During storage at 20°C, specific pear cultivars may exhibit a greasy texture and decline in quality due to fruit senescence. Among these varieties, ‘Yuluxiang’ is particularly susceptible to peel greasiness, resulting in significant economic losses. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a preservative that can effectively inhibit the development of greasiness. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of 1-methylcyclopropene (1- MCP) in extending the storage period of fruits. We hypothesize that it may also influence the occurrence of postharvest peel greasiness in the ‘Yuluxiang’ pears. In this study, we treated ‘Yuluxiang’ pears with 1-MCP. We stored them at 20°C while analyzing the composition and morphology of the surface waxes, recording enzyme activities related to wax synthesis, and measuring indicators associated with fruit storage quality and physiological characteristics. The results demonstrate that prolonged storage at 20°C leads to a rapid increase in skin greasiness, consistent with the observed elevations in L*, greasiness score, and the content of total wax and greasy wax components. Moreover, there were indications that cuticular waxes underwent melting, resulting in the formation of an amorphous structure. In comparison to controls, the application of 1-MCP significantly inhibited increments in L* values as well as grease scores while also reducing accumulation rates for oily waxes throughout most stages over its shelf period, additionally delaying transitions from flaky-wax structures towards their amorphous counterparts. During the initial 7 d of storage, several enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of greasy wax components, including lipoxygenase (LOX), phospholipase D (PLD), and β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS), exhibited an increase followed by a subsequent decline. The activity of LOX during early shelf life (0–7 d) and the KCS activity during middle to late shelf life (14–21 d) were significantly suppressed by 1-MCP. Additionally, 1-MCP effectively maintained firmness, total soluble solid (TSS) and titratable acid (TA) contents, peroxidase (POD), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities while inhibiting vitamin C degradation and weight loss. Furthermore, it restrained polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, ethylene production, and respiration rate increase. These findings demonstrate that 1-MCP not only delays the onset of peel greasiness but also preserves the overall storage quality of ‘Yuluxiang’ pear at a temperature of 20°C. This study presents a novel approach for developing new preservatives to inhibit pear fruit peel greasiness and provides a theoretical foundation for further research on pear fruit preservation.

Innate immunity is the primary defense against viral infections, with Toll-like receptors (TLRs) playing a crucial role in this process. This study aims to highlight the effectiveness of a pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivative (named TLR713), a potential TLR7 agonist, in inhibiting pseudorabies virus (PRV) replication both in vitro and in vivo. Tests on PK-15 cells demonstrated that TLR713 had no significant impact on cell viability, cell cycle progression, or apoptosis at concentrations of 0 – 3 μmol L^-1. TLR713 could promote the phosphorylation of IκBα, p38, and JNK through TLR7, and increase the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In vitro, when cells were treated with TLR713, PRV proliferation was inhibited via TLR7 pathway. Analysis of the viral life cycle indicated that TLR713 could inhibit the replication of PRV, but not affect viral attachment, entry, assembly, or release. In vivo, TLR713 showed no side effects on mice at a concentration of 25 mg kg^-1. It improved the survival rate of PRV-infected mice, reduced tissue viral load, and alleviated the inflammatory response. In summary, this study highlights the potential of TLR713 as a novel TLR7 agonist capable of inhibiting PRV replication and may offer new opportunities for developing antiviral therapies.

Streptococcus suis is a significant zoonotic agent affecting both human and pig health and poses a substantial public health concern. The pathogenicity of S. suis is intricately linked to its ability to form biofilms and express virulence factors, which are regulated by the LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing (QS) system. Herein, we uncover a novel therapeutic avenue by demonstrating that 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an FDA-approved anti-cancer agent, effectively mitigates biofilm formation and attenuates the virulence of S. suis. Mechanistically, we observe a significant reduction in capsular polysaccharide and extracellular polysaccharide production upon 5-FU treatment, elucidating a potential mechanism for biofilm weakening. Additionally, 5-FU down-regulates virulence traits, diminishing S. suis's ability to adhere to host cells and evade phagocytosis. Crucially, our study identifies the thymidylate synthase regulatory gene thyA as a key mediator of 5-FU's effects on the LuxS/AI-2 QS system. Virtual molecular docking and gene knockout experiments provide compelling evidence that 5-FU modulates the LuxS/AI-2 QS system by targeting thyA. In vivo experiments further validate the therapeutic potential of 5-FU, showcasing a significant reduction in bacterial load and mitigation of tissue damage in a mouse model. In conclusion, our investigation unveils 5-FU as a potent disruptor of S. suis's biofilm formation and virulence, offering a promising avenue for the control of this devastating pathogen.

Transgenic crops producing insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have proven to be highly effective in managing some key pests. However, the evolution of resistance by the target pests threatens the sustainability of Bt crops. The L31S mutation in a tetraspanin encoded by HarmTspC5 (previously known as HaTSPAN1) has been shown to confer dominant resistance to the Bt protein Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa armigera, a globally damaging lepidopteran pest. However, the broader implications of the L31S mutation in the tetraspanins of other lepidopteran species remain unclear. The evolutionary analyses in this study indicate that TspC5s have evolved in a species-specific manner among the lepidopteran insects. To investigate the role of TspC5s in conferring dominant resistance to Cry1Ac, we used the piggyBac-based transformation system to generate four transgenic H. armigera strains that express exogenous TspC5 variants from three phylogenetically close species (Helicoverpa zea, Helicoverpa assulta and Heliothis virescens) and one phylogenetically distant species (Plutella xylostella). In comparison with the background SCD strain of H. armigera, the transgenic strains expressing HzeaTspC5-L31S, HassTspC5-L31S, or HvirTspC5-L31S exhibited significant resistance to Cry1Ac (10.0-, 21.4-, and 81.1-fold, respectively), whereas the strain expressing PxylTspC5-L27S remained susceptible. Furthermore, the Cry1Ac resistant phenotypes followed an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern and were closely linked to the introduced mutant TspC5s. These findings reveal the conserved role of TspC5s from Helicoverpa and Heliothis species in mediating the dominant resistance to Cry1Ac, and they provide crucial insights for assessing resistance risks related to mutant tetraspanins and devising adaptive resistance management strategies for these major lepidopteran pests.

Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases (LPATs) are enzymes widely expressed in various plant species, contributing to growth, development, and stress responses.  Currently, little information regarding the LPAT gene family is available in soybeans.  In this study, genome-wide analyses identified 15 soybean LPATs, which were then evaluated for the conserved protein motifs.  These genes were grouped into three clusters based on their phylogenetic relationships.  Confocal microscopy was used to visualize the localization of six GmLPATs within Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts.  cis-Acting regulatory element analyses and qRT-PCR experiments revealed that these GmLPATs were upregulated in response to hormone stimulation or exposure to abiotic stressors, including drought, alkaline conditions, and salt stress.  The expression patterns of these GmLPATs varied across different soybean tissue types.  One member of the solLPAT1 subtype (GmLPAT11) was found to be upregulated in response to a range of treatments, highlighting its role in soybean salt stress responses. GmLPAT11 expression in Escherichia coli confirmed the LPAT activity of this recombinant enzyme, and overexpressing this LPAT reduced reactive oxygen species production in transgenic soybean plants, enhancing their salt stress tolerance.  Gene association analyses indicated that GmLPAT11 variants are closely associated with seedling salt tolerance, and a polymorphism in the GmLPAT11 CDS region was potentially associated with salt tolerance.  These results provide new insight into the nature of the LPAT gene family in soybeans while also suggesting promising candidate genes for future research efforts aimed at enhancing the overall salt tolerance of soybean crops. 

The Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a major migratory pest of agriculture and animal husbandry in Asia and Europe. Utilizing plant volatile organic compounds (pVOCs) as attractants for monitoring and controlling pests is considered an environmentally friendly and effective method. However, limited knowledge exists regarding applying pVOCs to manage L. sticticalis. Here, volatile compounds released by Chenopodium album, Setaria viridis, and Medicago sativa, the three preferred oviposition plants for L. sticticalis females, were collected using dynamic headspace sampling techniques. A total of 55 distinct compounds were identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 16 compounds in the concentration range from 0.001 to 100 µg µL^-1 elicited consistently enhanced electrophysiological responses in both male and female L. sticticalis. Subsequently, the attraction potential of four bioactive compounds—linalool, cis-anethole, trans-2-hexenal, and 1-octen-3-ol—were further confirmed by indoor behavioral bioassays. The blends of linalool, cis-anethole, trans-2-hexenal, and 1-octen-3-ol mixed at ratios of 5:1:5:10 (formulation No. 25) and 5:1:1:10 (formulation No. 21) were highly attractive to L. sticticalis adults. Field-trapping assays indicated that lure No. 2 baited with formulation 21 demonstrated superior efficacy in field trapping. These findings suggest that pVOC-based attractants can be effectively employed for monitoring and mass trapping L. sticticalis adults, providing insights into the development of botanical attractants.