Kathleen Hefferon

Rice is an integral component of global food security, and the introduction of semi-dwarf varieties has been a significant contributor to increased yields since the Green Revolution. The review article summarizes the genetic, molecular, and agronomic aspects underlying semi-dwarfism in rice, focusing on the Semi-Dwarf1 (SD1) gene that encodes a gibberellin 20-oxidase and on additional genes involved in gibberellin and brassinosteroid pathways. Subsequent genetic mapping, gene cloning, advanced molecular breeding, and AI-guided precision techniques have revealed that mutations in additional genes, beyond the SD1 allele, also contribute to dwarfism in rice. The review also covers traditional and molecular breeding methods, marker development, and CRISPR-mediated genome editing for targeted mutation to achieve semi dwarfism in rice. CRISPR offers high precision and the potential to generate transgene-free semi-dwarf lines, but challenges including off-target effects, mosaicism, and regulatory hurdles remain important limitations. In parallel, artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches exacerbate the process of high-throughput phenotyping, genomic prediction, and candidate-gene prioritization. However, model transparency and integration of genotype-by-environment data are still incomplete. Even if semi-dwarfism in rice contributes to substantial increases in yield, some difficulties, for instance, genetic uniformity and potential trade-offs with other agronomic traits, remain important challenges due to the widespread reliance on the SD1 gene. Finally, the review highlights the future prospects for integrating alternative semi-dwarf genes with genome editing and AI-assisted selection, which offers a practical route to more genetically diverse, lodging-resistant rice varieties with stable yield performance, thereby contributing to sustainable rice production and global food security.

The rapid evolution of pathogens, particularly viruses, poses a continuous threat to global public health, necessitating the development of highly scalable and cost-effective vaccine platforms. Plant-based virus-like particles (VLPs) have emerged as a transformative approach in vaccinology, leveraging the innate capacity of plant systems to produce highly immunogenic, non-infectious, and structurally authentic viral mimics. VLP-based recombinant antigens contained within the plant tissues (particularly in seeds) show better stability and can be transported and stored at ambient temperatures, without the requirement of a cold chain framework, and edible vaccines offer needle-free vaccine administration. Plant-based expression systems use natural cellular structures such as plant cell walls and seed endosperms to encase antigens, functioning as a natural shield against digestion and thermal degradation. Grain host plants are inimitably adapted for prolonged storage owing to natural seed desiccation wherein recombinant antigens accumulate within vacuoles or intracellular protein bodies segregated from active degradation. By simply cultivating more plants, vaccine production can be scaled up while transient plant expression systems speed up production within a few weeks, which is critical for quick responses to emerging new disease outbreaks. By genetic modification, plants can be used to express several antigens, facilitating the development of multi-component vaccines against many diseases at a single shot. Recently, plant-derived VLP vaccines, principally targeting influenza and hepatitis viruses, have been shown to elicit robust immune responses through the expression of their surface antigens in plants such as lettuce, potato, and tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana). Despite their potential, significant challenges persist, including the achievement of consistent dosing, the attainment of high and reproducible expression levels, and the navigation of complex regulatory frameworks for plant-derived pharmaceuticals which remain unsolved. The current review focuses on recent developments in the production of plant-based influenza and hepatitis vaccines and explores the advantages, challenges, and application of such vaccines in combating these infections.

Edible wild fruits are valuable sources of bioactive phytochemicals with potential for use in the pharmaceutical industry. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of seven wild fruits from Botswana, namely Grewia bicolor Juss., Grewia cana Sond., Grewia flava DC., Mimusops zeyheri Sond., Vangueria infausta Burch., Ximenia americana L. and Ximenia caffra Sond. Fruit pulps were extracted using methanol, ethanol and distilled water. Phenols, terpenoids, tannins and saponins with varying concentrations across the fruits were identified. Ximenia caffra had the highest total phenolic (23.378 ± 2.11 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight (GAE/g DW)) and flavonoid content (3.84 ± 0.1 mg quercetin acid equivalent/g dry weight QAE/g DW)). Antioxidant activity ranged from 1.34 ± 0.09–9.14 ± 0.07 mg GAE/g DW, via 1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 0.28 ± 0.05–6.72 ± 0.1 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g dry weight (AAE)) via 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) assays, with higher activity noted in Ximenia sp and M. zeyheri. Methanolic extracts of Ximenia sp and M. zeyheri exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with values from 9.67–4.33 mm and in vitro antibacterial activity (IC50) from 1.58–6.53 mg/mL. No in vitro antifungal activity was observed against Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger. Multivariate analysis showed a significant positive correlation among antioxidant, antimicrobial activity and phytochemical content. This study addresses the gap in comparative data in relation to wild edible fruits of Botswana and what influences their bio-functionality. These results highlight these fruits' antibacterial and antioxidant potency, suggesting further study into the isolation and purification of their bioactive compounds.

Influenza viruses constantly evolve due to sporadic antigenic shifts and point mutations, which undermine vaccine effectiveness. Newly drifted pathogenic variants make current vaccines inadequate against circulating strains, requiring frequent updates to vaccine formulations. On the other hand, hepatitis viruses such as HAV, HBV, and HCV can cause acute and chronic infection of the liver, leading to liver cirrhosis and cancer. Currently, there is no vaccination for HCV, and access to vaccines for HAV and HBV is also limited in developing countries. Plant-derived vaccines against influenza virus afford many advantages over egg-derived conventional methods. Plant virus-like particles (pVLPs) are non-infectious, contain virus structural features with high flexibility, and can be tailored to meet specific biotechnological needs. pVLPs are preferable for vaccine development due to being economically viable and can be produced more rapidly and with fewer complications. Recombinant antigens contained within the plant tissues (particularly in seeds) show better stability and can be transported and stored at ambient temperatures, without the requirement of a cold chain framework. Edible plant-derived oral vaccines offer needle-free vaccine administration. By simply cultivating more plants, vaccine production can be scaled up while transient plant expression systems speed up production within a few weeks, which is critical for quick response to emerging new disease outbreaks. By genetic modification, plants can be used to express several antigens, facilitating the development of multi-component vaccines against many diseases at a single shot. Nicotiana benthamiana has been extensively utilized as a plant-based expression platform to generate recombinant influenza vaccine antigens, including hemagglutinin (HA). Plant-derived hepatitis vaccines, principally targeting HBV, have been shown to elicit robust immune responses in preclinical studies and early clinical trials through the expression of HBV surface antigen in plants such as lettuce, potato, and tobacco. However, challenges such as achieving consistent dosing, obtaining sufficiently high, reproducible, and stable expression levels, and circumventing regulatory hurdles for the use of plant-based pharmaceuticals remain. The current review focuses on recent developments in the production of plant-based influenza and hepatitis vaccines, and explores the advantages, challenges, and application of such vaccines in combating these infections.

Plant viruses are useful tools for quickly and easily producing recombinant proteins in plants. Compared to systems that use genetically modified plants, viral vectors are easier to work with and can produce recombinant proteins faster and in larger amounts. Recently, there has been growing interest in using plant viruses as vectors to make vaccines, either as whole proteins or as small parts displayed on plant virus particles. The best examples for this purpose are tobacco mosaic virus, cowpea mosaic virus and potato virus X. Vaccines made using these viruses target various human and animal diseases and have often triggered immune responses and provided protection against infections. This review looks at the benefits of using plant virus vectors, the progress in developing different viral vector systems, and immune studies that support the idea of vaccines made from plant viruses.

This study explores the behavioural factors influencing consumer demand for biofortified foods in Nigeria using the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). Using survey data of 314 adults analysed with structural equation modelling, the study extends PMT by incorporating knowledge and behavioural control as predictors and age and gender as moderators. Results revealed that perceived severity and intrinsic rewards significantly influence behavioural intention, self-efficacy and response efficacy have significant positive effects on consumer demand for biofortified foods. However, increased knowledge was negatively related to perceived vulnerability and positively associated with response cost. Gender and age moderate several of these relationships. Our study lends support to the fact knowledge is critical, we need real solution including addressing perceived barriers such as cost and accessibility; and highlights the need for persuasive communication to look beyond informing but managing complexities and brand communication. The study contributes to theory by contextualizing PMT within nutrition sensitive food systems and offers implication for market segmentation and effective communication in emerging economies.

Plant viruses are useful tools for quickly and easily producing recombinant proteins in plants. Compared to systems that use genetically modified plants, viral vectors are easier to work with and can produce recombinant proteins faster and in larger amounts. Recently, there has been growing interest in using plant viruses as vectors to make vaccines, either as whole proteins or as small parts displayed on the surface of modified viral particles. Several viruses, like tobacco mosaic virus, potato virus X, and cowpea mosaic virus, have been well developed for this purpose. Vaccines made using these viruses target various human and animal diseases and have often triggered immune responses and provided protection against infections. This review looks at the benefits of using plant virus vectors, the progress in developing different viral vector systems, and immune studies that support the idea of vaccines made from plant viruses.

Gastrointestinal tract. This novel approach and the positive outcomes of initial trials could enable further use of BLPs as vaccines which target the mucosal immune system.Nicanor Austriaco submitted the mini review "Yeast oral vaccines against infectious diseases," which offers a fresh perspective on the opportunities and challenges for yeast based oral vaccine delivery. Included are the advantages of recombinant yeast in the form of whole cells that are orally consumed to deliver vaccine antigens to the gut. This review begins with a discussion of the challenges associated with oral administration of vaccines and the distinct benefits offered by whole yeast delivery systems over other delivery systems. The mini review then provides examples of various yeast oral vaccines and shows proof of concept of their promise.A paper by Medieiros et al., titled "Oral polio revaccination is associated with changes in gut and upper respiratory microbiomes of infants" explores the fate of infants' microbiota who may no longer receive the live-attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV) after the virus is eradicated from the planet. This study involved deep sequencing of 16S rRNA of both fecal and nasopharyngeal microbiomes in revaccinated Bissau-Guinean infants, vs infants who were not revaccinated with OPV. The study demonstrated a greater increase in microbial diversity for infants who had been revaccinated compared to those who had not. Revaccinated infants also showed a reduction in potentially pathogenic/opportunistic bacteria such as E. coli or Shigella within both gut and Streptococcus/Hemophilus in respiratory microbiota, compared to controls. The authors concluded that in general, revaccination with OPV was associated with a healthier microbiome composition, along with a decrease in pathogen presence.Each of these articles offers a novel approach to the design and efficacy of vaccines which could provide a robust mucosal immune response. Each of these approaches has potential and could be used to target several pathogens. Hopefully, these approaches will gain traction and provide