Search Results (122)

Amomum villosum is an evergreen perennial herb widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with significant economic and medicinal importance. Throughout the cultivation process, it faces severe fungal disease problems that significantly impact its yield and quality. In July 2025, leaf spot disease with a 56% incidence was observed on A. villosum in Wenshan, Yunnan, China. Affected leaves initially developed irregular grayish-white lesions surrounded by brown margins. As symptom development progressed, semi-submerged black spots formed on the lesion surfaces. Severe infections resulted in premature leaf abscission and, ultimately, death of the entire plant. To identify the pathogen responsible, we conducted isolation and pathogenicity studies. Through morphological characterization, phylogenetic analysis (ITS, LSU, and TUB), and pathogenicity tests, Pestalotiopsis microspora was determined as a pathogen. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled on attached leaves. After 15 days, typical necrotic lesions appeared on inoculated leaves, while controls remained symptom-free. This is the first report of A. villosum leaf spot caused by P. microspora in China. Biocontrol assays revealed that Trichoderma harzianum T15 and T. asperellum T16 exhibited significant antagonistic activity against P. microspora, with inhibition rates of 44.77% and 50.70%, respectively. In addition, Bacillus velezensis SWFU41, isolated from healthy A. villosum leaves, showed superior disease suppression, achieving a control efficacy of 60.52%. Compared with the fungal biocontrol agents, B. velezensis demonstrated greater inhibitory activity against the pathogen, suggesting that bacterial antagonists may provide a more effective biological control strategy for managing A. villosum leaf spot disease. This is the first report of P. microspora-caused leaf spot disease on A. villosum. Furthermore, the comparative evaluation of fungal and bacterial antagonists demonstrated that B. velezensis SWFU41 outperformed T. harzianum and T. asperellum in disease suppression, highlighting its potential as a promising biocontrol agent for sustainable disease management. These findings provide a scientific basis for pathogen monitoring, epidemiological studies, and the development of integrated biological control strategies for A. villosum cultivation. Full article

Freshwater amphipods of the genus Gammarus are important trophic components of aquatic ecosystems and are increasingly considered a potential bioresource for aquaculture. However, their role in the maintenance and transmission of infectious agents remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the presence of major crustacean and fish pathogens in Gammarus lacustris populations from Kazakhstan and characterized associated viral communities using metagenomic sequencing. Six pooled samples collected from freshwater ecosystems across Kazakhstan were screened using PCR and RT-PCR assays targeting World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)-listed pathogens, including White Spot Syndrome Virus, Taura Syndrome Virus, Infectious Myonecrosis Virus, Aphanomyces astaci, and Aphanomyces invadans. In parallel, high-throughput sequencing (Illumina NovaSeq) was performed to assess virome composition and structure. No WOAH-listed pathogens were detected, suggesting a low detectable occurrence of major notifiable agents under the conditions of the present study. Metagenomic analysis revealed a virome dominated by RNA viruses, particularly picorna-like viruses (Picornaviridae), Dicistroviridae, and Marnaviridae. Phylogenetic and genome organization analyses identified potentially novel or highly divergent viral lineages within Picornavirales. Collectively, these findings suggest a favorable epizootiological profile of G. lacustris populations while highlighting freshwater amphipods as hosts of diverse and partially uncharacterized viral communities relevant to aquatic disease surveillance and aquaculture biosecurity. Full article

Visceral white spot disease caused by Pseudomonas plecoglossicida poses a severe threat to large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) aquaculture. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects and underlying mechanisms of Pseudostellaria heterophylla extract against P. plecoglossicida infection in L. crocea. Fish were fed a basal diet supplemented with 1% P. heterophylla extract for 30, 45, and 60 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection with 200 μL P. plecoglossicida (1 × 10⁴ CFU/mL). When the control group reached about 50% mortality, transcriptome sequencing of head kidney tissues was performed on the 45 and 60 days post-feeding of the treatment groups to analyze gene expression changes following bacterial infection. Survival rates of the treatment groups were 33.33%, 13.33%, and 20% higher than those of the control group at 30, 45, and 60 days post-feeding, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed time-dependent transcriptional responses: in one group, 45 days post-feeding, 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (2 up-regulated and 8 down-regulated), whereas in another group, 60 days post-feeding, 893 DEGs were detected (417 up-regulated and 476 down-regulated). Functional enrichment analysis (GO, KEGG, and GSEA) demonstrated that DEGs were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways, including Toll-like receptor signaling, chemokine activity, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, hematopoietic cell lineage, and cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction. Key immune genes, including chemokines, Toll-like receptors, and T cell regulators, were significantly up-regulated. These findings indicate that P. heterophylla extract enhances both the specific and non-specific immune capabilities of L. crocea in a time-dependent manner, with prolonged supplementation eliciting more robust transcriptional activation of immune defense pathways. This study provides a scientific foundation for developing immunological prevention strategies against P. plecoglossicida infection in aquaculture. Full article

Cryptocaryon irritans, a ciliated protozoan parasite, is the causative agent of marine white spot disease and results in significant economic losses in mariculture. In this study, golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) were challenged with C. irritans at different infection doses (2000, 4000, and 8000 theronts per fish) for 48 h to evaluate histopathological, oxidative stress, immune, and intestinal microbiota responses. Histopathological analysis revealed pronounced tissue damage in the gills, skin, intestine, and liver, with severity positively correlated with infection intensity. Typical lesions included intestinal mucosal damage, hepatic vacuolation, gill epithelial hyperplasia, and skin epidermal thickening. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased significantly with infection intensity, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) showed non-linear activation patterns. Catalase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities were consistently suppressed. Immune-related gene expression exhibited tissue-specific regulation, with myd88 downregulated in gills but upregulated in skin, while pro-inflammatory cytokines (il-1β and il-8) and il-10 were significantly elevated. Infection also altered intestinal microbiota composition, reducing beneficial bacteria (e.g., Photobacterium) and increasing opportunistic pathogens such as Vibrio. These findings provide insights into host–parasite–microbiota interactions in T. ovatus and improve our understanding of the physiological and immune responses of fish to C. irritans infection. Full article

Poplar (Populus) trees are indispensable to various industries and environmental sustainability efforts. They are widely utilized for paper production, timber, and windbreaks, while also playing a significant role in carbon sequestration. Given their economic and ecological importance, the effective management of diseases is crucial. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), renowned for their ability to process visual data, are pivotal in accurately detecting and classifying plant diseases. This study presents a domain-specific dataset of manually collected images of diseased poplar leaves from Uzbekistan and South Korea, ensuring geographic diversity and broader applicability. The dataset includes four disease classes, i.e., “Parsha (Scab),” “Brown spotting,” “White-Gray spotting,” and “Rust,” which represent common afflictions in these regions. To advance research efforts, this dataset will be made publicly accessible, providing a valuable resource for the scientific community. Leveraging the cutting-edge YOLOv9c model, a state-of-the-art CNN architecture, we applied the Histogram Equalization technique as a preprocessing step to enhance the image quality to increase the accuracy of disease detection. This method not only improves the diagnostic performance of the model but also provides a scalable solution for monitoring and managing poplar diseases. By ensuring the health of poplar trees, this approach supports the sustainability of these critical resources. To our knowledge, this is the first publicly available dataset specifically focused on diseased poplar leaves, making it a significant contribution to global research efforts. It offers an invaluable resource for researchers and practitioners, enabling further advancements in early disease detection and sustainable forestry management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood, disproportionately affecting socially vulnerable populations. This scoping review aimed to analyze the clinical effects of selected minimally invasive materials and approaches, specifically mouthrinses, fluoride varnishes, silver diamine fluoride, and glass ionomer-based interventions, for the prevention and management of dental caries in pediatric patients, with emphasis on public health and community-based settings. Methods: This scoping review followed the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework. Electronic searches were conducted up to 23 January 2026, using tailored strategies for mouthrinses, fluoride varnishes, silver diamine fluoride (SDF), and glass ionomer cements (GICs). Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included. Data extraction and qualitative synthesis focused on clinical outcomes and applicability in public health contexts. Results: Fifty-five RCTs were included. Fluoride- or chlorhexidine-based mouthrinses showed potential in controlling cariogenic biofilm, with evidence primarily based on microbiological outcomes. Fluoride varnishes were associated with enamel remineralization and control of early white spot lesions, particularly in supervised programs. SDF was reported to achieve high caries’ arrest rates in cavitated dentin lesions of primary teeth, while its preventive effect on sound surfaces appeared comparable to other fluoride-based interventions. GICs were associated with acceptable clinical performance as pit-and-fissure sealants and in atraumatic restorative treatment. Conclusions: Minimally invasive dentistry (MID) approaches show promise for the prevention and management of childhood dental caries in public health and community-based settings. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneity of interventions and outcome measures, the predominance of short-term and surrogate (microbiological) outcomes, and the absence of a formal risk-of-bias assessment. As a scoping review, the synthesis is narrative in nature, which limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions. Further studies with standardized clinical outcomes and longer follow-up are needed to strengthen the evidence. Full article

Cryptocaryon irritans Brown, 1951, a ciliated protozoan, is the pathogen of cryptocaryoniasis (white spot disease) in marine fish, causing substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This is the first study to investigate the antiparasitic activity of baohuoside I, a natural flavonoid isolated from Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., against C. irritans. In vitro exposure to baohuoside I suppressed theront viability and tomont hatching in a dose- and time-dependent manner, inducing an apoptosis-like death in both stages, characterized by ciliary detachment, mitochondrial disruption, nuclear condensation, and extensive vacuolization, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Further studies demonstrated that baohuoside I elevated the intracellular Ca²⁺ and reactive oxygen species levels in tomonts, indicating Ca²⁺ overload and oxidative stress. Transcriptomic analysis of infected Larimichthys crocea skin revealed that baohuoside I upregulated immune-related genes while downregulating pro-inflammatory genes, concurrently enhancing host serum acid phosphatase activity and mitigating oxidative stress in enzyme activity assays. In vivo trials showed that oral administration of baohuoside I reduced trophont attachment and improved fish survival. It did not exhibit hemolytic activity at concentrations effective against the parasites. Collectively, these findings elucidate a multi-target mechanism of baohuoside I, highlighting its potential as an eco-friendly therapeutic agent for cryptocaryoniasis control in marine aquaculture. Full article

Tetrahymena pyriformis is biologically similar to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, the parasite that causes “white spot disease” in fish. Because it has immune evasion genes and grows quickly, T. pyriformis serves as an ideal model for developing treatments against I. multifiliis and related parasites. This study tested water extracts from 10 traditional Chinese herbs against T. pyriformis and identified 5 with strong antiparasitic effects: Morus alba, Psoralea corylifolia, Sophora flavescens, Polygonum cuspidatum, and Pomegranate Peel. Combination tests showed that certain pairs, especially P. corylifolia with M. alba, worked together synergistically. When infected guppies were treated with this herbal combination at a concentration of 1.39 g/L (1:144 dilution), their 10-day survival rate reached 66.7%. Gill tissue analysis identified 577 genes with changed activity after treatment—228 increased and 349 decreased. These genes were linked to immune responses, metabolism, and cell processes. The key differentially expressed genes include those involved in the IL-17 signaling pathway, amino sugar metabolism, and the cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway. These results show that the herbal combination works by both directly killing parasites and boosting the fish’s immune system. This study provides a scientific basis for using natural herbal treatments as an eco-friendly way to control parasitic diseases in aquaculture. Full article

Background: Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) is usually acute and self-limited, whereas multifocal choroiditis (MFC)/punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) is relapsing; overlap can obscure early diagnosis and requires longitudinal multimodal imaging. Methods: We report a 4-year follow-up of a 31-year-old woman with fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), plus a systemic/neurologic/rheumatologic work-up. Treatment included intravenous methylprednisolone for presumed optic neuritis, followed by topical, periocular, intravitreal, and systemic corticosteroids, later escalated to adalimumab and an intravitreal dexamethasone implant. Because foveal granularity could not be documented, baseline was termed “MEWDS-like”. Diagnostic labelling was benchmarked against Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) criteria, and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was assessed at each relapse by OCT and FA. Results: The right eye initially showed a MEWDS-like pattern with wreath-like FA lesions and disc leakage, hyperautofluorescent FAF lesions, focal ellipsoid zone disruption on SD-OCT, and multifocal ICGA hypofluorescent spots. A relapse at 6 months with peripapillary inflammatory foci and recurrent cystoid macular edema supported reclassification to a unilateral MFC/PIC-spectrum phenotype. At 2 years, the fellow eye developed mild vitritis, peripapillary hyperautofluorescence, peripapillary/arcade leakage on FA, delayed peripapillary filling on ICGA, and cystoid macular edema, establishing sequential bilateral MFC; no CNV developed and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy was not required. Complications included steroid-induced ocular hypertension and cataract surgery. Conclusions: The purpose of this report is to highlight longitudinal imaging “red flags” that supported reclassification from a MEWDS-like phenotype to a sequential bilateral MFC/PIC-spectrum disease. Full article

A comprehensive two-year investigation (2024–2025) was conducted across Northeast China’s crucial grain production base to assess the status of maize diseases. Field surveys spanning three provinces and Inner Mongolia revealed a significant shift in the regional disease profile, with diagnosis performed by experienced personnel based on characteristic field symptoms. The results demonstrated that maize white spot (MWS) has emerged as a severe new threat, recording remarkably high disease severity indices exceeding 80 at multiple locations (e.g., LDD25-1: 86.83). Concurrently, gray leaf spot (GLS) was confirmed as the most prevalent foliar disease, forming stable areas of high severity in the eastern mountainous regions where its disease indices consistently surpassed 60 (e.g., LFS25-1: 65.26), thereby exceeding the impact of northern corn leaf blight. In contrast, stalk rot (SR) maintained a low field incidence rate below 10%, while other diseases such as Curvularia leaf spot and maize eyespot were only observed locally or were absent during the 2025 survey period. These findings underscore the emergence of MWS as a critical threat and affirm the dominant status of GLS, offering a scientific foundation for prioritizing disease management strategies in the region. Full article

White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) remains one of the most devastating pathogens in global shrimp aquaculture, causing massive economic losses annually. This study employed comparative transcriptomics to elucidate the molecular basis of the differential resistance to WSSV between the highly susceptible Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and the remarkably resistant oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense). Our analysis of gill, hepatopancreas, and muscle tissues at 24 h post-infection revealed fundamentally distinct defense strategies. The resistant M. nipponense employs a unique “proactive homeostatic reinforcement” strategy, characterized by significant enrichment of pathways central to cellular homeostasis, including signal transduction, cellular processes, and transport/catabolism. This approach, supported by coordinated up-regulation of heat shock proteins and structural genes, enables effective viral control without triggering excessive immune activation. In contrast, susceptible L. vannamei displays either widespread metabolic dysregulation leading to systemic collapse in moribund individuals or dependency on specific immune pathways (Toll-like receptor signaling and apoptosis) in survivors. Through comparative KEGG analysis, we identified heat shock protein 70 kDa (HSP70, K03283) as a key conserved gene and functionally validated its critical role in antiviral defense using RNA interference. Knockdown of HSP70 in M. nipponense significantly increased cumulative mortality and viral load, confirming its essential protective function. These findings provide novel insights into crustacean antiviral immunity and identify promising genetic targets for breeding WSSV-resistant shrimp strains, offering sustainable solutions for disease management in aquaculture. Full article

Visceral white spot disease caused by Pseudomonas plecoglossicida severely threatens marine aquaculture, highlighting the need for effective control strategies. To clarify the role of a novel small RNA, sRNA0024, in bacterial pathogenicity, we constructed an sRNA0024 deletion mutant (ΔsRNA0024) and compared its phenotype and virulence with those of the wild-type strain NZBD9. In vitro assays showed that deletion of sRNA0024 did not affect bacterial growth but significantly reduced biofilm formation and adhesion. In vivo infection experiments in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) demonstrated that the ΔsRNA0024 mutant had a 3.8-fold higher 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀), improved host survival, and milder splenic lesions than the wild type. Histopathology and host transcriptome analyses revealed weakened activation of complement–coagulation cascades, neutrophil extracellular traps, leukocyte migration, and inflammatory signaling pathways, indicating a lower-intensity immune response. Bacterial transcriptomics showed that deletion of sRNA0024 was associated with reduced luxR expression and attenuated quorum-sensing–associated virulence traits, supporting a possible role for this small RNA in modulating luxR expression and QS-related host immunopathology. These findings identify sRNA0024 as an important contributor to the virulence of P. plecoglossicida and highlight the sRNA0024–luxR module as a potential antivirulence target for controlling visceral white spot disease in aquaculture. Full article

White leaf spot disease [Neopseudocercosporella capsellae (Ellis & Everhart) S.I.R.Videira & P.W.Crous] poses a significant threat to rapeseed production globally. The herbicides atrazine and glyphosate are widely applied to herbicide-tolerant major crops, including rapeseed. Herbicides can affect disease levels directly and indirectly by stressing host plants, influencing pathogens, and altering abiotic and biotic stress levels in the environment. The specific effects of herbicides on the dimorphic pathogen N. capsellae regarding hyphal growth, conidial germination rate, and the morphological transformation from multi-celled hyphae or conidia into numerous single-celled blastospores remain unknown. Hence, studies were performed on two agar media [malt extract agar (MEA) and water agar (WA)] to determine how atrazine and glyphosate, each applied at 1 g a.i. L⁻¹ or the commercial recommended concentrations of 10 and 7.8 g a.i. L⁻¹, respectively, affect these characteristics in four highly pathogenic isolates of N. capsellae. Across a 32-day assessment period, the hyphal growth of all four isolates subcultured individually on MEA or WA was significantly restricted by both concentrations of atrazine and glyphosate. For both atrazine and glyphosate, restriction of hyphal growth was much greater at the higher commercial recommended concentration. Glyphosate restricted hyphal growth more than atrazine for each comparative concentration. Using a mixture of all four isolates, a similar trend of suppression by atrazine or glyphosate occurred in relation to conidial germination and the morphological transformation from multi-celled hyphae or conidia into numerous single-celled blastospores. These new insights into how herbicides constrain hyphal growth, conidial germination, and morphological transformation suggest their potential as a control measure in herbicide-tolerant crops to limit the epidemic spread and development of not only N. capsellae in rapeseed but other dimorphic fungal pathogens as well. Full article

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis poses a significant threat to global aquaculture, yet some fish species exhibit remarkable resistance. This study employed a combined LC-MS-based metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms underlying the differential susceptibility of Percocypris pingi, crucian carp, and yellow catfish. Our results revealed distinct skin molecular and microbial profiles in P. pingi associated with its enhanced resilience. Metabolomic analysis identified a significant upregulation of key antioxidants (L-Glutathione reduced, L-Glutathione oxidized, L-Cysteine-glutathione gisulfide, Uric acid, Histamine, N-Acetylhistamine, and scorbic acid) in P. pingi, most notably L-Glutathione reduced, which was 31- and 59-fold higher than in yellow catfish and crucian carp, respectively. Functional enrichment further highlighted the critical role of enhanced antioxidant capacity (centered on glutathione metabolism) and immune/inflammatory responses in the resistance to I. multifiliis of P. pingi. Concurrently, skin microbiome analysis showed that P. pingi hosted a microbial community distinct from the other two species, with significantly higher α-diversity. Notably, P. pingi skin was significantly depleted of the parasitic bacteria Candidatus_Megaira and Candidatus_Midichloria, which were highly abundant in the susceptible species. Furthermore, predicted metagenomic functions indicated that P. pingi’s microbiota was enriched in fundamental metabolic pathways, whereas the microbiota of crucian carp and yellow catfish was skewed towards disease- and immune-related pathways. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the superior resistance of P. pingi to I. multifiliis is likely conferred by a synergistic effect of a robust skin antioxidant capacity (primarily driven by glutathione) and a protective skin microbiome that excludes specific parasites. This study provides novel insights into the multi-faceted mechanisms of disease resistance in fish. Full article

White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is one of the most devastating viral pathogens affecting shrimp, causing severe economic losses to the global farmed shrimp trade. The globalization of live shrimp trade and waterborne transmission have facilitated the rapid spread of WSSV across major shrimp-producing countries since its initial emergence. The present review gives an updated account of WSSV biology, pathology, transmission dynamics, and recent developments in control measures. The virus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Nimaviridae family, utilizes advanced immune evasion strategies, resulting in severe mortality. Shrimp lack adaptive immunity and hence rely predominantly on innate immunity, which is insufficient to mount an effective response against severe infections. Traditional disease control measures such as augmented biosecurity, selective breeding, and immunostimulants have, despite extensive research, achieved only limited success. New biotechnological tools such as RNA interference, CRISPR-Cas gene editing, and nanotechnology offer tremendous potential for disease mitigation. In parallel, the development of DNA and RNA vaccines targeting WSSV structural proteins, such as VP28, holds significant promise for stimulating the shrimp immune system. This review highlights the urgent need for a convergent approach to sustainable disease management in global shrimp aquaculture, with interdisciplinarity playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of WSSV control. Full article