Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), which uses a mosquito primary vector and swine as a reservoir host, poses a significant risk to human and animal health. JEV can be detected in cattle, goats and dogs. A molecular epidemiological survey of JEV was conducted in 3105 mammals from five species, swine, fox, racoon dog, yak and goat, and 17,300 mosquitoes from 11 Chinese provinces. JEV was detected in pigs from Heilongjiang (12/328, 3.66%), Jilin (17/642, 2.65%), Shandong (14/832, 1.68%), Guangxi (8/278, 2.88%) and Inner Mongolia (9/952, 0.94%); in goats (1/51, 1.96%) from Tibet; and mosquitoes (6/131, 4.58%) from Yunnan. A total of 13 JEV envelope (E) gene sequences were amplified in pigs from Heilongjiang (5/13), Jilin (2/13) and Guangxi (6/13). Swine had the highest JEV infection rate of any animal species, and the highest infection rates were found in Heilongjiang. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the predominant strain in Northern China was genotype I. Mutations were found at residues 76, 95, 123, 138, 244, 474 and 475 of E protein but all sequences had predicted glycosylation sites at ′N154. Three strains lacked the threonine 76 phosphorylation site from non-specific (unsp) and protein kinase G (PKG) site predictions; one lacked the threonine 186 phosphorylation site from protein kinase II (CKII) prediction; and one lacked the tyrosine 90 phosphorylation site from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) prediction. The aim of the current study was to contribute to JEV prevention and control through the characterization of its molecular epidemiology and prediction of functional changes due to E-protein mutations.

Introduction: The newly emerged Omicron subvariants demonstrate resistance to current therapeutic antibodies and an enhanced ability to evade the vaccine-induced immune responses. Among them, JN.1 sublineages are considered highly immune-evasive, underscoring the urgent need for broadly protective vaccines. Ferritin nanoparticles, with their unique hollow nanocage structure, provide an efficient antigen-display platform for next-generation vaccine development. Methods: Based on the previously constructed Delta-6P-S recombinant protein vaccine with broad-spectrum protective effects, this study optimized the S protein structure displayed on the surface of ferritin nanoparticles by comparing the immune responses induced in C57BL/6J mice. Results: Delta-4S1158 nanoparticles, containing a truncated S-6P structure with four additional mutation sites, elicited robust S-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), potent neutralizing antibodies, and a Th2-biased T-cell response in C57BL/6J mice, demonstrating favorable immunogenicity and safety. The JN.1-4S1158 nanoparticles, based on this structural design, induced a strong cross-neutralizing antibody response in C57BL/6J mice and conferred effective protection against Omicron BA.5, XBB, and JN.1 variants. Vaccinated mice exhibited significantly reduced viral genomic loads in trachea and lung tissues compared to controls, with no infectious virus detected. Lung tissue pathology was minimal in vaccinated mice. Conclusion: The JN.1-4S1158 nanoparticle vaccine demonstrates broad-spectrum protective effects against Omicron subvariants and shows potential for further development. It also provides a basis for the development of a universal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection can induce acute kidney injury (AKI) and may be fatal in severe cases, yet effective therapeutic strategies remain unclear. This study integrated computational analysis (network pharmacology and molecular docking) with in vitro experiments to evaluate the protective potential of oxymatrine against CHIKV-induced AKI and to explore its underlying mechanisms. Network pharmacology analysis identified 605 overlapping targets between CHIKV- and AKI-related genes, with core targets including TNF, AKT1, IL6, IL1B, and TP53, which were primarily enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. RT-qPCR analysis and molecular docking further indicated that oxymatrine may interact with 18 targets, such as BAX, BCL2, and TLR4, thereby modulating CHIKV-associated PI3K/AKT signaling. In vitro experiments showed that oxymatrine at concentrations of 250–2,000 μM significantly increased the viability of HEK293T cells infected with CHIKV at a MOI of 0.01 for 24 h, with an average increase of approximately 25.8%. At these concentrations, oxymatrine reduced the expression of the CHIKV entry factor TIM-1 and regulated the PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, and TNF signaling pathways, which may contribute to the inhibition of viral replication. Further analysis revealed that CHIKV-induced AKI involved 75 ferroptosis-related targets and was closely associated with inflammatory responses. Oxymatrine may attenuate these effects through the regulation of targets such as SIRT3, AR, and FURIN. Consistently, ELISA results demonstrated that 1,000 μM oxymatrine significantly decreased the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in HEK293T cells infected with CHIKV. In conclusion, these findings suggest that oxymatrine may protect against CHIKV-induced AKI by limiting viral replication, modulating PI3K/AKT and NF-κB/TNF signaling pathways, suppressing inflammation, and regulating ferroptosis-related processes.

Waste molasses (WM), a carbon rich by-product of sugar production, is frequently underutilized, resulting in environmental pollution and resource loss. In this study, a one-step microbial bioconversion process using Bacillus subtilis was developed to transform WM into molasses derived fulvic acid (MFA). The highest MFA yield (33.54%) was achieved at 35 °C, 48 h, and a 5% inoculation rate. Integrated GC-MS and LC-MS analyses revealed dynamic substrate transformation during fermentation and suggested that 4-hydroxy-2-methylacetophenone, 4-oxododecanedioic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-octylpentanedioic acid were putative intermediates involved in MFA formation. Structural characterization showed that the resulting MFA possessed a loose, porous morphology and abundant hydroxyl, carboxyl, and carbonyl groups. In a single 150 d field trial, MFA application was associated with higher soil organic carbon and humus contents than the unfertilized control and promoted maize vegetative growth. MFA also enriched the microbial communities including Pseudomonas , Acidobacterium , Actinobacteria , and Bacteroidetes . The abundance of several genes related to carbon assimilation and carboxylation, including rbcL , rbcS , accB , accC , and pccA , has also increased. Metabolomic analysis further revealed shifts in metabolites associated with central carbon metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway MFA application also markedly promoted maize growth without chemical fertilizer input, demonstrating its potential as an organic soil amendment and partial fertilizer substitute. Collectively, these findings suggest that a one-step microbial transformation can convert WM into functional fulvic-like acid fertilizer. This method provides a potential route for mineral derived FA production. Simultaneously combining the reuse of agricultural waste, improvement of soil quality, reduction of partial fertilizer dependence, and development of circular agriculture.