Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02128-x
Mikhail Y Berezin
A novel NIR light-activated CRISPR-dCas9/Cas9 system achieves precise and rapid gene regulation in living organism using a chemically cleavable rapamycin dimer. Unlike previous light-driven systems, this approach offers deeper tissue penetration, low toxicity, fast response, and minimal background activity. This platform opens new directions for highly efficient, targeted, noninvasive, and spatially confined gene editing for a great number of preclinical and clinically translatable applications.
{"title":"Near infrared light controlled gene editing.","authors":"Mikhail Y Berezin","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02128-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02128-x","url":null,"abstract":"A novel NIR light-activated CRISPR-dCas9/Cas9 system achieves precise and rapid gene regulation in living organism using a chemically cleavable rapamycin dimer. Unlike previous light-driven systems, this approach offers deeper tissue penetration, low toxicity, fast response, and minimal background activity. This platform opens new directions for highly efficient, targeted, noninvasive, and spatially confined gene editing for a great number of preclinical and clinically translatable applications.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"11 1","pages":"55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145897517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02090-8
Paolo Franceschini, Andrea Tognazzi, Evgenii Menshikov, Leonid Y. Beliaev, Radu Malureanu, Osamu Takayama, Ivano Alessandri, Alfonso Carmelo Cino, Domenico de Ceglia, Andrei V. Lavrinenko, Costantino De Angelis
Nonlinear metasurfaces have emerged as powerful platforms for enhancing and controlling light-matter interactions at the nanoscale, enabling versatile and compact design of devices for frequency conversion processes. In this work, we report on the experimental observation and theoretical analysis of intrapulse four-wave sum mixing (FWSM) in a high-index contrast grating (HCG) supporting quasi-bound states in the continuum (q-BIC). By engineering a one-dimensional silicon-based HCG with an additional poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cladding layer, we achieve the simultaneous excitation of a q-BIC and a guided-mode resonance (GMR), enabling nonlinear coupling between the two modes. Broadband femtosecond excitation reveals multiple distinct spectral peaks in the visible range, attributed to FWSM processes involving different combinations of q-BIC and GMR frequencies. Fourier microscopy measurements further confirm the redistribution of the generated nonlinear signals among diffraction orders. Our results demonstrate a new approach to tailoring nonlinear frequency mixing through metasurfaces, leveraging the interaction of multiple non-local resonances, thus opening new pathways for tunable frequency conversion, all-optical signal processing, and nonlinear photonic devices.
{"title":"Intrapulse multimodal four-wave sum mixing in the visible range from high contrast index grating with PMMA layer","authors":"Paolo Franceschini, Andrea Tognazzi, Evgenii Menshikov, Leonid Y. Beliaev, Radu Malureanu, Osamu Takayama, Ivano Alessandri, Alfonso Carmelo Cino, Domenico de Ceglia, Andrei V. Lavrinenko, Costantino De Angelis","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02090-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02090-8","url":null,"abstract":"Nonlinear metasurfaces have emerged as powerful platforms for enhancing and controlling light-matter interactions at the nanoscale, enabling versatile and compact design of devices for frequency conversion processes. In this work, we report on the experimental observation and theoretical analysis of intrapulse four-wave sum mixing (FWSM) in a high-index contrast grating (HCG) supporting quasi-bound states in the continuum (q-BIC). By engineering a one-dimensional silicon-based HCG with an additional poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cladding layer, we achieve the simultaneous excitation of a q-BIC and a guided-mode resonance (GMR), enabling nonlinear coupling between the two modes. Broadband femtosecond excitation reveals multiple distinct spectral peaks in the visible range, attributed to FWSM processes involving different combinations of q-BIC and GMR frequencies. Fourier microscopy measurements further confirm the redistribution of the generated nonlinear signals among diffraction orders. Our results demonstrate a new approach to tailoring nonlinear frequency mixing through metasurfaces, leveraging the interaction of multiple non-local resonances, thus opening new pathways for tunable frequency conversion, all-optical signal processing, and nonlinear photonic devices.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02069-5
Guangzhen Li, Luqi Yuan
The differences in critical times and critical momenta between self-normal and biorthogonal dynamical quantum phase transitions are revealed. The theoretical analysis is experimentally validated through multiple quench processes using a one-dimensional discrete-time non-Hermitian quantum walks.
{"title":"Non-Hermitian quantum walks uncover dynamical quantum phase transitions under self-normal and biorthogonal bases","authors":"Guangzhen Li, Luqi Yuan","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02069-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02069-5","url":null,"abstract":"The differences in critical times and critical momenta between self-normal and biorthogonal dynamical quantum phase transitions are revealed. The theoretical analysis is experimentally validated through multiple quench processes using a one-dimensional discrete-time non-Hermitian quantum walks.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"28 1","pages":"54"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02056-w
Minji Hyun, Changmin Ahn, Junyong Choi, Jihoon Baek, Woosong Jeong, Do-Heung Je, Do-Young Byun, Jan Wagner, Myoung-Sun Heo, Taehyun Jung, Jungwon Kim
Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) enables high-angular-resolution observations in astronomy and geodesy by synthesizing a virtual telescope with baselines spanning hundreds to thousands of kilometres. Achieving high instrumental phase stability in VLBI relies on the generation of high-quality, atomic-referenced RF local oscillator (LO) and RF-comb signals for the effective downconversion of celestial RF signals and precise phase calibration, respectively. As observing frequencies move into higher ranges with wider bandwidths, conventional electronic methods face significant challenges in maintaining the quality of these signals. Here, we demonstrate that an optical frequency comb (OFC) can be used as a versatile tool to generate and distribute low-noise and atomic-referenced RF-comb and RF-LO signals in the VLBI telescope. Hydrogen maser-stabilized optical pulses are transmitted over a timing-stabilized fibre link from the observatory building to the VLBI receiver system at the telescope, where photodetection converts them into the required RF signals. In VLBI test observation, we successfully detected VLBI fringes and extracted the RF-combs characteristics in a format suitable for VLBI instrumental phase calibration. These results highlight the high potential of OFC-based technology for enhancing next-generation broadband VLBI measurements, advancing astrophysical research and facilitating intercontinental clock comparison.
{"title":"Optical frequency comb integration in radio telescopes: advancing signal generation and phase calibration","authors":"Minji Hyun, Changmin Ahn, Junyong Choi, Jihoon Baek, Woosong Jeong, Do-Heung Je, Do-Young Byun, Jan Wagner, Myoung-Sun Heo, Taehyun Jung, Jungwon Kim","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02056-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02056-w","url":null,"abstract":"Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) enables high-angular-resolution observations in astronomy and geodesy by synthesizing a virtual telescope with baselines spanning hundreds to thousands of kilometres. Achieving high instrumental phase stability in VLBI relies on the generation of high-quality, atomic-referenced RF local oscillator (LO) and RF-comb signals for the effective downconversion of celestial RF signals and precise phase calibration, respectively. As observing frequencies move into higher ranges with wider bandwidths, conventional electronic methods face significant challenges in maintaining the quality of these signals. Here, we demonstrate that an optical frequency comb (OFC) can be used as a versatile tool to generate and distribute low-noise and atomic-referenced RF-comb and RF-LO signals in the VLBI telescope. Hydrogen maser-stabilized optical pulses are transmitted over a timing-stabilized fibre link from the observatory building to the VLBI receiver system at the telescope, where photodetection converts them into the required RF signals. In VLBI test observation, we successfully detected VLBI fringes and extracted the RF-combs characteristics in a format suitable for VLBI instrumental phase calibration. These results highlight the high potential of OFC-based technology for enhancing next-generation broadband VLBI measurements, advancing astrophysical research and facilitating intercontinental clock comparison.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02137-w
Olivia Y. Long, Peter B. Catrysse, Seunghoon Han, Shanhui Fan
The original concept of left-handed material has inspired the possibility of optical antimatter, where the effect of light propagation through a medium can be completely canceled by its complementary medium. Despite recent progress in the development of negative-index metamaterials, losses continue to be a significant barrier to realizing optical antimatter. In this work, we show that passive, lossy materials can be used to realize optical antimatter when illuminated by light at a complex frequency. We further establish that one can engineer arbitrary complex-valued permittivity and permeability in such materials. Strikingly, we show that materials with a positive index at real frequencies can act as negative-index materials under complex frequency excitation. Using our approach, we numerically demonstrate the optical antimatter functionality, as well as double focusing by an ideal perfect lens and superscattering. Our work demonstrates the power of temporally structured light in unlocking the promising opportunities of complementary media, which have until now been inhibited by material loss.
{"title":"Ideal optical antimatter using passive lossy materials under complex frequency excitation","authors":"Olivia Y. Long, Peter B. Catrysse, Seunghoon Han, Shanhui Fan","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02137-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02137-w","url":null,"abstract":"The original concept of left-handed material has inspired the possibility of optical antimatter, where the effect of light propagation through a medium can be completely canceled by its complementary medium. Despite recent progress in the development of negative-index metamaterials, losses continue to be a significant barrier to realizing optical antimatter. In this work, we show that passive, lossy materials can be used to realize optical antimatter when illuminated by light at a complex frequency. We further establish that one can engineer arbitrary complex-valued permittivity and permeability in such materials. Strikingly, we show that materials with a positive index at real frequencies can act as negative-index materials under complex frequency excitation. Using our approach, we numerically demonstrate the optical antimatter functionality, as well as double focusing by an ideal perfect lens and superscattering. Our work demonstrates the power of temporally structured light in unlocking the promising opportunities of complementary media, which have until now been inhibited by material loss.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02120-5
Chenshuaiyu Liu, Han Gao, Wennan Ou, Hairen Tan, Renxing Lin
All-perovskite tandem solar cells represent a promising strategy for breaking the Shockley-Queisser limits inherent in single-junction solar cells. Reasonable light management and optical design are necessary for all-perovskite tandem solar cells to improve power conversion efficiency. In this review, the recent progresses in light management for monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells are summarized comprehensively. The current-matching conditions, optical challenges, and potential development trajectories for all-perovskite tandem solar cells are investigated. It includes key optical losses, enhancements and strategies for light trapping and light utilization. Ultimately, forward-looking perspectives on future developments are presented. This review aims to offer valuable insights and practical suggestions for improving power conversion efficiency of all-perovskite tandem solar cells from light management techniques.
{"title":"Light management in monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells","authors":"Chenshuaiyu Liu, Han Gao, Wennan Ou, Hairen Tan, Renxing Lin","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02120-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02120-5","url":null,"abstract":"All-perovskite tandem solar cells represent a promising strategy for breaking the Shockley-Queisser limits inherent in single-junction solar cells. Reasonable light management and optical design are necessary for all-perovskite tandem solar cells to improve power conversion efficiency. In this review, the recent progresses in light management for monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells are summarized comprehensively. The current-matching conditions, optical challenges, and potential development trajectories for all-perovskite tandem solar cells are investigated. It includes key optical losses, enhancements and strategies for light trapping and light utilization. Ultimately, forward-looking perspectives on future developments are presented. This review aims to offer valuable insights and practical suggestions for improving power conversion efficiency of all-perovskite tandem solar cells from light management techniques.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"21 1","pages":"56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02105-4
Eric R. Sung, Keith A. Nelson
THz spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying a variety of samples, ranging from large biomolecules to solid-state materials. In cases where experimental space is limited or sample volumes are small, THz waveguides have been used to enable compact THz spectroscopy. The THz polaritonics platform is a waveguide-based approach that uses a thin lithium niobate slab to allow direct visualization of THz fields as they interact with structures integrated into the waveguide. Although there have been many successful studies using the platform for integrated photonics, the platform’s utility as a spectroscopic tool has been largely unexploited. Here, we use a slot waveguide integrated into the thin lithium niobate slab to measure the absorption spectrum of a sample inserted into the slot. The slot waveguide localizes the THz electric field within a low-index slot where a sample is placed. The THz fields propagate through the slot and are monitored as they interact with the sample. Perturbation theory is then used to extract the absorption spectrum and bulk refractive index of the sample with good sensitivity. These results show much promise for enabling compact linear and nonlinear THz spectroscopy using thin lithium niobate waveguides.
{"title":"Compact THz absorption spectroscopy using a LiNbO3 slot waveguide","authors":"Eric R. Sung, Keith A. Nelson","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02105-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02105-4","url":null,"abstract":"THz spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying a variety of samples, ranging from large biomolecules to solid-state materials. In cases where experimental space is limited or sample volumes are small, THz waveguides have been used to enable compact THz spectroscopy. The THz polaritonics platform is a waveguide-based approach that uses a thin lithium niobate slab to allow direct visualization of THz fields as they interact with structures integrated into the waveguide. Although there have been many successful studies using the platform for integrated photonics, the platform’s utility as a spectroscopic tool has been largely unexploited. Here, we use a slot waveguide integrated into the thin lithium niobate slab to measure the absorption spectrum of a sample inserted into the slot. The slot waveguide localizes the THz electric field within a low-index slot where a sample is placed. The THz fields propagate through the slot and are monitored as they interact with the sample. Perturbation theory is then used to extract the absorption spectrum and bulk refractive index of the sample with good sensitivity. These results show much promise for enabling compact linear and nonlinear THz spectroscopy using thin lithium niobate waveguides.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"8 1","pages":"47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02071-x
Jiantao Ma, Ying Yu, Jin Liu
Bound states in the continuum (BICs) provide a route to strong, long-range photonic coupling with dynamic tunability. Recent advances demonstrate that BIC metasurfaces enable reconfigurable two-dimensional coupling between arbitrarily positioned resonators, with the added capability of ultrafast all-optical control.
{"title":"Harnessing optical bound states in the continuum for ultrafast, reconfigurable, long-range photonic networks","authors":"Jiantao Ma, Ying Yu, Jin Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02071-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02071-x","url":null,"abstract":"Bound states in the continuum (BICs) provide a route to strong, long-range photonic coupling with dynamic tunability. Recent advances demonstrate that BIC metasurfaces enable reconfigurable two-dimensional coupling between arbitrarily positioned resonators, with the added capability of ultrafast all-optical control.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"127 1","pages":"50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02117-0
Eunwoo Park, Dong Gyu Hwang, Hwanyong Choi, Donggyu Kim, Joongho Ahn, Yong-Jae Lee, Tae Joong Eom, Jinah Jang, Chulhong Kim
Many biological tissues, such as cardiac muscle, tendons, and the cornea, exhibit highly organized microstructural alignment that is critical for mechanical and physiological functions. Disruptions in this structural organization are commonly associated with pathological conditions such as fibrosis, infarction, and cancer. However, conventional histological imaging techniques rely on immunofluorescence or histochemical staining, and they evaluate tissue alignment via non-physical 2D gradient-based calculation, which is labor-intensive, antibody-dependent, and prone to variability. Here, we demonstrate label-free mid-infrared dichroism-sensitive photoacoustic microscopy (MIR-DS-PAM), an analytical imaging system for cardiac tissue assessments. By combining molecular specificity with polarization sensitivity, this method selectively visualizes protein-rich engineered heart tissue (EHT) and quantifies the extracellular matrix (ECM) alignment without any labeling. The extracted dichroism-sensitive parameters, such as the degree of dichroism and the orientation angle, enable histostructural evaluation of tissue integrity and reveal diagnostic cues in fibrotic EHT. This technique offers a label-free analytical tool for fibrosis research and tissue engineering applications.
{"title":"Label-free mid-infrared dichroism-sensitive photoacoustic microscopy for histostructural analysis of engineered heart tissues","authors":"Eunwoo Park, Dong Gyu Hwang, Hwanyong Choi, Donggyu Kim, Joongho Ahn, Yong-Jae Lee, Tae Joong Eom, Jinah Jang, Chulhong Kim","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-02117-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-02117-0","url":null,"abstract":"Many biological tissues, such as cardiac muscle, tendons, and the cornea, exhibit highly organized microstructural alignment that is critical for mechanical and physiological functions. Disruptions in this structural organization are commonly associated with pathological conditions such as fibrosis, infarction, and cancer. However, conventional histological imaging techniques rely on immunofluorescence or histochemical staining, and they evaluate tissue alignment via non-physical 2D gradient-based calculation, which is labor-intensive, antibody-dependent, and prone to variability. Here, we demonstrate label-free mid-infrared dichroism-sensitive photoacoustic microscopy (MIR-DS-PAM), an analytical imaging system for cardiac tissue assessments. By combining molecular specificity with polarization sensitivity, this method selectively visualizes protein-rich engineered heart tissue (EHT) and quantifies the extracellular matrix (ECM) alignment without any labeling. The extracted dichroism-sensitive parameters, such as the degree of dichroism and the orientation angle, enable histostructural evaluation of tissue integrity and reveal diagnostic cues in fibrotic EHT. This technique offers a label-free analytical tool for fibrosis research and tissue engineering applications.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"316 1","pages":"49"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Perilla frutescens seeds (PFS) are gaining recognition as a natural alternative to antibiotics in livestock, supporting sustainable farming and animal health. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms through which PFS influence host immune function and antioxidant capacity, especially via the gut-liver-muscle axis, remain largely unknown. This study employed an integrative multi-omics approach to elucidate how PFS supplementation modulates the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis and enhances immune and antioxidant functions in lambs.
Results: PFS supplementation markedly improved immune and antioxidant profiles, demonstrated by elevated serum levels of IL-10, IgM, IgG, GSH-PX, and SOD, and reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDA. Microbial analysis revealed elevated abundances of ruminal and intestinal taxa commonly associated with gut homeostasis and metabolic health (Christensenellaceae_R-7_group) and reduced levels of species with pathogenic or pro-inflammatory potential (Bacillus cereus and Clostridioides) in the ileum. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of liver tissue indicated modulation of key inflammatory and bile acid signaling pathways, including the downregulation of TLR4, NLRP3, ATF3, CYP2J2, and LXR-α. PFS also increased hepatic concentrations of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as chlorquinaldol and indole-3-carboxaldehyde, while reducing levels of LysoPC(20:4) and phosphatidic acid. Correlation and mediation analyses revealed strong interconnections among gut microbiota, hepatic gene expression, lipid metabolites in liver and muscle, and systemic immune-antioxidant markers.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis as a central mechanism through which PFS enhances immune function and antioxidant capacity in lambs. PFS supplementation represents a promising nutritional strategy to improve healthy lamb production, supporting the development of antibiotic-free and sustainable livestock systems.
{"title":"Perilla frutescens seeds enhance lamb immunity and antioxidant capacity via the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis.","authors":"Yue Yu, Boyan Zhang, Xianzhe Jiang, Yimeng Cui, Yuqing Shang, Yanqin Jin, Tiancheng Sun, Ziwei Yuan, Zihan Zhang, Hailing Luo, Sokratis Stergiadis, Bing Wang","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01317-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40104-025-01317-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Perilla frutescens seeds (PFS) are gaining recognition as a natural alternative to antibiotics in livestock, supporting sustainable farming and animal health. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms through which PFS influence host immune function and antioxidant capacity, especially via the gut-liver-muscle axis, remain largely unknown. This study employed an integrative multi-omics approach to elucidate how PFS supplementation modulates the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis and enhances immune and antioxidant functions in lambs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PFS supplementation markedly improved immune and antioxidant profiles, demonstrated by elevated serum levels of IL-10, IgM, IgG, GSH-PX, and SOD, and reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDA. Microbial analysis revealed elevated abundances of ruminal and intestinal taxa commonly associated with gut homeostasis and metabolic health (Christensenellaceae_R-7_group) and reduced levels of species with pathogenic or pro-inflammatory potential (Bacillus cereus and Clostridioides) in the ileum. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of liver tissue indicated modulation of key inflammatory and bile acid signaling pathways, including the downregulation of TLR4, NLRP3, ATF3, CYP2J2, and LXR-α. PFS also increased hepatic concentrations of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as chlorquinaldol and indole-3-carboxaldehyde, while reducing levels of LysoPC(20:4) and phosphatidic acid. Correlation and mediation analyses revealed strong interconnections among gut microbiota, hepatic gene expression, lipid metabolites in liver and muscle, and systemic immune-antioxidant markers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight the microbiota-gut-liver-muscle axis as a central mechanism through which PFS enhances immune function and antioxidant capacity in lambs. PFS supplementation represents a promising nutritional strategy to improve healthy lamb production, supporting the development of antibiotic-free and sustainable livestock systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":64067,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"17 1","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12765310/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145897028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：