Structural basis for allosteric agonism of human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel, plays important roles in cognition, neuroprotection, and anti-inflammation. As a potential drug target, α7 nAChR has different binding sites for different ligands, particularly agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). Ago-PAMs can both directly activate and allosterically modulate α7 nAChR.

Comparison of lignin degradation and flavor compound formation in roasted tobacco by two strains.

Two strains of designated YY-10 and BY-2, were isolated from the surface of tobacco and found to be capable of significant lignin degradation. The predominant lignin-degrading enzymes produced by these strains were lignin peroxidase (LiP) and manganese peroxidase (MnP), respectively. A notable distinction was observed in the organoleptic evaluation and volatile flavor compounds, as determined by sensory evaluation and GC-MS analysis.

Manipulation in root-associated microbiome via carbon nanosol for plant growth improvements.

Background: Modulating the microbiome with nanomaterials has been proposed to improve plant growth, and reduce reliance on external inputs. Carbon Nanosol (CNS) was attracted for its potential to improve plant productivity. However, the mechanism between CNS and rhizosphere microorganisms remained largely elusive.

Interaction effects of significant risk factors on low bone mineral density in ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: To analyze individually and interactively critical risk factors, which are closely related to low bone mineral density (BMD) in patient with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: A total of 249 AS patients who visited China-Japan Friendship Hospital were included in this training set. Patients with questionnaire data, blood samples, X-rays, and BMD were collected.

A novel victorivirus isolated from the tobacco spot blight fungus Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum in China.

Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum is an important plant-pathogenic fungus that causes stem and leaf blight diseases in a variety of crops. Here, we report the characterization of a novel victorivirus, tentatively named "Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum victorivirus 1" (ScVV-1), isolated from the S. cucurbitacearum isolate M-7.

Identification and Expression Profiles of Putative Soluble Chemoreception Proteins from Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) Antennal Transcriptome.

The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), is a destructive stored product pest worldwide. Adult cigarette beetles are known to rely on host volatiles and pheromones to locate suitable habitats for oviposition and mating, respectively. However, little is known about the chemosensory mechanisms of these pests.

Heterokaryotic state of a point mutation (H249Y) in SDHB protein drives the evolution of thifluzamide resistance in Rhizoctonia solani.

Background: Sheath blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, can be effectively controlled by application of the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor thifluzamide. Although the risk of resistance to thifluzamide in R. solani had been reported, the thifluzamide-resistance mechanism and the evolution of thifluzamide-resistance in R.

Functional characterization of a HD-ZIP IV transcription factor NtHDG2 in regulating flavonols biosynthesis in Nicotiana tabacum.

The HD-ZIP Ⅳ transcription factors have been identified and functional characterized in many plant species. However, no tobacco HD-ZIP IV gene has been isolated, and it is not yet known whether HD-ZIP IV genes are involved in controlling flavonols accumulation in plants. Here, we cloned a HD ZIP gene named NtHDG2 from Nicotiana tabacum, which belongs to the class IV of HD-ZIP family, and the NtHDG2-GFP fusion protein is localized to the nucleus.

The novel fungicide SYP-14288 acts as an uncoupler against Phytophthora capsici.

SYP-14288 is a novel fungicide developed by the Shenyang Research Institute of Chemical Industry in China. Although preliminary studies indicate that SYP-14288 is highly effective against 32 important plant pathogens belonging to a range of taxonomic groups, its mode of action remains unknown. In this study, we documented that SYP-14288 has excellent activity against all of the asexual life stages of the plant-pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora capsici, and is especially effective in blocking cyst germination and other life stages that require high energy consumption.

Insights into the adaptive response of the plant-pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora capsici to the fungicide flumorph.

Phytophthora capsici is an important oomycete plant pathogen that causes significant losses worldwide. The carboxylic acid amide fungicide flumorph has shown excellent activity against oomycete plant pathogens. Despite its potential, there remains concern that the sexual reproduction of oomycete pathogens, which results in genetic recombination, could result in the rapid development of resistance to flumorph.