Category Archives: b_original_articles

Jingrui Ji^1,2,4†, Xiangdong Wang^1,2,4†, Shuai Lian^1,2,4, Haoyang Nie^1,2,4, Fa Shi^1,2,4, Fei Peng^1,2,4, Mingxuan Zhao^1,2,4, Ziauddin³, Hongliang Zhang^1,2,4*, Peng Shang^1,2,4*

¹College of Animal Science, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Linzhi 860000, Xizang, China

²Key Laboratory of Tibetan Pig Genetic Improvement and Reproduction Engineering, Linzhi 860000, Xizang, China

³Center for Advanced Studies in Vaccinology & Biotechnology (CASVAB), University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan

⁴Center for Provincial Departmental Collaborative Innovation of Xizang Characteristic Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Resources Research and Development, Linzhi 860000, Xizang, China

^†These authors contributed equally to this work

*Corresponding author’s email: holingzhang@126.com; shangpeng1984@xza.edu.cn

Received: 17 June 2025 / Accepted: 23 September 2025 / Published Online: 10 October 2025

Abstract

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic, yet its clinical use is limited by severe nephrotoxicity that often causes acute kidney injury (AKI). Effective, safe strategies to mitigate this remain unmet. We investigated the protective effect of Mirabilis himalaica extract (MHE) against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice and explored its underlying mechanisms. Fifty mice were divided into five groups: control negative, cisplatin model (Control positive with 10 mg/kg), and three MHE treatment groups (10, 15, 20 mg/kg/day) following cisplatin (10 mg/kg). Controls and the model group received saline orally; treatment groups received MHE for 14 days. We measured serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) levels. Renal histopathology was assessed using H&E staining. Compared to the cisplatin model group, the medium-dose MHE group (15 mg/kg) significantly reduced serum Cr (41.8%, P < 0.01), BUN (24.5%, P < 0.01), and β2-MG levels (17.3%, P < 0.01). Histopathological analysis confirmed that medium-dose MHE markedly attenuated cisplatin-induced renal tubular damage, including epithelial cell swelling, necrosis, and inflammatory infiltration. While high-dose MHE (20 mg/kg) showed a trend in reducing β2-MG, this effect was not statistically significant. Low-dose MHE (10 mg/kg) did not demonstrate significant protection. MHE dose-dependently ameliorates cisplatin-induced AKI in mice, with optimal efficacy observed at 15 mg/kg. The renoprotective effects are associated with attenuation of renal dysfunction and histological damage, potentially mediated through suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings support MHE as a promising candidate for further development as a natural therapeutic agent against AKI.

Keywords: Acute Renal injury, Cisplatin, Inflammatory response, Mirabilis himalaica, Oxidative stress

Uyen Quynh Nguyen¹, Chi Thi Linh Nguyen¹, Phuong Mai Vu¹, Truong Huu Nguyen², Phuong Hoang Nguyen², Vinh Van Hoang^1*

¹Vietnam National University Hanoi, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam

²Allergy and Clinical Immunology Center, Bachmai Hospital, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam

*Corresponding author’s email: vinhhv@vnu.edu.vn

Received: 17 July 2025 / Accepted: 20 September 2025 / Published Online: 08 October 2025

Abstract

Blomia tropicalis, a common house dust mite, serves as a significant indoor allergen in tropical climates such as Vietnam. Precise identification of key allergens plays a crucial role in enabling component-resolved diagnostics and applying allergen-specific immunotherapies. In this study, we investigated the recombinant expression and immunological evaluation of Blo t 1, a cysteine protease allergen obtained from B. tropicalis isolated in Vietnam. The Blo t 1 gene, after codon optimization and signal peptide removal, was cloned into the pPICZα A vector and expressed in Pichia pastoris. IgE-binding ability of the recombinant Blo t 1 was assessed using sera from 53 subjects (21 males, 32 females; aged 6–72 years), including 29 patients sensitized to B. tropicalis and 24 non-allergic controls. The purified recombinant protein with an approximate molecular weight of 47 kDa, including ~37 kDa from the truncated Blo t 1 sequence, a C-terminal His-tag, and ~10 kDa from the α-factor secretion signal, was purified using His-tag affinity chromatography. Dot blot results indicated that 23 out of the 29 allergic sera (79.3%) displayed IgE reactivity to the Blo t 1, which was further validated by western blot analysis. These findings support that Blo t 1 is a major allergen in the Vietnamese population and highlight its potential as a molecular tool for improving the accuracy of allergy diagnostics and the development of targeted immunotherapies in Vietnam. This work also adds to the limited data on B. tropicalis allergens expressed in yeast systems.

Keywords: Allergen, Blomia tropicalis, Blo t 1, IgE-binding reactivity, Pichia pastoris

Nguyen Van Chuong^1,3*, Tran Thanh Liem^1,3, Tran Le Kim Tri^2,3, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Trang^1,3, Phan Tran Hai Dang^1,3

¹Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, An Giang University, Vietnam

²Department of Laboratory, An Giang University, Vietnam

³Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

*Corresponding author’s email: nvchuong@agu.edu.vn

Received: 16 July 2025 / Accepted: 19 September 2025 / Published Online: 29 September 2025

Abstract

Arsenic (As) contamination poses a serious threat to crop productivity and food safety in the Mekong Delta. This study evaluated the synergistic effects of Bacillus songklensis (BS), Bacillus siamensis WD-32 (WD-32), and vermicompost (VA) on soil fertility, peanut growth, yield, and arsenic accumulation. A field experiment was conducted in An Phu commune, An Giang province, Vietnam, using two factors with (factor 1) three vermicompost (VA) rates (0, 5, and 10 t ha⁻¹) and (factor 2) three microbial inoculation treatments: BS, WD-32, and their combination. The studied results revealed that the combined application of 10 t ha⁻¹ VA with both bacterial strains significantly improved soil chemical properties, including pH (6.10), CEC (7.98 cmol⁺ kg⁻¹), SOM (2.21%), TN (0.20%), AP (352 mg kg⁻¹), and EK (160 mg kg⁻¹). This integrated treatment also promoted plant development, pod formation, and achieved the highest fresh pod yield (7.34 t ha⁻¹), representing an 11% increase compared to the control (Without BS, WD-32 and VA). Notably, this treatment reduced As accumulation in stems and seeds by 25% and 30%, respectively, relative to the control. The synergistic effects were clearly demonstrated through key interaction parameters, confirming that the co-application of BS, WD-32 and VA is more effective than single applications. These findings highlight the potential of combining VA application with seed inoculation using BS and WD-32 as a sustainable strategy to enhance peanut yield and reduce arsenic uptake under field conditions, particularly in arsenic-contaminated areas.

Keywords: Animal manures, Arsenic, Beneficial bacteria, Groundnut, Organic amendment

Rui Jin^1†, Chang An^2†, Bingrui Wang^3†, Changbin Liu¹, Xiaopeng Fan⁴, Zongshen Zhang^1*

¹ Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Plant Cell Culture Research, School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China

² Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Center for Genomics, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China

³ College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China

⁴ Hangzhou Institute of Advanced Technology, Hangzhou 310018, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work

*Corresponding author’s email: zhangzs@dlpu.edu.cn

Received: 14 May 2025 / Accepted: 11 September 2025 / Published Online: 29 September 2025

Abstract

Psammosilene tunicoides is a well-known representative of “Miao medicine” in China, has high market demand and application potential. However, wild resources are scarce and increasingly endangered due to overharvesting. To address this issue, this study investigates the potential of bioreactor-cultivated hairy roots (HRs) of P. tunicoides as a sustainable alternative to wild medicinal resources. We first examined the bioreactor cultivation of P. tunicoides HRs, with emphasis on their growth, bioactive compound accumulation, and biological activities. HRs were cultured in 10 L bioreactors for up to 45 days. At 30 days of culture, the results showed that the biomass and growth rate of HRs reached 138.19±2.77 g and 0.233±0.06 g/d, respectively, with a saponin content of 11.41±0.02 %, which exceeded the levels observed in five-year-old wild. P. tunicoides. In addition, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the HRs were evaluated. Before deglycosylation, the DPPH radical scavenging rate was 65%, increasing to 83% after deglycosylation. Similarly, hydroxyl radical scavenging rates were 65% and 80%, and superoxide anion scavenging rates were 48.2% and 81.6% before and after deglycosylation, respectively. The deglycosylated saponins exhibited scavenging effects comparable to vitamin C, likely due to the removal of impurities by AB-8 macroporous adsorption resin. Antibacterial tests showed that deglycosylated saponins had a higher inhibitory effect on gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus > M. luteus > E. coli > P. aeruginosa) than on gram-negative bacteria. Taken together, the consistent enhancement in saponin levels, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial performance underscores the pharmacological robustness of bioreactor-cultivated HRs. These findings indicate that bioreactor-cultivated P. tunicoides HRs possess similar biological activities to wild P. tunicoides, supporting the feasibility of using cell engineering methods to sustainably replace rare and endangered wild medicinal resources.

Keywords: Psammosilene tunicoides, Hairy roots, Bioreactor cultivation, Antioxidant activity, Antibacterial activity

Arwa Ishaq A Khayyat^1,2*

¹ Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding author’s email: aalkhyyat@ksu.edu.sa

Received: 20 May 2025 / Accepted: 23 September 2025 / Published Online: 29 September 2025

Abstract

Syzygium aromaticum exhibits diverse pharmacological activities due to its antioxidant potential. Therefore, this study addressed the mechanisms of S. aromaticum extract (SAE) treatment on HT-29 cells proliferation. SAE has an adequate content of phytochemicals. The IC₅₀ of SAE for HT-29 cells was calculated to be 137.81 ± 1.25 µg/ml after 48 hours. Treatment with SAE showed significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic HT-29 cells, with significant increase in their count in the G0/1 and S-phases, along with significant decrease in the G2/M phase. Significant downregulations of the Hh, Wnt-4, and PDGFR-β genes was represented in the colorectal cell lines (HT-29) after treatment with SAE. Collectively, these results demonstrate that SAE inhibits HT-29 cell proliferation by activating apoptosis and interfering with cilia signal transduction, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic candidate against colorectal cancer.

Keywords: Syzygium aromaticum extract, Colorectal cancer, Cell proliferation, Apoptosis, Cell cycle, Cilia signal transduction

Saima Mumtaz^1,2,3, Muhammad Azam Khan^1*, Armghan Shahzad⁴, Rashid Mehmood Rana^5*, Irfan Ali¹

¹Department of Horticulture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan

²Horticultural Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan

³Horticultural Science Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, Quincy, FL 32351, USA

⁴National Institute of Genomics & Biotechnology (NAGAB), NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan

⁵Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan

*Corresponding authors’ email: rashid.pbg@uaar.edu.pk; drazam1980@uaar.edu.pk

Received: 22 February 2025 / Accepted: 20 August 2025 / Published Online: 22 September 2025

Abstract

A study was designed to determine the influence of different rootstocks on the growth, leaf nutrient composition, and physiological parameters of Kinnow (C. nobilis×C. deliciosa). In this experiment, two years old grafted plants of Kinnow on nine citrus rootstocks, including Trifoliate orange  (Poncirus trifoliata), C-35 citrange (Ruby orange ×Webber-Fawcett trifoliate), Troyer citrange (C. sinensis “Washington”× Poncirus trifoliata), Carrizo citrange (C. sinensis “Washington”× Poncirus trifoliata), Benton citrange (Poncirus trifoliate × C. sinensis), Cleoptera mandarin (C. reshni), Cox mandarin (C. reticulata ‘Scarlet mandarin’ × Poncirus trifoliata ‘trifoliate orange’), Rough lemon (C. jambhiri), and Sour orange (C. aurantifolia) was used. The research was carried out over two consecutive years in the Pothowar region, Islamabad, Pakistan. Results revealed that different citrus rootstocks significantly affected ‘Kinnow’ growth in both years at P<0.05. ‘Carrizo’ rootstock resulted in significant increase in scion diameter, rootstock diameter, graft union diameter, leaf number, and leaf area of Kinnow in the year 2023. For physiological parameters, ‘Kinnow’ leaves had higher ‘An’, ‘ci’, ‘WUE’ values and Chlorophyll contents (SPAD) when plants were grafted onto Carrizo rootstock in 2022 and 2023, whereas VPD values were only higher on Carrizo rootstock during 2023. Regarding leaf nutrient compositions, ‘Kinnow’ leaves showed a notable increase in nitrogen (N) content when grafted onto Carrizo rootstock in 2023. Similarly, higher values of leaf potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) contents were observed when ‘Kinnow’ was grafted onto Carrizo rootstock. Overall, plants grafted on Poncirus had lower values of ‘VPD’, ‘gs’, ‘Ci’, ‘E’ compared to others during the studied period. Significant correlations among the morphological, physiological, and leaf nutrient compositions were identified at the P<0.01 and P<0.05 significance levels, showing that all the investigated parameters were strongly correlated. In conclusion, Kinnow had more growth on the ‘Carrizo’ rootstock, showing better results for growth vigor, nutrient uptake and physiological attributes.

Keywords: Citrus, Rootstocks, Kinnow, Carrizo, Nutrient composition, Cox, Physiological parameters, PCA

Shaokun Sun^1,2, Meng Li², Lili Zhao¹, Shujun Liu¹*

¹Institute of Vegetable Research, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China

²College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China

*Corresponding author’s email: llssjj2000@163.com

Received: 04 May 2025 / Accepted: 11 September 2025 / Published Online: 20 September 2025

Abstract

Fertiliser application can enhance soil fertility while influencing the structure and diversity of archaeal communities in croplands. However, the relationship between soil fertility and Archaea remains insufficiently explored. Here, we examined this interaction in a 34-year vegetable fertilisation experiment in Northeast China. Six treatments were selected: an unfertilised control (CK), organic fertiliser alone (MN₀), nitrogen fertiliser combined with organic fertiliser (MN₁ and MN₂), and nitrogen fertiliser alone (N₁ and N₂). Results indicated that Organic fertilizer treatments (MN0/MN1/MN2) significantly increased soil organic matter (36.1%–51.1%), total nitrogen (51.1%–88.9%), available phosphorus (2.2–5.1-fold), and available potassium (3.0–4.0-fold), whereas sole nitrogen fertilization (N1/N2) induced soil acidification and salinization risk. Combined fertilization (MN1) stimulated hydrolase activities (urease increased by 149%–217%, invertase increased by 60–130%), boosted enhanced nitrogen-phosphorus transformation (neutral phosphatase increased by 102%); Thaumarchaeota (87%) dominated as the core phylum, exhibiting significant negative correlations with SOM, EC, and catalase (CAT) activity (P<0.05); Sole nitrogen fertilization enriched Euryarchaeota (N1:10%) and Marine Group II (N1:9.5%); Organic amendments promoted unclassified archaeal proliferation (MN1:29%), with LEfSe identifying Soil Crenarchaeotic Group SCG as a biomarker for organic treatments; The tomato yield under combined fertilization (MN1) reached 2.5 times that of CK, showing significant correlation with Thaumarchaeota abundance (P<0.05). These results suggested that integrated organic-inorganic fertilization synergistically improves nutrient use efficiency and sustains soil health by optimizing archaeal community structure (elevating Thaumarchaeota/unclassified taxa) and enhancing enzymatic networks, providing microbial regulation targets for precision agriculture in greenhouse systems.

Keywords: Archaea, Soil fertility, Soil enzymes, High throughput sequencing

Maryam A. Bin Watyan^1,2, Abdullah AlAmri¹, Ramesa Shafi Bhat³*, Sara O. Alghamedi¹, Mohammed AlZahrani⁴, Jilani Shaik¹, Arwa Ishaq Khayyat¹, Sooad AlDaihan¹*, Mohammed Alanazi¹

1Genome Research Chair, Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

3Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

4Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding authors’ emails: rbhat@ksu.edu.sa; sdaihan@ksu.edu.sa

Received: 01 May 2025 / Accepted: 20 August 2025 / Published Online: 11 September 2025

Abstract

Lepidium sativum has been used traditionally to treat a variety of ailments because of its potential pharmacological properties, however, its impact on the growth and differentiation of colorectal cancer cells is still not well understood. Antiproliferative properties of L. sativum leaf extract, was investigated. The MTT assay was performed, followed by the RT2 Profiler PCR Array to analyze the expression of 84 human DNA damage and repair pathway genes in two human colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW620, after exposure to L. sativum extracts. The results showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability for HCT116 and SW620 cells following treatment with L. sativum extract. PCR array analysis of the 84 DNA repair genes revealed valuable insights into cellular responses and mechanisms behind the non-conventional treatments of cancer cells. RT-PCR analysis confirmed significant modulation of DNA damage response (DDR) genes, including increased expression of apoptosis-related genes DDIT3 and GADD45G, alongside decreased expression of the repair gene MPG. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified 10 compounds with promising pharmacokinetic properties and a favorable ADMET profile, in line with Lipinski’s Rule of Five. This study suggests that L. sativum extract induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells, supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent in cancer treatment.

Keywords: Lepidium sativum, Colorectal cancer, RT2 profiler PCR array, HCT116, SW620

Licuo Ze^1,2,3+, Mengqi Duan^1,2,3,4+, MingBang Wei^1,2,3, Guoxin Wu^1,2,3, Haoyang Nie^1,2,3, Jingrui Ji^1,2,3, Zhankun Tan^1,2,3, Yangzom Chamba^1,2,3*, Peng Shang^1,2,3*

¹College of Animal Science, Tibet Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Linzhi, China

²Key Laboratory of Tibetan Pig Genetic Improvement and Reproduction Engineering, Nyingchi 860000, Tibet, China

³Tibetan Pig Science and Technology Courtyard in Nyingchi, Nyingchi 860000, Tibet, China

⁴College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China

⁺These authors contributed equally to this work

*Corresponding authors’ emails: yeyourong@xza.edu.cn; nemoshpmh@126.com

Received: 15 June 2025 / Accepted: 06 August 2025 / Published Online: 27 August 2025

Abstract

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China’s largest ecologically fragile and sensitive region, is critical for understanding wildlife-environment interactions. To clarify the gut microbiota characteristics of Wild Rock Sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in this region and explore their potential ecological implications, we performed 16S rDNA sequencing on field-collected fecal samples. A total of 386,588 high-quality sequences were obtained, with an average of 111,382 valid combined sequences per sample. At the phylum level, Firmicutes dominate over Bacteroidetes, with notable inter-individual variations in their relative abundances. At the genus level, UCG-005 and Rikenellaceae-RC9-gut-group were the key differential taxa. with distinct abundances across samples. α-diversity indices (Chao1, ACE, Simpson, and Shannon) indicated high species richness, diversity, and evenness in the microbial communities, reflecting a stable gut ecosystem. Functional prediction revealed that the gut microbiota was primarily involved in core metabolic processes, including carbohydrate, amino acid, cofactor and vitamin metabolic processes, as well as terpenoid/polyketide, nucleotide, energy, and lipid metabolism.

Compared to prior studies on Rock Sheep gut microbiota, our work uniquely focuses on the ecologically fragile Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, linking microbial traits to potential adaptations to high-altitude environments. These findings enhance understanding of wildlife-microbiota-environment interactions and provide baseline data for conservation and ecological management in the region.

Keywords: Wild Rock Sheep, 16S rRNA sequencing, Gut microorganism, Microbial diversity

Vladislava Maslennikova^1,2, Evgeniya Shelikhova^1,2, Kirill Mosalev¹, Kirill Tabanyukhov^1,2, Svetlana Miroshnichenko¹, Ilya Deulin¹, Mariya Pykhtina¹*

¹Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, 2 Timakova Street, 630630, Russia

²Novosibirsk State Agrarian University, Novosibirsk, Dobrolubova Street 160, 630039, Russia

*Corresponding author’s email: pykhtina_maria@mail.ru

Received: 20 May 2025 / Accepted: 09 August 2025 / Published Online: 27 August 2025

Abstract

Viruses significantly affect various aspects of potato plants by inhibiting their growth and development and reducing their yield. Different potato varieties vary in their resistance to viruses, ranging from highly susceptible to completely resistant, and this is influenced by many factors including rational zoning. In this work, the effect of the PVX, PVY, PVM, PLRV, PVA, PVS and PSTVd viruses on the potato varieties Gala, Red Scarlett and Rosara were investigated. All three varieties were resistant to PVY in accordance with official registers. Mono-infection confirmed this resistance through the absence of morphological manifestations. The Gala variety was characterized only by poly-infection, which only led to a drop in the chlorophyll and carotenoid content, an increase in the malonic dialdehyde level and, accordingly, was manifested by leaf deformation, chlorosis and stem thinning. A proportion of 20.5% of the Rosara variety potatoes were infected with PVY. Poly-infection decreased the chlorophyll a level, increased the carotenoid and peroxidase levels, and slightly increased the MDA level, which resulted in leaf chlorosis. The uninfected Red Scarlett potatoes had low peroxidase levels, high MDA levels, and the lowest number of stems. The occurrence of PVY was highest in this cultivar (87.8%). Infection with the PVY and PVM viruses was accompanied by a decrease in chlorophyll a, an increase in MDA and slight chlorosis. Thus, viral infection, especially polyinfection, by increasing the level of malondialdehyde and disrupting the photosynthetic system, will lead to increased susceptibility of plants to biotic and abiotic factors.

Keywords: Potato viruses, Polyinfection of рotatoes, Chlorophylls, Peroxidase, MDA, Carotenoids, Oxidation-reduction balance