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Topic Review
Feline Zoonosis
A feline zoonosis is a viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan, nematode or arthropod infection that can be transmitted to humans from the domesticated cat, Felis catus. Some of these diseases are reemerging and newly emerging infections or infestations caused by zoonotic pathogens transmitted by cats. In some instances, the cat can display symptoms of infection (these may differ from the symptoms in humans) and sometimes the cat remains asymptomatic. There can be serious illnesses and clinical manifestations in people who become infected. This is dependent on the immune status and age of the person. Those who live in close association with cats are more prone to these infections. But those that do not keep cats as pets are also able to acquire these infections because of the transmission can be from cat feces and the parasites that leave their bodies. People can acquire cat-associated infections through bites, scratches or other direct contact of the skin or mucous membranes with the cat. This includes 'kissing' or letting the animal lick the mouth or nose. Mucous membranes are easily infected when the pathogen is in the mouth of the cat. Pathogens can also infect people when there is contact with animal saliva, urine and other body fluids or secretions. When fecal material is unintentionally ingested, infection can occur. A feline zoonosis can be acquired by a person by inhalation of aerosols or droplets coughed up by the cat. In the United States, thirty-two percent of homes have at least one cat. Some contagious infections such as campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis cause visible symptoms of the disease in cats. Other infections, such as cat scratch disease and toxoplasmosis, have no visible symptoms and are carried by apparently healthy cats.
  • 913
  • 13 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome
Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca sequence type 53 was found to be associated with olive trees showing extensive twig and branch dieback and plant death in the Gallipoli area of Salento and the common name of “olive quick decline syndrome” (OQDS) was given to the disease. Repeated interceptions in Europe and Italy of ornamental coffee plants originated from Central America, jointly in phylogenetic analyses of many strains of the pathogen, indicated this origin as the most probable source of its introduction in Salento. Drought events could have been conducive to the initial outbreaks of the disease. Subsequently, the pathogen largely spread over the territory according to a “stratified dispersal” model. The high susceptibility of the local cultivars Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò, a low soil content of zinc, copper, and manganese, improper pruning, and adverse climatic events could have further contributed to the spread of the pathogen. The polyphagous insect Philaenus spumarius L. is the main vector of the bacterium in the area. The adults were detected X. f. subsp. pauca-positive in early May, and their incidence was higher during spring and early autumn when they efficiently spread the bacterium among the olive trees. Many other host plant species can host the bacterium, and some of them can act as a “reservoir” for the disease spread. The aggressive fungus Neofusicoccum mediterraneum Crous, M.J. Wingf. And A.J.L. Philips, could also be involved in OQDS. A sustainable control strategy for reducing the incidence and severity of X. f. subsp. pauca in the olive groves of Salento that allows the trees to produce is presented and discussed. Resilient trees of Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò have been observed in the heavily infected areas of Salento. 
  • 911
  • 04 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Antioxidant Mechanisms in Oocytes
Although oocytes can mitigate oxidative stress via intrinsic antioxidant systems, the formation of ribonucleoprotein granules, mitophagy, and the cryopreservation-inflicted oxidative damage cannot be completely eliminated. Therefore, exogenous antioxidants such as melatonin and resveratrol are widely used in oocyte cryopreservation to reduce oxidative damage through direct or indirect scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • 910
  • 09 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms and Their Feasibility
The role of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) has been extensively studied in soil-based systems. PGPMs, including plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and rhizobia, increase the production of biomass in plants through synthesizing hormones, fixing nitrogen, and solubilizing phosphate and potassium.
  • 906
  • 17 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Grapevine Smoke Exposure
Grapevine smoke exposure and the subsequent development of smoke taint in wine has resulted in significant financial losses for grape growers and winemakers throughout the world. Smoke taint is characterized by objectional smoky aromas such as “ashy”, “burning rubber”, and “smoked meats”, resulting in wine that is unpalatable and hence unprofitable.
  • 905
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Modulation of Rice Leaf Angle
Leaf angle, the inclination between the leaf blade midrib and the stem, is one of the most important canopy parameters in plant architecture that influence light interception, photosynthetic efficiency, and planting density. Thus, ideal plant architecture with an erect leaf angle and optimum leaf orientation allows for more efficient light capture during photosynthesis and better wind circulation under dense planting conditions. Generally, rice leaf angle is determined by the elongation and/or division of lamina joint cells. Newly isolated rice genes (OsBCL1 and OsBCL2) are positive regulators in the elongation of lamina joint cells and their potential for regulating rice leaf angle has been examined in this research.
  • 905
  • 03 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Protein-Based Animal Species Authentication in Dairy Products
Milk is one of the most important nutritious foods, widely consumed worldwide, either in its natural form or via dairy products. Currently, several economic, health and ethical issues emphasize the need for a more frequent and rigorous quality control of dairy products and the importance of detecting adulterations in these products. For this reason, several conventional and advanced techniques have been proposed, aiming at detecting and quantifying eventual adulterations, preferentially in a rapid, cost-effective, easy to implement, sensitive and specific way. Protein-based techniques, including electrophoresis, chromatography and immunochemical assays, are considered current methodologies for assessing the authenticity of dairy products. They are generally considered fast, high throughput and cost-effective, being suitable approaches for the analysis of animal species in raw milk. However, when applied to processed foods, their reliability might be compromised due to protein denaturation and consequent epitope modification, disabling the immunorecognition of proteins. In recent years, the developments of mass spectrometry (MS) platforms for protein analysis, characterization and quantification have provided alternative approaches that rely on marker peptides instead of whole proteins, being suitable alternatives to analyze processed products. 
  • 905
  • 28 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Canine and Feline Testicular Preservation
The increased interest in breeding dogs and cats and their use as models for other canids and felids demand research to improve reproductive techniques. Among them, testicular cryopreservation stands out. Testicular cryopreservation enables the maintenance of reproductive capacity and allows the establishment of germplasm banks for several species of commercial value or at risk of extinction. Furthermore, it enables the transport of genetic material among different regions. It is noteworthy that this biotechnology represents the only possibility of preserving the fertility of prepubertal animals that have died, so it has great importance in the propagation of the genetic material of animals. The spermatogonia present in the testes can be cultivated in vitro and the sperm obtained can be used in artificial reproduction programs. Although advances have been achieved with the use of testicular fragments to obtain viable and functional germ cells, the establishment of protocols that can be used in clinical routine have not been concluded yet. The testicular cryopreservation process can be carried out through techniques such as slow freezing, fast freezing and vitrification. However, the protocols used for the canine and feline species are still in the experimental phase. 
  • 903
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Ebola Virus GP Activates Endothelial Cells
Ebola GP triggers apoptosis through an additional pathway other than the ICAM-1 induction pathways. Finally, the cytoskeletal signaling pathways may serve as important targets for the development of therapeutic drugs against EBOV disease. 
  • 902
  • 19 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Effector Proteins in Plant–Microbe Interaction
Oomycete and fungal interactions with plants can be neutral, symbiotic or pathogenic with different impact on plant health and fitness. Both fungi and oomycetes can generate so-called effector proteins in order to successfully colonize the host plant. These proteins modify stress pathways, developmental processes and the innate immune system to the microbes’ benefit, with a very different outcome for the plant. Investigating the biological and functional roles of effectors during plant–microbe interactions are accessible through bioinformatics and experimental approaches which can broaden our knowledge about structural biology, sequence motif and domain knowledge of effector proteins from filamentous microbes.
  • 901
  • 13 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Multifarious Functions of Lignin in Plant Defense Responses
Lignin is complex, three-dimensional biopolymer existing in plant cell wall. Lignin biosynthesis is increasingly highlighted because it is closely related to the wide applications in agriculture and industry productions, including in pulping process, forage digestibility, bio-fuel, and carbon sequestration. The functions of lignin in planta have also attracted more attentions, particularly in plant defense response against different pathogens.
  • 895
  • 04 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Insects as Novel Ruminant Feed
In the last decade, there has been a growing interest in using edible insects as animal feed due to their high nutritive value and environmental advantages over the conventional livestock feeds. Insects have been used in the diets of some animals (poultry, fish, and swine) however, their evaluation in ruminants is still limited. The current in vitro study evaluated the usage of four different kinds of edible insects to partially substitute soybean meal as an example to the conventional high-quality expensive protein sources in ruminants’ diets. This study showed that the evaluated insects had high protein and fat contents. Substitution of 25% of soybean meal with the tested insects in a ruminant diet had no adverse effect on rumen fermentation profile or nutrient digestibility. Moreover, the inclusion of some species in the diet led to reduction of the methane production up to 16-18% which is an additional environmental benefit. The findings of this study are encouraging for further work in this promising area to improve the sustainability of livestock industry.  
  • 894
  • 27 Sep 2021
Topic Review
MicroRNA156 and microRNA529 in Land Plants
The sequences of miR156 and miR529 family members are highly similar, and both target SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like (SPL or SBP box) genes, which encode transcription factors that share a common SBP domain. Many studies have focused on the functions of the highly conserved miR156 family, whereas there have been relatively few studies of miR529 . miR156-SPL is a broadly investigated regulatory module in plants. By regulating SPL expression, miR156 is involved in regulating many biological processes, including flowering time, branching/tillering, and environmental stress responses. Considering the high degree of sequence similarity between miR529 and miR156, it would be interesting to determine whether miR529 functions independently, redundantly, or synergistically with respect to miR156.
  • 894
  • 21 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Rice–Aquatic Species Integration System (RASp)
To ensure the sustainability of rice production and uplift the livelihoods of rice growers, agricultural diversification becomes imperative. By diversifying agricultural practices, farmers can strike a balance between rice cultivation and other crops, mitigating the environmental impacts of excessive input usage. Implementing innovative techniques, such as integrating rice with aquatic species (RASp), can optimize resource utilization and reduce reliance on vast amounts of water and synthetic inputs. Rice–aquatic species integration is a form of intensification where rice (R) remains the primary crop while aquatic species (ASp) become secondary products. This integration empowers efficient water use, offering a solution for sustainable food production. RASp presents an innovative and holistic farming system that harnesses the ecological synergies between rice and aquatic species to optimize resource utilization, enhance productivity, and mitigate environmental impacts.
  • 894
  • 01 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Bacillus coagulans in Animal Husbandry
In recent decades, probiotics have attracted widespread attention and their application in healthcare and animal husbandry has been promising. Among many probiotics, Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans) has become a key player in the field of probiotics in recent years. It has been demonstrated to be involved in regulating the balance of the intestinal microbiota, promoting metabolism and utilization of nutrients, improving immunity, and more importantly, it also has good industrial properties such as high temperature resistance, acid resistance, bile resistance, and the like.
  • 893
  • 14 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig MYB132
The R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) play several key roles in numerous plant biological processes. Hedychium coronarium is an important ornamental plant well-known for its elegant flower shape and abundant aroma type. The floral aroma of H. coronarium is due to the presence of a large amount of terpenes and benzenoids. However, less is known about the role of R2R3-MYB TFs in the regulatory mechanism of floral aroma production in this breed. Herein, we isolate and functionally characterize the R2R3-MYB TF HcMYB132, which is potentially involved in regulating floral aroma synthesis. Sequence alignment analysis revealed that it includes a nuclear localization signal NLS(s) and a 2R, 3R motif signature in the sequences. A subcellular localization assay revealed that HcMYB132 protein localizes to the nucleus. Real-time qPCR assays showed that HcMYB132 is specifically expressed in flowers and its expression pattern correlates with the emission of floral volatile compounds. In HcMYB132-silenced flowers, the levels of floral volatile compounds were significantly reduced, and the expression of key structural volatile synthesis genes was downregulated compared to control. Collectively, these results suggest that HcMYB132 might play a significant role in the regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis in H. coronarium.
  • 891
  • 13 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Integrated-Smart Agriculture
The targets that smart agriculture tries to reach and respond to encompass not only the climate effects, but also other environmental factors as well as social and economic aspects linked with the life of farmers and rural communities all over the world. Hence, the concept of smart agriculture shall be expanded to include all these dimensions.
  • 890
  • 14 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Ponds and Pesticide Dissipation
Ponds in agricultural areas are ubiquitous water retention systems acting as reactive biogeochemical hotspots controlling pesticide dissipation and transfer at the catchment scale.
  • 886
  • 29 May 2021
Topic Review
Phosphorus Transport Through Soybean Xylem
Phosphorus is a major essential element in plants, and absorption and transport of P are related to plant growth and crop productivity. Phosphate (Pi) is absorbed in the roots and then transported to the shoot. Characteristics of Pi absorption, transport, and storage in various parts of the soybeans might be related to plant growth and P-use efficiency. In this research, young nodulated soybean plants were grown in hydroponics with various Pi concentrations. When the soybean plants were grown with 0-500 µM Pi for three days, the Pi absorption rate increased consistently in conjunction with the increase in the Pi concentration; however, the Pi concentrations in the xylem sap increased only from 0 to 50 µM Pi but were constant under higher P concentrations. The absorption rates of 33Pi in the roots were almost the same under light and dark conditions, and those in the decapitated roots were near those of the intact plants. These results indicate that the Pi absorption is not affected by evapotranspiration over a short period. Conversely, the 33P transport from the roots to the shoot was significantly lower under dark conditions than in light conditions. The multiplication value of the 33P concentration in the xylem sap and transpiration rate was almost equivalent to the transport rate of 33P in the intact shoots. The Pi concentration and Pi flux in xylem sap quickly responded to the Pi concentration in the culture solution. These values may be adaptable to estimate the transport rate of P for the diagnosis.
  • 886
  • 18 Sep 2024
Topic Review
Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Broiler Breeders
Poultry meat is one of the major animal protein sources necessary to meet the global protein demand. Sustainability in broiler production is the key to achieving its continuous supply, and broiler breeders play a critical role in maintaining this sustainability by providing good quality chicks. Colibacillosis, the disease caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), causes severe economic losses to the poultry industry globally. Moreover, APEC causes an additional burden among broiler breeders, such as a decrease in egg production and mortality among these birds. There is vertical transmission of APEC to the broiler chicks through eggs, resulting in increased first-week mortality and subsequent horizontal transmission at the hatchery. 
  • 885
  • 19 Dec 2023
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