Evaluation of age-structured vaccination strategies for curbing the disease spread.

Age structure is one of the crucial factors in characterizing the heterogeneous epidemic transmission. Vaccination is regarded as an effective control measure for prevention and control epidemics. Due to the shortage of vaccine capacity during the outbreak of epidemics, how to design vaccination policy has become an urgent issue in suppressing the disease transmission. In this paper, we make an effort to propose an age-structured SVEIHR model with the disease-caused death to take account of dynamics of age-related vaccination policy for better understanding disease spread and control. We present an explicit expression of the basic reproduction number R 0 , which determines whether or not the disease persists, and then establish the existence and stability of endemic equilibria under certain conditions. Numerical simulations are illustrated to show that the age-related vaccination policy has a tremendous influence on curbing the disease transmission. Especially, vaccination of people over 65 is better than for people aged 21-65 in terms of rapid eradication of the disease in Italy.

An intracellular VHH targeting the Luteinizing Hormone receptor modulates G protein-dependent signaling and steroidogenesis.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is essential for reproduction, controlling ovulation and steroidogenesis. Its receptor (LHR) recruits various transducers leading to the activation of a complex signaling network. We recently identified iPRC1, the first variable fragment from heavy-chain-only antibody (VHH) interacting with intracellular loop 3 (ICL3) of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR). Because of the high sequence similarity of the human FSHR and LHR (LHCGR), here we examined the ability of the iPRC1 intra-VHH to modulate LHCGR activity. In this study, we demonstrated that iPRC1 binds LHCGR, to a greater extent when the receptor was stimulated by the hormone. In addition, it decreased LH-induced cAMP production, cAMP-responsive element-dependent transcription, progesterone and testosterone production. These impairments are not due to Gs nor ß-arrestin recruitment to the LHCGR. Consequently, iPRC1 is the first intra-VHH to bind and modulate LHCGR biological activity, including steroidogenesis. It should help further understand signaling mechanisms elicited at this receptor and their outcomes on reproduction.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Initiating a Low Fat Eating Plan in Reproductive Aged Women with Obesity.

Adverse effects of obesity on reproduction are believed in part due to diet related factors leading to hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia. It is unknown whether administration of a low fat eating plan, regardless of weight loss, will improve reproductive axis function in women with obesity. To develop an acceptable and feasible low fat eating plan for a diverse group of reproductive aged women with obesity. Focus groups to determine preferences and barriers to a planned dietary intervention providing very low fat (22% daily calories from fat) eucaloric food to control fat exposure, but not cause weight loss. Logistics of the intervention and monitoring over three menstrual cycles were discussed. Eighteen women enrolled into 4 different focus groups both live and video, 2 at the University of Colorado and 2 at the Morehouse School of Medicine. All participants expressed interest in implementing a low fat dietary intervention and were further interested in instruction on how to maintain healthy eating habits for future fertility. Provision of ethnically appropriate foods, social support to avoid lapses, and tasty alternatives to high fat foods were considered ideal aspects of a feasible intervention. Incentives and graduated compensation for adherence were considered desirable features. Women with obesity are interested in implementing dietary interventions that may improve their health and fertility. Given the diversity of responses based upon the demographics of our sample, it is important to assess geographical and cultural preferences prior to implementing of a dietary strategy.

Volatiles from essential oils of three Lamiaceae plants repel the winged cotton aphid, disturb its feeding behavior and reduce its fecundity.

BACKGROUND: Insects use odor detection to sense their surroundings. Use of volatile compounds, such as essential oils (EOs) of plants, to repel pests and disrupt their olfaction-driven behaviors has great practical potential for use in integrated pest management. Despite the available information on the repellent effects of EOs on herbivorous insects, the olfaction-based mechanisms remain unknown. RESULTS: Y-tube olfactometer tests showed that the EOs of three Lamiaceae plants - Mentha arvensis L., Mentha piperita L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. - were significantly repellent to winged cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover. Electropenetrography (EPG) tests indicated the EOs reduced phloem feeding and increased the level of nonproductive probing by the aphids. The EOs also reduced the fecundity of winged A. gossypii. Electrophysiological bioassays and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified five physiologically active volatiles, i.e., menthone, isomenthone, neomenthol and menthol from M. piperita; menthone and menthol from M. arvensis; and linalool from L. angustifolia. Behavioral tests confirmed that all five compounds repelled winged A. gossypii. Under field conditions, the growth rate of aphid populations after seven days was significantly lower in fields treated with these compounds than in the control fields. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that three EOs not only repelled winged A. gossypii but also interfered with the aphid's feeding behavior and reduced its fecundity. These EOs and their active constituents have great potential as eco-friendly control products for use against A. gossypii. The effects of these EOs also exceed other repellents that only keep pests away from host plants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Impression Disinfection and Its Effect on Dimensional Accuracy and Surface Detail in the Times of COVID-19: An In Vitro Study.

Introduction The disinfection of impressions is crucial to eliminate the viral and other microbial loads to prevent the cross contamination of diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different virucidal disinfecting methods on the dimensional accuracy and surface detail reproduction (SDR) of impression materials. Methods A total of 160 samples were fabricated with different impression materials using zinc oxide eugenol (Group 1), alginate (Group 2), polyether (Group 3), and addition silicone (Group 4) impression materials, each containing 40 samples (n=40). These groups were further divided into Subgroups A, B, C, and D (n=10) based on the disinfecting method used. Disinfection was carried out using 0.2% peracetic acid (A), a natural polymer of glucosamine (B), ultraviolet (UV) radiation (C), and ozonated water (D). The disinfected impressions were poured in type IV gypsum, and the obtained casts were checked for dimensional accuracy and surface detail reproduction (SDR). For dimensional accuracy, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and, for surface detail reproduction, the chi-square test were used to compare the different subgroups of each impression material separately. Results Zinc oxide eugenol samples showed the lowest mean dimensional change when disinfected with 0.2% peracetic acid (1A=154.1 µm), and alginate showed the lowest mean dimensional change when disinfected using ozonated water (2D=134.9 µm). On the other hand, the lowest mean dimensional change observed in polyether and addition silicone samples was those which were disinfected using UV radiation (3C=100.9 µm and 4C=113.5 µm). Surface detail was reproduced adequately in most of the samples. Conclusion A 0.2% peracetic acid could be used to disinfect zinc oxide eugenol impressions, ozonated water for alginate impressions, and UV radiation for polyether and addition silicone impressions.

The Nrf2/ARE pathway as a potential target to ameliorate atrazine-induced endocrine disruption in granulosa cells.

Atrazine (ATR) is widely used worldwide as a commercial herbicide, Diaminochlorotriazine (DACT) is the main metabolite of ATR in the organism. Both of them disrupt the production of steroids and induce abnormal reproductive development. The granulosa cells (GCs) are important for growth and reproduction of animals. However, the toxicity of ATR on the GCs of birds is not well clarified. To evaluate the effect of the environmental pollutant ATR on bird GCs. The quail GCs were allotted into 7 groups, C (The medium of M199), A20 (20 µM ATR), A100 (100 µM ATR), A250 (250 µM ATR), D20 (20 µM DACT), D100 (100 µM DACT) and D200 (200 µM DACT). The results demonstrated that ATR reduced the viability of GCs, disrupted mitochondrial structure (including mitochondrial cristae fragmentation and the mitochondrial morphology disappearance) and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Meanwhile, ATR interfered with the expression of key factors in the steroid synthesis pathway, inducing the secretion of the sex hormones E2 and P in GCs. which in turn induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the Nrf2/ARE pathway as a potential target to ameliorate ATR-induced endocrine disruption in GCs for proper reproductive functions. Our research provides a new perspective for understanding the effects of ATR on reproductive functions in birds.

The gonadal niche safeguards human fetal germline cell development following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

During pregnancy, germline development is vital for maintaining the continuation of species. Recent studies have shown increased pregnancy risks in COVID-19 patients at the perinatal stage. However, the potential consequence of infection for reproductive quality in developing fetuses remains unclear. Here, we analyze the transcriptome and DNA methylome of the fetal germline following maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We find that infection at early gestational age, a critical period of human primordial germ cell specification and epigenetic reprogramming, trivially affects fetal germ cell (FGC) development. Additionally, FGC-niche communications are not compromised by maternal infection. Strikingly, both general and SARS-CoV-2-specific immune pathways are greatly activated in gonadal niche cells to protect FGCs from maternal infection. Notably, there occurs an "in advance" development tendency in FGCs after maternal infection. Our study provides insights into the impacts of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on fetal germline development and serves as potential clinical guidance for future pandemics.

Decoding lifespan secrets: the role of the gonad in Caenorhabditis elegans aging.

The gonad has become a central organ for understanding aging in C. elegans, as removing the proliferating stem cells in the germline results in significant lifespan extension. Similarly, when starvation in late larval stages leads to the quiescence of germline stem cells the adult nematode enters reproductive diapause, associated with an extended lifespan. This review summarizes recent advancements in identifying the mechanisms behind gonad-mediated lifespan extension, including comparisons with other nematodes and the role of lipid signaling and transcriptional changes. Given that the gonad also mediates lifespan regulation in other invertebrates and vertebrates, elucidating the underlying mechanisms may help to gain new insights into the mechanisms and evolution of aging.

Advances in understanding the reproductive toxicity of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in women.

Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in disorders of the female reproductive system, accompanied by a rise in adverse pregnancy outcomes. This trend is increasingly being linked to environmental pollution, particularly through the lens of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). These external agents disrupt natural processes of hormones, including synthesis, metabolism, secretion, transport, binding, as well as elimination. These disruptions can significantly impair human reproductive functions. A wealth of animal studies and epidemiological research indicates that exposure to toxic environmental factors can interfere with the endocrine system's normal functioning, resulting in negative reproductive outcomes. However, the mechanisms of these adverse effects are largely unknown. This work reviews the reproductive toxicity of five major environmental EDCs-Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates (PAEs), Triclocarban Triclosan and Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)-to lay a foundational theoretical basis for further toxicological study of EDCs. Additionally, it aims to spark advancements in the prevention and treatment of female reproductive toxicity caused by these chemicals.

We know very little about pollination in the Platanthera Rich (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae).

The Platanthera Rich. (Orchidoideae) comprise a speciose genus of orchids primarily in the northern hemisphere, with up to 200 known species worldwide. Individual species are known to self-pollinate, but many rely on insect pollinators with characteristics such as floral color, timing of floral odor emissions, nectar rewards, and spur length associated with particular pollination syndromes. As with many orchids, some orchid-pollinator associations are likely highly co-evolved, but we also know that some Platanthera spp. are the result of hybridization events, which implies a lack of pollinator fidelity in some cases. Some Platanthera spp. occur in large numbers which, coupled with the numerous Platanthera-pollinator systems, make them accessible as study species and useful for co-evolutionary studies. Due to the likely effects of climate change and ongoing development on Platanthera spp. habitats, these orchids and their associated pollinators should be a focus of conservation attention and management. However, while there is a fairly substantial literature coverage of Platanthera-pollinator occurrence and interactions, there are still wide gaps in our understanding of the species involved in these systems. In this systematic review, we outline what is current knowledge and provide guidance on further research that will increase our understanding of orchid-insect co-evolutionary relationships. Our review covers 157 orchid species and about 233 pollinator species interacting with 30 Platanthera spp. We provide analyses on aspects of these interactions such as flower morphology, known insect partners of Platanthera species, insect-Platanthera specificity, pollination visitor timing (diurnal vs. nocturnal), floral rewards, and insect behavior affecting pollination outcomes (e.g., pollinia placement). A substantial number of Platanthera spp. and at least a few of their known pollinators are of official (IUCN) conservation concern - and many of their pollinators remain unassessed or even currently unknown - which adds to the urgency of further research on these co-evolved relationships.

Estimating the reproduction number and transmission heterogeneity from the size distribution of clusters of identical pathogen sequences.

Quantifying transmission intensity and heterogeneity is crucial to ascertain the threat posed by infectious diseases and inform the design of interventions. Methods that jointly estimate the reproduction number R and the dispersion parameter k have however mainly remained limited to the analysis of epidemiological clusters or contact tracing data, whose collection often proves difficult. Here, we show that clusters of identical sequences are imprinted by the pathogen offspring distribution, and we derive an analytical formula for the distribution of the size of these clusters. We develop and evaluate an inference framework to jointly estimate the reproduction number and the dispersion parameter from the size distribution of clusters of identical sequences. We then illustrate its application across a range of epidemiological situations. Finally, we develop a hypothesis testing framework relying on clusters of identical sequences to determine whether a given pathogen genetic subpopulation is associated with increased or reduced transmissibility. Our work provides tools to estimate the reproduction number and transmission heterogeneity from pathogen sequences without building a phylogenetic tree, thus making it easily scalable to large pathogen genome datasets.

The Heterogeneity of Post-Menopausal Disease Risk: Could the Basis for Why Only Subsets of Females Are Affected Be Due to a Reversible Epigenetic Modification System Associated with Puberty, Menstrual Cycles, Pregnancy and Lactation, and, Ultimately, Menopause?

For much of human evolution, the average lifespan was <40 years, due in part to disease, infant mortality, predators, food insecurity, and, for females, complications of childbirth. Thus, for much of evolution, many females did not reach the age of menopause (45-50 years of age) and it is mainly in the past several hundred years that the lifespan has been extended to >75 years, primarily due to public health advances, medical interventions, antibiotics, and nutrition. Therefore, the underlying biological mechanisms responsible for disease risk following menopause must have evolved during the complex processes leading to Homo sapiens to serve functions in the pre-menopausal state. Furthermore, as a primary function for the survival of the species is effective reproduction, it is likely that most of the advantages of having such post-menopausal risks relate to reproduction and the ability to address environmental stresses. This opinion/perspective will be discussed in the context of how such post-menopausal risks could enhance reproduction, with improved survival of offspring, and perhaps why such risks are preserved. Not all post-menopausal females exhibit risk for this set of diseases, and those who do develop such diseases do not have all of the conditions. The diseases of the post-menopausal state do not operate as a unified complex, but as independent variables, with the potential for some overlap. The how and why there would be such heterogeneity if the risk factors serve essential functions during the reproductive years is also discussed and the concept of sets of reversible epigenetic changes associated with puberty, pregnancy, and lactation is offered to explain the observations regarding the distribution of post-menopausal conditions and their potential roles in reproduction. While the involvement of an epigenetic system with a dynamic "modification-demodification-remodification" paradigm contributing to disease risk is a hypothesis at this point, validation of it could lead to a better understanding of post-menopausal disease risk in the context of reproduction with commonalities may also lead to future improved interventions to control such risk after menopause.

Interaction of blood calcium with milk yield, energy metabolites, subclinical mastitis, and reproductive performance in crossbred dairy cows.

Limited literature is available on the consequences of postpartum low blood calcium (Ca) concentration in crossbred cows. The research aimed to investigate the correlation between postpartum serum Ca levels and various parameters, including milk yield, serum energy metabolites, milk somatic cell count, and reproductive factors in crossbred cows. Following parturition, a total of 45 potential high-yielding F2 (HF × Sahiwal; Genotype: 75:25) dairy cows were enrolled . These cows were categorized based on plasma calcium concentrations into three groups: a low calcium group (Ca-L) with a calcium concentration of <5 mg/dL, a medium calcium group (Ca-M) with a calcium concentration ranging from 5 to 8.5 mg/dL, and a high calcium group (Ca-H) with a calcium concentration exceeding 8.5 mg/dL. The study parameters were measured over an 8-week period. The results indicated that overall milk yield and blood glucose were significantly higher in the Ca-H group compared to Ca-M and Ca-L (p < .01). Blood cholesterol was significantly higher in Ca-M (p < .01), while blood triglyceride was significantly lower in both Ca-M and Ca-H. Overall, blood cortisol did not show a significant change between these groups (p < .01); however, progesterone levels were higher (p < .01) in Ca-M and Ca-H cows. Furthermore, somatic cell count (SCC) significantly (p < .01) decreased in cows with Ca-H compared to Ca-L. Additionally, postpartum oestrous interval and interestrus interval decreased significantly (p < .01) in Ca-M and Ca-H compared to Ca-L. These findings suggest that cows with blood calcium levels exceeding 8.5 mg/dL exhibited significantly higher milk yield, blood metabolite levels, a lower likelihood of subclinical mastitis, and earlier reproductive activity after calving.

Baseline and stress-induced steroid plasma levels and immune function vary annually and are associated with vocal activity in male toads (Rhinella icterica).

Theoretical models predict that elevated androgen and glucocorticoid levels in males during the reproductive season promote immunosuppression. However, some studies report decreased stress response during this season. This study investigated annual variation in plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels, plasma bacterial killing ability (BKA), and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in free-living male toads (Rhinella icterica). Toads were sampled in the field (baseline) and 1 h-post restraint over five months, and we considered the occurrence of vocal activity. Baseline corticosterone, testosterone, and BKA showed higher values during the reproductive period, specifically in calling male toads. The NLR was similar throughout the year, but higher values were observed in calling toads. Moreover, baseline NLR and BKA were positively correlated with both testosterone and corticosterone, suggesting higher steroid levels during reproduction are associated with enhanced cellular and humoral immunity. Despite fluctuation of baseline values, post-restraint corticosterone levels remained uniform over the year, indicating that toads reached similar maximum values throughout the year. Testosterone levels decreased following restraint before one specific reproductive period but increased in response to restraint during and after this period. Meanwhile, BKA decreased due to restraint only after the reproductive period, indicating immune protection and resilience to immunosuppression by stressors associated with steroid hormones during reproduction. Our results show that baseline and stress-induced hormonal and immune regulation varies throughout the year and are associated with vocal activity in R. icterica males, indicating a possible compromise between steroids and immune function in anuran males.

The woman is the active agent: General practitioners and the agentive displacement of abortion in Ireland.

After the legalization of abortion in 2018, Ireland needed clinicians to become abortion providers and make this political win a medical reality. Yet Irish doctors had next-to-no training in abortion care, and barriers ranging from stigma to economic pressures in the healthcare system impacted doctors' desire to volunteer. How did hundreds of Irish doctors make the shift from family doctor to abortion provider? Drawing on ethnographic research conducted between 2017 and 2020, this article explores the process by which Irish general practitioners became abortion providers, attending to the material impact of medical technologies on that journey. Drawing from medical anthropologists who have examined similar themes of agency, pharmaceuticals, and medico-legal frameworks within the topic of assisted dying, I build on Anita Hannig's idea of "agentive displacement" to frame the productive impact of abortion pills on this transition.

Modeling the synergistic interplay between malaria dynamics and economic growth.

The mosquito-borne disease (malaria) imposes significant challenges on human health, healthcare systems, and economic growth/productivity in many countries. This study develops and analyzes a model to understand the interplay between malaria dynamics, economic growth, and transient events. It uncovers varied effects of malaria and economic parameters on model outcomes, highlighting the interdependence of the reproduction number (R0) on both malaria and economic factors, and a reciprocal relationship where malaria diminishes economic productivity, while higher economic output is associated with reduced malaria prevalence. This emphasizes the intricate interplay between malaria dynamics and socio-economic factors. The study offers insights into malaria control and underscores the significance of optimizing external aid allocation, especially favoring an even distribution strategy, with the most significant reduction observed in an equal monthly distribution strategy compared to longer distribution intervals. Furthermore, the study shows that controlling malaria in high mosquito biting areas with limited aid, low technology, inadequate treatment, or low economic investment is challenging. The model exhibits a backward bifurcation implying that sustainability of control and mitigation measures is essential even when R0 is slightly less than one. Additionally, there is a parameter regime for which long transients are feasible. Long transients are critical for predicting the behavior of dynamic systems and identifying factors influencing transitions; they reveal reservoirs of infection, vital for disease control. Policy recommendations for effective malaria control from the study include prioritizing sustained control measures, optimizing external aid allocation, and reducing mosquito biting.

Effects of microplastics on key reproductive and biochemical endpoints of the freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia magna.

Human activities have directly impacted the environment, causing significant ecological imbalances. From the different contaminants resulting from human activities, plastics are of major environmental concern. Due to their high use and consequent discharge, plastics tend to accumulate in aquatic environments. There, plastics can form smaller particles (microplastics, MPs), due to fragmentation and weathering, which are more prone to interact with aquatic organisms and cause deleterious effects, including at the basis of different food webs. This study assessed the effects of two microplastics (polyethylene terephthalate, PET; and polypropylene, PP; both of common domestic use) in the freshwater cladoceran species Daphnia magna. Toxic effects were assessed by measuring reproductive traits (first brood and total number of offspring), and activities of biomarkers involved in xenobiotic metabolism (phase I: cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes CYP1A1, 1A2 and 3A4; phase II/conjugation: glutathione S-transferases; and antioxidant defense (catalase)). Both MPs showed a potential to significantly reduce reproductive parameters in D. magna. Furthermore, PET caused a significant increase in some isoenzymes of CYP450 in acutely exposed organisms, but this effect was not observed in chronically exposed animals. Similarly, the activity of the antioxidant defense (CAT) was significantly increased in acutely exposed animals, but not in chronically exposed organisms. This pattern of effects suggests a possible mechanism of long-term adaptation to the presence of the tested MPs. In conclusion, the herein tested MPs have shown the potential to induce deleterious effects on D. magna mainly observed in terms of the reproductive outcomes. Changes at the biochemical level seems transient and are not likely to occur in long term, environmentally exposed crustaceans.

A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro).

The golden coral Savalia savaglia is a long-living ecosystem engineer of Mediterranean circalittoral assemblages, able to induce necrosis of gorgonians' and black corals' coenenchyme and grow on their cleaned organic skeleton. Despite its rarity, in Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro) a shallow population of more than 1000 colonies was recorded close to underwater freshwater springs, which create very peculiar environmental conditions. In this context, the species was extremely abundant at two sites, while gorgonians were rare. The abundance and size of S. savaglia colonies and the diversity of the entire benthic assemblage were investigated by photographic sampling in a depth range of 0-35 m. Several living fragments of S. savaglia spread on the sea floor and small settled colonies (< 5 cm high) suggested a high incidence of asexual reproduction and a non-parasitic behaviour of this population. This was confirmed by studying thin sections of the basal portion of the trunk where the central core, generally represented by the remains of the gorgonian host skeleton, was lacking. The S. savaglia population of Boka Kotorska Bay forms the unique Mediterranean assemblage of the species deserving the definition of animal forest. Recently, temporary mitigation measures for anthropogenic impact were issued by the Government of Montenegro. Nevertheless, due to the importance of the sites the establishment of a permanent Marine Protected Area is strongly recommended.

The reduced growth due to elevated CO2 concentration hinders the sexual reproduction of mature Northern pipevine (Aristolochia contorta Bunge).

The phenology has gained considerably more attention in recent times of climate change. The transition from vegetative to reproductive phases is a critical process in the life history of plants, closely tied to phenology. In an era of climate change, understanding how environmental factors affect this transition is of paramount importance. This study consisted of field surveys and a greenhouse experiment on the reproductive biology of Northern pipevine (Aristolochia contorta Bunge). During field surveys, we investigated the environmental factors and growth characteristics of mature A. contorta, with a focus on both its vegetative and reproductive phases. In its successful flowering during the reproductive phase, A. contorta grew under the conditions of 40% relative light intensity and 24% soil moisture content, and had a vertical rhizome. In the greenhouse experiments, we examined the impact of increased CO2 concentration on the growth and development of 10-year-old A. contorta, considering the effect of rhizome direction. Planted with a vertical rhizome direction, A. contorta exhibited sufficient growth for flowering under ambient CO2 concentrations. In contrast, when planted with a horizontal rhizome direction, it was noted to significantly impede successful growth and flowering under elevated CO2 concentrations. This hindered the process of flowering, highlighting the pivotal role of substantial vegetative growth in achieving successful flowering. Furthermore, we observed a higher number of underground buds and shoots under the conditions of elevated CO2 concentration and a horizontal rhizome direction instead of flowering. Elevated CO2 concentrations also exhibited diverse effects on mature A. contorta's flower traits, resulting in smaller flower size, shorter longevity, and reduced stigma receptivity, and pollen viability. The study shed light on elevated CO2 concentrations can hinder growth, potentially obstructing sexual reproduction and diminishing genetic diversity.

Integrative analysis of single-nucleus RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq reveals germline cells development dynamics and niches in the Pacific oyster gonad.

Gametogenesis drives the maturation of germ cell precursors into functional gametes, facilitated by interactions with the niche environment. However, the molecular mechanisms, especially in invertebrates, remain incompletely understood. In this study, the gonadal microenvironment and gametogenic processes in the Pacific oyster, a model for diffuse gonadal organization and periodic gametogenesis, are investigated. We combine single-nucleus RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq to analyze gonadal microenvironments in oysters. Twenty-three male and nineteen female gonadal cell clusters are identified, revealing four male and three female germ cell types, alongside follicular cells in females and Sertoli/Leydig cells in males. The NOTCH and BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) signaling pathways play a significant role in the male germline niche, suggesting similarities with mammalian germ cell microenvironment. This study offers valuable insights into germ cell developmental transitions and microenvironmental characteristics.