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Selective and sensitive colorimetric sensing of carbosulfan based on BiO2-x/Bi2O2.75 nanosheets with excellent haloperoxidase-like activity.

The development of colorimetric methods based on directly inhibiting nanozyme activity for pesticide detection has attracted considerable attention. In this study, we report a novel colorimetric sensing strategy utilizing BiO2-x/Bi2O2.75 nanosheets (BiO2-x/Bi2O2.75 NSs) with haloperoxidase (HPO)-like activity for the rapid and sensitive detection of carbosulfan (CBS) in foods. Oxygen-vacancy-rich BiO2-x/Bi2O2.75 NSs with HPO-like activity were rationally constructed. Kinetic studies revealed a remarkable Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) of 0.014 mM for I-, indicating a higher affinity for iodide ions than other reported HPO-like nanozymes, as evidenced by its lower Km. Under acidic conditions, CBS tends to be hydrolyzed to produce reductive sulfide species, which directly inhibit the iodoperoxidase-like activity of BiO2-x/Bi2O2.75 NSs, enabling selective detection with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.18 μg/mL and a linear range of 0.20-100 μg/mL. When the concentration of interfering pesticides and substances was 5 times that of CBS, the sensor remained unaffected, exhibiting excellent stability and specificity. This work contributes to the detection of CBS in complex food matrices, bridging the application gap of HPO-like nanozymes in pesticide detection and providing a promising method for food safety detection.

Colorimetry

Stage-specific ROMO1 in rheumatoid arthritis: predictive immune insights into the MIF pathway and HLA-DR/IL2RA axis via integrated GWAS, transcriptomic, single-cell, and spatial profiling.

Emerging evidence links reactive oxygen species modulator 1 (ROMO1), a key mitochondrial ROS regulator, to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. However, its exact mechanism remains elusive given the conflicting evidence about its specific function. We used a four-level integrative framework combining multi-omics data and literature‑supported mechanistic inference. At the genetic level, Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed to explore potential causal relationships between ROMO1, IL2RA, HLA-DR, MIF, and RA risk, followed by differential expression analysis and machine learning-based feature selection to identify key mROS genes. The temporal expression dynamics of ROMO1 were assessed in RA progression. At the cellular and tissue levels, we integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map cell-type-specific expression and synovial localization of ROMO1-related immune cells and pathways. Finally, our multi-omics findings were contextualized with literature-supported mechanistic inference. (1) MR results were consistent with a potential protective effect of ROMO1 on RA (OR = 0.52) and its potential regulation of risk factors IL2RA (OR = 0.46) and HLA-DR (OR = 0.40). Conversely, IL2RA (OR = 1.42), HLA-DR (OR = 1.88), and MIF (OR = 1.17) were positively associated with RA risk. Additionally, ROMO1 was identified as a top candidate diagnostic predictor with stage-specific dynamics: downregulated in the early but upregulated in the late/remission stages. (2) Single-cell RNA sequencing showed ROMO1's cell-specific expression in CD14+ HLA-DR+ CD74+ monocytes and CD4+ IL2RA+ T cells. Cell communication analysis further suggested that these cells may participate in MIF pathway regulation. Spatial transcriptomics subsequently identified that ROMO1-related cells localized to synovial pathological regions, with MIF pathway changes correlated with RA progression. (3) Finally, literature-supported mechanistic inference suggests that ROMO1 may modulate mROS levels to promote anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage polarization, which could theoretically contribute to reduced systemic inflammation and the alleviation of multi-organ decline in RA. This integrated multi-omics investigation, supported by literature-based mechanistic inference, suggests ROMO1 as a stage-dependent biomarker candidate and potential immune regulator in RA.

Humans

Adolescent health across Asia Pacific, 2000-23: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.

BACKGROUND: The Asia Pacific region is home to more than half of the world's 1·93 billion adolescents (aged 10-24 years). Addressing adolescent health in this region is of global importance, but to date a systematic analysis of key contributors to disease in adolescents has not been done, which is a barrier to responsive action. This systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of adolescent health across the Asia Pacific region, at both the subregional and national levels, encompassing burden of disease, mortality, and prevalence of adolescent risk factors. METHODS: As part of GBD 2023, we obtained estimates for cause-specific mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and risk factor prevalence by sex for adolescents aged 10-24 years and 5-year age groups (10-14 years, 15-19 years, and 20-24 years) across 44 countries and territories (hereafter referred to collectively as Asia Pacific), grouped by seven UN subregions, from 2000 to 2023. We extracted GBD 2023 population counts and estimates of number and rate (per 100 000 population) for mortality and disease burden (DALYs). Risk prevalence estimates were obtained directly from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and binge drinking estimates were sourced from WHO. Estimates are reported with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) where possible. UIs were estimated by running 250 draws of the posterior distribution, ordering the draws, and selecting the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles for each metric. FINDINGS: In 2023, in adolescents across Asia Pacific, there were 637 496 deaths and a total disease burden of 115·8 million DALYs, representing 34·1% of global adolescent deaths and 40·6% of the global adolescent burden of disease. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs; particularly mental disorders) were the leading causes of disease burden and mortality (64·8% of DALYs and 43·9% of deaths). Unintentional and transport injuries were also leading causes of death (14·7% of deaths due to transport injury and 13·3% of deaths due to unintentional injury) and leading causes of disease burden particularly among males in south-eastern Asia. In Melanesia, Micronesia, and some parts of south-eastern Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste), respiratory infections and tuberculosis remained important contributors. Southern Asia had the largest reduction (1·5% per year) in all-cause DALYs over the study period, and Australia and New Zealand (0·2% per year) had the smallest, with females in Australia and New Zealand showing a slight increase contrary to regional trends. Eastern Asia had the largest reduction (2·8% per year) in all-cause mortality rate and Melanesia (0·8% per year) the smallest. Risk factors generally had between-subregion and within-subregion variation; however, some regional trends stood out, with overweight and obesity increasing in all countries across the region, and binge drinking increasing in more countries than not. In 2023, prevalence of smoking in males exceeded that in females in every country, from 40% difference in Timor-Leste to less than 1% difference in Australia. Anaemia prevalence is decreasing in all countries, but female prevalence was higher and reducing at a slower rate than in males. Bullying prevalence was slightly higher in Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia combined, Australia and New Zealand, and eastern Asia compared with southern and south-eastern Asian subregions. INTERPRETATION: Several patterns were consistent across the region: the dominance of mental disorders and NCDs, the universal rise in overweight and obesity (particularly high in Oceanic countries but increasing rapidly in south and south-eastern Asia), and persistent sex-specific challenges across subregions: unintentional injuries and smoking in males, and anaemia in females. Actions to tackle shared risk factors (while accounting for context-specific local health profiles, workforce deficits, cultural factors, and health system capacity) should not be forgone due to local variation. Future research could focus on subnational variation, intersecting inequalities, and multi-sectoral interventions targeting shared risk factors. Priority actions should include regional investment in adolescent mental health services and obesity prevention, targeted injury reduction strategies for high-risk populations, and sex-specific approaches to smoking cessation and anaemia reduction, delivered through local health systems with the capacity and cultural responsiveness to meet local needs. FUNDING: Gates Foundation and Australian Government.

Humans

Efficacy and safety of rib-guided percutaneous thoracic sympathetic radiofrequency thermocoagulation at two different targets for primary palmar hyperhidrosis: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of computed tomography-guided percutaneous thoracic sympathetic radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) targeting the upper versus lateral margin of the fourth rib head for severe primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH). METHODS: Patients with severe PPH were randomly divided into Group U (upper margin target) and Group L (lateral margin target). Outcome measures included 1-year recurrence rate, Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), palm skin temperature, finger perfusion index (PI), compensatory hyperhidrosis and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Both groups (n = 55 each, 110 sides) successfully underwent RFT. No preprocedural PI differences were found (p > 0.05). Immediately post-RFT, PI in Group L was significantly higher than in Group U (left p = 0.025, right p = 0.013). No significant differences in HDSS grades were observed between groups before and at 1 day, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months post-procedure. However, at 6 and 12 months, Group L showed significantly lower HDSS grades (left p = 0.033 and 0.016; right p = 0.039 and 0.025) and lower DLQI scores (p = 0.037 and 0.024) than Group U. Patient satisfaction did not differ within 6 months, but Group L had significantly higher satisfaction at 12 months (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Targeting the lateral margin of the fourth rib head for RFT achieved greater efficacy, better quality of life and higher patient satisfaction compared to the upper margin target.

Humans

Integrated miRNA-mRNA profiling reveals candidate regulatory relationships associated with high-fat diet-induced muscle lipid deposition in black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii).

High-fat diets are increasingly used in aquaculture due to their protein-sparing effects; however, the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of fish muscle in response to high-fat diets (HFD) remain unclear. In this study, juvenile black seabream were fed either a normal-fat diet (NFD) or a HFD to investigate the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with diet-induced muscle lipid deposition. Oil Red O staining and biochemical analysis showed that high-fat diet feeding markedly increased lipid droplet accumulation and crude lipid content in muscle, indicating significant induction of muscle lipid deposition. Integrated mRNA and miRNA expression profiling revealed substantial transcriptomic and post-transcriptional responses to high-fat diet challenge. A total of 271 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 120 upregulated and 151 downregulated genes. Through combined target prediction and expression correlation analysis, thirteen candidate inverse miRNA-mRNA relationships were subsequently identified, and RT-qPCR supported the expression patterns of selected miRNAs and mRNAs. These pairs included miR-499-x-dmgdh, miR-499-y-gatm, miR-727-y-ass1, miR-4649-x-foxo4, miR-9129-z-myl7, and several novel miRNA-mediated interactions involving adk, chst11, lypla2, frem2, kcnc4, wars1, bag2, and capn2. Functional analysis suggested that these regulatory pairs were mainly associated with metabolic adaptation, structural remodeling, and cellular stress responses. In particular, gatm, dmgdh, ass1, and adk were associated with energy metabolism-related processes, including pathways previously linked to Ampk regulation, whereas myl7, frem2, and kcnc4 may contribute to muscle structural maintenance and excitability regulation. Overall, this study provides candidate miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships potentially involved in high-fat diet-induced muscle lipid deposition and adaptive remodeling in black seabream, offering a basis for future functional studies on muscle metabolism and quality regulation in marine fish.

Animals

Genomic history of the Caucasus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of ancient DNA studies.

The Caucasus region represents a unique natural laboratory for paleogenetic research due to its complex topography, long-standing role as a migratory corridor and glacial refugium, and exceptional preservation conditions for ancient DNA. This review synthesizes recent genome-wide studies to reconstruct the demographic history shaping the distinctive genetic landscape of modern Caucasus populations. The analysis reveals a deep pattern of continuity, isolation, and periodic admixture. Early genetic differentiation emerged in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic, forming distinct steppe and mountain population clusters. The Bronze Age was a pivotal period marked by large-scale gene flow from the Eurasian Steppe, particularly linked to the Yamnaya expansion, and interactions with Iranian and Anatolian-related groups. Despite these influences, many populations demonstrate remarkable genetic continuity from the Bronze Age to the present day. Significant knowledge gaps persist, particularly for the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic of the North Caucasus, as well as for the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods across the entire region. Addressing these gaps through targeted archaeogenomic studies is crucial for understanding the fine-scale processes that formed the hierarchical structure and high linguistic diversity of Caucasus populations, offering a powerful model for studying human adaptation, interaction, and language-genetics dynamics in a mountainous environment.

Humans

Revealing the Shared Genetic Architecture of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-Related Traits Through Genomic Structural Equation Modeling.

Although individual traits related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) have been investigated through large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs), the shared genetic susceptibility across these traits remains unclear. We therefore conducted a multivariate GWAS of key MASLD-related traits to elucidate their common genetic architecture. We applied genomic structural equation modeling to model a latent genetic factor (MASLD-F) underlying genetically correlated MASLD-related traits, leveraging their GWAS-derived genetic correlations. We then performed functional annotations, including fine-mapping, transcriptome-wide association study, and cell- and tissue-type-specific enrichment analyses, and conducted Mendelian randomization analyses to identify modifiable risk factors. Our multivariate MASLD-F GWAS identified 50 independent variants across 48 genomic loci. Transcriptomic imputation identified several MASLD-F-associated genes, including ARNTL, NPC1, BTBD10, VDAC2, TSKU, SFMBT1, and ABHD17C. We observed significant enrichment of MASLD-F-related genetic signals predominantly in brain tissues, pancreatic islets, and the adrenal gland. Additionally, six modifiable risk factors and four modifiable protective factors for MASLD-F were identified. These findings reveal a complex shared genetic architecture underlying MASLD components, thereby expanding our understanding of disease pathogenesis and providing novel insights for precision medicine and public health interventions.

Humans

Genetic overlap between estimated glomerular filtration rate and cardiovascular disease identifies potential targets for cardiorenal syndrome.

Heart and kidney diseases frequently coexist, but the genetic basis of this relationship remains unclear. We analyzed genetic data from large-scale studies to investigate how kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) and six common cardiovascular diseases share genetic risk factors. Using MiXeR method, and conjunctional false discovery rate (conjFDR) to identify overlapping genetic regions, we found 478 shared genomic loci between eGFR and cardiovascular diseases. These shared genes are involved in tissue development and structure. We also identified 29 genes that could be targeted by existing medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, such as PRKAG2, PDE1A, and IGF1R. Among these, genetically predicted higher level of IGF1R expression is associated with a higher eGFR, which reflects good kidney function and is protective against cardiorenal diseases, such as atrial fibrillation, and myocardial infarction. These findings reveal genetic overlap between kidney function and cardiovascular diseases, highlighting potential targets for understanding and treating cardiorenal syndrome.

Humans

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

Genetic Screening of Colombian Patients With Early-Onset Parkinson Disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Early-onset Parkinson disease (EOPD), defined as symptom onset before 50 years of age, accounts for approximately 10% of patients and is suggested to have a greater genetic component than typical late-onset forms of the disease. Recessive variants in PRKN, PINK1, and DJ-1, are the most common genetic cause of EOPD, however, most studies are in patients of white ancestry. This study aims to analyze genetic variants in PRKN, PINK1, and DJ-1 in Colombian patients to help address the gap in EOPD genetic research of South American populations. METHODS: We analyzed 43 unrelated patients with EOPD using Sanger sequencing for the PRKN, PINK1, and DJ-1 genes and employed multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification to detect copy number variants. Additionally, long-read whole-genome sequencing was conducted on 3 unresolved patients with age at onset before 30 years of age (long-read sequencing [LRS] patient A-C). RESULTS: We identified known pathogenic single-nucleotide variants and copy number variants in the PRKN gene accounting for 2 patients' disease (4.6% of patients). We observed 2 pathogenic variants in PRKN (c.155delA; p.N52Mfs*29 and c.1083+1G>A) in patient 1, who reported an age at onset of 16 years. We further detected a homozygous duplication of PRKN exons 5-6 in an additional patient, age at onset of 18 years. DISCUSSION: Our study helps characterize genetic contributors to EOPD in Colombian patients, demonstrating genetic forms (PRKN, PINK1, and DJ-1) are rare. Our results highlight a need to include diverse populations in research to improve genetic understanding of disease.

Journal Article

A multi-model genome-wide association study identifies genetic variants underlying resistance to Largemouth Bass Ranavirus (LMBV) in Micropterus salmoides.

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is an economically important freshwater aquaculture species, yet recurrent outbreaks of Largemouth Bass Ranavirus (LMBV) continue to impair production and cause substantial losses. The genetic basis of host variation in LMBV resistance remains insufficiently characterized. Here, we applied a multi-model genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify loci associated with resistance following a controlled challenge with the LMBV-23PY strain. Whole-genome resequencing was performed for 146 phenotyped fish, including 72 susceptible and 74 resistant individuals. After stringent quality control, 877,262 high-quality variants were retained and tested using six GWAS models. Across binary survival status and survival time phenotypes, 32 shared suggestive variants were consistently detected across models, representing suggestive loci for LMBV-23PY resistance. Genes within ±50 kb of these loci were annotated, and functional enrichment highlighted immune- and redox-related biological processes. Three prioritized candidates-GSTT3L (glutathione S-transferase theta-3-like), CGRP2 (calcitonin gene-related peptide 2), and NPPC (natriuretic peptide C)-were associated with pathways involved in oxidative stress responses and immune regulation. Collectively, these results provide insight into the genetic architecture of LMBV-23PY resistance in largemouth bass and identify suggestive variants and associated candidate genes for downstream validation, functional interrogation, and the development of marker-assisted and genome-enabled breeding strategies.

Animals

Integrated exome and mitochondrial genome sequencing reveals the genetic landscape of primary mitochondrial diseases: findings from a large Tunisian cohort.

Primary mitochondrial diseases are a heterogeneous group of neurometabolic disorders recognized as the most common metabolic genetic diseases. They manifest at any age, affecting any tissue or organ, especially those with high energy demands, and are caused by pathogenic variants in both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Here, we aimed to describe the genetic spectrum of a Tunisian pediatric cohort with suspected mitochondrial diseases. We recruited 47 unrelated families who underwent exome sequencing as a first-tier test followed by whole mitochondrial genome sequencing for unsolved cases. Dedicated bioinformatic pipelines and prediction tools were used to determine the potential disease-causing variants. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence and segregation within parents. For the newly identified variants, structural modeling was conducted to study the impact of these variants on protein structure and motions. Dual genome sequencing yielded a molecular diagnosis in 33/47 families (70%) and 18/47 (38%) showed disease-causing variants in genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. Among them, four families disclosed novel variants in FASTKD2, SERAC1 and GATB, which were supported by in-depth in silico and structural analyses demonstrating their deleterious effect. The remaining families (32%, 15/47) disclosed other metabolic and neurological disorders. An exome-first strategy delivers a high diagnostic yield in Tunisia, where consanguinity remains high and simultaneously captures mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial etiologies. Mitochondrial sequencing remains indispensable in the case of an inconclusive exome. Thus, our data expand the clinical and genetic spectrum of primary mitochondrial diseases in Tunisia, an underrepresented and admixed population.

Humans

Oil and gas well development and coccidioidomycosis risk in Kern County, CA, USA: a case-crossover study.

BACKGROUND: Coccidioidomycosis is an emerging fungal disease caused by inhaling Coccidioides spp spores. As spores reside in soil, activities that disturb soil and generate dust can aerosolise and transport the pathogen. The oil and gas industry has been extensively developed in some regions that are endemic for Coccidioides spp and has been associated with dust emissions. Although several adverse health outcomes have previously been associated with oil and gas development, its impact on coccidioidomycosis risk has not been investigated. We aimed to estimate the association between exposure to oil and gas well development (ie, wells in preproduction) and risk of coccidioidomycosis among residents living near new wells. METHODS: In this case-crossover study, we obtained information on reported coccidioidomycosis cases and oil and gas well development between 2007 and 2022 in Kern County, CA, USA. We then compared exposure to preproduction wells within 5 km of each individual's place of residence during both hazard (ie, the 49-139 days before case onset) and control periods using conditional logistic regression. FINDINGS: During the study period, 658 108 (72·4%) of 909 282 of Kern County residents lived within 5 km of at least one preproduction well, and 116 020 (12·8%) lived within 5 km of 23 or more preproduction wells within a single 90-day period. We estimated that the odds of coccidiomycosis incidence were 12·5% (95% CI 5·8-19·6) higher in the 90 days following exposure to at least one preproduction well within 5 km of an individual's place of residence and that the odds of infection increased by 0·7% (0·4-0·9) for each additional preproduction well developed within this distance. INTERPRETATION: These findings support a previously-unrecognised association between the development of oil and gas wells and transmission of coccidioidomycosis, potentially driven by dust generation. Given the prevalence of oil and gas development in the study region, its impact on coccidioidomycosis incidence might be large. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation.

Journal Article

Three-dimensional porous nano-hydroxyapatite@gelatin composite as efficient adsorbent for uranyl ion removal from low-level radioactive wastewater.

The contamination of water resources by uranyl (UO22+) ions poses significant environmental and health risks, requiring the development of efficient and sustainable remediation strategies. Adsorption-based techniques have emerged as promising approaches in the field of UO22+ removal, but the design of cost-effective, high-capacity, and environmentally friendly adsorbents remains challenging. In this study, a three-dimensional porous nano-hydroxyapatite@gelatin (nHAP@Ge) composite was synthesized through glutaraldehyde cross-linking, combining the structural stability of Ge with the high uranium affinity of nHAP. The optimized nHAP@Ge, with a nHAP:Ge mass ratio of 1:0.5, exhibited exceptional UO22+ removal efficiency (97 %), along with high adsorption capacity (364.03 mg/g). Systematic characterizations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods revealed that the porous structure and surface functional groups (-OH, Ca2+, and PO43-) of the material synergistically contributed to binding UO22+ species. Furthermore, the incorporation of nHAP into the Ge framework resulted in enhanced thermal stability while significantly improving the UO22+ adsorption performance. This work presents a scalable, eco-friendly, and recyclable strategy for the effective treatment of uranium-contaminated water, with potential applications in nuclear wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Adsorption

Integrin-Linked Kinases 1, 4, and 5 participate in cell wall-mediated innate immunity to leaf and root pathogens.

The cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway is triggered by plasma membrane-localized receptors in plant cells and serves to orchestrate responses to cell wall damage by initiating compensatory changes under stressful environments. The essential role of CWI maintenance as part of plants' interactions with pests or pathogens and during growth is well known. Nevertheless, CWI pathways remain to be fully characterized. Here, we show that altered Integrin-Linked Kinase 1 (ILK1) expression causes widespread defects in the transcriptional program activated by the bacterial elicitor flg22, primarily in genes associated with cell wall integrity and immunity. These transcriptional deficiencies are recapitulated in mutant lines with altered ILK4 or ILK5 expression. Analysis of molecular and cellular defenses in ilk mutants revealed reduced callose accumulation in leaves treated with bacterial (elf18) and plant (pep1) elicitors and increased pathogen susceptibility. Histochemical analysis of cell-wall-associated staining across diverse cells and organs of ilk mutants revealed modified lignin-associated patterns in the root xylem and altered calcofluor staining patterns in the seed coat. All ilk mutants exhibited altered root morphology due to mechano-touch and high-NaCl stress. Based on these results, we propose that ILKs contribute to pathways connecting elicitor-triggered immune signaling with cell-wall-associated stress responses and that ILK-related defense functions may extend to the cotton root-nematode interaction, while the mechanism remains to be elucidated.

Cell Wall

Subtle cortical thinning in the temporal pole in middle-aged APOE-ε4 and PICALM (rs3851179) AA/AG carriers without dementia.

The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are caused by neurodegeneration and atrophy in particular brain regions, especially in the temporal lobe. However, the influence of genetic risk on cortical thickness prior to dementia onset, remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between AD genetic risk (related to APOE and PICALM genes) and cortical thickness in selected regions of interest (ROIs) in middle-aged individuals without dementia. Sixty-nine (N = 69) participants (34 females, 35 males; age: 55.45 ± 3.19) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They were divided into three groups based on their genetic AD risk: A+ P+ (APOE/PICALM risk variants), A+P- (APOE risk variant, PICALM neutral variants), and the N group (APOE/PICALM neutral alleles). Cortical thickness was analyzed using CAT12 software (surface-based morphometry with the Destrieux atlas) based on T1-weighted MR images in five ROIs referred to as "the cortical signature of AD" in previous studies. The A+P- group had a thinner right temporal pole cortex than non-carriers after controlling for sex, age, and Raven's Progressive Matrices scores. Although this finding did not survive FDR correction across the 10 tested regions, it is consistent with our hypotheses and prior literature. No other differences in cortical thickness were found in the analyzed regions of AD "signature". The observed effect was restricted to single-risk APOE carriers without PICALM risk alleles. Therefore, further research is needed to understand the genetic interplay between these two genes in conferring AD risk.

Humans

Prioritizing Parkinson's disease risk-associated mitochondrial candidate genes via multi-omics integrative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the genetically regulated mitochondrial genes associated with PD risk remain incompletely defined. METHODS: We conducted a summary-data-based genetic epidemiology study integrating summary-based Mendelian randomization (SMR), Heterogeneity in dependent instruments (HEIDI) filtering, and Bayesian colocalization to prioritize mitochondrial-related molecular features associated with PD risk. Mitochondrial-related genes were defined using MitoCarta3.0. Genetically predicted gene expression and plasma protein abundance were evaluated using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data from eQTLGen and GTEx v8, and protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) data was assessed using International Parkinson's Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC) as the discovery genome-wide association study (GWAS) and FinnGen as the replication dataset. Prespecified QTL analyses were interpreted using FDR correction, HEIDI filtering, and colocalization support. DNA methylation QTL analysis, mitochondrial phenotype MR, and single-nucleus RNA-seq analysis were performed as complementary analyses. RESULTS: In the primary eQTL analysis, higher genetically predicted TTC19 expression was associated with lower PD risk (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.74-0.87, PPH4 = 0.80), whereas higher MALSU1 expression was associated with increased PD risk (OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.59-3.06, PPH4 = 0.96). Both associations survived FDR correction, passed HEIDI filtering, and showed colocalization support. GTEx whole-blood data supported the direction of the TTC19 association. No mitochondrial protein reached significance after FDR correction and colocalization filtering in the primary pQTL analysis. Complementary methylation analysis highlighted cg06270993 as an exploratory regulatory signal for MALSU1. CONCLUSIONS: This MR-colocalization study prioritizes TTC19 and MALSU1 as genetically supported mitochondrial-related candidate genes associated with PD risk. Further validation is required to define their functional roles in PD pathogenesis.

Humans

Upscaling Genotyping by Amplicon Sequencing With GBAS-GUI.

Genotyping by amplicon sequencing (GBAS) is a relatively low-cost approach for generating genotypic data compared with established genomic methods, making it highly scalable and particularly suitable for large-scale genetic monitoring projects. However, most existing analytical pipelines are either marker-specific, insufficiently scalable, or lacking efficient data management systems for the long-term integration of genotypic information, limiting the full potential of GBAS. Here, we address this gap by introducing GBAS-GUI (https://github.com/sonnenbe-dot/GBAS-GUI), a pipeline capable of generating GBAS-based genotypic data for a wide variety of loci at scale. GBAS-GUI integrates a graphical user interface with multiple checkpoints to improve accessibility and robustness. It implements multiprocessing architecture and a relational database that links genotypic data with associated sample metadata to enhance scalability and data management. The pipeline further enables marker screening through automated calculation of polymorphism information content (PIC) and implements a strategy to recover homologous genotypic information from paralogous loci with non-overlapping amplicon length ranges. Using multiple empirical datasets, we demonstrate substantial improvements in processing speed, database management and handling artefacts related to co-amplification of unspecific regions and duplicates of the same genomic region. We further show that incorporating the full sequence information captured by an amplicon increases marker information content beyond what is achievable with length-based genotyping alone and expands the analytical versatility of GBAS. Overall, GBAS-GUI provides a robust, scalable and versatile framework that unlocks the potential of GBAS for large-scale population genetic and phylogeographic studies.

Genotyping Techniques