Sugey Vásquez-Hernández, Joaquín Adolfo Montes-Molina^*, Federico Antonio Gutierrez-Miceli, Nancy Ruiz-Lau, Victor Manuel Ruiz-Valdiviezo, Carlos Alberto Lecona-Guzmán^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.076451 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Agave americana L. is potentially a source of functional and nutritive compounds. However, its yield has been compromised by vascular wilt, which is associated with the presence of the Fusarium oxysporum. In response to this phytosanitary problem, the implementation of efficient methods to mitigate the damage. Biotechnological techniques offer a viable alternative to improve and increase the production of species of interest via genetic improvement. By use of mutagenic chemical agents, these techniques have been consolidated as a powerful tool to induce genetic variability and select genotypes with greater tolerance to pathogens. In this study, we evaluated… More >

Chung-Che Tsai^1,#, Chih-Hung Lin^2,#, Katherine Lin^3,4, Jia Hong Hubert Chen^4,5, Ying Jie Celia Chen^4,5, Ilyssa Ting-Ying Chang^3,4, Hsu-Hung Chang⁶, Jin-Yin Chang⁷, Tin-Yi Chu⁸, Po-Chih Hsu^4,8,*, Chan-Yen Kuo^8,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.073698 - 23 March 2026

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, most commonly driven by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The HBV X protein (HBx) plays a central role in hepatocarcinogenesis by regulating transcription, signal transduction, epigenetic modification, and interactions with noncoding RNAs. This review summarizes current advances in HBx-mediated signaling pathways and mutation-specific functions, highlighting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target, and providing insights for future strategies in HCC treatment and HBV eradication. Activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), cAMP response element binding protein/activating transcription factor More > Graphic Abstract

Christian Pérez-Chablé¹, Daisy Pérez-Brito^1,*, Anuar Magaña-Alvarez¹, Jairo Cristóbal-Alejo², Irma L. Medina-Baizabal¹, Marcela Gamboa-Angulo^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.072668 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Acalypha gaumeri (Euphorbiaceae) is the only endemic species of the genus in the Yucatan Peninsula. It is dioecious and has antifungal properties against various phytopathogens. In the present study, molecular identification of A. gaumeri was performed using the rbcL region, confirming its belonging to the Acalypha genus. Its genetic diversity was evaluated using 10 SPAR markers (ISSR and DAMD) from 60 individuals collected from female and male plants of the Kiuic, Tinum and Yaxcaba ex-situ populations. The results showed a high level of genetic polymorphism (PIC = 0.980) and significant differences among the populations. Ethanol and aqueous extracts from… More >

Liang Dong^1,#, Jialu Xin^1,#, Jingyi Zhang², Zheng Liu², Junjun Li^3,*, Xujun Yu^1,*

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.33, No.1, pp. 63-74, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cju.2025.068263 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Varicocele (VC) is widely recognized as a prevalent and clinically significant cause of male infertility. However, the comprehensive pathogenic mechanisms underlying VC development and progression remain incompletely understood, creating an important knowledge gap in the field of andrology. This review establishes that VC pathogenesis centers on abnormal vascular remodeling and integrates multiple contributing elements, including anatomical abnormalities, biochemical disturbances, genetic factors, low body mass index (BMI), age, and specific sports habits, while secondary varicoceles are primarily induced by compressive pathologies. Through a systematic synthesis of current evidence and recent advances, this review aims to elucidate More >

Antonio Magan-Fernández¹, Sarmad Muayad Rasheed Al-Bakri¹, Marco Bonilla^2,*, Francisco Mesa¹

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.073576 - 14 February 2026

Abstract Objectives: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have emerged as critical effectors in immune defense but also as potential drivers of tissue damage in chronic inflammatory diseases. Their role in periodontitis, a highly prevalent condition characterized by dysregulated host–microbe interactions, remains incompletely defined. This systematic review aimed to synthesize, for the first time, ex vivo human evidence on the presence, activity, and clinical significance of NETs in periodontitis. Methods: A comprehensive search of Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted up to August 2025. Eligible studies included ex vivo human investigations assessing NETs or NET markers in gingival… More >

SEUNGIL KIM, GUN-DONG KIM^*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.073781 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation or NETosis is a specialized innate immune process in which neutrophils release chromatin fibers decorated with histones and antimicrobial proteins. Although pivotal for pathogen clearance, aberrant NETosis has emerged as a critical modulator of acute and chronic respiratory pathologies, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Dysregulated NET release exacerbates airway inflammation by inducing epithelial injury, mucus hypersecretion, and the recruitment of inflammatory leukocytes, thereby accelerating tissue remodeling and functional decline. Mechanistically, NETosis is governed by peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PADI4)-mediated histone citrullination, NADPH oxidase-dependent reactive More >

Marta Pawłowska^1,*, Dorian Jarek², Jan Milanowski², Karolina Szewczyk-Golec¹

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.071891 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Parasitic infections are increasingly recognized as contributors to cancer development, yet the underlying oncogenic mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Growing evidence from molecular oncology, immunology, and microbiome research suggests that chronic parasitic infections may drive tumorigenesis through sustained inflammation, deregulated signaling pathways, genomic instability, and the release of parasite-derived exosomes that reshape the tumor microenvironment. These insights underscore the need to integrate parasitology with cancer biology to understand infection-associated malignancies better. The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize current knowledge on how selected parasites contribute to cancer development and to highlight emerging therapeutic and… More > Graphic Abstract

Jiajun Sun, Shunshun Ji, Chao Zhang^*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.86, No.2, pp. 1-23, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.068668 - 09 December 2025

Abstract Asparagus stem blight is a devastating crop disease, and the early detection of its pathogenic spores is essential for effective disease control and prevention. However, spore detection is still hindered by complex backgrounds, small target sizes, and high annotation costs, which limit its practical application and widespread adoption. To address these issues, a semi-supervised spore detection framework is proposed for use under complex background conditions. Firstly, a difficulty perception scoring function is designed to quantify the detection difficulty of each image region. For regions with higher difficulty scores, a masking strategy is applied, while the… More >

Di Wu¹, Chunguang Ren¹, Liangliang Li¹, Chongpei Zheng², Wenwen Su^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 4079-4090, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072856 - 29 December 2025

Abstract To identify the pathogen responsible for fruit rot disease in Rosa roxburghii Tratt. from Guiding County, Guizhou Province, China, diseased fruit samples were collected. The pathogen was isolated, purified, and identified through morphological, molecular, and pathogenic analyses. Subsequently, its biological characteristics were evaluated. Furthermore, to determine the agent with the strongest toxicity against the identified pathogen, the antifungal activity of six chemical and biological agents was evaluated through indoor toxicity assays. Finally, Neopestalotiopsis clavispora was identified as the pathogen responsible for fruit rot disease in R. roxburghii Tratt. The diameter of the pathogen grown under different carbon and… More >

Mustansar Mubeen¹, Yasir Iftikhar^1,*, Ganesan Vadamalai^2,3, Muhammad Aasim⁴, Muhammad Faiq⁵, Uthman Balgith Algopishi⁶, Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed^6,7

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3827-3843, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071555 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Citrus viroids are small non-coding RNA pathogens that pose a significant threat to global citrus production by reducing fruit yield, quality, and tree longevity. Several viroids, including Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd), and newly identified members such as Citrus Viroid VI (CVd-VI) and Citrus Viroid VII (CVd-VII) have been reported from diverse citrus-growing regions. These pathogens are transmitted mainly through vegetative propagation, contaminated tools, and occasionally via seed or pollen, making their management complex. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biology, structural diversity, transmission, symptomatology, detection,… More >