[Research progress in optogenetic therapy for retinitis pigmentosa].

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal diseases characterized by progressive loss of photoreceptor cells and retinal pigment epithelium function. Its treatment has long been a focus and challenge in ophthalmic research. Despite advances in therapies such as stem cell transplantation, gene therapy, and retinal prosthetic implants, many difficulties remain.

Learning the fitness dynamics of pathogens from phylogenies.

The dynamics of the genetic diversity of pathogens, including the emergence of lineages with increased fitness, is a foundational concept of disease ecology with key public-health implications. However, the identification of such lineages and estimation of associated fitness remain challenging, and is rarely done outside densely sampled systems. Here we present phylowave, a scalable approach that summarizes changes in population composition in phylogenetic trees, enabling the automatic detection of lineages based on shared fitness and evolutionary relationships.

Association between red blood cell distribution width and genetic risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study and Mendelian randomization analysis.

Objective: Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the potential interactions of RDW with genetic risk of incident RA remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between RDW, genetics, and the risk of developing RA.

Methods: We analysed data from 145,025 healthy participants at baseline in the UK Biobank.

[Research progresses in gene therapy for hepatolenticular degeneration].

Hepatolenticular degeneration, also known as Wilson's disease, is a type of autosomal recessive genetic disorder of copper metabolism. The causative gene, ATP7B, is located on the long arm of chromosome 13 and encodes a P-type ATPase that is involved in copper transport. Pathogenic mutations in the ATP7B gene sequence lead to the diminished or lost function of the ATP7B protein, resulting in pathological copper deposition in organs such as the liver, brain, kidneys, and cornea.

Synthetic translational coupling system for accurate and predictable polycistronic gene expression control in bacteria.

Precise and predictable genetic elements are required to address various issues, such as suboptimal metabolic flux or imbalanced protein assembly caused by the inadequate control of polycistronic gene expression in bacteria. Here, we devised a synthetic biopart based on the translational coupling to control polycistronic gene expression. This module links the translation of genes within a polycistronic mRNA, maintaining their expression ratios regardless of coding sequences, transcription rate, and upstream gene translation rate.

How abscisic acid collaborates in Brassica napus responses to salt and drought stress: An in silico approach.

Canola (Brassica napus sp.), the most important oily seed product in the world, is affected largely by salinity and drought stresses due to its ability to be planted in arid and semiarid regions. Therefore, studying potent genes involved in salt/drought stress response in canola would help improve abiotic stress tolerance.

Conference 2024: Building an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health.

The Conference 2024 provides a platform to promote the development of an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health. The four key components - Technology, Research (Biology), Academic journals, and Social media - form a synergistic ecosystem. Advanced technologies drive biological research, which generates novel insights that are disseminated through academic journals.

Unraveling the associations between voice pitch and major depressive disorder: a multisite genetic study.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) often goes undiagnosed due to the absence of clear biomarkers. We sought to identify voice biomarkers for MDD and separate biomarkers indicative of MDD predisposition from biomarkers reflecting current depressive symptoms. Using a two-stage meta-analytic design to remove confounds, we tested the association between features representing vocal pitch and MDD in a multisite case-control cohort study of Chinese women with recurrent depression.

Membrane-targeted push-pull azobenzenes for the optical modulation of membrane potential.

We introduce a family of membrane-targeted azobenzenes (MTs) with a push-pull character as a new tool for cell stimulation. These molecules are water soluble and spontaneously partition in the cell membrane. Upon light irradiation, they isomerize from trans to cis, changing the local charge distribution and thus stimulating the cell response.

A multiplex microarray lateral flow immunoassay device for simultaneous determination of five mycotoxins in rice.

Co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins is a growing global food safety concern due to their harmful effects on humans and animals. This study developed an eco-friendly sample preparation method and an innovative multiplex microarray-based lateral flow immunoassay, using a novel portable reader for on-site simultaneous determination of five regulated mycotoxins-aflatoxin B, T-2 toxin, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and fumonisin B in rice. The eco-friendly and ultrafast extraction procedure utilizes a bio-based solvent.

Impacts of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Genotypes on Hallux Valgus.

Background/aim: Hallux valgus (HV) is the most common deformity of the forefoot. Although HV has been strongly associated with a family history, its genetic underpinnings remain unclear. Few studies have examined the relationship between folic acid metabolism, which is critical in normal bone development, and HV.

Impact of DNA Ligase 1 Genotypes on Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Background/aim: Genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair mechanisms can modulate overall DNA repair capacity, potentially influencing individual susceptibility to cancer. This study investigated the relationship between polymorphic variations in DNA ligase 1 and the risk of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (cALL).

Materials And Methods: The genotypes of DNA ligase 1 rs20579 were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.

Microwave-assisted protein extraction from foxtail millet: Optimization, structural characterization, techno-functional properties, and bioactivity of peptides.

This research investigates the impact of microwave power, processing time, and solid-to-solvent ratio on protein recovery from foxtail millet (Setaria italica), using an artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA). The extracted protein and subsequent hydrolysates were also evaluated for their techno-functional, structural, and digestibility properties. The ANN model, trained with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and optimized by a GA, identified optimal extraction conditions (960 W, 66.

Magnetic Janus SiO nanoparticles immobilized protease mutant T70I as a novel clarification agent for juice processing.

The juice processing industry offers several benefits, including promoting health and wellness through the delivery of beverages rich in nutrients. Nonetheless, the industry encounters significant challenges regarding new technologies for processing and preservation given that they can be costly and labor-intensive. In this study, magnetic Janus silica (SiO) nanoparticle which offers multifunctionality and high stability was synthesized and subsequently immobilized with a protease mutant T70I (T70I@MSNs) to serve as a clarifying agent in juice.

Calcineurin: An essential regulator of sleep revealed by biochemical, chemical biological, and genetic approaches.

Research into mechanisms underlying sleep traditionally relies on electrophysiology and genetics. Because sleep can only be measured on whole animals by behavioral observations and physical means, no sleep research was initiated by biochemical and chemical biological approaches. We used phosphorylation sites of kinases important for sleep as targets for biochemical and chemical biological approaches.

Exploring the causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and myasthenia gravis: A two-way Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Based on previous research, it is well-established that myasthenia gravis (MG) is linked to chronic inflammation. However, the exact nature of the relationship between inflammatory factors and the development of MG remains unclear. Consequently, the objective of this study is to explore whether alterations in the levels of inflammatory factors, as influenced by genetic factors, are associated with the occurrence of MG.

Shared genetic factors and the interactions with fresh fruit intake contributes to four types squamous cell carcinomas.

Studies have reported risk factors for a single-squamous cell carcinoma(Single-SCCs). However, the shared common germline genetic factors and environmental factors have not been well elucidated with respect to augmented risk of pan-squamous cell carcinoma(Pan-SCCs). By integrating a large-scale genotype data of 1,928 Pan-SCCs cases and 7,712 age- and sex-matched controls in the UK Biobank cohort, as well as multiple transcriptome and protein databases, we conducted a multi-omics analysis.

Biotechnological advances in plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for sustainable agriculture.

The rhizosphere, the soil zone surrounding plant roots, serves as a reservoir for numerous beneficial microorganisms that enhance plant productivity and crop yield, with substantial potential for application as biofertilizers. These microbes play critical roles in ecological processes such as nutrient recycling, organic matter decomposition, and mineralization. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represent a promising tool for sustainable agriculture, enabling green management of crop health and growth, being eco-friendly alternatives to replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Efficient identification of genomic insertions and surrounding regions in two transgenic maize events using third-generation single-molecule nanopore sequencing technology.

The increasing development of new genetically modified organisms underscores the critical need for comprehensive safety assessments, emphasizing the significance of molecular evidence such as gene integration, copy numbers, and adjacent sequences. In this study, the maize nitrate-efficient utilization gene ZmNRT1.1 A was introduced into maize variety y822 using transgenic technology, producing transgenic maize events ND4401 and ND4403 with enhanced tolerance to low nitrogen stress.

Trans-nuclei CRISPR/Cas9: safe approach for genome editing in the edible mushroom excluding foreign DNA sequences.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-assisted genome editing has been applied to several major edible agaricomycetes, enabling efficient gene targeting. This method is promising for rapid and efficient breeding to isolate high-value cultivars and overcome cultivation challenges. However, the integration of foreign DNA fragments during this process raises concerns regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their regulatory restrictions.

Refining minimal engineered receptors for specific activation of on-target signaling molecules.

Since designer cells are attracting much attention as a new modality in gene and cell therapy, it would be advantageous to develop synthetic receptors that recognize artificial ligands and activate solely signaling molecules of interest. In this study, we refined the construction of our previously developed minimal engineered receptors (MERs) to avoid off-target activation of STAT5 while maintaining on-target activation of signaling molecules corresponding to tyrosine motifs. Among the myristoylated, cytoplasmic, and transmembrane types of MERs, the cytoplasmic type had the highest signaling efficiency, although there was off-target activation of STAT5 upon ligand stimulation.

Enhanced NSGA-II algorithm based on novel hybrid crossover operator to optimise water supply and ecology of Fenhe reservoir operation.

Reservoir-operation optimisation is a crucial aspect of water-resource development and sustainable water process management. This study addresses bi-objective optimisation problems by proposing a novel crossover evolution operator, known as the hybrid simulated binary and improved arithmetic crossover (SBAX) operator, based on the simulated binary cross (SBX) and arithmetic crossover operators, and applies it to the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms-II (NSGA-II) algorithm to improve the algorithm. In particular, the arithmetic crossover operator can obtain an optimal solution more precisely within the solution space, whereas the SBX operator can explore a broader range of potential high-quality solutions.