Qingqing Liu

Zinc–air batteries (ZABs) are expected to be some of the most promising power sources for wearable and portable electronic devices and have received widespread research interest. As an ion conductor connecting anodes and cathodes, the electrolyte is critical for the overall performance of ZABs (e.g., energy density, rechargeability, and operating voltage). Compared with liquid electrolytes, polymer-based electrolytes have superior characteristics for ZABs, such as negligible electrolyte leakage, three-phase interface stabilization, and dendrite suppression. In this perspective, we focus on recent progress in polymer-based electrolytes for ZABs. After a brief introduction to ZABs and electrolytes, we emphasize the development of polymer-based electrolytes in terms of their intrinsic properties and interfacial chemistry. Finally, challenges and viable strategies are proposed for polymer-based electrolytes in ZABs. We hope that this work will provide useful guidance to spur the development of high-performance ZABs based on advanced polymer-based electrolytes.

Infectious diseases are a major global cause of morbidity and mortality, seriously affecting public health and socioeconomic stability. Since infectious diseases can be caused by a wide variety of pathogens with similar clinical manifestations and symptoms that are difficult to accurately distinguish, selecting the appropriate diagnostic techniques for the rapid identification of pathogens is crucial for clinical disease diagnosis and public health management. However, traditional diagnostic techniques have low detection rates, long detection times and limited automation, which means that they do not meet the requirements for rapid diagnosis. Recent years have seen continuous developments in molecular detection technology, which has a higher sensitivity and specificity, shorter detection time and increased automation, and performs an important role in the early and rapid detection of infectious disease pathogens. The present study summarizes recent progress in molecular diagnostic technologies such as PCR, isothermal amplification, gene chips and high‑throughput sequencing for the detection of infectious disease pathogens, and compares the technical principles, advantages and disadvantages, applicability and costs of these diagnostic techniques.

AIMS: To characterize the luxO gene in fish pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus MVP01 and investigate its roles in regulation of extracellular products (ECP) and siderophore production. METHODS AND RESULTS: The luxO gene was cloned from V. alginolyticus MVP01. Genetic analysis revealed that it encoded a protein with high similarity to other LuxO homologues. The luxO in-frame deletion mutant and rpoN null mutant were constructed with suicide plasmids. We demonstrated that sole deletion in LuxO increased the secretion of extracellular protease and haemolytic products, but decreased siderophore production for V. alginolyticus MVP01. Mutants with null rpoN displayed significantly enhanced protease level and siderophore production while notable reduction in haemolytic activities of ECP. CONCLUSIONS: Vibrio alginolyticus harbours functional luxO gene that regulates the secretion of extracellular protease and haemolytic materials as well as siderophore production in either sigma(54) dependent or independent manners. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The current study demonstrated that V. alginolyticus MVP01 produces extracellular protease and haemolytic activity material as well as siderophore, which may be characteristics of the virulence of the strain. Revelations that secretion of these products is under the regulation of LuxO and sigma(54) as well as the potential quorum sensing systems in V. alginolyticus MVP01 will expedite the understanding of vibriosis pathogenesis.