Botrytis cinerea causes gray mold disease in grapevines (Vitis vinifera), resulting in substantial yield and quality losses. While 'Kober 5BB (Vitis berlandieri × Vitis riparia) is widely used as a rootstock for its adaptability and resilience, its influence on scion resistance to gray mold remains unexplored. We integrated antioxidant activity assays, phytohormone profiling, and transcriptome sequencing to evaluate resistance differences between self-grafted and 'Kober 5BB'-heterografted 'Munake' grapevines. During early infection, heterografted plants exhibited significantly elevated activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), alongside higher concentrations of salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Transcriptome analysis revealed a robust activation of defense-related genes in heterografted scions, specifically pathogenesis-related proteins (Vitvi03g00752, log2FC = 5.10) and jasmonic acid pathway lipoxygenases (Vitvi06g00153, log2FC = 1.57), which were significantly suppressed in self-grafted controls. These findings demonstrate that rootstock selection modulates scion defense responses through coordinated biochemical and transcriptional mechanisms, offering a practical strategy for enhancing disease resistance in viticulture. Future research should explore molecular networks mediating rootstock-scion communication and validate these mechanisms in field conditions across various cultivars and stresses.

To characterize and compare metabolic profiles in fresh grapes and corresponding raisins, we performed untargeted metabolomics analysis of four grape varieties distinct in color and shape. Comparative sugar analysis showed elevated total sugar concentrations in raisins. Black Currant showed the highest glucose (304.17 mg/g), while Lanbaoshi exhibited the highest fructose (495.91 mg/g) content. Further, antioxidant capacity analysis revealed a significant increase in all varieties, with Hongxiangfei showing the highest increase. Multivariate statistical analyses including PCA and OPLS-DA showed distinct clustering between fresh and dried grapes. In each variety, between 501 and 592 metabolites changed significantly. Chemical class analysis revealed that lipids were the most common type of differentially accumulated metabolites, followed by phenylpropanoids and organic acids. Integrated pathway analysis showed that different metabolic strategies were linked to the color of the berries. Dark varieties like Black Currant and Lanbaoshi focused on moving phenylpropanoids flux toward anthocyanins, while the green-berried Sultanina focused on making lignans. Trehalose emerged as a critical antioxidant exhibiting a strong correlation with epigallocatechin gallate accumulation. Biomarker analysis revealed EGCG as the principal factor influencing antioxidant potential, while catechin exhibited a strong correlation with ABTS activity. These findings showed first global and variety-specific metabolomic signature of raisin formation, offering a scientific basis for quality optimization and variety selection.

Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by premature aging and a higher cancer risk. WS patients are characterized by a defective gene product, WRN, that plays an instrumental role in the genomic stability of DNA structures. It typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood, leading to premature aging, age-related disorders like diabetes, and myocardial infarction, and an increased propensity for developing sarcomas, melanoma, and solid tissue cancer. We present a rare case of an 80-year-old female with WS developing five different primary cancers over a decade namely basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the face, left-sided urothelial carcinoma, right-sided triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), right-sided invasive colonic adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). Our case report is unique in presentation it defies the expected life expectancy of the 50s seen in WS, with the patient currently exhibiting a stable clinical course. This case highlights the need for further research into the mechanisms behind extended lifespan and atypical tumor spectra in such patients, as well as the development of tailored therapeutic strategies, particularly with regard to chemotherapy.

Transcription Factors (TFs) serve as master regulators of disease resistance in plants. Given the significant roles of trihelix TFs in model plants and their role in multiple disease resistance, current research was aimed at identifying and predicting their tentative function in grapevines. This study discovered 33 complete VvTH genes within the grape genome, categorized into five groups: GT-1 with 5 genes, GT-2 with 8 genes, GT gamma with 4 genes, SH4 with 4 genes, and SIP1 with 12 genes. The gene structures and conserved motifs of VvTHs in the same subfamily were highly consistent and contained similar domain patterns. Subcellular localization analysis exhibited that most VvTHs are present in the nucleus region. Chromosomal mapping revealed that VvChr08 and VvChr13 contain the highest number of trihelix family members. In addition, most cis elements found in promoter regions were related to biotic stress response and phytohormone related. ABA-responsive element (ABRE) was identified predominately among members. Dynamic expression profiling of all VvTH genes under various diseases and defense-related phytohormones suggests their involvement in defense regulation. Furthermore, qRT-PCR-based expression analysis revealed the crucial roles of VvTH08, VvTH12, VvTH13, VvTH15, and VvTH22 in anthracnose stress. Our study provides insights into the functions of trihelix transcription factors in grapevine response to multiple biotic stresses and presents new key genes for biotic stress-tolerance breeding.

Background: Soybean is an important legume as well as oil seed crop grown in a varied range of climate and soils. Phosphorous and sulphur is an important macronutrient required for plants. Their deficiency in soil is a worldwide concern for production of food crops. Therefore, present investigation was done to study influence of phosphorus and sulphur fertilization on productivity, profitability and quality of soybean. Methods: An experiment conducted during kharif 2021 and laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications having four levels of phosphorous (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1) and three levels of sulphur (15, 30 and 45 kg ha-1). The data was recorded, analysed and computed statistically. Result: The results indicated that application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 45 kg S ha-1 gave significantly higher yield, monetary returns and quality of soybean over rest of phosphorous and sulphur levels. However, it was found at par with 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 30 kg S ha-1.

Seedlessness has always been a valuable quality characteristic of edible grape varieties. Although the production of seedless grapes has been ongoing for decades, the genetic complexity of seedless grapes is not yet fully understood. Therefore, determining the genetic mechanisms and key regulatory genes of seedless grapes is of great significance for seedless grape breeding and meeting market demands. The emergence of high-throughput analysis software offers greater possibilities for mining genes related to plant organ development. Specifically, to mine a greater number of candidate genes related to grape seed traits, this study used the seed trait parameters analyzed by Tomato Analyzer as the target trait and then used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to mine candidate genes. In the two-year analysis using principal component analysis (PCA), we extracted five principal components with a cumulative contribution rate of 96.586%. The cumulative contribution rate for component 1 reached 87.352%. Correlation analysis revealed correlation coefficients ranging from 0.54 to 0.98 among the seven basic traits. The GWAS results indicated that 370 SNP loci were significantly correlated with seed traits. These SNP loci were distributed on 18 chromosomes, except for chromosome 4, with most SNP loci distributed on chromosome 18. Based on the physical location of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers significantly associated with seed-related traits in the grape reference genome, candidate genes are screened within the range of linkage disequilibrium (LD) attenuation distance, both upstream and downstream of the significant SNP loci. These candidate genes were mainly transcription factor-related genes (VvMADS4 and VvMADS5), ubiquitin ligase-related genes (E3 ubiquitin ligase BIG BROTHER), serine/threonine protein kinase-related genes, and carbohydrate metabolism-related genes (Sucrose Synthase 2) and simultaneously controlled multiple (at least two or more) seed traits. These results indicate that seed traits are jointly regulated by some genes involved in seed morphology regulation. In this work, we identified new gene loci related to grape seed traits. Identifying molecular markers closely related to these seed traits is of great significance for breeding seedless grape varieties.

Seedless grapes are gaining increasingly attention in the market because of their desirable traits. Therefore, understanding the molecular genetic regulation of seed development and abortion is crucial for the advancement of seedless cultivars. Recent studies have shown that AGAMOUS-LIKE11 (VvAGL11), an ortholog of Arabidopsis SEEDSTICK (STK), plays a key role in grape ovule development, and amino acid substitution mutations result in seed abortion. However, the regulatory pathways involved in this process are poorly understood in grapevines. In this study, we identified four BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BPC) genes in the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) genome and analyzed their evolutionary relationships, subcellular localization, and expression patterns. VvBPC1 was identified as an upstream regulatory factor of VvAGL11 in a yeast one-hybrid assay. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that VvAGL11 is negatively regulated by VvBPC1, and the production of small seeds by heterologous overexpression of VvBPC1 in tomatoes results from the suppression of VvAGL11 expression. Furthermore, assays in yeast cells demonstrated that VvBPC1 interacts with VvBELL1. Taken together, this study not only establishes the foundation for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms of the VvBPC1-VvBELL1-VvAGL11 module in regulating grape seed development but also provides new insights into the genetic improvement of seedless grapes.

Accurate, multiplex, and ultrasensitive measurement of different colocalized protein markers on individual tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and dimerized proteins with multiple epitopes could provide insights into cancer heterogeneity, therapy management and early diagnostics that cannot be extracted from bulk methods. However, current digital protein assays lack certain features to enable robust colocalization, including multi-color detection capability, large dynamic range, and selectivity against background proteins. Here, we report a lithography-free, inexpensive (< $0.1) and ultrasensitive dual-color Membrane Digital ELISA (Mem-dELISA) platform by using track-etched polycarbonate (PCTE) membranes to overcome these shortcomings. Their through-pores remove air bubbles through wicking before they are sealed on one side by adhesion to form microwells. Immunomagnetic bead-analyte complexes and substrate solution are then loaded into the microwells from the opposite side, with >80% loading efficiency, before sealing with oil. This enables duplex digital protein colorimetric assay with beta galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes. The platform achieves 5 logs of dynamic range with a limit of detection of 10 aM for both Biotinylated β-galactosidase (B-βG) and Biotin Alkaline Phosphatase Conjugated (B-ALP) proteins. We demonstrate its potential by showing that a higher dosage of paclitaxel suppresses EpCAM-positive EVs but not GPC-1 positive EVs from breast cancer cells, a decline in chemo-resistance that cannot be detected with Western blot analysis of cell lysate. The Mem-dELISA is poised to empower researchers to conduct ultrasensitive, high throughput protein colocalization studies for disease diagnostics, treatment monitoring and biomarker discovery.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. and other Vitis spp.) is an important economic crop, but its yield and quality are severely affected by drought stress. NAC transcription factors, which play key roles in plant stress responses, have remained largely unexplored in grapevine drought tolerance. This study identified VvNAC33 as a drought-responsive candidate gene through transcriptomic analysis and demonstrated its role as a positive regulator of drought tolerance. VvNAC33 expression was significantly upregulated under drought stress. Subcellular localization and transcriptional activity analyses confirmed its nuclear localization and transcriptional activation potential. Overexpression of VvNAC33 in Arabidopsis thaliana and transient overexpression in grapevine enhanced drought tolerance, whereas virus-induced gene silencing increased drought sensitivity. This enhanced tolerance was associated with the activation of the antioxidant defense system, including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, which promoted reactive oxygen species scavenging and alleviated oxidative damage. The enhanced expression of VvCAT1, VvCu/ZnSOD, and VvPOD4 by VvNAC33 highlights its crucial role in regulating antioxidant gene expression under drought stress. These findings strongly support the role of VvNAC33 in drought tolerance and identify it as a potential molecular target for enhancing drought resistance in grapevine.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an enigmatic neurological illness that offers few treatment options. Recent exploration has highlighted the crucial connection of the Wnt signaling pathway in AD pathogenesis, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets. The present study focuses on the dual targeting of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and casein kinase-1δ (CK-1δ) within the framework of the Wnt signaling pathway as a possible technique for AD intervention. GSK-3β and CK-1δ are multifunctional kinases known for their roles in tau hyperphosphorylation, amyloid processing, and synaptic dysfunction, all of which are major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. They are intricately linked to Wnt signaling, which plays a pivotal part in sustaining neuronal function and synaptic plasticity. Dysregulation of the Wnt pathway in AD contributes to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. This review delves into the molecular mechanisms by which GSK-3β and CK-1δ impact the Wnt signaling pathway, elucidating their roles in AD pathogenesis. We discuss the potential of small-molecule inhibitors along with their SAR studies along with the multi-targetd approach targeting GSK-3β and CK-1δ to modulate Wnt signaling and mitigate AD-related pathology. In summary, the dual targeting of GSK-3β and CK-1δ within the framework of the Wnt signaling pathway presents an innovative and promising avenue for future AD therapies, offering new hope for patients and caregivers in the quest to combat this challenging condition.

Lung disease is one of the largest contagious diseases which is the main cause of death in children and adults across the world. Lung disease can degrade the breathing ability and pulmonary functionality of the lungs. Viral, bacterial or fungal infections cause these diseases. The objective of this study is to introduce a modified version of the deep learning segmentation model which supports a smaller number of datasets and compares its evaluation parameters with the conventional deep learning model. It shows that the classification of lung X-ray images followed by segmentation improves the model accuracy. In the proposed model, first, we trained U-Net model for the segmentation of lungs on a chest X-ray dataset of Covid disease and saved this model. Then took this model and with the help of a transfer learning approach, we trained this model on a limited tuberculosis dataset. As a result, the proposed model helps to improve accuracy from 68.32% to 94.8% for TB. Other parameters such as dice coefficient, IoU and loss have also been improved in the proposed model.

Functionalization of perovskite nanocrystal surfaces with thiocyanate anions presents a transformative approach to enhancing stability and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) through surface defect passivation. This study investigates the role of thiocyanate ligands in modifying the optoelectronic properties of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. We employed ultrafast two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy to investigate the nature of the dynamic interaction of thiocyanate ligands with nanocrystal surfaces, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying the observed increase in PLQY and stability. Our analysis reveals that the thiocyanate ligands efficiently passivate the surface defects, thereby enhancing the PLQY and the stability of the treated nanocrystals. The spectroscopic evidence supports a model where thiocyanate binds to under-coordinated lead atoms, contributing to a stable nanocrystal surface with enhanced optoelectronic performance. This ligand-induced passivation mechanism advances our understanding of surface chemistry's role in optimizing nanomaterials for solar cell and LED applications.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) comprises 20% of cases of nonmelanoma skin cancers in the United States. In total, 3% to 5% of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are metastatic at the time of presentation, associated with significant mortality due to a lack of standardized treatment options. In total, 95% of these tumors are amenable to the initial standard of treatment, which is surgical resection. However, a small percentage of them require systemic therapy as they are either locally advanced to regional lymph nodes or have distant metastasis. The common sites of presentation of cSCC are the scalp and the face with predictable spread to the intra-parotid, upper jugular, and perifacial lymph nodes. In our case report, however, our patient had a large lump lesion on the upper back, an unusual site of presentation of cSCC, with locally advanced metastasis to the left axillary lymph nodes. Subsequently, the tumor marker study revealed a positive SMARCA4 variant (the essential ATPase subunit of the Switch (SWI)/Sucrose Nonfermenting (SNF) chromatin-remodeling complex) that is even rarer in the context of cSCC. Furthermore, abnormalities in SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex subunits have shown promising results as a target therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. We present an atypical presentation site of locally advanced rare variant SMARCA4-positive cSCC in a patient who received treatment with chemoradiation and systemic therapy with ICI after primary surgical resection. To date, only 2 cases of SMARCA4-positive cSCC were found in the literature with no details of the treatment received. Our case is unique in its atypical site of presentation as well as showing partial response to radiotherapy (RT) and systemic therapy with ICI.

Grape berries often crack near the proximal end, which may be related to water absorption and their cellular anatomical structure. To study the relationship between water absorption, cell anatomical structures, and berry cracking near the proximal end, 49 varieties were selected. Eighteen were prone to cracking near the proximal end, while 31 were resistant. An in vitro soaking experiment on ripe berries measured the difference in berry-cracking degrees among different varieties. In vitro staining was used to trace water absorption and paraffin sections were prepared to observe and analyze the structural parameters of different tissues. Results showed that the cracking rate and water uptake of the crack-prone berries were significantly higher than those of the crack-resistant berries. Fruit prone to cracking was characterized by a thinner cuticle, epidermis, and sub-epidermis. After staining, it was found that dye absorption was limited to the berry near the proximal end. Other cell size parameters may also lead to cracking near the proximal end. By tracing water transport and analyzing differences in cell structure characteristics among varieties, we speculated that the vascular bundle xylem water transport repression and differences in cell anatomical structures may have led to berry cracking near the proximal end. The reasons for berry cracking near the proximal end were preliminarily explained, providing theoretical support for further screening of crack-resistant varieties.

Background: To find out the suitable integrated nutrient management (INM) package for successful black gram production and to investigate the application of INM on growth, yield, quality and nutrient content of black gram (Vigna mungo L.). Methods: A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2019-20, the experiment was laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept having three factors viz,, three fertility levels (75%, 100% and 125% RDF), two FYM level (control and 5 ton FYM ha-1) and three biofertilizers level (Rhizobium, LMn16 and Rhizobium + LMn16) was applied to the variety MU-2 (Mukundra Urad 2). Result: The results indicated that application of higher fertility level like 125% RDF significantly increased all the yield parameters, nutrient content and uptake. Similarly, all the yield parameters, nutrient content and uptake significantly increased under application of FYM (5 ton ha-1) and bio fertilizer (Rhizobium + LMn16) over control plot and sole application of Rhizobium and LMn16 respectively.

Laccase, a copper-containing oxidoreductase, has close links with secondary metabolite biosynthesis in plants. Its activity can affect the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites, thereby influencing plant growth, development, and stress resistance. This study aims to identify the grape laccases (VviLAC) gene family members in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) and explore the transcriptional regulatory network in berry development. Here, 115 VviLACs were identified and divided into seven (Type I–VII) classes. These were distributed on 17 chromosomes and out of 47 VviLACs on chromosome 18, 34 (72.34%) were involved in tandem duplication events. VviLAC1, VviLAC2, VviLAC3, and VviLAC62 were highly expressed before fruit color development, while VviLAC4, VviLAC12, VviLAC16, VviLAC18, VviLAC20, VviLAC53, VviLAC60 and VviLAC105 were highly expressed after fruit color transformation. Notably, VviLAC105 showed a significant positive correlation with important metabolites including resveratrol, resveratrol dimer, and peonidin-3-glucoside. Analysis of the transcriptional regulatory network predicted that the 12 different transcription factors target VviLACs genes. Specifically, WRKY and ERF were identified as potential transcriptional regulatory factors for VviLAC105, while Dof and MYB were identified as potential transcriptional regulatory factors for VviLAC51. This study identifies and provides basic information on the grape LAC gene family members and, in combination with transcriptome and metabolome data, predicts the upstream transcriptional regulatory network of VviLACs.