ARV1 deficiency induces lipid bilayer stress and enhances rDNA stability by activating the unfolded protein response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The stability of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is maintained through transcriptional silencing by the NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase Sir2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Alongside proteostasis, rDNA stability is a crucial factor regulating the replicative lifespan of S. cerevisiae. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is induced by misfolding of proteins or an imbalance of membrane lipid composition and is responsible for degrading misfolded proteins and restoring endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane homeostasis. Recent investigations have suggested that the UPR can extend the replicative lifespan of yeast by enhancing protein quality control mechanisms, but the relationship between the UPR and rDNA stability remains unknown. In this study, we found that the deletion of ARV1, which encodes an ER protein of unknown molecular function, activates the UPR by inducing lipid bilayer stress. In arv1Δ cells, the UPR and the cell wall integrity pathway are activated independently of each other, and the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway is activated in a manner dependent on Ire1, which mediates the UPR. Activated Hog1 translocates the stress response transcription factor Msn2 to the nucleus, where it promotes the expression of nicotinamidase Pnc1, a well-known Sir2 activator. Following Sir2 activation, rDNA silencing and rDNA stability are promoted. Furthermore, the loss of other ER proteins, such as Pmt1 or Bst1, and ER stress induced by tunicamycin or inositol depletion also enhance rDNA stability in a Hog1-dependent manner. Collectively, these findings suggest that the induction of the UPR enhances rDNA stability in S. cerevisiae by promoting the Msn2-Pnc1-Sir2 pathway in a Hog1-dependent manner.

Amino acid metabolism and MAP kinase signaling pathway play opposite roles in the regulation of ethanol production during fermentation of sugarcane molasses in budding yeast.

Sugarcane molasses is one of the main raw materials for bioethanol production, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the major biofuel-producing organism. In this study, a batch fermentation model has been used to examine ethanol titers of deletion mutants for all yeast nonessential genes in this yeast genome. A total of 42 genes are identified to be involved in ethanol production during fermentation of sugarcane molasses. Deletion mutants of seventeen genes show increased ethanol titers, while deletion mutants for twenty-five genes exhibit reduced ethanol titers. Two MAP kinases Hog1 and Kss1 controlling the high osmolarity and glycerol (HOG) signaling and the filamentous growth, respectively, are negatively involved in the regulation of ethanol production. In addition, twelve genes involved in amino acid metabolism are crucial for ethanol production during fermentation. Our findings provide novel targets and strategies for genetically engineering industrial yeast strains to improve ethanol titer during fermentation of sugarcane molasses.

Turnover and bypass of p21-activated kinase during Cdc42-dependent MAPK signaling in yeast.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways regulate multiple cellular behaviors, including the response to stress and cell differentiation, and are highly conserved across eukaryotes. MAPK pathways can be activated by the interaction between the small GTPase Cdc42p and the p21-activated kinase (Ste20p in yeast). By studying MAPK pathway regulation in yeast, we recently found that the active conformation of Cdc42p is regulated by turnover, which impacts the activity of the pathway that regulates filamentous growth (fMAPK). Here, we show that Ste20p is regulated in a similar manner and is turned over by the 26S proteasome. This turnover did not occur when Ste20p was bound to Cdc42p, which presumably stabilized the protein to sustain MAPK pathway signaling. Although Ste20p is a major component of the fMAPK pathway, genetic approaches here identified a Ste20p-independent branch of signaling. Ste20p-independent signaling partially required the fMAPK pathway scaffold and Cdc42p-interacting protein, Bem4p, while Ste20p-dependent signaling required the 14-3-3 proteins, Bmh1p and Bmh2p. Interestingly, Ste20p-independent signaling was inhibited by one of the GTPase-activating proteins for Cdc42p, Rga1p, which unexpectedly dampened basal but not active fMAPK pathway activity. These new regulatory features of the Rho GTPase and p21-activated kinase module may extend to related pathways in other systems.

Two activating phosphorylation sites of Pbs2 MAP2K in the yeast HOG pathway are differentially dephosphorylated by four PP2C phosphatases Ptc1-Ptc4.

To cope with an increased external osmolarity, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae activates the Hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) through the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, which governs adaptive responses to osmostress. In the HOG pathway, two apparently redundant upstream branches, termed SLN1 and SHO1, activate cognate MAP3Ks (MAPKK kinase) Ssk2/22 and Ste11, respectively. These MAP3Ks, when activated, phosphorylate and thus activate the Pbs2 MAP2K (MAPK kinase), which in turn phosphorylates and activates Hog1. Previous studies have shown that protein tyrosine phosphatases and the serine/threonine protein phosphatases type 2C negatively regulate the HOG pathway to prevent its excessive and inappropriate activation, which is detrimental to cell growth. The tyrosine phosphatases Ptp2 and Ptp3 dephosphorylate Hog1 at Tyr-176, whereas the protein phosphatase type 2Cs Ptc1 and Ptc2 dephosphorylate Hog1 at Thr-174. In contrast, the identities of phosphatases that dephosphorylate Pbs2 remained less clear. Here, we examined the phosphorylation status of Pbs2 at the activating phosphorylation sites Ser-514 and Thr-518 (S514 and T518) in various mutants, both in the unstimulated and osmostressed conditions. Thus, we found that Ptc1-Ptc4 collectively regulate Pbs2 negatively, but each Ptc acts differently to the two phosphorylation sites in Pbs2. T518 is predominantly dephosphorylated by Ptc1, while S514 can be dephosphorylated by any of Ptc1-4 to an appreciable extent. We also show that Pbs2 dephosphorylation by Ptc1 requires the adaptor protein Nbp2 that recruits Ptc1 to Pbs2, thus highlighting the complex processes involved in regulating adaptive responses to osmostress.

Osmostress enhances activating phosphorylation of Hog1 MAP kinase by mono-phosphorylated Pbs2 MAP2K.

The MAP kinase (MAPK) Hog1 is the central regulator of osmoadaptation in yeast. When cells are exposed to high osmolarity, the functionally redundant Sho1 and Sln1 osmosensors, respectively, activate the Ste11-Pbs2-Hog1 MAPK cascade and the Ssk2/Ssk22-Pbs2-Hog1 MAPK cascade. In a canonical MAPK cascade, a MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K) activates a MAPK kinase (MAP2K) by phosphorylating two conserved Ser/Thr residues in the activation loop. Here, we report that the MAP3K Ste11 phosphorylates only one activating phosphorylation site (Thr-518) in Pbs2, whereas the MAP3Ks Ssk2/Ssk22 can phosphorylate both Ser-514 and Thr-518 under optimal osmostress conditions. Mono-phosphorylated Pbs2 cannot phosphorylate Hog1 unless the reaction between Pbs2 and Hog1 is enhanced by osmostress. The lack of the osmotic enhancement of the Pbs2-Hog1 reaction suppresses Hog1 activation by basal MAP3K activities and prevents pheromone-to-Hog1 crosstalk in the absence of osmostress. We also report that the rapid-and-transient Hog1 activation kinetics at mildly high osmolarities and the slow and prolonged activation kinetics at severely high osmolarities are both caused by a common feedback mechanism.

The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Hog1 Regulates Fungal Development, Pathogenicity, and Stress Response in Botryosphaeria dothidea.

The high-osmolarity glycerol mitogen-activated protein kinase (HOG-MAPK) pathway plays a central role in environmental stress adaptation in eukaryotes. However, the biological function of the HOG-MAPK pathway varies in different fungi. In this study, we investigated the HOG-MAPK pathway by inactivation of the core element Hog1 in Botryosphaeria dothidea, the causal agent of Botryosphaeria canker and apple ring rot. Targeted deletion of BdHOG1 resulted in the loss of conidiation ability and significant reduction of virulence. In addition, the ΔBdHog1 mutant exhibited hypersensitivity to osmotic stress but resistance to phenylpyrrole and dicarboximide fungicides. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that inactivation of BdHog1 influenced multiple metabolic pathways in B. dothidea. Taken together, our results suggest that BdHog1 plays a crucial role in development, virulence, and stress tolerance in B. dothidea, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of target-based fungicides.

Resistance mechanism of Phomopsis longicolla to fludioxonil is associated with modifications in PlOS1, PlOS4 and PlOS5.

Phomopsis longicolla, a causal agent of soybean root rot, stem blight, seed decay, pod and stem canker, which seriously affects the yield and quality of soybean production worldwide. The phenylpyrrole fungicide fludioxonil exhibits a broad spectrum and high activity against phytopathogenic fungi. In this study, the baseline sensitivity of 100 P. longicolla isolates collected from the main soybean production areas of China to fludioxonil were determined. The result showed that the EC50 values of all the P. longicolla isolates ranged from 0.013 to 0.035 µg/ml. Furthermore, 12 fludioxonil-resistance (FluR) mutants of P. longicolla were generated from 6 fludioxonil-sensitive (FluS) isolates. and the resistance factors (RF) of 12 FluR mutants were >3500. Sequence alignment showed that multiple mutation types were found in PlOS1, PlOS4 or/and PlOS5 of FluR mutants. All the FluR mutants exhibited fitness penalty in mycelial growth, conidiation, virulence and osmo-adaptation. Under fludioxonil or NaCl treatment condition, the glycerol accumulation was significantly increased in FluS isolates, but was slightly increased in FluR mutants, and the phosphorylation level of most FluR mutants was significantly decreased when compared to the FluS isolates. Additionally, positive cross-resistance was observed between fludioxonil and procymidone but not fludioxonil and pydiflumetofen, pyraclostrobin or fluazinam. This is first reported that the baseline sensitivity of P. longicolla to fludioxonil, as well as the biological and molecular characterizations of P. longicolla FluR mutants to fludioxonil. These results can provide scientific directions for controlling soybean diseases caused by P. longicolla using fludioxonil.

The StuA Transcription Factor and Alternative Splicing Mechanisms Drive the Levels of MAPK Hog1 Transcripts in the Dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum.

Trichophyton rubrum is a human fungal pathogen that causes dermatophytosis, an infection that affects keratinized tissues. Integrated molecular signals coordinate mechanisms that control pathogenicity. Transcriptional regulation is a core regulation of relevant fungal processes. Previous RNA sequencing data revealed that the absence of the transcription factor StuA resulted in the differential expression of the MAPK-related high glycerol osmolarity gene (hog1) in T. rubrum. Here we validated the role of StuA in regulating the transcript levels of hog1. We showed through RT-qPCR that transcriptional regulation controls hog1 levels in response to glucose, keratin, and co-culture with human keratinocytes. In addition, we also detected hog1 pre-mRNA transcripts that underwent alternative splicing, presenting intron retention in a StuA-dependent mechanism. Our findings suggest that StuA and alternative splicing simultaneously, but not dependently, coordinate hog1 transcript levels in T. rubrum. As a means of preventing and treating dermatophytosis, our results contribute to the search for new potential drug therapies based on the molecular aspects of signaling pathways in T. rubrum.

Hybrid Feature Extractor Using Discrete Wavelet Transform and Histogram of Oriented Gradient on Convolutional-Neural-Network-Based Palm Vein Recognition.

Biometric recognition techniques have become more developed recently, especially in security and attendance systems. Biometrics are features attached to the human body that are considered safer and more reliable since they are difficult to imitate or lose. One of the popular biometrics considered in research is palm veins. They are an intrinsic biometric located under the human skin, so they have several advantages when developing verification systems. However, palm vein images obtained based on infrared spectra have several disadvantages, such as nonuniform illumination and low contrast. This study, based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), was conducted on five public datasets from CASIA, Vera, Tongji, PolyU, and PUT, with three parameters: accuracy, AUC, and EER. Our proposed VeinCNN recognition method, called verification scheme with VeinCNN, uses hybrid feature extraction from a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and histogram of oriented gradient (HOG). It shows promising results in terms of accuracy, AUC, and EER values, especially in the total parameter values. The best result was obtained for the CASIA dataset with 99.85% accuracy, 99.80% AUC, and 0.0083 EER.

Perceptions of Wild Pig Impact, Management, and Policy in Alabama.

Successful management of invasive species often requires working across public and private landownerships. A prime example of an invasive species that commonly occurs on privately and publicly owned and managed lands is the wild pig (Sus scrofa). Because of the multitude of negative impacts associated with wild pigs, management must occur across both private and public lands to achieve widespread control and sustained success. However, managing wild pigs across property boundaries is challenging as we know very little about differing management practices and landowner perspectives. To address this knowledge gap, we sought to understand wild pig management efforts on privately owned lands, the perceived economic, ecological, and human health impact of wild pigs, and beliefs related to policy. Generally, stakeholders believe wild pigs have negative impacts on wildlife, the economy, and ecological and public health, however less than half of landowners participate in wild pig control. Furthermore, stakeholders believe that the responsibility of managing and paying for damages associated with wild pigs lies with individual landowners. Our findings suggest that increased efficacy of wild pig control and collaboration between private and public landowners is not only possible but also necessary if wild pig population control is to be regionally successful.

Distinct transcriptional responses to fludioxonil in Aspergillus fumigatus and its ΔtcsC and Δskn7 mutants reveal a crucial role for Skn7 in the cell wall reorganizations triggered by this antifungal.

BACKGROUND: Aspergillus fumigatus is a major fungal pathogen that causes severe problems due to its increasing resistance to many therapeutic agents. Fludioxonil is a compound that triggers a lethal activation of the fungal-specific High Osmolarity Glycerol pathway. Its pronounced antifungal activity against A. fumigatus and other pathogenic molds renders this agent an attractive lead substance for the development of new therapeutics. The group III hydride histidine kinase TcsC and its downstream target Skn7 are key elements of the multistep phosphorelay that represents the initial section of the High Osmolarity Glycerol pathway. Loss of tcsC results in resistance to fludioxonil, whereas a Δskn7 mutant is partially, but not completely resistant. RESULTS: In this study, we compared the fludioxonil-induced transcriptional responses in the ΔtcsC and Δskn7 mutant and their parental A. fumigatus strain. The number of differentially expressed genes correlates well with the susceptibility level of the individual strains. The wild type and, to a lesser extend also the Δskn7 mutant, showed a multi-faceted stress response involving genes linked to ribosomal and peroxisomal function, iron homeostasis and oxidative stress. A marked difference between the sensitive wild type and the largely resistant Δskn7 mutant was evident for many cell wall-related genes and in particular those involved in the biosynthesis of chitin. Biochemical data corroborate this differential gene expression that does not occur in response to hyperosmotic stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal that fludioxonil induces a strong and TcsC-dependent stress that affects many aspects of the cellular machinery. The data also demonstrate a link between Skn7 and the cell wall reorganizations that foster the characteristic ballooning and the subsequent lysis of fludioxonil-treated cells.

African Suid Genomes Provide Insights into the Local Adaptation to Diverse African Environments.

African wild suids consist of several endemic species that represent ancient members of the family Suidae and have colonized diverse habitats on the African continent. However, limited genomic resources for African wild suids hinder our understanding of their evolution and genetic diversity. In this study, we assembled high-quality genomes of a common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), a red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus), as well as an East Asian Diannan small-ear pig (Sus scrofa). Phylogenetic analysis showed that common warthog and red river hog diverged from their common ancestor around the Miocene/Pliocene boundary, putatively predating their entry into Africa. We detected species-specific selective signals associated with sensory perception and interferon signaling pathways in common warthog and red river hog, respectively, which contributed to their local adaptation to savannah and tropical rainforest environments, respectively. The structural variation and evolving signals in genes involved in T-cell immunity, viral infection, and lymphoid development were identified in their ancestral lineage. Our results provide new insights into the evolutionary histories and divergent genetic adaptations of African suids.

Host- and virus-induced gene silencing of HOG1-MAPK cascade genes in Rhizophagus irregularis inhibit arbuscule development and reduce resistance of plants to drought stress.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can form beneficial associations with the most terrestrial vascular plant species. AM fungi not only facilitate plant nutrient acquisition but also enhance plant tolerance to various environmental stresses such as drought stress. However, the molecular mechanisms by which AM fungal mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades mediate the host adaptation to drought stimulus remains to be investigated. Recently, many studies have shown that virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) strategies are used for functional studies of AM fungi. Here, we identify the three HOG1 (High Osmolarity Glycerol 1)-MAPK cascade genes RiSte11, RiPbs2 and RiHog1 from Rhizophagus irregularis. The expression levels of the three HOG1-MAPK genes are significantly increased in mycorrhizal roots of the plant Astragalus sinicus under severe drought stress. RiHog1 protein was predominantly localized in the nucleus of yeast in response to 1 M sorbitol treatment, and RiPbs2 interacts with RiSte11 or RiHog1 directly by pull-down assay. Importantly, VIGS or HIGS of RiSte11, RiPbs2 or RiHog1 hampers arbuscule development and decreases relative water content in plants during AM symbiosis. Moreover, silencing of HOG1-MAPK cascade genes led to the decreased expression of drought-resistant genes (RiAQPs, RiTPSs, RiNTH1 and Ri14-3-3) in the AM fungal symbiont in response to drought stress. Taken together, this study demonstrates that VIGS or HIGS of AM fungal HOG1-MAPK cascade inhibits arbuscule development and expression of AM fungal drought-resistant genes under drought stress.

Myxobacterial Outer Membrane ß-1,6-Glucanase Induced the Cell Death of Fusarium oxysporum by Destroying the Cell Wall Integrity.

The ß-1,6-glucan is the key linker between mannoproteins in the outermost part of the cell wall and ß-1,3-glucan/chitin polysaccharide to maintain the rigid structure of the cell wall. The ß-1,6-glucanase GluM, which was purified from the fermentation supernatant of Corallococcus sp. EGB, was able to inhibit the germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum conidia at a minimum concentration of 2.0 U/mL (0.08 µg/mL). The survival rates of GluM-treated conidia and monohyphae were 10.4% and 30.7%, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of ß-1,3-glucanase treatment (Zymolyase, 20.0 U/mL; equate to 1.0 mg/mL) (72.9% and 73.9%). In contrast to ß-1,3-glucanase treatment, the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway of F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum cells was activated after GluM treatment, and the intracellular glycerol content was increased by 2.6-fold. Moreover, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum cells after GluM treatment induced apoptosis, but it was not associated with the increased intracellular glycerol content. Together, the results indicate that ß-1,6-glucan is a promising target for the development of novel broad-spectrum antifungal agents. IMPORTANCE Phytopathogenic fungi are the most devastating plant pathogens in agriculture, causing enormous economic losses to global crop production. Biocontrol agents have been promoted as replacements to synthetic chemical pesticides for sustainable agriculture development. Cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs), including chitinases and ß-1,3-glucanases, have been considered as important armaments to damage the cell wall. Here, we found that F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum is more sensitive to ß-1,6-glucanase GluM treatment (0.08 µg/mL) than ß-1,3-glucanase Zymolyase (1.0 mg/mL). The HOG pathway was activated in F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum cells after GluM treatment, and the intracellular glycerol content was significantly increased. Moreover, the decomposition of F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum cell wall by GluM induced the burst of intracellular ROS and apoptosis, which eventually leads to cell death. Therefore, we suggest that the ß-1,6-glucan of the fungal cell wall may be a better antifungal target compared to the ß-1,3-glucan.

Oxidative stress response pathways in fungi.

Fungal response to any stress is intricate, specific, and multilayered, though it employs only a few evolutionarily conserved regulators. This comes with the assumption that one regulator operates more than one stress-specific response. Although the assumption holds true, the current understanding of molecular mechanisms that drive response specificity and adequacy remains rudimentary. Deciphering the response of fungi to oxidative stress may help fill those knowledge gaps since it is one of the most encountered stress types in any kind of fungal niche. Data have been accumulating on the roles of the HOG pathway and Yap1- and Skn7-related pathways in mounting distinct and robust responses in fungi upon exposure to oxidative stress. Herein, we review recent and most relevant studies reporting the contribution of each of these pathways in response to oxidative stress in pathogenic and opportunistic fungi after giving a paralleled overview in two divergent models, the budding and fission yeasts. With the concept of stress-specific response and the importance of reactive oxygen species in fungal development, we first present a preface on the expanding domain of redox biology and oxidative stress.

Upregulation of MAP kinase HOG1 gene of white-rot fungus Phlebia sp. MG-60 inhibits the ethanol fermentation and mycelial growth.

Wood biomass conversion for fossil resource replacement could result in the sustainable production of chemicals, although lignin represents an obstacle to efficient polysaccharide use. White-rot fungus Phlebia sp. MG-60 reportedly selectively and aerobically degrades lignin in hardwood, then it begins cellulose saccharification from the delignified wood to produce ethanol. Environmental conditions might change white-rot fungi-driven biomass conversion. However, how the environmental response sensor affects ethanol fermentation in white-rot fungi remains elusive. In this study, we focused on MGHOG1, the yeast Hog1 homolog in Phlebia sp. MG-60, a presumably important player in osmoresponse. We generated MGHOG1 overexpressing (OE) transformants in Phlebia sp. MG-60, exhibiting slower mycelial growth compared with the wild-type under salinity stress. MGHOG1 overexpressing liquid cultures displayed suppressed mycelial growth and ethanol fermentation. Therefore, MGHOG1 potentially influences ethanol fermentation and mycelial growth in Phlebia sp. MG-60. This study provides novel insights into the regulation of white-rot fungi-mediated biomass conversion.

Brucella aortitis managed with debridement, extra-anatomical bypass, and long-term antimicrobial therapy.

OBJECTIVES: This report aims to review the management and outcomes of Brucella-associated mycotic aortic aneurysms. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review at a tertiary-level healthcare system. IRB approval was waived per policy. RESULTS: We describe a case of Brucella aortitis acquired from habitual contact with wild hogs. Clinical presentation included lower back pain and elevated white blood cell count. Diagnosis was confirmed with imaging showing an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and serology revealing elevated Brucella antibodies titers. The patient was initially managed with endovascular aortic repair and combined oral and intravenous antibiotics therapy. He then underwent explanation and extra-anatomical bypass due to symptomatic periaortic infection and interval development of type I endoleak. The patient was asymptomatic after his final operation at 24 months of follow-up and remained on suppressive oral antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: An aortic aneurysm secondary to Brucella is a rare entity. A detailed history of long-term exposure to animals may be a clue to obtain serologic testing. Operative debridement and re-establishing of reliable blood flow combined with long-term antibiotic suppression are the mainstay of treatment.

The calcium-calcineurin and high-osmolarity glycerol pathways co-regulate tebuconazole sensitivity and pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum.

The calcium-calcineurin and high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathways play crucial roles in fungal development, pathogenicity, and in responses to various environmental stresses. However, interaction of these pathways in regulating fungicide sensitivity remains largely unknown in phytopathogenic fungi. In this study, we investigated the function of the calcium-calcineurin signalling pathway in Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight. Inhibitors of Ca2+ and calcineurin enhanced antifungal activity of tebuconazole (an azole fungicide) against F. graminearum. Deletion of the putative downstream transcription factor FgCrz1 resulted in significantly increased sensitivity of F. graminearum to tebuconazole. FgCrz1-GFP was translocated to the nucleus upon tebuconazole treatment in a calcineurin-dependent manner. In addition, deletion of FgCrz1 increased the phosphorylation of FgHog1 in response to tebuconazole. Moreover, the calcium-calcineurin and HOG signalling pathways exhibited synergistic effect in regulating pathogenicity and sensitivity of F. graminearum to tebuconazole and multiple other stresses. RNA-seq data revealed that FgCrz1 regulated expression of a set of non-CYP51 genes that are associated with tebuconazole sensitivity, including multidrug transporters, membrane lipid biosynthesis and metabolism, and cell wall organization. Our findings demonstrate that the calcium-calcineurin and HOG pathways act coordinately to orchestrate tebuconazole sensitivity and pathogenicity in F. graminearum, which may provide novel insights in management of Fusarium disease.

Vision-Based HAR in UAV Videos Using Histograms and Deep Learning Techniques.

Activity recognition in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance is addressed in various computer vision applications such as image retrieval, pose estimation, object detection, object detection in videos, object detection in still images, object detection in video frames, face recognition, and video action recognition. In the UAV-based surveillance technology, video segments captured from aerial vehicles make it challenging to recognize and distinguish human behavior. In this research, to recognize a single and multi-human activity using aerial data, a hybrid model of histogram of oriented gradient (HOG), mask-regional convolutional neural network (Mask-RCNN), and bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) is employed. The HOG algorithm extracts patterns, Mask-RCNN extracts feature maps from the raw aerial image data, and the Bi-LSTM network exploits the temporal relationship between the frames for the underlying action in the scene. This Bi-LSTM network reduces the error rate to the greatest extent due to its bidirectional process. This novel architecture generates enhanced segmentation by utilizing the histogram gradient-based instance segmentation and improves the accuracy of classifying human activities using the Bi-LSTM approach. Experimental outcomes demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms the other state-of-the-art models and has achieved 99.25% accuracy on the YouTube-Aerial dataset.

Saliency-Driven Hand Gesture Recognition Incorporating Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) and Deep Learning.

Hand gesture recognition is a vital means of communication to convey information between humans and machines. We propose a novel model for hand gesture recognition based on computer vision methods and compare results based on images with complex scenes. While extracting skin color information is an efficient method to determine hand regions, complicated image backgrounds adversely affect recognizing the exact area of the hand shape. Some valuable features like saliency maps, histogram of oriented gradients (HOG), Canny edge detection, and skin color help us maximize the accuracy of hand shape recognition. Considering these features, we proposed an efficient hand posture detection model that improves the test accuracy results to over 99% on the NUS Hand Posture Dataset II and more than 97% on the hand gesture dataset with different challenging backgrounds. In addition, we added noise to around 60% of our datasets. Replicating our experiment, we achieved more than 98% and nearly 97% accuracy on NUS and hand gesture datasets, respectively. Experiments illustrate that the saliency method with HOG has stable performance for a wide range of images with complex backgrounds having varied hand colors and sizes.