Search Results (3,441)

Rapid responses to environmental changes are essential for maintaining fitness. In pathogenic fungi such as the dermatophyte Trichophyton interdigitale, appropriate responses to environmental shifts determine successful infection. Transcriptional regulation and alternative splicing (AS) are key modulators of fungal adaptation and pathogenesis. Here, we validated the role of the transcription factor PacC in coordinating AS in T. interdigitale grown in infection-mimicking medium. RNA-seq analysis of a ΔpacC mutant revealed a predominance of intron retention events, mainly involving introns 1 and 2, indicating defective splicing and potential nonsense-mediated decay of genes related to ion transport, metabolism, and genome maintenance. These alterations compromised energy balance, ergosterol biosynthesis, and cellular homeostasis. PacC-dependent AS generated alternative isoforms of cytoskeletal and metabolic proteins, including myosin-1 and a GH3 β-glucosidase, potentially modulating enzymatic activity, metabolic burden, and cell wall remodeling during infection. Exon-skipping in the chromatin remodeler RSC1 suggests PacC involvement in epigenetic regulation under host-mimicking conditions. Transmission electron microscopy revealed possible Woronin bodies, cytoplasmic disruption, and cell wall thinning in the mutant. Overall, PacC integrates transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation to promote adaptation, survival, and virulence, highlighting AS as a regulatory layer linking environmental sensing to metabolic and epigenetic plasticity in pathogenic fungi. Full article

Accumulating studies have identified the pivotal role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in participating in host–virus interactions during virus infections. However, the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in influenza A virus (IAV) infection are still not fully elucidated. In this study, using high-throughput sequencing, we comprehensively compared the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in mouse lungs infected either with the nonpathogenic parental (SDL124) H7N9 virus or its moderately pathogenic mouse-adapted (S8) variant. A total of 7636 significantly differentially expressed (SDE) lncRNAs were obtained in the S8-infected group compared to the mock group. As for the SDL124 group, 1042 SDE lncRNAs were identified. Subsequently, the mRNAs co-expressed with SDE lncRNAs were subjected to functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis. The results indicated that the target mRNAs regulated by the S8 virus were mainly enriched in various immunological processes and exhibited a strong correlation with inflammatory-related signaling pathways. Moreover, 12 lncRNAs and 10 mRNAs co-expressed with SDE lncRNAs were selected and successfully verified by RT-qPCR. Among these lncRNAs, NONMMUG032982.2 and NONMMUG032328.2 exhibited strong antiviral activity against IAV. Additionally, these two lncRNAs were chosen for further in-depth bioinformatics analysis, including transcription factor prediction, coding capacity assessment, genomic location, construction of secondary structure, and prediction of potential interacting proteins. Taken together, these findings provide a cluster of lncRNAs probably associated with the virulence of IAV in mice and shed light on the anti-IAV effects of two functional lncRNAs, establishing a molecular foundation for further exploring the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in IAV infection. Full article

Gut microbiota are integral to host health and ecological adaptation, yet their interactions with environmental microbial communities remain understudied in migratory waterbirds. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we compared gut microbiota of captive and wild Siberian cranes and their associations with soil microbiota in the Poyang Lake wetlands. Alpha diversity was significantly higher in soil than in gut microbiota, with captive cranes exhibiting greater microbial richness and evenness than wild individuals. Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct gut and soil microbiota, with partial overlap between captive and wild crane gut microbiota. Firmicutes dominated gut communities, with Ligilactobacillus and Romboutsia enriched in captive cranes, whereas Acidobacteria were predominant in soil. Escherichia-Shigella was more abundant in wild cranes and soil. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified 34 differentially enriched taxa, and microbial network analysis indicated stronger gut–soil microbial associations than those between captive and wild hosts. Network analysis further revealed distinct co-occurrence patterns between captive and wild groups, suggesting potential shifts in microbial interaction structures under different living conditions. These findings provide preliminary insights that may inform future conservation strategies for Siberian cranes. Full article

Early-life respiratory viral infections represent a major global health burden and are key determinants of long-term susceptibility to chronic respiratory diseases. In neonates the immaturity of the immune system contributes to the high incidence and severity of these infections. Because humans are born with a mainly naive adaptive immune system, the host protection in early life greatly relies on the innate immune cells. Interestingly, innate immune cells have been recently shown to develop traits of immune memory. Both adaptive and innate immune memory formation are, among others, mediated by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. This review comprehensively analyzes evidence of the changes in epigenetic modifications before and after respiratory infection in childhood. Understanding how epigenetic programming modulates immune cells in early life may open new avenues for preventive interventions to respiratory viral infection, enhancing antiviral defense in infancy and reducing the long-term consequences of respiratory infections. Full article

New insecticides for indoor residual spraying (IRS) are being developed to manage resistance. Chlorfenapyr (Sylando^® 240SC), a pro-insecticide, is metabolized by active mosquitoes into the toxic metabolite tralopyril. This mode of action requires adapted “free flying” bioassays (because chlorfenapyr is converted to its toxic metabolite tralopyril when mosquitoes are metabolically active). A miniature-experimental hut (MEH) assay was developed within the Ifakara Ambient Chamber Test (I-ACT) with a rabbit as a host to measure residual efficacy under controlled conditions. Sylando^® 240SC was compared with SumiShield^® 50WG (clothianidin) for 12-month residual efficacy against malaria and arbovirus vectors. Residual activity was assessed on mud, wood and concrete with two huts per substrate treated with Sylando^® 240SC, one with SumiShield^® 50WG, and one with untreated control. Five replicates of 20 mosquitoes per strain (malaria vectors: pyrethroid-susceptible Anopheles gambiae and -resistant An. arabiensis and An. funestus; culicines Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus) were exposed overnight at one-week post spraying and monthly thereafter. Multivariable mixed-effect logistic regression with binomial errors and log link function assessed non-inferiority with a 7% margin on mosquito mortality as the primary outcome for malaria vectors. Both products induced delayed mortality, with higher effects on malaria vectors than culicines. Across all substrates and malaria species combined over the full 12 months of observation, Sylando^® 240SC was non-inferior to SumiShield^® 50WG on mortality measured at 72 h (76% vs. 67%, OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77–0.97) and 168 h (89% vs. 82%, OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63–0.87). Sylando^® 240SC performed comparably to SumiShield^® 50WG, supporting its use as an IRS additional option. The new I-ACT mini-experimental-hut assay provides a practical tool for evaluating pro-insecticides. The importance of free-flight evaluation methods for pro-insecticides is discussed. Full article

Potato virus Y (PVY), widely regarded as one of the world’s most important plant viruses, seriously threatens global potato production and food security. PVY deploys its proteins to interact with key host factors, thereby enabling viral replication, accumulation, and systemic infection. PVY also exhibits high genetic diversity and frequent recombination, which promote host adaptation and immune evasion. In response, potato plants perceive viral effectors through intracellular immune receptors and activate antiviral defenses. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in elucidating PVY–host defense and counter-defense mechanisms. Here, we summarize the molecular basis of PVY pathogenicity and highlight recent advances in PVY resistance genes (e.g., Ry_sto and Ry_chc). Finally, we integrate emerging insights from plant virology and nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) biology to discuss prospective, multi-pronged strategies for PVY management. Full article

Sepsis remains a leading global health challenge, characterized by high mortality and a persistent lack of disease-modifying therapies. Despite decades of investment, therapeutic progress has been constrained by reductionist strategies that target isolated pathogenic components. This perspective argues that these failures reflect a fundamental mischaracterization of sepsis—not as a disorder of discrete pathways, but as the collapse of complex biological systems in which normally coordinated processes become desynchronized. We identify the intermediate filament protein vimentin as a determinant of system fate governing the transition from adaptive host defense to pathological breakdown. Acting as a context-dependent network integrator and signal amplifier, vimentin coordinates antagonistic cellular programs by integrating biochemical and biophysical cues across immune, vascular, and metabolic systems. Under physiological stress, this coordination enables the orderly activation and resolution of inflammatory and suppressive responses required for pathogen control and restoration of homeostasis. In sepsis, persistent or excessive insults drive vimentin-mediated overactivation, uncoupling these programs and propagating systems-level instability that culminates in organ dysfunction. By integrating mechanistic, preclinical, and emerging clinical evidence, this perspective proposes vimentin modulation as a clinically translatable, systems-oriented strategy aimed at realigning host response networks to address the dynamic, opposing pathologies of sepsis that have eluded current therapies. Full article

Fusarium is a diverse genus of filamentous fungi that has long been recognized for its importance in plant disease and food security. Beyond its agricultural impact, a growing number of studies now show that Fusarium species can also act as opportunistic pathogens in animals and humans. This review synthesizes current knowledge on Fusarium biology by integrating perspectives from plant pathology, veterinary science, and medical mycology. We examine how shared virulence mechanisms, environmental reservoirs, and genomic plasticity—including accessory chromosomes and horizontal gene transfer—facilitate adaptation across plant, animal, and human hosts. We also consider the role of environmental change in shaping the distribution and pathogenic potential of this genus. By bringing together evidence that is often scattered across disciplines, this review emphasizes the need to move beyond host-specific views and highlights Fusarium as a useful model for understanding fungal adaptability and cross-kingdom pathogenicity within a One Health framework. Full article

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are non-spore-forming, non-respiring, Gram-positive cocci or rods that produce lactic acid through carbohydrate fermentation. They are widely used in food and dairy production as probiotics, biofertilizers, and as sources of industrially valuable exopolysaccharides. Growing evidence indicates that many of these functional properties are regulated by quorum sensing (QS), a cell–cell communication mechanism that coordinates bacterial behavior in response to population density. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of QS in regulating key physiological and functional traits of LAB, including biofilm formation, stress adaptation, metabolite production, and host interactions. Additionally, it highlights the ability of LAB-derived molecules to interfere with QS systems of pathogenic bacteria, contributing to pathogen control. Overall, this review emphasizes QS as a key regulatory mechanism underlying the technological and probiotic potential of LAB, with important implications for food, health, and biotechnological applications. Full article

Cervical cancer has a high incidence and mortality, and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The infection with high-risk subtypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV) represents a crucial factor in the development of precancerous lesions. HPV oncoproteins target multiple host factors to promote uncontrolled cellular proliferation, genomic instability, profound metabolic reprogramming, resistance to apoptosis and immune evasion. Thus, cervical carcinogenesis involves metabolic reprogramming in patient cells, such as enhanced aerobic glycolysis, and altered glutamine, lipid and mitochondrial metabolism, which collectively support the bioenergetic and biosynthetic demands of cancer cells. Cancer cells also activate several mechanisms to adapt and survive under hypoxic/anoxic conditions. The mechanisms underlying cervical carcinogenesis often involve non-coding RNAs. This review aims at summarizing the mechanisms and factors involved in the development and progression of cervical cancer following HPV infection, and offers an overview of the available therapies that have been developed for this disease. Full article

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that remains an important public and veterinary health concern across Europe. Periodic outbreaks affecting humans, horses, and wildlife highlight the complex ecological interactions underlying viral circulation. This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge regarding WNV epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and surveillance strategies in Europe, with particular attention to the Romanian context. Available surveillance data indicate recurrent seasonal transmission in several European regions; however, reported case numbers may be influenced by differences in diagnostic capacity, reporting practices, and surveillance intensity among countries. Recent studies suggest that environmental variability, vector adaptation, and host community composition play important roles in shaping regional transmission risk, although the relative contribution of these factors remains incompletely quantified. Despite expanding surveillance networks and One Health initiatives, important knowledge gaps persist regarding the integration of environmental risk indicators, vector ecology, and operational preparedness into coherent risk-assessment frameworks. This review therefore examines current epidemiological patterns, evaluates surveillance approaches, and discusses emerging drivers of WNV transmission in Europe. As a narrative synthesis based on published literature and surveillance reports, this review is subject to limitations related to heterogeneity in available data and differences in national reporting systems. Nevertheless, a clearer understanding of these interacting factors may support improved surveillance strategies and more adaptive public health responses to future WNV transmission events. Reported surveillance data should be interpreted cautiously, as differences in national surveillance intensity, diagnostic capacity, and reporting frameworks across Europe may influence notified case numbers. Consequently, reported outbreaks do not necessarily reflect proportional differences in transmission intensity. Full article

Orthohalarachne attenuata and O. diminuata mites are parasites of the respiratory system of Pinnipeds. During hosts’ dives, mites must cope with changing conditions of oxygen availability in the nasal cavity. Adults and nymphs live inside the host, but larvae are active and responsible for colonizing new hosts. Hence, larvae are also exposed to environmental conditions with variable temperature and pressure, as well as to dehydration and changes in salinity. Although both species live within the respiratory tract of hosts, adults attach to different sections. Also, larvae have differential thermal tolerances and locomotion capacities. In this study, we show the effect of hypoxia, humidity and salinity on survival of O. attenuata and O. diminuata mite larvae. We found that both species are highly tolerant to hypoxia and can withstand it for long periods. In turn, both species showed low survival when exposed to direct air. Finally, hyperosmotic solution was highly harmful for O. attenuata, but not for O. diminuata. Our results show that humidity rather than oxygen availability is a constraint for survival and a limitation for dispersal when searching for new hosts. The present study expands our knowledge of ecophysiology and adaptations to changing conditions experienced during the dispersal of these marine parasite species. Full article

Hemoparasites are intracellular organisms that affect groups of vertebrates, including amphibians, yet their diversity, distribution, and ecological effects remain partially understood. This systematic review analyzed advances over the past one hundred years in the study of hemoparasites in anurans, emphasizing: (1) the geographical distribution of studies, (2) the diagnostic techniques employed, and (3) the diversity of parasites and hosts involved. To this end, 83 scientific articles published between 1924 and 2024 were reviewed, following PRISMA guidelines and within an adapted PICO framework. The results reveal a notable increase in publications since the 2000s, with a concentration in North and South America. Morphological studies predominated (69.9%), while only 22.9% combined morphological and molecular techniques and 9.6% used only molecular techniques. Protozoan genera such as Hepatozoon and Trypanosoma, as well as nematodes (microfilariae) of the family Filaroidea, were frequently reported (69.7%); on the host side, the most studied anuran families were Ranidae (34.6%), Hylidae (6.9%), and Bufonidae (21.5%). Important methodological gaps were evident, particularly biodiverse tropical regions such as Central Africa, Southeast Asia, the Andean-Amazon, and Central America. These findings underscore the need to strengthen local research capacities, expand sampling efforts, and standardize diagnostic protocols to advance knowledge of hemoparasite diversity, ecology, and their role in ecosystem health. Full article

Coilia nasus, a typical species with migratory–sedentary polymorphism, shows different intestinal microbiota characteristics among its different ecotypes. This is attributed to differences in feeding habits and habitat environments (such as water temperature, salinity, etc.). This study constructed a database of intestinal microbiota for three ecological types of C. nasus, namely migratory type (comprising marine populations and freshwater populations), sedentary type and aquaculture-reared type, through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technology. This study investigates the ecological mechanisms underlying microbiota differentiation, focusing on three key drivers: environmental selection, host nutritional metabolism requirements, and host life history strategies. The results showed that the core flora of C. nasus consisted of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Both the depletion of microbial taxa and the enrichment of marine-adapted bacterial lineages—including Proteobacteria and Psychrobacter—are associated with elevated salinity in the migratory marine population of C. nasus. In contrast, the elevated relative abundance of Actinobacteria in aquaculture-reared C. nasus is likely attributable to dietary supplementation with protein- and lipid-rich artificial feed. Functional correlation analysis holds promise for partially predicting the microbiota’s metabolic functional succession patterns. The dominance of Pseudomonas_E in the migratory freshwater population is consistent with its well-documented physiological versatility and adaptive capacity in dynamically fluctuating aquatic habitats. The elevated abundance of Cyanobacteria in the sedentary population C. nasus coincides with the water bloom in their habitat, suggesting that the structure of the microbiota may serve as a novel biomarker for indicating the ecosystem. In conclusion, this study identifies potential molecular markers for tracing genetic resources and distinguishing ecological types of C. nasus, while establishing a theoretical foundation for elucidating the co-evolutionary dynamics between fish hosts and their associated microbiota—and thereby informing both conservation strategies for wild populations and microbiota-informed aquaculture practices. Full article

Intercultural Competence (IC) has gained prominence as a strategic priority in higher education; however, the socio-emotional mechanisms through which it develops in structured short-term academic mobility remain underexplored. This qualitative study addresses this gap by examining the intercultural learning experiences of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from Trakia University, Bulgaria, who participated in a two-week winter academic program in Zhuhai, China, hosted by the Beijing Institute of Technology. Employing a triangulated qualitative design that combines semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and content analysis of institutional discourse, the study foregrounds emotional regulation as a central process underpinning intercultural competence development. The findings indicate that navigating culturally unfamiliar situations and “disorienting dilemmas” within a multicultural co-living environment facilitated stable behavioral adaptations, including active listening, reflective pausing, empathy, and tolerance. These adaptations supported emotional well-being by reducing uncertainty and fostering a sense of belonging and psychological safety within the multicultural learning community. Repeated emotional engagement with cultural difference enabled participants to internalize values of openness and mutual respect, contributing to the formation of intercultural attitudes that extended beyond the immediate learning context. These processes functioned as a feedback loop through which intercultural competence became integrated into participants’ emerging personal and professional identities. The study demonstrates that even short-term academic exchanges, when pedagogically structured and emotionally immersive, can foster meaningful intercultural learning, leadership readiness, and professional orientation. By highlighting emotional regulation as a pathway to emotional well-being (belonging and psychological safety) and to identity integration, the findings contribute to broader social science discussions on student well-being and identity formation in transnational higher education. Full article