Loss of ACTL7A causes small head sperm by defective acrosome-acroplaxome-manchette complex.

BACKGROUND: Actin-like 7 A (ACTL7A) is essential for acrosome formation, fertilization and early embryo development. ACTL7A variants cause acrosome detachment responsible for male infertility and early embryonic arrest. In this study, we aim to explore the additional functions of ACTL7A beyond the process of acrosome biogenesis and investigate the possible underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Nuclear morphology analysis was used to observe the sperm head shape of ACTL7A-mutated patients. Actl7a knock-out (KO) mouse model was generated. Immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed to analyze the structure of spermatids during spermiogenesis. Tandem mass tags labeling quantitative proteomics strategy was employed to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression levels of key proteins in the pathway were analyzed by western blotting. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-artificial oocyte activation (AOA) technology was utilized to overcome fertilization failure in male mice with a complete knockout of Actl7a. RESULTS: The new phenotype of small head sperm associated with loss of ACTL7A in patients was discovered, and further confirmed in Actl7a-KO mice. Immunofluorescence and TEM analyses revealed that the deletion of ACTL7A damaged the formation of acrosome-acroplaxome-manchette complex, leading to abnormalities in the shaping of sperm heads. Moreover, a proteomic analysis of testes from WT and Actl7a-KO mice revealed that differentially expressed genes were notably enriched in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway which is strongly associated with autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activation leading to PDLIM1 accumulation might elucidate the hindered development of manchette in Actl7a-KO mice. Remarkably, AOA successfully overcame fertilization failure and allowed for the successful production of healthy offspring from the Actl7a complete knockout male mice. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of ACTL7A causes small head sperm as a result of defective acrosome-acroplaxome-manchette complex via autophagy inhibition. ICSI-AOA is an effective technique to rescue male infertility resulting from ACTL7A deletion. These findings provide essential evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from infertility.

Porous materials formed by four self-construction processes.

Multiple self-construction behavior of cyclic oligoesters is described. Rigid braces and elastic hinges are periodically incorporated into these cyclomers, which enables these rings to form various topological frameworks, such as holes, caves or cages with different sizes and shapes, through self-folding. Among them, the cave-type cyclomer self-assembles into nanotunnels and then forms porous materials via self-packing of these tunnels. This discovery provides a new perspective for the construction of novel materials aided by multiple supramolecular effects. In this work, the simplest rigid brace components and ones with soft hinges were chosen to construct cyclomers to confirm the supramolecular strategy.

A Diagnostic Model to Improve the Predictability of Natural Pregnancy Potential in Patients with Oligoasthenospermia.

BACKGROUND Oligoasthenospermia is one of the major reasons for male infertility in clinical practice. Nevertheless, some patients with oligoasthenospermia show normal fertility. Currently, there is a lack of an effective method to distinguish patients with oligoasthenospermia showing normal fertility from those who lack natural fertility and should participate in in vitro fertilization and assisted reproduction. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, we collected semen and blood samples from 153 males of Shui nationality at reproductive age in Guizhou Province, southwest China. We measured the routine parameters for semen and some serological indicators. A clinical diagnosis model was then constructed to evaluate the fertility potential of oligoasthenospermia patients using a logistic stepwise regression method, which was then visualized with a nomogram. RESULTS Our results showed that this model could effectively assess the natural pregnancy potential of patients with oligoasthenospermia, and its sensitivity and specificity were superior to those of a traditional model that used only sperm motility and count to assess male fertility potential (area under the curve=0.7626 vs. 0.6677). Additionally, we evaluated the clinical net benefit for patients with oligoasthenospermia at different risk scores in our model using decision curve analysis. The results showed that the net benefit was obtained at scores ranging from 0.1 to 0.6. CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive clinical prediction model can be used to determine whether infertile oligoasthenospermia patients lack natural fertility.

High-density mapping of the major FHB resistance gene Fhb7 derived from Thinopyrum ponticum and its pyramiding with Fhb1 by marker-assisted selection.

KEY MESSAGE: Wheat lines with shortened Th. ponticum chromatin carrying Fhb7 and molecular markers linked to Fhb7 will accelerate the transfer of Fhb7 to breeding lines and provide an important resource for future map-based cloning of this gene. Fusarium head blight is a major wheat disease globally. A major FHB resistance gene, designated as Fhb7, derived from Thinopyrum ponticum, was earlier transferred to common wheat, but was not used in wheat breeding due to linkage drag. The aims of this study were to (1) saturate this FHB resistance gene region; (2) develop and characterize secondary translocation lines with shortened Thinopyrum segments carrying Fhb7 using ph1b; (3) pyramid Fhb7 and Fhb1 by marker-assisted selection. Fhb7 was mapped in a 1.7 cM interval that was flanked by molecular markers XsdauK66 and Xcfa2240 with SSR, diversity arrays technology, EST-derived and conserved markers. KS24-2 carrying Fhb7 was analyzed with molecular markers and genomic in situ hybridization, confirming it was a 7DS.7el2L Robertsonian translocation. To reduce the Thinopyrum chromatin segments carrying Fhb7, a BC1F2 population (Chinese Spring ph1bph1b*2/KS24-2) was developed and genotyped with the markers linked to Fhb7. Two new translocation lines (SDAU1881 and SDAU1886) carrying Fhb7 on shortened alien segments (approximately 16.1 and 17.3% of the translocation chromosome, respectively) were developed. Furthermore, four wheat lines (SDAU1902, SDAU1903, SDAU1904, and SDAU1906) with the pyramided markers flanking Fhb1 and Fhb7 were developed and the FHB responses indicated lines with mean NDS ranging from 1.3 to 1.6 had successfully combined Fhb7 and Fhb1. Three new molecular markers associated with Fhb7 were identified and validated in 35 common wheat varieties. The translocation lines with shortened alien segments carrying Fhb7 (and Fhb1) and the markers closely linked to Fhb7 will be useful for improving wheat scab resistance.

ALDH2 as an immunological and prognostic biomarker: Insights from pan-cancer analysis.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) plays a critical role in safeguarding cells against acetaldehyde toxicity and is closely linked to human metabolism. Nevertheless, the involvement of ALDH2 in cancer remains enigmatic. This investigation seeks to comprehensively assess ALDH2's significance in pan-cancer. We conducted an all-encompassing analysis of pan-cancer utilizing multiple databases, including TCGA, linkedomicshs, UALCAN, and Kaplan-Meier plotter. We employed diverse algorithms such as EPIC, MCPCOUNTER, TIDTIMER, xCell, MCP-counter, CIBERSORT, quanTIseq, and EPIC to examine the connection between ALDH2 expression and immune cell infiltration. Single-cell sequencing analysis furnished insights into ALDH2's functional status in pan-cancer. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to validate ALDH2 expression in cancer tissues. In a comprehensive assessment, we observed that tumor tissues demonstrated diminished ALDH2 expression levels compared to normal tissues across 16 different cancer types. ALDH2 expression exhibited a significant positive correlation with the infiltration of immune cells, including CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, neutrophils, B cells, and macrophages, in various tumor types. Moreover, this study explored the association between ALDH2 and patient survival, examined the methylation patterns of ALDH2 in normal and primary tumor tissues, and delved into genetic variations and mutations of ALDH2 in tumors. The findings suggest that ALDH2 could serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker in pan-cancer, closely linked to the tumor's immune microenvironment.

Increased miR-3074-5p expression promotes M1 polarization and pyroptosis of macrophages via ERα/NLRP3 pathway and induces adverse pregnancy outcomes in mice.

Decidual macrophages (dMϕs) play critical roles in regulation of immune-microhomeostasis at maternal-fetal interface during pregnancy, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, it was found that litter size and fetal weight were significantly reduced, whereas the rate of embryo resorption was increased in miR-3074-5p knock-in (3074-KI) pregnant mice, compared to that of wild-type (WT) pregnant mice. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in 3074-KI pregnant mice were also significantly elevated compared to WT pregnant mice at GD7.5. The quantity of M1-Mϕs in uterine tissues of 3074-KI pregnant mice was significantly increased compared to WT pregnant mice at GD13.5. Estrogen receptor-α (ERα) was validated to be a target of miR-3074-5p. Either miR-3074-5p overexpression or ERα knockdown promoted transcriptional activity of NF-κB/p65, induced M1-polarization and pyroptosis of THP1-derived Mϕs, accompanied with increased intracellular levels of cleaved Caspase-1, cleaved IL-1ß, NLRP3, cleaved GSDMD and ASC aggregation. Furthermore, ERα could not only bind to NLRP3 or ASC directly, but also inhibit the interaction between NLRP3 and ASC. The endometrial miR-3074-5p expression level at the middle secretory stage of repeated implantation failure (RIF) patients was significantly decreased compared to that of control fertile women. These data indicated that miR-3074-5p could promote M1 polarization and pyroptosis of Mϕs via activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by targeting ERα, and the dysregulation of miR-3074-5p expression in dMϕs might damage the embryo implantation and placentation by interfering with inflammatory microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface during early pregnancy.

Relevance of PUFA-derived metabolites in seminal plasma to male infertility.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the biological effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-derived metabolites in seminal plasma on male fertility and to evaluate the potential of PUFA as a biomarker for normozoospermic male infertility. Methods: From September 2011 to April 2012, We collected semen samples from 564 men aged 18 to 50 years old (mean=32.28 years old)ch., residing in the Sandu County, Guizhou Province, China. The donors included 376 men with normozoospermia (fertile: n=267; infertile: n=109) and 188 men with oligoasthenozoospermia (fertile: n=121; infertile: n=67). The samples thus obtained were then analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to detect the levels of PUFA-derived metabolites in April 2013. Data were analyzed from December 1, 2020, to May 15, 2022. Results: Our analysis of propensity score-matched cohorts revealed that the concentrations of 9/26 and 7/26 metabolites differed significantly between fertile and infertile men with normozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia, respectively (FDR < 0.05). In men with normozoospermia, higher levels of 7(R)-MaR1 (HR: 0.4 (95% CI [0.24, 0.64]) and 11,12-DHET (0.36 (95% CI [0.21, 0.58]) were significantly associated with a decreased risk of infertility, while higher levels of 17(S)-HDHA (HR: 2.32 (95% CI [1.44, 3.79]), LXA5 (HR: 8.38 (95% CI [4.81, 15.24]), 15d-PGJ2 (HR: 1.71 (95% CI [1.06, 2.76]), and PGJ2 (HR: 2.28 (95% CI [1.42, 3.7]) correlated with an increased risk of infertility. Our ROC model using the differentially expressed metabolites showed the value of the area under the curve to be 0.744. Conclusion: The PUFA-derived metabolites 7(R)-MaR1, 11,12-DHET, 17(S)-HDHA, LXA5, and PGJ2 might be considered as potential diagnostic biomarkers of infertility in normozoospermic men.

Compound Probiotic Ameliorates Acute Alcoholic Liver Disease in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Maintaining Intestinal Barrier.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a worldwide health threaten lack of effective treatment. Gut dysbiosis and concomitant augmented intestinal permeability are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of ALD. Research on the protective effect of probiotics on ALD is limited, and more effective intestinal microecological regulators and the related mechanisms still need to be further explored. In the present study, the protective effects and mechanisms of a compound probiotic against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in vivo were explod. It was showed that the compound probiotic ameliorated liver injury in acute ALD mice and stabilized the levels of ALT, AST, and TG in serum. The compound probiotic reversed acute alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis and maintained the intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating the production of mucus and the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins and thus reduced LPS level in liver. Meanwhile, the compound probiotic reduced inflammation level by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and suppressed oxidative stress level in liver. Furthermore, the compound probiotic alleviated liver lipid accumulation by regulating fatty acid metabolism-associated genes and AMPK-PPARα signaling pathway. Noteworthy, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) realized comparable protective effect with that of compound probiotic. In conclusion, present study demonstrates the beneficial effects and underlying mechanism of the compound probiotic against acute alcohol-induced liver injury. It provides clues for development of novel strategy for treatment of ALD.

A Novel Synbiotic Alleviates Autoimmune Hepatitis by Modulating the Gut Microbiota-Liver Axis and Inhibiting the Hepatic TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a liver disease characterized by chronic liver inflammation. The intestinal barrier and microbiome play critical roles in AIH progression. AIH treatment remains challenging because first-line drugs have limited efficacy and many side effects. Thus, there is growing interest in developing synbiotic therapies. This study investigated the effects of a novel synbiotic in an AIH mouse model. We found that this synbiotic (Syn) ameliorated liver injury and improved liver function by reducing hepatic inflammation and pyroptosis. The Syn reversed gut dysbiosis, as indicated by an increase in beneficial bacteria (e.g., Rikenella and Alistipes) and a decrease in potentially harmful bacteria (e.g., Escherichia-Shigella) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-bearing Gram-negative bacterial levels. The Syn maintained intestinal barrier integrity, reduced LPS, and inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB and NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway. In addition, microbiome phenotype prediction by BugBase and bacterial functional potential prediction using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) showed that Syn improved gut microbiota function involving inflammatory injury, metabolism, immune response, and pathopoiesia. Furthermore, the new Syn was as effective as prednisone against AIH. Therefore, this novel Syn could be a candidate drug for alleviating AIH through its anti-inflammatory and antipyroptosis properties that relieve endothelial dysfunction and gut dysbiosis. IMPORTANCE Synbiotics can ameliorate liver injury and improve liver function by reducing hepatic inflammation and pyroptosis. Our data indicate that our new Syn not only reverses gut dysbiosis by increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-bearing Gram-negative bacteria but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity. Thus, its mechanism might be associated with modulating gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier function by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3/pyroptosis signaling pathway in the liver. This Syn is as effective as prednisone in treating AIH without side effects. Based on these findings, this novel Syn represents a potential therapeutic agent for AIH in clinical practice.

The Trichinella spiralis-derived antigens alleviate HFD-induced obesity and inflammation in mice.

Obesity, an increasingly prevalent disease worldwide, is accompanied by chronic inflammation and intestinal dysbiosis. Helminth infections have been increasingly proved to exhibit a protective role in several inflammation-associated diseases. Considering the side effects of live parasite therapy, efforts have been made to develop helminth-derived antigens as promising candidates with fewer adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect and mechanisms of TsAg (T. spiralis-derived antigens) on obesity and the associated inflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet or HFD with or without TsAg treatment. The results reported that TsAg treatment alleviated body weight gain and chronic inflammation induced by HFD. In the adipose tissue, TsAg treatment prevented macrophage infiltration, reduced the expression of Th1-type (IFN-γ) and Th17-type (IL-17A) cytokines while upregulating the production of Th2-type (IL-4) cytokines. Furthermore, TsAg treatment enhanced brown adipose tissue activation and energy and lipid metabolism and reduced intestinal dysbiosis, intestinal barrier permeability and LPS/TLR4 axis inflammation. Finally, the protective role of TsAg against obesity was transmissible via the fecal microbiota transplantation approach. For the first time, our findings showed that TsAg alleviated HFD-induced obesity and inflammation via modulation of the gut microbiota and balancing the immune disorders, suggesting that TsAg might be a safer promising therapeutic strategy for obesity.

A Newly Synbiotic Combination Alleviates Obesity by Modulating the Gut Microbiota-Fat Axis and Inhibiting the Hepatic TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

SCOPE: Obesity has been recognized as a worldwide public health crisis, this is accompanied by dysregulation of the intestinal microbiota and upregulation of liver steatosis and adipose inflammation. Synbiotic as a novel alternative therapy for obesity have recently gained much attention. METHODS: This study innovatively research the anti-obesity properties of a newly synbiotic composed of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium infantis and konjac glucomannan oligosaccharides. RESULTS: The synbiotic treatment can reduce body weight, fat mass, blood sugar, liver steatosis and adipose inflammation in obesity mice fed by high-fat diet (HFD). Meanwhile, synbiotic treatment activated brown adipose tissue and improve energy, glucose and lipid metabolism. In addition, synbiotic treatment not solely enhanced the protection of intestinal barrier, but also ameliorated gut microbiota dysbiosis directly by enhancing beneficial microbes and reducing potentially harmful bacteria. Furthermore, the microbiome phenotype and functional prediction showed that synbiotic treatment can improve the gut microbiota functions involving inflammatory state, immune response, metabolism and pathopoiesia. CONCLUSION: The synbiotic may be an effective candidate treatment strategy for the clinical prevention and treatment of obesity and other associated metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases by alleviating inflammatory response, regulating energy metabolism and maintaining the balance of intestinal microecology.

Hydrogen gas ameliorates acute alcoholic liver injury via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and regulation of intestinal microbiota.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a globally prevalent liver-related disorder characterized by severe oxidative stress and inflammatory liver damage, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Hydrogen gas (H2) has been demonstrated to be an efficient antioxidant in various diseases in animals as well as humans. However, the protective effects of H2 on ALD and its underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that H2 inhalation ameliorated liver injury, and attenuated liver oxidative stress, inflammation, and steatosis in an ALD mouse model. Moreover, H2 inhalation improved gut microbiota, including increasing the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Clostridia, and decreasing the abundance of Prevotellaceae and Muribaculaceae, and also improved intestinal barrier integrity. Mechanistically, H2 inhalation blocked activation of the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway in liver. Notably, it was further demonstrated that the reshaped gut microbiota may accelerate alcohol metabolism, regulate lipid homeostasis and maintain immune balance by bacterial functional potential prediction (PICRUSt). Fecal microbiota transplantation from mice that had undergone H2 inhalation significantly alleviated acute alcoholic liver injury. In summary, the present study showed that H2 inhalation alleviated liver injury by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, while also improving intestinal flora and enhancing the intestinal barrier. H2 inhalation may serve as an effective intervention for preventing and treating ALD in a clinical context.

Psychological Dimensions and Their Inner Relationships of College Students' Network Civilization.

Network civilization is a product of the rapid development of the virtual world. This study aims to investigate the psychological structure of college students' network civilization and to explore the role of value judgment and value identification between college students' psychological perception and value selection. In this study, 1096 college students (511 men and 585 women) completed the anonymous questionnaire on network civilization. They completed the scales of psychological perception, value judgment, value identification, and value selection. The total scale and each subscale both had high Cronbach's alphas (0.90-0.97), indicating good reliability. Results indicated the following: (1) Psychological perception and value selection are positively correlated. (2) Psychological perception improves college students' value selection by enhancing their value judgment. (3) Psychological perception may positively affect college students' value selection via value identification. (4) There is a chain-mediating role between psychological perception, value judgment, value identification, and value selection. These testimonies also contribute to and provide an empirical basis for guidance strategies for the cultivation of network civilization and moral education among college students.

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome caused by a novel mutation in the androgen receptor gene and its mechanism.

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is an X-linked recessive genetic disease characterized by disorders of sex development, commonly caused by mutations of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Herein, we identified a novel hemizygous mutation (c.2118T > A, p. Asn706Lys) of AR resulting in complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) in twins. This missense mutation contributed to significantly decreased mRNA transcription and protein expression. In addition, structure model analysis showed that Asn706Lys resulted in loss of hydrogen bond with Asp891 and reduced protein stability. Furthermore, the mutant AR failed to bind to ligand due to the loss of hydrogen bond with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This disrupted the translocation of AR protein from cytoplasm to nucleus after hormone stimulation. Our findings firstly demonstrated the novel mutation of c.2118T > A in AR directly caused CAIS. This contributed to expanding the AR mutational spectrum and revealed the pathogenic mechanism of AIS, as well as facilitating precise diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Sperm-specific protein ACTL7A as a biomarker for fertilization outcomes of assisted reproductive technology.

Obtaining high-quality embryos is one of the key factors to improve the clinical pregnancy rate of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). So far, the clinical evaluation of embryo quality depends on embryo morphology. However, the clinical pregnancy rate is still low. Therefore, new indicators are needed to further improve the evaluation of embryo quality. Several studies have shown that the decrease of sperm-specific protein actin-like 7A (ACTL7A) leaded to low fertilization rate, poor embryo development, and even infertility. The aim of this study was to study whether the different expression levels of ACTL7A on sperm can be used as a biomarker for predicting embryo quality. In this study, excluding the factors of severe female infertility, a total of 281 sperm samples were collected to compare the ACTL7A expression levels of sperms with high and low effective embryo rates and analyze the correlation between protein levels and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory outcomes. Our results indicated that the ACTL7A levels were significantly reduced in sperm samples presenting poor embryo quality. Furthermore, the protein levels showed a significant correlation with fertilization outcomes of ART. ACTL7A has the potential to be a biomarker for predicting success rate of fertilization and effective embryo and the possibility of embryo arrest. In conclusion, sperm-specific protein ACTL7A has a strong correlation with IVF laboratory outcomes and plays important roles in fertilization and embryo development.

A genetic map of Lophopyrum ponticum chromosome 7E, harboring resistance genes to Fusarium head blight and leaf rust.

The leaf rust resistance gene Lr19 and Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) derived from the wild wheatgrass Lophopyrum ponticum have been located on chromosome 7E. The main objectives of the present study were to develop a genetic map of chromosome 7E and map the two resistance loci using a population of 237 F(7:8) recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between two Thatcher-L. ponticum substitution lines, K11463 (7el(1)(7D)) and K2620 (7el(2)(7D)). 532 G-SSR, E-SSR and STS markers from wheat chromosome group 7 were screened in the parent lines. Of these, 118 markers were polymorphic, with a polymorphism frequency of 22.2%. A genetic map of L. ponticum chromosome 7E was constructed with 64 markers, covering 95.76 cM, with an average genetic distance of 1.47 cM between markers. The major FHB resistance locus, temporarily assigned as FhbLoP, was mapped to the very distal region of the long arm of chromosome 7E within a 3.71 cM interval flanked by Xcfa2240 and Xswes19, which accounts for 30.46% of the phenotypic variance. Lr19 was bracketed by Xwmc273 and XBE404744, with a map distance of 1.54 and 1.43 cM from either side, respectively. The closely linked markers identified in this study will be helpful for marker-assisted introgression of the L. ponticum-derived FhbLoP and Lr19 genes into elite cultivars of wheat, and the development of a genetic map will accelerate the map-based cloning of these two genes.

Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies and Neurogenetic Diseases.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has led to great advances in understanding the causes of Mendelian and complex neurological diseases. Owing to the complexity of genetic diseases, the genetic factors contributing to many rare and common neurological diseases remain poorly understood. Selecting the correct genetic test based on cost-effectiveness, coverage area, and sequencing range can improve diagnosis, treatments, and prevention. Whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing are suitable methods for finding new mutations, and gene panels are suitable for exploring the roles of specific genes in neurogenetic diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the classifications, applications, advantages, and limitations of NGS in research on neurological diseases. We further provide examples of NGS-based explorations and insights of the genetic causes of neurogenetic diseases, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, we focus on issues related to NGS-based analyses, including interpretations of variants of uncertain significance, de novo mutations, congenital genetic diseases with complex phenotypes, and single-molecule real-time approaches.

Effects of low lead exposure on sperm quality and sperm DNA methylation in adult men.

INSTRUCTION: Lead (Pb) exposure is a risk factor for male infertility, but the epigenetic changes in sperm DNAattributable to lead exposure is poorly defined. METHODS: In this study, we investigated whether low Pb exposure (< 10 µg/dL) affects the sperm quality. Blood, urine, and semen samples of 297 men of childbearing age were analyzed for all relevant parameters. Based on the blood Pb level (BLL), participants were allocated to RL (0-2.5 µg/dL), RM (2.5-5 µg/dL), and RH (5-10 µg/dL) groups. The 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine patterns in the sperm DNA were identified using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing. RESULTS: The non-progressive motility (NP) was significantly increased and associated with global hypomethylation of sperm DNA in the RH group compared with the RL group, indicating that aberrant sperm methylation due to low Pb exposure is possibly associated with reduced sperm motility. The hypomethylated promoter regions were primarily enriched in the calcium (Ca) homeostasis pathway. Further, the interaction between Ca and Pb was associated with sperm rapid progressive motility and asthenospermia risk, although no significant methylation abnormality was observed in those with BLL < 5 µg/dL. When BLL was > 5 µg/dL or when predicting NP, no significant Pb-Ca interaction was observed. DISCUSSION: Overall, our results indicate that aberrant DNA methylation of the Ca homeostasis pathway, induced by low Pb exposure, is the potential cause for reduced sperm velocity.

[Analysis of major QTL for Fusarium head blight resistance on the short arm of chromosome 3B in wheat].

Three recombinant inbred populations, Ning894037/Alondra, Wangshuibai/Alondra and Sumai3/Alondra, were analyzed for QTLs associated with Fusarium head blight resistance by interval mapping and composite interval mapping in this study. The result showed that the major QTLs were detected on the short arm of chromosome 3B of all three resistant parents using the data of FHB resistance evaluated in greenhouse or field. They were located in the interval of 5.0 cM between BARC133 and Xgwm493 in Ning894037, 11.5 cM between BARC147 and Xgwm493 in Wangshuibai, and 13.0 cM between Xgwm533a and Xgwm493 in Sumai3, explaining 42.8%, 15.1% and 10.6% of the phenotypic variance for Type II resistance (spread within the spike), respectively. Some of the SSR markers linking to the major QTLs tightly can be used directly in marker-assisted breeding to improve FHB resistance in wheat.

A resistance-like gene identified by EST mapping and its association with a QTL controlling Fusarium head blight infection on wheat chromosome 3BS.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major disease in the wheat growing regions of the world. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) on the short arm of chromosome 3B controls much of the variation for resistance. The cloning of candidate disease-resistance genes for FHB QTLs on chromosome 3B can provide further elucidation of the mechanisms that control resistance. However, rearrangements and divergence during plant genome evolution often hampers the identification of sequences with similarity to known disease-resistance genes. This study focuses on the use of wheat expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that map to the region on chromosome 3B containing the QTL for FHB resistance and low-stringency BLAST searching to identify sequences with similarity to known disease-resistance genes. One EST rich with leucine repeats and low similarity to a protein kinase domain of the barley Rpg1 gene was identified. Genetic mapping using a Ning894037 x Alondra recombinant inbred (RI) population showed that this EST mapped to the QTL on the short arm of chromosome 3B and may represent a portion of a newly diverged gene contributing to FHB resistance. The EST is a new marker suitable for marker-assisted selection and provides a starting point to begin map-based cloning for chromosome walking and investigate new diverged genes at this locus.