Due to the relatively brief domestication history of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris), our understanding of the genomic diversity and functional genes in its cultivars is limited, resulting in slow breeding progress. To address this issue, a total of 306 germplasm materials of major cultivars and breeding lines from China, the USA, and Europe were selected for genome resequencing. We investigated population structure and genetic diversity and performed selective scanning of genomic regions, identifying six novel genes associated with important agronomic traits: the candidate genes DFAX2 and P5CS for skin roughness; the candidate genes FRO5, GL24, and PPR91 for root yield and sugar yield, and the pleiotropic candidate gene POLX for flourishing growth vigour, plant height, crown size, flesh coarseness, and sugar yield. In addition, we constructed a protein–protein interaction network map and a phenotype-gene network map, which provide valuable information for identifying and characterizing functional genes affecting agronomic traits in sugar beet. Overall, our study sheds light on the future improvement of sugar beet agronomic traits at the molecular level.

This experiment aimed to study the effects on liver tissue structure and immune performance of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus when the common reed Phragmites australis is in its diet, instead of wheat Triticum aestivum L. Seventy-two healthy grass carps (145.52 ± 2.56 g) were randomly divided into three groups according to their body weight. Fishes in each group were fed an essential diet with 0% (control group), 50% and 100% (test group) common reed, instead of wheat, respectively. After feeding for 41 days, the changes of serum biochemical indices, liver tissue structure and immune related indices of grass carp were detected. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the activities of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in the substitution groups were significantly increased (p < 0.05), but still at a normal level. The contents of total protein, albumin and globulin did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the liver cells of grass carp in the substitution groups had clear boundaries, tight arrangement and less vacuolation. The contents of serum interleukin-1 (IL-1) and complement 3 (C3) in the 100% substitution group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05), and the contents of liver IL-1 and total complement (CH50) in the 100% substitution group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The contents of IL-1, C3 in serum and IL-1, CH50 in liver in the 50% substitution group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The mRNA relative expression levels of C3, IL-1, MHC-I and interferon (IFN) in the head-kidney, kidney, liver and spleen of grass carp were significantly affected by feeding the grass carp with different common reed substitution ratios (p < 0.05). In summary, common reed, instead of wheat, in feed can improve the liver tissue structure, and increase the non-specific immune response level, of grass carp.

Non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae is an important zoonotic pathogen that has gained increasing attention as an emerging pathogen in both aquaculture and public health sectors in recent years. This review summarizes the latest research progress on these pathogens in aquatic animals, covering aspects such as classification and identification, epidemiological characteristics, virulence factors, impact on aquatic animals, antibiotic resistance, prevention and control measures, and zoonotic potential. Studies have shown that non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae are widely distributed in aquaculture environments globally, exhibiting complex host ranges and seasonal variations. These strains possess diverse virulence factors capable of causing various diseases in aquatic animals, resulting in significant economic losses to the aquaculture industry. Concurrently, non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae have demonstrated increasing antibiotic resistance, with the transmission and evolution of resistance genes becoming a major concern. To address these challenges, researchers have made positive strides in vaccine development, biological control, and aquaculture environment management. However, developing broad-spectrum and effective control strategies remains challenging due to the genetic diversity and adaptability of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae. Furthermore, as potential zoonotic pathogens, non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae pose a threat to food safety and public health through contaminated aquatic products. Future research should focus on genomics, host-pathogen interaction mechanisms, and the development of novel prevention and control strategies. Multidisciplinary collaboration and international cooperation are crucial for a deeper understanding of this complex pathogen and the formulation of effective control measures, which will contribute significantly to the sustainable development of aquaculture and global public health security.

Red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii ) like to eat aquatic plants. The intestinal microorganism plays an important role in cellulose degradation and utilization. Isolating bacteria which can degrade cellulose from the intestines of P. clarkii can provide a theoretical basis for the development of probiotics in forage for P. clarkii . Three selective media including carboxymethyl-cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, and cellobiose were used in plate cultures for 48h and then dyed with Congo red. It was found that 5 strains produced hydrolytic rings on 3 culture media at 48h. Based on the results of 16S rRNA molecular analysis, strains C, E, G, H, and M were identified as Citrobacter sp. , Staphylococcus sp. , Acinetobacter johnsonii , Shewanella sp. , and Aeromonas caviae , respectively. Specifically, Staphylococcus sp. exhibited the strongest capacity for the degradation of cellulose. Shewanella sp. showed the strongest degradation capacity for cellobiose. Acinetobacter johnsonii and Shewanella sp. can degrade cellulose and are expected to be used as probiotic feed for P. clarkii . This study can provide a theoretical basis for the healthy culture of P. clarkii .

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) have been confirmed as vital transcription factors for the immune system, which play a certain role in anti-infection defense, immune regulation, hematopoietic cell development, and maturation of the immune system. In this study, the cDNA of Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) was cloned from black-spotted frog, Pelophylax nigromaculatus , and termed PnIRF5. The results indicated, the full-length cDNA of PnIRF5 was 2090 bp, and a putative protein of 504 amino acids was encoded. The results of protein domain prediction suggested that PnIRF5 exhibited a DNA-binding domain (DBD), a middle region (MR), an IRF association domain (IAD), a virus activated domain (VAD), as well as two nuclear localization signals (NLSs). Phylogenetic analysis clustered PnIRF5 into the amphibian IRF5 subgroup in vertebrate IRF5 group. The results of qPCR show that PnIRF5 mRNA was expressed in all examined tissues, with higher levels were identified in the kidney, intestine, and lung. The gene expression of PnIRF5 was analyzed in kidney, spleen, and liver of black-spotted frog after challenged with Elizabethkingia miricola , and the maximum expression level of PnIRF5 in liver, spleen, and kidney were 1.80, 2.33 and 2.88 times that at 0 days post challenged, respectively. As indicated by the results, the PnIRF5 protein may take on critical significance in protecting black-spotted frog from E. miricola infection, and they may play a certain role in the immune response of black-spotted frog against bacteria.

This study compared growth traits and hind‑limb muscle nutritional composition between male and female cultured black‑spotted frogs ( Pelophylax nigromaculatus ) to evaluate the influence of sex on production performance and product nutritional value. A total of 141 adult frogs (77 males, 64 females) were weighed at a farm in Changde, Hunan, and ~7 males and ~7 females were randomly selected for carcass and hind‑limb weight measurement and muscle sampling. Three muscle samples per sex were analyzed for proximate composition, amino acid profile, and fatty acid composition; essential amino acid index (EAAI), amino acid score (AAS), and chemical score (CS) were calculated according to FAO/WHO and reference protein models. Female frogs had significantly greater body weight, carcass weight and hind‑limb muscle mass than male frogs ( P < 0.05). No significant sex differences were found in basic proximate components (moisture, crude fat, ash). Amino‑acid analysis indicated that males generally had higher amino‑acid contents, with several amino acids (alanine, histidine, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, etc.) significantly higher in males than in females ( P < 0.05). Despite these individual amino‑acid differences, composite protein‑quality indices (EAAI, AAS, CS) showed no clear differences between sexes; fatty‑acid profiles also revealed no adverse or significant sex‑related differences. Overall, sex had a significant effect on yield in black‑spotted frogs but a limited effect on overall muscle nutritional composition. Except for certain amino acids, the nutritional value of meat from both sexes was similar; therefore, sex can be considered as a factor to improve yield and economic efficiency in breeding and farming practices.