Engineered Bacteria as living detectors of tumor DNA: A new diagnostic frontier.

LEAP: Long sequence enhancer activity analysis and prediction framework.

Genome editing techniques, especially clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), brought researchers into a new era of molecular plant breeding because it enabled them to make targeted modifications in plant genomes and transcriptomes. However, the successful incorporation of large DNA segments into plant genomes, necessary for high genetic gains and desired traits, remains a critical challenge. As there is an increasing demand for technologies that support chromosomal integration of large DNA inserts suitable for application in synthetic biology and plant breeding, PrimeRoot editors have presented a revolutionary solution to this issue, as they integrate enhanced prime editing guide RNA (PegRNA) designs, improved plant prime editor systems and advanced recombinases, helping in the precise insertion of DNA fragments of up to 11.1kb into the plant genomes. Third-generation PrimeRoot editors further enhanced the precision and efficiency of transformation under different gene delivery systems. This technology holds enormous promise for accurately inserting long DNA sequences across different species of plants. This review highlights expected developments, opportunities, applications, advantages and challenges associated with PrimeRoot editors as well as the significance of expanding their applicability to more varieties of plants.

pH-induced structural switch of a parallel duplex to triplex-DNA at a BOLF1 gene segment of the human herpes virus 4 (HH4) genome.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Brevimulticaecum sinensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) from Alligator sinensis (Crocodilian: Alligatoridae).

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common cause of cow-associated bovine mastitis and continues to pose a challenge in dairy herds. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective control and treatment of the infection. This study developed a field-adapted molecular workflow combining a simple DNA extraction method with a colourimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the nuc gene for S. aureus detection, and a second LAMP assay targeting the mecA gene to identify methicillin resistance. LAMP results were benchmarked against PCR using 14 milk samples confirmed as S. aureus-positive by culture and MALDI-TOF MS. A secondary aim of the study was to investigate the genetic diversity of S. aureus isolates from cases of bovine mastitis in Australia by analysis of the spa gene. The spa genotyping was carried out using PCR followed by high-resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis, supported by a mathematical model based on genotype confidence percentage (GCP) values and validated by DNA sequencing. The nuc-LAMP assay demonstrated 89.5 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity relative to PCR, while the mecA-LAMP assay showed complete agreement with PCR in identifying methicillin-susceptible isolates. Among 14 positive milk samples, nine distinct spa types were identified by sequencing, reflecting high genetic diversity. The GCP-based model provided a reproducible and objective method for assigning spa types, even when melt curve differences were subtle. This integrated, low-cost approach offers a practical solution for point-of-care mastitis diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance monitoring using LAMP, particularly suited to resource-limited and remote farm settings, followed by laboratory-based spa genotyping through HRM for strain characterisation.

Biodiversity of Aspergillus section Flavi species isolated along the peanut paste production chain in Côte d'Ivoire.

The isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is common in cattle positive for tuberculosis (TB) in official diagnostic tests, whereas data on specific NTM species in Spanish cattle remain limited. This study identifies the most frequently isolated NTM species from Single Intradermal Tuberculin Test (SITT)-positive cattle in Extremadura, western Spain. Among 1669 Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) positive cultures collected in 2018, 493 (29.54 %) were identified as NTM, and 194 were randomly selected for further analysis. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-restriction analysis of the hsp65 gene and partial sequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) confirmed a diverse range of species. The most prevalent complex was Mycobacterium avium (40.12 %), including M. senriense, M. intracellulare, and M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Other notable NTM species (23.35 %) included M. bourgelatii, M. kansasii, M. gordonae, and M. shinjukuense. Less frequent complexes included M. simiae (11.38 %), M. ulcerans (3.59 %), M. parafortuitum (2.99 %), and M. terrae (1.20 %), along with M. holsaticum (1.20 %), a species related to the M. tuberculosis complex. Phylogenetic analysis and geographic mapping revealed weak correlation between genetic and geographic distances (Mantel test: Rxy = 0.015, P = 0.253), suggesting limited spatial structuration of genetic diversity. Alpha diversity metrics indicated moderate diversity (Shannon's H = 2.641, Simpson's D = 0.106), with some zones exhibiting greater species evenness. Diversity analyses showed moderate dissimilarity among clusters. These findings enhance understanding of Mycobacterium diversity and distribution while emphasizing the diagnostic challenges posed by NTM in TB detection and the importance of molecular tools in species identification and epidemiological surveillance.

Saxitoxin (STX) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) are among the most potent marine neurotoxins, posing severe risks to public health and the seafood industry. Their high toxicity, structural diversity, and occurrence in complex aquatic and food matrices pose significant challenges for reliable detection and quantification. Conventional instrumental analysis methods offer high sensitivity and specificity but require costly instrumentation, skilled personnel, and time-consuming sample preparation. Immunoassays, while faster, may suffer from limited recognition of toxin congeners. In recent years, aptamers, synthetic single-stranded DNA or RNA sequences have emerged as promising alternatives to antibodies for toxin recognition. Aptamer-based biosensing platforms offer advantages in terms of stability, reproducibility, ease of modification, and scalability. A broad range of detection techniques has been developed, including optical, electrochemical and hybrid systems, often incorporating nanomaterials and signal amplification strategies to achieve ultralow detection limits in food and environmental samples. Yet, the path from promising laboratory prototypes to reliable field tools remains challenging, particularly when matrix effects compromise sensor robustness. This review provides a comprehensive overview of aptamer selection strategies for STX and TTX, recent advances in biosensing technologies, and the performance of various platforms in different matrices. Key challenges, including matrix effects, technological feasibility, and the need for compliance with official regulations, are discussed. Finally, perspectives for developing robust, field-deployable aptasensors are outlined, emphasizing their potential to enable rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective toxin monitoring for food safety and environmental protection.

Efficient DNA extraction and sequencing protocol for keratinised materials of animals.

Genetic characterization of Contracaecum cf. overstreeti (Nematoda: Anisakidae) larvae in Mugil cephalus fish from the pacific coast of Ecuador.

Classification of DNA secondary structures by combining multiple spectral techniques with machine learning.

Pediatric NTRK-rearranged gliomas: A clinicopathological and molecular analysis of six cases.

A DNAzyme-CRISPR cascade strategy for preamplification-free detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mining bacterial (meta)genomes for enzymes active in aerobic, mesophilic conditions.

MethylMSI: Prediction of microsatellite instability based on DNA methylation profile and SVM model.

Phylogenetic analysis of the New Guinean forest wallabies, Dorcopsis and Dorcopsulus reveals cryptic divergent lineages impacted by highland and lowland barriers.

Optimization and validation of a TaqMan real-time PCR for the detection of Heterobilharzia americana in dog feces.

Single-cell phylogenomics identifies major groups of marine eugregarine endosymbionts (Apicomplexa).

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of KI polyomavirus and WU polyomavirus in respiratory tract samples from children under five.