Search Results (2,167)

Lotus corniculatus is a superior leguminous forage with multiple values including forage, ecological, ornamental and medicinal uses. It is also an ideal material for plant bioreactors. As a core technical approach, genetic transformation overcomes the constraints of traditional breeding and facilitates the targeted improvement in stress resistance and agronomic traits in this species. This review summarizes the research progress of the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of L. corniculatus, focusing on key procedures such as explant selection, strain selection, infection and co-cultivation regimes, basal medium composition, phytohormone regulation, as well as bacteria elimination and transformant screening strategies. We further elaborate on the applications of this transformation system in enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses (salt, drought and heat), regulating quality-related traits, and developing plant-based vaccine bioreactors. Additionally, this paper critically discusses the major bottlenecks and challenges constraining existing genetic transformation systems in L. corniculatus, and evaluates the prospects for establishing high-efficiency and genetically stable transformation platforms. This review aims to provide theoretical foundations and technical references for germplasm innovation, molecular breeding and comprehensive utilization of L. corniculatus. Full article

Heat stress is one of the most prevalent and unavoidable environmental stressors in modern aquaculture and natural fishery ecosystems. With the intensification of global warming, the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events have increased substantially, progressively reducing the thermal safety margin of fish. As ectothermic vertebrates, fish rely heavily on ambient water temperature to maintain physiological functions and metabolic homeostasis. Elevated temperatures can induce profound metabolic reprogramming, characterized by suppressed protein deposition, enhanced lipid mobilization, and altered glucose metabolism, while simultaneously causing structural damage and functional dysfunction in critical organs and tissues such as the liver, intestine, gills, and reproductive system. Heat stress also activates the stress axis and oxidative stress responses, often leading to immunosuppression and disruption of antioxidant defenses, ultimately impairing growth performance, behavior, reproduction, and survival. This review focuses on fish and summarizes the major physiological injuries, molecular regulatory pathways, and adaptive strategies associated with heat stress under global warming. Comparative evidence from crustaceans and molluscs is used only where it helps clarify shared or divergent responses among aquatic ectotherms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Combining chemotherapy with local magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) is promising because heating tumor tissue can increase cell damage, sensitize cells to cytostatic drugs, impair DNA repair, and change tumor microenvironment permeability. This creates conditions for enhancing the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapy while potentially reducing systemic toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of MHT with Zn_0.2Mn_0.8Fe₂O₄@OA nanoparticles alone and in combination with cisplatin in a Lewis lung carcinoma model. Methods: Four types of magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized: Fe₃O₄ and Zn_0.2Mn_0.8Fe₂O₄ coated with oleic acid (OA) or SiO₂-NH₂. Their physicochemical and magnetothermal properties, cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species generation, and biodegradation in vivo were evaluated. Antitumor efficacy was studied in C57Bl/6 mice with LLC tumors after intratumoral administration of nanoparticles and two MHT sessions (100 kHz, 8 kA/m, 30 min). In combination therapy, ZnMn@OA and cisplatin at doses of 9 or 18 mg/kg were used. Results/Conclusions: Zn_0.2Mn_0.8Fe₂O₄@OA combined efficient heating, biodegradation, and the most pronounced effect among the MHT-alone groups, although MHT without chemotherapy did not provide sustained inhibition of tumor growth or a significant increase in survival. The combination of Zn_0.2Mn_0.8Fe₂O₄@OA-MHT with cisplatin 9 mg/kg produced the best therapeutic outcome: median survival increased significantly by two fold compared with the control group and by 1.8-fold compared with the chemotherapy-alone group at the comparable cisplatin dose. This regimen also stabilized body weight, reduced systemic toxicity, and restored RBC, HGB, and HCT parameters to the level of healthy animals by day 7 of the experiment. These data confirm the potential of MHT as a chemosensitizing approach that improves the efficacy and tolerability of cisplatin therapy. Full article

Background/Objectives: The ongoing Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) shortage, treatment intolerance, and BCG-unresponsive disease necessitate bladder-sparing alternatives for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We reviewed the clinical evidence for hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC). Methods: PubMed and PubMed Central were searched from inception to 15 March 2026 (updated 10 July 2026) for primary studies of device-assisted HIVEC in NMIBC. Studies reporting recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression, response, or safety were eligible. Records were screened and data extracted independently in duplicate, and risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 (randomised trials), ROBINS-I (non-randomised comparative studies), and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (single-arm and registry cohorts). Outcomes were synthesised narratively within pre-specified clinical strata, with carcinoma in situ (CIS) analysed separately from papillary-only disease. Results: Twenty-four studies (>3600 patients), including seven randomised trials and a large multinational registry, were included. In BCG-naive or mixed-risk populations, 12-month RFS generally ranged from 78% to 98% and 24-month RFS from 57% to 88%; progression was uncommon. In BCG-unresponsive or BCG-failure disease, 24-month RFS was typically 40–60%, with poorer control in carcinoma in situ. Comparative studies mostly reported no statistically significant difference in RFS or progression versus BCG, but these analyses were predominantly retrospective or underpowered, and the single randomised signal favouring HIVEC over BCG was confined to a per-protocol analysis. Two randomised trials against non-heated mitomycin C (HIVEC-1 and HIVEC-II) found no recurrence benefit from hyperthermia, whereas an earlier randomised trial of radiofrequency thermochemotherapy reported a large long-term advantage over mitomycin C alone. Severe adverse events were infrequent, including approximately 2% in the largest series. Conclusions: HIVEC appears to be a tolerable bladder-sparing option in selected intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC. The available evidence is compatible with, but does not establish, equivalence or non-inferiority to BCG, because most comparative data are non-randomised, underpowered, and at moderate-to-serious risk of bias. Disease control after BCG failure is clinically meaningful but less durable, particularly in CIS. Adequately powered randomised trials reporting intention-to-treat outcomes are needed. Full article

Obesity-associated metabolic disorders are characterized by impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and adipose tissue dysfunction. Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) is a transcription factor primarily involved in immune regulation; however, its role in adipocyte metabolic regulation remains incompletely understood. In this study, adipocyte-specific Irf1 knockout (Irf1 AKO) mice were generated using the Cre/loxP system and subjected to either a regular chow diet or a high-fat diet (HFD). Metabolic phenotyping, insulin signaling analysis, mitochondrial homeostasis-related assessment, and in vitro adipocyte experiments were performed. Adipocyte-specific IRF1 deficiency improved insulin-stimulated AKT phosphorylation in white adipose tissues and enhanced glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity under HFD conditions. These metabolic improvements were accompanied by reduced oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, heat production, β3-adrenergic-induced lipolytic response, and cold tolerance. At the molecular level, IRF1 deficiency was associated with reduced TOMM20 expression, decreased mtDNA content, downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation-related genes, and reduced ATP levels in adipose tissues, suggesting altered mitochondrial homeostasis. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, IRF1 knockdown increased insulin-stimulated AKT activation, glucose uptake, and lipid accumulation, whereas IRF1 overexpression showed opposite trends. Collectively, these findings suggest that adipocyte IRF1 is associated with insulin signaling, lipid metabolic remodeling, and mitochondrial homeostasis, and highlight a potential dissociation between improved insulin responsiveness and reduced energy expenditure in diet-induced obesity. Full article

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of abiotic stresses, including salinity, drought, heat, and heavy metal toxicity, which strongly threaten productivity, quality, and market value in horticultural crops. Although plant biostimulants have been widely reviewed in agronomic crops, their role in horticultural systems remains less comprehensively synthesized, particularly across different crop groups, stress types, application methods, and molecular response mechanisms. This review addresses this gap by systematically compiling current evidence on the use of biostimulants to improve abiotic stress resilience in horticultural crops, with particular emphasis on morphological, physiological, biochemical, and recently emerging molecular responses, especially transcriptomic evidence with supporting metabolomic information where available. Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using two searches covering 2016–2025 for morphological/physiological responses and 2021–2025 for molecular/genetic responses. Of 780 records initially identified, 134 studies met the inclusion criteria. Across these studies, the most frequently evaluated biostimulants were seaweed extracts, humic and fulvic substances, protein hydrolysates, and microbial inoculants, particularly PGPR and AMF. Biostimulant application consistently improved stress tolerance by enhancing antioxidant capacity, osmotic adjustment, nutrient use efficiency, cell wall strengthening, and hormonal regulation. Foliar applications were frequently used for rapid mitigation of drought- and heat-induced canopy-level physiological responses, whereas soil/root-zone application was more common for salinity and heavy metal stress. Emerging molecular evidence, dominated by transcriptomic studies and supported by limited metabolomic data, indicates that biostimulants may induce molecular priming through stress-responsive gene networks and associated metabolic adjustments. Overall, biostimulants show strong potential to improve abiotic stress resilience in horticultural crops, but broader adoption is constrained by variable efficacy, limited mechanistic validation, and inconsistent regulatory frameworks. Future research should prioritize multi-environment validation and functional genetics to support more reliable and targeted biostimulant use. Full article

Chinese Baijiu solid-state fermentation operates as a heterogeneous reaction bed in which heat, moisture, O₂, acidity, ethanol, and mass-transfer conditions vary across space and time. Because aroma-related microorganisms respond differently to these local stresses, abundance data alone cannot identify which populations remain active or contribute to ester formation at a particular layer, stage, or batch. This review therefore focuses on stress-tolerant functional units that sustain acid–alcohol–ester conversion and argues for spatially resolved sampling combined with activity-, enzyme-, and metabolite-based evidence. As a conceptual verification platform, rather than a reported experimental apparatus or a replacement for traditional pits, a gradient solid-state bioreactor could reproduce selected temperature, O₂, moisture, and interface gradients under controlled conditions. Coupling multipoint temperature, CO₂/O₂, moisture, and acidification-related signals with spectral fingerprints and volatile measurements, together with offline biological assays, could help define functional windows and improve the mechanistic reproducibility of Baijiu fermentation. Full article

Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Bactrocera correcta (Bezzi) are two globally concerning quarantine pests within the genus Bactrocera (Tephritidae). Both species inflict severe damage on the agricultural industry and international export trade. Their distribution range has expanded due to global warming, posing an increasing threat to fruit production. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), functioning as molecular chaperones, are known to contribute to temperature adaptation in insects. However, the cold adaptation regulatory mechanisms in these two Bactrocera species remain unclear. In this study, eIF4EBP3^−/− mutations were established by the CRISPR-Cas9 system in both species. The survival rate of the mutations was significantly reduced with cold treatments, and qRT-PCR analysis indicated that eIF4EBP3 regulates the expression of several downstream heat shock proteins, suggesting that it may be involved in rapid cold hardening (RCH) adaptability in both fruit fly species. In addition, this work represents the first application of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in B. correcta, which provides methods to further studies on this species. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying rapid cold hardening adaptation in B. dorsalis and B. correcta and a potential molecular marker for monitoring cold tolerance in field populations which could guide the development of novel control strategies that target the RCH adaptation pathways. Full article

Fibrillins (FBNs) are conserved plastid-associated proteins implicated in plant development and abiotic stress responses; however, their roles in maize remain unclear. In this study, through a genome-wide bioinformatic analysis, we identified 14 ZmFBN genes in the maize genome and characterized their phylogeny, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, conserved motifs, and promoter cis-elements. ZmFBN members were grouped into several subfamilies that all retain a conserved PAP_fibrillin domain, whereas the variation in exon–intron organization, motif composition, and regulatory elements suggests functional diversification. Expression profiling revealed pronounced tissue-preferential patterns, with many genes highly expressed in leaves and reproductive tissues, and distinct responses to drought, salt, heat, and cold stresses. qRT-PCR assays showed that ZmFBN8 and ZmFBN9 are strongly induced by both salt and PEG-simulated drought, ZmFBN2 and ZmFBN5 are predominantly drought-responsive, and ZmFBN11 is mainly activated by salt. Genome-wide association analysis further detected significant loci near ZmFBN1 and ZmFBN4, whose allelic variants are associated with the survival rate under drought and with key agronomic traits, including the tassel branch number, flowering time, ear diameter, and kernel length. These results demonstrate that ZmFBN genes make diversified contributions to maize growth, development, and stress adaptation and highlight several members as promising targets for functional studies and the molecular breeding of stress-tolerant maize. Moreover, selection pressure analysis indicated ZmFBN7 experienced relaxed purifying selection, and ZmFBN12 underwent positive selection, which drives the functional diversification of the ZmFBN family during maize evolution. Full article

Biological control strategies are increasingly being explored as sustainable alternatives for managing rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. In this study, we characterized three Bacillus pumilus isolates (DC01, DC09, and DC13) and evaluated their antifungal and plant-beneficial properties against M. oryzae. Whole-genome sequencing revealed multiple biosynthetic gene clusters associated with the production of antimicrobial metabolites. All three isolates inhibited fungal growth in dual-culture assays, whereas heat-stable diffusible antifungal activity was primarily associated with the cell-free supernatants of DC09 and DC13. Exposure to bacterial supernatants disrupted fungal development, inducing abnormal hyphal morphology in M. oryzae characterized by bulbous swelling, altered polarity, and increased branching. Volatile organic compound assays further revealed that the DC isolates suppress fungal growth in the absence of physical contact. The isolates additionally inhibited the growth of other phytopathogenic fungi and selected human bacterial pathogens. All strains exhibited plant growth-promoting traits, including indole-3-acetic acid production and osmotic stress tolerance, whereas DC09 also displayed phosphate-solubilizing activity. Importantly, soil inoculation with the DC isolates significantly reduced rice blast disease severity and induced expression of defense-associated genes involved in jasmonic acid/ethylene signaling and immune priming. Collectively, these findings identify the DC isolates, particularly DC09 and DC13, as promising multi-mechanistic biological control agents for sustainable rice blast management. Full article

Cannabis sativa is a multi-use crop with applications in food, fiber, construction, and medicinal industries. Cannabis plants with low Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations (industrial hemp) have recently been legalized for industrial cultivation by multiple nations across the globe. This crop has been traditionally ignored and lags behind established crops like wheat, corn, and cotton in breeding and the development of novel traits. We employed chemical mutagenesis to develop novel traits in industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). We used ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) as the chemical mutagen and determined the lethal dose (LD50) to be 2% (v/v) for 5 h for the heat-tolerant (HT) (diploid, 2n) accession and 2% (v/v) for 8 h for the 4x (tetraploid, 2n = 4x = 40) accession. The variations in seed germination percentages among mutagen treatments were found to be highly significant (p < 0.05). The parental generation (M0) seeds were treated with the LD50 dosage of the mutagen to produce mutant M1 populations. The first mutant generation (M1) and second mutant generation (M2) plants displayed a wide array of phenotypes such as dwarf plants, twin seedlings, leaf variegation, fasciation, purple anthocyanins, hard/leathery leaf texture, trifoliate leaves, bushy stature, and unusual leaf shape, which is a testament to the effectiveness and accuracy of the LD50 dosage calibration results. Full article

This research focused on the plant growth-promoting properties of endophytic bacteria isolated from Morisonia scabrida, a tree adapted to heat stress. Sixteen bacterial strains were isolated; among them, S1R21 tolerated 50 °C; S1H21 inhibited the growth of Fusarium sp. FH at 25 and 30 °C; and S1R16 inhibited Alternaria sp. ATCC20084 and F. oxysporum CTLM12 at 25 and 30 °C. Regarding enzymatic activities, S1R21 exhibited amylase activity at 30 °C; S1T20 showed proteinase activity at 37 °C; S1T11 showed pectinase activity at 37 °C; S1R16 and S1R9 demonstrated lipase activity; and S1R20 showed CMCase activity at 30 °C. S1T1 solubilized tricalcium phosphate at 25 and 30 °C; S1H5 produced siderophores at 30 °C; and S1T11 produced IAA and fixed nitrogen at 30 and 37 °C. With respect to germination percentage of corn and alfalfa, the highest values were achieved with strain S1R21 at 30 and 37 °C. Seven strains were selected and identified by 16S rDNA analysis as Bacillus albus S1H21, Bacillus cereus S1R21, Lysinibacillus fusiformis S1R9, Enterobacter sp. (S1H5 and S1R8), Klebsiella sp. S1R16 and Stutzerimonas stutzeri S1T11. Most of these strains increased growth parameters of Zea mays and Medicago sativa, with Stutzerimonas stutzeri S1T11 standing out regarding high aerial and root length, as well as fresh and dry weight. This research study is one of the few studies on endophytic bacteria associated with the Morisonia scabrida tree. It demonstrates that its bacterial diversity could contribute to various biological roles, such as that of plant growth promoter under heat stress. Full article

Extremophilic prokaryotes survive salt, temperature, and pH extremes by coordinating stress-induced protein networks that preserve macromolecules, sustain energetics, and repair damage. This review integrates recent proteomics with functional genomics to resolve both network state and causality across halophiles, thermophiles, acidophiles, alkaliphiles, psychrophiles, and radiation-resistant prokaryotes. Quantitative proteomics maps condition-specific induction of chaperones, proteases, ion transporters, osmolyte pathways, DNA repair proteins, antioxidants, and envelope remodeling enzymes. Complementary perturbation genetics, functional genomics, and transcriptomics help to identify essential nodes and regulatory circuits underlying stress tolerance. In halophiles, compatible solute synthesis and Na⁺/H⁺ exchange couple to protein quality control and central metabolism, whereas many archaeal halophiles additionally rely on high intracellular salt and distinctive membrane chemistry. Thermophiles rely on heat-shock systems, ATP-dependent proteolysis, membrane adjustments, and redox balancing. Acidophiles maintain near-neutral cytosol via proton export and low-permeability membranes while linking iron handling to oxidative defense. Alkaliphiles use Na⁺-based bioenergetics, multi-subunit antiporters, and cell-wall modifications to retain protons. Psychrophiles emphasize cold-shock RNA chaperones, flexible enzymes, and cryoprotectants, whereas radiophiles combine exceptional DNA repair with strong antioxidant capacity. Across taxa, oxidative stress forms a cross-cutting axis that explains extensive regulon overlap and cross-protection. We synthesize network architecture, highlight conserved modules and lineage-specific solutions, and outline open questions in stress sensing, multi-stress integration, and the functions of uncharacterized proteins. These insights provide a framework for engineering robust biocatalysts and organisms for biotechnology and environmental applications. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is a nutritious crop widely adapted to grow in arid and semi-arid agro-ecologies, supporting millions of households, and it has the potential to enhance soil health. However, extreme drought and heat stress conditions curtail its yield potential, requiring global efforts to develop drought-tolerant and agronomically superior cultivars. The objective of this paper was to quantitatively assess the impact of drought stress on sorghum genotypes for agronomic and yield-related traits, based on global breeding efforts for drought-tolerant varieties to guide current and future improvement programmes. The study involved a meta-analysis based on 30 selected research papers published around the world that reported on sorghum agronomic and yield-related traits under non-stress (NS) and drought stress (DS) conditions. Data were extracted for the following vital traits: days to 50% flowering (DTF), days to 50% maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), number of tillers (TN), panicle length (PL), panicle width (PW), shoot biomass (SB), root biomass (RB), root-to-shoot biomass ratio (RS), stay green (SG), and grain yield (GY). The sorghum genotypes reported with drought tolerance exhibited a mean GY value of 3.30 t ha⁻¹, ranging from 0.55 to 8.39 t ha⁻¹ under DS conditions. Under NS conditions, the mean GY was 4.38 t ha⁻¹, with the top genotype scoring a GY of 14.1 t ha⁻¹. Drought reduced TN and GY by 42.12% and 27.18%, followed by PW (25.52%) and SB (22.12%)—in that order. The forest plot analysis revealed that drought had a negative effect on the assessed traits, highlighting the need for developing drought-tolerant cultivars. The highest effect sizes were calculated for TN (−1.83), followed by PW (−1.69), and SB (−1.33), whereas PL (−0.1) had the lowest, suggesting that PW and SB are critical for selection in drought-tolerance breeding. Under DS conditions, GY exhibited positive correlations with RS (r = 0.63), RB (r = 0.50), SB (r = 0.27), DTM (r = 0.26), and SG (r = 0.21). The findings of this study could guide future breeding efforts to develop drought-tolerant sorghum varieties. Full article

Climatic changes in the Mediterranean area affect grapevine growth and productivity due to an increase in the magnitude and frequency of extreme climatic events. Functional traits of the vegetative stages of grapevines are drivers of stress tolerance, and their characterization may aid in the selection of cultivars showing greater resistance. Our aim was to evaluate and compare the adaptability to hot and arid climatic conditions of two varieties typical of small satellite islands of Sicily (Zibibbo and Corinto) with the two most common grape varieties grown on the main island (Catarratto and Nero d’Avola). The four selected varieties grew in a common rain-fed experimental germplasm repository. We followed seasonal changes in stomatal conductance, leaf water potential and leaf temperature, relating them to leaf water relation traits and xylem structural characteristics of the leaf vein network. We observed significant differences in functional traits and physiological behaviour of the four cultivars. Leaf water potential at turgor loss point was one of the most informative traits, together with midday leaf water potential and midday stomatal conductance. Nero d’Avola, Catarratto, and Zibibbo showed the highest adaptability to Mediterranean summer–autumn drought and heat stress through different physiological strategies; whereas, Corinto appeared more vulnerable. These findings highlight the importance of functional trait analysis for supporting cultivar selection, vineyard management, and future breeding strategies under climate change scenarios. Full article