Human behavioural and occupational factors play a critical role in sustaining malaria transmission. This study aimed to identify factors associated with poor levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and factors influencing risk behaviours among at-risk populations. A survey of 402 at-risk individuals was conducted in Sisaket Province in late 2022, where substantial progress in malaria elimination has been achieved. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with KAP and malaria risk behaviours. Over half of the participants demonstrated good knowledge (51.5%), attitudes (64.7%), and practices (58.2%) regarding malaria transmission, treatment, and prevention. Poor attitudes were significantly more likely among individuals with lower education levels [primary or below: aOR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.0); senior primary: aOR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.4-4.8] and low socioeconomic status (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0). Poor practices were less common among individuals working in agriculture (aOR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.5). Risk behaviours were significantly more frequent among males (aOR: 2.8, 95% CI 1.2-6.8) and individuals with poor practices (aOR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.6-8.1). Despite overall moderate KAP levels, gaps in attitudes and risk behaviours persist. Targeted strategies, such as social and behaviour change communication, should focus on improving attitudes among individuals with low education levels and reducing risk behaviours among males and those with poor practices by promoting adherence to effective preventive measures.

Cassava is a vital staple crop, yet genomic resources for diverse ecotypes, particularly from key regions, remain limited. To address this, we generated high-quality genome assemblies for nine Thai M. esculenta cultivars and one wild relative, Manihot glaziovii. The sequencing strategy combined Oxford Nanopore long reads for initial assembly with Illumina short reads for polishing and quality assessment. For five of the genotypes, extensive RNA-Seq data from various tissues and developmental stages were also produced to guide gene annotation. We provide detailed technical validation of the ten genome assemblies, reporting on key metrics of contiguity (N50s from 28.9 to 35.2 Mb), completeness (Complete BUSCO scores from 95.69% to 99.21%), and base-level accuracy (k-mer QV scores from 33.47 to 37.67). The final annotated assemblies and all raw sequencing data have been deposited in public archives and are readily accessible. These datasets represent a significant expansion of the genomic toolkit for Asian cassava, providing a foundational resource for future genetic discovery, comparative genomics, and advanced breeding applications.

Doubled haploid (DH) technology accelerates maize breeding by generating completely homozygous lines within two generations, but its efficiency depends on reliable haploid identification markers. The Purple plant 1 (Pl-1) root pigmentation marker has emerged as a promising alternative to R1-Navajo (R1-nj), which suffers from frequent suppression in tropical germplasm. This study evaluated Pl-1 expression and seedling vigor in 298 diverse Thai maize genotypes across four market classes under controlled growth chamber conditions (24 ± 1 °C, 85–90% humidity, and standardized lighting), followed by testcross analysis with 89 representative genotypes crossed with BHI306 to distinguish between allelic absence and epistatic suppression mechanisms. Complete absence of Pl-1 expression was observed in 99.3% of Thai genotypes, contrasting with consistent expression in the temperate-derived control (BHI306). Testcross F1 progeny from 89 Thai × BHI306 crosses exhibited intermediate expression levels (1.57–2.05) across all market classes, confirming allelic absence rather than suppressor-mediated inhibition. Substantial genetic diversity was detected in seedling vigor traits independent of Pl-1 status, with root length varying 43-fold and fresh weight 20-fold, showing highly significant genotypic effects. The uniform lack of Pl-1 expression across Thai germplasm eliminates background interference, highlighting its utility as a complementary marker when introgressed from inducer lines. These findings establish the genetic foundation for implementing optimized DH breeding strategies in tropical maize through marker-assisted backcrossing approaches.

Canine hepatozoonosis, caused by Hepatozoon canis, is a significant canine vector-borne disease (CVBD) with a complex life cycle and diverse clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic to severe illness. While several diagnostic methods are available, no studies have yet applied serum peptidomic analysis to this disease. This study aimed to identify peptide mass fingerprints (PMFs), serum peptidome clusters, and potential biomarker peptides in infected dogs. Blood and serum samples were collected from two groups: H. canis-infected dogs (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 20). Serum peptidome profiling was conducted using MALDI-TOF MS and LC-MS/MS, with data analyzed via MetaboAnalyst 6.0. Distinct PMFs from MALDI-TOF MS effectively distinguished between infected and control groups, revealing five potential peptide markers (m/z 2892.06, 2837.65, 2874.76, 1495.25, and 1423.79). LC-MS/MS identified 98 upregulated peptides in the infected group. Protein interaction analysis highlighted TNS1, ZEB2, and mTOR, suggesting links to potential therapeutic targets. This is the first study to apply a peptidomic approach to canine hepatozoonosis, demonstrating its value in identifying novel biomarker panels and offering a promising diagnostic tool for improved disease detection.

Canthaxanthin is a significant carotenoid that is synthesized by specific microorganisms. It has multiple functions and has been utilized in food and feed supply chains. This research focused on improving canthaxanthin production by Paracoccus bogoriensis PH1, an orange-pigmented bacterium isolated from hot springs. Canthaxanthin production was optimized in flask-scale cultures by varying the pH, temperature, nutritional sources, aeration rates, and agitation techniques. Flask culture cultivation indicated that canthaxanthin production by this strain was influenced by pH stress mechanisms, resulting in the establishment of a two-stage pH control (pH-shift) technique to enhance cell mass and pigment production. The optimum flask conditions were refined for application in a 1 L bioreactor. An optimized cultivation procedure was established utilizing a Polypeptone Sucrose Yeast Extract (PPSYE) medium, with a pH transition from 7 to 11, incubation at 40 °C, agitation at 250 rpm, and aeration at 2 vvm for 48 h. This process resulted in a 3.12-fold increase in total carotenoid content and a 1.61-fold increase in canthaxanthin production, achieving 0.84 ± 0.06 mg/L compared to pre-optimized flask cultures in TSYEB medium (pH 7 at 37 °C, 72 h). Purified canthaxanthin from P. bogoriensis PH1 exhibited antioxidant activity in the ABTS assay.

Rice (Oryza sativa), particularly the japonica subspecies, is a vital global food source but often suffers from short grain length and heat sensitivity, highlighting the need for genetic improvement. This study employed CRISPR/Cas9 technology to investigate the effects of Grain Size3 (GS3) gene editing in the japonica cultivar, ‘Nipponbare’. Successful GS3 editing increased grain size across stable T3 and T4 generations. Importantly, different GS3-edited lines, even when all targeted within exon 1, resulted in varied effects on grain length and other yield components. Transcriptomic analyses revealed unique gene expression profiles for each edited line, highlighting the fact that subtle GS3 mutations trigger diverse transcriptional cascades. While common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in ethylene signaling and chitinase activity, line-specific KEGG analyses showed distinct pathway enrichments. Crucially, the CR-L5 line exhibited significantly enhanced heat tolerance at heading stage. Under high-temperature stress, CR-L5 maintained a higher relative seed setting rate and a 15% greater grain yield than the wild type. This enhanced thermotolerance in CR-L5 correlated with differing expressions of several wax biosynthesis and chitinase-related genes. Our study provides evidence that specific gs3 mutations can confer enhanced reproductive-stage thermotolerance, offering a strategy for breeding climate-resilient japonica rice with improved grain quality and yield under stress.

β-carotene, a carotenoid precursor to vitamin A, is widely employed in the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical sectors. In this study, we present an economically sustainable strategy for β-carotene biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by engineering the yeast to utilize sucrose and agricultural by-products as alternative carbon and nitrogen sources. Specifically, the deletion of the GAL80 gene facilitated effective β-carotene synthesis directly from sucrose, circumventing the costly requirement for galactose induction. Using this engineered yeast strain, we achieved β-carotene titers of up to 23.30 ± 4.22 mg/L and content levels of 2.29 ± 0.16 mg/g dry cell weight (DCW). To further improve the economic viability and environmental sustainability, we evaluated the use of agricultural by-products—molasses as a carbon source and fish meal as a nitrogen source—in a fed-batch fermentation process, highlighting the potential of these substrates to replace refined feedstocks while achieving competitive β-carotene production levels. This approach yielded substantial β-carotene titers of 17.02 ± 0.40 mg/L and content levels of 2.90 ± 0.21 mg/g DCW. It also significantly reduced medium costs by up to 73% compared to conventional yeast extract and peptone-based media, demonstrating the practical potential of these low-cost, sustainable substrates for industrial applications. This study uniquely highlights the successful application of unrefined agricultural by-products, addressing key challenges in cost and sustainability. These findings represent an important advancement toward developing economically competitive and environmentally responsible microbial platforms for the production of β-carotene and other high-value biochemicals.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40643-025-00936-y.

Seed germination is a critical phase in rice production and is highly sensitive to environmental and chemical stresses. Chloramphenicol (CAM), a known phytotoxic antibiotic, has been reported to suppress rice seedling establishment, yet its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of varying CAM concentrations on rice germination and early seedling establishment. While CAM significantly retarded germination speed and seedling growth, the final germination rates remained largely unaffected, even at high concentrations. To uncover the molecular basis of CAM phytotoxicity, we conducted time-resolved phosphoproteomic profiling during both the germination and early seedling stages. Our analyses revealed dynamic, stage-specific phosphorylation changes: moderate alterations affecting metabolic and cytokinesis-related processes during germination, and extensive disruptions in metabolic pathways, stress response mechanisms, DNA replication, and hormone signaling during early seedling establishment. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CAM disrupts rice development by remodeling phosphorylation networks and modulating key physiological and signaling pathways. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying antibiotic-induced growth inhibition and advances our understanding of plant stress responses during early development.