SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Vaccine Development”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

653 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

PubMed2026

Reprogrammed Komagataella phaffii for enhanced secretory expression of human lactoferrin.

Human lactoferrin (hLF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein of the transferrin family derived from milk and mucosal secretions, which exhibits antibacterial, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory functions, and is an important component of infant formula. Conventional methods for lactoferrin expression are often inefficient, primarily due to inadequate protein synthesis capabilities and poor stability within microbial hosts. Herein, a Komagataella phaffii yeast strain capable of high-level secretory expression of hLF was constructed by reprogramming the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and vacuole using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. A dual-expression cassette containing the AOX1 promoter, an α-secretion signal peptide, the hLF gene, and a terminator was integrated into three different sites of the K. phaffii genome. The stepwise strategy combining expansion of the ER membrane involved in protein synthesis with knockout of vacuolar proteases further enhanced hLF production. Subsequently, 0.1 g/L FeCl₃ was added to the medium to reduce the toxicity of hLF and improve its stability. After high-density cultivation of K. phaffii through optimization of cultivation conditions in shake flasks and a 5 L bioreactor, the secretory intact hLF titer reached 2214 mg/L, representing a 76.3-fold increase achieved through these engineering strategies. In addition, antibacterial experiments demonstrated that this secretory hLF had a significant inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast. Overall, the developed K. phaffii protein expression platform enabled efficient production of lactoferrin, demonstrating its potential for expressing other lactoproteins.

Lactoferrin↗

PubMed2026

Penalized Cumulative Probability Model for a Continuous Outcome Subject to Detection Limits.

Mixed-type outcome data occur when the outcome variable's distribution is a mixture of both continuous and discrete ordinal variables. Such mixed-type outcomes are common in biomedical, psychological, and the health sciences, particularly for variables having either a detection or quantitation limit. When interest lies in identifying a combination of genomic features associated with a mixed-type outcome, any method used would require a variable selection strategy for high-dimensional data. Unfortunately, few variable selection methods exist for modeling a mixed-type outcome when the covariate space is high dimensional. This study develops a high-dimensional penalized cumulative probability model (CPM), to allow for the identification of genomic features associated with mixed-type outcome of interest. We demonstrated how such model may be estimated using the iterative penalization procedure-the generalized monotone incremental forward stagewise (GMIFS) algorithm. The Model-X knockoffs procedure was combined with the estimation algorithm to control the false discovery rates (FDR) when performing variable selection. Through extensive simulation studies, our penalized CPM was shown to outperform alternative methods in terms of controlled variable selection performance by achieving high statistical power with the FDR being controlled at the target level. We demonstrate the utility of our method by applying it to predict estimated glomeruli filtration rate (eGFR) in kidney transplant recipients at 24 months post-transplant using baseline gene expression data as predictors. Our CPM model identified five genes associated with this mixed-type outcome which have important links to renal disease, which may provide prognostic guidance for kidney transplantation recipients.

Models, Statistical↗

PubMed2026

Reversed unidirectional transport in a Janus polyurethane/alginate dressing for directional postbiotic delivery to infected wounds.

Probiotic-derived postbiotics exhibit significant potential for infected wound control; however, their effective and localized delivery at wound sites remains a challenge. This study developed a polyurethane/alginate composite nonwoven via electrospinning to establish a postbiotic delivery platform for Bifidobacterium bifidum BD-1 (PU/Alg/BD-1). The beaded fibrous hydrophobic PU layer and hydrophilic Alg layer form a wettability gradient, enabling reversed unidirectional fluid transport toward the wound interface while inhibiting backflow. In vitro results showed that PU/Alg/BD-1 exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and good cytocompatibility with a hemolysis rate of <5%. Targeted metabolomic analysis revealed multiple organic acids in the BD-1 metabolites, which contributed to its antibacterial activity. In vivo microbial analysis verified that PU/Alg/BD-1 effectively reduced the relative abundance of Staphylococcus at the wound site while increasing the proportions of Corynebacterium and Psychrobacter. This microbial modulation contributed to infection control in a rat full-thickness infected wound model, accompanied by a shift in the macrophage phenotype and the downregulation of inflammatory factors including IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β in the PU/Alg/BD-1 group. Compared with the blank control, conventional gauze, PU/Alg, and BD-1 groups, PU/Alg/BD-1 significantly promoted wound contraction and re-epithelialization and enhanced collagen deposition. Hence, this study provides an effective material construction strategy for the application of probiotic-derived postbiotics to promote wound healing, demonstrates the potential of BD-1 to regulate the wound microenvironment and accelerate healing, and thereby offers a novel approach for the treatment of infected wounds.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Inactivation of Aspergillus flavus spores by dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma: Kinetics, physiological properties and proteomic analysis.

A. flavus, as a pathogen, poses a grave threat to both human and livestock health, significantly influencing agricultural production as well. This study aimed to investigate the inactivation effect and mechanism of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (DBD-CP) on A. flavus spores. The results exhibited that DBD-CP effectively inactivated A. flavus spores by the Weibull + Tail model. Furthermore, the physiological and proteomic analysis revealed that DBD-CP destructed cell wall and membrane integrity, causing cellular protein leakage and increasing membrane penetration of ROS generated from DBD-CP. Although intracellular ROS was excessively accumulated, the protein levels and activities of SOD and CAT were decreased, indicating that intracellular redox homeostasis was disrupted by DBD-CP. Subsequently, DBD-CP treatment induced cellular protein oxidation and changed protein structures, resulting in unstable protein structures. Meanwhile, protein synthesis and degradation in A. flavus spores were disturbed by inhibiting ribosome biogenesis, initiation process and NEDD8-mediated UPS, which did not compensate for the loss of protein caused by oxidative damage and leakage, leading to A. flavus spore inactivation. Besides, DBD-CP could attenuate A. flavus virulence by downregulating hydrolytic enzymes and CFEM-related proteins. This study provides novel insight into the inactivation mechanism of DBD-CP against A. flavus spores, which establishes a basis for the application of DBD-CP in controlling pathogenic fungi contamination in grains and crops, promoting the development of DBD-CP in food and agricultural decontamination.

Spores, Fungal↗

PubMed2026

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in Ecuadorian populations: Recurrence of variant 16136 within haplogroup B2.

The identification of lineage-defining variants, frequently found in the coding region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), is essential for refining haplogroup classification. Most mtDNA studies in South American populations have focused on the control region (CR), which has provided important insights into population structure and maternal lineage origins, although information needed for more robust phylogenetic resolution has been neglected. This study investigates the maternal genetic structure of Ecuadorian populations by combining CR and whole mitogenome analyses. Sequences from the mtDNA CR were obtained from 461 individuals (253 Mestizos and 208 Native Americans), while complete mitogenomes were sequenced for 127 individuals to improve phylogenetic resolution by identifying lineage-defining variants present in coding region. Most mtDNA haplogroups in the two population groups analyzed were of Native American origin (A2, B2, B4, C1, D1, D4), with significant differences in the distribution of specific lineages between them. Among Mestizos, African haplogroups (all within the L branches) and Eurasian haplogroups (H, K, R, U) were detected at low frequencies, whereas no African lineages were observed among Native Americans. The results obtained highlighted a heterogeneity within Ecuadorian populations that must be considered when developing mtDNA haplotype databases for forensic purposes. Whole mitogenome sequences enabled the identification of variants that refined haplogroup classifications, provided a more accurate reconstruction of the maternal genetic diversity, and improve the discrimination between Native American and Asian maternal lineages within haplogroup B4b.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Reliability-aware hierarchical learning for Chagas disease screening from 12-lead ECGs: tackling label uncertainty and class imbalance.

Objective.Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) with significant cardiovascular impact, remains underdiagnosed in resource-limited regions. Electrocardiogram (ECG) screening offers a low-cost tool for detecting cardiac involvement, yet algorithm development is challenged by label noise, data scarcity, and the latent nature of infection. This study proposes a robust ECG-based screening framework that explicitly addresses these constraints.Approach.We introduce aReliability-Aware Hierarchical Learningstrategy that calibrates supervision according to data provenance, prioritizing serology-confirmed labels over noisy self-reports. To mitigate data scarcity, we compare a specialized convolutional neural network (CNN) trained from scratch with a transfer learning approach based on a Spatio-Temporal ECG foundation Model (FM). Performance is evaluated across varying data scales, and the representation structure is analyzed to interpret model behavior.Main results.On the official hidden test set of the George B. Moody PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenge 2025, our approach achieved a Challenge Score of 0.163. We observe that while the specialized CNN performs competitively in data-rich regimes, the FM exhibits superior robustness in extreme low-resource settings. Furthermore, performance reaches a plateau imposed by underlying disease physiology. Bimodal score distributions suggest that models distinguish established cardiomyopathy from indeterminate infection, which remains electrophysiologically indistinguishable from healthy controls.Significance.These findings clarify both the potential and intrinsic limits of ECG-based AI screening for NTD-associated cardiac involvement. Reliability-aware supervision and data-efficient transfer learning provide a practical framework toward scalable and clinically meaningful ECG screening systems in resource-constrained environments.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Health and Physical Activity Outcomes in Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: A Systematic Review of Emerging Evidence and a Future Research Agenda.

OBJECTIVES: The World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCCs) promotes the development of urban environments, policies and services that support the health and participation of older adults. This systematic review examined contemporary evidence concerning associations between WHO AFCC conditions and directly measured health and physical activity outcomes among older residents. METHODS: The registered review adhered to the PRISMA protocol for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and applied the Downs and Black quality criteria for randomised and non-randomised research. RESULTS: Structured Boolean searches of five research repositories identified 17 peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2025 based upon original research conducted in WHO AFCC signatory cities. Although most studies reported positive associations between age-friendly features and domains, such as accessible transport, walkable environments, outdoor infrastructure and self-rated health or physical activity, the strength of evidence was limited by methodological inconsistency, variable study quality and reliance on self-reports. Barriers to evaluation included limited use of longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs, heterogeneous outcome measures, subjective response data and the challenge of establishing appropriate comparison conditions in complex municipal settings. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening evaluation frameworks for AFCC initiatives is essential for evidence-based urban health policy and governance in rapidly ageing societies. A research agenda is proposed to strengthen AFCC evaluation through standardised measurement, community-based and mixed-methods research, and a greater commitment to co-designed assessment frameworks.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Educational Effects of Electronic Documents and Videos on Parents' Responses to Acute Illness in Young Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

AIM: This study compared changes associated with electronic document-based and video-based education for parents responding to acute illness in young children, focusing on self-reported knowledge, anxiety, and satisfaction. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-intervention measurements was conducted among 140 adults in Japan who self-reported raising a child under 3 years of age and having experienced their child's acute illness. Participants were assigned to an electronic document group or a video group (n = 70 each). Self-reported knowledge was assessed using a researcher-developed questionnaire, and anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Pre-post changes and between-group differences in change scores were examined. RESULTS: Total self-reported knowledge scores increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.01), with no significant between-group difference. The video group showed significant improvements in items related to symptoms requiring attention at home and information sources, whereas the electronic document group improved in items related to symptoms requiring medical consultation and emergency calls. State and trait anxiety did not change significantly in either group. Satisfaction was high in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both educational formats may support parents' learning about responses to acute illness in young children, although appropriate formats may differ according to the educational content. Information provision alone may have limited effects on anxiety; therefore, future parent education should incorporate interactive and reassurance-focused approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR: UMIN000056457.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Gene expression patterns in the intestines of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) under prolonged high-salinity stress.

The effective development of high-salinity aquaculture for the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius depends on understanding its molecular mechanisms. Therefore, we conducted a 60-day experiment to investigate the effects of prolonged high-salinity stress on the survival, growth, amino acid levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, and gene expression of S. intermedius. The experiment involved the preparation of two groups: one with a salinity of 32 (group S32) and another with 36 (group S36). The results showed that the survival rate of S. intermedius in group S36 was 80% ± 6.7%, while the weight gain rate was only 61.58% ± 1.92%. Both parameters were significantly lower than those in group S32 (P < 0.05). In addition, the GSH, Cys, and Glu expression in S. intermedius was significantly higher than that observed in group S32 (P < 0.05). The transcriptomic results showed that, when comparing groups S32 and S36, 179 differentially expressed genes were identified. These genes were predominantly enriched in pathways related to metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. We highlight the genes CGL, EAAT3, AMY, and NADH, which are associated with the energy metabolism, cysteine transport, and amino acid biosynthesis of S. intermedius. We speculated that S. intermedius exposed to high salinity enhances energy metabolism, as well as Cys synthesis and transport, to mitigate oxidative stress. This study provides a theoretical reference for the healthy aquaculture of S. intermedius in high-salinity environments.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Advances in cereal protein applications for infant and Young child nutrition.

BACKGROUND: The increasing use of plant-derived proteins in infant and young child nutrition necessitates tailored amino acid profiles, high digestibility and strict safety controls. Cereal proteins, such as rice, oat, maize, millet, barley, and wheat, are widely used in complementary foods but face intrinsic limitations, notably lysine and tryptophan deficits, antinutritional factors that reduce bioavailability, gluten immunogenicity in wheat/barley, and inorganic arsenic risks in rice. SCOPE AND APPROACH: This review synthesizes recent advances in processing and formulation strategies, including enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, germination, extrusion, cereal-legume complementation, and micronutrient fortification. Their impacts on digestibility, techno-functionality, iron and zinc bioavailability, and protein quality, including Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) and Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS) are critically reviewed using data from in vitro assays, product development, and clinical trials. KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Processing and blending approaches can substantially improve protein digestibility, amino acid balance and micronutrient availability, and hydrolyzed rice protein holds clinical promise for cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). However, most evidence is preclinical, reporting of protein quality is inconsistent, and industrial translation is constrained by sensory, shelf-life, contaminant and cost issues. We recommend standardized DIAAS-based reporting, large-scale feeding trials, sensory /stability optimization, and targeted exploration of underutilized grains (e.g., oat, millet) with active allergen monitoring. Prioritizing amino acid-focused formulation coupled with strategies to enhance micronutrient bioavailability will accelerate safe adoption of cereal proteins in early-life nutrition.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Game-Based Intervention for Bullying: Assessing the Efficacy of the REThink Therapeutic Game in Primary School Children.

Children's mental health issues can have a lasting effect into adulthood, including enhanced risks for their social and emotional development, as well as their academic performance and overall behavior. Worldwide nearly 1 billion children are affected by the bullying phenomenon, with social, emotional, and economic consequences. In this vein, our study aimed to analyze the effect of the therapeutic game REThink on the improvement of emotion regulation abilities and the reduction of both bullying behavior and victimization in primary school children. Our sample consisted of 75 children who were voluntarily enrolled by their parents, and randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 38) or to the control group (n = 37). They completed the baseline assessment consisting of emotion regulation, irrationality, bullying and victimization behavior measurements, then the children from the intervention group played the therapeutic game REThink. Four weeks later, after completing each level twice, every participant had completed the same questionnaires at the post-test assessment. The results indicated significant changes across victimization for children who were exposed to verbal, physical or social bullying, increased emotional control and lower levels of irrationality, low frustration tolerance to work and demandingness, with small to medium effect size improvements for the REThink game group compared to the control group. The REThink therapeutic game proved to be a promising intervention tool for reducing victimization effects and irrationality, and improving emotion regulation abilities in primary school children. Future research could improve on these results by addressing the timeline stability limit.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Failure modes and effects analysis for clinical implementation of online adaptive radiotherapy: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of radiotherapy is limited by anatomical variations occurring over time scales ranging from sub-seconds to days. Online Adaptive Radiotherapy (OART) addresses this by enabling daily plan adaptation based on real-time imaging. While OART offers improved dose conformity, its dynamic, time-constrained workflow introduces novel failure modes that challenge traditional quality assurance protocols. PURPOSE: This study aims to synthesize the existing literature on Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for OART to systematically catalog risks and identify mitigation strategies. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies applying FMEA to OART workflows. Eleven studies were included, covering MR-guided (ViewRay MRIdian, Elekta Unity), CBCT-guided (Varian Ethos), and MR-enhanced C-arm linac systems. To address heterogeneity in risk scoring methodologies (e.g., TG-100 10-point scales vs. 5-point rankings), extracted failure modes were harmonized into a standardized three-tier risk classification system (Class I: Low, Class II: Intermediate, Class III: High). RESULTS: A total of 300 unique failure modes were identified, with 49.6 percent classified as high-risk (Class III). Analysis revealed that the majority of high-risk failures were concentrated in the online treatment delivery phase, specifically within human-computer interactions and anatomical contouring steps. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the development of tailored, robust QA frameworks that prioritize human factors and process consistency to guide safe implementation in diverse clinical settings.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Uncovering molecular regulatory networks of low-temperature stress response in Trachinotus ovatus via integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses.

Golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) is one of the most economically important marine fish species in China. It is susceptible to low-temperature stress, which significantly challenges its production and supply. Nevertheless, study on the regulatory mechanisms underlying low-temperature stress responses in golden pompano remains limited. Here, we firstly performed a time-series transcriptome analysis to reconstruct dynamic response patterns under low-temperature stress in golden pompano. Transcriptome profiling identified common differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including fos, hlf, and hmgb1, as well as condition-specific DEGs across distinct low-temperature stress groups. Based on cluster analysis, all DEGs were classified into five distinct expression patterns, reflecting diversified regulation of expression in golden pompano during low-temperature stress. Furthermore, condition-specific regulatory modules were explored via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), highlighting that the two module hub genes, serbf2 and lipc, might respond to low-temperature stress by regulating the lipid catabolic process. Subsequently, untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed that glycerophospholipid metabolism was a significantly enriched common pathway, highlighting its crucial role in mediating the response to low-temperature stress. Finally, by integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, a gene-metabolite interaction network associated with glycerophospholipid metabolism under low-temperature stress was established. These findings underscore the significance of multiple candidate genes and glycerophospholipid metabolism in golden pompano's response to low-temperature stress, thereby laying a solid molecular foundation for the development of low-temperature-tolerant fish strains.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Nurse-led acute care post-operative interventions in adult cardiac surgery: a systematic review.

AIMS: The primary aim of this systematic review was to identify nurse-led clinical interventions evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for adults who had undergone cardiac surgery. The secondary aim was to assess the effectiveness of these interventions on post-operative clinical and patient-reported outcomes during the acute inpatient phase. METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic review was undertaken according to an a priori protocol using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA guideline for reporting. Eligible studies were RCTs of adult (≥18 years) cardiac surgery, nurse-led inpatient interventions implemented immediately post-surgery and prior to discharge. Six databases were searched from inception to June 2025. Of 2690 records, 19 RCTs were eligible, representing 13 countries, and 3142 participants. Risk of bias varied, with only two low-risk trials. Interventions were grouped into seven domains: behavioural support; temperature management and comfort strategies; pain and symptom management; wound care; infection prevention; respiratory and pulmonary function; and post-operative recovery, mobilization, and hydration. Across these domains, nurse-led interventions were generally feasible, safe, and positively affected patient comfort, physiological stability, symptom relief, and aspects of functional recovery. CONCLUSION: Nurse-led inpatient interventions contribute meaningfully to inpatient post-operative recovery in cardiac surgery, although the broader cardiac surgical nursing scope is underrepresented in RCTs. This review provides a foundation for developing further high-quality research, peer-reviewed interdisciplinary practice guidelines, and strengthening the scope and recognition of cardiac surgical nursing as a distinct specialty. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO-CRD420251063851.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Systematic modular engineering of genome-integrated Escherichia coli MG1655 for high-level 2'-fucosyllactose production.

2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL), the most abundant human milk oligosaccharide (HMO), has attracted considerable interest for its prebiotic and immunomodulatory functions, with broad applications in infant nutrition. In this study, we report the development of a high-yield, genome-integrated 2'-FL-producing strain based on Escherichia coli MG1655 through systematic modular optimization. Starting from a single-copy BKHT strain (MGC06), we first optimized the copy number of the α-1,2-fucosyltransferase (α-1,2-FT) gene BKHT. Subsequently, the GDP-L-fucose supply was enhanced through coordinated genomic integration of the gene clusters cpsG-cpsB and gmd-fcl, while the multidrug efflux transporter gene mdfA was integrated to improve product export and strain robustness. BKHT copy number was then re-evaluated in the optimized background, with four copies yielding the highest production. The final engineered strain, harboring all genetic modifications stably integrated into the chromosome, produced 17.18 g/L 2'-FL in shake-flask culture. In fed-batch fermentation using a 5-L bioreactor, this strain achieved a titer of 154.12 g/L after 60 h, with a productivity of 2.57 g/L/h. Notably, throughout the entire fermentation process, no antibiotics or inducers were supplemented, underscoring the genetic stability and regulatory compliance of this plasmid-free system. To our knowledge, this represents the highest 2'-FL titer reported to date, positioning our engineered strain as a promising candidate for commercial 2'-FL production.

Escherichia coli↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification, structural characterization, and evolutionary analysis of growth-related gene families in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus).

The somatotropic axis encompassing growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), myostatin (MSTN), and prolactin (PRL) signalling cascades is the master regulator of somatic growth, metabolism, and development in vertebrates. African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), a commercially pivotal aquaculture species, now possesses a chromosome-level reference genome (CGAR_prim_01v2); however, a systematic, genome-wide characterization spanning all five interconnected growth-related gene families has not previously been undertaken in this species. Here, we identified and characterized 15 growth-related genes spanning gh1, ghra, ghrb, Igf1, Igf2a, Igf2b, igf1ra, Igf1rb, Igf2r, Mstna, Mstnb, prl, prlra, prlrb, and smtlb distributed across 13 chromosomes. Complete one-to-one orthology with zebrafish confirmed strong dosage-balance conservation across >120 million years of teleost divergence. Physicochemical analysis resolved a clear biochemical dichotomy between compact, basic secreted ligands (19.88-45.81 kDa; pI up to 10.02) and large, acidic, heavily glycosylated membrane receptors (56.82-270.80 kDa; pI 4.85-5.97). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed 3R whole-genome duplication origins for all paralog pairs, while synteny analysis revealed a disruption of the ancestral gh1-prl chromosomal block in C. gariepinus, a finding that warrants further comparative and functional investigation. This genomic atlas provides the sequence and structural information including exon-intron boundaries, domain architecture, and chromosomal coordinates needed as a prerequisite for future marker-assisted selection and CRISPR-based myostatin-editing efforts in African catfish aquaculture, though translation into applied breeding outcomes will require subsequent functional and expression studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

The global potential of freshwater microbes for plastic degradation.

Plastic pollution is becoming increasingly severe on a global scale, and the potential for biodegradation as a treatment method that is environmentally friendly merits greater attention. A significant number of genes that associated the degradation of plastic (PDAGs) have been identified, however, the distribution of these genes among microorganisms in global inland waters remains to be elucidated. A global-scale meta-analysis was conducted, incorporating approximately 1000 metagenome datasets of inland waters across seven continents. A total of 13,109 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were obtained by means of metagenomics binning, and 22,621 PDAGs were identified from these. Among these recognized PDAGs, phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase (PAD) was the most dominant (n = 16,664), followed by catalase (n = 5931). The predominant hosts for PAD and catalase were identified as Gamma-proteobacteria and Bacteroidia, respectively. The largest number of both PAD and catalase was found in MAGs from North America, while the average gene number in single MAG was highest in MAGs from Oceania. In accordance with the prediction of traits, PDAG-carrying MAGs from Europe demonstrated the fastest growth rate and the lowest optimal growth rate. Furthermore, 25 styrene monooxygenase (StyA) enzymes were identified, which were found to cluster into two distinct groups hosted by Alpha-proteobacteria and Gamma-proteobacteria, respectively. Moreover, 11 MAGs were observed to possess the complete pathway of polystyrene degradation. These results explored the potential of inland water microorganisms as a biological resource for plastic degradation and provided valuable microbial reference information that can be used to develop biological treatment technologies for mitigating plastics.

Plastics↗

PubMed2026

Factors influencing the enhancement of the new iron triangle in healthcare organisations.

PURPOSE: A new paradigm, "healthcare's new iron triangle," has been developed to emphasise the technological perspective of healthcare delivery, focusing on automation, value and empathy. The study aims to build a conceptual model and to identify factors for the enhancement of the new iron triangle in healthcare organisations. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The healthcare organisation is the primary focus point of the current study. To determine the factors, a survey of the literature and healthcare experts' opinions was conducted. The healthcare professionals validated the identified factors. Data for this study were gathered using a closed-ended questionnaire and scheduled interviews. The study employed "Total Interpretive Structural Modeling methodology and Matriced' Impacts Croise´s Multiplication Appliqué´ a UN Classement/Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) analysis" to address the "why" and "how" the factors interact and prioritise the identified factors. FINDINGS: The study found that organisational structure (F8), artificial intelligence (F1), innovation (F2) and human resources (F5) are the driving or key factors of the study. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The study primarily focused on identifying factors for the enhancement of a new iron triangle in healthcare organisations. The scope could eventually be expanded to explore more areas. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Academics and other stakeholders will have a better understanding of the key drivers for the enhancement of the new iron triangle in healthcare organisations. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: In this study, total interpretive structural modeling and cross-impact MICMAC analysis are proposed as an innovative approach to address the new iron triangle in healthcare organisations.

Humans↗