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The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Noble rot, the alchemist of wines, is setting fungal biology abuzz
In wine-making circles, 'noble rot' is an exalted name for the botrytis fungus (Botrytis cinerea). It infects grapes, penetrates the skin, causes the berries to lose water by evaporation and shrivel up, and thus concentrates the sugars and flavours in them. Since only a small percentage of grapes in a vineyard are infected, they must be picked by hand. This makes the picking process labour-intensive and drives up the cost. The crushed grape juice from rotted grapes is used to make high-quality sweet wines like the Sauternes of Bordeaux, the Trockenbeerenauslese of Germany and Austria, and the Tokaji Aszús of Hungary. They are also very expensive. Befitting its exalted status, the botrytis fungus was also found recently to exhibit an unusual idiosyncrasy. In all animals, plants, and fungi, the nucleus of a cell contains one or more sets of all of the chromosomes of the organism. This property of nuclei allows us to clone animals. Scientists can transfer such a nucleus, which contains all the DNA instructions, into an egg cell whose own nucleus has been removed and, in the right conditions, prompt it to develop into a new organism. But because of the idiosyncrasy, botrytis fungus cannot be cloned — nor can another fungus called Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. A team of researchers from Sichuan University in China and the University of British Columbia in Canada have made a startling discovery: in these fungi, no single nucleus contains a complete set of chromosomes. Instead, the chromosome set is distributed across two or more nuclei, and any one nucleus contains only a subset. These unexpected findings were reported in Science. Ascomycetes, asci, ascospores Botrytis and Sclerotinia are ascomycetes fungi. The first cell of a baby fungus born following a mating between two ascomycetes fungi is called the ascospore. All the subsequent other cells of the individual are derived from it. This is the defining feature of ascomycetes fungi. The ascospores are produced in a sac-like cell called the ascus (plural asci). An ascus, produced when two parental strains mate, contains two complete sets of chromosomes. In many well-studied ascomycetes fungi, eight ascospores are made in each ascus. All the nuclei of an individual ascospore are genetically identical. That is, they all have the same set of chromosomes. B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum also make asci with eight spores. The researchers had no reason to suspect them to be any different. How are discoveries made? People are often curious to know how scientists make their discoveries. Most discoveries originate in experiments that did not work in the way they were meant to. Sadly, the converse is not true. The most common explanation for experiments that don't work the way were meant to is some kind of 'operator error' — i.e. a silly mistake of some kind: a growth medium was not properly made, the incubator was not set to the right temperature, the wrong strain was used, etc. Silly mistakes are more common than serendipitous leads. Not surprisingly, scientists get mad with experiments that don't work. But once in a while, this type of experiment is a harbinger of an unexpected discovery. This is the scientist's dilemma. Improbable versus true The research team set out to obtain mutants of S. sclerotiorum. For this they exposed the ascospores to ultraviolet light. Each S. sclerotiorum ascospore contains two nuclei. Both nuclei were assumed to carry the same set of chromosomes. UV-induced mutations occur at random. Therefore, it was highly unlikely the same gene would become inactivated in both nuclei of an ascospore. Consequently, a colony containing mutant cells was also expected to include a sector with non-mutant cells. The non-mutant cells would have nuclei descended from the ascospore nucleus with the non-mutant gene. But in the experiment, of the more than 100 mutant colonies the researchers examined, all contained only mutant cells. None of them had a non-mutant sector. This was most unexpected. Why weren't any non-mutant cells seen in these colonies? This observation set the researchers up for their Sherlock Holmes moment: 'When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.' Could the two nuclei between them contain only one set of chromosomes? Closer examination The researchers wrote in their paper: 'Because this prediction challenges established principles of chromosome biology, we conducted a closer examination of the ascospores' nuclei and chromosomes.' They used molecular probes that bind specifically to individual chromosomes, allowing them to say whether or not a nucleus contains the chromosome. When the probes were used individually, they lit up exclusively one nucleus per ascospore. The probe never lit up both nuclei. This meant the two nuclei harboured distinct chromosome sets. When both probes were used together, in some ascospores the signals showed up in only one nucleus and in other ascospores the signals were seen in both nuclei. This meant the distribution of chromosomes in the nuclei differed between ascospores. Further tests revealed that each nucleus of a S. sclerotiorum or B. cinerea ascospore contained only three to eight chromosomes. New questions The findings have already spawned many questions in the research community. What is the mechanism by which chromosomes are allocated to the different nuclei? How is genetic integrity preserved during cell division? What restores a complete set of chromosomes when the fungus mates, and with its mating partner forms new asci? Which genes and mechanisms are involved in chromosome sorting and regulation? What advantage does chromosome distribution confer to Botrytis and Sclerotinia? The questions have generated a new buzz in fungal biology. Right now, scientists doing research with fruit flies, nematodes, zebrafish, mice, and other model organisms might be envying those working with rot fungi — noble or otherwise. D.P. Kasbekar is a retired scientist.
South China Morning Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
How LA protests might force China to rethink its approach to US ties
The unrest in Los Angeles has revealed US domestic tensions that could momentarily divert Donald Trump's attention from his China policies, potentially requiring a recalibration of Beijing's approach towards Washington, according to Chinese analysts. One international relations expert urged Beijing to adopt a more pragmatic approach towards US ties and shift its focus to adapt to the conservative turn in American politics. After days of demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles over citywide US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, thousands of people across the US joined protests and rallies opposing the sweeping enforcement actions targeting unauthorised immigrants, with hundreds of protesters arrested. Parts of downtown Los Angeles were under curfew for a second night on Wednesday. A federal judge will hold a hearing on Thursday over California's request to block the Trump administration from deploying troops in Los Angeles to quell the unrest – an action California governor Gavin Newsom alleged was 'illegal' and violated state sovereignty. 04:36 Trump vows to 'liberate' Los Angeles as protests spread to other major US cities Trump vows to 'liberate' Los Angeles as protests spread to other major US cities Pang Zhongying, an international affairs expert at Sichuan University, said the domestic turmoil in the US was likely to divert the White House's attention. And with midterm elections approaching next year, this diversion might offer a window for eased tensions or warmer ties between China and the US, he added.
Observer
11-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman calls for international cooperation in science
The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange held in the People's Republic of China. The Omani delegation is headed by Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. In her speech at the conference, Dr Rahma emphasised the importance of international cooperation in science and technology, praising the Belt and Road Initiative's role in strengthening scientific and research partnerships among participating nations. She also highlighted Oman Vision 2040 and its key pillars, which align with the objectives of the Science and Technology Exchange Initiative under the Belt and Road framework. She noted Oman's key achievements since its first participation in the initiative, including the signing of an MoU on science and technology cooperation. This has led to several collaborative programmes between Omani and Chinese universities, such as knowledge exchange in 'smart campuses,' enhanced scientific cooperation with Chinese private sector institutions — particularly global company Huawei — as well as student and researcher exchanges; and cultural cooperation through Chinese language education and Arabic teaching for non-native speakers. On the sidelines of the event, the Minister held talks with Lin Xin, Vice Minister of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, exploring ways to enhance scientific and technical exchange in priority research areas such as environmental sciences, food security, medicine, health sciences (including traditional medicine) and artificial intelligence. Discussions also covered expertise exchange in marine and ocean sciences, genetic resources and mutual invitations to scientific conferences, including the upcoming Arab-Chinese Conference scheduled in August 2025. Additionally, they reviewed cooperation in cultural exchange, teaching each country's language in higher education institutions and increasing mutual recognition of academic credentials. During her visit to Sichuan University in Chengdu, the Minister explored potential collaboration in scientific and research programmes, particularly in creative arts. She also discussed partnership opportunities between Omani private higher education institutions and the Chinese university, including joint exhibitions, young researcher training, bilateral research projects, cultural student events and cooperation in AI, IoT and modern technologies. — ONA
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NEFECON®: New Results at ERA 2025 Demonstrate Treatment Benefit of the 'Treat Early' Strategy
Two new studies on NEFECON® demonstrate its treatment benefit in the "Treat Early" strategy for IgA nephropathy (IgAN), providing robust support for the new disease management strategy: "Treat the Cause, Treat Early, Treat All": — A subanalysis of the NefIgArd study demonstrates that early treatment can more effectively slow disease progression and reduce irreversible nephron loss. — A prospective study indicates that early treatment with NEFECON® in patients diagnosed within 6 months may better control inflammatory responses and delay disease progression. SHANGHAI, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 62nd European Renal Association Congress (ERA 2025), nine new studies on NEFECON® were presented, two of which demonstrate its treatment benefit in the "Treat Early" strategy for IgA nephropathy (IgAN), providing robust support for the new disease management strategy of "Treat the Cause, Treat Early, Treat All". The new results presented at ERA 2025 demonstrate early treatment with NEFECON® can help protect renal function and slow disease progression, leading to improved disease management and an improved quality of life for patients. "The new results have validated the significant role of NEFECON® in the early intervention of IgAN, and have fully demonstrated its key value in the strategy of 'Treat the Cause, Treat Early, Treat All'." said Rogers Yongqing Luo, Chief Executive Officer of Everest Medicines, "These findings further underscore its outstanding clinical advantages as a first-line cornerstone therapy for IgAN. The 'Treat Early' strategy offers more proactive treatment for IgAN patients, helping to control disease progression and better protect renal function. NEFECON® is the first and only fully approved etiological treatment for IgAN in China, the U.S., and Europe, providing patients with new hope and treatment options. "The new findings provide robust evidence for early targeted intervention. They show that NEFECON® significantly reduces proteinuria and protect kidney function across all diagnostic timelines, with the greatest improvements in eGFR observed in patients diagnosed within 0.6 years." Professor Ping Fu from West China Hospital of Sichuan University commented, " This demonstrates that early treatment can more effectively slow disease progression and reduce irreversible nephron loss. Additionally, early treatment with NEFECON® in patients diagnosed within 6 months may better control inflammatory responses and delay disease progression. The Clinical Practice Guideline for IgA Nephropathy and IgA Vasculitis in Chinese Adults (For Public Review) also recommends NEFECON® as the preferred treatment to reduce Gd-IgA1. These results emphasize the importance of early treatment for IgAN and provide valuable guidance for clinical practice." The new results provide a strong evidence-based support for NEFECON®'s variable effects depending on treatment timing and disease duration. In a subanalysis of the NefIgArd study[1], which assessed the renal benefits of budesonide delayed-release capsules (16 mg/day) across different diagnostic timelines, 364 primary IgAN patients were stratified into quartiles based on time since biopsy-confirmed diagnosis. Results showed that NEFECON® preserved eGFR and reduced UPCR versus placebo across all quartiles, with the most significant renal protection in recently diagnosed patients. For those diagnosed <0.6 years prior to baseline, NEFECON® increased eGFR by +6.41, +5.78, and +4.79 mL/min/1.73 m² at 9, 12, and 24 months, respectively, and reduced UPCR by 51.12% at 12 months. In a prospective study evaluating the impact of budesonide on inflammatory processes in recently diagnosed versus long-standing IgAN patients[2], eligible Caucasian adults were divided into two groups: recent diagnosis (RD, n=8, ≤6 months) and established diagnosis (OD, n=6, >6 months). The RD group showed a significant increase in CLU levels from 48.38 pg/ml at baseline (T0) to 94.92 pg/ml at 3 months (T3) (p=0.036), while no significant change was observed in the OD group. This suggests that early NEFECON® treatment may modulate the renal immune microenvironment, triggering protective protein expression (e.g., CLU) to repair damage. Moreover, eGFR in the RD group gradually improved from T0 to T10, indicating better renal preservation with early intervention. NEFECON®, as the only in-disease IgAN treatment has been included in the KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline For The Management Of Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN) And Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis (IgAV) (public review draft), making it the only targeted therapy endorsed by both international and Chinese guidelines. About NEFECON® NEFECON® is a patented oral, delayed release formulation of budesonide, a corticosteroid with potent glucocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity that undergoes substantial first pass metabolism. The formulation is designed as a delayed release capsule that is enteric coated so that it remains intact until it releases budesonide to the distal ileum. Each capsule contains coated beads of budesonide that target mucosal B-cells present in the ileum where the disease originates, as per the predominant pathogenesis models. In June 2019, Everest Medicines entered into an exclusive, royalty-bearing license agreement with Calliditas Therapeutics, which gives Everest Medicines exclusive rights to develop and commercialize NEFECON® in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan (China) and Singapore. The agreement was extended in March 2022 to include South Korea as part of Everest Medicines' territories. About Everest Medicines Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products and vaccines that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record from both leading global pharmaceutical companies and local Chinese pharmaceutical companies in high-quality discovery, clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules in the company's core therapeutic areas of renal diseases, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. For more information, please visit its website at Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, involving risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially due to various factors. The company undertakes no obligation to update these statements unless required by law. References: 1. Lafayette R, et al. Abstract#3251-Nefecon provides kidney benefit irrespective of time since diagnosis in patients with IgAN: a subanalysis of the NefIgArd study. Presented at ERA 2025. 2. Keskinis C, et al. Abstract#2093-Targeted-Release Budesonide (TRB) treatment may have different effects on the inflammatory process in IgAN patients with recent and old diagnosis. Presented at ERA 2025. 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South China Morning Post
05-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
US still reigns over China in tech race, but gaps are quickly closing: Harvard report
The United States continued to lead China in critical technologies, namely artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, semiconductors, space and quantum, according to a report released on Thursday by Harvard University. Advertisement The authors of the Critical and Emerging Technologies Index, released by the university's Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs, said the US maintained its competitive edge because of large-scale American public and private investment, a top-notch and diverse research workforce, and a decades-old decentralised innovation ecosystem. To quantify the global tech race, the index assigned considerable weight to private and public funding resources – a US advantage not captured by trackers focusing on research output, such as the Nature Index and the Critical Technology Tracker, created by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, both of which have pointed to China as the leading country in many research fields, according to the team. In January, Nature Index showed that in terms of high-quality scientific research output, Sichuan University, a regional university in southwest China, had overtaken Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oxford University and the University of Tokyo in less than two years. The index – maintained by the highly regarded academic journal, Nature – ranks research institutions based on their contributions to articles published in the world's most influential science journals. Advertisement
