The Buds of Oscarella lobularis (Porifera, Homoscleromorpha): A New Convenient Model for Sponge Cell and Evolutionary Developmental Biology.

The comparative study of the four non-bilaterian phyla (Cnidaria, Placozoa, Ctenophora, and Porifera) provides insights into the origin of bilaterian traits. To complete our knowledge of the cell biology and development of these animals, additional non-bilaterian models are needed. Given the developmental, histological, ecological, and genomic differences between the four sponge classes (Demospongiae, Calcarea, Homoscleromorpha, and Hexactinellida), we have been developing the Oscarella lobularis (Porifera, class Homoscleromorpha) model over the past 15 years.

Detection and Quantification of Programmed Cell Death in : The Example of S-Nitrosoglutathione.

Chlamydomonas () is a unicellular model alga that has been shown to undergo programmed cell death (PCD) that can be triggered in response to different stresses. We have recently shown that is particularly well suited to the study and quantification of PCD. We have shown for the first time that S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, is able to induce PCD and can be used as a study system in .

Mitochondrial regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis: Insights into neurological function and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Mitochondria are essential regulators of cellular energy metabolism and play a crucial role in the maintenance and function of neuronal cells. Studies in the last decade have highlighted the importance of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics in adult neurogenesis, a process that significantly influences cognitive function and brain plasticity. In this review, we examine the mechanisms by which mitochondria regulate adult neurogenesis, focusing on the impact of mitochondrial function on the behavior of neural stem/progenitor cells and the maturation and plasticity of newborn neurons in the adult mouse hippocampus.

Calcium-Sensitive Microbial Rhodopsin VirChR1: A Femtosecond to Second Photocycle Study.

Viral rhodopsins are light-gated cation channels representing a novel class of microbial rhodopsins. For viral rhodopsin 1 subfamily members VirChR1 and OLPVR1, channel activity is abolished above a certain calcium concentration. Here we present a calcium-dependent spectroscopic analysis of VirChR1 on the femtosecond to second time scale.

A Basic Guide to the Propagation and Manipulation of the Clubroot Pathogen, Plasmodiophora brassicae.

Clubroot caused by the obligate parasite Plasmodiophora brassicae is a devastating disease affecting the canola industry worldwide. The socio-economic impact of clubroot can be significant, particularly in regions where Brassica crops are a major agricultural commodity. The disease can cause significant crop losses, leading to reduced yield and income for farmers.

Decoding the Arsenal: Protist Effectors and Their Impact on Photosynthetic Hosts.

Interactions between various microbial pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, and their plant hosts have traditionally been the focus of phytopathology. In recent years, a significant and growing interest in the study of eukaryotic microorganisms not classified among fungi or oomycetes has emerged. Many of these protists establish complex interactions with photosynthetic hosts, and understanding these interactions is crucial in understanding the dynamics of these parasites within traditional and emerging types of farming, including marine aquaculture.

Structure and Elasticity of Mitochondrial Membranes: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell because they produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate. They also have other crucial functions such as regulating apoptosis, calcium homeostasis, and reactive oxygen species production. To perform these diverse functions, mitochondria adopt specific structures and frequently undergo dynamic shape changes, indicating that their mechanical properties play an essential role in their functions.

RNA-Binding Proteins as Critical Post-Transcriptional Regulators of Cardiac Regeneration.

Myocardial injury causes death to cardiomyocytes and leads to heart failure. The adult mammalian heart has very limited regenerative capacity. However, the heart from early postnatal mammals and from adult lower vertebrates can fully regenerate after apical resection or myocardial infarction.

A Hydroponic-Based Bioassay to Facilitate Phenotyping.

Clubroot, caused by the obligate parasite , is one of the most devastating diseases affecting the canola/oilseed rape () industry worldwide. Currently, the planting of clubroot-resistant (CR) cultivars is the most effective strategy used to restrict the spread and the economic losses linked to the disease. However, virulent isolates have been able to infect many of the currently available CR cultivars, and the options to manage the disease are becoming limited.

Novel Potential Targets for Function-Promoting Therapies: Orphan Nuclear Receptors, Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Troponin Activators, Mas Receptor Agonists, and Urolithin A.

In recent years, several new classes of therapies have been investigated with their potential for restoring or improving physical functioning in older adults. These have included Mas receptor agonists, regulators of mitophagy, skeletal muscle troponin activators, anti-inflammatory compounds, and targets of orphan nuclear receptors. The present article summarizes recent developments of the function-promoting effects of these exciting new compounds and shares relevant preclinical and clinical data related to their safety and efficacy.

NR2F1 shapes mitochondria in the mouse brain, providing new insights into Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome.

The nuclear receptor NR2F1 acts as a strong transcriptional regulator in embryonic and postnatal neural cells. In humans, mutations in the NR2F1 gene cause Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome (BBSOAS), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple clinical features including vision impairment, intellectual disability and autistic traits. In this study, we identified, by genome-wide and in silico analyses, a set of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes as potential genomic targets under direct NR2F1 transcriptional control in neurons.

A Decade of Hidden Phytoplasmas Unveiled Through Citizen Science.

Climate change is impacting agriculture in many ways, and a contribution from all is required to reduce the imminent losses related to it. Recently, it has been shown that citizen science could be a way to trace the impact of climate change. However, how can citizen science be applied in plant pathology? Here, using as an example a decade of phytoplasma-related diseases reported by growers, agronomists, and citizens in general, and confirmed by a government laboratory, we explored how to better value plant pathogen monitoring data.

Getting to the root of a club - Understanding developmental manipulation by the clubroot pathogen.

Plasmodiophora brassicae Wor., the clubroot pathogen, is the perfect example of an "atypical" plant pathogen. This soil-borne protist and obligate biotrophic parasite infects the roots of cruciferous crops, inducing galls or clubs that lead to wilting, loss of productivity, and plant death.

Towards evolutionary predictions: Current promises and challenges.

Evolution has traditionally been a historical and descriptive science, and predicting future evolutionary processes has long been considered impossible. However, evolutionary predictions are increasingly being developed and used in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology and conservation biology. Evolutionary predictions may be used for different purposes, such as to prepare for the future, to try and change the course of evolution or to determine how well we understand evolutionary processes.

The clubroot pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae: A profile update.

Background: Plasmodiophora brassicae is the causal agent of clubroot disease of cruciferous plants and one of the biggest threats to the rapeseed (Brassica napus) and brassica vegetable industry worldwide.

Disease Symptoms: In the advanced stages of clubroot disease wilting, stunting, yellowing, and redness are visible in the shoots. However, the typical symptoms of the disease are the presence of club-shaped galls in the roots of susceptible hosts that block the absorption of water and nutrients.

Combined application of neural stem/progenitor cells and scaffolds on locomotion recovery following spinal cord injury in rodents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This present study evaluates the pre-clinical evidence on the efficacy of NS/PC and scaffold (NS/PC + scaffold) transplantation on locomotor recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Method: Two independent reviewers screened the records gathered through a systematic search in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases. Studies on rats/mice evaluating the efficacy of simultaneous transplantation of NS/PCs and scaffold in the treatment of SCI were included.

The efficacy of GABAergic precursor cells transplantation in alleviating neuropathic pain in animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Current therapies are quite unsuccessful in the management of neuropathic pain. Therefore, considering the inhibitory characteristics of GABA mediators, the present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of GABAergic neural precursor cells on neuropathic pain management.

Methods: Search was conducted on Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.

Nav1.7 is required for normal C-low threshold mechanoreceptor function in humans and mice.

Patients with bi-allelic loss of function mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 present with congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), whilst low threshold mechanosensation is reportedly normal. Using psychophysics (n = 6 CIP participants and n = 86 healthy controls) and facial electromyography (n = 3 CIP participants and n = 8 healthy controls), we found that these patients also have abnormalities in the encoding of affective touch, which is mediated by the specialized afferents C-low threshold mechanoreceptors (C-LTMRs).

An evolution-based high-fidelity method of epistasis measurement: Theory and application to influenza.

Linkage effects in a multi-locus population strongly influence its evolution. The models based on the traveling wave approach enable us to predict the average speed of evolution and the statistics of phylogeny. However, predicting statistically the evolution of specific sites and pairs of sites in the multi-locus context remains a mathematical challenge.