Infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C is associated with a prolonged viremic phase, delayed hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, and an increased incidence of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma compared with genotype B infection. Genotype C is also associated with the more frequent emergence of core promoter mutations, which increase genome replication and are independently associated with poor clinical outcomes. We amplified full-length HBV genomes from serum samples from Chinese and U. S. patients with chronic HBV infection and transfected circularized genome pools or dimeric constructs of individual clones into Huh7 cells. The two genotypes could be differentiated by Western blot analysis due to the reactivities of M and L proteins toward a monoclonal pre-S2 antibody and slightly different S-protein mobilities. Great variability in replication capacity was observed for both genotypes. The A1762T/G1764A core promoter mutations were prevalent in genotype C isolates and correlated with increased replication capacity, while the A1752G/T mutation frequently found in genotype B isolates correlated with a low replication capacity. Importantly, most genotype C isolates with wild-type core promoter sequence replicated less efficiently than the corresponding genotype B isolates due to less efficient transcription of the 3.5-kb RNA. However, genotype C isolates often displayed more efficient virion secretion. We propose that the low intracellular levels of viral DNA and core protein of wild-type genotype C delay immune clearance and trigger the subsequent emergence of A1762T/G1764A core promoter mutations to upregulate replication; efficient virion secretion compensates for the low replication capacity to ensure the establishment of persistent infection by genotype C.

Background: Glycine soja is a halophytic soybean native to saline soil in Yellow River Delta, China. Photosystem I (PSI) performance and the interaction between photosystem II (PSII) and PSI remain unclear in Glycine soja under salt stress. This study aimed to explore salt adaptability in Glycine soja in terms of photosystems coordination. Results: Potted Glycine soja was exposed to 300 mM NaCl for 9 days with a cultivated soybean, Glycine max, as control. Under salt stress, the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and PSI (△MR/MR₀) were significantly decreased with the loss of PSI and PSII reaction center proteins in Glycine max, and greater PSI vulnerability was suggested by earlier decrease in △MR/MR₀ than Fv/Fm and depressed PSI oxidation in modulated 820 nm reflection transients. Inversely, PSI stability was defined in Glycine soja, as △MR/MR₀ and PSI reaction center protein abundance were not affected by salt stress. Consistently, chloroplast ultrastructure and leaf lipid peroxidation were not affected in Glycine soja under salt stress. Inhibition on electron flow at PSII acceptor side helped protect PSI by restricting electron flow to PSI and seemed as a positive response in Glycine soja due to its rapid recovery after salt stress. Reciprocally, PSI stability aided in preventing PSII photoinhibition, as the simulated feedback inhibition by PSI inactivation induced great decrease in Fv/Fm under salt stress. In contrast, PSI inactivation elevated PSII excitation pressure through inhibition on PSII acceptor side and accelerated PSII photoinhibition in Glycine max, according to the positive and negative correlation of △MR/MR₀ with efficiency that an electron moves beyond primary quinone and PSII excitation pressure respectively. Conclusion: Therefore, photosystems coordination depending on PSI stability and rapid response of PSII acceptor side contributed to defending salt-induced oxidative stress on photosynthetic apparatus in Glycine soja. Photosystems interaction should be considered as one of the salt adaptable mechanisms in this halophytic soybean.

Background: Respiratory health is closely related to immune system function, and diet can also influence immune homeostasis. Diet, an important part of a healthy lifestyle, is also linked to respiratory health. We aimed to explore the relationship between different dietary patterns and the risk of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), including chronic bronchitis (CB), emphysema, and asthma.Method: A total of 23,042 adults from the United States were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset between 2007 and 2018. Diet quality was assessed using 2-day, 24-hour dietary recall data and quantified as the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020), the Dietary Inflammation Index (DII), the Mediterranean Dietary Index (MEDI), and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Index (DASHI). Binary logistic regression models, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and the weighted quartile sum (WQS) models were used to assess the relationship between diet quality and the risk of CB, emphysema, and asthma.Results: In logistic regression analyses of the four dietary indices with the three chronic respiratory diseases, it was consistently observed that higher dietary quality scores were linked to a reduced risk of respiratory disease. These consistent trends were also evident in the assessments of the dose–response relationship between dietary quality score and the risk of respiratory disease. Furthermore, evaluations of the combined effects of dietary components across different dietary indices in the risk of chronic respiratory disease yielded results consistent with the logistic regression models. Notably, high-quality protein, minerals, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables emerged as the food groups making the most significant contributions to health across different dietary indices.Conclusion: Low-quality diets, lacking in high-quality protein, minerals, and fruits and vegetables rich in dietary fiber, are associated with a higher risk of chronic respiratory disease, regardless of the dietary index used to measure diet quality.