Japanese encephalitis (JE) transmission continues to be a significant public health issue in Southeast Asia, even with the use of vaccines and the presence of vaccination coverage. The virus's primary vectors are Culex mosquitoes, whose diversity and density are crucial factors in Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, the vector species primarily associated with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) transmission belong to the Vishnui subgroup. Even with adult stage morphology as the basis, the task of morphological identification remains challenging, thereby complicating both the segregation and detection of these species. A study was designed to elucidate and delineate the distribution of the key vector species responsible for JEV transmission in Cambodia, namely Culex vishnui, Cx. pseudovishnui, and Cx. Nationwide, tritaeniorhynchus mosquito samplings were executed across different ecological environments. Phylogeographic analysis was combined with phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (coI) gene using a maximum-likelihood tree with ultrafast bootstrap methodology. The phylogenetic analysis of the three principal Culex species reveals a bifurcation into two distinct clades. One clade encompasses Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, and the second clade comprises Cx. vishnui and another species of Culex. In subsequent taxonomic studies, the group pseudovishnui was recognized as a subgroup of Cx. vishnui. Vishnui subgroup distribution analysis across Cambodia displays an overlapping pattern, leading to sympatric species co-existence within the studied area. The three JEV vector species are geographically delineated, and a considerable proportion of Cx. pseudovishnui are found in the forest. Simultaneously with the presence of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. Cambodian rural, peri-urban, and urban spaces experience a widespread presence of JEV-competent vectors.
Animal digestive strategies are profoundly affected by the coevolutionary relationship between the host and gut microbiota in order to accommodate shifts in the availability of food sources. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we examined the compositional structure and seasonal variations in the gut microbiota of Francois' langurs residing in a limestone forest within Guangxi, southwest China. Our investigation of langur microbiomes indicated the prevalence of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla, alongside Oscillospiraceae, Christensenellaceae, and Lachnospiraceae families. The top five phyla demonstrated unchanging seasonal patterns, while only 21 bacterial taxa varied at the family level. This stability in gut microbiota may be explained by the langurs' consistent foraging for various dominant plants and high-leaf diets. DMOG Subsequently, the quantities of rainfall and minimum humidity levels profoundly affect the langur's gut microbiota, but their explanatory power for shifts in bacterial species is not significant. Across the various seasons, the langurs' activity budgets and thyroid hormone levels demonstrated no notable differences, implying that these primates did not alter their activity patterns or metabolic processes in response to seasonal changes in their food sources. The current study indicates a correlation between the arrangement of the gut microbiota and the digestive and energy-uptake mechanisms in these langurs, advancing our understanding of their adaptation to limestone forest ecosystems. Francois' langur, a primate species, finds its home primarily within karst terrain. Wild animal adaptation to karst environments has been a significant focus in behavioral ecology and conservation studies. Langur adaptation to limestone forest habitats was explored by integrating data on gut microbiota, behavior, and thyroid hormone levels, revealing the physiological interactions between these factors. The langurs' reactions to environmental changes were scrutinized by studying the seasonal dynamics of their gut microbiota, offering clues about species' adaptive strategies.
Submerged macrophytes and their associated epiphytic microbes, a holobiont, are fundamentally important in controlling the biogeochemical cycles in aquatic environments. Yet this crucial connection is susceptible to environmental stresses, including excessive ammonium concentrations. Recent research suggests that plants frequently engage in active collaboration with nearby microbial communities, thereby enhancing their capacity to endure specific abiotic challenges. Nevertheless, the available empirical data on how aquatic plants rebuild their microbiomes in response to acute ammonium stress is limited. We studied the temporal progression of bacterial communities in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of Vallisneria natans during ammonium stress and the following recovery periods. The bacterial communities inhabiting different plant environments demonstrated contrasting responses to ammonium stress, with a decline in the phyllosphere and an increase in the rhizosphere. Concurrently, both the phyllosphere and rhizosphere microbial communities experienced significant compositional alterations following the removal of ammonium stress, markedly augmenting the proportion of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. Meanwhile, the long-lasting effects of ammonium stress on bacteria were evident for several weeks; certain plant growth-promoting and stress-alleviating bacteria persisted even after the stressor subsided. The structural equation model analysis indicated that the reconfigured bacterial communities in plant environments collectively promoted a positive impact on the upkeep of plant biomass. Additionally, an age-prediction model was employed to project the bacterial community's developmental trend, and the outcomes unveiled a sustained shift in the succession of bacterial community development in the context of ammonium exposure. Our study underlines the pivotal role of plant-microbe interactions in mitigating plant stress, and enhances our knowledge of assembling plant-beneficial microbes within aquatic ecosystems experiencing ammonium stress. Submerged aquatic macrophytes are diminishing at an accelerating pace due to the increasing contribution of anthropogenic ammonium. For sustaining the ecological value of submerged macrophytes, finding efficient ways to relieve their stress caused by ammonium is imperative. Plant microbial symbioses effectively reduce the impact of abiotic stresses, however, maximizing their benefits demands a thorough understanding of how plant microbiomes react to ammonium stress, particularly across a continuous timeframe. During periods of ammonium stress and recovery, we monitored the temporal evolution of bacterial communities residing in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of Vallisneria natans. Severe ammonium stress, as revealed by our research, catalyzes a plant-orchestrated, timely modification of the associated bacterial community, exhibiting a niche-specific approach. Reaggregated bacterial communities could advantageously affect nitrogen transformation and plant growth promotion, potentially leading to plant benefit. Regarding the adaptive strategy of aquatic plants, empirical research reveals their recruitment of beneficial microbes in response to ammonium stress.
The triple combination of CFTR modulators, elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor), leads to a beneficial effect on lung function in those with cystic fibrosis (CF). The present study investigates the relationship between 3D ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI functional lung data and typical lung function measurements in CF patients treated with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor. This prospective feasibility study enrolled 16 CF patients, who provided consent for baseline and follow-up pulmonary MRI scans employing a breath-hold 3D UTE sequence, from April 2018 to June 2019, and from April to July 2021. Eight individuals, evaluated at baseline, were given elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor, with eight participants on their unchanging therapies constituting the control group. The lung clearance index (LCI) and body plethysmography were instrumental in assessing lung function. Functional lung parameters, derived from image analysis of MRI scans at inspiration and expiration, included ventilation inhomogeneity and ventilation defect percentage (VDP). Metrics at baseline and follow-up within each group were compared through a permutation test. Spearman rank correlation was calculated to assess correlations, and a bootstrapping technique was utilized to create 95% confidence intervals. Baseline MRI scans revealed a correlation between ventilation inhomogeneity and LCI, with a correlation coefficient of 0.92 and a p-value less than 0.001. This correlation persisted at follow-up, with an r value of 0.81 and a p-value of 0.002. The mean MRI ventilation inhomogeneity at baseline was 074 015 [SD], and it decreased to 064 011 [SD] at follow-up. This difference was statistically significant (P = .02). Comparing baseline VDP (141% 74) to follow-up VDP (85% 33), a statistically significant difference was observed (P = .02). The treatment group's measurements showed a decrease from their baseline values to the subsequent follow-up measurements. There was no notable fluctuation in lung function over time; the LCI averaged 93 turnovers 41 at baseline and 115 turnovers 74 at follow-up, with no statistically significant variation (P = .34). minimal hepatic encephalopathy For the subjects in the control group. At baseline, a strong correlation (r = -0.61, P = 0.01) existed between forced expiratory volume in one second and MRI-measured ventilation inhomogeneity in every participant. Medical law The subsequent assessment revealed a detrimental trend, characterized by a correlation of -0.06 (p = 0.82). Ventilation inhomogeneity and VDP parameters, measured via noncontrast 3D UTE lung MRI in cystic fibrosis patients, can help track lung function over time, providing regional data beyond what is captured by existing global parameters such as LCI. Readers of this RSNA 2023 article can find the supplementary materials. In this issue, you will find an editorial by Iwasawa; please review it.