A distinct foliar pigmentation pattern formed by activator-repressor gradients upstream of an anthocyanin-activating R2R3-MYB.

The emergence of novel traits is often preceded by a potentiation phase, when all the genetic components necessary for producing the trait are assembled. However, elucidating these potentiating factors is challenging. We have previously shown that an anthocyanin-activating R2R3-MYB, STRIPY, triggers the emergence of a distinct foliar pigmentation pattern in the monkeyflower Mimulus verbenaceus. Here, using forward and reverse genetics approaches, we identify three potentiating factors that pattern STRIPY expression: MvHY5, a master regulator of light signaling that activates STRIPY and is expressed throughout the leaf, and two leaf developmental regulators, MvALOG1 and MvTCP5, that are expressed in opposing gradients along the leaf proximodistal axis and negatively regulate STRIPY. These results provide strong empirical evidence that phenotypic novelties can be potentiated through incorporation into preexisting genetic regulatory networks and highlight the importance of positional information in patterning the novel foliar stripe.

Dihydroartemisinin Modulates Enteric Glial Cell Heterogeneity to Alleviate Colitis.

The precise mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in alleviating colitis remains incompletely understood. A strong correlation existed between the elevation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+/S100 calcium binding protein B (S100ß)+ enteric glial cells (EGCs) in inflamed colonic tissues and the disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) and gut vascular barrier (GVB) observed in chronic colitis. DHA demonstrated efficacy in restoring the functionality of the dual gut barrier while concurrently attenuating intestinal inflammation. Mechanistically, DHA inhibited the transformation of GFAP+ EGCs into GFAP+/S100ß+ EGCs while promoting the differentiation of GFAP+/S100ß+ EGCs back into GFAP+ EGCs. Furthermore, DHA induced apoptosis in GFAP+/S100ß+ EGCs by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. The initial mechanism is further validated that DHA regulates EGC heterogeneity by improving dysbiosis in colitis. These findings underscore the multifaceted therapeutic potential of DHA in ameliorating colitis by improving dysbiosis, modulating EGC heterogeneity, and preserving gut barrier integrity, thus offering promising avenues for novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Fusarium and Neocosmospora: fungal priority pathogens in laboratory diagnosis.

Fusarium and Neocosmospora are two fungal genera recently recognized in the list of fungal priority pathogens. They cause a wide range of diseases that affect humans, animals, and plants. In clinical laboratories, there is increasing concern about diagnosis due to limitations in sample collection and morphological identification. Despite the advances in molecular diagnosis, due to the cost, some countries cannot implement these methodologies. However, recent changes in taxonomy and intrinsic resistance to antifungals reveal the necessity of accurate species-level identification. In this review, we discuss the current phenotypic and molecular tools available for diagnosis in clinical laboratory settings and their advantages and disadvantages.

Overexpression of CsBRC, an F-box gene from Camellia sinensis, increased the plant branching in tobacco and rice.

Tea plant (Camellia sinensis [L.]) is one of the most important crops in China, and tea branch is an important agronomic trait that determines the yield of tea plant. In previous work focused on GWAS that detecting GWAS signals related to plant architecture through whole genome re-sequencing of ancient tea plants, a gene locus TEA 029928 significantly related to plant type was found. Sequence alignment results showed that this gene belonged to the F-box family. We named it CsBRC. CsBRC-GFP fusion proteins were mainly localized in the plasma membrane. By comparing the phenotypes of CsBRC transgenic tobacco and WT tobacco, it was found that the number of branches of transgenic tobacco was significantly higher than that of wild-type tobacco. Through RNA-seq analysis, it was found that CsBRC affects the branching development of plants by regulating the expression of genes related to brassinosteroid synthesis pathway in plants. In addition, overexpression of CsBRC in rice could increase tiller number, grain length and width, and 1,000-grain weight.

Fluoride-induced hypertension by regulating RhoA/ROCK pathway and phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells: In vitro and in vivo evidence.

Fluoride exposure has been implicated as a potential risk factor for hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the role of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway in fluoride-induced hypertension. Male Wistar rats were divided into different groups and exposed to varying concentrations of sodium fluoride (NaF) or sodium chloride (NaCl) via drinking water. The rats' blood pressure was measured, and their aortic tissue was utilized for high-throughput sequencing analysis. Additionally, rat and A7r5 cell models were established using NaF and/or Fasudil. The study evaluated the effects of fluoride exposure on blood pressure, pathological changes in the aorta, as well as the protein/mRNA expression levels of phenotypic transformation indicators (a-SMA, calp, OPN) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), along with the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway (RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2, MLC/p-MLC). The results demonstrated that fluoride exposure in rats led to increased blood pressure. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed differential gene expression associated with vascular smooth muscle contraction, with the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway emerging as a key regulator. Pathological changes in the rat aorta, such as elastic membrane rupture and collagen fiber deposition, were observed following NaF exposure. However, fasudil, a ROCK inhibitor, mitigated these pathological changes. Both in vitro and in vivo models confirmed the activation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway and the phenotypic transformation of VSMCs from a contractile to a synthetic state upon fluoride exposure. Fasudil effectively inhibited the activities of ROCK1 and ROCK2 and attenuated the phenotypic transformation of VSMCs. In conclusion, fluoride has the potential to induce hypertension through the activation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway and phenotypic changes in vascular smooth muscle cells. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of fluoride-induced hypertension.

Differential responses of the phyllosphere abundant and rare microbes of Eucommia ulmoides to phytohormones.

Phyllosphere microbiota play a crucial role in plant productivity and adaptation, and the abundant and rare microbial taxa often possess distinct characteristics and ecological functions. However, it is unclear whether the different subcommunities of phyllosphere microbiota respond variably to the factors that influence their formation, which limits the understanding of community assembly. The effects of two phytohormones, namely, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and N6-(delta 2-isopentenyl)-adenine (IP), on the phyllosphere microbial subcommunities of Eucommia ulmoides were investigated using potted experiments. The results demonstrated that the phytohormones induced significant variations in the composition, diversity, and function of the abundant microbial subcommunity in the phyllosphere of E. ulmoides, however, their effects on the rare subcommunity were negligible, and their effects on the moderate subcommunity were between those of the abundant and rare taxa. The phytohormones also induced significant alterations in the phenotypic and physiological properties of E. ulmoides, which indirectly affected the phyllosphere microbial community. Leaf thickness and average leaf area were the main phenotypic variables that affected the composition of the phyllosphere microbial community. The total alkaloid content and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were the main physiological variables that affected the composition of the phyllosphere microbial community. The phenotypic and physiological indices of E. ulmoides explained the variations in the phyllosphere microbial subcommunities in descending order: abundant > moderate > rare taxa. These variables explained a significant proportion of the variations in the abundant taxa, and an insignificant proportion of the variations in the rare taxa. This study improves our understanding of the assembly of the phyllosphere microbiota, which provides important theoretical knowledge for future sustainable agriculture and forestry management based on the precise regulation of phyllosphere microbiota.

Evolution and development of Drosophila melanogaster under different thermal conditions affected cell sizes and sensitivity to paralyzing hypoxia.

Environmental gradients cause evolutionary and developmental changes in the cellular composition of organisms, but the physiological consequences of these effects are not well understood. Here, we studied experimental populations of Drosophila melanogaster that had evolved in one of three selective regimes: constant 16 °C, constant 25 °C, or intergenerational shifts between 16 °C and 25 °C. Genotypes from each population were reared at three developmental temperatures (16 °C, 20.5 °C, and 25 °C). As adults, we measured thorax length and cell sizes in the Malpighian tubules and wing epithelia of flies from each combination of evolutionary and developmental temperatures. We also exposed flies from these treatments to a short period of nearly complete oxygen deprivation to measure hypoxia tolerance. For genotypes from any selective regime, development at a higher temperature resulted in smaller flies with smaller cells, regardless of the tissue. At every developmental temperature, genotypes from the warm selective regime had smaller bodies and smaller wing cells but had larger tubule cells than did genotypes from the cold selective regime. Genotypes from the fluctuating selective regime were similar in size to those from the cold selective regime, but their cells of either tissue were the smallest among the three regimes. Evolutionary and developmental treatments interactively affected a fly's sensitivity to short-term paralyzing hypoxia. Genotypes from the cold selective regime were less sensitive to hypoxia after developing at a higher temperature. Genotypes from the other selective regimes were more sensitive to hypoxia after developing at a higher temperature. Our results show that thermal conditions can trigger evolutionary and developmental shifts in cell size, coupled with changes in body size and hypoxia tolerance. These patterns suggest links between the cellular composition of the body, levels of hypoxia within cells, and the energetic cost of tissue maintenance. However, the patterns can be only partially explained by existing theories about the role of cell size in tissue oxygenation and metabolic performance.

New Aspects in the Study of Lactobacillus iners.

A cultural microbiological study of the vaginal microbiota of patients of reproductive age was carried out to isolate the species Lactobacillus iners with subsequent study of phenotypic features. The presence of two phenotypically different species variants was found in patients with bacterial vaginosis.

Root plasticity improves maize nitrogen use when nitrogen is limiting - an analysis using 3D plant modelling.

Plant phenotypic plasticity plays an important role in nitrogen (N) acquisition and use under nitrogen-limited conditions. However, this role has never been quantified as a function of N availability, leaving it unclear whether plastic responses should be considered as potential targets for selection. A combined modelling and experimentation approach was adopted to quantify the role of plasticity on N uptake and plant yield. Based on a greenhouse experiment we considered plasticity in two maize traits: root-to-leaf biomass allocation ratio and emergence rate of axial roots. In a simulation experiment we individually enabled or disabled both plastic responses for maize stands grown across six N levels. Both plastic responses contributed to maintaining a higher N uptake and plant productivity as N-availability declined, compared to stands in which plastic responses were disabled. We conclude that plastic responses quantified in this study may be a potential target trait in breeding programs for greater N uptake across N levels while it may only be important for the internal use of N under N-limited conditions in maize. Given the complexity of breeding for plastic responses, an a priori model analysis is useful to identify which plastic traits to target for enhanced plant performance.

Testing the evolutionary potential of an alpine plant: Phenotypic plasticity in response to growth temperature far outweighs parental environmental effects and other genetic causes of variation.

Phenotypic plasticity and rapid evolution are fundamental processes by which organisms can maintain their function and fitness in the face of environmental changes. Here we quantified the plasticity and evolutionary potential of an alpine herb Wahlenbergia ceracea. Utilising its mixed-mating system, we generated outcrossed and self-pollinated families that were grown in either cool or warm environments, and that had parents that had also been grown in either cool or warm environments. We then analysed the contribution of environmental and genetic factors to variation in a range of phenotypic traits including phenology, leaf mass per area, photosynthetic function, thermal tolerance, and reproductive fitness. The strongest effect was that of current growth temperature, indicating strong phenotypic plasticity. All traits except thermal tolerance were plastic, whereby warm-grown plants flowered earlier, grew larger, produced more reproductive stems compared to cool-grown plants. Flowering onset and biomass were heritable and under selection, with early flowering and larger plants having higher relative fitness. There was little evidence for transgenerational plasticity, maternal effects, or genotype-by-environment interactions. Inbreeding delayed flowering and reduced reproductive fitness and biomass. Overall, we found that W. ceracea has the capacity to respond rapidly to climate warming via plasticity, and the potential for evolutionary change.

Predictability of ecological and evolutionary dynamics in a changing world.

Ecological and evolutionary predictions are being increasingly employed to inform decision-makers confronted with intensifying pressures on biodiversity. For these efforts to effectively guide conservation actions, knowing the limit of predictability is pivotal. In this study, we provide realistic expectations for the enterprise of predicting changes in ecological and evolutionary observations through time. We begin with an intuitive explanation of predictability (the extent to which predictions are possible) employing an easy-to-use metric, predictive power PP(t). To illustrate the challenge of forecasting, we then show that among insects, birds, fishes and mammals, (i) 50% of the populations are predictable at most 1 year in advance and (ii) the median 1-year-ahead predictive power corresponds to a prediction R 2 of only 20%. Predictability is not an immutable property of ecological systems. For example, different harvesting strategies can impact the predictability of exploited populations to varying degrees. Moreover, incorporating explanatory variables, accounting for time trends and considering multivariate time series can enhance predictability. To effectively address the challenge of biodiversity loss, researchers and practitioners must be aware of the information within the available data that can be used for prediction and explore efficient ways to leverage this knowledge for environmental stewardship.

Integrating otolith and genetic tools to reveal intraspecific biodiversity in a highly impacted salmon population.

Intraspecific biodiversity is vital for species persistence in an increasingly volatile world. By embracing methods that integrate information at different spatiotemporal scales, we can directly monitor and reconstruct changes in intraspecific biodiversity. Here we combined genetics and otolith biochronologies to describe the genotypic and phenotypic diversity of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Yuba River, California, comparing cohorts that experienced a range of hydroclimatic conditions. Yuba River salmon have been heavily impacted by habitat loss and degradation, and large influxes of unmarked hatchery fish each year have led to concern about introgression and uncertainty around the viability of its wild populations, particularly the rarer spring-run salmon. Otolith strontium isotopes showed that Yuba River origin fish represented, on average, 42% (range 7%-73%) of spawners across six return years (2009-2011, 2018-2020), with large interannual variability. The remainder of adult Chinook salmon in the river were primarily strays from the nearby Feather River hatchery, and since 2018 from the Mokelumne River hatchery. Among the Yuba-origin spawners, on average, 30% (range 14%-50%) exhibited the spring-run genotype. The Yuba-origin fish also displayed a variety of outmigration phenotypes that differed in the timing and size at which they left the Yuba river. Early-migrating fry dominated the returns (mean 59%, range 33%-89%), and their contribution rates were negatively correlated with freshwater flows. It is unlikely that fry survival rates are elevated during droughts, suggesting that this trend reflects disproportionately low survival of larger later migrating parr, smolts, and yearlings along the migratory corridor in drier years. Otolith daily increments indicated generally faster growth rates in non-natal habitats, emphasizing the importance of continuing upstream restoration efforts to improve in-river growing conditions. Together, these findings show that, despite a long history of habitat degradation and hatchery introgression, the Yuba River maintains intraspecific biodiversity that should be taken into account in future management, restoration, and reintroduction plans. The finding that genotypic spring-run are reproducing, surviving, and returning to the Yuba River every year suggests that re-establishment of an independent population is possible, although hatchery-wild interactions would need to be carefully considered. Integrating methods is critical to monitor changes in key genetic, physiological, and behavioral traits to assess population viability and resilience.

Melatonin Ameliorates Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability by Regulating PPARδ-Associated Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching.

Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque rupture, the leading cause of fatal atherothrombotic events, is associated with an increased risk of mortality worldwide. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) has been shown to modulate vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic switching, and, hence, atherosclerotic plaque stability. Melatonin reportedly plays a beneficial role in cardiovascular diseases; however, the mechanisms underlying improvements in atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability remain unknown. In this study, we assessed the role of melatonin in regulating SMC phenotypic switching and its consequential contribution to the amelioration of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability and explored the mechanisms underlying this process. We analyzed features of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability and markers of SMC phenotypic transition in high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice and human aortic SMCs (HASMCs). Melatonin reduced atherosclerotic plaque size and necrotic core area while enhancing collagen content, fibrous cap thickness, and smooth muscle alpha-actin positive cell coverage on the plaque cap, which are all known phenotypic characteristics of vulnerable plaques. In atherosclerotic lesions, melatonin significantly decreased the synthetic SMC phenotype and KLF4 expression and increased the expression of PPARδ, but not PPARα and PPARγ, in HCD-fed ApoE-/- mice. These results were subsequently confirmed in the melatonin-treated HASMCs. Further analysis using PPARδ silencing and immunoprecipitation assays revealed that PPARδ plays a role in the melatonin-induced SMC phenotype switching from synthetic to contractile. Collectively, we provided the first evidence that melatonin mediates its protective effect against plaque destabilization by enhancing PPARδ-mediated SMC phenotypic switching, thereby indicating the potential of melatonin in treating atherosclerosis.

On the evolutionary origin of discrete phenotypic plasticity.

Phenotypic plasticity provides an attractive strategy for adapting to various environments, but the evolutionary mechanism of the underlying genetic system is poorly understood. We use a simple gene regulatory network model to explore how a species acquires phenotypic plasticity, particularly focusing on discrete phenotypic plasticity, which has been difficult to explain by quantitative genetic models. Our approach employs a population genetic framework that integrates the developmental process, where each individual undergoes growth to develop its phenotype, which subsequently becomes subject to selection pressures. Our model considers two alternative types of environments, with the gene regulatory network including a sensor gene that turns on and off depending on the type of environment. With this assumption, we demonstrate that the system gradually adapts by acquiring the ability to produce two distinct optimum phenotypes under two types of environments without changing genotype, resulting in phenotypic plasticity. We find that the resulting plasticity is often discrete after a lengthy period of evolution. Our results suggest that gene regulatory networks have a notable capacity to flexibly produce various phenotypes in response to environmental changes. This study also shows that the evolutionary dynamics of phenotype may differ significantly between mechanistic-based developmental models and quantitative genetics models, suggesting the utility of incorporating gene regulatory networks into evolutionary models.

Developmental Causes of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

Background: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a histological pattern of glomerular damage that includes idiopathic conditions as well as genetic and non-genetic forms. Among these various etiologies, different phenotypes within the spectrum of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) have been associated with FSGS. Summary: Until recently, the main pathomechanism of how congenital kidney and urinary tract defects lead to FSGS was attributed to a reduced number of nephrons, resulting in biomechanical stress on the remaining glomeruli, detachment of podocytes, and subsequent inability to maintain normal glomerular architecture. The discovery of deleterious single-nucleotide variants in PAX2, a transcription factor crucial in normal kidney development and a known cause of papillorenal syndrome, in individuals with adult-onset FSGS without congenital kidney defects has shed new light on developmental defects that become evident during podocyte injury. Key Message: In this mini-review, we challenge the assumption that FSGS in CAKUT is caused by glomerular hyperfiltration alone and hypothesize a multifactorial pathogenesis that includes overlapping cellular mechanisms that are activated in both damaged podocytes as well as nephron progenitor cells.

Higher thermal plasticity in flowering phenology increases flowering output.

Ongoing climate change poses an increasing threat to biodiversity. To avoid decline or extinction, species need to either adjust or adapt to new environmental conditions or track their climatic niches across space. In sessile organisms such as plants, phenotypic plasticity can help maintain fitness in variable and even novel environmental conditions and is therefore likely to play an important role in allowing them to survive climate change, particularly in the short term. Understanding a species' response to rising temperature is crucial for planning well-targeted and cost-effective conservation measures. We sampled seeds of three Hypericum species (H. maculatum, H. montanum, and H. perforatum), from a total of 23 populations originating from different parts of their native distribution areas in Europe. We grew them under four different temperature regimes in a greenhouse to simulate current and predicted future climatic conditions in the distribution areas. We measured flowering start, flower count, and subsequent seed weight, allowing us to study variations in the thermal plasticity of flowering phenology and its relation to fitness. Our results show that individuals flowered earlier with increasing temperature, while the degree of phenological plasticity varied among species. More specifically, the plasticity of H. maculatum varied depending on population origin, with individuals from the leading range edge being less plastic. Importantly, we show a positive relationship between higher plasticity and increased flower production, indicating adaptive phenological plasticity. The observed connection between plasticity and fitness supports the idea that plasticity may be adaptive. This study underlines the need for information on plasticity for predicting species' potential to thrive under global change and the need for studies on whether higher phenotypic plasticity is currently being selected as natural populations experience a rapidly changing climate.

Phenotypic characteristics of the mycelium of Pleurotus geesteranus using image recognition technology.

Phenotypic analysis has significant potential for aiding breeding efforts. However, there is a notable lack of studies utilizing phenotypic analysis in the field of edible fungi. Pleurotus geesteranus is a lucrative edible fungus with significant market demand and substantial industrial output, and early-stage phenotypic analysis of Pleurotus geesteranus is imperative during its breeding process. This study utilizes image recognition technology to investigate the phenotypic features of the mycelium of P. geesteranus. We aim to establish the relations between these phenotypic characteristics and mycelial quality. Four groups of mycelia, namely, the non-degraded and degraded mycelium and the 5th and 14th subcultures, are used as image sources. Two categories of phenotypic metrics, outline and texture, are quantitatively calculated and analyzed. In the outline features of the mycelium, five indexes, namely, mycelial perimeter, radius, area, growth rate, and change speed, are proposed to demonstrate mycelial growth. In the texture features of the mycelium, five indexes, namely, mycelial coverage, roundness, groove depth, density, and density change, are studied to analyze the phenotypic characteristics of the mycelium. Moreover, we also compared the cellulase and laccase activities of the mycelium and found that cellulase level was consistent with the phenotypic indices of the mycelium, which further verified the accuracy of digital image processing technology in analyzing the phenotypic characteristics of the mycelium. The results indicate that there are significant differences in these 10 phenotypic characteristic indices ( P < 0.001 ), elucidating a close relationship between phenotypic characteristics and mycelial quality. This conclusion facilitates rapid and accurate strain selection in the early breeding stage of P. geesteranus.

Flexible males, reactive females: faecal glucocorticoid metabolites indicate increased stress in the colonist population, damping with time in males but not in females.

Individuals colonizing new areas at expanding ranges encounter numerous and unpredictable stressors. Exposure to unfamiliar environments suggests that colonists would differ in stress levels from residents living in familiar conditions. Few empirical studies tested this hypothesis and produced mixed results, and the role of stress regulation in colonization remains unclear. Studies relating stress levels to colonization mainly use a geographical analysis comparing established colonist populations with source populations. We used faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) to assess both spatial and temporal dynamics of stress levels in an expanding population of midday gerbils (Meriones meridianus). We demonstrated that adult males and females had higher FGM levels in newly emerged colonies, compared with the source population, but differed in the pattern of FGM dynamics post-foundation. In males, FGM levels sharply decreased in the second year after colony establishment. In females, FGM levels did not change with time and remained high despite the decreasing environmental unpredictability, exhibiting among-individual variation. Increased stress levels of colonist males damping with time post-colonization suggest they are flexible in responding to immediate changes in environmental uncertainty. On the contrary, high and stable over generations stress levels uncoupled from the changes in the environmental uncertainty in female colonists imply that they carry a relatively constant phenotype associated with the reactive coping strategy favouring colonization. We link sex differences in consistency and plasticity in stress regulation during colonization to the sex-specific life-history strategies.

Attention module incorporated transfer learning empowered deep learning-based models for classification of phenotypically similar tropical cattle breeds (Bos indicus).

Accurate breed identification in dairy cattle is essential for optimizing herd management and improving genetic standards. A smart method for correctly identifying phenotypically similar breeds can empower farmers to enhance herd productivity. A convolutional neural network (CNN) based model was developed for the identification of Sahiwal and Red Sindhi cows. To increase the classification accuracy, first, cows's pixels were segmented from the background using CNN model. Using this segmented image, a masked image was produced by retaining cows' pixels from the original image while eliminating the background. To improve the classification accuracy, models were trained on four different images of each cow: front view, side view, grayscale front view, and grayscale side view. The masked images of these views were fed to the multi-input CNN model which predicts the class of input images. The segmentation model achieved intersection-over-union (IoU) and F1-score values of 81.75% and 85.26%, respectively with an inference time of 296 ms. For the classification task, multiple variants of MobileNet and EfficientNet models were used as the backbone along with pre-trained weights. The MobileNet model achieved 80.0% accuracy for both breeds, while MobileNetV2 and MobileNetV3 reached 82.0% accuracy. CNN models with EfficientNet as backbones outperformed MobileNet models, with accuracy ranging from 84.0% to 86.0%. The F1-scores for these models were found to be above 83.0%, indicating effective breed classification with fewer false positives and negatives. Thus, the present study demonstrates that deep learning models can be used effectively to identify phenotypically similar-looking cattle breeds. To accurately identify zebu breeds, this study will reduce the dependence of farmers on experts.

PRRX1 silencing is required for metastatic outgrowth in melanoma and is an independent prognostic of reduced survival in patients.

Paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is an inducer of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in different types of cancer cells. We detected low PRRX1 expression in nevus but increased levels in primary human melanoma and cell lines carrying the BRAFV600E mutation. High expression of PRRX1 correlates with invasiveness and enrichment of genes belonging to the EMT programme. Conversely, we found that loss of PRRX1 in metastatic samples is an independent prognostic predictor of poor survival for melanoma patients. Here, we show that stable depletion of PRRX1 improves the growth of melanoma xenografts and increases the number of distant spontaneous metastases, compared to controls. We provide evidence that loss of PRRX1 counteracts the EMT phenotype, impairing the expression of other EMT-related transcription factors, causing dysregulation of the ERK and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways, and abrogating the invasive and migratory properties of melanoma cells while triggering the up-regulation of proliferative/melanocytic genes and the expression of the neural-crest-like markers nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR; also known as neurotrophin receptor p75NTR) and neural cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM). Overall, our results indicate that loss of PRRX1 triggers a switch in the invasive programme, and cells de-differentiate towards a neural crest stem cell (NCSC)-like phenotype that accounts for the metastatic aggressiveness.