bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers to Optimal Tuberculosis Treatment Services at Community Health Centers: A Qualitative Study From a High Prevalent Tuberculosis Country
Authors: Pradipta Ivan S. , Idrus Lusiana R. , Probandari Ari , Puspitasari Irma Melyani , Santoso Prayudi , Alffenaar Jan-Willem C. , Hak Eelko
Published: March 2022

Background: Community health centers (CHCs) are a backbone healthcare facility for tuberculosis (TB) services. Identifying barriers amongst TB service providers at the CHC level is required to help them deliver successful TB treatment.

Aims: The current study aimed to analyze barriers to successful TB treatment from the perspective of TB service providers at the CHC level in a high prevalent TB country.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions in a province of Indonesia with a high TB prevalence. Two districts representing rural and urban areas were selected to obtain information from TB service providers (i.e., physicians and nurses) at the CHC level. In addition, key informant interviews with TB patients, hospital TB specialists, pharmacists, and activists were conducted. The trustworthiness and credibility of the information were established using information saturation, participant validation, and triangulation approaches. The interviews were also transcribed for the inductive analysis using Atlas.ti 8.4 software.

Results: We identified 210 meaning units from 48 participants and classified them into two main themes: organizational capacity and TB program activities. We identified the inadequacy of human resources, facility, and external coordination as the main barriers to organizational capacity. Furthermore, the barriers were identified regarding TB program activities, that is, inadequate TB case finding, diagnosis, drug supply chain and dispensing management, treatment and monitoring, case recording and reporting, and public-private collaboration.

Conclusion: Strengthening CHCs in the management of TB is critical to reaching the national and global goals of TB eradication by 2035. These findings can be considered to develop evaluation strategies to improve the successful TB treatment in high prevalent TB countries, especially Indonesia.
Pharmacological Treatment of Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients With Coronary Artery Disease in the Real World of General Practice
Authors: Rottura Michelangelo , Molonia Antonino , Giorgi Domenico Antonio , Marino Sebastiano , Scoglio Riccardo , Pallio Giovanni , Irrera Natasha , Imbalzano Egidio , Altavilla Domenica , Squadrito Giovanni , Squadrito Francesco , Arcoraci Vincenzo
Published: March 2022

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) severely increases the probability of developing coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetic patients with CAD should be considered at very high cardiovascular risk. The complexity of this clinical scenario makes very hard the appropriateness of the pharmacological treatment in the real world. To investigate the implementation of guideline recommendations for the treatment of patients affected by CAD with or without T2DM, a retrospective observational study was carried out between 2018 and 2020, by using the computerized clinical medical record of 10 general practitioners (GPs) including 13,206 subjects. A total of 926 patients (7.0%) were affected by CAD and 393 (42.4%) of them were also diabetic. LDLc, SBP, DBP, and FPG were recorded in 77.4%, 65.4%, 66.5%, and 82.6% of patients, respectively. Comorbidities (median; IQR = 8; 6–10 vs. 5; 3–7: p < 0.001) were significantly high in diabetic patients. Specialist counselling has been observed in 59.9% of diabetic and 57% of non-diabetic patients (p = 0.400). Antithrombotic drugs, statins, β-blockers, or RAASs were prescribed in 67.2%, 59.6%, and 75.9% of patients, respectively. Overall, 462 (49.9%) patients used the treatment suggested by guidelines. Dyslipidemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and specialist counselling were predictors of suggested drugs use both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Diabetes was not an independent factor related to the likelihood to be properly treated, according to the guidelines. Glucose lowering drugs were prescribed in 69.5% of diabetic patients, but only 39 (14.3%) were treated with the proper GLP-1 or SGLT2-i, whereas 45 patients (16.5%) received the improper sulphonylureas. Our results showed that a “non-ideal” therapeutic approach was adopted in patients affected by diabetes and CAD. ADA and ESC guidelines recommend the use of at least one hypoglycemic agent belonging to the GLP-1 or SGLT2-i class in diabetic patients with high/very high cardiovascular risk, regardless of the glycemic target (HbA1c <7%). However, only a few diabetic patients on hypoglycemic therapy were appropriately treated. These data suggest that a closer collaboration between the GPs, clinical pharmacologist, and specialists is needed in the real world scenario of the general practice in order to effectively improve adherence to guidelines and overall management of global cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients.
TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway in Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis
Authors: Yu Xiao-Yong , Sun Qian , Zhang Ya-Mei , Zou Liang , Zhao Ying-Yong
Published: March 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was a major public health problem worldwide. Renal fibrosis, especially tubulointerstitial fibrosis, is final manifestation of CKD. Many studies have demonstrated that TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays a crucial role in renal fibrosis. Therefore, targeted inhibition of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway can be used as a potential therapeutic measure for tubulointerstitial fibrosis. At present, a variety of targeting TGF-β1 and its downstream Smad proteins have attracted attention. Natural products used as potential therapeutic strategies for tubulointerstitial fibrosis have the characteristics of acting on multiple targets by multiple components and few side effects. With the continuous research and technique development, more and more molecular mechanisms of natural products have been revealed, and there are many natural products that inhibited tubulointerstitial fibrosis via TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. This review summarized the role of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in tubulointerstitial fibrosis and natural products against tubulointerstitial fibrosis by targeting TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Additionally, many challenges and opportunities are presented for inhibiting renal fibrosis in the future.
Electroacupuncture Reduces Visceral Pain Via Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors in a Mouse Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Zhang Hong , He Wei , Hu Xue-Fei , Li Yan-Zhen , Liu Yong-Min , Ge Wen-Qiang , Zhanmu Ou-Yang , Chen Chao , Lan Yu-Ye , Su Yang-Shuai , Jing Xiang-Hong , Zhu Bing , Pan Hui-Lin , Yu Ling-Ling , Li Man
Published: March 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results in chronic abdominal pain in patients due to the presence of inflammatory responses in the colon. Electroacupuncture (EA) is effective in alleviating visceral pain and colonic inflammation associated with IBD. Cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonists also reduce colonic inflammation in a mouse model of IBD. However, whether EA reduces visceral pain and colonic inflammation via the CB2 receptor remains unknown. Here, we determined the mechanism of the antinociceptive effect of EA in a mouse model of IBD induced by rectal perfusion of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid solution (TNBS). EA or sham EA was performed at the bilateral Dachangshu (BL25) point for seven consecutive days. The von Frey and colorectal distension tests were performed to measure mechanical referred pain and visceral pain. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays were carried out to determine the expression of IL-1β and iNOS and activation of macrophages in the colon tissues. We found that EA, but not sham EA, attenuated visceral hypersensitivity and promoted activation of CB2 receptors, which in turn inhibited macrophage activation and the expression of IL-1β and iNOS. The effects of EA were blocked by AM630, a specific CB2 receptor antagonist, and by CB2 receptor knockout. Our findings suggest that EA attenuates mechanical allodynia and visceral hypersensitivity associated with IBD by activating CB2 receptors and subsequent inhibition of macrophage activation and expression of IL-1β and iNOS.
Stay on the Beat With Tensor-Valued Encoding: Time-Dependent Diffusion and Cell Size Estimation in ex vivo Heart
Authors: Lasič Samo , Yuldasheva Nadira , Szczepankiewicz Filip , Nilsson Markus , Budde Matthew , Dall’Armellina Erica , Schneider Jürgen E. , Teh Irvin , Lundell Henrik
Published: March 2022

Diffusion encoding with free gradient waveforms can provide increased microstructural specificity in heterogeneous tissues compared to conventional encoding approaches. This is achieved by considering specific aspects of encoding, such as b-tensor shape, sensitivity to bulk motion and to time-dependent diffusion (TDD). In tensor-valued encoding, different b-tensor shapes are used, such as in linear tensor encoding (LTE) or spherical tensor encoding (STE). STE can be employed for estimation of mean diffusivity (MD) or in combination with LTE to probe average microscopic anisotropy unconfounded by orientation dispersion. While tensor-valued encoding has been successfully applied in the brain and other organs, its potential and limitations have not yet been fully explored in cardiac applications. To avoid artefacts due to motion, which are particularly challenging in cardiac imaging, arbitrary b-tensors can be designed with motion compensation, i.e. gradient moment nulling, while also nulling the adverse effects of concomitant gradients. Encoding waveforms with varying degrees of motion compensation may however have significantly different sensitivities to TDD. This effect can be prominent in tissues with relatively large cell sizes such as in the heart and can be used advantageously to provide further tissue information. To account for TDD in tensor-valued encoding, the interplay between asynchronous gradients simultaneously applied along different directions needs to be considered. As the first step toward in vivo cardiac applications, our overarching goal was to explore the feasibility of acceleration compensated tensor-valued encoding on preclinical and clinical scanners ex vivo. We have demonstrated strong and predictable variation of MD due to TDD in mouse and pig hearts using a wide range of LTE and STE with progressively increasing degrees of motion compensation. Our preliminary data from acceleration compensated STE and LTE at high b-values, attainable on the preclinical scanner, indicate that TDD needs to be considered in experiments with varying b-tensor shapes. We have presented a novel theoretical framework, which enables cell size estimation, helps to elucidate limitations and provides a basis for further optimizations of experiments probing both mean diffusivity and microscopic anisotropy in the heart.
Photoperiodic Changes in Both Hypothalamus Neurotransmitters and Circulating Gonadal Steroids Metabolomic Profiles in Relation to Seasonal Reproduction in Male Quail
Authors: Xu Yanglong , Jiang Danli , Liu Jiaxin , Fu Yuting , Song Yan , Fan Di , Huang Xuefei , Liufu Sui , Pan Jianqiu , Ouyang Hongjia , Tian Yunbo , Shen Xu , Huang Yunmao
Published: March 2022

Both hypothalamic neurotransmitters and serum steroid hormones are impacted by photoperiod and have effects on physiology and seasonal reproductive. However, the relationship between circulating gonadal steroids and hypothalamic neurotransmitters underlying different photoperiod is still unclear. To further understand the crosstalk of neurotransmitters and steroids in seasonal reproduction, metabolic changes of 27 neurotransmitters concentrated in hypothalamus tissues and 42 steroids hormones in serum were assessed during two artificial photoperiodic programs. The results showed that photoperiod induce testicular atrophy and recrudescence. In L-to-S groups, significantly decreased levels of testosterone concentration were found in serum (P< 0.001) and increased 11-Dehydrocorticosterone (P< 0.05); Testosterone were almost undetectable at SD_14d. In addition, the hypothalamus exhibited significantly increased arginine and 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration and decreased serotonin and epinephrine content (P< 0.01 orP< 0.05). Accordingly, serum testosterone and androstenedione became detectable at LD_3d in the S-to-L group and were markedly increase at LD_7d. Furthermore, Serum androstenedione showed a significant increase with long light expose (P< 0.01). Additionally, the hypothalamus exhibited both significantly increased L.Tryptophan and phenylalanine concentration, as well as decreased L-glutamine and L-glutamine.acid content (P< 0.01 orP< 0.05). Serotonin metabolism showed significant differences between L-to-S group and S-to-L group. Furthermore, in the correlation analysis, serum testosterone had a positive correlation with 5-Hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), while Androstenedione was significantly negative with L.Tryptophan in L-to-S (P< 0.05). However, in S-to-L group, serum testosterone showed strong negative correlation with both serotonin and 5-HIAA (P< 0.05), but positive correlation with L.Tryptophan (P< 0.01), while Androstenedione was significantly negative correlation with both serotonin (P< 0.05) and L-Glutamine (P< 0.01). Photoperiod also had significant effects on the mRNA expression. We found significant differences in gene expression patterns of both serotonin signaling and steroid biosynthesis, whileMAOB,NR5A1, and3β-HSDshowed an opposite tendency between two groups. Taken together, our results revealed that circulating gonadal steroids and hypothalamic neurotransmitters were significantly impact quail’s seasonal reproduction. Circulating gonadal steroids have different effects on neurotransmitter at different photoperiodism, which may coordinately influence the seasonal reproduction of quails.
MircroRNA Let-7a-5p in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells is Most Responsive to High Stretch in Association With Cell Mechanics Modulation
Authors: Wen Kang , Ni Kai , Guo Jia , Bu Bing , Liu Lei , Pan Yan , Li Jingjing , Luo Mingzhi , Deng Linhong
Published: March 2022

Objective: High stretch (strain >10%) can alter the biomechanical behaviors of airway smooth muscle cells which may play important roles in diverse lung diseases such as asthma and ventilator-induced lung injury. However, the underlying modulation mechanisms for high stretch-induced mechanobiological responses in ASMCs are not fully understood. Here, we hypothesize that ASMCs respond to high stretch with increased expression of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that may in turn modulate the biomechanical behaviors of the cells. Thus, this study aimed to identify the miRNA in cultured ASMCs that is most responsive to high stretch, and subsequently investigate in these cells whether the miRNA expression level is associated with the modulation of cell biomechanics.

Methods: MiRNAs related to inflammatory airway diseases were obtained via bioinformatics data mining, and then tested with cultured ASMCs for their expression variations in response to a cyclic high stretch (13% strain) simulating in vivo ventilator-imposed strain on airways. Subsequently, we transfected cultured ASMCs with mimics and inhibitors of the miRNA that is most responsive to the high stretch, followed by evaluation of the cells in terms of morphology, stiffness, traction force, and mRNA expression of cytoskeleton/focal adhesion-related molecules.

Results: 29 miRNAs were identified to be related to inflammatory airway diseases, among which let-7a-5p was the most responsive to high stretch. Transfection of cultured human ASMCs with let-7a-5p mimics or inhibitors led to an increase or decrease in aspect ratio, stiffness, traction force, migration, stress fiber distribution, mRNA expression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), myosin light chain kinase, some subfamily members of integrin and talin. Direct binding between let-7a-5p and ItgαV was also verified in classical model cell line by using dual-luciferase assays.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that high stretch indeed enhanced the expression of let-7a-5p in ASMCs, which in turn led to changes in the cells’ morphology and biomechanical behaviors together with modulation of molecules associated with cytoskeletal structure and focal adhesion. These findings suggest that let-7a-5p regulation is an alternative mechanism for high stretch-induced effect on mechanobiology of ASMCs, which may contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of high stretch-related lung diseases.
Arterial Baroreflex Inhibits Muscle Metaboreflex Induced Increases in Effective Arterial Elastance: Implications for Ventricular-Vascular Coupling
Authors: Mannozzi Joseph , Kim Jong-Kyung , Sala-Mercado Javier A. , Al-Hassan Mohamed-Hussein , Lessanework Beruk , Alvarez Alberto , Massoud Louis , Bhatti Tauheed , Aoun Kamel , O’Leary Donal S.
Published: March 2022

The ventricular-vascular relationship assesses the efficacy of energy transferred from the left ventricle to the systemic circulation and is quantified as the ratio of effective arterial elastance to maximal left ventricular elastance. This relationship is maintained during exercise via reflex increases in cardiovascular performance raising both arterial and ventricular elastance in parallel. These changes are, in part, due to reflexes engendered by activation of metabosensitive skeletal muscle afferents—termed the muscle metaboreflex. However, in heart failure, ventricular-vascular uncoupling is apparent and muscle metaboreflex activation worsens this relationship through enhanced systemic vasoconstriction markedly increasing effective arterial elastance which is unaccompanied by substantial increases in ventricular function. This enhanced arterial vasoconstriction is, in part, due to significant reductions in cardiac performance induced by heart failure causing over—stimulation of the metaboreflex due to under perfusion of active skeletal muscle, but also as a result of reduced baroreflex buffering of the muscle metaboreflex-induced peripheral sympatho-activation. To what extent the arterial baroreflex modifies the metaboreflex-induced changes in effective arterial elastance is unknown. We investigated in chronically instrumented conscious canines if removal of baroreflex input via sino-aortic baroreceptor denervation (SAD) would significantly enhance effective arterial elastance in normal animals and whether this would be amplified after induction of heart failure. We observed that effective arterial elastance (Ea), was significantly increased during muscle metaboreflex activation after SAD (0.4 ± 0.1 mmHg/mL to 1.4 ± 0.3 mmHg/mL). In heart failure, metaboreflex activation caused exaggerated increases in Ea and in this setting, SAD significantly increased the rise in Ea elicited by muscle metaboreflex activation (1.3 ± 0.3 mmHg/mL to 2.3 ± 0.3 mmHg/mL). Thus, we conclude that the arterial baroreflex does buffer muscle metaboreflex induced increases in Ea and this buffering likely has effects on the ventricular-vascular coupling.
Diatom Biodiversity and Speciation Revealed by Comparative Analysis of Mitochondrial Genomes
Authors: Wang Yichao , Liu Shuya , Wang Jing , Yao Yanxin , Chen Yang , Xu Qing , Zhao Zengxia , Chen Nansheng
Published: March 2022

Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) constitute one of the most diverse and ecologically significant groups of phytoplankton, comprising 100,000–200,000 species in three classes Bacillariophyceae, Mediophyceae, and Coscinodiscophyceae. However, due to the limited resolution of common molecular markers including 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, ITS, rbcL, and cox1, diatom biodiversity has not been adequately ascertained. Organelle genomes including mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs) have been proposed to be “super barcodes” for distinguishing diatom species because of their rich genomic content, and the rapid progress of DNA sequencing technologies that has made it possible to construct mtDNAs with increasing throughout and decreasing cost. Here, we constructed complete mtDNAs of 15 diatom species including five Coscinodiscophyceae species (Guinardia delicatula, Guinardia striata, Stephanopyxis turris, Paralia sulcata, and Actinocyclus sp.), four Mediophyceae species (Hemiaulus sinensis, Odontella aurita var. minima, Lithodesmioides sp., and Helicotheca tamesis), and six Bacillariophyceae species (Nitzschia ovalis, Nitzschia sp., Nitzschia traheaformis, Cylindrotheca closterium, Haslea tsukamotoi, and Pleurosigma sp.) to test the practicality of using mtDNAs as super barcodes. We found that mtDNAs have much higher resolution compared to common molecular markers as expected. Comparative analysis of mtDNAs also suggested that mtDNAs are valuable in evolutionary studies by revealing extensive genome rearrangement events with gene duplications, gene losses, and gains and losses of introns. Synteny analyses of mtDNAs uncovered high conservation among species within an order, but extensive rearrangements including translocations and/or inversions between species of different orders within a class. Duplication of cox1 was discovered for the first time in diatoms in Nitzschia traheaformis and Haslea tsukamotoi. Molecular dating analysis revealed that the three diatom classes split 100 Mya and many diatom species appeared since 50 Mya. In conclusion, more diatom mtDNAs representing different orders will play great dividends to explore biodiversity and speciation of diatoms in different ecological regions.
Context-Dependency in Relationships Between Herbaceous Plant Leaf Traits and Abiotic Factors
Authors: Zhang Zhenchao , Sun Jian , Liu Miao , Shang Hua , Wang Jinniu , Wang Jinsong , Zhou Huakun , Li Yong , Wang Yi , Chen Wanjie
Published: March 2022

Leaf traits are important indicators of plants’ adaptive strategy to environmental changes. It is an established fact that leaf traits are jointly regulated by climatic and edaphic factors besides genetic factors. However, the relative importance of these abiotic forces in determining the general patterns of herbaceous plant leaf traits across different climatic regions in China is far from clear. We collected 1,653 observations of 542 species of herbaceous plant leaf traits including leaf mass per area, leaf nitrogen, and leaf phosphorus from 316 sampling sites across four climatic regions. We found that the leaf mass per area in the arid region was apparently larger than the others, whereas the smallest mass-based leaf nitrogen and mass-based leaf phosphorus were found in the humid region. Increased growing season temperature and evapotranspiration consistently promoted a conservative growth strategy indicated by higher relative benefit of leaf mass per area, especially in the arid region. Solar radiation in growing season promoted an acquisitive growth strategy indicated by higher relative benefits of mass-based leaf nitrogen and phosphorus in the humid region, but opposite patterns were found in the arid region and semi-humid region. Of all the soil nutrients including soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and available nitrogen, soil available nitrogen was the strongest predictor of relative benefits of leaf traits associated with a nutrient acquisitive strategy, except in the nutrient-rich semi-humid region. There was a relatively larger number of abiotic factors contributing to relative benefits of leaf traits in the arid and humid regions. We concluded that plant functionality could respond divergently to the same factor facing different habitat conditions. Moreover, the relative benefits of leaf traits tended to be more vulnerable to abiotic filtering in more stressful conditions. Our findings have important implications for understanding the context-dependency of plant functionality to environmental filtering and further improving the predictability of plant dynamics under global change.
Farmers’ Appraisal on Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)] Production and Phenotypic Characterization: A Synergistic Approach for Improvement
Authors: Ibitoye Dorcas Olubunmi , Kolawole Adesike Oladoyin
Published: March 2022

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is a nutrient-rich economically important vegetable crop grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Okra is one of the horticultural mandate crops of the National Horticultural Research (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria. It is an under-studied crop in terms of genetic improvement in Nigeria. In response to farmers’ demand for improved varieties, the institute commenced efforts in developing novel okra varieties. However, a successful and sustainable crop improvement program depends on the identification of market-driven demands and the availability of variation in the crop germplasm. In view of the above, this research began with an appraisal study to assess the current situation of okra production and to identify farmers’ preferred traits for establishing breeding priorities. According to the results of the participatory rural appraisal, some of the important constraints affecting okra productivity are lack of improved varieties, diseases, pests, and drought. The quest to assess variability in the collected okra accessions and select superior varieties with farmers’ preferred traits, fifty (50) okra accessions were evaluated in the field for 3 consecutive years (2019–2021) using a 5 × 10 α-lattice incomplete block design with three replications. The ANOVA revealed high significant variation (p < 0.001) in the number of days to first flower, pod length, and pod girth. The variability observed among the accessions will be useful in the selection of potential parents required for hybridization and generation of progenies with desirable traits for farmers.
Soybean Leaf Proteomic Profile Influenced by Rhizobacteria Under Optimal and Salt Stress Conditions
Authors: Ilangumaran Gayathri , Subramanian Sowmyalakshmi , Smith Donald L.
Published: March 2022

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stressor inhibiting plant growth and development by affecting a range of physiological processes. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are considered a sustainable option for alleviation of stress and enhancement of plant growth, yet their mode of action is complex and largely unexplored. In this study, an untargeted proteomic approach provided insights into growth and stress response mechanisms elicited in soybean plants by Rhizobium sp. SL42 and Hydrogenophaga sp. SL48 and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum 532C. The plants were grown under optimal and salt-stressed conditions up to their mid-vegetative stage; shoot growth variables were increased in the bacteria-treated plants. Shotgun proteomics of soybean leaf tissue revealed that a number of proteins related to plant growth and stress tolerance were modulated in the bacterial inoculation treatments. Several key proteins involved in major metabolic pathways of photosynthesis, respiration, and photorespiration were upregulated. These include photosystem I psaK, Rubisco subunits, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and glycine decarboxylase. Similarly, stress response proteins such as catalase and glutathione S-transferase (antioxidants), proline-rich precursor protein (osmolyte), and NADP-dependent malic enzyme (linked to ABA signaling) were increased under salt stress. The functions of proteins related to plant growth and stress adaptation led to an expanded understanding of plant-microbe interactions. These findings suggest that the PGPR strains regulated proteome expression in soybean leaves through multiple signaling pathways, thereby inducing salinity tolerance, and improving plant growth in the presence of this abiotic stress challenge. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD025596.
Cryptic Species Diversification of the Pedicularis siphonantha Complex (Orobanchaceae) in the Mountains of Southwest China Since the Pliocene
Authors: Liu Rong , Wang Hong , Yang Jun-Bo , Corlett Richard T. , Randle Christopher P. , Li De-Zhu , Yu Wen-Bin
Published: March 2022

Morphological approaches often fail to delimit species in recently derived species complexes. This can be exacerbated in historical collections which may have lost key features in specimen preparation and preservation. Here, we examine thePedicularis siphonanthacomplex, endemic to the Mountains of Southwest China. This complex is characterized by its red/purple/pink and long-tubular corolla, and twisted, beaked galea. However, herbarium specimens are often difficult to identify to species. Molecular approaches using nrITS or nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) + plastid DNA (ptDNA) have been successfully used for species identification inPedicularis. To resolve taxonomic confusion in thePedicularis siphonanthacomplex, we reconstructed phylogenies of the complex using nrITS and four plastid DNA loci (matK,rbcL,trnH-psbA, andtrnL-F). To recover as much of the phylogenetic history as possible, we sampled individuals at the population level. Topological incongruence between the nrITS and ptDNA datasets was recovered in clades including two widely distributed species,Pedicularis millianaandPedicularis tenuituba. Based on morphological, geographical, and genetic evidence, we suggest that hybridization/introgression has occurred betweenP. millianaandPedicularis sigmoidea/Pedicularissp. 1 in the Yulong Snow Mountain of Lijiang, northwest Yunnan, and betweenP. tenuitubaandPedicularis leptosiphonin Ninglang, northwest Yunnan. After removing conflicting DNA regions inPedicularis dolichosiphon(nrITS) andP. milliana(ptDNA), the concatenated nrITS and ptDNA phylogenies distinguish 11 species in theP. siphonanthacomplex, including two undescribed species, from the Jiaozi and Yulong Snow Mountains, respectively. Phylogeographical analyses indicate that theP. siponanthacomplex originated from south of the Hengduan Mountains, expanding north to the Himalayas and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Moreover, the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and climate oscillations may have driven further diversification in the complex.
Ethylene Production Affects Blueberry Fruit Texture and Storability
Authors: Farneti Brian , Khomenko Iuliia , Ajelli Matteo , Emanuelli Francesco , Biasioli Franco , Giongo Lara
Published: March 2022

Ethylene, produced endogenously by plants and their organs, can induce a wide array of physiological responses even at very low concentrations. Nevertheless, the role of ethylene in regulating blueberry (Vacciniumspp.) ripening and storability is still unclear although an increase in ethylene production has been observed in several studies during blueberry ripening. To overcome this issue, we evaluated the endogenous ethylene production of aVacciniumgermplasm selection at different fruit ripening stages and after cold storage, considering also textural modifications. Ethylene and texture were further assessed also on a bi-parental full-sib population of 124 accessions obtained by the crossing between “Draper” and “Biloxi”, two cultivars characterized by a different chilling requirement and storability performances. Our results were compared with an extensive literature research, carried out to collect all accessible information on published works related to Vaccinium ethylene production and sensitivity. Results of this study illustrate a likely role of ethylene in regulating blueberry shelf life. However, a generalisation valid for allVacciniumspecies is not attainable because of the high variability in ethylene production between genotypes, which is strictly genotype-specific. These differences in ethylene production are related with blueberry fruit storage performances based on textural alterations. Specifically, blueberry accessions characterized by the highest ethylene production had a more severe texture decay during storage. Our results support the possibility of tailoringad hocpreharvest and postharvest strategies to extend blueberry shelf life and quality according with the endogenous ethylene production level of each cultivar.
Root Endophytic Fungi Regulate Changes in Sugar and Medicinal Compositions of Polygonum cuspidatum
Authors: Sun Rui-Ting , Feng Xiang-Cao , Zhang Ze-Zhi , Zhou Nong , Feng Hai-Dong , Liu Yi-Mei , Hashem Abeer , Al-Arjani Al-Bandari Fahad , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi , Wu Qiang-Sheng
Published: March 2022

Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc is an important industrial crop because it contains a large amount of medicinal secondary metabolites (such as polydatin, resveratrol, chrysophanol, and emodin). However, it is unclear whether root endophytic fungi increase the content of secondary metabolites in the plant. This study aimed to analyze the effects of Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Piriformospora indica (Pi) alone or in combination on plant growth, root morphology, thirteen sugars concentrations, and six secondary metabolites (physcion, chrysophanol, emodin, aloe-emodin, polydatin, and resveratrol) concentrations of P. cuspidatum. After 11 weeks of the fungal inoculation, the roots could be colonized by Fm and Pi single or in combination, along with the higher root colonization frequency of Fm > Pi > Fm + Pi in the descending order. In addition, Fm and Pi improved plant growth performance (plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, and shoot and root biomass) and root morphology (average diameter, maximum diameter, total length, area, and volume) to varying degrees, depending on fungal inoculations, in which Pi displayed a relatively better effect on plant growth. Single Fm and Pi inoculation significantly increased three disaccharides (sucrose, maltose, and trehalose) accumulation, while dual inoculum (Fm + Pi) only elevated sucrose concentrations. Most monosaccharides concentrations, such as D-arabinose, D-galactose, D-sorbitol, D-fructose, glucose, and L-rhamnose were not altered or inhibited by the endophytic fungi, except the increase in L-fucose and inositol. All fungal treatments significantly increased root chrysophanol and resveratrol concentrations, while decreased aloe-emodin concentrations. In addition, single Pi and dual Fm + Pi increased emodin concentrations, and single Fm and dual Fm + Pi elevated physcion and polydatin concentrations. It was concluded that Fm and Pi promoted the growth of P. cuspidatum, and the combination of Fm and Pi was more conducive to the production of some secondary metabolites than single inoculation.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor Family Revealed Their Potential Roles in the Flowering Process in Longan (Dimocarpus longan)
Authors: Chen Qinchang , Zhang Xiaodan , Fang Yaxue , Wang Baiyu , Xu Shaosi , Zhao Kai , Zhang Jisen , Fang Jingping
Published: March 2022

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is a productive fruit crop with high nutritional and medical value in tropical and subtropical regions. The MYB gene family is one of the most widespread plant transcription factor (TF) families participating in the flowering regulation. However, little is known about the MYB TFs involved in the flowering process in longan and its regulatory network. In this study, a total of 119 DlR2R3-MYB genes were identified in the longan genome and were phylogenetically grouped into 28 subgroups. The groupings were supported by highly conserved gene structures and motif composition of DlR2R3-MYB genes in each subgroup. Collinearity analysis demonstrated that segmental replications played a more crucial role in the expansion of the DlR2R3-MYB gene family compared to tandem duplications, and all tandem/segmental duplication gene pairs have evolved under purifying selection. Interspecies synteny analysis among longan and five representative species implied the occurrence of gene duplication events was one of the reasons contributing to functional differentiation among species. RNA-seq data from various tissues showed DlR2R3-MYB genes displayed tissue-preferential expression patterns. The pathway of flower development was enriched with six DlR2R3-MYB genes. Cis-acting element prediction revealed the putative functions of DlR2R3-MYB genes were related to the plant development, phytohormones, and environmental stresses. Notably, the orthologous counterparts between Arabidopsis and longan R2R3-MYB members tended to play conserved roles in the flowering regulation and stress responses. Transcriptome profiling on off-season flower induction (FI) by KClO3 indicated two up-regulated and four down-regulated DlR2R3-MYB genes involved in the response to KClO3 treatment compared with control groups. Additionally, qRT-PCR confirmed certain genes exhibited high expression in flowers/flower buds. Subcellular localization experiments revealed that three predicted flowering-associated MYB proteins were localized in the nucleus. Future functional studies on these potential candidate genes involved in the flowering development could further the understanding of the flowering regulation mechanism.
Beta-Amylase and Phosphatidic Acid Involved in Recalcitrant Seed Germination of Chinese Chestnut
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Yu , Zheng Yi , Nie Xinghua , Wang Yafeng , Yu Wenjie , Su Shuchai , Cao Qingqin , Qin Ling , Xing Yu
Published: March 2022

Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), a species with recalcitrant seeds, is an important source of nuts and forest ecosystem services. The germination rate of recalcitrant seeds is low in natural habitats and decreases under conditions of desiccation and low temperature. The germination rate of cultivated Chinese chestnut seeds is significantly higher than that of wild seeds. To explore the reasons for the higher germination rate of cultivated seeds in Chinese chestnut, 113,524 structural variants (SVs) between the wild and cultivated Chinese chestnut genomes were detected through genome comparison. Genotyping these SVs in 60 Chinese chestnut accessions identified allele frequency changes during Chinese chestnut domestication, and some SVs are overlapping genes for controlling seed germination. Transcriptome analysis revealed downregulation of the abscisic acid synthesis genes and upregulation of the beta-amylase synthesis genes in strongly selected genes of cultivated seeds. On the other hand, hormone and enzyme activity assays indicated a decrease in endogenous ABA level and an increase in beta-amylase activity in cultivated seeds. These results shed light on the higher germination rate of cultivated seeds. Moreover, phosphatidic acid synthesis genes are highly expressed in seed germination stages of wild Chinese chestnut and may play a role in recalcitrant seed germination. These findings provide new insight into the regulation of wild seed germination and promote natural regeneration and succession in forest ecosystems.
Ultraviolet-B Radiation Represses Primary Root Elongation by Inhibiting Cell Proliferation in the Meristematic Zone of Arabidopsis Seedlings
Authors: Sheridan Maria Luján , Simonelli Lucio , Giustozzi Marisol , Casati Paula
Published: March 2022

In Arabidopsis thaliana plants, exposure to UV-B induces an inhibition of primary root elongation. Different mutants have been isolated that are deficient in this response; however, little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate inhibition of root elongation in seedlings exposed to UV-B. In this work, we investigated the effect UV-B irradiation of different organs on primary root elongation. Our results demonstrate that irradiation of the leaves and shoots only induce a partial inhibition of primary root elongation, while when only roots are exposed to this radiation, primary root inhibition is similar as that measured when the complete seedling is irradiated. The consequences of exposure at different root developmental stages and times after the end of the treatment was also studied. We here show that inhibition of primary root elongation is a consequence of a decrease in cell proliferation in the meristematic zone of the primary roots, while the elongation zone size is not affected by the treatment. The decrease in cell number after UV-B exposure is partially compensated by an increase in cell length in the root meristem; however, this compensation is not enough to maintain the meristem size. We also here demonstrate that, similarly as what occurs in developing leaves, GROWTH REGULATING FACTOR 3 (GRF3) transcription factor regulates cell proliferation in UV-B irradiated roots; however, and in contrast to what occurs in the leaves, this response does not depend on the presence of MITOGEN ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE 3 (MPK3). Inhibition of primary root elongation by UV-B under our experimental conditions is also independent of the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANT LOCUS 8 (UVR8) or ATAXIA TELANGIECTASIA MUTATED (ATM); but a deficiency in ATM AND RAD3-RELATED (ATR) expression increases UV-B sensitivity in the roots. Finally, our data demonstrate that UV-B affects primary root growth in various Arabidopsis accessions, showing different sensitivities to this radiation.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Contribute to Phosphorous Uptake and Allocation Strategies of Solidago canadensis in a Phosphorous-Deficient Environment
Authors: Qi Shanshan , Wang Jiahao , Wan Lingyun , Dai Zhicong , da Silva Matos Dalva Maria , Du Daolin , Egan Suhelen , Bonser Stephen P. , Thomas Torsten , Moles Angela T.
Published: March 2022

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can facilitate the uptake of limiting or inaccessible nutrients by plants. However, the importance of AMF for invasive plants under phosphorus (P) limitation is poorly well understood because of the presence of non-focal microorganisms, such as endophytes or rhizosphere bacteria. In this study, we investigated how an invasive clonal plant Solidago canadensis benefits from the AMF Glomus intraradices by using a completely sterile culturing system, which is composed of aseptic seedlings, a pure AMF strain, and a sterile growth environment. We found that the colonization rate, abundance, and spore production of AMF in the insoluble P treatment was more than twice as much as in the available P treatment. Plant above-ground growth was enhanced almost 50% by AMF in the insoluble P treatment. Importantly, AMF were able to facilitate P acquisition by the plant in insoluble P conditions, allowing plants to have lower investment into below-ground biomass and higher benefit/return for above-ground biomass. This study demonstrated the important contribution that AMF make to plants in phosphate-deficient environments eliminating interference from non-focal microorganisms. Our results also suggest that interaction with AMF could contribute to the invasiveness of clonal plant S. canadensis in a resource-deficient environment.
Pan-Genome Analysis Reveals the Abundant Gene Presence/Absence Variations Among Different Varieties of Melon and Their Influence on Traits
Authors: Sun Yang , Wang Jing , Li Yan , Jiang Bin , Wang Xu , Xu Wen-Hui , Wang Yu-Qing , Zhang Pei-Tao , Zhang Yong-Jun , Kong Xiang-Dong
Published: March 2022

Melon (Cucumismelo L.) is an important vegetable crop that has been subjected to domestication and improvement. Several varieties of melons with diverse phenotypes have been produced. In this study, we constructed a melon pan-genome based on 297 accessions comprising 168 Mb novel sequences and 4,325 novel genes. Based on the results, there were abundant genetic variations among different melon groups, including 364 unfavorable genes in the IMP_A vs. LDR_A group, 46 favorable genes, and 295 unfavorable genes in the IMP_M vs. LDR_M group. The distribution of 709 resistance gene analogs (RGAs) was also characterized across 297 melon lines, of which 603 were core genes. Further, 106 genes were found to be variable, 55 of which were absent in the reference melon genome. Using gene presence/absence variation (PAV)-based genome-wide association analysis (GWAS), 13 gene PAVs associated with fruit length, fruit shape, and fruit width were identified, four of which were located in pan-genome additional contigs.
Comparative Transcriptome Profiling Analysis Reveals the Adaptive Molecular Mechanism of Yellow-Green Leaf in Rosa beggeriana ‘Aurea’
Authors: Gan Ying , Kou Yaping , Yan Fei , Wang Xiaofei , Wang Hongqian , Song Xiangshang , Zhang Min , Zhao Xin , Jia Ruidong , Ge Hong , Yang Shuhua
Published: March 2022

Rosa beggeriana ‘Aurea’ is a yellow-green leaf (yl) mutant and originated from Rosa beggeriana Schrenk by 60Co-γ irradiation, which is an important ornamental woody species. However, the molecular mechanism of the yl mutant remains unknown. Herein, comparative transcriptome profiling was performed between the yl type and normal green color type (WT) by RNA sequencing. A total of 3,372 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, consisting of 1,585 upregulated genes and 1,787 downregulated genes. Genes that took part in metabolic of biological process (1,090), membrane of cellular component (728), catalytic (1,114), and binding of molecular function (840) were significantly different in transcription level. DEGs involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis, carotenoids biosynthesis, cutin, suberine, wax biosynthesis, photosynthesis, chloroplast development, photosynthesis-antenna proteins, photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII) components, CO2 fixation, ribosomal structure, and biogenesis related genes were downregulated. Meanwhile, linoleic acid metabolism, siroheme biosynthesis, and carbon source of pigments biosynthesis through methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathways were upregulated. Moreover, a total of 147 putative transcription factors were signification different expression, involving NAC, WRKY, bHLH, MYB and AP2/ERF, C2H2, GRAS, and bZIP family gene. Our results showed that the disturbed pigments biosynthesis result in yl color by altering the ratio of chlorophylls and carotenoids in yl mutants. The yl mutants may evoke other metabolic pathways to compensate for the photodamage caused by the insufficient structure and function of chloroplasts, such as enhanced MEP pathways and linoleic acid metabolism against oxidative stress. This research can provide a reference for the application of leaf color mutants in the future.
The ER Is a Common Mediator for the Behavior and Interactions of Other Organelles
Authors: Mathur Jaideep , Kroeker Olivia Friesen , Lobbezoo Mariann , Mathur Neeta
Published: March 2022

Optimal functioning of a plant cell depends upon the efficient exchange of genetic information, ions, proteins and metabolites between the different organelles. Intuitively, increased proximity between organelles would be expected to play an important role in facilitating exchanges between them. However, it remains to be seen whether under normal, relatively non-stressed conditions organelles maintain close proximity at all. Moreover, does interactivity involve direct and frequent physical contact between the different organelles? Further, many organelles transition between spherical and tubular forms or sporadically produce thin tubular extensions, but it remains unclear whether changes in organelle morphology play a role in increasing their interactivity. Here, using targeted multicolored fluorescent fusion proteins, we report observations on the spatiotemporal relationship between plastids, mitochondria, peroxisomes and the endoplasmic reticulum in living plant cells. Under normal conditions of growth, we observe that the smaller organelles do not establish direct, physical contacts with each other but, irrespective of their individual form they all maintain intimate connectivity with the ER. Proximity between organelles does increase in response to stress through concomitant alterations in ER dynamics. Significantly, even under increased proximity the ER still remains sandwiched between the different organelles. Our observations provide strong live-imaging-based evidence for the ER acting as a common mediator in interactions between other organelles.