Antagonistic activity and mechanism of Bacillus subtilis CG-6 suppression of root rot and growth promotion in Alfalfa.

Root rot is a common disease, that severely affects the yield and quality of alfalfa. Biocontrol is widely used to control plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi, however, biocontrol strains for alfalfa root rot are very limited. In this study, a Bacillus subtilis CG-6 strain with a significant biocontrol effect on alfalfa root rot was isolated. CG-6 secretes antibacterial enzymes and siderophore, phosphate solubilization and indoleacetic acid (IAA). The inhibition rate of strain CG-6 against Fusarium oxysporum was 87.33%, and it showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity. Inoculation with CG-6 significantly reduced the incidence of alfalfa root rot, the control effect of greenhouse cultivation reached 58.12%, and CG-6 treatment significantly increased alfalfa plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight. The treatment with CG-6 significantly increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and lipoxygenase) in alfalfa leaves by 15.52%-34.03%. Defensive enzymes (chitinase and ß-1,3-glucanase) increased by 24.37% and 28.08%, respectively. The expression levels of regulatory enzyme genes (MsCAT, MsPOD, MsCu, Zn-SOD1, MsCu, Zn-SOD2, MsCu, Zn-SOD3, and MsLOX2) and systemic resistance genes (MsPR1, MsPDF1.2, and MsVSP2) increased by 0.50-2.85 fold, which were higher than those in the pathogen treatment group. Therefore, CG-6 could be used as a potential strain to develop biopesticides against alfalfa root rot.

Oxalic acid secretion alleviates saline-alkali stress in alfalfa by improving photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant activity.

Saline-alkali stress significantly affects the growth and yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Organic acid secretion is crucial in alleviating abiotic stress-induced damage in plants. In this study, we evaluated the contents of the major organic acids secreted by the roots of tolerant (ZD) and sensitive (LYL) varieties of alfalfa under saline-alkali stress and investigated the effects of these organic acids on the growth, and physiological functions of alfalfa. Our results indicated that the oxalic acid (OA) content was the highest among the organic acids secreted from alfalfa roots under saline-alkali stress, and oxalic acid content was the most significantly different between the two varieties, ZD and LYL, compared to the contents of the other organic acids. Oxalic acid alleviated the inhibition of alfalfa growth caused by saline-alkali stress, improved photosynthetic characteristics, reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and content of osmoregulatory substances. Furthermore, oxalic acid resulted in significantly increased expression of genes involved in photosynthesis and antioxidant system in alfalfa under saline-alkali stress. This study revealed the effects of oxalic acid secreted by the root system on stress-related physiological processes, providing valuable insights into the functions of root secretions in plant saline-alkali resistance.

The loading of Fe ions on N-doped carbon nanosheets to boost photocatalytic cascade for water disinfection.

The pervasive presence of pathogenic bacteria in water environment poses a serious threat to public health. Here, a photocatalytic cascade was developed to reveal great water disinfection. Firstly, N-doped carbon nanosheets (N-CNSs) about 30-50 nm in size were synthesized by a hydrothermal strategy. It revealed wide-spectrum photocatalysis for H2O2 generation via a typical two-step single-electron process. A Fenton agent (Fe ion) was loaded, N-CNSs-Fe can in-situ convert photocatalytic H2O2 into ·OH with high oxidation potential. Moreover, its Fenton active is three times greater than pure Fe2+ owing to electron enrichment from N-CNSs to Fe for Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle. Further investigation displayed that Fe loading also could decrease bad gap and promote charge separation to boost photocatalysis. In addition, N-CNSs-Fe possesses positive surface potential to exhibit strong interaction with negative bacteria, facilitating the capture. Therefore, the nanocomposite can effectively inactivate E. coli with a lethality rate of 99.7 % under stimulated sunlight irradiation. In addition, it also was employed to treat a complex lake water sample, revealing great antibacterial (95.1 %) and dye-decolored (92.3 %) efficiency at the same time. With novel biocompatibility and antibacterial ability, N-CNSs-Fe possessed great potential for water disinfection.

Alfalfa MsbHLH115 confers tolerance to cadmium stress through activating the iron deficiency response in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution severely affects plant growth and development, posing risks to human health throughout the food chain. Improved iron (Fe) nutrients could mitigate Cd toxicity in plants, but the regulatory network involving Cd and Fe interplay remains unresolved. Here, a transcription factor gene of alfalfa, MsbHLH115 was verified to respond to iron deficiency and Cd stress. Overexpression of MsbHLH115 enhanced tolerance to Cd stress, showing better growth and less ROS accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Overexpression of MsbHLH115 significantly enhanced Fe and Zn accumulation and did not affect Cd, Mn, and Cu concentration in Arabidopsis. Further investigations revealed that MsbHLH115 up-regulated iron homeostasis regulation genes, ROS-related genes, and metal chelation and detoxification genes, contributing to attenuating Cd toxicity. Y1H, EMSA, and LUC assays confirmed the physical interaction between MsbHLH115 and E-box, which is present in the promoter regions of most of the above-mentioned iron homeostasis regulatory genes. The transient expression experiment showed that MsbHLH115 interacted with MsbHLH121pro. The results suggest that MsbHLH115 may directly regulate the iron-deficiency response system and indirectly regulate the metal detoxification response mechanism, thereby enhancing plant Cd tolerance. In summary, enhancing iron accumulation through transcription factor regulation holds promise for improving plant tolerance to Cd toxicity, and MsbHLH115 is a potential candidate for addressing Cd toxicity issues.

pH-Responsive Hyaluronic Acid Nanomicelles for Photodynamic /Chemodynamic Synergistic Therapy Trigger Immunogenicity and Oxygenation.

Cancer metastasis and invasion are closely related to tumor cell immunosuppression and intracellular hypoxia. Activation of immunogenicity and intracellular oxygenation are effective strategies for cancer treatment. In this study, multifunctional nanomicelle hyaluronic acid and cinnamaldehyde is self-assembled into nanomicelles (HPCNPs) were constructed for immunotherapy and tumor cell oxygenation. The Schiff base was constructed of HPCNPs with pyropheophorbide a-Cu (PPa-Cu). HPCNPs are concentrated in tumor sites under the guidance of CD44 proteins, and under the stimulation of tumor environment (weakly acidic), the Schiff base is destroyed to release free PPa. HPCNPs with photodynamic therapeutic functions and chemokinetic therapeutic functions produce a large number of reactive oxygen species (1O2 and •OH) under exogenous (laser) and endogenous (H2O2) stimulations, causing cell damage, and then inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD). ICD markers (CRT and ATP) and immunoactivity markers (IL-2 and CD8) were characterized by immunofluorescence. Downregulation of Arg1 protein proved that the tumor microenvironment changed from immunosuppressive type (M2) to antitumor type (M1). The oxidation of glutathione by HPCNP cascades to amplify the concentration of reactive oxygen species. In situ oxygenation by HPCNPs based on a Fenton-like reaction improves the intracellular oxygen level. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that HPCNPs combined with an immune checkpoint blocker (α-PD-L1) effectively ablated primary tumors, effectively inhibited the growth of distal tumors, and increased the oxygen level in tumor cells.

Comparative Analysis of Chloroplast Pan-Genomes and Transcriptomics Reveals Cold Adaptation in Medicago sativa.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a perennial forage legume that is widely distributed all over the world; therefore, it has an extremely complex genetic background. Though population structure and phylogenetic studies have been conducted on a large group of alfalfa nuclear genomes, information about the chloroplast genomes is still lacking. Chloroplast genomes are generally considered to be conservative and play an important role in population diversity analysis and species adaptation in plants. Here, 231 complete alfalfa chloroplast genomes were successfully assembled from 359 alfalfa resequencing data, on the basis of which the alfalfa chloroplast pan-genome was constructed. We investigated the genetic variations of the alfalfa chloroplast genome through comparative genomic, genetic diversity, phylogenetic, population genetic structure, and haplotype analysis. Meanwhile, the expression of alfalfa chloroplast genes under cold stress was explored through transcriptome analysis. As a result, chloroplast genomes of 231 alfalfa lack an IR region, and the size of the chloroplast genome ranges from 125,192 bp to 126,105 bp. Using population structure, haplotypes, and construction of a phylogenetic tree, it was found that alfalfa populations could be divided into four groups, and multiple highly variable regions were found in the alfalfa chloroplast genome. Transcriptome analysis showed that tRNA genes were significantly up-regulated in the cold-sensitive varieties, while rps7, rpl32, and ndhB were down-regulated, and the editing efficiency of ycf1, ycf2, and ndhF was decreased in the cold-tolerant varieties, which may be due to the fact that chloroplasts store nutrients through photosynthesis to resist cold. The huge number of genetic variants in this study provide powerful resources for molecular markers.

Metabolomic and physiological analysis of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in response to saline and alkaline stress.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a leguminous forage widely grown worldwide. Saline and alkaline stress can affect its development and yield. To elucidate the physiological mechanisms of alfalfa in response to saline and alkaline stress, we investigated the growth and physiological and metabolomic changes in alfalfa under saline (100 mM NaCl) and alkaline (100 mM Na2CO3, NaHCO3) stress. At the same Na+ concentration, alkaline stress caused more damage than that caused by saline stress. A total of 65 and 124 metabolites were identified in response to saline and alkaline stress, respectively. Determination of gene expression, enzyme activity, substance content, and KEGG enrichment analysis in key pathways revealed that alfalfa responded to saline stress primarily by osmoregulation and TCA cycle enhancement. Flavonoid synthesis, TCA cycle, glutamate anabolism, jasmonate synthesis, and cell wall component synthesis increased as responses to alkaline stress. This study provides important resources for breeding saline-alkaline-resistant alfalfa.

[Role of post-translational modification of basic leucine zipper transcription factors in response to abiotic stresses in plants].

Abiotic stresses substantially affect the growth and development of plants. Plants have evolved multiple strategies to cope with the environmental stresses, among which transcription factors play an important role in regulating the tolerance to abiotic stresses. Basic leucine zipper transcription factors (bZIP) are one of the largest gene families. The stability and activity of bZIP transcription factors could be regulated by different post-translational modifications (PTMs) in response to various intracellular or extracellular stresses. This paper introduces the structural feature and classification of bZIP transcription factors, followed by summarizing the PTMs of bZIP transcription factors, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification, in response to abiotic stresses. In addition, future perspectives were prospected, which may facilitate cultivating excellent stress-resistant crop varieties by regulating the PTMs of bZIP transcription factors.

Comprehensive Identification of the ß-Amylase (BAM) Gene Family in Response to Cold Stress in White Clover.

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an allopolyploid plant and an excellent perennial legume forage. However, white clover is subjected to various stresses during its growth, with cold stress being one of the major limiting factors affecting its growth and development. Beta-amylase (BAM) is an important starch-hydrolyzing enzyme that plays a significant role in starch degradation and responses to environmental stress. In this study, 21 members of the BAM gene family were identified in the white clover genome. A phylogenetic analysis using BAMs from Arabidopsis divided TrBAMs into four groups based on sequence similarity. Through analysis of conserved motifs, gene duplication, synteny analysis, and cis-acting elements, a deeper understanding of the structure and evolution of TrBAMs in white clover was gained. Additionally, a gene regulatory network (GRN) containing TrBAMs was constructed; gene ontology (GO) annotation analysis revealed close interactions between TrBAMs and AMY (α-amylase) and DPE (4-alpha-glucanotransferase). To determine the function of TrBAMs under various tissues and stresses, RNA-seq datasets were analyzed, showing that most TrBAMs were significantly upregulated in response to biotic and abiotic stresses and the highest expression in leaves. These results were validated through qRT-PCR experiments, indicating their involvement in multiple gene regulatory pathways responding to cold stress. This study provides new insights into the structure, evolution, and function of the white clover BAM gene family, laying the foundation for further exploration of the functional mechanisms through which TrBAMs respond to cold stress.

Distribution and Pathogenicity of Fusarium Species Associated with Soybean Root Rot in Northeast China.

Fusarium root rot is an increasingly severe problem in soybean cultivation. Although several Fusarium species have been reported to infect soybean roots in Heilongjiang province, their frequency and aggressiveness have not been systematically quantified in the region. This study aimed to investigate the diversity and distribution of Fusarium species that cause soybean root rot in Heilongjiang province over two years. A total of 485 isolates belonging to nine Fusarium species were identified, with F. oxysporum and F. solani being the most prevalent. Pot experiments were conducted to examine the relative aggressiveness of different Fusarium species on soybean roots, revealing that F. oxysporum and F. solani were the most aggressive pathogens, causing the most severe root rot symptoms. The study also assessed the susceptibility of different soybean cultivars to Fusarium root rot caused by F. oxysporum and F. solani. The results indicated that the soybean cultivar DN51 exhibited the most resistance to both pathogens, indicating that it may possess genetic traits that make it less susceptible to Fusarium root rot. These findings provide valuable insights into the diversity and distribution of Fusarium species that cause soybean root rot and could facilitate the development of effective management strategies for this disease.

Multifunctional Tumor-Targeting Carbon Dots for Tumor Microenvironment Activated Ferroptosis and Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment.

As an emerging cancer treatment strategy, ferroptosis is distinguished by the perturbation of lipid metabolism equilibrium and the accumulation of lipid peroxidation. However, the efficacy is consistently hindered by excessive GSH in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, this work designed and prepared multifunctional tumor-targeting carbon dots (FG-CDs@Cu) for ferroptosis and immunotherapy. Cu2+ in FG-CDs@Cu rapidly depletes high concentrations of GSH and inhibits glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression in an acidic TME. Meanwhile, the generated Cu+ produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) through Fenton-like reaction. Due to the high efficiency of ROS production and GSH depletion, ferroptosis mediated by oxidative stress is significantly enhanced by FG-CDs@Cu in vivo, which can induce immunogenic cell death and promote CD8+ T cell infiltration. Meanwhile, the generated O2 effectively improves the hypoxic environment of the cells and leads to the reduction of hypoxia factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression, which activates the transformation of tumor-promoting M2-type tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to tumor-inhibiting M1-type TAMs, further enhancing the immune response and ferroptosis. The in vivo tests suggested that FG-CDs@Cu could efficiently suppress tumor growth in the mouse model and did not cause obvious toxicity. The combination with antiprogrammed death-ligand 1 (αPD-L1) synergy immune therapy could effectively restrain the growth of distal tumors, suggesting the significant potential of FG-CDs@Cu in augmenting ferroptosis and immunotherapy for efficacious cancer treatment.

Bioinformatics and expression analysis of proline metabolism-related gene families in alfalfa under saline-alkali stress.

Regulation of the proline metabolic pathway is essential for the accumulation of proline under abiotic stress and for the amelioration of plant stress resistance. Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR), ornithine transaminase (δ-OAT), proline dehydrogenase (PDH), pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH), and proline transporter (ProT) are the key enzymes in the proline metabolic pathway. However, the gene families responsible for proline metabolism have not yet been identified or reported in alfalfa. In this study, a total of 12 MsP5CSs, 4 MsP5CRs, 3 MsOATs, 6 MsPDHs, 2 MsP5CDHs, and 5 MsProTs were identified in the genome of alfalfa, and the members of the same subfamily had similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements revealed the presence of light-responsive, hormone-regulated, and stress-responsive elements in the promoter regions of alfalfa proline metabolism-related genes. Following treatment with saline-alkali, the expression of MsP5CSs, MsP5CRs, MsOATs, and MsProTs was significantly upregulated, whereas the expression of MsPDH1.1, MsPDH1.3, and MsP5CDH was significantly downregulated. The proline content and enzyme activity of P5CS gradually increased, whereas the enzyme activity of PDH gradually decreased as the duration of stress increased. Root growth rates decreased upon MsP5CS1a suppression (MsP5CS1a-RNAi) in the hairy roots of alfalfa compared to the empty vector line under saline-alkali stress. These results show that proline metabolism-related genes play an important role in the saline-alkali stress tolerance of alfalfa and provide a theoretical basis for further research on the functions of proline metabolism-related genes in alfalfa in response to saline-alkali stress.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of filamentation temperature-sensitive H (FtsH) genes and expression analysis in response to multiple stresses in Medicago truncatula.

BACKGROUND: Filamentation temperature-sensitive H (FtsH) is an AAA+ ATP-dependent protease that plays a vital role in plant environmental adaption and tolerance. However, little is known about the function of the FtsH gene family in the most important legume model plant, Medicago truncatula. METHODS AND RESULTS: To identify and investigate the potential stress adaptation roles of FtsH gene family in M. truncatula, we conducted a series of genome-wide characterization and expression analyses. Totally, twenty MtFtsH genes were identified, which were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes and classified into six evolution groups based on their phylogenetic relationships, with each group containing similar structures and motifs. Furthermore, MtFtsH genes exhibited a high degree of collinearity and homology with leguminous plants such as alfalfa and soybean. Multiple cis-elements in the upstream region of MtFtsH genes were also identified that responded to light, abiotic stress, and phytohormones. Public RNA-seq data indicated that MtFtsH genes were induced under both salt and drought stresses, and our transcript expression analysis showed that MtFtsH genes of MtFtsH1, MtFtsH2, MtFtsH4, MtFtsH9, and MtFtsH10 were up-regulated after ABA, H2O2, PEG, and NaCl treatments. These results suggest that MtFtsH genes may play a critical role in drought and high salt stress responses and the adaption processes of plants. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a systematic analysis of FtsH gene family in M. truncatula, serving as a valuable molecular theoretical basis for future functional investigations. Our findings also extend the pool of potential candidate genes for the genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in legume crops.

Vehicle State Joint Estimation Based on Lateral Stiffness.

In this study, a vehicle state joint estimation method based on lateral stiffness was applied to estimate the running states of electric vehicles driven by rear-drive, in-wheel motors. Different from the estimation methods used in other research, the joint estimator designed in this study uses the least-squares (LS) algorithm to estimate the lateral stiffness of the front and rear axles of the vehicle, deploying the high-degree cubature Kalman filter algorithm to estimate the vehicle state. We establish a three-degree-of-freedom nonlinear vehicle model with longitudinal velocity, lateral velocity, and yaw rate, and the lateral stiffness of the front and rear axles as the principal parameters. For the low-speed running state of the vehicle, a linearized magic tire model with high fitting accuracy was used to calculate the lateral force of the entire vehicle. The LS algorithm with a forgetting factor was used to design a lateral stiffness estimator to assess the front-axle and rear-axle lateral stiffness of the entire vehicle. The generalized high-degree cubature Kalman filter (GHCKF) algorithm was used to design the vehicle state estimator and further improve the GHCKF algorithm. A vehicle state estimator, using the square root generalized high-degree cubature Kalman filter (SRGHCKF), was designed. Therefore, the joint estimator, comprising a lateral stiffness estimator and a vehicle state estimator, adopts the LS-GHCKF/SRGHCKF algorithm and enables the estimation of the lateral stiffness, the longitudinal velocity, the lateral velocity, and the yaw rate of the entire vehicle during the driving process. A double lane change and slalom simulation were performed to analyze the feasibility and accuracy of the joint estimation algorithm and verify the results of the LS-GHCKF algorithm and the LS-SRGHCKF algorithm. Further, a low-speed driving experiment was carried out for electric vehicles driven by rear in-wheel motors. The inertial navigation system (INS), the global positioning system (GPS), the real-time kinematic (RTK), and an angle sensor were used to collect real-time vehicle data. The results were compared to verify the feasibility of the joint estimator and the progressiveness of the algorithm. The experimental verification and simulation both show that the vehicle state joint estimator, designed based on the LS-GHCKF/SRGHCKF algorithm, can accurately estimate the real-time state of the vehicle. Additionally, the LS-SRGHCKF algorithm shows better effectiveness and robustness than the LS-GHCKF algorithm.

Identification of bladder cancer subtypes and predictive model for prognosis, immune features, and immunotherapy based on neutrophil extracellular trap-related genes.

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of urinary system, and its morbidity and mortality are increasing rapidly. Although great advances have been made in medical technology in recent years, there is still a lack of effective prognostic and therapeutic methods for bladder cancer. NETs are reticulated DNA structures decorated with various protein substances released extracellularly by neutrophils stimulated by strong signals. Recently, it has been found that NETs are closely related to the growth, metastasis and drug resistance of many types of cancers. However, up to now, the research on the relationship between NETs and bladder cancer is still not enough. In this study, we aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of NRGs in bladder cancer tissues to evaluate the relationship between NRGs and prognosis prediction and sensitivity to therapy in patients with bladder cancer. We scored NRGs in each tissue by using ssGSEA, and selected gene sets that were significantly associated with NRGs scores by using the WCGNA algorithm. Based on the expression profiles of NRGs-related genes, NMF clustering analysis was performed to identify different BLCA molecular subtypes. For the differentially expressed genes between subtypes, we used univariate COX regression, LASSO regression and multivariate COX regression to further construct a hierarchical model of BLCA patients containing 10 genes. This model and the nomogram based on this model can accurately predict the prognosis of BLCA patients in multiple datasets. Besides, BLCA patients classified based on this model differ greatly in their sensitivity to immunotherapy and targeted therapies, which providing a reference for individualized treatment of patients with bladder cancer.

MsYSL6, A Metal Transporter Gene of Alfalfa, Increases Iron Accumulation and Benefits Cadmium Resistance.

Iron (Fe) is necessary for plant growth and development. The mechanism of uptake and translocation in Cadmium (Cd) is similar to iron, which shares iron transporters. Yellow stripe-like transporter (YSL) plays a pivotal role in transporting iron and other metal ions in plants. In this study, MsYSL6 and its promoter were cloned from leguminous forage alfalfa. The transient expression of MsYSL6-GFP indicated that MsYSL6 was localized to the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. The expression of MsYSL6 was induced in alfalfa by iron deficiency and Cd stress, which was further proved by GUS activity driven by the MsYSL6 promoter. To further identify the function of MsYSL6, it was heterologously overexpressed in tobacco. MsYSL6-overexpressed tobacco showed better growth and less oxidative damage than WT under Cd stress. MsYSL6 overexpression elevated Fe and Cd contents and induced a relatively high Fe translocation rate in tobacco under Cd stress. The results suggest that MsYSL6 might have a dual function in the absorption of Fe and Cd, playing a role in the competitive absorption between Fe and Cd. MsYSL6 might be a regulatory factor in plants to counter Cd stress. This study provides a novel gene for application in heavy metal enrichment or phytoremediation and new insights into plant tolerance to toxic metals.

Phytotoxicity of nitrobenzene bioaccumulation in rice seedlings: Nitrobenzene inhibits growth, induces oxidative stress, and reduces photosynthetic pigment synthesis.

Nitrobenzene (NB) has been used in numerous industrial and agricultural fields as an organic compound intermediate. NB has mutagenicity and acute toxicity, and is typically a toxic pollutant in industrial wastewater worldwide. To evaluate its phytotoxicity, we treated rice (Oryza sativa) with different concentrations of NB (0, 5, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L-1). NB inhibited growth indices of rice (shoot and root length, fresh shoot and root weight, and dry shoot and root weight) as NB treatment concentrations increased. High concentrations (>25 mg L-1) of NB significantly inhibited rice root and shoot growth; root growth was more susceptible to NB. NB treatment could damage the structure and reduce the activity of rice seedling roots. The result of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) indicated that the bioaccumulation of NB in rice seedlings had a dose-dependent effect on the growth inhibition. NB reduced the photosynthetic pigment content and the expression levels of chlorophyll synthesis genes. NB treatment increased active oxygen radicals, electrical conductivity, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, and soluble sugar contents. The expressions of antioxidant enzyme genes were induced by NB stress, and exhibited a phenomenon of initial increase followed by decrease. When the NB concentration was higher than 50 mg L-1, the gene expression levels decreased rapidly. This study provides insight into the association between exposure to NB and its phytotoxic effects on rice seedlings, and assesses the potential risk of NB bioaccumulation for crops that require a large amount of irrigation water.

Treatment of Central Nervous System Infection Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii with Intravenous and Intraventricular Colistin Sulfate: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Purpose: Due to the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and poor penetration of many antimicrobial drugs across the blood-brain barrier following intravenous administration, treatment of central nervous system (CNS) infections is challenging, especially infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO). Intraventricular (IVT) infusion of antimicrobial drugs could be a choice. This report aims to describe a patient with CNS infection caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) which was successfully treated with IVT combined with intravenous (IV) colistin sulfate. Methods: A case of CNS infection caused by CRAB after a craniocerebral injury was presented. The patient was treated with IVT together with IV colistin sulfate. Moreover, literature on the regimens and safety of colistin sulfate were also reviewed and summarized. Results: Intraventricular (50,000 U, qd/100,000 U, qd) combined with IV (500,000 U, q12h/500,000 U, q8h) colistin sulfate was given to the patient, and the CNS infection was successfully controlled. The patient was finally transferred back to a local hospital for rehabilitation treatment. No nephrotoxicity or neurotoxicity was observed during the therapy. Conclusion: IV combined with IVT colistin sulfate is effective in the treatment of CNS infections caused by CRAB. IVT concomitant IV colistin sulfate might be a therapeutic option worth considering in the treatment of CNS infections caused by CRO.

Alfalfa MsATG13 Confers Cold Stress Tolerance to Plants by Promoting Autophagy.

Autophagy is a conserved cellular process that functions in the maintenance of physiological and metabolic balance. It has previously been demonstrated to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stress. Numerous autophagy-related genes (ATGs) that regulate abiotic stress have been identified, but there have been few functional studies showing how ATGs confer cold stress tolerance. The cold transcriptome data of the crown buds that experienced overwintering of the alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) showed that MsATG13 is upregulated in response to cold stress. In the present study, we found that MsATG13 transgenic tobacco enhanced cold tolerance compared to wild-type (WT) plants. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that transgenic tobacco overexpressing MsATG13 formed more autophagosomes than WT plants in response to cold stress conditions. The transgenic tobacco increased autophagy levels due to upregulation of other ATGs that were necessary for autophagosome production under cold stress conditions. MsATG13 transgenic tobacco also increased the proline contents and antioxidant enzyme activities, enhancing the antioxidant defense capabilities under cold stress conditions. Furthermore, MsATG13 overexpression decreased levels of superoxide anion radicals and hydrogen peroxide under cold stress conditions. These findings demonstrate the role of MsATG13 in enhancing plant cold tolerance through modulation of autophagy and antioxidant levels.

Genome-wide analysis of the WRKY genes and their important roles during cold stress in white clover.

Background: White clover (Trifolium repens L) is a high-quality forage grass with a high protein content, but it is vulnerable to cold stress, which can negatively affect its growth and development. WRKY transcription factor is a family of plant transcription factors found mainly in higher plants and plays an important role in plant growth, development, and stress response. Although WRKY transcription factors have been studied extensively in other plants, it has been less studied in white clover. Methods and Results: In the present research, we have performed a genome-wide analysis of the WRKY gene family of white clover, in total, there were 145 members of WRKY transcription factors identified in white clover. The characterization of the TrWRKY genes was detailed, including conserved motif analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and gene duplication analysis, which have provided a better understanding of the structure and evolution of the TrWRKY genes in white clover. Meanwhile, the genetic regulation network (GRN) containing TrWRKY genes was reconstructed, and Gene Ontology (GO) annotation analysis of these function genes showed they contributed to regulation of transcription process, response to wounding, and phosphorylay signal transduction system, all of which were important processes in response to abiotic stress. To determine the TrWRKY genes function under cold stress, the RNA-seq dataset was analyzed; most of TrWRKY genes were highly upregulated in response to cold stress, particularly in the early stages of cold stress. These results were validated by qRT-PCR experiment, implying they are involved in various gene regulation pathways in response to cold stress. Conclusion: The results of this study provide insights that will be useful for further functional analyses of TrWRKY genes in response to biotic or abiotic stresses in white clover. These findings are likely to be useful for further research on the functions of TrWRKY genes and their role in response to cold stress, which is important to understand the molecular mechanism of cold tolerance in white clover and improve its cold tolerance.