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Choroidal osteoma is an unusual form of intraocular calcification seen in otherwise healthy eyes. It is a benign idiopathic osseous tumor of the choroid, typically seen in young females. Choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) is a complication seen in one-third of these patients and carries a poor visual outcome. We report a case of a 25-year-old hyperthyroid female with choroidal osteoma and subfoveal CNVM in her left eye which was successfully treated using low-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin followed by a single injection of intravitreal ranibizumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angioid streaks also called Knapp striae are small breaks in the Bruch's membrane and have been reported with a host of systemic diseases. Rupture of streaks or development of secondary choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) carries a dismal visual prognosis. We report the successful treatment of CNVM secondary to Paget's disease using low fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal ranibizumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) in a healthy young girl. An eight-year-old girl presented with sudden loss of vision in her left eye. She had a pale retina with macular edema consistent with extensive BRAO. A thorough workup was performed to determine any etiologic factor. All test results were within normal limits. Her visual acuity improved from finger counting to 20/40 over two weeks, on immediate treatment with intravenous steroids (methyl prednisolone). This case suggests that BRAO can occur in healthy children without any detectable systemic or ocular disorders and a dramatic improvement may be achieved with prompt treatment with intravenous steroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stomata regulate plant gas exchange via repeated turgor-driven changes of guard cell shape, thereby adjusting pore apertures. Grasses, which are among the most widespread plant families on the planet, are distinguished by their unique stomatal structure, which is proposed to have significantly contributed to their evolutionary and agricultural success. One component of their structure, which has received little attention, is the presence of a discontinuous adjoining cell wall of the guard cell pair. Here, we demonstrate the presence of these symplastic connections in a range of grasses and use finite element method simulations to assess hypotheses for their functional significance. Our results show that opening of the stomatal pore is maximal when the turgor pressure in dumbbell-shaped grass guard cells is equal, especially under the low pressure conditions that occur during the early phase of stomatal opening. By contrast, we demonstrate that turgor pressure differences have less effect on the opening of kidney-shaped guard cells, characteristic of the majority of land plants, where guard cell connections are rarely or not observed. Our data describe a functional mechanism based on cellular mechanics, which plausibly facilitated a major transition in plant evolution and crop development., (© 2025 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2025 New Phytologist Foundation.)

The extracellular matrix of biofilms provides crucial structural support to the community and protection from environmental perturbations. TasA, a key Bacillus subtilis biofilm matrix protein, forms both amyloid and non-amyloid fibrils. Non-amyloid TasA fibrils are formed via a strand-exchange mechanism, whereas the amyloid-like form involves non-specific self-assembly. We performed mutagenesis of the N-terminus to assess the role of non-amyloid fibrils in biofilm development. We find that the N-terminal tail is essential for the formation of structured biofilms, providing evidence that the strand-exchange fibrils are the active form in the biofilm matrix. Furthermore, we demonstrate that fibre formation alone is not sufficient to give structure to the biofilm. We build an interactome of TasA with other extracellular protein components, and identify important interaction sites. Our results provide insight into how protein-matrix interactions modulate biofilm development., (© 2024 The Author(s). Molecular Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In situ gelling polymeric biomaterials have proven useful as drug delivery vehicles to enable sustained release at sites of disease or injury. However, if delivered to mucosal tissues, such as the eyes, nose, gastrointestinal, and cervicovaginal tract, these gels must also possess the ability to adhere to an epithelium coated in mucus. Towards this end, we report a new rapid in situ gelling polyethylene glycol-based hydrogel. Unlike other chemistries that enable rapid gel formation which form via irreversible covalent bonds, we use a bio-reducible linker allowing the gels to be naturally degraded over several days once administered. We identified a set of 6 lead formulations, which rapidly form into disulfide-linked PEG hydrogels in 30 seconds or less. These rapidly forming PEG hydrogels were also able to conform and adhere to mucosal tissues via PEG-mucin entanglements and hydrogen bonding. Controlled release of protein-based cargoes from the PEG gels was achieved over several hours whereas 40 nm nanoparticle-based cargos were retained over 24 hours. We also found these rapid in situ forming PEG gels were well-tolerated by mammalian cells. These studies support further testing and development of rapid in situ forming PEG gels for drug delivery to improve therapeutic retention and efficacy at mucosal sites., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest T.Y. and G.A.D. have a pending patent based on the hydrogel formulation described in this manuscript.

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is an important global oil crop, with spring and winter varieties grown commercially. To understand the transcriptomic differences between these varieties, we collected transcriptomes from apex and leaf tissue from a spring variety, Westar, and a winter variety, Tapidor, before, during, and after vernalisation treatment, until the plants flowered. Large transcriptomic differences were noted in both varieties during the vernalisation treatment because of temperature and day length changes. Transcriptomic alignment revealed that the apex transcriptome reflects developmental state, whereas the leaf transcriptome is more closely aligned to the age of the plant. Similar numbers of copies of genes were expressed in both varieties during the time series, although key flowering time genes exhibited expression pattern differences. BnaFLC copies on A2 and A10 are the best candidates for the increased vernalisation requirement of Tapidor. Other BnaFLC copies show tissue-dependent reactivation of expression post-cold, with these dynamics suggesting some copies have retained or acquired a perennial nature. BnaSOC1 genes, also related to the vernalisation pathway, have expression profiles which suggest tissue subfunctionalisation. This understanding may help to breed varieties with more consistent or robust vernalisation responses, of special importance due to the milder winters resulting from climate change., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In plants, plasmodesmata establish cytoplasmic continuity between cells to allow for communication and resource exchange across the cell wall. While plant pathogens use plasmodesmata as a pathway for both molecular and physical invasion, the benefits of molecular invasion (cell-to-cell movement of pathogen effectors) are poorly understood. To establish a methodology for identification and characterization of the cell-to-cell mobility of effectors, we performed a quantitative live imaging-based screen of candidate effectors of the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum . We predicted C. higginsianum effectors by their expression profiles, the presence of a secretion signal, and their predicted and in planta localization when fused to green fluorescent protein. We assayed for cell-to-cell mobility of nucleocytosolic effectors and identified 14 that are cell-to-cell mobile. We identified that three of these effectors are "hypermobile," showing cell-to-cell mobility greater than expected for a protein of that size. To explore the mechanism of hypermobility, we chose two hypermobile effectors and measured their impact on plasmodesmata function and found that even though they show no direct association with plasmodesmata, each increases the transport capacity of plasmodesmata. Thus, our methods for quantitative analysis of cell-to-cell mobility of candidate microbe-derived effectors, or any suite of host proteins, can identify cell-to-cell hypermobility and offer greater understanding of how proteins affect plasmodesmal function and intercellular connectivity. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

The soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis is a model organism to investigate the formation of biofilms, the predominant form of microbial life. The secreted protein BslA self-assembles at the surface of the biofilm to give the B. subtilis biofilm its characteristic hydrophobicity. To understand the mechanism of BslA self-assembly at interfaces, here we built a molecular model based on the previous BslA crystal structure and the crystal structure of the BslA paralogue YweA that we determined. Our analysis revealed two conserved protein-protein interaction interfaces supporting BslA self-assembly into an infinite 2-dimensional lattice that fits previously determined transmission microscopy images. Molecular dynamics simulations and in vitro protein assays further support our model of BslA elastic film formation, while mutagenesis experiments highlight the importance of the identified interactions for biofilm structure. Based on this knowledge, YweA was engineered to form more stable elastic films and rescue biofilm structure in bslA deficient strains. These findings shed light on protein film assembly and will inform the development of BslA technologies which range from surface coatings to emulsions in fast-moving consumer goods.

Many proteins that self-assemble into amyloid and amyloid-like fibers can adopt diverse polymorphic forms. These forms have been observed both in vitro and in vivo and can arise through variations in the steric-zipper interactions between β-sheets, variations in the arrangements between protofilaments, and differences in the number of protofilaments that make up a given fiber class. Different polymorphs arising from the same precursor molecule not only exhibit different levels of toxicity, but importantly can contribute to different disease conditions. However, the factors which contribute to formation of polymorphic forms of amyloid fibrils are not known. In this work, we show that in the presence of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine, a highly abundant lipid in the plasma membrane of neurons, the aggregation of α-synuclein is markedly accelerated and yields a diversity of polymorphic forms under identical experimental conditions. This morphological diversity includes thin and curly fibrils, helical ribbons, twisted ribbons, nanotubes, and flat sheets. Furthermore, the amyloid fibrils formed incorporate lipids into their structures, which corroborates the previous report of the presence of α-synuclein fibrils with high lipid content in Lewy bodies. Thus, the present study demonstrates that an interface, such as that provided by a lipid membrane, can not only modulate the kinetics of α-synuclein amyloid aggregation but also plays an important role in the formation of morphological variants by incorporating lipid molecules in the process of amyloid fibril formation., (© 2023 The Authors. Protein Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Protein Society.)

Large differences exist in the number of grains per spikelet across an individual wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spike. The central spikelets produce the highest number of grains, while apical and basal spikelets are less productive, and the most basal spikelets are commonly only developed in rudimentary form. Basal spikelets are delayed in initiation, yet they continue to develop and produce florets. The precise timing or the cause of their abortion remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the underlying causes of basal spikelet abortion using shading applications in the field. We found that basal spikelet abortion is likely to be the consequence of complete floret abortion, as both occur concurrently and have the same response to shading treatments. We detected no differences in assimilate availability across the spike. Instead, we show that the reduced developmental age of basal florets pre-anthesis is strongly associated with their increased abortion. Using the developmental age pre-abortion, we were able to predict final grain set per spikelet across the spike, alongside the characteristic gradient in the number of grains from basal to central spikelets. Future efforts to improve spikelet homogeneity across the spike could thus focus on improving basal spikelet establishment and increasing floret development rates pre-abortion., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.)

The improvement of crop yield is a major breeding target and there is a long history of research that has focussed on unravelling the mechanisms and processes that contribute to yield. Quantitative prediction of the interplay between morphological traits, and the effects of these trait-trait relationships on seed production remains, however, a challenge. Consequently, the extent to which crop varieties optimise their morphology for a given environment is largely unknown. This work presents a new combination of existing methodologies by framing crop breeding as an optimisation problem and evaluates the extent to which existing varieties exhibit optimal morphologies under the test conditions. In this proof-of-concept study using spring and winter oilseed rape plants grown under greenhouse conditions, we employ causal inference to model the hierarchically structured effects of 27 morphological yield traits on each other. We perform Bayesian optimisation of seed yield, to identify and quantify the morphologies of ideotype plants, which are expected to be higher yielding than the varieties in the studied panels. Under the tested growth conditions, we find that existing spring varieties occupy the optimal regions of trait-space, but that potentially high yielding strategies are unexplored in extant winter varieties. The same approach can be used to evaluate trait (morphology) space for any environment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Calderwood et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Stomata are controllable micropores formed between two adjacent guard cells (GCs) that regulate gas flow across the plant surface. 1 Grasses, among the most successful organisms on the planet and the main food crops for humanity, have GCs flanked by specialized lateral subsidiary cells (SCs). 2 , 3 , 4 SCs improve performance by acting as a local pool of ions and metabolites to drive changes in turgor pressure within the GCs that open/close the stomatal pore. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 The 4-celled complex also involves distinctive changes in geometry, having dumbbell-shaped GCs compared with typical kidney-shaped stomata. 2 , 4 , 9 However, the degree to which this distinctive geometry contributes to improved stomatal performance, and the underlying mechanism, remains unclear. To address this question, we created a finite element method (FEM) model of a grass stomatal complex that successfully captures experimentally observed pore opening/closure. Exploration of the model, including in silico and experimental mutant analyses, supports the importance of a reciprocal pressure system between GCs and SCs for effective stomatal function, with SCs functioning as springs to restrain lateral GC movement. Our results show that SCs are not essential but lead to a more responsive system. In addition, we show that GC wall anisotropy is not required for grass stomatal function (in contrast to kidney-shaped GCs 10 ) but that a relatively thick GC rod region is needed to enhance pore opening. Our results demonstrate that a specific cellular geometry and associated mechanical properties are required for the effective functioning of grass stomata., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The HSC70/HSP70 family of heat shock proteins are evolutionarily conserved chaperones involved in protein folding, protein transport, and RNA binding. Arabidopsis HSC70 chaperones are thought to act as housekeeping chaperones and as such are involved in many growth-related pathways. Whether Arabidopsis HSC70 binds RNA and whether this interaction is functional has remained an open question. We provide evidence that the HSC70.1 chaperone binds its own mRNA via its C-terminal short variable region (SVR) and inhibits its own translation. The SVR encoding mRNA region is necessary for HSC70.1 transcript mobility to distant tissues and that HSC70.1 transcript and not protein mobility is required to rescue root growth and flowering time of hsc70 mutants. We propose that this negative protein-transcript feedback loop may establish an on-demand chaperone pool that allows for a rapid response to stress. In summary, our data suggest that the Arabidopsis HSC70.1 chaperone can form a complex with its own transcript to regulate its translation and that both protein and transcript can act in a noncell-autonomous manner, potentially maintaining chaperone homeostasis between tissues., (© 2022 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2022 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Transcending pairwise interactions in ecological networks remains a challenge. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 Higher-order interactions (HOIs), the modulation of a pairwise interaction by a third species, 6 are thought to play a particularly important role in stabilizing coexistence and maintaining species diversity. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 However, HOIs have so far only been demonstrated in models 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 or isolated experimental systems including only a few interacting species. 7 , 8 , 15 Their ubiquity and importance at a community level in the real world remain unknown. We hypothesized that a complex network of HOIs could be constantly modifying pairwise interactions and shaping ecological communities and that consequently the outcome of pairwise interactions would be a product of many influences from distinct sources. Using field experiments, we tested how multiple interactions within a diverse arthropod community associated with the tropical shrub Baccharis dracunculifolia D.C. (Asteraceae) were modified by the removal of ant species or live or hatched insect galls (a non-trophic engineering effect) of the dominant galler species. We revealed an extensive hidden network of HOIs modifying each other and the "visible" pairwise interactions. Most pairwise interactions were affected indirectly by the manipulation of non-interacting taxonomic groups. The pervasiveness of these interaction modifications challenges pairwise approaches to understanding interaction outcomes and could shift our thinking about the structure and persistence of ecological communities. Investigating coexistence mechanisms involving interaction modulation by HOIs may be key to elucidating the underlying causes of the stability and persistence of ecological communities., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A hallmark of microbial biofilms is the self-production of an extracellular molecular matrix that encases the resident cells. The matrix provides protection from the environment, while spatial heterogeneity of gene expression influences the structural morphology and colony spreading dynamics. Bacillus subtilis is a model bacterial system used to uncover the regulatory pathways and key building blocks required for biofilm growth and development. In this work, we report on the emergence of a highly active population of bacteria during the early stages of biofilm formation, facilitated by the extraction of fluid from the underlying agar substrate. We trace the origin of this fluid extraction to the production of poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA). The flagella-dependent activity develops behind a moving front of fluid that propagates from the boundary of the biofilm towards the interior. The extent of fluid proliferation is controlled by the presence of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). We also find that PGA production is positively correlated with higher temperatures, resulting in high-temperature mature biofilm morphologies that are distinct from the rugose colony biofilm architecture typically associated with B. subtilis. Although previous reports have suggested that PGA production does not play a major role in biofilm morphology in the undomesticated isolate NCIB 3610, our results suggest that this strain produces distinct biofilm matrices in response to environmental conditions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The long-distance transport of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) has been shown to be important for several developmental processes in plants. A popular method for identifying travelling mRNAs is to perform RNA-Seq on grafted plants. This approach depends on the ability to correctly assign sequenced mRNAs to the genetic background from which they originated. The assignment is often based on the identification of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between otherwise identical sequences. A major challenge is therefore to distinguish SNPs from sequencing errors. Here, we show how Bayes factors can be computed analytically using RNA-Seq data over all the SNPs in an mRNA. We used simulations to evaluate the performance of the proposed framework and demonstrate how Bayes factors accurately identify graft-mobile transcripts. The comparison with other detection methods using simulated data shows how not taking the variability in read depth, error rates and multiple SNPs per transcript into account can lead to incorrect classification. Our results suggest experimental design criteria for successful graft-mobile mRNA detection and show the pitfalls of filtering for sequencing errors or focusing on single SNPs within an mRNA.

In higher plants, long-distance RNA transport via the phloem is crucial for communication between distant plant tissues to align development with stress responses and reproduction. Several recent studies suggest that specific RNAs are among the potential long-distance information transmitters. However, it is yet not well understood how these RNAs enter the phloem stream, how they are transported, and how they are released at their destination. It was proposed that phloem RNA-binding proteins facilitate RNA translocation. In the present study, we characterized two orthologs of the phloem-associated RNA chaperone-like (PARCL) protein from Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus at functional and structural levels. Microscale thermophoresis showed that these phloem-abundant proteins can bind a broad spectrum of RNAs and show RNA chaperone activity in FRET-based in vitro assays. Our SAXS experiments revealed a high degree of disorder, typical for RNA-binding proteins. In agroinfiltrated tobacco plants, eYFP-PARCL proteins mainly accumulated in nuclei and nucleoli and formed cytosolic and nuclear condensates. We found that formation of these condensates was impaired by tyrosine-to-glutamate mutations in the predicted prion-like domain (PLD), while C-terminal serine-to-glutamate mutations did not affect condensation but reduced RNA binding and chaperone activity. Furthermore, our in vitro experiments confirmed phase separation of PARCL and colocalization of RNA with the condensates, while mutation as well as phosphorylation of the PLD reduced phase separation. Together, our results suggest that RNA binding and condensate formation of PARCL can be regulated independently by modification of the C-terminus and/or the PLD., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In plants, a variety of stimuli trigger long-range calcium signals that travel rapidly along the vasculature to distal tissues via poorly understood mechanisms. Here, we use quantitative imaging and analysis to demonstrate that traveling calcium waves are mediated by diffusion and bulk flow of amino acid chemical messengers. We propose that wounding triggers release of amino acids that diffuse locally through the apoplast, activating the calcium-permeable channel GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE 3.3 as they pass. Over long distances through the vasculature, the wound-triggered dynamics of a fluorescent tracer show that calcium waves are likely driven by bulk flow of a channel-activating chemical. We observed that multiple stimuli trigger calcium waves with similar dynamics, but calcium waves alone cannot initiate all systemic defense responses, suggesting that mobile chemical messengers are a core component of complex systemic signaling in plants.

Biofilms are increasingly recognised as a critical global issue in a multitude of industries impacting health, food and water security, marine sector, and industrial processes resulting in estimated economic cost of $5 trillion USD annually. A major barrier to the translation of biofilm science is the gap between industrial practices and academic research across the biofilms field. Therefore, there is an urgent need for biofilm research to notice and react to industrially relevant issues to achieve transferable outputs. Regulatory frameworks necessarily bridge gaps between different players, but require a clear, science-driven non-biased underpinning to successfully translate research. Here we introduce a 2-dimensional framework, termed the Biofilm Research-Industrial Engagement Framework (BRIEF) for classifying existing biofilm technologies according to their level of scientific insight, including the understanding of the underlying biofilm system, and their industrial utility accounting for current industrial practices. We evidence the BRIEF with three case studies of biofilm science across healthcare, food & agriculture, and wastewater sectors highlighting the multifaceted issues around the effective translation of biofilm research. Based on these studies, we introduce some advisory guidelines to enhance the translational impact of future research., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Stomata regulate plant water use and photosynthesis by controlling leaf gas exchange. They do this by reversibly opening the pore formed by two adjacent guard cells, with the limits of this movement ultimately set by the mechanical properties of the guard cell walls and surrounding epidermis. 1 , 2 A body of evidence demonstrates that the methylation status and cellular patterning of pectin wall polymers play a core role in setting the guard cell mechanical properties, with disruption of the system leading to poorer stomatal performance. 3-6 Here we present genetic and biochemical data showing that wall arabinans modulate guard cell flexibility and can be used to engineer stomata with improved performance. Specifically, we show that a short-chain linear arabinan epitope associated with the presence of rhamnogalacturonan I in the guard cell wall is required for full opening of the stomatal pore. Manipulations leading to the novel accumulation of longer-chain arabinan epitopes in guard cell walls led to an increase in the maximal pore aperture. Using computational modeling combined with atomic force microscopy, we show that this phenotype reflected a decrease in wall matrix stiffness and, consequently, increased flexing of the guard cells under turgor pressure, generating larger, rounder stomatal pores. Our results provide theoretical and experimental support for the conclusion that arabinan side chains of pectin modulate guard cell wall stiffness, setting the limits for cell flexing and, consequently, pore aperture, gas exchange, and photosynthetic assimilation., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Spikelets are the fundamental building blocks of Poaceae inflorescences, and their development and branching patterns determine the various inflorescence architectures and grain yield of grasses. In wheat (Triticum aestivum), the central spikelets produce the most and largest grains, while spikelet size gradually decreases acropetally and basipetally, giving rise to the characteristic lanceolate shape of wheat spikes. The acropetal gradient corresponds with the developmental age of spikelets; however, the basal spikelets are developed first, and the cause of their small size and rudimentary development is unclear. Here, we adapted G&T-seq, a low-input transcriptomics approach, to characterize gene expression profiles within spatial sections of individual spikes before and after the establishment of the lanceolate shape. We observed larger differences in gene expression profiles between the apical, central, and basal sections of a single spike than between any section belonging to consecutive developmental time points. We found that SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE MADS-box transcription factors, including VEGETATIVE TO REPRODUCTIVE TRANSITION 2 (VRT-A2), are expressed highest in the basal section of the wheat spike and display the opposite expression gradient to flowering E-class SEPALLATA1 genes. Based on multi-year field trials and transgenic lines, we show that higher expression of VRT-A2 in the basal sections of the spike is associated with increased numbers of rudimentary basal spikelets. Our results, supported by computational modeling, suggest that the delayed transition of basal spikelets from vegetative to floral developmental programs results in the lanceolate shape of wheat spikes. This study highlights the value of spatially resolved transcriptomics to gain insights into developmental genetics pathways of grass inflorescences., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society of Plant Biologists.)

Calcium acts as a signal and transmits information in all eukaryotes. Encoding machinery consisting of calcium channels, stores, buffers, and pumps can generate a variety of calcium transients in response to external stimuli, thus shaping the calcium signature. Mechanisms for the transmission of calcium signals have been described, and a large repertoire of calcium binding proteins exist that can decode calcium signatures into specific responses. Whilst straightforward as a concept, mysteries remain as to exactly how such information processing is biochemically implemented. Novel developments in imaging technology and genetically encoded sensors (such as calcium indicators), in particular for multi-signal detection, are delivering exciting new insights into intra- and intercellular calcium signaling. Here, we review recent advances in characterizing the encoding, transmission, and decoding mechanisms, with a focus on long-distance calcium signaling. We present technological advances and computational frameworks for studying the specificity of calcium signaling, highlight current gaps in our understanding and propose techniques and approaches for unravelling the underlying mechanisms., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.)

Because of profound effects observed in carcinogenesis, prostaglandins (PG), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthases, and PG receptors are implicated in cancer development and progression. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of PG actions has potential clinical relevance for cancer prevention and therapy. This review focuses on the current status of PG signaling pathways in modulating cancer progression and aims to provide insights into the mechanistic actions of PGs and their receptors in influencing tumor progression. We also examine several small molecules identified as having anticancer activity that target prostaglandin receptors. The literature suggests that targeting PG pathways could provide opportunities for cancer prevention and therapy., (©2021 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)

Transport across membranes is critical for plant survival. Membranes are the interfaces at which plants interact with their environment. The transmission of energy and molecules into cells provides plants with the source material and power to grow, develop, defend, and move. An appreciation of the physical forces that drive transport processes is thus important for understanding the plant growth and development. We focus on the passive transport of molecules, describing the fundamental concepts and demonstrating how different levels of abstraction can lead to different interpretations of the driving forces. We summarize recent developments on quantitative frameworks for describing diffusive and bulk flow transport processes in and out of cells, with a more detailed focus on plasmodesmata, and outline open questions and challenges., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society of Plant Biologists.)

Fungi have evolved an array of spore discharge and dispersal processes. Here, we developed a theoretical model that explains the ejection mechanics of aeciospore liberation in the stem rust pathogen Puccinia graminis. Aeciospores are released from cluster cups formed on its Berberis host, spreading early-season inoculum into neighboring small-grain crops. Our model illustrates that during dew or rainfall, changes in aeciospore turgidity exerts substantial force on neighboring aeciospores in cluster cups whilst gaps between spores become perfused with water. This perfusion coats aeciospores with a lubrication film that facilitates expulsion, with single aeciospores reaching speeds of 0.053 to 0.754 m·s -1 . We also used aeciospore source strength estimates to simulate the aeciospore dispersal gradient and incorporated this into a publicly available web interface. This aids farmers and legislators to assess current local risk of dispersal and facilitates development of sophisticated epidemiological models to potentially curtail stem rust epidemics originating on Berberis., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Associative transcriptomics has been used extensively in Brassica napus to enable the rapid identification of markers correlated with traits of interest. However, within the important vegetable crop species, Brassica oleracea, the use of associative transcriptomics has been limited due to a lack of fixed genetic resources and the difficulties in generating material due to self-incompatibility. Within Brassica vegetables, the harvestable product can be vegetative or floral tissues and therefore synchronisation of the floral transition is an important goal for growers and breeders. Vernalisation is known to be a key determinant of the floral transition, yet how different vernalisation treatments influence flowering in B. oleracea is not well understood., Results: Here, we present results from phenotyping a diverse set of 69 B. oleracea accessions for heading and flowering traits under different environmental conditions. We developed a new associative transcriptomics pipeline, and inferred and validated a population structure, for the phenotyped accessions. A genome-wide association study identified miR172D as a candidate for the vernalisation response. Gene expression marker association identified variation in expression of BoFLC.C2 as a further candidate for vernalisation response., Conclusions: This study describes a new pipeline for performing associative transcriptomics studies in B. oleracea. Using flowering time as an example trait, it provides insights into the genetic basis of vernalisation response in B. oleracea through associative transcriptomics and confirms its characterisation as a complex G x E trait. Candidate leads were identified in miR172D and BoFLC.C2. These results could facilitate marker-based breeding efforts to produce B. oleracea lines with more synchronous heading dates, potentially leading to improved yields., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Quantitative plant biology is an interdisciplinary field that builds on a long history of biomathematics and biophysics. Today, thanks to high spatiotemporal resolution tools and computational modelling, it sets a new standard in plant science. Acquired data, whether molecular, geometric or mechanical, are quantified, statistically assessed and integrated at multiple scales and across fields. They feed testable predictions that, in turn, guide further experimental tests. Quantitative features such as variability, noise, robustness, delays or feedback loops are included to account for the inner dynamics of plants and their interactions with the environment. Here, we present the main features of this ongoing revolution, through new questions around signalling networks, tissue topology, shape plasticity, biomechanics, bioenergetics, ecology and engineering. In the end, quantitative plant biology allows us to question and better understand our interactions with plants. In turn, this field opens the door to transdisciplinary projects with the society, notably through citizen science., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with The John Innes Centre 2021.)

Quantitative approaches in plant biology have a long history that have led to several ground-breaking discoveries and given rise to new principles, new paradigms and new methodologies. We take a short historical trip into the past to explore some of the many great scientists and influences that have led to the development of quantitative plant biology. We have not been constrained by historical fact, although we have tried not to deviate too much. We end with a forward look, expressing our hopes and ambitions for this exciting interdisciplinary field., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with The John Innes Centre 2021.)

Background: With increased use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVAD), development of malignant tumors in this population is not uncommon. We sought to evaluate malignancies in CF-LVAD patients and evaluate the outcomes of treatment strategies., Methods: Overall, 18 articles consisting of 28 patients were identified who developed malignancies after CF-LVAD placement. Patient-level data were extracted for systematic review., Results: Median patient age was 60 years [59-67] and 85.7% (24/28) were male. CF-LVAD was placed as bridge-to-transplant (BTT) in 60.9% (14/23) of patients. The three most common malignancy types were GI in 35.7% (10/28) of patients, lung in 21.4% (6/28) and skin in 10.7% (3/28). Median time from CF-LVAD implant to malignancy diagnosis was 6.9 [2.5-12.8] months. Metastatic disease occurred in 17.9% (5/28) over a median time of 5.0 [1.0-82.0] months from the diagnosis. Surgical resection of the malignancy was performed in 57.1% (16/28) of patients. Our results showed that while there was a significantly higher probability of survival among patients who underwent surgery versus those who did not, when only stage I and II patients were included in the analysis, this difference was no longer statistically significant. Three patients were relisted for heart transplant after surgical treatment, and two received the transplant., Conclusions: Surgical management of malignancies in patients on CF-LVADs may improve survival and transplant eligibility status, therefore, a CF-LVAD should not always preclude surgical treatment., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly used within plant science, yet it is far from being routinely and effectively implemented in this domain. Particularly relevant to the development of novel food and agricultural technologies is the development of validated, meaningful and usable ways to integrate, compare and visualise large, multi-dimensional datasets from different sources and scientific approaches. After a brief summary of the reasons for the interest in data science and AI within plant science, the paper identifies and discusses eight key challenges in data management that must be addressed to further unlock the potential of AI in crop and agronomic research, and particularly the application of Machine Learning (AI) which holds much promise for this domain., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2021 Williamson HF et al.)

Comparative transcriptomics can be used to translate an understanding of gene regulatory networks from model systems to less studied species. Here, we use RNA-Seq to determine and compare gene expression dynamics through the floral transition in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana and the closely related crop Brassica rapa . We find that different curve registration functions are required for different genes, indicating that there is no single common 'developmental time' between Arabidopsis and B. rapa . A detailed comparison between Arabidopsis and B. rapa and between two B. rapa accessions reveals different modes of regulation of the key floral integrator SOC1 , and that the floral transition in the B. rapa accessions is triggered by different pathways. Our study adds to the mechanistic understanding of the regulatory network of flowering time in rapid cycling B. rapa and highlights the importance of registration methods for the comparison of developmental gene expression data., Competing Interests: The authors declare no significant competing financial, professional or personal interests which might influence the performance or presentation of this study., (© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with The John Innes Centre 2021.)