Currently, the deficiency in commercially available vaccines or therapeutic options against African swine fever constitutes a matter of major concern in the swine industry globally. Here, we report the design and construction of a recombinant ASFV mutant harboring combinational deletions of interferon inhibitors MGF360-9L and MGF505-7R based on a genotype II ASFV CN/GS/2018 strain currently circulating in China.

Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved cell reprogramming mechanism, exists in all eukaryotic organisms. It is a fundamental and vital degradation/recycling pathway that removes undesirable components, such as cytoplasmic organelles, misfolded proteins, viruses, and intracellular bacteria, to provide energy and essential materials for organisms. The success of male reproduction depends on healthy testes, which are mainly composed of seminiferous tubules and mesenchyme. Seminiferous tubules are composed of Sertoli cells (SCs) and various germ cells, and the main functional part of mesenchyme are Leydig cells (LCs). In recent years, a large amount of evidence has confirmed that autophagy is active in many cellular events associated with the testes. Autophagy is not only important for testicular spermatogenesis, but is also an essential regulatory mechanism for the ectoplasmic specialization (ES) integrity of SCs, as well as for the normal function of the blood–testes barrier (BTB). At the same time, it is active in LCs and is crucial for steroid production and for maintaining testosterone levels. In this review, we expanded upon the narration regarding the composition of the testes; summarized the regulation and molecular mechanism of autophagy in SCs, germ cells, and LCs; and concluded the roles of autophagy in the process of spermatogenesis and testicular endocrinology. Through integrating the latest summaries and advances, we discuss how the role of autophagy is a double-edged sword in the testes and may provide insight for future studies and explorations on autophagy in male reproduction.

Melatonin, a hormone produced by the mammalian pineal gland, influences various physiological activities, many of which are related to animal reproduction, including neuroendocrine function, rhythm regulation, seasonal behavior, gonadogenesis, gamete development and maturation, sexual maturation, and thermoregulation. Melatonin exerts beneficial actions mainly via binding with G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), termed MT1 and MT2. Melatonin receptors are crucial for mediating animal reproduction. This paper reviews the characteristics of melatonin receptors including MT1 and MT2, as well as their roles in mediating signal transduction and biological effects, with a focus on their function in animal reproduction. In addition, we briefly summarize the developments in pharmacological research regarding melatonin receptors as drug targets. It is expected that this review will provide a reference for further exploration and unveiling of melatonin receptor function in reproductive regulation.

Ferroptosis is associated with inflammatory diseases as a lethal iron-dependent lipid peroxidation; its role in the development of clinical mastitis (CM) in dairy cows is not well understood. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) associated with iron homeostasis and apoptosis, and to investigate further their roles in dairy cows with CM. The results suggested that ferroptosis occurs in the mammary glands of Holstein cows with CM. Using data-independent acquisition proteomics, 302 DEPs included in 11 GO terms related to iron homeostasis and apoptosis were identified. In particular, heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) was identified and involved in nine pathways. In addition, ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) was identified and involved in the ferroptosis pathway. HMOX1 and FTH1 were located primarily in mammary epithelial cells (MECs), and displayed significantly up-regulated expression patterns compared to the control group (healthy cows). The expression levels of HMOX1 and FTH1 were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner in LPS induced MAC-T cells with increased iron accumulation. The expression levels of HMOX1 and FTH1 and iron accumulation levels in the MAC-T cells were significantly up-regulated by using LPS, but were lower than the levels seen with Erastin (ERA). Finally, we deduced the mechanism of ferroptosis in the MECs of Holstein cows with CM. These results provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of ferroptosis-mediated clinical mastitis in dairy animals.

Background/Objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and easily recurrent inflammatory bowel disease. The gut microbiota and plasma metabolites play pivotal roles in the development and progression of UC. Therefore, therapeutic strategies targeting the intestinal flora or plasma metabolites offer promising avenues for the treatment of UC. Luteolin (Lut), originating from a variety of vegetables and fruits, has attracted attention for its potent anti-inflammatory properties and potential to modulate intestinal flora. Methods: The therapeutic efficacy of Lut was evaluated in an established dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice model. The clinical symptoms were analyzed, and biological samples were collected for microscopic examination and the evaluation of the epithelial barrier function, microbiome, and metabolomics. Results: The findings revealed that Lut administration at a dose of 25 mg/kg significantly ameliorated systemic UC symptoms in mice, effectively reduced the systemic inflammatory response, and significantly repaired colonic barrier function. Furthermore, Lut supplementation mitigated gut microbiota dysbiosis in a UC murine model, increasing the abundance of Muribaculaceae, Rikenella, and Prevotellaceae while decreasing Escherichia_Shigella and Bacteroides levels. These alterations in gut microbiota also influenced plasma metabolism, significantly increasing phosphatidylcholine (PC), 6′-Deamino- 6′-hydroxyneomycin C, and gamma-L-glutamyl-butyrosine B levels and decreasing Motapizone and Arachidoyl-Ethanolamide (AEA) levels. Conclusions: This study reveals that Lut supplementation modulates intestinal inflammation by restoring the gut microbiota community structure, thereby altering the synthesis of inflammation-related metabolites. Lut is a potential nutritional supplement with anti-inflammatory properties and offers a novel alternative for UC intervention and mitigation. In addition, further studies are needed to ascertain whether specific microbial communities or metabolites can mediate the recovery from UC.