Search Results (114)

Yellow (stripe) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a devastating disease of common wheat worldwide. The virulence variability of Pst isolates from common wheat was studied in geographically distant Russian regions (the North Caucasus, North-West, Volga, and Urals), which differ in climatic and environmental conditions, types of cultivated wheat (winter vs. spring wheat), and genotypes of commercial cultivars. A total of 95 isolates were tested for virulence on a differential set comprising 12 Avocet near-isogenic lines and 15 supplemental wheat varieties. In total, 38 distinct Pst pathotypes were identified: seven of them were detected in two regions, while a single pathotype was shared by three regions. Most pathotypes from the North Caucasus and North-West were clearly distinct from pathotypes in the Volga and Ural regions. The regional Pst collections were clearly divided into two major clusters: the first comprising the North-West and North-Caucasian collections (Dagestan, Krasnodar, and Rostov), and the second comprising the Volga and Ural collections. No virulence was detected to Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, Yr24, and the Moro variety. Isolates virulent to Yr17 were identified in the North Caucasus (Dagestan, Krasnodar, and Rostov) and Urals; however, no virulence to Yr17 was observed in the North-West and Volga regions. Full article

Background: Accurate prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is limited by biological heterogeneity and the absence of formal per-patient uncertainty quantification for treatment-response prediction. This study introduces a multi-layer evidence fusion framework combining gene expression profiling and clinical features with distribution-free uncertainty quantification. Methods: The proposed framework integrates four evidence layers—WGCNA co-expression eigengenes, ssGSEA pathway scores, bootstrap-stable prognostic genes, and the International Prognostic Index—through AUC-proportional reliability discounting and sequential Dempster–Shafer fusion. The primary endpoint was three-year overall survival (OS₃yr) as a surrogate for R-CHOP treatment response. Inductive conformal prediction (ICP, ε = 0.10) was applied to provide per-patient uncertainty sets with a distribution-free coverage guarantee. Training used GSE10846 (n = 223, Affymetrix); external validation used GSE181063 (n = 479, Illumina). Results: The proposed framework achieved internal AUC = 0.808 (95% CI [0.750, 0.863]), significantly outperforming logistic stacking (AUC = 0.786, p = 0.0009) and unweighted DS fusion (AUC = 0.767, p = 0.037). External AUC = 0.791 was statistically comparable to logistic stacking (DeLong p = 0.21). AUC-proportional discounting reduced inter-source conflict K^- by 75% (0.093→0.023). ICP achieved 90.1% internal and 94.6% external coverage; 43.5% of training patients received uncertain predictions ({S,R}). Conclusions: The proposed framework provides an uncertainty-aware approach for multi-layer genomic–clinical evidence fusion in DLBCL, with cross-platform discrimination validated on an independent Illumina cohort. Full article

Global nitrogen (N) deposition alters soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in alpine grasslands, yet rhizosphere carbon turnover mechanisms remain debated due to a lack of integrated multi-omics insights. This study aimed to systematically investigate the rhizosphere carbon turnover mechanisms and explore the 6-year N addition thresholds in alpine grasslands. Leveraging a six-year in situ N addition experiment, we combined metatranscriptomics and untargeted metabolomics to systematically investigate rhizosphere carbon pathways. The 10 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ treatment (N10) alleviated nutrient limitation by increasing microbial biomass nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen. This significantly upregulated carbon fixation genes, particularly the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle, promoting the accumulation of lipids and organic acids, which subsequently increased total SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC). Conversely, when N inputs exceeded this threshold (e.g., the 20 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ treatment), the additions induced severe soil acidification, suppressed carbon fixation transcription, and shifted the rhizosphere toward a degradation-dominated state, decreasing key carbonaceous metabolites and reducing all organic carbon fractions. Overall, continuous N input exerts a significant nonlinear threshold effect on rhizosphere carbon sequestration. Sustained N loading beyond the ecological threshold undermines soil carbon pool stability through coupled physicochemical, transcriptional, and metabolic alterations, highlighting the severe ecological risks of continuous N deposition in alpine ecosystems. Full article

Background: Mature microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in inflammation and fibrosis and are associated with the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction. miRNAs are single-stranded RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length that can posttranscriptionally modify mRNA by base-pairing with its complementary sequences leading to the silencing of mRNA. Methods: We assessed circulating levels of miRNAs in the blood of dogs that were clinically diagnosed as having chronic kidney disease (CKD) post-mortem, after the dogs had lived their full lives. Gene expression was measured using a Canine miRNA PCR array from blood samples that were collected at the natural end-of-life necropsy from dogs with CKD (2–17 yr) and control dogs (5–13.5 yr). Results: End-of-life pathology reports indicated interstitial inflammation, fibrosis, and thickening of the Bowman’s capsule. Histopathological analysis of H&E-stained renal sections taken from end-of-life samples showed a significantly higher number of healthy glomeruli as assessed morphologically in controls compared with CKD. There was a significant decline in the levels of miRNAs cfa-let-7a, cfa-let-7c, cfa-let-7f, and cfa-let-7g in dogs with CKD compared with controls. In addition, there was also a ≥1.5-fold reduction in levels of cfa-miR-93, cfa-miR-122, cfa-miR-200a, and cfa-miR-204 in CKD compared with controls (all ns). These microRNAs may have potential anti-fibrogenesis effect and are also down-regulated in rodent models and in in vitro mechanistic models of renal fibrosis, leading to increased fibrosis. There was also a down-regulation of cfa-miR-16 (−2.76 fold, ns), which is consistent with its reported role in attenuating kidney injury independent of fibrosis. Conclusions: Down-regulation of these miRNAs may be indicative of a reduction in their role in attenuating renal function, leading to impaired kidney function and possibly fibrogenesis. Importantly, the circulating miRNAs may serve as non-invasive biomarkers for impaired renal function in CKD. Nutritional interventions that upregulate selected miRNAs may serve as important targets for slowing the progression of CKD. Full article

Long-term atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can reshape forest soil N cycling, yet targeted evidence from functional gene bacterial communities remains particularly limited in cold-temperate coniferous forests. Here, we examined nifH- and nirK-harboring bacterial communities along a long-term simulated N-deposition gradient in a Larix gmelinii forest in the Greater Khingan Mountains, northeastern China. Four treatments had been applied since 2012: control (0 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), low N (25 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), medium N (50 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), and high N (75 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), with N supplied as NH₄NO₃. Soil inorganic N increased along the gradient; mean NO₃⁻-N increased from 4.9 mg kg⁻¹ fresh soil in the control to 8.1 mg kg⁻¹ under high N. The nifH community showed mainly richness-related and exploratory biomarker responses, with observed richness highest under low N and no significant OTU-level whole-community separation. The nirK community showed a stronger medium-N-associated pattern: observed richness increased from 241.3 OTUs in the control to 421.3 OTUs under medium N, and OTU-level community structure differed among treatments. Taxonomic and biomarker patterns were also centered on medium N, but interpretation was constrained by the high proportion of unclassified or uncultured nirK sequences. These results indicate that nifH- and nirK-harboring communities responded differently to long-term simulated N deposition, with the clearest response in the nirK marker-gene community under medium N. Because this study is based on functional gene amplicon profiles, the results should be interpreted as community-profile evidence rather than direct evidence of N fixation, complete denitrification, gene expression, or N gas fluxes. Full article

Yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) is one of the most destructive diseases in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Kazakhstan, causing significant yield losses. Owing to the high susceptibility of widely cultivated varieties, the development of resistant genotypes remains a key objective for sustainable crop protection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance of wheat lines to yellow rust and to identify effective resistance genes. The research was conducted under artificial infection conditions using hybrid populations of the F2–F5 generations. The genotypes were assessed and ranked according to their resistance levels, and molecular markers were applied to detect resistance genes. Significant variability in disease response was observed. Analysis of variance revealed a strong effect of genotype on the infection coefficient (p < 0.001). Lines from later generations (F5) presented lower infection levels. Most genotypes carried the Yr5 gene, highlighting its major role in resistance, whereas Yr10 was less common. Yr15 and Yr18 were detected in some lines and were associated with partial (adult plant) resistance. Moderately susceptible forms predominated, indicating widespread quantitative resistance. However, highly resistant lines (CI = 0–1) and immune forms were identified, representing valuable material for breeding programs. Full article

Wheat powdery mildew and stripe rust, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) and Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), respectively, are two devastating diseases that threaten global wheat production. Long-term reliance on a limited number of resistance genes can accelerate resistance breakdown. Triticum urartu (2n = 14, A^uA^u), the progenitor of the wheat A subgenome, serves as a valuable gene pool for disease resistance. In this study, we identified three T. urartu accessions exhibiting high resistance to Bgt and Pst. Molecular marker analysis indicated that PI 428215 and PI 428315 carry Pm60b, whereas CITR 17664 carries both Pm60 and YrU1. Durum–T. urartu amphiploids (AABBA^uA^u) displayed resistance responses identical to their T. urartu parent and were used as bridges to transfer these resistance genes into a common wheat (AABBDD) background. Using marker-assisted selection (MAS), recurrent backcrossing, selfing, and phenotypic screening, we developed wheat lines carrying Pm60, Pm60b, YrU1, or Pm60 + YrU1. Segregation analysis in backcross-derived populations supported the functionality of these genes in the common wheat background. The selected introgression lines have high resistance to Bgt and Pst and showed no obvious adverse agronomic effects, providing useful germplasm for wheat disease resistance breeding. This study used a “multi-resistance, multi-combination” pyramiding strategy by MAS to introduce resistance genes from wild wheat into common wheat. Full article

Escalating nitrogen (N) deposition has profound effects on terrestrial ecosystems; however, the mechanisms underlying soil protist community responses in cold-temperate regions remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of long-term N addition on soil protist communities at Nanwenghe Reserve in the Greater Khingan Mountains, where a 12-year continuous N addition experiment was initiated in 2011 and has been maintained annually thereafter. Four N addition levels were applied: control (CK, 0), low N (LN, 25), medium N (MN, 50), and high N (HN, 75 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). During the 2023 growing season, soil protist communities were characterized using 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results demonstrated that N addition significantly altered the protist community structure, with significant interactive effects between N addition and season. Phagotrophic and phototrophic protists exhibited significantly stronger responses to N addition than parasitic protists. Phototrophic communities showed the strongest compositional differentiation (NMDS, p = 0.002), whereas parasitic protists exhibited no significant response to N addition. PLS-PM analysis indicated that soil nutrient factors primarily exerted indirect effects on protist communities by altering microbial diversity and plant characteristics, whereas biotic factors, particularly fungal and plant diversity, showed stronger direct regulatory effects on protist community dynamics. These findings reveal how N addition influences soil protist communities through the soil–plant–microbial pathway, providing a scientific basis for assessing soil microbial food web stability in high-latitude forests. Full article

Regenerative agriculture (RA) is expanding across the Western Canadian Prairies, but its microbial foundations under climatic constraint remain insufficiently integrated. This review synthesizes evidence from long-term Prairie field experiments, regional and global datasets to evaluate how regenerative management reshapes soil biological processes and agronomic performance across systems. RA practices including no-till, diversified rotations, cover cropping, and organic amendments consistently enhance microbial biomass (up to 40–86%), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance (32–60%), and microbial diversity (≈50%), alongside increases in soil organic carbon (up to 15.6 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), aggregate stability (up to 38%), and water retention (up to 30–34%). These biologically mediated improvements are linked to enhanced nutrient cycling and crop nitrogen uptake (13–47%), as well as increased microbial enzymatic activity and functional gene abundance. Agronomically, these changes translate into yield gains ranging from 10% to 147% under long-term no-till and 14–38% under diversified rotations, with additional system-level benefits including reductions in synthetic nitrogen inputs (up to 73%) and herbicide use (up to 42%). While agronomic benefits vary across temporal scales and environmental conditions, this synthesis identifies microbial communities as key mediators of interactions among climate, plant, and soil systems, underpinning improvements in soil health, pest suppression, and yield stability in semi-arid, climate-variable Prairie agroecosystems. Continued long-term, system-level research is needed to refine regionally adapted regenerative transitions and to clarify how microbial processes mediate resilience under future climate uncertainty. Full article

Binary cell fate decisions in the Drosophila retina generate R8 photoreceptor subtypes that express either blue-sensitive Rh5 or green-sensitive Rh6 opsins. These choices are governed by a Hippo pathway–dependent bistable switch, yet the mechanisms that couple pathway output to terminal opsin expression remain unclear. Here, we identify miR-927 as a regulator that biases R8 subtype fate. Loss of miR-927 increases Rh5-positive pR8 cells, whereas its overexpression promotes Rh6-positive yR8 identity. Mechanistically, miR-927 directly represses the terminal differentiation gene Rh5 and is capable of repressing the Hippo pathway effector yki through its 3′UTR. This dual targeting couples pathway output to terminal gene expression, providing a mechanism to bias and stabilize subtype identity. More broadly, our findings illustrate how microRNAs can be integrated into bistable signaling networks to modulate binary cell fate decisions. Full article

In major wheat-growing regions, rust diseases and common bunt significantly reduce wheat productivity, especially in years with favorable conditions for phytopathogen development and limited resistant cultivar use. Thus, the development of genetically resistant wheat cultivars carrying combinations of valuable resistance genes is an effective strategy to mitigate these losses. In this study, 156 advanced winter wheat breeding lines were evaluated for resistance to yellow (stripe) rust, leaf (brown) rust, and common bunt under an artificial infection background. Concurrently, molecular screening was performed using DNA markers to detect rust (Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, Lr9, Lr34/Yr18, and Lr37/Yr17) and common bunt resistance genes (Bt8, Bt9, Bt10, Bt11, and Bt12). Based on the integrated analysis of phenotypic and DNA marker-based molecular data, fourteen and five lines resistant to common bunt and yellow rust, respectively, were identified, and alleles associated with resistance were also detected. Notably, one line (9909) exhibited high resistance to both rust diseases and common bunt. These selected advanced breeding lines represent promising candidates for the development of wheat cultivars with enhanced disease resistance, thereby supporting sustainable productivity in wheat-growing regions. Full article

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is an important global change driver in forest ecosystems, yet its long-term effects on belowground microbial communities in cold-temperate coniferous forests remain insufficiently understood. In this study, endpoint shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to evaluate bulk soil microbial communities after 12 years of experimental N addition in a Larix gmelinii-dominated forest in the Greater Khingan Mountains of northeastern China. Four treatments were included: control (0 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), low N (25 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), medium N (50 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), and high N (75 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Microbial alpha diversity did not differ significantly among treatments, although moderate N addition showed a tendency to maintain relatively higher richness and diversity. In contrast, beta-diversity analysis indicated clear shifts in community composition along the N addition gradient. Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, and Actinomycetota dominated the microbial communities, with Pseudomonadota tending to increase under N enrichment, whereas some oligotrophic groups showed reduced relative abundance. Functional annotation showed that metabolism-related genes remained dominant across treatments, and carbohydrate-active enzyme profiles suggested altered microbial potential for complex carbon decomposition under long-term N input. Nitrogen addition also modified the abundance patterns of some antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements, although overall resistome differentiation among treatments remained limited. These results provide endpoint metagenomic evidence that long-term N addition can reshape bulk soil microbial community composition and selected functional potentials in cold-temperate coniferous forest soils, even when overall alpha diversity remains relatively stable. Full article

Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) and Fusarium head blight (FHB; caused by Fusarium graminearum) are fungal diseases that endanger wheat productivity; however, by pyramiding disease-resistant genes, the long-term resistance of wheat can be strengthened. In this study, a multi-parent pyramiding hybrid population was constructed using marker-assisted selection (MAS). After multiple generations of breeding, 168 F₆ lines were obtained. By combining molecular marker genotyping, field resistance identification, and agronomic trait evaluation, 19 lines with excellent agronomic traits were selected, which not only showed high resistance to stripe rust but also carried Fhb1 genes, some of which have the potential to be developed into new germplasms and offer important genetic resources for the breeding of wheat with long-lasting and broad-spectrum resistance. Full article

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is an important disease in wheat production. Breeding disease-resistant breeds is the most effective measure for preventing and controlling this disease. In this study, hybrid combinations were developed using wheat varieties Mianmai367 and Zhoumai22; 40059, 40047, and Zhoumai8425B. Mixed seed harvesting and artificial selection were conducted from the F₁ to F₄ generations, followed by manual screening of superior disease-resistant single plants in the F₅ generation to obtain 271 F₆ families. These F₆ families underwent molecular marker detection, disease resistance identification, and agronomic trait evaluation. The molecular markers included markers linked to YrZH84 (Xcfa2040, Xbarc32), YrZH22 (WGGB119, WGGB124), Yr30 (Xgwm533, We173), and Yr26 (Xbarc181). Through a comprehensive selection, wheat families with either single or multiple pyramided genes that exhibited both disease resistance and excellent agronomic traits were identified. Ultimately, 63 wheat families with excellent agronomic traits and disease resistance were selected. Among 63 pedigrees, there are three pedigrees containing four genes YrZH84, Yr30, YrZH22, and Yr26, four pedigrees containing three genes, 13 families containing two genes, 22 families containing one gene, and 21 families containing none of the genes. These families exhibit strong stripe rust resistance and superior agronomic characteristics, making them suitable for developing new wheat lines with durable resistance and high-yield potential. They thus provide effective materials for wheat breeding. Full article

Social wasps, including hornets, are increasingly recognized not only as invasive pests but also as farmed insects; however, their gut microbiota and associated diseases remain poorly characterized. In indoor rearing facilities for the hornet Vespa analis in Dehong, Yunnan, China, we observed recurrent larval disease with weakness, larvae falling from the nests, and high mortality. To identify the causative agent and its effects on the gut community, we isolated bacteria from diseased larvae, characterized them by morphology, biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and then established an oral infection model. A red-pigmented isolate, designated YR2, was identified as Serratia marcescens. Oral inoculation with YR2 reproduced disease signs and significantly increased larval mortality, and a phenotypically consistent S. marcescens isolate was reisolated from infected larval guts. Amplicon sequencing showed that healthy larvae harbored gut communities dominated by Proteobacteria, whereas infection was associated with reduced diversity and a dysbiotic shift with enrichment of Enterobacterales. Our results support S. marcescens as a strong candidate pathogen associated with larval disease and mortality in Vespa analis under indoor-rearing conditions. Our findings provide a basis for pathogen surveillance and microbiota management in indoor hornet husbandry, and support improved biosecurity and health monitoring practices. Full article