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Trichoderma hamatum (Bonord.) Bainier (T. hamatum) belongs to Hypocreaceae family, Trichoderma genus. Trichoderma spp. are prominently known for their biocontrol activities and plant growth promotion. Hence, T. hamatum also possess several beneficial activities, such as antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, insecticidal activity, herbicidal activity, and plant growth promotion; in addition, it holds several other beneficial properties, such as resistance to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and degradation of DDT by certain enzymes and production of certain polysaccharide-degrading enzymes. Hence, the current review discusses the beneficial properties of T. hamatum and describes the gaps that need to be further considered in future studies, such as T. hamatum's potentiality against human pathogens and, in contrast, its role as an opportunistic human pathogen. Moreover, there is a need for substantial study on its antiviral and antioxidant activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world's most important non-grain food crops, so it is important to improve the potato yield and quality. Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) play critical roles in various environmental stresses. Here, we studied the function of the heterologous overexpression of NtLTP4 from Nicotiana tabacum in potato. We cloned ubiquitin promoter ubi3 from potato, and then constructed the plant expression recombinant plasmid ubi3:pX6–NtLTP4, and transformed it into potato. PCR results indicated that 15 positive plants were obtained. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR data showed that 5 plants had high expression level of NtLTP4 gene. Western blot analyses showed that the NtLTP4 gene and its encoded protein (about 12 kDa) were normally transcribed and expressed in potato, indicating that transgenic NtLTP4 potato plants were successfully obtained. The tolerance to salt, drought, and Ralstonia solanacearum of potato plants with NtLTP4 overexpression was enhanced compared with that of non-transgenic plants. The resistance mechanism was also studied by detecting related resistance and functional genes. This study provides a method to improve potato resistance and obtain new transgenic potato varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant viruses cause severe economic losses in agricultural production. An ultrahigh activity plant immune inducer (i.e., ZhiNengCong, ZNC) was extracted from endophytic fungi, and it could promote plant growth and enhance resistance to bacteria. However, the antiviral function has not been studied. Our study aims to evaluate the antiviral molecular mechanisms of ZNC in tobacco. Results: Here, we used Potato X virus (PVX), wild-type tobacco and NahG transgenic tobacco as materials to study the resistance of ZNC to virus. ZNC exhibited a high activity in enhancing resistance to viruses and showed optimal use concentration at 100–150 ng/mL. ZNC also induced reactive oxygen species accumulation, increased salicylic acid (SA) content by upregulating the expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) gene and activated SA signaling pathway. We generated transcriptome profiles from ZNC-treated seedlings using RNA sequencing. The first GO term in biological process was positive regulation of post-transcriptional gene silencing, and the subsequent results showed that ZNC promoted RNA silencing. ZNC-sprayed wild-type leaves showed decreased infection areas, whereas ZNC failed to induce a protective effect against PVX in NahG leaves. Conclusion: All results indicate that ZNC is an ultrahigh-activity immune inducer, and it could enhance tobacco resistance to PVX at low concentration by positively regulating the RNA silencing via SA pathway. The antiviral mechanism of ZNC was first revealed in this study, and this study provides a new antiviral bioagent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) have been shown to recognize fungal polygalacturonases (PGs), which initiate innate immunity in various plant species. Notably, the connection between rice OsPGIPs and PGs in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), which causes bacterial leaf streak (BLS), remains unclear. Here, we show that OsPGIP1 was strongly induced after inoculating rice with the Xoc strain RS105. Furthermore, OsPGIP1-overexpressing (OV) and RNA interference (RNAi) rice lines increased and decreased, respectively, the resistance of rice to RS105, indicating that OsPGIP1 contributes to BLS resistance. Subsequently, we generated the unique PG mutant RS105Δpg, the virulence of which is attenuated compared to that of RS105. Surprisingly, the lesion lengths caused by RS105Δpg were similar to those caused by RS105 in the OV lines compared with wild-type ZH11 with reduced Xoc susceptibility. However, the lesion lengths caused by RS105Δpg were still significantly shorter in the OV lines than in ZH11, implying that OsPGIP1-mediated BLS resistance could respond to other virulence factors in addition to PGs. To explore the OsPGIP1-mediated resistance, RNA-seq analysis were performed and showed that many plant cell wall-associated genes and several MYB transcription factor genes were specifically expressed or more highly induced in the OV lines compared to ZH11 postinoculation with RS105. Consistent with the expression of the differentially expressed genes, the OV plants accumulated a higher content of jasmonic acid (JA) than ZH11 postinoculation with RS105, suggesting that the OsPGIP1-mediated resistance to BLS is mainly dependent on the plant cell wall-associated immunity and the JA signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics based on bismuth sodium titanate (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 (BNT)–barium zirconate titanate Ba(Ti,Zr)O3 (BZT) were prepared by using a modified sintering process. The BNT–BZT ceramics sintered at 1180 °C for 3 h in air showed perovskite structure with high densities around 5.32–5.82 g/cm3 (~97% as relative density). Focusing on the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of BNT–BZT system, the ferroelectric, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the BNT–BZT ceramics were studied. In the case of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–xBa(Ti0.942Zr0.058)O3 solid solution ceramics, the maximum of piezoelectric constant d 33 (147 pC/N) was obtained for the ceramic with 9% BZT, which has a tetragonal phase near the MPB region. The BNT–BZT system was expected to be a new and promising candidate for lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A novel chondroitin sulfate E CS-nE was prepared from the cartilage of giant squid Dosidicus gigas. • CS-nE has a huge molecular mass 696 kDa and contains 44.5 % of disaccharide GlcUAβ1-3GalNAc(4S,6S). • CS-nE shows strong binding activity to various growth factors and anti-metastatic activity. • Decasaccharide is the minimal functional domain with anti-metastatic activity of CS-nE. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) chains containing GlcUA β 1-3GalNAc(4S,6S) (E unit) have been shown to be involved in various physiological and pathological processes. However, commercial E unit-rich CS (CS-E) is difficult to produce on a large scale due to expensive and limited squid cartilage resources. In this study, a novel CS-E (CS-nE) was isolated from the cheap and abundant cartilage of the giant squid Dosidicus gigas. The CS-nE has a surprisingly large molecular mass of 696 kDa and a relatively high E unit proportion (44.5 %). It can interact with various growth factors, including HGF, bFGF, pleiotrophin, and HB-EGF, with high affinity, and exhibits dose-dependent anti-metastatic activity. Furthermore, the E unit-rich decasaccharide selectively prepared from CS-nE has been shown to be the minimal functional domain with the strongest antitumor metastatic activity. Taken together, CS-nE will be a very promising candidate for the development of CS-E-based pharmaceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of peptide drug development, glycosylation plays a pivotal role. Accordingly, L-type peptides were synthesized predicated upon the PD-1/PD-L1 blocker DPPA-1. Subsequent glycosylation resulted in the production of two distinct glycopeptides, D-glu-LPPA-1 and D-gal-LPPA-1, by using D-glucose (D-glu) and D-galactose (D-gal), respectively, during glycosylation. Both glycopeptides significantly inhibited the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1, and the measured half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) were 75.5 μM and 101.9 μM for D-glu-LPPA-1 and D-gal-LPPA-1, respectively. Furthermore, D-gal-LPPA-1 displayed a pronounced ability to restore T-cell functionality. In an MC38 tumor-bearing mouse model, D-gal-LPPA-1 demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect. Notably, D-gal-LPPA-1 substantially augmented the abundance and functionality of CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, in the lymph nodes and spleens, D-gal-LPPA-1 significantly increased the proportion of CD8+ T cells secreting interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). These strong findings position D-gal-LPPA-1 as a potent enhancer of the antitumor immune response in MC38 tumor-bearing mice, underscoring its potential as a formidable PD-1/PD-L1 blocking agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roots of the medicinal plant Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf (C. pilosula) possess most medicinal supplements. In current research on C. pilosula root endophytes were isolated, identified, and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Endophytes C.P-8 and C.P-20 exhibited very significant antimicrobial activity, the secondary metabolite of C.P-8 registered at retention time 24.075 by HPLC analysis. Significant minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C.P-8 was exhibited at 250 µg/ml against S. aureus and 500 µg/ml against B. subtilis. Qualitative, quantitative analyses, and partial purification of enzymes and purity was analysed by molecular weight determined by SDS‒PAGE of enzymes produced by C.P-20, amylase—64 kDa, protease—64 kDa, chitinase—30 kDa, and cellulase—54 kDa. Optimum pH and temperature of the partially purified enzymes, was carried out. The partially purified enzymes from C.P-20 displayed maximum activity at pH 6–7 and temperatures of 40°C–45°C. Moreover, the above endophytes will be useful tools for producing active enzymes and active bioantimicrobial agents against human pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new synthesized compounds are tested for their inhibition activity against the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTB 1B). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model of 2′-deoxyguanosine involvement in plant immune response. Endophytic fungus-derived 2-dG directly activates ET signaling, EIT and PTI. Moreover, pathogen invasion induces the expression of the plant 2-dG biosynthesis gene VEN4 and promotes 2-dG accumulation in plant leaves. However, 2-dG-mediated plant resistance against Pst DC3000 is conferred in an ET-, NPR1 -, PRR/coreceptor- and P2K1 -dependent manner. [Display omitted] • We identified for the first time that nucleoside 2′-deoxyguanosine from endophytic fungal metabolites can effectively stimulate classical immune responses in plants. • We demonstrated that 2-dG-induced plant resistance depends on salicylic acid (SA) receptor NPR1 (but not SA), ethylene (ET) signaling, pattern-recognition receptors/coreceptors (PRRs/coreceptors) and the ATP receptor P2K1. • We provide the first demonstration that VEN4 is 2-dG biosynthesis gene and involved in pathogen-induced 2-dG accumulation, VEN4 also plays an essential role for plant immunity. Beneficial microorganisms play essential roles in plant growth and induced systemic resistance (ISR) by releasing signaling molecules. Our previous study obtained the crude extract from beneficial endophyte Paecilomyces variotii , termed ZNC (ZhiNengCong), which significantly enhanced plant resistance to pathogen even at 100 ng/ml. However, the immunoreactive components of ZNC remain unclear. Here, we further identified one of the immunoreactive components of ZNC is a nucleoside 2′-deoxyguanosine (2-dG). This paper intends to reveal the molecular mechanism of microbial-derived 2′-deoxyguanosine (2-dG) in activating plant immunity, and the role of plant-derived 2-dG in plant immunity. The components of ZNC were separated using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and 2-dG is identified using a HPLC–mass spectrometry system (LC-MS). Transcriptome analysis and genetic experiments were used to reveal the immune signaling pathway dependent on 2-dG activation of plant immunity. This study identified 2′-deoxyguanosine (2-dG) as one of the immunoreactive components from ZNC. And 2-dG significantly enhanced plant pathogen resistance even at 10 ng/ml (37.42 nM). Furthermore, 2-dG-induced resistance depends on NPR1, pattern-recognition receptors/coreceptors, ATP receptor P2K1 (DORN1), ethylene signaling but not salicylic acid accumulation. In addition, we identified Arabidopsis VENOSA4 (VEN4) was involved in 2-dG biosynthesis and could convert dGTP to 2-dG, and vne4 mutant plants were more susceptible to pathogens. In summary, microbial-derived 2-dG may act as a novel immune signaling molecule involved in plant-microorganism interactions, and VEN4 is 2-dG biosynthesis gene and plays a key role in plant immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, plant polysaccharides obtained from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits or seeds of herbaceous, woody, shrub and liana plants have become important sources for developing valuable functional foods and immune adjuvant. Compared with other plant parts, the research on plant seed polysaccharides (PSPs) is more less, and many seed resources remain unexplored. The study of the active substances in seeds, especially polysaccharides, is an indispensable part of research. PSPs have attracted immense attention because of their relatively low-toxicity and various biological activities. The article reviews experimental studies regarding structural characteristics and immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides which extracted from plant seeds, covering a period of over 20 years. Increasing evidence has suggested that PSPs can exert their active functions through immunomodulatory effects. This review aims to summarize the relationships among plant sources, structural characteristics and the immunomodulatory effects of PSPs, and thus provide theoretical support for the application of plant seeds, especially for the further application of PSPs as valuable food or as functional factors related to the immune response. • Plant seeds are a potential rich resource for obtaining polysaccharides. • The extraction and purification methods of various plant seed polysaccharides were analyzed and compared. • This review could provide theoretical support for the application of plant seed polysaccharides. • The relationship of structural characteristics and immunomodulatory effects of plant seed polysaccharides were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactarius deliciosus , a widely appreciated mushroom with delightful tastes and texture, has exhibited immunomodulatory activity in vitro, while the effects on intestinal flora metabolisms in vivo are ambiguous. In this study, a L. deliciosus polysaccharide (LDP) was extracted and purified, and the structural characteristics were evaluated, as well as the immunological enhancement on tumor-bearing mice through regulating intestinal flora metabolisms. Results showed that LDP was a heteropolysaccharide (average molecular weight of 1.44 × 107 Da) with a backbone of α-(1 → 6)-Man p and branches of α-(1 → 6)-Gal p , α-(1 → 3)-Fuc p , α-(1 → 6)-Glc p , α-(1 → 4)-Glc p. Animal experiments indicated that LDP could significantly protect immune organs of tumor-beraing mice and suppress solid tumors growth with inhibitory rate of 51.61 % (high-dose, 100 mg/kg), and improve the intestinal lactobacillus contents, promote adenine mediated zeatin biosynthesis, then competitively antagonize A2A receptor and enhance the activities of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, finally effectively facilitate the apoptosis and elimination of tumor cells. These results would provide powerful data supports for the further antitumor mechanisms development and practical applications of L. deliciosus polysaccharide in food and drug industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]