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1. Molecular mechanisms underlying host-induced gene silencing

   https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koac165  

   Zand Karimi, Hana; Innes, Roger W (June 2022, The Plant Cell)

   Abstract Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) refers to the silencing of genes in pathogens and pests by expressing homologous double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) or artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) in the host plant. The discovery of such trans-kingdom RNA silencing has enabled the development of RNA interference-based approaches for controlling diverse crop pathogens and pests. Although HIGS is a promising strategy, the mechanisms by which these regulatory RNAs translocate from plants to pathogens, and how they induce gene silencing in pathogens, are poorly understood. This lack of understanding has led to large variability in the efficacy of various HIGS treatments. This variability is likely due to multiple factors, such as the ability of the target pathogen or pest to take up and/or process RNA from the host, the specific genes and target sequences selected in the pathogen or pest for silencing, and where, when, and how the dsRNAs or amiRNAs are produced and translocated. In this review, we summarize what is currently known about the molecular mechanisms underlying HIGS, identify key unanswered questions, and explore strategies for improving the efficacy and reproducibility of HIGS treatments in the control of crop diseases. 

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2. Molecular mechanisms of exercise-induced neuroprotection against Parkinson’s disease

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2025.05.004  

   Lee, Youngil; Ju, Beomsoo; Cheon, Johan; Mishra, Namita; Fletcher, Emma; Koutakis, Panagiotis; Javan, Gulnaz T; Jang, Young C (May 2025, Sports Medicine and Health Science)
3. Validation of a rodent model of episodic memory replay

   Sheridan, Cassandra L; Panoz-Brown, Danielle; Shiffrin, Richard M; Crystal, Jonathon D (June 2024, Learning & Behavior)

   Vivid episodic memories in humans have been described as the replay of the flow of past events in sequential order. Recently, Panoz-Brown et al. (2018) developed an olfactory memory task in which rats were presented with a list of trial-unique odors in an encoding context; next, in a distinctive memory assessment context, the rats were rewarded for choosing the second to last item from the list while avoiding other items from the list. In a different memory assessment context, the fourth to last item was rewarded. According to the episodic memory replay hypothesis, the rat remembers the list items and searches these items to find the item at the targeted locations in the list. However, events presented sequentially differ in memory trace strength, allowing a rat to use the relative familiarity of the memory traces, instead of episodic memory replay, to solve the task. Here, we directly manipulated memory trace strength by manipulating the odor intensity of target odors in both the list presentation and memory assessment. The rats relied on episodic memory replay to solve the memory assessment in conditions in which reliance on memory trace strength is ruled out. We conclude that rats are able to replay episodic memories. 

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4. Phosphate-binding proteins and peptides: from molecular mechanisms to potential applications

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103199  

   Mayer, Brooke K; Hutchison, Justin M; McLamore, Eric S; Torres, Maria; Venkiteshwaran, Kaushik (December 2024, Current Opinion in Biotechnology)
5. Neural Mechanisms Underlying Repetitive Behaviors in Rodent Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2020.592710  

   Gandhi, Tanya; Lee, Charles C. (January 2021, Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience)

   null (Ed.)

   Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is comprised of several conditions characterized by alterations in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the heterogeneous development of ASD behaviors. Several rodent models display ASD-like phenotypes, including repetitive behaviors. In this review article, we discuss the potential neural mechanisms involved in repetitive behaviors in rodent models of ASD and related neuropsychiatric disorders. We review signaling pathways, neural circuits, and anatomical alterations in rodent models that display robust stereotypic behaviors. Understanding the mechanisms and circuit alterations underlying repetitive behaviors in rodent models of ASD will inform translational research and provide useful insight into therapeutic strategies for the treatment of repetitive behaviors in ASD and other neuropsychiatric disorders. 

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