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Carcinus aestuarii is representative of lagoons and is currently defined as a cosmopolitan species across different geographical regions. The objective of this study was to ascertain the species composition, prevalence, density, sex, and seasonal distribution of epibionts hosted by C. aestuarii in the Çanakkale Strait. Samples of C. aestuarii were collected seasonally in Çardak Lagoon (Çanakkale Strait) summer, autumn, winter, and spring using a static traditional eel trap. It was observed that the crabs were extensively colonized with bivalves, barnacles, polychaetes, and amphipods, and carried epibionts in the carapace and abdominal region. Additionally, it was observed that males exhibited a greater prevalence of epibionts than females, and that the epibiont load on the crab increased during the winter season. This study reports the first recorded instance of Anomia sp. and Sacculina carcini on C. aestuarii. The study on the invasion of the green crab is of significant importance to gain insight into the behavior, dispersal patterns, and impacts of the species. The knowledge presented here may then be utilized in the development of strategies for the management and control of invasive species, thereby contributing to the conservation of ecosystems and the maintenance of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) has potential to grow into various types of soil under arid as well as semi-arid regions. To find out the sustainable host plant species for sandalwood grown under stress, an RBD experiment was conducted on sandalwood grown without a host and with five selected hosts (Alternanthera sp., Azadirachata indica, Dalbergia sissoo, Melia dubia, and Aquilaria malaccensis) based on prior studies. After 6 weeks of establishment, individual and combine water and salinity stresses were applied and maintained for up to 180 days to investigate their impact on the nutrient content, concentration of osmolytes, and activities of antioxidative enzymes in sandalwood. Haustoria formation showed significant reduction under individual and combined water deficit and salinity stress. Sandalwood grown with Dalbergia sissoo and Melia dubia showed relatively higher nutrients content such as N, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, and S, which were dramatically reduced under individual and combined water deficit and salinity stress. Osmolytes concentration (proline, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins) increased with intensified stress and sandalwood accumulated higher osmolytes when grown with Dalbergia sissoo and Melia dubia. The activities of antioxidant enzymes showed a significant increase under water deficit, salinity, and combined stress compared to the control, but sandalwood grown with Dalbergia sissoo and Melia dubia exhibited higher activities. Results signify the importance of hosts i.e. Dalbergia sissoo and Melia dubia which provide suitable growth and nutrition to growing sandalwood by maintaining ion homeostasis, ROS balance, and nutrient content under water deficit, salinity, and interactive stress. Results highlighted the significance of D. sissoo and M. dubia, which may be good long-lasting host species for sandalwood production in sub-tropical climates to adapt to changing environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum computing has emerged as a useful resource for winning random games. Monty Hall problem is one such game, where the powers of quantum mechanics can be utilized for winning the prize. Our paper depicts this problem as a two-player game, where the two players, i.e., the host and the participant share an entangled quantum state. The entangled state is closely knit with the position of the prize containing door, and the decision of the player i.e., either switch or stay from his initial choice of door. The two players are part of one team as they share a quantum communication channel among them by sharing the entangled state as a quantum resource. This enables them to share secret information about the position of the price as well as the strategy to opt for winning the game. The article shows a unique way of utilizing three different type of entangled states, three-qubit symmetric W state, three-qubit χ state, and five-qubit highly entangled Brown state. Further, the effectiveness of each quantum state as a source of communication in disguise is also compared. All the entangled states under study assure winning the price by the participant. However, each quantum state has different entanglement degree and offer varied merits as per the game setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital disease with an incidence of 4 out of 10,000 live births, therefore proper education of its treatment is essential. Understanding the disease and the wide array of treatment options is often difficult. Additive manufacturing technology can be used to produce 3D printed hands-on surgical training tools (HOSTT), which can be used for the education and practical training of CoA. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a 3D printable HOSTT for the simulation of coarctation surgery, and it' possible role in practical education. Methods: Participants were medical students of Semmelweis University between the second and sixth academic year. A virtual 3D model of an aorta with CoA was generated from a computed tomography angiography scan. Each participant received a 3D-printed aorta phantom and performed either one of four surgical treatment modalities. The simulated surgeries included end-to-end anastomosis, end-to-side anastomosis, prosthetic patch, and subclavian flap aortoplasty. Participants provided feedback, evaluating their understanding of the disease and its treatment by the four surgical reconstruction modalities on a seven-point Likert scale before and after the sessions. Results: 21 medical students participated in this study. Participants' average rating of their understanding of CoA disease and it treatment options before practical training was 4.62 ± 1.07. After training, their average rating increased to 6.19 ± 1.08, showing statistically significant difference. Conclusions: Within this study's limitations, the applied HOSTT, manufactured using 3D printing, was effective for the practical training of CoA's surgical treatment methods for medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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CAP (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen5, pathogenesis-related proteins) superfamily proteins are widely distributed, can be subdivided into 11 subfamilies, and form a unique branch in fungi, named PRY proteins. Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungal pathogen of vascular plants that causes plant Verticillium wilt. However, the roles of CAP superfamily proteins in this fungus is unclear. Here, four CAP superfamily members with a conserved domain were identified in V. dahliae: VdPRY1, VdPRY2, VdPRY3, and VdPRY4. VdPRY1 and VdPRY3 were found to be key in suppressing plant immune responses. Moreover, these four members are highly expressed during early infection of cotton by V. dahliae. Deleting VdPRY1, VdPRY2, or VdPRY3 reduced the fungus’s ability to cause disease, but VdPRY4 deletion did not affect virulence. Deletion of any of four members did not impact fungal growth or carbon source use. Yeast two-hybrid experiments suggest that these proteins may function through interactions with each other. This investigation has, for the initial time, elucidated the pivotal roles of V. dahliae CAP superfamily proteins in inhibiting plant immunity and exerting virulence during interaction with the host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of the Isthmus of Panama separated the populations of many marine organisms, which then diverged into new geminate sister species currently living in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. However, we know very little about how such evolutionary divergences of host species have shaped the compositions of their microbiomes. Here, we compared the microbiomes of whole-body and shell-surface samples of geminate species of marine gastropods in the genera Cerithium and Cerithideopsis to those of congeneric outgroups. Our results suggest that the effects of ~3 million years of separation and isolation on microbiome composition varied among host genera and between sample types within the same hosts. In the whole-body samples, microbiome compositions of geminate species pairs tended to be similar, likely due to host filtering, although the strength of this relationship varied among the two groups and across similarity metrics. Shell-surface microbiomes show contrasting patterns, with co-divergence between the host taxa and a small number of microbial clades evident in Cerithideopsis but not Cerithium. These results suggest that (i) isolation of host populations after the rise of the Isthmus of Panama affected microbiomes of geminate hosts in a complex and host-specific manner, and (ii) host-associated microbial taxa respond differently to vicariance events than the hosts themselves. IMPORTANCE While considerable work has been done on evolutionary divergences of marine species in response to the rise of the Isthmus of Panama, which separated two previously connected oceans, how this event shaped the microbiomes of these marine hosts remains poorly known. Using whole-body and shell-surface microbiomes of closely related gastropod species from opposite sides of the Isthmus, we show that divergences of microbial taxa after the formation of the Isthmus are often not concordant with those of their gastropod hosts. Our results show that evolutionary responses of marine gastropod-associated microbiomes to major environmental perturbations are complex and are shaped more by local environments than host evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flagella is a well-known bacterial structure crucial for motility, which also plays pivotal roles in pathogenesis. Arcobacter butzleri, an enteropathogen, possesses a distinctive polar flagellum whose functional aspects remain largely unexplored. Upon investigating the factors influencing A. butzleri motility, we uncovered that environmental conditions like temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability play a significant role. Furthermore, compounds that are found in human gut, such as short-chain fatty acids, mucins and bile salts, have a role in modulating the motility, and in turn, the pathogenicity of A. butzleri. Further investigation demonstrated that A. butzleri ΔflaA mutant showed a reduction in motility with a close to null average velocity, as well as a reduction on biofilm formation. In addition, compared with the wild-type, the ΔflaA mutant showed a decreased ability to invade Caco-2 cells and to adhere to mucins. Taken together, our findings support the role of environmental conditions and gut host associated compounds influencing key physiological aspects of the gastrointestinal pathogen A. butzleri, such as motility, and support the role of the flagellum on bacterial virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change is driving increased extreme weather events that can impact ecology by moderating host–pathogen interactions. To date, few studies have explored how cold snaps affect disease prevalence and proliferation. Using the Daphnia magna–Ordospora colligata host-parasite system, a popular model system for environmentally transmitted diseases, the amplitude and duration of cold snaps were manipulated at four baseline temperatures, 10 days post-exposure, with O. colligata fitness recorded at the individual level. Results: Cold snaps induced a fivefold increase or a threefold decrease in parasite burden relative to baseline temperature, with complex nuances and varied outcomes resulting from different treatment combinations. Both amplitude and duration can interact with the baseline temperature highlighting the complexity and baseline dependence of cold snaps. Furthermore, parasite fitness, i.e., infection prevalence and burden, were simultaneously altered in opposite directions in the same cold snap treatment. Conclusions: We found that cold snaps can yield complicated outcomes that are unique from other types of temperature variation (for example, heatwaves). These results underpin the challenges and complexity in understanding and predicting how climate and extreme weather may alter disease under global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining cholesterol‐loaded methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (CD‐CHL) with vitamin E‐loaded methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (CD‐Vit E) to combat cold shock and oxidative stress during sperm cryopreservation in soybean lecithin extenders remains unexplored. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of treating bull sperm with CD‐CHL and CD‐Vit E prior to cryopreservation in a soybean lecithin extender. Sperm collected from eight fertile bulls were pooled and split into six aliquots. Five aliquots were treated, in a Tris‐based extender, with CD‐CHL (2 mg/120 × 106 cells/mL) and either 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2 mg CD‐Vit E/120 × 106 cells/mL. The control aliquot was diluted in a Tris‐based extender without further supplementation. After incubation at 22°C for 15 min and addition of a soybean lecithin extender, all aliquots were equilibrated for 2 h at 4°C and then cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used to explore the different sperm motility parameters, hypo‐osmotic swelling test to determine membrane functionality and fluorescein isothiocyanate‐conjugated Aeachis hypogaea (peanut) agglutinin (FITC‐PNA) to quantify acrosome integrity. The effect of oxidative stress on the sperm membrane was assessed through lipid peroxidation measurement. Compared to control, CD‐CHL alone improved significantly (p < 0.05) all CASA motility parameters, membrane functionality and acrosome integrity of thawed sperm. The membrane functionality was more significantly (p < 0.05) improved when 0.5 mg CD‐Vit E was combined with CD‐CHL. Concerning lipid peroxidation, no significant differences (p > 0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were registered between groups. In conclusion, the combination of CD‐CHL and CD‐Vit E demonstrated a significant positive effect on the cryopreservation of bull sperm in a soybean lecithin extender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicoverpa armigera exhibits extensive variability in feeding habits and food selection. Neuronal regulation of H. armigera feeding behavior is primarily influenced by biogenic amines such as Tyramine (TA) and Octopamine (OA). The molecular responses of H. armigera to dietary challenges in the presence of TA or OA have yet to be studied. This investigation dissects the impact of OA and TA on H. armigera feeding choices and behaviors under non-host nutritional stress. It has been observed that feeding behavior remains unaltered during the exogenous administration of OA and TA through an artificial diet (AD). Ingestion of higher OA or TA concentrations leads to increased mortality. OA and TA treatment in combination with host and non-host diets results in the induction of feeding and higher locomotion toward food, particularly in the case of TA treatment. Increased expression of markers, prominin-like, and tachykinin-related peptide receptor-like transcripts further assessed increased locomotion activity. Insects subjected to a non-host diet with TA treatment exhibited increased feeding and overexpression of the feeding indicator, the Neuropeptide F receptor, and the feeding regulator, Sulfakinin, compared with other conditions. Expression of sensation and biogenic amine synthesis genesis elevated in insects fed a non-host diet in combination with OA or TA. Metabolomics analysis revealed a decreased concentration of the feeding behavior elicitor, dopamine, in insects fed a non-host diet containing TA. This work highlights the complex interplay between biogenic amine functions during dietary stress and suggests the role of tyramine in feeding promotion under stressed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis affects over 250 million people worldwide, with the highest prevalence at the age of 10–14 years. The influence of the host's age on the severity of liver damage is unclear. We infected male 8, 14, and 20-week-old mice with S. mansoni. Hepatic damage, inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolism were analyzed by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and mechanistic transwell chamber experiments using S. mansoni eggs and human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) or primary mouse hepatocytes. Major results were validated in human biopsies. We found that hepatosplenomegaly, granuloma size, egg load, inflammation, fibrosis, and glycogen stores all improved with the increasing age of the host. However, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were lowest in young mice infected with S. mansoni. Hepatic carbohydrate exploitation was characterized by a shift towards Warburg-like glycolysis in S. mansoni-infected animals. Notably, S. mansoni eggs stimulated hepatic stellate cells to an alternatively activated phenotype (GFAP+/desmin+/αSMA−) that secretes IL-6 and MCP-1. The reduction of fibrosis in older age likely depends on the fine-tuning of regulatory and inflammatory cytokines, alternative HSC activation, and the age-dependent preservation of hepatic energy stores. The current results emphasize the significance of investigations on the clinical relevance of host age-dependent liver damage in patients with schistosomiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbionts tend to be aggregated on their hosts, such that few hosts harbor the majority of symbionts. This ubiquitous pattern can result from stochastic processes, but aggregation patterns may also depend on the type of host–symbiont interaction, along with traits that affect host exposure and susceptibility to symbionts. Untangling how aggregation patterns both within and among populations depend on stochastic processes, interaction type and host traits remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we address this challenge by using null models to compare aggregation patterns in a neutral system of Balanomorpha barnacles attached to patellid limpets and a host–parasite system of Gyrodactylus spp. monogeneans and their Trinidadian guppy Poecilia reticulata hosts. We first used a model to predict patterns of symbiont–host aggregation due to random partitioning of symbionts to hosts. This null model accurately predicted the aggregation of barnacles on limpets, but the degree of aggregation varied across 303 quadrats. Quadrats with larger limpets had less aggregated barnacles, whereas aggregation increased with variation in limpet size. Across 84 guppy populations, Gyrodactylus spp. parasites were significantly less aggregated than predicted by the null model. As in the neutral limpet–barnacle system, aggregation decreased with mean host size. Parasites were significantly less aggregated on males than females because male guppies tended to have higher prevalence and lower parasite burdens than predicted by the null model. Together, these results suggest stochastic processes can explain aggregation patterns in neutral but not parasitic systems, though in both systems host traits affect aggregation patterns. Because the distribution of symbionts on hosts can affect symbiont evolution via intraspecific interactions, and host behavior and evolution via host–symbiont interactions, identifying the drivers of aggregation enriches our understanding of host–symbiont interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance organic light emitting diode (OLED) performance, host materials with high triplet energies are crucial for confining excitons, despite increasing driving voltages due to the singlet‐triplet energy gap. We synthesized sulfonylbis(4,1‐phenylene)bis(3,6‐disubstituted‐9H‐carbazole) derivatives as donor‐acceptor‐donor host materials, namely compounds 3, 5 and 7, with varying fluorination levels. These compounds show moderate singlet‐triplet energy splitting and molecular dipole moments, allowing for fine‐tuning of hole‐transport mobilities, deeper frontier orbital energies, and a red shift in singlet emission while maintaining high triplet energy levels. These adjustments impact a range of physical, electronic and optical properties. The materials exhibit exceptional thermal stability, with decomposition starting above 400 °C and glass transition temperatures over 130 °C. Used with the green TADF emitter DACT‐II, these hosts enable reverse intersystem crossing rates between 7.43×104 s−1 and 1.77×105 s−1. While OLEDs using mCP as a reference host achieve a maximum quantum efficiency of 18.5 %, those with host 5 show lower efficiency roll‐off, leading to higher external quantum efficiency at brightness levels above 2000 cd/m2 without colour shift. The reduced roll‐off in devices with host 5 compared to mCP is attributed to effective Förster and Dexter energy transfers to DACT‐II at high currents, enhancing light emission pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence of fluxes on the wind speed near the surface of the stable nocturnal boundary layer has been organized in terms of a threshold wind speed. When the wind speed is smaller than the threshold speed (near-calm conditions), the eddies at the observational level tend to be decoupled from the surface. When the wind speeds are larger than the threshold value, the main eddies are thought to directly interact with the underlying surface. As an example, the threshold wind speed at the 2-m observational level is typically 1 m s - 1 . Investigation of the heat flux as a function of the wind speed is relatively straightforward. The dependence of the friction velocity u ∗ on the wind speed requires somewhat different strategies. The friction velocity is derived from the momentum flux averaged in different ways. For near-calm conditions, the stress vector and wind vector are often not aligned. The wind direction frequently varies rapidly with height near the surface for near-calm conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring wildlife health is essential for understanding global disease patterns, particularly as vector-borne infections extend the geographic ranges and thereby hosts due to environmental shifts. Anaplasma marginale, primarily impacting cattle, has economic implications and has been found in diverse hosts, yet its presence in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), influential in tick- borne pathogen spread, lacks comprehensive understanding. From 2015 to 2022, 14 capybaras were surveyed across two different areas of northeastern Argentina. In 1 of 14 (7%) capybaras, the presence of A. marginale was confirmed through ugh the amplification of specific genes, msp5 and msplß. In addition, A. marginale DNA was detected in the capybara's blood sample through quantitative PCR, with a cycle threshold value of 30.81 (800 copies per reaction). Amplification of a fragment of the mspla gene revealed PCR products of three different sizes, suggesting the presence of at least three coinfecting A. marginale variants in the capybara host. This study suggests that capybaras are wild hosts for A. marginale in the Ibera Wetlands in Argentina, potentially influencing the infection dynamics of both domestic and wild species. This finding finding highlights the necessity for thorough studies on the role of capybaras in disease dynamics, crucial for understanding wildlife health and the spread of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcodon aspratus (Berk.) S. Ito is a Japanese local dish with unique aroma and is effective against allergic diseases. However, its cultivation was still difficult. Recently, coexisting bacteria were regarded as an important factor for mycelium growth and fruiting body formation. Therefore, we performed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing in the fruiting body of S. aspratus and its adhered soil to understand the bacterial communities in the fruiting body of S. aspratus. The fruiting body group showed lower alpha diversities and a significant difference in the structure of bacterial communities compared to the soil group. In addition, Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium had the highest relative abundance in the fruiting body group, and it was also a potential coexisting bacterium in the fruiting body of S. aspratus by linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis. This highest relative abundance phenomenon in Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium clade was also found in the fruiting body of Cantharellus cibarius. These findings suggested that Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium plays a key role in the bacterial communities in the fruiting body of S. aspratus. Bacteria in the fruit bodies of S. aspratus and C. cibarius probably present a similar coexistence model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diseases of veterinary importance, such as bovine Anaplasmosis, cause significant economic losses. Due to this, the study of various proteins of the causal agent Anaplasma marginale has focused on surface proteins. However, a vaccine for this disease is not yet available. To this end, in this work, moonlighting proteins (MLPs) are presented as an alternative approach for the design of immunogens against A. marginale. Methods: The proteins of the strain MEX-15-099-01 were analyzed, and its MLPs were identified. Subsequently, four virulence-associated MLP genes were selected and identified using PCR. The proteins were analyzed using a structural homology approach and the collection of B-cell epitopes was predicted for each MLP. Finally, a pair of AmEno peptides were synthesized and the antigenic potential was tested using an iELISA. Results: Our bioinformatics analysis revealed the potential of AmEno, AmGroEl, AmEF-Tu, and AmDnaK proteins as promising candidates for designing immunogens. The PCR allowed the gene sequence identification in the genome of the strain MEX-15-099-01. Notably, AmEno-derived synthetic peptides showed antigenicity in an ELISA. Conclusions: Our study has shed light on the potential use of MLPs for immunogen design, demonstrating the antigenic potential of AmEno. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phages are the most diverse and abundant biological entities on earth. In recent years, the proliferation of high-throughput sequencing technology has led to a surge in research on the composition and functions of phages in diverse ecological niches. Particularly, phages in fermented foods have been receiving increasing attention from researchers, which interact with their bacterial hosts through the lytic and lysogenic life cycles, playing important ecological roles and influencing the succession of microbial communities. Additionally, phages also exhibit potential auxiliary metabolic functions, which in turn affects the formation of flavor substances in fermented foods to a certain extent. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the present status and hot topics of research on phages in fermented foods, with a specific focus on the composition, diversity, genomic DNA extraction techniques and auxiliary metabolic functions of phages as well as their interactions with the host and the underlying mechanism (e.g., clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and binding receptors). Finally, this review concludes with a discussion of future research directions, aiming to provide a reference for further research and application of phages in fermented foods.

CAP (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen5, pathogenesis-related proteins) superfamily proteins are widely distributed, can be subdivided into 11 subfamilies, and form a unique branch in fungi, named PRY proteins. Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungal pathogen of vascular plants that causes plant Verticillium wilt. However, the roles of CAP superfamily proteins in this fungus is unclear. Here, four CAP superfamily members with a conserved domain were identified in V. dahliae: VdPRY1, VdPRY2, VdPRY3, and VdPRY4. VdPRY1 and VdPRY3 were found to be key in suppressing plant immune responses. Moreover, these four members are highly expressed during early infection of cotton by V. dahliae. Deleting VdPRY1, VdPRY2, or VdPRY3 reduced the fungus’s ability to cause disease, but VdPRY4 deletion did not affect virulence. Deletion of any of four members did not impact fungal growth or carbon source use. Yeast two-hybrid experiments suggest that these proteins may function through interactions with each other. This investigation has, for the initial time, elucidated the pivotal roles of V. dahliae CAP superfamily proteins in inhibiting plant immunity and exerting virulence during interaction with the host plant.

Abstract Background Climate change is driving increased extreme weather events that can impact ecology by moderating host–pathogen interactions. To date, few studies have explored how cold snaps affect disease prevalence and proliferation. Using the Daphnia magna–Ordospora colligata host-parasite system, a popular model system for environmentally transmitted diseases, the amplitude and duration of cold snaps were manipulated at four baseline temperatures, 10 days post-exposure, with O. colligata fitness recorded at the individual level. Results Cold snaps induced a fivefold increase or a threefold decrease in parasite burden relative to baseline temperature, with complex nuances and varied outcomes resulting from different treatment combinations. Both amplitude and duration can interact with the baseline temperature highlighting the complexity and baseline dependence of cold snaps. Furthermore, parasite fitness, i.e., infection prevalence and burden, were simultaneously altered in opposite directions in the same cold snap treatment. Conclusions We found that cold snaps can yield complicated outcomes that are unique from other types of temperature variation (for example, heatwaves). These results underpin the challenges and complexity in understanding and predicting how climate and extreme weather may alter disease under global change.

Abstract Short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are major metabolites produced by the gut microbiota through the fermentation of dietary fiber, and they have garnered significant attention due to their close association with host health. As important mediators between the gut microbiota and the host, SCFAs serve as energy substrates for intestinal epithelial cells and maintain homeostasis in host immune and energy metabolism by influencing host epigenetics, activating G protein‐coupled receptors, and inhibiting pathogenic microbial infections. This review provides a comprehensive summary of SCFAs synthesis and metabolism and offering an overview of the latest research progress on their roles in protecting gut health, enhancing energy metabolism, mitigating diseases such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes, modulating the gut‐brain axis and gut‐lung axis, and promoting bone health.

A new species of the genus Digitivalva Gaedike, 1970 from Japan, D. bella Zhang, Yagi & Hirowatari, sp. nov., is described. The host plant of this species is identified as Carpesium divaricatum Sieb. & Zucc. (Asteraceae). Larvae of this species pupate beneath the host tissue; this habit is for the first time reported for the genus Digitivalva in Japan. Adult specimens with male and female genitalia and pupae are illustrated and described in detail. Although the wing markings differ, the new species is considered closely related to D. arnicella (Heyden, 1863) from Europe, with which it shares similar biological and morphological features.

Abstract Introduction Contraceptive use is known to have a positive impact on maternal and child health outcomes; however, its use is still low in low-income countries, especially among people in humanitarian situations. This study explored decision-making processes towards the use of contraceptives by people in humanitarian situations to inform program design and uptake. Methods A qualitative exploratory study was conducted among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) and men (15–60 years) living in three refugee settlements of Pagirinya, Nyumanzi, and Mirieyi and the surrounding host communities in Adjumani district, Uganda. Data were collected using 49 in-depth interviews (IDIs), 11 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs,) and 20 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Inductive thematic analysis was done with the aid of Atlas ti. Version 14. Results We found that the decision-making processes entailed linear and nonlinear internalized cognitive and contextual processes involving four dynamic pathways. In the linear pathway, participants reported starting with 1) idea inception, 2) followed by cognitive processing, 3) consultation, and 4) decision-making for contraceptive use. The complex linear pathway happened when participants did not go through consultation but went straight to decision-making. However, participants who followed the non-linear pathway repeatedly went back to cognitive processing. Some women after consultation, or those already using and those not using contraceptives, decided to go back to cognitive processing to reconsider their current positions. This study found that some women who were not using contraceptives ended up using, while some who were using contraception ended up dropping out. Conclusions This study showed dynamic decision-making processes involving both internal and external environments as triggers to decision-making for contraceptive use. Interventions to increase contraceptive use should target both users and significant others who influence the decision to use particularly among refugees. Trial registration This study was registered by Makerere University School of Public Health Higher Degrees Research and Ethic Committee (HDREC) #188 and approved by Uganda National Council of Science and Technology on 15th/7/2021, Registration number—SS809ES.

Recent scholarship on the late medieval Pays de Vaud has allowed for a better understanding of the Reformation (1536) in this region, revealing it as a period marked not only by ruptures but also by significant adaptations and continuities. This article employs a trans-periodic approach to explore the material culture of the Eucharist, tracing its developments across the late medieval and Reformation periods. Key findings include the transition from stone altars to wooden communion tables, the contested continuity in the substance and shape of chalices, and the gradual shift from unleavened hosts to plain bread. These changes highlight a complex interplay of theological and practical concerns. The study provides a nuanced perspective on the Reformation in the Pays de Vaud, emphasizing the ongoing influence of medieval ecclesiastical reforms and the gradual nature of liturgical transformations. This analysis underscores the importance of material culture in understanding religious and cultural shifts during this pivotal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study explores how the autumn-spawning bitterling, Acheilognathus rhombeus, reproduces and develops within its mussel host. The research highlights how these fish lay their eggs inside mussels, which then serve as a safe environment for the eggs to develop over winter. A critical phase, called diapause, allows the embryos to pause their development for about seven months, ensuring they survive the cold winter months. Once the temperature rises above 10 °C, development resumes. During this time, tiny structures on the embryos called minute tubercles help anchor them within the mussel, preventing them from being expelled prematurely. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between the bitterlings and their mussel hosts, revealing important evolutionary adaptations that aid in the reproductive success and survival of these fish. We investigated the reproductive strategies and embryonic development of Acheilognathus rhombeus (a bitterling species that spawns in autumn) within its freshwater mussel host in the Bongseo Stream, South Korea. By focusing on survival mechanisms during critical stages of embryonic development, the selective use of mussel gill demibranchs by the bitterlings and associated adaptive traits were observed over 1 year. A significant diapause phase occurs at developmental stage D, which lasts for approximately 7 months, allowing embryos to survive winter. Development resumes when the temperature exceeds 10 °C. Minute tubercles on the embryos (crucial for anchoring within the host gill demibranchs and preventing premature ejection) exhibit the largest height during diapause, and the height decreases when developmental stage E is reached, when growth resumes. Acheilognathus rhombeus embryos were observed in 30.5% of the mussels, mostly within the inner gills, thereby maximizing spatial use and oxygen access to enhance survival. These results highlight the intricate relationship between A. rhombeus and its mussel hosts, demonstrating the evolutionary adaptations that enhance reproductive success and survival. This study provides valuable insights into the ecological dynamics and conservation requirements of such symbiotic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chouioia cunea Yang is a crucial natural enemy in the management of the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), which is a globally significant quarantine pest. The feeding behavior, dispersal, and high reproductive capacity of Hy. cunea cause substantial economic and ecological damage. Apart from Hy. cunea, C. cunea also exhibits parasitic behavior toward various Lepidoptera species, including those from the families Lasiocampidae, Lymantridae, Notodontidae, Psychidae, and Noctuidae. It also targets certain Coleoptera species, such as those from the families Chrysomelidae and Coccinellidae, most of which are leaf-eating pests. C. cunea feeds on the hemolymph of its host. Variations in the hemolymph's nutrient content, chemical properties, and immune response among different host species may influence the gut microbiome of the wasps. Moreover, microbial communities present in the host can be ingested by the parasitic wasps, leading to differences in their gut microbiome compositions depending on the host. In this study, we investigated the developmental patterns and intestinal microbiota diversity of C. cunea parasitizing various hosts. Our objective was to elucidate how different hosts impact the development and intestinal microbiota composition of C. cunea. This research provides scientific evidence for optimizing biological control strategies and applications involving insect pathogenic microorganisms. Chouioia cunea are known to exploit in varying degrees a wide range of lepidopteran species and its offspring development may vary with host species. This study examined its preimaginal development and larval gut microbiota in parasitizing five folivorous lepidopteran hosts including Hyphantria cunea (referred to thereafter as CcHc), Antherea pernyi (CcAp), Helicoverpa armigera (CcHa), Spodoptera exigua (CcSe), and Spodoptera frugiperda (CcSf). Though rates of parasitism and offspring eclosion did not change with host species, the development period and number of offspring eclosed varied with hosts, with the shortest period in CcSf and the highest number from CcAp. For offspring larval gut microbiota, though phylum Proteobacteria was dominant for attacking CcAp, Firmicutes was so for the other hosts. All microbial genera except Enterococcus were less abundant for CcSf than the other hosts. The database-based predictions indicate a significant positive correlation between Cutibacterium and Aureimonas with the relative number of wasp emergence, while Blastomonas exhibits a strong positive association with the developmental period. Our results imply the potential relevance of the gut microbial community in offspring larvae to host species attacked by C. cunea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Widely regarded as one of the chief causes of diseases in cattle population, bovine herpesvirus‐1 (BoHV‐1) has the potential to infect sheep and goat, making them potential reservoirs or hosts for this virus. Thus, preventive measures against BoHV‐1 in cattle should not overlook the ability of this virus to infect other animals. Aims: Therefore, the focal point of this study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of BoHV‐1 in 300 healthy goats, the relationship between host and the environmental determinants of infection, and the contributing role of goats in the epidemiology of the BoHV‐1. Materials & Methods: In order to pinpoint the existing antibodies to BoHV‐1, the obtained sera were analyzed by Virus Neutralization test. Results: According to this test, the seroprevalence of BoHV‐1 appeared to be 64.33% in southwestern Iran. What logistic regression disclosed was that the odds ratio between age and infection with BoHV‐1 was 0.83 (p = 0.01), representing a decrease of 17% as goats grew one year older. In addition, females manifested a higher relative frequency of infection compared to males, with the odds of infection in female goats being registered at 1.88, compared to those in males (p = 0.2). Moreover, contrasted with goats lacking any history of abortion, those with a history of abortion featured 1.1 as the odds ratio (p = 0.87). The seroprevalence in Hendijan, Ahvaz, Shushtar and Dasht e Azadegan was detected to stand at 73.24, 71.30, 55.56 and 47.06 percent, respectively, with 6% of fluctuation in the infection rates being attributed to various geographical locations under the scrutiny of this study (p = 0.003). Discussion and Conclusion: Having attested the marked seroprevalence of BoHV‐1, the definitive role of goats in the epidemiology of this virus as a secondary host or reservoir was confirmed by the present study, necessitating the strict monitoring of BoHV‐1 in goats by animal health authorities in areas where BoHV‐1 abounds in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health challenge and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In the last decade, the TB treatment landscape has dramatically changed. After long years of stagnation, new compounds entered the market (bedaquiline, delamanid, and pretomanid) and phase III clinical trials have shown promising results towards shortening duration of treatment for both drug-susceptible (Study 31/A5349, TRUNCATE-TB, and SHINE) and drug-resistant TB (STREAM, NiX-TB, ZeNix, and TB-PRACTECAL). Dose optimization of rifamycins and repurposed drugs has also brought hopes of further development of safe and effective regimens. Consequently, international and WHO clinical guidelines have been updated multiple times in the last years to keep pace with these advances. This narrative review aims to summarize the state-of-the-art on treatment of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB, as well as recent trial results and an overview of ongoing clinical trials. A non-systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed and MEDLINE, focusing on the treatment of TB. Ongoing clinical trials were listed according to the authors' knowledge and completed consulting clinicaltrials.gov and other publicly available websites (www.resisttb.org/clinical-trials-progress-report , www.newtbdrugs.org/pipeline/trials). This review summarizes the recent, major changes in the landscape for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant treatment, with a specific focus on their potential impact on patient outcomes and programmatic TB management. Moreover, insights in host-directed therapies, and advances in pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics are discussed. A thorough outline of ongoing therapeutic clinical trials is presented, highlighting different approaches and goals in current TB clinical research. Future research should be directed to individualize regimens and protect these recent breakthroughs by preventing and identifying the selection of drug resistance and providing widespread, affordable, patient-centred access to new treatment options for all people affected by TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The gut microbiota and the host maintain a conjoint relationship and together achieve optimal physiology via a multitude of interactive signalling cues. Dietary-derived L-tryptophan (L-trp) is enzymatically metabolized by the resident symbiotic gut microbiota to indole and various indole derivatives. Indole and indole metabolites secreted by the gut bacteria act locally in the intestinal cells as well as distally and modulate tissue-specific functions which are beneficial to the host. Functions attributed to these microbial indole metabolites in the host include regulation of intestinal permeability, immunity and mucosal roles, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity. On the other hand, dysregulation of gut microbiota L-trp metabolism compromises the optimal availability of indole and indole metabolites and can induce the onset of metabolic disorders, inflammation, liver steatosis, and decrease gut barrier integrity. Gut dysbiosis is regarded as one of the prime reasons for this deregulated microbial-derived indole metabolites. A number of indole metabolites from the gut bacteria have been identified recently displaying variable affinity towards xenobiotic nuclear receptors. Microbial metabolite mimicry concept can be used to design and develop novel indole-moiety-containing compounds with higher affinity towards the receptors and efficacy in preclinical studies. Such compounds may serve as therapeutic drugs in clinical trials in the future. In this article, I review L-trp metabolism in the host and gut microbiota and the various physiological functions, patho-physiologies associated with the microbial-released indole metabolites in the host, including the metabolite mimicry-based concept to develop tailored indole-containing novel experimental drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Many viral diseases affect the poultry industry worldwide and pose a devastating economic impact in terms of morbidity and mortality. Generally, there is no treatment for these viral infections, but vaccines are used to control these diseases as prophylaxis. The CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein9), a novel and cost-effective gene editing technique, has recently opened new horizons to find new treatments for viral infections by altering the genome of the host or virus. Moreover, this approach can be used to characterise host-virus affinity, elucidate the role of the viral genome, develop recombinant viral vaccines, modify the viral genome to discover antiviral therapies, and disease resistance. The development of several innovative vaccines against viral infections has been made possible by successful CRISPR/Cas9 editing of viral genomes. However, this gene-editing method has some side effects, one of which is off-target mutations. This manuscript summarises the ability of CRISPR/Cas9 to prevent and treat viral diseases in birds using recombinant vaccines and antiviral approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the gastrointestinal tract in ruminants has certain rules with the colonization of gastrointestinal microorganisms, but different species and individuals have their own unique flora. Animal species, age, sex and different feeding and management patterns have different effects on the structure and quantity of gastrointestinal microflora. The interaction between microbe and host is mainly realized through the metabolic interaction between its metabolites and the host organism. Therefore, it is particularly important to conduct correlation analysis to explore the relationship between gastrointestinal microorganisms, microbial metabolites and animal growth phenotypes. This review mainly expounds the recent research progress in the composition, influencing factors, main metabolites and host regulation of gastrointestinal microorganisms in ruminants, in order to provide reference for the study of gastrointestinal microbial function in ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the meal-sharing economy, which has been gaining increasing interest and users worldwide. To achieve this goal, the experiences of hosts, who play a key role in the meal sharing economy, and tourists who benefit from this service were evaluated using a SWOT analysis. A phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, was chosen for the study. The snowball sampling technique was used to select participants. Data were obtained through online semi-structured interviews. The collected data were transcribed and analyzed using descriptive and content analysis. Although the analysis showed that there are threatening factors and weaknesses in meal sharing economy activities, the findings suggest that, with proper implementation, meal-sharing economy activities can be a suitable and value creating gastronomy and tourism activity for both destinations and tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaweeds play a strong ecological and economical role along the world's coastlines, where they support industries (e.g., aquaculture, bioproducts) and essential ecosystem services (e.g., biodiversity, fisheries, carbon capture). Evidence from wild and cultured seaweeds suggests that microorganisms play crucial roles in their health and functioning, prompting the need for considering seaweeds and their microbiome as a coherent entity or "holobiont." Here we show that the number of studies investigating seaweed hosts and their microbiome have increased in the last two decades. This likely reflects the increase in the appreciation of the importance of microbiomes for eukaryotic hosts, improved molecular approaches used to characterize their interactions, and increasing interest in commercial use of seaweeds. However, although increasing, most studies of seaweed holobionts have focused on (i) a few seaweed species of ecological or commercial significance, (ii) interactions involving only bacteria, and (iii) descriptive rather than experimental approaches. The relatively few experimental studies have mostly focused on manipulating abiotic factors to examine responses of seaweeds and their microbiome. Of the few studies that directly manipulated microorganisms to investigate their effects on seaweeds, most were done in laboratory or aquaria. We emphasize the need to move beyond the descriptions of patterns to experimental approaches for understanding causation and mechanisms. We argue that such experimental approaches are necessary for a better understanding of seaweed holobionts, for management actions for wild and cultivated seaweeds, and to better integrate studies of seaweed holobionts with the broader fields of seaweed ecology and biology, which are strongly experimental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most bacteria will use their toxins to interact with the host cell, causing damage to the cell and then escaping from it. When bacteria enter the cell, they will be transported via the endosomal pathway. Rab GTPases are involved in bacterial transport as major components of endosomes that bind to their downstream effector proteins. The bacteria manipulate some Rab GTPases, escape the cell, and get to survive. In this review, we will focus on summarizing the many processes of how bacteria manipulate Rab GTPases to control their escape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Contraceptive use is known to have a positive impact on maternal and child health outcomes; however, its use is still low in low-income countries, especially among people in humanitarian situations. This study explored decision-making processes towards the use of contraceptives by people in humanitarian situations to inform program design and uptake. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) and men (15–60 years) living in three refugee settlements of Pagirinya, Nyumanzi, and Mirieyi and the surrounding host communities in Adjumani district, Uganda. Data were collected using 49 in-depth interviews (IDIs), 11 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs,) and 20 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Inductive thematic analysis was done with the aid of Atlas ti. Version 14. Results: We found that the decision-making processes entailed linear and nonlinear internalized cognitive and contextual processes involving four dynamic pathways. In the linear pathway, participants reported starting with 1) idea inception, 2) followed by cognitive processing, 3) consultation, and 4) decision-making for contraceptive use. The complex linear pathway happened when participants did not go through consultation but went straight to decision-making. However, participants who followed the non-linear pathway repeatedly went back to cognitive processing. Some women after consultation, or those already using and those not using contraceptives, decided to go back to cognitive processing to reconsider their current positions. This study found that some women who were not using contraceptives ended up using, while some who were using contraception ended up dropping out. Conclusions: This study showed dynamic decision-making processes involving both internal and external environments as triggers to decision-making for contraceptive use. Interventions to increase contraceptive use should target both users and significant others who influence the decision to use particularly among refugees. Trial registration: This study was registered by Makerere University School of Public Health Higher Degrees Research and Ethic Committee (HDREC) #188 and approved by Uganda National Council of Science and Technology on 15th/7/2021, Registration number—SS809ES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underpinned by the Experience Economy framework, this study investigates the increasingly popular online peer-to-peer tourism experience and its impacts on participants' post-experience recommendations. Using Airbnb Online Experiences reviews, a mixed method design including text-mining, sentiment analysis, and regression was performed. Findings show that participants' sentiments toward educational, escapist, and entertainment aspects positively influence their recommendations. Their positive experiences with hosts enhance the positive relationship between participants' educational experiences and recommendations. This study contributes to extant tourism literature by empirically developing a detailed and comprehensive perspective of the emerging peer-to-peer online experiences in tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a research article published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. It acknowledges the contributions of a researcher named Barny to the field of methanogen research and the broader microbial field. The article highlights Barny's work in clarifying the taxonomy of methanogens and recognizes his wider contributions as an editor. The article also includes information about the funding sources for the research and acknowledges the authors and reviewers who contributed to the research topic. It concludes with a statement about potential conflicts of interest and a note from the publisher. [Extracted from the article]

Written by the Convenor of the Anthropology of Tourism Interest Group (ATIG) at the American Anthropological Association on behalf of the Board and membership, this memorial article celebrates the life and multifaceted work of Dr. Valene Smith, the pioneering founder of the subdiscipline of the anthropology of tourism. It examines her prescience throughout her life that made her the pathbreaking scholar, teacher, traveler, and tourism practitioner that she was. Such foresight led to her convening the first anthropology of tourism panel at the AAAs in Mexico City in 1974, the product of which became the classic volume, Hosts and Guests. his and her subsequent publications are put into broader context of other classic tourism-focused social scientific works at the time, revealing her role in the development of tourism studies more broadly. As anthropologists are particularly keen on tracing kinship and lineage, the article argues that she rightly is considered anthropologists' and tourism scholars' "foremother", or ancestral mother, who paved the way for generations of anthropologists to begin taking tourism seriously, recognizing its nature as a "total social fact" that can shed light on the holistic human experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of new infectious diseases poses a major threat to humans, animals, and broader ecosystems. Defining factors that govern the ability of pathogens to adapt to new host species is therefore a crucial research imperative. Pathogenic bacteria are of particular concern, given dwindling treatment options amid the continued expansion of antimicrobial resistance. In this review, we summarize recent advancements in the understanding of bacterial host species adaptation, with an emphasis on pathogens of humans and related mammals. We focus particularly on molecular mechanisms underlying key steps of bacterial host adaptation including colonization, nutrient acquisition, and immune evasion, as well as suggest key areas for future investigation. By developing a greater understanding of the mechanisms of host adaptation in pathogenic bacteria, we may uncover new strategies to target these microbes for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases in humans, animals, and the broader environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host-associated microbial communities are shaped by host migratory movements. These movements can have contrasting impacts on microbiota, and understanding such patterns can provide insight into the ecological processes that contribute to community diversity. Furthermore, long-distance movements to new environments are anticipated to occur with increasing frequency due to host distribution shifts resulting from climate change. Understanding how hosts transport their microbiota with them could be of importance when examining biological invasions. Although microbial community shifts are well-documented, the underlying mechanisms that lead to the restructuring of these communities remain relatively unexplored. Using literature and ecological simulations, we develop a framework to elucidate the major factors that lead to community change. We group host movements into two types—regular (repeated/cyclical migratory movements, as found in many birds and mammals) and irregular (stochastic/infrequent movements that do not occur on a cyclical basis, as found in many insects and plants). Ecological simulations and prior research suggest that movement type and frequency, alongside environmental exposure (e.g. internal/external microbiota) are key considerations for understanding movement-associated community changes. From our framework, we derive a series of testable hypotheses, and suggest means to test them, to facilitate future research into host movement and microbial community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed Brassica napus is one of the oilseed plants of interest to farmers in Iran. Cabbage waxy aphid Brevicoryne brassicae is one of the important pests of rapeseed all of the world and one of the main methods to protect plants against aphids is using resistant genotypes. In order to evaluate the resistance of twenty-one canola genotypes to cabbage waxy aphid, a study was conducted (at 27.5 ± 2ºC, 60 ± 10% RH, 14L: 10D) under greenhouse conditions. To evaluate canola genotypes antibiosis, the genotypes were planted in pots in 10 replications based on a completely random design. Net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic increase rate (rm), finite increase rate (λ), mean generation time (T), doubling time (D) of the cabbage waxy aphid, and pre-mature period length were calculated in greenhouse conditions. The results of the variance analysis of studied data showed statistically significant difference at least at the probability level of five percentage (P ≤0.05). The intrinsic increase rate of cabbage aphid population on Geronimo and Okapi genotypes had the highest and lowest values of 0.287 and 0.215 (female/female/day), respectively. Okapi and Geronimo genotypes had the lowest (16.5 female/female/generation) and the highest net reproductive rate of cabbage aphid (36.75 female/female/generation), respectively. In this experiment, Geronimo was observed as the most sensitive and Opera and Okapi as the most resistant genotypes in comparison with other experimental genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is entitled Citra "Host" in the Infotainment Show "SILET" (Roland Barthes Semiotics Analysis). This research aims to determine the meaning of denotation, connotation, image and myth contained in a host in the infotainment show Silet that airs on RCTI. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative and uses the semiotic theory of Roland Barthes, which presents the concept of connotation and denotation as the key to the analysis. This study's results discuss that many meanings are implied in a host when presenting infotainment shows. According to Thamrin Amal Tomagola, from the five images above, everything is related to the physical appearance that can be seen. This is included in one of the elements of the 5-p image (pigura, pillar, pinggan, peraduan, perga). Since the formation of image and meaning is born from a perception, each person will interpret something from a different point of view. The above explanation indicates that the female host is a professional when presenting an infotainment show. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: A gene-to-metabolite approach afforded new insights regarding defence mechanisms in oat plants that can be incorporated into plant breeding programmes for the selection of markers and genes related to disease resistance. Monitoring metabolite levels and changes therein can complement and corroborate transcriptome (mRNA) data on plant–pathogen interactions, thus revealing mechanisms involved in pathogen attack and host defence. A multi-omics approach thus adds new layers of information such as identifying metabolites with antimicrobial properties, elucidating metabolomic profiles of infected and non-infected plants, and reveals pathogenic requirements for infection and colonisation. In this study, two oat cultivars (Dunnart and SWK001) were inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pathovars, pathogenic and non-pathogenic on oat. Following inoculation, metabolites were extracted with methanol from leaf tissues at 2, 4 and 6 days post-infection and analysed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer system. Relatedly, mRNA was isolated at the same time points, and the cDNA analysed by quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) for expression levels of selected gene transcripts associated with avenanthramide (Avn) biosynthesis. The targeted amino acids, hydroxycinnamic acids and Avns were successfully quantified. Distinct cultivar-specific differences in the metabolite responses were observed in response to pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. Trends in aromatic amino acids and hydroxycinnamic acids seem to indicate stronger activation and flux through these pathways in Dunnart as compared to SWK001. A positive correlation between hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:hydroxyanthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HHT) gene expression and the abundance of Avn A in both cultivars was documented. However, transcript profiling of selected genes involved in Avn synthesis did not reveal a clear pattern to distinguish between the tolerant and susceptible cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible, water-soluble hosts are capable of selective molecular recognition in cellular environments and can detect neurotransmitters such as choline in cells. Both cationic and anionic water-soluble self-folded deep cavitands can recognize suitable styrylpyridinium dyes in cellular interiors. The dyes selectively accumulate in nucleotide-rich regions of the cell nucleus and cytoplasm. The hosts bind the dyes and promote their relocation to the outer cell membrane: the lipophilic cavitands predominantly reside in membrane environments but are still capable of binding suitable targets in other cellular organelles. Incubating the cells with structurally similar biomarkers such as choline, cholamine, betaine, or butyrylcholine illustrates the selective recognition. Choline and butyrylcholine can be bound by the hosts, but minimal binding is seen with betaine or cholamine. Varying the dye allows control of the optical detection method, and both "turn-on" sensing and "turn-off" sensing are possible.

Bidirectional flow of information shapes the outcome of the host-pathogen interactions and depends on the genetics of each organism. Recent work has begun to use co-transcriptomic studies to shed light on this bidirectional flow, but it is unclear how plastic the co-transcriptome is in response to genetic variation in both the host and pathogen. To study co-transcriptome plasticity, we conducted transcriptomics using natural genetic variation in the pathogen, Botrytis cinerea, and large-effect genetic variation abolishing defense signaling pathways within the host, Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that genetic variation in the pathogen has a greater influence on the co-transcriptome than mutations that abolish defense signaling pathways in the host. Genome-wide association mapping using the pathogens' genetic variation and both organisms' transcriptomes allowed an assessment of how the pathogen modulates plasticity in response to the host. This showed that the differences in both organism's responses were linked to trans-expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) hotspots within the pathogen's genome. These hotspots control gene sets in either the host or pathogen and show differential allele sensitivity to the host's genetic variation rather than qualitative host specificity. Interestingly, nearly all the trans-eQTL hotspots were unique to the host or pathogen transcriptomes. In this system of differential plasticity, the pathogen mediates the shift in the co-transcriptome more than the host.

The puncture resistance hypothesis suggests that thick-shelled eggs of parasitic birds can resist puncture-ejection by the host. However, few experiments have yet been conducted to test this hypothesis in terms of natural host behavior (e.g., pecking at foreign eggs). To explore whether the eggshells of common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) are resistant to puncture-ejection by their common hosts, Oriental reed warblers (Acrocephalus orientalis), we designed experiments to investigate if and how breeding Oriental reed warblers peck at foreign eggs that includes common cuckoo, Oriental reed warbler and budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) eggs. The results showed that, given the same frequency of egg pecking, the probability of eggshell breakage was 87.5% for eggs of the Oriental reed warbler and 0% for eggs of the common cuckoo, with a significant difference (P = 0.001, Fisher's exact test). Our study shows clearly that common cuckoos' eggshells are less susceptible to puncture-ejection than those of Oriental reed warblers and budgerigars. This indicates that the eggshells of common cuckoos can resist host Oriental reed warblers' puncture-ejection, supporting the puncture resistance hypothesis.

Clostridium perfringens causes multiple diseases in humans and animals. Its pathogenic effect is supported by a broad and heterogeneous arsenal of toxins and other virulence factors associated with a specific host tropism. Molecular approaches have indicated that most C. perfringens toxins produce membrane pores, leading to osmotic cell disruption and apoptosis. However, identifying mechanisms involved in cell tropism and selective toxicity effects should be studied more. The differential presence and polymorphisms of toxin-encoding genes and genes encoding other virulence factors suggest that molecular mechanisms might exist associated with host preference, receptor binding, and impact on the host; however, this information has not been reviewed in detail. Therefore, this review aims to clarify the current state of knowledge on the structural features and mechanisms of action of the major toxins and virulence factors of C. perfringens and discuss the impact of genetic diversity of toxinotypes in tropism for several hosts.