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PubMed2026

"It was good because they have a relationship with us": A qualitative study on low-threshold buprenorphine treatment at syringe services programs.

INTRODUCTION: Syringe service programs (SSPs) reach people who inject drugs with opioid use disorder (OUD) and are novel "low-threshold" venues to initiate buprenorphine treatment. The study investigated patients' experiences with SSP-initiated buprenorphine treatment, which could aid in improving buprenorphine treatment delivery at SSPs. METHODS: The study included 12 participants who completed qualitative exit interviews after a randomized controlled trial of buprenorphine treatment at SSPs. In the parent study, participants received buprenorphine treatment through an onsite model at an SSP or enhanced referral to a community health center based on the randomization sequence. Most participants started taking buprenorphine at home. Exit interviews included participants from both study arms, and the semi-structured interview guide focused on their experiences with clinicians, experiences initiating buprenorphine, prior experiences with OUD treatment, and perceptions about continuing buprenorphine treatment. Four researchers iteratively read, coded, and discussed each transcript, then they derived recurring themes using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants were mostly male, middle-aged, and 50% identified as Latino. Four main themes related to buprenorphine treatment initiation: 1) Onsite treatment facilitated buprenorphine prescription, but some participants also expressed a need for additional support; 2) Precipitated withdrawal complicated participants' buprenorphine initiation in both arms; 3) Participants largely experienced the SSPs as affirming and welcoming; and 4) Developing strong relationships with healthcare providers was critical to successful buprenorphine treatment initiation. CONCLUSIONS: The SSP-based model provided rapid access to buprenorphine prescriptions, but precipitated withdrawal was a common complication. Some participants desired additional support and guidance when they started taking buprenorphine at home. The findings point to a "low-threshold, high-touch" approach where participants receive expedited access to buprenorphine providers at SSPs but also additional support throughout the initiation process to avoid and/or manage precipitated withdrawal. Despite some challenges, SSP-based buprenorphine treatment was highly valued by study participants.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes co-occurrence with pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria throughout wastewater treatment processes.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are recognized hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogenic bacteria. Despite advancements in treatment technologies, the persistence of ARGs and pathogenic bacteria remains a concern. In this study, we analyzed the dynamic changes in ARGs and bacterial communities throughout the treatment processes within an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (AAO) WWTP over one week by using HT-qPCR coupled with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The connectedness index, based on network analysis, showed that the dynamics of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were more strongly associated with potentially pathogenic bacteria than with non-pathogenic bacteria, suggesting that ARG immigration and dissemination in the WWTP were likely driven by potentially pathogenic taxa. The AAO treatment significantly reduced ARGs in final effluent (EF) (∼64 %) and residual sludge (RS) (∼81 %); however, potential hosts of ARGs such as Comamonas testosteroni and Clostridioides difficile persisted with minimal changes in relative abundance and remained detectable in EF and RS. Notably, the abundance of ARGs was lower in RS than in EF, and source tracking analysis identified influent as the primary source of ARGs and potentially pathogenic taxa in EF, underscoring the greater health risks associated with effluent discharge.

Wastewater↗

PubMed2026

Effects of free-weight resistance training based on hexagonal barbell deadlift in older women: A 24-week randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This randomized controlled trial examined effects of a 24-week hexagonal barbell deadlift (HBDL)-based free-weight resistance training program on body composition, trunk muscle function, and functional performance in older women. METHODS: Thirty-two women (67.6 ± 6.3 years) were randomly assigned to an HBDL group (DG, n = 16) or control group (CG, n = 16). DG trained twice weekly for 24 weeks under supervision. Primary outcomes were body composition and isokinetic trunk peak torque and average power at 60°/s and 120°/s. Secondary outcomes were isokinetic knee function, mobility, and maximal isotonic strength. Between-group differences after the intervention were examined by analysis of covariance (α = 0.05). RESULTS: After intervention, DG showed greater trunk lean mass (+0.4 kg vs. -0.2 kg, p = 0.006) than CG, and reductions in body fat percentage (-1.4% vs. +0.3%, p = 0.003), total fat mass (-1.1 kg vs. +0.3 kg, p = 0.013), and regional fat mass (trunk, gluteal, thigh; all p < 0.05). Trunk extensor peak torque at 60°/s (+26.0% vs. -6.3%, p < 0.001) and average power at 60°/s (+38.1% vs. -7.6%, p < 0.001) and 120°/s (+33.2% vs. +0.1%, p = 0.002) improved significantly. DG also showed better eyes-closed static balance and 6-min walk performance (both p < 0.05). Whole-body lean mass and lower-limb isokinetic strength did not differ between groups. Attendance was 89.6% with no adverse events. CONCLUSION: HBDL-based free-weight resistance training is a safe, feasible, and effective strategy to improve body composition, trunk extensor function, and mobility in older women.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into exogenous fatty acid-enhanced halotolerance in Zygosaccharomyces rouxii.

BACKGROUND: High salinity restricts microbial growth during brine-based food fermentation. Although exogenous unsaturated fatty acids improve the salt tolerance of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, the associated transcriptional mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the transcriptomic response of Z. rouxii CGMCC 3791 to palmitoleic acid (C16:1) under high salt conditions. RESULTS: Cells were cultured in yeast extract peptone dextrose (YPD) containing 120 g L-1 NaCl, with or without 20 μg mL-1 C16:1. They were analyzed by RNA sequencing. Principal component analysis clearly separated the two treatments. Using q < 0.05 and |log2 fold change| > 1, 23 differentially expressed genes were identified - three upregulated and 20 downregulated. INO1, MLS1, POX1, MEP2, and SOD5 were among the major responsive genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses indicated that peroxisome-associated functions, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress responses, nitrogen utilization, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling were the principal C16:1-responsive processes. CONCLUSION: Exogenous C16:1 elicited a focused transcriptional adjustment rather than broad transcriptome-wide reprogramming in salt-stressed Z. rouxii. The results indicated that peroxisome-linked lipid processes and redox regulation were candidate mechanisms underlying fatty-acid-associated halotolerance and provided targets for improving the robustness of high-salt food fermentation. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Zygosaccharomyces rouxii↗

PubMed2026

Long-term safety of oral orforglipron in Japanese participants with type 2 diabetes (ACHIEVE-J): a multicentre, randomised, open-label, parallel-group phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, requires further evaluation in east Asian populations with type 2 diabetes, given this group's distinct pathophysiological characteristics. This study aimed to assess orforglipron as add-on treatment to diet and exercise alone or to oral antihyperglycaemic medications in Japanese participants with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This multicentre, randomised, open-label phase 3 study was conducted in 40 medical research centres and hospitals in Japan. Adults with type 2 diabetes and elevated glucose levels managing their condition with diet and exercise alone or with one or two oral antihyperglycaemic medications were assigned (1:1:1) via computer-generated random sequence to receive once-daily oral orforglipron (3 mg, 12 mg, or 36 mg). Randomisation was stratified by background therapy, baseline HbA1c (≤8·5% or >8·5%), and metformin use (yes vs no; applied only to α-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinedione, and glinides). Investigators, participants, and site staff were not masked to treatment. The primary endpoint was safety for 52 weeks, assessed in all randomly assigned participants who received at least one dose of orforglipron. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06010004 (ACHIEVE-J). FINDINGS: Between Sept 28, 2023, and June 5, 2025, 450 participants were screened and 401 were randomly assigned to three groups (3 mg, n=132; 12 mg, n=135; and 36 mg, n=134). 352 (88%) completed study treatment. 339 participants (85%, 95% CI 80·7-87·8) had at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE), more frequently in the 36-mg group (118 [88%, 95% CI 81·5-92·5]) than in the 3-mg (107 [81%, 73·5-86·8]) and 12-mg (114 [84%, 77·4-89·6]) groups. Most TEAEs were of mild (267 [67%, 61·8-71·0]) or moderate (63 [16%, 12·5-19·6]) severity. Discontinuations due to an adverse event occurred in 19 of 134 participants (14%, 95% CI 9·3-21·1) in the 36-mg group compared with seven of 132 (5%, 2·6-10·5) in the 3-mg group and 11 of 135 (8%, 4·6-14·0) in the 12-mg group. Across treatment groups, gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common TEAEs leading to study treatment discontinuation (3 mg: 5 [3·8%, 1·6-8·6]; 12 mg: 8 [5·9%, 3·0-11·3]; and 36 mg: 11 [8·2%, 4·7-14·1]). Level 2 (blood glucose <54 mg/dL) hypoglycaemia events occurred in three of 135 participants in the 12-mg group (2%, 0·8-6·3) and in three of 134 in the 36-mg group (2%, 0·8-6·4) groups. No level 3 (severe) hypoglycaemia events occurred. Outcomes were generally similar across background therapies. INTERPRETATION: Treatment with orforglipron in combination with diet and exercise alone or one or two oral antihyperglycaemic medications for 52 weeks demonstrated an acceptable safety profile in Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes. FUNDING: Eli Lilly. TRANSLATION: For the Japanese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

From pathobiology to prescribing in obesity-driven HFpEF: A systematic review and practical therapeutic framework.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasingly driven by obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction. In this phenotype, the dominant biology extends beyond congestion alone and includes visceral and epicardial adiposity, systemic inflammation, impaired myocardial energetics, endothelial dysfunction, and exertional elevation in filling pressures. We performed a PRISMA-compliant systematic review with structured narrative evidence synthesis to evaluate pharmacological therapy in obesity-driven HFpEF, searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP through December 2025. Eighteen reports were included in the final qualitative synthesis. The available evidence supports sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors as the pharmacological foundation because they provide the most mature outcome data across the preserved ejection fraction spectrum. Semaglutide improves symptoms, physical limitations, exercise capacity, and body weight in dedicated obesity-related HFpEF trials, whereas tirzepatide extends this signal by improving clinical status and reducing worsening heart failure events. Finerenone broadens the therapeutic platform in HF with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, although obesity-specific data remain indirect. Conventional neurohormonal therapies retain a selective role, but they are not the principal biological match for this phenotype. Obesity-driven HFpEF should therefore be managed as a cardiometabolic syndrome with heart failure expression, using a phenotype-based sequence that links diagnosis, decongestion, SGLT2 inhibition, obesity-directed therapy, and selective adjunctive intensification.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Ancient DNA and Human Physiology.

Ancient DNA (aDNA) enables the reconstruction of chronologically sampled genomes from ancient humans, animals, plants, pathogens, and microorganisms, as well as environmental DNA, providing a record of biological changes through time. Improvements in short and degraded DNA extraction methods and low-cost sequencing now enable the generation of broad, cross-regional datasets that expand evolutionary analyses from past population demography to biological mechanisms. By tracking temporal shifts of allele frequencies, integrating functional genomics resources (e.g., gene expression, chromatin structure variation), modeling population demography to separate selection from genetic drift, and aligning genetic changes with archaeological, cultural, and climatic data, aDNA has the potential to link sequence variation to physiological function within their temporal and environmental contexts. In this review, we summarize illustrative case studies from aDNA research spanning complex traits, dietary adaptations, and responses to pathogens and other environmental changes, showing how human biology has evolved under multiple selective pressures through time. These dated signals help triage experimental work and expose mechanisms that are rare or absent in living cohorts. Although some challenges remain, such as geographic and temporal sampling disparities, limitations in data resolution and variant detection, and genotype-phenotype uncertainties, rapid methodological progress and stronger ethical frameworks are expanding what can be inferred, making aDNA a promising tool for refining physiological pathways, their timing, and their drivers.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Reference genome of the Californian trapdoor spider Aptostichus stephencolberti Bond 2008 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Euctenizidae).

We present a reference genome assembly for the trapdoor spider Aptostichus stephencolberti. This species, described in 2008, is endemic to the highly fragmented coastal dune habitats of Northern California from Monterey to the San Francisco Bay Area. Trapdoor spiders are ideal taxa for landscape scale genomic studies owing to their extreme site fidelity and limited dispersal capabilities; these same characteristics make them prone to extinction. Genomic studies of species like A. stephencolberti can reveal novel areas of endemism and high conservation value that may not be evident in species with wider ranges and greater dispersal capabilities. As part of the California Conservation Genomics Project, we constructed the A. stephencolberti reference genome from high quality long-read sequences, scaffolded with proximity ligation Omni-C data. The primary assembly comprises 551 scaffolds spanning 3.63 Gbp, a scaffold N50 of 62.2 Mbp and BUSCO completeness of 95.6%. We estimate 52 chromosomes yet find no (TTAGG)n telomer repeats. Expanding the telomeric repeat search finds an ancestral loss of the repeat from all spiders. Automated annotation using the NCBI refseq pipeline and RNAseq data from whole adults finds 14,067 genes with a BUSCO annotation completeness of 95.56%. Repeat annotation identified 77% of the genome to be interspersed repeats. This resource, the first for family Euctenizidae will facilitate future study and resulting conservation actions of A. stephencolberti and other Aptostichus sp. populations associated with the rapidly changing California coastal dune ecosystem.

Aptostichus stephencolberti↗

PubMed2026

Webcam-Based Real-Time Visual Feedback During Baduanjin Practice in Older Adults: 6-Week Pilot Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND: Baduanjin qigong is a traditional mind-body exercise used to support balance and physical health in older adults. Age-related changes in proprioception may make accurate self-directed performance difficult without external guidance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore whether webcam-based real-time visual feedback delivered during supervised laboratory sessions was associated with differences in webcam-derived 2D pose discrepancy and movement consistency during Baduanjin practice in older adults. METHODS: A total of 31 older adults were enrolled, and 28 participants with complete analyzable records were included in this complete-case dataset (feedback group, n=14; nonfeedback group, n=14). All sessions were conducted face-to-face in a supervised motion-analysis laboratory. Weekly 2D pose-discrepancy values were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model with fixed effects for group, categorical week, and the group-by-week interaction and a participant-specific random intercept. Joint- and movement-specific participant-level 6-week means were analyzed exploratorily using Welch independent-samples t tests. Holm correction was applied across 24 exploratory contrasts (6 week-specific, 8 joint-specific, and 10 movement-specific comparisons), and Hedges g and 95% CIs were reported. Participant-specific weekly slopes and within-participant variability were additionally examined to directly assess longitudinal error drift. RESULTS: The linear mixed-effects model showed no significant group-by-week interaction (Wald χ25=1.09; P=.96) and no significant overall week effect (Wald χ25=6.40; P=.27). Averaged across 6 weeks, the feedback group had an estimated mean 2D pose discrepancy 1.20° lower than the nonfeedback group (95% CI -2.38° to -0.02°; P=.046), although this marginal pilot finding was sensitive to an analytic approach. No week-specific contrast remained significant after Holm adjustment. Nominal right elbow, right shoulder, and right knee differences did not survive global Holm correction. Form 3 showed a lower mean discrepancy in the feedback group (mean difference -3.70°, 95% CI -5.86° to -1.54°; Hedges g=-1.30; unadjusted P=.002; Holm-adjusted P=.04). Direct analyses of participant-specific slopes and within-participant SDs did not support a significant between-group difference in longitudinal error drift. CONCLUSIONS: In this small exploratory pilot study conducted under supervised laboratory conditions, the 6-week trajectories did not differ significantly between groups. A marginally lower average 2D pose discrepancy was observed in the feedback group across the 6 weeks, but no individual week- or joint-specific comparison remained significant after multiplicity adjustment. Form 3 was the only exploratory contrast that remained significant after global Holm correction. Direct longitudinal analyses did not demonstrate prevention of error drift. Larger studies using validated reference measurements, prespecified outcomes, and adequately powered longitudinal designs are required.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dynamics and virulence of Enterobacteriaceae reservoirs harboring blaCTX-M group 1 in community wastewater.

UNLABELLED: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria are ubiquitous and can cause serious infections. Here, we examined untreated community wastewater influent as a reservoir for blaCTX-M group 1 organisms and their virulence potential. Raw influent samples (n = 268) were collected from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) representing dense urban populations. We observed that blaCTX-M group 1 levels were high at all WWTPs and only ~1-2 log10 lower and not correlated to common human-specific microbiome fecal markers, Lachno3 and HF183, indicating a lack of connection to human fecal inputs. Concentrations of blaCTX-M group 1 genes and markers for presumptive host organisms Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were influenced by travel time and season. Amplicon sequencing revealed high diversity of blaCTX-M group 1-9 genes, with 63% belonging to group 1. Selective culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed blaCTX-M group 1 isolates were 26% E. coli, 26% K. pneumoniae, 40% other Enterobacteriaceae, and 8% Aeromonas. Overall, E. coli averaged 3.6E7 cells/L, with 3% of all E. coli found to contain blaCTX-M group 1. Whole-genome sequencing of blaCTX-M group 1 E. coli from wastewater revealed resistance and virulence gene profiles similar to clinical isolates and distinct from other wastewater ESBL-resistant and non-resistant E. coli. Interpretation of wastewater data needs to consider both the existence of environmental reservoirs that contain potentially pathogenic organisms and the strong influence the dynamics of the conveyance system can have on final concentrations measured at the WWTP. IMPORTANCE: The CTX-M enzyme family is highly abundant in nosocomial, community, and environmental settings and is leading to treatment of infections with carbapenem antibiotics, a last-line therapeutic option. The progressive increase of the clinically relevant blaCTX-M group 1 resistance genes in the human population warrants investigation, particularly to understand the establishment and dynamics of environmental reservoirs. This study utilized molecular and culture methods to gain insight into the possible origin, abundance, and dynamics of blaCTX-M group 1 genes in untreated wastewater influent samples. We found extremely high levels of these genes, with Escherichia coli as a major host organism that closely resembled clinical strains, suggesting they are seeded and propagate in sewer pipe systems. The significance of our research is in developing approaches to monitor antimicrobial resistance reservoirs in community wastewater, which could shed light on global burdens and potential transmission cycles and indicate increasing inputs of clinically relevant strains originating from human populations.

E. coli↗

PubMed2026

In Situ Hybridization and RT-PCR Detection of Nervous Necrosis Virus in Fourfinger Threadfin, Eleutheronema tetradactylum, in Taiwan.

Between April and July 2020, suspected outbreaks of nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infection were observed in fourfinger threadfin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) fingerling hatcheries in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan. Affected fish exhibited spiral swimming behaviour and abdominal distension, resulting in mortality rates between 50% and 100%. Histopathological examination showed severe vacuolation in the brain and ocular tissues, with large oval and/or irregular basophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the brain. Phylogenetic analysis of the viral replicase (RNA1) and capsid protein (RNA2) genes revealed high nucleotide sequence identities among the isolates in this study, with sequence similarity rates of 96.9%-99% for RNA1 and 98.2%-99.0% for RNA2 compared to RGNNV reference strains available in the NCBI GenBank database. This is the first detection of betanodavirus in fourfinger threadfin in Taiwan, using RT-PCR and ISH. A positive correlation between elevated water temperatures and disease severity indicates the need for year-round surveillance and genomic analysis to clarify the epidemiology of FTNNV. The data suggest that infected eggs may facilitate the vertical transmission of Betanodavirus. Crucially, utilising virus-free broodstock, alongside routine health screening and environmental control, is essential for mitigating NNV risks in fourfinger threadfin aquaculture.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Olive leaf protein hydrolysates yield gastro-resistant peptides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential: peptidomics, in vitro validation and molecular docking analyses.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves are an abundant olive-oil by-product and a promising feedstock for sustainable valorisation. An olive leaf protein isolate (OLPI) from olive-leaf powder (OLP) was enzymatically hydrolysed to yield seven hydrolysates (OLPHs). All showed notable antioxidant activity as whole hydrolysate matrices (EC₅₀ = 0.11-0.28 mg mL-1); likely reflecting the combined contribution of released peptides and co-extracted phenolic compounds; the 15-min Alcalase product (OLPH15A) showed high activity with the shortest processing time. Its INFOGEST digest (dOLPH15A) attenuated LPS-induced inflammation in Caco-2 cells, down-regulating pro-inflammatory and up-regulating anti-inflammatory genes. Peptidomics identified 7037 peptides in OLPH15A and 534 in dOLPH15A, from which twenty gastro-resistant sequences were prioritised for in silico analysis. Multi-tool prediction and docking highlighted four peptides, GAAGGIGQPL, QSAYPGTGPL, GGGAGGGDGGIL and LDAQFPGVN, with favourable predicted affinity for the TLR4/MD2 complex, suggesting that they may contribute to the observed immunomodulatory response. These findings position olive leaves as a viable source of protein hydrolysate-based ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, advancing the valorisation of olive-oil by-products.

Olea↗

PubMed2026

Viral community in Aspergillus spp. isolated from commercially available fermented dried bonito.

Katsuobushi is a traditional processed seafood product used in Japanese-style cooking, and when it is produced through fermentation by fungi, it is called karebushi. The fungi involved in katsuobushi fermentation are collectively referred to as katsuobushi molds. We previously discovered seven novel viruses from katsuobushi molds and determined their genome sequences. However, our previous explorations used only nine fungal strains available from culture collections, leaving the diversity of viruses infecting fungi involved in katsuobushi fermentation unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to isolate fungi from commercially available karebushi and clarify the prevalence of viruses in the isolates. Karebushi produced by three manufacturers was obtained, and 30 fungal strains (including Aspergillus spp.) were isolated from each. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) fractions were prepared from the mycelia of the isolated strains. Electrophoresis suggested that a relatively high proportion of the isolates harbored dsRNA elements consistent with RNA virus infection (30-70% per manufacturer; 59% overall). Furthermore, dsRNA sequencing identified four novel viruses in isolates of Aspergillus chevalieri and Aspergillus montevidensis: a beny-like virus, a gammapartitivirus, a narnavirus, and a victorivirus, in addition to two previously reported viruses. Notably, this represents the first report of a beny-like virus in Aspergillus spp. This study provides insights into the diversity of viruses infecting fungi involved in katsuobushi fermentation.

Aspergillus↗

PubMed2026

Maternal age as a driver of genome instability: mechanisms linking aneuploidy, mutagenesis and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Advanced maternal age is a well-established risk factor for adverse reproductive outcomes due to increased rates of aneuploidy. However, emerging evidence indicates that the genetic consequences of maternal aging extend well beyond chromosome mis-segregation. Aging oocytes acquire a broad spectrum of genetic abnormalities, including maternally derived nuclear de novo mutations (DNMs) and mitochondrial DNA mutations, together with epigenetic dysregulation of DNA methylation and post-translational modification levels. These changes reflect the unique biology of the female germline in which oocytes remain arrested in meiotic prophase I for decades. Age-related deterioration of key processes, such as erosion of cohesion complexes, altered meiotic recombination, and weakened spindle assembly checkpoint surveillance collectively destabilize meiotic chromosome architecture, directly driving chromosome mis-segregation. At the same time, accumulation of endogenous DNA damage and declining DNA damage and repair processes increase the chances of transmitting lesions that can be converted into sequence-level mutations during the earliest embryonic divisions, when genome maintenance relies exclusively on maternal factors. High-resolution sequencing studies further demonstrate that maternal aging is associated with increased DNMs burden in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Together, these findings support a model in which maternal aging is a driver of genome-wide instability that links aneuploidy and mutagenesis through shared defects in meiotic surveillance, declining DNA repair efficiency, and mitochondrial function. This framework positions delayed childbearing as a multifaceted genetic risk factor that extend beyond aneuploidy to include mutations and other genomic alterations that can impact intergenerational genetic risk.

Aneuploidy↗

PubMed2026

Enrichment of Lysobacter in a long-term organically managed agricultural field with low soilborne disease incidence.

Disease-suppressive soils, in which soilborne pathogens are naturally suppressed, offer a promising model for sustainable crop protection, particularly in organic farming systems where chemical disease control options are limited. Although disease suppression in these soils is considered to rely on biological control, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated soil from a long-term organically managed field in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, where soilborne disease incidence has remained consistently low, to identify bacterial community features potentially associated with this field. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing indicated that this soil harbored a bacterial community distinct from those of nearby agricultural soils. Following the application of organic compounds, the genus Lysobacter, a taxon with known antagonistic activity against plant pathogens, was markedly enriched in response to proteinaceous organic inputs. This enrichment was consistent across sampling times and specific to certain proteinaceous organic inputs, whereas minimal effects were observed on chitin, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, or cysteine. Broader soil surveys indicated that Lysobacter enrichment was not strictly associated with whether soils had been managed under organic or conventional farming practices. Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified 10 co-occurring bacterial genera that were strongly associated with Lysobacter abundance. These findings highlight condition-dependent Lysobacter enrichment as a characteristic microbial response to proteinaceous organic amendments in this low-disease-incidence field and provide microbial insights that may inform microbiome-based strategies for sustainable soil management.

Lysobacter↗

PubMed2026

Accurate quantification of canine mitochondrial DNA copy number from canine blood and brain samples.

Acute brain injury is difficult to evaluate in veterinary medicine and tools to investigate the potential involvement of mitochondrial involvement are limited. The brain is highly enriched in mitochondria and contains thousands of copies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) per cell, but robust methods for quantifying mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) in canine tissues are lacking. We describe the development of a quantitative real-time PCR assay for absolute measurement of mtDNA-CN which was validated in canine blood and brain tissue. To minimize amplification of nuclear mitochondrial insertion sequences (NumtS) and repetitive regions, species-specific oligonucleotide primers were designed following in silico genomic filtering. The assay was applied to a small pilot cohort comprising blood samples from dogs with and without acute brain injury (n = 4-6 per group) and cerebral cortex samples (n = 1 per group) to assess feasibility and biological plausibility. In non-brain injury dogs, blood mtDNA-CN ranged from 98 to 288 copies per nuclear genome (mean 193 ± 72), while values in brain-injured cases ranged from 163 to 228 copies per genome (mean 200 ± 33). Cerebral cortex samples exhibited higher mtDNA-CN than blood, consistent with known tissue-specific mitochondrial enrichment. In a single brain-injured case with serial sampling, mtDNA-CN increased over five days. This study presents a validated assay and pilot data for mtDNA-CN quantification in canine samples. While not powered for biomarker evaluation, this method may enable future studies of mitochondrial dynamics in canine brain injury and metabolic disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Integrative analysis of transcriptome and DNA methylome dynamics during caudal fin regeneration in silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus).

Caudal fin regeneration in teleost fish is a complex, multi-stage process involving coordinated molecular and cellular changes. While the role of epigenetic regulation particularly DNA methylation has been studied in model freshwater species such as zebrafish, its contribution to regeneration in marine teleosts remains largely unexplored. In this study, we integrated transcriptomic and DNA methylomic data to characterize the temporal dynamics of gene expression and methylation during caudal fin regeneration in the silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus). Using RNA-sequencing and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) at three biologically critical time points 1, 3, and 7 days post-amputation (dpa), we characterized the spatiotemporal molecular landscape of caudal fin regeneration. These time points capture the key transitional phases of wound healing and inflammation (1 dpa), blastema formation and progenitor proliferation (3 dpa), and regenerative outgrowth with tissue remodeling (7 dpa), enabling robust detection of the major molecular programs underlying epimorphic regeneration. Concurrently, CG-methylome analysis identified thousands of dynamically changing differentially methylated regions (DMRs). A strong global inverse correlation was observed between promoter methylation and gene expression. Integrative analysis pinpointed key regeneration genes (fgf20a, msxb, sox9b) whose expression was associated with dynamic methylation changes in their promoters or gene bodies. We conclude that DNA methylation is a dynamic and key regulatory layer that acts in concert with transcriptional reprogramming to coordinate tissue regeneration, providing new insights into the epigenetic mechanisms underlying complex regenerative processes in teleosts.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Measurable Residual Disease and the Unresolved Biology of Leukemic Stem Cells.

Measurable residual disease (MRD) testing has transformed the management of hematologic cancers by enabling detection of residual malignant cells after therapy. Current approaches rely on qPCR and next-generation sequencing to monitor leukemia-associated somatic mutations, while multiparameter flow cytometry identifies aberrant leukemic immunophenotypes. Although these methods provide valuable prognostic and therapeutic information, MRD negativity remains an imperfect surrogate for cure. Most MRD platforms evaluate CD45+, rapidly dividing leukemic populations and fail to detect quiescent cells that may survive cytotoxic therapies which efficiently target proliferating hematopoietic cells. Relapse frequently occurs despite deep molecular remission, suggesting persistence of rare leukemic stem cells (LSCs) that are intrinsically resistant to chemotherapy and targeted therapies. The paradox of relapse despite molecular remission could be explained by the presence of very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) which are pluripotent, quiescent stem cells sitting at the top of cellular hierarchy in multiple adult tissues including bone marrow. A pluripotent VSEL divides through asymmetrical cell division to give rise to two cells of different sizes and fates, smaller cell is to self-renew while the bigger is lineage-restricted and tissue-committed progenitor which undergoes extensive epigenetic changes, divides rapidly and undergoes clonal expansion before further differentiation. Dysfunctions of VSELs initiate both solid and hematologic cancers. Based on this view, somatic mutations monitored during MRD assessment possibly represent downstream consequences of clonal expansion rather than the initiating drivers of disease persistence. Thus, exclusive monitoring of somatic mutations and CD45 + leukemic populations possibly overlook rare, small-sized, CD45- VSELs that contribute to therapeutic resistance and relapse.

Humans↗