National University of Laos

Clip chemistry (CC) is an innovative interdisciplinary approach for biomanufacture and chemical engineering, significantly contributing to the synthesis of functional materials and chemicals. This method precisely regulates the evolution of the chemical bonds at the molecular level, achieving efficient conversion from basic raw materials to target products. The progress made in clip chemistry has significantly accelerated the sustainable development of chemical synthesis. Upon transitioning from the solid to the liquid state, gallium-based liquid metals (GBLMs) exhibit a highly reactive surface state characterized by enhanced surface reactivity. Owing to these properties, GBLMs can rapidly, directionally, and spontaneously facilitate the site-specific cleavage of the oxygen-containing covalent bonds, such as those in the methanol (CH3OH) molecules. The cleavage of the C–O, C–H, and H–O bonds of CH3OH molecules results in the formation of reactive groups. Gallium ions (Ga3+) combine with oxide ions (O2−) and hydroxyl groups (–OH) to form gallium oxide hydroxide (GaO(OH)) semiconducting material, while the remaining active species include carbon materials, hydrocarbons, and metal salts. We thus demonstrate that GBLMs have emerged as a transformative medium for the directional tailoring and synthesis of oxygen-containing molecules and other related materials. The advancement reported here has significantly enhanced our understanding of the interaction between GBLMs and molecules, molecular CC, and oxygen-containing molecular systems. Moreover, it has a great potential to propel the practical application of techniques involving molecular scission and recombination. GBLMs thus have significant potential across molecular engineering, energy-environment systems, and biomedical research domains.

Simulium asakoae is a widespread species of black fly in Southeast Asia and a potential vector of parasites of medical and veterinary importance. Despite its broad distribution and diverse habitats, population genetic information remains limited. We investigated the genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history of S. asakoae in Laos and examined its genetic relationships with populations from other Southeast Asian countries, using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. A total of 369 COI sequences (241 generated in the present study and 128 retrieved from GenBank) were analyzed. Of these, 284 sequences (241 from this study and 43 from GenBank) originated from nine locations across five provinces in Laos. Among the Laotian specimens, 51 haplotypes were identified, showing high haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.9063) and moderate nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0080). Intraspecific genetic divergence among Lao populations ranged from 0 to 2.49

Corbicula fluminea is native to Asia and is well known for its remarkable success as an invasive species across Europe and the Americas. In its invaded range, C. fluminea shows very low genetic diversity and exclusively androgenetic reproduction. In this study, we investigated the genetic relationships, genetic diversity, and reproductive modes of C. fluminea s.l. in its native range in mainland Southeast Asia. Specimens collected from Thailand, Laos PDR, and Vietnam were analyzed using mitochondrial COI gene sequences alongside eight polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci to assess genetic diversity and construct phylogenetic tree and haplotype network. The results revealed a monophyletic clade of C. fluminea, with eight mitochondrial haplotypes identified across the study area. The haplotype network showed that the widespread FW5 haplotype was dominant, along with a complex network of additional haplotypes associated with previously reported haplotypes from East and Southeast Asia. Mitochondrial diversity was relatively high compared to that in the invaded range. However, microsatellite diversity was surprisingly low, with many samples exhibiting identical genotypes, which may be due to asexual androgenetic reproduction. This is further supported by the observation of biflagellate sperm in all sampling locations, clonal genotypes, and some triploid individuals.

BackgroundMedicinal plants constitute a vital component of healthcare systems, cultural identity, and community resilience in many rural societies, particularly in northeastern Thailand. However, ethnomedicinal knowledge in borderland regions-where cultural exchange and environmental pressures intersect-remains insufficiently documented. This study presents the first systematic and quantitative ethnobotanical assessment of medicinal plant use in Dan Sub-district, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province, a Thai-Cambodian borderland, with an emphasis on locally distinctive practices and implications for biocultural conservation.MethodsEthnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 40 local informants. Medicinal plant uses were categorized by therapeutic application, life form, plant parts used, sources (wild or cultivated), and routes of administration. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were applied to evaluate cultural importance and agreement among informants. Jaccard's similarity index was used to compare ethnomedicinal knowledge with surrounding regions. Community-based conservation practices and perceived threats were documented through local consultations.ResultsA total of 73 medicinal plant species belonging to 65 genera and 41 families were recorded, including 39 species newly documented for Surin Province. Herbs were the dominant life form (50.68%), and leaves were the most frequently used plant part (24.02%). Oral administration was the primary route of application (78.21%). High FL values were observed for Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lecomte (87.50%), Piper nigrum L. (82.50%), and Ficus hispida L.f. (80.00%). ICF analysis revealed strong agreement among informants for treatments related to gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and reproductive ailments. Comparative analysis indicated both shared regional knowledge and locally specific adaptations characteristic of the borderland context. While community-based conservation practices persist, wild plant populations remain vulnerable to habitat loss and overharvesting.ConclusionBy documenting new provincial records and elucidating how cross-border cultural interaction shapes ethnomedicinal knowledge, this study addresses a significant geographic and cultural gap in Thailand's ethnobotanical literature. The findings underscore the importance of integrating quantitative ethnobotanical approaches with community-based conservation strategies to sustain ethnomedicinal knowledge and plant resources within rapidly transforming borderland agroecosystems.

The genus Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae) comprises spider-pathogenic fungi. Three new species, G. pseudopigmentosa, G. pseudosolita, and G. sinensis, were discovered on spiders in the leaf litter of forests in Yunnan and Jilin provinces, China, and in Vientiane Prefecture and Oudomxay Province, Laos. Morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (based on nrSSU, ITS, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2) support their recognition as distinct taxa. Gibellula pseudopigmentosa is distinguished from its sister species, G. pigmentosinum, by smaller perithecia and shorter ascospores. Gibellula pseudosolita differs from its close relatives by producing multiple synnemata per host and possessing smaller conidia. Gibellula sinensis is characterized by shorter conidiophores and smaller conidial heads compared with morphologically similar species. This study presents the first formal record of Gibellula from Laos, significantly expanding the known distribution of the genus in Southeast Asia and contributing to our understanding of its diversity.