6-methyladnosine of vRNA facilitates influenza A virus replication by promoting the interaction of vRNA with polymerase proteins.

6-methyladnosine (mA) modification is present in both positive- and negative-strand RNA of influenza A virus (IAV) and affects the replication and pathogenicity of IAV. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanism of mA in IAV RNA. In the present study, we identified the mA methylation of the viral RNA of different IAV subtypes and confirmed that mA modification promotes the polymerase activity and replication of IAV.

Pearl Bodies as a Potential Source of Secondary Transmission of Papaya Leaf Distortion Mosaic Virus in .

Pearl bodies are small, pearl-like structures found on the surfaces of many tropical and subtropical plant species, including Carica papaya L., that serve as a nutritious food source for arthropods, helping plants defend against herbivores. This study investigated the role of pearl bodies in viral accumulation and transmission, focusing on papaya plants infected with papaya leaf distortion mosaic virus (PLDMV), a destructive pathogen threatening papaya production.

Potential roles of cigarette smoking on gut microbiota profile among Chinese men.

Background: Cigarette smoking is posited as a potential factor in disrupting the balance of the human gut microbiota. However, existing studies with limited sample size have yielded inconclusive results.

Methods: Here, we assessed the association between cigarette smoking and gut microbial profile among Chinese males from four independent studies (N total = 3308).

facilitates tumor-derived CCL5 to recruit dendritic cell and suppress colorectal tumorigenesis.

Gut microbes play a crucial role in regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) of colorectal cancer (CRC). Nevertheless, the deep mechanism between the microbiota-TME interaction has not been well explored. In this study, we for the first time discovered that () effectively suppressed tumor growth both in the AOM/DSS-induced CRC model and the spontaneous adenoma model.

A point mutation in the pepper veinal mottle virus 6K1 protein yields a stable attenuated strain for engineering virus resistance in pepper plants.

A total of 164 viruses have been identified in peppers worldwide. To combat viruses, pathogen-derived resistance (PDR) has been employed by expressing a viral genomic segment or a viral protein in host plants. Unfortunately, peppers are recalcitrant to genetic transformation and regeneration.

Disclosing the influence mechanism of facet-dependent pyrite photo-activation and photo-dissolution processes on the reduction of Cr(VI).

The photo-activation and photo-dissolution processes of pyrite (FeS) can affect the environmental behavior of the co-existing hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). But the photochemical performance of FeS is intimately dependent on its exposed facets. Herein, FeS nanosheets (FeS NS) and FeS nanocubes (FeS NC) with the dominant exposed facets of (001) and (210)/(100) respectively are prepared.

Mutating the arginine residue within the FRNK motif of telosma mosaic virus (TelMV) HC-Pro protein attenuates viral infection and confers effective protection against TelMV in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis).

Background: Telosma mosaic virus (TelMV, Potyvirus, Potyviridae) is an emerging viral pathogen that threatens passion fruit plantations worldwide. However, an efficient strategy for controlling such a virus is not yet available. Cross protection is a phenomenon in which pre-infection of a plant with one mild strain prevents or delays subsequent infection by the same or closely related virus.

Rubisco small subunit (RbCS) is co-opted by potyvirids as the scaffold protein in assembling a complex for viral intercellular movement.

Plant viruses must move through plasmodesmata (PD) to complete their life cycles. For viruses in the Potyviridae family (potyvirids), three viral factors (P3N-PIPO, CI, and CP) and few host proteins are known to participate in this event. Nevertheless, not all the proteins engaging in the cell-to-cell movement of potyvirids have been discovered.

MdASMT9-mediated melatonin biosynthesis enhances basal thermotolerance in apple plants.

High temperatures negatively impact the yield and quality of fruit crops. Exogenous melatonin (MT) application has been shown to enhance heat tolerance, but the response of endogenous MT to heat stress, particularly in perennial fruit trees, remains unclear. The present study investigated the effects of high temperatures on transgenic apple plants overexpressing the MT biosynthesis gene N-acetylserotonin methyltransferase 9 (MdASMT9).

Cotyledon peeling method for passion fruit protoplasts: a versatile cell system for transient gene expression in passion fruit .

Passion fruit () is a perennial evergreen vine that grows mainly in tropical and subtropical regions due to its nutritional, medicinal and ornamental values. However, the molecular biology study of passion fruit is extremely hindered by the lack of an easy and efficient method for transformation. The protoplast transformation system plays a vital role in plant regeneration, gene function analysis and genome editing.

Development of cassava common mosaic virus-based vector for protein expression and gene editing in cassava.

Background: Plant virus vectors designed for virus-mediated protein overexpression (VOX), virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), and genome editing (VIGE) provide rapid and cost-effective tools for functional genomics studies, biotechnology applications and genome modification in plants. We previously reported that a cassava common mosaic virus (CsCMV, genus Potexvirus)-based VIGS vector was used for rapid gene function analysis in cassava. However, there are no VOX and VIGE vectors available in cassava.

Direct leaf-peeling method for areca protoplasts: a simple and efficient system for protoplast isolation and transformation in areca palm (Areca catechu).

Background: Areca palm (Areca catechu) is a woody perennial plant of both economical and medicinal importance grown in tropical and subtropical climates. Yet, the molecular biology study of areca palm is extremely impeded by its unavailability of a transformation method. An efficient protoplast isolation and transformation system could be highly desirable to overcome this barrier.

A Zinc Finger Motif in the P1 N Terminus, Highly Conserved in a Subset of Potyviruses, Is Associated with the Host Range and Fitness of Telosma Mosaic Virus.

P1 is the first protein translated from the genomes of most viruses in the family , and it contains a C-terminal serine-protease domain that -cleaves the junction between P1 and HCPro in most cases. Intriguingly, P1 is the most divergent among all mature viral factors, and its roles during viral infection are still far from understood. In this study, we found that telosma mosaic virus (TelMV, genus ) in passion fruit, unlike TelMV isolates present in other hosts, has two stretches at the P1 N terminus, named N1 and N2, with N1 harboring a Zn finger motif.

The nucleoprotein of influenza A virus inhibits the innate immune response by inducing mitophagy.

Mitophagy is a form of autophagy that plays a key role in maintaining the homeostasis of functional mitochondria in the cell. Viruses have evolved various strategies to manipulate mitophagy to escape host immune responses and promote virus replication. In this study, the nucleoprotein (NP) of H1N1 virus (PR8 strain) was identified as a regulator of mitophagy.

The Single Distinct Leader Protease Encoded by Alpinia oxyphylla Mosaic Virus (Genus ) Suppresses RNA Silencing Through Interfering with Double-Stranded RNA Synthesis.

The genomic 5'-terminal regions of viruses in the family (potyvirids) encode two types of leader proteases: serine-protease (P1) and cysteine-protease (HCPro), which differ greatly in the arrangement and sequence composition among inter-genus viruses. Most potyvirids have the same tandemly arranged P1 and HCPro, whereas viruses in the genus encode a single distinct leader protease, a truncated version of HCPro with yet-unknown functions. We investigated the RNA silencing suppression (RSS) activity and its underpinning mechanism of the distinct HCPro from alpinia oxyphylla mosaic macluravirus (aHCPro).

A Nimble Cloning-compatible vector system for high-throughput gene functional analysis in plants.

Plant expression vectors are essential tools for gene functional analysis and molecular plant breeding. The gene of interest is transferred to the vector by molecular cloning technology. Nimble Cloning is a newly developed molecular cloning method with the advantages of simplicity, efficiency, and standardization.

Internal electric field induced photocarriers separation of nickel-doped pyrite/pyrite homojunction with rich sulfur vacancies for superior Cr(VI) reduction.

Improving the separation efficiency and transfer ability of photoinduced electrons/holes in pyrite (FeS)-based photocatalytic materials is significant for the photoreduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) but still remains a challenge. Herein, a novel homojunction was prepared through in-situ growth of nickel (Ni) doped FeS nanoparticles on FeS nanobelts (denoted as Ni-FeS/FeS). Systematical characterizations revealed that Ni doped FeS nanoparticles have been successfully in situ grown along the lattice of FeS nanobelts.

Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Unique HA Epitopes Block H7N9 Influenza A Viral Replication.

The H7N9 subtype influenza A viruses pose a serious threat to public health, and there is still a lack of vaccines or drugs for humans against H7N9 influenza viruses. In this study, we screened two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 4H1E8 and 7H9A6, that specifically recognize the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of H7N9 influenza virus and display highly neutralizing activity against H7N9 virus. The epitopes recognized by two MAbs are nearly all conserved within all known H7 subtypes.

Rapid detection of sweepoviruses through lateral flow dipstick-based recombinase polymerase amplification.

Sweepoviruses represent a phylogenetic group of begomoviruses that cause significant sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) production losses in various countries across the world. For rapid identification of sweepoviruses, we developed a technique based on isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification in conjunction with lateral flow dipsticks (RPA-LFD). The optimum reaction conditions for the RPA were 20 min incubation at 37°C.

Biological and Molecular Characterization of Two Closely Related Arepaviruses and Their Antagonistic Interaction in .

Previously, our group characterized two closely related viruses from , areca palm necrotic ringspot virus (ANRSV) and areca palm necrotic spindle-spot virus (ANSSV). These two viruses share a distinct genomic organization of leader proteases and represent the only two species of the newly established genus of the family . The biological features of the two viruses are largely unknown.

A cassava common mosaic virus vector for virus-induced gene silencing in cassava.

Background: Cassava is an important crop for food security and industry in the least-developed and developing countries. The completion of the cassava genome sequence and identification of large numbers of candidate genes by next-generation sequencing provide extensive resources for cassava molecular breeding and increase the need for rapid and efficient gene function analysis systems in cassava. Several plant virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) systems have been developed as reverse genetic tools for rapid gene function analysis in cassava.

An efficient papaya leaf distortion mosaic potyvirus vector for virus-induced gene silencing in papaya.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is regarded as an excellent model for genomic studies of tropical trees because of its short generation time and its small genome that has been sequenced. However, functional genomic studies in papaya depend on laborious genetic transformations because no rapid tools exist for this species.

A Newly Identified Virus in the Family Encodes Two Leader Cysteine Proteases in Tandem That Evolved Contrasting RNA Silencing Suppression Functions.

is the largest family of plant-infecting RNA viruses and includes many agriculturally and economically important viral pathogens. The viruses in the family, known as potyvirids, possess single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genomes with polyprotein processing as a gene expression strategy. The N-terminal regions of potyvirid polyproteins vary greatly in sequence.

Nimble Cloning: A Simple, Versatile, and Efficient System for Standardized Molecular Cloning.

Molecular cloning is one of the most fundamental technologies in molecular biology, and has been critical for driving biotechnological advances. In this study, we have developed a novel method for standardized molecular cloning. The cloning technique known as "Nimble Cloning" uses the restriction enzyme, I, in combination with the T5 exonuclease, to linearize the vector and generate 3'-overhangs simultaneously.

The RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase NIb of Potyviruses Plays Multifunctional, Contrasting Roles during Viral Infection.

Potyviruses represent the largest group of known plant RNA viruses and include many agriculturally important viruses, such as , , , and . Potyviruses adopt polyprotein processing as their genome expression strategy. Among the 11 known viral proteins, the nuclear inclusion protein b (NIb) is the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase responsible for viral genome replication.