Search Results (32)

Addressing the challenges of extreme sample scarcity, complex underwater optical environments, and significant variations in lesion scales in real-world aquaculture, this paper proposes a small-sample grass carp disease recognition method, namely Swin Transformer with Supervised Contrastive Learning (ST-SCL), integrating dual-stream data augmentation and supervised contrastive learning. First, a frequency-spatial dual-stream augmentation strategy is constructed. In the frequency domain, the Amplitude-Mix technique is introduced to simulate diverse lighting and turbidity styles by mixing background amplitude spectra, thereby enhancing environmental generalization. In the spatial domain, a pathology-mask-guided instance-level Copy-Paste strategy is employed to directionally expand scarce lesion samples and address data imbalance. Second, the Swin Transformer is adopted as the backbone network, leveraging its hierarchical shifted window attention mechanism to effectively capture multi-scale features, balancing the detection of tiny parasites and extensive superficial ulcerations. Finally, supervised contrastive learning is incorporated to maximize intra-class compactness and minimize inter-class separability within the feature space, effectively reducing overfitting inherent to small-sample learning. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a macro-average F1-score of 95.86% across six disease categories. Compared with mainstream models such as ResNet and ConvNeXt, the ST-SCL exhibits notable performance improvements and enhanced robustness in small-sample scenarios, offering a promising technical path for precise fish disease diagnosis in complex aquatic environments. Full article

In disease control and precision management in aquaculture, rapid and accurate identification of common fish diseases is pivotal to mitigating economic losses and ensuring aquaculture profitability. However, fish diseases are characterized by subtle symptoms, polymorphic lesions, and high susceptibility to environmental perturbations such as water turbidity and illumination fluctuations. Existing detection models generally suffer from inadequate lightweight design, poor fine-grained lesion feature extraction, and deficient adaptability to class imbalance, failing to meet the stringent requirements of precise diagnosis in real-world aquaculture scenarios. To address these challenges, this study proposes FDR-Net: a fine-grained lesion detection model for tilapia via multi-scale feature enhancement and spatial attention fusion. Using image data of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) covering 6 common diseases and healthy individuals (from the NTD-1 dataset), the model incorporates symmetry-aware design logic, leveraging the morphological and textural symmetry of healthy tilapia tissues to capture lesion-induced symmetry-breaking features, thereby improving fine-grained lesion detection accuracy. Through depth-width scaling coefficients, FDR-Net achieves lightweight optimization while integrating three core modules and a task-specific loss function for full-chain optimization: specifically, a Micro-lesion Feature Enhancement Module (MLFEM) is embedded in key feature layers of the backbone network to accurately extract edge and texture features of incipient fine-grained lesions via multi-scale frequency decomposition and residual fusion; subsequently, a Lightweight Multi-scale Position Attention Module (MS_PSA) and a Single-modal Intra-feature Contrastive Fusion Module (SMICFM) are collaboratively deployed—the former focusing on spatial localization of lesion features, and the latter enhancing lesion-background discriminability through channel-spatial feature recalibration and contrastive fusion; finally, a Class-Aware Weighted Hybrid Loss (CAWHL) function is combined with customized small-target anchor boxes to alleviate class imbalance and further improve localization and classification accuracy of fine-grained lesions. Empirical evaluations on the NTD-1 dataset demonstrate that compared with mainstream state-of-the-art baseline models, FDR-Net achieves a peak recognition accuracy of 90.1% with substantially enhanced mAP_50-95 performance. Retaining lightweight characteristics, it exhibits superior performance in identifying incipient fine-grained lesions and strong adaptability to simulated complex aquaculture scenarios. Collectively, this study provides an efficient technical backbone for the rapid and precise detection of tilapia fine-grained lesions, offering a potential solution for precise disease management in tilapia farming. Full article

This study investigates the genomic basis of immune adaptation in the transparent glass catfish (Kv: Kryptopterus vitreolus), focusing on the loss of the Toll-like receptor 21 (TLR21) gene. Comparative genomic analysis with closely related non-transparent North African catfish (Cg: Clarias gariepinus) revealed 11 TLR genes in the latter, while only 8 TLR genes (KvTLR1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, and 20) were retained in the glass catfish, with TLR21 specifically absent. Collinearity analysis confirmed that the genomic region containing TLR21 is conserved across eight siluriform species, with loss exclusively in the glass catfish, supporting its lineage-specific absence. Structural expansion was notable in KvTLR5, KvTLR7, and KvTLR20. Molecular docking indicated that binding stability between CpG oligonucleotides and TLR21 varies significantly, with CpG-B 1681 showing the strongest interaction, which highlights sequence-dependent ligand recognition. Interestingly, absence of the TLR1 gene in another transparent teleost, the X-ray tetra (Pristella maxillaris), suggests that transparent fishes may share an evolutionary trend of lineage-specific TLR gene loss. Together, these findings reveal a distinctive evolutionary trajectory in the innate immune receptor family of transparent fishes and provide new molecular insights into their adaptive immune strategies. These insights will benefit the academic community by improving comparative frameworks for fish innate immunity, and they may inform disease prevention and health management strategies in aquaculture and the ornamental fish trade. Full article

Background: Richter transformation (RT) is defined as the histologic transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) to either diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or Hodgkin lymphoma. Transformation into lymphoproliferative neoplasms with plasmablastic differentiation is exceptionally rare and poorly characterized. Case Presentation: We present the first case of a patient with CLL evolving into plasmablastic myeloma (PBM). A 62-year-old man with previously treated CLL developed thrombocytopenia and rapidly progressive acute kidney injury. Serum electrophoresis showed new IgA-λ protein (2.2 g/L) with λ and κ light chains at 3445.4 and 7.3 mg/L. Bone marrow examination showed extensive infiltration (>95%) by plasmablasts and mature plasma cells, with a consistent immunophenotype (CD38+, CD138+, MUM1+, CD19−, CD20−). In situ hybridization with EBER was negative. Mutation assessment by NGS demonstrated a TP53 mutation and FISH prob panel revealed a new del17p. Clonal relatedness was confirmed by shared IGHV somatic hypermutation using NGS. The patient was primary refractory to frontline myeloma therapy with Dara-VRd and succumbed rapidly to his disease. Discussion: This case illustrates an exceptionally rare form of RT. Recognition and incorporation in new classifications of plasmablastic RT as a distinct entity is critical, as its biology and resistance profile differ from classical RT. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 50 million people globally. Since 1906, efforts to understand this neurodegenerative disease and to develop effective treatments have continued to this day. Recognizing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) as a safe, inexpensive and vital nutrient for brain health and cognitive protection due to its key role in brain development and function, this study explores novel, sustainable non-fish sources as potential dietary supplements to prevent or mitigate AD, within a blue biotechnology framework. Forty 5×FAD male mice, five weeks old, were allocated to five body weight-matched dietary groups (n = 8) and fed isocaloric diets based on AIN-93M standard chow for 6 months. Each diet, except the control feed (non-supplemented group), enclosed a modified lipid fraction supplemented with 2% of the following: (1) linseed oil (LSO, rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA,18:3n-3)); (2) cod liver oil (fish oil, FO, rich in both DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3)); (3) Schizochytrium sp. microalga oil (Schizo) with 40% of DHA; and (4) commercial DHASCO oil (DHASCO) with 70% of DHA. The different diets did not affect (p > 0.05) growth performance criteria (e.g., final body weight, daily feed intake, and body weight gain) suggesting no effect on the overall caloric balance or mice growth, but n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated-fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (p < 0.001) and total lipids (p < 0.001). No systemic inflammation was detected in 5×FAD mice. In parallel, a beneficial modulation of lipid metabolism by DHA-enriched diets was observed, with polyunsaturated fatty acid incorporation, particularly DHA, across key metabolic tissues, such as the liver (p < 0.001) and the brain (p < 0.001). No behavioural variations were detected using an open-field test after 6 months of diet (p > 0.05). While mice fed a standard diet or LSO diet showed cognitive deficit, the incorporation of FO, Schizo or DHASCO oils into dietary routine showed promising protective effects on the working memory (p < 0.05) and the last two diets also on the recognition memory (p < 0.05) Increased neuronal count (p < 0.05), reflecting neuronal survival, was clearly observed with the fish oil diet. In turn, the number of TAU-positive cells (p < 0.05) was reduced in the Schizo diet, while β-amyloid deposition (p < 0.01) and the neuroinflammatory marker, IBA1 (p < 0.05), were decreased across all DHA-enriched diets. These promising findings open new avenues for further studies focused on the protective effects of DHA derived from sustainable and underexploited Schizochytrium sp. microalga in the prevention of AD. Full article

Fish are a vital aquatic resource worldwide, and the sustainable development of aquaculture is essential for global food security and economic growth. However, the high incidence of fish diseases in complex aquaculture environments significantly hampers sustainability, and traditional manual diagnosis methods are inefficient and often inaccurate. To address the challenges of small-lesion detection, lesion area size and morphological variation, and background complexity, we propose YOLO-TPS, a high-precision fish-disease detection model based on an improved YOLOv11n architecture. The model integrates a multi-module synergy strategy and a triple-attention mechanism to enhance detection performance. Specifically, the SPPF_TSFA module is introduced into the backbone to fuse spatial, channel, and neuron-level attention for better multi-scale feature extraction of early-stage lesions. A PC_Shuffleblock module incorporating asymmetric pinwheel-shaped convolutions is embedded in the detection head to improve spatial awareness and texture modeling under complex visual conditions. Additionally, a scale-aware dynamic intersection over union (SDIoU) loss function was designed to accommodate changes in the scale and morphology of lesions at different stages of the disease. Experimental results on a dataset comprising 4596 images across six fish-disease categories demonstrate superior performance (mAP_0.5: 97.2%, Precision: 97.9%, Recall: 95.1%) compared to the baseline. This study offers a robust, scalable solution for intelligent fish-disease diagnosis and has promising implications for sustainable aquaculture and animal health monitoring. Full article

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia. Apart from the traditional causes of NS, such as minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetes, infections, malignancies, autoimmune conditions, and nephrotoxic agents, there are also rare causes of NS, whose knowledge is of the utmost importance. The aim of this article was to highlight the less well-known causes that have a significant impact on diagnosis and treatment. Genetic syndromes such as Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia, familial lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency with two clinical variants (fish-eye Disease and the p.Leu364Pro mutation), lead to NS through mechanisms involving podocyte and lipid metabolism dysfunction. Congenital disorders of glycosylation and Nail–Patella Syndrome emphasize the role of deranged protein processing and transcriptional regulation in glomerular injury. The link of NS with type 1 diabetes, though rare, suggests an etiology on the basis of common HLA loci and immune dysregulation. Histopathological analysis, particularly electron microscopy, shows mainly podocyte damage, mesangial sclerosis, and alteration of the basement membrane, which aids in differentiating rare forms. Prompt recognition of these novel etiologies by genetic analysis, renal biopsy, and an interdisciplinary panel is essential to avoid delays in diagnosis and tailored treatment. Full article

Background/Objectives: MBNL1 is an RNA-binding protein involved in RNA metabolism, including splicing. It colocalizes with RNA foci, a pathological hallmark of myotonic dystrophy, and plays a central role in its disease mechanism. Moreover, MBNL1 has been implicated in other neuromuscular disorders and cancers. In these pathological and biochemical studies, the detection of MBNL1 using antibodies is essential. Given that MBNL1 has multiple splicing-derived isoforms, different antibodies may recognize distinct isoforms. This study aims to compare six commercially available antibodies regarding their specificity in Western blotting, colocalization with RNA foci, and suitability for immunoprecipitation. Methods: Western blot analysis was performed using MBNL1 isoforms and deletion mutants expressed in HEK293 cells, as well as endogenous MBNL1 from various cell lines. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunofluorescence (IF) were conducted in DM1 model cells and patient-derived fibroblasts to assess MBNL1 colocalization with RNA foci. Immunoprecipitation experiments were performed in HEK293 cells to evaluate antibody suitability for protein isolation. Results: Western blot analysis revealed that different antibodies target distinct regions of MBNL1, with three recognizing exon 3 and the remaining antibodies recognizing exon 4, exon 5, and exon 6, respectively. In the FISH-IF experiments, the clarity of RNA foci colocalization varied depending on the antibody used, with some antibodies failing to detect colocalization. The immunoprecipitation analysis showed that four antibodies were able to isolate endogenous MBNL1. Conclusions: This study clarifies the recognition properties and application suitability of MBNL1 antibodies, providing a valuable resource for research on MBNL1-related diseases and RNA metabolism. Full article

Smart fisheries, integrating advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and image processing, are pivotal in enhancing aquaculture efficiency, sustainability, and resource management by enabling real-time environmental monitoring, precision feeding, and disease prevention. However, underwater fish recognition faces challenges in complex aquatic environments, which hinder accurate detection and behavioral analysis. To address these issues, we propose a novel image instance segmentation framework based on a deep learning neural network, defined as the AASNet (Agricultural Aqua Segmentation Network). In order to improve the accuracy and real-time availability of fine-grained fish recognition, we introduce a Linear Correlation Attention (LCA) mechanism, which uses Pearson correlation coefficients to capture linear correlations between features. This helps resolve inconsistencies caused by lighting changes and color variations, significantly improving the extraction of semantic information for similar objects. Additionally, Dynamic Adaptive Focal Loss (DAFL) is designed to improve classification under extreme data imbalance conditions. Abundant experiments on two underwater datasets demonstrated that the proposed AASNet obtains an optimal balance between segmentation performance and efficiency. Concretely, AASNet achieves mAP scores of 31.7 and 47.4, respectively, on the UIIS and USIS dataset, significantly outperforming existing state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, AASNet achieves an inference image recognition speed of up to 28.9 ms/per, which is suitable for practical agricultural applications of smart fish farming. Full article

Large yellow croaker iridovirus (LYCIV) poses a significant threat to the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) aquaculture industry due to its rapid transmission and high lethality. Galectins, as evolutionarily conserved carbohydrate-binding lectins and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in the innate immune system, play crucial roles in immune responses. In this study, we characterized the beta-galactoside-binding lectin from large yellow croaker (LcβLectin) and explored its potential as a disease resistance gene against LYCIV. The full-length cDNA of LcβLectin was cloned and found to contain conserved elements, such as β-galactoside-binding motifs, HNPR, and WCEEHR domains. Using L. crocea head-kidney macrophages (LCM10), we demonstrated that recombinant LcβLectin significantly inhibits LYCIV-induced cytopathic effects and reduces macrophage apoptosis, highlighting its key role in viral defense. Moreover, the overexpression of LcβLectin in LCM10 cells followed by transcriptomic analysis revealed its substantial regulatory effects on key immune-related signaling pathways, including C-type lectin signaling, p53 signaling, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways. Collectively, our findings suggest that LcβLectin enhances fish resistance to viral diseases by augmenting immune system function and activating immune-related pathways, providing valuable insights into the innate immune mechanisms of aquatic species and potential strategies for disease prevention in aquaculture. Full article

Origanum majorana L., also known as sweet marjoram, is a plant with multiple uses, both in the culinary field and traditional medicine, because of its major antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and digestive properties. In this research, we focused on the effects of O. majorana essential oil (OmEO, at concentrations of 25, 150, and 300 μL/L), evaluating chemical structure as well as its impact on cognitive performance and oxidative stress, in both naive zebrafish (Danio rerio), as well as in a scopolamine-induced amnesic model (SCOP, 100 μM). The fish behavior was analyzed in a novel tank-diving test (NTT), a Y-maze test, and a novel object recognition (NOR) test. We also investigated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and the brain’s oxidative stress status. In parallel, we performed in silico predictions (research conducted using computational models) of the pharmacokinetic properties of the main compounds identified in OmEO, using platforms such as SwissADME, pKCSM, ADMETlab 2.0, and ProTox-II. The results revealed that the major compounds were trans-sabinene hydrate (36.11%), terpinen-4-ol (17.97%), linalyl acetate (9.18%), caryophyllene oxide (8.25%), and α-terpineol (6.17%). OmEO can enhance memory through AChE inhibition, reduce SCOP-induced anxiety by increasing the time spent in the top zone in the NTT, and significantly reduce oxidative stress markers. These findings underscore the potential of using O. majorana to improve memory impairment and reduce oxidative stress associated with cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Full article

Assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) is the most powerful predictor of outcome in B-type acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). MRD, defined as the presence of leukemic cells in the blood or bone marrow, is used for the evaluation of therapy efficacy. We report on a microfluidic-based MRD (MF-MRD) assay that allows for frequent evaluation of blood for the presence of circulating leukemia cells (CLCs). The microfluidic chip affinity selects B-lineage cells, including CLCs using anti-CD19 antibodies poised on the wall of the microfluidic chip. Affinity-selected cells are released from the capture surface and can be subjected to immunophenotyping to enumerate the CLCs, perform fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and/or molecular analysis of the CLCs’ mRNA/gDNA. During longitudinal testing of 20 patients throughout induction and consolidation therapy, the MF-MRD performed 116 tests, while only 41 were completed with multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC-MRD) using a bone marrow aspirate, as standard-of-care. Overall, 57% MF-MRD tests were MRD(+) as defined by CLC numbers exceeding a threshold of 5 × 10⁻⁴%, which was determined to be the limit of quantitation. Above a threshold of 0.01%, MFC-MRD was positive in 34% of patients. The MF offered the advantage of the opportunity for efficiently processing small volumes of blood (2 mL), which is important in the care of pediatric patients, especially infants. The minimally invasive means of blood collection are of high value when treating patients whose MRD is typically tested using an invasive bone marrow biopsy. MF-MRD detection can be useful for stratification of patients into risk groups and monitoring of patient well-being after completion of treatment for early recognition of potential impending disease recurrence. Full article

Tribulus terrestris L. (Tt) has been recently gaining attention for its pharmacological value, including its neuroprotective activities. In this study, we explore the neuroprotective effects of a Tribulus terrestris extract in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory impairment and brain oxidative stress. SCOP, an anticholinergic drug, was employed to replicate fundamental aspects of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in animal models. The fish were treated with ethanolic leaf extract (ELE) from Tt (1, 3, and 6 mg/L) for 15 days. SCOP (100 µM) was administered 30 min before behavioral tests were conducted. Molecular interactions of the major compounds identified via UPLC-PDA/MS in Tt fractions with the active site of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were explored via molecular docking analyses. Terrestrosin C, protodioscin, rutin, and saponin C exhibited the most stable binding. The spatial memory performance was assessed using the Y-maze test, and memory recognition was examined using a novel object recognition (NOR) test. Tt extract treatment reversed the altered locomotion patterns that were caused by SCOP administration. Biochemical analyses also verified Tt’s role in inhibiting AChE, improving antioxidant enzyme activities, and reducing oxidative stress markers. The present findings pave the way for future application of Tt as a natural alternative to treat cognitive disorders. Full article

Yersinia ruckeri is the cause of hemorrhagic septicemia, known as enteric redmouth disease, in salmonid fish species. This bacterial pathogen can form biofilms on abiotic surfaces of aquaculture settings or even on the surfaces of the fish themselves, contributing to their persistence in the aquatic environment. Detection methods for this and other fish pathogens can be time-consuming and lack specificity and sensitivity, limiting timely monitoring, the treatment of microbial infections, and effective control of their transmission in aquaculture settings. Rapid and sensitive detection methods for nucleic acids can be crucial for an appropriate surveillance of bacterial pathogens, and the CRISPR/Cas-based assays have emerged as a good alternative since it has been proven to be a useful tool for the rapid, specific, and sensitive detection of viruses and some bacteria. In this study, we explored the capability of the CRISPR/Cas13a system (SHERLOCK) to specifically detect both DNA and RNA (gene transcripts) from planktonic and biofilm samples of the bacterial fish pathogen Y. ruckeri. The assay was designed to detect the gyrA gene and the small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) MicA and RprA from planktonic cultures and biofilm samples prepared in marine broth. The specific crRNA designed for these gene targets included a 28 nt specific gene sequence, and a scaffold sequence necessary for Cas13-binding. For all the assays, the nucleic acids obtained from samples were previously subjected to isothermal amplification with the recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) method and the subsequent T7 transcription of the RPA amplicons. Finally, the detection of nucleic acids of Y. ruckeri was by means of a reporter signal released by the Cas13a collateral RNA cleavage triggered upon target recognition, measured by fluorescence- or lateral-flow-based readouts. This CRISPR/Cas13a-based assay was able to specifically detect both DNA and sRNAs from the Y. ruckeri samples, and the sensitivity was comparable to that obtained with qPCR analysis, highlighting the potential applicability of this CRISPR/Cas13a-based assay for fish pathogen surveillance. Full article

Galectins are proteins that play a crucial role in the innate immune response against pathogenic microorganisms. Previous studies have suggested that Galectin-3 could be a candidate gene for antibacterial immunity in the large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea. In this study, we cloned the Galectin-3 gene in the large yellow croaker, and named it LcGal-3. The deduced amino acid sequence of LcGal-3 contains a carbohydrate recognition domain with two conserved β-galactoside binding motifs. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that LcGal-3 was expressed in all the organs/tissues that were tested, with the highest expression level in the gill. In Larimichthys crocea kidney cell lines, LcGal-3 protein was distributed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Moreover, we found that the expression of LcGal-3 was significantly upregulated upon infection with Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, as demonstrated by qRT-PCR analyses. We also purified the LcGal-3 protein that was expressed in prokaryotes, and found that it has the ability to agglutinate large yellow croaker red blood cells in a Ca²⁺-independent manner. The agglutination activity of LcGal-3 was inhibited by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in a concentration-dependent manner, as shown in the sugar inhibition test. Additionally, LcGal-3 exhibited agglutination and antibacterial activities against three Gram-negative bacteria, including P. plecoglossicida, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio harveyi. Furthermore, we studied the agglutination mechanism of the LcGal-3 protein using blood coagulation tests with LcGal-3 deletion and point mutation proteins. Our results indicate that LcGal-3 protein plays a critical role in the innate immunity of the large yellow croaker, providing a basis for further studies on the immune mechanism and disease-resistant breeding in L. crocea and other marine fish. Full article