Journal of Biosciences最新文献

Immunotherapy is a promising and safer alternative to conventional cancer therapies. It involves adaptive T-cell therapy, cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) based therapies. However, most of these modalities encounter restrictions in solid tumours owing to a dense, highly hypoxic and immune-suppressive microenvironment as well as the heterogeneity of tumour antigens. The elevated intra-tumoural pressure and mutational rates within fastgrowing solid tumours present challenges in efficient drug targeting and delivery. The tumour microenvironment is a dynamic niche infiltrated by a variety of immune cells, most of which are macrophages. Since they form a part of the innate immune system, targeting macrophages has become a plausible immunotherapeutic approach. In this review, we discuss several versatile approaches (both at pre-clinical and clinical stages) such as the direct killing of tumour-associated macrophages, reprogramming pro-tumour macrophages to anti-tumour phenotypes, inhibition of macrophage recruitment into the tumour microenvironment, novel CAR macrophages, and genetically engineered macrophages that have been devised thus far. These strategies comprise a strong and adaptable macrophage-toolkit in the ongoing fight against cancer and by understanding their significance, we may unlock the full potential of these immune cells in cancer therapy.

The migration and dispersal of organisms is fascinating from many perspectives and, in the case of crop plants, intersects with the movement of human beings. As they explore new areas, agricultural peoples carry seeds of crops, which move and may establish ('diffuse') where they go. In order to understand the movement of the crop across regions, we need to understand the pattern and rate of diffusion of the crop, as well as that of the people involved, both those who carried it and those who adopted it. What determines whether a particular crop will establish in a new region with a different climate and other environmental factors (e.g., precipitation), likely necessitating genetic change through natural or artificial selection (e.g., Rendo´n-Anaya et al. 2017)? The extent to which the rate of diffusion is determined by evolutionary and environmental processes, on the one hand, and human migratory processes, on the other, is a complex question that has not been resolved even for as intensively studied a crop as maize (Stoneking et al. 2023).

Increasing soil and underground water salinization with decreasing availability of fresh water has become a potential threat to sustainable crop production in arid and semi-arid areas globally. Introduction and evaluation of salt-tolerant halophytic crops is one of the sustainable ways to preserve productivity in saline ecosystems. This study was aimed to screen quinoa germplasms under high-sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) saline stress. Thirteen quinoa germplasms were evaluated under four levels [best available water (BAW), 8, 16, and 24 dSm^-1] of high-SAR saline water irrigation. The evaluation was carried out based on growth, yield, and ionic content parameters along with statistical tools such as multivariate analysis, salt tolerance indices, and correlation. The results showed that the salinity levels of 16 and 24 dSm^-1 resulted in increase of chlorophyll content relative to BAWand 8 dSm^-1. The germplasm CSQ2 recorded the highest proline content (163.7 mg g^-1 FW) at 24 dSm^-1. Increasing levels of salinity reduced relative water content in plant leaves, and the germplasm CSQ2 showed minimal reduction of 4% at 24 dSm^-1. Na⁺ and K⁺ contents in the plants increased with increasing salinity levels, while the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio decreased. The grain yield of quinoa germplasms ranged between 3.5 and 14.1 g plant^-1. The germplasm EC507740 recorded the highest grain yield (7.0 g plant^-1) followed by CSQ1 and CSQ2 at a maximum stress of 24 dSm^-1. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation elucidated that Na⁺ content in plants was negatively correlated with all the studied traits except SPAD, proline content, and K⁺ content. The different salt tolerance indices indicated that the germplasms EC507740, CSQ1, CSQ2, EC507738, and IC411825 were more stable at high-SAR salinity, while PCA showed the germplasms EC507740 and CSQ2 as the most salt-tolerant germplasms.

Mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) is an important protein that can help in regulating reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide in plants. The role of AOX in regulation of nitro-oxidative stress in chickpea is not known. Using germinating chickpea as a model system, we investigated the role of AOX in nitro-oxidative stress tolerance. NaCl treatment was used as an inducer of nitro-oxidative stress. Treatment of germinating seeds with 150 mM NaCl led to reduced germination and radicle growth. The AOX inhibitor SHAM caused further inhibition of germination, and the AOX inducer pyruvate improved growth of the radicle under NaCl stress. Isolated mitochondria from germinated seeds under salt stress not only increased AOX capacity but also enhanced AOX protein expression. Measurement of superoxide levels revealed that AOX inhibition by SHAM can enhance superoxide levels, whereas the AOX inducer pyruvate reduced superoxide levels. Measurement of NO by gas phase chemiluminescence revealed enhanced NO generation in response to NaCl treatment. Upon NaCl treatment there was enhanced tyrosine nitration, which is an indicator of nitrosative stress response. Taken together, our results revealed that AOX induced under salinity stress in germinating chickpea can help in mitigating nitro-oxidative stress, thereby improving germination.

Disease cross-transmission between wild and domestic ungulates can negatively impact livelihoods and wildlife conservation. In Pin valley, migratory sheep and goats share pastures seasonally with the resident Asiatic ibex (Capra sibirica), leading to potential disease cross-transmission. Focussing on gastro-intestinal nematodes (GINs) as determinants of health in ungulates, we hypothesized that infection on pastures would increase over summer from contamination by migrating livestock. Consequently, interventions in livestock that are well-timed should reduce infection pressure for ibex. Using a parasite life-cycle model, that predicts infective larval availability, we investigated GIN transmission dynamics and evaluated potential interventions. Migratory livestock were predicted to contribute most infective larvae onto shared pastures due to higher density and parasite levels, driving infections in both livestock and ibex. The model predicted a c.30-day antiparasitic intervention towards the end of the livestock's time in Pin would be most effective at reducing GINs in both hosts. Albeit with the caveats of not being able to provide evidence of interspecific parasite transmission due to the inability to identify parasite species, this case demonstrates the usefulness of our predictive model for investigating parasite transmission in landscapes where domestic and wild ungulates share pastures. Additionally, it suggests management options for further investigation.

Clinical trial registries are a vital part of the infrastructure of a robust clinical research ecosystem, itself essential for biomedical translational research. We describe what clinical trial registries are, provide a brief history of the major registries, list the major registries today, mention some of the flaws in these registries, comment on the economics of trial registries, give details of the Indian registry, Clinical Trials Registry - India, and catalogue three examples of research done with data in the Indian registry.

Peanut is susceptible to many diseases; among them, peanut smut disease caused by Thecaphora frezzii is the most damaging, causing yield losses of 30%. Fungicide treatment is not effective to control this disease. In this scenario, biological control would be an alternative to diminish the disease. Systemic resistance induced by a biotic agent is known to be effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens. In this study we evaluated the effect of different inoculation strategies of Bacillus sp. CHEP5, a peanut native strain, on peanut smut incidence and severity in field experiments. Peroxidase activity and accumulation of phenolic compounds were measured as changes associated with induced defensive traits. After three consecutive field trials, we found that Bacillus sp. CHEP5 inoculation protects peanut from T. frezzii because incidence and severity were reduced in two field trials. Furthermore, bacterial inoculation in the furrow followed by foliar application around the date of peg development would be the best strategy to control the disease. In addition, a correlation was found between increase in plant phenolic content and decrease in smut disease parameters. Thereafter, we concluded that Bacillus sp. CHEP5 may reduce smut as a result of plant defence response induction.

The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of barley powdery mildew infection on wheat via the evolution and dynamics of chloroplasts and oxidative processes based on in vivo measurements of ultra-weak photon emission, parallel measurement of chlorophyll and ascorbic acid content, and molecular identification of the pathogen. The results showed the temporal dynamics of the evolution of ultra-weak photon emission signals that were evidently different for healthy and powdery mildew-infested wheat leaves. In the dark, the ceasing of delayed fluorescence signal made it possible to visualize the ultra-weak luminescence signal as well. Both delayed fluorescence and ultra-weak luminescence signals were characteristic of stress symptoms induced by powdery mildew that was further strengthened by the changes of chlorophyll and ascorbic acid content as typical stress analytical parameters. The presented data and parameterization enabled the identification of stress induction due to powdery mildew infestation in wheat, which should be investigated in detail in the future for fine-tuning our measurements, even by using other species and increasing the length of the measurement in order to increase its specificity. The changes in R² values are suitable for monitoring the changes of plant stress response. The measurement of fluorescence and luminescence leads to a greater comprehension of the underlying photon emission-related processes, both in general and in the case of powdery mildew infestation.

Xanthomonas euvesicatoria is a major cause of bacterial spot disease in various crops. The present study was focused on the pathosystem pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) - X. euvesicatoria 269p (wild strain). The infectious process was studied using several different modes of in vivo inoculation under controlled conditions. The spread of the pathogen in different parts of the plants was monitored by a new qPCR procedure developed for the detection of X. euvesicatoria, as well as by re-isolation of viable bacterial cells. Photosynthesis, the number of viable pathogens, oxidative stress markers, activities of the main antioxidant enzymes, and levels of nonenzymatic antioxidants in the novel single-leaf model system were studied. The most important observation is that the invasion of the pathogen causes local infection and the dissemination of bacteria to the healthy parts of the host is blocked. The plants limit bacterial colonization around the entry points. Oxidative burst and alterations in antioxidant defenses are detected in infectious leaf lesions. Localized ROS overproduction resembles a hypersensitive response, but several differences can be observed. We assumed that pepper plants are more likely to manifest an intermediate phenotype, similar to lesions simulating disease or leaf flecking. By localizing the infection, possibly involving oxidative stress, the plant survives. However, the same applies to bacteria. The pathogen multiplies at the infection spots and is transmitted to other plants. Our conclusion is that the intermediate phenotype in the studied pathosystem is an example of long and successful co-evolution for both species.

The Anthropocene is posing extraordinary challenges for global agriculture. Agri-food production is increasingly impacted by concurrent biotic and abiotic stressors, climate-triggered pests or diseases, (pesticide) resistance breakdown and the unrelenting appearance of invasive biota. Farmers have relied upon simple, addon constitutive crop defenses and synthetic pesticides for decades, but those tools prove ever more defunct. Here, we argue that dynamic, pluralistic and adaptable crop defenses can safeguard harvests in the face of erratic pest threats. When transitioning towards such nature-based crop defenses, plants prove an infinite source of inspiration. Inducible and/or indirect defenses that rely upon trichomes, sugar rewards, substrate-borne vibrations, plant volatiles, root exudates or allelochemicals have become the center of scientists' attention. The ensuing plant health innovations regularly rely upon the action of resident beneficial organisms, are low-cost, practicable and environmentally sound, and custom-made for more resilient forms of agriculture. By thus harnessing on-farm biodiversity and agroecological processes, agri-food production can be intensified without disregard of human or environmental health, or 'One Health'.