Search

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are an important family of pattern‐recognition receptors that recognize a series of pathogen‐associated molecular patterns to trigger the host immune response. In the present study, we identified three TLR13 genes (i.e., LcLTR13a, LcTLR13b, and LcTLR13c) in American bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbeianus, and explored their constitutive and pathogen‐induced expression profile in different tissues. The open reading frames of LcLTR13a, LcTLR13b and LcTLR13c are 2811, 2844, and 2814 bp long, encoding 955, 947, and 933 amino acids, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that three LcTLR13 genes grouping in different subclades indicate the gene duplication of bullfrog TLR13 as in teleost. The three LcTLR13 genes were expressed in all the tissues examined, with the liver and spleen expressing the higher levels. Moreover, the expression levels of LcLTR13a, LcTLR13b, and LcTLR13c were significantly induced in the liver and spleen after bullfrogs were challenged with bacterial (i.e., Citrobacter freundii, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Edwardsiella tarda) pathogens. These results indicate that LcTLR13 genes play an essential role in the bullfrog antibacterial innate immune response, providing new insights into immune mechanisms of bullfrogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) has become one of the most commercially important amphibians for aquaculture in China, and its annual production has grown rapidly. However, bacterial diseases caused by Citrobacter freundii infection have resulted in enormous economic losses. The present study used RNA sequencing technology to analyze the transcriptomic profile and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the bullfrog liver and spleen post C. freundii infection. De novo assembly resulted in the generation of 77,556 L. catesbeianus transcripts, and 49,421 of these genes were successfully annotated to the databases. Overall, 1487 DEGs were identified in the liver group, including 788 upregulated and 709 downregulated DEGs. A total of 799 DEGs, including 311 upregulated and 488 downregulated genes, were detected in the spleen groups. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed significantly enriched pathways, including pathways involved in metabolism and immune responses. The processes in which the DEGs were enriched were those related to metabolic activities, including the lipid metabolism pathway, amino acid pathway, immune‐related pathway, and inflammatory responses. The results of this study provide insight into the response of bullfrogs against C. freundii at the transcriptome level and reveal the mechanism of the immune response against C. freundii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractNeurodegenerative diseases encompass a wide range of debilitating and incurable brain disorders characterized by the progressive deterioration of the nervous system’s structure and function. Isoflavones, which are naturally occurring polyphenolic phytochemicals, have been found to regulate various cellular signaling pathways associated with the nervous system. The main objective of this comprehensive review is to explore the neuroprotective effects of isoflavones, elucidate the underlying mechanisms, and assess their potential for treating neurodegenerative disorders. Relevant data regarding isoflavones and their impact on neurodegenerative diseases were gathered from multiple library databases and electronic sources, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Science Direct. Numerous isoflavones, including genistein, daidzein, biochanin A, and formononetin, have exhibited potent neuroprotective properties against various neurodegenerative diseases. These compounds have been found to modulate neurotransmitters, which in turn contributes to their ability to protect against neurodegeneration. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental studies have provided evidence of their neuroprotection mechanisms, which involve interactions with estrogenic receptors, antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-apoptotic activity, and modulation of neural plasticity. This review aims to provide current insights into the neuroprotective characteristics of isoflavones and shed light on their potential therapeutic applications in future clinical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and accurate detection of goose parvovirus (GPV) is crucial for controlling outbreaks and mitigating their economic impact on the poultry industry. This study introduces recombinase polymerase amplification combined with the Pyrococcus furiosus argonaute (RPA-PfAgo) system, a novel diagnostic platform designed to address the limitations of traditional GPV detection methods. Capitalizing on the rapid DNA amplification of RPA and stringent nucleic acid cleavage by the PfAgo protein, the RPA-PfAgo system offers high specificity and sensitivity in detecting GPV. Our optimization efforts included primer and probe configurations, reaction parameters, and guided DNA selection, culminating in a detection threshold of 10 2 GPV DNA copies per microlitre. The specificity of the proposed method was rigorously validated against a spectrum of avian pathogens. Clinical application to lung tissues from GPV-infected geese yielded a detection concordance of 100%, surpassing that of qPCR and PCR in both rapidity and operational simplicity. The RPA-PfAgo system has emerged as a revolutionary diagnostic modality for managing this disease, as it is a promising rapid, economical, and onsite GPV detection method amenable to integration into broad-scale disease surveillance frameworks. Future explorations will extend the applicability of this method to diverse avian diseases and assess its field utility across various epidemiological landscapes., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)