Table_1_Screening for diagnostic targets in tuberculosis and study on its pathogenic mechanism based on mRNA sequencing technology and miRNA-mRNA-pathway regulatory network.xlsx

PurposeTuberculosis is common infectious diseases, characterized by infectivity, concealment and chronicity, and the early diagnosis is helpful to block the spread of tuberculosis and reduce the resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to anti-tuberculosis drugs. At present, there are obvious limitations in the application of clinical detection methods used for the early diagnosis of tuberculosis. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) has become an economical and accurate gene sequencing method for quantifying transcripts and detecting unknown RNA species.MethodsA peripheral blood mRNA sequencing was used to screen the differentially expressed genes between healthy people and tuberculosis patients. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of differentially expressed genes was constructed through Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database. The potential diagnostic targets of tuberculosis were screened by the calculation of degree, betweenness and closeness in Cytoscape 3.9.1 software. Finally, the functional pathways and the molecular mechanism of tuberculosis were clarified in combination of the prediction results of key gene miRNAs, and by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway annotation analysis.Results556 Differential genes of tuberculosis were screened out by mRNA sequencing. Six key genes (AKT1, TP53, EGF, ARF1, CD274 and PRKCZ) were screened as the potential diagnostic targets for tuberculosis by analyzing the PPI regulatory network and using three algorithms. Three pathways related to the pathogenesis of tuberculosis were identified by KEGG pathway analysis, and two key miRNAs (has-miR-150-5p and has-miR-25-3p) that might participate in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis were screened out by constructing a miRNA-mRNA pathway regulatory network.ConclusionSix key genes and two important miRNAs that could regulate them were screened out by mRNA sequencing. The 6 key genes and 2 important miRNAs may participate in the pathogenesis of infection and invasion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through herpes simplex virus 1 infection, endocytosis and B cell receptor signaling pathways.</p

Anti-buoyancy and unidirectional gas evolution by Janus electrodes with asymmetric wettability

The bubbles electrochemically generated by gas evolution reactions are commonly driven off the electrode by buoyancy, a weak force used to overcome bubble adhesion barriers, leading to low gas transporting efficiency. Herein, a Janus electrode with asymmetric wettability has been prepared by modifying two sides of a porous stainless-steel mesh electrode, with superhydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Pt/C (or Ir/C) catalyst with well-balanced hydrophobicity, respectively; affording unidirectional transportation of as-formed gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from the catalyst side to the gas-collecting side during water splitting. “Bubble-free” electrolysis was realized when “floating” the Janus electrode on the electrolyte. Anti-buoyancy through-mesh bubble transportation was observed when immersing the electrode with PTFE side downward. The wettability gradient within the electrode endowed sticky states of bubbles on the catalyst side, resulting in efficient “bubble-free” gas transportation with 15 folds higher current density than submerged states