Gene conversion

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) is a foodborne pathogenic microorganism that is commonly found in the environment and poses a significant threat to human health, public safety, and economic stability worldwide. Thus, early detection is essential for E. coli O157:H7 control. In recent years, a series of E. coli O157:H7 detection methods have been developed, but the sensitivity and portability of the methods still need improvement. Therefore, in this study, a rapid and efficient testing platform based on the CRISPR/Cas12a cleavage reaction was constructed...

Homology in vertebrate body plans is traditionally ascribed to the high-level conservation of regulatory components within the genetic programs governing them, particularly during the "phylotypic stage." However, advancements in embryology and molecular phylogeny have unveiled the dynamic nature of gene repertoires responsible for early development. Notably, the Nodal and Lefty genes, members of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily producing intercellular signaling molecules and crucial for left-right (L-R) symmetry breaking, exhibit distinctive features within their gene repertoires...

Soil nitrogen and phosphorus are two key elements limiting tree growth in subtropical areas. Understanding the regulation of soil microorganisms on nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition is beneficial to reveal maintenance mechanism of soil fertility in plantations. We analyzed the characteristics of soil nitrogen and phosphorus fractions, soil microbial community composition and function, and their relationship across three stands of two-layered Cunninghumia lanceolata + Phoebe bournei with different ages (4, 7 and 11 a) and the pure C...

BACKGROUND: Allergic asthma is the most prevalent asthma phenotype and is associated with the disorders of immune cells and glycolysis. Macrophages are the most common type of immune cells in the lungs. Calprotectin (S100A8 and S100A9) are two pro-inflammatory molecules that target the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and are substantially increased in the serum of patients with severe asthma. This study aimed to determine the effects of S100A8/A9 on macrophage polarization and glycolysis associated with allergic asthma...

UNLABELLED: The present study was carried out to investigate the physio-biochemical and molecular responses of two rice genotypes (Noichi and N22) under drought, heat and combined drought/heat stress conditions. The antagonistic stomatal activity was found under the combined stress conditions; stomata were open under control and heat stress, conversely, stomata remained closed under drought and combined stress levels. Photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll content are decreased by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and increased lipid peroxidation in both rice genotypes...

Collision of a replication fork with a DNA nick is thought to generate a one-ended break, fostering genomic instability. Collision of the opposing converging fork with the nick could, in principle, form a second DNA end, enabling conservative repair by homologous recombination (HR). To study mechanisms of nickase-induced HR, we developed the Flp recombinase "step arrest" nickase in mammalian cells. Flp-nickase-induced HR entails two-ended, BRCA2/RAD51-dependent short tract gene conversion (STGC), BRCA2/RAD51-independent long tract gene conversion, and discoordinated two-ended invasions...

Bordetella pertussis persists inside host cells, and virulence factors are crucial for intracellular adaptation. The regulation of B. pertussis virulence factor transcription primarily occurs through the modulation of the two-component system (TCS) known as BvgAS. However, additional regulatory systems have emerged as potential contributors to virulence regulation. Here, we investigate the impact of BP1092, a putative TCS histidine kinase that shows increased levels after bacterial internalization by macrophages, on B...

While diosgenin has been demonstrated effective in various cardiovascular diseases, its specific impact on treating heart attacks remains unclear. Our research revealed that diosgenin significantly improved cardiac function in a myocardial infarction (MI) mouse model, reducing cardiac fibrosis and cell apoptosis while promoting angiogenesis. Mechanistically, diosgenin upregulated the Hand2 expression, promoting the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells under hypoxic conditions. Acting as a transcription factor, HAND2 activated the angiogenesis-related gene Aggf1...

The effect of interleukin-38 (IL-38), a recently identified member of the IL-1 family with potential applications in various inflammation-related conditions, on ER stress has not been explored. Furthermore, its role in obesity-associated tendinopathy has not been investigated. In this study, human primary tenocytes were treated with palmitate (200 or 400 μM) and palmitate plus IL-38 (0-50 ng/mL) for 24 h. Western blotting was used to assess ER stress and tendinopathogenic markers in tenocytes...

Epigenetics plays a vital role in aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, whether epigenetic alterations during aging can initiate AD and exacerbate AD progression remains unclear. In this study, 3-, 12- and 18- month-old APP/PS1 mice and WT littermates underwent memory tests, then synapse-related gene expression, class 1 histone deacetylases (HDACs) abundance, and H3K9ac levels at target gene promoters, were evaluated in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Our results showed recognition and long-term spatial memory impaired in 18-month-old WT mice and recognition, short-term working, and long-term spatial reference memory deficits in 12-and 18- month-old APP/PS1 mice...

Intramuscular fat is a crucial determinant of carcass quality traits like tenderness and taste, which in turn is influenced by the proliferation of intramuscular preadipocytes. This study aimed to investigate the Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6)-mediated proliferation of bovine preadipocytes and identify underlying molecular mechanisms. Down-regulation of KLF6 by siKLF6 resulted in a significant ( p < 0.01) suppression of cell cycle-related genes including CDK1, MCM6, ZNF4, PCNA, CDK2, CCNB1, and CDK6. Conversely, the expression level of p27 was significantly ( p < 0...

o-Cresol is a toxic substance with strong irritating and corrosive effects on skin and mucous membranes. To date, information on the effects of o-cresol on microbial communities in the natural environment is very limited. In the present study, 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic technique were carried out to elucidate the effects of the o-cresol spill on microbial communities in river sediments and nearby soils. o-Cresol spill induced the increase in the relative abundance of phyla Planctomycetes and Gemmatimonadetes, suggesting their resilience to o-cresol-induced stress...

Streptococcosis, an emerging infectious disease caused by Streptococcus agalactiae, has had adverse effects on farmed tilapia. Several vaccines have been developed to prevent this disease and induce a specific immune response against S. agalactiae infection. In this study the use of MONTANIDE™ GR01, a new adjuvant for oral vaccination, was optimized for use in tilapia under laboratory and field studies. In the laboratory trial the immune response and protective efficacy of two doses of MONTANIDE™ GR01, 20% (w/w) and 2% (w/w), included into the feed-based adjuvanted vaccines were assessed comparatively...

Methionine (Met) supplementation is common practice in broilers to support nutrition, yet there are gaps in the understanding of its role in systemic physiology. Furthermore, several different Met sources are available that may have different physiological effects. This study evaluated the mode of action of Met deficiency (no Met-supplementation) and supplementation (0.25% DL- or L-Met, 0.41% liquid methionine hydroxy analog-free acid (MHA-FA)), and of Met source (DL-, L- or MHA-FA) in broiler chickens, via host transcriptomics...

Alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV) causes severe economic losses to the global pig industry and has garnered increasing attention due to its broad host range including humans. PRV has developed a variety of strategies to antagonize host antiviral innate immunity. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In our previous work, we demonstrated that non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMHC-IIA), a multifunctional cytoskeleton protein, attenuates innate immune responses triggered by RNA viruses...

INTRODUCTION: The remarkable diversity observed in the structure and development of the molluscan nervous system raises intriguing questions regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenesis in Mollusca . The expression of SoxB family transcription factors plays a pivotal role in neuronal development, thereby offering valuable insights into the strategies of neurogenesis. METHODS: In this study, we conducted gene expression analysis focusing on SoxB-family transcription factors during early neurogenesis in the gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis ...

In the early 1900s, mutation breeding to select varieties with desirable traits using spontaneous mutation was actively conducted around the world, including Japan. In rice, the number of fixed mutations per generation was estimated to be 1.38-2.25. Although this low mutation rate was a major problem for breeding in those days, in the modern era with the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, it was conversely considered to be an advantage for efficient gene identification. In this paper, we proposed an in silico approach using NGS to compare the whole genome sequence of a spontaneous mutant with that of a closely related strain with a nearly identical genome, to find polymorphisms that differ between them, and to identify the causal gene by predicting the functional variation of the gene caused by the polymorphism...

RNA silencing is a post-transcriptional gene-silencing mechanism mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the regulatory mechanism of RNA silencing during viral infection is unclear. TAR RNA-binding protein (TRBP) is an enhancer of RNA silencing that induces miRNA maturation by interacting with the ribonuclease Dicer. TRBP interacts with a virus sensor protein, laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2), in the early stage of viral infection of human cells. Next, it induces apoptosis by inhibiting the maturation of miRNAs, thereby upregulating the expression of apoptosis regulatory genes...

Maize (Zea mays) is highly susceptible to waterlogging stress, which reduces both the yield and quality of this important crop. However, the molecular mechanism governing waterlogging tolerance is poorly understood. In this study, we identify a waterlogging- and ethylene-inducible gene ZmEREB179 that encodes an ethylene responsive factor (ERF) localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of ZmEREB179 in maize increases the sensitivity to waterlogging stress. Conversely, the zmereb179 knockout mutants are more tolerant to waterlogging, suggesting that ZmEREB179 functions as a negative regulator of waterlogging tolerance...

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a crucial parameter for assessing the feeding efficiency of poultry. Minimizing RFI can enhance feed utilization and reduce costs. In this study, 315 healthy female ducks were individually housed in cages. Growth performance was monitored during the high laying period, from 290 to 325 d of age. The cecal transcriptome and microbiome of 12 ducks with high RFI and 12 with low residual feed intake (LRFI) were analyzed. Regarding growth performance, the LRFI group exhibited significantly lower RFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed intake (Fi) compared to the HRFI group (p < 0...