The rapid and uniform establishment of crop plants in the field underpins food security through uniform mechanical crop harvesting. In order to achieve this, seeds with greater vigor should be used. Vigor is a component of physiological quality related to seed resilience. Despite this importance, there is little knowledge of the association between events at the molecular level and seed vigor. In this study, we investigated the relationship between gene expression during germination and seed vigor in soybean. The expression level of twenty genes related to growth at the beginning of the germination process was correlated with vigor. In this paper, vigor was evaluated by different tests. Then we reported the identification of the genes Expansin-like A1, Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase 22, 65-kDa microtubule-associated protein, Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase 2, N-glycosylase/DNA lyase OGG1 and Cellulose synthase A catalytic subunit 2, which are expressed during germination, that correlated with several vigor tests commonly used in routine analysis of soybean seed quality. The identification of these transcripts provides tools to study vigor in soybean seeds at the molecular level.

Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) followed by colonoscopy in positive cases is commonly used for population-based colorectal cancer screening. However, specificity of FIT for colorectal cancer is not ideal and has poor performance for advanced adenoma detection. Fecal Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) detection has been proposed as a potential noninvasive biomarker for colorectal cancer and advanced adenoma detection. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Fn detection using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in FIT samples from individuals enrolled in a colorectal cancer screening program with colorectal adenoma or cancer. We evaluated Fn presence in DNA isolated from FIT leftover material of 300 participants in a colorectal cancer screening program using ddPCR. The Fn DNA amount was classified as Fn-low/negative and Fn-high, and the association with patients’ clinicopathological features and accuracy measurements was calculated. Fn-high levels were more prevalent in FIT-positive (47.2%, n = 34 of 72) than FIT-negative samples (28.9%, n = 66 of 228; P < 0.04). Among FIT-positive samples, high Fn levels were significantly more frequent in patients with cancer (CA, n = 8) when compared to normal (NT, n = 16; P = 0.02), non-advanced adenomas (NAA, n = 36; P = 0.01), and advanced adenomas (AA, n = 12; P = 0.01). Performance analysis of Fn in FIT-positive samples for colorectal cancer detection yielded an AUC of 0.8203 [confidence interval (CI), 0.6464–0.9942], with high sensitivity (100%) and specificity of 50%. Concluding, we showed the feasibility of detecting Fn in FIT leftovers using the ultrasensitive ddPCR technique. Furthermore, we highlighted the potential use of Fn levels in fecal samples to ameliorate colorectal cancer detection. Prevention Relevance: Fusobacterium nucleatum detection by droplet digital PCR could prioritize the selection of fecal immunochemical test–positive individuals who might benefit the most from the colonoscopy procedure.

The rising frequency of extreme climate events requires sustainable strategies to secure food production. Environmental stress impacts seed germination and seedling development, posing a significant agricultural challenge. To address this, we developed and applied iron‐based nanoparticles (Bio‐NPs) synthesized through green biosynthesis from Haematococcus pluvialis, a microalga rich in antioxidants like astaxanthin. These Bio‐NPs, approximately 21 nm in diameter and characterized by a negative surface charge, were used as priming agents for maize seeds. Their effects on physiological traits were analyzed with multispectral imaging, showing enhanced normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and chlorophyll levels in maize seedlings, highlighting Bio‐NPs as effective biostimulants.Among the tested concentrations, 6 mM Bio‐NPs yielded the most substantial improvements in seedling health compared to unprimed and hydro‐primed groups. Importantly, in vitro studies confirmed that Bio‐NPs had no harmful effects on beneficial bacteria and fungi of agronomic importance, underscoring their safety. Although the exact biological pathways responsible for these enhancements are yet to be fully understood, further research into plant responses to Bio‐NPs could yield new insights into plant biostimulation.Bio‐NPs thus hold promises for strengthening seedling resilience under extreme environmental scenarios, currently observed due to global climate change, offering a safe, sustainable approach to agricultural enhancement. By leveraging microalgae‐based biostimulants, this work advances seed priming technology, fostering crop resilience and supporting environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Peanut seeds are harvested at different development stages (early and late) due to their uneven maturation. At the time of harvest, approximately 30% of the seeds are still immature, meaning they are not completely filled with compounds (e.g., oil and minerals) and exhibit reduced vigor. Hypothetically, these compounds can be detected as a “chemical fingerprinting” to classify seed maturation stages. Here, we investigated whether non-destructive techniques such as benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) can identify chemical patterns unique to mature seeds with superior vigor. Field-grown seeds were classified into early (R5 and R6) and late (R7, R8, and R9) stages. Seed weight, germination, vigor, H₂O₂, and MDA (oxidative stress) were analyzed. Oil, potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) were measured digitally using spectroscopy techniques. We found that: (i) oxidative stress and K levels were higher in seeds from the early stages; (ii) seed oil and Ca were proportional to high-vigor seedlings and successful plant establishment in the field; and (iii) the seed chemical composition could be identified autonomously with 87% to 100% accuracy. In conclusion, LIBS, ED-XRF, and NMR technologies can effectively screen peanut seeds with superior vigor through “chemical fingerprinting”.

Acute and chronic exposure to pesticides is associated with several negative effects on human health, such as an increased risk of cancer, including mature B-cell neoplasms such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM). However, the biological mechanism linking pesticide exposure to the development of CLL and MM has not yet been elucidated. Thus, this study aimed to explore miRNA expression profiles in patients with CLL and MM who were occupationally exposed and not exposed to pesticides. For this purpose, 24 patients with MM and CLL were recruited from a cohort in Brazil and the miRNA expression profiles between the groups were analyzed using Nanostring technology. The study revealed the downregulation of miR-423-3p, miR-1193, miR-576-5p, miR-509-5p, miR-548b-3p, miR-1469, miR-329-3p, and miR-548j-3p, and the upregulation of miR-301b-5p and miR-548ah-5p in patients with CLL and MM were associated with occupational exposure to pesticides. The integrated network analysis of the differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes in the exposed group demonstrated that miRNAs can participate in the regulation of signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK. Additionally, these miRNAs were found to be associated with an increased risk of developing neurological diseases and various types of cancer. In the present study, we demonstrate, for the first time, altered expression of plasma-derived miRNAs in patients with CLL and MM exposed to pesticides. The plasma miRNAs identified may serve as promising candidates for biomarkers of pesticides effects, potentially contributing to the emerging field of Precision Environmental Health.

Background: Although Enterococcus domination has been extensively evaluated in the context of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), the prevalence and clinical implications of other dominant genera remain poorly understood. Objective: In this study, we sought to determine the dynamics, predictors and clinical implications of intestinal domination in Brazilian patients undergoing allo-HSCT. Methods: In a prospective study of four Brazilian centers, fecal specimens were collected longitudinally prior to allo-HSCT until six months post-transplantation. To identify intestinal domination, we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing using the Illumina platform. We then evaluated the impact of intestinal domination on overall survival and acute Graft-versus-Host-Disease (aGvHD) incidence. Finally, to identify predictors of intestinal domination, we performed a logistic regression model. Results: A total of 192 fecal specimens were collected from 69 patients. No significant changes in alpha or beta diversity were observed over the course of allo-HSCT. Among the 192 specimens, 131 (68%) presented intestinal domination. The top four dominant genera were Bacteroides, Akkermansia, Phascolarctobacterium, and Escherichia-Shigella. No significant associations were found between domination by these genera and either overall survival or aGvHD incidence. Furthermore, no patient-level characteristics, including age, sex, underlying disease, conditioning regimen, or stem cell source, reliably predicted intestinal domination. Conclusions: Our findings reveal a unique intestinal domination fingerprint in Brazilian patients and highlight the importance of geographic context in interpreting microbiota–outcome associations in allo-HSCT settings.