Fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs are often processed in enclosed spaces with low light. These conditions create uneven lighting, produce dark images, distort colors, and increase noise, all of which make remote monitoring difficult and reduce...

Avian influenza (AI) continues to threaten global poultry production, with accumulating evidence suggesting that certain commercial layer lines may exhibit increased susceptibility under specific experimental conditions compared with broiler chickens. This narrative review synthesizes published experimental infection studies identified through a comprehensive PubMed search, focusing on low pathogenic H9N2 and highly pathogenic H5N1, H5N2, H7N7, and H7N9 viruses. Although bird age and production stage varied across studies, consistent disparities in immune regulation and viral replication dynamics have been reported. We critically evaluate host determinants underlying these differences—including microRNAs, major histocompatibility complex polymorphisms, sialic acid receptor distribution, gut microbiota, and hormonal influences—and integrate findings across viral subtypes and pathogenicity classes to inform breed-tailored vaccination, nutritional, and therapeutic strategies.

The molecular architecture of the growth-regulating hypothalamus-pituitary-muscle (H-P-M) axis is poorly understood. We performed integrative transcriptomic analysis of the hypothalamus, pituitary, and longissimus dorsi muscle from Liangshan black sheep with superior growth performance to dissect this regulatory network. Analysis of 3,422 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified across pairwise tissue comparisons revealed a three-tiered regulatory architecture: (1) tissue-specific interfaces defining spatial hierarchy, (2) relay modules for temporal dynamics, and (3) shared core hubs (131 genes) establishing neuro-endocrine-muscle integration. This study provides a multi-level regulatory map of the H-P-M axis, identifying key pathways such as pituitary calcium signaling and hub genes (e.g., NPY), with 12 of 14 candidate genes validated by quantitative PCR. These findings deepen the understanding of neuroendocrine control over skeletal muscle growth and offer novel molecular targets for genetic improvement in livestock.

This study aimed to characterize the mitochondrial (MT) genome of Tibetan fragrant chickens along an altitudinal gradient and to relate it to meat quality. Eighteen 150-day-old male chickens were selected from three groups (LX, 1500 m; MX, 2800 m; HX, 3500 m; n = 6 each; six birds were randomly chosen from 30 reared per group) and subjected to whole-genome resequencing (reference: Gallus gallus GCA_000002315.5). Ninety MT variants (85 polymorphic; transition/transversion 83:7) were identified, comprising 58 coding (42 synonymous, 16 non-synonymous), 20 D-loop/non-coding, 10 rRNA and 2 tRNA sites; no MT insertions/deletions or structural variants were found. The 18 birds clustered into three maternal lineages (A, B, C) that were only partially structured by altitude (A more frequent at low altitude; B at mid and high altitude). A neighbour-joining tree with 12 Gallus mitogenomes placed the population close to Gallus gallus gallus and Chinese local breeds. Fifteen heteroplasmic sites were detected, with 16S rRNA nt3946 (G/C/A) heteroplasmic in all birds. Relative mtDNA copy number did not differ among groups (p = 0.52). Meat quality varied with altitude (highest protein and lowest fat at 2800 m; highest inosine monophosphate at 3500 m) but not with maternal lineage, suggesting that the observed phenotypic differences are associated mainly with altitude of rearing rather than with maternal mitochondrial lineage, and that the MT genome contributes standing genetic variation rather than a direct functional basis for these differences.

This study aimed to characterize the mitochondrial (MT) genome of Tibetan fragrant chickens along an altitudinal gradient and to relate it to meat quality. Eighteen 150-day-old male chickens were selected from three groups (LX, 1500 m; MX, 2800 m; HX, 3500 m; n = 6 each; six birds were randomly chosen from 30 reared per group) and subjected to whole-genome resequencing (reference: Gallus gallus GCA_000002315.5). Ninety MT variants (85 polymorphic; transition/transversion 83:7) were identified, comprising 58 coding (42 synonymous, 16 non-synonymous), 20 D-loop/non-coding, 10 rRNA and 2 tRNA sites; no MT insertions/deletions or structural variants were found. The 18 birds clustered into three maternal lineages (A, B and C) that were only partially structured by altitude (A more frequent at low altitude; B at mid and high altitude). A neighbour-joining tree with 12 Gallus mitogenomes placed the population close to Gallus gallus gallus and Chinese local breeds. Fifteen heteroplasmic sites were detected, with 16S rRNA nt3946 (G/C/A) heteroplasmic in all birds. Relative mtDNA copy number did not differ among groups (P = 0.52). Meat quality varied with altitude (highest protein and lowest fat at 2800 m; highest inosine monophosphate at 3500 m) but not with maternal lineage, indicating that high-altitude adaptation is driven mainly by nuclear genes and environment, whereas the MT genome mainly harbours standing variation.

Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young animals, causing significant global morbidity and mortality. For decades, research was hindered by challenges in establishing reverse genetics systems due to the virus’s complex segmented genome and poor cell culture adaptation. The first helper virus-dependent system (2006) was limited by low efficiency. A 2017 breakthrough established the first fully plasmid-based system, which eliminated helper viruses and revolutionized the field. Subsequent optimizations, such as codon modification and CRISPR/Cas9 integration, have significantly enhanced efficiency, enabling viable systems for diverse human and animal strains. This narrative review summarizes the evolution and technological milestones of rotavirus reverse genetics. We discuss critical applications in analyzing viral gene function, developing novel vaccines, screening antiviral drugs, and investigating cross-species transmission. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future prospects of this transformative technology.