Baobab Index

The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has revolutionized genome editing, enabling precise modifications to the human genome with unprecedented accuracy and sequence specificity. This review examines current mechanistic insights, translational advances, and clinical developments in gene editing, focusing on applications in diabetes mellitus, cancer, hematologic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune pathologies. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of recent literature on CRISPR-based genome editing, emphasizing next-generation modalities like base editing and prime editing, and their impact on target specificity and genomic integrity. Therapeutic strategies involving ex vivo editing of hematopoietic stem cells and in vivo delivery approaches, including lipid nanoparticle-mediated systems, are evaluated. Base editing and prime editing have improved sequence specificity and reduced double-strand DNA breaks, enhancing safety profiles. Ex vivo editing of hematopoietic stem cells for hemoglobinopathies and in vivo genome editing via lipid nanoparticles show translational promise. However, limitations persist: off-target effects, immunogenicity, delivery inefficiencies, and ethical concerns surrounding germline editing require careful consideration. Gene editing technologies show potential for treating previously intractable diseases. Technical, safety, and ethical challenges must be addressed through continued refinement of editing platforms, rigorous scientific validation, and the establishment of robust governance frameworks to ensure safe and responsible translation into clinical medicine.

Neuropsychological test selection varies substantially across countries and languages, yet which instruments clinicians use internationally remains poorly documented. Using a survey of International Neuropsychological Society members (INSConnect, 2023), we examined instrument endorsement among 147 respondents across 30+ countries. English-language administrators endorsed more instruments per cognitive domain clinically than non-English administrators, particularly in memory, executive functioning, language, intelligence, and performance validity. Multilingual status showed little association with instrument breadth. Regional patterns indicated uneven access to proprietary instruments and greater reliance on locally available tools. These findings provide an empirical foundation for prioritizing test adaptation, guiding normative development, and valid, fair cross-cultural assessment.

Ecological processes that shape animal assemblages act at multiple levels. Limited information is available on the factors that drive spatial variation in parasite communities, particularly in nematodes. This study aimed to reveal the role of host and environment as determinants of nematode species compositional similarity among three rodent taxa (

Stool-based molecular tests provide noninvasive options for pediatric tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, but have lower sensitivity compared to sputum-based tests. Untargeted metagenomic sequencing (mNGS) on stool could improve sensitivity and identify new gene targets for molecular testing. We performed shotgun mNGS on DNA isolated from stool samples of children undergoing assessment for pulmonary TB in Uganda. We defined the performance of mNGS to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) against a microbiological reference standard (MRS, TB if sputum Xpert Ultra or culture positive) and a composite reference standard (TB if confirmed or unconfirmed TB). We also compared accuracy of mNGS against stool-based Xpert Ultra. Finally, we identified enriched genomic loci among Mtb classified reads. We analyzed 176 stool samples of children with a median age of 3.6 years (IQR, 1-6 years). Against the MRS, the sensitivities of mNGS with positive TB defined as ≥ 1, 2, or 5 sequence fragments were 35.5% (95% CI 19%-55%), 25.7% (12%-45%), and 19.4% (13%-25%) respectively, and specificities 92.64% (87%-96%), 97% (93%-99%), and 99.3% (96%-100%). Stool Xpert Ultra had similar sensitivity (22.6%) to stool mNGS considering all samples tested. In a head-to-head comparison, stool mNGS had lower sensitivity than stool Xpert Ultra (38.5% vs. 53.8%, difference -15.3%, 95% CI 14-68 to 25-81). mNGS utilized rRNA, virulence proteins and membrane proteins not targeted in current PCR-based platforms. Metagenomic sequencing of stool DNA did not increase sensitivity of TB detection, but identified novel targets for molecular testing that may support development of more sensitive tests.

In emerging countries, increased industrial activity has a significant impact on economic growth and urban development. However, the acceleration of industrial processes is accompanied by the release of contaminants such as heavy metals. According to the World Health Organization, one-fourth of all human diseases are caused by environmental contaminants, including heavy metals, which can impair numerous organs such as the neurological system, liver, and reproductive systems. This increased efforts to find effective and sustainable methods to remove heavy metals. Phytoremediation is an environmentally benign method of removing heavy metals using specific plants. Thus, from industrially contaminated locations, common native plant species of Lactuca serriola, Sisymbrium irio, Chenopodium murale, and Cynanchum acutum were selected for this study to assess the mechanisms of their molecular and physiological tolerance. Soil and plants were tested for heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Cu), and contaminated locations were classified as low and highly polluted. Measurements were made of soluble sugar, protein, secondary metabolites, malondialdehyde, and H

Secondary metabolites are promising alternatives due to their diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial and antiviral effects. Wild plants, particularly

Adult cardiomyocytes (CMs) have minimal proliferative capacity, limiting the heart's ability to regenerate after injury. While neonatal CMs can proliferate, the signaling pathways governing this process are poorly understood. This study aims to identify and reintroduce the neonatal-specific CM proliferation sensitizing signal to restore cell-cycle in adult CMs. We identified CD36 as a marker for the neonatal spontaneously proliferating CMs. Bulk and Single cell RNAseq, and spatial transcriptomics analyses of the P1 WT, CD36KO and CD36CKO hearts revealed that a CD36/FABP5/PPARδ signaling axis was uniquely expressed in spontaneously proliferating CMs. Using unbiased metabolomics and spatial metabolomics, we discovered that CD36KO and CD36cKO hearts had a 50% reduction in retinoic acid (RA) levels, implicating CD36 in regulating RA intracellular levels. Moreover, the pro-proliferative effect of RA treatment was lost in CD36KO or FABP5 knockdown CMs. To confirm the causality of this proposed mechanism, in vivo, crossing CD36KO with CM-specific PPARδ overexpression (PPARδCTG) only in CMs rescued the proliferation deficiency phenotype in CD36KO in the P1 hearts. Finally, reintroduction of FABP5, the rate limiting step of this signaling pathway, in adult hearts, using an inducible CM-specific FABP5 knock-in mouse (FABP5KI) was sufficient to drive CM cell cycle entry and led to significantly improved cardiac function following myocardial infarction in adult mice. RA/CD36/FABP5/PPARδ signaling pathway is essential for spontaneous neonatal CM proliferation. Re-activating this pathway in adult hearts through FABP5 overexpression is sufficient to induce functional recovery after ischemic injury, identifying FABP5 as a potential therapeutic target for cardiac regeneration.

Gibberellin oxidases (GAoxs) are key enzymes involved in maintaining gibberellin (GA) homeostasis and therefore play important roles in regulating plant architecture. However, the GAox genes associated with branch angle and internode elongation in tea plants ( In this study, 33 Whole-genome or segmental duplication contributed substantially to the expansion of the These findings identify candidate

Infectious coryza (IC) is a respiratory disease of chickens caused by the bacterial primary pathogen

Stem cell manufacturing and regenerative medicine laboratories are highly vulnerable to microbial contamination due to complex processing workflows, extensive manipulation, prolonged culture conditions, and continuous environmental exposure. Conventional microbiological methods remain fundamental for laboratory quality control; however, they may underestimate concealed resistance determinants, microbial diversity, contamination pathways, and transmission dynamics. Recent advances in metagenomic sequencing have transformed outbreak investigation, resistome characterization, and genomic surveillance, providing unprecedented opportunities for contamination monitoring and biosafety management. This review proposes a translational biosafety framework that integrates metagenomic surveillance with contamination traceability systems in stem cell manufacturing and regenerative medicine laboratory environments. The review discusses contamination challenges, limitations of conventional microbiological diagnostics, metagenomic surveillance approaches, predictive biosafety concepts, genomic traceability systems, corrective and preventive action (CAPA) integration, and future artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted monitoring strategies. Lessons from sequencing-based outbreak investigations involving multidrug-resistant microorganisms highlight the potential utility of metagenomic surveillance for early detection of contamination, microbial source attribution, resistome characterization, environmental monitoring, and contamination traceability. Integrating sequencing-guided diagnostics with laboratory traceability systems and CAPA-based quality management may shift biosafety practices from reactive contamination control toward proactive predictive biosurveillance. The proposed framework may strengthen contamination prevention, improve manufacturing reproducibility, support regulatory compliance, and enhance the reliability of stem cell processing and regenerative medicine applications. Future studies are needed to standardize sequencing-guided biosafety workflows and evaluate their implementation in academic, research, and clinical-grade stem cell manufacturing laboratories.