Biology subjects

Sun, Q.

Publications and source records attributed to Sun, Q..

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A Beneficial Endornavirus Enhances the Fitness of Phytopathogenic Fungus Rhizotonia solani

Although viruses are primarily characterized as pathogenic agents, certain viruses confer advantages to their hosts. The extent to which a virus can improve host biological performance, however, remains a fascinating topic in virology. An endornavirus, Rhizoctonia solani endornavirus IM (RsEV-IM), was identified as prevalent in Rhizoctonia solani isolates obtained from potato plants. Comparative analysis with a virus-free isogenic strain demonstrated that RsEV-IM infection enhances mycelial growth, sclerotium formation, stress tolerance, and fungal virulence across multiple plant species. Inoculation tests involving numerous R. solani strains confirmed that only RsEV-IM-infected strains exhibited high pathogenicity, independent of other mycovirus infections. Additionally, its secreted protein fraction of RsEV-IM-infected fungus contained elevated levels of various proteins, including those involved in cell wall degradation. This fraction not only facilitated R. solani infection but also suppressed the growth of other fungi and bacteria. These findings position RsEV-IM as a beneficial virus that widely enhances its hosts biological fitness. From both pathological and ecological perspectives, these observations are significant, as they reveal that a mycovirus can serve as a key virulence determinant in fungal populations and potentially shape microbial community dynamics in natural environments. ImportanceFungal pathogenicity and ecological traits have long been thought to be primarily governed by endogenous genetic factors. However, this study reveals a mutualistic relationship between an endornavirus (RsEV-IM) and Rhizoctonia solani, demonstrating that viral infection enhances fungal virulence and ecological fitness. RsEV-IM stimulates fungal growth and the secretion of cell wall-degrading enzymes, resulting in a severe disease phenotype. Ecologically, RsEV-IM-infected fungi potentially gain a competitive advantage over soil microbiota. These findings present a key example of a virus acting as an essential extrachromosomal determinant of fungal pathogenicity and ecosystem interactions. Our results advance the understanding of fungal virulence mechanisms and underscore the broader significance of beneficial virus-fungus associations in agriculture and microbial ecology.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

Selective Immune Silencing by Targeted TGF-β Agonists

Depletion of pathogenic T and B cells is a pillar of therapies for autoimmune, inflammatory, and transplantation-related immunological diseases. However, adverse events, safety concerns in immunocompromised patients, and disease relapse limit clinical utility. Here, we exploit the immunosuppressive properties of a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-{beta}) mimic repurposed from helminths for cell type-specific therapeutic silencing, as a new approach to complement existing therapies. Mouse CD4 and CD8 T cell-targeted TGF-{beta} agonists selectively and potently silence antigen-specific T cell responses in OVA-immunized mice by suppressing pro-inflammatory effector, cytotoxic, and T follicular helper programs, while skewing cells toward a quiescent state biased toward regulatory and type 17 T cell phenotypes. Similarly, human CD4 and CD8 T cell-targeted TGF-{beta} agonists precisely and effectively suppress live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)-induced T cell activation and expansion in human spleen organoids. Correspondingly, CD4 T cell-targeted TGF-{beta} agonist effectively ameliorated disease activity and promoted disease remission in CD4 T cell-driven models of autoimmune neuroinflammation and allergic airway inflammation, demonstrating efficacy in both prophylactic and established inflammatory settings. Moreover, both CD4 and CD8 T cell-targeted TGF-{beta} agonists ameliorated disease activity in graft-versus-host disease. Additionally, a human CD19 B cell-targeted TGF-{beta} agonist robustly inhibits germinal center B cell-to-plasmablast maturation and antibody responses in LAIV-stimulated human spleen organoids. These early-stage results suggest that cell-selective TGF-{beta} agonism merits further investigation as a versatile therapeutic approach for the precise silencing of pathogenic adaptive immune responses.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

STRUCT2SEQ: RNA INVERSE FOLDING WITH DEEP Q-LEARNING

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWRNA molecules play critical roles in biology and therapeutics, with their function intimately tied to their secondary structure. Designing RNA sequences that reliably fold into desired secondary structures, especially those with complex pseudoknots, remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we present Struct2SeQ, a reinforcement learning framework that leverages deep Q-learning to generate RNA sequences conditioned on target secondary structures and SHAPE reactivity constraints. By formulating RNA design as a sequential decision-making process, our model learns to construct sequences that not only fold into the intended structures but also exhibit experimentally consistent SHAPE profiles. Evaluated with experimental data from the OpenKnot 240mer pseudoknot design challenges, Struct2SeQ significantly outperformed humans and other automated design methods while generating diverse solutions that explore a broader sequence space compared to human players. The incorporation of SHAPE-informed rewards further enhances the chemical validity of generated sequences, as evidenced by improved OpenKnot scores. Our results demonstrate the potential of reinforcement learning for RNA design tasks, opening avenues for engineering RNAs with complex structures and functions.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2026

Asymmetric Division in a Two-Cell-Like State Rejuvenates Embryonic Stem Cells

A fundamental question in biology is whether cellular aging is inevitable. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) challenge this paradigm as rare normal cells capable of indefinite in vitro passage. However, the mechanisms underlying ESC lineage immortality remain unresolved. Using long-term live-cell imaging to follow fates of single ESCs, we show here that ESC lineage renewal is achieved through sporadic entry into a state characterized by the expression of two-cell embryo-specific markers. During this state, cells undergo asymmetric divisions, segregating accumulated DNA damage into one daughter lineage destined for elimination, while producing a second lineage that reverts to the pluripotent state. Importantly, the latter lineage exhibits signs of rejuvenation, including reduced DNA damage and enhanced chimeric efficiency. These findings underscore the crucial role of asymmetric cell division in maintaining the long-term health of the ESC lineage against mounting damage within individual cells, a potential model for studying cellular aging and rejuvenation in mammalian cells.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Clinical feasibility of spatial transcriptomics using discarded tissue from diagnostic breast biopsies

Spatial transcriptomics holds potential to transform cancer diagnostics, yet significant barriers still limit its clinical translation. First, access to primary patient tissue is often restricted by logistical challenges and patient hesitancy. Second, it remains uncertain whether high-quality spatial transcriptomics data can be generated from clinical biopsy sections as these are collected primarily for diagnostic purposes that do not prioritize RNA-quality. We investigated whether discarded tissue slices, generated during standard pathology procedures, could be repurposed for spatial transcriptomics and alleviate concerns about both tissue availability and quality. Here, we established a pipeline to collect and perform spatial in situ transcriptomics on discarded biopsy material from a breast cancer patient, and digitized matched pathology images, including hematoxylin and eosin and traditional histochemistry stains from adjacent sections. Our results show that spatial transcriptomics data from discarded tissue are concordant with the original pathology report, while also providing additional insights such as accurate cell type annotation, detailed spatial architecture, and quantification of biological processes relevant to breast cancer progression. Altogether, our approach using discarded pathology tissue sections provides a practical and scalable solution that would maximize the scientific value of existing clinical specimens and enable high-resolution tumor microenvironment mapping.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

PERFECT PCR: Advancing DNA Data Storage to Near-Maximal Density

DNA-based data storage offers unprecedented storage density and durability compared to traditional media, but it faces challenges in long access latency and limited encoding efficiency. Current DNA storage methods achieve only 8% of the theoretical maximum storage density (TMSD) due to biological constraints and error rates. Here, we demonstrate an approach that improves both synthesis speed and encoding density, bringing DNA data storage closer to practical implementation. We describe Polymerase-Enabled Rapid and Frugal Error Correcting Technology (PERFECT) PCR, which integrates PCR with hyperthermophilic EndoNucS enzymes for efficient DNA mismatch detection and cleavage, enabling accurate and fast DNA synthesis using overlapping oligonucleotides. This approach reduced latency while streamlining the overall DNA synthesis process, achieving significantly lower error rates in amplicons compared to state-of-the-art methods, thereby reducing physical redundancy. Specifically, we achieved a substantially reduced error rate of 0.06 errors per kilobase, with 95% of sequences verified as accurate. As a result, our technique reached 94% TMSD, representing a twelve-fold improvement over current systems and approaching the theoretical limit for existing sequencing technologies. We further validated the versatility of PERFECT PCR by successfully encoding and retrieving digital images, music files, and multilingual text files with near-perfect information recovery. By addressing the core challenges of latency, density, and accuracy, our approach brings DNA-based data storage significantly closer to practical implementation. In addition, the accurate DNA synthesis methods described here may be applied to de novo genome assembly and therefore have broad implications for the synthesis and analysis of biological systems. SUMMARYLow cost, rapid, and error free de novo DNA synthesis for DNA-based data storage and gene synthesis applications.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

Bispecific T cell engagers control solid tumors through clonal replacement and IL2-driven effector differentiation of CD8 T-cells

Bispecific T cell engagers (TCEs) often exhibit limited efficacy in solid tumors, in part due to immunosuppressive cues in the tumor microenvironment and low expression of targetable tumor antigens. Therapeutic strategies to improve TCE target sensitivity and enhance T cell effector functions therefore have significant translational potential. Here, we engineered TCEs that induce T cell activation in vitro against the low-abundance target antigens, TRP2/Kb and DLL3. Despite in vitro activity in these models, TCE monotherapy showed limited control of tumor growth in immunocompetent mice. Leveraging this in vivo model of TCE treatment failure, we discovered that co-treatment with TCE and a CD25-biased Interleukin-2 (IL2) rescues anti-tumor activity. Further, multimodal single-cell transcriptomic and immune repertoire analyses revealed that TCE-IL2 combination therapy controlled tumors by recruiting and activating new CD8+ T cells into the tumor microenvironment. These findings demonstrate that TCE-mediated anti-tumor responses function through a CD8+ T cell clonal replacement mechanism that can be augmented by cytokine therapy. One Sentence SummaryCombining TCE therapy with IL-2 enhances TCE efficacy in aggressive small-cell lung cancer and melanoma models with low target antigen density through T cell clonal replacement and CD8+ effector T cell differentiation.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

FuzzAletheia: Mapping dynamic interaction landscapes of intrinsically disordered protein-ligand complexes to accelerate ligand optimization

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), representing more than 30% of human proteome, present great challenges in rational drug design due to their highly flexible conformations and dynamic interactions. Though their malfunction is linked to major diseases, IDPs are difficult to target. A critical roadblock lies in hit-to-lead optimization due to their dynamic interactions with hit compounds. Here we developed FuzzAletheia, an IDP-ligand dynamic binding pattern analyzer, to accelerate hit optimization. It analyzes the molecular dynamics simulation trajectories of IDP-ligand to cluster interactions into distinct spatiotemporal stable binding features, which are then visualized and quantified to provide insights into the dynamic binding orientation, strength, and stability. This analysis pinpoints modification sites on hit compounds for optimization. We applied FuzzAletheia to the disordered p53 transactivation domain 1 and its hit compound 1050. Guided by FuzzAletheia analysis, we designed and synthesized six derivatives of 1050 and the most potent compound achieved a 10-fold enhancement in activity, demonstrating its power to accelerate IDP hit optimization.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

The origins and adaptive consequences of polyploidy in a dominant prairie grass

Polyploidy is ubiquitous across North American prairies, which provide essential ecosystem services and rich soil for agriculture. Yet the mechanism driving polyploid abundance is unclear. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed including polyploid abundance is proportional to the opportunity for whole genome duplication (WGD), and WGD alters phenotypes that may increase fitness. We tested these two hypotheses together in the mixed-ploidy species Andropogon gerardi, a dominant grass species in endangered North American tallgrass prairies. Leveraging a novel, phased allopolyploid reference genome, we found the A. gerardi hexaploid arose after the C4 grassland expansion in the early Pleistocene, when glacial cycles likely increased secondary contact between the diploid progenitors. We sequenced A. gerardi from 25 popula-tions and examined cytotype performance and morphology in a controlled environment to investigate the consequences of the contemporary mixed-ploidy populations. We found the 9x A. gerardi cytotype is a neopolyploid and a result of recurrent WGD events. Further, we demonstrate the 9x neopolyploids have greater growth and a decreased stomatal pore index, which is adaptive in xeric climates where the 9x cy-totype is most common. Together, our results support both hypotheses for polyploid abundance in North America: WGD is a product of opportunity and can have immediate fitness consequences. Although the changes to fitness may provide an advantage to 9x A. gerardi, the establishment of 9x may lower overall population fitness due to the lower reproductive viability of 9x individuals. Significance statementPolyploid species are abundant in North American prairies and make up many of the dominant species in the ecosystem. This prominence could be a result of whole genome duplication conferring an advantage that increases the frequency of polyploids or could simply indicate that the opportunity for whole genome duplication is higher in this ecosystem, or both. Through examining three polyploidization events in A. gerardi, the dominant species in endangered tallgrass North American prairies, we found whole genome duplication is both surprisingly common and confers traits that are beneficial in some environments.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

A Study on the Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Profiles of the Novel PPAR Pan Agonist Chiglitazar Sodium in Rats with Hypoalbuminemia

ObjectiveTo compare the changes in the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profiles of Chiglitazar Sodium between healthy rats and those with hypoalbuminemia, and to evaluate the medication safety of Chiglitazar in rats with hypoalbuminemia. MethodsLiquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was employed to determine the plasma concentration ofChiglitazar Sodium in both healthy rats and rats with hypoalbuminemia after administration. Pharmacokinetics were calculated based on the measured data. Blood glucose levels were monitored and recorded in both groups to observe pharmacodynamic changes. ResultsPharmacokinetic analysis revealed that, compared to the healthy group, only the Tmax in the hypoalbuminemia group was significantly earlier by 34.3% (P<0.001), while other pharmacokinetic parameters showed no significant differences. Pharmacodynamic studies indicated that blood glucose levels remained stable in both healthy rats and rats with hypoalbuminemia during the 0.25-10 hour monitoring period. ConclusionExcept for Tmax, there were no significant differences in PK/PD parameters between rats with hypoalbuminemia and healthy rats. Blood glucose levels remained stable in both groups after oral administration of Chiglitazar Sodium. The animal experimental results suggest that, under normal conditions, hypoalbuminemia does not affect the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of Chiglitazar Sodium.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2025

Spatial Partitioning of Core Glycolysis Enables Tissue-Specific Metabolic Programs In Vivo

Tissues exhibit metabolic heterogeneity that tailors conserved pathways to distinct physiological demands, yet how this heterogeneity is achieved in vivo remains poorly understood. Here, we use Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate tissue-specific requirements for glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI-1), a conserved reversible enzyme that links glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Tissue-specific metabolic-network modeling predicted differential glycolytic and PPP flux potential across adult tissues and identified tissue-specific biases in GPI-1 reaction directionality. Genetic disruption of gpi-1 produced germline defects consistent with impaired PPP-associated anabolic metabolism and somatic defects consistent with impaired glycolysis, indicating that GPI-1 supports distinct metabolic functions across tissues. We further discovered that two GPI-1 isoforms are differentially expressed and localized: GPI-1A is broadly expressed and cytosolic, whereas GPI-1B is enriched in the germline and localizes to endoplasmic reticulum-associated compartments. Isoform-specific perturbations revealed distinct requirements for GPI-1A and GPI-1B in somatic glycolysis and reproductive physiology. These findings implicate isoform-specific subcellular localization as a possible contributor to the partition of the functions of a conserved reversible enzyme, enabling tissue-specific anabolic and catabolic metabolism in vivo.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Effects of carbon dioxide enrichment and environmental factors on photosynthesis, growth and yield and their interaction in cucumber: a meta-analysis

Despite the ongoing increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, these levels remain well below the optimal threshold for cucumber growth and development. In addressing the challenges posed by climate change to agricultural production, the use of carbon dioxide enrichment (eCO2) has become increasingly widespread in order to meet global demand for cucumbers. Nevertheless, the impact of eCO2 and environmental factors on cucumber growth remains to be elucidated. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of 73 research papers on eCO2 in cucumbers was conducted, and their photosynthesis, growth, and yield were analysed. In summary, under conditions of elevated CO2 levels, the net photosynthetic rate, biomass, and yield of cucumbers exhibited a marked increase of 56.31%, 27.75%, and 21.98%, respectively. Concurrently, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate exhibited a decline of 36.07% and 30.42%, respectively. In the context of the implementation of eCO2 at varying levels within a production environment, the prevailing recommendation pertains to the range of 800-1200 ppm. It is advised that this be integrated with elevated light intensity, augmented temperature, suitable humidity levels, and a sufficient supply of fertiliser to achieve a synergistic effect. The findings of this study contribute to enhancement of environmental control in the context of greenhouse cultivation of cucumber in response to climate change, as well as promoting the green and sustainable development of the cucumber industry.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Benchmarking Free Energy Calculations: Analysis of Single and Double Mutations Across Two Simulation Software Platforms for Two Protein Systems

Mutation analysis of single and double mutations of proteins including for the two widely studied proteins: Staphylococcus nuclease (S. nuclease) and T4 lysozyme, provide critical insights into their stability and fitness. Furthermore, such analysis facilitates a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between a proteins sequence, structural conformation, and functional output. Free Energy Perturbation (FEP) is an alchemical, all-atom molecular dynamics based computational approach that determines the free energy change ({Delta}{Delta}G) from wild type to mutant states. Two widely adopted software platforms used for this purpose are Schrodinger and GROMACS. We have compared the results of FEP simulations for mutations using these platforms, employing the OPLS4 force field implemented in Schrodinger, and the Amber99SB-ILDN force field implemented in GROMACS for this work. For the 38 single mutants of S. nuclease, the Pearson r between the experimental and the calculated free energy change ({Delta}{Delta}G) was 0.86 using Schrodinger and 0.87 using GROMACS. The reliability of the FEP method using the two software platforms with the specified force fields was further demonstrated by its performance on 24 single mutants of T4 lysozyme, yielding strong correlation between predicted and experimental{Delta}{Delta} G values, with Pearson r of 0.80 for Schrodinger and 0.85 for GROMACS. Additionally, the computed folding free energy changes for 45 double mutations in S. nuclease ([Formula]) using Schrodinger correlated well with both experimental measurements (Pearson r = 0.74) and previously reported GROMACS values (Pearson r = 0.71). Correspondingly, the nonadditivities([Formula]) of the double mutations derived using Schrodinger for these 45 double mutants of S. nuclease were also found to be in good agreement with the experimental values (Pearson r = 0.79), as well as with the previously reported GROMACS results (Pearson r = 0.61). A good correlation was also observed between computed values from Schrodinger and GROMACS, with a Pearson r of 0.71 for double mutants and 0.61 for their nonadditivities. Collectively, these findings establish the efficiency, accuracy, and reliability of Schrodinger FEP+ and GROMACS in predicting mutation induced free energy changes in S. nuclease and T4 lysozyme. The integration of FEP based computational methodologies with experimental validation provides a framework for quantifying mutation induced changes in protein thermostability, which can be used as a tool for protein engineering and design.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Ultra-High-Throughput LC-MS Method for Targeted Protein Degradation Compound Screening Using the Orbitrap Astral Mass Spectrometer

High-throughput proteomics analysis is crucial for targeted protein degradation (TPD) compound screening. Here, we developed a 300 sample per day (SPD) LC-MS method using the Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer for ultra-high-throughput TPD compound screening. We identified close to 8,000 protein groups from a single cell line with a coefficient of variance (CV) of less than 10%, highlighting the deep proteome coverage and method reproducibility even at 300 SPD. This high degree of precision provides the statistical confidence to detect subtle, yet significant, changes in protein abundance that were previously challenging to quantify in high-throughput workflows. To evaluate the quantitation accuracy of this method, we further mixed the digests from two or three species at different ratios. Our three-proteome mixture results demonstrated highly accurate quantitation for proteins with both small and large fold changes. Moreover, our two-proteome mixture experiment, where 20 to 160 ng of yeast digest was spiked into 200 ng of HeLa digest, showed an R2 of 0.999 for the yeast proteome, underscoring the quantitation accuracy of the method. Utilizing this workflow, we studied dose-dependent protein degradation patterns induced by pomalidomide, iberdomide, and mezigdomide. Our results indicate that mezigdomide may possess enhanced efficacy in T cells by degrading additional proteins such as IKZF2, thereby boosting anti-cancer immunity. Together, we developed an ultra-high-throughput LC-MS method with excellent proteome coverage and quantitation accuracy that is highly suitable for chemoproteomics screening of drug libraries.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

CAMK2-NR4A1 signaling initiates metabolic substrate switching to induce heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is marked by a shift in cardiac energy metabolism from fatty acid oxidation to glucose utilization. This "fuel switch" promotes accumulation of glucose byproducts that modify calcium-handling proteins and impair cardiac function, yet the initiating signals remain unclear. We identify Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMK2) as an upstream regulator that triggers pathological substrate switching leading to cardiac systolic dysfunction. Dynamic [18F]FDG-PET imaging showed a six-fold increase in myocardial glucose uptake after pressure overload in control mice, but not in cardiomyocyte-specific Camk2d/Camk2g double knockouts (cDKO), even before functional decline. cDKO hearts retained lipid reserves, indicating preserved fatty acid metabolism. Transcriptomics revealed strong CAMK2-dependent induction of Nr4a1 and early repression of genes for fatty acid uptake and {beta}-oxidation preceding upregulation of genes for glucose utilization. Cardiomyocyte-specific Nr4a1 knockout mice closely mimicked the metabolic protection seen in cDKO, while NR4A1 overexpression in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes suppressed fatty acid metabolism. NR4A1 directly bound and repressed the FATP1 (Slc27a1) promoter, thereby secondarily enhancing glucose utilization. Together, these findings define a CAMK2-NR4A1 signaling axis that drives lipid depletion and metabolic remodeling, establishing it as a causal mechanism linking energy substrate switching to HFrEF.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2025

The Janus face of Selinexor (KPT-330) in bacterial infection: short-term protection versus long-term lethality

The clinical application of the anti-cancer drug KPT-330 (Selinexor) has been associated with increased infection-related mortality, yet its direct impact on infection pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we found that KPT-330 treatment reduced host survival from 66% to 22% in a mouse model of bacterial pneumonia. Interestingly, KPT-330 conferred transient lung protection at 24 h post infection by blocking the nuclear export of I{kappa}B, suppressing NF{kappa}B signaling and immune cell recruitment. Meanwhile, KPT-330 induced apoptosis of lung epithelial cells, enhancing bacterial adhesions and invasion, and leading to dramatically increased bacterial load. These effects culminated in a compensatory immune rebound and more severe lung injury at later stages. Adjunctive therapy with the antibiotic polymyxin E (colistin) rescued survival, whereas the immunosuppressant dexamethasone did not, underscoring that timely bacterial clearance is critical for managing this adverse effect. Our findings provide direct evidence that KPT-330 exacerbates bacterial infection and advocate for an adjunctive antimicrobial prophylaxis strategy to ensure its safer use, especially in high-risk patients.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Insecticidal and Feeding Deterrent Effects of Menadione and Menadione Sodium Bisulfite in Wood Treatment against the Formosan Subterranean Termite

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is an invasive species and among the most economically damaging structural pest worldwide. Various insecticides and natural substances have been investigated for their management. Among these, naphthoquinones have demonstrated insecticidal activity against termites and diverse other insect pests. Menadione (vitamin K3), a naphthoquinone derivative, has been examined for its toxicity and repellency against C. formosanus when applied to soil, the tunneling substrate for termites. However, its potential for wood preservation was not investigated. In this study, we tested the water-insoluble menadione and its water-soluble derivative, menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB), for their effects on mortality and food consumption in C. formosanus through wood treatment over 28 days. Our results revealed toxicity for both compounds, with significant termite mortality observed between 500 and 1000 ppm in a no-choice assay. In a choice assay where termites were provided with treated and untreated wood, menadione at concentrations [≥] 500 ppm exhibited a strong feeding deterrent effect and reduced wood damage. However, such effects were not consistently detected for MSB ranging from 1 to 1000 ppm. These findings suggest that menadione is more effective than MSB and has potential as a wood preservation agent.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Bodily Self in Macaque Monkeys and Human Infants

Whether monkeys possess the concept of bodily self remains controversial. We found that macaque monkeys trained for mirror self-recognition (MSR) could spontaneously recognize themselves when viewing video images of their back from a third-person perspective (3PP), but this generalization required a few minutes of "exploration". In contrast, through visual-tactile synchronization training similar to that used in human out-of-body studies, naive monkeys could recognize themselves from 3PP back images and demonstrated MSR within seconds. Interestingly, in human infants, we found that 3PP back self-recognition developed spontaneously several months after MSR. These results demonstrate the existence of hierarchical bodily self in macaques and similar stepwise development of bodily self in human infants, offering insights into the emergence and manifestation of bodily self in natural and artificial intelligence.

neuroscience↗