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Gang Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Gang Wang.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

A chromosome-level genome assembly and developmental transcriptome profiling reveal stage-specific remodeling of the molecular chaperone system in Helicoverpa armigera.

Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most destructive lepidopteran pests worldwide owing to its remarkable polyphagy, long-distance migration, and rapid adaptation to insecticides. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of H. armigera generated from a field-collected individual in southwestern China, providing a valuable resource for future population genomic and pangenome studies. Developmental transcriptome analyses of first-instar larvae, fifth-instar larvae, and adults identified 6817, 3519, and 5518 differentially expressed genes, respectively, including 797 shared among all developmental transitions. Functional enrichment and co-expression network analyses revealed extensive transcriptional reprogramming, characterized by coordinated regulation of glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and fatty acid β-oxidation, indicating dynamic metabolic remodeling during development. Genome-wide analysis identified 77 heat shock protein (HSP) genes belonging to six subfamilies. These genes were unevenly distributed across chromosomes, with HSP20 members exhibiting extensive tandem duplication. Expression profiling revealed pronounced stage specificity, suggesting progressive remodeling of molecular chaperone networks during development. Early larvae primarily relied on HSP40/HSP60/HSP70 and HSP10/HSP60 chaperone systems; fifth-instar larvae exhibited HSP20-centered proteostasis; and adults predominantly expressed HSP40 together with multiple HSP70 members, accompanied by enrichment of stress response and metamorphosis-related functions. This study provides new insights into developmental transcriptional regulation, metabolic remodeling, and stage-specific specialization of molecular chaperone networks in H. armigera, establishing a foundation for future studies of stress adaptation, population genomic variation, and developmental mechanisms.

Cotton bollworm↗
PubMed2026

Gut microbiota and metabolic alterations in participants with flatulence identify Faecalibacterium prausnitzii as a key microbial target for clinical intervention.

Flatulence is closely associated with gut dysbiosis, yet the characteristic microbial signatures, metabolic alterations, and actionable intervention targets remain unclear. This limited mechanistic understanding has hindered the development of precise microbiota-based strategies for managing flatulence. Here, we found that participants with flatulence exhibited marked shifts in gut microbial functions and fecal metabolic profiles compared with healthy controls, characterized by enhanced abnormal fermentation, enrichment of oxidative stress-related functions, elevated low-grade inflammatory signatures, and reduced anti-inflammatory and mucosal-protective metabolic features. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was significantly negatively associated with the high-gas-producing phenotype. In vitro replenishment experiments further validated the role of F. prausnitzii in reducing gas production, promoting butyrate generation, and remodeling butyrate-associated microbial communities. Based on microbial interaction analysis, we identified Bifidobacterium longum CCFM1319 as a candidate strain for targeting F. prausnitzii. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, supplementation with B. longum CCFM1319 significantly increased intestinal F. prausnitzii abundance and improved flatulence-related symptoms. Collectively, these findings reveal the microbiota and metabolic dysbiosis underlying flatulence, highlight the key regulatory role of F. prausnitzii, and lays the foundation for targeted microbiota-based intervention strategies for flatulence.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Identification of candidate genes and regulatory mechanisms for thick shank phenotype of Dong Tao chickens.

The Dong Tao Chicken has garnered widespread attention owing to its hallmark trait of remarkably thick shanks. However, the genetic mechanisms and molecular basis underlying this unique phenotype remain largely elusive to date. We carried out crossbreeding trials, performed genome-wide association study (GWAS), and completed transcriptome sequencing of leg tissues. Crossbreeding experiments confirmed that the thick-leg trait of Dong Tao chickens is polygenically controlled. Furthermore, GWAS analysis on the F₂ segregating population screened NAKIN3 as a key candidate gene associated with this trait. Transcriptomic results indicated that tarsometatarsal skin acts as the primary tissue regulating shank circumference growth. Moreover, ACTB was recognized as a core gene driving dermal thickening of the tarsometatarsus. By interacting with IRF family members, TLR4, SOS1, IFNG, STAT family members, EGF and other molecules, ACTB participates in multiple Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways including the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway to coordinately modulate dermal thickening in the tarsometatarsal skin of Dong Tao chickens. This study identifies key loci and genes governing shank development, offering theoretical basis and genetic resources for dissecting molecular mechanisms and selective breeding of Dong Tao chickens. Nevertheless, these preliminary findings need to be further verified by expanding the experimental population and sample size, together with additional independent validation experiments.

Dong Tao chicken↗
PubMed2026

Continuous theta-burst stimulation over the right DLPFC modulates central executive network connectivity in depression: exploratory analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

Previous studies suggest that transcranial magnetic stimulation exerts antidepressant effects and is associated with alterations in functional connectivity (FC), but the neural correlates remain unclear. This exploratory sham-controlled trial investigated the effect of continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on FC in major depressive disorder (MDD). Seventy MDD patients were randomized to receive two-week treatment of personalized cTBS or sham stimulation. Resting-state fMRI was performed at baseline and post-treatment. Ultimately, 31 patients in the active cTBS group and 28 patients in the sham group passed imaging quality control and were included in the final analysis. To identify the FC that may have been influenced by cTBS treatment, two complementary FC analyses were conducted: (1) voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) followed by seed-based FC, and (2) an individual FC analysis based on the stimulation targets. Furthermore, correlations between FC changes and clinical symptoms improvement were examined. Both groups exhibited reductions of depression scores, with greater improvement in the active group. Compared to the sham group, active cTBS showed increased DC in the precuneus and elevated FC between the precuneus (within the para-cingulate network) and the right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and DLPFC. Further stimulation target-based analysis revealed increased FC between stimulation targets and both the precuneus and visual regions following treatment. Our findings reveal neural changes associated with cTBS over the right DLPFC in MDD, notably involving the precuneus and its connectivity with the right IPL/DLPFC, suggesting alterations within the central executive network. TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org.cn; ChiCTR2300068273.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Genome-wide characterization of the FOX gene family reveals sex-biased expression and FoxO-associated regulation during gonadal development in Bellamya aeruginosa.

Forkhead box (FOX) transcription factors are important regulators of development and reproduction, but their roles in molluscan gonadal development remain unclear. In this study, the FOX gene family was systematically identified in the freshwater gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa, and comparative gonadal transcriptomic analyses were performed across sexes and developmental stages.A total of 35 FOX genes were identified and classified into 19 subfamilies. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses indicated that the FOX gene family is generally conserved among mollusks, whereas FoxG and FoxL2 showed lineage-specific expansion. Structural analyses demonstrated that most BaeFOX proteins retained the conserved Forkhead domain architecture. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that gene expression divergence between testes and ovaries was markedly greater than that between developmental stages within the same gonad, indicating that sexual dimorphism is the major source of gonadal transcriptional variation. Functional enrichment consistently identified the FoxO signaling pathway in sex-biased comparisons. Several FOX genes also displayed clear gonad-biased expression patterns, and network analyses suggested that BaeFoxO, BaeFoxL2, and BaeFoxG may play central regulatory roles in gonadal development. These findings provide the first comprehensive characterization of the FOX gene family in B. aeruginosa and suggest that FOX-related regulatory networks potentially participate in gonadal development in gastropod mollusks.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Clinical and molecular characterization of TCF12 variants in an Asian pediatric cohort with craniosynostosis.

BACKGROUND: Craniosynostosis is a genetically heterogeneous craniofacial disorder caused by the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures. Pathogenic variants in TCF12, encoding a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, represent a major cause of autosomal dominant coronal craniosynostosis and are characterized by incomplete penetrance and marked phenotypic variability. However, clinical and molecular data from Asian pediatric populations remain limited. METHODS: Trio-based whole-exome sequencing was performed on ten pediatric patients with cranial deformities and their parents. The identified TCF12 variants were classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines and validated by Sanger sequencing. Detailed clinical and radiological data were collected. In addition, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to summarize previously reported TCF12 variants and associated phenotypes. RESULTS: Ten distinct heterozygous TCF12 variants were identified in ten unrelated pediatric patients, all of which were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic according to ACMG criteria. Six variants were inherited, and four occurred de novo. Seven patients had imaging-confirmed craniosynostosis, predominantly involving the coronal sutures (five bilateral and one unilateral), while one patient presented with multisuture craniosynostosis (left coronal and sagittal sutures). Three patients showed cranial deformities without radiographic evidence of suture fusion. Phenotypic heterogeneity and incomplete penetrance were observed, including a mildly affected parent. Most pathogenic variants were truncating variants distributed mainly across exons 14-19 and predicted to induce loss of function, either through nonsense-mediated mRNA decay or the production of truncated proteins lacking the entire C-terminal bHLH domain. Structural modeling analysis further indicated that the bHLH-domain-located missense variant p.Arg603Trp alters the local DNA-binding conformation of TCF12 and impairs its binding affinity to the E-box DNA motif. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional clinical and molecular data on TCF12-related craniosynostosis in a pediatric cohort from an Asian population. Our findings support haploinsufficiency as the central pathogenic mechanism, primarily driven by truncating variants affecting the C-terminal bHLH domain. The marked clinical heterogeneity, the presence of mild or evolving phenotypes, and incomplete penetrance observed in our cohort underscore the importance of early diagnosis and longitudinal clinical surveillance in affected families.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Spiramycin fermentation residue-derived biochar regulates soil nutrient cycling, microbial communities, and antibiotic resistance gene dynamics.

Spiramycin fermentation residues (SFR) are hazardous wastes enriched with residual antibiotics, yet they can serve as potential feedstocks for resource recovery after appropriate treatment. In this study, SFR-derived biochar (SFR-BC) was produced by pyrolysis and applied to agricultural soil to evaluate its effects on soil properties, microbial communities, potential pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). A 60-day soil incubation experiment was conducted with one control and three SFR-BC application rates of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%. SFR-BC improved soil physicochemical properties, nutrient status, enzyme activities, and microbial alpha diversity. Metagenomic analysis showed that SFR-BC altered the abundance of functional genes associated with carbon and nitrogen cycling, indicating shifts in microbial functional potential. SFR-BC also changed bacterial co-occurrence patterns, with the high-dose treatment showing a more complex and highly connected network structure during incubation. In addition, high-dose SFR-BC reduced several potential pathogenic bacteria, including major plant pathogenic taxa. SFR-BC decreased soil ARG abundance by 9.38%-33.67% and MGE abundance by 6.49%-27.89% relative to the control, showing a dose-dependent reduction in antibiotic resistance-related genetic elements. Network and PLS-PM analyses further indicated that ARG variation was statistically associated with soil physicochemical properties, microbial diversity, potential bacterial hosts, and MGEs. Overall, these results suggest that SFR-BC can improve short-term soil nutrient status and reduce ARGs, MGEs, and several potential pathogenic taxa under controlled incubation conditions, providing useful evidence for the potential valorization of antibiotic fermentation residues through pyrolysis.

Charcoal↗
PubMed2026

Integration of GWAS and WGCNA reveals novel candidate genes for cottonseed oil content in Gossypium hirsutum L.

Genetic improvement of cottonseed oil content represents a crucial strategy for enhancing the comprehensive utilization of cotton. Here, genome-wide association study (GWAS) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were integrated to elucidate the genetic control underlying oil content. Phenotypic evaluation of 159 cotton accessions revealed extensive genetic variation, with kernel oil content ranging from 17.81% to 39.50%. Population structure analysis based on 20,213 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) classified the accessions into two major subpopulations. A total of 18 SNPs exhibited significant associations with oil content, two of which were stably detected across multiple environments using the FarmCPU model. Further haplotype analysis within linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks confirmed a favorable haplotype on chromosome A05 that was strongly correlated with elevated oil content. Integration of publicly available transcriptome data from 11 ovule developmental stages with WGCNA identified modules significantly linked to oil content. Of the 74 candidate genes within LD intervals, 17 were assigned to WGCNA modules. Functional annotation and enrichment analyses highlighted four putative candidate genes (GH_A05G1503, GH_A05G1506, GH_A05G1531, and GH_A10G2150) involved in oil biosynthesis. These findings deepen our understanding of the genetic mechanisms governing cottonseed oil biosynthesis and lay a foundation for breeding high-oil cotton varieties.

Gossypium↗
PubMed2026

Discovery of a potential novel pharmacogenomic biomarker on ANK3 gene for liafensine, a triple reuptake inhibitor for treatment-resistant depression.

Liafensine is a triple reuptake inhibitor targeting transporters for serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It did not exhibit efficacy in non-biomarker-selected TRD patients in two Phase 2b studies. We utilized the blood samples from the patients enrolled in these two studies and extracted genomic DNA to conduct a genome‑wide association study aiming to find a biomarker which can predict liafensine response. A single single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs12217173, at ANK3 gene was identified as strongly associated with treatment response to liafensine (p = 6.61 × 10-8) in the discovery set (n = 186) and was further confirmed in the replication sample set (n = 47, p = 0.05, combined p = 1.27 × 10-8). In addition, this SNP was not associated with the efficacy of the duloxetine or escitalopram, suggesting it is a liafensine-specific biomarker. This finding was subsequently confirmed in a prospective clinical study. Thus, this study represents a novel approach to translating precision medicine into psychiatric diseases.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

T2T Genome Assembly and Multi-Omics Data Reveal Terrestrial Adaptation and Mucus Biosynthesis in Tropical Leatherleaf Slug (Laevicaulis alte).

Laevichaulis alte is a slug in the order Systellommatophora that evolved from aquatic ancestors and now faces strong challenges from desiccation, respiration on land, and novel pathogens. Its mucus is essential for water retention, locomotion, and defense. To link terrestrial adaptation with mucus biosynthesis, we generated a gap-free genome assembly of L. alte using PacBio HiFi reads, Oxford Nanopore ultra-long reads, and Hi-C data. The genome shows low heterozygosity and holocentromeric chromosomes. Functional metabolomics revealed marked metabolic shifts between L. alte and the closely related aquatic species Peronia verruculata. In L. alte, differential metabolites were enriched in lipid metabolism, immune regulation, and stress response pathways, consistent with life in a dry and microbe-rich terrestrial environment. Comparative genomics and transcriptomics identified candidate genes linked to mucus secretion and physiological adaptation, including VEGF, ASGR2, and COL6A6. Further analyses highlighted the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene family as a key regulator connecting angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and mucus production pathways in L. alte. Together, this gap-free genome and multi-omics dataset establish a molecular framework that links genomic innovation, mucus biology, and terrestrial adaptation in Systellommatophora, and they offer a basis for understanding ecological niche specialization in land molluscs.

Animals↗
PubMed2025

Role of HLA-DRA-CREB3L4 regulatory axis in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis: Inhibition of CREB3L4 expression by HLA-DRA increases the risk of disease.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian endometriosis is a common gynecological condition characterized by the abnormal growth of endometrial-like tissue in locations outside the uterus, and its development remains poorly understood. This study aims to investigate potential protein regulatory networks and assess their impact on disease risk using both protein quantitative trait locus (pQTL) analysis and Mendelian randomization (MR) techniques. METHODS: This study systematically integrates two major genome-wide pQTL databases, UKB-PPP and deCODE, to identify pQTL signals associated with ovarian endometriosis. Additionally, we utilized the GEO database to validate differences in protein expression. We conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis to further explore the regulatory relationships between proteins and their roles in disease development. RESULTS: After the Bonferroni correction, we identified 33 pQTL signals from UKB-PPP and 19 pQTL signals from deCODE. Among these, 8 signals from UKB-PPP and 3 signals from deCODE were validated based on expression differences. The mediation analysis results indicate that HLA-DRA significantly increases the risk of developing ovarian endometriosis by inhibiting the expression of CREB3L4 (with a mediation proportion of 13.99 %), and the direction of the mediation effect is consistent with the total effect. CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights that HLA-DRA downregulates the expression of CREB3L4, which may affect the risk of developing endometriosis. The results provide new evidence for understanding the genetic and molecular basis of ovarian endometriosis and establish a theoretical foundation for the development of future diagnostic markers and targeted treatment strategies.

Humans↗
PubMed2024

Gut microbial genomes with paired isolates from China illustrate probiotic and cardiometabolic effects.

The gut microbiome displays genetic differences among populations, and characterization of the genomic landscape of the gut microbiome in China remains limited. Here, we present the Chinese Gut Microbial Reference (CGMR) set, comprising 101,060 high-quality metagenomic assembled genomes (MAGs) of 3,707 nonredundant species from 3,234 fecal samples across primarily rural Chinese locations, 1,376 live isolates mainly from lactic acid bacteria, and 987 novel species relative to worldwide databases. We observed region-specific coexisting MAGs and MAGs with probiotic and cardiometabolic functionalities. Preliminary mouse experiments suggest a probiotic effect of two Faecalibacillus intestinalis isolates in alleviating constipation, cardiometabolic influences of three Bacteroides fragilis_A isolates in obesity, and isolates from the genera Parabacteroides and Lactobacillus in host lipid metabolism. Our study expands the current microbial genomes with paired isolates and demonstrates potential host effects, contributing to the mechanistic understanding of host-microbe interactions.

Probiotics↗
PubMed2019

A systematic capsid evolution approach performed in vivo for the design of AAV vectors with tailored properties and tropism.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid modification enables the generation of recombinant vectors with tailored properties and tropism. Most approaches to date depend on random screening, enrichment, and serendipity. The approach explored here, called BRAVE (barcoded rational AAV vector evolution), enables efficient selection of engineered capsid structures on a large scale using only a single screening round in vivo. The approach stands in contrast to previous methods that require multiple generations of enrichment. With the BRAVE approach, each virus particle displays a peptide, derived from a protein, of known function on the AAV capsid surface, and a unique molecular barcode in the packaged genome. The sequencing of RNA-expressed barcodes from a single-generation in vivo screen allows the mapping of putative binding sequences from hundreds of proteins simultaneously. Using the BRAVE approach and hidden Markov model-based clustering, we present 25 synthetic capsid variants with refined properties, such as retrograde axonal transport in specific subtypes of neurons, as shown for both rodent and human dopaminergic neurons.

barcoding↗