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This study examined the similarities/differences between the social phenotypes of Williams syndrome (WS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As cultural norms may affect symptom evaluation, this study administered the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 to Japanese individuals with WS (n = 78, 4.4-44.0 years) and ASD (n = 75, 4.7-55.4 years). The scores for Social Motivation and Social Communication were significantly more severe in the ASD than WS group. Overall, the similarities and differences between the social phenotypes of the syndromes were consistent with the findings of a recent study conducted in the UK, except for the social awareness subscale score. This highlights the importance of cross-cultural investigations of WS and ASD.

Abstract The symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobia is known to be influenced by specific rhizobial type III effectors (T3Es) in certain cases. In this study, we present evidence that the symbiosis between Vigna radiata and Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 is controlled by a T3E called NopP2, and this interaction is highly dependent on the genetic makeup of the host plant. NopP2 plays a crucial role in promoting nodulation in various V. radiata varieties. Additionally, NopP2 is essential for early infection and the formation of nodules in compatible plants. Through evolutionary analysis, we discovered that bradyrhizobial NopPs can be categorized into two distinct clusters: NopP1 and NopP2. Furthermore, both types of bradyrhizobial NopPs were conserved within their respective groups. Our findings suggest that NopP2 serves as a mechanism for optimizing the symbiotic relationship between V. radiata and B. elkanii USDA61 by interacting with the pathogenesis related-10 (PR10) protein and reducing effector-triggered immunity (ETI) responses.

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), a leguminous plant with nitrogen-fixing ability, is used as a cover crop and has the potential to suppress weeds and plant diseases. The microbial composition, particularly fungal endophytes, which may be related to the beneficial functions of this crop, has not been previously studied. In this study, we analyzed the diversity and function of culturable fungal endophytes associated with hairy vetch from eight locations across Japan. Using the fungal culture method, a total of 2,186 isolates were recovered and assigned to 80 distinct internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genotypes, spanning 28 genera. The results demonstrated that geographic location and soil physicochemical properties significantly influence the community composition of the hairy vetch fungal endophytes. Soil pH showed a significant positive correlation with the abundance of Penicillium, which was the most dominant genus in all the sampling locations and tissues. The majority of the isolates promoted plant growth and colonized hairy vetch and soybean roots, significantly promoting the growth of hairy vetch and/or soybean plants. Among the isolates, Penicillium griseofulvum AKL25 and Trichoderma koningii AKR15 significantly enhanced both hairy vetch and soybean growth, respectively. Meanwhile, Alternaria alternata OGL80 significantly increased soybean growth, but it did not affect hairy vetch growth, indicating host specificity of the fungal endophytes. In conclusion, this study showed that soil properties and geographic location play a critical role in shaping the community composition and structure of endophytic fungi associated with hairy vetch. Additionally, the isolated fungi promoted hairy vetch and soybean growth, with a host preference. Furthermore, this study revealed that a novel endophytic fungus, P. griseofulvum AKL25, which has high growth-promoting activity, can be utilized as a microbial inoculant to promote hairy vetch and soybean growth in sustainable agriculture.

PurposeTo delineate the characteristics of probable antibody-negative pediatric autoimmune encephalitis (probable Ab-negative AE), we compared the clinical features of probable Ab-negative AE to those of major antibody-positive AE.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical features of 18 patients with probable Ab-negative AE, 13 with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (NMDARE), and 13 with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Clinical characteristics, neuroimaging findings, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed.ResultsThe age of onset and length of hospital stay were significantly higher in the NMDARE group than in the other groups (p = 0.02 and p

Biofertilizers are promising technologies for achieving sustainable agriculture. However, high-temperature tolerance is a constraint that limits the function of microbial inoculants. To characterize the genetic changes responsible for the high-temperature tolerance of rhizobia, mutant screening was performed using Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110. The wild-type cells were mutagenized with carbon-ion irradiation, and two mutant strains, designated M10 and M14, were obtained after a three-day heat-shock treatment at 43 °C. In particular, M14 showed superior growth at 36 °C, at which temperature growth of the wild type was extremely slow, whereas M14 grew more slowly than the wild type at 32 °C. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that M10 had seven point mutations, whereas M14 had eight point mutations together with a 1.27 Mb inversion. RNA sequencing showed that the number of differentially expressed genes greatly exceeded the actual number of induced mutations. In M14, a gene cluster associated with pyruvate metabolism was markedly downregulated, probably because of disjunction with the promoter region after inversion, and was considered to be the cause of the slow growth rate of M14 at 32 °C. Notably, transmembrane proteins, including porins, were enriched among the genes upregulated in both M10 and M14. M14 was confirmed to retain symbiotic functions with soybeans. These results indicate that high-temperature tolerance was conferred by random mutagenesis while the symbiotic functions of rhizobia was maintained.

Abstract Introduction Low phosphorus (P) use efficiency (PUE) of fertiliser is a critical problem in sustainable crop production, especially in strongly weathered tropical soils with a high P‐fixation capacity. Both intercropping and rhizobium inoculation have shown to improve the P availability of rhizosphere soil, but the effect of a combined approach of using both intercropping and rhizobium inoculation is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of rhizobium inoculation on the soil–plant P dynamics and fertilised PUE under the intercropping system in strongly weathered tropical soil. Materials and Methods We conducted an 85‐day cultivation pot experiment with pigeon pea (PP) and maize using highly weathered tropical soil under eight treatments: monocropping (CS) or intercropping, with or without rhizobium (Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61) inoculation (−I, +I) and with or without P fertilisation (0P, 50P) (2 × 2 × 2 = 8 treatments). We evaluated the effects of intercropping and rhizobium inoculation on plant growth parameters, P dynamics of the rhizosphere and bulk soil using the Hedley P fractionation method, the amount of organic acid from plant roots as a plant P‐mobilising capacity, and fertilised PUE. Results Total plant P uptake per pot was significantly increased by intercropping but not by combining intercropping and rhizobium inoculation, resulting in better fertilised PUE only in intercropping. The available inorganic P (Pi) and less labile Pi of the soil were higher in the rhizosphere than those in the bulk by intercropping under 50P and were similar in PP + I under 50 P. The amount of organic acid per pot under 50P increased with each treatment, that is, intercropping and rhizobium inoculation, but not with their combination. Conclusion The intercropping system has a strong potential to improve PUE by stimulating the P‐mobilising capacity of intercropping plant roots, whereas rhizobium inoculation of the intercropping system did not improve PUE in this study.

The purpose of this study was to compare and examine gait parameters, hip joint angle, and lower extremity muscle activity during normal walking before and after Nordic walking (NW) intervention. Nineteen healthy male participants (age 26.3 ± 2.4 years) were included in the study. During walking, we measured gait parameters using the footprint-measuring gait analysis system. Аngular changes of the hip joint were measured with an IMU-type portable three-dimensional motion analyzer and the EMG activity of each muscle. The measurements above were performed before and after a one-hour NW training course. The hip joint angle, muscle activity, and gait parameters were compared before and after the intervention with the same participants. In gait parameters, the stride length and walking speed were significantly greater after the intervention, while the cadence decreased significantly. Both hip flexion and extension angles were significantly greater after the intervention. In terms of muscle activity, the rectus abdominis, the tibialis anterior, and the gastrocnemius were very different after the intervention. According to previous reports, employing a large stride length during NW would affect the normal gait after the training. The use of the Nordic pole may have stimulated a substantial forward movement in the lower extremities using the large range of motion of the hip joints. The benefits of NW include enhanced forward propulsion during gait and additional stability during the stance phase due to the greater support surface provided by the poles.

Abstract Objective We aimed to analyze the efficiency of corpus callosotomy (CC) and subsequent disconnection surgeries in patients with late‐onset epileptic spasms (LOES) by comparing post‐encephalitis/encephalopathy (PE) and non‐encephalitis/encephalopathy (NE). We hypothesized these surgeries can control potential focal onset epileptic spasms (ES) in the NE group but not in the PE group. Methods We retrospectively included 23 patients (12 with PE and 11 with NE) who initially underwent CC and subsequent disconnection surgeries (five NE). We compared the clinical courses, seizure types, MRI, video‐EEG, epilepsy surgery, and seizure outcomes between the two groups. Results The median age of LOES onset in the PE group was 2.8 (range 1.0–10.1 years) and 2.9 years (range 1.1–12.6) in the NE group. Bilateral MRI abnormalities were observed in both groups (PE, n = 12; NE, n = 3; P

Miller-Dieker syndrome (MDS) is characterized by facial abnormalities and lissencephaly and is caused by a microdeletion in the region containing the LIS1 gene at chromosome 17p13.3. We report a case in which postnatal neuroimaging revealed severe lissencephaly. A 9-month-old boy presented with infantile spasms syndrome. Because of the refractory course of seizures and continued poor vitality, total corpus callosotomy was performed at 28 months of age. Intraoperative electroencephalogram (EEG) showed that the bilateral synchronous epileptiform discharges disappeared immediately after the disconnection. Postoperatively, the epileptic spasms (ES) in clusters disappeared, and single ES followed by focal seizures became the main symptom. The patient smiled more and became more responsive to stimuli. Postoperative scalp interictal EEG showed desynchronized multifocal spike and wave discharges with a marked decrease in the bilateral synchronous spike and wave discharges. Our findings suggest that the corpus callosum is involved in the mechanism ES in clusters in MDS-associated lissencephaly, and total callosotomy could be a therapeutic option.

Nature farming is a farming system that entails cultivating crops without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The present study investigated the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere of soybean grown in conventional and nature farming soils using wild-type and non-nodulating mutant soybean. The effect of soil fumigant was also analyzed to reveal its perturbation of microbial communities and subsequent effects on the growth of soybean. Overall, the wild-type soybean exhibited a better growth index compared to mutant soybean and especially in nature farming. Nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi colonization were higher in plants under nature farming than in conventionally managed soil; however, fumigation drastically affected these symbioses with greater impacts on plants in nature farming soil. The rhizosphere microbiome diversity in nature farming was higher than that in conventional farming for both cultivars. However, the diversity was significantly decreased after fumigation treatment with a greater impact on nature farming. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that nature farming and conventional farming soil harbored distinct microbial communities and that soil fumigation significantly altered the communities in nature farming soils but not in conventional farming soils. Intriguingly, some beneficial microbial taxa related to plant growth and health, including Rhizobium, Streptomyces, and Burkholderia, were found as distinct microbes in the nature farming soil but were selectively bleached by fumigant treatment. Network analysis revealed a highly complex microbial network with high taxa connectivity observed under nature farming soil than in conventional soil; however, fumigation strongly broke it. Overall, the results highlighted that nature farming embraced higher microbial diversity and the abundance of beneficial soil microbes with a complex and interconnected network structure, and also demonstrated the underlying resilience of the microbial community to environmental perturbations, which is critical under nature farming where chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not applied.

Parechovirus type 3 (PeV-3) presents with sepsis-like syndrome in neonates and young infants. PeV-3 has neurotropism and occasionally causes encephalitis. We evaluated the cytokine/chemokine profile in the cerebrospinal fluid of a young infant with PeV-3 encephalitis. The patient was a 1-month-old boy who developed fever, loss of consciousness, and seizures. On admission (2nd day of illness), no abnormalities were found on MRI. Thereafter, head MRI on the 4th day revealed abnormal intensities in the white matter around the bilateral lateral ventricles, corpus callosum, and bilateral hippocampus and amygdala. Although intravenous thiopental failed to stop the seizures, ketamine and phenobarbital were effective. Bilateral hippocampal lesions were unusual in HPeV-3 encephalitis and considered to be caused by super-refractory status epilepticus, indicating the strength of the disease. PeV-3 was detected in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, nasal discharge, and fecal samples upon admission. The cytokine and chemokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid were significantly elevated. Characteristically, neopterin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid increased as the white matter lesions appeared. These results suggested that cytokine/chemokine overproduction may be deeply involved in the pathology of the PeV-3 encephalitis. Although super-refractory status epilepticus and cytokine/chemokine overproduction indicated the strength of the disease, our patient was discharged without neurological sequelae and the combination of immunotherapy as well as seizure control may have contributed to the good outcome.

Background: The number of reports on GRIN1 variants associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes has increased in recent years. However, there are only two detailed reports on electroencephalography findings. Case study: We had a case with severe global developmental delay, and exome sequencing revealed a novel de novo heterozygous variant of GRIN1. The patient's electroencephalography showed unique findings: paroxysmal fast activity—20–30 Hz beta waves, independently in the bilateral occipital regions, sometimes in a continuous manner—and prolonged alpha activity in the bilateral frontal regions, observed mainly during sleep, those findings were observed persistently. Discussion: The electroencephalography findings of our case have not been reported in the past. Receptor hypofunction due to the GRIN1 variant and imbalance in excitatory/inhibitory transmission owing to the dysfunction of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors may be the mechanism for the global developmental delay, stereotyped movements, and development of paroxysmal fast activity in our case. Accumulation of additional case reports is needed to confirm the reproducibility of the electroencephalography findings for disease specificity.

Abstract Host-specific legume-rhizobium symbiosis is strictly controlled by rhizobial type III effectors (T3Es) in some cases. Here, we demonstrated that the symbiosis of Vigna radiata (mung bean) with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 is determined by NopE, and this symbiosis is highly dependent on host genotype. NopE specifically triggered incompatibility with V. radiata cv. KPS2, but it promoted nodulation in other varieties of V. radiata, including KPS1. Interestingly, NopE1 and its paralogue NopE2, which exhibits calcium-dependent autocleavage, yield similar results in modulating KPS1 nodulation. Furthermore, NopE is required for early infection and nodule organogenesis in compatible plants. Evolutionary analysis revealed that NopE is highly conserved among bradyrhizobia and plant-associated endophytic and pathogenic bacteria. Our findings suggest that V. radiata and B. diazoefficiens USDA110 may use NopE to optimize their symbiotic interactions by reducing phytohormone-mediated ETI-type (PmETI) responses via salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis suppression.

Increasing evidence suggests that the plant rhizosphere may recruit beneficial microbes to suppress soil-borne pathogens, but microbiome assembly due to foliar pathogen infection and ecological mechanisms that govern microbiome assembly and functions in the diseased host are not fully understood. To provide a comprehensive view of the rice-associated microbiome, we compared bacterial and fungal communities of healthy rice and those infected with Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of blast disease. We found that the soil had a greater diversity of bacterial and fungal communities than plant endospheric communities. There was no significant dysbiosis of bacterial and fungal microbiome diversity due to disease, but it caused a substantial alteration of bacterial community structure in the root and rhizosphere compartments. The pathobiome analysis showed that the microbiome community structure of leaf and grain tissues was changed markedly at the pathogen infection site, although the alpha diversity did not change. Correspondingly, the relative abundances of some bacteria and fungi were clearly altered in symptomatic tissues. We noted an increase in Rhizobium bacteria and a decline of Tylospora, Clohesyomyces, and Penicillium fungi in the symptomatic leaf and grain tissues from both locations. According to the inferred microbial network, several direct interactions between M. oryzae and other microbes were identified. The majority of edges in the interaction network were positive in diseased samples; contrastingly, the number of edges was much lower in the healthy samples. With source tracking analysis, we observed a sharp contrast in the source of root endosphere bacteria due to Magnaporthe infection. Whereas the majority (71%) of healthy root bacteria could be tracked from the soil, only a very small portion (17%) could be tracked from the soil for diseased samples. These results advanced our understanding and provided potential ideas and a theoretical basis for studying pathobiome and exploiting the microbiome for sustainable agriculture.

This study aimed to determine the effect of sulfur (S) application on a root-associated microbial community resulting in a rhizosphere microbiome with better nutrient mobilizing capacity. Soybean plants were cultivated with or without S application, the organic acids secreted from the roots were compared. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA was used to analyze the effect of S on microbial community structure of the soybean rhizosphere. Several plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) isolated from the rhizosphere were identified that can be harnessed for crop productivity. The amount of malic acid secreted from the soybean roots was significantly induced by S application. According to the microbiota analysis, the relative abundance of Polaromonas, identified to have positive association with malic acid, and arylsulfatase-producing Pseudomonas, were increased in S-applied soil. Burkholderia sp. JSA5, obtained from S-applied soil, showed multiple nutrient-mobilizing traits among the isolates. In this study, S application affected the soybean rhizosphere bacterial community structure, suggesting the contribution of changing plant conditions such as in the increase in organic acid secretion. Not only the shift of the microbiota but also isolated strains from S-fertilized soil showed PGPB activity, as well as isolated bacteria that have the potential to be harnessed for crop productivity.

Abstract Objective Increasing reports suggest a role for immunological mechanisms in febrile infection‐related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES). The objective of this study was to elucidate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal dexamethasone therapy (IT‐DEX). Methods We assessed six pediatric patients with FIRES who were administered add‐on IT‐DEX in the acute (n = 5) and chronic (n = 1) phases. We evaluated clinical courses and prognosis. We measured cytokines/chemokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from FIRES patients at several points, including pre‐ and post‐IT‐DEX, and compared them with control patients with chronic epilepsy (n = 12, for cytokines/chemokines) or with noninflammatory neurological disease (NIND, n = 13, for neopterin). Results Anesthesia was weaned after a median of 5.5 days from IT‐DEX initiation (n = 6). There was a positive correlation between the duration from the disease onset to the introduction of IT‐DEX and the length of ICU stay and the duration of mechanical ventilation. No patient experienced severe adverse events. Seizure spreading and background activities on electroencephalography were improved after IT‐DEX in all patients. The levels of CXCL10, CXCL9, IFN‐γ, and neopterin at pre‐IT‐DEX were significantly elevated compared to levels in epilepsy controls, and CXCL10 and neopterin were significantly decreased post‐IT‐DEX, but were still higher compared to patients with chronic epilepsy. IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐1β were significantly elevated before IT‐DEX compared to epilepsy controls, though there was no significant decrease post‐treatment. Interpretation IT‐DEX represents a therapeutic option for patients with FIRES that could shorten the duration of the critical stage of the disease. The effect of IT‐DEX on FIRES might include cytokine‐independent mechanisms.

Abstract Objective Kinesin family member 5A (KIF5A) is a molecular motor protein responsible for intracellular transport, specifically in neurons. While abnormalities in the KIF5A gene have been reported in the onset of various neurological diseases, there are no studies demonstrating an association between this gene and West syndrome. Methods In the case presented here, epileptic spasms appeared at 7 months; electroencephalogram (EEG) investigation confirmed hypsarrhythmia, resulting in a diagnosis of West syndrome. The patient exhibited peculiar facies, hypotonia, failure to thrive, and severe global developmental delay. Results Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed severe delayed myelination. 123I‐iomazenil SPECT image at 7 months demonstrated decreased accumulation in bilateral areas, including the primary somatosensory and motor cortices, and the primary and association visual areas compared to an age‐matched control. Whole exome sequencing analysis demonstrated a novel de novo heterozygous missense variant in KIF5A, (NM_004984.4:c.710A>T: p. Glu237Val). Significance It was concluded that the KIF5A variant impaired the transport of GABAA receptors to the cell membrane surface, thus leading to an imbalance of these receptors between regions of the cerebrum and resulting in the onset of epilepsy.

Abstract Legume plants form a root-nodule symbiosis with rhizobia. This symbiosis establishment generally relies on rhizobium-produced Nod factors (NFs) and their perception by leguminous receptors (NFRs) that trigger nodulation. However, certain rhizobia hijack leguminous nodulation signalling via their type III secretion system, which functions in pathogenic bacteria to deliver effector proteins into host cells. Here, we report that rhizobia use pathogenic-like effectors to hijack legume nodulation signalling. The rhizobial effector Bel2-5 resembles the XopD effector of the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris and could induce nitrogen-fixing nodules on soybean nfr mutant. The soybean root transcriptome revealed that Bel2-5 induces expression of cytokinin-related genes, which are important for nodule organogenesis and represses ethylene- and defense-related genes that are deleterious to nodulation. Remarkably, Bel2-5 introduction into a strain unable to nodulate soybean mutant affected in NF perception conferred nodulation ability. Our findings show that rhizobia employ and have customized pathogenic effectors to promote leguminous nodulation signalling.

The improvement of phosphorus (P) use efficiency (PUE) is a critical problem in crop production because of phosphorus’ scarcity. Especially in strongly weathered soil with a high P fixation capacity, a low PUE generally limits plant growth. Here, in a 70-day pigeon pea cultivation pot experiment using Ultisols, we evaluated the effects of Rhizobium inoculation (−I/+I) on the plant growth, rhizosphere, bulk soil P dynamics, and plant root P acquisition characteristics, with or without P fertilization (0P: no P application; 50SSP:50 kg P ha−1 with single superphosphate). The combination of Rhizobium inoculation with P fertilization (50SSP + I) increased the plant growth, P uptake, and organic acid content per pot by 63%, 41%, and 130%, respectively, but not without P fertilization (0P + I). The labile and moderately labile inorganic P (NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi) contents were higher (55% and 44%, respectively) in the rhizosphere soil than those in the bulk soil in the 50SSP + I treatment, indicating the efficient solubilization of the applied P under the 50SSP + I treatment. The fertilized PUE was higher in the 50SSP + I treatment (26%) than that in the 50SSP−I treatment (15%). Thus, these results suggest that Rhizobium inoculation with 50SSP should stimulate plant root P acquisition characteristics, leading to the solubilization of applied P in the rhizosphere and efficient plant P uptake. In conclusion, the 50SSP + I treatment effectively improved the PUE of pigeon peas in strongly weathered soil.

Genetic and physiological characterization of bacteria derived from nodules of leguminous plants in the exploration of biofertilizer is of paramount importance from agricultural and environmental perspectives. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of 84 isolates derived from Bangladeshi soils revealed an unpredictably diverse array of nodule-forming and endosymbiotic bacteria—mostly belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium. A sequence analysis of the symbiotic genes (nifH and nodD1) revealed similarities with the 16S rRNA gene tree, with few discrepancies. A phylogenetic analysis of the partial rrn operon (16S-ITS-23S) and multi-locus sequence analysis of atpD, glnII, and gyrB identified that the Bradyrhizobium isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium liaoningense and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense species. In the pot experiment, several isolates showed better activity than B. diazoefficiens USDA110, and the Bho-P2-B2-S1-51 isolate of B. liaoningense showed significantly higher acetylene reduction activity in both Glycine max cv. Enrei and Binasoybean-3 varieties and biomass production increased by 9% in the Binasoybean-3 variety. Tha-P2-B1-S1-68 isolate of B. diazoefficiens significantly enhanced shoot length and induced 10% biomass production in Binasoybean-3. These isolates grew at 1–4% NaCl concentration and pH 4.5–10 and survived at 45 °C, making the isolates potential candidates for eco-friendly soybean biofertilizers in salty and tropical regions.

In a natural ecosystem, endophytic fungi in the internal tissues of plants help to improve the growth of the host plants and to decrease the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stresses without having adverse effects. In Japan, Vicia villosa (hairy vetch), a legume plant with a high capacity to fix nitrogen, is usually used as a cover crop before soybeans to enhance the fertility and structure of the soil. This study aimed to isolate endophytic fungi associated with different tissues of hairy vetch and to evaluate their potential for growth-promoting and biocontrol effects in plants. Thirty-three fungal endophytes belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were isolated from the leaf, stem, and root tissues of hairy vetch grown under both greenhouse and field conditions. The highest colonization frequency in both the greenhouse and field-grown hairy vetch plants was obtained from the root tissues. All isolates were checked for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore production. The maximum IAA content in the culture filtrate (4.21 μg mL−1) was produced by the isolate hvef7 (Cladosporium cladosporioides), followed by hvef18 (Penicillium simplicissimum) (3.02 μg mL−1) and hvef1 (Cladosporium pseudocladosporioides) (2.32 μg mL−1). Nineteen isolates among a total of thirty-three isolates produced siderophores. Moreover, some of the isolated strains could solubilize phosphate and potassium. Most of the isolates showed antagonistic potential against Calonectria ilicicola. The results of this study show that endophytic fungi isolated from hairy vetch have the potential for application as plant growth promotion fungi (PGPF) to promote plant growth and control disease in sustainable agriculture.

Bradyrhizobium elkanii utilizes the type III effector Bel2-5 for nodulation in host plants in the absence of Nod factors (NFs). In soybean plants carrying the Rj4 allele, however, Bel2-5 causes restriction of nodulation by triggering immune responses. Bel2-5 shows similarity with XopD of the phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria and possesses two internal repeat sequences, two ethylene (ET)-responsive element-binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) motifs, a nuclear localization signal (NLS), and a ubiquitin-like protease (ULP) domain, which are all conserved in XopD except for the repeat domains. By mutational analysis, we revealed that most of the putative domains/motifs in Bel2-5 were essential for both NF-independent nodulation and nodulation restriction in Rj4 soybean. The expression of soybean symbiosis- and defense-related genes was also significantly altered by inoculation with the bel2-5 domain/motif mutants compared with the expression upon inoculation with wild-type B. elkanii, which was mostly consistent with the phenotypic changes of nodulation in host plants. Notably, the functionality of Bel2-5 was mostly correlated with the growth inhibition effect of Bel2-5 expressed in yeast cells. The nodulation phenotypes of the domain-swapped mutants of Bel2-5 and XopD indicated that both the C-terminal ULP domain and upstream region are required for the Bel2-5-dependent nodulation phenotypes. These results suggest that Bel2-5 interacts with and modifies host targets via these multiple domains to execute both NF-independent symbiosis and nodulation restriction in Rj4 soybean.

There has been increasing attention toward the influence of biofertilizers on the composition of microbial communities associated with crop plants. We investigated the impact of Azospirillum sp. B510, a bacterial strain with nitrogen-fixing ability, on the structure of bacterial and fungal communities within rice plant rhizospheres by amplicon sequencing at two sampling stages (the vegetative and harvest stages of rice). Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) demonstrated a significant community shift in the bacterial microbiome when the plants were inoculated with B510 at the vegetative stage, which was very similar to the effect of chemical N-fertilizer application. This result suggested that the inoculation with B510 strongly influenced nitrogen uptake by the host plants under low nitrogen conditions. Least discriminant analysis (LDA) showed that the B510 inoculation significantly increased the N2-fixing Clostridium, Aeromonas and Bacillus populations. In contrast, there was no apparent influence of B510 on the fungal community structure. The putative functional properties of bacteria were identified through PICRUSt2, and this hinted that amino acid, sugar and vitamin production might be related to B510 inoculation. Our results indicate that B510 inoculation influenced the bacterial community structure by recruiting other N2-fixing bacteria in the absence of nitrogen fertilizer.

We present a case of drug-resistant focal motor seizures in which separate cortico-cortical epileptic networks within the supplementary motor area (SMA) proper and primary motor area (PMA) were proven by ictal high-frequency oscillation (HFO) and cortico-cortical evoked potential (CCEP). A 12-year-old girl presented with two types seizures: type A, tonic extension and subsequent clonic movements of the right arm; and type B, tonic and clonic movements of the right leg. MRI was normal and karyotype genetic analysis revealed 46,X,t(X;14)(q13;p12). She underwent placement of chronic subdural electrodes over the left hemisphere. We recorded a total of nine seizures during 10 days of epilepsy monitoring. Type A seizures started from the lower part of the left SMA proper and early spread to the hand motor area of the PMA. Type B seizures started from the upper part of the SMA proper and early spread to the leg motor area of the PMA. CCEPs of both SMA proper and PMA activated two identical routes for evoked potentials correlating with separate pathways. Corticectomy of the left SMA proper and PMA achieved seizure-free without hemiparesis. Within a small homunculus of the SMA proper, separate epileptic networks were proven and validated by seizure semiology, ictal HFO, and CCEP.

A nature farming system is an ecological farming practice that entails cultivating crops without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. To understand the diversity and functions of root microbiomes associated with nature farming systems, we compared the root microbial community of rice under nature farming conditions with those under conventional farming conditions. High-throughput amplicon analysis demonstrated a higher abundance and greater diversity of the root microbiome under unfertilized nature farming conditions than under conventional conditions. The application of chemical fertilizers reduced the microbial diversity and abundance of some beneficial taxa important for plant growth and health. Subsequently, we isolated and identified 46 endo- and epiphytic bacteria from rice roots grown under nature farming conditions and examined their plant growth-promoting activity. Six potential isolates were selected for plant growth assessment in insoluble P- and K-containing media. Most of the isolates promoted rice growth, and Pseudomonas koreensis AEPR1 was able to enhance rice growth significantly in both insoluble P- and K-containing media. Our data indicated that nature farming systems create a distinct root microbiome that is comparatively more diverse and supports plant growth under low-input cultivation practices than under conventional practices. The potential isolates could be exploited as sources with potential applications in sustainable agriculture.

Soil salinity often hinders plant productivity in both natural and agricultural settings. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) symbionts can mediate plant stress responses by enhancing salinity tolerance, but less attention has been devoted to measuring these effects across plant-AMF studies. We performed a meta-analysis of published studies to determine how AMF symbionts influence plant responses under non-stressed vs. salt-stressed conditions. Compared to non-AMF plants, AMF plants had significantly higher shoot and root biomass (p < 0.0001) both under non-stressed conditions and in the presence of varying levels of NaCl salinity in soil, and the differences became more prominent as the salinity stress increased. Categorical analyses revealed that the accumulation of plant shoot and root biomass was influenced by various factors, such as the host life cycle and lifestyle, the fungal group, and the duration of the AMF and salinity treatments. More specifically, the effect of Funneliformis on plant shoot biomass was more prominent as the salinity level increased. Additionally, under stress, AMF increased shoot biomass more on plants that are dicots, plants that have nodulation capacity and plants that use the C3 plant photosynthetic pathway. When plants experienced short-term stress (4 weeks), AMF had a distinct effect on the plant response. For the first time, we observed significant phylogenetic signals in plants and mycorrhizal species in terms of their shoot biomass response to moderate levels of salinity stress, i.e., closely related plants had more similar responses, and closely related mycorrhizal species had similar effects than distantly related species. In contrast, the root biomass accumulation trait was related to fungal phylogeny only under non-stressed conditions and not under stressed conditions. Additionally, the influence of AMF on plant biomass was found to be unrelated to plant phylogeny. In line with the greater biomass accumulation in AMF plants, AMF improved the water status, photosynthetic efficiency and uptake of Ca and K in plants irrespective of salinity stress. The uptake of N and P was higher in AMF plants, and as the salinity increased, the trend showed a decline but had a clear upturn as the salinity stress increased to a high level. The activities of malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as the proline content changed due to AMF treatment under salinity stress. The accumulation of proline and catalase (CAT) was observed only when plants experienced moderate salinity stress, but peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly increased in AMF plants irrespective of salinity stress. Taken together, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi influenced plant growth and physiology, and their effects were more notable when their host plants experienced salinity stress and were influenced by plant and fungal traits.

Plant biodiversity has been studied to explore allelopathic species for the sustainable management of weeds to reduce the reliance on synthetic herbicides. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L., syn Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.), was found to have plant growth-inhibitory effects, and carnosic acid was reported as an allelochemical in the plant. In this study, the effects of seasonal variation (2011–2012) on the carnosic acid concentration and phytotoxicity of rosemary leaves from two locations in Tunisia (Fahs and Matmata) were investigated. The carnosic acid concentration in rosemary leaves was determined by HPLC, and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was used as the receptor plant in the phytotoxicity bioassay. The highest carnosic acid concentration was found in rosemary samples collected in June 2011, which also had the highest inhibitory activity. Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation (r = −0.529; p < 0.01) was found between the inhibitory activity on lettuce hypocotyl and the carnosic acid concentration in rosemary leaves. Both temperature and elevation had a significant positive correlation with carnosic acid concentration, while rainfall showed a negative correlation. The results showed that the inhibitory effects of rosemary leaf samples collected in summer was highest due to their high carnosic acid concentration. The phytotoxicity of rosemary needs to be studied over time to determine if it varies by season under field conditions.

Rice production in Ghana has become unsustainable due to the extremely nutrient-poor soils. It is caused by inadequate soil fertility management, including the inefficient application of fertilizers. A practical solution could be the biofertilizers, Azospirillum sp. B510. We performed field trials in Ghana and Japan to compare the effects of B510 colonization on selected Ghanaian rice varieties grown. The B510 inoculation significantly enhanced the rice cultivars’ growth and yield. The phenotypic characteristics observed in rice varieties Exbaika, Ex-Boako, AgraRice, and Amankwatia were mainly short length and high tillering capacity. These features are attributed to the host plant (cv. Nipponbare), from which the strain B510 was isolated. Furthermore, Azospirillum species has been identified as the dominant colonizing bacterium of rice rhizosphere across a diverse range of agroecologies in all major rice-growing regions in Ghana. Our results suggest that the utilization of B510 as a bio-fertilizer presents a promising way to improve rice growth, enhance soil fertility, and sustain rice productivity in Ghana.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disorder that causes degeneration of anterior horn cells in the human spinal cord and subsequent loss of motor neurons. The severe form of SMA is among the genetic diseases with the highest infant mortality. Although SMA has been considered incurable, newly developed drugs—nusinersen and onasemnogene abeparvovec—improve the life prognoses and motor functions of affected infants. To maximize the efficacy of these drugs, treatments should be started at the pre-symptomatic stage of SMA. Thus, newborn screening for SMA is now strongly recommended. Herein, we provide some data based on our experience of SMA diagnosis by genetic testing in Japan. A total of 515 patients suspected of having SMA or another lower motor neuron disease were tested. Among these patients, 228 were diagnosed as having SMA with survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) deletion. We analyzed the distribution of clinical subtypes and ages at genetic testing in the SMN1-deleted patients, and estimated the SMA incidence based on data from Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, Japan. Our data showed that confirmed diagnosis by genetic testing was notably delayed, and the estimated incidence was 1 in 30,000–40,000 live births, which seemed notably lower than in other countries. These findings suggest that many diagnosis-delayed or undiagnosed cases may be present in Japan. To prevent this, newborn screening programs for SMA (SMA-NBS) need to be implemented in all Japanese prefectures. In this article, we also introduce our pilot study for SMA-NBS in Osaka Prefecture.

To understand the distribution of the cultivable fungal community in plant tissues from nature farming tomato plants, we sampled plants of seven different tomato cultivars and recovered 1742 fungal isolates from 1895 stem tissues sampled from three sites in Japan. Overall, the isolation frequency was low (3–13%) and the isolation and colonization frequencies did not vary significantly as a function of the cultivar. The fungi were divided into 29 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with 97% ITS gene sequence identity, the majority of which belong to Ascomycota (99.3%). The dominant genera of cultivable endophytic fungi were Fusarium (45.1%), Alternaria (12.8%), Gibberella (12.0%), and Dipodascus (6.8%). The alpha diversity of the fungal endophytes varied among tomato cultivars. Ordination analysis performed to investigate patterns of endophyte community assemblages on the various cultivars revealed that host cultivars had a significant impact on the endophyte community assemblages in all the study sites. Some of the taxa Fusarium, Alternaria, and Penicillium were found on all cultivars, while few were uniquely present in different cultivars. The dominant taxa may be adapted to the particular microecological and physiological conditions present in tomato stems.

Understanding the community composition and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in an agricultural ecosystem is important for exploiting their potential in sustainable crop production. In this study, we described the genetic diversity and community structure of indigenous AMF in rain-fed rice cultivars across six different regions in Ghana. The morphological and molecular analyses revealed a total of 15 different AMF genera isolated from rice roots. Rhizophagus and Glomus were observed to be predominant in all regions except the Ashanti region, which was dominated by the genera Scutellospora and Acaulospora. A comparison of AMF diversity among the agroecological zones revealed that Guinea Savannah had the highest diversity. Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) analysis indicated that the available phosphorus (AP) in the soil was the principal determining factor for shaping the AMF community structure (p < 0.05). We report, for the first time, AMF diversity and community structure in rice roots and how communities are affected by the chemical properties of soil from different locations in Ghana.

Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 is incompatible with mung bean (Vigna radiata cv. KPS1) and soybean (Glycine max cv. BARC2) and unable to nodulate either plant. This incompatibility is due to the presence of a functional type III secretion system (T3SS) that translocates effector protein into host cells. We previously identified five genes in B. elkanii that are responsible for its incompatibility with KPS1 plants. Among them, a novel gene designated as innB exhibited some characteristics associated with the T3SS and was found to be responsible for the restriction of nodulation on KPS1. In the present study, we further characterized innB by analysis of gene expression, protein secretion, and symbiotic phenotypes. The innB gene was found to encode a hypothetical protein that is highly conserved among T3SS-harboring rhizobia. Similar to other rhizobial T3SS-associated genes, the expression of innB was dependent on plant flavonoids and a transcriptional regulator TtsI. The InnB protein was secreted via the T3SS and was not essential for secretion of other nodulation outer proteins. In addition, T3SS-dependent translocation of InnB into nodule cells was confirmed by an adenylate cyclase assay. According to inoculation tests using several Vigna species, InnB promoted nodulation of at least one V. mungo cultivar. These results indicate that innB encodes a novel type III effector controlling symbiosis with Vigna species.

Williams–Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a multisystemic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a hemizygous deletion on chromosome 7q11.23. Though at present there is a limited number of reports on WBS patients with tumors, most cases are related to blood cancer in children with WBS. We describe a case of Burkitt lymphoma in a 21-year-old man with WBS. In addition to providing a summary of published reports describing tumors observed in patients with WBS, we present a hypothesis about a possible mechanism of oncogenesis. In particular, we identified some significantly dysregulated cancer-related genes using blood samples from this patient at the age of 19 years (who have not yet developed Burkitt lymphoma). Our findings may provide a new perspective on the relation between WBS and Burkitt lymphoma.