The 11th International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences (ABS 2025)

Abstract: Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB) seriously threatens the banana industry's sustainable development. The most effective measure to prevent FWB is breeding for disease-resistance cultivars. Recent evidence indicates that FWB occurrence and development are not only regulated by host resistance genes, but are also significantly influenced by host associated microbiomes. However, the relationship between genotype-associated microbiomes and their host linked to FWB resistance has yet to be explored. Therefore, we used the amplification sequencing method to characterize the bacterial and fungal communities in three root-related compartments (peripheral, rhizosphere, and endosphere) of six banana genotypes with different levels of FWB resistance. We isolated bacteria and fungi linked to FWB-resistant genotype biomarkers to verify their disease-suppression effect. Sequence analysis showed that the banana host’s resistance to FWB significantly correlated with its associated bacterial and fungal communities. The resistant and susceptible genotypes recruited different types of microbiomes. Furthermore, we compared the infection processes in one susceptible cultivar‘Baxi’and another resistant cultivar‘Yunjiao No.1’ inoculated with pathogen tropical race 4 (TR4). The results showed that TR4 hyphae could rapidly penetrate the cortex into the root vascular bundle for colonization, and the colonization capacity in‘Baxi’ was significantly higher than that in‘Yunjiao No.1’. The accumulation of a large number of starch grains was observed in corms cells, and further analysis showed that the starch content in‘Yunjiao No. 1’was significantly higher than that in‘Baxi’. Besides, the total starch and tyloses contents and the control effect in the corms of ‘Yunjiao No.1’was higher than that in the ‘Baxi’. The results from the expression levels of key genes suggest that there were significant differences between cultivars in response to TR4 invasion and plant reactions with respect to starch accumulation, tyloses formation and the expression of plant resistance induction and starch synthesis related genes. We subsequently identified a key gene that encodes banana amine oxidase, designated as MuAo. This gene was cloned, and subsequently RT-qPCR analysis was performed. Finally, we discussed a novel interaction among biocontrol agent, banana, and TR4, with the outcomes of this research offering a better understanding of host genotype-biocontrol agent-pathogen interactions, and providing new insights into the exploration of resistance genes against FWB.

Abstract: Volatile compounds (VCs) are low-molecular-weight substances, encompassing both inorganic and organic compounds that diffuse through air, soil, or water, enabling them to interact with organisms and influence biological functions. Many organisms emit VCs and interact with each other. In this study, we focus on the effects of VCs emitted by edible mushroom fungi beds (FBs) on crops. Fungi bed mushroom cultivation is widely practiced in the world. Although large quantities of waste fungi beds are produced, their use is limited, and much energy is invested in drying and incineration of the wasted fungi beds. We found that the application of FB derived VCs increase rice yields and reduce damage from high temperature stress. A two-year field trial showed that exposure of rice seedlings to VCs for one month improved yield and grain quality in rice plants grown under high temperature stress.These results strongly suggest that VCs derived from FBs are effective biostimulants. This research was funded by the A-STEP Tryout JPMJTM22CA grant and SPRING, Grant J3H2003 from the JST.

Abstract: Isomaltulose is a novel natural sweetener, possessing advantages such as low calorie content, high stability, and no adverse impacts on human health. It has been extensively applied in multiple domains like medicine and food. The enzymatic biosynthesis of isomaltulose features a high conversion rate and conforms to the requirements of green and environmental protection. Sucrose isomerase (SI) is widely used for the production of isomaltulose. By immobilizing SI, it can improve the industrial application problems such as poor stability, easy inactivation and difficult to recycle in practical application. In this study, three types of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) were acquired through systematic optimization of the concentrations of precipitant, cross-linking agent, and protectant. The thermal stability, pH tolerance, and storage stability of the three CLEAs preparations surpassed those of free enzymes and demonstrated good reusability. After 10 cycles of utilization, the residual activity of the three CLEAs samples remained above 61%, and CLEAS-BSA was capable of maintaining 91.7% of the initial activity. With sucrose and sugarcane juice as substrates, the sucrose conversion of CLEAs-BSA was 88.4% and 81.2%, respectively. Thereafter, SI was immobilized in combination with silica ball adsorption and cross-linked enzyme aggregates. The immobilized enzyme exhibited excellent thermal stability, pH stability, and operational stability. After the immobilized enzyme was reused for 15 times, the recovery rate of enzyme activity still exceeded 77%. Additionally, a novel affinity peptide orientation and photo-crosslinking immobilization approach was put forward. Firstly, a fixed region distant from the active site of SI was chosen by molecular simulation technology. On this basis, a short peptide VG with high affinity to this region was rationally designed. Subsequently, a photosensitive cross-linked group is introduced at the C-terminal of the short peptide. The affinity between the ligand and the target protein was verified through molecular dynamics simulation. Then, SI was fixed on the surface of epoxy resin (EP) by the optical crosslinking method to obtain the directional photo-crosslinking enzyme. The directionally immobilized enzyme demonstrated remarkable enhancement in recycling and heat resistance. Moreover, hv-EP-VG-SI retained over 90% and more than 50% of the original activity after 11 cycles. The above research has laid a solid foundation for the green manufacture of isomaltulose and also provided an innovative concept for the development of a new oriented immobilized enzyme technology.

Abstract: Sterility barriers biologically isolate yeast species. In the genus Saccharomyces, the biological isolation is maintained by a double barrier. Their hybrids are viable but sterile. The hybrid cells (1) cannot conjugate because the MATa/MATalpha heterozygosity suppresses the activity of the mating-specific genes and (2) cannot produce viable gametes (ascospores) because the chromosomes of the (sub)genomes cannot pair correctly in meiosis-I. However, the hybrid genomes are not stable. During the vegetative propagation of their cells or in meiosis upon spontaneous genome duplication, Chromosome III can be lost in one or the other subgenome. The loss of this chromosome destabilises the hybrid genome and additional chromosomes can subsequently be lost. Since loss of chromosomes can occur in both subgenomes, the size of the genome is gradually reduced and the outcome of the process is a chimeric genome composed of various combinations of retained fractions of the parental genomes. Since the loss of chromosomes is not coordinated, several different (chimeric) combinations of the parental gene pools can evolve from a hybrid. Different chimeric genomes determine different combinations of parental phenotypic traits. They can even outperform the parents in certain properties. Literature: Sipiczki, M.: Interspecies hybridisation and genome chimerisation in Saccharomyces: Combining of gene pools of species and its biotechnological perspectives.
Front. Microbiol. 9:3071, 2018 Sipiczki, M.: Yeast two- and three-species hybrids and high-sugar fermentation. Microbial Biotechnol 12:1101-1108. 2019

Abstract: Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS)-based impedance biosensors have been extensively studied across various fields, including oncology, microbiology, and immunology. This study aimed to investigate the capacitance dependence of NIH/3T3 cells based on their spatial positioning—either on the electrodes or between the electrodes—within an impedance biosensor. To evaluate this, we fabricated electrode patterns with two different gap distances: a wide-gap pattern (3.7 mm) and a narrow-gap pattern (0.3 mm). The capacitance contributions from cells located on and between the electrodes were analyzed using these patterns.
Detailed analysis revealed that cells positioned directly on the electrodes contributed less than 20% to the total measured capacitance, whereas the majority of the capacitance originated from cells located between the electrodes. This result emphasizes the critical role of the inter-electrode region and suggests that minimizing the electrode area while maximizing the gap spacing is essential for accurately measuring cell capacitance.
Additionally, to address challenges related to scalability, reproducibility, and analytical limitations in conventional impedance biosensors, we developed a multi-well array ECIS-based impedance biosensor by integrating array technology with standard ECIS methods. This biosensor enables simultaneous, real-time monitoring of cell growth and drug responses across multiple wells. The consistent responses across wells demonstrate the system’s reliability and robustness.
Furthermore, by applying varying drug concentrations in individual wells, we created an independent 2×2 impedance biosensing environment for drug screening. Using this setup, we successfully performed IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) analysis to assess drug efficacy. The system revealed that capacitance changes sensitively reflected dose-dependent drug effects, validating the biosensor's capability for pharmacological studies.
This research presents a novel multi-well array impedance biosensor that combines the advantages of ECIS technology and microarray integration. It offers enhanced throughput, reproducibility, and analytical precision, highlighting its potential as a next-generation platform for drug discovery and biomedical applications.

Keywords: ECIS, Semiconductor, Array, Capacitance, IC50, Biosensor

Abstract: Natural products show great potential in the management of hyperuricemia and gout. This study proposes a comprehensive strategy to deeply explore the application value of natural products in this area. An in vitro evaluation model based on 6 - carboxyfluorescein (6 - CFL) was established to accurately analyze the mechanism of promoting uric acid excretion of the caffeoylquinic acids extract from Artemisia selengensis Turcz. leaves (ASTLE). The results show that ASTLE can effectively inhibit uric acid reabsorption. Its main active components, caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), especially di - CQAs, function through hydrogen - bonding interactions with uric acid transporters URAT1 and GLUT9 and regulating the mRNA and protein expression levels of URAT1, GLUT9, and ABCG2. Meanwhile, for edible chrysanthemums, UPLC - Q/TOF - MS technology was used to analyze the components exposed in vivo, and combined with cell experiments, key anti - gout inflammatory active components such as luteolin, apigenin, and their metabolites were identified. These components can significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory factors IL - 1β, IL - 6, IL - 18, and TNF - α, inhibiting the inflammatory response. This comprehensive strategy provides a in - depth theoretical basis for the application of natural products in the management of hyperuricemia and gout, and is expected to promote the research and development of related natural drugs and functional foods.

Abstract: Climate change is reshaping global agricultural systems, posing challenges to crop productivity, global food security, soil health, and water availability by altering weather patterns, intensifying extreme events, and degrading soil health. This invited speech will synthesize findings from recent peer-reviewed studies to explore integrative agronomic strategies that enhance system resilience. A central focus is the management of soil organic matter (SOM), which has been shown to improve soil structure, increase water-holding capacity, and sequester atmospheric carbon. Conservation tillage practices, including reduced and no-tillage systems, are discussed for their role in minimizing soil disturbance, reducing erosion, and fostering the accumulation of SOM, thereby enhancing both productivity and climate adaptation. Moreover, diversified crop rotations—including intercrops, cover crops and agroforestry —are examined as effective tools for optimizing nutrient cycling, breaking pest and disease cycles, and further contributing to soil health.
By integrating these approaches, the presentation will highlight how adaptive soil management, coupled with strategic crop diversification and conservation practices, can mitigate the adverse impacts of climate variability while promoting sustainable agricultural intensification.

Abstract: Bamboo borers (Omphisa fuscidentalis) are tropical insects highly valued in Thailand, with fried bamboo borers fetching prices of up to THB 3,000 per kilogram. These insects are univoltine, with their life cycle naturally synchronized to the rainy season, as bamboo shoots—their egg-laying substrate—are only available during this time. This study explores the use of Ocimum sanctum (holy basil) extract as a natural alternative to juvenile hormone analogs (JHAs) for promoting non-seasonal moth production. Three concentrations of O. sanctumextract (10, 100, and 1,000 ppm) were tested, and their effects on development were compared to JHAs. The results demonstrated that 10 ppm extract induced the highest pupation rate (82%), while 1,000 ppm extract yielded the highest adult emergence rate (78%). Both extract and JHA treatments significantly shortened the larval period (92-99 days) compared to the control (270 days), with no significant differences in the pupal period. Moths reared under the specificconditions successfully mated and produced first-instar larvae, providing a sustainable solution for producing parent moths outside the rainy season. This study offers an innovative approach to scaling bamboo borer production, enabling local agriculturalists to rear these high-value insects in their bamboo forests without reliance on synthetic chemicals.

Abstract: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major cause of gastritis and peptic ulcer. Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP), a virulence factor of H. pylori, acts as a pathogenic factor by activating a wide range of human leukocytes to induce gastric inflammation caused by H. pylori infection. HP-NAP was initially identified for its ability to stimulate neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). This ROS production is mediated by a pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In contrast, HP-NAP-induced cytokine secretion by monocytes is mediated by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), a pattern recognition receptor. Recently, we reported that HP-NAP directly interacts with TLR2. In human neutrophils, TLR2 is involved in HP-NAP-induced secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8) but not HP-NAP-induced ROS production. Interestingly, PTX-sensitive G proteins also contribute to the HP-NAP-induced secretion of IL-8 by neutrophils. In human mast cell line-1 (HMC-1) cells, HP-NAP induces the secretion of histamine and interleukin-6 (IL-6). This secretion depends on PTX-sensitive heterotrimeric G protein-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt. HP-NAP-induced ROS production and IL-8 secretion by neutrophils and HP-NAP-induced secretion of histamine and IL-6 by mast cells may play critical roles in initiating and modulating gastric inflammatory responses during H. pylori infection. Targeting the receptors involved in HP-NAP signaling offers a potential therapeutic strategy for treating H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation, while directly targeting HP-NAP may provide a straightforward and more effective approach. We have identified a commercial antibody that detects recombinant HP-NAP in addition to its original target protein. This antibody inhibits HP-NAP-induced ROS production and IL-8 secretion by human neutrophils. It also suppresses H. pylori-induced ROS and IL-8 production by human neutrophils, suggesting that blocking HP-NAP activity could help attenuate gastric mucosal inflammation triggered by H. pylori. Taken together, HP-NAP represents a promising therapeutic target for drug development aimed at controlling H. pylori-associated gastric inflammation.