Search

Abstract The contradiction between high piezoelectricity and uniquely poor temperature stability generated by polymorphic phase boundary is a huge obstacle to high-performance (K, Na)NbO3 -based ceramics entering the application market as Pb-based substitutes. We possess the phase boundary by mimicking Pb(Zr, Ti)O3’s morphotropic phase boundary structure via the synergistic optimization of diffusion phase boundary and crystal orientation in 0.94(Na0.56K0.44)NbO3−0.03Bi0.5Na0.5ZrO3−0.03(Bi0.5K0.5)HfO3 textured ceramics. As a result, a prominent comprehensive performance is obtained, including giant d 33 of 550 ± 30 pC/N and ultrahigh temperature stability (d 33 change rate less than 1.2% within 25-150 °C), representing a significant breakthrough in lead-free piezoceramics, even surpassing the Pb-based piezoelectric ceramics. Within the same temperature range, the d 33 change rate of the commercial Pb(Zr, Ti)O3−5 ceramics is only about 10%, and more importantly, its d 33 (~ 350 pC/N) is much lower than that of the (K, Na)NbO3-based ceramics in this work. This study demonstrates a strategy for constructing the phase boundary with MPB feature, settling the problem of temperature instability in (K, Na)NbO3-based ceramics.

Abstract Cyclo (Phe-Pro) (cFP), a cyclic dipeptide with notable antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, shows great promise for biological control of plant diseases. Produced as a byproduct by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), the regulatory mechanism of cFP biosynthesis remains unclear. In a screening test of 997 Tn5 mutants of Burkholderia seminalis strain R456, we identified eight mutants with enhanced antagonistic effects against Fusarium graminearum (Fg). Among these, mutant 88’s culture filtrate contained cFP, confirmed through HPLC and LC-MS, which actively inhibited Fg. The gene disrupted in mutant 88 is part of the Dct transport system (Dct-A, -B, -D), responsible for C4-dicarboxylate transport. Knockout mutants of Dct genes exhibited higher cFP levels than the wild type, whereas complementary strains showed no significant difference. Additionally, the presence of exogenous C4-dicarboxylates reduced cFP production in wild type R456, indicating that these substrates negatively regulate cFP synthesis. Given that cFP synthesis is related to NRPS, we previously identified an NRPS cluster in R456, horizontally transferred from algae. Specifically, knocking out gene 2061 within this NRPS cluster significantly reduced cFP production. A Fur box binding site was predicted upstream of gene 2061, and yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed Fur protein binding, which increased with additional C4-dicarboxylates. Knockout of the Fur gene led to up-regulation of gene 2061 and increased cFP production, suggesting that C4-dicarboxylates suppress cFP synthesis by enhancing Fur-mediated repression of gene 2061.

Abstract Background Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), caused by Bovine alphaherpesvirus-1 (BoAHV-1), is an acute, highly contagious disease primarily characterized by respiratory tract lesions in infected cattle. Due to its severe pathological damage and extensive transmission, it results in significant economic losses in the cattle industry. Accurate detection of BoAHV-1 is of paramount importance. In this study, we developed a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR detection method for detecting BoAHV-1 infections. Utilizing this method, we tested clinical samples and successfully identified and isolated a strain of BoAHV-1.1 from positive samples. Subsequently, we conducted a genetic evolution analysis on the isolate strain’s gC, TK, gG, gD, and gE genes. Results The study developed a real-time quantitative PCR detection method using SYBR Green II, achieving a detection limit of 7.8 × 101 DNA copies/μL. Specificity and repeatability analyses demonstrated no cross-reactivity with other related pathogens, highlighting excellent repeatability. Using this method, 15 out of 86 clinical nasal swab samples from cattle were found to be positive (17.44%), which was higher than the results obtained from conventional PCR detection (13.95%, 12/86). The homology analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis of the gC, TK, gG, gD, and gE genes of the isolated strain indicate that the JL5 strain shares high homology with the BoAHV-1.1 reference strains. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that gC, gE, and gG each had two amino acid mutations, while the TK gene had one synonymous mutation and one H to Y mutation, with no amino acid mutations observed in the gD gene. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the JL5 strain belongs to the BoAHV-1.1 genotype and is closely related to American strains such as C33, C14, and C28. Conclusions The established real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR detection method exhibits good repeatability, specificity, and sensitivity. Furthermore, genetic evolution analysis of the isolated BoAHV-1 JL-5 strain indicates that it belongs to the BoAHV-1.1 subtype. These findings provide a foundation and data for the detection, prevention, and control Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis.

In this study, we investigated how Radix pseudostellariae polysaccharide (RPP) enhances the immune response of the inactivated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine through interactions with the microbiome and metabolome. We pretreated sows with 10 mg/kg body weight of RPP via drinking water for 7 days prior to intramuscular injection of the PRRSV vaccine. This significantly increased the concentrations of PRRSV GP5 protein antibody, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon (IFN)-γ. Oral administration of RPP also significantly improved the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the stool, such as Parabacteroides distasonis, Prevotella_copri, Eubacterium_sp., and Clostridium_sp._CAG:226, and decreased the levels of potentially pathogenic bacteria, such as Paraeggerthella and [Clostridium] innocuum, compared to the vaccine alone. These bacterial changes were confirmed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). Moreover, RPP treatment significantly increased the blood concentrations of L-theanine, taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA), and N-arachidonoyl proline, and decreased the levels of L-glutamine, oclacitinib, lipoxin C4, and leukotriene C5 in sows after immunization (p< 0.05). The concentrations of various blood metabolites were validated using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), confirming the accuracy of the metabolomics data. Intriguingly, the integration of microbiome and metabolome analyses highlighted the significance of Prevotella_copri and TDCA. We consequently developed a mouse immunity model using GP5 protein and discovered that oral administration of RPP significantly enhanced the levels of GP5 protein antibodies, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in mouse serum. It also increased the number of CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ cells in the spleen. Additionally, Prevotella_copri was administered into the large intestine via the anus for 7 days prior to the intramuscular injection of the PRRSV GP5 protein. The results demonstrated a significant increase in TDCA and GP5 antibody concentration in the mouse serum, indicating that RPP modulates Prevotella_copri to elevate its metabolite TDCA, thereby enhancing the GP5 antibody level. In conclusion, oral administration of 10 mg/kg RPP optimizes gut flora diversity and blood metabolites, particularly Prevotella_copri and TDCA, thereby improving the immune response to the inactivated PRRSV vaccine.

Thermochromic textiles possess the capability to indicate ambient temperature through color changes, enabling real-time temperature monitoring and providing temperature warnings for body heat management. In this study, three thermochromic dyes—blue, red, and yellow—were synthesized using crystalline violet lactone (CVL), 6′-(diethylamino)-1′,3′-dimethyl-fluoran (DDF), and 3′,6′-dimethoxyfluoran (DOF) as leuco dyes, respectively, with biomass tea polyphenol serving as the color developer and tetradecanol as the phase change material. The chemical structures of these dyes were characterized using UV spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and 1H NMR. The thermochromic mechanisms were investigated, revealing that the binding bonds between the leuco dyes and the color developer broke and reorganized with temperature changes, imparting reversible thermochromic property. Polyester fabrics were dyed using an impregnation method to produce three reversible thermochromic fabrics in blue, red, and yellow. The structure and properties of these fabrics were analyzed, showing a significant increase in the UPF value from 26.3 to approximately 100, indicating enhanced UV resistance. Water contact angle measurements revealed that the contact angle of undyed polyester fabrics was 139°, while that of dyed polyester fabrics decreased by about 40°, indicating improved hydrophilicity. Additionally, the fabric inductive static tester showed that the static voltage half-life of dyed polyester fabric was less than 1 s, demonstrating a significant antistatic effect. Infrared thermal imaging results indicated that during the warming and cooling process, the thermochromic polyester fabric exhibited specific energy storage and insulation effects at 38 °C, close to the human body temperature. This study presented a novel approach to developing smart color-changing textiles using biomass-derived thermochromic dyes, offering diverse materials for personal thermal management, and intelligent insulation applications.

The Winkler foundation modulus is key to evaluating the response of underground structures using the elastic foundation beam model. In this paper, an improved formula of the Winkler foundation modulus for a beam embedded in a full space is proposed to overcome the limitation of inconsistent assumptions in previous studies. To achieve this goal, the bending responses of the beam are obtained using the elastic foundation beam model and three-dimensional elastic continuum model, respectively, wherein a consistent assumption is proposed that tangential interactions at the beam–ground interface are ignored in the two models. In addition, as deformation of the site is an important source of the underground structure response, the beam is applied to standard soil displacement of the free field on the Winkler foundation to improve the accuracy of the Winkler modulus obtained by fitting solutions based on the concentrated force on the beam. The formula for the Winkler foundation is obtained by equating the first zero of the bending moment in the two models. The Winkler foundation modulus is verified by comparing the results with numerical solutions and previous studies.

In this study, we investigated the preparation and characterization of flexible conductive fiber membranes (BC/PPy) using different metal salt oxidants on bacterial cellulose (BC) and pyrrole (Py) in the in situ polymerization and co-blended methods, respectively. The effects of these oxidants, namely, ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3·6H2O) and silver nitrate (AgNO3), on the structural characterization, conductivity, resistance value and thermal stability of the resulting materials were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A comparative study revealed that the BC/PPy conductive fiber membrane prepared using FeCl3·6H2O as the oxidant had a resistance value of 12 Ω, while the BC/PPy conductive fiber membrane prepared using AgNO3 as the oxidant had an electrical resistance value of 130 Ω. The conductivity of the same molar ratio of BC/PPy prepared using FeCl3·6H2O as an oxidant was 10 times higher than that of the BC/PPy prepared using AgNO3 as an oxidant. Meanwhile, the resistance values of the conductive fiber membranes prepared from BC and PPy by the co-blended method were much higher than the BC/PPy prepared by in situ polymerization. SEM and XPS analyses revealed that when FeCl3·6H2O was used as the oxidant, the Fe-doped polypyrrole conductive particles could form uniform and dense conductive layers on the BC nanofiber surfaces. These two metal salt oxidants demonstrated differences in the binding sites between PPy and BC.

Bacterial brown stripe disease caused by Acidovorax oryzae is a major threat to crop yields, and the current reliance on pesticides for control is unsustainable due to environmental pollution and resistance. To address this, bacterial-based ligands have been explored as a potential treatment solution. In this study, we developed a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network for A. oryzae by utilizing shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the STRING database. Using a maximal clique centrality (MCC) approach through CytoHubba and Network Analyzer, we identified hub genes within the PPI network. We then analyzed the genomic data of the top 10 proteins, and further narrowed them down to 2 proteins by utilizing betweenness, closeness, degree, and eigenvector studies. Finally, we used molecular docking to screen 100 compounds against the final two proteins (guaA and metG), and Enfumafungin was selected as a potential treatment for bacterial resistance caused by A. oryzae based on their binding affinity and interaction energy. Our approach demonstrates the potential of utilizing bioinformatics and molecular docking to identify novel drug candidates for precision treatment of bacterial brown stripe disease caused by A. oryzae, paving the way for more targeted and sustainable control strategies. The efficacy of Enfumafungin in inhibiting the growth of A. oryzae strain RS-1 was investigated through both computational and wet lab methods. The models of the protein were built using the Swiss model, and their accuracy was confirmed via a Ramachandran plot. Additionally, Enfumafungin demonstrated potent inhibitory action against the bacterial strain, with an MIC of 100 µg/mL, reducing OD600 values by up to 91%. The effectiveness of Enfumafungin was further evidenced through agar well diffusion assays, which exhibited the highest zone of inhibition at 1.42 cm when the concentration of Enfumafungin was at 100 µg/mL. Moreover, Enfumafungin was also able to effectively reduce the biofilm of A. oryzae RS-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. The swarming motility of A. oryzae RS-1 was also found to be significantly inhibited by Enfumafungin. Further validation through TEM observation revealed that bacterial cells exposed to Enfumafungin displayed mostly red fluorescence, indicating destruction of the bacterial cell membrane.

IntroductionBacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most devastative diseases that threatens rice plants worldwide. Biosynthesized nanoparticle (NP) composite compounds have attracted attention as environmentally safe materials that possess antibacterial activity that could be used in managing plant diseases.MethodsDuring this study, a nanocomposite of two important elements, nickel and silicon, was biosynthesized using extraction of saffron stigmas (Crocus sativus L.). Characterization of obtained nickel-silicon dioxide (Ni-SiO2) nanocomposite was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission/Scanning electron microscopy (TEM/SEM), and energy-dispersive spectrum (EDS). Antibacterial activities of the biosynthesized Ni-SiO2 nanocomposite against Xoo were tested by measuring bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and dead Xoo cells.Results and discussionsThe bacterial growth (OD600) and biofilm formation (OD570) of Xoo treated with distilled water (control) was found to be 1.21 and 1.11, respectively. Treatment with Ni-SiO2 NPs composite, respectively, reduced the growth and biofilm formation by 89.07% and 80.40% at 200 μg/ml. The impact of obtained Ni-SiO2 nanocomposite at a concentration of 200 μg/ml was assayed on infected rice plants. Treatment of rice seedlings with Ni-SiO2 NPs composite only had a plant height of 64.8 cm while seedlings treated with distilled water reached a height of 45.20 cm. Notably, Xoo-infected seedlings treated with Ni-SiO2 NPs composite had a plant height of 57.10 cm. Furthermore, Ni-SiO2 NPs composite sprayed on inoculated seedlings had a decrease in disease leaf area from 43.83% in non-treated infected seedlings to 13.06% in treated seedlings. The FTIR spectra of biosynthesized Ni-SiO2 nanocomposite using saffron stigma extract showed different bands at 3,406, 1,643, 1,103, 600, and 470 cm−1. No impurities were found in the synthesized composite. Spherically shaped NPs were observed by using TEM and SEM. EDS revealed that Ni-SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) have 13.26% Ni, 29.62% Si, and 57.11% O. Xoo treated with 200 µg/ml of Ni-SiO2 NPs composite drastically increased the apoptosis of bacterial cells to 99.61% in comparison with 2.23% recorded for the control.ConclusionsThe application of Ni-SiO2 NPs significantly improved the vitality of rice plants and reduced the severity of BLB.

Mink circovirus disease caused by Mink Circovirus (MiCV) is a serious infectious disease of mink that has become prevalent in recent years in China, severely affecting the reproductive performance of mink and causing significant economic losses to farms. To date, there have been few studies on MiCV, its pathogenic mechanism is not clear, and there is no effective vaccine or drug to prevent and control the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a rapid and reliable molecular diagnostic method, which would aid future studies of this novel virus. In our study, we developed a sensitive and specific TaqMan-based quantitative real-time PCR assay targeting the MiCV Cap gene. The assay showed no cross-reaction with other tested animal viruses. The assay is highly sensitive, with a detection limit of as low as 10 plasmid DNA copies and 2.38 × 10−2 pg of viral DNA. The intra and inter--assay coefficients of variation were both low. The positive detection rate of MiCV in clinical samples from minks, foxes, and raccoon dogs were 58.8% (133/226), 50.7% (72/142), and 42.2% (54/128), respectively, giving a total positive detection rate of 52.2% (259/496). Higher contamination levels were observed in samples from the environment in direct or indirect contact with animals, with a total positive detection rate of 75.1% (220/293). These epidemiological results showed that minks, foxes, and raccoon dogs had high infection rates of MiCV. This was also the first study to detect MiCV on the ground and equipment of fur-bearing animal farms. Our assay is highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis and quantification of MiCV, and should provide a reliable real-time tool for epidemiological and pathogenetic study of MiCV infection.

IntroductionXanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is the plant pathogen of Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB), which causes yield loss in rice.MethodsIn this study, the lysate of Xoo bacteriophage X3 was used to mediate the bio-synthesis of MgO and MnO2. The physiochemical features of MgONPs and MnO2NPs were observed via Ultraviolet - Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission/Scanning electron microscopy (TEM/SEM), Energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectrum (FTIR). The impact of nanoparticles on plant growth and bacterial leaf blight disease were evaluated. Chlorophyll fluorescence was used to determine whether the nanoparticles application were toxic to the plants.ResultsAn absorption peak of 215 and 230 nm for MgO and MnO2, respectively, confirmed nanoparticle formation via UV–Vis. The crystalline nature of the nanoparticles was detected by the analysis of XRD. Bacteriological tests indicated that MgONPs and MnO2NPs sized 12.5 and 9.8 nm, respectively, had strong in vitro antibacterial effects on rice bacterial blight pathogen, Xoo. MnO2NPs were found to have the most significant antagonist effect on nutrient agar plates, while MgONPs had the most significant impact on bacterial growth in nutrient broth and on cellular efflux. Furthermore, no toxicity to plants was observed for MgONPs and MnO2NPs, indeed, MgONPs at 200 μg/mL significantly increased the quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry on the model plant, Arabidopsis, in light (ΦPSII) compared to other interactions. Additionally, significant suppression of BLB was noted in rice seedlings amended with the synthesized MgONPs and MnO2NPs. MnO2NPs showed promotion of plant growth in the presence of Xoo compared to MgONPs.ConclusionAn effective alternative for the biological production of MgONPs and MnO2NPs was reported, which serves as an effective substitute to control plant bacterial disease with no phytotoxic effect.

Recently, the application of cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4NPs) has gained popularity owing to its magnetic, catalytic, optical, antimicrobial, and biomedical properties. However, studies on its use as a crop protection agent and its effect on photosynthetic apparatus are yet to be reported. Here, Co3O4NPs were first green synthesized using Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flower extract and were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission/scanning electron microscopy methods. Formation of the Co3O4NPs was attested based on surface plasmon resonance at 210 nm. XRD assay showed that the samples were crystalline having a mean size of 34.9 nm. The Co3O4NPs at 200 µg/ml inhibited the growth (OD600 = 1.28) and biofilm formation (OD570 = 1.37) of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) respectively, by 72.87% and 79.65%. Rice plants inoculated with Xoo had disease leaf area percentage (DLA %) of 57.25% which was significantly reduced to 11.09% on infected plants treated with 200 µg/ml Co3O4NPs. Also, plants treated with 200 µg/ml Co3O4NPs only had significant increment in shoot length, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight in comparison to plants treated with double distilled water. The application of 200 µg/ml Co3O4NPs on the Arabidopsis plant significantly increased the photochemical efficacy of PSII (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP) respectively, by 149.10% and 125.00% compared to the control while the non-photochemical energy dissipation (ΦNPQ) was significantly lowered in comparison to control. In summary, it can be inferred that Co3O4NPs can be a useful agent in the management of bacterial phytopathogen diseases.

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of urinary system worldwide. Approximately 75% of patients with bladder cancer present with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which is effectively managed with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). For refractory high risk NMIBC, patients are typically treated by radical cystectomy (RC). TURBT deserves further evaluation. Growing evidence suggests that repeated TURBT-based bladder-sparing approaches may improve oncological outcomes and quality of life in highly selected patients. Novel imaging techniques and biomarkers may aid in patients selection and postoperative surveillance. With growing interest in adding immunotherapy to refractory bladder cancer, TURBT based approaches enable the bladder preservation therapy for high risk NMIBC. Here we summarize the current landscape, biomarkers for surveillance, and future directions for applying TURBT-based bladder preservation therapy.

The initial deposition amount, dissipation dynamics, retention rate, and field control efficacy of difenoconazole in pepper-soil system were studied with different application dosages, planting regions and patterns. The initial deposition amount of difenoconazole under the same application dosage showed the following order: fruits

Abstract Background Fowl Adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) infection causes severe inflammatory response leading to hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) in poultry. As an essential functional amino acid of poultry, arginine plays a critical role in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress. Results In this study, the differential expression genes (DEGs) were screened by transcriptomic techniques, and the DEGs in gene networks of inflammatory response-induced by FAdV-4 in broiler’s liver were analyzed by Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment. The results showed that the cytokines pathway and JAK/STAT pathway were significantly enriched, in which the DEGs levels of IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-α, JAK and STAT were significantly up-regulated after FAdV-4 infection. It was further verified with real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time qPCR) and Western blotting (WB) in vitro and in vivo. The findings demonstrated that FAdV-4 induced inflammatory response and activated JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, we investigated whether arginine could alleviate the liver inflammation induced by FAdV-4. After treatment with 1.92% arginine level diet to broilers or 300 μg/mL arginine culture medium to LMH cell line with FAdV-4 infection at the same time, we found that the mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-α and the protein levels of p-JAK2, p-STAT3 were down-regulated, compared with FAdV-4 infection group. Furthermore, we confirmed that the inflammation induced by FAdV-4 was ameliorated by pre-treatment with JAK inhibitor AG490 in LMH cells, and it was further alleviated in LMH cells treatment with AG490 and ARG. Conclusions These above results provide new insight that arginine protects hepatocytes against inflammation induced by FAdV-4 through JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Verticillium dahliae is a soilborne fungal pathogen that causes vascular wilt diseases in a wide range of economically important crops, including eggplant. Trichoderma spp. are effective biological control agents that suppress a wide range of plant pathogens through a variety of mechanisms, including mycoparasitism. However, the molecular mechanisms of mycoparasitism of Trichoderma spp. in the degradation of microsclerotia of V. dahliae are not yet fully understood. In this study, the ability of 15 isolates of Trichoderma to degrade microsclerotia of V. dahliae was evaluated using a dual culture method. After 15 days, isolate HZA14 showed the greatest potential for microsclerotial degradation. The culture filtrate of isolate HZA14 also significantly inhibited the mycelial growth and conidia germination of V. dahliae at different dilutions. Moreover, this study showed that T. virens produced siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In disease control tests, T. virens HZA14 reduced disease severity in eggplant seedlings by up to 2.77%, resulting in a control efficacy of 96.59% at 30 days after inoculation. Additionally, inoculation with an HZA14 isolate increased stem and root length and fresh and dry weight, demonstrating plant growth promotion efficacy. To further investigate the mycoparasitism mechanism of T. virens HZA14, transcriptomics sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of T. virens HZA14 at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days of the interaction with microsclerotia of V. dahliae. In contrast to the control group, the mycoparasitic process of T. virens HZA14 exhibited differential gene expression, with 1197, 1758, 1936, and 1914 genes being up-regulated and 1191, 1963, 2050, and 2114 genes being down-regulated, respectively. Among these genes, enzymes associated with the degradation of microsclerotia, such as endochitinase A1, endochitinase 3, endo-1,3-beta-glucanase, alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase, laccase-1, and peroxidase were predicted based on bioinformatics analysis. The RT-qPCR results confirmed the RNA-sequencing data, showing that the expression trend of the genes was consistent. These results provide important information for understanding molecular mechanisms of microsclerotial degradation and integrated management of Verticillium wilt in eggplant and other crops.

Microbial compost plays a crucial role in improving soil health, soil fertility, and plant biomass. These biofertilizers, based on microorganisms, offer numerous benefits such as enhanced nutrient acquisition (N, P, and K), production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and control of pathogens through induced systematic resistance. Additionally, they promote the production of phytohormones, siderophore, vitamins, protective enzymes, and antibiotics, further contributing to soil sustainability and optimal agricultural productivity. The escalating generation of organic waste from farm operations poses significant threats to the environment and soil fertility. Simultaneously, the excessive utilization of chemical fertilizers to achieve high crop yields results in detrimental impacts on soil structure and fertility. To address these challenges, a sustainable agriculture system that ensures enhanced soil fertility and minimal ecological impact is imperative. Microbial composts, developed by incorporating characterized plant-growth-promoting bacteria or fungal strains into compost derived from agricultural waste, offer a promising solution. These biofertilizers, with selected microbial strains capable of thriving in compost, offer an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for agricultural practices. In this review article, we explore the potential of microbial composts as a viable strategy for improving plant growth and environmental safety. By harnessing the benefits of microorganisms in compost, we can pave the way for sustainable agriculture and foster a healthier relationship between soil, plants, and the environment.

The environmental impact of industrial development has been well-documented. The use of physical and chemical methods in industrial development has negative consequences for the environment, raising concerns about the sustainability of this approach. There is a growing need for advanced technologies that are compatible with preserving the environment. The use of fungi products for nanoparticle (NP) synthesis is a promising approach that has the potential to meet this need. The genus Trichoderma is a non-pathogenic filamentous fungus with a high degree of genetic diversity. Different strains of this genus have a variety of important environmental, agricultural, and industrial applications. Species of Trichoderma can be used to synthesize metallic NPs using a biological method that is environmentally friendly, low cost, energy saving, and non-toxic. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of Trichoderma metabolism in the synthesis of metallic NPs. We discuss the different metabolic pathways involved in NP synthesis, as well as the role of metabolic metabolites in stabilizing NPs and promoting their synergistic effects. In addition, the future perspective of NPs synthesized by extracts of Trichoderma is discussed, as well as their potential applications in biomedicine, agriculture, and environmental health.

Inflammatory caspase-11 senses and is activated by intracellular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leading to pyroptosis that has critical role in defensing against bacterial infection, whereas its excess activation under pathogenic circumstances may cause various inflammatory diseases. However, there are few known drugs that can control caspase-11 activation. We report here that scutellarin, a flavonoid from Erigeron breviscapus, acted as an inhibitor for caspase-11 activation in macrophages. Scutellarin dose-dependently inhibited intracellular LPS-induced release of caspase-11p26 (indicative of caspase-11 activation) and generation of N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D (GSDMD-NT), leading to reduced pyroptosis. It also suppressed the activation of non-canonical nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome as evidenced by reduced apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) speck formation and decreased interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and caspase-1p10 secretion, whereas the NLRP3-specific inhibitor MCC950 only inhibited IL-1β and caspase-1p10 release and ASC speck formation but not pyroptosis. Scutellarin also suppressed LPS-induced caspase-11 activation and pyroptosis in RAW 264.7 cells lacking ASC expression. Moreover, scutellarin treatment increased Ser/Thr phosphorylation of caspase-11 at protein kinase A (PKA)-specific sites, and its inhibitory action on caspase-11 activation was largely abrogated by PKA inhibitor H89 or by adenylyl cyclase inhibitor MDL12330A. Collectively, our data indicate that scutellarin inhibited caspase-11 activation and pyroptosis in macrophages at least partly via regulating the PKA signaling pathway.

Abstract Background Corynespora cassiicola, as a necrotrophic phytopathogenic ascomycetous fungus, can infect hundreds of species of plants and rarely causes human diseases. This pathogen infects cucumber species and causes cucumber target spot, which has recently caused large cucumber yield losses in China. Genome sequence and spore germination-associated transcriptome analysis will contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of pathogenicity and spore germination of C. cassiicola. Results First, we reported the draft genome sequences of the cucumber-sampled C. cassiicola isolate HGCC with high virulence. Although conspecific, HGCC exhibited distinct genome sequence differences from a rubber tree-sampled isolate (CCP) and a human-sampled isolate (UM591). The proportion of secreted proteins was 7.2% in HGCC. A total of 28.9% (4232) of HGCC genes, 29.5% (4298) of CCP genes and 28.6% (4214) of UM591 genes were highly homologous to experimentally proven virulence-associated genes, respectively, which were not significantly different (P = 0.866) from the average (29.7%) of 10 other phytopathogenic fungi. Thousands of putative virulence-associated genes in various pathways or families were identified in C. cassiicola. Second, a global view of the transcriptome of C. cassiicola spores during germination was evaluated using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). A total of 3288 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The majority of KEGG-annotated DEGs were involved in metabolism, genetic information processing, cellular processes, the organismal system, human diseases and environmental information processing. Conclusions These results facilitate the exploration of the molecular pathogenic mechanism of C. cassiicola in cucumbers and the understanding of molecular and cellular processes during spore germination.

SdhBP225Fand SdhBH272R mutations have been found associated with boscalid resistance in Botrytis cinerea from strawberry in Shanghai, China. For rapid detection of two mutations, tetra-primers were designed and optimized to gain the relatively high accuracy and specificity based on the ARMS-PCR technique, by which resistance can be identified with different lengths of products on agarose gels. The tetra-primer ARMS-PCR systems for SdhBP225F and SdhBH272R were validated by 9 SdhB-squenced strains repeatedly. Then, sensitivity of 30 more strains were also tested by the methods, which were accordant with genotypes by sequencing and the sensitivity of conidial germination to boscalid by 100%. Thus, the methods developed in this study are proved to be rapid, inexpensive, accurate and practical for resistance detection of Botrytis cinerea caused by SdhBP225F and SdhBH272R mutations.

Interactions of pathogen infection, host plant resistance, and fungal communities are poorly understood. Although the use of resistant watermelon cultivars is an effective control measure of watermelon wilt disease, fungal communities may also have significant effects on the development of the soil-borne pathogen complexes. We characterized the root and rhizosphere fungal communities associated with healthy and diseased watermelons of three different cultivars with different susceptibilities toward wilt disease by paired-end Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Thirty watermelon plants including highly wilt-resistant, moderately resistant, and susceptible cultivars were collected from a greenhouse, half of which showing clear wilt symptoms and the other half with no symptoms. Patterns of watermelon wilt disease and the response of the fungal communities varied among the three cultivars. The amount of the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum was higher in diseased root and rhizosphere samples, particularly in the susceptible cultivar, and was significantly positively correlated with the disease index of Fusarium wilt. Plant health had significant effects on root-associated fungal communities, whereas only the highly resistant cultivar had significant effects only on the rhizosphere fungal communities. Co-occurrence networks revealed a higher complexity of fungal communities in the symptom-free roots compared to diseased roots. In addition, networks from roots of the highly resistant plants showing symptoms had a higher complexity compared to the susceptible cultivars. Keystone species were identified for the plants with different symptom severity and the different cultivars in the root and rhizosphere, such as Fusarium oxysporum, Monosporascus cannonballus, and Mortierella alpina. Overall, the most important factor determining fungal communities in the roots was plant symptom severity, whereas in the rhizosphere, plant genotype was the most important factor determining fungal communities.

Background: Talaromyces marneffei , also named Penicillium marneffei , is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause systemic or limited infection in human beings. This infection is especially common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected hosts; however, it has also been recently reported in HIV-negative hosts. Here, we report a very rarely seen case of T. marneffei pulmonary infection in a non-HIV-infected patient with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 ( STAT3 ) mutation. Case presentation: A 34-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for uncontrollable nonproductive cough and dyspnea with exercise. She had been immunocompromised since infancy. Computerized tomography scan showed multiple ground glass opacities with multiple bullae in both lungs. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid identified T. marneffei nucleotide sequences. Culture of bronchoscopy specimens further verified the results. The patient was HIV negative, and blood gene detection indicated STAT3 mutation. To date, following the application of itraconazole, the patient has recovered satisfactorily. Conclusion: In clinical practice, T. marneffei infection among HIV-negative individuals is relatively rare, and we found that patients who are congenitally immunocompromised due to STAT3 mutation may be potential hosts. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are expected to improve the prognosis of T. marneffei infection. NGS is a powerful technique that may play an important role in this progress. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section .

Since 2015, Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) infection has caused serious economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. We isolated and identified the FAdV-4 strain NP, from infected chickens on a layer farm, using chicken embryo allantoic cavity inoculation, electron microscopy, viral genome sequencing, and regression analysis. To explore the pathogenesis of FAdV-4 infection, we conducted transcriptome sequencing analysis of the liver in chickens infected with FAdV-4, using the Illumina® HiSeq 2000 system. Two days after infection with the FAdV-4 NP strain, 13,576 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened in the liver, among which, 7,480 were up-regulated and 6,096 were down-regulated. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that these genes were involved in 52 biological functions. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that those DEGs were involved in 33 pathways. We then focused on the KEGG pathway of phagosome and found that mRNA levels of the 25 DEGs in that pathway were up-regulated, and seven DEGs were down-regulated. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) confirmed the accuracy and reliability of these findings. Moreover, 24 h after LMH cells were infected with FAdV-4, the mRNA levels of F-actin, Rab7, TUBA, and DVnein were significantly increased. These four genes were all subsequently silenced by RNA interference, and viral replication of FAdV-4 was then significantly down-regulated. These findings demonstrate the isolation and identification of the FAdV-4 NP strain, and the DEGs in KEGG pathway of phagosome were utilized by FAdV-4 to benefit its infection.

Abstract Background Gray leaf spot is a devastating disease caused by Stemphylium lycopersici that threatens tomato-growing areas worldwide. Typically, many pathogenesis-related and unrelated secreted proteins can be predicted in genomes using bioinformatics and computer-based prediction algorithms, which help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of pathogen-plant interactions. Results S. lycopersici-secreted proteins were predicted from 8997 proteins using a set of internet-based programs, including SignalP v4.1 TMHMM v2.0, big-PI Fungal Predictor, ProtComp V9.0 and TargetP v1.1. Analysis showed that 511 proteins are predicted to be secreted. These proteins vary from 51 to 600 residues in length, with signal peptides ranging from 14 to 30 residues in length. Functional analysis of differentially expressed proteins was performed using Blast2GO. Gene ontology analysis of 305 proteins classified them into 8 groups in biological process (BP), 6 groups in molecular function (MF), and 10 groups in cellular component (CC). Pathogen-host interaction (PHI) partners were predicted by performing BLASTp analysis of the predicted secreted proteins against the PHI database. In total, 159 secreted proteins in S. lycopersici might be involved in pathogenicity and virulence pathways. Scanning S. lycopersici-secreted proteins for the presence of carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme)-coding gene homologs resulted in the prediction of 259 proteins. In addition, 12 of the 511 proteins predicted to be secreted are small cysteine-rich proteins (SCRPs). Conclusions S. lycopersici secretory proteins have not yet been studied. The study of S. lycopersici genes predicted to encode secreted proteins is highly significant for research aimed at understanding the hypothesized roles of these proteins in host penetration, tissue necrosis, immune subversion and the identification of new targets for fungicides.

The multi-sited practice (MSP) policy in China is expected to exert found implications upon uneven distribution of high-quality medical resources, coupled with the widespread phenomenon of physician’s informal practices on multiple sites. Since 2009, the Chinese government has upheld a policy that allows medical doctors to take on secondary jobs for the purpose of encouraging talented physicians to work in medical institutions and underdeveloped areas where their expertise is badly needed. This paper focuses on the MSP policy in China by examining how it has been implemented at the national and provincial levels through a review of government documents, statistical information, academic papers, and newspaper accounts. Despite the MSP policy is to offer incentive to physicians at first-tier public hospitals to work in primary care centers or areas where their expertise, the evidence is hard to find. This paper identifies several outstanding challenges to the MSP policy : (1) The importance of the MSP policy which is made by the central government is perceived differently at the provincial level by health officials and hospital administrators; (2) Interest in implementing the policy varies among physicians and hospitals; (3) Concerns about quality control and legal responsibilities for medical doctors to take on secondary jobs are widespread. China’s MSP policy differs from the “dual practice” policy in many countries because of its top-down approach, with its emphasis on government’s role and administrative intervention. This paper’s findings may be useful for other developing countries where medical expertise is unevenly distributed due to market forces. On the special occasion of the Alma Ata Declaration’s 40th anniversary and for the sake of promoting Universal Health Coverage, this paper also aims at sharing with other countries China’s experience in trying to develop an adequate force of primary care professionals. At the end of this paper, a four-point proposal is made for policy makers in China.

The inter-blade passage vortex, the vortex rope of the draft tube, and the vortex in the guide apparatus are the characteristics of flow instability of the Francis turbine, which may lead to fatigue failure in serious cases. In the current study, in order to accurately capture the transient turbulent characteristics of flow under different conditions and fully understand the flow field and vortex structure, we conduct a simulation that adopts sliding grid technology and the large-eddy simulation (LES) method based on the wall-adapting local eddy viscosity (WALE) model. Using the pressure iso-surface method, the Q criterion, and the latest third-generation Liutex vortex identification method, this study analyzes and compares the inter-blade passage vortex, the vortex rope of the draft tube, and the outflow and vortex in the guide apparatus, focusing on the capture ability of flow field information by various vortex identification methods and the unique vortex structure under the condition of a small opening. The results indicate that the dependence of Liutex on the threshold is small, and the scale range of the flow direction vortex captured by Liutex is wider, but the ability of the spanwise vortex is relatively weak. The smaller the opening, the more disorderly the vortexes generated in each component and the more unstable the flow field. In the draft tube, the original shape of the vortex rope is destroyed due to the interaction between vortexes. Under the condition of a small opening, an inter-blade passage vortex is generated, affecting the efficient and stable operation of the turbine.

In this work, superhydrophobic methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS)-based silica aerogels were fabricated via water-based sol–gel reaction by ambient pressure drying (APD) method in the presence of surfactant. The structure, morphology, and hydrophobic properties of the obtained silica aerogel were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) methods, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and water contact angle measurement. The effects of the concentration of MTMS, the pH value of the solution, and the amount of surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) on properties of silica aerogels were investigated, respectively. Increasing the concentration of MTMS to a great extent resulted in higher density and lower porosity of silica aerogel. Alkali catalyst was an extremely crucial factor for preparing silica aerogels. With the increase of the pH value from 7.5 to 10 the gelation time of the prepared aerogels was observed to decrease from 40 min to 2 min, and the shrinkage of aerogel sample decreased from 15.5% to 3.5%. The skeleton structure of the prepared silica aerogel gradually transformed from coarsened spherical to continuous irregularity finer structures with the increased concentration of CTAB. In addition, the prepared silica aerogel showed outstanding anti-adhesion property and superhydrophobic ability with a water contact angle (WCA) of 160.6 ± 1.3°.

In this study, the mechanism of Muscovy duck reovirus (MDRV) p10.8 protein-induced pathogenesis was investigated, with a focus on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In chicken embryo fibroblasts cell lines (DF1), pCI-neo-flg-p10.8 protein transfection increased the phosphorylation (p-) levels of PERK and eIF2α as shown by Western blotting analysis and led to the dissociation of BiP from PERK as shown by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analysis. Results of treatment with both ER stress activator and inhibitor further confirmed that p10.8 protein induced ER stress. Subsequently, using flow cytometry analysis, it was also found that p10.8 protein induced cell cycle arrest during the G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, p10.8 transfection increased the phosphorylation levels of PERK and eIF2α, and reduced the expression levels of CDK2, CDK4, and Cyclin E according to Western blotting analysis. Treatment with ER stress activator and ER stress inhibitor after p10.8 protein transfection in DF1 cells further indicated that p10.8 protein induced ER stress, which resulted in cell cycle arrest. The results of knockdown of either PERK or eIF2α genes further confirmed that p10.8 protein-induced ER stress led to cell cycle arrest through the PERK/eIF2α pathway. Further results showed that p10.8 protein induced ER stress and apoptosis in DF1 cells. The expression levels of p-PERK, p-eIF2α, CHOP, cleaved-Caspase12, and cleaved-Caspase3 were increased by p10.8 protein. Test results of treatment with each of Tunicamycin, TUDCA and knockdown of PERK, and eIF2α, confirmed that p10.8 protein induced ER stress involving apoptosis via the PERK/eIF2α pathway. In conclusion, MDRV p10.8 protein induced ER stress that caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through the PERK/eIF2α pathway.

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified