Unravelling genomic drivers of speciation in Musa through genome assemblies of wild banana ancestors.

Hybridization between wild Musa species and subspecies from Southeast Asia is at the origin of cultivated bananas. The genomes of these cultivars are complex mosaics involving nine genetic groups, including two previously unknown contributors. This study provides continuous genome assemblies for six wild genetic groups, one of which represents one of the unknown ancestor, identified as M.

Non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals are toxic against Escherichia coli with no evolution of cross-resistance to antibiotics.

Antimicrobial resistance can arise in the natural environment via prolonged exposure to the effluent released by manufacturing facilities. In addition to antibiotics, pharmaceutical plants also produce non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals, both the active ingredients and other components of the formulations. The effect of these on the surrounding microbial communities is less clear.

Detection and genomic characterisation of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotypes circulating in Cameroon using environmental sampling.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious, economically important disease of livestock and wildlife species. Active monitoring and understanding the epidemiology of FMDV underpin the foundations of control programmes. In many endemic areas, however, veterinary resources are limited, resulting in a requirement for simple sampling techniques to increase and supplement surveillance efforts.

Sequencing and characterizing human mitochondrial genomes in the biobank-based genomic research paradigm.

Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) harbors essential mutations linked to aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and complex muscle disorders. Due to its uniparental and haploid inheritance, mtDNA captures matrilineal evolutionary trajectories, playing a crucial role in population and medical genetics. However, critical questions about the genomic diversity patterns, inheritance models, and evolutionary and medical functions of mtDNA remain unresolved or underexplored, particularly in the transition from traditional genotyping to large-scale genomic analyses.

Global 3D model of mantle attenuation using seismic normal modes.

Seismic tomographic models based only on wave velocities have limited ability to distinguish between a thermal or compositional origin for Earth's 3D structure. Complementing wave velocities with attenuation observations can make that distinction, which is fundamental for understanding mantle convection evolution. However, global 3D attenuation models are only available for the upper mantle at present.

A map of the rubisco biochemical landscape.

Rubisco is the primary CO-fixing enzyme of the biosphere, yet it has slow kinetics. The roles of evolution and chemical mechanism in constraining its biochemical function remain debated. Engineering efforts aimed at adjusting the biochemical parameters of rubisco have largely failed, although recent results indicate that the functional potential of rubisco has a wider scope than previously known.

Evolution of intrinsic disorder in the structural domains of viral and cellular proteomes.

Intrinsically disordered regions are flexible regions that complement the typical structured regions of proteins. Little is known however about their evolution. Here we leverage a comparative and evolutionary genomics approach to analyze intrinsic disorder in the structural domains of thousands of proteomes.

Improving the odds of survival: transgenerational effects of infections.

Recent studies argue for a novel concept of the role of chromatin as a carrier of epigenetic memory through cellular and organismal generations, defining and coordinating gene activity states and physiological functions. Environmental insults, such as exposures to unhealthy diets, smoking, toxic compounds, and infections, can epigenetically reprogram germ-line cells and influence offspring phenotypes. This review focuses on intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in different plants, animal species and humans, presenting the up-to-date evidence and arguments for such effects in light of Darwinian and Lamarckian evolutionary theories.

Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids.

The microbial composition of host-associated microbiomes is influenced by co-evolutionary interactions, host genetics, domestication, and the environment. This study investigates the contribution of environmental microbiota from freshwater bodies to the gastrointestinal microbiomes of wild khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus, n = 21) and compares them with those of captive khulans (n = 12) and other equids-Przewalski's horse (n = 82) and domestic horse (n = 26). Using PacBio technology and the LotuS pipeline for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyze microbial diversity and conduct differential abundance, alpha, and beta diversity analyses.

Autograft dilation after Ross procedure in children and young adults is mitigated by autograft reinforcement: A retrospective MRI study.

Limited magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data on autograft dilatation following the Ross procedure in congenital cohorts presents challenges in understanding its evolution and impact on clinical outcomes. This study, spanning from February 2003 to December 2022, included patients under 40 years at the time of the Ross procedure, with MRI follow-ups assessing dimensions at key aortic sites. Among 307 patients, 132 MRIs were analyzed from 76 individuals, revealing that autograft z-scores increase primarily with time post-procedure (Coef.

Field-particle energy transfer during chorus emissions in space.

Chorus waves are some of the strongest electromagnetic emissions naturally occurring in space and can cause radiation that is hazardous to humans and satellites. Although chorus waves have attracted extreme interest and been intensively studied for decades, their generation and evolution remain highly debated. Here, in contrast to the conventional expectation that chorus waves are governed by planetary magnetic dipolar fields, we report observations of repetitive, rising-tone chorus waves in the terrestrial neutral sheet, where the effects of the magnetic dipole are absent.

Antibiotic resistance mediated by gene amplifications.

Apart from horizontal gene transfer and sequence-altering mutational events, antibiotic resistance can emerge due to the formation of tandem repeats of genomic regions. This phenomenon, also known as gene amplification, has been implicated in antibiotic resistance in both laboratory and clinical scenarios, where the evolution of resistance via amplifications can affect treatment efficacy. Antibiotic resistance mediated by gene amplifications is unstable and consequently can be difficult to detect, due to amplification loss in the absence of the selective pressure of the antibiotic.

Evaluating the efficiency of 16S-ITS-23S operon sequencing for species level resolution in microbial communities.

Rapid advancements in long-read sequencing have facilitated species-level microbial profiling through full-length 16S rRNA sequencing (~ 1500 bp), and more notably, by the newer 16S-ITS-23S ribosomal RNA operon (RRN) sequencing (~ 4500 bp). RRN sequencing is emerging as a superior method for species resolution, exceeding the capabilities of short-read and full-length 16S rRNA sequencing. However, being in its early stages of development, RRN sequencing has several underexplored or understudied elements, highlighting the need for a critical and thorough examination of its methodologies.

Longitudinal evolution of the transdiagnostic prodrome to severe mental disorders: a dynamic temporal network analysis informed by natural language processing and electronic health records.

Modelling the prodrome to severe mental disorders (SMD), including unipolar mood disorders (UMD), bipolar mood disorders (BMD) and psychotic disorders (PSY), should consider both the evolution and interactions of symptoms and substance use (prodromal features) over time. Temporal network analysis can detect causal dependence between and within prodromal features by representing prodromal features as nodes, with their connections (edges) indicating the likelihood of one feature preceding the other. In SMD, node centrality could reveal insights into important prodromal features and potential intervention targets.

Electrochemical deposition of bimetallic sulfides on novel BDD electrode for bifunctional alkaline seawater electrolysis.

Seawater electrolysis is an ideal technology for obtaining clean energy-green hydrogen. Developing efficient bifunctional catalysts is crucial for hydrogen production through direct seawater electrolysis. Currently, metal substrates loaded with active catalysts are widely employed as electrodes for seawater electrolysis.

Characterization and genome analysis of a novel phage BP15 infecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is pathogenic to both humans and marine animals. Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria have been reported to cause mortalities in shrimp, with phage therapy presenting an alternative and eco-friendly biocontrol strategy for controlling bacterial diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate and characterize phages for their applicability in lysing Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Two classes of DNA gyrase inhibitors elicit distinct evolutionary trajectories toward resistance in gram-negative pathogens.

Comprehensive knowledge of mechanisms driving the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance is essential for the development of new drugs with minimized resistibility. To gain this knowledge, we combine experimental evolution in a continuous culturing device, the morbidostat, with whole genome sequencing of evolving cultures followed by characterization of drug-resistant isolates. Here, this approach was used to assess evolutionary dynamics of resistance acquisition against DNA gyrase/topoisomerase TriBE inhibitor GP6 in Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii.

Separating nanobubble nucleation for transfer-resistance-free electrocatalysis.

Electrocatalytic gas-evolving reactions often result in bubble-covered surfaces, impeding the mass transfer to active sites. Such an issue will be worsened in practical high-current-density conditions and can cause sudden cell failure. Herein, we develop an on-chip microcell-based total-internal-reflection-fluorescence-microscopy to enable operando imaging of bubbles at sub-50 nm and dynamic probing of their nucleation during hydrogen evolution reaction.

Microbial carbon oxidation in seawater below the hypoxic threshold.

Global oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) often reach hypoxia but seldom reach anoxia. Recently it was reported that Michaelis Menten constants (K) of oxidative enzymes are orders of magnitude higher than respiratory K values, and in the Hypoxic Barrier Hypothesis it was proposed that, in ecosystems experiencing falling oxygen, oxygenase enzyme activities become oxygen-limited long before respiration. We conducted a mesocosm experiment with a phytoplankton bloom as an organic carbon source and controlled dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in the dark to determine whether hypoxia slows carbon oxidation and oxygen decline.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus).

The Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus), a finfish with the largest biomass of a single species in the Yellow and East China Seas, plays an important pivotal role in converting zooplanktons into high trophic fish in the food web. As a result, the fish is regard as a key species in its habiting ecosystem. However, the lack of genomic resources hampers our understanding of its genetic diversity and differentiation, as well as the evolutionary dynamics.

Modular access to saturated bioisosteres of anilines via photoelectrochemical decarboxylative C(sp)-N coupling.

In drug development, the substitution of benzene rings in aniline-based drug candidates with saturated bridged bicyclic ring systems often enhances pharmacokinetic properties while preserving biological activity. However, current efforts predominantly focuses on bicyclo[1.1.

Direct Observation of Structural Phase Transformations during Phosphorene Formation on Cu(111).

Blue phosphorene, a two-dimensional, hexagonal-structured, semiconducting phosphorus, has gained attention as it is considered easier to synthesize on metal surfaces than its allotrope, black phosphorene. Recent studies report different structures of phosphorene, for example, on Cu(111), but the underlying mechanisms of their formation are not known. Here, using a combination of in situ ultrahigh vacuum low-energy electron microscopy and in vacuo scanning tunneling microscopy, we determine the time evolution of the surface structure and morphology during the deposition of phosphorus on single-crystalline Cu(111).

Unveiling the guardians of the genome: The dynamic role of histones in DNA organization and disease.

Histones are positively charged proteins found in the chromatin of eukaryotic cells. They regulate gene expression and are required for the organization and packaging of DNA within the nucleus. Histones are extremely conserved, allowing for transcription, replication, and repair.

Role of lamins in cellular physiology and cancer.

Lamins, which are crucial type V intermediate filament proteins found in the nuclear lamina, are essential for maintaining the stability and function of the nucleus in higher vertebrates. They are classified into A- and B-types, and their distinct expression patterns contribute to cellular survival, development, and functionality. Lamins emerged during the transition from open to closed mitosis, with their complexity increasing alongside organism evolution.

The response of microbial communities to environmental factors in bank soil and river sediment: A case study along the mainstream of the Yangtze River.

Microbial communities, which are crucial for ecosystem function and sustainability, are under environmental pressure. Using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) as a measure of microbial biomass and community structure, the responses of microorganisms to environmental drivers were studied in bank soil and sediment alongside the Yangtze River in China. Thirty-eight sites were investigated over a length of 5500 kilometers, ranging from the plateau to the estuary.