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PubMed2026

From buffalo to human: Klebsiella pneumoniae in high-somatic cell count milk as an overlooked link in the one health chain.

High somatic cell count (SCC) is a critical indicator of udder health and milk quality in buffalo milk production. However, in many low-income regions, SCC monitoring is often underemphasized, allowing a proportion of high-SCC buffalo milk to enter the food chain and potentially compromising food safety and public health. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is a common zoonotic pathogen found in high-SCC milk, yet systematic investigations into the prevalence and characteristics in high-SCC buffalo milk remain limited. In this study, 23 K. pneumoniae strains were screened out from 460 bacterial isolates obtained from high-SCC buffalo milk samples from Guangxi, China, with an isolation rate of 5.0%. These isolates were comprehensively characterized using whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses. The results revealed that 78.26% (18/23) of the isolates shared high genomic similarity with the human reference strain ATCC 13883, and the ST37 clone exhibited a pronounced potential of cross-species transmission. All isolates harbored core adhesion factors and intrinsic resistance genes. Notably, several strains displayed high-risk features: strain 419 carried the K1 capsular serotype, strain 326 possessed a complete yersiniabactin synthesis gene cluster, and strain 320 exhibited a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Phenotypic assays further demonstrated a positive correlation between biofilm formation capacity and virulence in Galleria mellonella. Metabolic pathway enrichment analyses suggested that K. pneumoniae has undergone substantial adaptation to the nutrient-rich buffalo milk environment. Collectively, these findings confirm that raw high-SCC buffalo milk serves as a significant reservoir for high-risk zoonotic K. pneumoniae. While industrial thermal processing effectively eliminates viable pathogens, the resilient antimicrobial resistance determinants within these isolates pose a persistent risk of horizontal gene dissemination along the food chain, providing critical evidence for enhancing pre-processing milk quality regulations within a One Health framework.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Activity of Aztreonam-avibactam and Ceftazidime-Avibactam against Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa causing infections in patients hospitalized in hematology, oncology, and transplant units from United States medical centres (2019-2024).

Immunosuppression increases the risks and severity of infections and is associated with a higher incidence of infection with multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. We evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients hospitalized in hospital units where the frequency of immunosuppressed patients is very high. Bacterial isolates were consecutively collected (1/patient) from 75 US medical centres in 2019-2024 and susceptibility tested by broth microdilution. Enterobacterales (n = 2,407) and P. aeruginosa (n = 485) from patients hospitalized in hematology, oncology, and transplant units were evaluated. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) were screened for β-lactamases by whole genome sequencing. Enterobacterales were mainly from bloodstream infection (BSI; 53.6%) and urinary tract infection (19.9%) and P. aeruginosa were mainly from BSI (37.9%) and pneumonia (35.0%). Aztreonam-avibactam, ceftazidime-avibactam, and meropenem-vaborbactam were highly active against Enterobacterales (99.9-99.4% susceptible), including MDR isolates (99.6-98.1% susceptible), but only aztreonam-avibactam exhibited good activity against CRE (95.8% susceptible). Ceftolozane-tazobactam showed good activity against Escherichia coli (95.7% S) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (92.8% S), but limited activity against Enterobacter cloacae species complex (75.9% susceptible). All (100.0%) carbapenemase (CBase)-producing CRE isolates were aztreonam-avibactam-susceptible while 77.4% were ceftazidime-avibactam-susceptible and 67.7% were meropenem-vaborbactam-susceptible. The most common CBases were KPC (41.7%), NDM (12.5%), and OXA-48 types (10.4%). Metallo-β-lactamases represented 23.5% of CBases and were identified in 16.7% of CREs. The most active agents against P. aeruginosa were ceftazidime-avibactam (95.7% susceptible), ceftolozane-tazobactam (94.8% susceptible), and tobramycin (91.5% susceptible). Piperacillin-tazobactam and meropenem were active against 81.4% and 82.5% of P. aeruginosa, respectively, and aztreonam-avibactam inhibited 78.6% of P. aeruginosa at ≤8 mg/L.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

METTL14-mediated m6A modification of CCNE1 accelerates progression of myelodysplastic syndromes via MAPK-ERK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common RNA modification and plays a key role in the initiation, progression, and relapse of multiple cancers, including hematologic malignancies. However, the role of m6A and m6A regulatory genes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the function and molecular mechanism of methyltransferase METTL14 in MDS. METHODS: RT-qPCR was used to assess the expression of multiple m6A regulators, focusing on METTL14 in MDS patients and cell lines. METTL14 overexpressing and knockdown cell lines were established, and CCK-8, EdU, and flow cytometry assays were performed to explore the biological functions of METTL14.Dot blot, MeRIP-Seq, MeRIP-qPCR, RT-qPCR, and Western blot were employed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. RESULTS: Dysregulation of multiple m6A regulators was observed in MDS, among which METTL14 was upregulated. Elevated METTL14 expression increases MDS risk and adverse prognosis, emerging as a biomarker for poor prognosis. METTL14 promoted proliferation and cell-cycle progression of MDS cells while inhibiting apoptosis; corresponding changes were observed in cell cycle and apoptosis markers. METTL14 regulated cellular m6A levels. Downstream targets of METTL14 were enriched in cell cycle-related pathways, with CCNE1 identified as a critical target. Knockdown of METTL14, actinomycin D, or S-adenosylhomocysteine treatment reduced CCNE1 mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, METTL14 activated MAPK-ERK and PI3K-AKT signaling via CCNE1 in an m6A-dependent manner, thereby promoting proliferative MDS cells' capacity. CONCLUSIONS: This study delineates a METTL14/m6A/CCNE1 signaling axis in MDS progression and suggests that METTL14-mediated m6A modification may be a potential therapeutic target for MDS.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Application of causal discovery of factors driving dissolved oxygen in estuarine environments.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in estuarine bottom waters are a manifestation of multiple, interacting physical and biogeochemical processes, yet identifying their independent contributions remains challenging. Here, we analyze monthly water quality monitoring data from eight stations across Long Island Sound from 1994 to 2022 using a causal discovery framework (PCMCI+) and transformation of forcing variables. Our goal is to identify and isolate variables that causally influence bottom DO and improve predictive models by minimizing overfitting and multicollinearity. PCMCI+ reveals surface-layer temperature as the most important and consistent negative driver of bottom DO, followed by stratification. Wind events exhibit only brief relief by advection and mixing, while river discharge shows no direct causal link to DO, making it less influential than previously thought. Biogeochemical variables, including chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), nitrate and nitrite, and particulate carbon, influence DO through both contemporaneous and time-lagged pathways, often with signs that shift depending on the process. The derived models were evaluated by comparing skill scores, mean squared error, and Akaike Information Criterion. Both model types perform well, with coefficient of determination values exceeding 0.90 at multiple stations using only 3-5 predictors. Our analysis reveals that the best causal predictors are surface-layer temperature, stratification, Chl-a, and particle carbon. This approach provides a scalable framework for improving prediction models and understanding the mechanistic links that control the seasonal variability of DO in estuarine systems.

Estuaries↗

PubMed2026

From human papillomavirus (HPV) infection to HPV-associated cancers in systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The current cervix-focused screening paradigm in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may underestimate extra-cervical anogenital cancer risk. This meta-analysis aimed to quantify the risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-associated cancers in SLE patients. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed (2010), Embase (2010), and Cochrane Library (2010) to August 8, 2025. Odds Ratios (ORs) and Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were calculated. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251122192). RESULTS: SLE was associated with significantly increased odds of HPV infection (OR = 4.12, 95% CI 2.03, 8.32). We further assessed the risk of HPV-associated malignancies in SLE patients. SLE patients exhibited substantially elevated risks across multiple HPV-associated cancers (SIR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.51, 2.38). The risk of cervical cancer was more than doubled (SIR = 2.25, 95% CI 1.75, 2.89). Notably, even higher risks were observed for extra-cervical anogenital cancers, namely vulvar/vaginal cancers (SIR = 5.60, 95% CI 3.71, 8.43). CONCLUSIONS: SLE is associated with elevated risks of HPV infection and a broad spectrum of HPV-associated cancers. Subgroup analyses suggested that cyclophosphamide use, multiple sexual partners, and Asian populations may constitute higher-risk subgroups. These findings highlight the need for additional prospective evidence to better characterize HPV-associated cancer risks in SLE patients.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Evolutionary characterization and expression profiling of ACC and FASN genes in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis.

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) are rate-limiting enzymes in the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, yet their evolutionary relationships, sequence features, and expression profiles remain poorly understood in crustaceans, particularly in the economically important Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). Here, we identified and systematically analyzed ACC and FASN genes in E. sinensis using comparative genomic analyses across 43 species. ACC was highly conserved as a single-copy gene in invertebrates, in contrast to the multiple paralogs observed in vertebrates. Similarly, FASN was generally maintained as a single-copy gene across most taxa but exhibited lineage-specific expansion in certain insect groups. Phylogenetic and structural analysis revealed strong conservation of both genes within crustaceans, supported by multiple conserved motifs and canonical functional domains. Expression profiling showed predominant expression in the hepatopancreas and midgut, suggesting their potential involvement in crustacean lipid metabolism. During the molting cycle, ACC and FASN exhibited higher expression levels during stages C and D, suggesting an increased capacity for fatty acid biosynthesis before molting. In addition, dietary lipid levels experiment revealed that ACC and FASN expression responded dynamically to dietary lipid availability, with increased expression at moderate lipid levels but reduced expression under excessive lipid supplementation, indicating a possible adaptive transcriptional response to lipid status. Collectively, this study provides insights into the evolutionary conservation and expression dynamics of ACC and FASN and improves our understanding of lipid metabolic adaptation in crustaceans.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide SNP data support species boundaries in sympatric Polylepis Ruiz & Pav. (Rosaceae) species from Bolivia and Ecuador.

Species delimitation in the South American genus Polylepis is notoriously challenging due to high morphological similarity and phenotypic plasticity, likely driven by hybridization and gene flow. Previous phylogenetic studies suggested that genetic structure aligns more strongly with geography than with taxonomy, questioning existing species concepts and hampering conservation efforts. We used double-digest RAD sequencing (ddRADseq) to generate genome-wide SNP data for 11 Polylepis species sampled across multiple localities in Bolivia and Ecuador. Population genetic analyses, phylogenetic inference, and network approaches were combined to assess whether genetic structure aligns more closely with taxonomy or geography. Morphologically defined species formed largely cohesive genetic lineages across regions, with species identity explaining substantially more genetic variation than locality. While localized admixture and reticulation were detected among closely related taxa, widespread species showed strong genetic cohesion and clear separation from congeners. Our results indicate that the sampled Polylepis species from Bolivia and Ecuador maintain distinct genetic identities despite localized signals consistent with gene flow. This genome-wide support for current taxonomy highlights Polylepis as a valuable model for studying speciation under gene flow and indicates that multiple geographic sampling will be essential in reconstructing a robust phylogeny of the genus, with important implications for conservation planning in Andean montane forests.

Bolivia↗

PubMed2025

Influence of soil types with different soil-forming process on the qualitative and quantitative detection of microplastics by near-infrared spectroscopy.

Microplastics (MPs) have become a pressing global environmental threat, with soils-acting as sinks for MPs from multiple sources-gaining increasing attention. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy offers a promising tool for MPs detection due to its rapid, non-destructive, and field-applicable features. Although previous studies have focused on the effects of individual soil components on the NIR detection performance of MPs, there is still a lack of systematic research on how the complex background-formed by the coupling of multiple physicochemical properties in natural soils-affects detection performance. This study focuses on soil types with different soil-forming processes, selected five representative agricultural soils to systematically evaluate how the combinations of physicochemical properties they represented affect the performance of NIR-based qualitative and quantitative analysis of MPs in soils. The results demonstrated that soil type significantly affected both the spectral response and detection performance of MPs. Brown Pedocals and Brown Earth exhibited clearer characteristic absorption and stronger linear responses, achieving higher identification accuracy under low (<1.5 %) or zero MPs concentrations and the best quantitative performance (R2 ≥ 0.988, prediction set root mean square error (RMSEP) ≤ 0.110 %). In contrast, Phaeozem and Red Soil were more prone to misclassification at low concentrations, while Fluvo-aquic Soil showed the poorest quantitative performance. This study is the first to reveal, at a holistic level, the critical constraints posed by natural soil complexity on the NIR detection of MPs, offering targeted empirical evidence to support the application of NIR technology in real-world soil environments.

Soil↗

PubMed2026

Rare clinical complications following scorpion envenomation worldwide: A systematic review.

Scorpion envenomation is an important public health problem in many tropical and subtropical regions and may result in rare but life-threatening grade III complications involving multiple organ systems. This systematic review synthesizes published articles from 2000 to 2025 that describe uncommon, severe clinical manifestations following scorpion stings. A total of 71 rare clinical complications were identified, encompassing cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, renal, hematological, ocular, dermatological, and other systemic manifestations. Cardiovascular complications were the most frequently reported, whereas neurological complications exhibited the greatest clinical diversity. Mesobuthus tamulus and Hemiscorpius lepturus were most commonly associated with severe complications, and children younger than 10 years appeared to be at increased risk of serious neurological involvement. These findings highlight the remarkable clinical heterogeneity of grade III scorpion envenomation and emphasize the importance of early recognition, species-specific clinical awareness, and timely management to reduce severe outcomes in endemic regions.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Pervasive hybridization and introgression in Diervilleae (Caprifoliaceae).

Diervilleae (Caprifoliaceae) is a horticulturally important lineage with striking floral diversity and a long history of interspecific crossing, suggesting reticulate evolution. We integrated nuclear SNPs and whole plastome data to reconstruct a phylogenomic backbone for the tribe and to identify hybrids, cultivated accessions, and introgression among lineages. Nuclear and plastid phylogenies consistently recover Weigela and Diervilla as reciprocally monophyletic and resolve four major lineages within Weigela, providing a reproducible framework for revising sectional limits and species boundaries. Cultivated accessions form a well supported clade sister to W. florida and show predominantly W. florida ancestry while retaining contributions from multiple wild lineages, consistent with recurrent crossing, backcrossing, and selection. Analyses of wild populations reveal recurrent hybrids and enable plausible parental combinations to be inferred. Tests across the genome further indicate strong evidence for historical introgression across Diervilleae, with the strongest signals involving W. middendorffiana, W. maximowiczii, and Diervilla. Fossil evidence, divergence time estimation, and paleodistribution modelling together suggest range expansion during the Miocene and Pliocene followed by climate driven contraction, providing a spatiotemporal context for episodic contact, introgression, and the East Asia-North America disjunction.

Hybridization, Genetic↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide scans reveal candidate genes associated with wing morph differentiation in Tetrix japonica.

Wing dimorphism is an important dispersal-related trait in insects, but its genomic basis remains poorly understood in pygmy grasshoppers. Here, we integrated genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses, population structure inference, selection scans, and functional annotation to investigate genomic differentiation between long- and short-winged Tetrix japonica. Principal component analysis (PCA), ADMIXTURE, and phylogenetic analyses revealed weak genome-wide separation between morphs, indicating differentiation on a largely shared genetic background. Genome-wide scans based on the fixation index (FST), nucleotide diversity ratios, and Tajima's D, using 50-kb non-overlapping windows and empirical top-5% outlier thresholds, identified multiple candidate regions across seven chromosomes. The broader long- and short-winged candidate sets spanned 9.35 Mb and 9.37 Mb and directly overlapped 82 and 77 genes, respectively. Candidate genes were associated with signaling/hormone regulation, membrane transport, metabolism, cytoskeletal organization, extracellular matrix structure, and development. Short-winged candidate genes were significantly enriched for ABC-type transporter activity and ATP hydrolysis activity. Because all individuals originated from a single laboratory-maintained population with weak genome-wide structure, these regions should be regarded as candidate loci from a screening-stage analysis that require validation in independent populations and by functional assays, rather than as confirmed targets of selection.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Does high fructose consumption trigger microglia activation and neuroinflammation? A systematic review.

This systematic review evaluated the effects of fructose intake on neuroinflammatory markers in rodent models. The search terms Fructose AND neuroinflammation OR Neurodegeneration OR chemokines OR interleukins OR microglia OR behaviour OR memory OR cognition were used in Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science. Thirteen animal studies investigating fructose-induced neuroinflammation that matched the eligibility criteria were included in the study. Across the studies, 16 inflammatory markers were identified and significantly altered following exposure to fructose. The findings consistently demonstrated elevated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, following fructose administration. Fructose consumption also dysregulated MCP-1, fractalkine, and CX3CR1 levels, thereby promoting inflammatory signalling and microglial activation. Furthermore, fructose exposure significantly increased IBA-1 and CD11b, indicating sustained neuroimmune activation. Alterations in important inflammatory pathways involving TLR4, NLRP3, NF-κB, MyD88, iNOS, and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) were also observed. In contrast, expression of the anti-inflammatory regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) was reduced after fructose treatment. Overall, the findings suggest that chronic fructose consumption induces neuroinflammation through multiple inflammatory and immune-related mechanisms in the brain. These effects appear to be dose- and duration-dependent and may contribute significantly to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment.

Microglia↗

PubMed2026

Integrative multi-omics reveals a fibroblast-centered, ZFHX3-prioritized regulatory framework linking sick sinus syndrome and atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: To define shared genetic and multi-scale mechanisms underlying comorbidity between sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We integrated genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for SSS and AF with Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) expression and splicing quantitative trait loci (eQTL/sQTL), atrial single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, and epigenomics. We identified trait-relevant tissues and pathways, prioritized shared cell types, quantified genome-wide and local genetic sharing, detected joint loci by cross-trait meta-analysis, and linked loci to regulatory programs via colocalization and cell-prioritized co-expression networks. RESULTS: Both traits showed strongest enrichment in cardiac tissue, especially Heart Atrial Appendage. Fibroblasts from the left atrial appendage were consistently prioritized as the key shared cell population. SSS and AF displayed significant positive genome-wide genetic correlation, with multiple locally shared regions, including six major loci. Cross-trait meta-analysis identified eight joint-phenotype SNPs implicating four susceptibility genes. ZFHX3 was the leading tissue-cell-gene candidate, acting as a hub in fibroblast co-expression modules and colocalizing with cardiac regulatory signals. CONCLUSION: Shared liability for SSS and AF is highly tissue- and cell-specific, converging on regulatory networks in atrial appendage fibroblasts, with ZFHX3 serving as a central mechanistic and biomarker node.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Deciphering S-nitrosylation-regulated metabolic networks in postmortem beef based on label-free modificomics: Identification of ferroptosis as a novel quality-related pathway.

This study elucidated the molecular mechanisms of S-nitrosylation on postmortem beef metabolism and quality based on the label-free modificomics. Varying degrees of S-nitrosylation were exogenously induced in beef semimembranosus (SM) muscle. Results indicated that a high S-nitrosylation level significantly increased beef pH and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) while reducing centrifugal loss (P < 0.05). A total of 828 S-nitrosylated proteins and 1458 modification sites were identified, of which 114 sites on 81 proteins (DSNPs) exhibited differential modification abundance, representing an increase of 125% compared with previous proteomics studies. DSNPs were mainly involved in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, calcium signaling, cell structure, and ferroptosis. Notably, this study provides the first evidence in postmortem muscle that S-nitrosylation regulates key ferroptosis-related proteins, including ACSL, CP, and TF, offering new insights into the link between S-nitrosylation and the ferroptosis pathway in meat. Correlation analysis demonstrated that TF was significantly negatively correlated with pH and WBSF, but positively correlated with centrifugal loss (P < 0.05). Collectively, protein S-nitrosylation critically modulates postmortem beef quality through the coordinated regulation of multiple metabolic processes. More importantly, the identification of ferroptosis as a S-nitrosylation-sensitive pathway provides a new perspective for regulating meat quality through protein post-translational modifications.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Metatranscriptomic analysis of viral sequences associated with Culex nigripalpus at an Alabama aquaculture site.

Mosquitoes associated with aquaculture habitats can harbor diverse viruses, yet the viromes of many locally abundant species remain poorly characterized. At an aquaculture-associated site in Auburn, Alabama, we surveyed mosquito populations and found Culex nigripalpus to be the dominant species collected. To characterize viruses associated with this mosquito, we performed RNA-seq on pooled female Cx. nigripalpus and compared complementary bioinformatic workflows for viral detection and genome recovery. One workflow removed host-associated reads by mapping to the closest available mosquito reference genome prior to assembly, whereas a second workflow used fully de novo assembly and viral database annotation. Additional protein-level filtering, cross-workflow comparison, and comparison of Trinity and rnaSPAdes assemblies were used to prioritize well-supported viral candidates. Across the original analyses, 16 submitted accessions corresponding to 12 collapsed virus/name groups were recovered, including Merida virus, Hubei mosquito virus 5, Zhejiang mosquito virus, Hubei virga-like virus 3, Rinkaby virus, Elemess virus, Qingnian mosquito virus, Serbia narna-like virus 2, XiangYun narna-levi-like virus 8, Ecclesville picorna-like virus, and baculovirus-like fragments. Several candidates were supported across multiple workflows, while others were recovered only under specific analytical conditions, indicating that candidate recovery was influenced by assembly and filtering choices. Selected viral contigs were independently supported by RT-PCR amplification. Overall, these results provide a first characterization of viral sequences associated with Cx. nigripalpus from an Alabama aquaculture-associated site and show that comparison across assembly and filtering strategies helped prioritize the most consistently supported viral candidates.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Treatment-related associations of nucleus accumbens connectivity within mesocorticolimbic circuits in depression.

Pharmacological treatment remains a mainstay in managing depression, yet the neural correlates associated with treatment response remain incompletely understood. This study used multimodal neuroimaging to examine nucleus accumbens (NAc)-centered structural and functional alterations associated with fluoxetine and Shugan Jieyu Capsule (SG), a traditional Chinese medicine, in patients with mild-to-moderate depression (MMD). Sixty patients were randomized to an 8-week course of fluoxetine or SG. Depression severity was assessed using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24), and structural and functional MRI scans were acquired at baseline and endpoint. Both treatments were associated with significant symptom improvement. Neuroimaging analyses revealed structural and functional alterations involving the NAc. Changes in NAc-amygdala connectivity showed an exploratory association with symptom improvement in the SG group, whereas changes in NAc-rostral anterior cingulate cortex connectivity were associated with symptom improvement in the fluoxetine group and remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons. In addition, remitters exhibited stronger baseline connectivity between the NAc and ventral tegmental area and between the NAc and middle frontal gyrus compared with non-remitters. These findings suggest that NAc-centered connectivity may be relevant to treatment-related neural changes in depression and may inform future research on imaging-based candidate markers of treatment response and personalized treatment approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered in https://www.chictr.org.cn/ with a registration number ChiCTR1900024988 (date: 08.06.2019).

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide analysis of the plant-specific PLATZ gene family in Taraxacum kok-saghyz and its roles in response to drought and salt tolerance.

Abiotic stress severely limits plant growth and productivity. Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin (TKS), known for its environmental resilience, represents a valuable resource for identifying stress-tolerant genes to improve stress-adaptive crops. Plant AT-rich protein and zinc-binding protein (PLATZ) transcription factors serve as core regulators of plant growth, developmental processes, and adaptive responses to various stress conditions; however, they remain uncharacterized in TKS. Here, we identified 10 TksPLATZ genes through a whole-genome analysis. Phylogenetically, these genes were grouped into five distinct evolutionary branches. Promoter sequence analysis revealed multiple types of cis-acting regulatory elements that are connected with hormonal signal responses and environmental stress adaptation. Integrated analysis of transcriptome datasets and RT-qPCR validation demonstrated that TksPLATZ genes display tissue-specific expression profiles and show distinct responsive patterns to drought and salt stress treatments. Among them, TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2 and TksPLATZ7 were markedly induced under both stressors and were selected for further functional study. We demonstrated that TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2 and TksPLATZ7 localize to the cell nucleus and act as transcriptional activators and repressors, respectively. Phenotypic data from overexpression experiments in plants confirm that heterologous expression of TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2, and TksPLATZ7 enhances the tolerance of Arabidopsis to salt and osmotic stress. These findings provide valuable genetic resources for improving plant tolerance to environmental stresses.

Salt Tolerance↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide characterization of heat shock protein genes reveals thermal stress-responsive candidates in Litopenaeus vannamei.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are conserved molecular chaperones involved in protein folding, refolding, aggregation prevention, and degradation of damaged proteins. However, the genomic organization and thermal responsiveness of HSP genes in the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) remain incompletely understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the HSP gene family and examined its phylogenetic relationships, structural features, duplication patterns, sequence variation, interaction networks, and transcriptional responses to acute heat stress. A total of 34 HSP genes were identified and classified into the HSP90, HSP70, HSP40/DNAJ, HSP60, and small HSP families. Phylogenetic, motif, gene structure, synteny, and subcellular localization analyses revealed evolutionary conservation and structural diversification among family members. Three duplicated gene pairs were identified, comprising two segmental duplications and one tandem duplication. All pairs exhibited Ka/Ks ratios below 1, consistent with purifying selection of varying strength. Sequence analysis identified 295 nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms, of which 12 were consistently predicted to be deleterious by multiple algorithms. Protein-protein interaction analysis indicated enrichment of protein-folding and cellular stress-response functions. RT-qPCR analysis showed significant induction of HSPA4, HSP90AA1, TRAP1, BiP, and DNAJA1 after 6, 12, and 24 h of exposure to 34 °C, whereas DNAJC3 was significantly induced only at 12 h. All six genes reached their highest transcript abundance at 12 h. These findings may provide a genomic framework for HSP genes in L. vannamei and identify candidate genes and variants associated with thermal stress responses.

Animals↗