Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome triggered by infection and accompanied by high mortality, with antimicrobial resistances (AMRs) further escalating clinical challenges. Rapid and reliable detection of causative pathogens and AMRs are key factors for fast and appropriate treatment, in order to improve outcome in septic patients. However, current sepsis diagnostics based on blood culture is limited by low sensitivity and specificity while current molecular approaches fail to enter clinical routine. Therefore, we developed a Suppression PCR-based selective enrichment sequencing approach (SUPSETS), providing a molecular method combining multiplex suppression PCR with Nanopore sequencing to identify most common sepsis-causative pathogens and AMRs using plasma cell-free DNA. Applying only 1 mL of plasma, we target eight pathogens across three kingdoms and ten AMRs in a proof-of-concept study. SUPSETS was successfully tested on first ten clinical samples and revealed comparable results to clinical metagenomics while clearly outperforming blood culture. Several clinically relevant AMRs could be detected additionally. Furthermore, SUPSETS provided first pathogen and AMR-specific sequencing reads within minutes of starting sequencing, thereby potentially decreasing time to results to 11 - 13 hours and suggesting diagnostic potential in sepsis.

Campylobacter is one of the major foodborne pathogens of concern in its growing trend of antimicrobial resistance. C. jejuni and C. coli are the major causative agents, with C. jejuni contributing to most of the cases in approximately 90% in the world. Infection is transmitted to humans due to consumption of contaminated food and water. Campylobacteriosis caused by C. jejuni is commonly presented with severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting with some extreme cases resulting in Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) and acute flaccid paralysis. Symptoms are severe in cases of children below 5 years, elderly and individuals who are immunocompromised. The infection is usually sporadic, and self-limiting and thus does not require antibiotics for treatment. Still, the antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter is a major concern because of the transmission of resistance from animal sources to humans. This review highlights the recent epidemiology, geographical impact, resistance mechanisms, spread of Campylobacter spp. and the strategies to control the transmission of Campylobacter from veterinary sources and its antimicrobial resistance.

Water samples for bacterial microbiome studies undergo a biomass concentration, DNA extraction and taxonomic identification steps. Through benchmarking, we studied the applicability of Skimmed milk flocculation (SMF) for bacterial enrichment, an adapted in-house DNA extraction protocol, and six 16S rRNA databases (16S-DBs). Surface water samples from two rivers were treated with SMF and Vacuum filtration (VF) and subjected to amplicon or shotgun metagenomics. A mock community standard underwent five DNA extraction protocols, taxonomical identification with six different 16S-DBs and evaluated by the Measurement Integrity Quotient (MIQ) score. In SMF samples, the skimmed milk was metabolized by members of lactic acid bacteria or genera such as Polaromonas, Macrococcus, and Agitococcus, resulting in increased relative abundance (p < 0.5) up to 5.0 log fold change compared to VF, rendering SMF inapplicable for bacterial microbiome studies. The best performing DNA extraction protocols were FastSpin Soil, the in-house method and EurX. All 16S-DBs yielded comparable MIQ scores within each DNA extraction kit, ranging from 61-66 (ZymoBIOMICs) up to 80-82 (FastSpin). DNA extraction kits exert more bias to the composition than the 16S-DBs. This benchmarking study presented valuable insights to inform future water metagenomic study designs.

Drug resistance in melanoma is a major hindrance in cancer therapy. Growth hormone (GH) plays a pivotal role in contributing to resistance to chemotherapy. Knocking down or blocking the GH receptor has been shown to sensitize the tumor cells to chemotherapy. Extensive studies have demonstrated that exosomes, a subset of extracellular vesicles, play an important role in drug resistance by transferring key factors to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. In this study, we explore how GH modulates exosomal cargoes from melanoma cells and their role in drug resistance. We treated the melanoma cells with GH, doxorubicin, and GHR antagonist, pegvisomant, and analyzed the exosomes released. Additionally, we administered these exosomes to recipient cells. The GH-treated melanoma cells released exosomes with elevated levels of ABC transporters (ABCC1 and ABCB1), N-cadherin and MMP2, enhancing drug resistance and migration in recipient cells. GHR antagonism reduced these exosomal levels, restoring drug sensitivity and attenuating migration. Overall, our findings highlight a novel role of GH in modulating exosomal cargoes that drive chemoresistance and metastasis in melanoma. This understanding provides insights to the mechanisms of GH in melanoma chemoresistance and suggests GHR antagonism as a potential therapy to overcome chemoresistance in melanoma treatment.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem. The human gut microbiome is implicated in the dynamics of antibiotic resistance acquisition and transmission, with the gut microbiota thought to play a crucial role. This study aimed to determine the potential influence of human gut bacteria microbiota on the gut resistome and the relationship between gut background microbiota and Escherichia coli resistome. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was used to systematically review studies that characterised gut microbiota and resistome using metagenomic analysis and/or those that reported gut E. coli resistome in healthy individuals. Changes in the diversity and abundance of bacterial gut microbiota and the resistome across different groups and the microbiota composition of the gut harbouring antibiotic-resistant E. coli were summarised. Findings suggest that lower bacterial microbiota diversity is likely associated with an increased abundance of the overall gut resistome. Age-related differences were observed, with younger infants exhibiting lower microbiota diversity and higher ARG abundance compared to older infants and adults. Studies that reported correlation revealed positive correlations between the compositional relative abundance of Proteobacteria and ARGs abundance, mainly driven by members within the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly E. coli. This study also revealed that human gut microbiome studies that investigate gut resistome using metagenomic sequencing approaches in apparently healthy individuals are at least uncommon.

Cystatin F (CstF) is a protease inhibitor of cysteine cathepsins, including those involved in acti-vating the perforin/granzyme cytotoxic pathways. It is targeted to the endolysosomal pathway but can also be secreted to the extracellular milieu or endocytosed by bystander cells. CtsF was shown to be significantly increased in tuberculous pleurisy, and during HIV coinfection, pleural fluids display high viral loads. In human macrophages, we revealed a strong upregulation of CstF during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). CstF manipulation using RNA si-lencing led to increased proteolytic activity of lysosomal cathepsins, improving Mtb intracellular killing. Here, we investigate the impact of CstF depletion during coinfection of Mtb-infected mac-rophages with lymphocytes infected with HIV. Our results indicate that decreasing CstF released by phagocytes impacts the major pro-granzyme convertase cathepsin C of cytotoxic immune cells. Consequently, an observed increase of the granzyme B apoptotic effects leads to a significant re-duction in viral replication in HIV-infected lymphocytes. Overall, our results indicate a mecha-nism of Mtb/HIV evasion of the cytotoxic mediated pathogen killing driven by the ax-is CstF/ catC/granzymes contributing to this syndemic interaction. Ultimately, this knowledge can be crucial for developing new therapeutic approaches to control both pathogens based on manipulating CstF.

The global antibiotic resistance crisis, driven by antibiotic overuse and misuse, is multifaceted. This study aimed to assess the microbiological and genetic characteristics of raw retail pork meat, including the isolation, antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), whole genome sequencing (WGS) of selected indicator bacteria, antibiotic residue testing, and metagenomic sequencing. Samples were purchased from 10 randomly selected retail stores in Gauteng, South Africa. Samples were aseptically separated, with a portion sent to an external laboratory for isolating indicator bacteria and antibiotic residue testing. Identification of the isolated bacteria was reconfirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). AST was performed using the Microscan Walkaway system. WGS and metagenomic sequencing were performed using the Illumina NextSeq 550 instrument. The isolated E. coli and enterococci exhibited little phenotypic resistance, with WGS revealing tetracycline resistance genes. Isolated bacteria and meat samples all harboured tetracycline resistance genes, and the antibiotic residue concentrations were within acceptable limits for human consumption. In the metagenomic context, most identified bacteria were of food/meat spoilage and environmental origin, with the resistome analysis primarily indicating beta-lactam, tetracycline and multidrug resistance genes. Further research is needed to understand the broader implications of these findings on environmental health and antibiotic resistance.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected certain demographics in England, exacerbating existing health disparities. Effective therapeutics are a critical line of defence against COVID-19, particularly for patients at elevated risk for severe disease. Surveillance systems were established to monitor usage of COVID-19 therapeutics in hospital and community settings and inform stewardship. Three antiviral therapies: nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid®), remdesivir (Veklury®), and molnupiravir (Lagevrio®); and two neutralising monoclonal antibody therapies (nMAbs): sotrovimab (Xevudy®) and casirivimab with imdevimab (Ronapreve®); were in use in England between July 2020 to April 2023. This paper aims to illuminate trends in the utilisation of COVID-19 therapeutics treatment in both hospital and community settings, stratified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) in England. Chapter 3 of the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) report 2022 to 2023 also discusses the epidemiological surveillance of these five directly-acting antiviral COVID-19 therapeutics use in England between 2022 to 2023.

With the increasing use of genome sequencing as a surveillance tool for molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance, we are seeing an increased intersection of genomics, microbiology, and clinical epidemiology. Clear nomenclature for AMR gene families and pathogens is critical for communication. For CARD release version 3.0.3 (July 2019), we updated the entire CARD database to reflect the latest pathogen names. In total, we detected 48 name changes or updates, some of which reflect major changes in familiar names.

Porcine parvovirus 8 (PPV8), a novel virus in the Parvoviridae family, was first identified in 2022 in lung samples of domestic pigs from China. Retrospective analyses showed that it had been circulating in China since 1998, but no other countries had reported its presence so far. A recent study conducted in South America did not detect any PPV8-positive samples in that region. Here we report the detection of PPV8 in Hungarian and Slovakian pig farms and the estimated prevalence of the virus in Hungary. Altogether 2230 serum, 233 oral fluid, and 115 processing fluid samples were systematically collected from 23 Hungarian and 2 Slovakian pig farms between 2020 and 2023. A real-time quantitative PCR method was developed to detect the viral genome. Our results revealed the presence of PPV8 on 65% of the Hungarian farms and on both Slovakian farms included in our study, marking its first detection in Europe. Oral fluid samples showed the highest positivity rates, reaching up to 100% in some herds. The viral genome was successfully detected in serum and processing fluid samples too, but with significantly lower prevalence rates of 4% and 5%, respectively. Genetic analysis of 11 partial VP2 sequences demonstrated high similarity to the original Chinese strain but with unique amino acid mutations, suggesting possible local evolution of the virus. Our study presents the first scientific evidence of PPV8 infection outside of China and offers a comprehensive assessment of its prevalence in the Hungarian pig population. Further research is required to understand its potential impact on swine health.

Powdery mildew is a severe disease causing substantial yield losses in wheat production worldwide. The Chinese wheat landrace Changanhongmai (CAHM) exhibits high resistance to the physiological race E09 of powdery mildew. This study aims to characterize the powdery mildew resistance gene in CAHM, and develop molecular markers for marker-assisted selection of wheat. To investigate the genetic characteristics of this resistant gene, we developed F1 plants, F2 generation population, and F2:3 families from a cross between CAHM and SY225. Genetic analysis demonstrated that all F1 plants were resistant to the disease, while the ratio of resistant to susceptible plants was 3: 1 in both the F2 population and F2:3 families, indicating that CAHM is inherited in a manner of single dominant powdery mildew resistance gene, which was tentatively designated as PmCAHM. By using bulk segregation analysis, we constructed a genetic map encompassing Xgwm273, Xwmc626, Xgwm11, Xgwm18, Xgdm28, Xgpw7812, Xgpw5195, Xwmc694 and PmCAHM. Among these markers, Xgpw7812 and Xgpw5195 were flanking markers tightly linked to PmCAHM at a genetic distance of 2.5 cM and 8.4 cM, respectively. Furthermore, nullisomic-tetrasomic analysis revealed that PmCAHM is located on chromosome 1B. These results indicate that PmCAHM differs from the internationally recognized powdery mildew resistance genes in both location and source. In addition, a new germplasm/line NW1748 with large seeds and powdery mildew resistance was developed from the cross and back cross populations of Fengyou 1718 (FY1718)/CAHM//FY 1718. Therefore, PmCAHM can serve as a novel powdery mildew resistance source for breeding of wheat by using NW1748 as the donor in the future.

Background: Waterborne diseases pose a significant global public health threat, compelling enhanced comprehensive surveillance. This study investigates the current infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance systems, including wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES), in three sub-Saharan African countries: Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The three countries have their specificities regarding wastewater networks and logistic systems. So, emphasizing the need to strengthen existing disease surveillance, the paper advocates for incorporating WES systems specifically designed for countries' context to monitor waterborne and re-emerging pathogens, as well as AMR.Methods: National workshops were conducted to assess the current clinical and environmental surveillance systems and identify priority pathogens for new environmental monitoring. Data were collected through surveys from experts in academia, research, policy, and healthcare. Results: Prioritized pathogens for WES include waterborne (poliovirus, Salmonella Typhi, Vibrio cholerae), respiratory (influenza A&B, SARS-CoV-2), other (Measles and Rubella, Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Recommended AMR pathogens include drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella spp., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing E. coli. Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and the DRC employ DHSI2-based centralized electronic systems for clinical data collection, complemented by Excel and paper-based registries. The WES approach is commonly employed for monitoring poliovirus and rarely for AMR and other pathogens. Discussion and conclusions: WES is a valuable tool for early detection of locally circulating human-derived pathogens, aiding in outbreak detection, data-driven epidemic response, and prevention. The availability of WES results underscores the importance of effective sanitation for safeguarding human, animal, and environmental health. WES is a pivotal tool for integrated risk management, preventing waterborne outbreaks, protecting drinking water sources, and ultimately gaining various UN Sustainable Development Goals. The study highlights the importance of customized WES systems in line with each country's context, emphasizing localized approaches for effective monitoring of waterborne pathogens and AMR.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is widely used in public healthcare facilities; this exposure can result in the development of bacterial tolerance to disinfectant, which has known links to antibiotic cross-resistance. However, the mechanism through which cross-resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants develops remains ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the phenotypic, and transcriptomic changes caused by disinfectant exposure in gram-negative bacteria and determine the cause of cross-resistance to antibiotics. The results demonstrated that the misuse of disinfectants plays an important role in the emergence of disinfectant resistance and in the increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance may occur from exposure of gram-negative bacteria to subminimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of NaOCl. Ten passages of gram-negative bacteria in increasingly higher subMICs of NaOCl disinfectant was sufficient to increase the MIC to >2,500 µg/ml NaOCl, particularly in K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. To determine the development of cross-resistance to antibiotics due to NaOCl exposure, the MICs for each antibiotic before and after exposure of each strain to sublethal concentrations of NaOCl were compared. After overnight incubation with a sublethal concentration of NaOCl, a statistically significant increase in MIC was only observed for imipenem (P<0.01). Investigation of the mechanism of cross-resistance by means of transcriptome analysis revealed that 1,250 µg/ml NaOCl-adapted K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa strains increased resistance to imipenem due to increased expression of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) efflux pumps, such as AcrAB-TolC and MexAB/XY-OprM. Therefore, we suggest that exposure to NaOCl can influence the expression of RND efflux pump genes, contributing to imipenem cross-resistance.

Sunflower is one of the oil crops and its planting areas was listed behind Soybean, peanut and rapeseeds in China. It will encounter different kind of diseases during planting, thus limited the seeds yield. Fusarium species are the major threat to different crops nowadays, it is very important to identify the species caused diseases on different hosts, so that the potential control measures may be explored. In Inner mongolia, Sunflower Disk Rot (SDR) was found in different sunflower planting field, the average infection ratio around 8.50%, typically in some verieties, its infection ratio reach to 11.67%. The diseased receptacle were collected from different locations and Koch’s postulate was conducted. The results showed that Fusarium verticillioides was the main causal agent caused SDR. Fungicide toxicity tests shown that Fludioxonil and Flutolanil were screened out from six fungicides for controlling F. verticillioides, with EC50 values of 0.05 µg/mL (R = 0.9825) and 0.96 µg/mL (R = 0.9964) , respectively. This is the first report of SDR caused by F. verticillioides, and it will alert sunflower reseachers to include SDR in the disease list, so as to control sunflower diseases with integrated management strategy successfully.

Emerging infectious disease threats are becoming more frequent due to various social, political and geographical pressures including increased human-animal contact, global trade, transportation and changing climate conditions. As a result, the threat that emerging agents can be spread by blood contact or transfusion of blood products also becomes increasingly problematic. Blood transfusion is essential in treating patients with anemia, blood loss, and other medical conditions. However, these lifesaving components can become a vector for spreading diseases, particularly to vulnerable populations. New methods have been implemented on a global basis for prevention of transfusion transmission via plasma, platelet, and whole blood products. Implementing proactive pathogen reduction methods can significantly reduce the likelihood of disease transmission via blood transfusion, even for newly emerging agents whose transmissibility and susceptibility are still being evaluated as they emerge. In this review, we consider the Mirasol PRT system for blood safety which is based on a photochemical method involving Riboflavin and UV light. We provide examples of how emerging threats such as Ebola, SARS-CoV-2, Hepatitis E, monkeypox and other agents have been evaluated in real time regarding effectiveness of this method for reducing the likelihood of disease transmission via transfusion. Keywords: transfusion; blood; pathogen reduction; emerging infectious diseases.

Powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) is one of many severe diseases that threaten bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality worldwide. The discovery and deployment of powdery mildew resistance genes (Pm) can prevent this disease epidemic in wheat. In a previous study, we transferred the powdery mildew resistance gene Pm57 from Aegilops searsii into common wheat and cytogenetically mapped the gene in a chromosome region with the fraction length (FL) 0.75-0.87, which represents 12% of 2Ss#1 segment on the long arm of chromosome 2Ss#1. In this study, we performed RNA-Seq on three infected and mock-infected wheat-Ae. searsii 2Ss#1 introgression lines with Bgt-isolates inoculation at 0, 12, 24, and 48 hours after inoculation. Then we designed 79 molecular markers based on transcriptome sequences and physically mapped them to Ae. searsii chromosome 2Ss#1- in seven intervals. We used these markers to identify 46 wheat-Ae. searsii 2Ss#1 recombinants induced by ph1b, a deletion mutant of pairing homoelogous (Ph) genes. Analysis of the 46 ph1b-induced 2Ss#1L recombinants with different Bgt-responses using 28 2Ss#1L-specific molecular markers in the interval FL0.72-0.87 where Pm57 is located, and the flanking intervals, we physically mapped Pm57 gene on the long arm of 2Ss#1 in a 5.13 Mb genomic region, which was flanked by markers X67593 (773.72 Mb) and X62492 (778.85 Mb). By comparative synteny analysis of the corresponding region on chromosome 2B in Chinese spring (T. aestivum L.) with other model species we identified ten genes that are putative plant defense-related (R) genes which includes six coiled-coil nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (CNL), three nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (NL) and a leucine-rich receptor-like repeat (RLP) encoding proteins. This study will lay a foundation for further cloning of Pm57, and benefit the understanding of interactions between resistance genes of wheat and powdery mildew pathogens.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease associated with the overproduction and accumulation of amyloid-β peptide and hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in the brain. Despite extensive research on the amyloid-based mechanism of AD pathogenesis, the underlying cause of AD remains poorly understood. No disease-modifying therapies currently exist, and numerous clinical trials have failed to demonstrate any benefits. The recent discovery that the amyloid-β peptide has antimicrobial activities supports the possibility of an infectious aetiology of AD and suggests that amyloid-β plaque formation might be induced by infection. AD patients have a weakened blood-brain barrier and immune system and are thus at elevated risk of microbial infections. Such infections can cause chronic neuroinflammation, production of the antimicrobial amyloid-β peptide, and neurodegeneration. Various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites have been associated with AD. Most research in this area has focused on individual pathogens, with herpesviruses and periodontal bacteria being most frequently implicated. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential role of multi-pathogen infections in AD. Recognition of the potential coexistence of multiple pathogens and biofilms in AD's aetiology may stimulate the development of novel approaches to its diagnosis and treatment. Multiple diagnostic tests could be applied simultaneously to detect major pathogens, followed by anti-microbial treatment using antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-biofilm agents.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a facultative intracellular fungal pathogen. Ten-generation-old (10GEN) C. neoformans cells are more resistant to phagocytosis and killing by macrophages than younger daughter cells. However, mechanisms that mediate this resistance and intracellular parasitism are poorly understood. Here, we identified factors important for the intracellular survival of 10GEN C. neoformans, such as urease activity, capsule synthesis, and DNA content using flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy techniques. Real-time visualization of time-lapse imaging was applied to determine the phagosomal acidity, membrane permeability, and vomocytosis (non-lytic exocytosis) rate in J774 macrophages that phagocytosed C. neoformans of different generational ages. Our results showed that old C. neoformans exhibited higher urease activity, and enhanced capsule formation, which was supported by an increased Golgi complex. In addition, old C. neoformans were more likely to be arrested in the G2 phase, resulting in the occasional formation of aberrant trimera-like cells. To finish, the advanced generational age of the yeast cells slightly reduced vomocytosis events within host cells, which might be associated with increased phagolysosomal pH and membrane permeability. Altogether our results contribute to a better understanding of the strategies used by old C. neoformans to resist phagosomal killing and suggest that old generation C. neoformans intracellular behavior may be driving cryptococcosis pathogenesis.

Metals play vital roles in biological systems, with iron/heme being essential for cellular and metabolic functions necessary for survival and/or virulence in many bacterial pathogens. Given the rise of bacterial resistance to current antibiotics, there is an urgent need for the development of non-toxic and novel antibiotics that do not contribute to resistance to other antibiotics. Gallium, which mimics iron, has emerged as a promising antimicrobial agent, offering a novel approach to combat bacterial infections. Gallium does not have any known functions in biological systems. Gallium exerts its effects primarily by replacing iron in redox enzymes, effectively inhibiting bacterial growth by targeting multiple iron/heme-dependent biological processes and suppressing the development of drug resistance. The aim of this review is to highlight recent findings on the mechanisms of action of gallium and provide further insights into the development of gallium-based compounds. Understanding the mechanisms underlying gallium’s biological activities will enhance its therapeutic application across various medical fields, offering promising avenues for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancer, and inflammatory conditions.

Bladder cancer (BC) diagnosis is reliant on cystoscopy, an invasive procedure associated with urinary tract infections. This has sparked interest in identifying non-invasive biomarkers in body fluids such as blood and urine. A source of biomarkers in these biofluids are extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanosized vesicles that contain a wide array of molecular cargo, including small non-coding RNA such as microRNA and transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRF). Here we performed small-RNA next-generation sequencing for urine EVs, serum EVs and serum supernatant from 41 patients with non-muscle invasive BC (27 stage Ta, 14 stage T1) and 15 non-cancer patients (NCP) with benign cystoscopy findings. Serum and urine samples were collected before transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TUR-b) and at routine postsurgery check-ups. Expression levels of tRFs in presurgery samples were compared to those at postsurgery check-ups and to NCPs. To strengthen the reliability of our results, samples from 10 patients with stage T1 disease were resequenced. When comparing tRF expression in urine EVs between BC patients with stage T1 disease and NCPs, 14 differentially expressed tRFs (DEtRFs) were identified. In serum supernatant, six DEtRFs were identified among stage T1 patients when comparing presurgery to postsurgery samples, and four DEtRFs were found when comparing presurgery samples to NCPs. By performing a blast search, we found that sequences of DEtRFs aligned with genomic sequences pertaining to processes relevant to cancer development, such as enhancers, regulatory elements and CpG islands. Our findings display a number of tRFs that may hold potential as biomarkers for the diagnosis and recurrence-free survival of BC.

Exosomes are produced by all cell types, their biogenesis is of endosomal origin, originating as a result of cell membrane invagination. Furthermore, physiochemical characteristics are important prerequisites for their commercial application. The representative size range of exosomes is 50-200 nm. Whereas, comparative to animal cell, exosomes from plant cell sources have a relatively larger size range, moreover, exhibit broader therapeutic potential. In this review study, we have briefly discussed the research potential of plant-derived exosomes. Including their earlier studies on biogenesis, characterization, isolation methods, and possible therapeutic applications. Additionally, we have quoted targeted drug delivery for targeted therapies and have provided insights of methods for customizing exosomes produced from plants with various drugs. Most-importantly, here we have embodied exosomes from plant sources are natural nano-inducers possessing the ability for inter-kingdom communication, resulting in cross-kingdom regulations.

The combination of several therapeutic strategies is often seen as a good way to decrease the resistance rates, since bacteria overcome better single-drug treatments than multi-drug ones. This strategy is especially attractive when several targets and subpopulations are affected, as it is the case of Klebsiella pneumoniae persister cells, a subpopulation of bacteria able to transiently survive antibiotic exposures. This work aims to evaluate the potential of a repurposed anticancer drug, mitomycin C, combined with the K. pneumoniae lytic phage vB_KpnM-VAC13 in vitro and the safety in an in vivo murine model against two clinical isolates of this pathogen, one of them exhibiting an imipenem-persister phenotype. At the same time, we verified the absence of toxicity of mitomycin C at the concentration using the human chondrocyte cell line T/C28a2. The viability of these human cells was checked both by cytotoxicity assays and flow cytometry.

Accurate and consistent rainfall observations are vital for climatological studies in support of better planning and decision making. However, estimation of accurate spatial rainfall is limited by sparse rain gauge distributions. Satellite rainfall products can thus potentially play a role in spatial rainfall estimation but their skill and uncertainties need to be under-stood across spatial-time scales. This study aimed at assessing the temporal and spatial performance of seven satellite products (TARCAT (Tropical Applications of Meteorology using SATellite and ground-based observations (TAMSAT) African Rainfall Climatology And Time series), Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM-3B43), Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Morphing (CMORPH), the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks- Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR), CPC Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) and Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) using gridded (0.05o) rainfall data over East Africa for 15 years(1998-2012). The products’ error distributions were qualitatively compared with large scale horizontal winds (850 mb) and elevation patterns with respect to corresponding rain gauge data for each month during the ‘long’ (March-May) and ‘short’ (October-December) rainfall seasons. For validation only rainfall means extracted from 284 rain gauge stations were used, from which qualitative analysis using continuous statistics of Root Mean Squared Difference, Standard deviations, Correlations, coefficient of determinations (from scatter plots) were used to evaluate the products’ performance. Results revealed rainfall variability dependence on wind flows and modulated by topographic influences. The products’ errors showed seasonality and dependent on rainfall intensity and topography. Single sensor and coarse resolution products showed lowest performance on high ground areas. All the products showed low skills in retrieving rainfall during ‘short’ rainfall season when orographic processes were dominant. CHIRPS, CMORPH and TRMM performed well, with TRMM showing the best performance in both seasons. There is need to reduce products’ errors before applications.

Determining the general-name-derived semantic relationships between geographic names often requires consulting many geographic name documents for verification. In geographic name translation and geographic name knowledge graphs, this method cannot meet the needs of large-scale extraction of general-name-derived semantic relationships between geographic entities. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a general-name derivation relation recognition method based on Prompt learning and Semantic Spatiotemporal Distribution Attention Feature Fusion (SSD-AFF). This method adopts a pipe-based relationship recognition strategy. First, the Prompt learning method is adopted to form a general-name derivation pattern with the general-name-derived geographical name category and the original geographical name category as the prompt word, and then the derivation pattern is combined with the geographical name as the input of the model so that the recognition problem of the general-name derivation of the geographical name can be transformed into a classification problem using the bidirectional language model. Then, by analyzing the characteristics of the semantic association and geographical spatio-temporal distribution between the general-name-derived geographical name and the original geographical name, the semantic spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of the general-name-derived geographical name are constructed. Finally, the network model based on the semantic spatio-temporal distribution Attention Feature Fusion (SSD-AFF) is used to distinguish the general-name-derived semantic relationships. The experimental results show that the proposed method has good performance. It can effectively mine the general-name-derived semantic relations between the vector data of geographical entities and has important application value in geographical name translation and geographical name knowledge maps.

This article examines air sampling as an environmental surveillance strategy for early pathogen detection and offers a preliminary comparison of air and wastewater surveillance. Air sampling involves collecting bioaerosols to analyze the microbial composition of the air, utilizing techniques like PCR and metagenomic sequencing. Air sampling appears especially promising for detecting respiratory pathogens and highly transmissible pandemic agents, as these spread primarily via aerosols and droplets. The article details various air sampling techniques, their efficiency, and practical considerations, categorizing them into filtration, impaction, impingement, electrostatic precipitation, and condensation methods. It also explores the composition of airborne microbes, emphasizing the low concentration of viral nucleic acids and the challenges this poses for metagenomic sequencing. The selection of sampling locations, including indoor environments and airplanes, is discussed as critical for effective pathogen detection. Finally, the article contrasts air and wastewater sampling, concluding that while both methods should ideally be explored as layered defenses, air sampling does not collectively appear more promising than wastewater sampling.

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b continues to have a substantial impact on wildlife, globally. A recent study has described the putative detection of HPAI in clinically healthy penguins, and those which were fitted with satellite tags reportedly engaged in apparently normal foraging behaviour in the months following sample collection. Herein we investigate the diagnostic approach utilised, and reveal that while the authors likely did detect subtype H5 influenza A virus, the most parsimonious conclusion is that they detected low pathogenicity H5 rather than HPAI H5N1. In response, we have provided an overview key considerations when selecting a diagnostic and outline published diagnostic assays that should be considered for future studies.

This paper illustrates an experimental activity for the closed-loop position control of an actuator made using shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. A solution with the self-sensing effect was implemented to miniaturize the systems, i.e., without external sensors. A proportional control algorithm was initially used, demonstrating the idea's feasibility: the wire can behave simultaneously as an actuator and sensor. An experimental investigation was subsequently conducted for the optimization of the developed actuator. As for the material, a Flexinol wire, Ni-Ti alloy, with a diameter of 0.150 mm and a length of 200 mm, was used. Preliminarily, a characterization of the SMA wire at constant and variable loads was carried out: the characteristics detected are elongation vs. electric current and elongation vs. electrical resistance. The control system is PC-based with a data acquisition card (DAQ). A drive board has been designed and built to read the wire's electrical resistance and power it by pulse width modulation (PWM). A notable result is that the actuator works with good precision and in dynamic conditions, even when it is called to support a load up to 65% different from that for which the electrical resistance-length correlation has previously been experimentally obtained, on which the control is based. This opens up the possibility of using the actuator in a counteracting configuration with a spring, which makes hardware implementation and control management simple.

Disease transmission in wildlife is linked to ecosystem and human health, and host community structure can mediate pathogen spread. Here, we decompose the well-known susceptible-infected (SI) compartmental models of disease transmission for multi-host communities to explore the disease-biodiversity relationship. We examine the parameters involved in interspecific transmission and link them to the multi-host outbreak potential, R0. We partition R0 into its separate elements that can be associated with either the recipient or donating host, and show how this allows us to identify maintenance versus spillover hosts, allowing us to quantify separate stages of spillover into a novel, recipient host. We further suggest that the evolutionary relatedness between donating and recipient host may play a role in the probability a pathogen establishes in a novel species, as illustrated by the observed phylogenetic signal in the host-breadth of multi-host pathogens. We discuss how anthropogenic changes to the environment and wildlife communities, such as the reduction and fragmentation of wildlife habitat, might alter the mode and dynamics of disease transmission. This discussion contributes to the ongoing debate on the relationship between disease incidence and biodiversity. Through a synthesis of classic ecological theory, we illustrate how pathogens can affect host populations through phenomena such as in/direct symbioses, that can save a pathogen from extinction or suppress competing host species, but we highlight how host diversity can simultaneosuly influence the survival and success of the pathogen, suggesting a complex feedback between hosts and parasites in multi-host communities. Our review provides a guide to common derivations of interspecific transmission, and underscores the critical connections between community and disease-ecology.

The past few years have brought substantial progress toward understanding how human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) enters the remarkably wide spectrum of cell types and tissues that the virus infects. Neuropilin-2 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRa) were identified as receptors, respectively, for the trimeric and pentameric glycoprotein H/glycoprotein L (gH/gL) complexes that in large part govern HCMV cell tropism, while CD90 and CD147 were also found to play roles during entry. X-ray crystal structures for the proximal viral fusogen, glycoprotein B (gB), and for the pentameric gH/gL complex (pentamer) have been solved. A novel virion gH complex consisting of gH bound to UL116 instead of gL was described, and findings supporting the existence of a stable complex between gH/gL and gB were reported. Additional work indicates that the pentamer promotes a mode of cell-associated spread that resists antibody neutralization, as opposed to the trimeric gH/gL complex (trimer), which appears to be broadly required for the infectivity of cell-free virions. Finally, viral factors such as UL148 and US16 were identified that can influence the incorporation of the alternative gH/gL complexes into virions. We will review these advances and their implications for understanding HCMV entry and cell tropism.

Lirianthe delavayi has valuable ornamental and medicinal value, is an important economic tree, and has a long history of cultivation. As important regulatory molecules, miRNAs are involved in important physiological processes, such as the plant stress response, organ morphogenesis, hormone secretion, and signaling. In this study, based on miRNA sequencing analysis of wild and cultivated Lirianthe delavayi, we explored the differences in posttranscriptional regulation during the cultivation of Lirianthe delavayi from the aspect of miRNA molecular regulation. The results revealed the following: 1. A total of 365 miRNAs were sequenced and identified, and their first bases had obvious uracil (U) base preferences. Among them, 242 miRNAs were classified into 32 miRNA families; 2. Analysis of miRNA expression differences revealed that 39 miRNAs had significant expression differences between wild and cultivated populations; 3. Bioinformatics target gene prediction and target gene enrichment analysis of significantly differentially expressed miRNAs revealed that the target genes were significantly enriched in plant‒pathogen interactions, sphingolipid metabolism, defense responses, and ADP binding. 4. The plant‒pathogen interaction pathway involves seven differentially expressed miRNAs and 30 miRNA‒target gene regulatory pairs, which are involved mainly in pathogen signature molecule recognition and binding, signal transduction, and the regulation of disease resistance molecules or gene expression; Ath-MIR169g-p3_2ss7AG19GA, ath-MIR169g-p5_2ss7AG19GA, and ath-miR408-3p_L-3 are expressed only in wild population, and it is hypothesized that the domestication process from wild to cultivation species may be accompanied by the loss of disease resistance-related miRNAs. This study provides a reference for exploring the posttranscriptional-level regulatory mechanisms of adaptive changes in Lirianthe delavayi from wild to cultivated.

The adulteration of goat milk powder occurs frequently, cattle-derived and soybean-derived ingredients are common adulterants in goat milk powder. However, simultaneously and rapidly detecting cattle-derived and soybean-derived components is still a challenge. high throughput and efficient screening method for adulteration detection is need. In this study, a rapid method was developed to detect the adulteration of common cattle-derived and soybean-derived components simultaneously in goat milk powder by combining the CRISPR/ Cas12a system with recombinant polymerase amplification (RPA). A dual DNA extraction method was employed, primers and crRNA for dual detection were designed and screened, and a series of condition optimizations were carried out in this experiment. The optimized assay can rapidly detect cattle-derived and soybean-derived components in 40 min. The detection limits of both cattle-derived and soybean-derived components were 1% (w/w) for the mixed adulteration models. The established method was applied into a blind survey of 55 commercially available goat milk powder products. The results showed that 36.36% of the samples contained cattle-derived or soybean-derived ingredients, which revealed the noticeable adulteration situation in the goat milk powder market. This study realizes a fast flow of dual extraction, dual amplification and dual detection of cattle-derived and soybean-derived components in goat milk powder for the first time. It can be used for high-throughput and high-efficiency on-site primary screening of goat milk powder adulterants, and provide a technical reference for combating with food adulteration.

Conventional farming relies on large-scale, intensive crop production using mechanical tillage and synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which, despite being economically beneficial, can be environmentally destructive, whereas organic cropping system offers a more sustainable alternative with less harmful environmental impact. But is organic system more beneficial for soil health than conventional? In this study, we focused on evaluating the functional potential of soil for the conversion of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, as well as measuring the actual activity of enzymes involved in these cycles. We used Chernozem soil samples from fields that were managed using organic (OCS) and conventional (CCS) methods as the objects of our study. Another objective of the study was to compare two methods: profiling of functional genes of the microbial community and measurement of actual enzyme activity. The comparison of OCS versus CCS indicates that functional gene profiling and enzymatic activity measurements similarly capture qualitative differences between these systems, but diverge in how they assess quantitative differences. A combination of these two methods for assessing soil conditions appears to be promising. Overall, the study demonstrated that the agronomic practices used in the conventional cropping system not only preserved the functional properties of the soil microbiome but also significantly enhanced its microbiological activity for nutrient bioconversion compared to the organic cropping system. However, the question remains as to how long the conventional system can sustain its high potential.

Several types of guided bone regeneration materials are available with various properties and clinical indications. Among them, dentin-derived matrix from extracted teeth is an excellent alternative to traditional graft materials, such as allografts and xenografts. Different clinical preparation protocols exist: block form versus powder form, demineralized versus non-demineralized form. Out of these methods, demineralization protocols for dentin-derived matrix from extracted teeth have been noted for a wide range of successful clinical outcomes. The purpose of this animal study was to find out the most effective method of demineralizing dentin-derived matrix to result in the highest regenerative ability in the bone graft material in rabbit calvaria. The study conducted a comparative histomorphometric analysis of four groups in distinguished matrix conditions: a control group without graft placement, a non-demineralized dentin-derived matrix graft placement group, a 15-minute demineralized dentin-derived matrix graft placement group, and a 30-minute demineralized dentin-derived matrix graft placement group. Regenerative processes were evaluated three times at 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-graft placement. These groups of rabbits were evaluated randomly in a blinded setting to prevent bias. Among the four groups compared, the group with a 15-minute demineralized dentin-derived matrix graft showed the most efficient bone regeneration in the histomorphometric analysis. Based on this animal study, it was apparent that a 15-minute demineralization of dentin-derived matrix is the preferred preparation protocol to maximize the regenerative potential in the matrix.

Escherichia coli is an indicator microorganism in One Health antibiotic resistance surveillance programmes. The purpose of the study was to describe and compare E. coli isolates obtained from pigs and human contacts from a commercial farm in South Africa using conventional methods and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Porcine E. coli isolates were proportionally more resistant phenotypically and harboured a richer diversity of antibiotic resistance genes, as compared to human E. coli isolates. Different pathovars, namely ExPEC (12.43%, 21/169), ETEC (4.14%; 7/169), EPEC (2.96%, 5/169), EAEC (2.96%, 5/169) and STEC (1.18%, 2/169) were detected at low frequencies. Sequence type complex (STc) 10 were the most prevalent (85.51%, 59/169) among human and porcine isolates. Six STcs (STc10, STc86, STc168, STc206, STc278 and STc469) were shared at the human-livestock interface according to multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Core genome MLST and hierarchical clustering (HC) showed that human and porcine isolates were overall genetically diverse, but some clustering at HC2 to HC200 were observed. In conclusion, even though the isolates shared a spatio-temporal relationship, there were still differences in the virulence potential, antibiotic resistance profiles, and cgMLST and HC according to the source of isolation.

The application of antimicrobials in aquaculture primarily aims to prevent and treat bacterial infections in fish. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials in fish farming may result in the emergence of zoonotic antibiotic-resistant bacteria and subsequent transmission of resistant strains to humans via food consumption. From recently, AMR emerged as a significant public health concern in the aquaculture ecosystem and fisheries. The aquatic environment serves as a potential reservoir for resistant bacteria, with aquaculture practices providing an ideal breeding ground for AMR due to the excessive use of antimicrobials to prevent and treat diseases. The mutual inter-connection of intensive fish farming systems with terrestrial environments, food processing industry and human population creates pathways for the transmission of resistant bacteria, exacerbating the problem further. One Health concept, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, enables a holistic approach to address the challenges posed by AMR. By understanding the evolution of such approach, the future of aquaculture, being the important source of a global animal protein supply, can be safeguarded. Risk mitigation strategies for AMR should be based on One Health concept to contribute to sustainable aquaculture practices that protect human and animal health, ensure food safety and protection of environment.

In agriculture, soil-borne fungal pathogens, especially Fusarium oxysporum strains, are posing a serious threat to efforts to achieve global food security. In the search for safer agrochemicals, silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) have recently been proposed as a new tool to alleviate pathogen damage including Fusarium wilt. Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs), a unique class of SiO2NPs, have been widely accepted as a desired pesticide carrier. However, their role in enhancing the disease resistance and the specific mechanism remain unknown. In this study, three sizes of HMSNs (19, 96 and 406 nm as HMSNs–19, HMSNs–96 and HMSNs–406, respectively) were synthesized and characterized to determine their effects on seed germination, seedling growth, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseolus (FOP) suppression in cowpea roots by foliar spray using phenotypes, fresh biomass and disease progression as indicators. The results revealed that three HMSNs exhibited no adverse impacts on seed germination and tended to improve plant growth. Also, they exert their FOP suppression with a size- and concentration-dependent manner. HMSNs–406 possessed the best control effect at a concentration of 1000 mg/L showing an upto 40.00% decline in the disease severity. The Si(OH)4 control was also effective on FOP suppression at a lower concentration of 100 mg/L, whereas its higher concentrations exhibited obviously adverse impacts on FOP control, seed germination and plant growth. Moreover, we conformed that HMSNs posed their Fusarium wilt suppression in cowpea plant by activating SA (salicylic acid)-dependent SAR (systemic acquired resistance) responses rather than directly suppressing FOP. A higher level of SA content and elevated expression of its maker genes of PR-1 and PR-5 in HMSNs–406 treated cowpea roots provided substantial evidences of this mode of action. Other resistance-related genes, as well as defense-responsive enzymes, were also involved in the HMSNs-activated SAR pathway. Overall, for the first time, our results extended a new role of HMSNs as a potent elicitor to serve as a versatile alternative for plant disease protection of low cost, highly efficiency and sustainability.

Coal gasification with carbon dioxide is a process for generating clean gaseous fuels and relieving greenhouse effect. Zhundong coal has high alkali and alkali earth metals (AAEMs) content, medium volatile and low ash in nature. Isothermal CO₂ gasification of char derived from Zhundong coal (R-char) and char from acid washing R-char (AR-char) are performed in thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA). The effect of AAEMs is investigated on the gasification behavior in the range of temperatures 1073 K to 1273 K. The carbon conversion increases rapidly with increasing reaction temperature and CO₂ concentration. R-char has high gasification rate and carbon conversion compared with AR-char. The accuracy of the free-model approach for calculating activation energy at different conversions is validated by compared with different kinetic models (volume reaction model, distributed activation energy model). Moreover, R-char gasification with CO₂ shows a compensation effect as the Arrhenius parameters (EA and k0) increase or decrease simultaneously.

Enterococci are gastrointestinal commensals whose hardiness allowed them to colonize very diverse environments, including soils, water, food and feed. This ability to overcome adverse conditions makes enterococci problematic once they colonize hospital niches. Together with the malleability of their genomes, the capacity to acquire and disseminate determinants of antibiotic resistance have contributed to convert what was once just another opportunistic pathogen into a first-class clinical problem. This review discusses the dimension of the emergence of enterococcal resistance to key antimicrobial agents, the dissemination of this resistance and its significance in terms of public health, with the aim of raising the awareness to the need to devise and implement monitoring programmes and effective antibiotic usage guidelines.

The trillions of bacteria that live in and on our bodies make up the human microbiota, which is a very important part of keeping us healthy and protecting us from pathogenic infections. Dysbiosis is when there are changes in the composition and variety of the microbiota. This can upset the delicate balance between the host and its microbes, making the host more vulnerable to pathogens. Understanding the complicated link between microbiota and pathogens is important for coming up with effective ways to change microbiota and boost the body's defenses against infections. This study looks at how microbiota modulation affects the spread of pathogens and infections. It talks about how the makeup of microbiota affects how susceptible you are to pathogens. It shows how a healthy microbiota can protect you by making it hard for pathogens to grow and take over. The review also goes into detail about how the microbiota protects against pathogens, such as through competitive exclusion, the production of antimicrobial compounds, and the regulation of immune reactions. The study also looks at the idea of dysbiosis and how it is linked to pathogenic shifts. Disruptions in the microbiota can make it easier for pathogens to grow and make it harder for the host to fight off infections. It focuses on the need to recover microbial balance to improve the host's defenses and lower risks caused by pathogens. There is also talk about the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as ways to change the microbiome. The goal of these interventions is to restore the diversity and function of microbes, improve the integrity of barriers, and boost the immune system's reaction to pathogens. The review shows how these methods could be used to change the microbiota and make it easier for the body to fight off infections. In conclusion, knowing how the microbiota and pathogens work together in a complicated way can help a lot when it comes to making specific interventions for microbiota modulation. Strategies that restore the balance of microbes and boost the host's defenses could stop pathogens from taking over and making people sick. More study needs to be done in this area to improve therapeutic approaches and use the microbiota to its fullest extent to fight infectious diseases.

Continuous technological progress places significant demands on the materials used in increasingly modern devices. An important parameter is often the long-term thermal resistance of the material. The use of heat-resistant polymer materials worked well in technologically advanced products. An economically justified direction in searching for new materials is the area of polymer nanocomposite materials. It is necessary to appropriately select both the polymer matrix and the nanofillers best able to demonstrate the synergistic effect. A promising area of exploration for such nanocomposites is the use of organosilicon polymers, which results from the unique properties of these polymers related to their structure. This review presents the results of the analysis of the most important literature reports regarding organosilicon polymer nanocomposites with increased thermal resistance. Particular attention was paid to modification methods of silicone nanocomposites focused on the increase of their thermal resistance related to the modification of siloxane molecular structure and by making nanocomposites using inorganic additives, carbon nanomaterials. Attention was also paid to such important issues as the influence of the dispersion of additives in the polymer matrix on the thermal resistance of silicone nanocomposites and the possibility of modifying the polymer matrix and permanently introducing nanofillers thanks to the presence of various reactive groups. The thermal stability mechanism of these nanocomposites was also analysed.

In this work, dry and hydrothermal carbonization (DC and HTC) of RDF pellets were conducted to evaluate the physical, chemical, and fuel properties of the produced chars. In the dry carbonization tests, biomass sawdust was incorporated in different proportions on the samples to minimize agglomeration caused by the melting of the plastic fraction. The experiments were carried out in a temperature of 400°C (DC) and 250-300°C (HTC), in a residence time of 30 minutes. The respective chars and hydrochars were characterized according to their mass yield, apparent density, proximate, elemental, and mineral composition, chlorine content, high heating value, thermogravimetric profile, and surface functional groups. The results showed that dry carbonization of RDF pellets with biomass incorporation, followed by a washing step, resulted in the production of chars with improved properties such as higher fixed carbon and HHV (25-26 MJ/kg) and lower ash and chlorine content. Additionally, the HTC experiments demonstrated that hydrochars showed improved properties without the need for biomass addition and washing, however, with no significant difference in the HHV (20-21 MJ/kg). Therefore, DC of RDF pellets with 10% biomass incorporation seems to be a promising option to overcome the constraints of RDF utilization as an alternative fuel.

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are major contributors to the production of fermented vinegar, offering various cultural, culinary, and health benefits. Although the residual unpasteurized AAB after vinegar production are not pathogens, these are necessary the safety evaluations including antibiotic resistance for the use as starters. In this research, we investigated the antibiotics resistance profiles of 26 AAB strains, including various species of Komagataeibacter and Acetobacter, against ten different antibiotics using the E-test method. All strains exhibited resistance to aztreonam and clindamycin. Komagataeibacter species demonstrated a 50% resistance rate to ciprofloxacin, analogous to Acetobacter species, but showed twice the resistance rates to chloramphenicol and erythromycin. Genomic analysis of K. saccharivorans CV1 identified intrinsic resistance mechanisms, such as multidrug efflux pumps, thereby enhancing our understanding of antibiotic resistance in acetic acid-producing bacteria. These findings enhance understanding of antibiotic resistance in AAB for food safety and new antimicrobial strategies, suggesting the need for standardized testing methods and molecular genetic study.

Culex quinquefasciatus is an important target for vector control because of its ability to transmit pathogens that cause disease. Most populations are resistant to pyrethroids and often to organophosphates, the two most common classes of active ingredients used by public health agencies. A knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation, resulting in a change from a leucine to phenylalanine in the voltage gated sodium channel, is one mechanism contributing to the pyrethroid resistant phenotype. Enzymatic resistance has also been shown to play a very important role. Recent studies have shown strong resistance in populations even when kdr is relatively low which indicates factors other than kdr may be larger contributors to resistance. In this study, we examined on a statewide scale (over 70 populations), the strength of the correlation between resistance in the CDC bottle bioassay and the kdr genotypes and allele frequencies. Spearman correlation analysis showed only moderate (-0.51) and weak (-0.29) correlation between the kdr genotype and permethrin and deltamethrin respectively. The frequency of the kdr allele was an even weaker correlate. These results indicate, in contrast to Aedes aegypti, assessing kdr in populations of Culex quinquefasciatus is not a good surrogate for phenotypic resistance testing.

Nose mask is a fomite and its usage was mandatory during the COVID-19 outbreak. Its effectiveness has been established; however, as a fomite, it can harbor opportunistic respiratory pathogens such as Streptococcus spp., which could complicate COVID-19 infections. This study profiled Streptococcus species resident on nose masks obtained from consenting participants. Phenotypic assays and 16S rRNA sequencing were used to identify Streptococcus spp. resident on the interior and exterior of 100 nose masks analyzed. Antibiotic resistance (AMR) was determined with disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. AMR and virulence makers were profiled with primer-specific PCR amplification. 23% of the analyzed samples had Streptococcus isolates. The isolates were highly resistant to the antimicrobials, including conventional, last-resort antibiotics, disinfectants and antiseptics. All the isolates are multidrug resistant with 80-100% levels of AMR to the 16 antibiotics tested with a Multiple-Antibiotic Resistance index greater than 0.2, indicative of potential pathogens. The isolates harbored tetB, ermB, pbp2B, pbp2b1 (resistance) and lytA, lytA1, ply1, cbpA, lytA, pavA (virulence) markers, which might constitute a serious public health risk. Overall, the study emphasizes the need to assess mask usage and the risks associated with opportunistic pathogens that are resident on frequently used nose masks in the COVID-19 era.

Improvement of hydrophysical properties and corrosion resistance of self-compacting concrete to the effects of alternate freezing-thawing and aggressive soils of southern and central Kazakhstan is of interest to a wide range of researchers from the side of practical application of the obtained results in construction practice. It is proposed to form a spatially reinforced fine crystalline structure of cement matrix with maximum dense packing by using a complex modifier (Hyperplasticiser + Polymer + Microsilica + Fibro fibers) in the composition of self-compacting concretes (SCC). The introduction of the calculated amount of the above additives increases the operational reliability of the current SCC compositions, increasing the water resistance to W16, frost resistance to F=500, increasing the compressive strength by 20%, reducing the mass loss of samples during corrosion leaching to 50%. It has been experimentally established that the proposed addition of complex modifier (Hyperplasticiser + Polymer + Microsilica + Fiber fibers) to the SCC composition allows obtaining self-compacting concrete of high quality with improved performance characteristics (compressive strength, water resistance, frost resistance and corrosion resistance). Studies have shown that the complex modifier-modified SCC compositions have a high degree of resistance in aggressive environments and leaching corrosion. Based on the results of the conducted tests, it is possible to recommend the obtained SCC compositions for production of building products working in the zone of alternating freezing-thawing and aggressive soils.

Postbiotic is a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host. Different bacterial strain and preparation method result in different functions. Herein, a postbiotic preparation named Postbiotic-P by intercepting 1-5 KD of the cell-free supernatants of L. caseiparacasei P6 fermentation broth was prepared, and its multifunctional activities were evaluated. The results showed that Postbiotic-P exerted good antihemolytic (10%-50% Postbiotic-P resulted in 4.9%-48.1% antihemolytic rate), anti-inflammatory (8% to 40% Postbiotic-P is comparable to 259.1-645.4 μg/mL of diclofenac sodium equivalents), antioxidant [reducing power (1.25%-12.5% Postbiotic-P resulted in the increase of OD700 from 0.279-2.322), DPPH free radical scavenging activity (2.5%-50% Postbiotic-P resulted in 38.9%-92.4% free radical scavenging rate), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (0.5%-4% Postbiotic-P resulted in 4.66%-10.38% hydroxyl radical scavenging rate)], and antimicrobial activities (against 2 Gram-positive, 8 Gram-negative and 1 fungus). Furthermore, it was proved that Postbiotic-P could significantly inhibit the increase of the peroxide value and the malondialdehyde content in cookies, indicating the application potential of Postbiotic-P in food preservation. Taken together, Postbiotic-P has good application potential for the development of health care products and functional foods. However, further studies are needed to determine their precise mechanism of action, to clarify the active components responsible for the function, and to validate the biological activities in animal models or clinical trials.

The crayfish plague is a devastating disease of European freshwater crayfish and is caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci (Ap. astaci), which was introduced to Europe around 1860. All European species of freshwater crayfish are susceptible to the disease, including the white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. The aquatic mould is primarily spread by North American crayfish species and can also disperse rapidly through contaminated wet gear moved between water bodies. This spread, coupled with competition from non-indigenous crayfish, has drastically reduced and fragmented native crayfish populations across Europe. Remarkably, the island of Ireland remained free from the crayfish plague pathogen for over 100 years, providing a refuge for A. pallipes. However, this changed in 1987 when a mass mortality event was linked to the pathogen marking the pathogen's introduction to the region. Fortunately, the plague did not establish and was not detected again in Ireland until 2015 when a molecular analysis linked a mass mortality event in the Erne catchment to Ap. astaci. Since then, the pathogen has appeared across the island. Between 2015 and 2023, Ap. astaci was detected in 18 Irish water catchments, revealing multiple genotypes. Intriguingly, the pathogen in Ireland exists without its natural host species. The uneven distribution of various genetic lineages strongly suggests human-mediated transport of zoospores via contaminated water equipment as a primary cause of spread. This review details the timeline of these events, Ap. astaci’s introductions into Ireland, its rapid spread, the genotypes documented, the issue of non-indigenous crayfish species in Ireland and management efforts.

The effects of ELICE16INDURES, a well-known plant conditioner developed by the Research Institute for Medicinal Plants and Herbs Ltd. Budakalasz, Hungary, were studied in a soybean population. The active ingredients of the compound have been selected to help elicit general immunity in plants without pathogenic damage, thereby roborizing the healthy plant population and preparing it for possible future biotic stressors. Here we have analyzed changes in the expression levels of genes encoding enzymes involved in the catalysis of metabolic pathways that induce and regulate PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) at two different time points and treatments. Twenty-three different enzymes were analyzed that catalyze different metabolic pathways, such as the biosyntheses of jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene, phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and phytoalexin biosynthesis and cellular detoxification processes. Bioinformatical softwares werw used to analyze the results. It has been found that some of the primary defense mechanisms (e.g., Mitogen-Activated-Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade, jasmonic acid biosynthesis, flavonoid and phytoalexin biosynthesis, etc.) that intensify following the attack of pathogens can be activated without the intrusion of the actual pathogen by an immunochemical. Thus, we proved that plant resistance can be artificially conditioned.

Predator-prey interactions present heightened opportunities for pathogen spillover, as predators are exposed to novel parasites through consumption of prey harboring potentially infectious agents. Epizootics with high morbidity and mortality have been recorded following prey-to-predator spillover events with significant conservation implications, particularly for sensitive species. However, relatively few virulent infections following prey consumption are reported, given the very large number of exposures that presumably occur. Further, many transmitted agents are infectious but clinically silent and thus go unrecognized. Mechanisms that determine outcome of predator exposure to prey-based pathogens therefore represent an important, understudied component of disease dynamics that should be considered in modeling approaches and empirical research to better understand disease risk and emergence, particularly in vulnerable or threatened species.

Proteases are integral enzymes of the plant immune system. Multiple aspects of defence are regulated by proteases, including the hypersensitive response, pathogen recognition, priming and peptide hormone release. These processes are regulated by unrelated proteases residing at different subcellular locations. In this review we discuss ten prominent plant proteases contributing to the plant immune system, highlighting the diversity of roles they perform in plant defence.

The mortality rate of women during the gestation period or after delivery is very high worldwide. ToRCH pathogens [Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii), Rubella Virus (RV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)] are transmitted vertically and are associated with mortality and complications both in the mother and the fetus or children. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the ToRCH pathogen-induced histopathological changes in placental tissues and associated post-obstetric complications in Pakistani women. Women (N = 68) included in this study were divided into Group A (women with current abortion and bad obstetric history-BOH) and Group B (women with normal delivery and BOH). The venous blood collected was analyzed for ToRCH antibodies through ELISA. A small piece of placenta tissue taken after delivery or abortion was subjected to nucleic acid (NA) detection through PCR using ToRCH pathogen-specific primers. The placental tissue was analyzed for histopathological changes under a microscope. The data obtained were analyzed using percentages and the Chi square test. Overall ToRCH antibody positivity was 64.70% (44/68). Of these, IgM (Immunoglobulin M) was found in 17.65% (12/68), IgG (Immunoglobulin G) in 45.59% (31/68), and one case (1.47%) was seropositive for both IgM and IgG. The NA was detected in 66.18% (45/68) of the placental tissues of the study population. The higher prevalence of antibodies for T.gondii and RV (23.53% each) and NA for RV, CMV, and HSV (17.99% each) was observed in the study population. The ToRCH infection (antibodies and NA) with BOH complications was statistically found to be non-significant (p> 0.05). Overall discrepancies in ToRCH antibodies and NA positivity were found in 86.76% (59/68) of cases, especially for RV (26.47%). Chorionic villitis (CV) in placental tissues was observed in 20.59% (14/68), i.e., 13.23% of Group A and 7.35% of Group B. Of the total, four women with T.gondii, six with RV, and three each with CMV and HSV infection were found with CV. The most common BOH complications observed were recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSAs) (47.05%, 32/68), stillbirth (22.05%, 15/68), congenital abnormalities (14.70%, 10/68), etc. It was observed that RSAs were associated with CV (10.29%) in the study population. The BOH complication and CV were found to be statistically non-significant (p> 0.05). It is concluded that ToRCH pathogens are prevalent in the study population, and CV was the only histopathological change found and associated with BOH complications.

Rice, as a staple crop feeding billions, faces constant threats from various diseases jeopardizing global food security. Precise understanding of disease resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing resilient rice varieties. Traditional genetic mapping methods, such as QTL mapping, provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of diseases. However, the complex nature of rice diseases demands a holistic approach to gain accurate knowledge of it. Omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, enable a comprehensive analysis of biological molecules, uncovering intricate molecular interactions within the rice plant. Integration of various mapping techniques using multi-omics data has revolutionized our understanding of rice disease resistance. By overlaying genetic maps with high-throughput omics datasets, researchers can pinpoint specific genes, proteins, or metabolites associated with disease resistance. This integration enhances the precision of disease-related biomarkers with better understanding of their functional roles in disease resistance. Improvement of rice breeding for disease resistance through this integration represents a significant stride in agricultural science because better understanding of the molecular intricacies and interactions underlying disease resistance architecture leads to more precise and efficient development of resilient and productive rice varieties. In this review, we explore how the integration of mapping and omics data can give a transformative impact on rice breeding for enhancing disease resistance.

Autoimmune blistering diseases represent a group of chronic severe, disabling, potentially fatal disorders of the skin and/or mucous membranes primarily mediated by pathogenic auto-antibodies. Despite their rarity, these diseases are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, a profound negative impact on the patient’s quality of life and impose a considerable economic burden. Rituximab, an anti CD-20 monoclonal antibody represents the first line of therapy for pemphigus, regardless of its severity as it ensures high rates of rapid, long-lasting complete remission. Nevertheless, disease recurrence is the rule, all patients requiring maintenance therapy with rituximab sooner or later. While innate resistance to rituximab in pemphigus patients is exceptional, acquired resistance is frequent and may develop even in patients with initial complete response to rituximab, representing a real challenge for physicians. We discuss the various resistance mechanisms and their complex interplay, as well as the numerous therapeutic alternatives that may be used to circumvent rituximab resistance. As no therapeutic measure is universally efficient, individualization of rituximab treatment regimen and tailored adjuvant therapies in refractory pemphigus cases are mandatory.

Carbapenem antibiotics are the drug of choice for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) are carbapenemase capable of hydrolyzing nearly all therapeutically available beta-lactam antibiotics. Consequently, a need to assess the frequency and phenotypic resistance phenomena of two MBL genes in diarrheal and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Samples were collected through a cross-sectional study, with MBLs genes detected via PCR. Two hundred twenty eight diarrheal bacteria were isolated from 240 samples. The most predominant pathogens were Escherichia coli (32%) and Klebsiella spp. (7%). Phenotypic resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, aztreonam, cefuroxime, cefixime, cefepime, imipenem, meropenem, gentamicin, netilmicin, and amikacin was 50.4%, 65.6%, 66.8%, 80.5%, 54.4%, 41.6%, 25.7%, 41.2%, 37.2%, and 42.9%, respectively.  Total 142 UTI pathogens were obtained from 150 urine samples, with Klebsiella spp. (39%) and Escherichia coli (24%) are the major pathogens. Phenotypic resistance to amoxycillin-clavulanic acid, aztreonam, cefuroxime, cefixime, cefepime, imipenem, meropenem, gentamicin, netilmicin, and amikacin was 93.7%, 75.0%, 91.5%, 93.7%, 88.0%, 72.5%, 13.6%, 44.4%, 71.1%, and 43%, respectively.  Twenty four diarrheal isolates carried either blaNDM-1 or blaVIM genes; the overall MBL gene prevalence was 10.5%. Thirty six UTI pathogens carried either blaNDM-1 or blaVIM genes (25.4%). Seven isolates carried both blaNDM-1 and blaVIM genes.  MBL genes exhibited a strong association with phenotypic carbapenem and other beta-lactam antibiotic resistance. Resistance to carbapenems requires active surveillance and stewardship.

The increasing diffusion of antimicrobial resistance represents one of the major public health problems worldwide. In the last years, novel antimicrobial molecules have been developed to contrast the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and to provide a valuable therapeutic options against multi drug-resistant (MDR) GNB microorganisms. A new siderophore cephalosporin, Cefiderocol, represents a novel valuable antimicrobial drug for the treatment of infections caused by MDR-GNB. The mechanism of cefiderocol to penetrate trough the outer membrane of bacterial cell with a particular mechanism defined at “Trojan horse” render this molecule unique and immune against the different strategies adopted by GNB to counteract the activity of antimicrobial molecules. The broad spectrum of activity against different GNB species, the potent antibacterial activity, the pharmacokinetics properties, safety, and tolerability render cefiderocol a fundamental drug for the treatment of infections due MDR strains. Although this novel antimicrobial molecule has revolutionized the therapeutic antimicrobial armamentarium against MDR-GNB, the recent emergence of cefiderocol resistant strains have redefined its role in clinical practice and requested novel strategies to preserve its antibacterial activity. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of action of Cefiderocol, emerging resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) properties, efficacy data against the main Gram-negative bacteria, and future prospectives.

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) are reported to have features intermediate between fetal and adult mesenchymal cells. Hence, UC-MSCs were cocultured with chondrocytes and Schwann cells to induce differentiation because of their flexible differentiation potential. US-MSCs were obtained from umbilical cords and cells at second passage were used in the experiments. Atelocollagen sponge was used as the scaffold for coculture; a horizontal, interactive coculture plate with a 0.6-μm pore size filter was placed between the connected vessels. US-MSCs were cocultured separately with chondrocytes and Schwann cells and culture alone served as a control. Five weeks after induction of differentiation, each specimen was evaluated histologically. In specimens cocultured with chondrocytes and the controls, cartilage tissues were detected using hematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue staining. Cells positive for S100 protein were detected in the specimens cocultured with Schwann cells, but not in the controls. UC-MSCs were easily induced to differentiate into chondrocytes and neural cells by coculture. This indicates that continuously-shared humoral factors were effective in inducing differentiation of UC-MSCs. Coculture appears to be a potential technique for tissue regeneration using MSCs.

Reducing CO2 emissions is urgently needed to slow down the impacts of climate change. CO2 capture using an amine solution has been developed and implemented on pilot and commercial scales. However, amine scrubbing, in particular, produces a lot of degraded solvent as waste and is energy intensive. Solid sorbents have been called to overcome those drawbacks. In this work, waste biomass-derived carbon materials were developed and tested for CO2 capture and conversion. Advanced thermal chemical processes i.e. hydrothermal and pyrolysis were applied to produce materials from agri-food waste such as soybean and okara. It was found that the number of functional groups (-C=O and -OH) in activated carbon appears in the synthesized materials, implying the generation of surface oxygenated groups. Preliminary results showed that the synthesized activated carbons are obtained with good yields, and a relatively high surface area, which may be applied as CO2 adsorption materials to solve the CO2 emission problems.

Rationale: Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains a significant risk for patients undergoing partial hepatectomy (PHx). Reliable prognostic markers and treatments to enhance liver regeneration are lacking. Plasma nanoparticles, including lipoproteins, exosomes, and extracellular vesicles (EVs), can reflect systemic and tissue-wide proteostasis and stress, potentially aiding liver regeneration. However, their role in PHLF is still unknow. Methods: Our study included 9 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing PHx: 3 patients with PHLF, 3 patients undergoing the Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein Ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) procedure and three matched controls without complications after PHx. Patient plasma was collected before (PRE), 1 and 5 days (POD1, POD5) after PHx. EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and extracted proteins subjected to quantitative mass spectrometry using a super-SILAC mix prepared from primary and cancer cell-lines. Results: We identified 2625 and quantified 2570 proteins in EVs in PHx patients. Among these, 53 proteins were significantly upregulated and 32 were downregulated in patients with PHLF compared to those without PHLF. Furthermore, 110 proteins were upregulated and 78 were downregulated in PHLF compared to patients undergoing ALPPS. The EV-proteomic signature in PHLF indicates significant disruptions in protein translation, proteostasis, intracellular vesicle biogenesis, as well as alterations in proteins involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, metabolic and cell cycle pathways, present already before PHx. Conclusion: Longitudinal proteomic analysis of EV´s circulating in human patient plasma undergoing PHx uncovers proteomic signatures associated with PHLF which reflect dying hepatocytes and endothelial cells and are present before PHx already. Our results support EVs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for liver regeneration and failure.

Programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4) is a tumor suppressor, which has been demonstrated to efficiently suppress tumorigenesis. Biochemically, Pdcd4 binds with translation initiation factor 4A and represses protein translation. Beyond its role in tumor suppression, increasing evidence indicates that Pdcd4 enhances the chemosensitivity of several chemotherapeutic drugs. To date, several translational targets of Pdcd4 have been identified. These targets govern important signal transduction pathways, and their attenuation may enhance chemosensitivity or overcome drug resistance. This review will discuss the signal transduction pathways regulated by Pdcd4 and the potential mechanisms through which Pdcd4 enhances chemosensitivity or counteracts drug resistance.

Polyalcohol liquefaction can be done by acid or basic catalysis producing polyols with different properties. This study compared the mechanical properties of foams produced using polyols from liquefied Cytisus scoparius obtained by acid and basic catalysis and using two different foam catalysts. The differences were monitored using FTIR analysis. Acid-catalyzed liquefaction yielded 95.1 %, with the resultant polyol having an OH index of 1081 mg KOH/g while basic catalysis yielded 82.5 %, with a similar OH index of 1070 mg KOH/g. Generally, compressive strength with dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) ranged from 16 - 31 kPa (acid-liquefied polyol) and 12 -21 kPa (base-liquefied polyol), while with stannous octoate (TIN), it ranged from 17 - 42 kPa (acid) and 29 - 68 kPa (base). Increasing water content generally decreased the compressive modulus and strength of foams. Higher water content led to a higher absorption at 1670 cm-1 in the FTIR spectrum due to the formation of urea. Higher isocyanate indices generally improved compressive strength, but high amounts led to unreacted isocyanate that could be seen by a higher absorption at 2265 cm-1 and 3290 cm-1. DBTL was shown to be the best foam catalyst due to higher trimer conversion seen in the spectra by a higher absorption at 1410 cm-1. Acid and base-derived polyols lead to different polyurethane foams with different FTIR spectra, particularly with a higher absorption at 1670 cm-1 for foams from acid-derived liquefaction.

Inflammation and insulin resistance are recognized as central features in the pathology of psoriasis, profoundly affecting the lives of those affected by this condition. The relationship between lifestyle choices and psoriasis is well-documented, highlighting the potential benefits of dietary modifications and physical activity in managing the condition during exacerbations. Furthermore, growing evidence emphasizes the significant impact of nutritional interventions on various skin disorders, particularly those characterized by inflammation and insulin dysregulation. Notably, the role of dietary fats is of particular interest, with their influence on inflammation and insulin resistance in psoriasis garnering increasing attention. Moreover, the association between excessive adiposity and heightened psoriatic severity underscores the importance of weight management strategies in disease management. This review explores the intricate relationship between specific dietary fats and inflammation in psoriasis, offering a comprehensive analysis of their implications for disease progression and management.

Modification of electrode surface with a selective layer gives the possibility to detect target ana-lytes of forensic interest. 3-(4-trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)-thiophene (ThPhCF3) was deposited on a graphite (G) electrode by electrochemical oxidation and characterized as a receptor for the recognition of synthetic stimulants (2-aminoindane, buphedrone, naphyrone). First, the structural characterization of the polymeric layer were obtained from Raman spectroscopy. Second, the electrochemical profiles of selected synthetic stimulants and their affinity to ThPhCF3/G-modified electrodes were studied using square wave voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spec-troscopy. The values of the adsorption constant show the importance of – PhCF3 groups in the interaction with synthetic stimulants, namely recognition by the formation of hydrogen bonds (Kads (buphedrone) < Kads (2-AI)) and interaction with aromatic H atoms (Kads (buphedrone) < Kads (naphyrone)). It was demonstrated that the polymeric layer derived from thiophene with – PhCF3 group is capable to increase the intensity of the electrochemical signal.

Shape memory alloys (SMA) are becoming a more important factor in actuation technology. Due to their unique features, they bring the potential to safe weight, installation space and reduce energy consumption. The system integration of the generally small diameter NiTi wires is an important cornerstone for the emerging technology. Crimping, a common method for the mechanical and electrical connection of SMA wires, has several drawbacks when it comes to miniaturization and high force outputs. For high force applications for example, multiple SMA wires in parallel are needed to keep actuation frequencies high, while scaling up the actuation force. To meet these challenges, the proposed study deals with the development of a resistance welding process for manufacturing NiTi wire bundles. The wires are welded to sheet metal substrate, resulting in promising functional properties and high joint strengths. The welding process benefits from low cost, easy to control parameters and good automation potential. A method for evaluating the resistance welding process parameters is presented. With these parameters in place, a manufacturing process for bundled wire actuators is discussed and implemented. The welded joints are examined by peel tests, microscopy, and fatigue experiments. The performance of the manufactured bundle actuators is demonstrated by comparison to a single wire with the same accumulated cross-sectional area.

Arabinoxylans (AXs) are non-starch polysaccharides with complex structures naturally occurring in grains (i.e., barley, corn, and others) providing many health benefits, especially as prebiotics. AXs can be classified as water-extractable (WEAX) and water-unextractable (WUAX) based on their solubility, with properties influenced by grain sources and extraction methods. A large body of evidence shows that AXs exert an im-portant health impact, including glucose and lipid metabolism regulation and immune system enhancement, which is induced by the interactions between AXs and the gut microbiota. Recent research underscores the dependence of AX physiological effects on structure, advocating for a deeper understanding of struc-ture-activity relationships. While systematic studies on WEAX are prevalent, knowledge gaps persist re-garding WUAX, despite its higher grain abundance. Thus, this review reports recent data on WUAX struc-tural properties (chemical structure, branching, MW) in cereals under different treatments. It discusses WUAX applications in baking and its benefits deriving from gut fermentation.

Snow cover products are primarily derived from the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) and Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) datasets. MODIS achieves both snow/non-snow discrimination and snow cover fractional retrieval, while early AVHRR-based snow cover products only focused on snow/non-snow discrimination. The AVHRR Climate Data Record (AVHRR -CDR) provides a nearly 40-year global dataset that has a potential to fill a gap in long term snow cover fractional monitoring. Our study selects the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the experimental area, utilizing AVHRR-CDR surface reflectance data (AVH09C1) and calibrating with MODIS snow product MOD10A1. The snow cover percentage retrieval from the AVHRR dataset is performed using Surface reflectance at 0.64μm (SR1) and Surface reflectance at 0.86μm (SR2), along with a simulated Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) model. Also, in order to detect the effects of land cover type and topography on snow inversion, we tested the accuracy of the algorithm with and without these influences, respectively (vanilla algorithm & improved algorithm). The accuracy of the AVHRR snow cover percentage data product is evaluated using MOD10A1、 ground snow-depth measurements and ERA5. Results indicate that the logic model based on NDSI has the best fitting effect, with R-square and RMSE values of 0.83 and 0.10, respectively. Meanwhile, the accuracy was improved after taking into account the effects of land cover type and topography. The model is validated using MOD10A1 snow-covered areas, showing snow cover area differences of less than 4% across 6 temporal phases. Improved algorithm results in better consistency with MOD10A1 than vanilla algorithm. Moreover, the RMSE reaches greater levels when the elevation is below 2,000 meters or above 6,000 meters, and is lower when the slope is between 16° and 20°. Using ground snow-depth measurements as ground truth, the multi-year recall rates are mostly above 0.7, with an average recall rate of 0.81. Results also show a high degree of consistency with ERA5. The validation results demonstrate that the AVHRR snow cover percentage remote sensing product proposed in this study exhibits high accuracy in the Tibetan Plateau region, also demonstrating that land cover type and topographic factors are important to the algorithm. Our study lays the foundation for the global snow cover percentage product based on AVHRR-CDR，furthermore lays a basic work for generating a long-term AVHRR-MODIS fractional snow cover dataset.

Organic soil amendments, such as composts, mitigate the environmental burdens associated with wasting organic resources. Although compost application to soil enhances an agroecosystem's capacity to store carbon and produce food, studies investigating the agronomical efficacy and their ability to ameliorate drought stress when used as a soil amendment are minimal. In this study, we produced and used a nutrient rich co-compost through the composting of sludge, a nitrogen-rich organic material with carbon rich municipal solid wastes (MSW) to evaluate the agronomic efficacy of the MSW derived co-compost and their ability to ameliorate drought stress. Application of co-compost significantly enhanced growth and yield of lettuce and maize, by a magnitude comparable to chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, under drought stress, lettuce plants grown under co-compost soil amendment grew much better with less wilting, more biomass and yield, and improved root growth. Also, co-compost application enhanced relative root mass ratio (RRMR) under drought stress, indicative that co-compost amendment increased the allocation of biomass to the roots, which is an important morphological attribute for drought adaptability. K content in both leaves and roots of plants amended with co-compost was also higher under drought stress, which may have played a role in osmotic adjustment, consequently, the plants exhibited higher leaf relative water content (RWC). Other nutrient elements that were significantly enhanced by co-compost application included Mg, Ca, Fe and Cu. These results provide evidence that MSW co-composting could optimize organic resource recycling for climate change mitigation and agricultural productivity while minimizing nutrient losses from agroecosystems.

Many anti-tumor effects of group-specific component-derived macrophage-activating factors (GcMAFs) have been reported; however, the specific mechanisms remain unclear. Controlling tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor microenvironment is essential for cancer treatment. This study assessed the role of GcMAF in macrophage activation, elucidated the mechanisms by which it exerts its anti-tumor effects, and determined its effects on TAMs in the tumor microenvironment. GcMAF-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and EMT6 breast tumor cells were co-cultured in a 0.4-µm pore cell culture insert, and gene and protein expression and cell viability were evaluated. DNA microarray analysis of GcMAF-stimulated RAW264.7 cells was conducted. The induction of M2 RAW264.7 cells by interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 was analyzed. GcMAF stimulation increased the tumor necrosis factor-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein levels in RAW264.7 cells but decreased the viability of co-cultured EMT6 cells. These results were confirmed in the M2 RAW264M2.7 cells, suggesting that GcMAF exerts anti-tumor effects by inducing the differentiation of macrophages into the M1 type and reprogramming M2 macrophages to the M1 type. The anti-tumor activity of GcMAF via M2-to-M1 macrophage reprogramming could aid in developing novel cancer immunotherapies.

Soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase (sPPase), a pyrophosphate hydrolase, has been shown to play an important role in several physiological processes such as plant growth and development, metabolic activities, and response to abiotic stresses, but sPPase has been less studied in woody plants. In order to preliminarily verify whether the soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase in Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (E. ulmoides) has a role in resistance to drought stress, we amplified the EuSIP5 (E. ulmoides soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase 5) cDNA sequence from E. ulmoides by RT-PCR. In order to study the drought resistance of the Eucommia ulmoides soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase 5 (EuSIP5) gene, the cDNA sequence of the EuSIP5 gene was amplified from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver by RT-PCR. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that EuSIP5 might be an unstable amphipathic protein, mainly located in the cytoplasm. E. ulmoides, the highest expression of the EuSIP5 gene was found in male leaves and pericarp from April to October, and in leaves of E. ulmoides in July and September. During drought, the expression of EuSIP5 in seedling E. ulmoides leaves was significantly higher than that of the control. An overexpression vector harboring the EuSIP5 was constructed and introduced into the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi). We found that during drought stress, the appearance of wilting was delayed by 4 days in transgenic tobacco plants (OE) compared with wild type plants (WT), and the expression of drought-related genes DET2, CYP85A1, P5CS, ERF1 and F-box was found to be increased in transgenic tobacco leaves, as well as the enzyme activities of the protective enzymes: peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly higher than those of the WT, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was lower than the WT. These results indicated that the introduction of EuSIP5 gene into tobacco increased the expression of drought-related genes, enhanced the anti-membrane oxidation ability of tobacco, and reduced the oxidative stress damage, thus improving the drought resistance of tobacco.

Recent studies have elucidated the diversity of genes encoding venom in sea anemones. However, most of those genes are yet to be explored in an evolutionary context. Insulin is a common peptide across metazoans and has been coopted into a predatory venom in many venomous lineages. In this study, we focus on the diversity of insulin-derived venoms in sea anemones and on elucidating their evolutionary history. We sourced data for 34 species of sea anemones and found sequences belonging to two venom families that have Insulin PFAM annotations (Cono-Insulin, VP302). Our findings show that both families have undergone duplication events. Members of each of the independently evolving clades have consistent predicted protein structures and distinct dN/dS values. Our work also shows that VP302 is part of a multidomain venom contig and has experienced a secondary gain into the venom system of cuticulate sea anemones.

: The activated carbons (ACs) derived from okara powder waste with high surface areas were modified with ammonia aqueous solution impregnation in an autoclave to enhance their CO2 adsorption properties toward CO2. The impregnated ACs were characterized in which surface chemical composition and properties of the ACs were analyzed by SEM-EDX, FTIR. Activated carbons were functionalized with ammonia aqueous solution (25%) through a hydrothermal process within 24; 48, and 72 hours. The adsorption performance of CO2 onto carbon samples was experimentally evaluated through a TPD CO2 measurement. FTIR spectra confirm the N-containing in N-modified activated carbons and the presence of the –C = O stretch and N-H groups. CO2 uptakes of N-modified activated carbons are 0.24; 1.78; 2.24 and 1.26 mmol/g, which are relatively comparable with those of activated carbons studied in in the literature.

This study explored the effects of cryogenic treatment on the microstructure, hardness, and wear-resistance of diamond-like carbon (DLC) by cryogenically treating NAK 80 mold steel coated with DLC. Raman spectroscopy analyzed the structure of the DLC film. Nanoindenter analyzed the hardness and Young’s modulus of the film, and their relationship determined the wear resistance. Wear test assessed the wear rate and friction coefficient of the DLC film. The results showed that cryogenic treatment increased the rate of carbide precipitation and refined the grain structure. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the Raman intensity rate (I_D/I_G) of treated DLC films was smaller than those without cryogenic treatment. When the sp3 bond increased, the hardness and wear-resistance of the DLC film also increased.

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) represent a subset of mesenchymal stem cells in every adipose compartment throughout the body. ADSCs can differentiate into various cell types, including chondrocytes, osteocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes. Moreover, they exhibit a notable potential to differentiate in vitro into cells from other germinal lineages, including endothelial cells and neurons. ADSCs have a wide range of clinical applications, from breast surgery to chronic wounds. Furthermore, they are a promising cell population for future tissue-engineering uses. Accumulating evidence indicates decreased proliferation and differentiation potential of ADSCs with increasing age, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, or exposure to radiotherapy. Therefore, recent literature thoroughly investigates this cell population's senescence mechanisms and how they can hinder their possible therapeutic applications. This review will discuss the biological mechanisms and the physio-pathological causes behind ADSC senescence and how they can impact cellular functionality. Moreover, we will examine the possible strategies to invert these processes, re-establishing the full regenerative potential of this progenitor population.

Relative to several model bacteria, the ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis is shown here to have an elevated resistance to exogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) – both, with regard to peptide bulk concentration in the medium, and the numbers of peptide molecules per cell. By monitoring integration of the AMPs in the bacterial cell membrane and observing the resulting effect on membrane energy-coupling, it is concluded that the membranotropic effects of the tested AMPs in Z. mobilis and in Escherichia coli are comparable. The advantage of Z. mobilis over E. coli apparently results from its uncoupled mode of energy metabolism that, in contrast to E. coli, does not rely on oxidative phosphorylation, and hence, is less vulnerable to disruption of its energy-coupling membrane by AMPs. It is concluded that the high resistance to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) observed in Z. mobilis not only proves crucial for its survival in its natural environment but also offers a promising platform for AMP production and sheds light on potential strategies for novel resistance development in clinical settings.

A four-step synthesis of bifunctional, noncovalent organocatalysts based on the chiral (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine scaffold containing a 1,2-benzenediamine H-bond donor was developed. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the 2-fluoronitrobenzene derivative with the commercial (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine was followed by selective alkylation of the primary amino group, reduction of the aromatic nitro group and final derivatization of the primary aromatic amino group, i.e. acylation, sulfonation, reductive alkylation and arylation, leading to the four subtypes of organocatalysts. All new compounds were fully characterized. The prepared organocatalysts (32 examples) were tested in the Michael addition of acetylacetone to trans-β-nitrostyrene, yielding the addition product with incomplete conversions (up to 93%) and enantioselectivities of up to 41% ee.

Developing new antibiotics poses a significant challenge in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical global health threat responsible for approximately 5 million deaths annually. Finding new classes of antibiotics that are safe, have acceptable pharmacokinetic properties, and are appropriately active against pathogens is a lengthy and expensive process. Therefore, high-throughput platforms are needed to screen large libraries of synthetic and natural compounds. In this review, we present bacterial cytological profiling (BCP) as a rapid, scalable, and cost-effective method for identifying the mechanisms of action of antibiotics, offering a promising tool for combating AMR and drug discovery. We present the application of BCP for different bacterial organisms and different classes of antibiotics and discuss BCP's advantages, limitations, and potential improvements. Furthermore, we highlight the studies that have utilized BCP to investigate pathogens listed in the Bacterial Priority Pathogens List 2024 and we identify the pathogens whose cytological profiles are missing. Lastly, we explore the most recent artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques that could enhance the analysis of data generated by BCP, potentially advancing our understanding of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and the discovery of novel druggable pathways.

The activated carbons (ACs) derived from okara powder waste with high surface areas were modified with ammonia aqueous solution impregnation in an autoclave to enhance their CO2 adsorption properties toward CO2. The impregnated ACs were characterized in which surface chemical composition and properties of the ACs were analyzed by SEM-EDS, FTIR. Activated carbons were functionalized with ammonia aqueous solution (25%) through a hydrothermal process within 24; 48, and 72 hours. The adsorption performance of CO2 onto carbon samples was experimentally evaluated through a breakthrough adsorption experimental setup at room temperature. FTIR spectra confirm the N-containing in N-modified activated carbons and the presence of the –C = O stretch and N-H groups. CO2 uptakes of N-modified activated carbons are 0.24; 1.47; and 1.20 mmol/g, which are relatively comparable with those of activated carbons studied in in the literature.

Selection is a fundamental part of the plant breeding process, enabling the identification and development of varieties with desirable traits. Thanks to advances in genetics and biotechnology, the selection process has become more precise and efficient, resulting in faster breeding progress and better adaptation of crops to environmental challenges. Genetic parameters related to gene additivity and epistasis play a key role and can influence decisions on the suitability of breeding material. In this study, 188 rapeseed doubled haploid lines were assessed in field conditions for resistance to Leptosphaeria spp. Through next-generation sequencing, a total of 133,764 molecular markers (96,121 SilicoDArT and 37,643 SNP) were obtained. The similarity of the DH lines at the phenotypic and genetic levels was calculated. The results indicate that the similarity at the phenotypic level was markedly different than the similarity at the genetic level. Genetic parameters related to additive gene action effects and epistasis (double and triple) were calculated using two methods: based on phenotypic observations only and using molecular marker observations. All evaluated genetic parameters (additive, additive-additive and additive-additive-additive) were statistically significant for both estimation methods. The parameters associated with the interaction (double and triple) had opposite signs depending on the estimation method.

Aim: We estimated the correlation between serum bilirubin concentrations and insulin resistance in advanced maternal age without diabetes mellitus. Method: The cross-sectional study involved consecutive 50 women of advanced maternal age without diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance (IR) was diagnosed according to the homeostatic model assessment insulin resistant (HOMA-IR) formula and the cut-off point was set to more than 2.5. Serum bilirubin and HOMA-IR were compared between the IR (+) and IR (-) groups. Results: We found that serum bilirubin levels in the IR subjects were significantly decreased compared to those without IR (p = 0.0252). Serum bilirubin concentrations were negatively correlated with the weight and the fasting insulin concentrations in all subjects (r=−0.282, p=0.047, r=-0.424, p=0.002). Additionally, serum bilirubin had a negatively correlation with HOMA-IR (r = -0.410, p = 0.003) in all subjects. The multiple linear regression analysis found that serum total bilirubin levels were independently correlated with HOMA-IR (beta = -0.392, p= 0.015) in these subjects. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that serum bilirubin concentrations had negatively correlation with insulin resistance in advanced pregnant women without diabetes mellitus, and decreased serum bilirubin may forebode increased gestational diabetes mellitus risk in our study population.

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in clinical settings has become a significant global concern. Among these bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii stands out due to its remarkable ability to acquire resistance genes and persist in hospital environments, leading to some of the most challenging infections. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a crucial role in the evolution of this pathogen. The A. baumannii AMA205 strain, belonging to sequence type ST79, was isolated from a COVID-19 patient in Argentina in 2021. This strain’s antimicrobial resistance profile is notable as it harbors multiple resistance genes, some of which had not been previously described in this species. The AmpC family β-lactamase blaCMY-6, commonly found in Enterobacterales, had never been detected in A. baumannii before. Furthermore, this is the first ST79 strain known to carry the carbapenemase blaNDM-1 gene. Other acquired resistance genes include the carbapenemase blaOXA-23, further complicating treatment. Susceptibility testing revealed high resistance to most antibiotic families, including cefiderocol, with significant contributions from blaCMY-6 and blaNDM-1 genes to the cephalosporin and carbapenem resistance profiles. The A. baumannii AMA205 genome also contains genetic traits coding for 111 potential virulence factors, such as the iron-uptake system and biofilm-associated proteins. This study underscores A. baumannii's ability to acquire multiple resistance genes and highlights the need for alternative therapies and effective antimicrobial stewardship to control the spread of these highly resistant strains.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis and displays resistance to immunotherapy. A better understanding of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) effects on immune responses might contribute to improved immunotherapy. EVs derived from Capan-2 and BxPC-3 PC cells isolated by ultracentrifugation were characterized by atomic force microscopy, western blot (WB), nanoparticle tracking analysis and label-free proteomics. Fresh PBMCs from healthy donors were treated with PC- or control-derived heterologous EVs followed by flow cytometry analysis of CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes. Proteomics of lymphocytes sorted from EV-treated, or -untreated PBMCs was performed and IFN-γ concentration was measured by ELISA. Notably, most of the proteins identified in Capan-2 and BxPC-3 EVs by proteomic analysis were connected in a single functional network (p=1x10-16) and were involved in “Immune System” (FDR: 1.10x10-24 and 3.69x10-19, respectively). Interestingly, treatment of healthy donor-derived PBMCs with Capan-2 EVs, but not with BxPC-3 EVs or heterologous control EVs induced early activation of CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes. Proteomics of lymphocytes sorted from EV-treated PBMCs was consistent with their activation by Capan-2 EVs, indicating IFN-γ among major upstream regulators, as confirmed by ELISA. Proteomic and functional analyses indicate that PC-EVs have pleiotropic effects, and some may activate early immune response, which might be relevant for the development of highly needed immunotherapeutic strategies in this immune-cold tumor.

The impacts of spice (sumac, cumin, black pepper, and red pepper) extract on Gram-positive (S. aureus and E. faecalis) and Gram-negative (K. pneumonia, P. aureginosa, C. jejuni, A. hydrophila, S. Paratyphi A, and Y. enterocolitica) food-borne pathogen bacterial strains (FBP) for their antibacterial activity and accumulation of ammonia (AMN), trimethylamine (TMA), and biogenic amines (BAs) in tyrosine decarboxylase broth (TDB) were investigated. Sumac extract exhibited the highest an-tibacterial potential against all FBP followed by cumin and peppers. Ammonia (AMN) production (844.24-543 mg/L) was strongly inhibited by sumac extract (55.10 mg/L), whilst suppression of trimethylamine (TMA) production (53.66-3.21 mg/L) was observed by sumac (1.28 mg/L), followed by red pepper (0.91 mg/L) extract. Cumin extracts stimulated the production of cadaverine, spermidine, tryptamine, and 2-phenylethylamine. Furthermore, sumac extracts inhibited hista-mine and tyramine production in the majority of FBP. This research suggests the application of sumac extracts as natural preservatives for inhibiting the growth of FBP and inhibiting the pro-duction of AMN, TMA, and BAs.

Rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella serotypes host-adapted to cattle is of increasing concern to the beef and dairy industry. The bulk of the existing literature focuses on AMR post-slaughter. In comparison, the understanding of AMR in Salmonella among pre-harvest cattle is still limited, particularly in Texas, which ranks top five in beef and dairy exports in the United States; inherently, the health of Texas cattle has nationwide implications for the health of the United States beef and dairy industry. In this study, long-read whole genome sequencing and bioinformatic methods were utilized to analyze antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in 98 isolates from beef and dairy cattle in the Texas Panhandle. Fisher exact tests and elastic net models accounting for population structure were used to infer associations between ARGs and antimicrobial phenotypic profiles and metadata. Gene mapping was also performed to assess the role of mobile genetic elements in harboring ARGs. ARG were found to be statistically different between the type of cattle operation and Salmonella serotypes. Beef operations were statistically significantly associated with more resistance genes compared to dairy operations. Salmonella Heidelberg, followed by Salmonella Dublin isolates, were associated with the most ARGs. Additionally, specific classes of ARGs were only present within mobile genetic elements.

Aquaculture is expected to play a vital role in solving the challenge of sustainably providing the growing world population with healthy and nutritious food. Pathogen outbreaks are a major risk for the sector, so early detection and a timely response are crucial. This can be enabled by monitoring of pathogen levels in aquaculture facilities. This paper describes a photonic biosensing platform based on silicon nitride waveguide technology with integrated active components, which could be used for such applications. Compared to the state of the art, the current system presents improvements in terms of miniaturization of the Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC), and the development of wafer level processes for hybrid integration of active components and for material-selective chemical and biological surface modification. Furthermore, scalable processes for integrating the PIC in a microfluidic cartridge have been developed, as well as a prototype desktop readout instrument. Three bacterial aquaculture pathogens (Aeromonas salmonicida, Vagococcus salmoninarum, and Yersinia ruckeri) were selected for assay development. DNA biomarkers were identified, corresponding primer-probe sets designed, and qPCR assays developed. The biomarker for Aeromonas was also detected using the hybrid PIC platform. This is the first successful demonstration of biosensing on the hybrid PIC platform.

Biotic stressors pose serious threats to crop yield, jeopardizing food security and resulting in over US$220 billion per year losses to the agriculture industry. Plants activate innate defense mechanisms upon pathogen perception and invasion. The plant immune response comprises numerous concerted steps, including the recognition of invading pathogens, signal transduction, and activation of defensive pathways. However, pathogens have evolved various structures to evade plant immunity. Given these facts, genetic improvements of plants are required for sustainable disease management to ensure global food security. Advanced genetic technologies have provided new opportunities to revolutionize and boost plant disease resistance against devastating pathogens. Furthermore, targeting susceptibility (S) genes, such as OsERF922 and BnWRKY70, through CRISPR methodologies offers novel frontiers to disrupt the molecular compatibility of pathogens and introduce durable resistance against them in plants. Here, we provide a critical overview of advances in understanding disease resistance mechanisms. The review also critically examines management strategies under challenging environmental conditions and R gene-based plant genome engineering systems intending to enhance plant responses against emerging pathogens. This work underscores the transformative potential of modern genetic engineering practices in revolutionizing plant health and crop disease management while emphasizing the importance of responsible application to ensure sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Kodamaea ohmeri is an environmental yeast considered a rare emerging pathogen. In clinical settings, the correct identification of this yeast is relevant since some isolates are associated with resistance to antifungals. There is a lack of available data regarding the geographical distribution, virulence, and drug resistance profile of K. ohmeri. To contribute to the knowledge of this yeast, this study aimed to describe in depth three isolates of K. ohmeri associated with fungemia in Honduras. The identification of the isolates was carried out by sequencing the ribosomal ITS region. In addition, the sensitivity profile to antifungals was determined, and some properties associated with virulence were evaluated (exoenzyme production, biofilm formation, cell adhesion, and invasion). The isolates showed strong protease, phospholipase, and hemolysin activity, in addition to being biofilm producers. Adherence and invasion capacity were evident in the HeLa and Raw 264.7 cell lines respectively. This study expands the understanding of the underlying biological traits associated with virulence in K. ohmeri and is the first report of the detection and identification of K. ohmeri in Honduras as a cause of human infection.

Fusarium circinatum is an important global pathogen of pine trees. Genome plasticity has been observed in different isolates of the fungus, but no genome comparisons are available. To address this gap, we sequenced and assembled to chromosome level five isolates of F. circinatum. These genomes were analysed together with previously published genomes of F. circinatum isolates FSP34 and KS17. Multi-sample variant calling identified a total of 461683 micro variants (SNPs and small indels) and a total of 1828 macro structural variants of which 1717 were copy number variants and 111 were inversions. Variant density was higher on sub-telomeric regions of chromosomes. Variant annotation revealed that genes involved in transcription, transport, metabolism and transmembrane proteins were overrepresented in gene sets affected by high impact variants. A core genome representing genomic elements conserved in all the isolates and a non-redundant pangenome representing all genomic elements is presented. Whole genome alignments showed that an average of 93% of the genomic elements are present in all isolates. The results of this study reveal that some genomic elements are not conserved within the isolates and some variants are high impact. The described genome-scale variations will help inform novel disease management strategies against the pathogen.

It has been demonstrated that cancer cells that have survived cancer treatment may be more malignant than the original cancer cells. These cells are considered to be the main cause of metastasis in prognosis. A Nanog-overexpressing colon-26 (Nanog+colon26) was generated and its metastatic potential was confirmed to be enhanced, indicating higher malignancy. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from the cell line (Nanog+colon26EVs) were administered to mice at 5 μg nine times (three times per week for three weeks) via the tail vein (PBS was used as a control). Subsequently, Nanog+colon26 cells were administered to mice via the spleen, and the quantity of metastatic colonies in the liver was analyzed two weeks later. The results demonstrated that the administration of EVs suppressed metastasis. The enhanced phagocytic activity of macrophages observed in the group treated with Nanog+colon26EVs indicated the involvement of the immune system in the observed metastasis-suppressing effect. Small RNA sequencing was conducted to identify Nanog-dependent miRNAs that exhibited significant changes (Fc>=1.5 or Fc

Abstract: Conventional antibiotic and multidrug treatments become less and less effective and a discovery of new effective and safe antibacterial agents got a global priority. The returning to the natural antibacterial product is relatively new current trend. Terrestrial biota is a rich source of biologically active substances whose antibacterial potential was not fully utilized. Aim of this review is to present the current state-of-the art of terrestrial biota-derived antibacterial agents and inspired by nature treatments. It is a summary of the most important sources and new identified or modified antibacterial agents and treatments during the last 5 years. It focuses on the significance of plants- animals- and bacteria-derived biologically active agents as powerful alternatives to antibiotics as well as on the advantages of utilizing natural antibacterial molecules alone or in combinations with antibiotics. The main conclusion is that the terrestrial biota derived antibacterial products and substances open variety of new ways to modern improved therapeutic strategies. New terrestrial sources of known antibacterial agents and new antibacterial agents from terrestrial biota were discovered during the last 5 years, which are under investigation together with some long ago known but now surviving their renaissance for the development of new medical treatments. Use of natural antibacterial peptides as well as combinational therapy by commercial antibiotics and natural products outlines as the most promising for treating of bacterial infections. In vivo testing and clinical trials are necessary to reach clinical application.

Wear-resistant steel/carbon steel composite plate not only has the double performance advantage of high strength and wear-resistance, but also can reduce energy consumption and production cost. Based on 50% reduction rate, the wear resistance of BTW1/Q345 composite was studied at different annealing temperatures, and the dry friction and wear tests of BTW1/Q345 composite at different annealing temperatures were carried out by using RETC MFT-5000. The macro-micro morphology and wear mechanism of wear marks at different annealing temperatures were analyzed by using white light interference three-dimensional surface profiler, Scanning electron microscope scanning electron microscope (SEM) and backscatter electron diffraction (EBSD) . The results show that with the increase of annealing temperature, the grain size near the scratch of BTW1 in the wear-resistant layer of the composite plate is refined, and the wear-resistant property is higher than that of the original sample.When the annealing temperature is 860℃,the wear resistance is the best.

.Various synthetic nematicides are currently used effectively in the control of plant parasitic nematodes. However, these nematicides have adverse effects on humans and the environment. Neem oil is eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic nematicides. The effectiveness of repeated neem oil application in suppressing the root-knot nematodes infestation in figs seedlings was therefore examined in this study, both in its natural form (10 ml/L) and in its nano-emulsion form (5 and 7 ml/L). The recorded reduction parameters of M. incognita were J2/250g soil, galls and egg masses / 5g roots of infected fig seedlings were measured at that time, and the effects of these natural additives were compared with the Fosthiazate (Krenkel 75%EC). The impact of such soil amendments on some typical plant parameters, the total microbial count of soil, and the overall enzymatic activity of the fig rhizosphere were also included. Obtained results revealed that the soil population density of root knot nematode suppressed by 80.3% , reduction of nematode egg masses (60.4%) due to the application of nano-emulsion of neem oil (at 7ml/L). Present work recommend the use of nano-emulsion of neem oil as one of the effective and eco-friendly means to reduce the root- knot nematode on fig .

Background: Bacterial resistance to several antibiotic classes is seen as a grave threat worldwide. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics was mostly caused by the abuse and overuse of antibiotics, particularly penicillins and first-generation cephalosporins, in Egypt's primary healthcare facilities. Aim of the study: To investigate the main resistant bacteria to a few chosen penicillins and first-generation cephalosporins, as well as the characterization of these antibiotics' resistant genes and their detrimental effects in Egypt's main medical facilities. Methodology: Two hundred respiratory and urinary tract infection (RTI and UTI) specimens were gathered from Egyptian primary medical center patients. The turbidimetric assay at 630 nm wavelength, the broth dilution technique, and the nanopore sequencing homology approach were used to characterize the major resistant pathogenic bacteria and their resistant genes to cefadroxil (first generation cephalosporins) and nafcillin (antipseudomonal penicillin). Moreover, adverse outcomes resulting from antibiotic resistance were noted. Results: Out of 200 specimens with RTI and UTI, 186 samples showed the proliferation of resistant bacteria isolates. Enterococcus faecium strain NFC and Staphylococcus aureus strain CDX were among them. Nanopore sequencing confirmed that the antibiotic-resistant gene in Enterococcus faecium was the NFC gene, whereas the antibiotic-resistant gene in Staphylococcus aureus was the CDX gene. Penicillin-binding proteins with modest affinity were encoded by both genes. These bacterial resistance patterns were linked to a low death rate of 5% and a high morbidity rate of 47%. Conclusion: By expressing low-affinity penicillin-binding proteins through resistant NFC and CDX genes, Enterococcus faecium strain NFC and Staphylococcus aureus strain CDX were found to be the predominant bacterial isolates that cause antibiotic resistance to first-generation cephalosporins and penicillins.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GL18 has been proven to have good resistance ability and can promote the growth of Avena sativa cultivar ‘Qingyan 1’. Herein, Illumina high-throughput transcriptome sequencing technology was used to analyze the differential expression of genes between the interaction group (LB) and the control group (LCK) when ‘Qingyan 1’ roots interacted with GL18 bacterial suspension or sterile water for 12 h under 4 °C low-temperature stress. The gene function annotation information was obtained using Gene Ontology (GO) functional classification and enrichment analysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and annotation of differentially expressed genes was used to explore the related signal transduction pathway of ‘Qingyan 1’ response to cold stress induced by Bacillus GL18. The results showed that after ‘Qingyan 1’ seedlings interacted with GL18 bacterial suspension or sterile water for 12 h, comparing the LB with the LCK or CK (the control group at 26 °C), there were 12,061 and 25,489 differentially expressed genes, respectively. Their functions were mainly related to metabolic process, cellular process, catalytic activity, binding, and cellular parts, and they were significantly enriched in plant tissue growth and development, cell wall, organelle membrane synthesis, thiamine and its compounds, biosynthesis, polyamine decomposition, and other metabolic processes. Signal transduction was detected through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and corresponding genes, such as AUXI, PP2C, SNRK2, ABF, BRI1, and PIF4, were expressed. The expression of genes directly involved in plant growth was upregulated in the presence of GL18, as shown by real-time quantitative PCR analysis. It was speculated that the normal growth and development of ‘Qingyan 1’ under low-temperature stress promoted by GL18 is a result of the integration of multiple pathways in terms of regulating endogenous hormone metabolism, secondary metabolite synthesis, and photosynthesis.

This study introduces a novel and sustainable method of producing graphene from coconut shells and investigates its application in Graphene, Ni/Graphene, and Zn/Graphene electrodes for advanced energy storage devices. The graphene was synthesized scalably using a pyrolysis and impregnation technique, with its successful synthesis verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electrical conductivity measurements characterizations. The study highlights the enhanced performance of Zn/Graphene electrodes, which outperform both pure graphene and Ni/Graphene variants. This superior performance is attributed to the smaller particle size of Zn (mean = 2.356 µm) compared to Ni (mean = 3.09 µm), and Zn’s more favorable electron configuration for electron transfer. These findings demonstrate the potential of bio-derived graphene composites as efficient, high-performance electrodes, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective energy storage solutions.

The key question for the understanding of corrosion phenomena of Si3N4-SiC material in Al reduction cell – whether corrosion by gases (and oxidation in particular) opens way for the corrosion by molten cryolite, or corrosion of Si3N4-SiC by cryolite plays its own role in degradation of the material in service. More probably the reactions of silicon carbide and silicon nitride with molten cryolite go after the stage of pre oxidation to silicon dioxide. The corrosion of Si3N4-SiC material in the reduction cell may take place by “gas-solid” reaction and by “liquid-solid” reaction. There are several variants of lab corrosion test for the evaluation of corrosion resistance of Si3N4-SiC material to cryolite. The results of investigation of Si3N4-SiC lab corrosion test give no direct evidence of selective dissolution of specific phase (Si3N4 or SiC, α-Si3N4 or β-Si3N4) in cryolite. The existing variants of lab corrosion testing require clarification.

Listeria ivanovii and L. monocytogenes, are the only pathogenic species of the genus Listeria and share many virulence factors and mechanisms of pathogenicity. L. ivanovii shows host tropism towards small ruminants and rodents and much lower virulence for humans compared to L. monocytogenes. However, severe infections caused by L. ivanovii, resulting in bacteremia, abortion and stillbirth, occasionally occurred in immunocompromised persons and in pregnant women, while in immunocompetent hosts L. ivanovii can cause gastroenteritis. In this review the updated knowledge on virulence aspects and distribution of L. ivanovii in the environment and in food are summarized. Recent research on its virulence characters at genome level gave indications on how pathogenicity evolved in this bacterial species. As for L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii infections occur after the ingestion of contaminated food, so an overview of reports regarding its distribution in the food products was carried out to obtain indications on the categories of foods exposed to contamination by L. ivanovii. It was found that a wide variety of food products can be a source of this microorganism and that, like L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii is able to persist in the food production environment. Studies on its ability to grow in enrichment and isolation media suggested that its occurrence in nature might be underestimated. Moreover, virulence varies among strains for differences in virulence character regulation, presence/absence of genetic regions and the possible instability of a Listeria pathogenicity genomic island, LIPI-2, which is unique to L. ivanovii. We can conclude that L. ivanovii, as a possible pathogen for animals and humans, requires more focused investigations regarding its occurrence in the environment and in food and on intra-species variability of pathogenic potential.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a valuable horticultural crop grown and consumed worldwide. Optimum production is hindered by several factors of which Verticillium dahliae, the cause of Verticillium wilt, is one of the major biological constraints in temperate production regions. V. dahliae is difficult to manage because it is a vascular pathogen, has a broad host range and worldwide distribution, and can persist in soil for years. Understanding the pathogen virulence and genetic diversity, host resistance, and plant-pathogen interactions can ultimately inform the development of integrated strategies to manage the disease. In recent years, considerable research has focused on providing new insight into these processes as well as the development and integration of environment-friendly management approaches. In this review, we discuss and summarize the recent findings on the race and population structure of V. dahliae; pathogenicity factors; host genes, proteins, and enzymes involved in defense; the emergent management strategies, and recent approaches to managing Verticillium wilt in tomatoes.

In light of the critical and emerging global challenge posed by the increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves in recent decades, this study demonstrates a practical and robust workflow that bridges the gap in understanding how the effective integration of remote sensing data with ground-based observations can facilitate a comprehensive assessment of spatiotemporal heatwave patterns and trends in the central region of Thailand. This research transcends traditional methods, utilizing air temperature (Tair) and satellite-derived land surface temperature (LST) data from 1981 to 2019. Results exhibit that an analysis of Tair indicates increasing daytime heatwaves in peri-urban areas, with significant trends in heatwave number (HWN), heatwave frequency (HWF), and heatwave duration (HWD), heatwave amplitude (HWA) rises in urban settings while nighttime heatwaves significantly intensify in rural locales. Notably, LST trends reveal varied patterns, with peri-urban areas showing marked daytime increases in heatwave magnitude (HWM), HWA, and HWF. Correlation analysis (p=0.05) highlights strong daytime associations between Tair and LST in rural (HWN, HWF, HWD, r&gt;0.90) and peri-urban (HWM, HWA, r&gt;0.65) regions. Overall, this study advances approaches to the adaptable measurement and spatial-temporal pattern of heatwave-related risk areas, providing insights for decision-makers to develop sustainable practices and strategies for climate change adaptation.

Biomass materials have received attention for energy storagebecaused of the advantage of low-cost, easy-to-prepare, and eco-friendliness. Three-dimensional carbon materialswith abundant pore structure gradually becomeresearch hotspot in high-performance energy storage. In this study, an easy-to-prepare, green, light and elastic activated carbon was present using the biomass Juncus effusus (JCE) via high-temperature pyrolysis, followed by activation in air. Compared with previously reported bio-carbons, the proposed air-activated bio-carbon contributes in the fabrication of pores to preserve the interconnected, reticular and tubular structure. Moreover, the interconnected porous material also inherits the excellent tenacity of the original JCE such as the material can be bended to below 90^o under an external force while maintaining structural integrity. The activated porous carbon material exhibits an enhanced electric double-layer capacitance (~210 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1), with capacitance retention of ~78.62% at 10 A g^-1. The interconnected porous carbon microtubes electrode as a double-layer symmetric capacitor exhibits considerable capacitance retention (84%) after 2000 cycles at 1 A g^-1. The improved energy storage performance was proposed to be attributed to the shortened ionic diffusion distance and sufficient contact between the interface of the carbon electrode and electrolyte, which is resulted from the elastic, undamaged structure and types of pores. These results demonstrated that as-preparedcarbon materials have potentional application in symmetric capacitors.

The rapid evolution of drug resistance is one of the greatest health issues of the 21st century. There is an alarming situation to find new therapeutic strategies or candidate drugs to tackle ongoing multi-drug resistance development. The marine environment is one of the prime natural ecosystems on Earth, the majority of which is still unexplored, especially when it comes to the microbes. A wide variety of bioactive compounds have been obtained from a varied range of marine organisms, however, marine bacteria-produced bacteriocins are still undermined. Owing to the distinct environmental stresses that marine bacterial communities encounter, their bioactive compounds frequently undergo distinct adaptations that confer on them a variety of shapes and functions, setting them apart from their terrestrial counterparts. The ribosomally-synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs), bacteriocins are of special interest because of their variety in structure and diverse potential biological activities. Additionally, the gut microbiome of marine creatures are largely unexplored source of new bacteriocins with promising activities. There is a huge possibility of novel bacteriocins from marine bacterial communities that might come out as efficient candidates to fight against antibiotic resistance, especially in light of the growing pressure from antibiotic-resistant diseases and industrial desire for innovative treatments. The present review summarizes known bacteriocins from marine bacteria, evolutionary aspects, challenges, and huge possibilities of unexplored bacteriocins from marine bacterial communities.

As the most active plateau on the Earth, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a complex crust-mantle structure. Knowledge of the distribution of such a structure provides information for understanding the underlying geodynamic processes. We obtains a three-dimensional density model of crustal and upper mantle beneath Qinghai-Tibet plateau and its surrounding areas from the residual geoid anomalies using the Earth Gravitational Model (EGM) 2008. We estimate a refined density model by iterations, using an initial density contrast model. We confirm that the EGM2008 mission products can be used to constrain the crust-mantle density structures. Our major findings are: (1). At 300-400 km depth, high-D anomalies terminate around Jinsha River Suture (JRS) in the central TP, suggesting that the Indian plate has been reached over the Bangong Nujiang Suture (BNS) and almost reach to the JRS. (2). On the eastern TP, low-D anomalies at the depth of 0-300 km together with high-D anomalies at 400-670 km further verified the current eastward subduction of Indian plate. The ongoing subduction provides forces to the occurrences of frequent earthquakes and volcano. (3). At 600 km depth, low-D anomalies inside the TP illustrate the existence of hot weak material beneath there, contributing to the external material inward-thrusting.