National Center for Biotechnology

Plant viruses can cause substantial yield losses, yet disease severity often varies between seasons because plants frequently experience heat or cold episodes before infection. In this study, we tested whether such temperature conditions affect the plant’s redox balance and alter its response to Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) infection in Nicotiana benthamiana. Plants were exposed to short-term heat and cold stress, after which they recovered before virus inoculation. Following this, we assessed the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, lipid peroxidation (LPO), oxidative DNA damage, stress-related proteins, redox-associated enzymes, and antioxidant metabolites. TBSV led to non-parallel ROS responses during infection, with consistently elevated hydrogen peroxide in infected plants but reduced superoxide relative to corresponding mock controls. Heat pre-exposure caused pronounced LPO that decreased further after infection, whereas cold pre-exposure stabilized malondialdehyde near levels observed at 25 °C. Both thermal stress and infection increased 8-oxo-dG and were associated with distinct changes in 8-oxoguanine glycosylase abundance. Infection strongly induced heat shock protein 90 (and moderately heat shock protein 70), while prior heat limited further chaperone induction by TBSV. These results indicate that viral infection develops within and is limited by the host’s oxidative state, where redox homeostasis may restrict infection-related processes, and infection leads to changes in this redox environment that are favorable for its development.

Background: Primary central nervous system tumours in pregnancy are exceptionally rare, with posterior fossa lesions presenting particular diagnostic and management challenges due to their confined anatomical location and proximity to critical neurovascular structures. Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), typically a paediatric tumour, is uncommon in adults and exceedingly rare in pregnant patients. The physiological changes in pregnancy can obscure tumour-related symptoms, contributing to diagnostic delay and increased maternal-fetal risk. Methods: We report the case of a 24-year-old pregnant woman at 23 weeks and 5 days' gestation who presented with progressive neurological deterioration secondary to a cystic mass in the right cerebellar hemisphere. MRI revealed significant brainstem compression and triventricular hydrocephalus. Results: A multidisciplinary team performed an urgent retrosigmoid craniotomy with gross total tumour resection under general anaesthesia and continuous intraoperative fetal monitoring. Histopathology confirmed PA (CNS WHO Grade I). Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and both maternal and fetal outcomes were favourable. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of early neuroimaging, multidisciplinary coordination, and timely surgical intervention in managing posterior fossa tumours during pregnancy. Although PAs are considered low-grade gliomas, their behaviour in pregnancy can be unpredictable. With careful perioperative planning, neurosurgical treatment can be safely undertaken during gestation, offering optimal outcomes for both mother and fetus.

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a highly adaptable wild carnivore whose expanding range in Kazakhstan increases contact with livestock, wildlife, and human-modified environments. Despite its potential epidemiological importance, data on helminth infections in jackals from southern Kazakhstan remain limited. In this study, 13 golden jackals collected from four regions of southern Kazakhstan were examined by necropsy of internal organs and coprological analysis. Helminths were identified using morphological methods and molecular genetic analysis of mitochondrial (cox1) and ribosomal (NC13/NC2) markers. Five helminth species were detected, including the nematodes Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara canis, and the cestodes Taenia multiceps, Taenia krabbei, and Mesocestoides sp. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirmed species-level identification of nematodes and cestodes and showed clear clustering with reference sequences. Overall, 46% of examined jackals were infected with at least one helminth species. The presence of taeniid cestodes and zoonotic nematodes highlights the role of golden jackals as definitive hosts in parasite transmission cycles involving wildlife, livestock, and humans. These findings provide new molecular and epizootological data on helminths of golden jackals in southern Kazakhstan and contribute to understanding their epidemiological significance.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurological condition characterized by seizures, encephalopathy, visual disturbances, and headache, often occurring in the context of hypertension and immunosuppressive therapy after solid organ transplantation. Although classically presenting with vasogenic edema in the parieto-occipital regions, atypical patterns may also occur. Here we report our experience with a case of cyclosporine-related PRES after liver transplant and summarize PRES clinical features through a literature review.<br /> The case was a 53-year-old man who received a deceased donor liver transplant. His initial immunosuppressive therapy comprised cyclosporine/mycophenolate mofetil/prednisolone. Five months after transplantation, he was admitted to our center with altered mental status. The patient was diagnosed with PRES based on neurological symptoms and neuroimaging findings and recovered after switching from cyclosporine to everolimus. In addition, the lowering of blood pressure with drugs reported in the literature for use in PRES proved to be effective but challenging, requiring the use of multiple agents and only slowly leading to adequate control of hypertensive peaks. Nonetheless, hypertension management and supportive therapy allowed for a complete neurological recovery of the patient.<br /> In conclusion, cyclosporine-associated PRES has a generally favorable prognosis with early diagnosis and prompt treatment, including altering or discontinuing CNIs and controlling blood pressure. CNI-associated PRES should be considered in patients exhibiting acute neurological symptoms after transplantation. Early diagnosis and immediate treatment are critical for a favorable prognosis.

Shareable abstractBNT162b2 vaccine elicits SARS-CoV-2 neutralising Ig in BAL fluid. Serum IgG correlates with BALIgG; IgA correlations were observed following viral exposure, suggesting specialised local immunity. BAL IgG exhibits higher neutralising potency than serum IgG.https://bit.ly/3ZAqnRY

Soil contamination with heavy metals is a persistent challenge in the arid regions of Kazakhstan. This study evaluates the phytoremediation potential of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), a drought-tolerant crop with a well-developed root system, using a combination of in vitro and analytical approaches. In vitro culture of somatic cells revealed clear genotype-dependent differences in callus induction and morphogenesis, with Hybrid-2 and SAB-3 exhibiting the highest regenerative capacity and thus the greatest suitability for further biotechnological improvement and stress-tolerance selection. Analysis of metal distribution, based on atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), demonstrated that S. bicolor predominantly retained Pb, Cd, and Co in the root system. Cobalt accumulated to 12.7 ± 1.32 mg/kg under 1 MAC and 16.87 ± 2.78 mg/kg under 2 MAC, accounting for more than half of the metal absorbed by plants. Cadmium showed a similar root-dominant pattern, whereas lead exhibited the lowest mobility and remained almost entirely sequestered in roots, with translocation factors consistently below unity (TF < 1). Overall, these findings confirm the suitability of sweet sorghum as an environmentally sustainable species for the phytostabilization of Pb-, Cd-, and Co-contaminated soils in arid environments and highlight the value of genotype pre-selection under stress conditions for optimizing phytoremediation performance.

Antibiotic concentrations at clinical breakpoint levels can influence bacterial physiology and virulence responses, yet their effects on outer membrane vesicle (OMV) production in anaerobic pathogens remain understudied. This study examined how breakpoint meropenem concentrations affect the ultrastructure, inflammatory responses, and OMV production of Bft + enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) in a rat intra-abdominal infection model. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into negative control (n = 8), positive control (B. fragilis infection, n = 16), and experimental group (B. fragilis infection + meropenem at clinical breakpoint concentration 1.0mg/L for 8days, n = 16). Transmission electron microscopy, morphometric vesicle analysis, hematological studies, and qRT-PCR cytokine expression analysis were performed on days 8 and 16. Both B. fragilis infection groups showed systemic inflammation with critical hematocrit reduction to 27-28% compared to negative control (p ≤ 0.001). Breakpoint meropenem did not improve infection outcomes; bacterial load showed no significant differences, and OMV production demonstrated only a non-significant trend toward increase. However, the experimental group exhibited inflammation progression with significant elevation in IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression by day 16 (p ≤ 0.05). Notably, OMV size distribution changed dramatically under breakpoint treatment, shifting toward significantly smaller vesicles (< 90nm; Cliff's δ = -0.49, p ≤ 0.0001). The study demonstrates that breakpoint meropenem concentration triggers sustained stress response in enterotoxigenic B. fragilis, producing pronounced changes in OMV profile and suggesting a mechanism facilitating antibiotic resistance development.

Because of limited availability of ancient genomes, the genetic history of prehistoric Inner Asian hunter-gatherers remains incomplete, especially for eastern Kazakhstan where the Eurasian Steppe meets mountain forests of Inner Asia. Here we report genome-wide data of two Early Neolithic (EN) hunter-gatherers and 19 Middle-Late Bronze Age (MLBA) pastoralists, from the site of Koken in the Upper Irtysh River region in eastern Kazakhstan. We find that the two EN individuals differed in their genetic profiles and yet were second-degree relatives. They were genetically most similar to subsequent Neolithic individuals in the Irtysh region, while contemporaneous hunter-gatherers from the Tobol-Ishim and Upper Ob River regions had distinct genetic profiles, likely influenced by riverine geography. The Koken MLBA individuals were genetically similar to other MLBA steppe pastoralists, while genetic outliers provide evidence of two distinct trajectories of admixture with local hunter-gatherer populations. These findings illuminate the dynamic population structure of Inner Asian hunter-gatherers and their genetic legacy in subsequent pastoralist populations.

This study investigates the species composition and distribution of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Kazakhstan, with a focus on two species newly recorded for the country: Simulium murmanum (Enderlein, 1935) and Simulium reptans (Linnaeus, 1758). The presence of S. murmanum in Kazakhstan is reported for the first time, supported by morphological and molecular genetic analyses. Diagnostic features of the larva, pupa, and adult stages are described in detail, including the structure and coloration of the larval head capsule, pupal cocoon, and genitalia of both sexes. Habitat preferences and pupal substrate attachment patterns are illustrated, with observations on variations in cocoon branching across different flow regimes. Species identification was conducted using the morphological keys of Rubtsov and Yankovsky, and taxonomic classification was confirmed using the framework proposed by Adler. Molecular confirmation of S. murmanum was performed via DNA analysis. The species was found to be restricted to the foothill regions of East Kazakhstan, suggesting a distribution closely associated with the Altai mountain systems and adjacent regions in Mongolia and China. Unlike its status as a dominant hematophagous species in parts of Russia, S. murmanum has not demonstrated biting activity in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, or China. Additionally, the study provides the first records of S. reptans within the fauna of Kazakhstan, initially identified in the Irtysh River (Pavlodar Region). Subsequent sampling conducted in June 2024 revealed a continuous distribution of S. reptans along the Irtysh River through to the mountain streams of East Kazakhstan. The species was found in mountainous, foothill, and lowland environments, highlighting its wide ecological plasticity.

Background/Objectives: Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a developmental disorder characterized by abnormal vertebral development during embryogenesis. Despite the identification of genes involved in vertebral development, the underlying genetic causes of CS remain largely unknown. Monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for CS offer a unique opportunity to explore de novo or postzygotic causes. This exploratory case study aimed to investigate potential causative variants underlying CS using whole-exome sequencing (WES). Methods: We performed WES on a Kazakhstani family with MZ twins discordant for congenital scoliosis. Variant prioritization included homozygous mutation analysis in the affected twin, family-based comparisons via de novo, autosomal recessive, and autosomal dominant models, and cross-referencing with variants previously implicated in spinal deformities. Results: Key findings include potential associations of the STOX1 (storkhead box 1), HOXD8 (homeobox D8), and C1QTNF9 (C1q- and TNF-related 9) genes with congenital scoliosis. However, subsequent validation revealed low read depth and strand bias. Notably, no unique variants were detected in genes previously known to cause CS. Conclusions: The first WES analysis of CS-discordant twins from a single family highlights the feasibility of a combined family-based and twin-comparative analytical pipeline. Our results provide new insights into the genetic architecture of CS and establish a foundation for future twin studies to elucidate the genetic basis of rare developmental disorders.