Irisin in thyroid diseases.

Irisin, a hormone-like adipo-myokine, has garnered considerable attention in recent years for its potential impact in metabolic diseases. Its physiological effects are similar to those of thyroid hormones, prompting numerous investigations into potential correlations and interactions between irisin and thyroid function through various in vitro and animal experiments. However, existing studies suggest that the relationship between irisin and thyroid diseases is highly complex and multifaceted. In this paper, we have summarized the research results on serum irisin and thyroid function, providing an overview of advancements and constraints in current research on irisin and thyroid hormones. The aim is to offer insights and directions for future clinical trials in this field.

VASE: A High-Entropy Alloy Short-Range Order Structural Descriptor for Machine Learning.

The short-range order (SRO) structure in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) is closely associated with many properties, which can be studied through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Atomic-scale modeling and calculations require substantial computational resources, and machine learning can provide rapid estimations of DFT results. To describe SRO information in HEAs, a new descriptor based on Voronoi Analysis and Shannon Entropy (VASE) is proposed. Based on Voronoi analysis, the Shannon entropy is introduced to directly characterize atomic spatial arrangement information except for composition and atomic interactions, which is necessary for describing the disorder atomic occupancy in HEAs. The new descriptor is used for predicting the formation energy of FeCoNiAlTiCu system based on machine learning model, which is more accurate than other descriptors (Coulomb matrices, partial radial distribution functions, and Voronoi analysis). Moreover, the model trained based on VASE descriptors exhibits the best predictive performance for unrelaxed structures (24.06 meV/atom). The introduction of Shannon entropy provides an effective representation of atomic arrangement information in HEAs, which is a powerful tool for investigating the SRO phenomena.

Rickettsia symbionts spread via mixed mode transmission, increasing female fecundity and sex ratio shift by host hormone modulating.

Heritable symbionts are common among animals in nature, but the molecular mechanisms underpinning symbiont invasions of host populations have been elusive. In this study, we demonstrate the spread of Rickettsia in an invasive agricultural pest, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED), across northeastern China from 2018 to 2023. Here, we show that the beneficial symbiont Rickettsia spreads by manipulating host hormone signals. Our analyses suggest that Rickettsia have been horizontally acquired by B. tabaci MED from another invasive whitefly B. tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 during periods of coexistence. Rickettsia is transmitted maternally and horizontally from female B. tabaci MED individuals. Rickettsia infection enhances fecundity and results in female bias among whiteflies. Our findings reveal that Rickettsia infection stimulates juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis, in turn enhancing fecundity, copulation events, and the female ratio of the offspring. Consequently, Rickettsia infection results in increased whitefly fecundity and female bias by modulating the JH pathway. More female progeny facilitates the transmission of Rickettsia. This study illustrates that the spread of Rickettsia among invasive whiteflies in northeastern China is propelled by host hormone regulation. Such symbiont invasions lead to rapid physiological and molecular evolution in the host, influencing the biology and ecology of an invasive species.

Wolbachia symbionts control sex in a parasitoid wasp using a horizontally acquired gene.

Host reproduction can be manipulated by bacterial symbionts in various ways. Parthenogenesis induction is the most effective type of reproduction manipulation by symbionts for their transmission. Insect sex is determined by regulation of doublesex (dsx) splicing through transformer2 (tra2) and transformer (tra) interaction. Although parthenogenesis induction by symbionts has been studied since the 1970s, its underlying molecular mechanism is unknown. Here we identify a Wolbachia parthenogenesis-induction feminization factor gene (piff) that targets sex-determining genes and causes female-producing parthenogenesis in the haplodiploid parasitoid Encarsia formosa. We found that Wolbachia elimination repressed expression of female-specific dsx and enhanced expression of male-specific dsx, which led to the production of wasp haploid male offspring. Furthermore, we found that E. formosa tra is truncated and non-functional, and Wolbachia has a functional tra homolog, termed piff, with an insect origin. Wolbachia PIFF can colocalize and interact with wasp TRA2. Moreover, Wolbachia piff has coordinated expression with tra2 and dsx of E. formosa. Our results demonstrate the bacterial symbiont Wolbachia has acquired an insect gene to manipulate the host sex determination cascade and induce parthenogenesis in wasps. This study reveals insect-to-bacteria horizontal gene transfer drives the evolution of animal sex determination systems, elucidating a striking mechanism of insect-microbe symbiosis.

Inhibition of the ILK-AKT pathway by upregulation of PARVB contributes to the cochlear cell death in Fascin2 gene knockout mice.

The Fscn2 (Fascin2) gene encodes an actin cross-linking protein that is involved in the formation of hair cell stereocilia and retina structure. Mutations in Fscn2 gene have been linked to hearing impairment and retinal degeneration in humans and mice. To understand the function of the Fscn2 gene, we generated the Fscn2 knockout mice, which showed progressive loss of hearing and hair cells. Our goal of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying cochlear cell death in the Fscn2 knockout mice. Microarray analysis revealed upregulation of expression of PARVB, a local adhesion protein, in the inner ears of Fscn2 knockout mice at 8 weeks of age. Further studies showed increased levels of PARVB together with cleaved-Caspase9 and decreased levels of ILK, p-ILK, p-AKT, and Bcl-2 in the inner ears of Fscn2 knockout mice of the same age. Knockdown of Fscn2 in HEI-OCI cells led to decreased cell proliferation ability and migration rate, along with increased levels of PARVB and decreased levels of ILK, p-ILK, p-AKT, Bcl-2 and activated Rac1 and Cdc42. Overexpression of Fscn2 or inhibition of Parvb expression in HEI-OC1 cells promoted cell proliferation and migration, with increased levels of ILK, p-ILK, p-AKT, and Bcl-2. Finally, FSCN2 binds with PPAR-γ to reduce its nuclear translocation in HEI-OC1 cells, and inhibition of PPAR-γ by GW9662 decreased the level of PARVB and increased the levels of p-AKT, p-ILK, and Bcl-2. Our results suggest that FSCN2 negatively regulates PARVB expression by inhibiting the entry of PPAR-γ into the cell nucleus, resulting in inhibition of ILK-AKT related pathways and of cochlear cell survival in Fscn2 knockout mice. Our findings provide new insights and ideas for the prevention and treatment of genetic hearing loss.

Insect Bacteriocytes: Adaptation, Development, and Evolution.

Bacteriocytes are host cells specialized to harbor symbionts in certain insect taxa. The adaptation, development, and evolution of bacteriocytes underlie insect symbiosis maintenance. Bacteriocytes carry enriched host genes of insect and bacterial origin whose transcription can be regulated by microRNAs, which are involved in host-symbiont metabolic interactions. Recognition proteins of peptidoglycan, the bacterial cell wall component, and autophagy regulate symbiont abundance in bacteriocytes. Horizontally transferred genes expressed in bacteriocytes influence the metabolism of symbiont peptidoglycan, which may affect the bacteriocyte immune response against symbionts. Bacteriocytes release or transport symbionts into ovaries for symbiont vertical transmission. Bacteriocyte development and death, regulated by transcriptional factors, are variable in different insect species. The evolutionary origin of insect bacteriocytes remains unclear. Future research should elucidate bacteriocyte cell biology, the molecular interplay between bacteriocyte metabolic and immune functions, the genetic basis of bacteriocyte origin, and the coordination between bacteriocyte function and host biology in diverse symbioses.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus hayati.

Hymenoptera is an order accounting for a large proportion of species in Insecta, among which Chalcidoidea contains many parasitoid species of biocontrol significance. Currently, some species genomes in Chalcidoidea have been assembled, but the chromosome-level genomes of Aphelinidae are not yet available. Using Illumina, PacBio HiFi and Hi-C technologies, we assembled a genome assembly of Eretmocerus hayati (Aphelinidae, Hymenoptera), a worldwide biocontrol agent of whiteflies, at the chromosome level. The assembled genome size is 692.1 Mb with a contig N50 of 7.96 Mb. After Hi-C scaffolding, the contigs was assembled onto four chromosomes with a mapping rate of > 98%. The scaffold N50 length is 192.5 Mb, and Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologues (BUSCO) value is 95.9%. The genome contains 370.8 Mb repeat sequences and total of 24471 protein coding genes. P450 gene families were identified and analyzed. In conclusion, our chromosome-level genome assembly provides valuable support for future research on the evolution of parasitoid wasps and the interaction between hosts and parasitoid wasps.

Fingerstick blood assay maps real-world NAD+ disparity across gender and age.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ) level has been associated with various age-related diseases and its pharmacological modulation emerges as a potential approach for aging intervention. But human NAD+ landscape exhibits large heterogeneity. The lack of rapid, low-cost assays limits the establishment of whole-blood NAD+ baseline and the development of personalized therapies, especially for those with poor responses towards conventional NAD+ supplementations. Here, we developed an automated NAD+ analyzer for the rapid measurement of NAD+ with 5 µL of capillary blood using recombinant bioluminescent sensor protein and automated optical reader. The minimal invasiveness of the assay allowed a frequent and decentralized mapping of real-world NAD+ dynamics. We showed that aerobic sport and NMN supplementation increased whole-blood NAD+ and that male on average has higher NAD+ than female before the age of 50. We further revealed the long-term stability of human NAD+ baseline over 100 days and identified major real-world NAD+ -modulating behaviors.

A bacteriocyte symbiont determines whitefly sex ratio by regulating mitochondrial function.

Nutritional symbionts influence host reproduction, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. We previously found that the bacteriocyte symbiont Hamiltonella impacts the sex ratio of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Hamiltonella synthesizes folate by cooperation with the whitefly. Folate deficiency by Hamiltonella elimination or whitefly gene silencing distorted whitefly sex ratio, and folate supplementation restored the sex ratio. Hamiltonella deficiency or gene silencing altered histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) level, which was restored by folate supplementation. Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation-seq analysis of H3K9me3 indicated mitochondrial dysfunction in symbiont-deficient whiteflies. Hamiltonella deficiency compromised mitochondrial quality of whitefly ovaries. Repressing ovary mitochondrial function led to distorted whitefly sex ratio. These findings indicate that the symbiont-derived folate regulates host histone methylation modifications, which thereby impacts ovary mitochondrial function, and finally determines host sex ratio. Our study suggests that a nutritional symbiont can regulate animal reproduction in a way that differs from reproductive manipulators.

Vitellogenin Facilitates Associations between the Whitefly and a Bacteriocyte Symbiont.

Integration between animal reproduction and symbiont inheritance is fundamental in symbiosis biology, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Vitellogenin (Vg) is critical for oogenesis, and it is also a pathogen pattern recognition molecule in some animals. Previous studies have shown that Vg is involved in the regulation of symbiont abundance and transmission. However, the mechanisms by which an insect and its symbiont contribute to the function of Vg and how Vg impacts the persistence of insect-microbe symbiosis remain largely unclear. Symbionts are transovarially transmitted via maternal inheritance of the bacteriocytes in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Surprisingly, Vg is localized in bacteriocytes of whiteflies. Vg could be synthesized in whitefly bacteriocytes by the gene Vg expressed in these cells or exported into bacteriocytes from hemolymph via the Vg receptor. We further found that the juvenile hormone and "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" (here termed Portiera) control the level and localization of Vg in whiteflies. Immunocapture PCR revealed interactions between Vg and Portiera. Suppressing Vg expression reduced Portiera abundance as well as whitefly oogenesis and fecundity. Thus, we reveal that Vg facilitated the persistence of whitefly-bacteriocyte symbiont associations. This study will provide insight into the key role of Vg in the coevolution of insect reproduction and symbiont inheritance. IMPORTANCE Intracellular heritable symbionts have been incorporated into insect reproductive and developmental biology by various mechanisms. All Bemisia tabaci species harbor the obligate symbiont Portiera in specialized insect cells called bacteriocytes. We report that the whitefly juvenile hormone and Portiera determined vitellogenin (Vg) localization in bacteriocytes of whiteflies. In turn, Vg affected whitefly fecundity as well as fitness and transmission of the symbiont. Our findings show that Vg, a multifunctional protein, is indispensable for symbiont integration into the reproduction and development of insects. This reflects the outcome of long-term coevolution of the insect-microbe symbiosis.