The function of the CYP90A subfamily genes in monocots remains unclear, but they are likely involved in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone brassinosteroids (BRs). This study used Hordeum vulgare var. nudum, a characteristic crop of the plateau, as the experimental material. By utilizing its genomic database, the CYP90A subfamily gene of H. vulgare var. nudum was identified, its cDNA sequence was cloned, and bioinformatics and expression pattern analyses were conducted. Additionally, genetic transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana was performed to explore its functions of salt resistance. The results showed that only one CYP90A subfamily gene was found in H. vulgare var. nudum genome, named HvvCYP90A. The coding region of the HvvCYP90A gene was 1 542 bp long, encoding 513 amino acids. The coding region similarity between the CYP90A genes of H. vulgare var. nudum and H. vulgare was as high as 96.76%, but there are significant differences in the promoter sequences, with HvvCYP90A having unique response elements for drought and circadian rhythm. Evolutionary analysis revealed that the CYP90A gene was differentiated between monocots and dicots, but there was no obvious regulation in the number of genes among different species. As the seedlings of H. vulgare var. nudum grew, the expression of HvvCYP90A gradually decreased in the roots but increased in the leaves. Moreover, the expression of HvvCYP90A was inhibited by exogenous 28-homobrassinolide (HBR). Additionally, after transferring HvvCYP90A into A. thaliana, the root length of transgenic A. thaliana was significantly increased compared with the wild type (P<0.05) under normal and salt stress conditions. It was speculated that the HvvCYP90A gene regulated the salt tolerance of A. thaliana by participating in the biosynthesis of BRs. This study provides reference for the mechanism of brassinosteroid regulated salt stress adaptation of H. vulgare var. nudum.

Abscisic acid (ABA) serves as a pivotal hormone in plants, regulating the entire process of plant growth, development, and stress responses. Nine-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) acts as the rate-limiting enzyme in ABA biosynthesis, directly determining its biosynthetic efficiency and content. The identification and analysis of the NCED gene in Hibiscus esculentus are crucial for elucidating the mechanism of ABA-mediated regulation of pod senescence. In this study, the HeNCED gene in H. esculentus was identified and analyzed using bioinformatics. The results revealed that the full length of HeNCED gene (GenBank No. PZ350883) was 2 196 bp, with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1 803 bp encoding 600 amino acids. The protein was localized in the cytoplasm, exhibiting acidic, hydrophilic, and unstable properties. Sequence similarity analysis showed over 88% identity with homologous proteins from Gossypium anomalum, G. raimondii, G. arboreum, and H. syriacus, indicating high conservation. qPCR analysis of pod samples at different developmental stages and post-harvest treated with exogenous ABA and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) demonstrated a significant positive correlation between HeNCED expression and ABA content (P<0.01). It was hypothesized that HeNCED regulated secondary wall thickening in H. esculentus pods via modulating ABA synthesis. This study preliminarily revealed the molecular mechanism of HeNCED in Hibiscus esculentus pod aging, which can provide a theoretical basis and genetic resources for molecular breeding, cultivation, and post-harvest storage of H esculentus.

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) plays a central role in the phenylpropanoid pathway, catalyzing the conversion of cinnamate to 4-coumarate, which serves as the essential starting substrate for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as lignin and flavonoids. However, the precise functional mechanisms of C4H in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) remain incompletely characterized. This study isolated and characterized the C4H gene (named AeC4H)(NCBI accession No. SAMN44959506) from the okra cultivar 'Lyuwuxing', conducting comprehensive analyses of its molecular properties, expression profiles, subcellular localization, and biological functions. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that AeC4H possessed a 1 506 bp ORF encoding 501 amino acids, exhibiting the highest sequence identity (97.23%) with its ortholog from Hibiscus cannabinus (Malvaceae). The encoded protein contained conserved P450 family domains, including the characteristic heme-binding motif and substrate recognition sites. AeC4H exhibited preferential expression in young roots, stems, and developing seeds compared with other tissues, as quantified by qRT-PCR. Subcellular localization studies confirmed the endoplasmic reticulum localization of AeC4H, aligning with the known compartmentalization of phenylpropanoid metabolism. Overexpression of AeC4H in Arabidopsis thaliana extremely significantly increased total flavonoids content in transgenic plants (P<0.01). This study provides the systematic characterization of AeC4H in okra, offering novel insights into flavonoid metabolism and valuable genetic resources for molecular breeding programs targeting nutritional quality improvement in this important vegetable crop.

Syringa oblata var. alba is a white-flowered variant of Syringa oblata. The MYB transcription factor plays a crucial role in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis.? In this study, the SoMYB3 transcription factor gene was cloned from the petals of S. oblata var. alba. The SoMYB3 gene, belonged to typical R2R3-MYB transcription factor, with an ORF length of 705 bp and encoding 234 amino acids. The phylogenetic analysis showed that SoMYB3 protein was closely related to grape (Vitis vinifera) VvMYBA1 and tea (Camellia sinensis) CsMYB113 protein. SoMYB3 was expressed in roots, stems, leaves, flower buds and flowers of S. oblata var. alba to varying degrees, and the highest expression level was in flowers. The heterologous expression of the SoMYB3 gene promoted the accumulation of anthocyanins in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, capsules and seeds of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), by inducing the expression of anthocyanin 2 (NtAN2) (MYB transcription factor) and anthocyanin 1b (NtAN1b) (bHLH transcription factor), and upregulating the gene expression level of chalcone synthase (NtCHS), chalcone isomerase (NtCHI), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (NtDFR), anthocyanidin synthase (NtANS), UDP-glucose:flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (NtUFGT), and anthocyanidin reductase (NtANR) in tobacco. In conclusion, the SoMYB3 transcription factor could induce anthocyanin synthesis, and the color of petal in S. oblata var. alba might be regulated by multiple transcription factors. This study provides a scientific basis for the directional improvement of Syringa oblata var. alba flower color.

The cysteine and glycine rich protein 3 (CSRP3) gene, as a key regulator of animal muscle fiber development, plays a core role in muscle growth and functional maintenance. Through using PCR amplification and sequencing, the full-length CDS sequence of CSRP3 gene in Hezuo pig was obtained. Bioinformatics analysis software was used to perform similarity comparisons, phylogenetic tree construction, and domain prediction analysis on the gene sequence. Additionally, qRT-PCR was employed to detect the expression levels of the CSRP3 gene in 11 tissues of Hezuo pigs, including the heart, liver, spleen, and longissimus dorsi muscle, The results showed that the CDS of CSRP3 gene of Hezuo pig was 585 bp and encoded 194 amino acids, there were 4 base mutations, all of them were synonymous mutations. The homologous sequence comparison and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that Hezuo pig had the closest relationship with Duroc and the most distant relationship with Gallus gallus; the molecular weight of 20.94 kD, the isoelectric point (pI) was 8.89, and the coefficient was 39.11, protein with fewer hydrophobic amino acid residues than hydrophilic ones. It had neither a transmembrane structure nor a signal peptide; analysis of its expression characteristics in different tissues showed that this gene had the highest expression level in the heart of Hezuo pigs and the lowest in the liver. This study provides a reference for further functional studies of the CSRP3 gene in Hezuo pigs.

Abnormality in the morphological structure of the mammary gland (MG) is a core pathological alteration in clinical mastitis (CM) in dairy cows (Bos taurus). However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of morphogenesis remain incompletely understood in MG of dairy cows with CM. In this study, the biological processes (BPs) related to mammary morphogenesis, key differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and their involved KEGG pathways were identified based on data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics and GO enrichment analyses of lactating MG tissues from healthy (control, Con) and CM-affected Holstein cows. Morphological changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The distribution characteristics and expression patterns of key candidate DEPs were analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), qRT-PCR, and Western blot. The results showed that a total of 11 morphogenesis-associated BPs and 40 DEPs were identified based on GO enrichment analysis. Among these, recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region (RBPJ) was identified as a key protein regulating morphogenesis in CM. Pathway analysis indicated that RBPJ was involved in signaling pathways such as Notch signaling, viral carcinogenesis, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Compared with the Con group, the CM group exhibited collapsed mammary alveoli, disorganized epithelial cell distribution, and concomitant inflammatory cell infiltration. RBPJ was primarily localized in the cytoplasm of mammary epithelial cells. RBPJ mRNA and protein expression levels in the CM group were extremely significantly higher than those in the Con group (P<0.01). These results demonstrated that RBPJ participated in regulating MG morphogenesis during CM via morphogenesis-related pathways, and its upregulated expression was positively correlated with the occurrence and progression of CM. This study provides a theoretical foundation for elucidating the function and molecular mechanisms of RBPJ in bovine CM.

High-altitude hypoxic stress is a major factor affecting animal survival and physiological functions. The heart, as the central organ responsible for maintaining blood circulation and oxygen delivery in the body, directly determines an individual's ability to survive in low-oxygen environments through its energy metabolism and functional stability. This study selected the highland-adapted breed Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) and the highland-immigrated breed Hu sheep as research subjects, differential expression genes (DEGs) in cardiac tissues were screened using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis, followed by qRT-PCR validation of the DEGs. The results showed that a total of 616 DEGs were identified in the heart tissues of 2 breeds of sheep (P<0.05). Compared with Tibetan sheep, there were 437 up-regulated genes and 179 down regulated genes in Hu sheep; Randomly selected 8 DEGs for validation, and the expression trend was consistent with the sequencing results. Further analysis revealed that key differential genes, including ATPase sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ transporting 3 (ATP2A3), natriuretic peptide B （NPPB）、phosphodiesterase 3A （PDE3A）, solute carrier family 25 member 4 （SLC25A4） and v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 3 （AKT3）, were primarily enriched in the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, cardiac muscle contraction, and MAPK signaling pathway. These genes might enhance the energy metabolism efficiency and functional adaptability of Hu sheep hearts under hypoxic conditions, playing a key regulatory role in hypoxia adaptation of introduced sheep. The study demonstrated that there were differences in the transcriptional levels of cardiac energy regulation genes between plateau-introduced sheep and plateau-adapted sheep. Candidate genes for hypoxia adaptation in plateau-introduced sheep, such as ATP2A3, NPPB, PDE3A, SLC25A4, and AKT3, were identified. This research provides new targets for elucidating the mechanisms of high-altitude hypoxia adaptation in sheep.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a common environmental endocrine disruptor, can induce apoptosis of cells, affect the function of ovarian granulosa cells, and pose a threat to the development of animal husbandry. This study aimed to preliminarily investigate the mechanism by which BPA induced ferroptosis in granulosa cells of Small-tailed Han sheep (Ovis aries) via the glutathione (GSH)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) pathway. The viability of ovarian granulosa cells was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. The cells were treated with varying concentrations of BPA (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μmol/L) for 24, 48, and 72 h. Based on the results, the optimal conditions were determined to be a BPA concentration of 200 μmol/L and a treatment duration of 24 h. To validate the effect of BPA on ferroptosis in these cells, the experiment was divided into 3 groups: Control group, BPA-treated group (200 μmol/L BPA), and ferroptosis inhibition group (200 μmol/L BPA + 2 μmol/L Ferrostatin-1). To evaluate the key markers of ferroptosis, the expression of ferroptosis related genes and proteins were quantified by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected using the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) method, while Fe²⁺, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels were quantified using commercial assay kits. The results showed that treatment with 200 μmol/L BPA extremely significantly increased the contents of Fe²⁺, ROS, and MDA (P<0.01), and extremely significantly decreased the level of GSH (P<0.01). mRNA level of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) was significantly upregulated (P<0.05), whereas GPX4 and SLC7A11 protein abundance significantly decreased (P<0.05) and FTH1 protein extremely significantly increased (P<0.01). Treatment with 2 μmol/L Ferrostatin-1 extremely significantly decreased Fe²⁺, ROS, and MDA contents (P<0.01), extremely significantly elevated GSH levels (P<0.01). The protein levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 in the ferroptosis inhibition group were significantly higher than those in the BPA treatment group (P<0.05), while the FTH1 protein level was extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01). These results indicated that Ferrostatin-1 alleviated BPA-induced ferroptosis. This research demonstrated that BPA exposure triggered oxidative stress and disrupted iron metabolism in granulosa cells of Small Tail Han sheep by impairing the GSH/GPX4 axis, ultimately leading to ferroptosis. The addition of Ferrostatin-1 in vitro exhibited a significant antagonistic effect on this process. This study adopted a targeted ferroptosis strategy to mitigate the damage of environmental pollutants to sheep reproductive performance, providing a critical theoretical foundation for high fecundity and stress resistance breeding of sheep.

Troponin I3 (TNNI3), which regulates myocardial contraction by inhibiting actin-myosin interaction and serves as a core biomarker for the clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction; monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (MOGAT2) primarily catalyzes the synthesis of diacylglycerol from monoacylglycerol and fatty acids in the small intestine, playing a key role in dietary fat absorption and re-esterification. To investigate the association between SNP in the TNNI3 and MOGAT2 genes and fat deposition traits in Hu sheep (Ovis aries), a total of 1 029 male Hu sheep with clear pedigrees, complete phenotypic records, and healthy conditions were selected as experimental subjects in this study. Polymorphic loci of the TNNI3 and MOGAT2 genes were detected using PCR amplification and MassARRAY^® SNP genotyping technology. A general linear model was used for association analysis of fat deposition-related traits, and the tissue expression patterns of the 2 genes were further determined. The results revealed 2 polymorphic sites: TNNI3 g.66954963 T>G, located in the first intron of TNNI3 gene, and MOGAT2 g.58004696 A>G, located in the second intron of MOGAT2 gene. Association analysis indicated that the TNNI3 g.66954963 T>G polymorphism was significantly associated with caudal fat weight, perirenal fat weight, and mesenteric fat weight (P<0.05). The MOGAT2 g.58004696 A>G polymorphism was significantly associated with perirenal fat weight, relative perirenal fat weight, mesenteric fat weight, and relative mesenteric fat weight (P<0.05). The combined genotype GG^TNNI3-GG^MOGAT2 showed significantly lower values for caudal fat weight, perirenal fat weight, relative perirenal fat weight, mesenteric fat weight, and relative mesenteric fat weight compared to the TT^TNNI3-GA^MOGAT2 genotype group (P<0.05). RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that high expression of the TNNI3 gene in perirenal and mesenteric fat, while the MOGAT2 gene was highly expressed in caudal fat. In conclusion, the TNNI3 and MOGAT2 genes played important roles in fat deposition in Hu sheep. This study provides potential molecular markers for molecular-assisted breeding.

Rhizosphere fungi play an important role in helping plants absorb nutrients and maintaining normal growth of trees. To clarify the relationship between the rhizosphere fungal community, nutrient limitation and seedling growth of Torreya dapanshanica,the artificially cultivated T. dapanshanica of different growth performance was subjected to the research. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to determine the composition and trophic modes of the rhizosphere soil fungal community of T. dapanshanica sapling with different growth performance. Meanwhile, the physicochemical properties of the rhizosphere soil and the stoichiometric characteristics of soil enzymes of the two kinds of soil were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The amounts of soil organic carbon, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and total phosphorus in the rhizosphere of advantaged trees were significantly higher than those of disadvantaged trees. Analysis of soil enzyme stoichiometric ratios revealed that disadvantaged trees were subjected to nitrogen limitation. (2) The Chao1 index and Shannon index of the rhizosphere soil fungal community in advantaged trees were significantly higher than that in disadvantaged trees. And non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis showed that the rhizosphere soil fungal compositions of T. dapanshanica saplings with different growth performance could be clearly separated. (3) The results of fungal trophic modes analysis indicated that, compared with the rhizosphere of disadvantaged trees, the relative abundance of symbiotrophic fungi in the rhizosphere soil of advantaged trees was significantly higher, while the relative abundance of pathotrophic fungi was significantly lower. Moreover, plant height was significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of rhizosphere symbiotrophic fungi and significantly negatively correlated with the relative abundance of pathotrophic fungi. (4) Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the main factors affecting the rhizosphere fungal composition of advantaged trees were soil ammonium nitrogen and available phosphorus contents, and the rhizosphere fungal composition was positively correlated with soil phosphatase activity; whereas the rhizosphere fungal community of disadvantaged trees was greatly affected by nitrogen limitation. In summary, the advantaged trees had a higher abundance of symbiotic fungi in the rhizosphere and a more adequate supply of phosphorus, which was conducive to maintaining their good tree performance; The abundance of pathotrophic fungi in the rhizosphere soil of disadvantaged trees was relatively high, with the presence of soil nitrogen limitation. Therefore, the combined application of nitrogen fertilizer and organic fertilizer could alleviate the rhizosphere nutrient limitation of disadvantaged trees and reduce the abundance of pathotrophic fungi. This study provides a basis for maintaining the good growth and conservation of rare plants through rhizosphere regulation under adverse site conditions.

Grafting, as an important means of preventing soil borne diseases and overcoming continuous cropping obstacles, has been widely used in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production. To investigate the interaction between the resistance of grafted tomatoes to wilt disease and beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere soil. In this study, the tomato rootstock 'TMS' and scion 'Huangxing No. 1' were used for grafting. The dilution plate method was used to isolate and screen beneficial microorganisms in the tomato grafted rhizosphere, and the biological characteristics and indoor antibacterial activity of beneficial microorganisms were determined. The results showed that the number of cultivable bacteria and biocontrol bacteria in tomato grafted rhizosphere soil was significantly higher than that in seedlings (P<0.05). Using the plate confrontation method, Bacillus subtilis SF61 and Bacillus velezensis SF105 were successfully screened from 128 strains of biocontrol bacteria, showing antibacterial effects against Fusarium oxysporum with inhibition rates of 63.53% and 69.41%, respectively. In addition, strains SF61 and SF105 both had the ability to produce siderophore and amylase (without potassium and phosphorus solubilization functions), and significantly reduced glucosidase and unit pigment content (P<0.05). Among them, the siderophore produced by SF61 and SF105 had inhibitory effects on the hyphae of F. oxysporum. This study provides a theoretical basis for the breeding of vegetable rootstock varieties with disease resistance and disease prevention and control.

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is a significant pathogen in poultry, its infection frequently causes symptoms such as arthritis, synovitis, and eggshell apex abnormalities. Infection in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) leads to a decreased egg production rate, which seriously affects the economic benefits of the poultry industry. Follicular granulosa cells are crucial in the egg-laying process, primarily through their role in hormone secretion, which is essential for maintaining normal follicular development and ovulation. This study aimed to establish a stable in vitro model of MS-infected chicken follicular granulosa cells and to investigate the regulatory effects of MS on the proliferation and apoptosis of chicken follicular granulosa cells. The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) and infection duration for MS were determined through colony-forming unit (CFU) counting, CCK-8 assays, and observation of cytopathic effects (CPE) in cells. Immunofluorescence was employed to observe the localization of MS in infected cells, while changeed in progesterone secretion post-MS infection were assessed using ELISA. The results indicated that when MS was cultured for 32 h, infection at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 000 for 12 h facilitated the successful adhesion of MS to the cell surface, resulting in a significant reduction in progesterone secretion by chicken follicular granulosa cells. Furthermore, qPCR analysis showed an upregulation of apoptosis-related genes, including cysteine-aspartic protease 3 (Caspase-3), tumor protein p53 (p53) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). These results suggested that MS could infect chicken follicular granulosa cells and affect follicular function by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting progesterone secretion. This study provides a reference for further elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms associated with MS.

Cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1), an extracellular matrix-associated protein critical for inflammation control and tissue repair, has not yet been functionally characterized in antiviral innate immunity. In this study, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were infected with Influenza virus to dissect the role of CCN1 during Influenza A virus (IAV) and Influenza B virus (IBV) replication and the underlying signaling pathways. CCN1-knock-down and over-expressing cell lines were established, and viral replication was quantified by qPCR, Western blot and 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID₅₀) assays. To trigger innate immune signaling, MDCK cells were stimulated with interferon-β (IFN-β) or low-/high-molecular-weight (LMW/HMW) polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)). Influenza virus infection strongly up-regulated CCN1 transcription: Increases of (8.48±0.17)-fold (H1N1), (9.96±0.31-fold) (BY), (16.37±0.74)-fold (H5N1) and (16.20±0.53)-fold (H3N2) were observed. After treatment with the innate immune signaling pathway activator Poly(I:C)(LMW), the expression of CCN1 was significantly upregulated in MDCK cells. In MDCK cells overexpressing CCN1, the expression levels of Influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) and non-structural protein 1 (NS1) genes were significantly upregulated following infection. In CCN1-over-expressing cells challenged with IAV, NP and NS1 levels rose significantly, by (4.871±0.02478) and (4.410±0.2532) times, respectively, compared with the control group. MDCK cells with CCN1 knockdown exhibited a significant downregulation in the expression levels of viral NP and NS1 genes following Influenza virus infection. Moreover, CCN1 over-expression suppressed JAK-STAT downstream genes. Collectively, CCN1 regulated innate immunity during Influenza virus infection. This study providing a new strategy for targeted screening of vaccine high-yielding vaccine cell substrates.

The transition period is a critical phase in the lactation cycle of dairy cows (Bos taurus), characterized by profound physiological adaptations associated with pregnancy, parturition, and lactation. These changes often lead to immune dysfunction and disruptions in glucose and lipid metabolism, predisposing cows to metabolic disorders such as fatty liver, and ketosis. Bile acids, synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, not only facilitate fat emulsification and absorption in the intestine but also act as signaling molecules that regulate glucose-lipid metabolism and immune responses via downstream receptor activation. This review systematically summarizes current knowledge regarding changes in bile acid synthesis, transport, and signaling pathways in dairy cows during the periparturient period, with a focus on their roles as metabolic regulators. Particular emphasis is placed on the mechanisms by which bile acids contribute to the maintenance of glucose stability, lipid metabolic balance, and immune responses, thereby supporting overall metabolic homeostasis in transition dairy cows. Furthermore, the potential applications of bile acid-related findings in dietary formulation, prevention of metabolic diseases, and development of metabolic and health monitoring indicators are discussed, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and practical insights for improving metabolic health and production efficiency in dairy cows.

Microcin J25 (MccJ25) is a lasso-type antimicrobial peptide (AMP) derived from Escherichia coli, distinguished by its broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, low cytotoxicity, and negligible propensity to elicit bacterial drug resistance. Its unique lasso topology endows Mcc J25 with exceptional stability, rendering it highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions. Mcc J25 exerts bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects on target pathogens by inhibiting bacterial RNA polymerase activity and disrupting the membrane respiratory chain. Furthermore, this peptide mediates anti-inflammatory activity through the modulation of host immune responses and intestinal microecological homeostasis. Leveraging its pleiotropic anti-inflammatory mechanisms and synergistic antibacterial efficacy, Mcc J25 has emerged as a prime candidate for the development of next-generation antimicrobial agents. Herein, current research advances were synthesized to summarize the core biological properties and primary antibacterial pathways of Mcc J25, and its translational potential was further evaluated based on these characteristics, with the aim of providing a theoretical framework for future antimicrobial drug discovery and development.

Plant transient expression technology serves as a key tool for rapid gene function identification and is widely applied in the optimization of plant genetic transformation systems and functional gene analysis. In this study, using eggplant (Solanum melongena) germplasm 'HQ1315' as the material, overexpression vector pCNG-Smechr0901901 carrying GFP reporter gene was constructed. Transient transformation efficiency was assessed through quantitative analysis of fluorescence intensity (using ImageJ software) combined with qRT-PCR technology. Key parameters, including Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains, inoculation methods, bacterial concentration (OD₆₀₀), seedling age, vacuum pressure, treatment time, and acetosyringone (AS) concentration, were systematically optimized. The results demonstrated that the gene delivery efficiency of A. tumefaciens strain C58C1 in eggplant leaves was significantly higher than that of strains GV3101 and LBA4404 (P<0.05). Employing C58C1 as the mediating strain, with an AS concentration of 200 μmol/L and a bacterial suspension OD₆₀₀ of 1.0, optimal transient overexpression efficiency was achieved by vacuum infiltration treatment of true-leaf stage eggplant leaves for 3 min under a vacuum pressure of -0.08 MPa. Furthermore, the eggplant leaf transient overexpression system established in this study achieved efficient and stable expression of the target gene in 4 representative eggplant varieties, namely Lvqie, Xianqie, Sanyueqie and Yuanqie. This study successfully established a highly efficient transient overexpression system for eggplant leaves, providing crucial technical support for subsequent functional analysis of disease resistance genes in eggplant.

Soft rot disease caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum seriously affects the yield and quality of crops and medicinal plants. The development of environmentally friendly green antibacterial agents is essential for the sustainable development of agriculture. In this study, carbon quantum dots derived from Polygonatum cyrtonema (PC-CQDs) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method with waste biomass resources as precursors. The morphology, surface functional groups, charge characteristics, optical properties and thermal stability of PC-CQDs were systematically studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry analysis. Meanwhile, the antibacterial activity of PC-CQDs against P. carotovorum (strain number: FJAT-49333) was evaluated by the inhibition zone method, serial dilution method and toxic plate method with bacteria. The results showed that PC-CQDs had uniform particle size, excellent dispersion, strong hydrophilicity and good thermal stability. PC-CQDs were nearly spherical nanoparticles with obvious graphene lattice structure, and the surface contained hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, sulfonic acid and amide groups. The average diameter of the was (2.508±0.940) nm, the hydrated particle size could reach (476.2±53.7) nm, and the zeta potential was (-12.09±5.07) mV. Thermal decomposition began above 120 ℃. The inhibition zone diameter of PC-CQDs against FJAT-49333 was (18.085±1.409) mm, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 18.8 mg/mL. When the concentration of PC-CQDs was 1/2 MIC (9.4 mg/mL), it could significantly inhibit the growth and reproduction of FJAT-49333. This study not only provides a feasible method for the biological control of plant soft rot disease, but also offers a way for the high-value utilization of waste biomass resources of P. cyrtonema, and provides a theoretical basis for the development of green antibacterial agents.

Rust is an important fungal disease in maize (Zea mays) production. In China, maize rust mainly includes southern corn rust caused by Puccinia polysora and common rust caused by P. sorghi. At present, relevant studies remain relatively limited on molecular detection technology of corn rust. Common detection methods have low sensitivity and are prone to false positives. In this study, the specific primers were designed and the amplification conditions were optimized to improve the specificity and sensitivity of the pathogen DNA detection by using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of the P. polysora and P. sorghi as the target gene. A dual PCR detection method for these 2 rust fungi was established and applied to the detection of field samples. The results showed that the optimal reaction conditions of the dual PCR system were as follows: The final amount of primers was 1 μL (10 μmol/L), the annealing temperature was 55 ℃, the annealing time was 60 s, and the extension time was 90 s. The dual PCR system established in this study could detect the DNA of P. polysora and P. sorghi at a minimum concentration of 0.2 pg/μL, and its detection sensitivity was higher than that of conventional PCR methods. The detection results of 50 field samples showed that 38 samples were infected by P. polysora, 9 samples were infected by P. sorghi, and 3 samples were infected by P. polysora and P. sorghi. The dual PCR system established in this study can be used for rapid, sensitive and accurate detection of P. polysora and P. sorghi in the early stage, which provides technical support for early warning and later control of corn rust.

Cistanche deserticola, an obligate root parasitic plant of the Cistanche genus in the family Liliaceae,, possesses significant medicinal value. However, its industrial cultivation and sustainable development are severely constrained by the difficulty of seed germination. This study aims to screen functional strains enhancing seed germination in C. deserticola and optimize fermentation conditions to boost the yield of bioactive metabolites. Initial screening was performed using culture plates assessing plant growth-promoting traits, followed by secondary screening via seed germination assays of C. deserticola, with target strains subsequently identified. Growth kinetics under saline-alkaline stress were determined in liquid culture, followed by targeted fermentation optimization to maximize indole-3-acetic (IAA) and siderophore activity of the selected strain. A functionally effective strain, NSS1-6, was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of H. ammodendron and the C. deserticola-H. ammodendron parasitic sites. The strain demonstrated biosynthesis of IAA and siderophores, significantly enhancing seed germination (increased from 7.53% to 44.96%) and haustorium formation rates (increased from 3.46% to 26.31%) in C. deserticola. The strain NSS1-6 was identified as Bacillus cereus. It can grow in a liquid medium with a NaCl concentration of 11% and pH of 11, and has a strong ability to tolerate salt and alkali. The optimal fermentation conditions for this strain were determined as follows: Initial pH 7.5, temperature 34.5 ℃, liquid charge of 50%, and inoculum size 3.5% (v/v). Under these conditions, strain NSS1-6 achieved an IAA yield of (52.23±0.22) μg/mL (35.91% increase over pre-optimized levels) and a siderophore activity of (79.73±0.36%)(18.07% enhancement). This study provides theoretical support for deploying plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to enhance seed germination and haustorium formation in Cistanche deserticola, with significant implications for desert cultivation practices.

A strain of Burkholderia stagnalis B11 was previously isolated by our research group, which exhibits an effective biocontrol effect against root rot disease of Panax notoginseng. To establish a rapid detection method based on qPCR for quantifying the colonization capacity of strain B11 in soil, a comparative genomic analysis was conducted. A specific gene, gene 1214 (681 bp), located within the MIBiG cluster BGC0001120 and annotated as homolog of burkholderic acid synthesis genes, was selected as the target. Specific primers targeting strain B11 were designed using NCBI Primer-BLAST. qPCR results showed that the designed primers exhibited good specificity. The established standard curve equation was y=-3.3689x+11.343 (R²=0.9991), with an amplification efficiency of 98.08% and a sensitivity of 0.02 pg/µL. This method was used to detect the colonization of B. stagnalis B11 in continuous cropping soil of P. notoginseng. The result showed that the abundance of B11 in the soil decreased with the increase of the bacterial suspension dilution ratio. A significant decrease occurred at a 10-fold dilution, and no significant difference compared with the control (CK) was observed at a 100-fold dilution. The colonization dynamics exhibited an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease, with stable colonization maintained in the soil from 1 to 5 d after irrigation. This study established a qPCR method that enabled rapid quantitative detection of B. stagnalis B11, which provides a reliable technical means for evaluating the colonization capacity of this strain in the soil environment and facilitating the development of an efficient detection system.