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PubMed2026

Temporal shifts in gyrA mutation types and sublineage replacement in ST11 Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis over a decade (2014-2023): A genomic epidemiological study in Guangxi, China.

The overuse or abuse of antibiotics drives the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance. Although bans on certain veterinary antibiotics, such as colistin, have proven effective, the impact of fluoroquinolone stewardship on the evolution of the foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) remains unclear. Here, we conducted a decade-long (2014-2023) retrospective longitudinal genomic epidemiological analysis of 441 ST11 S. Enteritidis isolates from Guangxi, China, alongside a global reference dataset of 4297 genomes. Our aim was to elucidate the effect of real-world antibiotic stewardship on the shift of gyrA point mutations and lineage distribution. Surveillance identified three global epidemic clade sublineages (GEC-L2, L3, L4), with the multidrug-resistant GEC-L4 (i.e., GC-c or MMC2), characterized by the gyrA mutation with amino acid substitution D87Y, being domestically dominant (70.07%, 309/441). Following China's 2016 ban on the veterinary use of critical fluoroquinolones, the proportion of the highly resistant GEC-L4 sublineage decreased continuously (from 86.84% in 2017 to 56.00% in 2023), while the less resistant GEC-L3 sublineage (i.e., GC-b or MMC1), mainly characterized by gyrA D87G, increased simultaneously (from 13.16% to 44.00%). This phenomenon might be attributed to the fact that the GEC-L4 sublineage exhibited a higher fitness cost compared with the GEC-L3 sublineage, as confirmed by the competition assay. A Random Forest Model validated that the gyrA mutation with amino acid substitution D87Y was the paramount feature for these sublineages' identification. In contrast, global data showed a continuous increase in gyrA mutations (from 8.63% in 2006 to 68.85% in 2024), primarily D87Y (from 1.44% to 31.15%) and D87N (from 4.32% to 22.95%), correlating with rising average fluoroquinolone consumption. This study provides direct genomic evidence that national-level antibiotic stewardship can drive the replacement of highly resistant sublineages with moderately resistant ones. These findings offer crucial scientific evidence for evaluating the impact of antibiotic management policies and inform strategies for the rational use of antimicrobials.

China↗

PubMed2026

Base editing reversal of radiation sensitivity in NHEJ1 immunodeficiency.

Inherited defects of DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair can result in radiosensitive/radiation-sensitive (RS) SCID (RS-SCID). We applied base editing to reverse NHEJ1 mutations in patient fibroblasts, exemplifying how this technology can help interrogate RS sequence variants.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals heterogeneous stress responses and Mg2+-mediated survival mechanisms in Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus during freeze-drying and storage.

Maintaining the viability of lactic acid bacteria during dehydration and subsequent storage remains a significant challenge. Here, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal the heterogeneous stress responses of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, identifying seven distinct transcriptional clusters across the liquid culture, freeze-drying, and storage phases. The dominant clusters in the freeze-drying and storage were not completely consistent, showing significant functional differentiation. Genomic stability may be important for survival during freeze-drying and storage, while intracellular energy homeostasis appears important for viability during storage. The magnesium transporter mgtB was highly expressed in clusters tolerant to freeze-drying and storage, suggesting a critical role for Mg2+ homeostasis. Further experimental validation confirmed that Mg2+ treatment significantly bolstered stress resistance, increasing immediate post-freeze-drying survival by over 2-fold (up to 92.90%) and post-storage survival by over 5-fold (up to 5.98%). Proteomic data indicated that Mg2+ supplementation correlated with the maintenance of several biological functions potentially relevant to bacterial survival during freeze-drying and storage, including DNA repair, translation, and central carbon metabolism. These findings provide a map of microbial stress resistance through population heterogeneity and offer a potential strategy that may be adapted for enhancing the stability of other industrial lactic acid bacteria products.

Freeze Drying↗

PubMed2026

A combined stimulus of acute fasting and exercise modulates hippocampal mitochondrial quality control in healthy mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Exercise and fasting are recognized for their ability to improve brain health and mitigate neurodegeneration. However, little is known about how these interventions acutely impact mitochondrial quality control mechanisms including mitophagy. METHODS: We examined the effects of a single bout of fasting and exercise (FEx) on hippocampal mitochondrial function and proteomic remodeling in male and female mice. To assess in vivo autophagy dynamics, we combined proteomics with chloroquine (CQ) inhibition of autophagic flux. Mice were assigned to sedentary (Sed), fasting (F), exercise (Ex), or combined FEx groups and received unilateral intrahippocampal injections of CQ or PBS following treatments. Four hours later, hippocampi were collected for analysis. RESULTS: LC3-II levels significantly increased in the FEx group only following CQ treatment, indicating enhanced autophagic flux. Proteomic profiling showed sedentary males failed to mount a robust response to FEx however females exhibited upregulation of proteins involved in the TCA cycle, glutathione metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting greater mitochondrial adaptability. Functional assays supported these findings, females showed increased complex IV activity post-FEx. The mitochondrial DNA / nuclear DNA ratio increased after FEx regardless of sex, and upstream regulator analysis predicted activation of mitochondrial biogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data reveal sex-specific mitochondrial remodeling in response to acute fasting and exercise. Defining these normative responses is critical for understanding how mitochondrial adaptability shapes resilience or vulnerability to neurological challenges.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Characterization of ZIC5 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its association with patient survival.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent malignancy known for its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. The present study aimed to investigate the expression levels and clinical importance of the Zic family member 5 (ZIC5) gene in ESCC. Gene expression data and survival information obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus were utilized. In 176 patients with surgically resected ESCC, immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to validate the expression of ZIC5 protein in cancerous and adjacent tissues. The findings of the present study revealed a significant upregulation of ZIC5 in ESCC compared with normal tissues (P<0.05), which was further corroborated by immunohistochemistry exhibiting a notable association between ZIC5 expression and clinical parameters such as tumor size, invasion depth, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (P<0.05). Survival analysis further indicated that high ZIC5 expression was an independent prognostic factor for poor outcomes in patients with ESCC (hazard ratio=1.519; 95% CI: 1.017-2.269; P<0.05). In addition, bioinformatic analyses predicted that hsa-microRNA-212-5p may regulate ZIC5 mRNA and gene enrichment analysis suggested that ZIC5 may facilitate ESCC progression through involvement in the cell cycle and DNA repair pathways. In conclusion, ZIC5 is highly expressed in ESCC and associated with a poor prognosis, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target and biomarker for ESCC management. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying the role of ZIC5 in ESCC progression.

ESCC↗

PubMed2026

Endocrine Phenotypes and Hormonal Treatment in Meier-Gorlin Syndrome: Report of Two Cases and a Systematic Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Meier-Gorlin-syndrome (MGORS) is a rare cause of primordial dwarfism stemming from pathogenic variants in genes involved in DNA replication. The classic clinical triad is microtia, absent patella and short stature. MGORS can mimic endocrine causes of short stature or delayed/atypical pubertal development. METHODS: We report two new cases of MGORS. A systematic literature search of all cases published up to 31 March 2026 was done to identify the cases reporting any endocrinopathy or hormonal therapy, focussing on growth-hormone-deficiency (GHD) and response to growth hormone (GH). RESULTS: We describe a 14 year-old girl, the first MGORS case with CDC6 variant and mammary hypoplasia. Another 11-year old boy with GMNN variant had severe short-stature with GHD and had significant height improvement with GH. Among 29 cases (out of ~150 published), the classic triad was absent in 18.5%. Short stature was almost universal (median height-Z-score -4.4), with 70% exhibiting delayed bone age, 42.9% low IGF-1 and 35.3% GHD. Among 10 GH-treated cases with response data, 6 had reported improvement in height-SDS/growth-velocity. Those with GHD and delayed bone age were more likely to benefit from GH. Among females, all post-pubertal cases had mammary hypoplasia, while 23.5% had clitoromegaly with hypoplastic labia. Among males, cryptorchidism, hypoplastic scrotum and micropenis were common. However, gonadal hormones and gonadotrophins were normal. Data on the effect of estrogen on hypoplastic mammary glands or labia was variable. CONCLUSION: MGORS should be kept in mind as a differential of multiple endocrinopathies. Cases of MGORS should undergo screening for GHD. Available data, mostly from case-reports or small series, suggest that response to GH has been reported in some individuals, particularly where GHD or delayed bone age was present, but evidence remains very limited.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparative evaluation of molecular technologies for the identification of prevalent non-tuberculous mycobacteria in pulmonary infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM PD) is a burden to public health. Successful management of NTM PD critically depends on accurate species identification and reliable drug susceptibility testing to guide appropriate antibiotic therapy. Emerging molecular technologies offer rapid diagnostic solutions compared to conventional methods, but their performance varies. This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of current molecular techniques for NTM identification and to present a global antibiotic resistance profile. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science for studies published between 2005 and 2024. Studies applying molecular methods for NTM identification and resistance detection in humans were included. Data on study characteristics, diagnostic methods, sample types, sample sizes, identification sensitivity, and drug susceptibility results were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed using R with the meta4diag package. The quality of included studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. RESULTS: The analysis included 49 studies on NTM identification and 33 studies on antibiotic resistance. For species identification, all evaluated molecular technologies (MALDI-TOF MS, PCR-based methods, Sequencing, DNA chip, and DNA strip) demonstrated high pooled sensitivities (>0.92). Subgroup analysis revealed that sample type significantly affected performance for MALDI-TOF MS. Preliminary analysis of antibiotic resistance rates revealed varying patterns. For slowly growing mycobacteria, a significantly high Ethambutol resistance rate was observed in M. avium (69.20%). Among rapidly growing mycobacteria, resistance to Imipenem was notable (54.22%), and Clarithromycin resistance varied significantly within the Mycobacterium abscessus complex. CONCLUSION: Emerging molecular technologies have revolutionized the methodology for NTM identification with excellent performance. However, their performance can be influenced by sample type, particularly for MALDI-TOF MS. The alarming and heterogeneous antibiotic resistance patterns also highlight the critical need for rapid and accurate species identification and drug susceptibility testing to inform effective therapeutic strategies. Key messagesMolecular technologies demonstrate high accuracy for NTM identification.Antibiotic resistance is a serious concern with variations among NTM species and subspecies.Rapid and accurate species identification and drug susceptibility testing are crucial for guiding effective clinical management of NTM PD.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Apoptosis protein markers in comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus and depression; relationships with cognitive performance, incident dementia, and white matter hyperintensities.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are reciprocal risk factors, and both elevate dementia risk. Dysregulation of programmed cell death is implicated in T2DM, MDD, and neurodegeneration, but proteomic markers of apoptosis have yet to be studied as dementia predictors in people with T2DM and/or MDD. This study examines apoptosis markers in comorbid T2DM and MDD, and their associations with cognitive, dementia, and neuroimaging outcomes. The retrospective sample (n = 15,765) consisted of UK Biobank participants (MDD only n = 1230; T2DM only n = 3644; comorbid T2DM + MDD n = 721). Individuals with T2DM + MDD comorbidity had poorer cognitive performance, and a higher 15-year dementia incidence (HR = 4.44, 95% CI = [3.23,6.11]). Among 60 apoptosis-related proteins identified by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment, 41 were significantly up-regulated in comorbid T2DM + MDD relative to controls, and 4 were higher in the comorbid group than both T2DM alone and MDD alone. Tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 10 (TNFSF10), growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein GADD45 beta, tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 6, and RAC-gamma serine/threonine-protein kinase were associated with dementia risk. Nine proteins (e.g. apoptosis-inducing factor 1, mitochondrial, caspase-2, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5, TNFSF10), were associated with white matter hyperintensity volumes in comorbid T2DM + MDD after FDR correction, but none were associated with cognitive performance, atrophy, or white matter microstructural changes. These findings identify peripheral apoptosis markers that were further elevated in comorbid T2DM + MDD compared to either alone, pointing to an important pathophysiological element underlying adverse outcomes in the context of mood and metabolic comorbidity.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Emerging techniques of CRISPR/Cas system in antiviral therapy and diagnostics: Applications, limitations, and translational perspectives.

The CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) system is a versatile technology for developing antiviral medicines and editing viral genomes in both diagnostics and vaccine synthesis. Emerging insights into class 2 effectors, such as Cas9, Cas12, and Cas13, which target viral DNA and RNA, have revolutionized vaccines against viruses such as HIV, HPV, HBV, and EBV. Innovative diagnostic techniques such as SHERLOCK, DETECTR, and FELUDA have demonstrated system's diversity and accuracy in detecting the virus markers, supporting clinical decision-making, indicating adaptability and precision of CRISPR. This review critically evaluates CRISPR's role in RNA editing, emphasizing its importance for functional genomics and development of recombinant vaccines. Translational challenges are critically discussed, including off-target effects, delivery limitations, and ethical issues, for which unique approaches such as high-fidelity Cas variants, non-viral delivery systems, and bioethical frameworks are evaluated to address these limitations. This review also covers other social implications, such as accessibility and biosecurity risks, associated with CRISPR technologies Collectively, these advances underscore the transformative potential of CRISPR technologies in shaping next-generation antiviral diagnostics and therapeutics.

CRISPR-Cas Systems↗

PubMed2026

From host response to genomic targets: electrochemical biosensing of tuberculosis biomarkers.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of death from a single infectious agent worldwide, with timely diagnosis continuing to be a major challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. Conventional TB diagnostic methods are limited by low sensitivity, long turnaround times, and an inability to reliably differentiate latent from active disease. Biomarker-based diagnostic strategies have therefore gained increasing attention as they offer the potential to improve early detection, disease differentiation, and treatment monitoring. Herein, we examine electrochemical biosensing strategies for TB diagnostics using a biomarker-class-driven framework, covering host-response biomarkers (IFN-γ and TNF-α), pathogen-derived antigens (ESAT6, CFP10, CFP10-ESAT6, MPT64, Ag85, HspX and LpqH), cell-wall signatures and whole-cell markers (LAM and whole cell Mtb), and genomic markers (Mtb DNA and IS6110). Through structured comparison of recognition elements, biointerface designs, signal amplification strategies, electrochemical techniques, matrices, and validation levels, this review identifies the most promising technical approaches for different TB biomarker classes. It further highlights key translational bottlenecks, including limited clinical validation, buffer-based testing, complex multistep amplification, redox-probe dependence, matrix fouling, and insufficient evidence of manufacturability. This review therefore provides practical guidance for developing electrochemical TB biosensors that are analytically sensitive, clinically relevant, and suitable for decentralized diagnostic applications.

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMed2026

Dealcoholized muscadine wine improved skin elasticity and oxidative stress biomarkers without affecting gut microbiome in women over 40 in a randomized controlled trial.

Muscadine wine has a unique polyphenol profile distinct from that of common wine, and limited research exists on its health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the effects of intake of dealcoholized muscadine wine (DMW) on skin health, oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarkers, and the gut microbiome. Seventeen healthy women were randomly assigned to consume 300 mL of DMW or a placebo daily for 6 weeks, separated by a 3-week washout period, in a randomized, single-blinded, crossover design. Skin health parameters were measured on the face and forearm. Oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed in plasma. Fecal bacterial DNA was sequenced using shotgun sequencing. DMW did not affect UVB-induced erythema compared to placebo. However, it significantly decreased transepidermal water loss and increased facial gross elasticity. Skin elasticity significantly improved on the forearm, whereas other skin parameters were not affected. DMW significantly decreased plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and advanced glycation end products compared with placebo. However, the abundance, diversity, and functions of the gut microbiome were not affected. Polyphenol-rich DMW administered for six weeks improved certain skin health parameters and reduced oxidative and inflammatory stress, without affecting the gut microbiome in healthy women.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Proteomics-based analysis of the defense mechanisms of disease-resistant grass carp against Aeromonas veronii.

Sustainable aquaculture of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, GC) is consistently threatened by bacterial diseases, particularly those caused by Aeromonas veronii. A disease-resistant grass carp (DR-GC) has been developed by backcrossing female gynogenetic GC with normal male GC, exhibiting improved resistance. However, the systemic molecular mechanisms of DR-GC defending against Aeromonas veronii infection remain largely unexplored. Here, a label-free quantitative proteomics approach was employed to systematically compare proteomic profiles across five tissues (intestine, liver, muscle, skin, and kidney) in DR-GC and GC under healthy and infected conditions. The intestine was identified as the central defense tissue, exhibiting the highest number of differentially abundant proteins (DAPs). In DR-GC, A0A3N0YEK7 (small ribosomal subunit protein eS28), A0A3N0YGT8 (ATP synthase-coupling factor 6) and A0A3N0YNS7 (apolipoprotein A-I) were significantly upregulated in intestine, while D5KZW6 (GCHV-induced protein), A0A3N0Z0A1 and Q8JH84 (hemoglobin subunit alpha) were significantly dysregulated across multiple tissues, which playing the critical roles in defense mechanisms at the protein level. Furthermore, cytochrome P450-associated pathways, cytosolic DNA-sensing and RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathways were identified as crucial coordinators mediating immune and metabolic responses. This study provides the first comprehensive proteomic view of multi-tissue defense mechanisms in DR-GC, and identifies key DAPs and pathways for subsequent functional validation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Plasticity of hepatic metabolism in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in response to cyclic hypoxia.

The emergence of cyclic hypoxia puts aquatic organisms' homeostasis under significant strain. Energetic metabolism as well as protein synthesis and folding are particularly altered during hypoxia, while reoxygenation imposes an oxidative challenge. Currently, little is known about how hypoxia-sensitive organisms respond to large oxygen fluctuations. Our previous work on Arctic char revealed that this salmonid, despite being strongly affected by acute hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R), can successfully reestablish homeostasis, notably through adjustments to hepatic mitochondrial metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying this acclimation remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that Arctic char remodel their hepatic proteome to optimize energy metabolism, reorganize oxygen-demanding pathways, and maintain cellular homeostasis during repeated H/R cycles. By exposing Arctic char to two or fifteen days of diel cyclic hypoxia, we confirmed this species' limited capacity to respond to acute H/R. Nevertheless, after fifteen cycles, fish adjusted their energetic metabolism through coordinated regulation of carbohydrate and lipid pathways and upregulation of amino acid metabolism. Mitochondrial metabolism was strongly reorganized, particularly at the ubiquinone-Complex III interaction level, alongside adjustments in proline utilization and protein processing. Moreover, protein processing and folding pathways were stimulated in both mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. However, chronic cyclic hypoxia may still promote non-mitochondrial ROS production, DNA replication stress, and impaired immune function. This study highlights how a hypoxia-sensitive fish progressively reorganizes its metabolism and oxygen-demanding pathways to establish a phenotype adapted to chronic cyclic hypoxia, while also revealing the physiological costs associated with this acclimation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Genomic identification and functional characterization of the nuclear receptor gene family in relation to sex determination and gonad development in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas).

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a large superfamily of transcription factors that control a wide range of physiological processes by modulating the expression of downstream target genes. Numerous studies have confirmed that NR family members play critical and conserved roles in sex determination and gonadal development across metazoans. However, in mollusks, systematic characterization of NRs and their potential functions in gonadal regulation remain largely unexplored. In this study, 46 NR gene family members in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) were identified and assigned to eight subfamilies. All NR family members contain at least one of the two core domains (DNA-binding domain, DBD; ligand-binding domain, LBD), and conserved exon-intron structures were observed within the same subgroup, indicating their evolutionary conservation. Furthermore, expression profiling revealed high expression of CgNR2F, CgNR5A1-1, and CgNR0B1 in undifferentiated gonads, suggesting their potential involvement in sex determination. CgNR1A and CgNR2E5 were specifically expressed in female gonads and exhibited female-biased expression patterns, indicating a putative role in ovarian development. Moreover, CgNR3A and CgNR3B showed high expression levels during the undifferentiated stage and early male development stage, implying their possible participation in male gonadal development and gametogenesis. These results expand the understanding of the NR gene family in C. gigas and help elucidate the potential functions of NR genes in sex determination and gonadal development.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Maternal transfer of nonylphenol drives oxidative, immune, and epigenetic dysregulation in zebrafish offspring.

Nonylphenol (NP), a widespread surfactant and endocrine-disrupting pollutant, poses significant ecological and public health risks globally; however, its transgenerational effects remain poorly understood. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio), we compared chronic maternal NP exposure (50 and 100 µg/L, 28 days) with acute embryonic exposure (0.22 µmol/L) during 0-3 days post-fertilization (dpf) to delineate mechanistic differences in toxicity. Maternal NP exposure produced severe developmental defects in offspring, including edema, axial curvature, impaired swim bladder inflation, reduced growth, cardiac dysfunction, and decreased viability. These phenotypes were accompanied by systemic molecular disruptions including oxidative stress, altered estrogen receptor (ER) expression, dysregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and suppressed innate immune response characterized by attenuated neutrophil/macrophage density, reduced CD68 and complement protein C3 expression, diminished nitrite load, and downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators at both transcript and protein levels. Maternal exposure further induced apoptosis and persistent epigenetic reprogramming (alterations in DNA methylation and histone-modifying enzymes), hallmarks of transgenerational toxicity. In contrast, direct embryonic NP exposure elicited morphological abnormalities without significant lethality, accompanied by induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, and MAPK activation, reflecting an augmented inflammatory response. These mechanistic contrasts reveal that maternal NP exposure is a potent driver of systemic, heritable molecular reprogramming, whereas embryonic exposure triggers acute inflammatory pathways. Together, our findings underscore the global relevance of NP as a transgenerational toxicant, advocating for its urgent inclusion in ecotoxicological risk assessments and regulatory frameworks.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Inhibitory mechanism of phloretin on the AgrA LytTR domain-agr operon complex formation and its application in beef.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) represents a major foodborne pathogen whose enterotoxin production poses significant challenges to food safety due to its high environmental resistance and limited efficacy of conventional sterilization. Since the expression of enterotoxins is predominantly governed by the agr quorum sensing system, targeting this regulatory pathway has become a strategic choice for virulence control. This study elucidated the mechanism by which phloretin, a potential quorum sensing inhibitor, interferes with the agr system to attenuate virulence. To achieve this, the recombinant AgrA LytTR domain was expressed and purified, and its interaction with phloretin was characterized using thermal shift assays (TSA), electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results showed that phloretin specifically binds to the AgrA LytTR domain, enhancing its thermal stability and disrupting AgrA LytTR-agr operon binding by reducing the free energy of interaction between them, without causing significant structural rearrangement. Mechanistic analysis indicated that phloretin sterically hinders key β-sheet turn residues (HIS169, ASN201, ARG233), thereby impairing DNA recognition, downregulating RNAIII transcription, and inhibiting agr signaling. In cooked beef, phloretin significantly inhibited the secretion of enterotoxins and α-hemolysin, while delaying lipid oxidation and protein degradation, and maintaining the meat texture. These findings suggested that phloretin is a multifunctional substance with anti-virulence, antioxidant, and preservative properties, demonstrating its potential as a natural food preservative.

Phloretin↗

PubMed2026

Oxygen-controlled gamma-irradiation and annealing enable terminal processing of collagen-based biomaterials.

Gamma irradiation is a widely adopted method for terminal sterilization of medical devices; however, its application to collagen-based extracellular matrix (ECM) materials remains limited due to radiation-induced degradation of structural integrity and mechanical performance. Here, we present an engineered terminal-processing strategy that combines oxygen controlled gamma irradiation (25-30 kGy) with post-irradiation dry-heat annealing to preserve ECM functionality while achieving effective sterilization. By modulating oxygen availability during irradiation, this approach alters radical reaction pathways, suppresses oxygen-mediated oxidative degradation, and generates a metastable radical-containing intermediate, which is subsequently converted into a structurally stabilized collagen network through thermal annealing. As a result, the treated matrices preserved ECM integrity and recovered clinically relevant mechanical properties. Furthermore, the process achieved cumulative viral reductions exceeding 6 log10 across a representative panel including enveloped and non-enveloped DNA and RNA viruses, demonstrating compatibility with sterility assurance and viral safety requirements for biologically derived medical devices. Notably, preliminary observations indicate that mechanical integrity can be partially preserved even at elevated irradiation doses up to 50 kGy, suggesting potential applicability to sterilization validation frameworks requiring higher assurance levels. Overall, this work establishes a mechanistically grounded terminal-processing paradigm that enables control of radical fate, decouples sterilization efficacy from material degradation, and integrates sterilization, viral safety, and functional preservation into a unified and scalable framework for collagen-based biomaterials. This concept repositions gamma-irradiation from a purely degradative process to a controllable tool for tuning collagen structure and performance.

Gamma Rays↗

PubMed2026

Contrasting redox-related physiological responses associated with HaGATA23 and HaGATA36 during Orobanche cumana parasitism in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

Helianthus annuus is an economically important Asteraceae species used for seed oil production and ornamental purposes, but its production is seriously affected by the root-parasitic plant Orobanche cumana. GATA transcription factors are zinc-finger DNA-binding regulators involved in plant development and stress adaptation. However, the molecular characteristics of GATA transcription factors in Helianthus annuus and their contribution to Helianthus annuus -Orobanche cumana interaction remain poorly understood. Here, 36 HaGATA members were retrieved from the Helianthus annuus genome and classified into four phylogenetic clades. Chromosomal placement, collinearity, gene structure, motif composition, and promoter elements varied among the 36 HaGATA members, indicating evolutionary conservation coupled with functional diversification. Expression analysis and RT-qPCR analyses revealed differential expression patterns among HaGATA genes under O. cumana stress, with HaGATA23 markedly downregulated and HaGATA36 strongly upregulated. Overexpression of HaGATA23 was associated with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and unfavorable changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas its silencing showed the opposite physiological tendency. In contrast, overexpression of HaGATA36 reduced malondialdehyde accumulation, increased peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, while its silencing showed the reverse tendency. These results indicate that HaGATA23 and HaGATA36 are candidate genes associated with contrasting redox-related physiological responses during O. cumana stress. This work provides evidence that GATA transcription factors are associated with redox-related physiological responses in sunflower under O. cumana treatment and identifies HaGATA23 and HaGATA36 as functionally divergent candidate genes for further validation.

Helianthus↗