Implant materials are prone to bacterial infections and cause serious consequences, while traditional antibiotic therapy has a long treatment cycle and even causes bacterial resistance.

Bacteria are widespread in the environment, and antibiotics are usually used in large doses to kill the bacteria, which consequently leads to the appearance of drug-resistance bacteria. As a result, the development of new and non-antibiotic antibacterial material is in urgent need. Herein, the molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheet, which shows photocatalytic and photothermal properties, was modified with N-doping carbon quantum dots (CQDs). The CQDs could transport the photogenerated electrons produced by MoS2 nanosheets, preventing the recombination of electrons and holes, resulting in a much higher photocatalytic property. Because of the enhanced photocatalytic properties, these MoS2/CQDs hybrids could kill bacteria highly effectively, with antibacterial ratios of 99.38 and 99.99% against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Meanwhile, the hybrids exhibit good biocompatibility, which can prevent the potential side effect to both human and environment. Furthermore, through a simple spin-coating method, the MoS2/CQDs hybrids could also form a coating on the basement, e.g., Ti, and act as an antibacterial coating to prevent bacterial infection.

In this study, mating system, genetic diversity, and genetic structure of the endangered endemic aquatic Isoetes yunguiensis in China was investigated using ISSR markers. The results of ISSR analyses showed that the estimate of multilocus outcrossing rate (tm) was high at species level (tm = 0.955), indicating that diploid I. yunguiensis is a predominant outcrossing species. Nine selected ISSR primers used in the study amplified 66 reproducible bands, 41 of which were polymorphic among 37 individuals. High level of genetic diversity was detected at the species level (PPB = 62.12%), whereas, relatively low genetic diversity existed within populations (PPB = 39.39%). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 31.99% of the genetic variation was attributable to differences between populations and the rest (68.01%) to variability within populationsof I. yunguiensis. Value of Fst (0.320) indicated that genetic differentiation between populations also was significant. These results showed that I. yunguiensis predominantly favors crossing, and has a high level of genetic diversity and highly significant genetic variation between and within populations. Gene flow (Nm) among populations is equal to 1.177. High outcrossing rates may be responsible for the high levels of genetic diversity observed in the I. yunguiensis population. To maintain the current level of genetic diversity for this species, we recommend increasing in situ conservation sites.

Cissus rotundifolia Lam. is used as a medicinal herb and vegetable. Flavonoids are the major components for the therapeutic effects. However, flavonoids constituents and expression profiles of related genes in C. rotundifolia organs are unknown. Colorimetric assay showed the highest flavonoid concentration in roots compared to the stem and leaf. Widely target-based metabolome analysis allowed tentative identification of 199 compounds in three organs. Flavonols and flavones were the dominant flavonoids subclasses. Among the metabolites, 171 were common in the three organs. Unique accumulation profile was observed in the root while the stem and leaf exhibited relatively similar patterns. In the root, six unique compounds (jaceosidin, licoagrochalcone D, 8-prenylkaempferol, hesperetin 7-O-(6″malonyl) glucoside, aureusidin, apigenin-4′-O-rhamnoside) that are used for medicinal purposes were detected. In total, 18,427 expressed genes were identified from transcriptome of the three organs covering about 60% of annotated genes in C. rotundifolia genome. Fourteen gene families, including 52 members involved in the main pathway of flavonoids biosynthesis, were identified. Their expression could be found in at least one organ. Most of the genes were highly expressed in roots compared to other organs, coinciding with the metabolites profile. The findings provide fundamental data for exploration of metabolites biosynthesis in C. rotundifolia and diversification of parts used for medicinal purposes.