Enhanced multiferroic properties of NZCFO-BNFSO composites: Synthesis, characterization, and performance analysis.

The structural and multiferroic properties of xNi0.24Zn0.58Cu0.18Fe2O4(NZCFO)-(1-x)Bi0.9Nd0.1Fe0.95 Sc0.05O3(BNFSO) are explored in this paper. Bi2O3 additives significantly lower the sintering temperature of the composites. The XRD analysis validates the coexistence of hexagonal perovskite BNFSO and spinel NZCFO phases. The FESEM images illustrate an almost homogeneous amalgamation of the BNFSO and NZCFO grains. The real part of initial permeability and the relative quality factor increases with NZCFO contents in the composites. The maximum permeability is observed for the composite with 80 % ferrite content. The ferroelectric BNFSO exhibits antiferromagnetic behavior and with the increase in NZCFO the saturation magnetization increases significantly. The dielectric constant confirms typical dielectric dispersion at low frequencies because of Maxwell-Wagner space charge polarization. The P-E hysteresis measurement reveals that the composite with 40 % ferrite content exhibits the highest loop area and hence a large energy storage capacity. Incorporating BNFSO and NZCFO into the composite boosts the multiferroic properties, which might be a suitable alternative to single-phase multiferroics.

Residential variations in hypertension prevalence and trends among adults in Bangladesh.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is a widespread and life-threatening condition globally, with its prevalence increasing rapidly, particularly among adults. This study aims to examine the trend in adult hypertension prevalence and associated risk factors in both urban and rural areas of Bangladesh from 2011 to 2018. METHODS: Nationally representative cross-sectional data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey was used at two time points, 2011 and 2018. In our study, we used a two-step approach for variable selection, combining traditional statistical methods ( χ 2 test) with a machine learning algorithm (Boruta algorithm).. This study also employed two different multivariate binary logistic regression models to identify the risk factors that are most closely connected to the presence of hypertension (respectively for urban and rural locations). RESULTS: According to the study, hypertension has been on the rise in Bangladesh. In 2011, over a third of adults (38.7%) in urban Bangladesh had hypertension, a number that rose by 22.6% in 2017-18. Though rural areas had a lower hypertension prevalence in 2011 (36%), it surged to 64% in 2017-18, surpassing the rate in urban areas. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that age, gender, education, wealth status, area, and survey year had a significant influence on the determinants of hypertension status in connection to place of residence. According to the odds ratio, the prevalence was significantly higher among older respondents, female respondents, wealthy families and higher-educated respondents. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of Bangladesh's adult population suffers from hypertension. A health education program is required to develop appropriate strategies, including appropriate weight control, appropriate physical activity, and healthier eating habits. Health authorities should take initiatives to spread awareness among people, particularly at an older age.

Draft genome sequencing of Pediococcus acidilactici strains isolated from cow's milk: unlocking insights into functional traits and applications.

Pediococcus acidilactici is a potential probiotic bacteria isolated from diverse sources. However, strains isolated from milk, especially from raw milk of healthy cows, have not been thoroughly studied. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of P. acidilactici strains MBBL5 and MBBL7, isolated from milk samples of healthy cows.

Development of recombinant proteins for vaccine candidates against serotypes O and A of Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus in Bangladesh.

Frequent vaccine failure leading to recurrent outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in livestock populations necessitates the development of a customizable vaccine platform comprising potential antigenic determinants of circulating lineages of FMD viruses. Artificially designed, chimaeric protein-based recombinant vaccines are novel approaches to combat the phylogenetically diverse FMD Virus (FMDV) strains. Among seven recognized serotypes, only serotypes O and A are dominantly circulating in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries of Asia, where transboundary transmission, recurrent outbreaks and emergence of novel lineages of FMDV are highly prevalent. The objective of this study was to develop multi-epitope recombinant proteins, procuring immunogenicity against circulating diverse genotypes of FMDV serotypes O and A. Two chimaeric proteins, named B1 (41.0 kDa) and B3 (39.3 kDa), have been designed to incorporate potential B-cell and T-cell epitopes selected from multiple FMDV strains, including previously reported and newly emerged sub-lineages. After expression, characterization and immunization of guinea pigs with a considerable antigen load of B1 and B3 followed by serological assays revealed the significant protective immunogenicity, developed from the higher (100 µg) doses of both antigens, against most of the currently prevalent serotype O and A strains of FMDV. The efficient expression, antigenic stability, and multivalent immunogenic potency of the chimaeric proteins strongly indicate their credibility as novel vaccine candidates for existing serotypes O and A of FMDV in Bangladesh and surrounding territories.

N-terminal cysteine acetylation and oxidation patterns may define protein stability.

Oxygen homeostasis is maintained in plants and animals by O2-sensing enzymes initiating adaptive responses to low O2 (hypoxia). Recently, the O2-sensitive enzyme ADO was shown to initiate degradation of target proteins RGS4/5 and IL32 via the Cysteine/Arginine N-degron pathway. ADO functions by catalysing oxidation of N-terminal cysteine residues, but despite multiple proteins in the human proteome having an N-terminal cysteine, other endogenous ADO substrates have not yet been identified. This could be because alternative modifications of N-terminal cysteine residues, including acetylation, prevent ADO-catalysed oxidation. Here we investigate the relationship between ADO-catalysed oxidation and NatA-catalysed acetylation of a broad range of protein sequences with N-terminal cysteines. We present evidence that human NatA catalyses N-terminal cysteine acetylation in vitro and in vivo. We then show that sequences downstream of the N-terminal cysteine dictate whether this residue is oxidised or acetylated, with ADO preferring basic and aromatic amino acids and NatA preferring acidic or polar residues. In vitro, the two modifications appear to be mutually exclusive, suggesting that distinct pools of N-terminal cysteine proteins may be acetylated or oxidised. These results reveal the sequence determinants that contribute to N-terminal cysteine protein modifications, with implications for O2-dependent protein stability and the hypoxic response.

Antibody Response after Homologous and Heterologous Prime-Boost COVID-19 Vaccination in a Bangladeshi Residential University Cohort.

COVID-19 vaccination strategies, including heterologous prime-boost regimens and additional booster doses, aim to optimize immune responses. However, seroepidemiological studies on immune responses to different COVID-19 vaccine types and schedules remain limited. This study investigated antibody levels following homologous and heterologous prime-and-boost COVID-19 vaccination in Bangladesh. In a cohort of 606 participants who received first/second/booster doses of vaccines (AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Sinopharm), anti-spike IgG and anti-nucleocapsid IgG levels were measured. Antibody titer variations with respect to age, gender, intervals between doses, and prior infection status were analyzed. mRNA vaccines elicited the highest antibody levels after homologous and heterologous boosting. The AstraZeneca booster resulted in a sharp titer decline rate of ~0.04 units per day. Second or booster vaccine doses significantly increased antibody levels, especially in males (p < 0.05). Older age correlated with higher titers, likely reflecting previous infection, which was further confirmed by the elevation of anti-nucleocapsid IgG levels. About 95.5% of non-Sinopharm recipients were anti-nucleocapsid IgG positive, suggesting prior exposure exceeding self-reported infections (12.5%). mRNA and heterologous COVID-19 boosting enhances humoral immunity over homologous prime-boost vector/inactivated vaccination. However, waning immunity merits further investigation across vaccine platforms.

Draft genome sequencing of Pediococcus pentosaceus strains isolated from cow milk.

We sequenced the genomes of Pediococcus pentosaceus strains MBBL4 and MBBL6, isolated from raw milk samples of healthy cows. The draft genomes of the MBBL4 and MBBL6 were 1,896,831 bp and 1,849,397 bp, respectively, and were fragmented into 58 and 42 contigs, with coverages of 118.2× and 128.7×, respectively.

Individual- and community-level factors associated with the presence of adequate iodized salt in households in Bangladesh: a multilevel modelling approach.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to estimate the factors at both the individual and community levels related to the adequacy of iodized salt in households in Bangladesh. METHODS: For this study we utilized the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey data. A total of 61 242 households were chosen as samples from Bangladesh. In our study of socio-economic disparities, we applied a concentration indexing method. To identify the factors associated with the adequacy of iodine in salt at both the individual and community levels, we employed multilevel logistic regression. Aside from the multilevel regression used in the study, we also applied spatial analysis. RESULTS: The results indicated that the prevalence of iodine adequacy in household salt was found to be 57.8% (95% confidence interval 57.4 to 58.2). Rural areas have a higher concentration of iodine than urban areas. According to the multilevel model, younger women (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.70), Muslim women (aOR 0.89), illiterate women (aOR 0.80) and those from poor households (aOR 0.33) were found to be less likely to consume iodine in concentrated salt compared with their counterparts. Disabled women and those with low media exposure have a lower likelihood of iodine adequacy in salt compared to their reference group. Furthermore, households in urban areas exhibited higher odds of having iodine adequacy in salt compared with households in rural areas. Barisal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions have lower iodine adequacy in salt compared with Sylhet Division. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reveal that religion, physical disability and exposure to media exert an equal influence on the presence of iodized salt intake. Moreover, women's age, wealth status, education level and the educational background of the household head positively contribute to the adequacy of iodine in household salt. In light of these results, policymakers are advised to prioritize efforts aimed at enhancing iodine concentration, with a particular focus on mass media advertising, especially in rural areas (excluding Sylhet Division).

Phylogenetic diversity and functional potential of large and cell-associated viruses in the Bay of Bengal.

IMPORTANCE: The BoB, the world's largest bay, is of significant economic importance to surrounding countries, particularly Bangladesh, which heavily relies on its coastal resources. Concurrently, the BoB holds substantial ecological relevance due to the region's high vulnerability to climate change-induced impacts. Yet, our understanding of the BoB's microbiome in relation to marine food web and biogeochemical cycling remains limited. Particularly, there are little or no data on the viral diversity and host association in the BoB. We examined the viral community in two distinct BoB coastal regions to reveal a multitude of viral species interacting with a wide range of microbial hosts, some of which play key roles in coastal biogeochemical cycling or potential pathogens. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the BoB coast harbors a diverse community of large and giant viruses, underscoring the importance of investigating understudied environments to discover novel viral lineages with complex metabolic capacities.

Optimizing SARS-CoV-2 Immunoassays for Specificity in Dengue-Co-Endemic Areas.

Introduction The overlap in clinical presentation between COVID-19 and dengue poses challenges for diagnosis in co-endemic regions. Furthermore, there have been reports of antibody cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and dengue. Our research aims to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 antigens for serological testing while reducing the possibility of cross-reactivity with anti-dengue antibodies. Method Two hundred and ten serum samples were collected from 179 patients and divided into four panels. Panels 1 and 2 consisted of COVID-19-negative healthy donors (n=81) and pre-pandemic dengue patients (n=50), respectively. Alternatively, Panel 3 (n=19) was composed of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)-positive samples collected within two weeks of COVID-19 symptom onset, while Panel 4 (n=60) was composed of positive samples collected after two weeks of symptom onset. Previously developed and characterized in-house SARS-CoV-2 spike-1 (S1), receptor binding domain (RBD), and nucleocapsid (N) immunoglobin G (IgG)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays were used for the study. Results Six dengue-positive sera cross-reacted with the RBD of SARS-CoV-2. However, only one dengue-positive sera cross-reacted with the S1 and N proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Co-immobilization of S1 and RBD in different ratios revealed an 80:20 (S1:RBD) ratio as optimal for achieving an overall 96.2% sensitivity with the least cross-reaction to anti-dengue antibodies. Conclusion Our findings indicated that SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based immunoassays present more cross-reactivity with anti-dengue antibodies than S1 and N proteins. Furthermore, co-immobilization of S1 and RBD reduces the cross-reactivity with anti-dengue antibodies compared to RBD, thereby increasing the immunoassay specificity without affecting overall sensitivity for the dengue-endemic areas.

Phylogenetic diversity and functional potential of the microbial communities along the Bay of Bengal coast.

The Bay of Bengal, the world's largest bay, is bordered by populous countries and rich in resources like fisheries, oil, gas, and minerals, while also hosting diverse marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds; regrettably, its microbial diversity and ecological significance have received limited research attention. Here, we present amplicon (16S and 18S) profiling and shotgun metagenomics data regarding microbial communities from BoB's eastern coast, viz., Saint Martin and Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. From the 16S barcoding data, Proteobacteria appeared to be the dominant phylum in both locations, with Alteromonas, Methylophaga, Anaerospora, Marivita, and Vibrio dominating in Cox's Bazar and Pseudoalteromonas, Nautella, Marinomonas, Vibrio, and Alteromonas dominating the Saint Martin site. From the 18S barcoding data, Ochrophyta, Chlorophyta, and Protalveolata appeared among the most abundant eukaryotic divisions in both locations, with significantly higher abundance of Choanoflagellida, Florideophycidae, and Dinoflagellata in Cox's Bazar. The shotgun sequencing data reveals that in both locations, Alteromonas is the most prevalent bacterial genus, closely paralleling the dominance observed in the metabarcoding data, with Methylophaga in Cox's Bazar and Vibrio in Saint Martin. Functional annotations revealed that the microbial communities in these samples harbor genes for biofilm formation, quorum sensing, xenobiotics degradation, antimicrobial resistance, and a variety of other processes. Together, these results provide the first molecular insight into the functional and phylogenetic diversity of microbes along the BoB coast of Bangladesh. This baseline understanding of microbial community structure and functional potential will be critical for assessing impacts of climate change, pollution, and other anthropogenic disturbances on this ecologically and economically vital bay.

Molecular Mapping to Discover Reliable Salinity-Resilient QTLs from the Novel Landrace Akundi in Two Bi-Parental Populations Using SNP-Based Genome-Wide Analysis in Rice.

Achieving high-yield potential is always the ultimate objective of any breeding program. However, various abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, cold, flood, and heat hampered rice productivity tremendously. Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses that adversely affect rice grain yield. The present investigation was undertaken to dissect new genetic loci, which are responsible for salt tolerance at the early seedling stage in rice. A bi-parental mapping population (F2:3) was developed from the cross between BRRI dhan28/Akundi, where BRRI dhan28 (BR28) is a salt-sensitive irrigated (boro) rice mega variety and Akundi is a highly salinity-tolerant Bangladeshi origin indica rice landrace that is utilized as a donor parent. We report reliable and stable QTLs for salt tolerance from a common donor (Akundi) irrespective of two different genetic backgrounds (BRRI dhan49/Akundi and BRRI dhan28/Akundi). A robust 1k-Rice Custom Amplicon (1k-RiCA) SNP marker genotyping platform was used for genome-wide analysis of this bi-parental population. After eliminating markers with high segregation distortion, 886 polymorphic SNPs built a genetic linkage map covering 1526.5 cM of whole rice genome with an average SNP density of 1.72 cM for the 12 genetic linkage groups. A total of 12 QTLs for nine different salt tolerance-related traits were identified using QGene and inclusive composite interval mapping of additive and dominant QTL (ICIM-ADD) under salt stress on seven different chromosomes. All of these 12 new QTLs were found to be unique, as no other map from the previous study has reported these QTLs in the similar chromosomal location and found them different from extensively studied Saltol, SKC1, OsSalT, and salT locus. Twenty-eight significant digenic/epistatic interactions were identified between chromosomal regions linked to or unlinked to QTLs. Akundi acts like a new alternate donor source of salt tolerance except for other usually known donors such as Nona Bokra, Pokkali, Capsule, and Hasawi used in salt tolerance genetic analysis and breeding programs worldwide, including Bangladesh. Integration of the seven novel, reliable, stable, and background independent salinity-resilient QTLs (qSES1, qSL1, qRL1, qSUR1, qSL8, qK8, qK1) reported in this investigation will expedite the cultivar development that is highly tolerant to salt stress.

Emergence of a novel sublineage, MYMBD21 under SA-2018 lineage of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus serotype O in Bangladesh.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) hinders the growth of the livestock industry in endemic countries like Bangladesh. The management and prevention of FMD are severely impacted by the high mutation rate and subsequent frequent generation of newer genotypes of the causative agent, Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV). The current study was conducted in nine districts of Bangladesh during 2019-21 to characterize the circulating FMDV strains based on the VP1 sequence analysis, the major antigenic recognition site providing serotype specificity and high variability of FMDV. This study detected the first emergence of the SA-2018 lineage in Bangladesh along with the predominance of Ind-2001e (or Ind-2001BD1) sublineage of ME-SA topotype under serotype O during 2019-21. The mutational spectrum, evolutionary divergence analysis and multidimensional plotting confirmed the isolates collected from Mymensingh districts, designated as MYMBD21 as a novel sublineage under the SA-2018 lineage. Analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed several changes in the G-H loop, B-C loop and C-terminal region of VP1, revealing a 12-13% divergence from the existing vaccine strains and a 95% VP1 protein homology, with most of the mutations potentially considerable as vaccine escape mutations, evidenced by three-dimensional structural analysis. This is the first report on the emergence of the SA-2018 lineage of ME-SA topotype of FMDV serotype O in Bangladesh, as well as a possible mutational trend towards the emergence of a distinct sublineage under SA-2018 lineage, which calls for in-depth genome-wide analysis and monitoring of the FMD situation in the country to implement a strategic vaccination and effective FMD control program.

ATM suppresses c-Myc overexpression in the mammary epithelium in response to estrogen.

ATM gene mutation carriers are predisposed to estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer (BC). ATM prevents BC oncogenesis by activating p53 in every cell; however, much remains unknown about tissue-specific oncogenesis after ATM loss. Here, we report that ATM controls the early transcriptional response to estrogens. This response depends on topoisomerase II (TOP2), which generates TOP2-DNA double-strand break (DSB) complexes and rejoins the breaks. When TOP2-mediated ligation fails, ATM facilitates DSB repair. After estrogen exposure, TOP2-dependent DSBs arise at the c-MYC enhancer in human BC cells, and their defective repair changes the activation profile of enhancers and induces the overexpression of many genes, including the c-MYC oncogene. CRISPR/Cas9 cleavage at the enhancer also causes c-MYC overexpression, indicating that this DSB causes c-MYC overexpression. Estrogen treatment induced c-Myc protein overexpression in mammary epithelial cells of ATM-deficient mice. In conclusion, ATM suppresses the c-Myc-driven proliferative effects of estrogens, possibly explaining such tissue-specific oncogenesis.

Continent-wide evidence that landscape context can mediate the effects of local habitats on in-field abundance of pests and natural enemies.

Landscape-scale factors known to influence in-field abundance of pest herbivores and their natural enemies, but little is known about effects that operate through the shorter-range influences exerted by habitats immediately adjacent to crop fields.This study first compared the abundance of brassica insect pests and their natural enemy arthropods in 24 spatially independent brassica vegetable fields across southern Australia. An 'edge effect' index was used to compare the abundance of each taxon in the field center with abundance in areas of the crop adjacent to differing habitats. Then, three landscape properties: landscape composition, edge density, and connectivity of diverse crop and non-crop habitats were analyzed at five scales up to 5 km from these focal field centers to assess longer-range influences on arthropod abundances in field centers and on the edge effects.Edge effect of adjacent woody vegetation promoted ladybirds and reduced diamondback moth and whiteflies. Conversely, the presence of crops and pastures immediately adjacent to focal crop fields reduced whiteflies and aphids but with no effect on natural enemies.Effect of landscape composition and connectivity on arthropod abundance at field center found promotion of aphids (cabbage aphid and green peach aphid) by woodland in the landscape.Effect of landscape properties on the edge effects of adjacent habitats was contrasting; strengthened (landscape composition and edge density on edge effect of crops, pasture and woody vegetation in reducing diamondback moth and whiteflies) as well as weakened (edge density and landscape connectivity on edge effect of crops, pasture and woody vegetation in reducing diamondback moth on diamondback moth, whiteflies and aphids, and promoting ladybirds). Synthesis and applications: Findings of this geographically extensive study help define the level of pest risk associated with sites as well as suggest potential interventions such as establishment or restorations of woody vegetation adjacent to crop fields that could reduce risk.

Physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids induce pathological DNA double-strand breaks.

Steroid hormones induce the transcription of target genes by activating nuclear receptors. Early transcriptional response to various stimuli, including hormones, involves the active catalysis of topoisomerase II (TOP2) at transcription regulatory sequences. TOP2 untangles DNAs by transiently generating double-strand breaks (DSBs), where TOP2 covalently binds to DSB ends. When TOP2 fails to rejoin, called "abortive" catalysis, the resulting DSBs are repaired by tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 2 (TDP2) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). A steroid, cortisol, is the most important glucocorticoid, and dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid, is widely used for suppressing inflammation in clinics. We here revealed that clinically relevant concentrations of Dex and physiological concentrations of cortisol efficiently induce DSBs in G1 phase cells deficient in TDP2 and NHEJ. The DSB induction depends on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and TOP2. Considering the specific role of TDP2 in removing TOP2 adducts from DSB ends, induced DSBs most likely represent stalled TOP2-DSB complexes. Inhibition of RNA polymerase II suppressed the DSBs formation only modestly in the G1 phase. We propose that cortisol and Dex frequently generate DSBs through the abortive catalysis of TOP2 at transcriptional regulatory sequences, including promoters or enhancers, where active TOP2 catalysis occurs during early transcriptional response.

Effects of cholesterol on the anionic magnetite nanoparticle-induced deformation and poration of giant lipid vesicles.

We have investigated the effects of cholesterol on the deformation and poration of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) induced by anionic magnetite nanoparticles (NPs). Negatively charged lipid, neutral lipid, and cholesterol were used to prepare the charged GUVs (surface charge density of membranes - 0.16 C m-2), while only neutral lipid and cholesterol were used to prepare the neutral GUVs. Cholesterol content varied from 0 to 40 mole% for preparing the biologically relevant membranes. The degree of deformation has been characterized by compactness, the value of which remains at 1.0 for spherical GUVs. The value of compactness increases with time for both membranes, but this increase depends on cholesterol content. The average compactness decreases with cholesterol content, and at 60 min, the values are 1.280 ± 0.002 and 1.131 ± 0.010 for 0 and 40 mole% cholesterol containing charged GUVs. The average compactness is relatively lower for neutral GUVs for the corresponding cholesterol. Membrane poration has been investigated by the leakage of calcein, which indicates a two-state transition model. The fraction of deformation is higher for charged GUVs than for neutral ones, while the fraction of poration shows the opposite result. Both the fractions decrease with cholesterol content.

Influence of sugar concentration on the vesicle compactness, deformation and membrane poration induced by anionic nanoparticles.

Sugar plays a vital role in the structural and functional characteristics of cells. Hence, the interaction of NPs with cell membranes in the presence of sugar concentrations is important for medicinal and pharmacological innovations. This study integrated three tools: giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), anionic magnetite nanoparticles (NPs), and sugar concentrations, to understand a simplified mechanism for interactions between the vesicle membranes and NPs under various sugar concentrations. We focused on changing the sugar concentration in aqueous solution; more precisely, sucrose inside the GUVs and glucose outside with equal osmolarity. 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (sodium salt) (DOPG) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) were used to prepare the charged membranes of 40mole%DOPG/60mole%DOPC-GUVs, whereas only DOPC was used to prepare the neutral membranes. Phase contrast fluorescence microscopy shows that the adherence of 18 nm magnetite NPs with anionic charge depends on the sugar concentration. The alterations of GUVs induced by the NPs are characterized in terms of i) vesicle compactness, ii) deformation, and iii) membrane poration. The presence of sugar provides additional structural stability to the GUVs and reduces the effects of the NPs with respect to these parameters; more precisely, the higher the sugar concentration, the smaller the alteration induced by the NPs. The differences in NPs effects are explained by the change in the type of interaction between sugar molecules and lipid membranes, namely enthalpy and entropy-driven interaction, respectively. In addition, such alterations are influenced by the surface charge density of the lipid bilayer. The surface pressure of membranes due to the adsorption of NPs is responsible for inducing the poration in membranes. The differences in deformation and poration in charged and neutral GUVs under various sugar concentrations are discussed based on the structure of the head of lipid molecules.

Genetic Mapping to Detect Stringent QTLs Using 1k-RiCA SNP Genotyping Platform from the New Landrace Associated with Salt Tolerance at the Seedling Stage in Rice.

Rice is the world's most important food crop, providing the daily calorie intake for more than half of the world's population. Rice breeding has always been preoccupied with maximizing yield potential. However, numerous abiotic factors, such as salt, cold, drought, and heat, significantly reduce rice productivity. Salinity, one of the major abiotic stresses, reduces rice yield worldwide. This study was conducted to determine new quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that regulate salt tolerance in rice seedlings. One F2:3 mapping population was derived from a cross between BRRI dhan49 (a popular but sensitive rainfed rice variety) and Akundi (a salt-tolerant rice landrace in Bangladesh used as a donor parent). The 1k-Rice Custom Amplicon (1k-RiCA) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were used to genotype this mapping population. After removing segregation distortion and monomorphic markers, 884 SNPs generated a 1526.8 cM-long genetic linkage map with a mean marker density of 1.7 cM for the 12 linkage groups. By exploiting QGene and ICIM-ADD, a sum of 15 QTLs for nine traits was identified in salt stress on seven chromosomes. Four important genomic loci were identified (qSES1, qSL1, qSUR1 and qRL1) on chromosome 1. Out of these 15 QTLs, 14 QTLs are unique, as no other study has mapped in the same chromosomal location. We also detected 15 putative candidate genes and their functions. The ICIM-EPI approach identified 43 significant pairwise epistasis interactions between regions associated with and unassociated with QTLs. Apart from more well-known donors, Akundi serves as an important new donor source for global salt tolerance breeding initiatives, including Bangladesh. The introgression of the novel QTLs identified in this study will accelerate the development of new salt-tolerant varieties that are highly resistant to salt stress using marker-enabled breeding.