Genome-wide identification of kiwifruit K+ channel Shaker family members and their response to low-K+ stress.

BACKGROUND: 'Hongyang' kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis cv 'Hongyang') is a high-quality variety of A. chinensis with the advantages of high yield, early ripening, and high stress tolerance. Studies have confirmed that the Shaker K+ genes family is involved in plant uptake and distribution of potassium (K+). RESULTS: Twenty-eight Shaker genes were identified and analyzed from the 'Hongyang' kiwifruit (A. chinensis cv 'Hongyang') genome. Subcellular localization results showed that more than one-third of the AcShaker genes were on the cell membrane. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the AcShaker genes were divided into six subfamilies (I-VI). Conservative model, gene structure, and structural domain analyses showed that AcShaker genes of the same subfamily have similar sequence features and structure. The promoter cis-elements of the AcShaker genes were classified into hormone-associated cis-elements and environmentally stress-associated cis-elements. The results of chromosomal localization and duplicated gene analysis demonstrated that AcShaker genes were distributed on 18 chromosomes, and segmental duplication was the prime mode of gene duplication in the AcShaker family. GO enrichment analysis manifested that the ion-conducting pathway of the AcShaker family plays a crucial role in regulating plant growth and development and adversity stress. Compared with the transcriptome data of the control group, all AcShaker genes were expressed under low-K+stress, and the expression differences of three genes (AcShaker15, AcShaker17, and AcShaker22) were highly significant. The qRT-PCR results showed a high correlation with the transcriptome data, which indicated that these three differentially expressed genes could regulate low-K+ stress and reduce K+ damage in kiwifruit plants, thus improving the resistance to low-K+ stress. Comparison between the salt stress and control transcriptomic data revealed that the expression of AcShaker11 and AcShaker18 genes was significantly different and lower under salt stress, indicating that both genes could be involved in salt stress resistance in kiwifruit. CONCLUSION: The results showed that 28 AcShaker genes were identified and all expressed under low K+ stress, among which AcShaker22 was differentially and significantly upregulated. The AcShaker22 gene can be used as a candidate gene to cultivate new varieties of kiwifruit resistant to low K+ and provide a reference for exploring more properties and functions of the AcShaker genes.

Psychotic symptoms in Chinese adolescent patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence and related endocrine clinical factors.

OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is often accompanied by psychotic symptoms. However, few studies have examined the relationship between psychotic symptoms and endocrine factors in adolescent patients with MDD. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and related endocrine clinical factors of psychotic symptoms in Chinese adolescent patients with MDD. METHODS: In total, 601 patients (aged 12-18) with MDD were recruited. The Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 items (PHQ - 9) was utilized for assessing depressive symptoms. Psychotic symptoms were assessed through clinical interviews. Prolactin (PRL), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroxine (T4), and free thyroxine (FT4) were also measured. RESULTS: The incidence of psychotic symptoms in adolescent patients with MDD was 22.6%. The findings demonstrated that age, self-harming behavior, PHQ-9 score, FT4, and normalized PRL were independently associated with psychotic symptoms in patients with MDD (All p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PRL and FT4 levels are more likely to be abnormally elevated in major depressive adolescents with psychotic symptoms. Prolactin and thyroid hormones in patients with MDD should be paid more attention.

Transformation of 17ß-estradiol to estrone by unknown wild-type enzyme in commercial arylsulfatase from Helix pomatia.

This work for the first time reported the complete transformation of 17ß-estradiol (E2) to estrone (E1) by unknown wild-type enzyme present in the widely used commercial arylsulfatase derived from Helix pomatia. It was found that acetate could effectively inhibit the unknown enzyme with a half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 140.9 µM, while phosphate and citrate showed no inhibition. Since the buffer solutions with phosphate and citrate have been used in the enzymatic hydrolysis of natural estrogen conjugates for decades, the transformation of E2 to E1 likely occurred during such procedure, inevitably leading to overestimated E1, but underestimated E2. It was further suggested that acetate should be used to prevent this undesirable transformation during the enzymatic hydrolysis of natural estrogen conjugates.

Electrochemical aptamer sensor based on AgNPs@PDANSs and "sandwich" structure guidance for the detection of tobramycin in water samples.

In this study, an ultrasensitive detection platform for tobramycin (TOB) was developed, featuring a "sandwich" structure guided by AgNCs@PDANSs and Thi-AuNCs@ZnONSs. To address the issue of large background current peak signals in tagless sensors, Thi-AuNCs@ZnONSs composites were synthesized as signal tags. Zinc oxide nanosheets (ZnONSs) served as the loading agent, and AuNCs with the electroactive molecule Thi acted as carriers. Furthermore, AgNPs@PDANSs nanocomposites, possessing excellent electrical conductivity and large specific surface areas, were prepared as substrate materials for the modified electrodes. A "sandwich" structure strategy was also introduced to enhance the accuracy of the electrochemical aptasensor. This strategy, utilizing a dual sequence for target labeling and capture, yielded higher sensitivity and simplified the sensor construction compared to methods employing a single sequence. Under optimal conditions, the detection limit for TOB was established at 1.41 pM, with a detection range of 0.05-5000 nM. The aptasensor was effectively applied in the detection of TOB in tap and lake water, demonstrating outstanding reproducibility, selectivity, and stability. These results may serve as a reference for environmental TOB detection.

A New Discovery on the Potential Stability of Ion-Selective Membranes: The Poison from Tetrahydrofuran.

Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) have widespread use in the fields of clinical and environmental analyses. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is the most used solvent for the preparation of modern ISEs, equipped with ion-selective membranes (ISMs). Until now, the influence of impurities in THF toward potentiometric instability of ion-selective membrane based ISEs was probably associated with the presence of either residual water or peroxide. To address this issue, most literature recommends redistilling THF prior to use in the preparation of the potentiometric membranes. Current study reveals that the actual THF impurity that is responsible for potential instability in the ISM includes products from the oxidation of THF, which contains the hydroxyl group and possibly carbonyl group with a boiling point of above 200 °C. The density functional theory calculation supported pathway of the chemical reaction of THF oxidation, hence, the chemical structure of the uncertain impurities was predicted. The underlying reason for the deteriorating potential stability of the ISEs is proposed as the significant hydrophilicity of these impurities that affect the partitioning of the ion sensing components in the membrane, thus enhancing the leaching of the membrane components from the membrane phase. This finding explains why redistillation of aged THF is advised.

A rare case report of mucinous adenocarcinoma exacerbated by long-standing solitary rectal ulcer syndrome.

Background: Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is a rare chronic rectal lesion with potential for malignant transformation, although cases of rapid progression to mucinous adenocarcinoma are infrequent. This case report highlights such an instance in a 29-year-old male patient, emphasizing the importance of vigilance among clinicians for detecting canceration in SRUS patients. Case Description: The patient presented with recurrent constipation and anal discomfort, initially diagnosed with SRUS based on colonoscopy and pathological examination. Despite long-term mesalazine treatment, symptoms persisted, and subsequent evaluation revealed the development of mucinous adenocarcinoma within a short period. Surgical resection, combined with adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy, effectively controlled cancer progression. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive expression of MLH1(+), MSH2(+), MSH6(+), PMS2(+), and HER2(+), providing molecular insights into SRUS-associated mucinous adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: This case underscores the need for increased awareness among clinicians regarding the potential for cancerous transformation in SRUS patients. Early detection and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in SRUS-associated malignancies. Furthermore, this case adds to existing literature by presenting a rare instance of SRUS progressing rapidly to mucinous adenocarcinoma, highlighting the significance of regular monitoring and timely intervention in such cases. Further research is warranted to elucidate underlying mechanisms and risk factors, guiding future clinical practice and treatment strategies.

An electrochemical aptamer-sensing strategy based on a Ti3C2Tx MXene synergistic Ti-MOF amplification signal for highly sensitive detection of zearalenone.

A refined electrochemical aptamer sensing technique using PEI@Ti-MOF@Ti3C2Tx-MXene was developed for the sensitive detection of ZEN in food samples. A titanium-based metal-organic skeleton (NH2-MIL-125) was synthesized in situ using 2-aminoterephthalic acid as the organic ligand and tetrabutyl titanate as the metal center, followed by the simultaneous hybridization of Ti3C2Tx-MXene to synthesize a Ti-MOF@Ti3C2Tx-MXene composite material. These composites were subsequently functionalized with PEI and covalently linked to form a sensing platform on gold electrodes. Integrating a metal-organic framework (MOF) with MXene materials not only improved the electrochemical properties compared to those of individual elements but also decreased the stacking effect and increased the number of binding sites for the aptamer. The limit of detection (LOD) of this sensor was 1.64 fg mL-1. Additionally, the sensor could efficaciously detect ZEN in cornmeal and beer samples, exhibiting outstanding stability, reproducibility, and selectivity. This highlighted its effectiveness in applications in quality supervision and food safety.

Interplay of Food-Derived Bioactive Peptides with Gut Microbiota: Implications for Health and Disease Management.

Bioactive peptides (BPs) are protein fragments with beneficial effects on metabolism, physiology, and diseases. This review focuses on proteolytic BPs, which are produced by the action of gut microbiota on proteins in food and have demonstrated to influence the composition of gut microbes. And gut microbiota are candidate targets of BPs to alleviate oxidative stress, enhance immunity, and control diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, and immune and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite promising results, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the interactions between BPs and gut microbes, and to identify and screen more BPs for industrial applications. Overall, BPs offer potential as therapeutic agents for various diseases through their interactions with gut microbes, highlighting the importance of continued research in this area.

Ultra-thin DLC diaphragm-based optical fiber sensor achieving a highly sensitive and broadband acoustic response.

In the design of an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) acoustic sensor, broadband response and high-sensitivity sensing are usually conflicting and need to be carefully balanced. Here, we present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, optical fiber acoustic sensor based on an ultra-thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) film, fabricated using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method, and transferred by a surface-energy-assisted method. The sensor exhibits a broadband response ranging from 200 Hz to 100 kHz, maintains an average sensitivity of 457.3 mV/Pa within the range of 6 to 30 kHz, and can detect weak acoustic signals down to 3.23 µPa/Hz1/2@16.19 kHz. The combination of an ultra-thin DLC film with a relatively high Young's modulus and internal stresses results in a trade-off between high sensitivity and a broadband response. This performance demonstrates that our sensor is among the most advanced in the EFPI acoustic sensor family, with significant potential for applications such as photoacoustic spectroscopy, defect diagnosis, and bio-imaging.

Prediction of Clinical Severity of COVID-19 Using a Combination of Heparin-Binding Protein, Interleukin-6, and C-Reactive Protein: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation stands as a pivotal factor tightly interwoven with the progression of COVID-19. This study endeavors to elucidate the significance of three key inflammatory molecules, that is, heparin-binding protein (HBP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP), in assessing the severity and prognostic implications of COVID-19. METHODS: The demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from a cohort of 214 adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients were divided into two groups: nonsevere (n = 93; 43.5%) and severe (n = 121; 56.5%). Additionally, based on their organ function, patients were categorized into nonorgan failure (n = 137) and organ failure (n = 77) groups. The levels of inflammation-related cytokines were then compared among these defined groups. RESULTS: The severe group was characterized by a higher proportion of males, older age, and longer hospital stays compared to nonsevere cases. Additionally, severe cases exhibited a higher prevalence of underlying diseases and organ failure. Statistical analysis revealed significantly elevated levels of HBP, IL-6, and CRP in the severe group. HBP, IL-6, and CRP were identified as independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. Furthermore, a combined assessment of these biomarkers demonstrated superior diagnostic sensitivity (85.10%) and specificity (95.70%) for predicting COVID-19 severity. A positive relationship between elevated HBP, IL-6, and CRP levels and impaired organ function was also observed. The predictive efficiency significantly increased (hazard ratio = 3.631, log-rank p = 0.003) when two or more of them were combinedly used. Notably, elevated levels of HBP, IL-6, and CRP were associated with an increased risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the combined assessment of HBP, IL-6, and CRP offers enhanced accuracy and specificity in predicting the severity, organ failure, and mortality risk associated with COVID-19.

Identification of the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) bHLH gene family and the role of CsbHLH55 and CsbHLH87 in regulating salt stress.

Salt stress is one of the primary environmental stresses limiting plant growth and production and adversely affecting the growth, development, yield, and fruit quality of Citrus sinensis. bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) genes are involved in many bioregulatory processes in plants, including growth and development, phytohormone signaling, defense responses, and biosynthesis of specific metabolites. In this study, by bioinformatics methods, 120 CsbHLHgenes were identified, and phylogenetic analysis classified them into 18 subfamilies that were unevenly distributed on nine chromosomes. The cis-acting elements of the CsbHLH genes were mainly hormone-related cis-acting elements. Seventeen CsbHLH genes exhibited significant differences in expression under salt stress. Six CsbHLH genes with significant differences in expression were randomly selected for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation. The qRT-PCR results showed a strong correlation with the transcriptome data. Phytohormones such as jasmonic acid (JA) are essential for biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants, and CsbHLH55 and CsbHLH87 are considered candidate target genes for sweet orange MYC2 transcription factors involved in the JA signaling pathway. These genes are the main downstream effectors in the JA signaling pathway and can be activated to participate in the JA signaling pathway. Activation of the JA signaling pathway inhibits the production of reactive oxygen species and improves the salt tolerance of sweet orange plants. The CsbHLH55 and CsbHLH87 genes could be candidate genes for breeding new transgenic salt-resistant varieties of sweet orange.

Cycloaddition and Skeleton Rearrangement of Heterocyclic Ketene Aminals (HKAs) with 1-Diazonaphthalen-2(1H)-ones for the Synthesis of Functionalized 1,2,3-Triazoles.

We developed a protocol for the synthesis of highly functionalized 5,6-dihydro-imidazo[1,2-c][1,2,3]triazole derivatives 4-5 (DHITs) from 1-diazonaphthalen-2(1H)-one derivatives with heterocyclic ketene aminals (HKAs). This strategy involved cycloaddition and skeletal rearrangement entailing the heating of a mixture of substrates 1 with HKAs 2-3 and THF without any catalyst. As a result, a series of DHITs 4-5 were produced by cleaving one bond (1 C═N bond) and forming three bonds (1 N-N and 2 C-N bonds) in a single step. This protocol achieved the dual functionalization of diazo building blocks involving both the aromatic nitrogen alkylation reaction to form an ArC-N bond without any metal catalyst and the intermolecular cycloaddition of the N═N bond. These strategies can be used to synthesize functionalized DHITs for combinatorial and parallel syntheses via one-pot reactions without any catalyst.

Scalable, Waterproof, Breathable, and Flexible Polyolefin-Elastomer/Polyethylene Glycol@Zinc Oxide Microfibrous Fabrics for Daytime Radiative Cooling Clothing.

In the face of escalating global temperatures, the demand for innovative passive cooling technologies that are both low-cost and environmentally sustainable is more critical than ever. However, traditional cooling fabrics face challenges in achieving wearing comfort while maintaining breathability and durability. Herein, a novel fluffy microfibrous fabric utilizing polyolefin-elastomer and polypropylene with embedded zinc oxide nanoparticles is fabricated through melt-blown technology. The results reveal that the prepared samples demonstrate exceptional daytime radiative cooling properties that present a 12.5 °C cooling capacity under 1083 W/m2 solar radiation, highlighted by their ability to reflect up to 90.8% of solar radiation and their significantly enhanced thermal emissivity. Moreover, key findings include that the samples have robust mechanical strength, high elastic performance, and excellent antifouling capabilities, alongside superior cooling performance, which will provide an opportunity to explore the development of cooling garments for outdoor environments and contribute substantially to sustainable cooling solutions.

Revolutionizing thoracic surgery education: a bibliometric analysis of the past decade's literature.

OBJECTIVES: Thoracic surgery is a complex field requiring advanced technical skills and critical decision-making. Surgical education must evolve to equip trainees with proficiency in new techniques and technologies. METHODS: This bibliometric analysis systematically reviewed 113 articles on thoracic surgery skills training published over the past decade, retrieved from databases including Web of Science. Publication trends, citation analysis, author and journal productivity, and keyword frequencies were evaluated. RESULTS: The United States contributed the most publications, led by pioneering institutions. Simulation training progressed from basic to sophisticated modalities and virtual reality emerged with transformative potential. Minimally invasive techniques posed unique learning challenges requiring integrated curricula. CONCLUSION: Ongoing investments in educational research and curriculum innovations are imperative to advance thoracic surgery training through multidisciplinary strategies. This study provides an evidentiary foundation to optimize training and address the complexities of modern thoracic surgery.

ß-Sitosterol Inhibits Tumor Growth and Amplifies Rituximab Sensitivity through Acid Sphingomyelinase/Ceramide Signaling in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Rituximab (RTX) resistance is a notable challenge in treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). ß-Sitosterol (ß-ST) is a plant sterol that has been found in a broad variety of fruits, spices, and medicinal plants. The antineoplastic properties of ß-ST are established in various solid malignancies; however, its effect on DLBCL is uncharted. This study investigates the role of ß-ST in DLBCL as well as the underlying mechanisms. Our findings indicated that ß-ST impeded DLBCL cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. ß-ST appeared to alter sphingolipid metabolism, facilitate acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) translocation to the plasma membrane, augment ceramide platforms through increased ceramide synthesis, and consequently induce apoptosis in DLBCL cells. Furthermore, we found that RTX initiated both apoptotic and survival pathways in vitro, with the former contingent on the transient activation of the ASM, and ß-ST could amplify the anti-DLBCL efficacy of RTX by modulating ASM/Ceramide (Cer) signaling. Collectively, our findings elucidate the mechanistic role of ß-ST in DLBCL and underscore its potential in amplifying the antineoplastic efficacy of RTX via ASM activation, proposing a potential avenue to improve the efficacy of RTX therapy.

Enhancing angiogenesis in peri-implant soft tissue with bioactive silk fibroin microgroove coatings on zirconia surfaces.

Zirconia abutments and restorations have improved the aesthetic appeal of implant restoration, yet peri-implantitis poses a significant threat to long-term success. The soft tissue surrounding implants is a crucial biological barrier against inflammation and subsequent bone loss. Peri-implantitis, akin to periodontitis, progresses rapidly and causes extensive tissue damage. Variations in tissue structure significantly influence disease progression, particularly the lower vascular density in peri-implant connective tissue, compromising its ability to combat infection and provide essential nutrients. Blood vessels within this tissue are vital for healing, with angiogenesis playing a key role in immune defense and tissue repair. Enhancing peri-implant soft tissue angiogenesis holds promise for tissue integration and inflammation control. Microgroove surfaces have shown potential in guiding vessel growth, but using subtractive technologies to carve microgrooves on zirconia surfaces may compromise mechanical integrity. In this study, we utilized inkjet printing to prepare bioactive silk fibroin microgrooves (SFMG) coating with different sizes on zirconia surfaces. SFMG coating, particularly with 90 µm width and 10 µm depth, effectively directed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) along microgrooves, promoting their proliferation, migration, and tube formation. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A and fibroblast growth factor in HUVECs growing on SFMG coating was upregulated. Additionally, the SFMG coating activated the PI3K-AKT pathway and increased glycolytic enzyme gene expression in HUVECs. In conclusion, SFMG coating enhances HUVEC growth and angiogenesis potential by activating the PI3K-AKT pathway and glycolysis, showing promise for improving tissue integration and mitigating inflammation in zirconia abutments and restorations.

CroMAM: A Cross-Magnification Attention Feature Fusion Model for Predicting Genetic Status and Survival of Gliomas using Histological Images.

Predicting the gene mutation status in whole slide images (WSI) is crucial for the clinical treatment, cancer management, and research of gliomas. With advancements in CNN and Transformer algorithms, several promising models have been proposed. However, existing studies have paid little attention on fusing multi-magnification information, and the model requires processing all patches from a whole slide image. In this paper, we propose a cross-magnification attention model called CroMAM for predicting the genetic status and survival of gliomas. The CroMAM first utilizes a systematic patch extraction module to sample a subset of representative patches for downstream analysis. Next, the CroMAM applies Swin Transformer to extract local and global features from patches at different magnifications, followed by acquiring high-level features and dependencies among single-magnification patches through the application of a Vision Transformer. Subsequently, the CroMAM exchanges the integrated feature representations of different magnifications and encourage the integrated feature representations to learn the discriminative information from other magnification. Additionally, we design a cross-magnification attention analysis method to examine the effect of cross-magnification attention quantitatively and qualitatively which increases the model's explainability. To validate the performance of the model, we compare the proposed model with other multi-magnification feature fusion models on three tasks in two datasets. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed model achieves state-of-the-art performance in predicting the genetic status and survival of gliomas. The implementation of the CroMAM will be publicly available upon the acceptance of this manuscript at https://github.com/GuoJisen/CroMAM.

The neural network of sensory attenuation: A neuroimaging meta-analysis.

Sensory attenuation refers to the reduction in sensory intensity resulting from self-initiated actions compared to stimuli initiated externally. A classic example is scratching oneself without feeling itchy. This phenomenon extends across various sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, somatosensory, and nociceptive stimuli. The internal forward model proposes that during voluntary actions, an efferent copy of the action command is sent out to predict sensory feedback. This predicted sensory feedback is then compared with the actual sensory feedback, leading to the suppression or reduction of sensory stimuli originating from self-initiated actions. To further elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying sensory attenuation effect, we conducted an extensive meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies. Utilizing activation likelihood estimation (ALE) analysis, our results revealed significant activations in a prominent cluster encompassing the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG), right middle temporal gyrus (rMTG), and right insula when comparing external-generated with self-generated conditions. Additionally, significant activation was observed in the right anterior cerebellum when comparing self-generated to external-generated conditions. Further analysis using meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) unveiled distinct brain networks co-activated with the rMTG and right cerebellum, respectively. Based on these findings, we propose that sensory attenuation arises from the suppression of reflexive inputs elicited by self-initiated actions through the internal forward modeling of a cerebellum-centered action prediction network, enabling the "sensory conflict detection" regions to effectively discriminate between inputs resulting from self-induced actions and those originating externally.

Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that pH changes affected the expression of carbohydrate and ribosome biogenesis-related genes in Aspergillus niger SICU-33.

The process of carbohydrate metabolism and genetic information transfer is an important part of the study on the effects of the external environment on microbial growth and development. As one of the most significant environmental parameters, pH has an important effect on mycelial growth. In this study, the effects of environmental pH on the growth and nutrient composition of Aspergillus niger (A. niger) filaments were determined. The pH values of the medium were 5, 7, and 9, respectively, and the molecular mechanism was further investigated by transcriptomics and metabolomics methods. The results showed that pH 5 and 9 significantly inhibited filament growth and polysaccharide accumulation of A. niger. Further, the mycelium biomass of A. niger and the crude polysaccharide content was higher when the medium's pH was 7. The DEGs related to ribosome biogenesis were the most abundant, and the downregulated expression of genes encoding XRN1, RRM, and RIO1 affected protein translation, modification, and carbohydrate metabolism in fungi. The dynamic changes of pargyline and choline were in response to the oxidative metabolism of A. niger SICU-33. The ribophorin_I enzymes and DL-lactate may be important substances related to pH changes during carbohydrate metabolism of A.niger SICU-33. The results of this study provide useful transcriptomic and metabolomic information for further analyzing the bioinformatic characteristics of A. niger and improving the application in ecological agricultural fermentation.

Bacterial community in the buckwheat rhizosphere responds more sensitively to single microplastics in lead-contaminated soil compared to the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community.

Soil pollution by microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles <5 mm, and heavy metals is a significant environmental issue. However, studies on the co-contamination effects of MPs and heavy metals on buckwheat rhizosphere microorganisms, especially on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community, are limited. We introduced low (0.01 g kg-1) and high doses of lead (Pb) (2 g kg-1) along with polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) MPs, both individually and in combination, into soil and assessed soil properties, buckwheat growth, and rhizosphere bacterial and AMF communities in a 40-day pot experiment. Notable alterations were observed in soil properties such as pH, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), and the available Pb (APb). High-dose Pb combined with PLA-MPs hindered buckwheat growth. Compared to the control, bacterial Chao1 richness and Shannon diversity were lower in the high dose Pb with PLA treatment, and differentially abundant bacteria were mainly detected in the high Pb dose treatments. Variations in bacterial communities correlated with APb, pH and AN. Overall, the AMF community composition remained largely consistent across all treatments. This phenomenon may be due to fungi having lower nutritional demands than bacteria. Stochastic processes played a relatively important role in the assembly of both bacterial and AMF communities. In summary, MPs appeared to amplify both the positive and negative effects of high Pb doses on the buckwheat rhizosphere bacteria.