wastes generated at a large scale and the high biotechnological potential of P. pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344 in the detoxification of cyanide present in these industrial wastes, in this work, proteomic, transcriptional, and bioinformatic approaches were used to characterize the molecular response of this bacterium to cyanide and mercury, highlighting the mechanisms involved in the simultaneous detoxification of both compounds. The results generated could be applied for developing bioremediation strategies to detoxify wastes cocontaminated with cyanide, mercury, and arsenic, such as those generated at a large scale in the mining industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina A Biełło
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alfonso Olaya-Abril
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Purificación Cabello
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Edificio Celestino Mutis, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Gema Rodríguez-Caballero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Lara P Sáez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Conrado Moreno-Vivián
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Víctor Manuel Luque-Almagro
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - María Dolores Roldán
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
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Biełło KA, Cabello P, Rodríguez-Caballero G, Sáez LP, Luque-Almagro VM, Roldán MD, Olaya-Abril A, Moreno-Vivián C. Proteomic Analysis of Arsenic Resistance during Cyanide Assimilation by Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087232. [PMID: 37108394 PMCID: PMC10138600 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Wastewater from mining and other industries usually contains arsenic and cyanide, two highly toxic pollutants, thereby creating the need to develop bioremediation strategies. Here, molecular mechanisms triggered by the simultaneous presence of cyanide and arsenite were analyzed by quantitative proteomics, complemented with qRT-PCR analysis and determination of analytes in the cyanide-assimilating bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344. Several proteins encoded by two ars gene clusters and other Ars-related proteins were up-regulated by arsenite, even during cyanide assimilation. Although some proteins encoded by the cio gene cluster responsible for cyanide-insensitive respiration decreased in the presence of arsenite, the nitrilase NitC required for cyanide assimilation was unaffected, thus allowing bacterial growth with cyanide and arsenic. Two complementary As-resistance mechanisms were developed in this bacterium, the extrusion of As(III) and its extracellular sequestration in biofilm, whose synthesis increased in the presence of arsenite, and the formation of organoarsenicals such as arseno-phosphoglycerate and methyl-As. Tetrahydrofolate metabolism was also stimulated by arsenite. In addition, the ArsH2 protein increased in the presence of arsenite or cyanide, suggesting its role in the protection from oxidative stress caused by both toxics. These results could be useful for the development of bioremediation strategies for industrial wastes co-contaminated with cyanide and arsenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina A Biełło
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Purificación Cabello
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Edificio Celestino Mutis, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Gema Rodríguez-Caballero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Lara P Sáez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Víctor M Luque-Almagro
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - María Dolores Roldán
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alfonso Olaya-Abril
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Conrado Moreno-Vivián
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
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Biełło KA, Lucena C, López-Tenllado FJ, Hidalgo-Carrillo J, Rodríguez-Caballero G, Cabello P, Sáez LP, Luque-Almagro V, Roldán MD, Moreno-Vivián C, Olaya-Abril A. Holistic view of biological nitrogen fixation and phosphorus mobilization in Azotobacter chroococcum NCIMB 8003. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1129721. [PMID: 36846808 PMCID: PMC9945222 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1129721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies are two of the most agronomic problems that cause significant decrease in crop yield and quality. N and P chemical fertilizers are widely used in current agriculture, causing environmental problems and increasing production costs. Therefore, the development of alternative strategies to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers while maintaining N and P inputs are being investigated. Although dinitrogen is an abundant gas in the atmosphere, it requires biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) to be transformed into ammonium, a nitrogen source assimilable by living organisms. This process is bioenergetically expensive and, therefore, highly regulated. Factors like availability of other essential elements, as phosphorus, strongly influence BNF. However, the molecular mechanisms of these interactions are unclear. In this work, a physiological characterization of BNF and phosphorus mobilization (PM) from an insoluble form (Ca3(PO4)2) in Azotobacter chroococcum NCIMB 8003 was carried out. These processes were analyzed by quantitative proteomics in order to detect their molecular requirements and interactions. BNF led to a metabolic change beyond the proteins strictly necessary to carry out the process, including the metabolism related to other elements, like phosphorus. Also, changes in cell mobility, heme group synthesis and oxidative stress responses were observed. This study also revealed two phosphatases that seem to have the main role in PM, an exopolyphosphatase and a non-specific alkaline phosphatase PhoX. When both BNF and PM processes take place simultaneously, the synthesis of nitrogenous bases and L-methionine were also affected. Thus, although the interdependence is still unknown, possible biotechnological applications of these processes should take into account the indicated factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina A. Biełło
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carlos Lucena
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Edificio Celestino Mutis, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Francisco J. López-Tenllado
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Química Fina y Nanoquímica (IUNAN), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jesús Hidalgo-Carrillo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Química Fina y Nanoquímica (IUNAN), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Gema Rodríguez-Caballero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Purificación Cabello
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Edificio Celestino Mutis, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Lara P. Sáez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Víctor Luque-Almagro
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - María Dolores Roldán
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Conrado Moreno-Vivián
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alfonso Olaya-Abril
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain,*Correspondence: Alfonso Olaya-Abril,
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Liu TH, Zhao L, Zhang CY, Li XY, Wu TL, Dai YY, Sheng YY, Ren YL, Xue YZ. Gut microbial evidence chain in high-salt diet exacerbates intestinal aging process. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1046833. [PMID: 36386919 PMCID: PMC9650087 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1046833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although excessive salt consumption appears to hasten intestinal aging and increases susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, the molecular mechanism is unknown. In this study, mutual validation of high salt (HS) and aging fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in C56BL/6 mice was used to clarify the molecular mechanism by which excessive salt consumption causes intestinal aging. Firstly, we observed HS causes vascular endothelial damage and can accelerate intestinal aging associated with decreased colon and serum expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and increased malondialdehyde (MDA); after transplantation with HS fecal microbiota in mice, vascular endothelial damage and intestinal aging can also occur. Secondly, we also found intestinal aging and vascular endothelial damage in older mice aged 14 months; and after transplantation of the older mice fecal microbiota, the same effect was observed in mice aged 6–8 weeks. Meanwhile, HS and aging significantly changed gut microbial diversity and composition, which was transferable by FMT. Eventually, based on the core genera both in HS and the aging gut microbiota network, a machine learning model was constructed which could predict HS susceptibility to intestinal aging. Further investigation revealed that the process of HS-related intestinal aging was highly linked to the signal transduction mediated by various bacteria. In conclusion, the present study provides an experimental basis of potential microbial evidence in the process of HS related intestinal aging. Even, avoiding excessive salt consumption and actively intervening in gut microbiota alteration may assist to delay the aging state that drives HS-related intestinal aging in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-hao Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Chen-yang Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xiao-ya Li
- College of Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Tie-long Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yuan-yuan Dai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Ying-yue Sheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yi-lin Ren
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yu-zheng Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- *Correspondence: Yu-zheng Xue
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