High-throughput drug screening using a library of antibiotics targeting cancer cell lines that are resistant and sensitive to gemcitabine.

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog widely used as an anticancer agent against several types of cancer. Although gemcitabine sometimes shows excellent effectiveness, cancer cells are often poorly responsive to or resistant to the drug. Recently, specific strains or dysbiosis of the human microbiome were correlated with drug reactivity and resistance acquisition. Therefore, we aimed to identify antibiotic compounds that can modulate the microbiome to enhance the responsiveness to gemcitabine. To achieve this, we confirmed the gemcitabine responsiveness based on public data and conducted drug screening on a set of 250 antibiotics compounds. Subsequently, we performed experiments to investigate whether the selected compounds could enhance the responsiveness to gemcitabine. First, we grouped a total of seven tumor cell lines into resistant and sensitive group based on the IC50 value (1 µM) of gemcitabine obtained from the public data. Second, we performed high-throughput screening with compound treatments, identifying seven compounds from the resistant group and five from the sensitive group based on dose dependency. Finally, the combination of the selected compound, puromycin dihydrochloride, with gemcitabine in gemcitabine-resistant cell lines resulted in extensive cell death and a significant increase in cytotoxic efficacy. Additionally, mRNA levels associated with cell viability and stemness were reduced. Through this study, we screened antibiotics to further improve the efficacy of existing anticancer drugs and overcome resistance. By combining existing anticancer agents and antibiotic substances, we hope to establish various drug combination therapies and ultimately improve cancer treatment efficacy.

Geosmin, a Food- and Water-Deteriorating Sesquiterpenoid and Ambivalent Semiochemical, Activates Evolutionary Conserved Receptor OR11A1.

Geosmin, a ubiquitous volatile sesquiterpenoid of microbiological origin, is causative for deteriorating the quality of many foods, beverages, and drinking water, by eliciting an undesirable "earthy/musty" off-flavor. Moreover, and across species from worm to human, geosmin is a volatile, chemosensory trigger of both avoidance and attraction behaviors, suggesting its role as semiochemical. Volatiles typically are detected by chemosensory receptors of the nose, which have evolved to best detect ecologically relevant food-related odorants and semiochemicals. An insect receptor for geosmin was recently identified in flies. A human geosmin-selective receptor, however, has been elusive. Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a human odorant receptor for geosmin, with its function being conserved in orthologs across six mammalian species. Notably, the receptor from the desert-dwelling kangaroo rat showed a more than 100-fold higher sensitivity compared to its human ortholog and detected geosmin at low nmol/L concentrations in extracts from geosmin-producing actinomycetes.

Aspirin altered antibiotic resistance genes response to sulfonamide in the gut microbiome of zebrafish.

Pharmaceuticals are widespread in aquatic environments and might contribute to the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. However, the co-effect of antibiotics and non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals on the gut microbiome of fish is poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the variation of the zebrafish gut microbiome and resistome after exposure to sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and aspirin under different treatments. SMX contributed to the significant increase in the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) richness and abundance with 46 unique ARGs and five mobile genetic elements (MGEs) detected. Combined exposure to SMX and aspirin enriched total ARGs abundance and rearranged microbiota under short-term exposure. Exposure time was more responsible for resistome and the gut microbiome than exposure concentrations. Perturbation of the gut microbiome contributed to the functional variation related to RNA processing and modification, cell motility, signal transduction mechanisms, and defense mechanisms. A strong significant positive correlation (R=0.8955, p<0.001) was observed between total ARGs and MGEs regardless of different treatments revealing the key role of MGEs in ARGs transmission. Network analysis indicated most of the potential ARGs host bacteria belonged to Proteobacteria. Our study suggested that co-occurrence of non-antibiotics and antibiotics could accelerate the spread of ARGs in gut microbial communities and MGEs played a key role.

Deciphering salt stress responses in Solanum pimpinellifolium through high-throughput phenotyping.

Soil salinity is a major environmental stressor affecting agricultural productivity worldwide. Understanding plant responses to salt stress is crucial for developing resilient crop varieties. Wild relatives of cultivated crops, such as wild tomato, Solanum pimpinellifolium, can serve as a useful resource to further expand the resilience potential of the cultivated germplasm, S. lycopersicum. In this study, we employed high-throughput phenotyping in the greenhouse and field conditions to explore salt stress responses of a S. pimpinellifolium diversity panel. Our study revealed extensive phenotypic variations in response to salt stress, with traits such as transpiration rate, shoot mass, and ion accumulation showing significant correlations with plant performance. We found that while transpiration was a key determinant of plant performance in the greenhouse, shoot mass strongly correlated with yield under field conditions. Conversely, ion accumulation was the least influential factor under greenhouse conditions. Through a Genome Wide Association Study, we identified candidate genes not previously associated with salt stress, highlighting the power of high-throughput phenotyping in uncovering novel aspects of plant stress responses. This study contributes to our understanding of salt stress tolerance in S. pimpinellifolium and lays the groundwork for further investigations into the genetic basis of these traits, ultimately informing breeding efforts for salinity tolerance in tomato and other crops.

Changes in microbial diversity and volatile metabolites during the fermentation of Bulang pickled tea.

The present study aimed to determine microbial community, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and volatilome of Bulang pickled tea during fermentation. Sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS revealed that Bualng pickled tea was dominated by Lactobacillus plantarum, unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, unclassified Debaryomyces, Candida metapsilosis, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and unclassified Aspergillus. The overall contents of SCFAs increased, with acetic acid showing the highest content. A total of 398 differential volatile metabolites were detected using differential metabolomics analysis. Out of these different volatile compounds, ten key volatile compounds including (Z)-4-heptenal, 1-(2-thienyl)-ethanone, 5-methyl-(E)-2-hepten-4-one, 2-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazine, p-cresol, 2-methoxy-phenol, ethy-4-methylvalerate, 3-ethyl-phenol, p-menthene-8-thiol, and 2-s-butyl-3-methoxypyrazinewere were screened based on odor activity value (OAV). The Spearman correlation analysis showed a high correlation of SCFAs and volatile compounds with microorganisms, especially L. plantarum and C. sphaerospermum. This study provided a theoretical basis for elucidating the flavor quality formation mechanism of Bulang pickled tea.

Anthropogenic activity shapes the assemble and co-occurrence pattern of microbial communities in fishing harbors around the Bohai Economic Circle.

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of coastal environmental stress on the composition of sediment bacterial communities and their cooccurrence patterns in fishing harbors around the Bohai Economic Circle, China. Compared with the natural sea area, fishing harbors contained higher levels of organic pollution (organic pollution index = 0.12±0.026) and considerably reduced bacterial richness and evenness. The distributions of sediment microbial communities clustered along the pollutant concentration gradients across fishing harbors. Betaproteobacteria dominated (76%) organically polluted fishing harbors, which were mostly disturbed by anthropogenic activities. However, the harbors also revealed the absence of numerous pathogenic (Coxiella and Legionella) and photosynthetic (Synechococcus and Leptolyngbya) bacteria. Abundant genera, including Thiobacillus and Arenimonas, exhibited a positive correlation with total phosphorus and a negative correlation with total nitrogen in sediments. Meanwhile, Sulfurovum, Psychrobacter, and Woeseia showed the opposite trend. Pollutant accumulation and anthropogenic activities caused the decrease in the sediment microbial diversity and dispersal ability and promoted convergent evolution. Severely polluted harbors with simplified cooccurrence networks revealed the presence of destabilized microbial communities. In addition, the modularity of bacterial networks decreased with organic pollution. Our results provide important insights into the adjustment mechanism of microbial communities to community organization and functions under environmental pollution stress. Overall, this study enhanced our understanding of how microbial communities in coastal sediments adapted and survived amidst anthropogenic activities like oily effluent discharges from large ships, wash water, domestic sewage, garbage, and fisheries wastes. It also examined their resilience to future contamination.

Brain organoid as a model to study the role of mitochondria in neurodevelopmental disorders: achievements and weaknesses.

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of severe pathologies that cause complex neurodegenerative disorders for which, in most cases, no therapy or treatment is available. These organelles are critical regulators of both neurogenesis and homeostasis of the neurological system. Consequently, mitochondrial damage or dysfunction can occur as a cause or consequence of neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative diseases. As genetic knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders advances, associations have been identified between genes that encode mitochondrial proteins and neurological symptoms, such as neuropathy, encephalomyopathy, ataxia, seizures, and developmental delays, among others. Understanding how mitochondrial dysfunction can alter these processes is essential in researching rare diseases. Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures, which self-assemble to form specialized structures composed of different cell types, represent an accessible manner to model organogenesis and neurodevelopmental disorders. In particular, brain organoids are revolutionizing the study of mitochondrial-based neurological diseases since they are organ-specific and model-generated from a patient's cell, thereby overcoming some of the limitations of traditional animal and cell models. In this review, we have collected which neurological structures and functions recapitulate in the different types of reported brain organoids, focusing on those generated as models of mitochondrial diseases. In addition to advancements in the generation of brain organoids, techniques, and approaches for studying neuronal structures and physiology, drug screening and drug repositioning studies performed in brain organoids with mitochondrial damage and neurodevelopmental disorders have also been reviewed. This scope review will summarize the evidence on limitations in studying the function and dynamics of mitochondria in brain organoids.

Preservation strategies for processed grass carp products: Analyzing quality and microbial dynamics during chilled and ice temperature storage.

This study investigated the impact of ice temperature storage on quality and bacterial composition of processed fish paste products (PFP). Freezing curve revealed the ice temperature was -1 °C. Electric nose (e-nose) showed significant changes in volatile components within 8 days. Results of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) showed that PFP stored at 4 °C reached its limit after 2 days, whereas PFP stored at ice temperature remained stable for 6 days. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) demonstrated delayed oxidation in PFP stored at ice temperature compared to 4 °C. TCA-soluble peptides indicated that the protein degradation was suppressed by ice temperature. Additionally, ice temperature inhibited microbial growth and altered bacterial composition. High-throughput sequencing revealed that Pseudomonas, Brochothrix, Carnobacterium were dominant at 4 °C, while Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium and Brochothrix were dominant at ice temperature. In summary, ice temperature might be a potential method for maintaining the freshness of PFP.

High-throughput method for screening pendimethalin-degrading bacteria from one microbial bank.

The extensive use of chemical pesticides, such as herbicides, has resulted in significant environmental pollution. Microbial degradation represents a crucial approach for managing this pesticide-associated pollution, with enrichment culturing serving as a method for isolating pesticide-degrading microorganisms. However, the efficiency of this strategy is limited, often yielding only a few isolated strains. In this study, a new mineral salt medium (MSM) was developed, and a high-throughput method was used for screening pendimethalin-degrading bacteria by measuring the bacterial growth in the MSM. The utilization of this method resulted in the isolation of 56 pendimethalin-degrading bacteria from approximately 2 000 bacterial strains, including 37 Bacillus spp., 10 Alcaligenes spp., 5 Pseudomonas spp., and other 4 strains identified for the first time as pendimethalin-degrading strains. This method may hold promise not only for isolating bacterial strains capable of degrading other pesticides but also for facilitating the utilization of the substantial bacterial strains stored in bacterial banks.

Atypical applications of transverse diffusion of laminar flow profiles methodology for in-capillary reactions in capillary electrophoresis.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful separation technique offering quick and efficient analyses in various fields of bioanalytical chemistry. It is characterized by many well-known advantages, but one, which is perhaps the most important for this application field, is somewhat overlooked. It is the possibility to perform chemical and biochemical reactions at the nL scale inside the separation capillary. There are two basic formats applicable for this purpose, heterogeneous and homogeneous. In the former, one reactant is immobilized onto a particle or monolithic support or directly on the capillary wall, and the other is injected. In the latter, the reactant mixing inside a capillary is based on electromigration or diffusion. One of the diffusion-based methodologies, termed Transverse Diffusion of Laminar Flow Profiles, is the subject of this review. Since most studies utilizing in-capillary reactions in CE focus on enzymes, which are being continuously and exhaustively reviewed, this review covers the atypical applications of this methodology, but still in the bioanalytical field. As can be seen from the demonstrated applications, they are not limited to reactions, but can also be utilized for other biochemical systems.

Wireless optimization for sensor networks using IoT-based clustering and routing algorithms.

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are among the most prominent current technologies. Its popularity has skyrocketed because of its capacity to operate in difficult situations. The WSN market encompasses various industries, including building automation, security networks, healthcare systems, logistics, and military operations. Therefore, increasing the energy efficiency of these networks is of utmost importance. Hierarchical topology, which typically uses a clustering methodology, is one of the most well-known methods for WSN energy optimization. To achieve energy efficiency in WSN, hierarchical topology low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (LEACH) was first introduced, and this served as the foundation. However, conventional LEACH has several limitations, which have led to extensive research into improving LEACH's efficacy in its current form. The use of particular algorithms and strategies to enhance the functionality of the conventional LEACH protocol forms the basis of ongoing efforts. Utilizing this enhanced LEACH, performance in terms of throughput and network life may be enhanced by concentrating on elements such as cluster head formation and transmission energy consumption. The enhanced LEACH algorithm demonstrates significant improvements in both throughput and network lifetime compared with conventional LEACH. Through rigorous experimentation, it was found that the enhanced algorithm increases the throughput by 25% on average, which is attributed to its dynamic clustering and optimized routing strategies. Furthermore, the network lifetime is extended by approximately 30%, primarily because of enhanced energy efficiency through adaptive clustering and transmission power control.

Differences in bile acid profiles between cholestatic diseases - Development of a high throughput assay for dried bloodspots.

BACKGROUND: Cholestasis causes accumulation of bile acids (BAs) and changes the circulating bile acid profile. Quantification of circulating BAs in dried bloodspots (DBS) may demonstrate obstruction of bile flow and altered bile acid metabolism in the liver. High sample throughput enables rapid screening of cholestatic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used for optimizing separation and detection of the primary unconjugated BAs cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA); the secondary unconjugated BAs ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA) and deoxycholic acid (DCA), as well as the glycine- and taurine-conjugated variants of CA, CDCA, DCA and UDCA. Donor blood was obtained to prepare DBS calibrators and quality controls for method development and validation. RESULTS: We developed a quantitative bile acid assay with a run-time of two minutes, and one-step sample preparation of 3.2 mm DBS discs. Validation results demonstrated overall good performance and was considered fit for purpose. Children with Alagille syndrome, Aagenaes syndrome and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency had increased BAs in DBS from newborn screening samples compared with age matched controls, and had different bile acids profiles. CONCLUSION: We propose that our high throughput assay allows bile acid profiling in DBS that can be a valuable assessment tool for early screening of cholestasis in children. Assaying BAs in dried bloodspots is key for early detection of cholestasis, and provides transferability to a newborn screening setting.

A Comparison of Machine Learning Approaches for predicting Hepatotoxicity potential using Chemical Structure and Targeted Transcriptomic Data.

Animal toxicity testing is time and resource intensive, making it difficult to keep pace with the number of substances requiring assessment. Machine learning (ML) models that use chemical structure information and high-throughput experimental data can be helpful in predicting potential toxicity . However, much of the toxicity data used to train ML models is biased with an unequal balance of positives and negatives primarily since substances selected for in vivo testing are expected to elicit some toxicity effect. To investigate the impact this bias had on predictive performance, various sampling approaches were used to balance in vivo toxicity data as part of a supervised ML workflow to predict hepatotoxicity outcomes from chemical structure and/or targeted transcriptomic data. From the chronic, subchronic, developmental, multigenerational reproductive, and subacute repeat-dose testing toxicity outcomes with a minimum of 50 positive and 50 negative substances, 18 different study-toxicity outcome combinations were evaluated in up to 7 ML models. These included Artificial Neural Networks, Random Forests, Bernouilli Naïve Bayes, Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector classification algorithms which were compared with a local approach, Generalised Read-Across (GenRA), a similarity-weighted k-Nearest Neighbour (k-NN) method. The mean CV F1 performance for unbalanced data across all classifiers and descriptors for chronic liver effects was 0.735 (0.0395 SD). Mean CV F1 performance dropped to 0.639 (0.073 SD) with over-sampling approaches though the poorer performance of KNN approaches in some cases contributed to the observed decrease (mean CV F1 performance excluding KNN was 0.697 (0.072 SD)). With under-sampling approaches, the mean CV F1 was 0.523 (0.083 SD). For developmental liver effects, the mean CV F1 performance was much lower with 0.089 (0.111 SD) for unbalanced approaches and 0.149 (0.084 SD) for under-sampling. Over-sampling approaches led to an increase in mean CV F1 performance (0.234, (0.107 SD)) for developmental liver toxicity. Model performance was found to be dependent on dataset, model type, balancing approach and feature selection. Accordingly tailoring ML workflows for predicting toxicity should consider class imbalance and rely on simpler classifiers first.

Chromosome genome assembly of the Camphora longepaniculata (Gamble) with PacBio and Hi-C sequencing data.

Introduction: Camphora longepaniculata, a crucial commercial crop and a fundamental component of traditional Chinese medicine, is renowned for its abundant production of volatile terpenoids. However, the lack of available genomic information has hindered pertinent research efforts in the past. Methods: To bridge this gap, the present study aimed to use PacBio HiFi, short-read, and highthroughput chromosome conformation capture sequencing to construct a chromosome-level assembly of the C. longepaniculata genome. Results and discussion: With twelve chromosomes accounting for 99.82% (766.69 Mb) of the final genome assembly, which covered 768.10 Mb, it was very complete. Remarkably, the assembly's contig and scaffold N50 values are exceptional as well-41.12 and 63.78 Mb, respectively-highlighting its excellent quality and intact structure. Furthermore, a total of 39,173 protein-coding genes were predicted, with 38,766 (98.96%) of them being functionally annotated. The completeness of the genome was confirmed by the Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Ortholog evaluation, which revealed 99.01% of highly conserved plant genes. As the first comprehensive assembly of the C. longepaniculata genome, it provides a crucial starting point for deciphering the complex pathways involved in terpenoid production. Furthermore, this excellent genome serves as a vital resource for upcoming research on the breeding and genetics of C. longepaniculata.

Mismatch Repair (MMR) Gene Mutation Carriers Have Favorable Outcome in Colorectal and Endometrial Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Germline (Lynch syndrome, LS) and somatic deficiencies of mismatch repair proteins (MMRd) are linked to colorectal and endometrial cancer; however, their prognostic impact in Asian populations remains unclear. This prospective cohort study aimed to determine the prevalence and outcome of germline and somatic MMRd in cancer patients suspected of LS. Patients with colorectal or endometrial cancer suspected of LS were enrolled and underwent gene sequencing for germline MMRd (gMMRd) and immunohistochemistry staining of MMR proteins in a subset of the pathological samples (pMMRd). Among the 451 enrolled patients, 36 patients were gMMRd (+). Compared with gMMRd (-) patients, the 10-year relapse-free survival in gMMRd (+) patients was significantly higher (100% vs. 77.9%; p = 0.006), whereas the 10-year overall survival was similar (100% vs. 90.9%; p = 0.12). Among the 102 gMMRd (-) patients with available pMMR status, 13.7% were pMMRd (+). The 5-year relapse-free survival was 62.9% in gMMRd (-) pMMRd (+) patients and 35.0% in gMMRd (-) pMMRd (-) patients, both lower than gMMRd (+) patients (100%; p < 0.001). This study showed that having LS confers a favorable outcome in colorectal and endometrial cancer patients and highlights the importance of germline genetic testing following the detection of somatic MMRd.

Identification of Novel GANT61 Analogs with Activity in Hedgehog Functional Assays and GLI1-Dependent Cancer Cells.

Aberrant activation of hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been implicated in various cancers. Current FDA-approved inhibitors target the seven-transmembrane receptor Smoothened, but resistance to these drugs has been observed. It has been proposed that a more promising strategy to target this pathway is at the GLI1 transcription factor level. GANT61 was the first small molecule identified to directly suppress GLI-mediated activity; however, its development as a potential anti-cancer agent has been hindered by its modest activity and aqueous chemical instability. Our study aimed to identify novel GLI1 inhibitors. JChem searches identified fifty-two compounds similar to GANT61 and its active metabolite, GANT61-D. We combined high-throughput cell-based assays and molecular docking to evaluate these analogs. Five of the fifty-two GANT61 analogs inhibited activity in Hh-responsive C3H10T1/2 and Gli-reporter NIH3T3 cellular assays without cytotoxicity. Two of the GANT61 analogs, BAS 07019774 and Z27610715, reduced Gli1 mRNA expression in C3H10T1/2 cells. Treatment with BAS 07019774 significantly reduced cell viability in Hh-dependent glioblastoma and lung cancer cell lines. Molecular docking indicated that BAS 07019774 is predicted to bind to the ZF4 region of GLI1, potentially interfering with its ability to bind DNA. Our findings show promise in developing more effective and potent GLI inhibitors.

Association of ACTN4 Gene Mutation with Primary Nephrotic Syndrome in Children in Guangxi Autonomous Region, China.

Objective: To investigate the association between ACTN4 gene mutation and primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) in children in Guangxi Autonomous Region, China. Methods: The high-throughput sequencing technology was used to sequence ACTN4 gene in 155 children with PNS in Guangxi Autonomous Region in China, with 98 healthy children serving as controls. Twenty-three exon-specific capture probes targeting ACTN4 were designed and used to hybridize with the genomic DNA library. The targeted genomic region DNA fragments were enriched and sequenced. The protein levels of ACTN4 in both case and control groups were quantified using ELISA method. Results: Bioinformatics analysis revealed five unique ACTN4 mutations exclusively in patients with PNS, including c.1516G>A (p.G506S) on one exon in 2 patients, c.1442 + 10G>A at the splice site in 1 patient, c.1649A>G (p.D550G) on exon in 1 patient, c.2191-4G>A at the cleavage site in 2 patients, and c.2315C>T (p.A772V) on one exon in 1 patient. The c.1649A>G (p.D550G) and c.2315C>T (p.A772V) were identified from the same patient. Notably, c.1649A>G (p.D550G) represents a novel mutation in ACTN4. In addition, three other ACTN4 polymorphisms occurred in both case and control groups, including c.162 + 6C>T (1 patient in case group and 2 patients in control group), c.572 + 11G>A (1 patient in case group and 2 patients in control group), and c.2191-5C>T (4 patients in the case group and 3 patients in control group). The serum ACTN4 concentration in the case group was markedly higher, averaging 544.7 ng/mL (range: 264.6-952.6 ng/mL), compared with 241.20 ng/mL (range: 110.75-542.35 ng/mL) in the control group. Conclusion: Five ACTN4 polymorphisms were identified among children with PNS in Guangxi Autonomous Region, China, including the novel mutation c.1649A>G. The lower serum levels of α-actinin-4 in the case group suggest that this protein might play a protective role in PNS.

Rice breeding for low input agriculture.

A low-input-based farming system can reduce the adverse effects of modern agriculture through proper utilization of natural resources. Modern varieties often need to improve in low-input settings since they are not adapted to these systems. In addition, rice is one of the most widely cultivated crops worldwide. Enhancing rice performance under a low input system will significantly reduce the environmental concerns related to rice cultivation. Traits that help rice to maintain yield performance under minimum inputs like seedling vigor, appropriate root architecture for nutrient use efficiency should be incorporated into varieties for low input systems through integrated breeding approaches. Genes or QTLs controlling nutrient uptake, nutrient assimilation, nutrient remobilization, and root morphology need to be properly incorporated into the rice breeding pipeline. Also, genes/QTLs controlling suitable rice cultivars for sustainable farming. Since several variables influence performance under low input conditions, conventional breeding techniques make it challenging to work on many traits. However, recent advances in omics technologies have created enormous opportunities for rapidly improving multiple characteristics. This review highlights current research on features pertinent to low-input agriculture and provides an overview of alternative genomics-based breeding strategies for enhancing genetic gain in rice suitable for low-input farming practices.

No evidence on infectious DNA-based agents in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia using whole metagenome shotgun sequencing.

The etiology of pediatric acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL) is still unclear. Whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing of bone marrow samples in patients with treatment-naïve ALL (n=6) was performed for untargeted investigation of bacterial and viral DNA. The control group consisted of healthy children (n=4) and children with non-oncologic diseases (n=2) undergoing bone marrow sampling. Peripheral blood of all participants was investigated at the same time. After bioinformatical elimination of potential contaminants by comparison with the employed controls, no significant amounts of microbial or viral DNA were identified.