Hainan Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences

The Western diet (WD) is characterized by high fat, high sugar, high salt and low fiber. WD can disrupt the homeostasis of the intestinal flora and become an important factor in the occurrence and development of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD). This review elucidates the core mechanism through which WD-induced intestinal flora dysbiosis contributes to the development of CVD. Specifically, the disruption of intestinal barrier function promotes the generation of pathogenic metabolites, such as trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), while simultaneously suppressing the production of beneficial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This metabolic shift subsequently triggers systemic inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and metabolic disturbances, thereby accelerating the progression of CVD-related conditions, such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. Meanwhile, this review systematically summarizes key intervention strategies targeting the gut microbiota. Accumulating evidence indicates that interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, the Mediterranean diet, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can effectively restore intestinal microbial homeostasis, enhance the production of SCFAs, and mitigate the risk of CVD. Notably, long-term dietary patterns have demonstrated significant efficacy in reshaping the gut ecosystem, underscoring the importance of sustainable lifestyle modifications. Therefore, this study aims to integrate current knowledge regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for developing precise interventions to prevent and treat CVD through modulation of the gut microbiota.

Class III peroxidase (PRX) functions as a pivotal enzyme in lignin polymerization and participates in the regulation of cell wall hardening and elongation. Nevertheless, comprehensive investigations on PRX involvement in the rind cracking of melon (Cucumis melo) remain absent. In this study, melon was used as experimental material. Physiological analyses were performed to compare peroxidase activity and lignin accumulation between cracking-susceptible and resistant cultivars, as well as between cracked and non-cracked rinds. Genome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, chromosome localization, collinearity analysis, and cis-acting element prediction were conducted to characterize the melon PRX gene family. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze CmPRX expression patterns across different rind types, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed for validation. Protein-protein interaction networks were predicted to explore the functional associations of candidate genes. Peroxidase activity and lignin accumulation were significantly higher in cracking-susceptible cultivars compared to cracking-resistant cultivars, with cracked rinds displaying elevated levels relative to intact rinds. Sixty-four PRX genes were identified in the melon genome, and phylogenetic analysis categorized them into six subgroups. The CmPRX genes were unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes, and collinearity analysis uncovered eight duplicated gene pairs within the melon genome. Comparative synteny analysis revealed that the number of collinear PRX gene pairs between melon and other Cucurbitaceae species, specially cucumber and watermelon, was greater than that observed with the more distantly related Arabidopsis. Promoter cis-acting element examination revealed that the 64 CmPRX genes harbored 25 classes of elements associated with hormones, stress responses, and growth and development. Transcriptome data from melon rinds revealed that the CmPRX genes could be clustered into six groups based on expression patterns across different rind types. Among these, CmPRX genes in clusters 1 and 6 exhibited higher transcript levels in cracked rinds compared to non-cracked rinds. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed that CmPRX39, CmPRX48, and CmPRX51 were expressed at significantly elevated levels in cracked rinds compared with those of non-cracked rinds. Protein interaction network prediction showed that these three candidate genes interacted with multiple proteins involved in the lignin synthesis pathway, suggesting their potential regulatory roles in rind cracking of melon through mediating lignin polymerization. These findings identified candidate genes influencing rind cracking in melon, thereby offering potential molecular targets for the breeding of cracking-resistant cultivars.

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), primarily caused by fungal pathogens such as Fusarium pseudograminearum, poses a serious threat to wheat production and grain quality due to the synthesis of mycotoxins including deoxynivalenol (DON). In recent years, the incidence and severity of FCR have kept growing in the northern wheat-growing regions of China. This review summarizes the epidemiological characteristics of FCR, elucidates the pathogenic mechanisms of the pathogen and host resistance responses, and proposes an integrated management strategy combining resistant cultivar breeding with monitoring and early warning systems. Such integrated approaches can effectively reduce yield losses and toxin contamination, promoting sustainable wheat production. Future efforts should focus on investigating the interaction mechanisms between the pathogen and wheat plants, developing broad-spectrum resistant cultivars, designing green and efficient control products, and establishing a technical system of early prevention-pathogen monitoring-post-infection management to ensure safe wheat production and enhance food security.