Zhiqiang Xu | PubMed Health

PubMed2026

Insights into specific and nonspecific butyrate-producing pathways during the in vitro fecal fermentation of butyrylated starch.

Butyrylated starch is a special type-4 resistant starch with butyrate-carrying attribute. In this study, the unique butyrate-producing capability of butyrylated starch was deeply investigated by focusing on its specific and nonspecific butyrate-producing pathways, respectively, using specially designed substrates as controls. In vitro fermentation studies revealed that butyrylated and isobutyrylated starches generated high levels of butyrate and isobutyrate, respectively, highlighting the role of butyryl group metabolism in the specificity of butyrate production. Carboxylesterase assays have demonstrated that butyryl group metabolism is primarily facilitated by carbohydrate esterases expressed in the gut microbiota. Combined with 16S rRNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, it was found that butyrylated starch fermentation did not significantly enhance traditional butyrate synthesis pathways but modified the balance between the butyryl-CoA:acetyl-CoA transferase and butyrate kinase pathways by altering the gut microbiota composition, specifically by upregulating the relative abundance of indicator species such as Bacteroides, the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and Parabacteroides. These insights offer theoretical guidance for designing butyrylated starch structures and regulating intestinal health.

Starch↗

PubMed2025

Surveillance of tick-borne viruses in the border regions of the Tumen River Basin: Co-circulation in ticks and livestock.

BACKGROUND: The unique eco-geographical patterns and climatic conditions of the China-Tumen River border region, combined with frequent cross-border tourism and trade activities, collectively establish this area as a recognized hotspot for tick-borne disease outbreaks. However, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding the eco-epidemiology of emerging tick-borne viruses and the distribution of their potential reservoir hosts within this trinational ecosystem spanning China, North Korea, and Russia. METHODS: We collected a total of 2,004 ticks from the study area, along with blood samples obtained from 42 sheep and 45 cattle. Following viral metagenomic analysis of the ticks, dual verification of target pathogens in all samples was performed using qRT-PCR and RT-PCR assays. Phylogenetic trees were constructed and nucleotide sequences were analyzed to delineate relationships between the obtained virus strains and reference sequences. RESULTS: Viral metagenomics identified three viruses in ticks: Dabieshan tick virus (DBTV), Songling virus (SGLV), and Yanggou tick virus (YGTV). PCR analysis detected DBTV exclusively in Hunchun ticks (minimum infection rates, MIR:4.73%) and YGTV in Antu specimens (MIR:0.97%). Conversely, SGLV was detected in ticks from all four regions, with MIR of 1.68% (Helong), 0.74% (Hunchun), 1.61% (Antu), and 4.79% (Longjing). Concurrently, SGLV was detected in 19 sheep blood samples from Longjing, yielding a positivity rate of 45.24%, while YGTV was identified in 13 cattle blood samples from Antu, with a positivity rate of 28.89%. Phylogenetically, the DBTV strain clustered with previously reported DBTV and Yongjia tick virus 1 isolates. Sheep-derived SGLV strains shared close evolutionary ties with tick-borne SGLV, whereas YGTV from cattle and ticks formed a distinct cluster with Russian strains but diverged into two branches from Chinese variants, suggesting evolutionary instability. CONCLUSION: These findings address critical knowledge gaps in the transmission dynamics and genetic diversity of emerging arboviruses while providing vital insights for developing cross-border surveillance strategies with significant public health implications.

Animals↗