Journal of Biosciences最新文献

{"title":"Poly(A)-binding proteins in trypanosomatids and Plasmodium.","authors":"Supratik Das","doi":"10.1007/s12038-026-00604-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12038-026-00604-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs) are scaffold proteins that bind to the poly(A) tail of mRNAs and ensure translation fidelity by forming a closed-loop circular mRNA via association with the cap-binding complex. They can be either cytoplasmic or nuclear and play important roles in regulating polyadenylation, deadenylation, translation initiation and termination, mRNA stability, synthesis of the poly(A) tail, regulation of poly(A) length and stimulation of mRNA maturation as well as nuclear export of certain mRNAs. In higher eukaryotes, PABPs are well characterized. However, in pathogenic parasites such as trypanosomatids, belonging to the genera Leishmania and Trypanosoma, as well as Plasmodium, they are not well characterized. Using bioinformatics and computational tools, we have previously studied parasite translation initiation factors such as eIF4E, eIF4G, eIF4A, eIF4B, and Mnk1 kinase and have shown that they vary considerably and differ significantly from human translation initiation factors. In this report, the orthologues of the translation factor PABP in trypanosomatids and Plasmodium are studied. Both conservation and significant differences were observed in PABPs from these pathogenic parasites compared to human PABPs, which should prompt further structure-function studies of these proteins.</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 33","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148793549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distinct macrophage and microglia function in ischemic stroke.","authors":"Dengxing Li, Bao Liao, Huimin Wei, Fengmei Li, Jinyong Teng, Lili Wei, Yueyuan Huang, Qin Yang, Shaofa Li","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aims to explore the characteristics and differentiation pathways of microglia and macrophages using single-cell transcriptome data from mouse stroke models. The clusters of microglia and macrophages in the middle cerebral artery occlusion model mouse brain were identified using the Seurat package. The signaling pathways were evaluated through Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses, while transcription factor activity was analyzed using DecoupleR. Monocle2 was employed to infer the differentiation trajectory of microglia and macrophages, exploring changes in gene expression patterns during their activation process using gene dynamics analysis. Additionally, the self-differential and overlapping subclusters of macrophages and microglia following cerebral ischemia were assessed, and CellChat was used to analyze differences in cell communication. An <i>in vitro</i> oxygen-glucose deprivation model of BV2 microglia was established, and phagocytosis assays and real-time-quantitative PCR were conducted to evaluate the effects of FoxO1 knockdown on the phagocytic ability and inflammatory cytokine production of microglia. Microglia and macrophages showed significant functional changes following ischemic stroke. Microglia enhance their phagocytic capabilities, whereas macrophages exhibited a reduction in phagocytic function. The predominance of microglia in phagocytic and inflammatory pathways is primarily attributed to the differential expression of specific transcription factors, particularly FoxO1. Knockdown of FoxO1 significantly diminished the phagocytic ability of BV2 cells and increased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines CCL2, IFN-γ, and TNF. The transcription factor FoxO1 mediates the functional differences in phagocytosis and inflammatory responses between macrophages and microglia. Activation of FoxO1 can significantly enhance the phagocytic capacity of microglia while simultaneously reducing inflammatory responses, positioning it as a potential new target for the treatment of ischemic stroke.</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147838343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evolutionary trade-offs in plant immunity: prioritizing antiviral priming by herbivore-induced plant volatiles over defense against herbivores.","authors":"Pachamuthu Megaladevi, Jyothilakshmi Vadassery","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Antipathogen defense; b-caryophyllene; vector-virus mutualism Plants respond to insect herbivory by producing and releasing distinctive blends of volatile compounds. These herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) serve several roles, including direct defense through toxic or repellent effects on herbivores and indirect defense by attracting the herbivores' natural enemies (Bleeker et al. 2009; Veyrat et al. 2016). HIPVs also act as warning signals, informing undamaged tissues within the same plant and nearby plants of a pending insect attack (Heil and Bueno 2007). HIPVs are mostly composed of terpenes, fatty acid-derived compounds, and shikimic acid pathway metabolites. In response to certain HIPVs, neighboring plants enter a primed state, preparing for a future attack. As a result, when these primed plants are later attacked by the same herbivore, they can mount a faster and stronger defense response (Arimura et al. 2009). However, many specialized herbivores and pathogens can overcome, and often manipulate, these defenses to thrive on their specific host plants. Some insect vectors have evolved mutualisms with their viruses, e.g., some begomoviruses suppress terpenoid emissions that negatively affect their whitefly vectors (Bleeker et al. 2009). HIPV emissions vulnerable to manipulation include the generalist whitefly Bemisia tabaci-induced volatile blend (composed of the monoterpenes b-myrcene and q-cymene, and the sesquiterpene b-caryophyllene). These whitefly-induced volatiles prime salicylic acid-dependent defenses against pathogens in tomato plants while suppressing jasmonic acid-dependent defenses against herbivores, thus rendering neighboring tomato plants more susceptible to whiteflies (Zhang et al. 2019). This appears to be paradoxical and warrants further investigation. Although numerous species can attack plants simultaneously or sequentially, prior research has mostly focused on HIPV production in a single plant-herbivore or plant-pathogen interaction. Less is known about how plants respond to volatiles released by neighboring plants under simultaneous attack by multiple aggressors. Some studies suggest that plants may be able to distinguish volatile blends emitted by neighbors, attacked simultaneously by both viruses and their vectors, thereby priming appropriate defenses against each (Gong et al. 2023). A recent study by Zhang et al. (2026) examines the three-way interaction between tomato, the herbivorous whitefly B. tabaci, and the begomoviruses transmitted by this insect, namely, the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and the papaya leaf curl China virus (PaLCuCNV). In this system, Zhang et al. (2026) investigated whether neighboring plants discriminate, through airborne cues, not only between herbivory but also between herbivory associated with virus risk. The group proved that the HIPV b-caryophyllene is induced earlier and more strongly after infestation by viruliferous whiteflies (insects harboring the virus) than","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148317084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring <i>Psychrobacter</i> sp. EQ05 (bacterial symbiont of <i>Entaqmea quadricolor</i>): A natural anti-quorum-sensing agent against <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i>.","authors":"Baso Manguntungi, Iman Rusmana, Apon Zaenal Mustopa, Anja Meryandini","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quorum sensing (QS) is a critical communication system in bacteria that enables them to sense population density through auto-inducers, notably, N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). This study focuses on the role of QS in <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i>, a significant pathogen affecting vannamei shrimp, where it regulates virulence factors such as hemolysins and biofilm formation. We explored the potential of anti-QS agents derived from a <i>Psychrobacter</i> sp., which produces AHL lactonase capable of degrading AHLs and disrupting QS signaling pathways. The purification of AHL lactonase was achieved through chromatographic techniques, yielding a protein with a molecular weight of 28-30 kDa, consistent with previous findings. AHL degradation tests have demonstrated that AHL lactonase was significantly more effective than metabolites from <i>Psychrobacter</i> in breaking down AHLs. However, the metabolites exhibited superior biofilm inhibition activity, indicating distinct mechanisms in disrupting bacterial adherence and virulence. Gene expression analysis revealed that AHL lactonase effectively suppressed virulence-related genes, while the metabolites influenced gene regulation differently. This study highlights the dual mechanisms of action from a <i>Psychrobacter</i> sp. - direct AHL degradation and inhibition of AHL synthesis, offering a promising biocontrol strategy against <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> infections in shrimp aquaculture. These findings suggest that integrating these approaches could enhance pathogen management, ultimately supporting sustainable aquaculture practices. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and optimize the application of these biocontrol agents in disease management.</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146029729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How nettle (<i>Urtica dioica</i>) 'stings' <i>Candida albicans</i> by affecting its virulence factors.","authors":"Dua'a Riyad Husain Al-Saleh, Homa Darmani","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With increasing incidence of drug resistance and toxicity associated with current treatments, new alternatives are needed for <i>Candida albicans</i> infections. This study evaluated the potential of <i>Urtica dioica</i> aqueous extract and essential oil as natural phytotherapeutic agents against <i>C. albicans</i>, with a focus on important virulence factors that contribute to the development of infection and survival in the host. Our findings demonstrate that <i>U. dioica</i> essential oil effectively suppressed the growth of <i>C. albicans</i> and exhibited synergistic activity with amphotericin B, suggesting that it could reduce the effective dose of amphotericin B required, and possibly limit its undesirable side effects. Significant and notable inhibition of phenotypic switching was also observed, with the most pronounced effects seen when used in combination with amphotericin B. Since hyphae are critical for host invasion, this inhibition could impede the ability of <i>C. albicans</i> to cause disseminated infections. In addition, <i>U. dioica</i> essential oil also inhibited the biofilm-forming ability of <i>C. albicans</i>, a key factor contributing to the morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients, due to biofilm-related resistance to antimicrobial therapy. Complete inhibition of phospholipase and hemolysin activity was also observed; as key extracellular enzymes, these contribute to the virulence of <i>C. albicans</i> and its persistence in the host. In conclusion, <i>U. dioica</i> essential oil targets multiple <i>C. albicans</i> virulence factors, potentially limiting infection <i>in vivo</i>. When used in combination with amphotericin B, it may boost antifungal efficiency, offering a promising new strategy against candidiasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147276298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human tears as social chemo-signals in taming male aggression.","authors":"Satish Suhas, Reeteka Sud, Shridhar J Utagi, Sanjeev Jain, Biju Viswanath","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The human brain is endlessly fascinating and complex. It is also highly plastic, shaped by numerous interacting factors, including sociocultural influences. Gender is one such factor, whose influence plays out on biological and cultural levels, inescapably intertwined with each other (Mei <i>et al</i>. 2022). The field of social neuroscience, which is tasked with parsing the neural, hormonal, cellular, and genetic mechanisms of social behavior is rather young, despite the possibility that chemo-signaling plays a complex role in evolution (Graziano 2022). Exposure to predator odors prompts prey animals, particularly rodents, to exhibit escape or defensive behaviors, sparking discussions on whether a single volatile compound or a combination of odors triggers these responses (Apfelbach <i>et al</i>. 2015). The effect of sex/gender on the social brain has clear clinical relevance (Pavlova 2017). Changes in odor perception are seen in many disease syndromes, including neuropsychiatric disorders. Mechanisms that interlink sex differences in the brain to disease biology, to manifest behavioral differences, thus need to be investigated (Eslinger <i>et al</i>. 2021).</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147639046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plastome characterization of Embelia ribes Burm. f. (Myrsinoideae: Primulaceae): comparative analysis and phylogenetic inference.","authors":"Arun Prasanth, Hemlata M Kotkar, Milind M Sardesai","doi":"10.1007/s12038-026-00611-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12038-026-00611-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Embelia ribes, a member of the subfamily Myrsinoideae within the family Primulaceae, is a widely distributed medicinally important plant and the primary source of embelin. Despite its wide distribution across South and Southeast Asia, and its medicinal importance, the genomics of E. ribes and the genus Embelia remain unexplored. In this study, the complete plastome sequence of E. ribes was determined and compared with those of 14 other plastomes from the families Primulaceae and Ebenaceae. The plastome of E. ribes spans 1,57,186 bp, and exhibits a quadripartite structure with a large single-copy region (86,681 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC; 18,248 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (26,093 bp). The plastome comprises 134 genes, including 89 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes, of which 19 are duplicated in the IR region. The comparative plastome analysis revealed a conserved structure and gene content across the family, with minor IR boundary shifts. Six hypervariable regions and 61 simple sequence repeats were identified and can be used as potential tools for species identification and population genetic studies. Phy logenomics supports a close relationship of Embelia with Aegiceras and Myrsine. The study provides the complete plastome data of E. ribes, contributing to species delineation, evolutionary relationship studies, population genetics, and conservation.hh.</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 41","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149110105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of insecticide susceptibility variation in different field populations of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), to selected organophosphate insecticides.","authors":"Irfan Ahmad Mir, Bazila Rehman, Barkat Hussain, Tariq Ahmad","doi":"10.1007/s12038-026-00603-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12038-026-00603-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus), the cabbage aphid, is a destructive pest of cruciferous crops worldwide. In Kashmir, management relies heavily on organophosphate insecticides, yet regional susceptibility data are lacking. This study evaluated eight field populations for susceptibility to chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, and quinalphos using standardized foliar bioassays with commercial formulations. Probit regression analysis provided reliable dose-response relationships. Resistance ratios (RRs) were calculated relative to the most susceptible field population because a laboratory susceptible strain was unavailable. LC50 values ranged from 3.71 mL L-1 for dimethoate to 4.61 mL L-1 for chlorpyrifos, with resistance ratios between 1.0 and 3.07, all below the threshold for confirmed resistance. Although operational resistance was not detected, some populations showed LC50 values approaching or exceeding recommended field doses, indicating early tolerance. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering revealed structured geographic variation in susceptibility, with the Baramulla population forming a distinct cluster. The study provides the first regional baseline of organophosphate susceptibility in Brevicoryne brassicae from Kashmir and highlights the importance of continuous resistance monitoring, insecticide rotation, adoption of integrated pest management strategies, and incorporation of non-chemical control measures to delay resistance development and sustain field efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 30","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148456002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal and spatial patterns of leaf unrolling in <i>Pilea peperomioides</i>.","authors":"Michelle Modert, Tom Masselter, Thomas Speck","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The processes of cellular differentiation and tissue maturation in the early phases of leaf development have been the subject of extensive investigation. During leaf opening, however, a subsequent stage of development, the dynamics of cell and tissue remain poorly understood, particularly in peltate species. In peltate leaves, the petiole merges into the lamina at a more central position, and leaf opening often consists of unrolling. This study focuses on the peltate leaves of <i>Pilea peperomioides</i> and investigates structural changes during unrollingvia histological analysis. Lamina cross-sections were used to examine different tissues at various stages of development. Moreover, investigating leaf curvature across stages allowed the determination of the exact mechanism and behavior. In general, these leaves massively grow in width and thickness as they unroll. Thedominant tissues are the spongy parenchyma and the hypodermal hydrenchyma, a tissue designated for water storage. The latter essentially contributes to the total increase in thickness. From a geometrical perspective, an increase in lamina thickness imposes a spatial constraint and increases the second moment of area and, consequently, the flexural rigidity. These changes lead to curvature reduction and progressive stiffening of the leaf, 'locking' it into a flat configuration.</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"51 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147838265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pan-cancer analysis of cancer-specific transcript isoforms reveals the regulatory impact of isoform switching on the alteration of the interplay between RBPs and miRNAs in cancers.","authors":"Sukhen DAS Mandal, Sumit Mukherjee","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The switch in the predominantly expressed transcript isoform of the same gene has been identified as a significant factor in the progression of various types of cancer. These switches can impact the gain or loss of different 3'UTRs, which are hotspots for the binding of microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). In this study, we found that in cancer-specific dominant expressing transcripts, the binding of miRNA and RBP is disrupted, suggesting that transcript switching could play a part in modulating post-transcriptional gene expression during the progression and development of cancer. Our spatial correlation analysis demonstrated that changes in miRNA and RBP binding, triggered by transcript switching, could interrupt their interplay. Additionally, statistical analysis revealed that local folding energy (LFE) is a key factor in changing miRNA and RBP interactions due to isoform switching. Overall, this study revealed that changes in cancerspecific transcripts could influence miRNA-RBP interactions due to alternations in the local RNA structure of the transcript caused by isoform switching, thereby leading to the dysregulation of crucial genes involved in the evolution and progression of cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":15171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosciences","volume":"50 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144017899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}