Oxyceros horridus Lour. 1790, valued for ornamental and medicinal properties, has been extensively utilized in traditional medicinal in Vietnam. This study assembled and characterized the first chloroplast of Oxyceros horridus, consisted of 155,333 bp with a GC content of 37.5%. The genome included 130 annotated genes (including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes), exhibited a typical quadripartite structure consistent with those found in other members of the Rubiaceae family. Phylogenetic analysis placed O. horridus in Ixoroideae subfamily, closely related to Fosergia shweliensis and Gardenia tenophylla. This study enriches cp genome data and phylogenetic insights within Rubiaceae.

Background: Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Hartw.) Bartel 2009 is a versatile hardwood species that exhibits a morphological resemblance to Cupressus tonkinensis , a threatened and endemic species in Vietnam. Because of the near depletion of its gene pool, conservation and development programs for C. tonkinensis have been initiated. As part of these efforts, Cypress has been introduced and cultivated in Vietnam. In this study, the chloroplast (cp) genome of H. macrocarpa was assembled and characterized for the first time. Methods: The leaves of H. macrocarpa were collected from Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted using a commercial purification kit, and sequencing was performed using a BGISEQ-50 sequencer. The obtained reads were assembled de novo using NOVOPlasty, and gene annotation was conducted using MITOS2. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the IQ-TREE webserver using the maximum likelihood method based on the protein-coding genes (PCGs). Results: The complete cp genome of H. macrocarpa was 126,916 base pair in length, consisting of 110 genes in total, including 83 PCGs, 33 transfer RNA genes, and 4 Ribosomal RNA genes. Inverted repeat regions were absent from the H. macrocarpa cp genome. The overall guanine–cytosine content was 34.7%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that H. macrocarpa was the earliest divergent species in the Hesperocyparis genus. Conclusion: This study provided the first cp genome of H. macrocarpa and enriched the genetic resources of the Hesperocyparis genus. The plastome data provided valuable insights for genetic research across various fields, including evolutionary phylogenetics, taxonomy, conservation, and DNA barcoding for species identification.

Background: Mystus albolineatus Roberts, 1994, is an endemic bagrid catfish species distributed across Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Despite its ecological and taxonomic significance, the complete mitochondrial genome of this species has not been widely reported, limiting our understanding of its genetic composition and evolutionary relationships. This study aimed to sequence, annotate the complete mitogenome of M. albolineatus, and determine its phylogenetic position within the Bagridae family. Methods: Muscle tissue from M. albolineatus was collected in Can Tho Province, Vietnam. Genomic DNA was extracted using a commercial purification kit, and sequencing was performed on an Illumina MiSeq platform. The obtained reads were assembled de novo using NOVOPlasty, and gene annotation was conducted using the MITOS2. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the maximum likelihood method based on 13 protein-coding genes from 24 ingroups of Bagridae species and two outgroups of Cyprinidae. Results: The complete mitogenome of M. albolineatus was 16,574 bp in length and encoded 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The overall GC content was 41.1%. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that M. albolineatus is closely related to Mystus gulio and Mystus cavasius and forms a distinct clade within Mystus. Conclusions: This study provides the first complete mitochondrial genome of M. albolineatus and contributes to the growing catfish mitogenome database. The findings enhance our understanding of its phylogenetic relationships and serve as a foundation for future research in taxonomy, conservation genetics, and evolutionary biology.

Myxobacteria are known to produce epothilone, a natural macrolide compound with significant antitumor activity achieved through the inhibition of microtubules formation during cell division, which is a mechanism critical to chemotherapy. This study investigated the antifungal and antitumor activities of myxobacteria isolated from soils enriched with decomposed plant material. Myxobacterial strains were isolated and screened by examining macroscopic characteristics, assessing cellulose degradation using filter paper as the sole carbon source, and observing the presence of fruiting bodies and motility on slides. Selected strains were cultured in CK6 medium containing Amberlite XAD-16 resin, and active compounds were eluted using methanol. Antifungal activity was evaluated using disk diffusion and thin-layer chromatography autography, and cytotoxicity was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Among the 41 soil samples, three strains (QN01, QN02, and QN04) demonstrated cellulose degradation capability and exhibited morphological characteristics consistent with the Sorangium sp. The QN02 strain exhibited antifungal activity against pathogens, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium sp., and Mucor sp. Furthermore, extracts from QN02 inhibited MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC50=159.1 ng/mL) and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) human kidney cells (IC50=528.1 ng/mL). The QN02 strain is a promising source of antifungal and antitumor compounds.

Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a major cause of hospital-acquired infections and frequently harbors antibiotic-resistance genes that complicate treatment. Rapid identification and resistance gene detection are essential for effective antibiotic use and infection control. This study developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to identify A. baumannii and detect key β-lactam resistance genes for clinical isolates. Methodology: The assay targeted the recA gene and the 16S-23S ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer region for A. baumannii identification. In addition, five β-lactamase genes (blaOXA-51-like, ampC, blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV) were targeted. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and phenotypic extended-spectrum beta-lactamase detection were performed to confirm resistance profiles. Results: Of the 49 Acinetobacter isolates, 46 were identified as A. baumannii by multiplex PCR. All 46 isolates contained ampC, and 45 harbored blaOXA-51-like. blaTEM was detected in 34 isolates, whereas blaCTX-M and blaSHV were absent. Phenotypic tests showed general agreement with the PCR results. High resistance rates were observed for multiple antibiotic classes, including carbapenems, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides. Conclusions: The multiplex PCR assay developed here provides a rapid and reliable method for A. baumannii identification and resistance gene detection, outperforming conventional methods in terms of speed and accuracy. The high resistance rates observed highlight the urgent need for effective diagnostic tools and infection control strategies to combat multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.