Title: 3D 'Printout' Device Keeps Very Ill Babies Breathing
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM

Title: Expert Offers Advice on Treating Corns, Calluses
Category: Health News
Created: 4/24/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: FDA Proposes Ban on 'Shock' Device Used to Curb Self-Harm
Category: Health News
Created: 4/22/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: Babies Fed Rice-Based Cereals Have Higher Arsenic Levels, Study Finds
Category: Health News
Created: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/26/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: Half of U.S. Docs Get Payments From Drug, Device Industries: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2017 12:00:00 AM

Title: Most U.S. Adults Support More Mental Health Services for Kids
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM

Title: Device Might Detect Breast Cancer-Linked Swelling Sooner
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM

Title: Device Helps Doctors Select Lungs for Transplant
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: What Price Beauty for Women? Far More Than for Men
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: FDA OKs Restricted Sales of 'Heat-Not-Burn' Tobacco Devices
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: For People With Autism, Encounters With Police Can Turn Dangerous
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: Device Spots Lymphedema Early in Breast Cancer Patients, to Help Stop It
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: AHA News: Essential Advice for Stressed-Out Essential Workers
Category: Health News
Created: 4/24/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Workers With Cluster Headaches Take Twice as Many Sick Days
Category: Health News
Created: 2/6/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 2/6/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Transplanted Skin Stem Cells Help Blind Mice See Light
Category: Health News
Created: 4/21/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/22/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Will a Jolt of Java Get Your Creative Juices Flowing?
Category: Health News
Created: 3/9/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/9/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: To Cut Down on Boozing, Offer Other Choices: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 5/6/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

Ginsberg joined in from the Maryland hospital where she's being treated for an infection caused by a gall stone.

Ginsburg had gone to the hospital for outpatient tests that revealed an infection caused by a gall stone.

PMC is pleased to announce the new OA web service, designed to allow tool developers an easier way to find content in the PMC open access subset. Until now, it has not been easy for outside users to determine which articles in the subset are new or have been updated recently. Our new OA web service addresses this need. It provides a simple API to allow you to query the subset, to find PDF or tgz (tarred-gzipped) format files, either by article ID, or by date/time ranges. More information, along with examples, is available from the documentation page, at OA Web Service. Your feedback is welcome; please send it to the PMC Help Desk, at pubmedcentral@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

You can now search for Open Access articles that have certain types of licenses, by using special filters in both PMC and PubMed. These filters are based on license information that is provided to PMC by publishers and other content providers, as encoded by machine-readable identifiers in the source XML of each article. For more information, see our updated Open Access Subset page.

PMC has reorganized its FTP Service site for users interested in accessing the Text Mining Collections, which include the original Open Access (OA) Subset. New top-level FTP directories help users quickly locate the content available for bulk download that best suits their research needs. These directories include:

• oa_package - article packages for individual OA articles
• oa_pdf – individual PDFs for OA articles
• oa_bulk – bulk packages of text from OA articles
• manuscript – author manuscripts collected under a funding agency’s public access policy
• historical_ocr – select OCR texts from the PMC Back Issue Digitization project

To make it easier for users to identify and comply with the different licenses that apply to OA articles, new file lists have been created and the file lists for individual OA articles now include a “license-type” field for each article. Similarly, the bulk packages of OA article text have been divided into two sets. One set comprises articles that may be used for commercial purposes (the Commercial Use Collection); the other contains articles that can be used only for non-commercial purposes. See the Open Access Subset page for details.

To allow regular users to transition to the new arrangement, the previous arrangement of files and directories will be maintained in parallel for at least four weeks (i.e., until the end of August 2016).

Title: Patch Pump Device Could Offer Cheaper Insulin Delivery
Category: Health News
Created: 4/1/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/2/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Lice vs. Fleas
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Bedbugs (Bed Bugs) vs. Lice
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 2/18/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 2/18/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Don't Use Pricey New HIV PrEP Drug When Generics Available: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 3/9/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/10/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Did the Movie 'Joker' Reinforce Prejudice Against Mentally Ill?
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: AHA News: Being an African American 'Superwoman' Might Come With a Price
Category: Health News
Created: 2/11/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 2/12/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: An Allergist Offers His Expert Advice for a Sneeze-Free Spring
Category: Health News
Created: 3/7/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/9/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Supreme Court Justice Ginsberg Treated for Gallbladder Infection
Category: Health News
Created: 5/5/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/6/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Ride-Sharing Services Tied to Rise in Car Crashes
Category: Health News
Created: 4/7/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/8/2020 12:00:00 AM

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the faculty mentoring practices in seven dental schools in the U.S. A 34-item survey was administered electronically to dental faculty members of all ranks, tracks, and job categories in seven dental schools using faculty listservs. Survey questions addressed current mentoring practices in which the faculty members were involved; their perceptions of those mentoring practices; their perceived characteristics of an ideal mentoring program, mentor, and mentee; perceived best practices; and respondents’ demographics. The survey was conducted from October 2017 to February 2018. A total of 154 surveys were completed (response rate 22%). Over 58% (90/154) of the respondents reported receiving no mentoring; 31.9% (49/154) said they received informal mentoring; and 9.7% (15/154) received formal mentoring. Of the 64 respondents who received mentoring, both formal and informal, 92.2% (59/64) were full-time faculty, and 7.8% (5/64) were part-time faculty (p=0.001). Approximately 39% of the respondents indicated that their mentoring program was not overseen by anyone and that participation was voluntary. The top three perceived benefits of mentoring were increased overall professional development, development of a career plan, and increased professional networks. The three most important characteristics of an ideal mentoring program for the respondents were a program based on the needs of the mentee, a mentor who has the desire to help the mentee, and a mentee who is eager to learn. The results of this study showed a very low level of formal or informal faculty mentoring programs in the dental schools surveyed. Future studies are needed to determine best practices and strategies to expand and enhance mentoring of faculty members.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify current requirements for initial licensure and entry into the dental hygiene profession across state dental and dental hygiene licensing boards in the United States.Methods: A non-experimental study design was used to study dental and dental hygiene board licensing requirements in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Each regulatory board website was searched for requirements for entry-level dental hygiene licensure. Requirements were recorded on an Excel spreadsheet. State dental practice acts were reviewed to gather further information and 20 regulatory bodies were contacted to verify accuracy. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data.Results: Information from a total of 52 dental boards (n=52) was examined for this study. Nearly all boards (n=51, 98.1%), with the exception of Alabama, required completion of entry-level education from a CODA accredited dental hygiene program and successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Most states (n=51, 98.1%), except Delaware, also required a live-patient, a clinical board examination. Application fees ranged from $47.70 to $600. States varied considerably in terms of requirements for background checks, age, military status, and infection control training.Conclusion: Although the majority of regulatory bodies require completion of entry-level dental hygiene education from a CODA accredited program and successful completion of national board and a live-patient, clinical examination, there is considerable variation in other additional requirements for initial dental hygiene licensure.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine strength of muscles involved with instrumentation (scaling) by dental hygienists and the additive effects of cellular (mobile) phone usage, as indicated by measurements of muscular force generation.Methods: A convenience sample of licensed dental hygienists currently in clinical practice (n=16) and an equal number of individuals not currently using devices/tools repetitively for work (n=16), agreed to participate in this pilot study. All participants completed a modified cell phone usage questionnaire to determine their use pattern and frequency. Upon completion of the questionnaire, participants' force production in six muscle groups was measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: A total of 16 licensed dental hygienists (n=16) and 16 participants with no history of using tools/devices repetitively for work (n=16), comprised the experimental and control groups, repectively. The control group generated greater muscle force than the experimental group for the abductor pollicis longus (p=0.045). Significant differences were identified when comparing the low mobile phone users in the experimental group to the control group for the flexor pollicis brevis (p=0.031), abductor pollicis longus (p=0.031), and flexor digitorum (p=0.006), with the control group demonstrating higher muscle force. Years in clinical practice and mobile phone use was shown to have a significant effect on muscular force generation for the flexor pollicis brevis (F=3.645, df=3, p=0.020) and flexor digitorum (F=3.560, df=3, p=0.022); subjects who practiced dental hygiene the longest produced the least amount of muscle force.Conclusion: Results from this pilot study indicate there are no significant additive effects of cell phone use and dental hygiene practice on finger muscles used for instrumentation. However, results indicate that dental hygiene practice demonstrated significant effects on muscular strength as compared to individuals who do not use tools/devices repetitively for work. The small sample size may have impacted results and the study should be repeated with a larger sample.

Purpose: Untreated and poorly controlled diabetes causes increased levels of blood glucose associated with poor periodontal disease outcomes. Dental hygienists can play a significant role in screening patients for diabetes mellitus, leading to referral and early diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers faced by clinical dental hygienists regarding diabetes risk assessment and screenings.Methods: A mixed method design was used with a convenience sample of dental hygienists in clinical practice (n=316). A 32 item, electronic survey was validated at item-level, and participants were recruited through multiple dental hygiene Facebook groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The survey also included two open-ended attitude questions that were interpreted using thematic analysis to pinpoint common patterns within the data.Results: Dental hygienists had high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral health, although many were unaware of their states' specific statutes and regulations for screening practices. Nearly all (95.9%), were likely to educate and refer patients (82%), although fewer than half (40.9%), were likely to perform chairside screening for diabetes. Emergent themes for barriers to screening were time, money, patient acceptance/willingness, lack of education, not having the proper tools, and states' rules and regulations.Conclusion: Despite high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral health, there is a gap in regards to dental hygienists' willingness to perform diabetes screenings in a clinical setting. Dental hygienists should be capable of integrating chairside diabetes screening practices into the process of care with proper training.

Many clinical studies and epidemiological investigations have clearly demonstrated that women are twice as likely to develop cholesterol gallstones as men, and oral contraceptives and other estrogen therapies dramatically increase that risk. Further, animal studies have revealed that estrogen promotes cholesterol gallstone formation through the estrogen receptor (ER) α, but not ERβ, pathway. More importantly, some genetic and pathophysiological studies have found that G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) 1 is a new gallstone gene, Lith18, on chromosome 5 in mice and produces additional lithogenic actions, working independently of ERα, to markedly increase cholelithogenesis in female mice. Based on computational modeling of GPER, a novel series of GPER-selective antagonists were designed, synthesized, and subsequently assessed for their therapeutic effects via calcium mobilization, cAMP, and ERα and ERβ fluorescence polarization binding assays. From this series of compounds, one new compound, 2-cyclohexyl-4-isopropyl-N-(4-methoxybenzyl)aniline (CIMBA), exhibits superior antagonism and selectivity exclusively for GPER. Furthermore, CIMBA reduces the formation of 17β-estradiol-induced gallstones in a dose-dependent manner in ovariectomized mice fed a lithogenic diet for 8 weeks. At 32 μg/day/kg CIMBA, no gallstones are found, even in ovariectomized ERα (^–/–) mice treated with 6 μg/day 17β-estradiol and fed the lithogenic diet for 8 weeks. In conclusion, CIMBA treatment protects against the formation of estrogen-induced cholesterol gallstones by inhibiting the GPER signaling pathway in female mice. CIMBA may thus be a new agent for effectively treating cholesterol gallstone disease in women.­

Fatty liver involves ectopic lipid accumulation and dysregulated hepatic oxidative metabolism, which can progress to a state of elevated inflammation and fibrosis referred to as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The factors that control progression from simple steatosis to NASH are not fully known. Here, we tested the hypothesis that dietary vitamin E (VitE) supplementation would prevent NASH progression and associated metabolic alterations induced by a Western diet (WD). Hyperphagic melanocortin-4 receptor-deficient (MC4R^–/–) mice were fed chow, chow+VitE, WD, or WD+VitE starting at 8 or 20 weeks of age. All groups exhibited extensive hepatic steatosis by the end of the study (28 weeks of age). WD feeding exacerbated liver disease severity without inducing proportional changes in liver triglycerides. Eight weeks of WD accelerated liver pyruvate cycling, and 20 weeks of WD extensively upregulated liver glucose and oxidative metabolism assessed by ²H/¹³C flux analysis. VitE supplementation failed to reduce the histological features of NASH. Rather, WD+VitE increased the abundance and saturation of liver ceramides and accelerated metabolic flux dysregulation compared with 8 weeks of WD alone. In summary, VitE did not limit NASH pathogenesis in genetically obese mice, but instead increased some indicators of metabolic dysfunction.

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor that can be activated by numerous drugs and xenobiotic chemicals. PXR thereby functions as a xenobiotic sensor to coordinately regulate host responses to xenobiotics by transcriptionally regulating many genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism. We have previously reported that PXR has pro-atherogenic effects in animal models, but how PXR contributes to atherosclerosis development in different tissues or cell types remains elusive. In this study, we generated an LDL receptor-deficient mouse model with myeloid-specific PXR deficiency (PXR^MyeLDLR^–/–) to elucidate the role of macrophage PXR signaling in atherogenesis. The myeloid PXR deficiency did not affect metabolic phenotypes and plasma lipid profiles, but PXR^MyeLDLR^–/– mice had significantly decreased atherosclerosis at both aortic root and brachiocephalic arteries compared with control littermates. Interestingly, the PXR deletion did not affect macrophage adhesion and migration properties, but reduced lipid accumulation and foam cell formation in the macrophages. PXR deficiency also led to decreased expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 and impaired lipid uptake in macrophages of the PXR^MyeLDLR^–/– mice. Further, RNA-Seq analysis indicated that treatment with a prototypical PXR ligand affects the expression of many atherosclerosis-related genes in macrophages in vitro. These findings reveal a pivotal role of myeloid PXR signaling in atherosclerosis development and suggest that PXR may be a potential therapeutic target in atherosclerosis management.

ABSTRACT

Human genetics influence a range of pathological and clinical phenotypes in respiratory infections; however, the contributions of disease modifiers remain underappreciated. We exploited the Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse genetic-reference population to map genetic modifiers that affect the severity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. Screening for P. aeruginosa respiratory infection in a cohort of 39 CC lines exhibits distinct disease phenotypes ranging from complete resistance to lethal disease. Based on major changes in the survival times, a quantitative-trait locus (QTL) was mapped on murine chromosome 3 to the genomic interval of Mb 110.4 to 120.5. Within this locus, composed of 31 protein-coding genes, two candidate genes, namely, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (Dpyd) and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1pr1), were identified according to the level of genome-wide significance and disease gene prioritization. Functional validation of the S1pr1 gene by pharmacological targeting in C57BL/6NCrl mice confirmed its relevance in P. aeruginosa pathophysiology. However, in a cohort of Canadian patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) disease, regional genetic-association analysis of the syntenic human locus on chromosome 1 (Mb 97.0 to 105.0) identified two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs10875080 and rs11582736) annotated to the Dpyd gene that were significantly associated with age at first P. aeruginosa infection. Thus, there is evidence that both genes might be implicated in this disease. Our results demonstrate that the discovery of murine modifier loci may generate information that is relevant to human disease progression.

IMPORTANCE Respiratory infection caused by P. aeruginosa is one of the most critical health burdens worldwide. People affected by P. aeruginosa infection include patients with a weakened immune system, such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF) genetic disease or non-CF bronchiectasis. Disease outcomes range from fatal pneumonia to chronic life-threatening infection and inflammation leading to the progressive deterioration of pulmonary function. The development of these respiratory infections is mediated by multiple causes. However, the genetic factors underlying infection susceptibility are poorly known and difficult to predict. Our study employed novel approaches and improved mouse disease models to identify genetic modifiers that affect the severity of P. aeruginosa lung infection. We identified candidate genes to enhance our understanding of P. aeruginosa infection in humans and provide a proof of concept that could be exploited for other human pathologies mediated by bacterial infection.

ABSTRACT

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) can cause severe and fatal acute respiratory disease in humans and remains endemic in the Middle East since first being identified in 2012. There are currently no approved vaccines or therapies available for MERS-CoV. In this study, we evaluated parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)-based vaccine expressing the MERS-CoV envelope spike protein (PIV5/MERS-S) in a human DPP4 knockin C57BL/6 congenic mouse model (hDPP4 KI). Following a single-dose intranasal immunization, PIV5-MERS-S induced neutralizing antibody and robust T cell responses in hDPP4 KI mice. A single intranasal administration of 10⁴ PFU PIV5-MERS-S provided complete protection against a lethal challenge with mouse-adapted MERS-CoV (MERS_MA6.1.2) and improved virus clearance in the lung. In comparison, single-dose intramuscular immunization with 10⁶ PFU UV-inactivated MERS_MA6.1.2 mixed with Imject alum provided protection to only 25% of immunized mice. Intriguingly, an influx of eosinophils was observed only in the lungs of mice immunized with inactivated MERS-CoV, suggestive of a hypersensitivity-type response. Overall, our study indicated that PIV5-MERS-S is a promising effective vaccine candidate against MERS-CoV infection.

IMPORTANCE MERS-CoV causes lethal infection in humans, and there is no vaccine. Our work demonstrates that PIV5 is a promising vector for developing a MERS vaccine. Furthermore, success of PIV5-based MERS vaccine can be employed to develop a vaccine for emerging CoVs such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

ABSTRACT

Packaging of genomic RNA (gRNA) by retroviruses is essential for infectivity, yet the subcellular site of the initial interaction between the Gag polyprotein and gRNA remains poorly defined. Because retroviral particles are released from the plasma membrane, it was previously thought that Gag proteins initially bound to gRNA in the cytoplasm or at the plasma membrane. However, the Gag protein of the avian retrovirus Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) undergoes active nuclear trafficking, which is required for efficient gRNA encapsidation (L. Z. Scheifele, R. A. Garbitt, J. D. Rhoads, and L. J. Parent, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:3944–3949, 2002, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.062652199; R. Garbitt-Hirst, S. P. Kenney, and L. J. Parent, J Virol 83:6790–6797, 2009, https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00101-09). These results raise the intriguing possibility that the primary contact between Gag and gRNA might occur in the nucleus. To examine this possibility, we created a RSV proviral construct that includes 24 tandem repeats of MS2 RNA stem-loops, making it possible to track RSV viral RNA (vRNA) in live cells in which a fluorophore-conjugated MS2 coat protein is coexpressed. Using confocal microscopy, we observed that both wild-type Gag and a nuclear export mutant (Gag.L219A) colocalized with vRNA in the nucleus. In live-cell time-lapse images, the wild-type Gag protein trafficked together with vRNA as a single ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex in the nucleoplasm near the nuclear periphery, appearing to traverse the nuclear envelope into the cytoplasm. Furthermore, biophysical imaging methods suggest that Gag and the unspliced vRNA physically interact in the nucleus. Taken together, these data suggest that RSV Gag binds unspliced vRNA to export it from the nucleus, possibly for packaging into virions as the viral genome.

IMPORTANCE Retroviruses cause severe diseases in animals and humans, including cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndromes. To propagate infection, retroviruses assemble new virus particles that contain viral proteins and unspliced vRNA to use as gRNA. Despite the critical requirement for gRNA packaging, the molecular mechanisms governing the identification and selection of gRNA by the Gag protein remain poorly understood. In this report, we demonstrate that the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag protein colocalizes with unspliced vRNA in the nucleus in the interchromatin space. Using live-cell confocal imaging, RSV Gag and unspliced vRNA were observed to move together from inside the nucleus across the nuclear envelope, suggesting that the Gag-gRNA complex initially forms in the nucleus and undergoes nuclear export into the cytoplasm as a viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex.

ABSTRACT

Obesity and associated metabolic disorders are worldwide public health issues. The gut microbiota plays a key role in the pathophysiology of diet-induced obesity. Glycerol monolaurate (GML) is a widely consumed food emulsifier with antibacterial properties. Here, we explore the anti-obesity effect of GML (1,600 mg/kg of body weight) in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. HFD-fed mice were treated with 1,600 mg/kg GML. Integrated microbiome, metabolome, and transcriptome analyses were used to systematically investigate the metabolic effects of GML, and antibiotic treatment was used to assess the effects of GML on the gut microbiota. Our data indicated that GML significantly reduced body weight and visceral fat deposition, improved hyperlipidemia and hepatic lipid metabolism, and ameliorated glucose homeostasis and inflammation in HFD-fed mice. Importantly, GML modulated HFD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and selectively increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum. Antibiotic treatment abolished all the GML-mediated metabolic improvements. A multiomics (microbiome, metabolome, and transcriptome) association study showed that GML significantly modulated glycerophospholipid metabolism, and the abundance of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum strongly correlated with the metabolites and genes that participated in glycerophospholipid metabolism. Our results indicated that GML may be provided for obesity prevention by targeting the gut microbiota and regulating glycerophospholipid metabolism.

Finding common ground and building trust between local stakeholders could help prevent violent encounters between police and young black men, new research finds.

Since December, when cases of a then-unknown respiratory disease were first reported in Wuhan, China, APHA has working to share information and ensure that public health has the resources it needs to address COVID-19.

Plants have evolved complex physiological and biochemical mechanisms to adapt to a heterogeneous soil phosphorus environment. PHOSPHATE2 (PHO2) is a phosphate (Pi) starvation-signaling regulator involved in maintaining Pi homeostasis in plants. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PHO2 targets PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER1 (PHT1) and PHO1 for degradation, whereas rice (Oryza sativa) PHO2 is thought to mediate PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER TRAFFIC FACILITATOR1 degradation. However, it is unclear whether and how PHO2 is post-translationally regulated. Here, we show that in rice, the CASEIN KINASE2 (OsCK2) catalytic subunit OsCK2α3 interacts with OsPHO2 in vitro and in vivo in vascular tissues cells, and phosphorylates OsPHO2 at Ser-841. Phosphorylated OsPHO2 is degraded more rapidly than native OsPHO2 in cell-free degradation assays. OsPHO2 interacts with OsPHO1 and targets it for degradation through a multivesicular body-mediated pathway. PHO1 mutation partially rescued the pho2 mutant phenotype. Further genetic analysis showed that a nonphosphorylatable version of OsPHO2 rescued the Ospho2 phenotype of high Pi accumulation in leaves better than native OsPHO2. In addition to the previously established role of OsCK2 in negatively regulating endoplasmic reticulum exit of PHT1 phosphate transporters, this work uncovers a role for OsCK2α3 in modulating Pi homeostasis through regulating the phosphorylation status and abundance of OsPHO2 in rice.

Secondary branch number per panicle plays a crucial role in regulating grain number and yield in rice. Here, we report the positional cloning and functional characterization for SECONDARY BRANCH NUMBER7 (qSBN7), a quantitative trait locus affecting secondary branch per panicle and grain number. Our research revealed that the causative variants of qSBN7 are located in the distal promoter region of FRIZZLE PANICLE (FZP), a gene previously associated with the repression of axillary meristem development in rice spikelets. qSBN7 is a novel allele of FZP that causes an ~56% decrease in its transcriptional level, leading to increased secondary branch and grain number, and reduced grain length. Field evaluations showed that qSBN7 increased grain yield by 10.9% in a temperate japonica variety, TN13, likely due to its positive effect on sink capacity. Our findings suggest that incorporation of qSBN7 can increase yield potential and improve the breeding of elite rice varieties.