Search

Abstract Background Cotton is globally important crop. Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by Verticillium dahliae, is the most destructive disease in cotton, reducing yield and fiber quality by over 50% of cotton acreage. Breeding resistant cotton cultivars has proven to be an efficient strategy for improving the resistance of cotton to V. dahliae. However, the lack of understanding of the genetic basis of VW resistance may hinder the progress in deploying elite cultivars with proven resistance. Results We planted the VW-resistant Gossypium hirsutum cultivar Zhongzhimian No.2 (ZZM2) in an artificial greenhouse and disease nursery. ZZM2 cotton was subsequently subjected to transcriptome sequencing after Vd991 inoculation (6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation). Several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in response to V. dahliae infection, mainly involved in resistance processes, such as flavonoid and terpenoid quinone biosynthesis, plant hormone signaling, MAPK signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and pyruvate metabolism. Compared to the susceptible cultivar Junmian No.1 (J1), oxidoreductase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were significantly increased in ZZM2. Furthermore, gene silencing of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1), which is involved in the oxidation-reduction process in ZZM2, compromised its resistance to V. dahliae, suggesting that COX1 contributes to VW resistance in ZZM2. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that the G. hirsutum cultivar ZZM2 responds to V. dahliae inoculation through resistance-related processes, especially the oxidation-reduction process. This enhances our understanding of the mechanisms regulating the ZZM2 defense against VW.

Background: Cotton is globally important crop. Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by Verticillium dahliae, is the most destructive disease in cotton, reducing yield and fiber quality by over 50% of cotton acreage. Breeding resistant cotton cultivars has proven to be an efficient strategy for improving the resistance of cotton to V. dahliae. However, the lack of understanding of the genetic basis of VW resistance may hinder the progress in deploying elite cultivars with proven resistance. Results: We planted the VW-resistant Gossypium hirsutum cultivar Zhongzhimian No.2 (ZZM2) in an artificial greenhouse and disease nursery. ZZM2 cotton was subsequently subjected to transcriptome sequencing after Vd991 inoculation (6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation). Several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in response to V. dahliae infection, mainly involved in resistance processes, such as flavonoid and terpenoid quinone biosynthesis, plant hormone signaling, MAPK signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and pyruvate metabolism. Compared to the susceptible cultivar Junmian No.1 (J1), oxidoreductase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were significantly increased in ZZM2. Furthermore, gene silencing of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1), which is involved in the oxidation-reduction process in ZZM2, compromised its resistance to V. dahliae, suggesting that COX1 contributes to VW resistance in ZZM2. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that the G. hirsutum cultivar ZZM2 responds to V. dahliae inoculation through resistance-related processes, especially the oxidation-reduction process. This enhances our understanding of the mechanisms regulating the ZZM2 defense against VW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blast lung injury (BLI) is the most common fatal blast injury induced by overpressure wave in the events of terrorist attack, gas and underground explosion. Our previous work revealed the characteristics of inflammationrelated key proteins involved in BLI, including those regulating inflammatory response, leukocyte transendothelial migration, phagocytosis, and immune process. However, the molecular characteristics of oxidative-related proteins in BLI ar still lacking. Methods: In this study, protein expression profiling of the blast lungs obtained by tandem mass tag (TMT) spectrometry quantitative proteomics were re-analyzed to identify the characteristics of oxidative-related key proteins. Forty-eight male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 1 w after blast exposure. The differential protein expression was identified by bioinformatics analysis and verified by western blotting. Results: The results demonstrated that thoracic blast exposure induced reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation in the lungs. Analysis of global proteins and oxidative-related proteomes showed that 62, 59, 73, 69, 27 proteins (accounted for 204 distinct proteins) were identified to be associated with oxidative stress at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 1 week after blast exposure, respectively. These 204 distinct proteins were mainly enriched in response to oxidative stress, oxidation-reduction process and lipid metabolic process. We also validated these results by western blotting. Conclusions: These findings provided new perspectives on blast-induced oxidative injury in lung, which may potentially benefit the development of future treatment of BLI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cognitive reserve represents plastic properties to maintain cognition in the face of brain aging. • Statistical filtering across age identified brain aging genes. • Cognitive reserve genes predicted better-than-expected cognition for a given level of brainaging. Variability in cognitive decline is related to the environment, lifestyle factors, and individual differences in biological aging, including cognitive reserve, plastic properties of the brain, which account for better-than-expected cognition for a given level of brain aging or pathology. Cognitive reserve has not been thoroughly investigated in aged rodents. To address this gap, cognitive reserve was examined using Gene Expression Omnibus data for the CA1 region of the hippocampus of young and aged behaviorally characterized male rats. Statistical filtering identified brain aging and potential cognitive reserve genes, and multiple regression was employed to confirm cognitive reserve genes as genes that predicted better-than-expected cognition for a given level of brain aging. In general, cognitive reserve genes, in which increased expression was associated with better cognition, were not different with age or directly correlated with measures of cognition and appear to act as negative regulators of aging processes, including neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The results suggest that, for some animals, resilience mechanisms are activated to counteract aging stressors that impair cognition. In contrast, cognitive reserve genes, in which decreased expression was associated with better cognition, were linked to nervous system development and cation transport, suggesting adaptive changes in the circuit to preserve cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Partial hepatectomy (PH) is the primary method used for treating liver injury and transplantation. The regeneration process after hepatectomy requires an adequate energy supply, and mitochondria serve as the primary source of energy. Alterations in genes related to the respiratory chain complex may impact the liver regeneration process. The aim of this study was the changes in mitochondrial structure and mitochondrial function in 85% PH., Methods: A PH (up to 85%) model was developed using male C57BL/6 mice, and the regenerated liver tissue was harvested after 24 hours. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were used for morphological studies. In terms of proliferation, a positive proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) rate was detected via immunohistochemistry. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were screened using a P value of <0.05 and a |fold change| of ≥1.5. The Hiplot online tool was used for generating a volcano plot and conducting correlation analyses. R software was employed for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses for the DEGs. A combined Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING)-Cytoscape method was used for protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses, whereas cytoHubba was used to the screen core DEGs., Results: After 85% PH, we observed steatosis, an increased PCNA positivity rate, mitochondrial swelling, and a reduced number of cristae due to cristae disintegration. We screened 30 DEGs that were associated with different processes, including oxidation-reduction, oxidoreductase activity, electron transfer activity, organelle envelope, inner mitochondrial membrane processes, and oxidative phosphorylation as well as those involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We identified a total of six hub genes: COX4I1 , ATP5B , UQCRC2 , CYC1 , ATP5O , and ATP5A1 ., Conclusions: The 85% PH model promotes mitochondrial complex protein expression, thereby providing energy for liver regeneration. The enriched genes were associated with oxidation-reduction, electron transfer activity, and inner mitochondrial membrane processes., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jgo.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jgo-24-243/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an important health problem in human and animals, and the highlighting side effects of launched therapeutic chemicals cannot be ignored. Thus, it is urgent to develop new drugs to against the infection. Myrislignan originated from nutmeg exhibited excellent anti-T. gondii activity in vitro and in vivo, and was able to destroy mitochondrial function. However, the exact mechanism of action is still unknown. In this study, combining RNAs deep-sequencing analysis and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and high affinity proteins suggested that myrislignan may affect the oxidation-reduction process of T. gondii. Furthermore, the upregulating ROS activity after myrislignan incubation verified that myrislignan destroyed the oxidant-antioxidant homeostasis of tachyzoites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that myrislignan induced the formation of autophagosome-like double-membrane structure. Moreover, monodansyl cadaverine (MDC) staining and western blot further illustrated autophagosome formation. Myrislignan treatment induced a significant reduction in T. gondii by flow cytometry analysis. Together, these findings demonstrated that myrislignan can induce the oxidation-reduction in T. gondii, lead to the autophagy, and cause the death of T. gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an important health problem in human and animals, and the highlighting side effects of launched therapeutic chemicals cannot be ignored. Thus, it is urgent to develop new drugs to against the infection. Myrislignan originated from nutmeg exhibited excellent anti- T. gondii activity in vitro and in vivo , and was able to destroy mitochondrial function. However, the exact mechanism of action is still unknown. In this study, combining RNAs deep-sequencing analysis and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and high affinity proteins suggested that myrislignan may affect the oxidation-reduction process of T. gondii. Furthermore, the upregulating ROS activity after myrislignan incubation verified that myrislignan destroyed the oxidant-antioxidant homeostasis of tachyzoites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that myrislignan induced the formation of autophagosome-like double-membrane structure. Moreover, monodansyl cadaverine (MDC) staining and western blot further illustrated autophagosome formation. Myrislignan treatment induced a significant reduction in T. gondii by flow cytometry analysis. Together, these findings demonstrated that myrislignan can induce the oxidation-reduction in T. gondii , lead to the autophagy, and cause the death of T. gondii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium proliferatum is an important pathogen and causes a great economic loss to fruit industry. Environmental pH-value plays a regulatory role in fungi pathogenicity, however, the mechanism needs further exploration. In this study, F. proliferatum was cultured under two initial pH conditions of 5 and 10. No obvious difference was observed in the growth rate of F. proliferatum between two pH-values. F. proliferatum cultured under both pH conditions infected banana fruit successfully, and smaller lesion diameter was presented on banana fruit inoculated with pH 10-cultured fungi. Proteomic approach based on two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to investigate the changes in secretome of this fungus between pH 5 and 10. A total of 39 differential spots were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Compared to pH 5 condition, proteins related to cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) and proteolysis were significantly down-regulated at pH 10, while proteins related to oxidation-reduction process and transport were significantly up-regulated under pH 10 condition. Our results suggested that the downregulation of CWDEs and other virulence proteins in the pH 10-cultured F. proliferatum severely decreased its pathogenicity, compared to pH 5-cultured fungi. However, the alkaline environment did not cause a complete loss of the pathogenic ability of F. proliferatum, probably due to the upregulation of the oxidation-reduction related proteins at pH 10, which may partially compensate its pathogenic ability.

Ljubljana’s waste deposit is situated on rather thick formation of quaternary sediments on the northern margin of Ljubljansko Barje (Ljubljana Moor). The upper part of quaternary sediments consists of high compressive silty and clayey layers till the depth of aprox. 33 m. These layers are very heterogeneous and one can only find one continuous clayey gravel layer among them at the depth of 8 m and 4 m thick. Below these layers there is the Upper gravel aquifer and from the depth of 72 m there is the Lower gravel aquifer. The bottom of quaternary sediments is aprox. at 140 m depth. The consolidationof highly compressive upper layers and organic compounds from landfill leachate produce the evident impact by reducing conditions in the geological layers below the waste deposit.Though we can detect the reducing conditions also from natural environment in confined layers and rich organic matter content and also from other sources of contamination in the highly urbanized environment. The geometry of the contamination plume was notinvestigated in detail and also not the redox process dynamics. The advection velocities and actual contamination of groundwater are rather low. Further protection measurements will be designed by the aid of the established monitoring results.

Samples were obtained at 26 stations in five cross-shelf transects in the East China Shelf-Sea for the determination of iodate and iodide. The upwelling water at the shelf-edge at 25.5°N was characterized as a dome of subsurface, cold (<18°C), nitrate-rich (>6μM), R-iodate-rich (>0.35μM) and R-iodide-poor (<0.05μM) water, with iodate/iodide of >5. (R-iodate and R-iodide were the concentrations of iodate and iodide normalized to a salinity of 35.) The upwelling water could be traced farthest away from its source region by the iodine species. They indicate that upwelling occurred at discrete upwelling centers at the shelf edge. Aside from the upwelling center at 25.5°N, a second center was found at 27°N as suggested in recent modeling exercises. Upwelling water was present along the entire length of the outer shelf in the study area from 25°N to 29°N. Its shoreward intrusion across the shelf was more extensive in the southern part of the Shelf-Sea where it reached the middle shelf. At the sea surface, the upwelling water could be detected as a continuous band of water, with low R-iodide (<0.12μM), high R-iodate (>0.3μM) and high iodate/iodide (>2.5), which traversed along the entire length of the middle/outer shelf. Thus, the influence of the upwelling water in the Shelf-Sea was more pervasive than what would be construed from the distributions of temperature and nitrate alone.High surface concentrations of dissolved organic iodine, DOI, were associated with the plume of Changjiang Diluted Water along the Chinese coast. While the changes in the concentrations of iodate in the surface waters could not be accounted for by the reduction of iodate to iodide alone, they could be largely explained when the conversion of iodate to DOI was also allowed.In box modeling exercises, the geochemical dynamics of the iodine system in the East China Sea Shelf system were qualitatively independent of the magnitude of the transport of the Taiwan Strait Warm Water used. Within the probable range of up to 1Sv, invariably, iodate was consumed and iodide was produced in the system. The accompanying net export of iodide to the adjoining Kuroshio and the Japan Sea was 1(±0.5)×109mol/year. Thus, marginal seas may act as a preferred site for the reduction of iodate to iodide and as a net source of iodide to the ocean interior. The production of iodide accounted for only 40(±10)% of the consumption of iodate, suggesting that iodate was converted not only to iodide but also to other forms of iodine in the Shelf system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oxidation-reduction process is an effective way to improve the coating quality of hot dip galvanized advance high strength steel (AHSS). In order to figure out the interface characteristic of the oxidized and reduced steel, laboratory oxidation-reduction experiments were conducted on 1.8 mass-%Si and 2.7 mass-%Mn added AHSS and both the interfaces of ferric oxide/substrate and reduced iron/substrate were characterized by means of GD-OES and HR-TEM. It is found that both Fe and Mn are oxidized to form a ferric oxide on the surface and a thin layer of Fe, Si and Mn oxides already occupies the interface of the ferric oxide/substrate in the oxidation step. In the reduction step, the iron oxides are fully reduced into metallic iron in which the unreduced Mn oxides are embedded. Though the external oxidation of Si can be dramatically suppressed by the reduced iron layer, the external oxidation of Mn still occurs. Moreover, the enrichment of Mn and Si at the interface of reduced iron/substrate is enhanced and the thickness of the interfacial oxides is increased by the further outward diffusion of Mn and Si in the reduction step. In addition, it is found that the interfacial oxides close to the substrate have higher Si and lower Mn, while those close to the reduced iron have higher Mn and lower Si. A formation mechanism is discussed in the end. • A thin layer of Fe, Si and Mn oxides already occupies the interface of the scale/substrate in the oxidation step. • The enrichment of Si and Mn at the interface is enhanced in the following reduction step. • The interface oxides have a two-layer structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heterobasidion parviporum is an economically most important fungal forest pathogen in northern Europe, causing root and butt rot disease of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and virulence of this species remain elusive. No reference genome to facilitate functional analysis is available for this species. Results: To better understand the virulence factor at both phenotypic and genomic level, we characterized 15 H. parviporum isolates originating from different locations across Finland for virulence, vegetative growth, sporulation and saprotrophic wood decay. Wood decay capability and latitude of fungal origins exerted interactive effects on their virulence and appeared important for H. parviporum virulence. We sequenced the most virulent isolate, the first full genome sequences of H. parviporum as a reference genome, and re-sequenced the remaining 14 H. parviporum isolates. Genome-wide alignments and intrinsic polymorphism analysis showed that these isolates exhibited overall high genomic similarity with an average of at least 96% nucleotide identity when compared to the reference, yet had remarkable intra-specific level of polymorphism with a bias for CpG to TpG mutations. Reads mapping coverage analysis enabled the classification of all predicted genes into five groups and uncovered two genomic regions exclusively present in the reference with putative contribution to its higher virulence. Genes enriched for copy number variations (deletions and duplications) and nucleotide polymorphism were involved in oxidation-reduction processes and encoding domains relevant to transcription factors. Some secreted protein coding genes based on the genome-wide selection pressure, or the presence of variants were proposed as potential virulence candidates. Conclusion: Our study reported on the first reference genome sequence for this Norway spruce pathogen (H. parviporum). Comparative genomics analysis gave insight into the overall genomic variation among this fungal species and also facilitated the identification of several secreted protein coding genes as putative virulence factors for the further functional analysis. We also analyzed and identified phenotypic traits potentially linked to its virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]