Biology subjects

ZHANG, M.

Publications and source records attributed to ZHANG, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

An active-matrix digital microfluidic platform for simultaneous short- and long-read viral genomic surveillance

The outbreak frequency and geographic distribution of viral pathogens are continuously expanding, making enhanced genomic surveillance an urgent global public health need. Parallel library preparation combining next-generation sequencing (NGS) and third-generation sequencing (TGS) can substantially improve the coverage and resolution of genomic surveillance, representing a key strategy for strengthening surveillance. Here we developed a complete sample-to-result system integrating a programmable active-matrix digital microfluidic (AM-DMF) chip with a bioinformatics analysis pipeline. Compared with conventional manual protocols used in public health laboratories, our system reduces reagent consumption by 72%, shortens library preparation time by 45% and decreases the inter-batch coefficient of variation (CV) by 20%. In 20 RT-qPCR-confirmed clinical samples, the system achieved complete concordance for viral identification and assigned serotypes/genotypes consistent with sequencing-based phylogenetic analysis. This system is field-deployable and enables rapid virus serotyping as well as in-depth genomic surveillance. TeaserA digital microfluidic platform integrating short- and long-read sequencing enables rapid comprehensive viral genome analysis.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Serine peptidases and increased amounts of soluble proteins contribute to heat priming of the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea

Botrytis cinerea causes grey mold disease in leading crop plants. The disease develops only at cool temperatures, but the fungus remains viable in warm climates and can survive periods of extreme heat. We discovered a strong heat priming effect in which the exposure of B. cinerea to moderately high temperatures greatly improves its ability to cope with subsequent, potentially lethal temperature conditions. We showed that priming promotes protein solubility during heat stress and discovered a group of priming-induced serine-type peptidases. Several lines of evidence, including transcriptomics, proteomics, pharmacology, and mutagenesis data, link these peptidases to the B. cinerea priming response, highlighting their important roles in regulating priming-mediated heat adaptation. By imposing a series of sub-lethal temperature pulses that subverted the priming effect, we managed to eliminate the fungus and prevent disease development, demonstrating the potential for developing temperature-based plant protection methods by targeting the fungal heat priming response. ImportancePriming is a general and important stress adaptation mechanism. Our work highlights the importance of priming in fungal heat adaptation, reveals novel regulators and aspects of heat adaptation mechanisms, and demonstrates the potential of affecting microorganisms, including pathogens through manipulations of the heat adaptation response.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Plant growth and phytoactive alkaloid synthesis in Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) in response to varying radiance

The dose-dependent consumptive effect of kratom and its potential application as an alternative source of medicine to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms has brought considerable attention to this plant. Increased interest in the application and use of kratom has emerged globally, including North America. Although the chemistry and pharmacology of major kratom alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, are well documented, foundational information on the impact of plant production environment on growth and kratom alkaloids synthesis is unavailable. To directly address this need, kratom plant growth, leaf chlorophyll content, and alkaloid concentration were evaluated under three lighting conditions: outdoor full sun, greenhouse unshaded, and greenhouse shaded. Nine kratom alkaloids were quantified using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method. Contents of six alkaloids to include: mitragynine, speciogynine, speciociliatine, mitraphylline, coynantheidine, and isocorynantheidine were not significantly impacted by lighting conditions, whereas 7-hydroxymitragynine was below the lower limit of quantification across all treatments. However, paynantheine concentration per leaf dry mass was increased by 40% and corynoxine was increased by 111% when grown under shade conditions in a greenhouse compared to outdoor full sun. Additionally, total alkaloid yield per plant was maximized when plants were under such conditions. Greenhouse cultivation generally promoted height and width extension, leaf number, leaf area, average leaf size, and total leaf dry mass, compared to outdoor full sun condition. Rapid, non-destructive chlorophyll evaluation correlated well (r2 = 0.68) with extracted chlorophyll concentrations. Given these findings, production efforts where low-light conditions can be implemented are likely to maximize plant biomass and total leaf alkaloid production.

plant biology↗