Comprehensive analysis of the potential pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection and liver cancer

BACKGROUND A growing number of clinical examples suggest that coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)appears to have an impact on the treatment of patients with liver cancer compared to the normal population,and the prevalence of COVID-19 is significantly higher in patients with liver cancer.However,this mechanism of action has not been clarified.Gene sets for COVID-19(GSE180226)and liver cancer(GSE87630)were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.After identifying the common differentially expressed genes(DEGs)of COVID-19 and liver cancer,functional enrichment analysis,protein-protein interaction network construction and scree-ning and analysis of hub genes were performed.Subsequently,the validation of the differential expression of hub genes in the disease was performed and the regulatory network of transcription factors and hub genes was constructed.RESULTS Of 518 common DEGs were obtained by screening for functional analysis.Fifteen hub genes including aurora kinase B,cyclin B2,cell division cycle 20,cell division cycle associated 8,nucleolar and spindle associated protein 1,etc.,were further identified from DEGs using the“cytoHubba”plugin.Functional enrichment analysis of hub genes showed that these hub genes are associated with P53 signalling pathway regulation,cell cycle and other functions,and they may serve as potential molecular markers for COVID-19 and liver cancer.Finally,we selected 10 of the hub genes for in vitro expression validation in liver cancer cells.CONCLUSION Our study reveals a common pathogenesis of liver cancer and COVID-19.These common pathways and key genes may provide new ideas for further mechanistic studies.

New perspectives in prognostication of hepatocellular carcinoma:The role and clinical implications of transient receptor potential family genes

The study titled“Transient receptor potential-related risk model predicts prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients”is a significant contribution to hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)research,highlighting the role of transient receptor potential(TRP)family genes in the disease’s progression and prognosis.Utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database,it establishes a new risk assessment model,emphasizing the interaction of TRP genes with tumor proliferation pathways,key metabolic reactions like retinol metabolism,and the tumor immune microenvironment.Notably,the overexpression of the TRPC1 gene in HCC correlates with poorer patient survival outcomes,suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and a target for personalized therapy,particularly in strategies combining immunotherapy and anti-TRP agents.

Identification and Validation of Vascular-Associated Biomarkers for the Prognosis and Potential Pathogenesis of Hypertension Using Comprehensive Bioinformatics Methods

Background: Hypertension, also known as increased blood pressure, is a phenomenon in which blood flows in blood vessels and causes persistently higher-than-normal pressure on the vessel wall. The identification of novel prognostic and pathogenesis biomarkers plays a key role in the management of hypertension. Methods: The GSE7483 and GSE75815 datasets from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database were used to identify the genes associated with hypertension that were differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The functional role of the DEGs was elucidated by gene body (GO) enrichment analysis. In addition, we performed an immune infiltration assay and GSEA on the DEGs of hypertensive patients and verified the expression of novel DEGs in the blood of hypertensive patients by RT-qPCR. Results: A total of 267 DEGs were identified from the GEO database. GO analysis revealed that these genes were associated mainly with biological processes such as fibroblast proliferation, cell structural organization, extracellular matrix organization, vasculature development regulation, and angiogenesis. We identified five possible biomarkers, Ecm1, Sparc, Sphk1, Thbsl, and Mecp2, which correlate with vascular development and angiogenesis characteristic of hypertension by bioinformatics, and explored the clinical expression levels of these genes by RT-qPCR, and found that Sparc, Sphk1, and Thbs1 showed significant up-regulation, in agreement with the results of the bioinformatics analysis. Conclusion: Our study suggested that Sparc, Sphk1 and Thbs1 may be potential novel biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of hypertension and that they are involved in the regulation of vascular development and angiogenesis in hypertension.

Transcriptome analysis reveals potential genes associated with plant height in rice

Plant height(PH)is a complex trait regulated by the environment and multiple genes.PH directly affects crop yield,harvest index,and lodging resistance.From plant dwarf mutants,many genes related to PH have been identified and described.Nonetheless,the molecular mechanism of height regulation in high-culm rice mutants has not been well studied.By using transcriptome and weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA),we identified the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between high-culm rice mutants(MUT)and wild-type(WT)and explored the key pathways and potential candidate genes involved in PH regulation.Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 2,184 DEGs,of which 1,317 were identified at the jointing stage and 1,512 were identified at the heading stage.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment showed that the enrichment pathways were mainly involved in plant hormone signal transduction,ABC transportation,and steroid hormone biosynthesis.Among these metabolic pathways,LOC_Os05g43910 and LOC_Os01g35030 were auxin(IAA)-related genes,up-regulated in MUT and LOC_Os02g08500(LEPTO1),LOC_Os11g04720,and LOC_Os12g04500 were cytokinin(CK)-related genes,downregulated in MUT.The WGCNA identified four modules(light cyan,dark grey,grey,and pale turquoise)closely related to PH,and seven key genes were screened from these modules,of which two were up-regulated cell wallrelated genes(LOC_Os01g26174(OsWAK5),LOC_Os06g05050)in MUT,and one gibberellic acid(GA)gene(LOC_Os06g37364,OsKO2)was also up-regulated.These genes might be closely related to PH regulation.These findings help us better understand the transcriptional regulation of rice plant growth and development and provide a theoretical basis for mapping and cloning the PH regulatory genes.

Characterization of Wnt genes in Argopecten scallops and their involvement in response to different temperature stresses in“Bohai Red”scallops

As“Bohai Red”scallops were originated from the hybrids between the Peruvian scallop(Argopecten purpuratus)and the bay scallop(Argopecten irradians)northern subspecies(Argopecten irradians irradians).Twelve Wnt members were identified from the two subspecies of bay scallop,and 13 Wnt genes were found in the genome of the Peruvian scallop.Protein structure analyses showed that most Wnt genes poses all 5 conserved motifs except Wnt1,Wnt2,Wnt6,and Wnt9 in the bay scallops and Wnt2 and Wnt9 in the Peruvian scallop.Unexpectedly,Wnt8 gene was present while Wnt3 was absent in both the bay scallops and the Peruvian scallop.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Wnt3 might have disappeared in the early evolution of mollusks.The expression profile of Wnt genes in the“Bohai Red”exposed to different temperatures was examined by qRT-PCR.Results show that expression of Wnt genes responded differentially to temperature changes.The Wnt genes such as Wnt1,Wnt6,Wnt7,Wnt11,and WntA that responded slowly to low and high temperature stresses may be related to the maintenance of basic homeostasis.Other Wnt genes such as Wnt4,Wnt9,Wnt5,and Wnt2 that responded rapidly to low temperature may play an important role in organismal protection against low temperature stress.And yet some Wnt genes including Wnt10,Wnt16,and Wnt8 that responded quickly to high temperature stress may play key roles in response to high temperature stress.The results provide new insights into the evolution and function of Wnt genes in bivalves and eventually benefit culture of“Bohai Red”scallops.

Transcriptome-based analysis of key genes and pathways affecting the linoleic acid content in chickens

Linoleic acid is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid that cannot be synthesized by humans or animals themselves and can only be obtained externally.The amount of linoleic acid present has an impact on the quality and flavour of meat and indirectly affects consumer preference.However,the molecular mechanisms influencing the deposition of linoleic acid in organisms are not clear.As the molecular mechanisms of linoleic acid deposition are not well understood,to investigate the main effector genes affecting the linoleic acid content,this study aimed to screen for hub genes in slow-type yellow-feathered chickens by transcriptome sequencing(RNA-Seq)and weighted gene coexpression network analysis(WGCNA).We screened for candidate genes associated with the linoleic acid content in slow-type yellow-feathered broilers.A total of 399 Tiannong partridge chickens were slaughtered at 126 days of age,fatty acid levels were measured in pectoral muscle,and pectoral muscle tissue was collected for transcriptome sequencing.Transcriptome sequencing results were combined with phenotypes for WGCNA to screen for candidate genes.KEGG enrichment analysis was also performed on the genes that were significantly enriched in the modules with the highest correlation.A total of 13310 genes were identified after quality control of transcriptomic data from 399 pectoral muscle tissues.WGCNA was performed,and a total of 26 modules were obtained,eight of which were highly correlated with the linoleic acid content.Four key genes,namely,MDH2,ATP5B,RPL7A and PDGFRA,were screened according to the criteria|GS|>0.2 and|MM|>0.8.The functional enrichment results showed that the genes within the target modules were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways.In this study,a large-sample-size transcriptome analysis revealed that metabolic pathways play an important role in the regulation of the linoleic acid content in Tiannong partridge chickens,and MDH2,ATP5B,RPL7A and PDGFRA were screened as important candidate genes affecting the linoleic acid content.The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for selecting molecular markers and comprehensively understanding the molecular mechanism affecting the linoleic acid content in muscle,providing an important reference for the breeding of slow-type yellowfeathered broiler chickens.

Bioinformatics screening of breast cancer-related genes and potential drug research

Objective:To search the the differentially expressed genes between breast cell carcinoma tissues and normal tissues by using bioinformatics technology,and the potential therapeutic drugs for breast cancer were identified,which can provide reference for clinical immune targeted therapy and drug therapy of breast cancer in the future.Methods:"Breast cancer"was searched by using Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO),and GSE79586 chip data was downloaded.The differentially expressed genes in the control group and the breast cancer model group were screened by using bio-communication technology and subjected to GO function analysis,KEGG pathway analysis,differential gene characteristic expression analysis and protein-protein interaction network(PPI)analysis,and the analysis results were further visualized.Prognosis analysis,related function prediction and immune infiltration analysis were performed using the GEPIA,GeneMANIA,and Timer2.0 databases,respectively.Finally,the compounds with potential therapeutic effects on breast cancer are identified through Connectivity Map(CMap).Western blotting and real-time PCR(RT-PCR)were used to verify the core genes and potential therapeutic agents with the highest correlation in vitro.Results:A total of 3916 differentially expressed genes including 1786 up-regulated genes and 2130 down-regulated genes were screened.GO analysis showed that the differential genes were mainly involved in the positive regulation of phosphorylation,secretory vesicles,racemase and epimerase activities.KEGG analysis showed that differential genes were involved in systemic lupus erythematosus,alcoholism,sticky spots,amoebic dysentery Ras signal pathways and other disease pathways.The characteristic expression analysis of differential genes showed that MEK inhibitors,HSP90 inhibitors and signal transduction pathway kinase inhibitors were drugs similar to the differential genes.PPI results showed that H2AFJ,TFF1,GATA3,FOXA1,and CDH1 were core genes related to breast cancer.Two core genes of H2AFJ and TFF1 with the highest correlation were further selected for GEPIA analysis.The results of the analysis showed that the mRNA expression levels of H2AFJ and TFF1 in breast cancer cells were significantly higher than those in normal tissues,and there was a significant correlation with the pathological staging,overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate of breast cancer patients.H2AFJ and TFF1 may be potential prognostic biomarkers for survival of breast cancer patients.The functions of differentially expressed H2AFJ and TFF1 are mainly related to hormone receptor binding,epithelial structure maintenance and epigenetic negative regulation of genes,chromatin tissue involved in negative regulation of transcription,etc.The results of immune infiltration showed that the expressions of H2AFJ and TFF1 had a significant correlation with the infiltration of macrophages,neutrophils,monocytes,CD4+T,CD8+T,B lymphocytes and other immune cells.CMap results showed that compounds such as Gefitinib,Alpelisib,Sorafenib,and Sunitinib had potential therapeutic effects on breast cancer.Western blot and RT-PCR results showed that H2AFJ and TFF1 were significantly overexpressed in breast cancer cells.Gefitinib significantly inhibited the expression of H2AFJ and TFF1 in breast cancer cells(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion:In this study,differentially expressed genes between breast cell carcinoma tissues and normal tissues were screened out by bioinformatics means to further identify key genes and compounds with potential therapeutic effects in the onset process of breast cancer and to further verify the effectiveness of the screened drugs on breast cancer through experiments.It will provide reference for clinical research and development of new drugs against breast cancer in the future in order to develop more effective treatment options.

Transcriptome analysis reveals immune-related genes in tissues of Vibrio anguillarum-infected turbot Scophthalmus maximus

Turbot Scophthalmus maximus is an important mariculture fish species with high economic value.However,the bacterial diseases caused by Vibrio anguillarum infection bring huge economic losses to the turbot aquaculture industry.To understand the immune response of the turbot against V.anguillarum infection and to explore novel immune-related genes,the transcriptome analysis of turbot spleen and gills were conducted after V.anguillarum infection.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified in spleen and gill of the turbot amounted to 17261 and 16436,respectively.A large number of immunerelated DEGs were enriched in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway,and the others by the kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment.The gene ontology(GO)classification analysis revealed that V.anguillarum infection had the greatest effect on biological processes and cellular components.Twelve immune-related DEGs were identified in the spleen(cstl.1,egfl6,lamb21,v2rx4,calcr,and gpr78a)and gills(ghra,sh3gl2a,cst12,inhbaa,cxcl8,and il-1b)by heat map.The proteinprotein interaction(PPI)networks were constructed to analyze the immune mechanism.The results demonstrate that the maturation and antigen processing of major histocompatibility complex(MHC)class II molecule,and calcitonin-or adrenomedullin-regulated physiological activity were important events in the immunity of turbot against V.anguillarum infection.In the gills,the protein interactions in TGF-βsignaling pathway,production of inflammatory factors,and endocytosis regulation were most significant.Our research laid a foundation for discovering novel immune-related genes and enriching the knowledge of immune mechanisms of turbot against V.anguillarum infection.

GST family genes in jujube actively respond to phytoplasma infection

Jujube witches’broom(JWB)caused by phytoplasma has a severely negative effect on multiple metabolisms in jujube.The GST gene family in plants participates in the regulation of a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses.This study aims to identify and reveal the changes in the jujube GST gene family in response to phytoplasma infection.Here,70 ZjGSTs were identified in the jujube genome and divided into 8 classes.Among them,the Tau-class,including 44 genes,was the largest.Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Tau-class genes were highly conserved among species,such as Arabidopsis,cotton,chickpea,and rice.Through chromosome location analysis,37.1%of genes were clustered,and 8 of 9 gene clusters were composed of Tau class members.Through RT-PCR,qRT-PCR and enzyme activity detection,the results showed that the expression of half(20/40)of the tested ZjGSTs was inhibited by phytoplasma infection in field and tissue culture conditions,and GST activity was also significantly reduced.In the resistant and susceptible varieties under phytoplasma infection,ZjGSTU49-ZjGSTU54 in the cluster IV showed opposite expression patterns,which may be due to functional divergence during evolution.Some upregulated genes(ZjGSTU45,ZjGSTU49,ZjGSTU59,and ZjGSTU70)might be involved in the process of jujube against JWB.The yeast two-hybrid results showed that all 6 Tauclass proteins tested could form homodimers or heterodimers.Overall,the comprehensive analysis of the jujube GST gene family revealed that ZjGSTs responded actively to phytoplasma infection.Furthermore,some screened genes(ZjGSTU24,ZjGSTU49-52,ZjGSTU70,and ZjDHAR10)will contribute to further functional studies of jujube-phytoplasma interactions.

Core and variable antimicrobial resistance genes in the gut microbiomes of Chinese and European pigs

Monitoring the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs)is vital for addressing the global crisis of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.Despite its importance,the characterization of ARGs and microbiome structures,as well as the identification of indicators for routine ARG monitoring in pig farms,are still lacking,particularly concerning variations in antimicrobial exposure in different countries or regions.Here,metagenomics and random forest machine learning were used to elucidate the ARG profiles,microbiome structures,and ARG contamination indicators in pig manure under different antimicrobial pressures between China and Europe.Results showed that Chinese pigs exposed to high-level antimicrobials exhibited higher total and plasmid-mediated ARG abundances compared to those in European pigs(P<0.05).ANT(6)-Ib,APH(3')-IIIa,and tet(40)were identified as shared core ARGs between the two pig populations.Furthermore,the core ARGs identified in pig populations were correlated with those found in human populations within the same geographical regions.Lactobacillus and Prevotella were identified as the dominant genera in the core microbiomes of Chinese and European pigs,respectively.Forty ARG markers and 43 biomarkers were able to differentiate between the Chinese and European pig manure samples with accuracies of 100%and 98.7%,respectively.Indicators for assessing ARG contamination in Chinese and European pigs also achieved high accuracy(r=0.72-0.88).Escherichia flexneri in both Chinese and European pig populations carried between 21 and 37 ARGs.The results of this study emphasize the importance of global collaboration in reducing antimicrobial resistance risk and provide validated indicators for evaluating the risk of ARG contamination in pig farms.

PbrARF4 contributes to calyx shedding of fruitlets in ‘Dangshan Suli’ pear by partly regulating the expression of abscission genes

Fruitlet calyx shedding in pear plants is apparently regulated via numerous pathways that involve both environmental triggers and phytohormones cues such as auxin. In this study, we found at 10 days after full bloom (DAFB) higher levels of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and tryptophan (Trp) in calyx persistence fruitlet (CPF) than calyx shedding fruitlet (CSF) ofDanshan Suli’ pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rhed.). Consisting with this, the activity of indolealdehyde oxidase (IAAIdO), which promotes IAA synthesis, was remarkably increased, and that of peroxidase(POD), which degrades IAA, dropped markedly in CPF but not in CSF. Further, qRT-PCR results revealed that most of 31 PbrARFs (encoding auxin response factors) in Pyrus bretschneideri were highly expressed in CPF, whereas PbrARF4, PbrARF24 and PbrARF26 were significantly downregulated in CPF vis-a-vis CSF. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 6 PbrARFs clustered in the group III, where PbrARF4 showed the closest affinity with AtARF1 that promotes organ abscission, indicating a putative role of PbrARF4 in mediating the process of calyx shedding in pear. In fact, the ectopic overexpression of PbrARF4 in Solanum lycopersicum resulted in an earlier-formed and deeper abscission layer (AL) in the transgenic plants, whose calyxes were more prone to wilt at the mature red stage (MR) compared with the control plants (wild-type). More importantly, expression levels of the abscission genes SILS and Sl Cel2 in transgenic plants overexpressing PbrARF4 were significantly upregulated in comparation with the WT, whereas those of Sl BI and Sl TAPG2 were considerably inhibited. Further, PbrJOINTLESS and PbrIDA,the two genes related to calyx shedding in pear, were up-regulated more in CSF than CPF. The findings contribute to a better understanding of PbrARFs involved in fruitlet calyx shedding of pear, which could prove beneficial to improving the quality of pear fruit.

Vanillylacetone attenuates cadmium chloride-induced hippocampal damage and memory loss through upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 gene and protein expression

Memory loss and dementia are major public health concerns with a substantial economic burden.Oxidative stress has been shown to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of hippocampal damage-induced memory impairment.To investigate whether the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound vanillyla cetone(zingerone) can protect against hippocampal damage and memory loss induced by cadmium chloride(CdCl_(2)) administration in rats,we explo red the potential involvement of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) signaling pathway,which is known to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation.Sixty healt hy male Wistar rats were divided into five groups:vehicle-treated(control),vanillylacetone,CdCl_(2),vanillylacetone+ CdCl_(2),vanillylacetone+ CdCl_(2)+ brusatol(a selective pharmacological N rf2inhibitor) groups.Vanillylacetone effectively attenuated CdCl_(2)-induced damage in the dental gyrus of the hippocampus and improved the memory function assessed by the Morris Water Maze test.Additionally,vanillylacetone markedly decreased the hippocampal tissue levels of inflammatory biomarkers(interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-α,intracellular cell adhesive molecules) and apoptosis biomarkers(Bax and cleaved caspase-3).The control and CdCl_(2)-treated groups treated with va nillylacetone showed reduced generation of reactive oxygen species,decreased malondialdehyde levels,and increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione activities,along with significant elevation of nuclear Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression in hippocampal tissue.All the protective effects of vanillylacetone we re substantially blocked by the co-administration of brusatol(a selective N rf2 inhibitor).Va nillylacetone mitigated hippocampal damage and memory loss induced by CdCl_(2),at least in part, by activating the nuclear transcription factor Nrf2.Additionally,vanillylacetone exerted its potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory actions.

Identification of key genes regulating the synthesis of quercetin derivatives in Rosa roxburghii through integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics

Rosa roxburghii fruit is rich in flavonoids, but little is known about their biosynthetic pathways. In this study, we employed transcriptomics and metabolomics to study changes related to the flavonoids at five different stages of R. roxburghii fruit development. Flavonoids and the genes related to their biosynthesis were found to undergo significant changes in abundance across different developmental stages, and numerous quercetin derivatives were identified. We found three gene expression modules that were significantly associated with the abundances of the different flavonoids in R. roxburghii and identified three structural UDP-glycosyltransferase genes directly involved in the synthesis of quercetin derivatives within these modules. In addition, we found that RrBEH4, RrLBD1 and RrPIF8could significantly increase the expression of downstream quercetin derivative biosynthesis genes. Taken together,these results provide new insights into the metabolism of flavonoids and the accumulation of quercetin derivatives in R. roxburghii.

The autophagy-lysosome pathway:a potential target in the chemical and gene therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disease with movement disorders associated with the intracytoplasmic deposition of aggregate proteins such asα-synuclein in neurons.As one of the major intracellular degradation pathways,the autophagy-lysosome pathway plays an important role in eliminating these proteins.Accumulating evidence has shown that upregulation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway may contribute to the clearance ofα-synuclein aggregates and protect against degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease.Moreover,multiple genes associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease are intimately linked to alterations in the autophagy-lysosome pathway.Thus,this pathway appears to be a promising therapeutic target for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.In this review,we briefly introduce the machinery of autophagy.Then,we provide a description of the effects of Parkinson’s disease–related genes on the autophagy-lysosome pathway.Finally,we highlight the potential chemical and genetic therapeutic strategies targeting the autophagy–lysosome pathway and their applications in Parkinson’s disease.

Direct somatic embryogenesis and related gene expression networks in leaf explants of Hippeastrum ‘Bangkok Rose’

Hippeastrum, a highly diverse genus in the Amaryllidaceae family, is a valuable ornamental bulbous flowering plant. Somatic embryogenesis(SE) is an efficient method for mass production of Hippeastrum plantlets. Previous studies have been devoted to the in vitro propagation of Hippeastrum, but the SE and its regulatory networks are rarely reported. In this study, we established a direct SE method of Hippeastrum Bangkok Rose' using leaf bases as explants. MS supplemented with 1.00 mg·L^(-1)NAA +1.00 mg·L^(-1)KT + 0.25 mg·L^(-1)TDZ was the optimal medium for SE. Histological observations showed that the bipolar somatic embryo originated from the epidermal cell layer and underwent initiation,globular, scutellar and coleoptile stages. During SE, endogenous hormones of IAA, CTK, ABA, and SA were highly accumulated. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the genes encoding auxin biosynthesis/metabolic enzymes and efflux carriers were induced, while the auxin receptor of TIR1 and ARF transcriptional repressor of Aux/IAA were down-regulated and up-regulated, respectively, leading to suppression of auxin signaling. In contrast, cytokine signaling was promoted at the early stage of SE, as biosynthesis, transport, and signaling components were up-regulated.Various stress-related genes were up-regulated at the early or late stages of SE. Chromatin remodeling could also be dynamically regulated via distinct expression enzymes that control histone methylation and acetylation during SE. Moreover, key SE regulators, including WOXs and SERKs were highly expressed along with SE. Overall, the present study provides insights into the SE regulatory mechanisms of the Hippeastrum.

Identification and Transcriptional Regulation of CAMTA Genes in Liriodendron chinense

This study explores CAMTA genes in the rare and endangered Chinese plant species,Liriodendron chinense.Despite the completion of whole-genome sequencing,the roles of CAMTA genes in calcium regulation and stress responses in this species remain largely unexplored.Within the L.chinense genome,we identified two CAMTA genes,Lchi09764 and Lchi222536,characterized by four functional domains:CG-1,TIG,ANK repeats,and IQ motifs.Our analyses,including phylogenetic investigations,cis-regulatory element analyses,and chromosomal location studies,aim to elucidate the defining features of CAMTA genes in L.chinense.Applying Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis(WGCNA),we explored the impact of CAMTA genes on different organs and their regulation under abiotic stress conditions.The identification of significant gene modules and the prediction of promoter binding sites revealed co-expressed genes associated with CAMTA transcription factors.In summary,this study provides initial insights into CAMTA genes in L.chinense,laying the groundwork for future research on their evolution and biological roles.This knowledge enhancement contributes to a better understanding of plant responses to environmental stress—an essential aspect of plant biology.

Identifying the stability of housekeeping genes to be used for the quantitative real-time PCR normalization in retinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

AIM:To investigate the stability of the seven housekeeping genes:beta-actin(ActB),glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH),18s ribosomal unit 5(18s),cyclophilin A(CycA),hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase(HPRT),ribosomal protein large P0(36B4)and terminal uridylyl transferase 1(U6)in the diabetic retinal tissue of rat model.METHODS:The expression of these seven genes in rat retinal tissues was determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)in two groups;normal control rats and streptozotocininduced diabetic rats.The stability analysis of gene expression was investigated using geNorm,NormFinder,BestKeeper,and comparative delta-Ct(ΔCt)algorithms.RESULTS:The 36B4 gene was stably expressed in the retinal tissues of normal control animals;however,it was less stable in diabetic retinas.The 18s gene was expressed consistently in both normal control and diabetic rats’retinal tissue.That this gene was the best reference for data normalisation in RT-qPCR studies that used the retinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Furthermore,there was no ideal gene stably expressed for use in all experimental settings.CONCLUSION:Identifying relevant genes is a need for achieving RT-qPCR validity and reliability and must be appropriately achieved based on a specific experimental setting.

Identification of hub genes associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus:A pilot bioinformatics study

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is related to various extragastric diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).However,the possible mechanisms connecting H.pylori infection and T2DM remain unknown.AIM To explore potential molecular connections between H.pylori infection and T2DM.METHODS We extracted gene expression arrays from three online datasets(GSE60427,GSE27411 and GSE115601).Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)commonly present in patients with H.pylori infection and T2DM were identified.Hub genes were validated using human gastric biopsy samples.Correlations between hub genes and immune cell infiltration,miRNAs,and transcription factors(TFs)were further analyzed.RESULTS A total of 67 DEGs were commonly presented in patients with H.pylori infection and T2DM.Five significantly upregulated hub genes,including TLR4,ITGAM,C5AR1,FCER1G,and FCGR2A,were finally identified,all of which are closely related to immune cell infiltration.The gene-miRNA analysis detected 13 miRNAs with at least two gene cross-links.TF-gene interaction networks showed that TLR4 was coregulated by 26 TFs,the largest number of TFs among the 5 hub genes.CONCLUSION We identified five hub genes that may have molecular connections between H.pylori infection and T2DM.This study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of H.pylori-induced onset of T2DM.

Mobile genetic elements facilitate the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from duck farms

Multidrug-resistant(MDR)Enterobacteriaceae critically threaten duck farming and public health.The phenotypes,genotypes,and associated mobile genetic elements(MGEs)of MDR Enterobacteriaceae isolated from 6 duck farms in Zhejiang Province,China,were investigated.A total of 215 isolates were identified as Escherichia coli(64.65%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(12.09%),Proteus mirabilis(10.23%),Salmonella(8.84%),and Enterobacter cloacae(4.19%).Meanwhile,all isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics.Most isolates carried tet(A)(85.12%),blaTEM(78.60%)and sul1(67.44%)resistance genes.Gene co-occurrence analysis showed that the resistance genes were associated with IS26 and integrons.A conjugative IncFII plasmid pSDM004 containing all the above MGEs was detected in Proteus mirabilis isolate SDM004.This isolate was resistant to 18 antibiotics and carried the blaNDM-5 gene.MGEs,especially plasmids,are the primary antibiotic resistance gene transmission route in duck farms.These findings provide a theoretical basis for the rational use of antibiotics in farms which are substantial for evaluating public health and food safety.

Identification and validation of a new prognostic signature based on cancer-associated fibroblast-driven genes in breast cancer

BACKGROUND Breast cancer(BC),a leading malignant disease,affects women all over the world.Cancer associated fibroblasts(CAFs)stimulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition,and induce chemoresistance and immunosuppression.AIM To establish a CAFs-associated prognostic signature to improve BC patient out-come estimation.METHODS We retrieved the transcript profile and clinical data of 1072 BC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)databases,and 3661 BC samples from the The Gene Expression Omnibus.CAFs and immune cell infiltrations were quantified using CIBERSORT algorithm.CAF-associated gene identification was done by weighted gene co-expression network analysis.A CAF risk signature was established via univariate,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression,and mul-tivariate Cox regression analyses.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)and Kaplan-Meier curves were employed to evaluate the predictability of the model.Subsequently,a nomogram was developed with the risk score and patient clinical signature.Using Spearman's correlations analysis,the relationship between CAF risk score and gene set enrichment scores were examined.Patient samples were collected to validate gene expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).RESULTS Employing an 8-gene(IL18,MYD88,GLIPR1,TNN,BHLHE41,DNAJB5,FKBP14,and XG)signature,we attemp-ted to estimate BC patient prognosis.Based on our analysis,high-risk patients exhibited worse outcomes than low-risk patients.Multivariate analysis revealed the risk score as an independent indicator of BC patient prognosis.ROC analysis exhibited satisfactory nomogram predictability.The area under the curve showed 0.805 at 3 years,and 0.801 at 5 years in the TCGA cohort.We also demonstrated that a reduced CAF risk score was strongly associated with enhanced chemotherapeutic outcomes.CAF risk score was significantly correlated with most hallmark gene sets.Finally,the prognostic signature were further validated by qRT-PCR.CONCLUSION We introduced a newly-discovered CAFs-associated gene signature,which can be employed to estimate BC patient outcomes conveniently and accurately.