A thalamic-primary auditory cortex circuit mediates resilience to stress.

Resilience enables mental elasticity in individuals when rebounding from adversity. In this study, we identified a microcircuit and relevant molecular adaptations that play a role in natural resilience. We found that activation of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the primary auditory cortex (A1) by thalamic inputs from the ipsilateral medial geniculate body (MG) is essential for resilience in mice exposed to chronic social defeat stress. Early attacks during chronic social defeat stress induced short-term hyperpolarizations of MG neurons projecting to the A1 (MGA1 neurons) in resilient mice. In addition, this temporal neural plasticity of MGA1 neurons initiated synaptogenesis onto thalamic PV neurons via presynaptic BDNF-TrkB signaling in subsequent stress responses. Moreover, optogenetic mimicking of the short-term hyperpolarization of MGA1 neurons, rather than merely activating MGA1 neurons, elicited innate resilience mechanisms in response to stress and achieved sustained antidepressant-like effects in multiple animal models, representing a new strategy for targeted neuromodulation.

Crystallinity engineering for overcoming the activity-stability tradeoff of spinel oxide in Fenton-like catalysis.

A precise modulation of heterogeneous catalysts in structural and surface properties promises the development of more sustainable advanced oxidation water purification technologies. However, while catalysts with superior decontamination activity and selectivity are already achievable, maintaining a long-term service life of such materials remains challenging. Here, we propose a crystallinity engineering strategy to break the activity-stability tradeoff of metal oxides in Fenton-like catalysis. The amorphous/crystalline cobalt-manganese spinel oxide (A/C-CoMnOx) provided highly active, hydroxyl group-rich surface, with moderate peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-binding affinity and charge transfer energy and strong pollutant adsorption, to trigger concerted radical and nonradical reactions for efficient pollutant mineralization, thereby alleviating the catalyst passivation by oxidation intermediate accumulation. Meanwhile, the surface-confined reactions, benefited from the enhanced adsorption of pollutants at A/C interface, rendered the A/C-CoMnOx/PMS system ultrahigh PMS utilization efficiency (82.2%) and unprecedented decontamination activity (rate constant of 1.48 min-1) surpassing almost all the state-of-the-art heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts. The superior cyclic stability and environmental robustness of the system for real water treatment was also demonstrated. Our work unveils a critical role of material crystallinity in modulating the Fenton-like catalytic activity and pathways of metal oxides, which fundamentally improves our understanding of the structure-activity-selectivity relationships of heterogeneous catalysts and may inspire material design for more sustainable water purification application and beyond.

NK-cell-elicited gasdermin-D-dependent hepatocyte pyroptosis induces neutrophil extracellular traps that facilitate HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: HBV infection is a major etiology of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). At present, the pattern and regulation of hepatocyte death during HBV-ACLF progression are still undefined. Evaluating the mode of cell death and its inducers will provide new insights for developing therapeutic strategies targeting cell death. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether and how immune landscapes trigger hepatocyte death and lead to the progression of HBV-related ACLF. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We identified that pyroptosis represented the main cell death pattern in the liver of patients with HBV-related ACLF. Deficiency of MHC-I in HBV-reactivated hepatocytes activated cytotoxic NK cells, which in turn operated in a perforin/granzyme-dependent manner to trigger GSDMD/caspase-8-dependent pyroptosis of hepatocytes. Neutrophils selectively accumulated in the pyroptotic liver, and HMGB1 derived from the pyroptotic liver constituted an important factor triggering the generation of pathogenic extracellular traps in neutrophils (NETs). Clinically, elevated plasma levels of myeloperoxidase-DNA complexes were a promising prognostic biomarker for HBV-related ACLF. More importantly, targeting GSDMD pyroptosis-HMGB1 release in the liver abrogates NETs that intercept the development of HBV-related ACLF. CONCLUSIONS: Studying the mechanisms that selectively modulate GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis, as well as its immune landscapes, will provide a novel strategy for restoring the liver function of patients with HBV-related ACLF.

NDRG1 Signaling Is Essential for Endothelial Inflammation and Vascular Remodeling.

BACKGROUND: NDRG-1 (N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1) is a member of NDRG family that plays essential roles in cell differentiation, proliferation, and stress responses. Although the expression of NDRG1 is regulated by fluid shear stress, its roles in vascular biology remain poorly understood. The purpose of the study is to determine the functional significance of NDRG1 in vascular inflammation and remodeling. METHODS AND RESULTS: By using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that the expression of NDRG1 is markedly increased in cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells and in human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions. To determine the role of NDRG1 in endothelial activation, we performed loss-of-function studies using NDRG1 short hairpin RNA. Our results demonstrate that NDRG1 knockdown by lentivirus bearing NDRG1 short hairpin RNA substantially attenuates both IL-1ß (interleukin-1ß) and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α)-induced expression of cytokines/chemokines and adhesion molecules. Intriguingly, inhibition of NDRG1 also significantly attenuates the expression of procoagulant molecules, such as PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1) and TF (tissue factor), and increases the expression of TM (thrombomodulin) and t-PA (tissue-type plasminogen activator), thus exerting potent antithrombotic effects in endothelial cells. Mechanistically, we showed that NDRG1 interacts with orphan Nur77 (nuclear receptor) and functionally inhibits the transcriptional activity of Nur77 and NF-κB (nuclear factor Kappa B) in endothelial cells. Moreover, in NDRG1 knockdown cells, both cytokine-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, c-Jun phosphorylation, and AP-1 (activator protein 1) transcriptional activity are substantially inhibited. Neointima and atherosclerosis formation induced by carotid artery ligation and arterial thrombosis were markedly attenuated in endothelial cell-specific NDRG1 knockout mice compared with their wild-type littermates. CONCLUSIONS: Our results for the first time identify NDRG1 as a critical mediator implicated in regulating endothelial inflammation, thrombotic responses, and vascular remodeling, and suggest that inhibition of NDRG1 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory vascular diseases, such as atherothrombosis and restenosis.

Investigation of causal relationships between cortical structure and osteoporosis using two-sample Mendelian randomization.

The mutual interaction between bone characteristics and brain had been reported previously, yet whether the cortical structure has any relevance to osteoporosis is questionable. Therefore, we applied a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate this relationship. We utilized the bone mineral density measurements of femoral neck (n = 32,735) and lumbar spine (n = 28,498) and data on osteoporosis (7300 cases and 358,014 controls). The global surficial area and thickness and 34 specific functional regions of 51,665 patients were screened by magnetic resonance imaging. For the primary estimate, we utilized the inverse-variance weighted method. The Mendelian randomization-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO, Cochran's Q test, and "leave-one-out" sensitivity analysis were conducted to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy. We observed suggestive associations between decreased thickness in the precentral region (OR = 0.034, P = 0.003) and increased chance of having osteoporosis. The results also revealed suggestive causality of decreased bone mineral density in femoral neck to declined total cortical surface area (ß = 1400.230 mm2, P = 0.003), as well as the vulnerability to osteoporosis and reduced thickness in the Parstriangularis region (ß = -0.006 mm, P = 0.002). Our study supports that the brain and skeleton exhibit bidirectional crosstalk, indicating the presence of a mutual brain-bone interaction.

Electron delocalization triggers nonradical Fenton-like catalysis over spinel oxides.

Nonradical Fenton-like catalysis offers opportunities to overcome the low efficiency and secondary pollution limitations of existing advanced oxidation decontamination technologies, but realizing this on transition metal spinel oxide catalysts remains challenging due to insufficient understanding of their catalytic mechanisms. Here, we explore the origins of catalytic selectivity of Fe-Mn spinel oxide and identify electron delocalization of the surface metal active site as the key driver of its nonradical catalysis. Through fine-tuning the crystal geometry to trigger Fe-Mn superexchange interaction at the spinel octahedra, ZnFeMnO4 with high-degree electron delocalization of the Mn-O unit was created to enable near 100% nonradical activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) at unprecedented utilization efficiency. The resulting surface-bound PMS* complex can efficiently oxidize electron-rich pollutants with extraordinary degradation activity, selectivity, and good environmental robustness to favor water decontamination applications. Our work provides a molecule-level understanding of the catalytic selectivity and bimetallic interactions of Fe-Mn spinel oxides, which may guide the design of low-cost spinel oxides for more selective and efficient decontamination applications.

Global Burden of Stroke Attributable to Low Physical Activity/High Body Mass Index Among People Aged 55 Years and Older.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to quantify the global stroke burden attributable to low physical activity and high body mass index in adults aged ≥55 years using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study. METHODS: We extracted data on stroke mortality, disability-adjusted life years, and risk factor exposure from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study for people aged ≥55 years. We calculated the population-attributable fraction and absolute number of stroke cases and disability-adjusted life years attributable to low physical activity and high body mass index by location, age group, sex, and year. RESULTS: Globally, body mass index and physical inactivity-attributable stroke burden have declined modestly since 1990, but with diverging escalatory regional trajectories. Population growth and aging drive this rising burden. CONCLUSIONS: Multidimensional, context-specific strategies focused on modifiable lifestyle risks are imperative to address the modest declines and escalatory regional trajectories in body mass index and physical inactivity-attributable stroke burden.

Percent duration of heart rate acceleration within the respiratory cycle: a novel approach to assess heart rate asymmetry.

Accelerations and decelerations of heart rate are nonsymmetrical in the magnitude and number of beat-to-beat changes. The asymmetric features of heart rate variability are related to respiratory durations. To explore the link between respiration and heart rate asymmetry (HRA), we evaluated 14 seated, healthy young adults who breathed with nine combinations of inspiration duration (TI) and expiration duration (TE), chosen respectively from 2, 4, and 6 s. A 5-min R-R interval (RRI) time series was obtained from each study period to construct an averaged pattern waveform relative to the respiratory cycle. We observed that the time interval between inspiration onset and RRI minimum progressively lengthened as TI and TE increased. The time interval between expiration onset and RRI maximum also lengthened when TE increased but shortened when TI increased. Consequently, TI and TE had different effects on the acceleration time (AT; from RRI maximum to RRI minimum) and deceleration time (DT; from RRI minimum to RRI maximum). The percentage of AT within the respiratory cycle showed a strong correlation with traditional Guzik's (r = 0.862, P < 0.001) and Porta's (r = 0.878, P < 0.001) indexes of HRA assessed in a Poincaré plot analysis. These findings suggest that, in addition to considering the magnitude and number of beat-to-beat changes, HRA can also be assessed based on another aspect: the duration of consecutive changes. The stepwise link between the duration of heart rate change and respiratory duration provides insight into the mechanisms connecting respiration to HRA.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In healthy adults who regulated their breathing across nine combinations of inspiration and expiration durations, we used averaged pattern waveform technique to quantify the durations of heart rate acceleration and deceleration within the respiratory cycle. The percent duration of acceleration showed a strong correlation with traditional heart rate asymmetry indexes, which evaluate the magnitude and number of beat-to-beat changes. This new approach opens a window to explore the asymmetric features of heart rate variability.

Design and first-round commissioning result of the SASE beamline at the Shanghai Soft X-ray FEL facility.

The Shanghai Soft X-ray Free-Electron Laser (SXFEL) is the first X-ray free-electron laser facility in China. The SASE beamline, which consists of a pink-beam branch and a mono-beam branch, is one of the two beamlines in the Phase-I construction. The pink-beam branch opened for users in 2023 after successful first-round beamline commissioning. In this paper, the design of the beamline is presented and the performance of the pink-beam branch is reported. The measured energy-resolving power of the online spectrometer is over 6000 @ 400 eV. The focusing spot size of the pink beam is less than 3 µm in both the horizontal and vertical at the endstation.

YTHDF1's grip on CRC vasculature: insights into LINC01106 and miR-449b-5p-VEGFA axis.

BACKGROUND: Investigating the unexplored territory of lncRNA m6A modification in colorectal cancer (CRC) vasculature, this study focuses on LINC01106 and YTHDF1. METHODS: Clinical assessments reveal upregulated LINC01106 promoting vascular generation via the miR-449b-5p-VEGFA pathway. RESULTS: YTHDF1, elevated in CRC tissues, emerges as an adverse prognostic factor. Functional experiments showcase YTHDF1's inhibitory effects on CRC cell dynamics. Mechanistically, Me-CLIP identifies m6A-modified LINC01106, validated as a YTHDF1 target through Me-RIP. CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the YTHDF1-mediated m6A modification of LINC01106, presenting it as a key player in suppressing CRC vascular generation.

Porphyromonas gingivalis promotes the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by stimulating the release of neutrophil extracellular traps in the tumor immune microenvironment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) on the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) through neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the tumor immune microenvironment. METHODS: The expression of NETs-related markers was identified through immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting in different clinical stages of OSCC samples. The relationship between NETs-related markers and clinicopathological characteristics in 180 samples was analyzed using immunohistochemistry data. Furthermore, the ability to predict the prognosis of OSCC patients was determined by ROC curve analysis and survival analysis. The effect of P. gingivalis on the release of NETs was identified through immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, both in vitro and in vivo. CAL27 and SCC25 cell lines were subjected to NETs stimulation to elucidate the influence of NETs on various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis in vitro. Furthermore, the impact of NETs on the growth and metastatic potential of OSCC was assessed using in vivo models involving tumor-bearing mice and tumor metastasis mouse models. RESULTS: Immunochemistry analysis revealed a significant correlation between the NETs-related markers and clinical stage, living status as well as TN stage. P. gingivalis has demonstrated its ability to effectively induce the release of NETs both in vivo and in vitro. NETs have the potential to facilitate cell migration, invasion, and colony formation. Moreover, in vivo experiments have demonstrated that NETs play a pivotal role in promoting tumor metastasis. CONCLUSION: High expression of NETs-related markers demonstrates a strong correlation with the progression of OSCC. Inhibition of the NETs release process stimulated by P. gingivalis and targeted NETs could potentially open up a novel avenue in the field of immunotherapy for patients afflicted with OSCC.

Expert consensus on the relevance of intestinal microecology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) affects gut microbial homeostasis, and intestinal microecology (IM) may also affect the prognosis of HSCT through multiple mechanisms. In order to further understand the key issues of the correlation between intestinal microecology and HSCT and to learn and absorb new research progress, the Tumor and Microecology Committee of China Anti-Cancer Association organized relevant experts to discuss together and propose the "Expert Consensus on the Relevance of Intestinal Microecology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation" for clinicians' reference in their practical work. It is a reference for clinicians in practice and provides a basis for further in-depth research in the field of tumor and microecology.

Identification and functional characterization of laminin receptor in the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain, in response to MCDV-1 challenge.

Laminin receptor (LR), which mediating cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix, plays a crucial role in cell signaling and regulatory functions. In the present study, a laminin receptor gene (SpLR) was cloned and characterized from the mud crab (Scylla paramamosain). The full length of SpLR contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 960 bp encoding 319 amino acids, a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 66 bp and a 3' UTR of 49 bp. The predicted protein comprised two Ribosomal-S2 domains and a 40S-SA-C domain. The mRNA of SpLR was highly expressed in the gill, followed by the hepatopancreas. The expression of SpLR was up-regulated after mud crab dicistrovirus-1(MCDV-1) infection. Knocking down SpLR in vivo by RNA interference significantly down-regulated the expression of the immune genes SpJAK, SpSTAT, SpToll1, SpALF1 and SpALF5. This study shown that the expression level of SpToll1 and SpCAM in SpLR-interfered group significantly increased after MCDV-1 infection. Moreover, silencing of SpLR in vivo decreased the MCDV-1 replication and increased the survival rate of mud crabs after MCDV-1 infection. These findings collectively suggest a pivotal role for SpLR in the mud crab's response to MCDV-1 infection. By influencing the expression of critical innate immune factors and impacting viral replication dynamics, SpLR emerges as a key player in the intricate host-pathogen interaction, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying MCDV-1 pathogenesis in mud crabs.

The COP9 signalosome stabilized MALT1 promotes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer progression through activation of NF-κB pathway.

MALT1 has been implicated as an upstream regulator of NF-κB signaling in immune cells and tumors. This study determined the regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of MALT1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In cell culture and orthotopic xenograft models, MALT1 suppression via gene expression interference or protein activity inhibition significantly impaired malignant phenotypes and enhanced radiation sensitivity of NSCLC cells. CSN5, the core subunit of COP9 signalosome, was firstly verified to stabilize MALT1 via disturbing the interaction with E3 ligase FBXO3. Loss of FBXO3 in NSCLC cells reduced MALT1 ubiquitination and promoted its accumulation, which was reversed by CSN5 interference. An association between CSN5/FBXO3/MALT1 regulatory axis and poor prognosis in NSCLC patients was identified. Our findings revealed the detail mechanism of continuous MALT1 activation in NF-κB signaling, highlighting its significance as predictor and potential therapeutic target in NSCLC.

Recent advance of ATP citrate lyase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and related diseases.

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), a strategic metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the glycolytic to lipidic metabolism, has gained increasing attention as an attractive therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia, cancers and other human diseases. Despite of continual research efforts, targeting ACLY has been very challenging. In this field, most reported ACLY inhibitors are "substrate-like" analogues, which occupied with the same active pockets. Besides, some ACLY inhibitors have been disclosed through biochemical screening or high throughput virtual screening. In this review, we briefly summarized the cancer-related functions and the recent advance of ACLY inhibitors with a particular focus on the SAR studies and their modes of action. We hope to provide a timely and updated overview of ACLY and the discovery of new ACLY inhibitors.

Discovery of novel selective phosphodiesterase­1 inhibitors for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults. PDE1 (Phosphodiesterase 1) is a subfamily of the PDE super-enzyme families that can hydrolyze the second messengers cAMP and cGMP simultaneously. Previous research has shown that suppressing the gene expression of PDE1 can trigger apoptosis of human leukemia cells. However, no selective PDE1 inhibitors have been used to explore whether PDE1 is a potential target for treating AML. Based on our previously reported PDE9/PDE1 dual inhibitor 11a, a series of novel pyrazolopyrimidinone derivatives were designed in this study. The lead compound 6c showed an IC50 of 7.5 nM against PDE1, excellent selectivity over other PDEs and good metabolic stability. In AML cells, compound 6c significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis. Further experiments indicated that the apoptosis induced by 6c was through a mitochondria-dependent pathway by decreasing the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and increasing the cleavage of caspase-3, 7, 9, and PARP. All these results suggested that PDE1 might be a novel target for AML.

Emerging isolation and degradation technology of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment.

Microplastics (MPs, less than 5 mm in size) are widely distributed in surroundings in various forms and ways, and threaten ecosystems security and human health. Its environmental behavior as pollutants carrier and the after-effects exposed to MPs has been extensively exploited; whereas, current knowledge on technologies for the separation and degradation of MPs is relatively limited. It is essential to isolate MPs from surroundings and/or degrade to safe levels. This in-depth review details the origin and distribution of MPs. Provides a comprehensive summary of currently available MPs separation and degradation technologies, and discusses the mechanisms, challenges, and application prospects of these technologies. Comparison of the contribution of various separation methods to the separation of NPs and MPs. Furthermore, the latest research trends and direction in bio-degradation technology are outlooked.

Different effects of inspiratory duration and expiratory duration on heart rate deceleration capacity and heart rate asymmetry.

PURPOSE: Low values of heart rate deceleration capacity (DC) and heart rate asymmetry (HRA) are associated with cardiovascular risks. Slow respiration has been proven to enhance the magnitudes of these indexes, but individual inspiratory (TI) and expiratory (TE) durations were not controlled in most studies. This study aims to examine whether the effects of TI and TE on these indexes would be the same and, if not, how to adjust TI and TE to maximize the effect of slow respiration. METHODS: We evaluated 14 seated healthy young adults who randomly controlled their breathing to nine combinations of TI and TE, each chosen respectively from 2, 4, and 6 s. A 5-min R-R interval time series was obtained from each study period for further analysis. RESULTS: The magnitude of DC increased when TI or TE increased, while that of acceleration capacity (AC) remained almost unchanged by TI. We further defined a new index as 100 × DC2/(DC2 + AC2) and found it to be correlated with conventional Guzik's (r = 0.94) and Porta's (r = 0.99) indexes of HRA during different combinations of TI and TE. Increasing TI and increasing TE both enhanced the magnitudes of HRA indexes, with TI taking effect when ≤ 4 s, and TE taking effect when > 4 s. DC and HRA indexes were maximized with a TI of 4 s and a TE of 6 s. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a TI of 3-4 s with a TE of 7-6 s is an appropriate standard for slow respiration.

Effect of vinegar steaming on the composition and structure of Schisandra chinensis polysaccharide and its anti-colitis activity.

In this study, infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) technology were applied to systematically explain the Schisandra chinensis's polysaccharide transformation in configuration, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) activity after vinegar processing. Scanning electron microscopic results showed that the appearance of S. chinensis polysaccharide changed significantly after steaming with vinegar. The MALDI-TOF-MS results showed that the mass spectra of raw S. chinensis polysaccharides (RSCP) were slightly lower than those of vinegar-processed S. chinensis polysaccharides (VSCP). The RSCP showed higher peaks at m/z 1350.790, 2016.796, and 2665.985, all with left-skewed distribution, and the molecular weights were concentrated in the range of 1300-3100, with no higher peak above m/z 5000. The VSCPs showed a whole band below m/z 3000, with m/z 1021.096 being the highest peak, and the intensity decreased with the increase of m/z. In addition, compared to RSCPs, VSCPs can significantly increase the content of intestinal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This study showed that the apparent morphology and molecular weight of S. chinensis's polysaccharides significantly changed after steaming with vinegar. These changes directly affect its anti-UC effect significantly, and its mechanism is closely related to improving the structure and diversity of gut microbiota and SCFA metabolism.

First Report of Root and Bulb Rot Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-6 on Lanzhou Lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) in China.

Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) is the only famous sweet lily variety that has high edible, medicinal and ornamental value in China, which is mostly planted in the middle areas of Gansu Province in China. In recent years, severe yellowing and wilting of leaves, stem wilt, root and bulb rot symptoms were observed on Lanzhou lily in Qilihe District, Lanzhou, which has resulted in serious loss of bulb production. From June to August 2022, a survey of Lanzhou lily disease was carried out in Xiguoyuan and Weiling township of Qilihe District, Lanzhou. Typical symptoms of root and bulb rot were observed in Lanzhou lily fields. The disease incidence was estimated up to 30%. Fragments of symptomatic roots and bulbs were surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 10 s, 2% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, washed three times with sterilized distilled water, and then blotted dry on sterile filter paper. Fragments were placed on PDA medium and incubated at 25 ± 1°C in darkness for 5 days and 2 isolates were purified by the single-tip culture. Colonies of the fungus were white initially, and then turned light brown to brown, raised, and with entire or undulate edges. Sclerotia were brown and produced on PDA after 25 days of incubation at 25 ± 1°C in the dark. Genomic DNA from each of the two isolates was extracted, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified and sequenced with the primer pair ITS5/ITS4 (White et al. 1990). The sequences of strains QLH22LD01 and QLH22LD02 were deposited in GenBank (OR710804 and OR710805). Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the Maximum Likelihood method with ITS sequences for anastomosis groups (AG) of Rhizoctonia solani. The phylogenetic tree grouped the two isolates within the R. solani AG-6 clade with high bootstrap support (100%). PCR analysis was performed with 21 primers specifically designed to detect individual anastomosis groups or anastomosis subgroups of R. solani (Carling et al., 2002; Misawa and Kurose, 2019; Misawa et al., 2020; Okubara et al., 2008). Among the 21 specific primer pairs, only AG-6 specific primer amplified the fungal DNA, indicating that the two isolates tested belonged to the R. solani AG-6. Therefore, these two strains were identified as R. solani AG-6. For pathogenicity tests, two isolates were grown individually on sterile wheat kernels at 25 ± 1°C for 14 days. Certified pathogen-free Lanzhou lily bulbs were grown in the plastic pot filled with the sterilized soil. Fifteen 2- week-old plants were inoculated by digging the soil and burying ten infested wheat kernels in the soil adjacent to the roots. Control plants were inoculated with sterile wheat kernels using the same procedure. All plants were placed in a greenhouse with a 12h/12h light/dark photoperiod at 15 to 30°C. Fifty days after inoculation, typical root and bulb rot symptoms developed on all inoculated plants, similar to symptoms observed in the field, whereas control plants remained symptomless. Pathogenicity test was performed three times with similar to symptoms observed in the field. Finally, the fungi were reisolated from the symptomatic plants and identified by molecular analysis as the isolates used for inoculation, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed report of R. solani AG-6 causing root and bulb rot on Lanzhou lily in China. Our findings improve knowledge about R. solani AGs occurring in Lanzhou lily fields in China. Due to serious damages caused by this disease in recent years in China, further studies should be conducted to investigate the diversity, prevalence, disease control measures and fungicide sensitivity of AGs distributed in the main Lanzhou lily-producing states in China.