Impact of Sugarcane-Pumpkin Intercropping on Soil Microbial Diversity.

Intercropping has been widely proven to boost agricultural yields and control diseases. This study examined the impact of sugarcane monoculture (SM) and sugarcane-pumpkin intercropping (IP) systems on soil physicochemical characteristics and microbial community dynamics. Compared to monoculture, intercropping significantly increased soil pH by 8.

Fine mapping and functional validation of the candidate gene BhGA2ox3 for fruit pedicel length in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida).

The gene regulating fruit pedicel length in wax gourd was finely mapped to a 211 kb region on chromosome 8. The major gene, Bch08G017310 (BhGA2ox3), was identified through forward genetics. Fruit pedicel length (FPL) is a crucial trait in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) that affects fruit development and cultivation management.

Quantitative Trait Loci Sequencing and Genetic Mapping Reveal Two Main Regulatory Genes for Stem Color in Wax Gourds.

Stem color is an important agronomic trait of wax gourds. However, its regulatory genes have not been identified. In this study, 105 inbred lines constructed from two parents (GX-71 and MY-1) were sequenced and quantitative trait loci sequencing was used to mine the genes that regulate stem color in wax gourds.

An intranasal influenza virus vector vaccine protects against in mice.

is a human pathogen that infects almost half of the population. Antibiotic resistance in threatens health and increases the demand for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Traditional oral vaccine research faces considerable challenges because of the epithelial barrier, potential enterotoxicity of adjuvants, and the challenging conditions of the gastric environment.

Fine mapping of the major gene controlling seed size in wax gourd ().

Introduction/background: The seed size of wax gourds is an important agronomic trait; however, the associated genes have not yet been reported.

Methods: In this study, we used a high-density genetic map constructed based on F recombinant inbred line populations derived from a cross between MY-1 (large seed) and GX-71 (small seed) strains to detect quantitative trait locis (QTLs) for seed-size-related traits in wax gourd over a two-year period.

Results: Two stable QTLs ( and ) for seed length (SL) and seed width (SW) on chromosome 10 were repeatedly detected over two years (2021-2022).

MAVS integrates glucose metabolism and RIG-I-like receptor signaling.

MAVS is an adapter protein involved in RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling in mitochondria, peroxisomes, and mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs). However, the role of MAVS in glucose metabolism and RLR signaling cross-regulation and how these signaling pathways are coordinated among these organelles have not been defined. This study reports that RLR action drives a switch from glycolysis to the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) through MAVS.

Development and Application of InDel Markers Linked to Fruit-Shape and Peel-Colour Genes in Wax Gourd.

The wax gourd is commonly grown in many countries because of its high nutritional and economic value. While the genes for the fruit shape and peel colour of wax gourd have been reported, the InDel markers linked to these genes remain undeveloped. In this study, the InDel markers linked to fruit-shape () and peel-colour () genes were developed from resequenced data.

Fine Mapping and Functional Analysis of Major Regulatory Genes of Soluble Solids Content in Wax Gourd ().

Soluble solids content (SSC) is an important quality trait of wax gourd, but reports about its regulatory genes are scarce. In this study, the SSC regulatory gene in wax gourd was mined via quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping based on high-density genetic mapping containing 12 linkage groups (LG) and bulked segregant analysis (BSA)-seq. QTL mapping and BSA-seq revealed for the first time that the SSC QTL (107.

Identification and Application of BhAPRR2 Controlling Peel Colour in Wax Gourd ().

Peel color is an important factor affecting commodity quality in vegetables; however, the genes controlling this trait remain unclear in wax gourd. Here, we used two F genetic segregation populations to explore the inheritance patterns and to clone the genes associated with green and white skin in wax gourd. The F and BC trait segregation ratios were 3:1 and 1:1, respectively, and the trait was controlled by nuclear genes.

Fine mapping and identification of the candidate gene BFS for fruit shape in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida).

Non-synonymous mutations in the BFS gene, which encodes the IQD protein, are responsible for the shape of wax gourd fruits. Fruit shape is an important agronomic trait in wax gourds. Therefore, in this study, we employed bulked segregant analysis (BSA) to identify a candidate gene for fruit shape in wax gourds within F populations derived by crossing GX-71 (long cylindrical fruit, fruit shape index = 4.

Role of IL-6-IL-27 Complex in Host Antiviral Immune Response.

The IL family of cytokines participates in immune response and regulation. We previously found that soluble IL-6 receptor plays an important role in the host antiviral response. In this study, we detected the IL-6-IL-27 complex in serum and throat swab samples from patients infected with influenza A virus.

Inducible ATP1B1 Upregulates Antiviral Innate Immune Responses by the Ubiquitination of TRAF3 and TRAF6.

The antiviral innate immune responses are crucial steps during host defense and must be strictly regulated, but the molecular mechanisms of control remain unclear. In this study, we report increased expression of human ATPase Na/K transporting subunit β 1(ATP1B1) after DNA and RNA virus infections. We found that the expression of ATP1B1 can inhibit viral replication and increase the levels of IFNs, IFN-stimulated genes, and inflammatory cytokines.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Suppresses the Activation of Nuclear Factor Kappa B Pathway Interaction With the TAK1-TAB2 Complex.

Chronic hepatitis B is a major health problem worldwide, with more than 250 million chronic carriers. Hepatitis B virus interferes with the host innate immune system so as to evade elimination almost all of its constituent proteins; nevertheless, the function of HBsAg with respect to immune escape remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the role HBsAg plays in assisting HBV to escape from immune responses.

Inducible LGALS3BP/90K activates antiviral innate immune responses by targeting TRAF6 and TRAF3 complex.

The galectin 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP, also known as 90K) is a ubiquitous multifunctional secreted glycoprotein originally identified in cancer progression. It remains unclear how 90K functions in innate immunity during viral infections. In this study, we found that viral infections resulted in elevated levels of 90K.

Inducible microRNA-590-5p inhibits host antiviral response by targeting the soluble interleukin-6 (IL6) receptor.

MicroRNA (miR)-590-5p has been identified as an important regulator of some signaling pathways such as cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. However, little is known about its role during viral infection. Here, we report that miR-590-5p was significantly induced by various viruses and effectively potentiated virus replication in different viral infection systems.

Fibronectin Facilitates Enterovirus 71 Infection by Mediating Viral Entry.

Fibronectin (FN) is a high-molecular-weight extracellular matrix protein that contains the RGDS motif, which is required to bind to integrins. Synthetic RGDS peptides have been reported to compete with FN to bind to the cell surface and inhibit the function of FN. Here, we identified that synthetic RGDS peptides significantly inhibit human enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in cell cultures.

p55PIK regulates alpha-fetoprotein expression through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Aims: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is regarded as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the regulation of AFP expression in HCC remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which AFP expression is regulated by p55PIK, an isoform of PI3K.

KNK437 Inhibits Replication and Transcription of the Hepatitis B Virus.

During replication of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in liver cells, the reverse transcription of pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA) is initiated by protein priming at an RNA packaging signal ε located near the 5' end of pgRNA. Heat-shock proteins (Hsps) such as Hsc70, Hsp40, and Hsp90 have been reported to be involved in the reconstitution of HBV polymerase (P protein) and E. The P - E complex initiates the reverse transcription and assembly of nucleocapsids.

Sodium selenite suppresses hepatitis B virus transcription and replication in human hepatoma cell lines.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most serious and prevalent health problems worldwide. Current anti-HBV medications have a number of drawbacks, such as adverse effects and drug resistance; thus, novel potential anti-HBV reagents are needed. Selenium (Se) has been shown to be involved in both human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infections, but its role in HBV infection remains unclear.

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by quercetin in human hepatoma cell lines.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most serious and prevalent viral diseases in the world. Although several anti-HBV drugs have been used clinically, their side and adverse effects limit treatment efficacy. Therefore, it is necessary to identify novel potential anti-HBV agents.

Revival, characterization, and hepatitis B virus infection of cryopreserved human fetal hepatocytes.

Primary human hepatocytes are considered the ideal cellular model for in-vitro studies of liver-specific pathology, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, poor accessibility, limited cell numbers, and lot-to-lot variation of primary human hepatocytes limit their broad application. Human fetal hepatocytes were isolated from postmortem embryonic liver tissues by two-step collagenase perfusion and cryopreserved.

CRTC2 enhances HBV transcription and replication by inducing PGC1α expression.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcription and replication are essentially restricted to hepatocytes. Based on the HBV enhancer and promoter complex that links hepatic glucose metabolism to its transcription and replication, HBV adopts a regulatory system that is unique to the hepatic gluconeogenic genes. CRTC2, the CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2, is a critical switch modulating the gluconeogenic program in response to both hormonal and intracellular signals.

Long-term maintenance of human fetal hepatocytes and prolonged susceptibility to HBV infection by co-culture with non-parenchymal cells.

Within a few days of being isolated, primary human hepatocytes undergo a rapid dedifferentiation process and lose susceptibility to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in vitro. This fact has limited their further application. In this study, a convenient and feasible method of preventing this dedifferentiation was established, by co-culturing human fetal hepatocytes with hepatic non-parenchymal cells to maintain the differentiation features of human fetal hepatocytes.

GCN5 acetyltransferase inhibits PGC1α-induced hepatitis B virus biosynthesis.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) biosynthesis is primarily restricted to hepatocytes due to the governing of liver-enriched nuclear receptors (NRs) on viral RNA synthesis. The liver-enriched NR hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), the key regulator of genes implicated in hepatic glucose metabolism, is also a primary determinant of HBV pregenomic RNA synthesis and HBV replication. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α) coactivates and further enhances the effect of HNF4α on HBV biosynthesis.