Large-Substrate-Terrace Confined Growth of Arrayed Ultrathin PtSe2 Ribbons on Step-Bunched Vicinal Au(001) Facets Toward Electrocatalytic Applications.

Ultrathin PtSe2 ribbons can host spin-polarized edge states and distinct edge electrocatalytic activity, emerging as a promising candidate for versatile applications in various fields. However, the direct synthesis is still challenging and the growth mechanism is still unclear. Herein, the arrayed growth of ultrathin PtSe2 ribbons on bunched vicinal Au(001) facets, via a facile chemical vapor deposition (CVD) route is reported. The ultrathin PtSe2 flakes can transform from traditional irregular shapes to desired ribbon shapes by increasing the height of bunched and unidirectionally oriented Au steps (with step height hstep) is found. This crossover, occurring at hstep ≈ 3.0 nm, defines the tailored growth from step-flow to single-terrace-confined modes, as validated by density functional theory calculations of the different system energies. On the millimeter-scale single-crystal Au(001) films with aligned steps, the arrayed ultrathin PtSe2 ribbons with tunable width of ≈20-1000 nm, which are then served as prototype electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is achieved. This work should represent a huge leap in the direct synthesis and the mechanism exploration of arrayed ultrathin transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) ribbons, which should stimulate further explorations of the edge-related physical properties and practical applications.

Elevation of Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels in Males With Pulmonary Embolism.

Hypoxemia is a clinical characteristic of pulmonary embolism (PE). Hypoxemia is associated with variations in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Thus, the present study aimed to determine serum PSA levels in patients with PE, which may be helpful in improving clinical evaluation in screening for prostate diseases in those with PE. Clinical data from 61 consecutive male patients with PE and 113 age-matched healthy male controls were retrospectively analyzed. The pulmonary artery obstruction index (PAOI) was used to evaluate the pulmonary embolic burden. Compared with healthy controls, serum total PSA (tPSA) levels were significantly increased (P = .003), and free PSA (fPSA)/tPSA ratio was significantly decreased in patients with PE (P < .001). There was no significantly difference in serum fPSA levels between patients with PE and healthy controls (P = .253). A significant positive association was observed between serum tPSA levels and PAOI in patients with PE (ß = .270, P = .036). Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that serum tPSA levels were independently associated with PAOI in patients with PE (ß = .347, P = .003). Serum tPSA levels were higher in male patients with PE than those in healthy controls, but fPSA was not affected. These findings highlight that PE may elevate serum tPSA levels, and that measures of tPSA should be interpreted with caution in screening for prostate diseases in patients with PE.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluating Bioaccessibility, Bioavailability, and Antioxidant Activities of Butterfly Pea Flower Containing Bioactive Constitutes.

The antioxidant properties of butterfly pea flower (BF), which is rich in natural anthocyanins, have garnered significant attention. The impact of digestion and metabolism on BF extracts and evaluate their subsequent antioxidant activities in vivo were explored in the present study. After in vitro digestion, 42.03 ± 2.74% of total anthocyanins from BF extracts remained, indicating a negative influence of the digestion process on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds derived from BF. Furthermore, UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS2 analysis identified a total of four prototypes and twenty-seven metabolites in rat plasma or urine samples following the intake of BF extracts. The kinetics of key metabolites including delphinidin 3-glucoside (D3G), cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were subsequently determined in blood, and the Cmax values were 69.034 ± 8.05 nM and 51.65 ± 3.205 nM. These key metabolites derived from BF anthocyanins, including C3G and D3G, and flavonoid quercetin exhibited main antioxidant attributes that improved the plasmic and hepatic activities of various antioxidant enzymes and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in a D-galactose-induced rat model. These findings provide insights into the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of bioactive constitutes derived from BF extracts, which are crucial for determining the actual efficacy of BF as well as developing functional foods based on BF.

DGS1 improves rice disease resistance by elevating pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity.

Rice yield and disease resistance are two crucial factors in determining the suitability of a gene for agricultural breeding. Decreased grain size1 (DGS1), encoding an RING-type E3 ligase, has been found to have a positive effect on rice yield by regulating rice grain number and 1000-grain weight. However, the role of DGS1 in rice blast resistance is still unknown. In this study, we report that DGS1 enhances disease resistance by improving PTI responses, including stronger ROS burst and MAPK activation, and also increased expression of defense-related genes. Furthermore, DGS1 works in conjunction with ubiquitin conjugating enzyme OsUBC45 as an E2-E3 pair to facilitate the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of OsGSK3 and OsPIP2;1, thereby influencing rice yield and immunity, respectively. Therefore, the DGS1-OsUBC45 module has the potential in facilitating rice agricultural breeding. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-024-00137-9.

Thrombospondin-1 Regulates Trophoblast Necroptosis via NEDD4-Mediated Ubiquitination of TAK1 in Preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is considered as a disease of placental origin. However, the specific mechanism of placental abnormalities remains elusive. This study identified thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) is downregulated in preeclamptic placentae and negatively correlated with blood pressure. Functional studies show that THBS1 knockdown inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion and increases the cycle arrest and apoptosis rate of HTR8/SVneo cells. Importantly, THBS1 silencing induces necroptosis in HTR8/SVneo cells, accompanied by the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Necroptosis inhibitors necrostatin-1 and GSK'872 restore the trophoblast survival while pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK has no effect. Mechanistically, the results show that THBS1 interacts with transforming growth factor B-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which is a central modulator of necroptosis quiescence and affects its stability. Moreover, THBS1 silencing up-regulates the expression of neuronal precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated 4 (NEDD4), which acts as an E3 ligase of TAK1 and catalyzes K48-linked ubiquitination of TAK1 in HTR8/SVneo cells. Besides, THBS1 attenuates PE phenotypes and improves the placental necroptosis in vivo. Taken together, the down-regulation of THBS1 destabilizes TAK1 by activating NEDD4-mediated, K48-linked TAK1 ubiquitination and promotes necroptosis and DAMPs release in trophoblast cells, thus participating in the pathogenesis of PE.

Development of TSHR-CAR NK-92 cells for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the predominant type of thyroid cancer, with some patients experiencing relapse, distant metastases, or refractoriness, revealing limited treatment options. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified Natural Killer (NK) cells are revolutionary therapeutic agents effective against various resistant cancers. Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) expression in DTC provides a unique tumor-specific target for CAR therapy. Here, we developed an innovative strategy for treating DTC using modified NK-92 cells armed with a TSHR-targeted CAR. The modified cells showed enhanced cytotoxicity against TSHR-positive DTC cell lines and exhibited elevated degranulation and cytokine release. After undergoing irradiation, the cells effectively halted their proliferative capacity while maintaining potent targeted killing ability. Transfer of these irradiation-treated cells into NSG mice with DTC tumors resulted in profound tumor suppression. NK-92 cells modified with TSHR-CAR offer a promising, off-the-shelf option for advancing DTC immunotherapy.

Prognostic Value of Depressive Symptoms for Cardiovascular Events in Female Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Among those with heart failure (HF), women are more likely to develop depression than men. Few studies have focused on the outcomes of female patients with HF with depressive symptoms. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 506 female patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction were included in this secondary analysis from the TOPCAT (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist) cohort, and 439 female patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction were included from the HF-ACTION (Heart Failure: A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise Training) cohort. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Beck Depression Inventory-II. The depression class was categorized by severity, and the change in clinical depression class was defined as aggravated (1-grade increase) or improved (1-grade decrease). The prognostic value of depressive symptoms was determined by using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Female patients with improved depressive symptoms had worse depressive status at baseline and lower baseline Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores. Depression class at the 12-month visit and depression class change were the dominant prognostic factors for cardiovascular death in female patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43 [95% CI, 1.02-2.01], P=0.036; HR, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.14-2.55], P=0.009). Among the patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, both the depression class at baseline and depression class change had significant prognostic effects on cardiovascular death (HR, 3.30 [95% CI, 1.70-6.39], P<0.001; HR, 2.21 [95% CI, 1.28-3.80], P=0.004). However, the prognostic value of depressive assessments for hospitalization in patients with HF is unclear. CONCLUSIONS: In female patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, the depression class at baseline was most strongly associated with cardiovascular death, whereas in female patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction, the change in depression class exhibited a more significant prognostic trend.

Elucidation of Palmarumycin Spirobisnaphthalene Biosynthesis Reveals a Set of Previously Unrecognized Oxidases and Reductases.

Spirobisnaphthalenes (SBNs) are a class of highly oxygenated, fungal bisnaphthalenes containing a unique spiroketal bridge, that displayed diverse bioactivities. Among the reported SBNs, palmarumycins are the major type, which are precursors for the other type of SBNs structurally. However, the biosynthesis of SBNs is unclear. In this study, we elucidated the biosynthesis of palmarumycins, using gene disruption, heterologous expression, and substrate feeding experiments. The biosynthetic gene cluster for palmarumycins was identified to be distant from the polyketide synthase gene cluster, and included two cytochrome P450s (PalA and PalB), and one short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (PalC) encoding genes as key structural genes. PalA is an unusual, multifunctional P450 that catalyzes the oxidative dimerization of 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene to generate the spiroketal linkage and 2,3-epoxy group. Chemical synthesis of key intermediate and in vitro biochemical assays proved that the oxidative dimerization proceeded via a binaphthyl ether. PalB installs the C-5 hydroxy group, widely found in SBNs. PalC catalyzes 1-keto reduction, the reverse 1-dehydrogenation, and 2,3-epoxide reduction. Moreover, an FAD-dependent oxidoreductase, encoded by palD, which locates outside the cluster, functions as a 1-dehydrogenase. These results provided the first genetic and biochemical evidence for the biosynthesis of palmarumycin SBNs.

First telomere-to-telomere gapless assembly of the rice blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae.

Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae (syn., Magnaporthe oryzae) was one of the most destructive diseases of rice throughout the world. Genome assembly was fundamental to genetic variation identification and critically impacted the understanding of its ability to overcome host resistance. Here, we report a gapless genome assembly of rice blast fungus P. oryzae strain P131 using PacBio, Illumina and high throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing data. This assembly contained seven complete chromosomes (43,237,743 bp) and a circular mitochondrial genome (34,866 bp). Approximately 14.31% of this assembly carried repeat sequences, significantly greater than its previous assembled version. This assembly had a 99.9% complement in BUSCO evaluation. A total of 14,982 genes protein-coding genes were predicted. In summary, we assembled the first telomere-to-telomere gapless genome of P. oryzae, which would be a valuable genome resource for future research on the genome evolution and host adaptation.

Chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene and other nanomaterials with 3D architectures towards electrocatalysis and secondary battery-related applications.

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), have garnered a lot of attention in energy storage/conversion-related fields due to their novel physical and chemical properties. Constructing flat graphene and TMDCs nanosheets into 3D architectures can significantly increase their exposed surface area and prevent the restacking of adjacent 2D layers, thus dramatically promoting their applications in various energy-related fields. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a low-cost, facile, and scalable method, which has been widely employed to produce high-quality graphene and TMDCs nanosheets with 3D architectures. During the CVD process, the morphologies and properties of the 3D architectures of such 2D materials can be designed by selecting substrates with different compositions, stacking geometries, and micro-structures. In this review, we focus on the recent advances in the CVD synthesis of graphene, TMDCs, and their hybrids with 3D architectures on different 3D-structured substrates, as well as their applications in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and various secondary batteries. In addition, the challenges and future prospects for the CVD synthesis and energy-related applications of these unique layered materials will also be discussed.

Management and outcome of adult generalized tetanus in a Chinese tertiary hospital.

Background: Tetanus is a rare surgical infectious disease with a high reported relevant mortality. It still remains a serious problem in public health, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the management and prognosis of adult generalized tetanus in our hospital. Methods: A total of 20 adult generalized tetanus patients were recruited in this retrospective observational study. Patients were retrieved from the hospital data base via discharge diagnosis. Patients were divided into two groups (Severe or Non-severe tetanus group) based on the severity of tetanus by using the Ablett classification. The differences between the two groups were compared. Results: The study included 11 males (55%) and 9 females (45%). All tetanus patients recovered. The median age was 53.5 years [IQR: 19-78]. There were 1 mild (Grade 1) case (5%),5 moderate (Grade 2) cases (25%), 2 severe (Grade 3) cases (10%), and 12 very severe (Grade 4) cases (60%). Nineteen patients (95%) did not have tetanus immunization before. The majority of patients were farmers (60%), and came from rural areas (60%). Thirteen (65%) patients had a history of puncture injury. The rate of wound debridement after admission was 60% overall. Thirteen (65%) patients required mechanical ventilation for a median of 21 [IQR:12-41] days. Autonomic instability occurred in 13 (65%) patients. Pulmonary infections occurred in 12 (60%) patients. Median duration of hospital stay was 29.5 [IQR:12-68] days. More patients in the Severe group needed ICU admission, wound debridement, mechanical ventilation and heavy sedation combined with muscle relaxants (p < 0.05). The hospital stay was significantly longer in patients in the Severe group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: After effective treatment, all adult patients with generalized tetanus in this study were cured and discharged. Severe tetanus requires early ICU treatment, wound debridement and effective treatment of autonomic instability.

Early diagnosis and clinical application of systemic lupus erythematosus based on a nomogram model.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease involving multi-system and multi-organ dysfunction, and is easily misdiagnosed early in the disease course. We aimed to accurately predict early SLE nomogram to provide a reference basis for the early clinical diagnosis of SLE. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 167 patients who were first diagnosed with SLE at Fengxian District Central Hospital, Shanghai, between March 2017 and October 2022. Three groups of 129 physically healthy subjects, 67 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 40 patients with rashes were selected as controls during the same period. Patients with SLE and control group were randomly divided into training (n = 217) and validation (n = 141) group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for early SLE diagnosis. The independent risk factors for diagnosis were used to construct a nomogram to predict early SLE. Results: Based on the training group, three variables were identified as independently influencing early SLE: platelets (odds ratio OR = 0.993, P = 0.047), albumin (OR = 0.833, P = 0.007), and complement component 1q (OR = 0.956, P = 0.000). The precision of the nomogram was assessed using C-index values and calibration plot diagrams. The C-index values were 0.929 for training group and 0.898 for validation group. Both the training group and validation group calibration curves showed good predicted outcomes. Conclusion: The construction of a nomogram can accurately predict the risk of early SLE. The model showed good discriminatory power and calibration for use in the diagnosis of SLE, providing a visual tool and reference basis for the early diagnosis of SLE.

The synthetic NLR RGA5HMA5 requires multiple interfaces within and outside the integrated domain for effector recognition.

Some plant sensor nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors detect pathogen effectors through their integrated domains (IDs). Rice RGA5 sensor NLR recognizes its corresponding effectors AVR-Pia and AVR1-CO39 from the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae through direct binding to its heavy metal-associated (HMA) ID to trigger the RGA4 helper NLR-dependent resistance in rice. Here, we report a mutant of RGA5 named RGA5HMA5 that confers complete resistance in transgenic rice plants to the M. oryzae strains expressing the noncorresponding effector AVR-PikD. RGA5HMA5 carries three engineered interfaces, two of which lie in the HMA ID and the other in the C-terminal Lys-rich stretch tailing the ID. However, RGA5 variants having one or two of the three interfaces, including replacing all the Lys residues with Glu residues in the Lys-rich stretch, failed to activate RGA4-dependent cell death of rice protoplasts. Altogether, this work demonstrates that sensor NLRs require a concerted action of multiple surfaces within and outside the IDs to both recognize effectors and activate helper NLR-mediated resistance, and has implications in structure-guided designing of sensor NLRs.

Screening of polysaccharides from the differently processed products of Angelica sinensis with the best liver protection effect on chicken and the intervention mechanism study based on tandem mass tag proteomics and multiple reaction monitoring approach.

The incidence of colibacillosis in poultry is on the rise, significantly affecting the chicken industry. Ceftiofur sodium (CS) is frequently employed to treat this disease, resulting in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) buildup. Processing plays a vital role in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. The potential intervention in liver injury by polysaccharides from the differently processed products of Angelica sinensis (PDPPAS) induced by combined CS and LPS remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of PDPPAS on chicken liver injury caused by CS combined with LPS buildup and further identify the polysaccharides with the highest hepatoprotective activity in chickens. Furthermore, the study elucidates polysaccharides' intervention mechanism using tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomics and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) methods. A total of 190 1-day-old layer chickens were randomly assigned into 12 groups, of which 14 chickens were in the control group and 16 in other groups, for a 10-day trial. The screening results showed that charred A. sinensis polysaccharide (CASP) had the most effective and the best hepatoprotective effect at 48 h. TMT proteomics and MRM validation results demonstrated that the intervention mechanism of the CASP high-dose (CASPH) intervention group was closely related to the protein expressions of FCER2, TBXAS1, CD34, AGXT, GCAT, COX7A2L, and CYP2AC1. Conclusively, the intervention mechanism of CASPH had multitarget, multicenter regulatory features.

Pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus: Epidemiology, pathogenesis and therapeutic management (Review).

The dual burden of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global public health concern. There is increasing evidence to indicate an association between PTB and DM. DM is associated with immune dysfunction and altered immune components. Hyperglycemia weakens the innate immune response by affecting the function of macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and natural killer cells, and also disrupts the adaptive immune response, thus promoting the susceptibility of PTB in patients with DM. Antituberculosis drugs often cause the impairment of liver and kidney function in patients with PTB, and the infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis weaken pancreatic endocrine function by causing islet cell amyloidosis, which disrupts glucose metabolism and thus increases the risk of developing DM in patients with PTB. The present review discusses the association between PTB and DM from the perspective of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment management. The present review aims to provide information for the rational formulation of treatment strategies for patients with PTB-DM.

The association between blood lipids and cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to explore the association between blood lipids and cognitive impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: This study included 336 patients with T2DM. Relevant clinical data including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B were collected, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score were used to assess the cognitive function in patients with T2DM. RESULTS: Serum apolipoprotein A1 levels were significantly increased in T2DM patients with cognitive impairment compared with T2DM patients without cognitive impairment (p = 0.017). Serum apolipoprotein A1 levels were significantly negatively correlated with MoCA score (r = - 0.143, p = 0.009) and MMSE score (r = - 0.132, p = 0.016) in patients with T2DM. In multivariable-adjusted regression model, serum apolipoprotein A1 was independently associated with cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM (OR = 5.201, p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Serum apolipoprotein A1 is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM, but not TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B, indicating that increased serum apolipoprotein A1 may be a risk factor of cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM.

Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery-vascularized Iliac Bone Graft for Femoral Head Osteonecrosis: Computed Tomography Anatomical Study.

BACKGROUND: Deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA)-vascularized iliac graft transposition is a method for treating femoral head osteonecrosis but with inconsistent efficacy. We aim to improve the method of this surgery by recommending the optimal location of the iliac pedicle to satisfy the vascular length for transposition and the blood supply of the vascularized iliac graft. METHODS: The DCIA and its surrounding tissues were assessed on computed tomography angiography images for 100 sides (left and right) of 50 patients. The length of the vascular pedicle required for transposition and the length of the pedicle at different iliac spine positions were compared. The diameter and cross-sectional area of the DCIA and the distance between the DCIA and iliac spine were measured at different points to assess blood supply. We also compared differences in sex and left-right position. RESULTS: The diameter and cross-sectional area of the DCIA gradually decreased after crossing the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), and it approached the iliac bone. However, when the DCIA was 4 cm behind the ASIS (54 sides, 54%), it coursed posteriorly and superiorly away from the iliac spine. The vascular length of the pedicle was insufficient to transpose the vascularized iliac graft to the desired position when it was within 1 cm of the ASIS. The vascular length requirement was satisfied, and the blood supply was sufficient when the pedicle was positioned at 2 or 3 cm. CONCLUSION: To obtain a satisfactory pedicle length and sufficient blood supply, the DCIA pedicle of the vascularized iliac graft should be placed 2 to 3 cm behind the ASIS. The dissection of DCIA has slight differences in sex and left-right position due to anatomical differences.

Pediatric Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: Diagnosis and Management. A YO-IFOS Consensus Statement.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric inferior turbinate hypertrophy (PedTH) is a frequent and often overlooked cause or associated cause of nasal breathing difficulties. This clinical consensus statement (CCS) aims to provide a diagnosis and management framework covering the lack of specific guidelines for this condition and addressing the existing controversies. METHODS: A clinical consensus statement (CCS) was developed by a panel of 20 contributors from 7 different European and North American countries using the modified Delphi method. The aim of the CCS was to offer a multidisciplinary reference framework for the management of PedTH on the basis of shared clinical experience and analysis of the strongest evidence currently available. RESULTS: A systematic literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria was performed. From the initial 96 items identified, 7 articles were selected based on higher-evidence items such as randomized-controlled trials, guidelines, and systematic reviews. A 34-statement survey was developed, and after three rounds of voting, 2 items reached strong consensus, 17 reached consensus or near consensus, and 15 had no consensus. CONCLUSIONS: Until further prospective data are available, our CCS should provide a useful reference for PedTH management. PedTH should be considered a nasal obstructive disease not necessarily related to an adult condition but frequently associated with other nasal or craniofacial disorders. Diagnosis requires clinical examination and endoscopy, whereas rhinomanometry, nasal cytology, and questionnaires have little clinical role. Treatment choice should consider the specific indications and features of the available options, with a preference for less invasive procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 Laryngoscope, 134:1437-1444, 2024.

The GRAS protein OsDLA involves in brassinosteroid signalling and positively regulates blast resistance by forming a module with GSK2 and OsWRKY53 in rice.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play a crucial role in shaping the architecture of rice (Oryza sativa) plants. However, the regulatory mechanism of BR signalling in rice immunity remains largely unexplored. Here we identify a rice mutant dla, which exhibits decreased leaf angles and is insensitive to 24-epiBL (a highly active synthetic BR), resembling the BR-deficient phenotype. The dla mutation caused by a T-DNA insertion in the OsDLA gene leads to downregulation of the causative gene. The OsDLA knockout plants display reduced leaf angles and less sensitivity to 24-epiBL. In addition, both dla mutant and OsDLA knockout plants are more susceptible to rice blast compared to the wild type. OsDLA is a GRAS transcription factor and interacts with the BR signalling core negative regulator, GSK2. GSK2 phosphorylates OsDLA for degradation via the 26S proteasome. The GSK2 RNAi line exhibits enhanced rice blast resistance, while the overexpression lines thereof show susceptibility to rice blast. Furthermore, we show that OsDLA interacts with and stabilizes the WRKY transcription factor OsWRKY53, which has been demonstrated to positively regulate BR signalling and blast resistance. OsWRKY53 directly binds the promoter of PBZ1 and activates its expression, and this activation can be enhanced by OsDLA. Together, our findings unravel a novel mechanism whereby the GSK2-OsDLA-OsWRKY53 module coordinates blast resistance and plant architecture via BR signalling in rice.