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There have been rapid advances in nucleoside-modified messenger RNA–based vaccines, particularly during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, demonstrating a rapid and cost-effective approach for addressing infectious diseases. A major challenge remains in developing a delivery system that protects mRNA from degradation and facilitates its passage through tissue and cellular barriers. Current four-component lipid nanoparticles enable efficient endosomal escape and are a pivotal technology for the delivery of mRNA vaccines. However, challenges such as stability, availability, durability, and adverse effects persist. We have developed a self-assembling one-component ionizable amphiphilic Janus dendrimers (IAJD) delivery system with naturally occurring amino heads, capable of efficiently delivering mRNA to the spleen and lymph nodes. This single-component system simplifies synthesis, reduces development complexity, and enables rapid global distribution of mRNA vaccines during pandemics. As a proof of concept, one-component IAJD97, formulated with mRNA encoding norovirus mRNA capsid protein, demonstrates the potential of IAJDs as efficient delivery platform for mRNA vaccines, advancing their effectiveness and expanding applications to improve public health outcomes. 

Abstract Dragon fruits are tropical fruits economically important for agricultural industries. As members of the family of Cactaceae , they have evolved to adapt to the arid environment. Here we report the draft genome of Hylocereus undatus , commercially known as the white-fleshed dragon fruit. The chromosomal level genome assembly contains 11 longest scaffolds corresponding to the 11 chromosomes of H. undatus . Genome annotation of H. undatus found ~29,000 protein-coding genes, similar to Carnegiea gigantea (saguaro). Whole-genome duplication (WGD) analysis revealed a WGD event in the last common ancestor of Cactaceae followed by extensive genome rearrangements. The divergence time between H. undatus and C. gigantea was estimated to be 9.18 MYA. Functional enrichment analysis of orthologous gene clusters (OGCs) in six Cactaceae plants found significantly enriched OGCs in drought resistance. Fruit flavor-related functions were overrepresented in OGCs that are significantly expanded in H. undatus . The H. undatus draft genome also enabled the discovery of carbohydrate and plant cell wall-related functional enrichment in dragon fruits treated with trypsin for a longer storage time. Lastly, genes of the betacyanin (a red-violet pigment and antioxidant with a very high concentration in dragon fruits) biosynthetic pathway were found to be co-localized on a 12 Mb region of one chromosome. The consequence may be a higher efficiency of betacyanin biosynthesis, which will need experimental validation in the future. The H. undatus draft genome will be a great resource to study various cactus plants. 

Tea is a steeped beverage made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis . Globally, this healthy, caffeine-containing drink is one of the most widely consumed beverages. At least 50 countries produce tea and most of the production information and tea research is derived from international sources. Here, we discuss information related to tea production, genetics, and chemistry as well as production issues that affect or are likely to affect emerging tea production and research in the United States. With this review, we relay current knowledge on tea production, threats to tea production, and solutions to production problems to inform this emerging market in the United States. 

Viral and synthetic vectors to deliver nucleic acids were key to the rapid development of extraordinarily efficient COVID-19 vaccines. The four-component lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), containing phospholipids, PEG-conjugated lipids, cholesterol, and ionizable lipids, co-assembled with mRNA via a microfluidic technology, are the leading nonviral delivery vector used by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna to access COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. LNPs exhibit a statistical distribution of their four components when delivering mRNA. Here, we report a methodology that involves screening libraries to discover the molecular design principles required to realize organ-targeted mRNA delivery and mediate activity with a one-component ionizable multifunctional amphiphilic Janus dendrimer (IAJD) derived from plant phenolic acids. IAJDs co-assemble with mRNA into monodisperse dendrimersome nanoparticles (DNPs) with predictable dimensions, via the simple injection of their ethanol solution in a buffer. The precise location of the functional groups in one-component IAJDs demonstrated that the targeted organs, including the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and lung, are selected based on the hydrophilic region, while activity is associated with the hydrophobic domain of IAJDs. These principles, and a mechanistic hypothesis to explain activity, simplify the synthesis of IAJDs, the assembly of DNPs, handling, and storage of vaccines, and reduce price, despite employing renewable plant starting materials. Using simple molecular design principles will lead to increased accessibility to a large diversity of mRNA-based vaccines and nanotherapeutics.